Creating Happiness.. getting results

It's no secret that one of the biggest keys to success is "happiness". I've gone through some major crap in life (haven't we all?) but I find that the days that I concentrate on the good parts, the happy parts, the parts I want to remember forever.... are the reasons for my success in not only my life thus far but especially in my weight loss.

Anyone who knows me knows I've not been the most successful in the "love" area. LOL That's an understatement eh? I've had everything from "oops I forgot to tell you I was married" to "you're my everything so now I'll stalk you" and every other whack job in between. I'm certain it's not all their fault, I've allowed a lot of it happen and take responsibility as a grown adult for not demanding more for myself sometimes. I put my "love life" on the back burner for the past 10 years or so to be there for my kids. I've dated, enjoyed some good and some bad relationships but never allowed any to become an important part of my life. But as much as I wanted to say "I don't need a mate" I knew, if I was being honest, that I had something missing. I battled cancer alone (not really, I had family but you know what I mean by "alone" in this sense), I battled MS alone, I battled financial digression and so much more... all alone. I stood strong for my kids and would never change that but I also think it was a huge factor in my weight gains.

I had medical issues that helped add to the weight, but truth be told I didn't really care if I became fat & unhealthy. The day that attitude changed I felt like I had lifted a million pound weight off me. I never looked back, but as I look ahead I see such a beautiful future and now I have someone to share it with. The happiness this man has given me, in the short time we've known each other & been together, has truly inspired me even more to become even healthier. I don't want to battle cancer again with him at my side, I don't want to battle MS symptoms... I want a healthy body that I can share and embrace with him as we move into our future.

Other times in my life when love walked in, in it's limited fashion that I would allow, I would almost always gain weight. One guy I swear to God I gained 10 pounds within weeks because we would just eat. I should have seen that as a sign eh? LOL But this time it's been so different. We do go out to eat. Sometimes I make slightly "less than great" choices, but for the most part I not only control my portions extremely well but I pick what I would if I were dining alone or with just the kids... staying on program and continuing to lose the weight.

The funny part is, the first week of "weigh in" after meeting him I had "maintained"... to his defense, he came in on a "TOM" week and I never lose then.. lol... but I was happy as I also had been so busy between scheduling and such that staying the same was not big deal. Week two I had a minimal gain, again not his fault.. I swear.. lol.. with something like 0.2 lbs gained. I had hurt myself at the gym being an idiot (I always think I'm so in shape! LOL) so I ended up having to give up nearly an entire week of "workouts", causing the slight gain. This most recent weigh in I about died. I really hadn't thought much about whether I stayed on program or not. Oddly enough, it had just become a way of life for me now and the decisions I make are natural. If we dine out I make good choices, control my portions and to be honest.... 90% of the time could care less if I even eat as I'm so wrapped up in conversation with this man that it's unreal. I love to hear him talk and laugh and simply just be with him. Food happens to end up on the table but I rarely care or notice. I think that's an amazing thing for me... it used to be the food always got my attention... conversation and laughter came with it.

So I decided that since I haven't blogged in a while, yeah I know.. he's taking up so much of my time *grin*... I had to blog about being happy and how to handle it! Sounds easy enough, you're happy, you enjoy it! Right? But those of us with food addictions or whatever you'd like to call our bad eating habits & lack of control when food is around know that it's not always that easy. So many times we celebrate with food, we eat out of both depression and elation. But suddenly, when you realize this, it becomes something you can control. I've made it a habit of holding his hand while we're eating. Hopefully it doesn't bug him, he hasn't complained yet, but it helps me slow down and not shovel the food in. It also makes me stop eating for a bit and just look at him to smile. Yeah, you can barf now. LOL

But your happiness doesn't have to come from someone else. It's time to take that step back in your life and decide if you're being honest with yourself. Are you really happy or are you putting on a front for others? If it's the latter, which for me it was, it's time to change. That underlying unhappiness is something that you can change and once you do you will find that you no longer have this emptiness you try to fill with food. Finding your happiness can be as easy as finding time for friends, family or old acquaintances to finding/making time for YOU at the gym or even taking walks. It's not hard to figure out what makes you happy... it's harder to figure out how to get that happiness to stay with you. But the reality is, YOU ARE WORTH IT!

So grab onto that happiness bug, and let it take you past the food buffet and into a world of "eating to live" not "living to eat". It's amazing when you realize that happiness is no longer attached to food, but to something or someone that brings that happiness into your life. Happiness is what you make of your life. You can sit back and let it happen or you can create it. You have the reigns of control, it's time to use them!

What makes me happy? Pretty simple things really:

1. My kids (Richard, Noelle & Nicole)
2. My sweetheart (Rich Z.) and all the things he does... from simply holding me to kissing me to just being with me when I need those big, burly arms!
   
3. My puppies (yeah, kids & kritters have my heart all too often)
   
4. My "me time" at the gym
5. Reading a book
6. Watching a sunset (happens to be best when done with #2 on the list *grin*)
7. Watching a sunrise (again, seems like that would be best with #2 on the list too eh?)
   
8. Swimming in a pool, feeling my body just relax in the water

My list could go on... but I take this list with me in my mind, every where I go. I always know that if I need to smile, I think of one of those things on that list or better yet, enjoy one of those things. That happiness results in my not running to the fridge or drive-thru to drown my sorrows. How do I know it works? Today was a perfect example.... without going into detail I got some more "bad news" from the ex about his issues with the kids. He's such a loser & it seems like no matter what that man can make me upset. He did. But oddly, this time after I spent time at the lawyers office and sat back for a few minutes I pictured this moment:

I sat on a bench with Rich, just being held, talking and enjoying each others company. It was a short moment in the span of life itself but one of those ones that I will treasure forever. Even if the "romance" dwindles and we parted ways, I'd keep this in my vault of "most wonderful moment memories". It made me not only smile but realize a greasy burger or fatty milkshake wasn't nearly as wonderful as that thought, that picture.

So take the time to make your list. Use that list when you need it because there are going to be times in your life when you will decide you need to fall back on something... and this time.. don't let it be FOOD! I know it's made a huge difference in my life to fall back on "happiness" now... and with 5.2 lbs. lost this past week.. and I'm certain more this week... I know it's all for the best.



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By Body & Soul

Check out my Daily Menu Food Log for a quick glance at what I'm eating to get where I'm at, which is a healthier & therefore thinner ME!


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WE CAN DO THIS, TOGETHER
ONE DAY AT A TIME!

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Who Else Helps me get healthy?
These are just a few of the people online that inspire me....

1.
Check out the Fab Fatties

2. Joe Gigantino - Fitness Trainer
This is the guy that really set me on the path to physical fitness



3.

4. BWJEN



5.

5.

6.Sean Anderson the formerly 500lb man!
Diary of A Winning Loser


*Note I am not affiliated nor endorsed by Weight Watchers® at all, in any way. I highly recommend their program and cannot say enough GOOD about it, but I also have decided that they were my "stepping stone" to making a change in my lifestyle. Any mention of Weight Watchers®, their program or their term of "points®" does not mean they have approved, seen, or endorsed anything on my blogs.

Also, if at any time Points® are mentioned it is always with the assumption that you will analyze the recipes, foods, ingredients and figure the points out specifically for your consumption of any product, as ingredients may vary by brand, size, etc.

Our Friend...Mr. 100 Calorie Snack!

I've often said that "portion control" is what's missing in most Americans' lives. I know it was virtually gone out of mine until I made the choice to change my eating habits and began Weight Watchers. All too often we've been duped into believing that we can eat huge portions of a product because it's "low calorie" or "low fat", but the reality is that EVERY box that lists nutritional information lists the portion size for that information and it's often ignored.




The funny part about 100 calorie snack bags is that many of the items, if not prepackaged in a smaller portion size, would be something we'd say "I can't eat that! It's bad for you" if we were to eat it straight out of the box or bag that wasn't portion controlled. A perfect example of this are the Hostess products, delicious cupcakes, Twinkies, and such, that if we were to eat them out of a box we'd probably never buy them when "dieting". The truth is, they're generally the same item, simply portioned out to be 100 calories, sometimes less! I would never buy a box of chocolate cream filled Hostess cupcakes, simply because it's not "healthy" eating BUT repackage those in smaller size, portion controlled packages.. mark them with 100 Calorie Snack on the front and I'm there in line with a couple boxes! It's a matter of convenience and portion control, plain and simple.






Why? First off the pre-proportioned servings make it quick and easy to make sure you're eating only the amount that is suggested. There's no second guessing how many crackers make 3 oz. servings when the bag is already prepared in that size! Secondly, there seems to generally be a consensus of "I can control myself better when I take a single package out and walk away, as opposed to sitting down with the box and trying to eat a 'portion' at my sitting". The ability to have a single portion handy and easy to take with you is a definite plus too and a very good reason to have these little snacks available. For Weight Watcher members, we find these 100 Calorie packages to be a quick snack that's very point friendly. In most cases they are generally the same points, no matter what the items are in the 100 Calorie package and sometimes even less than the average! As always, check the package nutrition information to ensure you are counting your points correctly. I did this with the Hostess cupcakes I so dearly love and was very pleasantly surprised that they're even LOWER than the norm for 100 calorie packs! I was thrilled to see I could actually have one of these snacks for half the points I was counting them for the first time I bought them! Another reason to be sure you check the NI!





So what kinds of 100 Calorie Packs are out there? There's a phenomenal amount available now, giving just about every snacker out there an option for sweet, sour, salty, zesty and more! Since my cravings tend to be more towards the 'sweet' side I tend to purchase more of those. I always keep a few of the salty and zesty types of snacks out there too, just in case!




Here's a few of my faves, feel free to comment and leave a few of your own favorite 100 Calorie Packs and where you purchase them from below!









Hostess 100 Calorie Pack Strawberry Cupcakes or Chocolate Cream Filled Cupcakes - purchased at most any grocery store including Giant Eagle, Wegmans, Quality, Tops, & even Walgrens.














Hershey's S'Mores Snacksters (Graham Cracker Cereal Squares, mini marshmallows & milk chocolate chips in a snack pack) - I found these at Big Lots but have seen them in the grocery stores also.





Nabisco Oreo Thin Crisps (baked chocolate wafer snacks, not an 'Oreo' as we know it, with no creamy filling but still a good crispy chocolate wafer) - Big Lots had a ton of these I picked up but every grocery store seems to have them too. Watch online for coupons or in your newspaper/magazines as Nabisco often has coupons for these!





Nabisco Oreo Cakesters (mini cake like versions of the Oreo cookie, these servings are very small but a nice change up when you're craving some chocolate or cake like snacks) - Giant Eagle, Wegmans, Tops, Quality, and most any store carry these.

Nabisco Mr. Salty Chocolate Covered Pretzels (these are decadent and a MUST try if you haven't) - again most every grocery store carries these including Wegman's, Giant Eagle & more.

Kraft (the originator of the 100 Calorie packs actually) Cheese Nips (a nice portion controlled size of a snack I cannot stop eating out of the box! Cheese flavored crackers.) - most grocery stores carry these. I have found combined Kraft 100 Calorie packs at GFS & Big Lots for a substantial cost savings. These combined packs carry the Cheese Nip packs, Lorna Doone Shortbread packs and another item I can't recall!





Kelloggs Keebler Fudge Shoppe Grasshopper Fudge Dipped Mint Cookies (simply a portion controlled version of the much loved Keebler Mint Cookies and definitely give the ol' "Thin Mint" cookie a run for it's money! I love to add these to my Weight Watcher chocolate smoothies mix for a blizzard style treat that makes Dairy Queen's former Girl Scout Blizzard with Thin Mints "minty green" with envy! I served these on St. Patty's Day to friends and family at my St. Patty's party and everyone thought they were "regular food" as they tend to call it, instead of a Weight Watcher style food! - These are generally found in most any grocery store and also in large packs with a mixture of 2 other Keebler style cookie packs.









Jolly Time 100 Calorie Microwave Popcorn - (huge amount of popcorn for a very filling snack - if you have the extra calories or points to use add a Tablespoon of grated parm cheese) - K-Mart, Wegman's, WalMart & most any store carry the Jolly Time 100 Calorie popcorn.









International Foods 100 Calorie Mocha Cappuccino - a wonderful thing for those who just cannot give up that daily cappuccino - I found mine at Giant Eagle and Wegman's









Please remember though, while the 100 Calorie packs are great treats, they should never take the place of a more nutritional, healthy treat such as fruits and veggies! This is the biggest problem with the 100 calorie pack treats, many are foregoing healthier snacks and turning to these yummy, quick and accountable alternatives.

Want to take the 100 Calorie treat even farther and create your own 100 Calorie or less "snacks"? This is a definite cost saver too! Here are some ideas:

• 1/4 Cup fat free Ranch dressing with veggies
• 1 small baked potato with 1/2 cup salsa and 2 tablespoons of fat-free sour cream
• 1/2 apple with 2 teaspoons of peanut butter on it
• 9 Tootsie roll midgees
• 40 classic thin pretzel sticks
• 15 strawberries with 1/4 cup lite Cool Whip
• 5 Nabisco Nilla Wafers
• 60 Pepperidge Farm baby gold fish crackers
• 1 Laughing Cow lite cheese wedge and 3 Nabisco Triscuit crackers
• 17 Special K crackers (these come in some great flavors)
• 1 Medium Banana
• 10 Spelt Pretzels with 1 Tablespoon of Sunspire brand grain-sweetened chocolate chips
• 2 oz. lean roast beef wrapped in a lettuce leaf - this is a great protein burst if you're craving beef
• 5 Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate Drops
• 1/2 Cup Frosted Mini Wheats (this is a great sweet tooth and crunchy craving killer)
• 1/2 Cup sweetened Applesauce or 1 Cup un-sweetened
• 2 slices cooked bacon (wrapped in a lettuce leaf with a slice of tomato it's awesome!)
• 10 Jelly beans
• 1/3 Cup frozen sherbet

Taking any of the above mentioned items and pre-packaging it for a quick and easy snack is best. It saves you having to measure out when you're on the run or being tempted to grab more than the 100 calorie serving allows for!

Hints & Tips:

• I keep a bag hanging in my kitchen stuffed with 2 point snacks (weight watchers program). This allows for quick and easy access to a proper portioned snack that I know instantly how much it "costs".
  
• Clip Coupons for all those snack pre-portioned items. They can be very expensive in comparison to the non-portioned equal product but with coupons they can come out a lot cheaper!
  
• Check the website of the companies that offer the snack items you love. They often run coupons and even free samples!
  

Changing a Lifestyle

It's fairly obvious to anyone who sees a pic of me that I have constantly struggled with weight. The odd part is, I'm not overly "conscious" of my weight as an issue and I am being straight when I say "I am quite beautiful even with the extra bodacious bootie and ta-ta's!". I honestly feel like I'm not only a beautiful woman on the outside but more so on the inside. I don't care what others think, to the most extent, and will never dress or look a certain way to please others.

BUT... I am human. It does bother me that sometimes a man wouldn't even bother to speak to me because he can't see past the weight. It bothers me that others will assume they know the type of person I am, simply because I'm heavy... I must be lazy and do nothing but eat and sit around. In that same sense, it allows me to weed out the close minded people that I'd rather not associate with anyways.

I'm far from perfect but I do think I'm "real". I'm me, plain and simple. I have faults, just as you do. I am human. I am overweight. Until recently I just accepted it as "that's me and always has been".

Enter my decision to change my lifestyle. I'm not going to say "diet". I could care less if I change my lifestyle and don't lose a pound.. .okay, maybe not.. lol.. but what I mean is that I'm doing it for ME. I'm doing it to feel better. I'm doing it because at 45 I've fought cancer 4x and have once again been introduced into the ring to beat it's ass again. I'm doing it because I want to be able to move around like I used to and I know that it's not possible until I do get healthier and lose the weight. The healthier lifestyle will give me benefits, which include a healthier weight, more energy and simply feeling better.

I am following the Weight Watcher's (TM) Plan and I'm seeing a whole new world before my eyes. I'd like to share this journey with you, posting certain recipes I try, sharing ideas about making healthier choices and simply sharing my journey to living longer. I hope you enjoy my blogs and follow them to see the changes in my life. This is truly a journey for me and I know I'm in the right mind to do it, finally.

Tonight's dinner: Oven roasted Cajun turkey breast with red roasted potatoes. A simple yet delicious, gourmet tasting meal created in an oven roasting bag with very few ingredients! THIS is how dining should be!

I love to cook and will share many of my recipes and pictures of my meals. I hope it inspires others to create healthier versions of the foods you love.

So far I've lost weight every week on WW, with the exception of last week when I stayed the same. I kind of "fell of the wagon" a bit, eating a lot of fast food (which I counted in the program so it was a choice I made and perfectly "legal") and my end result was a zero weight loss. That's ok ,it showed me that I AM in charge of my own life and I CAN have anything I want but with certain consequences. Yes, I know.. that's logic for most people, but for me I tend to just ignore the fact that I have options and choices! It's so much easier to grab a fat, greasy burger, fries and drink then to think out and plan a better for me dinner! But not any more!

My weight loss so far is 5.6 lbs. It's not a lot but I truly am happy with it. My end results are that I know I'm in charge and feel so much better. Tomorrow I weigh in again and will have another loss, I'm certain! I love the program and what I feel like on it.

Tomorrow I also start my radiation, which means it's going to be a busy day. BUT... that means I have to plan and be in charge of my life! And that's JUST what I intend to do!

Here's to another great day on program and a lifestyle that just oozes control and happiness!

Hope to see you all back here soon to share more aspects of this journey. Hopefully we can do it together!

Bev