Showing posts with label diet success. Show all posts
Showing posts with label diet success. Show all posts

Thursday, February 2, 2012

A Wish Your Heart Makes

I always loved the song, "A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes."  I have always been a person who believes you should reach for your dreams and never let anyone or anything discourage you.

I still believe that you can achieve what you believe.  However, everything takes EFFORT and work.  Good things usually don't just fall into our lap.  Do you remember the dreams you had as a child?  Were they mostly happy?  Do you remember the nightmares too?  Which were more frequent?

Just for giggles I went to a web site http://www.dreammoods.com/dreamdictionary/e.htm about interpreting dreams.  It is kind of a "dream dictionary" if you will.  It did turn out to be just for giggles though.  The "definitions" given for some of the dream interpretations were funny if not bizarre.  I don't think that there is anyone who can accurately interpret the dreams of another.  I do believe, however, that we can examine our own dreams sometimes and see what is the desire of our heart. 

Does your heart have a wish?  Is there a job you would love to be doing?  Is there a place you would like to live?  Would you like to travel?  Do you want to learn a new language or a new skill?  Do you want to fall in love?  Do you want your marriage or relationship to be more fulfilling?  Do you dream of these things? 

If so, it is time to ACT on the wishes of your heart.  Never let anyone tell you that fulfilling your "dreams" whatever they are is impossible. 

I had parents who never, and I do mean never, encouraged me to reach for my dreams.  In fact they discouraged any effort I made to succeed in fulfilling my dreams.  I have often wondered why they were like that.  Perhaps it was because they had never fulfilled any dreams of their own. 

I am a risk taker.  I will try any new task and put forth any amount of effort necessary to succeed at completing it.  It doesn't mean I have never failed.  I have.  But, I have also succeeded at many things I had been told were impossible for me to obtain.  I will continue to reach and stretch for my dreams until I cross over to meet my Maker.  I actually think He expects that of me.

I believe that not only should YOU reach for your dreams, but you should encourage your children to do so as well.  Junior wants to play professional sports, and has some talent?  Encourage him to go for it!  He may not become Michael Jordan or Peyton Manning, but he may do well enough in sports to get a scholarship to college and just the fulfillment and joy of PLAYING may satisfy that dream in his heart.  One thing I am sure of is that many many children fail to succeed in life because their dreams are squelched by adults.  In some cases this is well-intentioned but misguided.  Let them dream and teach them to reach out for more, and you just might be surprised how much they will accomplish.

As for yourself, you are NEVER too old to dream.  You are NEVER too old to begin learning something new.  You are NEVER to old to succeed.  Just keep dreaming.  God Bless!


Thursday, October 13, 2011

I Love Fresh Market and Mannheim Steamroller

I made a quick pass through The Fresh Market in Macon today. I just love that place. Oh yeah, sometimes it can be a little pricey, but it all depends on what you want.

If you want the highest quality organic fruits and vegetables south of Atlanta, hit the Fresh Market on Vineville Ave. Today I bought fresh, crispy radish, broccoli, celery, strawberries and peaches....I came home and made a lovely platter with a yogurt dipping sauce.

Later I will have some fresh strawberries. Fresh Market also sells fine meats, seafood and Deli items. They stock gourmet items in the canned, frozen and dairy areas. They also have some fabulous desserts. My 95 year old friend and my husband love the sweets (which I must avoid if I want to continue on the 17 Day Diet), so today I purchased them four Red Velvet Cupcakes...
Aren't they lovely? And taste?!? OMG..to die for.

I also decided to make some Weight Watchers Style Vegetable Soup for myself tonight in an effort to avoid eating those lovely cupcakes! I am still doing well on the 17 Day Diet, but had an "off" day yesterday. My stress level exceeded my ability to cope and I fell off the wagon. That doesn't mean the diet is over, just a blip on the horizon and back at it. I have lost 48 pounds and I really want to lose another twenty or so...I can do this!

I have learned to fill in most of the time when I am stressed by doing other things than eating. Listening to great music is one way I find very satisfying. Mannheim Steamroller has just come out with a new Album for Christmas..and we are downloading it today. I find their music exciting one minute and calming the next...it is uplifting and pleasing to the ear. If you haven't listened to at least one Mannheim Steamroller "Fresh Aire" album, you need to check it out. The artistry is amazing.

I am also "visualizing" our upcoming trip to Okaloosa Island in November. The calming and incredible beauty I have seen there brings peace to my spirit.

Last night was a rough one for me as a caregiver, as I was up every two hours all night. Aaaauuuggh. I haven't had a chance for a nap today as Lucy had a hair appointment, we picked up lunch, then off to the eye doctors and fitting for new glasses. After that a quick stop at Kohl's and then to Precision Collision to get the estimate on my auto repair. I still can't believe I was the victim of a "hit and run" at McDonalds on Zebulon Road in Macon. I sure hope they catch that lunatic!

We arrived home this afternoon just in time to avoid the stormy weather. I was told there was some pretty severe hail scattered around out there this evening. After unloading the car, made veggie soup, vegetable platter, fixed dinner for Lucy and now, finally have time to sit down a minute! Whew! What happened to the day?

Tomorrow won't be much better. Physical Therapist arrives at 9 AM, Funeral to attend at 11 AM and Lucy's Orthopedist appointment at 12:15. It will be another quick one.

We are going to the Georgia National Fair sometime this weekend to walk around and visit with my hubby, Kevin, who is demonstrating wood carving both Saturday and Sunday again this year. Hardwood-Designs.net is his web site if you would like to check out his work. It is really nice!

Well, I really haven't had time to think about a great recipe today, so look me up tomorrow, and I promise I will have something special for you!

God Bless

Monday, September 26, 2011

Being a Winner and Losing It!

Okay! Things have been crazy to say the least around here for the last two months! But, I refuse to let anything or anyone get in the way of my 17 Day Diet Plan. And guess what? It's working! I have lost 44 pounds now and am aiming for another 20 to 25 by Christmas.

Sometimes it is easy to get in a rut and feel sorry for yourself and give in to temptations. I will confess to having a few rough days, but in spite of a few "slips" I have stayed true to the plan. If you do have a day where things just get really off course, don't beat yourself up about it. Get Back On Track. One day does not a failure make. The thing to remember is that no DIET ever really works for the long term. You must make the lifestyle changes necessary to maintain the weight loss.

One tip which works for a lot of people is to have a NOW picture of when you start the course....
like this one 44 pounds ago...yikes, and a picture of perhaps your former "skinny self" if you have one! But be sure to keep taking progress pictures, because rewarding your progress is important.

Also, please don't reward yourself with FOOD! That is the problem. We need to learn to eat to live and not live to eat! I really understand this, because I LOVE LOVE LOVE to cook, and enjoy watching people enjoy my "food art". You can still enjoy your food, and still enjoy your favorite "treats". Sometimes it is just a matter of adjusting the "amount" of a favorite food. You can also modify a lot of your recipes to make them delicious but much lighter. I will give you a "light" recipe today. Although I am not currently on the Weight Watchers Program, I have used many of their recipes. They do have some great cookbooks. My only problem with Weight Watchers is all that points counting and tracking. I have found that the 17 Day Diet is a much simpler plan which will make the lifestyle change toward healthy weight easier to maintain.

My eye surgery has slowed my progress a little because I haven't been able to attend my water aerobics class. Very soon I will be back in the water, and the pounds will begin to fall off more quickly again. Like it or not people, exercise is important not only in weight loss, but in maintaining a totally healthy lifestyle, lowering your blood pressure, maintaining bone strength and just feeling better about life. Those endorphins are great things! So MOVE IT, MOVE IT, MOVE IT! Let me know how you are doing.

LIGHT RECIPE OF THE DAY
This is a recipe even the kids will love!
You may use "grounds" (soy protein or seiten) in this recipe to cut even more calories and fat...and it will still be great!

SERVES 6

8 ounces uncooked penne pasta (or other tubular type pasta of your choice)
Cooking spray
1 pound ground sirloin (or turkey, "grounds" or chicken)
1 TBSP olive oil (yes, it's good for you!)
1 1/2 cups chopped onion
5 garlic cloves, minced (it is also very good for you)
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 TBSP all-purpose flour
2 cups fat free milk or soy milk
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, drained
1/2 cup (4 ounces) 1/3 less fat cream cheese
1 (3 ounce) package fat free cream cheese
3/4 cup (3 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
2 TBSP chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley (you can use Fresh Basil also)

1. Preheat Broiler
2. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt or fat. Drain
3. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add ground meat to pan; saute 5 minutes or until browned, stirring to crumble. (For "Grounds" this step will be much shorter). Remove meat from pan; drain. Wipe pan clean with paper towels. Add oil to pan and swirl to coat. Add onion; saute 4 minutes stirring occasionally. Add garlic, saute 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add beef back to pan and sprinkle with salt. Add flour; cook 1 minute stirring frequently. Stir in milk, tomatoes, and cream cheeses stirring until smooth; bring to a simmer. Cook 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Stir in pasta.
4. Spoon pasta mixture into a 13 x 9 inch broiler safe baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle mozzarella (and you may add a bit of Parmesan if you like) evenly over the top. BROIL about 4 minutes or until golden...sprinkle with parsley.

Calories: 431 per serving.

Serve with a Garden Salad for the perfect Fall meal....it is delicious!