Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Just Like a Pill
This week I got a little desperate. I bought diet pills. I don't have anything against diet pills or a long drawn out spill about the dangers of diet pills; my body just can't handle them. I have taken diet pills in the past and I have lost 5 or more pounds per week taking them and this was without any other changes being made in my eating habits or exercise. Unfortunately, every time I take diet pills my chest begins to hurt and since my family has a history of heart trouble when my chest hurts I know to stop taking them. Guess I'll have to lose weight the old fashion way although I am very interested in Laser Liposuction (smile).
Friday, July 17, 2009
PH Balance
A relative of mine told me that she had read an article about the effects of having a higher than normal PH balance in the body. She said that she had stopped drinking sodas and began taking the pills and was losing about 1 1/2 pounds a day;now this got me interested. I went to a health food store and talked to an employee who recommended a some supplements that came with testing strips. The body is suppose to have a PH balance that ranges to 6.8 to 7.5. I have cut back on sodas a lot but I have been unable to completely kick the habit. I used a testing strip last night and my PH balance was higher than it should be so I began taking the supplement. I will try to cut back on soda even more. We'll see how it goes.
Monday, July 13, 2009
The Bucket List
I was talking with a relative of mine the other day about the movie The Bucket List.
The Bucket List stars Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman and is about two terminally ill patients that meet in a cancer ward who form a friendship. During their stay in the hospital one of the patients comes across a list created by the other patient. The list is a list of things that the patient wants to do before dying. The patients talk about the list and then collaborate to write a list together. Talking about the movie made me think of a similar list I created in high school. Some may think it morbid but dying is something we all will do and since tomorrow is not promised it would serve us best to live life accordingly. After seeing the movie I decided to come up with a new list. Here it goes:
1. Live the kind of life in which people know that I know God without my ever having to say I do or displaying it religiously i.e. with tee shirts etc. (don’t get me wrong if you choose to wear religious tee-shirts more power to you, what I am saying is if I don’t wear a tee-shirt I want people to still know I believe in Christ)
2. Orchestrate special moments and events that my children will tell their children’s children about with excitement still present. I use to do things with my children like make giant pancakes, make up my own bedtime stories etc. when talking about things that have happened those are the times that my children talk the most about. I want to get back to that.
3. Travel the world.
4. Make a positive difference in the lives of as many as I can.
5. Change my community for the better.
6. Go on a shopping spree to various hot spots i.e. New York, Italy, etc.
7. Go to a Broadway Show.
8. Sit down with my children and let them look at amusement parks and places they want to go and take them to all of them one summer.
9. Travel going to see various plays…Tyler Perry plays namely.
10. Loose weight and keep it off.
11. Hold my great grandchildren.
12. Find a church home and become involved.
13. Become prissy (not the damsel in distress type prissy but doing things like keeping my hair done and my nails manicured and toes pedicured.
14.Publishing a book
15. Making a Cd
1. Live the kind of life in which people know that I know God without my ever having to say I do or displaying it religiously i.e. with tee shirts etc. (don’t get me wrong if you choose to wear religious tee-shirts more power to you, what I am saying is if I don’t wear a tee-shirt I want people to still know I believe in Christ)
2. Orchestrate special moments and events that my children will tell their children’s children about with excitement still present. I use to do things with my children like make giant pancakes, make up my own bedtime stories etc. when talking about things that have happened those are the times that my children talk the most about. I want to get back to that.
3. Travel the world.
4. Make a positive difference in the lives of as many as I can.
5. Change my community for the better.
6. Go on a shopping spree to various hot spots i.e. New York, Italy, etc.
7. Go to a Broadway Show.
8. Sit down with my children and let them look at amusement parks and places they want to go and take them to all of them one summer.
9. Travel going to see various plays…Tyler Perry plays namely.
10. Loose weight and keep it off.
11. Hold my great grandchildren.
12. Find a church home and become involved.
13. Become prissy (not the damsel in distress type prissy but doing things like keeping my hair done and my nails manicured and toes pedicured.
14.Publishing a book
15. Making a Cd
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Super Foods
Cranberries
An excellent source of free-radical scavenging antioxidants like vitamins C and E, cranberries can help reduce your risk of cancer, stroke, and heart disease. Another bonus: This tart fruit can combat urinary infections.
Recommended Serving Size: 1/4 cup (golf-ball size
Mangoes According to studies, the lycopene in this juicy topical fruit may help prevent macular degeneration, a common cause of vision loss, especially in older people. Mangoes also have high amount of disease-fighting antioxidants, fiber, and potassium. Recommended Serving Size: 1 fruit, 135 calories
Carrots You won't find another food with more beta-carotene than carrots. The compound is a form of vitamin A that's full of antioxidant properties and is responsible for the vegetable's bright orange color.Carrots contain carotemoids, antioxidants that protect the lungs. Carrots also Accelerate metabolism and dislodges fatty particles for elimination. A serving or two is also great in fighting cancer. Recommended Serving Size: 1/2 cup steamed carrots, about 27 calories
Broccoli Broccoli packs a healthy dose of disease-fighting antioxidants and vitamins A and C. It's also filled with good-for-you nutrients like calcium, potassium, and fiber. Recommended Serving Size: 1 cup of raw fresh florets, 44 milligrams of calcium, 66 calories
Almonds Looking for an easy way to relieve stress? Try crunching on unsalted almonds to get some aggression out. The nuts are a good source of vitamin B2 and E, as well as magnesium and zinc. Like vitamin C, vitamin E has been shown to fight the free radicals that can cause heart disease. Recommended Serving Size: Shelled almonds, 1/3 cup, 306 calories
Tomatoes The ultimate superfood, tomatoes contain lycopene, a proven heart disease fighter, and they're a good source of vitamins A, C, and E. Recommended Serving Size: 1 cup sliced tomatoes, about 32 calories; or 1 cup cherry tomatoes, about 27 calories
Leafy Greens Spinach, kale, and mustard greens work as a triple threat, loaded with antioxidants, fiber, and iron. Add flavor to these veggies without losing their nutritional value by steaming them. Recommended Serving Size: 1 cup raw, 1/2 cup cooked, 20 calories
Beans Beans are an ideal source of protein, fiber, magnesium, zinc, calcium, and iron. They're also high in folic acid, which can significantly reduce the risk of birth defects. Consume dried beans instead of the canned varieties, which often contain high amounts of sodium and fat. Recommended Serving Size: 1 cup cooked, approximately 225 calories
Green Tea Research has shown that antioxidant-loaded green tea may lower your risk of heart disease and cancer -- and boost your metabolism. Choose an organic brand over bottled iced green tea, which can be high in high fructose corn syrup. Recommended Serving Size: 1 cup brewed, 0 calories; or 1 cup pre-packaged brand, 17 calories
Coffee Your morning cup of java gets you going in the morning -- and it may also protect you from type 2 diabetes and colon cancer. But coffee is no replacement for fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, so drink it in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Recommended Serving Size: Freshly ground black, scant 1 cup, 4 calories
Oatmeal For a boost of fiber, start your day off with steel-cut oats mixed with raisins and apples. Oatmeal has a low glycemic index, which will help you feel energized all day long and keep hunger at bay. Avoid instant oatmeal -- it's typically loaded with sugar. Recommended serving size: Raw, 1/3 cup, 113 calories. Made with water, heaping 3/4 cup, 98 calories
Skim Milk Your body's bone mass peaks when you're in your late 20s, meaning calcium-rich foods such as skim milk are essential to your diet. Skim milk is a great source of calcium because it's low in fat and contains vitamin D, which can help your body absorb calcium. Getting 1,000 to 1,200mg of calcium per day can help prevent osteoporosis. Recommended Serving Size: 1 cup, 300mg calcium, 90 calories
Strawberries If you're craving something sweet, skip the cookies and grab a handful of strawberries or raspberries instead. (In winter, frozen berries make a tasty and equally healthy alternative.) These nutrient-rich fruits are loaded with fiber and vitamin C. Recommended Serving Size: 1/2 cup, 60 calories
Asparagus This green veggie is high in folic acid, which can help stabilize your mood and prevent birth defects (if you're pregnant or trying to conceive). Plus, asparagus is both a natural diuretic and an excellent source of potassium. Recommended Serving Size: 7 spears, 1/2 inch thick, cooked, 25 calories
Apples Apples have a low glycemic index, which can help curb hunger, and they're packed with vitamin C. They're also an excellent source of soluble fiber, which can lower your cholesterol and glucose levels. Recommended serving size: 1 apple, 47 calories
Avocados Avocados contain vitamin E, which can help keep your eyesight sharp. The monounsaturated fat in avocados has also been shown to improve the overall health of your hair and skin.It also lowers cortisol which is a hormone that stores abdominal fat. Recommended Serving Size: 1/2 cup, 80 calories
Peas These green veggies are an ample source of fiber. Stay away from canned peas, which are loaded with sodium. Recommended Serving Size: 1/2 cup cooked or frozen peas, 30 calories
Plums Shrink spider veins and flush fat
Grapefruit - Rich in pectin which breaks down fat cells. Also rich in galacturonic acid which is a natural cholesterol and fat fighter.
Soybeans - Rich in lecithin which blocks cellular fat absorption and promotes the breakdown of fatty deposits.
Blueberries boost memory, reduce Alzheimers, good for urinary tract infection , fend off cravings for four hours, stabilize blood sugar,contains plant compounds that help your body to quickly burn food as fuel instead of store them as fat.
Apricots High in beta carotene which flushes out fat and waste products. Eat a couple of apricots each day as part of your fat fighting regiment.
Beets Cleans blood cells and washes away fatty deposit. Also great for cleansing the liver and kidneys.
Brussels Sprouts Stimulate kidneys to release water and cleans out fatty deposit and other wastes from body cells. They are also a great cancer fighting food.
Cabbage Cleanses mucous membranes and washes out fatty deposit, also a great for fighting cancer.
Cherries Cleanses away waste products including fat deposit.Cherries also relieve pain and inflammation.
Melons Particularly orange colored melons like cantaloupes are high in beta carotene and act as a great fat flusher.
Whole Grains A natural fat metabolizer that is high in fiber. Great for better elimination of waiste and lowering cholesterol. Try these sources of whole grains: · Oatmeal · Brown Rice · Wild Rice · Whole Wheat Pasta .... whole wheat or whole grain · Whole Wheat Flour products (be sure it's "whole wheat")
Red Grapes Contain Resveratrol and improves blood sugar balance, reduces the storage of fat in the belly, reduces LDL cholesterol, improves circulation; lower heart disease and stroke risk
Friday, July 3, 2009
In the Meantime
Since gaining weight I have found that I do not fix up as I should. When I was smaller I liked to keep my nails done and shop for cute clothes but now that I have gotten a lot heavier I find myself leaving the house sometimes looking a mess. I have decided to fix up now before I lose the weight. The saying when you look good you feel good is true and I know that if I begin to fix up now it will raise my self-esteem and that will lead to my being confident enough to lose this weight. I have uploaded some makeover pictures for this post to give you an idea of what you look like fixed up verses not fixed up.
Here are some links that will allow you to upload your photo and then give yourself a digital makeover until next time Cover Girl!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
The Causes and Dangers of Weight Gain
Things that contribute to weight gain include: low self esteem;emotional concerns such as stress,anxiety,depression,and chronic pain;trama such as sexual,physical ,emotonal abuse,loss of a parent,marital,and family problems, and alcohol. Medical condtions such as:
Cushing's syndrome is a disorder caused by excessive amounts of the hormone cortisol in the blood. Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands, which are located just above the kidneys.
Thyroid Disorder Treatment for Thyroid Disorder Avoid refined foods, saturated fats, sugars, and white flour products. If the thyroid problem is severe it is then good to avoid brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, kale, mustard greens, peaches and pears as they have anti-thyroid substances and may suppress the thyroid function. Follow a diet with at least 50 % of the foods being fresh, and organically grown to rebalance and establish a better metabolism. The enzymes from live foods help the body to maintain proper metabolism. Foods that heal include sprouts, salads, raw vegetables, and thermos cooked grains to retain enzymes which heal and feed the glands. Eat foods rich in vitamin A, such as yellow vegetables, eggs, carrots, and dark green vegetables. Eat foods rich in Beta-Carotene, the precursor to Vitamin A and one of nature's most powerful antioxidants. Iodine rich foods that nourish the thyroid are: fish and sea vegetables such as: arame, kelp, dulse, hijike, nori, wakame, and kombu. Seaweeds are very nourishing to the glands. Zinc and copper are important in helping the body make thyroid hormone.
The most important reason to lose weight is for your health. Obesity makes the body succeptable to disease. Some diseases you are more likely to have if you are obese are develop type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides, coronary artery disease, stroke, and sleep apnea, among other conditions. If you lose weight, your risk for these conditions is reduced.Where you carry body fat is important. If fat builds up mostly around your stomach (sometimes called apple-shaped), you are at greater risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and coronary artery disease than people who are lean or people with fat around the hips. How do you know if you are obese? You can use a measurement called a body mass index, or BMI, to decide whether your weight is dangerous to your health. The BMI is a combination of your height and weight. If you have a BMI of 30 or higher, your extra weight is putting your health in danger. If you are Asian, your health may be at risk with a BMI of 27.5 or higher.
Thyroid Disorder Treatment for Thyroid Disorder Avoid refined foods, saturated fats, sugars, and white flour products. If the thyroid problem is severe it is then good to avoid brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, kale, mustard greens, peaches and pears as they have anti-thyroid substances and may suppress the thyroid function. Follow a diet with at least 50 % of the foods being fresh, and organically grown to rebalance and establish a better metabolism. The enzymes from live foods help the body to maintain proper metabolism. Foods that heal include sprouts, salads, raw vegetables, and thermos cooked grains to retain enzymes which heal and feed the glands. Eat foods rich in vitamin A, such as yellow vegetables, eggs, carrots, and dark green vegetables. Eat foods rich in Beta-Carotene, the precursor to Vitamin A and one of nature's most powerful antioxidants. Iodine rich foods that nourish the thyroid are: fish and sea vegetables such as: arame, kelp, dulse, hijike, nori, wakame, and kombu. Seaweeds are very nourishing to the glands. Zinc and copper are important in helping the body make thyroid hormone.
The most important reason to lose weight is for your health. Obesity makes the body succeptable to disease. Some diseases you are more likely to have if you are obese are develop type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides, coronary artery disease, stroke, and sleep apnea, among other conditions. If you lose weight, your risk for these conditions is reduced.Where you carry body fat is important. If fat builds up mostly around your stomach (sometimes called apple-shaped), you are at greater risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and coronary artery disease than people who are lean or people with fat around the hips. How do you know if you are obese? You can use a measurement called a body mass index, or BMI, to decide whether your weight is dangerous to your health. The BMI is a combination of your height and weight. If you have a BMI of 30 or higher, your extra weight is putting your health in danger. If you are Asian, your health may be at risk with a BMI of 27.5 or higher.
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