I'm really frustrated. I keep hearing people say it is impossible to lose weight once we hit mid-life. Of course I hear it from people who have struggled with their weight...at least they have some reason to feel that way.
What makes me really mad is when I hear the media saying it.
We are overwhelmed with messages that indicate we are doomed to be fat once we hit forty.
I'm here to tell you, it is possible to be fit and fifty plus!
It starts with your mindset. You have to stop listening to all those experts who tell you it can't be done.
Just as important...and for me, personally, it was more important...you have to stop listening to yourself!
Stop telling yourself you can't do it. As long as you say that, you won't be able to have the weight loss success you are looking for. You must shift your mindset to get the results you want.
Today's homework is to find proof for yourself that it is possible to lose weight in middle age. How do you do that? Find one person who has lost weight after 40. There's your proof.
>>Hint<< You already found your proof by finding this site!
To YOUR healthy, energetic, slender body! I know you can have it. I know you deserve it! I know you will achieve it, once you change your thinking and adopt the mindset for weight loss!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Weight Loss Success: Happy Meals Will Go Toyless
Not by voluntary measures, but as a result of Santa Clara County's action, fast food restaurants there will no longer be able to include toys in meals targeted at children, if the meal is high in calories, fat or sugar.
This is the first ordinance of its kind in the nation--one that should be applauded by anyone concerned about the health of the next generation of Americans.
No doubt, the supervisors will be booed by some, but it won't be the first time. This health conscious county helped forge the path that led to fast-food chains being forced to post the calories of items on their menus.
Kids are easily influenced by the toys and prizes in the various meals. For parents it can be a challenge to steer a child to make healthy food choices without the added pressure of refusing a particular toy!
The law only affects restaurants in unincorporated parts of the county, but let's hope it is a growing trend!
Maybe one day even our fast food can be healthy food!
This is the first ordinance of its kind in the nation--one that should be applauded by anyone concerned about the health of the next generation of Americans.
No doubt, the supervisors will be booed by some, but it won't be the first time. This health conscious county helped forge the path that led to fast-food chains being forced to post the calories of items on their menus.
Kids are easily influenced by the toys and prizes in the various meals. For parents it can be a challenge to steer a child to make healthy food choices without the added pressure of refusing a particular toy!
The law only affects restaurants in unincorporated parts of the county, but let's hope it is a growing trend!
Maybe one day even our fast food can be healthy food!
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Walking Outside After Many Rainy Days
After lots of gray weather and pouring rain it was such a pleasure to get out and walk this weekend outdoors. In fact, it was so great, I took extra walks just to enjoy the weather.
I had a couple great bonuses, besides the exercise and clean air. On Saturday a couple friends joined me and we went over to visit with the horses nearby. Their people had started to take them to higher pasture earlier this month but the weather put a stop to that...so there were still 9 horses left. We got a lot of good horse luvin' in!
On Sunday my walking buddy and I went to one of our favorite spots...called Devil's Backbone...named for the main rock feature that runs through the open space like...well, like a giant spine. It was a great day and wonderful walk.
One of the things I like about walking on trails is that because the surface is not perfectly level I work more and different muscles then if I were to walk the same distance on flat pavement...and even pavement on a hill. Plus, I like that the trail has less impact on my joints than sidewalks do.
After reaching the point where we decided to turn around (this particular trail goes for 17 miles...so you get to decide how far or short you want your trip to be), we were walking back down and a couple informed us they had seen rattlesnakes! So we were extra cautious, being sure to talk so we would not startle them, and to keep our eyes peeled.
Well, we stopped at one point having not seen hide nor hair of them (I guess since snakes have neither hide nor hair!) and of course, as soon as we stop, I hear them. Never saw them but could tell they were off to our right, not on the trail, so we started talking again quietly and slowly moved on down the trail.
I'm a nature lover, but I really don't want to encounter rattlesnakes any closer than that!
Of course we passed on the warning to others coming up the trail.
On a gentler note...when we were driving home we saw a herd of elk...quite a large herd, which was fun. Then as we were almost home we saw yet another herd! I don't think I've seen 2 large herds here in town before. Very exciting! The 2nd herd was right on the edge of the golf course near my home and made quite a lovely picture.
Guess I'd better start carrying a camera!
I had a couple great bonuses, besides the exercise and clean air. On Saturday a couple friends joined me and we went over to visit with the horses nearby. Their people had started to take them to higher pasture earlier this month but the weather put a stop to that...so there were still 9 horses left. We got a lot of good horse luvin' in!
On Sunday my walking buddy and I went to one of our favorite spots...called Devil's Backbone...named for the main rock feature that runs through the open space like...well, like a giant spine. It was a great day and wonderful walk.
One of the things I like about walking on trails is that because the surface is not perfectly level I work more and different muscles then if I were to walk the same distance on flat pavement...and even pavement on a hill. Plus, I like that the trail has less impact on my joints than sidewalks do.
After reaching the point where we decided to turn around (this particular trail goes for 17 miles...so you get to decide how far or short you want your trip to be), we were walking back down and a couple informed us they had seen rattlesnakes! So we were extra cautious, being sure to talk so we would not startle them, and to keep our eyes peeled.
Well, we stopped at one point having not seen hide nor hair of them (I guess since snakes have neither hide nor hair!) and of course, as soon as we stop, I hear them. Never saw them but could tell they were off to our right, not on the trail, so we started talking again quietly and slowly moved on down the trail.
I'm a nature lover, but I really don't want to encounter rattlesnakes any closer than that!
Of course we passed on the warning to others coming up the trail.
On a gentler note...when we were driving home we saw a herd of elk...quite a large herd, which was fun. Then as we were almost home we saw yet another herd! I don't think I've seen 2 large herds here in town before. Very exciting! The 2nd herd was right on the edge of the golf course near my home and made quite a lovely picture.
Guess I'd better start carrying a camera!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Plant It for the Planet and Lose Weight Naturally
We used to love getting in the dirt as kids. Now most of us hesitate to get our fingernails dirty. But getting down and dirty now and then can be good for the planet and our waistline!
If you have a yard and can plant a tree, some bushes, flowers, or vegetables not only will digging in the dirt give you some great exercise you will also be giving back to the environment. The plants naturally give off oxygen we need and help to filter the air.
Growing your own fruit or vegetables is one of the best ways you can help. Not only are you benefiting from the freshest possible food, you are reducing your reliance on produce that is trucked and flown in from around the globe. By growing your own you help reduce emissions and pollution, so you are helping your bottom line and keeping the planet healthy too.
But you don't have to have a yard to get the benefits of digging in the dirt. You can plant a small container garden on your patio or even inside. You might just plant some herbs, or maybe some tomatoes. Even if you don't plant anything to eat, you still get the health benefits of cleaner air. So take a deep breath! Good oxygen intake is an essential part of health and weight loss success.
By making one or two small changes we can definitely have a major impact on our health...we can lose weight naturally and help the planet, too!
If you have a yard and can plant a tree, some bushes, flowers, or vegetables not only will digging in the dirt give you some great exercise you will also be giving back to the environment. The plants naturally give off oxygen we need and help to filter the air.
Growing your own fruit or vegetables is one of the best ways you can help. Not only are you benefiting from the freshest possible food, you are reducing your reliance on produce that is trucked and flown in from around the globe. By growing your own you help reduce emissions and pollution, so you are helping your bottom line and keeping the planet healthy too.
But you don't have to have a yard to get the benefits of digging in the dirt. You can plant a small container garden on your patio or even inside. You might just plant some herbs, or maybe some tomatoes. Even if you don't plant anything to eat, you still get the health benefits of cleaner air. So take a deep breath! Good oxygen intake is an essential part of health and weight loss success.
By making one or two small changes we can definitely have a major impact on our health...we can lose weight naturally and help the planet, too!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Earth Day and Food: Movie Food, Inc
If you really want to help the Earth and learn where your food really comes from, check out the movie "Food, Inc"
You can see it on the internet at PBS tv
The movie is about 90 minutes long.
But hurry--the episode is set to expire April 30th...
FYI: some intense images that will have you wanting to change how you eat, this is a real eye-opener...if you are a parent of young kids I suggest you watch it first and determine if it is something you want your kids to see or not.
You can see it on the internet at PBS tv
The movie is about 90 minutes long.
But hurry--the episode is set to expire April 30th...
FYI: some intense images that will have you wanting to change how you eat, this is a real eye-opener...if you are a parent of young kids I suggest you watch it first and determine if it is something you want your kids to see or not.
Self Propelled: Earth Week Tip for Weight Loss Success
It seems we drive everywhere. I see parents driving their kids a couple blocks to school. We park as close as possible to the door of the gym where we go to work out. Here's a simple tip that will help you with your weight loss goals and help the earth too...just in time for earth week--get into "People Power."
By that I mean walk, pedal, skate...do something to get yourself from one place to another that is not dependent upon your car.
OK, I know we are busy and don't have a lot of time...but we are exercising to increase our health and lose weight...so how about 1 day a week your exercise is to walk (or bike or skateboard) to the store. If you live too far away or that seems like too much, try parking a couple blocks away. That saves the environment and gets you some exercise without taking up a ton of time.
Try walking the kids to school instead of driving...you might just start a healthy habit that will help curb the trend of ill health and obesity in our nations' children.
Not only are we building our muscles and improving our lungs, we are reducing our need for fossil fuels. So you save money and help clean the air at the same time!
By that I mean walk, pedal, skate...do something to get yourself from one place to another that is not dependent upon your car.
OK, I know we are busy and don't have a lot of time...but we are exercising to increase our health and lose weight...so how about 1 day a week your exercise is to walk (or bike or skateboard) to the store. If you live too far away or that seems like too much, try parking a couple blocks away. That saves the environment and gets you some exercise without taking up a ton of time.
Try walking the kids to school instead of driving...you might just start a healthy habit that will help curb the trend of ill health and obesity in our nations' children.
Not only are we building our muscles and improving our lungs, we are reducing our need for fossil fuels. So you save money and help clean the air at the same time!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Lose Weight Naturally Just in Time for Earth Day
Happy Earth Day! This is truly a great day to celebrate all the wonderful things that our planet does for us...and a day to remind us that we can all help take care of the only planet we have.
The key is to make small changes and incorporate them into our lives. Doing a big clean up of the local streams is an awesome project...but you can make just as big...or even bigger impact just by making some simple changes in your day to day living. And you can lose weight naturally and permanently in the process!
What could be better? Helping the planet and losing weight!
We don't tend to think of the meat we eat as being "produced"...but the truth is, the steak or chicken that is on your plate is just as much a product these days as the computer you are reading this blog on. And the way the food is produced is typically not environmentally friendly. The goal, like most business, is to make the product quickly and inexpensively.
This thought process may make a profit for the manufacturer, but unfortunately when it comes to food, it is not the healthiest method for either our planet or the humans who eat it.
That doesn't mean you have to go completely vegetarian in order to help. Instead, start small...one day a week, in honor of Mother Earth, go meatless.
Animal products are higher in fat than other protein sources and are harder for our bodies to digest. We eat more of them, get more calories then we need...and there can be other health implications for our bodies.
Think about eating "closer to the ground"...how many steps does the food go through before you eat it? We grow corn to feed to the animals...we can bypass that middle step and eat the corn and have less impact on the earth.
Look into some high protein grains...quinoa is my favorite because it is super easy to prepare and quick, too.
This can give you variety in your diet, help you lose weight, and help the earth. It is truly environmentally friendly eating! Oh...and it is cheaper, too!
The key is to make small changes and incorporate them into our lives. Doing a big clean up of the local streams is an awesome project...but you can make just as big...or even bigger impact just by making some simple changes in your day to day living. And you can lose weight naturally and permanently in the process!
What could be better? Helping the planet and losing weight!
We don't tend to think of the meat we eat as being "produced"...but the truth is, the steak or chicken that is on your plate is just as much a product these days as the computer you are reading this blog on. And the way the food is produced is typically not environmentally friendly. The goal, like most business, is to make the product quickly and inexpensively.
This thought process may make a profit for the manufacturer, but unfortunately when it comes to food, it is not the healthiest method for either our planet or the humans who eat it.
That doesn't mean you have to go completely vegetarian in order to help. Instead, start small...one day a week, in honor of Mother Earth, go meatless.
Animal products are higher in fat than other protein sources and are harder for our bodies to digest. We eat more of them, get more calories then we need...and there can be other health implications for our bodies.
Think about eating "closer to the ground"...how many steps does the food go through before you eat it? We grow corn to feed to the animals...we can bypass that middle step and eat the corn and have less impact on the earth.
Look into some high protein grains...quinoa is my favorite because it is super easy to prepare and quick, too.
This can give you variety in your diet, help you lose weight, and help the earth. It is truly environmentally friendly eating! Oh...and it is cheaper, too!
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