Eat like a lady!

My sister and I had a fun chat about my determination to eat slowly.. she understands the frustration .. it's a family trait! She told me a story about years ago deciding that she was going to "eat like a lady" to help her lose some weight.. she told a friend, who told a friend.. that friend lost 75 pounds using my sisters theory!

I did some Google-ing and came across these tips...


Here are some clever ways to use table manners to eat less:

1. Cut your food into dainty, bite-sized pieces, and chew each mouthful 20 times. This will give your brain time to register that your stomach is full, and you'll be less likely to overeat.
2. Set the table. This sends your family and friends a clear message that there'll be no mindless munching around the TV, and by interspersing mouthfuls with conversation, you'll also eat less.
3. Use chopsticks to slow yourself down. One reason why Asian nations have traditionally slim populations is that they eat many small courses slowly, over a longer time.
4. Use small plates, glasses and spoons to help you control portion sizes.
5. Use your non-dominant hand to eat. This way, you won't put food into your mouth so quickly.


Hmm.. I will have to be careful with number 5 because I will end up feeding dinner to my ear and I don't think the chop stick one will work for me.. I LOVE using chop sticks and will keep on eating just because it's fun...and I wonder why I have weight issues!!

Grumpy Day!

Weird day.

Every year around this time I have one day where I am cranky, curlish, and moody. One day when I really have to work to be pleasant at all.. one day when I am spoiling for fight more than others.. this year that would be today.

Yes I am in a wonderful relationship with an outstanding guy!

But much to the surprise of many, I was previously married. I was in love and I had my heart smashed to smitherens when I was left for another women.

It sucked. What really stinks is the scars it left.. Another time I will tell you about the gifts it gave me.. inner strength blah blah blah..

Today it just makes me grumpy.

Therefore today's goals were/are: make it to Twist for my work out (done) No emotional eating (so far so good) and count the wonderful blessings in my life now.. especially that one that is taking me to the movies tonight! (In progress)

Love this... Have a great week!

Small bite, put down food, chew, swallow, chat.. breathe.. small bite.. and repeat!

All my life I have listen to people say, take small bites, chew your food, slow down when you eat..


I eat like a wild animal making sure no other predator can get my kill..





Usually I am the first one done at the table, well part of the new plan involves listening to the above advice and taking those small bites and slowing down. It's only been a couple of days.. but.. wait for it..

They're RIGHT!

It totally makes a difference! Yesterday I was full before finishing everything on my plate, this is not something that EVER happens to me.. I checked on line and found this device. While I don't think I need to go to this extreme I can see how it could work!

This is a totally different "diet" experience, I'm not so much changing the food I am eating as I am the habits surrounding the food.

Phenomanal Fridays!

On Friday's I will post a picture, a poem, a saying, or a story that is special to me and brings me motivation is one way or another... For our first Phenomenal Friday. A picture!







It was at this moment I felt for the first time ever that I could do a sport. My ability in this area has never been "phenomenal" nothing ever felt like it came naturally, until this moment. It was tough to learn, but I mastered wake surfing in a proper time frame, became darn right good at it and have remained a solid surfer. While I don't have any 360's in my surfing repertoire, I can stand, ride and play in the wave for longer than most. This was one of my most liberating experience, this was a moment that reminded me no matter how old I was life's surprises could come in unexpected areas, even those areas I thought I had come to terms with and accepted that it just "wasn't my thing" turns out something was. Lesson learned: Being comfortable with your perception of your abilities is good, but never stop looking for that twist that could open the door to a dream.

An extra toe?

A survey by Women in Fitness magazine reveals that 21 to 23 percent of women would spend a week in jail, shave their heads or trade in a decade of their life to reach their ideal weight. 85 percent of those surveyed said they would rather sprout an 11th toe than carry around 50 extra pounds.

I could TOTALLY handle an 11th toe! I might even go for a head shave... but give up 10 years of my life? Mind you I guess if you are 50 pounds too heavy you could be knocking 10 years off your life anyway..

I don't expect an 11th toe anytime soon so I guess I have to stay focused!

Thanks for the comments thus far.. Answers to a couple questions:

1. I will weight myself at the end of the month.. and as much as I am saying 60 pounds I am aiming for a comfortable size 8.. or size 6 at some stores :D

2. I still believe weight loss is about food and maintence is about exercise.

3. More info on twist: http://www.twistkelowna.com/

4. Frozen shoulder: Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is a condition that causes restriction of motion in the shoulder joint. The cause of a frozen shoulder is not well understood, but it often occurs for no known reason. Frozen shoulder causes the capsule surrounding the shoulder joint to contract and form scar tissue. (and mine is getting better now.. and fast!)

One toe in...

One toe in... One toe out.. One toe in.. One toe out... That's not my style...




Here we go...

2009 was a year of drama for many. I am choosing to call it a year of "drama" to keep away from calling it a horrible, terrible, disastrous waste of 365 days! Truly there were moments of great good, fun, accomplishment and success! Plus lots of lessons learned *sigh* what would life be with out those lessons. Too make a long story short 2009 started with a house fire and progressed to include the passing of not 1, but both of our dogs, a frozen shoulder, no racing, weight gain, a real estate crash that lead us to selling our boat and other finical obstacles, and being homeless twice. On the other side of the coin, we made some new wonderful friends and spent more time with some we already had, had 2 new dogs come into our home that we are fostering, bought a wonderful new condo about 45 seconds from the beach and as Steve will tell you 254 yards to the beer store, i had a stellar year at work, started growing my "voice" work and mentoring business and learned that I have a wonderfully high pain tolerance!

So here we are at 2010.

Normally I'm not a big "New Year - New Out look" kinda gal. If it came down to a time of year my changes generally get put into motion in the fall. But this has been a different kind of 12 months, even with growth and a positive outlook I am very happy to see the door slam on 2009.

I have made some choices that will effect the rest of the year, choices that I will chronicle here. If you would like to join me on this journey I would be thrilled!

Basic concept. 8 months. Lose 60 pounds. Go to Costa Rica and learn to surf.

Good News. when I first really started a journey towards health almost 10 years ago I weighted in close to 250 pds. My lowest weigh since then was 145. I have always been able to the first 60 pounds of my weight loss off.. I fluctuate with the 55 or so in between. So I am taking a hard look at how I lost that first 60, what worked what didn't and why. I am going to apply the lessons learned. The most basic are. Drink lots of water. Get enough sleep. Small portion sizes. Take a multivitamin. Be active, always walk rather than drive if you can and never say no to doing something active over hanging out on the couch. I Listen to what all the "experts" say but decide for myself if it will work for me.

To start I went down to Nature's Fair in the mission and talked to Suzi. I am now taking a multivitamin amongst a host of other oils and minerals. I have started a pretty straight forward and simple 7 day cleanse, which will be followed by a 30 day cleanse to try to get the toxins out of my body. Plus some protein powder that goes into my morning smoothie.

I have continued with my training at "Twist" and will put into action the running and swimming so I can participate in a triathlon again this summer. I will have more details on this as it gets more organized and we see how far I can push my shoulder.

It feels good to be back, exasperating to be in this position, and motivating to know that I might help someone else find the answer to what seems to be a never ending hunt to health and happiness questions!

Bring on 2010!