Monday, December 31, 2007

Snacks !!!!!

100 Calorie Snacks: 20 Choices
Need some ideas? To get you started on the road to calorie-controlled snacking, our experts offer some suggestions for healthy 100-calorie munchies:
1. Half an apple with 2 teaspoons of peanut butter
2. An orange and a few dry-roasted nuts
3. 10 cashew nuts
4. 10 almonds
5. 2 ounces of lean roast beef
6. Half a small avocado
7. 3 ounces cooked whole-grain noodles with 1 fresh tomato and 1/2 ounce hard cheese
8. 1 seven-grain Belgian waffle
9. 4 mini rice cakes with 2 tablespoons low-fat cottage cheese
10. 3 ounces low-fat cottage cheese and 3 whole-wheat crackers
11. 1/4 cup fat-free ranch dressing with mixed raw veggies
12. 6 Wheat Thins crackers with two teaspoons of peanut butter (or any nut butter)
13. 1 small baked potato with 1/2 cup salsa and 2 tablespoons of fat-free sour cream
14. 1/3 cup of unsweetened applesauce with 1 slice of whole-wheat toast, cut into 4 strips for dunking
15. 1/2 cup frozen orange juice, eaten as sorbet
16. 2 large graham cracker squares with 1 teaspoon peanut butter
17. 3 handfuls of unbuttered popcorn, seasoned with herbs
18. 4-6 ounces of no-fat or low-fat yogurt
19. A 5-ounce tossed salad with lettuce, tomato, cucumber and 1/4 cup fat-free dressing
20. Half a "finger" of string cheese with 4 whole-wheat crackers

Here I GO!!!!! Goodbye Muffin Top!!!

Good Morning,
Today is the first day of my path to personal success! Due to the holiday, I have had a REAL issue with waking up at a decent time. Unbelievably, I woke up at 10:34 a.m.( after going to bed at 3:02 a.m.- I know... I'll do better because I NEED predictable sleep patterns for my body if I want to make it healthy :)) The first thing my mind did was-->try to talk me OUT of working out-"cuz I'm sooooo tired!" but I'm moving forward just as I planned and I'm gonna do this for ME!! Muffin-top...--> BE GONE!!

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Try these Tips!...

I received this wonderful information for WebMD: 12/30/07
Everyone knows the keys to losing weight: Eat less and exercise more. Sounds simple enough, but in the context of real life and its demands, it can be anything but simple. So how do successful losers do it? To find out, WebMD asked experts across the country for their best diet tips.
Here's what they said:
1: Drink plenty of water or other calorie-free beverages.
People sometimes confuse thirst with hunger. So you can end up eating extra calories when an ice-cold glass of water is really what you need. "If you don't like plain water, try adding citrus or a splash of juice, or brew infused teas like mango or peach, which have lots of flavor but no calories,"
says Cynthia Sass, RD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.
2: Think about what you can add to your diet, not what you should take away.
Start by focusing on getting the recommended 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. "It sounds like a lot, but it is well worth it, because at the same time you are meeting your fiber goals and feeling more satisfied from the volume of food," says chef Laura Pansiero, RD. You're also less likely to overeat because fruits and vegetables displace fat in the diet. And that's not to mention the health benefits of fruits and vegetables. More than 200 studies have documented the disease-preventing qualities of phytochemicals found in produce, says Pansiero.
Her suggestion for getting more: Work vegetables into meals instead of just serving them as sides on a plate. "I love to take seasonal vegetables and make stir-fries, frittatas, risotto, pilafs, soups, or layer on sandwiches," Pansiero says. "It is so easy to buy a variety of vegetables and incorporate them into dishes."
3: Consider whether you're really hungry.
Whenever you feel like eating, look for physical signs of hunger, suggests Michelle May, MD, author of Am I Hungry? "Hunger is your body's way of telling you that you need fuel, so when a craving doesn't come from hunger, eating will never satisfy it," she says. When you're done eating, you should feel better -- not stuffed, bloated, or tired.
"Your stomach is only the size of your fist, so it takes just a handful of food to fill it comfortably," says May. Keeping your portions reasonable will help you get more in touch with your feelings of hunger and fullness.
4: Be choosy about nighttime snacks.
Mindless eating occurs most frequently after dinner, when you finally sit down and relax. "Sitting down with a bag of chips or cookies in front of the television is an example of eating amnesia, where you mindlessly eat without being hungry, but out of habit," says American Dietetic Association spokesperson Malena Perdomo, RD.
Either close down the kitchen after a certain hour, or allow yourself a low-calorie snack, like a 100-calorie pack of cookies or a half-cup scoop of low-fat ice cream. Once you find that you're usually satisfied with the low-cal snack, try a cup of zero-calorie tea, suggests Perdomo.
5: Enjoy your favorite foods.
"I think putting your favorite foods off limits leads to weight gain because it triggers 'rebound' overeating," says Sass. Instead of cutting out your favorite foods altogether, be a slim shopper. Buy one fresh bakery cookie instead of a box, or a small portion of candy from the bulk bins instead of a whole bag."You can enjoy your favorite foods, but you must do so in moderation," says Sass.
6: Enjoy your treats away from home.
When you need a treat, Ellie Krieger, RD, host of Food Network's Healthy Appetite, suggests taking a walk to your local ice cream parlor or planning a family outing. "By making it into an adventure, you don't have to worry about the temptation of having treats in the house, and it is a fun and pleasurable way to make it work when you are trying to lose weight," says Krieger.
And for those times you just can't get out? Krieger stocks her kitchen with fresh fruit, which she thinks can be every bit as delicious as any other dessert.
7: Eat several mini-meals during the day.
If you eat fewer calories than you burn, you will lose weight. But when you're hungry all the time, eating fewer calories can be challenging. "Studies show people who eat 4-5 meals or snacks per day are better able to control their appetite and weight," says obesity researcher Rebecca Reeves, DrPH, RD.
She recommends dividing your daily calories into smaller meals or snacks and enjoying as many of them as you can early in the day -- dinner should be the last time you eat.
8: Eat protein at every meal.
Protein is more satisfying than carbohydrates or fats, and thus may be the new secret weapon in weight control. " Diets higher in protein [and] moderate in carbs, along with a lifestyle of regular exercise, have an excellent potential to help weight loss," says University of Illinois protein researcher Donald Layman, PhD. Getting enough protein helps preserve muscle mass and encourages fat burning while keeping you feeling full. So be sure to include healthy protein sources, like yogurt, cheese, nuts, or beans, at meals and snacks.
9: Spice it up.
Add spices or chiles to your food for a flavor boost that can help you feel satisfied
. "Food that is loaded with flavor will stimulate your taste buds and be more satisfying so you won't eat as much," says Perdomo. When you need something sweet, suck on a red-hot fireball candy for a long-lasting burst of sweetness with just a few calories.
10: Stock your kitchen with healthy convenience foods.
Having ready-to-eat snacks and meals-in-minutes staples on hand sets you up for success. You'll be less likely to hit the drive-through or call in a pizza order if you can make a healthy meal in 5 or 10 minutes. Sass stocks her kitchen with:
· 94% fat-free microwave popcorn (20-25 calories per cup, and you can make it in two minutes or less)
· Frozen vegetables
· Bags of pre-washed greens
· Canned diced tomatoes
· Canned beans
· Whole-grain wraps or pitas
· Pre-cooked grilled chicken breasts
· A few containers of pre-cooked brown rice

Within minutes, she can toss together a healthy medley.
11: Order child-sized portions at restaurants.
"When you are eating out, order a child's pizza or a small sandwich as an easy way to trim calories and get your portions under control," suggest Perdomo. Another trick is to use smaller plates. This helps the portions look like more, and if your mind is satisfied, your stomach likely will be, too.
12: Eat foods in season.
"If you don't love certain fruits or vegetables, it could be because you ate them out of season when they have little taste or flavor," says Pensiero. "When you eat seasonally, fruits and vegetables are more flavorful, at their best, and I promise you won't be disappointed." At GiGi's Trattoria, her restaurant in Rhinebeck, N.Y., she serves simple fruit desserts, like naturally sweet strawberries topped with aged balsamic vinegar, or low-fat yogurt or fresh berries in a compote.
13: Swap a cup of pasta for a cup of vegetables.
Simply by eating less pasta or bread and more veggies, you could lose a dress or pants size in a year. "You can save from 100-200 calories if you reduce the portion of starch on your plate and increase the amount of vegetables
," says Sass.
14: Use non-food alternatives to cope with stress.
Sooner or later, you're going to be faced with a stressful situation. Instead of turning to food for comfort, be prepared with some non-food tactics that work for you. Sass suggests reading a few chapters in a novel, listening to music, writing in a journal, practicing meditative deep breathing, or looking at a photo album of loved ones.
15: Be physically active.
Although it may seem counterintuitive, don't use exercise either to punish yourself for eating or to "earn" the right to eat more. "When you do, it sets up a negative thought pattern, which is why so many people say they hate to exercise," says May.
Instead, focus on how great you feel, how much better you sleep and how much more energy you have when you exercise. Physical activity is good for you whether you are trying to lose weight or not, so keep it positive and build a lifelong habit.

"Do You...?"

These are some things we must remember during our movement toward healthier living... these are some of the things we have done- that we should avoid in the future:

Do you "hide" when eating?( i.e.- park on the far end of a parking lot while eating delicious fried foods we know we shouldn't be eating, or hide the bags/containers from fast-food restaurants so no one will know we cheated on our "diets".)

Do you turn to food as a comfort when you have a bad day?

Do you ask yourself "why am I eating" when you're really NOT hungry?... you just don't have anything else you would rather do

Do you open the fridge looking for "something" out of HABIT?

Do you find that you are often not satisfied, even after eating what you THOUGHT you were craving?

Do you eat(unhealthy food), eat again within a couple of hours, then eat AGAIN- then when you realize you have "over-eaten" the "bad stuff" you continue to eat weird combinations of food in order to PURGE yourself of all the bad stuff you've already eaten? Example: you eat chocolate cheesecake for breakfast with Pepsi, then you eat the leftover fried chicken and 3 spoonfuls of beans and rice with another slice of cheesecake (desert!), then you feel bad for overeating the bad stuff and then you eat 2 bananas, corn and 6 glasses of water to "move" everything through your system. ***Don't feel bad admitting this, I have done this MORE times than I could EVER COUNT!

All these things signal a need for us to pay attention to ourselves because we are missing something. We may be depressed, lonely, anxious or just bored- we must focus on finding new ways of using our time wisely. Keep a food journal that rates your mood when you're eating and that will help you see a pattern develop. Keep me posted on how you're doing and I'll do the same!

End of 2007 signals NEW Beginning!!

This is the 2nd to last day of 2007, I have experienced great changes in my life within the past 18 months. I left my husband, whom I thought was the love of my life but he became abusive after he was arrested for and confessed to being a peeping tom ( he was arrested for it AGAIN AFTER I left him!!!), I moved to a new state to be with family- who then turned their back on me for "one-night stands with new friends", I moved into my first apartment on my own with my child, I made the Deans list (three times), I'm graduating from college after 20 years of "distractions", I'm 140+ lbs overweight ( and counting, because I don't LOOK like I'm that big because I have always been muscular with an athletic build)...I'm cute but spreading :)

I have not been on a date since I met my husband (our seven year anniversary is Jan.1, 2008***more stress!) In the upcoming year, I plan to lose at least 60 lbs, get divorced and begin saving to buy my first home. At the moment I am 300 lbs ( but look like I'm 220) I'm bust and thigh "heavy" with a "belly". My real "enemy" is the belly!! Gotta pound out the sit-ups. I used to be in the Army so, it SHOULDN'T be hard to get into a workout routine (right!)

I'm tired of hearing my doctors tell me I need to stop stressing out and lose the weight- but... I KNOW they are right. I want to be as active as I once was and this is my chance. I don't really consider this a "New Year's Resolution" is just HAPPENS to begin near January 1. This is more of a life changing goal I have set for myself, not for "love" but for "life". Thinking I was in "love" is what partially got me to this weight.

I welcome anyone who cares to join me for this ride as we embrace Gods' love for us and express it through a healthy body and a renewed spirit.

Tomorrow (Dec. 31, 2007) I will begin my day with Donna Joyner's "Sweatin' in the Spirit" it is fantastic, uplifting and really takes the weight off if you're committed. I promise to admit when I fall off the plan and temporarily lose sight of my goal because we all have bad days... but I also promise to recommit and not make myself feel guilty for having a bad day.

Please join me on my journey
12/30/07 - 300 lbs

Healthy snacking hints...

*Some of this is paraphrasing of an earlier BV blog on healthy eating

Eating healthy doesn't always mean to eat less. If you skip meals you lose calories and your metabolism slows down. It is suggested that people eat 6 small meals every 2 to 3 hours. An example would be:
  • a hand full of almonds and an apple
  • yogurt and a fruit
  • carrots with low cal dressing and a handful of walnuts
When eating bread, consider eating 100% whole grain with no artificial ingredients or preservatives. Also read the ingredients in the foods you eat and drink and eliminate foods with High Fructose Corn Syrup and foods with Partially Hydrogenated ANYTHING.

Here are a few examples of drinks that are low in calories but still tasty:
  • Crystal light
  • diet Snapple they are very tasty and a lot have no calories.

Great snacks are nuts and fruits, BUT stay away from processed fruits packed in syrup....try cutting your own fruit and packing yourself.....for summer try low cal. no sugar Popsicles and fudge bars and also 100 calorie snack that include popcorn and crackers....

Helpful tips when eating healthier

Eat Beautifully!
You've probably heard the saying, "You are what you eat." It's true — from your hair right down to your toes! Luckily, the same foods that keep you healthy and fit also help keep you looking your best! So here are some foods to definitely include in your diet:
Citrus fruits help your body form collagen, which is essential to keep skin looking young and smooth!
Tomatoes are rich in vitamins A and C and potassium — all of which help give skin a radiant glow!
Garlic is reported to combat wrinkles and help restore tissue. It's like a natural anti-wrinkle cream!
Dairy foods — like skim milk, low-fat yogurt, and low-fat cheese — help keep your teeth strong and your smile bright!
Sweet potatoes are packed with vitamin A, which promotes clear, smooth skin! So eat right and stay beautiful!

"View life like it should be treasured, treat yourself like you should be treasured..." Unknown
Hi Ladies of Black Voices Health Page!

Thank you for checking out the blog. Please feel free to use it as your own, all I ask is that we remain respectful of the struggles each of us face- let's try not to judge others when they encounter an issue we may have successfully gotten through. Instead let's share information to help others grow into healthier persons. Feel free to share recipes. exercise advice, self-love advice, etc.

I look forward to watching this site blossom into a full-fledged support network for African-American women!

Be Well!
Rhonda

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Welcome!

As the originator of this post, I would like to welcome everyone who joins me in my quest to become the best and most amazing "ME" that I can be. It is my hope that all who join/respond will give and receive respect to everyone who posts a comment. We are all walking the same path-->please let us treat each other as we would like to be treated.

Thanks and once again...WELCOME!

Rhonda