Thought for weekend

Let me leave you with this thought to stir around on this great weekend!!
Your body is fragile and the only one you have. Take a preventive approach to health by eating right, exercising , plenty of sleep and deal with your emotions. Our goal is to enjoy this great life we have been given by trying for as much happiness as we can.

Food labeling

I have been reading much about the food labeling industry and the FDA. I found this great article from Health Educator. I have summerized here and also put in the folder for my Brick library followers.

Reading and understand the labels really is not that hard if you remember to look beyond the claims on the front.
NATURAL is not regulated by the FDA therefore it might be misleading. It means nothing about the nutritional content, safety or even ingredients. So be aware and read a little further.
MADE with real fruit does not necessary mean "real fruit". There is no law that says how much so it could even be a drop. Watch for fructose corn syrup and or sugar listed first which means it not good for you and you no better.
WHOLE GRAINS is the most popular claim now a days. A manufacture can claim whole grain no matter how much whole the product contains. Look for percentage preferable 100% and don't let the grams fool you.
FAT FREE might tempt you to think it is a healthier choice. Check the label for actual number of calories and fat grams.
ZERO TRANS fat which are suppose to be the bad fat. You can not trusts the claims for zero or the nutrition facts on this. Always read the ingredients looking for hydrogenated or partial hydrogenated oils. They can add up to food that is unhealthy.
Just try to remember to make food choices from whole, unprocessed sources like fresh meat, beans, fresh fruit etc. This will help with your health and your diet.

Mental tips

Your attitude on weight loss might be affecting your actual loss or lack of it!!

Don't be afraid to say no! When someone offers you some food, you can say no even if offered in the name of love or friendship. REMEMBER it is your body and your health.

Positive self-talk! Avoid being critical of yourself and your behavior. As they say-give yourself a break. Ignore the negative talk.

It's ok to waste it! In this day and age, the old saying of eating everything on your plate is a NO NO!! Reduce recipes if you want, freeze portions.

Reduce mental stress!! Reducing stress improves mental process. Try yoga, deep-breathing, exercising and playing with chhildren.

Activities without food!! One does not have to eat with every activity one does. Alternate your routine or change scenery. Instead of meeting friends for dinner, try playing a game or a walk.

Taking life to seriously

Laughter and fun are great ways to break down the walls of stress. Play time loosens up joints, brightens your attitude and rreleases the built up tension. Even we are suposeable OFF, it seems parents anyway spend much time working-driving, fixing, cooking, therapist and negotiator. Think about how much time you get to play. Buy yourself a new toy!!

This thought for the week might even be a part of your happiness journal.

Healthy Habits

I know we all have hectic lives which seem to make eating healthy a big chore. I came across a great article by Mary Guarrino, that might be of help. I have summerized it below.

Drink water throughout the day: harder than it seems. Not crazy about water, add a little lemon to the glass or bottle.
Cut back on coffee and soda. My ears nose throat Dr has also said this to me for my reflex.
Replace high sugar with low sugar versions. What? Refined sugar adds calories and weight gain. Look for alternatives or try to avoid all together.
Stock up on healthy snacks and bring them with you. Avoid the snack machines or food on the staff room tables.
Take time to plan health meals for the week. Planning is always a must on a diet or new eating plan. This will help the fast food rut.
Purchase frozen, and ready to cook ingredients.
Pack lunch the night before.
Cook double batches of your healthy meals for the next week.
Exercise whenever you can. Take a walk break either at lunch or maybe around the building on your break. MOVE it!!!
Get enough sleep. Americans tend not to do this simple idea. We keep wanting to cram more into the day and night.

Try to incorporate these ideas and see how much better you will feel. I can attest that it is working for me.

Diet-friendly alcohol

Here are some tips for drinking and dieting, especially now that summer is coming. We don't want to blow it now. Your body processes alcohol first, leaving carbs and fats to get stored.
WINE is the most diet friendly averaging about 20 calories
Hard Liquor: very hard on your diet especially if mixed with soda. Try to use diet sodas or tonic
BEER: raise your glass to the next best idea. Light beer is your best bet
Liqueur: small but carries a big punch in the calorie department. Most are over 100 calories per 1.5 oz serving.
Think wisely and drink in moderation if you want to partake.

thought for the day

Seasons" What season do you fell you are in relating to your life? I am thinking fall for me-even though I expect many more years to spend in this world. Just never know. In order to keep the good time feelings going-savor them Think creative to maximize the sweet thoughts. Going three years of the death of Andy,, I am thinking about this very much. Time is come for me to let go and remember the good times with Andy and with our friends. I hope this will be accomplished at the 70th birthday party we are throwing this summer.
Let us keep the season idea in our minds and enjoy the days ahead.

emotional eating

And away we go. This topic will most likely come up several times. WHY do we eat when we are made, tired, sad and even happy? Those old emotions. Emotional eating can pass quickly or it can take over your life.
Can we deal with this eating habit? YES a big YES. We can develop new skills to deal with the stresses of life that cause us to eat.

Identify your trigger foods and eliminate them from your house.
Go for a walk, jog anything that is physical
DEEP breath
Keep your goals handy and visible.
Surround yourself with positive pictures, poems etc.
Keep your journal going or start it again.
TRACK your habits-you might be able to get ahead of this eating.

Fruits and Veggies

I found an article that helps one get some of these great super foods into your diet. I for one am a lover of these, so it is not hard for me.
Add fruit cereal, waffles etc.
Create your own yogurt
Snack on raw veggies or fruit instead of chips and pretzels
Drink 100% juice
Add frozen vegs to your pasta or pizza
Try berries, melons or dates for dessert
Combine fruit to your salads, add apples, pineapple orange slices to pork or chicken.
Eat, enjoy and be happy!!!

Make a difference

Since we blogging about being positive, why don't we consider making a difference with our positive attitude?

IT is easy to be a complainer but not so easy to take a step and make a difference. Right?
Relating to others is not always easy either but can make a difference in your life as well as others. Make a new friend
Lend a hand
Express a word of encouragement
You do not have to feel like you are giving up your entire life. Just try to be a person with positive thoughts and actions.

See if this makes you a happier person. I am trying this approach and so far so good. COME and join me.

Postitive people

With the new OCL challenge coming and my happiness project, I wanted to send some thoughts about being a positive person.
A positive person respects everyone contribution.
The might have the power to make change happen.
They understand that attitudes can directly affect outcomes.
They give positive vibes and positive thoughts.

Our a projecting a positive attitude?
Avoid complaining-remember that the positive and the negatives will eventually level out.
Take responsibilities for your life and actions.

These are good goals for all of us to consider. They will probably make us all a little bit happier.

Diet obstacles

Are you your own worse enemy? This week let us all try to eliminate the obstacles that we put forth when dealing with any goals, diet or otherwise. Be positive-try to take "I can't" out of your vocabulary. Stay focused, organized, learn a new skill but most importantly review your goals and your journal and FIND TIME for yourself and the goals.

Happiness Project

One of the things that make me happy are friends. Is this on your list also?
The most worthwhile long-term investment you can make is investing in relationships. Old friends have seen us through grief, birth, graduations, marriages etc. The happy and the sad. the good the bad the ugly!!. Did you ever just write a friends a thank you, I am thinking of them. IT is good to reach out and thank someone, old or new. Friends seem to accept us for what we are, they care with no strings.
What kind of a friend are you?

WALK

It's spring. Are we walking yet?
HERE are some benefits of walking to JOG your memory.

Good for your heart: helps reduce hig blood pressure and high scholestrol
Strenthens bones and joints: walking is easier on your body that the jog or run.
Weight control: it can elevate your heart rate burn calories
Benefits your mind: helps one sleep better, reduces depression and stress, sleep better. Increases blood flow to your brain which might help brain function.

SOOOO guys and gals, let us get out there and walk!!

Happiness project Elaine

This is my go for the start of this project!! My goals or commandments that I want to accomplish.

Be yourself - In my case)Be Elaine
Let it go - finding this difficult but trying
Act the way I want to feel
Be polite and be fair
Enjoy!!!
If having a problem try to IDENtify
Lighten up
There is only love
My most needed ENERGY!

Visualize

Neat trick I just heard about. Visual your food size to help you not to eat to much at one sitting.

1 cup = baseball size
1/2 cup stand lightbulb size
2tbsp = golf ball
1tbsp = poker chip
3 oz meat = deck of cards
3 oz fish = checkbook
1 oz cheese - 3 dice

Remember to eat regularly throughout the day. Avoid being overly hungry.

Lean and Clean

This goes along with my other post, so I thought I would do a trend. Since Spring is arriving, we might want to do the traditional cleaning with a twist. SOOO here we go.

Squat your way up the stairs-bend knees slightly while you are putting leg two steps ups, bend and dust. Repeat up the stairs.

While Scrubbing your sink holding with one hand and bring up your knee in front of body repeat with other leg. Try the leg in the back also.

Dishwasher lifts- While putting away your dishes, rise up on your toes-hold for three. Come down slowly. Repeat until dishwasher empty.

Towel time: grab a dish towel with both hands pulling at each end. Raise over head-move from side to side. Then fold, and try again with the next one.

Cardio/windows and floors
Do some jumping jacks between vacuuming the floors or rugs. Stretch and bend when washing the windows.

Great exercise and might even make this job more tolerable.

Squeezing in exercise

Since this is a heavy eating weekend, thought I would throw a little exercise hint to tide us over.

During driving time: Try isometric..squeeze your glutes, contract your abs. Raise your toes and calves at red lights. Park farther away from your destination-even try for a brisk walk, if you can get to destination early.

Keeping house: shop at big stores. Try your meal prep and cleanup with some music. Clean to music-bend and stretch, do your squats. Boogie a little.

Have an exercise/play date: Be a good role model. Walk when you can with your kids. Take them outside when possible. Go to the play ground-remember activity IS FUN!