Sugar hangover:(

LOVE them:)

My daughter and grandsons got here on Saturday and she brought me 2 pecan pralines from The Savannah Candy company! I could not let them go to waste, since I knew they were spendy little gems, so I ate them over the course of the last 3 days. I may have still been safe if I hadn't eaten a frosted shortbread cookie during The Bachelor last night:( Seriously...my daughter thinks it is funny.....I continue to learn lessons! Kayce's girlfriend watches the show with us when Kayce is in town and we really have fun! I was testing myself....not really....I just wanted it!

My husband took this picture yesterday morning. Karson gets a little jealous when I hold Konner so he jumped into my lap and started snuggling. I can't even describe how it makes my heart expand 100 times its normal size!

I know that for the 2 weeks that Kayce is here there will be many temptations for sugar. She decided to go on WW when she gets home, so she is planning to have a lot of fun food. We are headed out for the day with my other daughter for lunch and shopping. One day at a time!

I am feeling happy and content!
Blessings and happy scales!

Not being ornery.....just being honest!

I am 1000% honest in saying that if I am the only "right" one in this world, I would rather go with all of the "wrong" ones. I am 55 years old. Do you have any idea how many DIETS have been out as the newest, best, easiest, etc. for all of these years? I owned a gym with 100's of women over the course of 6+ years, do you know how many actually lost weight and kept it off? My whole point was that if we are doing something that others don't agree with, God bless them. If we are doing something that we can't do for the rest of our lives, we will fail. 
@ Trina, I love your passion for what YOU are doing, that does not mean that the rest of us agree. I respect you for your search for knowledge. I have no desire to put that much time and energy into figuring out something that I can do forever. With that said, I ask that you respect my opinions too. We set up these blogs to encourage one another, if I don't do that, fail to encourage....then I am sorry. We are supposed to be honest too. So here goes...if you think you will get down to your goal weight eating 70% of your calories from fat....good fat/bad fat/whatever fat....I would love to see 1 success story that there is out there. I didn't say that on your blog because I respected that it is your friends that read it, and it was your right to your opinion. What I did say is if I ate that much fat a day I would have the runs, and I would gain weight. That was my honest response.
What should be a way for us to share our failures, successes, and thoughts should not become a battle field. Suzy...don't give up. We are here to encourage each other. I would be more than happy to be your blogger friend:)
If I offended anyone, I am sorry. If you have read my posts over the last 20 months, you would know that I think I am funny,I guess I may be the only one. Quite frankly this whole thing irritates me a LOT!
I am under what the goal weight for my height and age should be, I am healthy with all of my blood work etc. I do not drink, I do not take drugs, I exercise moderately. I try, but I refuse to  think that all of the people that I love, doing something different, including my husband who eats crap loads of sugar and wheat, are going to be unhealthy and die.
Blessings and happy scales...

I've been thinking! Scary right?

Here's my rebel opinion of many of our diet questions......
If there is an apocalypse of artificial sweetener eaters, sugar eaters  and wheat eaters,  I will be happy with my decision to continue to eat all in moderation. 98% of my family, loved ones and friends eat them. I wouldn't want to be the only one left! Of course I say that because I do not have a health issue that  mandates me to take them out of my diet.
I say that with the knowledge that I could be hit by a truck and die tomorrow!
The end:)

Some unasked for advice.....

I posted this earlier on another post, but I wanted to post it for people that may read my blog. (BELOW)I am NO expert and I certainly have NOT figured out the "be all, end all", of this healthy weight world, but I do think that at some point we just have to relax and do what we know it our heart of hearts to do. I don't think anyone really believes that no matter what combination of foods you eat, you can eat 1000's of extra calories a day and still lose weight. Anyone??? Calories do matter because if they didn't, you could eat 15/6 a day until you literally disappeared! That's not going to happen. The more you weigh, the more calories a day that your body burns during it's normal day. That's why in WW the people that need to lose more weight have more "points" available to them when they first start out. The points or calories,decrease as you lose according again, to what your body requires to lose weight. When I am doing myfitnesspal religiously, I can see why my weight starts to creep up. I am eating too much. Whether it is a combination of carbs, fats, sugar etc. the calories are increasing, the activity is decreasing and I gain. Do I think "just exercise" will make me lose? No...but I don't think you can ever exercise enough to overcome bad eating. I want to do a combination that works for me, that I can do not only when I am 55, but when I am 85. I don't want to battle this battle until the end of time....my time at least. I feel for the people on the biggest loser etc. It is simply not realistic for them to work out 8+ hours a day for the rest of their lives. Hopefully most of them find a balance of food vs activity when they get home. Maintaining is HARD work and not for the weak of heart. That's why I think Rosalie is such an awesome example, she found what worked for her, that she can faithfully do for the rest of her life....She is a smart woman!
Here is my response to a search for answers, I was kind of thinking it was a good answer, so I thought I would share.


I thought of this verse after reading your post, and then found a page that kind of explains the verse:
http://www.gotquestions.org/fearfully-wonderfully-made.html Psalm 139:14

Again I praise you for striving to find answers, I just hope that your answers aren't making you more confused. I have mentioned before that I have a close friend who has her masters in nutrition and is a certified trainer for marathon athletes. She is continually going to school and learning new and different view points on many things. She does not agree with me on fruit based sugars, does not think that our body processes them the same as sugar/sugar, but on most other things I value her opinion. I can tell you at 55 years old and probably 30 years of schooling, she does not think wheat is the reason for obesity, nor does she steer clear of it. On the contrary, she imposes her love of it, by the food that she serves. She is extremely fit, more than I have a desire to be, and I do not see much fat of any kind on her body. 
I have also mentioned before that I take thyroid meds and have for about 15 years. I lost a total of 5 lbs once I went on the medication. I felt way better, my skin wasn't dry, my hair wasn't falling out, I wasn't dead tired all the time, but I did not lose a massive amount of weight. I recently starting taking estrogen for a female issue and again, no notice of weight loss, but I did not gain that much in my 3 months of inactivity. 
I don't remember if you do myfitnesspal or not? I think it is a HUGE help to those of us that think we are doing pretty "Ok" in our food and then find out at the end of the day we have eaten over 2500 calories and didn't even record exact amounts. I believe calories do matter, at least in the fact that you have to have a deficit to lose weight. 
I continually blame sugar for my weight issues, but it isn't just sugar, it was too much sugar. Like I said before it isn't just carbs, it is too many carbs. There are definitely things that some of us should not eat, but if we plan to inhabit this earth with all of the choices that are out there, we have to make it as easy as possible to live. To make good choices every day. 
That's my sermon and I hope you take it with the care and friendship that it was meant to have. 

That's my thoughts for the day, I would love to hear comments back. I know I have a lot to learn!

Zumba, Zumba....

I am happy to say that I went to Zumba twice last week and I started my Monday there! It feels so good to be back in a routine of sorts. I am taking my weight/fitness one thing at a time. Before I do anything drastic or change anything in  my diet, I am going to see how the exercise alone affects my weight.
I don't know if there are any new people reading this blog, I don't know if anyone really cares, but I want to say something about the BFC that makes it work for me.
I eat regular food! I don't eat different flours, I don't eat different oils, I don't eat special desserts, I don't eat whole wheat tortillas or flax bread. I eat flour tortillas, ground beef, tomato based sauces at times, butter, heavy whipping cream. I eat regular pizzas and regular burgers out. I eat french fries and pasta. I eat KFC, Olive Garden, 5 Guys, Nacho's, Mexican burritos and enchiladas.
I don't eat donuts, cookies, cupcakes, ice cream, candy, etc. 
That is my one thing that I have drastically changed. Except eating spinach, I still eat spinach and had not tasted it prior to doing the BFC.
But I count the carbs and sugar.
I rarely go over on myfitnesspal on my sugars, I go over much more often with my carbs. I have no desire to go down the sugar treats road again. I feel like I was an addict and I conquered an addiction. I am proud of myself for that. I am lucky that I don't drink so I don't worry about those calories either. I did quit eating my potato chips:) That also feels good!

I am so proud of everyone that continually strives for a plan that works for them, that can work for them forever. I am 55 years old, this is something I can do forever and never feel like I am missing out. I make the choice when I eat something I shouldn't, but it has to be pretty darn good to eat too much of it. The new BBQ place that just opened by us had free vanilla soft serve after your dinner. I made the cone, I had 2 nice bites, and then put it down and was done. If I hadn't have done that, I would have thought about it, fantasized about it, and wanted to go back right away so I could eat it. Now I can wait until the next time and do the same thing again. I do have the BBQ sauce on the side and barely dip the meat in the sauce. I bet by the end of the meal and I had 2 meats, I had used less than a tsp of sauce.

This whole weight loss thing is such a mind game. It truly starts in our heads and eventually filters out into our tummies. My head is going to concentrate on exercise for awhile and see where the extra activity leads me.

Blessings and happy scales!

I finally returned to Zumba!!!

I finally got my behind out the door and went back to Zumba today. Not only do I feel like I  really accomplished something, but I saw some very nice women that I had missed. I can't say that I feel good right at this moment....that would be a bit of a "lie", I feel like I was hit by a truck...a VERY big truck! But it will pass....I hope:)

This is rather a mean thing to say, but I really noticed a lot of the gals had put on some weight over the Holiday's. It made me feel good because I have added a few lbs, but not extreme.

Side note...... I just took a shower and got cleaned up and was reflecting on what I had written in my blog about others gaining weight. I am ashamed of myself for finding some good in others gaining, as to not feel as bad about my own weight gain. I am not that kind of person. I could have deleted that part, but I want to remind myself....."there but by the Grace of God go I". I do not want to be happy that others gained, so I don't feel so bad about my own weight gain. I truly believe that I can do the BFC forever, but I can't do it without some activity added. I hope this makes sense. Maintaining the weight loss is so much harder than losing it. Sorry, but it's true!!!

I feel good knowing that getting back in the groove should help get my  extra baggage off. I just looked at my calendar and the last time I had been to work out was the 27th of September. That was a long break, and that is what caused my weight gain several years ago. I need to constantly remind myself of that and keep my butt moving!!!

My arms feel like lead weights, I can't even muster up the energy to type....so I will bid you adieu!

Do you really, really, really want it?

Here's some ramblings from my brain as I sit here all ready to go to Zumba and could not make it safely out of my neighborhood. The paper not being delivered should have been my first clue. It snowed about 7 inches  Sunday night and of course neighborhoods don't get plowed. All of that snow is now in deep ruts and totally frozen. Not only does my car have a very low clearance and it is 4 wheel drive, it was not able to escape those ice ruts! My husband is very happy because he didn't want me to venture out in the first place, at least someone's happy!

So here is what I was thinking after reading Pattie's blog about weight fluctuations, which by the way happens to me every day! I weigh every day, unless I know it is going to be REALLY bad, because I like to see where I am. I have a nice scale, but every day, I weigh something different. When I am dehydrated, I love the scale because it shows a lower number, when I am full off doo doo, I hate the scale because it is higher! I think the initial weight we lose on any diet is water and excrement, not fat. True fat takes awhile to exit the body. I also think that a week of being really good, can be undone in 2 days. A one day splurge, at least for me, doesn't really affect my weight if I get back on track the next day. I digress....

Do you really, really, really want to be thin? Society believes we should be, but do you? I am not talking about people that need to lose a lot of weight for medical reasons, I am talking about losing that last 10-20 lbs because we think we should, to fit in, to fit the mold. I think about this a lot because I am about 6 lbs over my lowest weight. Out of the last 2 years of doing the BFC, I have been about 6 lbs over my lowest weight, way more that I was at my lowest weight. Was I happier 6 lbs ago? No. Did my clothes fit better? Yes. Is it worth it for me to really TRY to get back down there? That is my question to myself! And I ask that question to all of you that just haven't gotten to that goal yet. Do you really, really want to? Give up the foods/wine etc. that you love for 20 lbs? Is it worth it to you to make the tough changes for YOU, not because you think you should? I could be wrong, but I think that is part of the struggle when you have lost weight, feel better, look better....do you want to finish the job? I have said for years that I just want to be able to put on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and not have a fat roll. Is that too much to ask in life? Well 6 lbs ago, I was able to do that. Now I am overly conscious of the nice little bulge around my middle. I hate it, but do I hate it enough to change my eating habits? I don't have the answer for myself yet, so I don't have any answers for others. I do know that I am going to go back to working out and see if that changes things. I know it will because of the calories I will burn and the muscles that I will gain.

I know for me, I eat WAY healthier than I did before I started this journey. I truly do not miss sweet goodies at all, but I missed my bread and potatoes enough to add them back in. It was not just adding them back that made me gain some weight, it was adding back 1/2 loaf of Italian bread, not one or 2 slices. It was adding back potatoes at ever meal and not just 1 meal a day. It was eating spinach or a veggie once a week, not once a day. I have eaten TOO many carbs, not just the carbs.
So I will keep questioning myself, but I will keep doing what I know is working to keep the majority of the weight off. I still think SUGAR is the enemy and I can live quite peacefully without it!
I would love to hear your thoughts if you read this? Do I make any sense? Do you feel the same at times?
Blessings and happy scales!

139.2!!! Yikes!!!

Happy New Year!!! I wonder how many times I have weighed in the last year and said "Yikes"!? I have become accustomed to going up to the 138's, but 139...makes me get a little nervous! I still have not gone back to Zumba and I can give 5000 excuses as to why. I am going to get my butt moving next Monday. Yep, I am starting on a Monday....how many times have I don't that before too?! I am really ready though. I really haven't been that bad, just eating at random times, eating out way too much. On New Years Day we have Ivar's fish and chips and Pizza Hut for dinner, all in 1 day!
Lana, thank you for your nice comment. Here's the link to the no bake cookies:
http://heartofacountryhome.wordpress.com/2010/11/23/chocolate-oatmeal-no-bake-cookies-sugar-free/
She uses Splenda, I use a stevia blend. I do know that I boil them for 3.5 -4 minutes or they don't set up that well. I think it is because it isn't real sugar? I let them set in the refrigerator and I think they get better after time.
The pretzel dessert is super simple. I just slowly melt 1 TBS butter and add 2 TBS stevia before it gets really hot or it will clump up. I then add 8 of the waffle shape pretzels broken up, and let it candy itself. After it cools I just add a little fruit, like 3 strawberries, and cool whip. I have always stuck with cool whip instead of redi whip because it doesn't break down to air like redi whip seems to do. In the beginning sticking with blackberries or blueberries is probably best.

Exciting news that my daughter is coming with my grandsons at the end of the month. I am soooo excited! I can't wait to have my house in chaos! Oh and here's a not every family is perfect and mine is by far NOT....I had everyone for dinner on Sunday because my son's Boston girlfriend is here. I made pork tenderloin, real mashed potatoes, etc. and cooked, cleaned, and finally sat down to play Apples to Apples and my twins, (almost 25 year old twins), got into a verbal fight. My daughter said the "F" word, my older son grabbed my 2 grandchildren and sent them out to the car, he then proceeded to tell her not to talk like that in front of the kids, I am standing there going "WHAT THE HECK!!!" and they all left. And they took the Apple Crisp that  Boston girl had made for dessert! Now granted that was good, but really? I think it will be awhile before we have dinner here again, like a long while!
KIDS!!! I hope I am not the only one that has adult children that still act like children?
Blessings and happy scales.....