How often do you eat breakfast?

How often do you eat breakfast?

Take our poll .. How often do you eat breakfast?

Then .. tell us either "what" you had for breakfast OR your "favorite" breakfast. Perhaps we can come up with enough different ideas to create a Health Page for later reference.

IF YOU'RE NOT EATING BREAKFAST .. here is some information that may change your mind!

1. EATING BREAKFAST KEEPS US THIN. The National Weight Control Registry has compiled information from more than 3,000 people who have lost at least 60 pounds and kept it off for an average of 6 years. Feedback from those individuals showed that eating breakfast daily was a weight control strategy for 78% of the people in the registry. Those participants who experienced long-term success also shared that they eat a diet low in fat and exercise for an hour or more each day. Interestingly .. less than 5% of those who achieved success reported never eating breakfast. READ MORE...

2. BREAKFAST JUMP STARTS OUR METABOLISM. The word, breakfast, is derived from breaking the fast after one has not eaten since the night before and is believed to be the most important meal of the day. It is the first chance we have to refuel our body, start our metabolism and begin burning calories. Not eating breakfast is akin to starving yourself and your metabolism slows so your body can conserve energy. Your body burns only the calories necessary until the necessary fuel becomes available. So, if you’re trying to lose weight this is the last thing you want.

3. BREAKFAST HELPS AVOID HUNGER. First, eating breakfast may reduce the hunger felt later in the day, which may lead to overeating. It is also felt that nutrients consumed at breakfast may leave us with a better ability to perform physical activity. Studies have found some indication that those who eat breakfast engage in more physical activity than non-breakfast eaters. It is also possible that eating a good breakfast on a regular basis may simply be a marker for a lifestyle change that includes a low-calorie, low-fat eating style.

4. BREAKFAST HELPS OUR ABILITY TO LEARN. The USDA, Harvard University and Tufts University have all performed studies that show children who eat breakfast attain higher scores on standardized achievement tests and have less behavior problems in school. Once can only imagine the same holds true for adults in our performance at work and home.

No Strangers & No Mountains We Can’t Climb!

No Strangers & No Mountains We Can’t Climb!

Motivation to lose weight is something we all struggle with from time to time and I am no exception. As I am writing this, I am watching the moving and passionate lyrical solo of a 12-year-old girl and, in her performance, my strength and determination is renewed. The expression in her dance, the ardent grace and beauty she exhibits shows a gracefulness and depth of spirit more powerful than her years.

How, I ask myself, did this young girl learn such expressive movement? Could it be from the years of dance, the practice and recitals? From talented teachers and gifted coaches or the steadfast support and encouragement of her mother and family? Or, could it be she simply loves to dance? There is an affirmative answer for each of these questions, however, there is more.

As gently as possible this child, on the threshold of adulthood, received the news that her parents were divorcing. A few months later, her 3-year-old sister was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. Before long Kaleigh’s childhood home was for sale and the move to a new school was imminent; she was faced with the heartache of leaving old friends and the sadness that brings. This is enough to derail most adults, let alone a young girl. READ MORE...

With great love and commitment for her sister, Kaleigh had thoughts of setting her dancing goals aside. She wanted to spend as much time with her sister as possible and comfort her through hospitalizations, chemotherapy and surgical procedures. Her mother, however, was wise and insightful and encouraged Kaleigh to continue pursuing her dreams along with supporting her sister; to not let one prevent her from doing the other. She also provided her with the wisdom to channel everything she was feeling into her dance.

Kaleigh has taught me about making a goal, putting in the hard work to achieve it and never stopping, even when times are tough. She does not shrink from the pain or disappointments that tend to surface in life. She feels her emotions and chooses to express them in positive ways.

As I watch her movements, it reminds me of the grief we all feel when we are broken and hurting and there are times when our dreams seem nearly impossible. Then, with strength and resilience, she acknowledges her frailties and reaches way down deep inside to find the courage to heal, grow and reach for her dreams. In her youth, she has unlocked the secrets of tenacity, perseverance and the personal growth that is needed to claim the life we are meant to live.

What are you going to do with your life? Do you want to realize your goals and dreams? Do you want to lose weight, be healthy and live a longer life?

We can all learn a valuable lesson from this child. We do not need to stuff ourselves with food in an attempt to hide from our feelings. We have all been broken and, from time to time, lost sight of our dreams. But, there are no strangers and no outcasts. Together we can band together to gain all the strength, power and courage to believe and reach our goals. Won’t you join us so we can all share this journey together?

Just as Kaleigh learned, we need to take care of ourselves and be true to ourselves so we can be happy and healthy for those we love and care for. We are meant to live the best life we can and BE ALL that WE CAN BE!

As for me, my beautiful and beloved 12-year-old granddaughter, Kaleigh, reminded me of this. I am thankful and grateful each day for the blessings she brings to my life. My journey of weight loss continues with renewed strength and motivation; and, I sincerely hope yours does too.

Weight Loss Reality and Accountability – Succeeding Through Adversity

Weight Loss Reality and Accountability – Succeeding Through Adversity

Although this blog is near and dear to my heart, I have not been online for a while due to an abundance of personal issues that have left me reeling. From the death of a very close personal friend, to my 3-year-old granddaughter’s leukemia diagnosis, to my employment ending, to severe financial difficulties, to having an abdominal wall abscess without insurance that is felt to be MRSA, I have found life to be a little challenging lately.

Throughout these events, and the myriad of feelings that surround them, I allowed my emotions to dictate my eating choices and I have gained approximately 20 pounds in the past 3-4 months.

Having an eating disorder is a life-long ailment and, like an alcoholic, it never goes away. You can, however, succeed by adopting a “can do” attitude, learning how to forgive yourself rather than punishing yourself and never, ever giving up. READ MORE...

Since this is a learning process and we are not perfect, bumps in the road are to be expected. From time to time, we will even face a derailment like the one I am sharing with you. These do not have to be seen as failures but as opportunities to learn better ways to handle similar situations in the future. Amazingly, when approached with a positive attitude and the mindset to explore the reasons behind these events, we build character, perseverance, strength and fortitude.

So today I acknowledge my human frailty and accept responsibility for where I am. With a renewed spirit, an understanding of the extreme emotional events it took for me to not only stumble but fall off the track, I refuse to let this go any further. I am in control of my future and I steadfastly believe in achieving my ultimate weight loss goal and the accompanying reward of improved health.

My destiny is in my hands … and your destiny is in yours! If you find yourself facing a bump in the road or a complete derailment, then please consider joining me in rectifying this today!

1. Get Weighed – Yes, it is time to stop ignoring the scale and realize exactly where we are. Time to be accountable and tell others so they, too, can hold us responsible. I will be weighing daily at the same time each morning and in the same clothes. If you are one who is not comfortable with weighing daily, then I encourage you to commit to weighing twice a week and recording it. You can view my weight tracker here.

2. Clean Your Cupboards - Throw out any trigger food and stock your pantry and refrigerator with lean meats, whole grains, fresh/frozen fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy and a few snacks such as sugar-free Popsicles, 100-calorie popcorn or nuts. Be sure to eat before you go shopping and read the labels for the nutritional content.

3. Positive Vibes – Surround yourself with positive people and take the time to read, view or listen to positive quotes, videos or stories. This truly sets the tone for success! Our brains are sponges and, positive or negative, they soak up the emotions we expose them to. Post notes on your refrigerator and cupboards; it helps! Here’s what I found today .. “Plant the seeds of expectation in your mind; cultivate thoughts that anticipate achievement. Believe in yourself as being capable of overcoming all obstacles and weaknesses.” Norman Vincent Peale

4. Move! – Any kind of movement/exercise jump-starts our metabolism, releases endorphins to brighten our mood, gifts us with a sense of well-being and leaves us with a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction. Today I chose to walk around the lake; 1.25 miles with ducks, geese and nature!

Would love to hear from each of you about where you are and where you’re going. Each journey is a personal choice yet we share the camaraderie of similar experiences and feelings that greatly enhance our path if we choose to share them with each other.

Very best wishes for your success … I BELIEVE IN YOU!!!

Valentine’s Day Wishes – The Valentine Only You Can Give!

Valentine’s Day Wishes – The Valentine Only You Can Give!

Valentine’s Day is centered on sweethearts, candy, flowers, love and all things that make us feel warm and happy. However, when we are struggling with our weight, body image and self-worth, there are times this holiday makes those issues take center stage. This can manifest itself by over-indulging on chocolate, throwing our eating plans out the window and even trigger a binging episode. Not quite what we dreamed of when thinking of love, hearts, flowers and Valentine wishes READ MORE...

There is one special Valentine that only YOU can Give! It is the gift of realization and possibility, hope and faith.

When we realize that we may not be where we want to be or have the things we want to have on Valentine’s Day, it is natural and understandable that we may be surrounded with feelings of loneliness, sadness and/or hurt. We can acknowledge those feelings but we need to learn an appropriate response to them.

Over-eating and binging are NOT appropriate ways to deal with our emotions. Those behaviors only hurt us and stand in the way of achieving our weight loss goals. They stop us from achieving a healthy lifestyle and keep us from being the best we can be.
Let’s look at some ways to appropriately deal with these feelings.

Loneliness – Reach out to friends online, call your family, host a Valentine Party, step out of your comfort zone and do something completely different. Go to a museum, an art gallery, go see a play, visit a winery, go to a dance, sing karaoke, go to the bookstore, walk around the lake or join a bicycling club. Broaden your horizons and your circle of friends and drive loneliness away.

Sadness – Go to a movie or rent a video and consider inviting some people to enjoy it with you. A comedy, an action movie or a suspense thriller should chase sadness away. You may also elect to donate some time to a worthy charity like helping at the homeless shelter, Habitat for Humanity, the American Red Cross or United Way. Somehow seeing others less fortunate helps bring our lives into perspective. Volunteering not only helps others but also has a way of uplifting our spirit and providing us with feelings of self-worth and pride; it is a gift worth more than gold.

So, gently hold your heart in your hand and learn how to be kind to yourself. Allow your mind to feel the emotions that are present but learn to respond to them in a constructive way. Get your nails done, buy a new outfit or participate in a new activity! Celebrate your victory in handing your emotions in a positive manner!

Let this Valentine’s Day serve as the beginning point for a year-long adventure to Dream, Believe and Achieve your goals! This is the Valentine that only YOU can give to yourself! Very Happy Valentine’s Day! :)

An Historic Day - A New Beginning

An Historic Day - A New Beginning

On this most historic day, with the inauguration of our 44th President of the United States, President Obama has shown us what can happen when we focus on our dreams, throw our doubts and fears aside, and work hard to achieve the dreams and aspirations that lie inside us. Today, this nation saw the dreams of Martin Luther King come to life as the first African American was sworn into the highest office in the land. At the time Martin Luther King dreamed of equality, how many people thought this could happen in our lifetimes ... in his lifetime had he not been assassinated???

We can learn lessons about our weight loss journeys from these men of history. We can follow their lead and celebrate our physical and emotional goals of weight loss, healthy eating and moderate exercise and bring out renewed health if we will only Believe. READ MORE...

Just as there were battles along the way with Rosa Parks, Brown vs the Board of Education, the Freedom Movement, the voting rights act we must learn that there are battles that we will face along the way as well. Some will be won and some will be lost ... it is our steadfast determination, faith in change and our persistent vigilence that will lead us to victory.

You see, in our weight loss efforts, we not only learn how to make better eating and exercise choices, we begin to change our own outlook about what we truly want to eat and what exercise means to us. As we select more proteins, complex carbohydrates, fresh fruits and vegetables and low-fat dairy, our bodies learn that this is not only acceptable but you begin to crave those foods. Slowly, the cravings for sweets, processed foods, chips, french fries and breaded and fried foods start falling to the wayside and are no longer our first choice. They begin to be our last choice and one that, when selected, we do so in moderation and at longer intervals. Exercise, while it can start out to be a dreaded word, becomes a way of life and one that we look forward to as a new adventure in experiencing all that life has to offer.

Just as President Obama called for each of us to be part of the change in our economy and our future, I ask each of you to be a part of the change in the health and well being of our futures. Let's use this historic day as a landmark to join together and slowly change our own opinions of what is possible. Let's make this year one we can look back on with success; that when this year ends we are better off healthwise than when we started. You see, just like the changes that have now happened in our nation, it doesn't happen overnight, but those changes are most achievable with patience and diligence.

Though we sometimes feel this journey is too difficult or we feel depressed and saddened with small failures, do not allow those small battles to overshadow your goals. Remember to Dream BIG and always, always look forward with the vision of your smaller, healthier, mobile, active self on the horizon and remember the dream Martin Luther King had for our country. If his dream can come true ... then so can yours ... so let this be your motivation to never ever give up until your dream has blossomed into reality for all to see and rejoice with you!

I Believe in YOU!!! This Community Believes in YOU!!!! Together we can do this!