Lost 4 lbs.

Yeah! I lost 4 lbs. WOW! I was not sure I would loose any exepecially the pasta I ate from last weekend. I did though bought myself a scale. My other scale was always off when I stand on it. When I leaned a little to the left, I lost 5 lbs. and I leaned to the right, I gain 7 lbs. When I leaned forward I gained a lot. I like it when I leaned to the left.

I research a lot of scales on line and it seems that Taylor made company are the best with the reviews of 4 out of 5 stars. Weight Watchers are good, too but expensive and not sure (a good of the reviews says, it brake and off its weight by 10 lbs. in a month). I did get a digital instead of the magic red wand version.

Taylor 7329 Electronic Lithium Scale - see picture above.

Don't Cheat

I know, it is hard to get on the scale and get disappointed. I know, I didn't do so good last weekend, I had pasta and tomato sauce with Italian bread and butter. But we, all, have to face the truth and reality. It is a struggle to face it, but it will be a lesson to learn for the next time you face one of your demon, bad foods like pasta.

I always think, it is an awaking, a learning process to correct what I should have done. I mean it is OK to have pasta or anything other bad foods but not to over to it. Like, I know, I should not have to Italian bread. I should have had wheat or herbal bread. Everything we do wrong is a lesson to learn and to move on from.

Steam-Zip

Ziploc Brand "Zip-n-Steam" are a great way to cook your meal without the fat. It allows the food to be steamed under pressure so that it is cooked thoroughly and evenly for healthy meals. You can cook vegetables, fish and even fruit which is great apples on top of you pancakes. Check it out on the Ziploc website for recipes. Click on green square at the button on the bottom "Browse Recipes".

Apple

Heart doesn't begin with the letter "A" but Apple does. The vitamin C in apples helps keep your cholesterol levels stable (even lowers the levels by 10% by having 2 apples a day). Also, the pectin, which is a solution in apples, carries out lead and mercury from your body safely. The malic and tartaric acids in apples helps to balance the acid by-products of indigestion and helps your body cope with leftover protein or fatty foods. So, when cooking, put an apple in your dish like purée an apple on your pork or stuffed an apple in your goose.

Eating RAW apples are great source for our body's digestive system. People who suffer from arthritis, rheumatism and gout should eat apples regularly. This fruit is an wonderful detox especially after the holidays.

Apple : Circulatory - Digestive - Joints

iyogalife

iyogalife.com is a great website to learn yoga exercise. They have wonder step by step instructions and video to do the moves on yoga exercise. From strenching to breathing, they have great tips to release and balances your body into center of control. They have beginners to advance levels in different poses. They have yoga cures which is different poses in needs of a pacific part of your body. Like if you need back exercise, they have a listing of poses instructions on it. Yoga is a wonderful exercise to have in your everyday life. One thing I like is their custom workouts. I call them yoga dancing. You can sign up for their e-newsletters for more tips on yoga.

Cravings

Cravings—a powerful desire for certain foods—seems to be attached to our brain's reward system. OUr emotions and pleasant situations, like the birthday cake that mom make you, can trigger a craving. When you eat a food you crave, your brain releases dopamine, a natural chemical related to pleasure. So, what do you do next time if this craving start to happen again though you are stuffed for lunch?

Accept defeat. Choose NOT to act on the craving for food. Try to ignore the craving and admit to yourself that you want the food. You will always be pulled to the food prevents you from acting on the feeling every time it comes up.

Give in, a LITTLE. You can surrendering to your craving sometimes – as long as you can control your portion sizes. Instead eating out of the bag, put your chips in a bowl.

Imagination. Try to keep your imagination of food in your short term memory of your brain. Remember when your mom made those hot chewy chocolate brownies and the smell of the chocolate in the house. Remember the good times with your mom, not the eating of the entire cake pan of brownies.

Substitutions. Instead of the candy or cake, go for apple bran muffin or a piece of sweet fruit. Read the nutrition label on the package of chocolate cookies or any other sweet food and replace it with something else with LESS fat and calories.

You know what is best for you. Act on it.

Homemade Banana Ice Cream

Here is a simple and easy made desert with no weird ingredients.

1 Banana (it adds up to 1/2 cup)
(Optional: dark Hershey chocolate chips and vanilla wafers)

Peel the banana and slice into pieces into a zip lock bag. Then put in the freezer over night. The next day, take out of the freezer (It might look dark brown, if it was a ripe banana but don't be alarmed. You can keep the banana in the freezer for 5 to 8 days.) Let it sit out for about 5 minutes to thaw. While it is thawing, you can get out your food processer or high speed blender. Put the banana in the processor, close lid and switch ON. Let it process until the banana looks like soft ice cream, light and fluffy. You could add cinnamon, if you like. Add vanilla wafers or chocolate chips (TIP: dark chocolate had less sugar). Enjoy a cool, full-filling and health treat.

Numb All Over

Did you ever feel numb all over your body and it hurts all over? Your body feels exhausted and weak, it like your walking on air but your mind is not there. You feel like you are getting a cold or flu but it is not that. It hurts to smile and you feel sad. Your mind is somewhere else and you can't think and your in the dazes. I hate this feeling, so does everyone else.

It's hard to snap out this this unpleasant feeling. The more you push yourself, the more your body turns you down. The best result is to let your body relax and meditate. Lie on your back with a pillow under your head and knees for support. Cover yourself up with your soft blanket (Snoopy's pal, Linus blue blanket) and listen to soft rock or your favorite music artist to calm your nerves. You could lite up a vanilla or lilac candle to sooth your mind to calm your senses.

Close your eyes and put your arm to your side. Just let your body go into a deep relaxing feeling. Work on relaxing your body from one part to the next. Start with your toes, to your feet, to your calves, to your thighs and so on, to the top of your head and fingers. You'll feel heavy and relax, let the surface underneath you hold your body. Don't hold anything back. Listen to your heart beat to the sound of the music. BREATH in and out from your diaphram and lungs as you breath in the senses of scent of the candle. Move your head, side to side by stretching your neck muscles. Keep listening to the music. You may want to "Hmmmmmmmmm" when you exhale during your breathing. It might be silly, but it releases tension in your chest.

You'll probably fall asleep but, he,y your body is asking for it. I always believe that you should listen to your body and react to it. Never push yourself to the extreme. Treat your body well and it will treat you better.

Chick-fil-a Nutrition Fact

Once again, there are times, you don't have time to cook or prepare your food when you are hungry. I saw an article about Chick-fil-a Restaurant that they are easy on the fat and they have a good selection of great foods.

1. Grilled Chicken Sandwich - 270 calories (Arby's chicken - 578, Wendy's - 320 and KFC Snacker - 290)
2. Medium Waffle Fries - 350 (Arby's Home style Fries - 377 (Curly-397), Wendy's - 420 and McDonald's - 370)
3. Unsweetened Ice Tea (which is freshly made and good) - 0 calories
4. Grilled Chicken Wrap - 410 (which are big and enough; watch for the dressing - choose the mustard, ranch, honey mustard or BBQ sauces or reduced fat)
5. They do have side salad or fruit cup, see if they will replace them, instead of fries. It might cost you an extra .50¢ but it will keep your cholesterol lower (stay away from fried foods).

So, choose their Grilled Chicken and medium Waffle Fries with Unsweetened Tea MEAL for only 620 calories (add an 50 more for lite sauces).

Manage Weight Loss Website

Here is a good tips and educational website about losing weight and staying healthy, Manage Weight Loss. This site is a free resource to make you choose healthy food choices and lifestyle changes for you and your family. You can find topics to improve your health and sense of well-being related to weight loss, relationship, diet, exercise, nutrition, vitamins and supplements.

They, also, have a BMI (Body Mass Index Calculator). Sign up to their newsletter and get good topics on weight management.