I am at 149. New goal is 140. Feeling good, feeling great. Watching my mental health too as it gets toward super summer weather with CROWDS of people around here, lots of traffic, bright sun, lots happening, social things, my birthday, wanting to dance all the time, crowds of people... just having to remember that i don't have to do everything and it's ok to "just say no" (i grew up with this from the 80's.) anyways it's ok to not do everything. so managing a balancing act between wanting to lose weight which means being outside all the time and exercising and dancing etc etc and managing my mental health which means taking time to rest and restore and calm down and have alone time and just chill out meditate hang out with my cat... the one thing that helps with both is to get enough (a LOT ) of sleep. i feel so much better the next day, can concentrate better and lose weight too. it's really worth it. :)

From "Shape" magazine: Myth: Losing Weight is Harder than Keeping it Off FACT: More than 90 percent of dieters regain the weight they lost (or more) once they “finish” their plan, Rampolla says. If you resume eating the foods you ate before losing weight, you will gain the weight back—and maybe a few extra pounds. Here’s why: After weight loss, your slimmer body requires fewer calories to function. Plus, if your weight-loss plan does not include enough protein, you might lose muscle mass, in addition to excess fat. Why that’s bad: Muscle burns more calories than fat does, so losing muscle will lower your metabolism. Every day, make a positive decision to stay on track with your new healthy lifestyle. Maintaining healthy eating habits is a lifelong commitment and takes persistence, Rampolla says.

Cynthia sass posted on Facebook that she read a study that people who stopped eating after 5PM were very successful at weight loss. I am thinking i might stop eating even earlier. it used to be 6:30 but i might try and cut it back to 5. which means eating even more earlier in the day. i think it's a good idea. maybe a small snack after 5, i'm not going to be militant, but last meal at 5. :)

At my heaviest:

And the 2nd is how I look now.

you would think that at least some of those children are mine but actually none of them are...  the one on the far left is my sister, the rest are either neighbors or cousins.

Food recommendations for PMS:


http://voices.yahoo.com/the-top-10-food-remedies-actually-reduce-pms-209776.html

motivation to meditate


http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-neurobiology-of-bliss-sacred-and-profane

Wednesday May 9 131

Let me not to the marriage of true mindsAdmit impediments.


Slowly making my way down to 129 again.  Really wanted a pastry from Kellys the other day, but told myself I’d have one when I was back under 130.  Ditto on icecream, etc.  Been eating one skinny cow ic cone a day…not sure if that is bad or good.

Still can’t run, but getting a lot of walking in.  The knee brace helps, and I need to get on the bike also.

I try to have one big helping of vegetables for dinner, sometimes popcorn also.  I'd like to build in a salad for lunch, but I am gone at lunch so often.  When I am home, then yes.

Today's plan:

protein smoothie

toast & pb

1hr 15 min yoga

errands

salad w/tunafish

work in yard if not too hot

bike for 10 min

walk with janet

vegetables

Found this on the web:

Here is what all celebrity food plans have in common:

1) They eat often - at least 5 mini meals per day

2) Every meal has protein.

3) They eat lots of vegetables.

4) They eat unprocessed, low glycemic carbohydrates like fruit, brown rice, and oatmeal.

4.5) They have free meals, and they are totally Zen about it.  When they eat chili fries, they eat chili fries.  But they don't feel like they "totally blew their diet".  They just go right back to it.

Eating fruit has been shown in scientific studies to be connected to a lower (ideal) body weight... with that in mind:

Saturday May 5

Success is almost totally dependent upon drive and persistence. The extra energy required to make another effort or try another approach is the secret of winning.

Sorry I have been gone. My knee is really bothering me and I can't walk much let alone jog. Since jogging is one of my main ways of keeping my weight in balance, I have been unwilling to get on the scales.

Nonetheless, I finally got on this AM, and weigh 131.5. Not too bad, but I have gained 2 lbs from not being able to work out adequately.

I have moved the exercycle back into the family room, and will start biking 20 minutes a day. this will help my knees I think.

Food plan today

protein smoothie

bread & pb

grapefruit

salmon & cheese omelet

vegetable stirfry

I am really sad and upset about firing Mike. It was the right thing to do, and I feel relieved

not to be listening to his mindless defensiveness, but he was my friend for almost 20 years.

I am just living with the sadness. I am also upset about Russ, but I think Mike is more important and I need to focus on that grief.

I have an empty day today. I was supposed to meet up with Martine later, but she had

to cancel. Yoga with Virginia, weeding with LGBC, and then weeding in my yard (and biking)

til dark.

Supermoon tonight. I wish I were watching it with Russ, but will watch it by myself. Sigh.

proof that i can do crow pose

Healthy vs unhealthy carbs

unhealthy carbs:
-white bagel
-croissant
-filling up on simple carbs (like candy) when you are hungry - instead of eating real food
-white bread like "wonder bread"
-things that say "enriched"
-desserts: ice cream, cookies, candy, anything with sugar in it is unhealthy carbs
-white baguette/french bread


Healthy carbs
-fruit
-oatmeal
-whole grain bread
-any whole grain cereal/cooked eg millet, barley, or quinoa
-a little bit of honey for flavoring
-vegetables
-whole grain tortillas
-popcorn (just don't add a ton of calories to it with oil or butter)  I like to add olive oil.

*You know you are eating unhealthy carbs if you can eat eat eat and never get full.  It's because they don't have any nutrients!  Whole grains contain protein and fiber so they fill you up, also they are slower to digest so they keep you fuller for longer.  They will help you feel better and be happier.