8 REASONS YOUR DIET ISN'T WORKING

I read this in Family Circle yesterday. This is a pretty long article so I'm going to put the reasons and parts of what it said. I might add a comment too.;-)

Americans spend $33 billion each year on diet programs,products and gimmicks--yet we weigh more than ever. Why are we getting bigger when we're trying that much harder to get skinny? Too many carbs? Too much fat? Mindless eating? Excessive stress? Perhaps. but chances are it's just a small diet mistake that's stopping you from losing those extra pounds.

#1 DIET DOWNFALL--
You follow the plan that worked for your friend.

Forget about the latest fad diet. Even if your best friend swears she found the secret to weight loss, it might not work for you. Truth is, different methods work for different people.

UNDO THE DAMAGE--

The trick to losing weight and keeping it off is finding a diet you like-- that way you'll be able to stick to it. Carbaholics should go with a Mediterranean diet. The fiber-rich complex carbs help control hunger. Carnivores can lose weight eating a protein-heavy diet with primarily lean meats--think grille turkey burgers,roasted chicken and baked fish. A large number of women find success with low-fat plans.

ME: You know how I feel about low-fat.....it's better for your heart too! That triple by-pass won't be any fun even if you ARE thin!

#2 DIET DOWNFALL--
You eat a small breakfast.

When it comes to your morning meal, size matters--a lot. A recent study found that eating a substantial breakfast can help you lose some serious weight. 94 women were put on a low-calorie diet. But half the women had a big breakfast(610 calories) and the other half a more modest(290 calories) morning meal. The surprising discovery: In just 8 months the larger breakfast group shed, on average, 40 pounds, while their smaller breakfast counterparts dropped a mere 10 pounds.

UNDO THE DAMAGE--
Aim for roughly 500 calories for breakfast. Not hungry in the A.M.? It's likely you're eating too much or too late at night. To get your appetite in sync,close your kitchen at 8 p.m.

ME:The larger breakfast worked for me through 101 pounds!

#3 DIET DOWNFALL--
You're clueless about calorie counting.

Overeating during meals isn't the only way to pack on weight. Did you know that nibbling on just one extra slice of cheese a day translates to 10 extra pounds a year? Add on that one can of regular soda you treat yourself to every afternoon(just for a quick pick-me-up) and you're adding another 15 pounds. Every bite and swallow counts,not just the one you take when you're sitting down to a meal.

UNDO THE DAMAGE:
Food logs are perfect for people who are all-day snackers. When you write down what you eat you become more aware of what you put in your mouth, helping you identify problem areas. If writing it down is too tedious, stop and think about what you ate last. In a study in England, women who were asked to recall their last meal, ate less in an afternoon snack.

#4 DIET DOWNFALL--
You skip meals.

Many women go without breakfast or lunch because they have a special occasion later or overindulged the night before. By 3 p.m. all hell breaks loose. The proof: A USDA economic research service report released earlier this year found that stretching the time between meals from 4 to 5 hours causes you to overeat. Waiting 6 hours makes it even worse. When you finally do eat, you'll consume substantially more and also choose less healthy options.

UNDO THE DAMAGE--
Try to go no more that 4 hours without having a little something to keep you satisfied, That will keep you from overdoing it at your next meal.

#5 DIET DOWNFALL--
You load up on superfoods.

Don't be duped. Even good-for-you items like nuts, avocados and dried fruit can undo your diet if you consume too much of them. To lose, you need to consume less than you burn.

UNDO THE DAMAGE--
No matter how good something is, you must always use portion control. Think a light sprinkle of nuts on your salad, not a handful. A couple of slices of avocado,not the whole thing.

#6 DIET DOWNFALL--
You're canceling out the benefit of workouts.

Think that hour-long run entitles you to a couple extra slices of pizza? Not so fast. We overestimate how many calories we burn exercising,but underestimate how many we eat! Take a protein- and fiber-packed bean burrito, for example. Sure it's healthy, but not as a post-workout snack between meals. TO BURN OFF IT'S 360 CALORIES,YOU'D HAVE TO BIKE FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF!

UNDO THE DAMAGE--
Try something like 8 oz. of low-fat yogurt with fruit or 2 tablespoons hummus with 3 whole-grain crackers. Reward yourself with something non-food. Think manicure or a movie marathon.

#7 DIET DOWNFALL--
You watch what you eat only Monday to Friday.

During the week our lives are usually scheduled and organized, so that's the way we eat. On Saturday and Sunday that structure goes out the window. And so do diets, according to a 2008 study from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. When they tracked dieters' habits, they found that people ate most on Saturday and Sunday ( and ate the most fat on Saturday), bringing their weight loss efforts to a 2-day screeching halt.

UNDO THE DAMAGE--
Make a game plan to allows you to sensibly splurge. Before the weekend starts (say, Thursday night), think about what you'll be doing and where you'll be eating. Plan where you want to spend your calories and where you want to save. That does NOT mean skipping meals. Rather, cut here and there to leave some wiggle room for favorite weekend indulgences. Maybe skip your morning juice,forego the fries at lunch, and snack on an apple instead of ice cream in the afternoon so you can bank those 762 calories for a special dinner or Sunday brunch. To beef up your calorie bank even more, go a long walk each day.

#8 DIET DOWNFALL--
You don't plan for stress.

Even the best diet doesn't account for insane deadlines,fights with your husband or run-ins with your teen. Women are overloaded. Frequently, food is used to soothe or even as entertainment when you're in the mood to escape.

UNDO THE DAMAGE--
Go ahead and indulge. The stress of trying to fight it is worse than just giving in. Having a small treat like a mini candy bar,single serving container of pudding or low-fat ice cream bar right after dinner can keep you from spending the whole night fighting the urge to splurge. If you need to burn off steam, think exercise or talk to a friend---you'll be less likely to want to soothe yourself with snacks.

Well, I think I'm back for more regular posting!

I've some back pain for the last 2 months and haven't much felt like sitting here for long. It's a regular thing that happens every year when the rain starts. Since it's June now, rain will be really scarce in Texas! Well, I should correct that to say in MY part of Texas. I think there is a dome that they can close over us and keep the rain out until they really want it! Anyway, I had 3 really,really good days back-wise, but we got yet another front last night and I woke up in pain again. It seems to be much better again today though. I'm optimistic that it's nearly done though. I'm ready to start on that other 74 pounds now though. While I have the back pain, it's so intense that it actually causes me to be nauseous most of the time. I DO NOT like feeling nauseated. I guess I don't really have to say that I sorta gave up trying to lose while this was happening, I guess. Anyway, I'm up about 6 pounds which in my opinion isn't too horrible for over 2 months. I've decided not to start counting pounds again and posting it until I lose the 6 first though. Yea, it's a mind thing. I think I've mentioned that my mind is wierd before though.
I cooked my Miracle Rice yesterday. I've missed it, I think. Anyway, it's time to give the dratted 74 hell. HABANERO POWER FOREVER! I posted some new recipes on the recipe pages!

SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT!!!

"Heart Attack Entrées with Side Orders of Stroke"
Overly Salty Restaurant Meals Present Long-Term Health Risks for All, and Immediate Danger for Some

WASHINGTON—Unsafe levels of sodium chloride, or salt, in chain restaurant meals increase one's chance of developing hypertension, heart attacks, strokes, and kidney disease according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. The nonprofit food safety and nutrition watchdog group today is exposing chain restaurant meals with dangerously high levels of sodium and is renewing its call on industry and government to lower sodium levels in foods.

People with high blood pressure, African Americans, and people middle-aged and older—70 percent of the population—should consume no more than 1,500 milligrams (mg) of sodium daily, according to the government’s dietary advice. Others should consume no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day. Yet it is almost impossible to get restaurant meals with reasonably safe levels of sodium. A lifetime of eating much more than the recommended amounts of sodium presents an increased risk of disease in the long term. But for some, particularly the elderly, consuming 4,000 mg or more of sodium in a single meal can present an immediate risk of heart failure or other serious problems.

CSPI researchers examined 17 chains and found that 85 out of 102 meals had more than a day's worth of sodium, and some had more than four days' worth, including these:

Red Lobster Admirals' Feast with Caesar Salad, Creamy Lobster Topped Mashed Potato, Cheddar Bay Biscuit, and a Lemonade: 7,106 mg

Chili's Buffalo Chicken Fajitas (with tortillas and condiments) and a Dr Pepper: 6,916 mg
Chili's Honey-Chipotle Ribs with Mashed Potatoes with Gravy, Seasonal Vegetables, and a Dr Pepper: 6,440 mg

Olive Garden Tour of Italy (lasagna) with a Breadstick, Garden Fresh Salad with House Dressing, and a Coca-Cola: 6,176 mg

Olive Garden Chicken Parmigiana with a Breadstick, Garden Fresh Salad with House Dressing, and Raspberry Lemonade: 5,735 mg

Children eating at chain restaurants don’t fare much better than their parents or grandparents. According to the Institute of Medicine, children aged 4-8 should consume no more than 1,200 mg of sodium per day. These meals that have one or two days' worth of sodium:

Red Lobster Chicken Fingers, Biscuit, Fries, Raspberry Lemonade: 2,430 mg

Chili's Country Fried Chicken Crispers with Rice and 1% milk: 2,385 mg

KFC Popcorn Chicken with Macaroni and Cheese, Teddy Grahams, and 2% milk: 2,005 mg

Jack in the Box Chicken Strips Grilled, Buffalo Sauce, Fries, and 1 % milk: 1,980 mg

Olive Garden Chicken Fingers, Fries, and Raspberry Lemonade: 1,835 mg

#1 DIET MYTH THAT MAKES US FAT

Low-carb andno-carb strategies make it harder, not easier, to lose wieght. You actually need carbs to burn fat, according to Nancy Snyderman, MD, chief medical editor for NBC News and author of DIET MYTHS THAT KEEP US FAT AND THE 101 TRUTHS THAT WILL SAVE YOUR WAISTLINE---AND MAYBE EVEN YOUR LIFE. Why? Because your body uses carbs to fuel its energy-producing system. Try whole-grain cereals and breads, brown rice, and, YES, potatoes.

GOT MY NEW HEALTH MAGAZINE!!!

I really love this magazine. I learn something every time it comes in the mail. Here are a couple of interesting things that I read in this one.

3.1 That's the speed, in mph, at which you'll burn the most fat if you have 10 or more pounds to lose!!!! They say this came from the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine.

Bike off you diabetes risk---in 3 minutes! Go all out on an exercise bike for just 3 minutes and your body may get 23% better at using insulin to move sugar from your blood to you muscles, according to a new European study. Researchers thing the large muscles you use to pour it on may be the most efficient at using insulin.

Down 100.6 pounds!

Well, I finally broke the dam on the 100 pounds! In celebration(?) of this, I posted the fat pic and the not-so-fat pic on the right side! Gonna get daughter to take a new one soon.

Very interesting!

I love estate sales. I usually go to a couple each weekend. Yesterday I went to one and bought another old low-fat cookbook. It was published in 1956. It said that the average American back then took in 100 grams of fat or even more a day! Well, that made me wonder about the average now. I looked on the net and found this:

Weight Management: The American DilemmaThe problems of obesity and lack of nutrition awareness also seem to have a cultural component. Take a look at fast food restaurants. Most of these restaurants offer "super-size" or "value" meals, which often contain an entire day's worth of calories and fat.
Statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture reveal that Americans' total daily caloric intakes have risen by 148 calories per day since 1980. This amount reflects an extra 15 pounds every year.
Interestingly, the same studies show that the amount of fat in the average American diet has decreased from 40 percent of total calories to 33 percent during the same period. So even though calories from fat have decreased -- at nine calories per gram of fat versus only four for a gram of carbohydrate or protein -- Americans have more than made up for their lower fat intakes with larger portion sizes of other types of foods. Larger portion sizes equal more calories. And more calories lead to weight gain, regardless of the source of the calories -- fat, protein, or carbohydrate.
Fat provides a feeling of fullness, which can help some people avoid eating to excess. By cutting fat out of their diets, people may loose this signal to stop eating. In addition, many "low-fat" and "no fat" foods can be just as high -- and in some cases higher -- in calories compared to the regular versions.

How to Estimate Portion Sizes
What's a portion size? According to the American Dietetic Association, you can use the following "models" to approximate portion sizes:
One deck of playing cards equals one serving (three ounces) of meat, poultry, or fish (can also use the palm of a woman's hand or a computer mouse).
Half a baseball equals one serving (one-half cup) of fruit, vegetables, pasta, or rice (can also use a small fist).
Your thumb equals one serving (one ounce) of cheese.
A small hand holding a tennis ball equals one serving (one cup) of yogurt or chopped fresh greens.

Now I would venture to say that personally, I would be willing to bet that I was eating possibly triple the average fats, at least! One article says that most fast food meals contain A WHOLE DAY's worth of calories and fat. I used to eat at the Golden Corral almost every day. After reading their nutrition page, I quit that! Lord have mercy, no wonder I weighed 300+! I hope this can be helpful to someone out there.

Veggies are good for us!

I was getting a little bored of the same things though. I tend to do that. Today is the 5th anniversary of my mom's parting with this life, so I've had her on my mind this week. I think that's what got me craving these dishes that I grew up on! I hope ya'll will try them. Veggies are good. Summer's coming and these are really good when it's hot! I just made a big ol' bowl of marinated cucumbers and put it in the fridge. I have a pot of potatoes cooked and cooling for potato salad too! You can't even beat these recipes with a stick!

If you read the blog...

you know how I feel about hot peppers. Well, I found some jalapeno tortilla chips! I like them a lot. The only question in my mind is...how could you tell if they went bad on you? They are dusted with GREEN! Bwahahaha! Sorta disgusting looking, but definitely very good!

Spice Up Your Meals!

Spicy foods contain chemical compounds(capsaisin) that kick the metabolism into high gear. Eating a tablespoon of chopped red or green chili pepper can temporarily boost your metabolic rate by 23 percent. Some studies suggest the effect only lasts about half an hour, but if you eat spicy foods often, the benefits may add up. For a quick boost, spice up pasta dishes, chili, and stews with red-pepper flakes.

Thanks!

to spercious and Sherry for joining my blog as followers! I'll do my best to keep posting things to make it worth following..hahaha! I read another metabolism article that was interesting,but I have to fine where I read it first before I can post it! In order to comment on here...You just click below the posts on "0(or however many) comments". A little separate window will pop up and you just type in there! I've been thinking of starting a thread where other people can post there weights and losses and goals if the want to....what do you think?

OK! I walked this morning!

Went for my mile and rode the bike for another 2. I had jelly legs after the bike! I actually felt pretty good though! I guess I'll keep on doing it!

Interesting article in Prevention magazine!

7 Ways to Beat Stress

This article said that your body responds to stress-physical or psychological- in the same way. So every time you have a stressful day, your brain acts as though you're in physical danger and instructs your cells to release powerful hormones. You get a burst of adrenalin, which taps stored energy to fight or flee. At the same time, you get a surge of cortisol, which tells your body to replenish that energy even though you haven't used very many calories in your stressed-out state. This can make you hungry....very hungry. AND your body keeps pumping out that cortisol as long as the stress continues.
Sooooo chronic stress can keep you from losing weight, in spite of normally healthy eating patterns and exercising! This can even cause you to add pounds!!! Stress causes you to crave sweet, salty and high-fat foods because they stimulate the brain to release pleasure chemicals that actually do reduce tension. This soothing effect becomes addictive, so that whenever you are anxious, you reach for fattening foods.
Another thing that happens is that while your adrenal glands are pumping out cortisol, production of muscle-building testosterone slows down. Over time, this can decrease your muscle mass, so you burn fewer calories.
Cortisol also encourages your body to store fat-especially visceral fat, which is really dangerous because it surrounds vital organs and releases fatty acids into your blood.raising cholesteral levels and insulin levels.
This was written by a Ph.D and she says to do these 7 things to reduce stress.
1. Drop and do 10
She says any exercise,no matter how little will make your blood circulate more quickly, transporting the cortisol to the kidneys and flushing it out of your system.
2.Go slowly at meals.
She says that slowing down eating may lower cortisol levels.
3.Stop strict dieting.
She says that constant dieting can make cortisol level rise. When you cortisol spikes, your blood sugar goes haywire, first rising,then plummeting. This makes you cranky and then ravenous.
4. Give in to cravings.
When stress drives you toward something sweet or salty, it's ok to yield a little. Just stop at one.
5. Curtail caffiene.
Next time you're under duress, pick decaf. When you are under stress, caffeine drives your cortisol levels even higher!
6. De-stress breakfast.
Deficiencies in B vitamins,vitamin C,Calcium and magnesium are stressful to your body. Fight back by eating a breakfast that high in these. Some OJ, a grapefruit,or a large handful of strawberries to supply C: 6-8 oz. of low-fat yogurt, which has calcium and magnesium: and a whole grain bagel or toast with a bit of peanut butter.
7. Sleep it off.
The most effective stress-reduction of all: Get enough sleep!

A REVELATION!

I think I'm onto something here. I was reading an article in a magazine last night and it said that as you reduce, you should reduce the amount you eat. This makes sense! It said that as you get smaller, you need less to keep you going. It said in order to keep losing, you should be taking in less food. I just didn't think about that at all! I guess that because I lost 100 pounds that I would just continue to lose. Anyway, this makes so much sense to me. I've been eating the same amount since I started this and now I'm gonna try reducing amounts and see if I start to lose again! I still have 75 pounds to kick some butt on!

Whoohoo!

I walked a mile this morning! I thought about walking a second one,but the sun came out and that was that! When I got back to the house, I got on the bike and rode 3 and a quarter miles! My back didn't hurt when I rode the bike, so I do think that the back pain was caused by the weight. Anyway, I think the losing without exercise has come to an end. That's ok! I can deal with it! I feel so much better now that maybe I won't hate it so much....well, I can hope anyway! It doesn't really matter though because I have to do it. I WILL lose the other 75 pounds!
I"m cleaning out the closet today. I have a stack of fat clothes that is now about 7-8 feet tall! I tried some on just to see the difference. Boy, what a difference! I looked like a little kid playing dress up in mom's clothes! Bwahahaha!
Ok. gotta go finish the closet.

I bought a new scale!

Well, I broke down and bought a new scale. The old one was just driving me nuts. This one seems to weigh 10 pounds higher than the old one did. I figure 100 pounds is a hundred pounds. If this scale is right though, then I actually weighed 314 when I started losing. That means I had 185 to lose instead of 175. Ugh! Anyway, for now I've decided to just subtract 10 when I weigh and keep up with my loss and when I get to end I'll worry about the other 10! I'm NOT stopping until the scale reads 129 though! I'm gonna have to force myself to exercise though. The losing has virtually stopped. Maybe,just maybe, I might have to force myself to get on that damned exercise bike this afternoon and see what happens!

100 POUNDS!

I finally hit the 100 pound mark on 2/23/09! It took me 13 months and 1 week! I'm turning into one of the disgustingly happy people who used to annoy the hell out of me. Hahahaha! I had no idea how miserable I was I guess. I feel great. I'm happy. I switched jobs, so I'm not miserable there either anymore! When I manage to quit smoking, I'll be so stinkingly buoyant and happy that nobody will be able to stand me!!!!!
I've cleaned my whole house. It was in pretty bad shape. When I was so overweight,I didn't have the energy. I do now. My next project is going through the tons of fat clothes that I have and getting them out of my closet. I started that yesterday. I found a bunch of size 1X pants that fit me now! Last winter, I was wearing size 5-6X! Whoa! 1X is much better!

Do's and Don'ts

Someone asked for a list of dos and don'ts. I hope these help! I've lost 100 pounds now, so I hope that can inspire some of you.



Don't:
Don't do a lot of eating out.
Don't give up all your favorites.(You will feel deprived!)
Don't use cooking oil if you can help it.
Don't cook a recipe that you don't have any idea what the fat content could be.
Don't lose too fast. ( You want your skin to remember where it lives!)
Don't give up if you slip!
Don't concentrate on calories. Just don't eat something that you know is loaded with them.
Don't skip meals,expecially breakfast!


DO:
Eat lots of veggies.
Keep your fat grams as low as possible in everything you buy.
Use no-fat cooking sprays instead of oil.
Buy a carton of egg whites.
Use fat-free milk.
Buy things that say heart-healthy because the fat will be lower.
Switch to a smaller size plate.
When you eat, make your plate HALF veggies, 1/4 protein and 1/4 should be like pasta,rice,potatoes, etc.
If you have sweets, buy the small size of anything. I buy lots of 100-calorie snacks because of portion control.
If you can eat them, use hot peppers in your cooking. They speed up metabolism!
Always eat breakfast..it starts your metabolism.
Eat a small snack halfway between meals to keep the metabolism going.
It's ok to eat a late snack before bedtime. Just make it something healthy....not a whole meal or a big slice of that bad,bad cake,etc.
Low-fat soups are a good thing.
Cooking with Healthy Request "cream of" soups is a good thing. They are your friends!
Trim off every visible spot of fat on meats.
Use skinless chicken. Breast cuts are best.
Turkey is a good thing.
Use the leanest hamburger you can get.
Buy a bottle of I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S NOT BUTTER spray.
Use fat-free products that are available in anything you like.
Keep your portions down.

I HAVE ADDED A COUPLE OF NEW THINGS!

I added a gadget at the top on the right where you can subscribe to posts and comments. You pick which way you want to subscribe. You can still sign up to be a follower down lower though. Love ya all!

97.5!!!!!!!!

Yup! That's right! My habaneros worked again! Another pound and a half.Whoohoo! Ok, enough celebrating. Anew friend wants to know about how much to eat and since I don't actually count anything, the only thing I can think to do is tell her what I ate yesterday and hope it gives her some idea! Here goes, Tasha!
Breakfast:
1 egg+2 egg whites,scrambled
2 Jimmy Dean turkey sausage patties
1 English muffin-half with olive oil margarine & half with fruit spread
Diet Pepsi (this has the least sodium of all of them that I can find that actually taste good)

Small bag of Funyons cause I missed my snack and we were late for lunch and I thought I was dying!

Lunch:
Miracle Rice(I had about 2 cups of it)
Steamed cabbage with I can't believe it's not butter spray and salt and pepperAbout 3/4 cup
Corn on the cob-2 half ears with ICBINB spray
1 100-calorie Mrs.Freshley's swiss rolls(CHOCOLATE!!)
Diet Pepsi

Snack:
About a cup of my Miracle Rice

Dinner:
About a half cup of Red Steak( it's smothered steak with catsup in it)( yes,it's my recipe)
1/2 a medium baked potato with a little of the gravy off the steak on it
small can of English peas with ICBINB spray and lots of black pepper
small can of asparagus(nothing on it)
Diet Pepsi(do we detect a trend here?) hahaha!

1 more 100-calorie Mrs. Freshley's swiss rolls! (I DO love that chocolate!)

That's what I ate and I lost 1.5 pounds overnight!
I'm going to check now and see if the recipe for Red Steak is posted. If it's not, I'll post it! It's very good. My husband loves it and I have modified it to be lower fat.

Welcome to my new Inspire friends!

Starting next week when I switch over to my new job, I plan on posting more of my weirdness! More recipes,etc. If you come here, please click on the right side to become a follower.....I would love to know that you came here.

Back on track!

Yep, I seem to be losing again. Oh well, doesn't everybody need a hiatus from the battle during the holidays? I'm happy and that's good!

Whew!

I made it to 95 pounds! Happy,happy,happy!

OK..the holidays are over....

I can be normal again....Lordy, I hate the holidays! I'm planning on doing everything in my power to NOT spend another holiday season in retail. Anyway, I've been stuck on 93 pounds for over a month. I still consider myself successful though because although I haven't lost more, I haven't gained any either!