Facts about being hungry.. and weight loss for women

Today I thought I would reference some information that I have been reading in a book called Women's Edge: Fight Fat Secrets to Successful Weight Loss.
I enjoy this book because it offers so much realistic information for women who want to better understand how their bodies work, and why they can't seem to look the way that they want to look.
The section that I am referencing discusses ways to monitor how much you are eating and how to be on "Hunger Patrol."
1. Smell your food: "Studies have shown that once you start eating, smelling food can make you stop eating sooner by satisfying you faster.(38-39)" Smelling your food causes you to slow down and savor every aspect of what you are eating, which in turn, creates a more satisfying experience all around. And who is going to say no to having a satisfying experience?
2. Keep a food diary: "Write down any unplanned eating and the circumstances under which it occurred." This is a method I swear by. I do not only write down unplanned meals, I write down every morsel that goes into my mouth. This way, I can review what things may become problem areas in my diet, or what things I have been eating too much of, or not enough of.
3. Eat Breakfast: "Researchers at Vanderbilt University in Nashville put 52 overweight women on a 12-week diet during which some ate three meals a day, including breakfast, while others passed up their morning meal. The women who ate breakfast tended to snack less of high-fat, high-calorie goodies." I have one more bit to add to this: eating first thing in the morning gets your metabolism going for the day... and stops you from overeating in the evening.
4. Spice it right: "Food will satisfy you more quickly if it tastes good and has a good mouth-feel." Using lots of herbal seasonings and spices in lieu of salt is a great idea, and more satisfying.
5. Eat Filling Foods: Fruits, veggies, potatoes, whole-wheat pastas and breads, fish, lean beef, etc.

These are some helpful hints to being in tune with what you are eating! More to come!

Getting up when it seems impossible...

Today was one of those days when my eyes felt crusted shut. I heard Roofus and Olive whining outside of the gate, begging for their morning attention, and I wondered if perhaps, I should just dive back into bed.
But, alas, I arose and brushed, washed, ate etc. I knew I needed to jump in the car and hit the gym, although the couch was calling to me.
Once I made it to the car, I knew that I had made the right decision. With my tunes playing, and the sun beaming into my car, I felt the awakening sensation that comes with knowing you are going to have a great day.
The gym was wonderful, a great combination of resistance and cardiovascular training that wore me right out.I love feeling myself being pushed to the limit and knowing that I can make it. I get this rush when I am running on the treadmill, faster and faster, sweat dripping down my bright red face,and suddenly I am smiling, even though I can barely breathe.(The poor people around me probably think that I am about to keel over.)If I can conquer the gym, I can conquer anything that this day throws at me, with the Lord on my side of course. Otherwise, I couldn't so anything.
Now I need to pull some energy together so I have something to give to my client later today! :)
I am so glad that I didn't go back to bed.

The Inspiration Of Sunshine And... Yummy Dinners

I am so grateful for the beautiful weather that we have been having. It is so inspiring to wake up and feel the sun shining into my home as I go through my morning rituals of eating, reading my Bible, and praying. I am so grateful for the opportunity to enjoy every waking moment of the life that I am so blessed to have.
I am grateful for a strong and able body. Last week I did my first longer run of the season- 6 miles, and as I was running, I couldn't help but be amazed at the strong and able body that God has given to us. So often, we do our day-to-day tasks forgetting all of the tiny miracles that are taking place around us. It is a miracle that we can walk, run, and lift things. It is a miracle that we have people in our lives that love us and that we can love.

On a different note, last week was my first week of being home with my husband and enjoying dinners together. This "normal" routine was so foreign to us, yet perfectly sweet and enjoyable. I was happy to have time to go through my cookbooks, and plan a menu for the week. Some of the healthful meals that we enjoyed were: 1. Beef Stroganoff with Whole Wheat Noodles, 2. Salmon with a pesto glaze, mashed sweet pots,and broccoli, 3. Breaded Baked Sole with Brown Rice Risotto and Carrots, 4. Balsamic Chicken with broccoli.
They were all delicious and easy to make! Contact me if you are interested in any of the recipes.
Have a wonderful, miraculous, sunshiney day!

Fitting in the Workout!

Working out doesn't always have to be setting aside an hour to go to the gym, get covered in sweat, take a shower, and start your day two hours later than normal.
It can be as simple as taking your kids to the park, going up and down the stairs a few more times, or cleaning your house with vigor! It may seem silly, but it shouldn't be "all or nothing"! We should try everyday to be a little more active and a little more conscious of what we are eating. I am going to try it too! Let's see what happens... :)

A New Life

Today was the beginning of a new way of life for me. I feel blessed to have been able to quit my job, and for the time being, focus on being a wife and a homemaker. When I was younger, I dreamed of myself in an office somewhere, in a business suit, writing for some famous magazine. Living in the city, I pictured myself alone, reading the newspaper and drinking coffee in the mornings.
Funny thing is, I hate reading the newspaper. I hate drinking coffee, and my internship at The New London Day was one of the most boring jobs I've ever had (and not been paid for) in my life.
Needless to say, I find myself continually surprised at the things that do bring me joy: going to the grocery store, planning meals to enjoy with my husband, hanging out with the Dog and the cat, and finding a few moments to share some of these restless thoughts on my blog.
Thank you Lord for changing us into the people that you want us to be, and not the people that we once naively thought we would like to become. What's next for me? I'm really not sure, but the wide open door feels like a breath of fresh air that I can't get enough of.

Rainy Day Blues

Today, even though it is a rainy day, I am ready to bite the bullet and head out into the dismal day. My body is screaming, "No! Don't Do it!" But I know that the best thing is to buck up and get out there. At least I have the comfort of being able to get in my car and drive to the gym. Imagine back in the day when people had to walk everywhere? A day like this would be a day that no one would want to go anywhere.
This morning, God taught me a valuable lesson. I was running around the kitchen, all stressed out about the busy day ahead: DMV, the gym, training, then work... you get the picture. While I was stressing about all of these things I was literally sliding around on the kitchen floor because it is covered in grease due to some over-zealous burger-making that took place there a couple nights ago. As I felt myself slipping into a miserable oblivion, God quietly whispered in my ear: "At least you have a car to be registering at the DMV. At least you have a job. Can't you be grateful for all that I have given you? Can't you enjoy these moments instead of wishing them away?"
Thank you Lord for the gentle, but nonetheless striking reminder of all that I have to be grateful for.
The stress has faded into a cloud of gratefulness.

Priorities

You will never find time for anything. you must make it.
Charles Buxton

I am learning that in order to accomplish the things that I want to in this life, I need to make some decisions about what is most important to me. For example, I need to make eating healthy and exercising a part of my daily life that is not optional. If clients say, “I don’t have time to exercise,” they are really saying, “It is not a priority in my life right now.” This is a problem because if we do not take care of our bodies, our bodies cannot function efficiently. If our bodies do not function effectively, then we cannot achieve all that we envision ourselves achieving in our lives. We cannot truly experience all that our lives have to offer us.

I must govern the clock, not be governed by it. Golda Meir

It is easy to say that exercising and making wholesome and healthy meals are just things that are too time consuming, too difficult, too out of the way. That is nonsense! Would we say that going to the gas station to put fuel into our vehicles is too hard? Of course not! That would be ridiculous right? So how then, do we say that we cannot find the time to ensure that our health is in order?

We can do anything we want as long as we stick to it long enough.
Hellen Keller

Ok, here’s a little tidbit for the moms out there: I worked out at a local dance studio today, and in the rest room I noticed a McDonalds bag in the trash can. Chuckling to myself, I considered the paradox. Then, as I walked into the studio, passing another garbage can, I noticed another empty Mickey D’s bag. I questioned my teacher about it. She explained to me that parents pick their kids up from school and come straight to a four O’clock dance class. Ok, Ok, I understand, no time. Mom, could you pack something healthy for your daughter? (For example: Brown rice in a bag - 90 seconds in the microwave, some broccoli, 5 mins to defrost, and some chicken that you made for dinner the night before? Now she has a balance of protien and healthy carbs that will keep her powering through her class!) Here is a young woman who is participating in a sport that advocates thin and trim figures for success, eating fast food on her way in. Now, she is set up for unhealthy habits of starving, or meal skipping in order to keep the “image” that is set up for her. There are many elements of this story that frustrate me: number one, (going back to what I was saying about priorities), making sure that your aspiring dancer has a good meal before her class should be a top priority. Number two, dance teachers and sports coaches alike should be educating their constituents on the importance of fueling your body with the right nutrients for optimum performance, not just to achieve a desired image.

The power of prayer in reaching our goals

Good morning all! It has been way too long since I have made a post, but thanks to some inspiration from my sister in-law (thank you Rach) and a sunny day, I am ready to go. God is revealing new things to me every day! I am realizing that prayer is a huge part of a healthy lifestyle. We cannot get control over our flesh on our own! Yet, if we rely on the Holy spirit to be our guide, we can achieve anything! We can reach the goal that we have lingering in the back of our minds. We are not doomed! We can have victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Write that goal down! Don't be so afraid to stare it in the eye every day. Then, when the goal is reached, write down the next one!