Healthy and Delicious Family Dinners

Bree hang in there.  I've been fighting this same battle for years.  But I have recently come to realize that it truly comes down to changing your lifestyle.  Stop thinking of it as dieting.  To me, dieting is basically punishment for feeling imperfect.   

I'm diligently working on changing my view of food and eating.  I can eat several times a day, but I have to choose the appropriate foods to eat.  Never skip meals, because that works against the weight loss concept.  Your body thinks it's starving and begins hording the calories and fat.  My being overweight led to Type 2 Diabetes and High Blood Pressure.  So it has literally become a health issue for me to lose weight. 

Breakfast has always been one of my biggest downfall times.  I love breakfast sandwiches, bacon or sausage, with eggs and cheese.  YUM!  I have changed that breakfast habit.  Now I eat oatmeal, a grapefruit, drink a large glass of water and have a small cup of coffee.  I love my new breakfast.  I do sometimes miss my old breakfast habit and I'll occasionally allow myself to have it, but my new breakfast habit is so much better for me.  I feel better.  I'm steadily losing weight.  My lunch and dinner habits are changing as well. 

I am constructing a new me.  That is my goal for 2009.  I will lose the weight.  I will keep it off.  I will reverse my Diabetes and High Blood Pressure.  These things are essential for my life...literally.

So don't punish yourself with holiday guilt.  It is done and over with.  Decide to make lifestyle changes for the new year.  Craving something sweet, eat some dried fruit and nuts.  I make up my own with dried cherries, cranberries, red raisins, pecans and almonds.  The protein from the nuts satisfies and the dried fruit is like eating candy.  I love it.  I plan my meals and snacks carefully, so that there is less temptation to eat something bad for me. 

Only you can make the changes you desire.  Just remember that it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change.  Become who you want to be.  And big is beautiful too!

Good Luck and God Bless!

It is so frustrating to try so hard and not see results as fast as you would like to.  Are you drinking enough water?  Try drinking more water.  Also I gave up diet soda a long time ago and if I do drink one, I really retain a lot of water; so now I drink things like Sobe Lean or Fuze, or even make my own lemonade with fresh lemon or lime and splenda (if needed).  Just remember any chemicals you consume (like in diet sodas) make it harder for the liver to work properly and without a properly functioning liver it will be harder to burn calories.  Another thing I found is that I get "plugged up" when I diet; so I will either drink senna tea or replace one of my meals with fruit such as watermelon. 

One other thing is that I'm sure you are building muscle, which weighs more than fat.  Are you loosing any inches?   It is so hard to stick to a diet ~~ I still need to loose another 40-50 pounds and stress plays a big part in my eating habits.   Hang in there!   You WILL see results and you will be so happy when you do!

I've been dieting since Jan 1, 09. I'm sticking to my diet. I have not cheated 1 time. I walk 2 miles daily, exercise for 30 mins. Now my question...For the past 2 weeks(I weigh ever Fri) I've stayed the same. It's really upsetting. Am I just over reacting? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

Everyday isa new day--- Don't worry about yesterday   -- I've  learned that only ruins today

Just get back on the horse and the next time you are about to eat something that will add calories --- make a cup of tea and take the time to relax and enjoy it.  Believe me -- it helps

Don't let one slip up discourage you..there's tomorrow.