Healthy, Challenging and Musical

Welcome.
"Visits always give pleasure - if not the arrival, the departure."  ~Portuguese Proverb

It looks like I'm not getting a car like I was talking about last week.  Apparently banks are being really picky about whom they lend their money to and as a newbie car buyer they weren't very supportive of me getting one.  I don't have bad credit - as a matter of fact I got an excellent rating from Experion.  But I do have limited credit and it's rather new.  One bank did approve me for a loan on a 2010 Mazda6 I was looking at over the past weekend.  Get this - at an awesome interest rate of 25.42% for 4 years!  Gee, thanks.  Um, no thanks!  I will continue to drive my beloved minivan until it can't take it any longer.  Then, maybe, I'll buy a car from a personal add and skip the dealerships and banks.  To heck with them!

Eat.
"Did you ever stop to taste a carrot?  Not just eat it, but taste it?  You can't taste the beauty and energy of the earth in a Twinkie."  ~Astrid Alauda

In keeping with my weight loss goals, I have decided to eat a 1500 calorie a day diet.  This is about the number of calories the gym suggested. It is also based on the Diabetic Diet.  I'm not diabetic but the plan is basic and makes a lot of sense for anyone to follow.  I've tried Weight Watchers and learned a lot on their plan including portion control, how to make healthy choices, eating whole grains, and the like.  But, I just can't follow the plan - basically because they allow me to go a little crazy on the weekends.  Then I tend to go crazy a couple of times a week and before I know it I'm not following the plan at all.  I also don't like having to track every little think I eat and count the points for everything.

So, how do I keep track of 1500 calories in a day?  Easy - I've decided to eat a 300 calorie breakfast, a 400 calorie lunch, a 500 calorie dinner and two 150 calorie snacks each day.  As long as I stick with those numbers and choose healthy options I'm good to go.  I've created a simple "go to" list of each type of meal.  That way I can look at the list, see what sounds appealing and eat it at the appropriate time. It's working very well so far.  As an example of a day of meals, this morning I had a small Blueberry Bagel with a little light Cream Cheese and a small Banana.  For lunch I had a cup of Cooking Light's Loaded Baked Potato Soup and a small Ham Sandwich on light Whole Wheat Bread with mustard.  I'll have a Lean Cuisine BBQ Chicken Pizza with Salad for dinner.  And for my snacks today, a fresh Apple with a little Peanut Butter for the morning snack and sliced Vegetables with a little light Dressing and some low-fat Popcorn in the afternoon.  Easy peasy.

As a cookbook collector, I couldn't resist the electronic version of The 1,500 Calorie-a-Day Cookbook, Delicious Meals in Just 30 Minutes or Less! by Nansy S. Hughes.  I've got it on my computer and Kindle.  I'll be reading through that one a lot in the coming weeks.

Exercise.
"Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it."  ~Plato

I joined the 12-Week $75,000 Challenge at the Sterling Gold's Gym last weekend.  Now, I know I'm not going to lose 100 pounds and be in a bikini body by the end of 12 weeks.  But I figure joining the challenge should keep me motivated to go to the gym regularly.  I've been Sunday, Monday and Tuesday so far this week.  I took off Wednesday but will be going Thursday and Friday.  We'll see about Saturday.  My current routine is to alternate days of cardio with weight training.  Sunday was cardio day and I was able to up my time to 30 minutes on the stationary bike in intervals of intensity and speed.  Monday was upper body and abs.  Tuesday back to cardio.  If I just keep going to the gym for 5 or 6 days a week for an hour I'll be looking much better at the end of the 12 weeks.

Have Fun.
"It's easy to play any musical instrument:  all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself."  ~Johann Sebastian Bach

I'm going to start learning to play the guitar.  Actually, I started to learn in the 9th grade but didn't get very far.  We moved half way through the school  year and I never really got back into it.  I want to get my son into it too.  He needs something musical in his life (other than listening to an iPod).
I want a nylon string classical guitar.  We have a friend that is a music store manager so we'll go his store to look at what they have to offer.  I'm not really sure which brand to look for so I think it is a good idea to have him help us in picking one out.  I do know that the nylon strings are easier on my fingers than steel strings and I like the sound that a classical guitar makes.  Maybe later we'll get an electric guitar too.

100 Reasons I Want To Lose 100 Pounds

1.  So that I look better than my driver’s license picture.

2.  To not have to worry about whether I will fit in a booth at a restaurant.

3.  To wear jeans and not hang over them.

4.  To go jogging.

5.  So I never have to step foot in Lane Bryant or any other plus-sized store again.

6.  So no one I’ve seen for a while will recognize me.

7.  To not feel uncomfortable at the company business lunches.

8.  I want to grow old with my husband and see my grandchildren.

9.  I never want to be heavier than I am right now.

10.  So my clothes have a feminine shape to them – not tent shaped.

11.  So I don't get diabetes.

12.  I don’t want to become the fattest in the family.

13.  I want to be thin like my sister instead of being the fat sister.

14.  So that when I talk about cooking light and healthy people take me seriously.

15.  I want to know what I look like with only one chin.

16.  I want people to believe me when I talk about a good workout or routine.

17.  I want to buy clothes in a regular store.

18.  I want to learn Victoria's Secret!

19.  I want to like my outside as much as I like my inside.

20.  So I will want to have my picture taken.

21.  So I look like the “after” shot.

22.  Cause I’m a woman and want to feel like it.

23.  So I can wear nicer clothes to work and look professional.

24.  To not worry if my shirt shows a bit of my stomach.

25.  To walk into my closet, grab whatever is hanging there, put it on and not have to wonder how bad it will look on me.

26.  I want to feel good about myself when I look in the mirror.

27.  I want a regular bath towel to wrap around me comfortably.

28.  To not feel guilty about anything I eat.

29.  So I can comfortably change in the women’s locker room.

30.  So my grocery bill will go down.

31.  I want to put on gym clothes and look cute.

32.  I want to be able to walk more than a block without getting winded.

33.  So I can get up from my chair at my desk quicker and walk without limping.

34.  To get in and out of the car easily.

35.  So I can comfortably paint my toe nails.

36.  I want a side profile that looks less like Alfred Hitchock and more like Kim Kardashian.

37.  For healthier skin.

38.  I want to look out of place at a buffet

39.  I want to look like I belong to a gym.

40.  To not feel so self conscious about eating lunch out alone.

41.  Because I can’t think of one good reason not to lose the weight.

42.  Maybe I’ll look better in hats

43.  Because life is too short to feel miserable…especially if I can do something about it myself.

44.  To look cute in a hard hart and work boots on the jobsite.

45.  To look more like I belong in Shape Magazine than Weight Watchers.

46.  To prove that I can do it without going to Weight Watchers, tracking everything I eat and counting points all of the time.

47.  I want to live in Onederland.

48.  So I can wrestle with my husband again.

49.  To go down the enclosed slide at the pool and not look like a whale in the water.

50.  To fit on the swings at the playground.

51.  To wear high heels again.

52.  To get a haircut without worrying if it will make my face look even fatter.

53.  To wear a bathing suit.

54.  To be able to tie my shoes easier.

55.  Being able to ride a roller coaster without worrying if the bar will fit.

56.  To see the shock on peoples’ faces when they see me after losing weight.

57.  Go to an indoor rock climbing wall and fit in the harness thingy they strap to you.

58.  So I can tuck in a shirt again.

59.  To sleep better. – no more CPAP/sleep apnea.

60.  Being able to sit on my husband’s lap again.

61.  So people won’t wonder if I’m pregnant.

62.  So I can wear a sleeveless shirt.

63.  So I don’t have to struggle to get up off of the floor.

64.  To show my son that playing outside is more fun than playing on the Wii.

65.  To prove I can get the things I really want in life.

66.  I want to wear out my clothes instead of outgrowing them.

67.  Learning to control my emotions rather than eat them.

68.  To have fun shopping for clothes.

69.  So my hubby’s clothes are soooo big there is no way I want to wear them.

70.  I want to be able to get a massage without being self-conscious.

71.  So I can get a pedicure or manicure without being afraid that the technicians are talking about how big I am in their native language.

72.  To determine that I do, in fact, have collarbones in there somewhere.

73.  So that the gowns at the hospital and doctor’s office fit me

74.  ...and I only have to wear one of them!

75.  ……and I can wear the ones in the dressing room instead of the technician having to fetch a bigger one from somewhere else.

76.  To wear shorts again.

77.  To wear a tank top again.

78.  So that a 16” necklace doesn’t feel like it’s choking me.

79.  I want to wear my wedding ring on my ring finger instead of my pinky.

80.  People treat skinny people better than fat people.

81.  So I don’t feel like I need to wear a second shirt to cover up the first one.

82.  It’s too hot being fat.

83.  People won’t automatically think I’ve pigged out just because I’m carrying a McDonald’s cup.

84.  I want to wear matching little bras and panties.

85.  My hip won’t hurt so much.

86.  I want to be able to work in my kitchen longer without pain

87.  My back of my ankles won’t hurt so much.

88.  To no longer have any "X's" on my clothing tags.

89.  To jump on my husband’s back without fearing I will break it.

90.  To wear cute, sexy Halloween costumes.

91.  To be able to stand up and look straight down to see my toes or the numbers on the scale.

92.  So that I can buy an expensive leather coat and not worry if I can wear it next year.

93.  I want to feel comfortable to join a class (aerobics, belly dancing, etc).

94.  I want to see "before" and "after" pictures of me displayed in public somewhere.

95.  I want to show other overweight people that you CAN lose the weight...if I can do it anyone can!

96.  I want my boobs to stick out further than my stomach when I’m sitting down.

97.  I don’t want to look like the “before” picture of the weight loss adds.

98.  I remember what being thin feels like.

99.  This might be mean, but, I want to make other women jealous of me.

100.  I want to be a HOT CHICK again!

The Last of the Thanksgiving Turkey

Welcome...
"You must welcome change as the rule but not as your ruler." ~ Denis Waitley

We've started another new year.  I don't make resolutions so I won't be breaking one in a couple of weeks like a lot of people.  I do set goals though and have decided on a couple for this year.  Since I turn 45 in March (god willing) I want to make it a really good year.  Good years don't just happen by themselves, they need planning.  First off is to reinstate my original reason for starting this blog.  Lose weight, get fit, be healthy and have fun (not in necessarily in that order).  I would also like to buy a car - a fun car, whatever that may be.  I don't really need one right now, but I'd like one.  We have a perfectly good Dodge Grand Caravan sitting outside that will keep running (knock on wood) for quite some time.  We'll see.  I'll keep an eye out and save up some money so that if I happen onto something I like I can grab it.  Ok - so that's the only stuff I've come up with so far for the year.  I'll have to think about it some more.

Exercise...
"We do not stop exercising because we grow old - we grow old because we stop exercising." ~ Dr. Kenneth Cooper

I did well at the gym today.  The way I figure it just getting myself to go to the gym and move makes it a good day at the gym.  I'm shooting for 5 or 6 days a week. (3 days a week at the very least)  After a good 20 minutes on the stationary bike I did some stretching for a bit and spent a while in the sauna.  I've grown to like the sauna.  After doing some research about saunas I've learned a few things that sound intriguing.  There are many reports that indicate that sitting in the sauna for a few minutes a day can be very beneficial to your health.  I'm not going to quote anything I've read but I do suggest anyone interested to look it up for themselves.  It is very interesting stuff.  I'll have to see if I notice any difference after a while.  One thing I have noticed lately, I feel great walking out of the gym and wonder why I'm not there every day.

Eat...
"To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art." ~ La Rochefoucauld

One of my absolute favorite recipes from the Cooking

Light cookbook is the Turkey Jambalaya.  We're having it for dinner tonight to use up the last of the leftover Thanksgiving turkey.  This dish really shouldn't be thought of as "leftovers" though.  I love this stuff and so do the guys.  The only change I make when cooking this is to add 1/4 pound of raw, peeled, chopped shrimp in with the turkey and sausage.  Here's a link that should get you to the recipe - http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?t=16106

Have Fun...
"No entertainment is so cheap as reading, nor any pleasure as lasting." ~ Lady Montagu

I'm really enjoying my Kindle.  I've been reading tons of books and I've subscribed to the electronic version of Shape Magazine.  I'm in the middle of reading You Suck, A Love Story by Christopher Moore.  It's pretty entertaining.  I like the vampire type books and this one is a good one.  I can hear the Kindle and bubble bath calling me and will be answering it after dinner.  Not the most exciting way to have "fun" but it sounds wonderfully relaxing to me.  Huh, who says reading isn't fun?