tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-239221642011-09-12T06:39:56.742-07:00webwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04710315877290261986noreply@blogger.comBlogger171100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23922164.post-1143992043051245642006-04-02T08:26:00.000-07:002006-04-02T08:34:03.066-07:00Yesterday afternoon, I just caught the end of one of those danged infomercials and watched it just to find out what was being sold <em>this time.</em><br /><br />It was a mixture of seaweed and another flora and being hawked as a cure-all for chronic fatigue, unwanted pounds, cancer and God knows what else. The guy who was promoting that junk claimed that the Japanese were healthier because they ate a similar concoction on a regular basis.<br /><br />What he didn't understand is that the Japanese are a different culture! So of course their customs, holidays and foods differ, often drastically, from ours. Plus, the Japanese people are used to eating such stuff and just happen to benefit from a steady diet of it. More power to them!<br /><br />Another thing that guy overlooked was the fact that many health-food stores may already have a similar concoction in stock. So there's no need to believe his claims and spend hard-earned money just to find out that his claims are mostly false. The nerve of such people. Sheesh!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><l-- google_ad_client="pub-5032924403342556"; google_ad_width =468; google_ad_height= 60 google_ad_format="468x60_as"; //--></script> <script type = "text/javascript" scr="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"; </script><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23922164-114399204305124564?l=poundsredux.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>webwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04710315877290261986noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23922164.post-1143855294266388812006-03-31T17:21:00.000-08:002006-03-31T17:34:54.276-08:00I know, I know. It's all been said before by people such as my mom and experts. You need to eat breakfast, period.<br /><br />Okay. But suppose that I don't have an appetite to eat <em>anything</em> early in the morning. Nothing tastes good. Nothing looks good, especially in the early morning hours. I can eat something, although I won't really enjoy it during that time, such as oatmeal, toast, coffee and a fresh orange. Oatmeal, by the way, is very filling and satisfying right through lunch time, though not much after. Appetite seems to surge around 2 or 3 pm and by then, everything looks good.<br /><br />So what have I been doing about breakfast?<br /><br />I've been trying to vary it. That is, I'll cook eggs or sausages or even oatmeal, rather than settle for a buttered roll and coffee, or even worse, a piece of pastry and coffee. At least, I am satisfied for a much longer time than I would be with a buttered roll or pastry.<br /><br />So far, it's working. I've had sausages for breakfast yesterday and this morning and experienced no hunger pangs until 2 or 3 pm. Not bad, eh? Tomorrow morning, of course, there will be no sausages for breakfast, as I've eaten them all. I'll probably have to settle for oatmeal and black coffee and fresh grapefruit. Now if those foods motivate me to get out of bed tomorrow morning and feast on them, I will be very surprised. There are no rolls, waffles or loaves of bread, only a few rather stale packaged bagels. Ugh!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><l-- google_ad_client="pub-5032924403342556"; google_ad_width =468; google_ad_height= 60 google_ad_format="468x60_as"; //--></script> <script type = "text/javascript" scr="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"; </script><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23922164-114385529426638881?l=poundsredux.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>webwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04710315877290261986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23922164.post-1143246942112663852006-03-24T16:21:00.000-08:002006-03-24T16:35:42.123-08:00"Eating while watching television leads to more weight gain," a few experts point out, and I can't say that I totally disagree with them. After all, polishing off a large bag of potato chips or nachos while watching television and washing it down with beer or soda is practically guaranteeing that one will gain more weight.<br /><br />But taking a break and having a little lunch or supper that includes soup or a sandwich or veggies and a few slices of ham or turkey while watching television is innocent. True, that's not exactly a snack, but it gets the job done by filling you up, right? After all, one has to eat, and hopefully, include foods in a balanced meal. Surely, dietitians and doctors wouldn't object to that or would they? I bet that they do the same thing, only they will never admit it.<br /><br />Anyway, when it comes to snacks, I'd be the first one to opt for one or more of the foods above-mentioned. But the only problem is that I'm addicted to dessert, and while a fresh orange is an ideal dessert, it is not exactly what I have in mind. "Dessert" means cake or cookies or ice-cream or fattening candy bar. At the very least, it means some lemon candies and a nice cup of hot tea. But mind you, I'm still going to crave a piece of cake or cookies or slice of apple pie. Still another hurdle to get over, but I will.<br /><br />Eventually. Maybe tomorrow.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><l-- google_ad_client="pub-5032924403342556"; google_ad_width =468; google_ad_height= 60 google_ad_format="468x60_as"; //--></script> <script type = "text/javascript" scr="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"; </script><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23922164-114324694211266385?l=poundsredux.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>webwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04710315877290261986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23922164.post-1143167099322085612006-03-23T18:14:00.000-08:002006-03-23T18:24:59.353-08:00As much as I'd like to change my diet and lose weight, I've found that there are certain habits that are hard to break. The hardest one is not using salt. Somehow, eating mashed potatoes and french fries without salt, for example, takes away the joy of eating. Those potatoes don't taste like anything. Same goes for veggies like carrots and stringbeans, when unsalted, have no taste at all. I suppose that the best solution is to wean myself away from salt gradually. Use less salt and get used to eating veggies that way.<br /><br />Doing this shouldn't be hard, as I've actually weaned myself from using milk and sugar in my morning coffee. When I have something to eat as I sip it, that coffee doesn't taste so bad. I'm used to it. But the idea of <em>not</em> using salt? I don't know. Well, I'll have to try using less and see what happens.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><l-- google_ad_client="pub-5032924403342556"; google_ad_width =468; google_ad_height= 60 google_ad_format="468x60_as"; //--></script> <script type = "text/javascript" scr="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"; </script><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23922164-114316709932208561?l=poundsredux.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>webwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04710315877290261986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23922164.post-1143082592709880052006-03-22T18:44:00.000-08:002006-03-22T18:56:32.753-08:00A good way to exercise and lose weight is by walking. Yes, you may be thinking, I've heard that before, but doubt that it's gonna work for me....<br /><br />Hey, it just might! But you have got to try it for two or three weeks and see for yourself. It does work. An extreme example is this 39-year-old guy who's walking from California to New York. This guy admitted that he has dropped quite a few pounds since he started and is determined to see his project through and finish the remaining 600-mile lap to New York. But he's living proof that walking is a great way to lose pounds.<br /><br />I've lost pounds by walking a lot, even though I didn't consider it as an exercise regimen during a European vacation, where I visited England, France, Italy, Germany, and Holland. There was so much to see and do, and often, the best way to get around was walking. To that end, I've logged miles touring museums, monuments, churches, historic homes and gardens, and stores. By the time I returned home, I had lost over 20 pounds, although I ate a lot of different foods and sampled dozens of desserts.<br /><br />Best of all, walking doesn't require special equipment, such as bikes or skis. All you need is a good, comfortable pair of walking shoes and the motivation to go out there and just do it. You'll eat and sleep better and lose weight.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><l-- google_ad_client="pub-5032924403342556"; google_ad_width =468; google_ad_height= 60 google_ad_format="468x60_as"; //--></script> <script type = "text/javascript" scr="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"; </script><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23922164-114308259270988005?l=poundsredux.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>webwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04710315877290261986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23922164.post-1142993859416133662006-03-21T17:51:00.000-08:002006-03-21T18:17:39.446-08:00So this morning, I had to drag myself to the supermarket to get cat food, bread, toilet paper and a few other basic items, although I could have easily bought a few more, such as the "Dummies" book on winning at online poker. Always did want to learn how to play poker and win big playing it online. But I digress.<br /><br />Anyway, in today's trip to the supermarket, I tried to notice things that Susan Powter pointed out in her remarks about supermarkets and their attempts to tempt us to buy stuff that isn't good for us or our kids in the first place. In her "Shopping" chapter, she breaks down the number of calories, fat grams, and fat% in foods such as frozen snacks. For example, Diet Chocolate has 100 calories, no fat and no fat%. Whereas a snack such as Nacho Chips have 110 calories, 1 fat gram and 8 fat%, whatever that means.<br /><br />Luckily, I didn't have to worry any of that or having some child beg for treats. This meant that I could cruise slowly in the cookie aisle, noting the brightly-colored packages of expensive cookies. Yum! But I have a diet and a budget to worry about, and wound up buying the supermarket cookies that were on sale --- just a buck forty-nine for a one-p0und package. So much for satisfying cravings for them or the overpriced Entenmann donuts, cakes and buns stacked in their own corner. I passed those as well, thinking that paying nearly four dollars for a few cinnamon buns was a little too rich for my blood.<br /><br />But I'll tell you one thing. Powter is right on the money when she observes that in a supermarket, "you have to wheel through the maze of goodies aisles before you get to the bread and basics aisle: Designed that way.<br /> Planned.<br /> Well thought out.<br /><br />Well duh! The way MY supermarket is planned would blow her right out of the water, as the Entenmann cakes are right across from baked breads and rolls and other goodies. So there's very little that a customer can do, except know what she originally came to the store for and limit her purchases to those items. For me, carrying only 15-20 dollars in cash means I can get so much, then stop, or run the risk of being embarassed at the checkout.<br /><br />Clerk: That will be twenty-two forty, please.<br /><br />Me: Oops! Afraid I only have twenty dollars. Er, I'll have to let this, this and that go. So sorry, but you know how it is.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><l-- google_ad_client="pub-5032924403342556"; google_ad_width =468; google_ad_height= 60 google_ad_format="468x60_as"; //--></script> <script type = "text/javascript" scr="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"; </script><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23922164-114299385941613366?l=poundsredux.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>webwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04710315877290261986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23922164.post-1142877626116062832006-03-20T09:48:00.000-08:002006-03-20T10:00:28.253-08:00Occasionally, I'll watch shows such as "Tyra" on television and am always amazed at how slim the featured models, including Tyra herself, are and continue to be. First question on my mind is what kind of regimen did they have to follow regarding diet and exercise. For example, were they limited to foods such as soup, salad, cottage cheese, no-fat yogurt and the like? And were they expected to log in at least a half day every day at some gym or health spa? What did those exercises consist of, jumping rope, pushups, jumping-jacks....what?<br /><br />But I suppose that my biggest question is how those models manage to stay that way? It can't be very easy, as I should know. A few years back, I actually got myself down to a size ten, just from riding my bike long distances in the hot weather. Of course, I ate, although I have to admit that my diet pretty much remained the same. If I craved a cold soda, I got it and drank it. If I wanted to eat a hamburger, cheeseburger or hot dog, I did. And the best part about all of that is that I didn't gain weight! My skirts and tops fit beautifully. I felt like a model and almost looked like one.<br /><br />Unfortunately, that wondrous period did not last. As I gradually rode less, I began to gain more weight. Not a good sign! Now, had I been able to implement some of the strategies that top models use in maintaining their weights and good looks, there's no telling what I would have been motivated to do next --- enter and win a bike race, for example, or become some newbie's personal trainer.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><l-- google_ad_client="pub-5032924403342556"; google_ad_width =468; google_ad_height= 60 google_ad_format="468x60_as"; //--></script> <script type = "text/javascript" scr="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"; </script><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23922164-114287762611606283?l=poundsredux.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>webwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04710315877290261986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23922164.post-1142803607648374792006-03-19T13:17:00.000-08:002006-03-19T13:26:47.656-08:00Every so often, I'll pull an item of clothing out the closet that I have a hard time getting into and try it on. If that item is slacks, I'll see if I can pull up the front zipper all the way. But even if I only manage to pull it halfway up, I consider that progress. Likewise, if a formerly ill-fitting ribbed top now looks good on me, I consider that an excellent sign that my efforts have not been in vain.<br /><br />On the other hand, if I am still unable to fit into such clothes comfortably, and by that, I mean taking a deep breath and holding in my stomach, I will have to go to Plan B. Now Plan B involves riding the bike for at least an hour <em>every day. </em>Yeah, that can be quite a challenge and I can see already that a few changes in the morning routine will be necessary, like getting up early enough to take care of needs and feed the cat and <em>then </em>slipping on tights, warm top and a helmet and going for a nice long ride, which around here is no mean trick. There is quite a bit of residual traffic from the morning rush hour and some drivers really don't give a damn about safety, so long as they get to wherever they're going, but that's a different story --- and post.<br /><br />There is a positive side to all of this, including Plan B. I haven't given up yet, and have no intentions of doing so.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><l-- google_ad_client="pub-5032924403342556"; google_ad_width =468; google_ad_height= 60 google_ad_format="468x60_as"; //--></script> <script type = "text/javascript" scr="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"; </script><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23922164-114280360764837479?l=poundsredux.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>webwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04710315877290261986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23922164.post-1142704895640538622006-03-18T09:50:00.000-08:002006-03-18T10:46:51.243-08:00Whew! Just trying to recall what triggers my appetite got me thinking about Twiggy. I just wonder what her eating triggers were, or was she so perfect that she didn't have any. She was so darned <em>thin</em>. How did she maintain it? Did she, for example, drink gallons of water? Do extreme exercises? Eat a minimum of soup, broccoli and fruit? Or maybe she inherited her thin frame. I don't know. I just thought that it might be interesting to know.<br /><br />Anyhoo, I also wonder what Twiggy looks like now and if she has that same skinny frame. Or maybe I shouldn't. After all, look what happened to Sally Struthers. When that actress was on the TV hit comedy, <em>All in the Family</em>, she was also thin, though not as thin as Twiggy. A few years ago, I happened to see her on TV, urging people to donate money for starving children or adopt a starving child or whatever. And I couldn't believe my eyes. Sally Struthers was FAT, even fatter than a despised fatass neighbor who lives across the street. Even her face was fat. I felt sorry for her and shortly after so many commercials, was amused to find that people were poking fun at her weight gain, joking that she must have eaten the poor kids' food. LOLOLOL! Now that was funny.<br /><br />Okay, so laughing does burn up a few calories, but not enough to make me look like Twiggy. I still have to drop down to a size 12 yet.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><l-- google_ad_client="pub-5032924403342556"; google_ad_width =468; google_ad_height= 60 google_ad_format="468x60_as"; //--></script> <script type = "text/javascript" scr="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"; </script><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23922164-114270489564053862?l=poundsredux.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>webwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04710315877290261986noreply@blogger.com47tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23922164.post-1142618622761261462006-03-17T09:55:00.000-08:002006-03-17T10:03:42.770-08:00Here are a few of mine:<br /><br /> - watching favorite tv programs and movies<br /> - frustration, such as being disconnected by AOL.<br /> - getting a whiff of favorite foods, such as chicken and stew, being prepared and cooked<br /> - seeing favorite foods arranged attractively on a plate<br /> - being just a tad hungry in the first place<br /> - reading a novel that is hard to put down, such as "Orbit" by Robert Nance.<br /> <br />Those triggers were easier to write down than dealing with. Perhaps a stronger resolve would help or maybe fewer processed foods or at least a complete breakfast. It's a struggle but I've got to overcome and envisioning myself wearing a size 8 outfit or jeans.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><l-- google_ad_client="pub-5032924403342556"; google_ad_width =468; google_ad_height= 60 google_ad_format="468x60_as"; //--></script> <script type = "text/javascript" scr="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"; </script><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23922164-114261862276126146?l=poundsredux.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>webwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04710315877290261986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23922164.post-1142529791977758622006-03-16T09:12:00.000-08:002006-03-16T09:23:11.986-08:00Lately, I've been skipping around <em>The South Beach Diet </em>with good reason. There's just too much interesting information about foods and exercise, so to compensate for that, I've tried to get to the good parts first. Later on, I'll try to be patient and read the book from chapter one on.<br /><br />Anyhoo, there's a chapter in this book called, "It's Not Just What You Eat, It's How You Eat It." One of the points made is that any food, such as processed food, goes right through the digestive system fairly quickly. Eating a slice of white bread, for example, involves hardly any work as far as the eating process goes. You just chew and swallow and you're done. On the other hand, if you eat raw broccoli or coarse, chewy rye bread, you have a little more work to do. And once you've swallowed those foods, your digestive system must slow down a bit, which is good for you! That means that you don't become so hungry so quickly!<br /><br />This also goes to prove what our moms have been saying all along, in addition to "eat your vegetables and fruits." And they were so right! Just wished that I had paid attention a little sooner. But rediscovering something like this is better than never finding it at all.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><l-- google_ad_client="pub-5032924403342556"; google_ad_width =468; google_ad_height= 60 google_ad_format="468x60_as"; //--></script> <script type = "text/javascript" scr="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"; </script><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23922164-114252979197775862?l=poundsredux.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>webwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04710315877290261986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23922164.post-1142433340086161122006-03-15T06:28:00.000-08:002006-03-15T06:35:40.093-08:00I've skipped a few chapters to look at the recipes in <em>The South Beach Diet</em> and found a few good ones. One of them, called "Surprise South Beach Mashed Potatoes," sounds really yummy. It's easy to prepare. This recipe calls for 4 cups of cauliflower florets, 1 ounce of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter spray, 1 ounce Land O'Lakes Gourmet Fat-Free Half & Half, pinch salt, and pinch freshly ground black pepper. The author writes, "Steam or microwave the cauliflower until soft. Purse in a food processor, adding the butter spray and the half-and-half to taste. Season with salt and pepper." And that's it! I can't wait to try it. What a nice change from ordinary mashed potatoes.<br /><br />I'm still sampling recipes and suggested meal plans. I need variety from the same-old, same-old. Can't wait to take a look at the recipes for desserts!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><l-- google_ad_client="pub-5032924403342556"; google_ad_width =468; google_ad_height= 60 google_ad_format="468x60_as"; //--></script> <script type = "text/javascript" scr="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"; </script><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23922164-114243334008616112?l=poundsredux.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>webwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04710315877290261986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23922164.post-1142384197483405922006-03-14T16:43:00.000-08:002006-03-14T16:56:37.493-08:00In the past, I might have paged through a few diet books, but only out of curiosity. For example, I'd look at the recipes they featured. Occasionally, I read one or more recipes closely to see what was involved. Those recipes passed two criteria: the first was that I would not be required to use an oven in order to prepare a given dish, and second, I would not have to buy special ingredients such as cloves, vanilla, etc.<br /><br />So I began my foray for a good book at the local library tonight and found quite a few diet books. A lot of those books were based on a given author's suggested "program." Certain foods had to be prepared and eaten, certain exercises had to be done. But even within this wide range, I found books devoted to exercise such as walking, yoga and the heart, Suzanne Somers' books for eating and exercising, and more recent books, such as "The South Beach Diet," by Arthur Agatston, M.D. This book's cover attracted my attention for another reason. In its upper right-hand corner was a bright orange circle containing the words, "Lose Belly Fat First." And right below its title was the descriptor, "The Delicious, Doctor-Designed, Foolproof Plan for Fast and Healthy Weight Loss." Hmmm. That sounded like a good place to start, so tonight, I borrowed it from the library.<br /><br />This is all a great adventure for me, as I've never been into diet books, especially with my attitude, "Bah, diet books!" But I'm still struggling with losing some belly fat and streamlining my body overall. All I needed was a logical place to begin, so here I am. I'm going to start reading that book tonight, and am sure that I will have plenty to say about what I've read. Got to remind myself to take notes while I'm at it, LOL!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><l-- google_ad_client="pub-5032924403342556"; google_ad_width =468; google_ad_height= 60 google_ad_format="468x60_as"; //--></script> <script type = "text/javascript" scr="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"; </script><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23922164-114238419748340592?l=poundsredux.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>webwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04710315877290261986noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23922164.post-1142372393050527402006-03-14T13:25:00.000-08:002006-03-14T13:39:53.060-08:00The biggest problem in losing weight for many women, I think, involves specific areas such as tummy, butt, upper arms, and thighs. These are really challenging areas! They are really obvious to all and make us hesitate to put on any clothing that clings too tightly, such as lycra. Okay, I will admit that a few women do cheat by wearing a loose tent-like top over lycra pants. This seems to do the trick, and covers a protruding stomach. But at the same time, I will just bet that those women are just dying to wear a lycra top as well!<br /><br />Which brings us back to the problem-- and challenge -- of reducing the sheer size of those areas. Identifying the problem and its location is the easy part. Now how does one tackle it? I can practically hear a lot of you saying "exercise," which I agree with. Okay. What kind(s) of exercises and how often must one do them? And what can one do for quicker results --- exercise longer? Harder?<br /><br />Well, I've tried one or two of those exercises and they proved to be so tedious that I gave up after a week. I wasn't the least bit motivated to jump out of bed, dress up and exercise. I also tend to eat breakfast late and procrastinate in other matters, but admire and envy those women who try and stick to the challenge. They have to want to lose that weight badly enough! They also make me wonder how badly I want to lose weight in specific anatomical areas. Hmmmm.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><l-- google_ad_client="pub-5032924403342556"; google_ad_width =468; google_ad_height= 60 google_ad_format="468x60_as"; //--></script> <script type = "text/javascript" scr="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"; </script><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23922164-114237239305052740?l=poundsredux.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>webwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04710315877290261986noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23922164.post-1142281822789818032006-03-13T12:19:00.000-08:002006-03-13T12:30:22.800-08:00Quite a few really heavy women are in denial, claiming that they are "big and beautiful." That may or may not be the case. Those women may indeed have beautiful faces. But being heavy doesn't add to that beauty, as those women well know, and won't admit it to anyone, even themselves. For example, their size 16's and 18's no longer fit properly and even zipping up slacks becomes a big frustrating deal. And forget fitting into bathing suits or stylish clothing! Still, even these signs that something is wrong doesn't seem to motivate "big" women to try to lose some weight.<br /><br />Another thing they won't admit is the additional effort and strain they must endure to participate in the simplest activities, such as jogging, walking, climbing up the stairs. After awhile, even those simple activities become too much of an effort and are not attempted much after that, if at all. A lot of those women compound their problem by resorting to a comforting dish of ice cream or other tasty food.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><l-- google_ad_client="pub-5032924403342556"; google_ad_width =468; google_ad_height= 60 google_ad_format="468x60_as"; //--></script> <script type = "text/javascript" scr="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"; </script><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23922164-114228182278981803?l=poundsredux.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>webwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04710315877290261986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23922164.post-1142204243918715152006-03-12T14:46:00.000-08:002006-03-12T14:57:23.930-08:00When I developed a really bad sinus infection, which traveled to my eyes. By that time, I looked and felt sick. My appetite went south during that time and all I managed to get down was soup. I ate soup everyday until I finally got tired of it and stopped eating. So after the doctor examined me, he told me that I had lost eight pounds (in a week's time). He even teased me, asking me if I wanted a cookie, and of course I politely refused. After a few days of antibiotics and pills, I felt good again and resumed eating, gaining all of the lost pounds back and then some.<br /><br />Since then, I've been trying to exercise more by riding my bike. One year, I averaged 25 miles per trip and lost weight naturally, all the way to a size 12! I looked and felt better. The best part about all of this bike riding was that I could really eat and not have to worry about getting fat. But that was then. I think what stops me now, or at least makes me hesitate, is the potential of getting a flat tire in the middle of nowhere and not being able to do much about it, except walk the bike home. And I can tell you from experience is that even five miles feels like 500 miles on foot, especially in hot and humid weather.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><l-- google_ad_client="pub-5032924403342556"; google_ad_width =468; google_ad_height= 60 google_ad_format="468x60_as"; //--></script> <script type = "text/javascript" scr="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"; </script><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23922164-114220424391871515?l=poundsredux.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>webwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04710315877290261986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23922164.post-1142175995234149762006-03-12T06:54:00.000-08:002006-03-12T07:06:35.266-08:00To me, losing weight will always be a never ending battle, or to put it more positively, quest. I first thought about it after reading Susan Powter's book, Stop the Insanity, a few years ago. Susan effectively discouraged me from joining clubs such as Weight Watchers and participating in various diets, arguing that positive results derived from weight-loss clubs and diets were temporary at best. I've also looked at TV ads for L.A. weight loss in a new light: how could those women look so good so fast?<br /><br />Then one day, I happened to read a short article that exposed the results. Interestingly, the article suggested that such results were bogus, that the featured women looked good from the get-go and deliberately gained weight and looked like fat slobs for the sake of the ad. In the "before" ads, those women are indeed heavy and unattractive. Their bulges are so obvious and their hairstyles are quite frankly, done.<br /><br />Well, I, for one, refuse to buy into those ads, as Susan Powter's words keep echoing in my mind. If I had more money, I might consider experimenting by joining various programs for awhile, including Weight Watchers, and seeing what results, if any, happen.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><l-- google_ad_client="pub-5032924403342556"; google_ad_width =468; google_ad_height= 60 google_ad_format="468x60_as"; //--></script> <script type = "text/javascript" scr="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"; </script><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/23922164-114217599523414976?l=poundsredux.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>webwriterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04710315877290261986noreply@blogger.com2