Have a Plan!

As the saying goes, not  having a plan is the same as planning to fail.  So in addition to packing our lunch for the day, we also have to plan healthy responses to life's stressful situations.  For example, a second cup of coffee might be needed when facing an end-of-business-day deadline.  I pack a baggie of instant black coffee and Stevia sweetener every morning for those times.  I don't use it everyday, but I certainly prefer to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.  The alternative is to buy a high calorie coffee that add pounds to my waistline and empties my pocketbook.

I also pack two pieces of fruit and three Hershey Kisses every morning.  A plum and a Kiss usually get me through rush hour traffic after work.  A peach with another Kiss can hold me until dinner if the boys  get out of practice late.  While that sounds like a lot of sugar (fruit and chocolate), my breakfast of one boiled egg and lunch consisting of a protein and two veggies provides balance.

Share your planning tips.  I'd love to learn from you.

Enjoy Your Meals!

On my way home from work, I stopped at Sam's Club to buy pork chops for my husband to put on the grill.  While he grilled, I prepared a salad.  When it's late in the evening, my go-to side dish tends to be a salad.  However, salads don't have to be boring.  Tonight I used a baby spring mix of various lettuce with sliced apples, cheese and raisins.   Of course I topped it with Hidden Valley Ranch dressing (my favorite) and complimented the grilled meat with Sweet Baby Ray's Original BBQ Sauce (another favorite).

My point is that we need to enjoy our meals!  Cutting the carbs gives us room for our favorite sauces and dressings.  Needless to say, I also had my 95 calorie cocktail which I'll tell you about next time.  I hope you are 'breaking bread' with family and friends as often as possible because that just makes the meals even better.  If you're not, share your thoughts with me.  I'd love to hear from you. 

Look Good & Feel Good!

Recently I lost 30+ pounds.  In November 2013, I weighed 176 lbs.  By May 2014, I got down to 143 lbs which I've been maintaining.  It has been a journey that has improved my quality of life on every front.  To give you some background about myself, I have been married for 17 years and have two teenage sons.  Prior to my decision to lose weight (and it was a decision) my diet was based upon offerings at little league concession stands, drive-thru windows, and other unhealthy venues. 

I started working on my weight on my birthday, November 28th.  It's the best present I could have given myself.  So how did I do it?

• Consulted my doctor
• Drank 4 - 5 bottles of water each day
• Cut ALL carbs
• Increased fruits and veggies
• Made better choices in proteins 

If I can do it, you can do it, too!