I Was Ambushed by a Pizza

Hello Luv-lies,

It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a slice {and in this case, 2 slices} of one of my favorite types of pizza – MEAT LOVERS! …. Well, if your going to eat it, it may as well have the kitchen sink on it.. right? *coy smile*

My abstinence has been for no other reason than that I’ve really not had an craving/taste for pizza. Today I craved. And I ate. Now, pre- WW days I would have devoured four pieces of this mouth watering treat. But today, I was satisfied with half of that – and a cool 22 points!

I just have two things to say about this:

(1) Mmmmmmmm Mmmmmmm Good!, and

(2) Thank Goodness for the extra 49 weekly points  ! {I very seldom use them, but this day, I am sooooo glad that I have them!}

What sinfully delicious treat did you use your 49 extra points on this week?

Do tell…..

It’s All About…. Perspective

Good Morning Luv-lies,
I’m coming off of a long weekend – ‘Thank goodness for holidays’. How was your holiday weekend?

I spent time, attending an honorary tribute to our veterans… a very sentimental and emotionally rewarding experience.
But now, it’s back to the daily grind. It’s funny how the principles and practices that are taught in the WW meeting reallllly are applicable to our everyday life and experiences. Earlier today, I was in earshot of a conversation that an individual was having with herself. …. Come on now, you know there are times that you’ve had a serious pow-wow with self … *wink wink*. What I actually overheard was the tail-end of her self-conversation. It went something like this, …. ‘I have such a short attention span.’ To which I spontaneously replied, “well, one thing that you can say is that, you are never bored”. Between a contagious chestershire cat grin she replied….’ I like that perspective better.’

I walked away – feeling good about making someone else feel good – thinking, ‘funny, this is what we talked about on Sunday during our weekly WW meeting…’
As you well know, this weeks topic centers around what one can do when food is not enough? We learned that one strategy that can be used is called ‘reframing’. We talked about activities that can be employed to substitute for eating, but I still pondered, ‘just what is reframing and how does that work? …. you know… on a brain level? So I do what I always do when I am curious and want just a litttttle bit more information, ‘googled it up’.
This is what I found:

*I’ll try not to turn this into a lecture…because, who the heck needs that, right?*

So what is this idea of ‘reframing’ and how can I make it work on my journey to a more fit and healthy self?  During my reading,  I found that ‘reframing’ is really about perspective and giving something a more positive ‘spin’ *if you will* According to ‘the experts’, one of the most important and useful principles for managing change relates to the notion of positive intention – you know, looking at things as, half full. When you operate from a perspective of positivity, you are able to envision more choices and options for satisfying an undesirable/unwanted behavior.

In a word (or two or three)… focusing on the positive aspects. A positive perspective focuses on one’s strength… and being looked as a strong is always a good thing…

Here’s the part of the program that we taught about techniques a.k.a. “okay. It sounds all well and good, but how do I make this reframing thing work?”

And the Top 4 List is::

4 – Identify the problem ….. ‘what do you want to change?’ Pay attention to images and/or feelings about the ‘thing’ that you’re trying to change
3 – Understand the motivation…..‘the why of it all’
2 – Brainstorm Solutions…’ K.I.S.S.. – ‘keep it simple sexy’ – This is where you get to use your more creative side. don’t overwhelm yourself. Keep the list to three alternatives to using food.
1 – Use positive terminology…. your terminology gives you a different perspective

….AND IT’S ALL ABOUT PERSPECTIVE….RIGHT?
….class dismissed…. *smile* *wink*
What techniques do you use to reframe (and refrain from emotional overeating) when food is not enough?
Do tell…..

Me & My Gadgets

Happy Sunday Luv-lies,

Had an okay weigh-in….1 pound up {not an woo-hoo!} – but I plan to have a better week. I’ll keep you posted….

Immediately after my morning weigh-in, my routine is to do a cardio class – two doors down! This morning was no exception. :-). Zumba seems to get me going these days, so off to an hour class. It was very energizing.

Then it’s on to a return to my WW Meeting (where I’ve saved time by weighing in before my cardio class. Our meeting focused on moving your body as a strategy for ’emotional eating’ (but I plan to post later on today about that…and another issue that came up at today’s meeting).

I am proud to say that I am an ActiveLink fanatic! My other ‘move my body’ gadget is my Jawbone UP. Both of these little trinkets inconspicuously collect data about how much I move my body and reward me with feedback that helps to keep me motivated in getting in cardio, daily sleep requirements, meals/meal planning and much, much more.

Hey Luv-lies,
What’s your ‘move your body’ gadget?

Do share…..

Wordless Wednesday

SELF CONTROL

Smart Snacking

Hello Luv-lies,

Remember growing up when you were told that snacking between meals would guarantee, not only spoiling your next meal, but would definitely help to pack on the pounds? Well…. you’ll be glad to know that, healthy snacking not only curbs your appetite- making the next meal a welcomed dining experience –  but it aides in weight loss by quelling the urge to overeat.

*HaHa! How’s that for great news!?*

As we all have discussed, at some point, while occupying the ‘green seats’, that PLANNING IS KEY! A planned snacks, liked planned meals, makes it a no-brainer when you need to grab something nutritious to hold you over until the that next meal and makes it easier to control and stick to your allotted portions. So what makes a snack, a snack and not a treat?

Well, this is my understanding of the difference between these two seemingly same ideas.
A snack is a nutrient-rich meal that serves to sustain you until your next meal...Food for survival.

Where a treat is a reward… something pleasing to eat because it is rare or a luxury…..Food for your soul.

So what makes one a smart snacker?

I have a few….

* Snack only when you’re hungry
Many other feelings may disguise themselves as hunger: Boredom, frustration,
anger, happiness, loneliness…. Just about any emotional you can think of. When
the urge comes to eat to an emotional, channel that energy into doing something
physical – stay one more hour in the garden, bowl one more game, walk one
more mile….

* Watch, both, Points Plus and Nutrient Value of your snack choice
In a word {or more}, all Point Values are not equal. Enough said.

* Plan your snacks ahead of time
We’ve learned this again and again during the meeting. One little ditty that
I’ve learned from the members of my group is to mark point values on
food containers. I love this one because when I’m in a hurry, I don’t have
look up the point value. Just grab and go!

These are just a few things that I do to assure that I am snacking wisely and healthily. You should always make room for healthy snacks in your meal planning. Choosing them carefully will thwart the urge to overeat and assist with your weight loss success…

What tips do you use that help you with incorporating healthy snacks into your eating
plan?

Do Tell….

The Warmth on My Neck….

Hellooooo Luv-lies
It’s Friday!!! I hope that you have had numerous successes this week…. including being a ‘big loser’ {of poundage… of course!}.

Finally, a day with weather that is just to bee-yoo-tiful for indoor cardio.
I’ll definitely make it to my usual end of the week Zumba class, but for now… I’m lacing up my gym shoes, readjusting my ActiveLink and taking a much needed, hard earned walk!
See you Luv-lies when I get back 🙂
What outside activity are you looking forward to doing today?

Do tell…..

Catching Up with Old Friends……

Hello Luv-lies !

And Happy Mother’s Day to you all!

I spent this Mother’s Day like so many of you Luv-lies… reminiscing about the past and sharing today & tomorrow’s thoughts with that very special person in my life….my Mom. After arriving in town {I went back home to the town where all of my fondest childhood memories began}, grabbing a small {yes….nutritious meal. Even Mother’s Day is not a reason to slack :-P} my Mother & I made our way home to get comfortable and catch up {I mean reallllly catch up} on all the news and adventures of not just ours lives, but, that of family, friends. We talked all evening and way into the night.

Despite my late night/early morning talkfest, I awoke early Saturday morning refreshed. Not so much from having ample sleep, but from the delight of being able to talk endlessly with this extraordinarily special woman in my life – My Mom. As always when I go home to spend time with my Mother, my activity schedule is, for the most part, unplanned – with one exception….. I always, always, always start my day with some activity of the cardio type!

I miss these guys!!!

I decided to go back to the place where, as an adult, my enthusiasm for fitness began…. I surprised my instructor and former fitness-mates {YES! Most of these ladies were still there and looking mah-vah-lous!}.  t has been years since I’ve stepped into a Jazzercise class! After a brief interruption in the class – where loads of hugs, kisses, and “how the heck have you beens” were exchanged, I eased nicely into the routines as if I’d never left.

The time after the class was spent catching up on the adventures of our children, grandchildren, families and the who/what/when of our individual lives.

Getting my cardio in for the day was definitely a secondary gain. Reuniting with woman who have been the thread in the fabric of my life was TRULY AMAZING!!

Hey my Luv-lies, what have you done for yourself that has felt utterly amazing?
….. do share

 

* {pic via:: special thanx}

 

Anchors… & ‘… you mean I can’t eat a whole cheesecake?

Hello Luv-lies,

It’s been a few days since we’ve talked {major bummer :-P}. So what’s been going on in your world? How’s the program going? Any challenges? Successes {of course}? Do share….do share.

So this week’s topic was about anchors. I forgot to bring my ‘anchor’ to share with my fellow ‘green seat’ luv-lies {and of course, I wanted to melt into the ground! Everyone else had managed to remember ‘their’ anchor…Whoa hoo!}. As I listened intently to the objects/episodes/experiences and comments that was just the motivation that my fellow ‘green seat’ Luv-lies needed to make the commitment to start living a healthy lifestyle…. minus the unwanted pounds. What is your anchor? What was the objects/episodes/experiences and/or comments that made you say ‘…that’s it! the weight has to go!…’?

Even though I did not remember to bring my anchor, the comments from, both, the Leader and the ‘green seat’ Luv-lies made me begin to ponder my ‘anchor’. What was the objects/episodes/experiences/comments that drove me to finally say
“That’s it! I deserve to live a healthier lifestyle! I deserve to feel great when I’m shopping for that seasonal wardrobe!…?” By the meeting’s end, I had realized that my anchor was that I had been blaming my weight gain and subsequently, the inability to take off the weight to having a child. What’s the problem with that? I’m sure you’re asking yourself. Lots of women gain unwanted pounds while carrying a bambino! The answer would be – nothing is wrong with gaining a few {unwanted} pounds while growing a child… UNLESS… that was an experience that happened thirty years ago!!!!

YES!!! My one and only offspring is now an intelligent, warm, loving thirty year old mother of three wonderful children! That being said, with much resolve, on January 1st 2013, I committed to stop blaming my unknowing, loving Daughter for my lack of taking control of my unhealthy eating habits and lifestyle.
I’m sure that she will be glad to relieved of that fifty pound weight ! 🙂

…. AS FOR THAT CHEESECAKE …

So it’s that time during the meeting that we celebrate our ‘losses’… YEAH!!! I’m a little quiet about sharing my ‘loss’ successes. So I was surprised to find out that I had, again, reached another five pound weight loss! Whoa Hoo!!! Not being the only ‘biggest losing green seat’ Luv-lie, the Leader, after giving out all of the BRAVO stickers, asked the group how we celebrated our ‘losses’.

There were several ways that many of us ‘green seat’ Luv-lies rewarded our great efforts at taking off the pounds… getting a mani/pedi, nonfood shopping trips, new outfit… just to name a few. We were on the right track encouraged our Leader. We seemed to grasp the concept of rewarding our wins {or losses} with nonfood kudos. It was then that she told us the story of a meeting that she conducted; in which, one of the green seat Luv-lies’ intention, when she reaches her goal weight, is to “hurt a buffet”…OUCH!!

When I reach goal weight, I’m sure that I won’t be putting a “hurting on anybody’s buffet”, or downing a whole Oreo Cookie cheesecake!

I’m opting for a full mani/pedi…….

What’s your anchor?

How will you reward your goal weight success?
Do share, Luv-lies…
Do share

* {pic via::special thanx}

My Feet are not Sandal Worthy

Last week was craaaaaazy busy.  Crazy weeks certainly have a way of robbing of us of time. Don’t you think?  And what is it about this time of year that makes us rip and run around like headless chickens?
I wake up in the morning and hit the ground running.  I rushed off to work only to rush through the day.  Hop in the car.  Kick over the engine.  Zoom into traffic….and….sit.  and.  wait.  The physical stillness does not stop my, already overloaded mind from continuing to race.

To where?  The finish line?  Do we ever reach it?- The finish line?
Right now, I’m a little tired of racing around.  Trying to meet some imaginary ‘finish line’.

I’ve drawn my line in the sand.  If only for today.  There is one thing that I had to attend to *I’ve neglected it for farrrrr too long*

{via::special thanx}

My feet were in major need of a pedicure!  Now I knew that if my tootsies resembled ancient roman stone, my very, very busy friends, who I affectionately refer to as my ‘Sistah Friends’, are also walking around on stone feet!

Although we’d luv to have our tootsies done by some…say…celebrity tennis star,  us ‘everyday gals’ headed to our favorite foot magician!  *we really luv her economic pricing*

Decisions. Decisions. Decisions. What treatment should we select off of the menu?

*hmmmmm

Some years ago,  I read an article about something called ‘the fish pedicure’ with Garra Rufa fish.  They’re suppose to nibble away the dead skin.

Only one of my ‘sistah friends’ decided to be adventurous and give it a try.  Iccck!

She said that, initially, it tickled.  But after a while, it was quite soothing….

…three of us passed…

… and opted, instead, for this soothingly fragrant cranberry-scented flower foot bath {similar to the one pictured below}.  Immediately, I was transported to some Polynesian resort *in my mind, anyway*

….while the last ‘sistah friend’ decided for the citrusy pleasures a warmed lemon foot bathe.

The aromas were irrestible!

I’ve fallen for the ‘soft pink’ lacquers from the OPI and Essie collection.  Somewhere, I read that they are the same company.  *I don’t know*.  But what I do know is that I luv, luv, luv the soft colours!

voile’. finished! magic!

I opted for this delicate bejeweled french manicure…

and my ‘sistah friends’ opted for a more colourful presentation….

LuV It!

and when it was all over, we donned our pointed winkle-picker stilettoes and rushed right over to the nearest tapas restaurant….

Hey Luv-lie,

How was your weekend?