This is a treat, not a treatment!

I’ve lost 3.5 pounds so far this July. ( I weighed 153.25 this morning. ) This month has been my BEST for weight loss in a long time! :)

I still have a lot of ground to make up though...

I have 7 more pounds to lose to get back to the weight I was on 1/1/07. After that, I’ll need to lose another 7 to get back to my lowest weight. I am determined to get back there!

Injury and complacency over the past year allowed my weight to slowly creep up. Luckily, my pants still fit and I am turning things around! :)

I’ve been making huge strides on the mental front!

Since childhood we are all programmed to think of food as Love or a Reward. Most happy events involve food, (Birthday cake, Christmas Cookies, Wedding Cake…) and if you were naughty - you didn’t get dessert! Food becomes the focal point, and we associate positive emotions with the food.

When sad, depressed or stressed we can get a quick emotional boost from food. Food was my answer to life’s problems. “Work’s driving me crazy!!! Time to eat chocolate.” “I’m lonely... Ice cream is my friend!” “I am depressed about my weight... Pizza is the perfect pick-me up.”

I used Food to self-medicate myself. My binges would lead to an increase in my weight. That would just get me more depressed, and loathe myself more... which lead to me turning to food again!!! What a horrific cycle....

Seriously I am like a recovering alcoholic... but FOOD was my addiction. But unlike alcohol - you can't quit food cold turkey. You have to eat to be healthy... and that is SO HARD to do!

Inside a Dove Promise™ chocolate, I read the message: "Chocolate always loves you back." But it should really read: "Chocolate always loves to add to the size of your backside." I love chocolate, but I had to learn to enjoy it as a treat, and not as a treatment for my stress and worries!!!

So I created a "happy list” of things I like - that do not involve eating. I have over 100 things on my happy list now!

You need to experiment with stress reducing alternatives and find one that works best for you.

Examples:

· Instead of getting a Snickers™ out of the vending machine when work makes you CRAZY - try brewing a cup of low cal cocoa, or even No Calorie tea.
· Take a quick walk around the block
· Call a friend, or go chat with a co-worker
· Escape into Fantasy, by playing a game, watching a movie or read a book.
· Watch the sunset
· Start writing an e-mail to someone about what is bothering you. (You don't need to send it - this just gets the frustrations out)
· Take deep breaths and try to see if you are really physically hungry, or if it is just the stress monster talking.
· Take up knitting! The repetitive motion and feeling of accomplishing something helps... also with all that yarn and needles in your hands, you can't get food into your mouth with your hands so occupied. ;)

Try making your own "happy list!” You know what makes you smile!! Even just READING the list helps you feel better without turning to food. :)

I hope something in my rambling helps you! :-D

Take Care!

Jess

Deep Fried Marshmallows

Deep Fried Marshmallows?!?!?! Yes. Thursday night / Friday morning I dreamt I was deep-frying marshmallows. I then used magic to levitate them out of the oil and float them around the kitchen, and out the window to children outside.

It was such a bizarre dream, I could not help but remember it. When I told my husband about it, he is like… we should try making them!

So this weekend we deep-fried some marshmallows. I tried about 5 recipes and the winner was:

Jessica’s Deep Fried Marshmallows

Ingredients
---------------------------------------------
3 egg whites
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
A good pinch of ground ginger
1 cup shredded coconut
12 large Marshmallows
Oil for frying

Directions
---------------------------------------------
Mix egg whites in a small bowl.
Mix together graham crackers and ginger in another bowl.
Dip marshmallow in egg, then roll in seasoned crumbs.
Dip back in egg, and add second coat of crumbs.
Dip in egg a 3rd time and then roll in the shredded coconut.
Pat coconut into breading.
Place on a tray lined with foil and freeze for about an hour.
Heat oil to about 350. Fry marshmallows one at a time.
NOTE: Spin Marshmallows with your spoon so all sides brown evenly.
Fry until coconut is golden brown, or Marshmallow starts to leak! (About 30 seconds)
Remove from oil and place on paper towel to drain and cool.

They are cool enough to eat in about 2 minutes.

Today when I was telling a co-worker about them he teased, “I lost over 100 pounds eating Deep Fried Marshmallows!!!”

I laughed because it’s true, but very misleading. It’s like the magazines covers you read at the checkout:

“Drop 20 pounds by Labor Day!” right next to a big picture of pie… Or “Walk yourself slimmer” right next to a chocolate layer cake!!!

That is one of my biggest pet-peeves. Huge weight loss claims, next to pictures of seasonal desserts!

I also look at the women on the cover and think, “I’ve lost more than her!!” Someday I hope I will get to be the woman smiling on the cover… Sadly, the person from “People” magazine never got back to me... *SIGH*

Maybe Someday...

Anyway… I hope you keep healthy, and don’t eat these marshmallows unless you are willing to spend a week “recovering” from the experience - like I chose to do! ;)

Cheers!

Jess

Balancing Your Energy

Think of your body as a car that operates 24 hours a day. You would never expect your car to get you from one place to the next without refueling.

You also know there's no point in putting more gas in the tank than it's designed to hold. Yet that's how many of us operate our bodies! We try to run on empty for hours, then dump in more "fuel" than we can handle.

Running on Empty: (muscle loss)

Working out on an empty stomach actually breaks down your muscles.

When starved for blood sugar, your body breaks down your muscles for fuel. It is stupid and starts cannibalizing the good stuff instead of burning off the fat you want it too!! This is very counterproductive! :(

Over-fueling: (fat gain)

Going without food for long period times then, when you're ravenously hungry, you eat everything in sight. This causes a large surge of insulin, which means you will easily store the extra calories as fat.



So here is how to balance things out:

1. Eat as soon as you wake up in the morning.


2. Make sure you eat something before you exercise, no matter what time of day it is. Food prevents your muscle tissue from becoming cardio chow.


3. Eat soon after exercising, when your body has depleted its energy stores. Act fast, or you'll start burning muscle for energy.


4. Eat 5 - 6 mini meals/snacks. Have some protein at every time you eat and some calcium-rich dairy at least twice a day.
   

My Typical Daily Menu
========================
130..........Milk
130..........Carnation Instant Breakfast
100..........Oatmeal
150..........Extra Large Banana
300..........Frozen Meal (Lunch)
110..........Yogurt
80..........1/2 cup All-Bran
140..........Snack Bar
500..........Dinner
200..........Dessert
=============================
1840 Total Calories