Inspiration to go a year

Sometimes the challenge is long and hard, but in the end it's worth it.

Thinking of making a body change?

Now's the time! Only you can make it happen . . . and when you do the results are for all to see. Get to work now.

Are you ready for the swim season?

Start on the new you and before you know it, it's time to go bikini shopping.

Ok guys, you can do it too.

You don't have to go the body building way. Just firm up and lose the beer gut and you could be a lady killer (necklace optional).

Motivation #5

Think about it.

Weighing yourself

When and how often should you weigh yourself and under what conditions? In order to track, manage and gauge our success in weight loss we must weigh ourselves.

First we to decide on a few things to maximize and be consistent in our results.

  1. How often will we weigh?
  2. What will you be wearing when you weigh?
  3. What time and day will you weigh?
  4. Will you keep a log or journal?
  5. Under what circumstances will you weigh?
Since body weights can vary during the week, once a week keeps things fair and easy to do.  Some people like to be naked when they weigh.  Regardless, wear or not wear the same type of clothing each time you weigh.  Morning is usually the best time to weigh. Always weigh in on the same day of the week.  This makes a routine that is easier to follow and makes charting better also. Our bodies are great store houses.  Try to weigh yourself after having a kidney and bowel movement.  The result will be your normal body weight and will prevent you from making excuses about the weight shown.

Any good scale will be fine.  The newer digitals makes read the weight easy. Always make sure the scale is on firm flooring, no carpet.  Try to stand in the same spot on the scale with both feet on the scale.  If it's electronic, allow time for the scale to set or zero out before stepping on.  Weigh your self three times.  This prevents a false weight reading.

Keep a log.  I use a wall chart in my bathroom.  I list the weight and how much I have gained or lost from the last reading.  I also list the date and every two weeks my BMI. The chart gives motivation to say on track.

Old School Salad Dressing

Old School Salad Dressing
You can use low sodium Worcestershire and low sodium ketchup to drop the sodium levels lower.

2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons ketchup
1 tablespoon oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon mustard , ground
cayenne pepper (to taste)
3 drops hot pepper sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons vinegar

Salad dressing normally weighs about 28-32 grams per two (2) tablespoons. The most common serving you see on a salad bottle is two tablespoons. The average single serving packet from a fast food restaurant or store is about 4 tablespoons (2.0 Ounces or +/- 57g.)

Creamy Herb Dressing

This low sodium and low calorie dressing has a kick from the horseradish.  Adjust the dill and horseradish for your sweet spot.

Creamy Herb Dressing
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
1/4 cup chopped scallions
3 tbsp chopped fresh dill
1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp prepared horseradish
Salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste


Salad dressing normally weighs about 28-32 grams per two (2) tablespoons. The most common serving you see on a salad bottle is two tablespoons. The average single serving packet from a fast food restaurant or store is about 4 tablespoons (2.0 Ounces or +/- 57g.)



Diabetes food managment

Have you seen or read the Diabetes guidelines most often published?  If so, you have read that most are recommending a high carbohydrate and low fat diet for Diabetics.  This is not in your best interest.

Breads contain starches.  There are also starchy vegetables such as potatoes. Starch is sugars held together by a chemical bond and as soon as it touches your tongue they start to separate and flood your blood stream with sugars.  The better approach is just the opposite.  High fat and no carbohydrates, or as low as you can go.  This was the traditional way diabetes was treated before about 1935 and the advent of injectable Insulin.  By the 1940's insulin use was on the raise and low carbohydrate diets were falling out of favor. Starchy carbohydrates should not exceed 30% of your diet, 10% or less would be ideal. Results could be dramatic with full or partial reversals in a few months or weeks.

There are several points in the dramatic rise of Diabetes in America, they are as follows:

  1. 1940 - The American Diabetes Association is formed.
  2. 1966 - The first mass produced french fries are sold.
  3. 1984 - Soda manufacturers start using High Fructose Corn Syrup.
  4. 1992 - The USDA places bread and grains at the base of the food pyramid.
  5. 1995 - Metformin is approved for use in the USA.

Causes of diabetes
Use your head and check out the research.  If you are eating table sugar or eating a compound that is primarily sugars, guess what?  Your blood sugar levels will spike.

You might be curious about what is causing or what happened to create the upward trend represented by the charts.  The charts show the same progression of two events in the American diet.  The steady rise in the number of calories Americans consume and the increasing number of overweight or obese Americans. Studies in 2008 indicate that 72% of men and 67% of women are overweight or obese in America.  This resulted in the USDA issuing out new guidelines RDA's and diet in 2010 (released in June 2011, bet you missed it). What you might miss reading is the footnotes. The recommended amounts are from various studies done as far back as 1997.  Only a small portion of nutrients are reviewed and adjusted each 5 years or as the government puts it "if necessary."


There has also been an explosion of sugar in our diets in all types of foods and beverages. In fact, between 1987 and 1997, consumption of "added sugar" in the United States grew 20%. This trend is also being seen in the developing world, according to WHO (World Health Organization).


That's one reason both the United Nations and the World Health Organization released guidelines in 2003 that say sugar should account for no more than 10% of daily calories. In a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet, that's just 200 calories -- or eight heaping teaspoons of table sugar at 25 calories each. A single can of regular soda, with the equivalent of 10 teaspoons, would put you over their recommendation. 


What are chances of getting sick?  Let's see . . . for 2008-2010 . . ..
  1. 37 percent of the population—have cardiovascular disease
  2. 74.5 million Americans—34 percent of U.S. adults—have hypertension
  3. Nearly 24 million people—almost 11 percent of the population—20 years and older have diabetes
  4. Almost one in two men and women—approximately 41 percent of the population—will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime
  5. One out of every two women and one in four men ages 50 years and older will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime
Do yourself a favor and do some old school research, eat less, change your diet and if needed lose some weight.

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