Is That Your 6-pack?

I TOLD you I was doing my crunches! I also added weights to work on muscle tone and definition during 2nd Cup of Coffee’s 30 x 5 challenge!

I got an email the other day from a friend that owns a health business. Since I know her, I figured she wouldn’t mind if I borrowed her body today. Her photo was labeled with the fact that she’s 52. Truth is, I NEVER had abs like this. Not when I was 20 or 30 or 40 and definitely not at 50. I love her but you can trust I won’t be hanging out at the pool with her. I had more fun doctoring this photo than you can imagine.

The good news is I exceeded the goal to exercise at least 30 minutes on 10 of 14 days during Linda’s challenge. I liked pretending I was in one big exercise class with the 50 or so women participating. All the better that you couldn’t actually see me. ; )

On the food part of the challenge, rather than looking for things to deny myself, I found some new favorite snacks in the 2 point range. Linda’s the one that got me started on the Pumpkin Spice/Flax Kashi bars and the almonds. I don’t know who told me about the Laughing Cow cheese that is only 50 calories for a serving. Partnered with 7 triscuit thin crisps, I’ve got a wonderful snack for 2 points! I also enjoy getting out a plate and cutting up an apple as a snack. It feels like a mini meal if I put it on a plate for some reason. I love variety; in my diet, in my friends, in my reading, in my life!
As for me and the scale – we’ve separated. That idiot was driving me nuts, was unfaithful and was emotionally abusive. He's banished to the garage. I'll let you know if I reconsider.

I feel great and am less squishy and jiggly. I’m just glad I no longer share adjectives with a dish of pudding. No 6-pack abs or buns of steel but hey, progress is progress.

Of Carrots & Cookies

I’ve heard it said that more people are motivated by the fear of loss than by the prospect of gain. That’s hard for me to imagine, since I’ve determined I am absolutely in the latter category. Put the carrot in front of me and I’m off to the races (a cookie works even better).

Participating in Linda’s 30 x 5 challenge (part 2) has brought this to the front of my thinking. The first challenge is to exercise for at least 30 min. per day, 5 days a week. I’m actually enjoying that, except for the shoulder muscle I pulled using the new weights Builderman fixed up for me. My technique apparently leaves room for improvement. This week, we added part 2 to the challenge, which means denying yourself a 100 calorie indulgence daily; the fine art of resisting. I believe I’ve heard that referred to as self-discipline. Can you see my eyes rolling?

As a result of this focus, I find myself thinking “what can I NOT have that I want today?” Of course, immediately I start picturing favorite forbidden foods. Instead, I find it more productive to think on “what can I have that’s delicious and healthy?” Maybe there’s a big kid inside me, okay, so there IS a big kid inside me. I’ve got to work with her, so I’ve decided my mind needs to focus on four things I will do today to be stronger, healthier and more fit. Just for today. Tomorrow has enough worries of it’s own, so here’s what I can do today:

1. Eat 5 servings of fruit and vegetables.
2. Drink 8 glasses of water
3. Exercise for at least 30 minutes.
4. Celebrate Friday. (That’s a good reason for a celebration, don’t ya think?)

If anyone wants to throw in an incentive for me, you won’t believe what I’ll do for a Starbucks card. : ) What motivates you?

Keeping it Simple – Saturday Stirrings

I’ve never liked making soup. Until I found the way to make delicious soup with just 3 ingredients. Really. The secret is Bear Creek Soup Mix. Just add water. I also add some fresh vegetables. I started with the Creamy Potato and we really liked it. It’s sheer magic how a dried soup mix can be so creamy and rich.

We went to a Super Bowl party where the hostess offered 4 different kinds of soup. I was impressed, but she laughed and confessed they were from Bear Creek soup mix. My favorite that night was Broccoli Cheddar and I’ve made it several times since. It’s not as fattening as it sounds. One cup has 170 calories, 7 grams of fat and 1 gram of fiber. That’s just 4 weight watcher points and it’s filling. Granted, that doesn't compete with Carol's ZERO point soup! Go on over to Saturday Stirrings for the recipe.

Memories in a Peanut Shell

It’s fall in the panhandle of Florida. The weather is no clue to the season, as it’s hot as blue blazes. But Builderman boiled some green peanuts last week from the fall peanut crop and oh my, they are delicious. I suspect it’s a southern thing, this love of boiled peanuts. Which of course, are loaded with enough fat grams to cause my Weight Watchers diary to explode.

With every bowl of peanuts I’ve had in the past week, I’ve been transported by memories of happy family times. Here’s the simple recipe:

Boiled Peanuts
5 pounds of green peanuts.
Water to cover.
1 and ¼ cup of salt.
Boil for 4-6 hours or until tender.
Do NOT add more salt if you taste-test and they don’t’ seem salty enough. They get saltier by the next day. Store in their own juice. Can be frozen.

I have my great-uncle to thank for my love of peanuts. Uncle Fleming was without a doubt the favorite uncle of my childhood. He is my grandmother’s brother and moved to heaven about 8 years ago. He was a gentleman farmer – I can’t think of anyone who personifies southern Alabama the way he did.

He grew peanuts and cotton and raised cows… he owned a cotton gin, a peanut mill and a feed mill and half the farmland in southern Alabama. (I jest - but it seemed like it to me when we “rode” his land with me and my cousins in the back of his pickup truck.) And he believed that all children should love peanuts, so he bought us Reese’s peanut butter cups, boiled peanuts, roasted peanuts, peanut M & M’s… you get the picture.

My nutshell memories of him include him tossing ice water over the top of the outdoor shower on us when we were at the Beach House in the summer. He loved practical jokes.

His love of black knee-high socks with shorts. No matter what the color of his shorts, he wore those gigantic long socks.

He always bought me coin banks and talked to me about saving money.

He always drove a black pick-up truck. He owned a tiny white poodle that would ride in the front with him. That always cracked me up. You would expect a hound dog or bird dog, not a well-groomed miniature poodle.

To do this day, I think that a cotton field is one of the prettiest sites I’ve ever seen. I absolutely love driving through the country of southern Alabama to go see my grandmother. That’s on the schedule for this coming weekend. I’ll have a bag of peanuts for the road.

Saturday Stirrings

This weight watcher's recipe is a hit at my house - even with two guys who like hearty meals that don't smack of reduced fat. (They don't know it's a weight watcher's recipe!)
Of course, I was disappointed that the "pie" is a bit of a misnomer. (No crunchy, buttery pie crust here, but then it wouldn't be mexican either) But it's very tasty. I got it from someone else and it's from the Core plan, so I don't know the points.

Fiesta Tamale Pie in a Pan

Ingredients
1 cup yellow cornmeal
2 1/4 cups cold water, with 2 chicken bouillon cubes ( you could probably use stock instead)
1 lb 93% lean ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1 large green pepper, chopped
4 teaspoons canola oil
3 teaspoons chili powder
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 dash pepper
1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
1 (10 ounce) can Mexican-style tomatoes (Ro-tel brand works)
1 (16 ounce) can whole no-sugar-added kernel corn (with juice)
1 (16 ounce) can dark no-sugar-added kidney beans
1 cup shredded fat-free cheddar cheese

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350*.
2. Combine cornmeal, water and chicken bouillon in a medium saucepan; whisk or stir constantly over medium heat until slightly thickened.
3. Spread in a 9 X 13-inch baking pan, sprayed with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
4. In a large skillet, brown beef, onion, green pepper, and canola oil.
5. Add chili powder, garlic, salt and pepper, and stir well.
6. Add tomato paste, Ro-Tel, corn, and kidney beans, and mix well.
7. Spread mixture evenly over the cornmeal mixture and top with 1 cup shredded fat free cheddar cheese (Can substitute soy cheese).
Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees.

For more recipes, visit Carol's site for Saturday Stirrings. Better yet, link up one of your favorites.
Recipes that someone has made are far better than a test from a recipe book, in my opinion.

Queen of Denial

When it comes to weight watching, I am the Queen of Denial.
I have been watching my weight creep up on the scale this year and decided my scales were broken. I quit going to weight watcher’s to weigh in because in January I had to pay for being over my goal weight and didn’t want to spend money on something unpleasant. Better to stay at home and stay in denial. But when all my pants got really tight I got worried. Then I went to a doctor’s appointment and guess what? My scales aren’t broken and my clothes didn’t shrink in the dryer.

So, I am back on weight watchers and seeing as I could teach the classes, I’m trying to do it on my own. I found this cool online points counter. I also found a weight ticker but I’m not posting that for all to see. I have been seriously following the points program for 2 weeks today and I’ve lost a grand 1.5 pounds. Sigh. Doesn’t seem enough for all the effort, but that’s the way it works for me. At least I’m going in the right direction after 8 months of denial.

In the meantime, I went shopping for Spanx to wear under my dress for the wedding later this month. My shoes are open-toed, my legs are tan and it’s in South Florida, so I’ve been told that it’s acceptable to not wear stockings. However, I want to keep everything smooth and tucked in. ; ) Kohl’s had zero salespeople in the store to help me find what I was looking for, so I left. They had lots of other brands available but I was overwhelmed by the choices and didn’t feel like trying on. If you don’t’ know what Spanx are, congratulations. If you do, can you tell me if it’s important to stick with the brand name? Can anybody make a suggestion?

Footnote: Would you believe I went to summer camp in North Carolina when I was in Jr. High with Pam Tillis who recorded Queen Of Denial? Really. Mel flew her in – we were all pretty impressed. She had quite a voice, even at 13. I still remember the song she taught me that she had written.

Happy Weight

Bet you thought I was going to tell you I am now happy with my weight. Fooled you! But I am closer in my mind, which definitely counts.

In my bloggy wanderings yesterday, I visited a site called The ELFF Diet (Eat Less Fatty Food Diet) and was encouraged by her post on Your Happy Weight. She summarized an article from last month’s Self magazine, (which I don’t read on purpose- but that’s another blog topic). I loved this test on finding your happy weight. I was encouraged because this test revealed exactly the number as my WW goal weight. Here’s the test:

• Step 1 - Multiply your height in inches by itself and and then that number by .031. 66 inches x 66 inches = 4356 x .031 = 135 (This is your weight at a body mass index of 22)
• Step 2 - Multiply the number by .95 if you have a small frame, leave it unchanged if you have a medium frame, and by 1.05 if you have a large frame. (To determine your frame size, measure around your wrist. Under 5'2", small frame is less than 5.5, medium frame is 5.5 to 5.75, and large frame is more than 5.75. 5'2" to 5'5", small is less than 6, medium 6 to 6.25 and large is over 6.25. If you are over 5'5", small frame is less than 6.25, medium is 6.25 to 6.5, and large frame is more than 6.5. Whew. That's a lot of numbers!) I come up with a small frame, having a wrist measurement of 5.75. So 135 x .95 = 128
• Step 3 - Add one pound if a sibling or parent is obese. +1 = 129
• Step 4 - Add 2 pounds for each decade you are over age 20. +2 = 131
• Step 5 - Add 5 pounds if you've had any children. +5 = 136
• Step 6 - Subtract 1 pound if you exercise and weight train once a week, 2 pounds if you do it three times a week and 3 pounds for five or more days a week. - 3 = 133
• Step 7 - Add 4 pounds if you smoked at least a pack a day for a year or more and have quit.
• Step 8 - Add 1 pound if you allow yourself a treat now and then. +1 = 134

This number will give you your happy weight.

I have been so encouraged the last 24 hours thinking about my “happy weight” and I find this interesting. For the last two months I have been beating myself over the head and not talking politely to me about still being 4 pounds over my goal. This negative self-talk was not motivating me. I realize that I am a person who is motivated to move toward what I want, rather than away from want I don’t want. I have read that the average person is more motivated to move away from pain, than motivated to move toward pleasure. That is definitley not the case with me. This could become a deep discussion with lots of examples but I will keep it on the subject of weight today. Instead of telling myself, “you are getting fat and that is not smart and you look bad”, I have been saying, “I am happiest when I am at my ideal weight, I feel better, my clothes fit great and I am happy about that!” So simple, yet so powerful. So be happy, no matter what your weight and be polite when you talk to yourself. Life is good.

I'm a Lifer

I’m a lifer. A lifetime weight watcher, that is. Guess what? I gained weight over the holidays (along with most of America). However, since I am still accountable to someone, I have to get with the program and get it off. I started today. I am blogging about it so that I feel even more accountable. Day 1 was good. Check me on day 5! I can be hit and miss with self-discipline. I have always been health conscious and keenly interested in nutrition. But somehow, when I hit 40, I started gaining several pounds a year and before I knew it, I had 25 extra pounds that had appeared on my body. I was shocked one day when I went to buy some good pantyhose to wear to a wedding and read the size chart. Oh my gosh, the chart said I was queen size! I thought there had to be some mistake, but have you ever bought pantyhose that are too small? That is mistake you regret every moment until you get them off. So I bought my queen size hose for the first and last time and made a plan. I am happy to report that the Weight Watchers program does work. It has been almost 2 years since I got rid of that extra baggage and by weigh-in time, I will be back in line. It is amazing how mental the whole process is! I am talking to myself about loving veggies today. “The pain of discipline is better than the pain of regret”, I recite to myself. It’s easier to take off 4 pound than 25!! I should know.

Top Choices for “Legal” Food (Low points!)

1. Popcorn – Smart Pop. I can eat a whole bag!
2. Pickles (cucumbers are a vegetable, right?!)
3. Skinny Cows (Giant ice cream sandwich with only 2 points. Yum!)
4. Cottage cheese. If I can’t have much regular cheese this is a consolation prize.
5. Clementines. These are tangerines…. Very delicious and easy to eat.
6. Cantaloupe & strawberries. (Preferably together)
7. Weight Watchers’ Fudge Bars (A real bargain – just 1 point)
8. Sprouts. Make a pita sandwich look fat and they’re good!
9. 100 calorie pack cookies.
10. I need to think of more before I go grocery shopping.