NamaStayAwhile

 My life has been one long diet.  Currently the dietician and doctor have me on a low carb diet.  With emphasis on getting more protein in so I feel less hungry. I now start my morning with a high protein shake with my coffee as the liquid.  It's not bad - I am use to it now.  But pumpkin spice season is coming, do they make pumpkin spice protein whey powder? Well, son of a gun they do - found it on Amazon - guess I will order some Friday so that I have it for the upcoming season. I was at the hip doctor this morning - finally a joint that doesn't need to be replaced.  Tendinitis, oh well, the joys of getting older.  Now is the time I need to start reversing all these things that are wrong with me. This morning I used the time waiting for the doctor to relax and meditate with controlled breathing.  Felt really good to do so.  Now I ate my lunch and will start drinking water instead of a diet soda to refresh and energize me.   Yes, w...

 Today I had an epiphany of sorts, I was listening to podcast about diet tips for weight loss and I realized that you can't do everything all at once.  If you do you feel restricted and deprived which causes me to be depraved.  But baby steps are not my style.  I want to lose a hundred pounds and I want to do it yesterday, so every time I start I go a little gung ho.  Be it Keto or Weight Watchers it was jump in and do, and while both worked I couldn't sustain the victory.  None became a new habit or a new way for me to continue.  But I realized this morning that when I do a big job, whether at home, like cleaning or at work, working on files, I breakdown the tasks. (Dan, there is that stinking word, tasks)   But I wasn't doing that for my self-care.  Instead I was trying, even though I didn't think so, to do too much at once. So, where do I start?  There are lot of steps in self care. Maybe I should start by making a list, I like l...

  Every diet pushes water.  General health pushes water.  Hydration!   From the Mayo Clinic: Getting enough water every day is important for your health. Drinking water can prevent dehydration, a condition that can cause unclear thinking, result in mood change, cause your body to overheat, and lead to constipation and kidney stones. Water has no calories, so it can also help with managing body weight and reducing calorie intake when substituted for drinks with calories, such as sweet tea or regular soda. Water helps your body: Keep a normal temperature. Lubricate and cushion joints. Protect your spinal cord and other sensitive tissues. Get rid of wastes through urination, perspiration, and bowel movements. Your body needs more water when you are: In hot climates. More physically active. Running a fever. Having diarrhea or vomiting. So how much water. Well that is debatable. The U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine determined that an adequate...

Okay - brush my self off and start over for the billionth time. But what is the alternative?  Right - DO IT until I GET IT RIGHT! First two things I am doing - Journaling and drinking my water. This morning I got up with swollen fingers, an indication of too many pretzels with salt yesterday. Last night I listened to the cookies that called my name. Dammit.  Today a little better.  No candy, no pretzels - no snacks.  Woo hoo I had a sandwich at lunch and an orange - a fiber one bar for breakfast - not the healthiest but I am doing my shopping list now and have much healthier alternatives on my list. Tonight I will get my usual Turkey Hoagie at WAWA which I know the calorie count by heart.  Skip the chips - which I love and the candy bar.  (DANG) All I know is the weight is coming on ridiculously fast - faster than I have ever seen.  My weight is going up up up.  STOP the madness - let me off this stupid merry go round. I still ne...

I remember a few years ago getting advice on weight loss from a Bosnian refugee whose family had lived with me for a short time when they came to America. First realize that he spoke very little English, so here was his advice.  He puts his finger up to show first, he then pantomimes getting up in the morning and then drink - voda and limun - which is water and lemon (secretly I was hoping that was vodka and lemon) and then he starts walking back and forth. He says all day you walk. So there it is, you want to loose weight - drink water and lemon in the morning and walk all day - sound advice - exercise.  But why the water and lemon.  I have read a lot of for and against this advice on the internet.  I attached a picture of Lemon Water benefits.  But I think it is  up to the individual.  Try it - I personally like warm water with Lemon - I heat up a  mug of water and add the juice of a half of lemon.  Please note that the lemon can be har...