CHANGE IS GOOD!

It seems like we all want change in our life but sometimes aren’t willing to do what we need to to get it.  Of course I’m talking about our weight issues.  We want to see that number on the scale go down until  it reaches our “goal” weight but…..what are we doing to make that happen.  WANTING change isn’t enough – we actually have to MAKE SOME CHANGES to see a change.  We want to SEE a difference in how we look – we actually have to DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT to see the difference.  People can guide you, people can help you, people can encourage you, but it’s you and you alone that can make that change and see that difference.

No one puts food in your mouth but you.  No one can make you eat more than you need or want.  In that same vein – no one can make sure you write down what you eat and count your calories or measure out the amount you’re eating.  No one will check to see that you’ve had enough water today.  No one will keep telling you that you need to eat 5 or 6 small meals a day.  (Unless you come to my meetings and then it becomes “harping”)  So, who has to be responsible to make sure you get to your goal.  YOU!!  

What do you make more important than your commitment to yourself to get healthy.  Is your work more important?  Is your family more important?  Let’s think about that.  If you don’t take care of yourself how can you take care of anyone or anything else and do a good job at it.  YOU are the most important person in the world!  You staying healthy and living longer is or should be your immediate goal and WHATEVER you have to do to reach that goal – DO IT!  Don’t put yourself second or third or anywhere down the line except in first place.  

Take the few minutes it takes to look up calories, to measure out your servings, to write down what you’re eating, to take a refreshing walk around the block.  As you see results that come from taking charge of yourself you’ll wonder why you haven’t done it before.

Let me end with one of my favorite sayings – and really think about it!!

IF YOU ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU’VE ALWAYS DONE

YOU’LL ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU’VE ALWAYS GOT AND…

YOU’LL ALWAYS BE WHAT YOU’VE ALWAYS BEEN!

As I said at the beginning – change is good!

FROZEN FRUIT TART

Give this one a try!

2 to 2 14 cups low-fat vanilla yogurt

9 inch ready-made graham-cracker crust

12 oz. fresh blackberries (can use any berry really)

1. Whip yogurt and pour into piecrust

2.  Use back of spoon to smooth out evenly and place in freezer for 3 to 4 hours.  Remove and place berries on top.  Refreeze for at least 20 minutes.

Serves 8 for 180 calories, 27 g carbs, 4 g protein, 7 g fat  PLUS it’s actually healthy!!!

New Recipe – New Favorites!

Hi Everyone!  I just got done spending a beautiful week (albeit a “sick” week) in California.  Nothing beats walking up and down the beach other than walking up and down the beach when it’s not sooo windy.  The best part of the week was coming home and having lost a pound!  It’s not that we were too sick to eat, it was that we just watched what we ate!  You can do it all – vacation and eat healthy.

I’ve discovered my two new favorite things to keep in the house ALWAYS – Fage lo-fat Greek yogurt (so much better than “regular”).  You have to try it! You can buy it in a container with jelly on the side  or just buy the big size and add your own – much more economical.

Another was pistachios.  Yes, I know they’ve always been out there but I didn’t realize I could have a snack bag of 30 (in the shell) for 100 calories.  I bought a pound in bulk and counted them out and now, for a snack, I grab a bag and it takes a l o n g time to eat them and a recent article said that 1 or 2 handfuls a day can lower the “bad” LDL cholesterol as much as 12%.  Wow!!!  The recall recently was for “out of the shell” so don’t worry!

This week I set myself a goal to walk 100,000 steps (10,000 a day is a great goal for anyone).  I have the rest of the day to go and have so far totaled 96,921.  Not bad, huh?  How do I know?  I’ve worn a pedometer all day, every day this week.  It’s the best investment you can make for yourself.  Also, having the goal made me walk more because I don’t like to “defeat myself” by setting a goal and coming up short.  Set yourself a goal this week and see how you do.

For the recipe – check the category RECIPE to see the Frozen Fruit Tart recipe added today.