Weight Loss -- I gotta get my focus back!!

Did you see Valerie Bertinelli on the cover of People Magazine and her fabulous bikini-body??? She is 48 and she looks amazing! All because of her 47-pound weight loss. I think she is in the low 120's now. Absolutely amazing.

This got me to thinking, if she can do this at 48, I can lose this much weight being a little (!) younger. I was shooting to lose 40 pounds but you know what, why wouldn't I go for the big loss and strive to look as fab as Valerie Bertinelli? She and Marie Osmond both look so content and at peace. Obviously, they do not turn toward food anymore but deal with things on an entirely different level. As a result, they both are experiencing weight loss success.

How did they both do it? Portion control and good quality food. Valerie said it took her almost a year to lose 40ish pounds and Marie said it was about 4 months (she was also exercising a lot with her role on Dancing with the Stars.

If they can do it, we can do it!!

Weight Loss and the Holidays...

A couple of weeks ago it occured to me how to get through the holidays and actually lose weight. Usually from Thanksgiving on it is a feeding frenzy for me and I gain 5-7 pounds. However, the poor quality eating lasts far into January, February and March.

If I can start acting like I am on a super cautious diet between turkey day and New Year's, I'll be able to actually stave off extra pounds and actually lose weight during a time of year that is the worst for everyone's weight loss efforts. I am not denying myself, I am just not eating like a mad woman as I normally do.

As a result, I have lost about 5 pounds over the last 2 weeks. This is all I need to keep me going. My goal is to lose 4 more by Christmas Day. On that day, I'll eat like crazy and then I'll focus again until New Year's. At this rate, I will have lost 10+ pounds through the holidays rather than gain 5ish which is a net weight loss of 15 pounds.

The other great thing is that I will start the new year off with a focus on weight loss rather than dreading how I look in my size larger clothes!!!

This is the first time I have taken this weight loss approach and I love it!

Weight Loss and a Shocking Occurance

After 43 years -- much of which has been spent trying to lose weight -- I again realize that I have to moderate what I eat. If I want to lose weight, I am going to have to make some concessions. You would think I would have had that in my head a lot earlier than now...this is coupled with the fact that my metabolism is slowly decreasing. It is really all working against me!!

So, with this in mind, I need to make some life changes so that I get and keep my weight under control:
- I will not eat chocolate and sweets every day; I will eat these once a week and eventually slow down my sugar intake more
- I will keep my carbs reduced overall and especially at night (I eat about 3 times the recommended quantity)
- I will follow the 90/10 rule -- eating a good quality diet 90% of the time and splurge 10% of the time (currently I do this backwards -- no wonder I have a weight problem)

Making these simple changes will do a lot toward making me get control of my eating and be at a healthy weight. If I can make a few changes, this will do a lot to help me lose weight for good.

Weight Loss -- A Different Approach

My friend (who is my weight loss partner) has suggested for months that I adopt some of Larry North's (fitness guru) suggested weight loss habits. I have started reading one of his books and many of the things he says make perfect sense. Let me see if I can highlight some of the Larry North weight loss suggestions:

- eat every 3-4 hours
- eat lean protein, starchy carbs and fibrous vegetables at most meals
- eat very little fat (including nuts and other good quality fats)
- eat little or no sugar
- avoid getting yourself so hungry that you make bad decisions or eat a lot of food

What he says is very interesting and avoids that starvation and deprivation feeling. You are eating so much good food constantly that you never put yourself in a position to make bad choices. He also talks a lot about when your muscle gets all of the food it needs, the only other place for the excess calories to go is your fat cells -- even if it is good quality food. This has really made me think about what happens when I overindulge.

The other important point that I found about controlling your weight is that if you are constantly satisified, you will find that you are not craving sugar (which gets us into trouble)!

Another note: when I put all the food I eat from the Larry North plan into my points for Weight Watchers, it is fewer points than I need in a day yet I am eating constantly.

Chocolate and Weight Loss

I am getting out of control! I am at my holiday weight where I jump up 5 pounds automatically. Clearly, this is not a way to weight loss.

Chocolate has been the recent problem impacting my weight loss efforts (technically, my weight gain efforts). I know this is crazy. Maybe I need to simply not have chocolate in the house as I just eat it all.

Yesterday I went to Costco and they were sampling this delicious fudge. They were only carrying it through the weekend. It was fabulous. I bought a box for me and one for a gift. Do you know that I ate a whole one pound box yesterday??? I don't even feel bad. It was fresh and delicious. That's bad!!!!

So, that is how I have discovered after years of weight loss trouble that I simply can't have chocolate in the house if I want to lose weight. My friend has this same problem with wine. If she has it with dinner, she doesn't drink too much wine but instead finds that it causes her to not have control over what she eats. As a result, she eats too many calories.

What one thing could you cut out that causes you to over eat? Is there one thing that causes you to lose control and get away from your weight loss efforts? How willing would you be to step away from it for one month?

Weight Loss and Juice Detoxification

I have been reading a couple of books and visiting a couple of web sites at the urging of my acupuncturist. I am learning all kinds of information on the power of juice fasting and how it can help those of us who are trying to lose weight.

Many believe they can benefit from juicing by:

-- cleaning out the built up toxins in the blood
-- restoring proper function to various organs throughout the body
-- gaining energy and mental clarity
-- cleaning out the bowel thoroughly
-- improving the quality of nutrients going in to the body

All of this will assist you in losing weight by dramatically cleaning out the junk that has been in a holding pattern in your bowels for some time. It will also help you function better mentally as well as internally.

From what I understand, it is best to drink primarily vegetable juice and minimize the sugary fruit juice content. I just did this for a few days and I was shocked at how much it helped me think clearly, feel energized and lose weight. I mixed all juice with equal amounts of water and made sure to take something like Smooth Move -- a tea that facilitates bowel elimination everyday (the key to success and weight loss).

What I experienced was well worth not eating solid food for a few days. I plan to do this one day a week for quite some time to continue to improve my weight loss as well as my energy level.

Trials and Tribulations of Losing Weight!

Did I mention that losing weight seems to be so difficult??? On one hand, if I just put a little effort into it and live by a few rules consistently, the weight flies off. On the other hand, if I live with reckless abandon (like I always do), I struggle with every pound and sometimes gain weight!!

I am just at a loss (or I wish I was)! We are firmly into 80 degree days and I should be uncovering rather than covering up to hide flab. The other thing I have noticed is that I don't seem to care that a little flab shows. What's up with that? It is as if I have too much going on, in part, to care what someone else sees. This is so dangerous.

The other observation I have made is that I realize now that losing weight is a life long path for me regardless of what I weigh. When I was about 30 pounds lighter, I thought I had beat the weight loss game. But what I didn't realize is that you have to make it your plan for life. It will always be on your mind. It makes sense, why would I think things would change instantly after 35 years????

Weight Loss and Sugar

I believe I finally have wrapped my head around the impact of sugar on your weight loss efforts. I recently got a whole bunch of my favorite Fannie May chocolates from Chicago. Eating so much sugar has left me with the following thoughts on weight loss:

- of course, it makes me very sluggish -- that day and the next
- eating sugar makes me crave more sugar which is no good for weight loss
- eating sugar quickly bumps up the number of calories you consume
- I have MS and consuming sugar greatly decreases my abilities the following day
- eating sugar will not help you lose weight!!!

I keep going back to concentrating on eating lots of veggies, protein and fruit. It is okay if you get sugar from fruit as it is loaded with vitamins.

Stop sabbotaging your weight loss and quit eating sugar!

Coconut Oil is a Different Kind of Fat and a Great Weight Loss Tool!

I don't think I fully understood how coconut oil works -- okay, it seemed like a fairy tale that this could really be a good fat and help me lose weight. Here's the scoop:

Many oils that we eat (most, in fact) are quickly stored in the body as fat (making weight loss more difficult). They are composed of Long Chain Triglycerides. There has been research done from a couple of sources to indicate that coconut oil acts different in the body. It actually promotes weight loss.

It is composed of Medium Chain Triglycerides which make it significantly different -- which greatly impacts weight loss. Here is how coconut oil is different:

- it revs up metabolism
- it makes you feel fuller, longer
- it is easily digested (which is great for people who have trouble digesting fat)
- it has a bonus of lauric acid and caprylic acid which has some wonderful health benefits (antiviral and antifungal properties plus support immune function)

Since you need to add healthy fats to your diet why not add coconut oil which helps you lose weight? I am not saying eat a whole jar of coconut oil. I am just saying that use a fat that actually has great health benefits and assists you in weight loss!

New Year - New Me

Every year I resolved to get fit and lose weight. Every year, I still need to do it. Every year, my resolve (and resolutions) go by the way side. This alone, is enough to cause me to give up on my weight loss!

I heard two very powerful things recently:
1) If you make resolutions (most everyone has weight loss related resolutions), you will get closer to your goals (even if you don't achieve them) than if you had not made the resolution at all.
2) Before the new year, I saw a Valerie Bertinelli commercial for Jenny Craig. Valerie stated that this would be the first year weight loss would not be one of her New Year's resolution. I thought this was really powerful. What would your resolutions be if weight loss was already done?

So, in keeping with the goal to "git her done," this will be the last year that weight loss will be a resolution for me. Never again will my weight be so out of control. With my new found free time (after I actually lose the weight), I will have so much time and energy that I will devote more to the real needs of the world.

Starting tomorrow, I am going to journal my successes, failures and desires!

UltraMetabolism and Weight Loss

I am reading this great new book called Ultra Metabolism (it is not really that new)! I had lunch with a friend of mine last week and she was raving about this book and what an impact it had on her weight loss efforts so I had to go get it.

I have to admit, I am very interested in what the author has to say. Here are a couple of weight loss highlights on what I have read so far (or at least my interpretation):

- weight loss is not one size fits all -- what works for one doesn't necessarily work for all
- doctors all know this information (the weight loss info presented in books) but what they practice is about 15+ years behind the research
- only 2%-6% of all diets are successful for people, most people gain 5lb when they go on a diet
- you have to have a life plan for weight loss instead of looking at it as a temporary plan to achieve a short-term goal (therefore you ought to be cautious of short-term weight loss programs or those that won't have long-term effects)

I love this book and can't wait to educate myself some more (and share with you, of course)!

Losing Weight and Timing

I have discovered something in my constant battle to lose weight. I notice that even when I eat junk food, if I quit eating after 4 p.m. in the evening, the next morning I weigh less.

I made this discover out of desperation one day. I had a few pieces of pizza during the day and was stressing because I was performing some destructive weight gain (rather than weight loss behaviors). The next morning, I weighed less. The days I quit eating after 4 p.m., this seems to be the case.

What I notice that this causes me to do is eat chocolates, chips and junk food and now it has started spilling over into nighttime eating which is trouble all around. I realize that I can not do both destructive behaviors and still lose weight. If I can master not eating after 4 p.m. most days AND eating good quality food, I will be a weight loss superstar.

The interesting thing about this plan is:

1) I finally weigh 178 -- I have broken the 180 barrier
2) I just need to hold on to one thought if I am starving and it is 7 p.m. -- I can eat anything I want tomorrow morning. I just have to be strong that night only.

How about that for a great weight loss tip?

Candida and Weight Loss!

Have you ever looked into Candida, what it does to your body and how cleaning up your body from Candida could help you lose weight?

We have started going to a doctor that is a regular doctor trained in traditional medicine but who also practices alternative medicine. As with many doctors, Dr. V. John Gonino wants his patients to be at their desired healthy weight which means most of them need to lose weight. He puts most of his new patients through a nutritional class that discusses Candida and toxins and their effect on your body. This class discusses:

- poor quality foods and how they lead to us feeling sluggish
- how our bodies were not meant to process a lot of the sugars and preservatives in our current food supply
- how you need to start with you gut and get that cleaned out (most of the toxins are hold up in your gut)

...and that you need to use a variety of things to clean out your body. Also, that by changing your diet you can get much healthier (and presumably stop taking so many medicines but also to get back to the weight that nature intended for your body - i.e. lose weight)!!

Here's my takeaway from the strong Candida discussion:

- eliminate sugar (both processed and natural)
- eliminate yeast
- eliminate vinegar
- eliminate wheat
- eat predominately organic (even the coffee you drink)

In just the first week or so of practicing this diet, my dad has lost 15 pounds and I have lost 6 pounds. It is not as hard as I would have thought. Maybe it is because I am not looking at this eating plan as a way to lose weight but rather a way to gain health!

Weight Loss - It is such a frustating battle!

I have fallen into a really bad snack food habit. Eating chips, cookies and chocolates is not conducive to a solid weight loss goal! I am really not thinking clearly about weight loss, instead giving:

- increased stress
- lots of summertime company (from June to August we have anywhere from 1-8 guests)
- lack of interest in making good food choices

As a result of all of these "anti" weight loss factors, I am:

- flabby
- tired
- grouchy
- and I am not fitting into my clothes well

In these situations, I find that I need a stronger focus. I need something or my lack of weight loss effort (i.e. weight gain) will quickly get out of control. That is bad on so many levels. The other issue is that if I am not careful, I am going to go up a size in clothes (I am on the north side of the border now).

Perhaps if I concentrate more on what I really want in my weight loss efforts and not on the immediate satisfaction, I will experience weight loss victory. Any victory would be good even if I just lost a few pounds. Anything to put me back on the positive track.

Every victory counts, no matter how small.

Inflammatory Foods and Weight Loss

Did you know you could be making your weight loss efforts worse by eating inflammatory foods?things you eat? The foods you eat either contribute to inflammation or minimize the inflammation in your body. Eating inflammatory foods constantly puts your body in constant systemic inflammation. Some people believe that when your body is in a state of inflammation, your fat cells encourage obesity and disease (like Type 2 Diabetes). Weight loss is constantly thwarted even you are eating fewer calories -- if those calories are poor quality foods. Here are some of those foods:

- trans fats (including partially hydrogenated oil)
- harmful saturated fats
- white flour
- white sugar
- processed foods
- high fructose corn syrup
- fruits and vegetables with high pesticide contents

Avoiding these foods will free your body to function better and more effectively so that you do lose weight.

These foods should help minimize inflammation and boost weight loss:

- walnuts and other nuts
- whole foods
- whole grains
- fatty fish
- organic food and produce

What do you have to lose? A few pounds?!