I was taking William to football practice the other day, and I heard on the radio about a product (I refuse to mention the name) that allows people to make their own soda. The announcer was just RAVING about this product and how it will save the planet from all the bottles and cans using it will save.
I. Was. Sickened.
They were touting that this product will and can help us MAKE OUR OWN SODA at home...
Yep... just what everyone needs... to make soda in the comfort of their own home...
They went on to say that "You can now control what goes into your soda, in your own home... just purchase the product and buy any or all of the 30 flavors of soda syrup, and watch your money add up in your bank account from all those costly cans and bottles!" or something to that effect... YUCK!!!
What they failed to mention was that the "SYRUP" has all the nutrition and benefits of ABSOLUTELY NOTHING... and everyone might as well just start an IV line of chemicals and byproducts and HFCS directly into their veins...OH... and go ahead and make an appt with a Diabetes Doctor, Cardiologist, and the Funeral Director...
Why don't people get it yet!!! Having never been a real soda drinker, but being married to one, has difficult in the past 20 years. Drinking sodas wreaked havoc on my husbands system... Luckily, he's over his soda addiction and his blood test numbers are all normal now... but seriously... drinking all that junk, DIET OR OTHERWISE... is just about the WORST thing someone can drink... I swear, I would sooner drink bleach!!!
Diabetes is SKYROCKETING around the globe, predominantly in CHILDREN... and I believe that juice boxes, soda, and DIET soda's are the main culprits... couple that with a few fast food meals every week... and it's "goodbye mortality rate" ... hello... funeral director!
Then, yesterday, I was driving home from Los Angeles, and a big sign for a fast food restaurant touted...
"Go on... this is easier than this" And it showed how the bag of fast food is soooo much easier than walking into a kitchen. So the picture showed the bag of food on one side... and a kitchen on the other...nice.. really nice... Why take responsibility for ourselves when permission is EVERYWHERE to just do what is easiest!!!
The two beverages that should be ingested are these... water and tea. THAT'S IT!
If everyone would just switch to drinking ONLY water and tea for a month, not only would the soda habit get broken, but... skin will get better, more money will be in your wallet, health will improve, sugar levels will be lower and weight will be lost. Yes, even diet soda's are the devil... fake sugar is poison... always has been...always will be...
Take the challenge to end your addiction to soda's... won't you? You'll be so glad you did!!!
One month, nothing but water and tea... YOU WILL LOVE THE RESULTS!!!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Salmon/Tuna Salad Wraps
Eating good fish is very important to an eating plan, whether it's a healthy one or not, we all need the Omega 3 Fatty Acids in our diets for heart health and overall vitality.
In 2005, my family and I went to Alaska on a Cruise, and while there, we took a fantastic tour of a Salmon Hatchery, and learned the difference between "Wild Caught" and "Farmed" Salmon... and learned that "Wild Caught" is FAR SUPERIOR. So when I saw the cans, (yes cans) of Wild Caught Alaskan Salmon at Costco a few years back, I started buying them every week. I don't even buy Tuna anymore... and I love Tuna...but I buy it fresh now, in steaks. I buy Salmon fresh too, but most of the fresh Salmon around here is the much more inferior Atlantic Salmon, which is much cheaper, and also less nutritious, and is farmed, therefore it contains high levels of Mercury, and the fish isn't as fresh as it could be...
That being said (I sound like SUCH a food snob, but I guess I am, so I'd better own it) no disrespect to the Altantic Fisherman (hatchery owners) but the Pacific Northwest Salmon is the prized Salmon in Restaurants and tables bar none... that's why it costs so much...
Back to why I'm writing this...
Ahh yes... my recipe for Salmon and/or Tuna fish salad... I eat this wrapped up like tacos in lettuce leaves or cabbage leaves, or on long, thick stalks of celery, or in long boats of freshly seeded cucumbers halves or in hollowed out tomato halves...
YUM!!!!
In 2005, my family and I went to Alaska on a Cruise, and while there, we took a fantastic tour of a Salmon Hatchery, and learned the difference between "Wild Caught" and "Farmed" Salmon... and learned that "Wild Caught" is FAR SUPERIOR. So when I saw the cans, (yes cans) of Wild Caught Alaskan Salmon at Costco a few years back, I started buying them every week. I don't even buy Tuna anymore... and I love Tuna...but I buy it fresh now, in steaks. I buy Salmon fresh too, but most of the fresh Salmon around here is the much more inferior Atlantic Salmon, which is much cheaper, and also less nutritious, and is farmed, therefore it contains high levels of Mercury, and the fish isn't as fresh as it could be...
That being said (I sound like SUCH a food snob, but I guess I am, so I'd better own it) no disrespect to the Altantic Fisherman (hatchery owners) but the Pacific Northwest Salmon is the prized Salmon in Restaurants and tables bar none... that's why it costs so much...
Back to why I'm writing this...
Ahh yes... my recipe for Salmon and/or Tuna fish salad... I eat this wrapped up like tacos in lettuce leaves or cabbage leaves, or on long, thick stalks of celery, or in long boats of freshly seeded cucumbers halves or in hollowed out tomato halves...
YUM!!!!
3 CANS Wild Caught Alaskan Salmon or Albacore Tuna
1 whole onion chopped finely
3-4 ribs celery chopped finely OR 1 tsp celery seed
1 cup dried cranberries, chopped (yes you read that correctly)
1 cup SWEET pickle relish (rinsed under cool water of all the gooey stuff)
a few tablespoons Greek Yogurt or Mayo
1 tsp dill weed
salt and pepper to taste
Mix all together, cover and refrigerate for a few hours to let the flavors mascerate. This recipe is enough for 3-4 lunches.
I make a plate of clean lettuce leaves (4-5), place a couple tablespoons of filling into eat leaf, place some alfalfa sprouts or bean sprouts on top, or chopped cucumber or radishes on top, alongside a bean salad and a huge bowl of fruit, and I'm STUFFED until 8 p.m.!!!
I wish I would remember to take a picture of them when I eat this... but I just tear into them so fast, by the time I remember, it's too late...
I just made some yesterday, and I'll be eating them today in a cuke boat (I'm out of lettuce), so I'll try to remember to take a pic...
This recipe works the same with cooked chicken (fresh or canned, fresh is best), and turkey.
Enjoy!
(oh, and don't worry about the dried fruit or mayo... think of the alternative... greasy cheeseburgers and fries, this is MUCH better for you... REAL FOOD...)
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Doctors Visit...
So I had my regular check up yesterday with my Family Practitioner...
Had the blood work done, all the regular tests, got a TB test for my new teaching position etc...
He noticed my weight loss, and noted the 80+ lbs drop and asked my favorite question...
"How are you doing it?"
I told him, briefly {which is MIRACLE for me, because those of you that know me personally, I am NOT short winded} how I eat now.
My Doctor was COMPLETELY on board with the plan.
He, being an American of Japanese Descent, EATS THE EXACT SAME WAY... and told me that in his office, was a HUGE lunch of fish, veggies, fruit, minimal bread, and green tea to drink, and that in the evenings he and his wife eat a light salad or fruit for dinner until they are full, and then call it a day. He says he has eaten that way his entire life, and has never had a weight problem.
Then I wanted to throw my purse at him... LOL...
Why? Because I think he should have mentioned that way of eating A LONG TIME AGO... to me... and maybe I would have taken the advice... or not... who knows... but still... ya just can't keep that kind of information hidden... ya know?
I was so happy to see their scale and my home scale matched the same numbers... don't you HATE it when your home scale reads less than other scales... I was a tad bit nervous to step on theirs, but I battled on, did it, and was pleasantly surprised...
I go back in two weeks for my blood test results... so hopefully the scale will show an even lower number...
I'm going to go make up some more recipes now... Ciao!
Had the blood work done, all the regular tests, got a TB test for my new teaching position etc...
He noticed my weight loss, and noted the 80+ lbs drop and asked my favorite question...
"How are you doing it?"
I told him, briefly {which is MIRACLE for me, because those of you that know me personally, I am NOT short winded} how I eat now.
My Doctor was COMPLETELY on board with the plan.
He, being an American of Japanese Descent, EATS THE EXACT SAME WAY... and told me that in his office, was a HUGE lunch of fish, veggies, fruit, minimal bread, and green tea to drink, and that in the evenings he and his wife eat a light salad or fruit for dinner until they are full, and then call it a day. He says he has eaten that way his entire life, and has never had a weight problem.
Then I wanted to throw my purse at him... LOL...
Why? Because I think he should have mentioned that way of eating A LONG TIME AGO... to me... and maybe I would have taken the advice... or not... who knows... but still... ya just can't keep that kind of information hidden... ya know?
I was so happy to see their scale and my home scale matched the same numbers... don't you HATE it when your home scale reads less than other scales... I was a tad bit nervous to step on theirs, but I battled on, did it, and was pleasantly surprised...
I go back in two weeks for my blood test results... so hopefully the scale will show an even lower number...
I'm going to go make up some more recipes now... Ciao!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
TODAY IS MY ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!!!
Well... TODAY IS THE DAY!!!
The day I started on my weight loss journey... AND SUCCEEDED!!!
My goal was to lose at least half of all the weight I need to lose... and I did it...
I finally found a plan that I can LIVE with.. forever and a day... without ever feeling deprived, hungry, or ill.
My skin is clearer, my cankles are now ankles, my hair grows like a weed, my high blood pressure is GONE, and my heart skips are GONE!!!! My A1C is PERFECTION!!!
So now it's time to set a new goal.
Another 80 lbs. That's what I want... to lose another 80 lbs.
And you know what?
I WILL! Wanna know why? Because this LET'S DO LUNCH PLAN works!!! It JUST DOES!!!
As long as you follow the plan, and stay far, far, far away from anything processed... IT WORKS!!!
Soooo... onward and upward...
To another year and another 80 lbs...
Cheers!!!
The day I started on my weight loss journey... AND SUCCEEDED!!!
My goal was to lose at least half of all the weight I need to lose... and I did it...
I finally found a plan that I can LIVE with.. forever and a day... without ever feeling deprived, hungry, or ill.
My skin is clearer, my cankles are now ankles, my hair grows like a weed, my high blood pressure is GONE, and my heart skips are GONE!!!! My A1C is PERFECTION!!!
So now it's time to set a new goal.
Another 80 lbs. That's what I want... to lose another 80 lbs.
And you know what?
I WILL! Wanna know why? Because this LET'S DO LUNCH PLAN works!!! It JUST DOES!!!
As long as you follow the plan, and stay far, far, far away from anything processed... IT WORKS!!!
Soooo... onward and upward...
To another year and another 80 lbs...
Cheers!!!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
What goin' on!!!
Holy Frijole... sooo much has been happening around here... I've hardly had time to breathe... much less write!!!
My husbands new job started today... yesterday he had to turn in his huge F350 work truck, and today he'll be driving home in a 2010 Buick LaCrosse... quite a change from the big and burly truck... but we just bought one for William, so we have one if we need one...
I got a little job teaching Culinary Arts one class a day at my two older sons High School, and I've been busy making lessons plans and menus, and renovating and purging my new classroom... sooo exciting...
I can't wait to get my hands on young minds and teach them about WHOLE FOODS, and gently cajole them to start thinking in terms of REAL food vs. PROCESSED foods, and showing them that cooking from scratch can be quick, fun and JUST AS TASTY as buying the junk in boxes... I'm hoping they leave the classroom with a ton of new information, and a beginning of understanding about health and eating clean and limiting the chemicals and byproducts so prevalent in our food supply today...
Baseball and Football have been an everyday occurrence around here too, so not as much fun and leisure as I'd like has been happening... but Football Dead Period is coming up soon... so hopefully we'll be getting out and doing more soon...
So... as my new life unfolds... I am going to try to find the time to eek in some writing on here... I find I do much better on my eating plan when I have something to write about to keep me on track...
I hope it helps you too...
My husbands new job started today... yesterday he had to turn in his huge F350 work truck, and today he'll be driving home in a 2010 Buick LaCrosse... quite a change from the big and burly truck... but we just bought one for William, so we have one if we need one...
I got a little job teaching Culinary Arts one class a day at my two older sons High School, and I've been busy making lessons plans and menus, and renovating and purging my new classroom... sooo exciting...
I can't wait to get my hands on young minds and teach them about WHOLE FOODS, and gently cajole them to start thinking in terms of REAL food vs. PROCESSED foods, and showing them that cooking from scratch can be quick, fun and JUST AS TASTY as buying the junk in boxes... I'm hoping they leave the classroom with a ton of new information, and a beginning of understanding about health and eating clean and limiting the chemicals and byproducts so prevalent in our food supply today...
Baseball and Football have been an everyday occurrence around here too, so not as much fun and leisure as I'd like has been happening... but Football Dead Period is coming up soon... so hopefully we'll be getting out and doing more soon...
So... as my new life unfolds... I am going to try to find the time to eek in some writing on here... I find I do much better on my eating plan when I have something to write about to keep me on track...
I hope it helps you too...
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Marinades for all meats and veggies!
I love this eating plan, because it involves a plethora of protein options to eat during the day. Over on my other blog, I've been posting pictures of some of the food I've been making for my family, and mentioning how I don't eat those foods any longer, but my family enjoys them.
I've also been recieving many emails telling me that I should be eating those foods, that I shouldn't deny myself those foods because it's "not good for me". HA HA!!! If they ONLY KNEW! Also, all the "bad" foods I make my family, are ALL FROM SCRATCH, using only the BEST ingredients available, and 99% of the time, they are made with wholesome, nutrient filled flax, wheat germ, non fat milk, olive oil, and lean meats and flours... so I feel REALLY good about feeding my family a cinnamon roll that has more fiber and minerals than most peoples breakfast cereal for a week!!!
That being said... I am so happy on this plan, and have been having a lovely time coming up with new and improved ways of spicing up and upping the nutritional value of lots of favorite foods.
One way to add TONS of flavor to foods is to marinate them... meats, veggies, fruits, what have you...
Here are a few of my favorites...
For beef, root veggies and portobello mushrooms I love to...
I've also been recieving many emails telling me that I should be eating those foods, that I shouldn't deny myself those foods because it's "not good for me". HA HA!!! If they ONLY KNEW! Also, all the "bad" foods I make my family, are ALL FROM SCRATCH, using only the BEST ingredients available, and 99% of the time, they are made with wholesome, nutrient filled flax, wheat germ, non fat milk, olive oil, and lean meats and flours... so I feel REALLY good about feeding my family a cinnamon roll that has more fiber and minerals than most peoples breakfast cereal for a week!!!
That being said... I am so happy on this plan, and have been having a lovely time coming up with new and improved ways of spicing up and upping the nutritional value of lots of favorite foods.
One way to add TONS of flavor to foods is to marinate them... meats, veggies, fruits, what have you...
Here are a few of my favorites...
For beef, root veggies and portobello mushrooms I love to...
Mix together in any amounts you enjoy...
Soy sauce
orange juice
Worcestershire sauce
wine
salt
pepper
dill weed
1/4 tsp liquid smoke (optional)
and add the beef or veggies to sit for over an hour...
YUM!
For fish, seafood, zucchini, potatoes, string beans I like to mix together
1/4 cup Balsamic vinegar
honey
cayenne
salt
pepper
and either roast or pan sear the food with the juice...
YUM!
For a quick dip or a great sauce over lettuce wraps...
1/4 cup peanut butter (it's not LDL, but once in a GREAT while, it's awesome)
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp soy sauce
dash olive oil
1 tsp toasted sesame seed oil
1 TBS teriyaki marinade sauce (not the glaze)
Stir together, let sit, covered, in fridge to blend flavors and lightly spoon over
lettuce wraps or your favorite fish, or dip steak skewers in it...
YUM!
Try them, you'll love them...
Yes, I know not ALL the ingredients are LDL "friendly" but I always do this when I am deciding on flavor over fat content and choices of foods...
"Will one tablespoon of this... be better than eating a fast food meal" and the choice is always a resounding... YES!
Marinades and dips ARE NOT for everyday use... but to add some spice and flavor and some pizzazz to meals and cookouts... go for it... drink LOTS of water, and EAT LOTS OF fruits to compliment the meal...
Friday, July 2, 2010
"But it's a Holiday... I'll just splurge today..."
All I can say to the title up there is... "blah... blahh...blaaaaaah!"
Been there... done that... and where did it get me? Almost 150 lbs overweight... that's where!!!
We overweight people have an excuse for EVERY eating occasion... don't we?
"It's my Birthday... I deserve a piece of cake!"
"It's the Holidays... I can't diet during the HOLIDAYS!"
" I HAVE to eat lunches with colleagues at work...surely I can't find healthy things on every menu!"
and my personal favorite...
"I can't give up grains and dairy, my DOCTOR says I need the fiber and calcium... so this won't work for me!"
All I can say is... OH REALLY?
If all those excuses are true... then WHY are there skinny people in the world, that eat at restaurants with colleagues, and during the holidays, and many don't eat loads of breads or dairy...Why?
Because they have learned to eat... because they know that dairy and breads aren't NECESSARY for life.
Don't get me wrong... I adore BREAD!!!! I love making it every single day... I love feeding it to my family... I love selling it... but my body DOESN'T enjoy it. MY system GAINS WEIGHT on it... then I crave more of it...and a vicious cylce ensues...
To lose weight and keep it off successfully, we MUST learn what we can and cannot eat on a regular basis.
See bread and dairy AREN'T BAD FOODS... but if severely limiting them or doing without them altogether results in lost weight, and better digestive health, and lower blood sugars, etc... then THEY AREN'T VITAL FOR YOUR LIFE...and you can enjoy the OTHER multitudes of foods to feed your body.
Calcium does not only live in dairy. You can get lots of calcium from almonds, spinach, broccoli, peas, white beans etc...
Fiber lives in all fruits and veggies...
Going to restaurants isn't an excuse to eat badly... salads with protein and dressings on the side, or steaks with no butter and extra veggies in place of potatoes, drink water or tea, skipping appetizers fried in vats of oil, and passing on the bread basket are EXCELLENT ways to eat with friends and family, enjoy their company and eat well too...
Holidays are great... but they sure aren't an excuse to eat junk... neither are birthdays... We all turn another year older whether we eat cake or not... it inevitable. Eating well is a sure way to have MORE BIRTHDAYS.
Changing our eating habits (emphasis on the word HABITS) is just that... CHANGING HOW WE EAT ON A DAILY, MINUTE BY MINUTE, YEAR BY YEAR basis... After all the weight is lost... we just CAN'T go back to eating our old way... or all the fat will surely come back...
Once in a GREAT while... it's fine to eat a piece of cake or a little ice cream... or even a sandwich... but be sure you are far enough along in your LDL lifestyle plan that you are sure you won't want to eat more and more and more after one meal... Food has powerful triggers... and it plays tricks on our minds...
Enjoy this long weekend... and make good choices for yourselves... and feel good about those choices after all the fireworks are lit... You'll be sooo glad you did...
Happy 4th of July everyone!!!
Been there... done that... and where did it get me? Almost 150 lbs overweight... that's where!!!
We overweight people have an excuse for EVERY eating occasion... don't we?
"It's my Birthday... I deserve a piece of cake!"
"It's the Holidays... I can't diet during the HOLIDAYS!"
" I HAVE to eat lunches with colleagues at work...surely I can't find healthy things on every menu!"
and my personal favorite...
"I can't give up grains and dairy, my DOCTOR says I need the fiber and calcium... so this won't work for me!"
All I can say is... OH REALLY?
If all those excuses are true... then WHY are there skinny people in the world, that eat at restaurants with colleagues, and during the holidays, and many don't eat loads of breads or dairy...Why?
Because they have learned to eat... because they know that dairy and breads aren't NECESSARY for life.
Don't get me wrong... I adore BREAD!!!! I love making it every single day... I love feeding it to my family... I love selling it... but my body DOESN'T enjoy it. MY system GAINS WEIGHT on it... then I crave more of it...and a vicious cylce ensues...
To lose weight and keep it off successfully, we MUST learn what we can and cannot eat on a regular basis.
See bread and dairy AREN'T BAD FOODS... but if severely limiting them or doing without them altogether results in lost weight, and better digestive health, and lower blood sugars, etc... then THEY AREN'T VITAL FOR YOUR LIFE...and you can enjoy the OTHER multitudes of foods to feed your body.
Calcium does not only live in dairy. You can get lots of calcium from almonds, spinach, broccoli, peas, white beans etc...
Fiber lives in all fruits and veggies...
Going to restaurants isn't an excuse to eat badly... salads with protein and dressings on the side, or steaks with no butter and extra veggies in place of potatoes, drink water or tea, skipping appetizers fried in vats of oil, and passing on the bread basket are EXCELLENT ways to eat with friends and family, enjoy their company and eat well too...
Holidays are great... but they sure aren't an excuse to eat junk... neither are birthdays... We all turn another year older whether we eat cake or not... it inevitable. Eating well is a sure way to have MORE BIRTHDAYS.
Changing our eating habits (emphasis on the word HABITS) is just that... CHANGING HOW WE EAT ON A DAILY, MINUTE BY MINUTE, YEAR BY YEAR basis... After all the weight is lost... we just CAN'T go back to eating our old way... or all the fat will surely come back...
Once in a GREAT while... it's fine to eat a piece of cake or a little ice cream... or even a sandwich... but be sure you are far enough along in your LDL lifestyle plan that you are sure you won't want to eat more and more and more after one meal... Food has powerful triggers... and it plays tricks on our minds...
Enjoy this long weekend... and make good choices for yourselves... and feel good about those choices after all the fireworks are lit... You'll be sooo glad you did...
Happy 4th of July everyone!!!
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