Sunday, April 20, 2008

five a day

Ok, I am doing pretty well staying off the sugar.  So my new focus is going to be exercise and getting my fruits and veggies.
I found a site that is helpful.  A serving really isn't very big so it shouldn't be too hard.  According to this site I should be getting five servings a day.  I can do that.
Like you, my problem is cleaning and cutting and storing the veggies.  I tend to forget about them and let them spoil.  But frozen veggies count and so maybe I won't make it more difficult by trying to use fresh all the time.  
The site also describes the health benefits of different color groups of veggies and lists some, so that we can have ideas of different things to eat.  Variety is important.  During the summer I could easily eat five servings of watermelon per day, but I don't think that's the way its suppose to be done.
I'll have to remember that potato chips probably don't count.
I don't really care if I smother my veggies in butter or sauce.  My point isn't to eat less calories, but to eat more nutrients.  A little bit of fat, LITTLE BIT, like olive oil or butter actually releases the fat soluble nutrients from the veggies, anyway.  So even if you are trying to cut back on calories, you should add just a tad of fat to your veggies.

I bought a book on how to select and prepare produce.  Several grocery stores have the book available in the produce section for you to refer to while shopping.  Look for it or ask the produce manager about it.  If they don't have one, then ask the produce people about fruits and veggies you aren't familiar with so you can try new things.  Ask them to help you choose the best and know how to tell if they are ripe.  They can usually give you preparation tips, too.

Here is the FDA site on five a day.  It's not as pretty, but has a lot of information.

A site with tips for incorporating fruits and veggies.


Thursday, April 17, 2008

a post

I could think of things to write if you guys gave me some ideas.

I have been off the sugar, except for a few jelly bellies, and am starting to feel fewer cravings.  I am starting to feel better, too.

One thing I am really bad about is eating veggies.  I just don't like to eat them.  When I have them, I usually enjoy them, but I don't go out of my way to get them.  I am very deficient.  
What are your favorite veggies?

Friday, April 11, 2008

sugar sugar

The past couple of days I OD'd on sugar.  Here are some things that it does to me, some of which I only discovered yesterday:

Makes me very tired
Makes my head feel full and foggy
Makes me dizzy
Makes me irritable
Makes me feel anxious
Makes my heart palpitate
Increases muscle pain and stiffness
Makes me fat

Thursday, April 10, 2008

changes

ok.  I haven't actually given up sugar yet.  Since I knew my birthday was coming, I figured, "why bother."  But tomorrow I will go cold turkey!
I know Mel is doing it!  Yay!
Anyone else?

Also, I realized yesterday that going shopping on a birthday is not such a great idea.  First of all when I saw myself in one of those mirrors they have everywhere, it looks like I have a bruise on my cheek.  There is no bruise.  What is that big dark smudge?  

Then everything I tried on was too small and I know I wore that size a couple of weeks ago.  Pooey.

I'm not putting on pounds.  I'm just turning to flab.  I'm losing muscle mass and replacing it with rolls and pudges.  

So, not only am I giving up the sugar.  I have GOT to start moving!  Just have to.  My dog is fat, too, so I guess we will be taking walks together.  I am thinking to ask some women I know in the area if they want a walking partner.  I would be so much more motivated that way.

How do you motivate yourself to exercise?  Do you do it at home?  At a gym?  At all?

Thursday, April 3, 2008

sugar

I need to not eat sugar.  Lately, I have been craving it worse that usual.  I gave in and ate a bunch of Easter candy and now I can't stop wanting it!  

So, I have to go cold turkey again.  Who's with me?  Anyone else got a monkey on their back?  Wanna kick the habit with me?  Lend me some support?  

We'll all feel much better if we do it, no matter what issues we may have.  

When I say sugar, I mean processed white cane sugar or brown sugar.  If you want, you can have honey, maple syrup, stevia, agave, maple sugar, date sugar, beet sugar, barley malt...  Oh goodness, there are all kinds of sweeteners out there.  They just require a little more effort and thought.  You can't go to the ice cream shop and get ice cream made with barley malt or something.

And an added benefit is that we will lose some weight!

Ok, are you in?