It's A New Day! to be Fit and Trim

[QuilterLynn]

You are all right everything in moderation. I remember when I was younger that I went so far over board on my NO fat diet that I actually did damage to my self. Also my cousin over did her protien diet and ended up passing out in church and in the hospital with a severe heart condition. I do know that if you do have salt you should have sea salt. It is in it's most natural form. Therefor it is better for you. All food should be consumed in its most natural state. This way it has more nutrients. Now I am still trying to kick my coffee habit. I don't think that is realistic though. However I am down to a pot a day. I just can't function on less. Rachel

[sandytn]

Lots of great information is being shared and that's what we need. Over the weekend I read on CNN - A little walking can go a long way and it gave 8 reasons to walk:
1. It's great for the heart
2. It cuts breast-cancer risks
3. It helps you sleep
4. It cuts down on aches and pains
5. It makes you happy
6. It keeps you slimmer
7. It staves off senior moments
8. It protects your bones

I am sleeping better since I started walking and my knees aren't hurting as much and I sure hope it prevents senior moments. In most cases they are talking about 30 minutes of walking a day which is what I am doing.

Complete article:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/diet....lth/index.html

[sandytn]

Hi, Lynn, it's been sunny and in the low 90s today in Athens, GA. Right now, we're hearing thunder rumbling in the distance, and we may get some thunderstorms up until midnight. It seems to be cooling off a bit now.

I'm having a bit of difficulty staying with my low carb thing, LOL. Ate a nectarine and a slice of Kiwi fruit today, delicious, but a bit above my usual 20 grams of carbs a day, so won't lose any weight this week. My goal is to just not gain any. Haven't been doing my walking either, lazy thing that I am.

I'm leaving Wednesday afternoon for the gathering in Monroe, NC, and will probably not have access to a computer again until I get back here late Saturday night.

Pat in Rockport, TX, usually

[sandytn]

Hi all; my inquisitive mind looked further and found what (I believe) is clarification about the chlorine discussion. I'll embed the entire article to avoid taking anything out of context, but I'll also highlight the portion I thought was relevant. The article is written by Dr. Janet Hull. Her website is http://www.janethull.com
Dr. Mercola also has good information, including a few videos.
http://www.mercola.com
Jan in lovely weather Spokane. Here's the article:

Chlorine is one of the most useful chemical elements used in manufacturing because chlorine is a very reactive element - so reactive, in fact, it is typically found combined with other elements in the form of compounds. But in your cola?

Chlorine is commonly found in nature, but almost always in combination with other natural building block elements. Chlorine's structure makes it very reactive because its Atomic outer shell is missing one electron, which makes it attractive to other atoms and molecules. Because it is so reactive, it is very useful to chemists, engineers and other people involved in making things we use every day. It has been exploited by manufacturers and is used in thousands of products, including such diverse items as cars, computers, pharmaceuticals, and military flak jackets. Chlorine is the ninth most copious chemical produced in the United States by volume.

When combined with other chemical building blocks, chlorine can change the nature of a substance, and build or improve a product. This is why chlorine was selected to be the substitute "atom" for the sucrose molecule in which to make Splenda.

But, should we EAT chlorine or simply use it for manufactured goods?

The most common industrial use of chlorine is the manufacture of a versatile plastic known as polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. PVC is a polymer, meaning on a microscopic level many small units of the same types of atoms are bound together to form long chains, similar to the linking of multiple paper clips. PVC pipes resist the pitting and corrosion common in metal pipes that often develop a slimy build-up of disease-causing microbes known as "biofilm." Elevated levels of chlorine disinfectant can destroy biofilms.

When combined with other chemical building blocks, chlorine can change the nature of a substance, and create a new product. To be used in manufacturing, chlorine must first be separated from the other elements with which it is combined. Manufacturers use a process known as "electrolysis," which breaks down salt water into basic components, including chlorine. Since opposite charges attract, the negative chloride ions collect at the positive poles and form molecular chlorine gas. The gas is dried, chilled and pressurized, or converted to liquid for storage and shipping.

Every time you drink a glass of water, read a newspaper, put on a vinyl raincoat, brush your teeth, drink a diet cola with Splenda, or drive your car, you are using chlorine in some form.

Hospitals to swimming pools use chlorine-based compounds such as bleach for disinfections. About 85 percent of the top-selling medicines are manufactured using chlorine chemistry. Chlorine also is used to manufacture flexible plastics such as vinyl (polyvinyl chloride). Crop-protection chemicals are based on chlorine, and chlorine helps ensure that products like disposable diapers and paper towels are strong and absorbent. And don't forget, chlorine is now found in hundreds of food products, including children's foods.

Chlorine vapors can irritate your lungs and pose a serious risk to people who suffer from asthma and other lung problems. Breathing the fumes of cleaners containing a high concentration of chlorine can irritate the lungs. This is especially true for people suffering from heart conditions or chronic respiratory problems such as asthma or emphysema. The risks are compounded when cleaners are used in small, poorly ventilated rooms. Cancer-causing chemicals like chlorine found in many household products are readily absorbed through the skin.

Chlorine is also a highly corrosive substance capable of damaging the skin, eyes, and other delicate membranes. Remember how your eyes burn after swimming in a highly chlorinated pool of water?

Pregnant women in their first trimester who drink five or more glasses of chlorinated tap water a day may be at a much higher risk of miscarriage than women who drink non-chlorinated water.

Just because a chlorine molecule is attached to one thing doesn't make it the same as something else containing chlorine. For example, consider the following four salts. They all contain chlorine, but they are not alike. Each contains a different set of building blocks and offers unique characteristics.

1. Iron (ferric) chloride (FeCl3): Used to make pigments, inks and dyes, in controlling odors and removing phosphates from municipal waste water, in photographic processes, and as medicine.

2. Calcium chloride (CaCl2): Used, when in a water solution, as antifreeze and refrigerating solutions, for the preservation of wood and stone, in the manufacturing of glues, cements and fireproof fabrics, and to speed-up the setting of concrete.

3. Sodium chloride (NaCl): Used in ceramic glazes, soap manufacturing, fire extinguishing solutions, and -- table salt.

4. Cupric chloride (CuCl2): Used in wood preservation, in the fabric dyeing process, and, when mixed with other copper salts, as an agricultural fungicide.
Drink up!!

[sandytn]

Many hospitals and nursing homes use a combination of proxide and water to clean and disinfect with. It is much less abrassive to the senses then bleach. Another thing pregnant woman need to watch is well water. The pesticides that farmers use on their fields increase thier risks for a miscarriage or birthdefects. I figured I would just throw that out there seeing how you brought it up with the tap water. It just goes to show no matter what man has majorly screwed up this planet. Rachel

[sandytn]

Another important thing to know is that you should never mix chlorine bleach with any other cleaning product that contains ammonia--they will react and release chlorine gas, which can kill you or permanently damage your lungs.

Pat in Rockport, TX, but now in Athens, GA

[sandytn]

I'm late, I'm Late!! There have been a lot of posts since Wednesday afternoon. My husband and I took a short trip to Biltmore House in Asheville, NC and then spent the night in Cherokee, NC last night so I did not weight this morning. I did weigh yesterday morning (twice) because I did not believe the scales the first time but it said the same thing the second time. The scales showed I had lost 6 pounds since last Friday. I hope that is true but I am going to weight again tomorrow morning and go with whatever it says there. That is just too good to be true.

I did purchase a couple of pair of size 18 pants and they fit. I started this journey last November weighing 232 pounds and wearing a size 22. Like most of you it started with 10 or 15 after each child was born and then I stopped looking at the scales and I was healthy and did not go to the doctor. Took care of everyone else except me and ate whatever I wanted.

I did something on the trip I don't think I would have done a year ago. After hiking over 2 miles through the Biltmore gardens I got an ice cream cone. It was wonderful but I did not eat all of it. When I got full I threw the remainder away. Waste of good money but I did not force myself to eat more than I wanted. At dinner last night I left probably 3/4 of the food on my plate. If I had been home, I could have made three meals of it. I wasted food but when I was full I stopped. I ordered a salad for lunch today and ate about half of it.

I'll let you know what the scales say tomorrow morning. Sandy

Wosers! Sandy you are doing fabulous. I have been lurking on this thread. Today I am joining all of you to be fit and loss some extra pounds. I will post my results next Friday. Fingers crossed. Good luck to all who are working to be fit and healthy.

[sandytn]

Welcome Judy. If I can do it, you can do it. I just responded to someone about my blog and it reminded me that when I went public here about losing weight I didn't actually say how much I wanted to lose. My doctor recommended about a pound a week if that. We have have a family reunion in September and I told myself that if I lost just one pound a week by the time of the reunion I would be 33 pounds lighter than I was at the end of January and under 200 pounds. That sounded awesome but I don't think I ever believed I would do it. I have 8 pounds to go to met this first goal.

April 2 I started walking on the treadmill. I walked .5 miles in 10 minutes. That's it. Now I average 1.3 to 1.4 miles in 30 minutes. To me that is as amazing as the pounds I have lost.

Sandy

[eileenkny]

I find that I'm very good for breakfast and lunch, usually. Dinner is rough-DH and sometimes DD-is there. He doesn't eat lunch so he's very hungry. I'm still cooking for 4, even though there are only 2(3) of us.
Being a good Catholic, Irish girl-Goodness forbid I don't have seconds and clean my plate. As a child, I was punished if I didn't finish everything. All these years later, it's still ingrained.

We're going away next week and we'll be eating in restaurants for lunch and dinner. That's my next big challenge. I haven't lost anything yet, but I continue to work on it.

eileenkny

[Margo]

I think we all need a reality check when it comes to portion size. When I read the amount on packages of what they consider one portion, it's not nearly what goes on my plate. Have you tried one of the "Lean Cuisine" type dinners? Check out the portion sizes and the total calories they list. It's a pretty good visual reminder of how much we should be eating. I find that I do lots better when I start with a smaller size plate! Then the food looks like it's a bigger portion! Good luck to everyone who's making the effort. Judy, we will look for you next Friday!

[sandytn]

I sometimes eat the Lean Cuisine or Smart Ones for lunch and you are right, there isn't much to them. I bought a little kitchen scale because it is hard to judge meat portions.

I like salads but that also meant lots of salad dressing and my favorite is Thousand Island. I have switched to a honey mustard that is a little better but I measure out a Tablespoon (it sure isn't much) and toss half with the salad and use the remainder to dip a forkful of salad in. Just a tiny dip adds a lot of flavor.

This week I have been eating a small slice of Cheddar Cheese and fruit for lunch and it is as satisfying as the Lean Cuisine's.

[sandytn]

Cucumbers are my addiction and they are zero points on weight watchers. Also if I cut open a watermellon at noon my kids will have it gone by 9pm :shock: They love but it is healthy and it isn't chips or candy. It also cost about $4.00 so I will keep buying them. I also keep fresh veggies cut up and grabbable in the frig. This helps a lot especially when you just want to nibble something. Just place them in an air tight container with a wet paper towel over them and you're good to go. Keep up the great work ladies
Rachel

[sandytn]

I love cuccumbers too, but they have not loved me for a long time :cry: They really mess with my lower tract, especially since my gall bladder was taken out 8 years ago. My kids are not big on watermellon, but I keep a bowl of apples and bananas on the table and grapes in the fridge for munching, and while my youngest is still on strike when it comes to cooked veggies he has decided he likes raw carrots and celery (no dip either so it is really healthy - YEAH!!) so I keep those on hand all the time. His regular lunch any more is a few chicken nuggets, carrots, celery, and maybe a handful of Quaker mini rice cakes - the cheese variety tast just like cheesy poofs but are less than half the calories.

[sandytn]

Try seedless cucumbers. Most likely it is the seeds you are having problems with. They will do it every time. :lol: Anyway try seedless and see if you still have the problem. All you have to lose is a few cents and maybe a belly ache. Rachel

[Libbi]

I've just found this thread. I felt I had to make a contribution since this weight issue has been with me my entire life. My Mom put me on a diet when I was 3 years old. (I really can't blame her since my eldest brother weighed 30lbs at 6 months old and had a childhood of health problems which she didn't want for me). Thus began the yo-yo dieting, food obsessed, sickness-proned life I led until 2003 when gastric bypass surgery became the final option for me.
Believe me, I tried every diet that came along and sometimes I lost over 100 lbs only to gain those back and more. In the 1990's my doctor finally told me to STOP dieting and to stablize my weight somewhere before I killed myself. I stablized at around 265-280 which, at 5'2, was morbidly obese. Unhappy and getting more unhealthy, I found that I would lose at least 20 lbs when I was in Italy because I was eating much less prepared foods and fast food. I was eating meals prepared from scratch with fresh ingredients.
Late in 2002 I found that my blood sugar was elevated which would lead to type 2 diabetes. I was already on a cocktail of meds for HBP, arthritis, gastric reflux, and anxiety brought on by worry over health issues. This diagnosis was the last straw. He didn't mention any gastic procedure but I had a work collegue who was going to have gastric banding during the 2002 Christmas holiday. I asked my Swiss doctor about the procedure. He told me that he had patients who had successful results with the procedures and that there was a top surgeon right in the community. He also told me that my Swiss health insurance would cover the procedure. He asked if I wanted him to refer me to the surgeon and to begin the paperwork for the health insurance. He said I didn't have to commit myself but, if I decided to go ahead, everything would be done. I said yes. DH and I had long discussions and did lots of research. I saw the surgeon on Feb. 14, 2003. He recommended a bypass rather than banding after reviewing my history and medical tests. After more discussions, we decided that I would have the surgery on March 26, 2003. THIS IS MAJOR SURGERY WITH SERIOUS RISKS AND LIFETIME CONSEQUENCES. THIS IS NOT A QUICK FIX. And if your weight issue is rooted in other mental health issues, one can gain the weight back.
Now after 5 years, I've lost 125 lbs, do not have HBP, elevated blood sugar, gastric reflux, and anxiety. I still have knee problems from years of being obese and will probably require knee replacements in the future. I must take supplements for iron, magnesium, B6 and B12. I take tests every 6 months to determine the level of vitamins and minerals in my blood. I am lactose intolerant and CANNOT eat anything with refined sugar, high frutose glycose, or some sugar substitutes. Even too much natural fruit sugar will trigger the dumping syndrome (google that and you can read how much fun that is). And there are foods I can longer tolerate. I've found that that particular side effect varys with the individual. There is a lifetime price to pay for Gastric Bypass results.
I have also found that Paul McKenna's "I CAN MAKE YOU THIN" program helpful for my mental approach to food. GB changes your physiology but mental attitudes toward food remains. I know some cases in which people ignor their body signals and gain the weight back.
What do I recommend? [list]Avoid fast foods
Avoid prepared, convenience foods
Read labels for added sugars and salt (I am amazed at the number of canned or frozen food that contain sugar. For example, tomato sauce)
Avoid Starbucks' specialty drinks...can be loaded with sugars & fat
Learn to cook meals from fresh ingredients which can be fast, more nutritious, and CHEAPER
Don't follow a restrictive diet that cannot become a lifelong eating habit
You don't HAVE to eat everything on your plate, especially when eating out
Recognize "head" hunger from real hunger. Drink a glass of water and wait at least 10 minutes (20 is better), then decide to eat something
Understand your mental attitude toward food (when and why you eat)
Find an exercise routine that you enjoy and will make part of your life (quilting, unfortunately, is sedentary)[/list:u]

You can probably add to this list. Weight issues can be highly individual. Actually losing weight can be relatively easy. Weight loss maintenance is HARD.