Saturday, March 28, 2015

What do I need in my fridge today to start Low Carb living?

I am already getting feedback asking "What do I need in my fridge today to start a successful Low Carb lifestyle and start losing weight today!?"

Upon waking up, I wander to the kitchen to let out our dog and blend up my Pure Protein Shake with 16-20 oz water (milk adds carbs) and a few ice cubes. The shake is 25 g protein and 3 net carbs. Great way to start the day.

This was the ONE major change I did starting in July,  about a month prior to going ALL IN on the low carb. I was not a regular breakfast eater. Through reading and research I determined after the age of 35 years of age,  we are losing lean muscle mass at an alarming rate. Eating protein and lifting weights are they best way to combat that statistic and make you look less doughy.

According to my blender that counts the numbers of times it is used, I have now blended 500+ shakes. : )

I continue the day with my Starbucks habit, but made a major adjustment.

I have a venti Pike (or Bold depending on the necessity of coffee that AM), I ask for Heavy Whipping Cream, (not heavy "whip cream" and is thicker and less carbs than half and half) then add 3 splenda, stirred and double cupped. Spenda = 1carb per packet, so my whole coffee AM experience is 3 net carb. This combo also dropped my daily drive thru at "Fivebucks" to $2.48.
Cha - ching :) We did buy a Keurig for home and I can make this blend easily with a Keurig cup, my heavy whipping cream and splenda packets.

For lunch, I have the opportunity to eat at work with a school lunch line situation. It is cost effective, there is really only a McD's (NO!) or Subway (salad works if I miss lunch, but costs $7) as options near my work place. I do a good job of getting 2 kids, a lunch box, 2 backpacks, my work stuff and the 3 of us out the door, into the car, and across town and to school. I can not seem to add the lunch packing to my schedule or priority, so LET IT GO, and buy tray lunch for $3.

Now, we have pretty good options for school lunch.

Talapia, Pork Loin, Hamburger stations, Chicken Breasts, Chickens, Tuna or Egg salad, but there is a SALAD BAR 4 days a week (loaded with veggies and all the fixings) and on Wednesdays, a Deli Bar.

Perfect Scenario.

I get a tray, check out the main course, usually skip it, and build a salad.

Lettuce, broccoli, hard boiled egg, celery or carrots, hummus, bacon, onion... pile it on. Net Carbs keep all the veggie options of the salad low, so add whatever you really like. I prefer ranch dressing and usually add sunflower seeds to top it off.

YUM.

Sometimes they have walking taco salad theme, bbq chicken themed, wedge lettuce with blue cheese themed, spinach salad with strawberries and hot bacon dressing. They really do a great salad bar option!

On Wednesdays, it is Deli Bar. I ask for 2-3 slices of salami, or turkey or whatever, and 2-3 slices of munster cheese and make rolls. (no bread)

If I need a snack around mid afternoon, I found having a bag of roasted almonds in my desk drawer to be very helpful. The best part about low carb is that the protein and the fat sustain you and the hunger and cravings practically disappear. This is what makes staying on plan so "easy".

When I do occasionally "cheat", I am far enough into this that I can tell, almost within 2-3 hours, I am craving more white stuff, and try to nip it by having nuts, or a mozzarella cheese stick, or even just acknowledge that I am burning through the carb, having a low blood sugar and have to wait until the next meal, then get back "on plan". THIS IS A HUGE PERSONAL BREAKTHROUGH. : )

Farther into the plan, I've found Skinny Pop popcorn. Now, according to Paleo thinking, corn is a grain. Popcorn is a carb, but the skinny pop mini bag portions are about 100 calories and only about 10 net carbs, so in a pinch and if I am famished, I enjoy those and they fill me up. I would not suggest this at first or on PHASE I.

For dinner, My hubs has been very supportive of making sure I have something to eat and is the grill master. My kids are also in a pool until late in the evening, so he tends to prep the dinner regimen at home so we are ready when we hit the door.

This is where we have Steak (!), Porkchops, Hamburgers, Tilapia, Salmon, Chicken as the main protein focus.

The mixed veggies come in a huge pack from Sam's and then inside are individual family serve packs that just need heated in the microwave for 5 minutes. The usual peas, carrots, beans and corn are a staple. (Again Paleo would say the corns, peas and carrots have a higher carb/ sugar count.) I add butter to mine and YUM. Broccoli is the same with the little packets inside the big bag. There is a great medley blend that have yellow carrots and everything is sliced on an angle and "fancy". I buy, cut, and freeze squash and zucchini in freezer ziplock baggies to have other options. An Asian blend with peppers, mini corns and water chestnuts is also a good staple and can make for an easy stir fry or left over magic making.

I have worked on a few Crock Pot recipes this winter to really make things easier. See the TAB Recipes. Beef and Broccoli, Beef & Carrot with Herbs de Provence, Lemon Pepper Chicken, Beef Stew, Fajita Chicken (leftovers become Chicken Fajaita Soup...yum), Pork Bbq, Chili Con Carne. YUM.

In the pantry, I have the bag of roasted almonds for munching. I have celery in the fridge which I use as a "chip". Sometimes with Salsa, Brie, or Hummus. Celery is basically "free" carbs, the chips are not, so I use celery. I like to have a Summer Sausage in the fridge. It too can be a few slices for a snack, used as a "chip" for the brie or hummus, or add a cheese slice and call it a day.

I like to keep the pre prepped chicken salad on hand for a fast feeding option. I get it in a container at Sam's or make my homemade Vail Chicken Salad recipe after we have the Sam's roasted chicken for dinner. I created a 3 cheese dip that is a good grab and go with the celery or sausage. The Asian Slaw was a staple last summer.

Forever on the hunt for my Half and Half Diet Snapple Tea and pick up 4 half gallons at a time because it is hard to find. I push water all day, so this is my other alternative.

I added the Grocery List as it's own easy access page. I will also update the recipe page, so check back.

I hope you are now motivated and feel able to jump into low carb losing and living with both feet!



Thursday, March 26, 2015

What I buy at the store and eat to stay on low carb plan

Ok, I committed to do the LOW CARB / HIGH PROTEIN plan... now what!?!?

I do not like to grocery shop. I also hate wasting food.

I am a once a month shopper at the Sam's club and haul a major car load home for our family of 4. I have consistently done this since I was a new mom and frugalista, and managed to keep us on a $250 per month budget.

You heard me right... $250 per month. If it rang over $250, I put stuff back.

Did this for over 10 years.

No one understands how I do this. I don't understand how they run to the corner market and shop multiple times a week and end up with a $500-$1000 per month bill!!!

Now, I have a pre teen son, and both kids are swimmers so I am sure we will increase this amount. Just with the cost of meat and food going up we are now closer to $300- $350 per month food. Paper towels and toilet paper get thrown in as needed.

Here is my regular monthly pick up list:

Roasted Chicken (day of shopping = easy peasy dinner)
Ground beef (10 % fat)
Pork Chops (no bone)
Beef Stew meat
Sirloins (4 in a pack for ~$20)
Tyson boneless / skinless chicken breasts
Tilapia
Salmon
Sirloin Burgers ( freezer to Skillet)
Mesquite Chicken breasts
Premade Sam's Club Chicken salad
Frozen Broccoli
Frozen Mixed Vegetables
Eggs
Sausage links
Turkey bacon
Green beans (case)
Guacamole
Salsa
Shredded cheese - multi variety
Skinny Pop Popcorn (technically a grain, but 100 cal and lower than 10 carbs its a fast fix)
Snapple Half and Half Diet tea

Kids stuff:
Apples, Halo's & Bananas
Applesauce ( by the case and in cups)
Cheerios
Tyson nuggets/ patties / strips ( these are for the kids* I don't eat due to breading)
Hot dogs & Hot Dog buns( Kids lunch and snacks on the go)
Cod (I usually don't eat because of the breading)
Orange Juice

I should also mention, my oldest has severe food allergies to Milk and Tree nuts, so we are used to cooking things at home with limited dining out. Also making 2 adaptations of dinners most of the time. Pre made, mixes, etc are out for us.

So, the focus is usually a protein, veggie, and then the kids might also have pasta / rice, applesauce, or starch.



How I lost 39 inches off my body by Eating Clean, Low Carb, on an Adkins diet

39 inches!

It is so important to do the measurements initially, and then re take them, whenever.

I just did measurements again last weekend. I am shocked. That is a lot of total inches off the body! (see below)

neck
boob
chest
waist
hip/ butt at largest area
rt thigh
lt thigh
rt knee
lt knee
rt calf
lt calf
rt bicep
lt bicep


I was not really regimented with doing this on a specific 3 month schedule. I just have some data to look over and dated it to determine how far I've come.  Another way of acknowledging this plan was working and I was being successful with staying the course.

The inches decreasing show a true body fat loss -vs- just lbs lost.

When you are trying to lose weight, or talking to people about this subject, "muscle weighs more than fat" comes up a lot.  Or "you look like you've lost weight." when you know good and well you are still a certain number which is way off a normal weight range.

Now, I am and always have been a curvy girl. Plain and simple, I have junk in the trunk, and always had before it was a fashion statement. At my heaviest (#225) I wore a size 16/18 pant and had definition in my waist.

I liked the idea of my clothes fitting better or fitting back into clothes (sizes 10/12)  I was storing (!)

Ultimately, I needed to solve the problem of what was going in the "boca"(food consumption) so I could finally master the control over the scale numbers going down!



WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY
Measurements
updatednew & 
GOALS ?goalsupdated
9/10/1310/13/132/13/148/22/141/19/153/22/15
neck141413.5131312.512.512
chest35.535.534343332.53332
boobs3939383836363836
waist37.537.535.53332312824
butt/hip4949474643.54338-4036* running, spinning and more weights !
Rt thigh3030282826252524
Lt  thigh292928.2527.7525.25252524
rt knee18.518.518.515.7515151514
lt knee18.518.518.515.515.25151514
rt calf1717.2516.916.251615.751615
lf calf17.517.516.516.251615.751615
TOTALS:305.5305.75294.65283.5271266.5
inches lost                 +.25-11.1-11.15-12.54.5
Total Inches lost:-11.1-22-34.5-39

Added later:
Rt bicep1413131211.5 & Madonna toned !!!
lf bicep1513131211.5 & Madonna toned !!!
                            -3                       -


What a long, strange trip it's been ! Much closer to weight loss goal with my Low Carb lifestyle

March 26, 2015 -

159... into a new decade.

FINALLY !

I have not seen the 150's since pre pregnancy, 2001.

I was teaching aerobics in the evenings, was an Adjunct Professor at my Alma Mater University and therefore training close to 15 hours a week in cardio via spinning, kickboxing, hip-hop, step, power walking, strength training, ZUMBA. I was in great shape. Of course, still not happy with my body image or self. Could always be better, thinner, fitter, more defined and therefore happier.

At some point anyone who has struggled with weight reflects back to when they weighed their least but still thought they were "fat", and dreams of being back there again!

After baby No. 1, I continued teaching and training. I nursed a baby for 19 months (did not find it to be a magical weight reducing solution) and did get back down to a lean and muscular 160 ish. I was proud of my body for doing what it was supposed to do, grow a baby even though it took 75 lbs to do it, and then nourish that baby entirely for 3- 6 months. Not thrilled I could not get back down to pre preg weight.

I am below that now... whoa.

After baby No. 2 in which my body put on a solid 75 lbs again to grow, I nursed for 23 months due to a flu and the little one needing me + additional foods. I got about as low as 185, maybe 182, but never could go lower.

Life, death, and slight depression got in the way a few years later, and in the course of climbing out of that hole, my body held onto the weight a little longer than I might have liked. I had climbed back up the scale slowly, and sometimes without eating much of anything.

I am not sure what light bulb went off this time, or what actually made me say "today is the day" but it did happen.

I thought I wanted it before. I REALLY thought I wanted it, but couldn't wrap my head around doing whatever it took to stay on a plan and determine what that plan should be.

I tried other programs and meetings, workouts, and nutritionists. What always bummed me out was the people that were trying to help me had never seemed to have been in the situation or understand how helpless it felt. Miserable. Literally not happy in my own skin, which is a lonely and sad place to be.

I am back in those jeans I mentioned in an earlier blog. Jeans I wore after Baby no 1 and even before 2001. My leg just slipped into them the last time I tried them on and it totally surprised me. I had to take additional measurements as I couldn't believe it.

159...

My goal all along was to try to get to 145 ( a lean mean fighting weight on me) - 150 and be totally satisfied with that. I really didn't know if I would get there. But now I am even more determined to prove to my self I can get there.

Yeah me.


Wednesday, March 25, 2015

What 6 months of low carb living taught me... Spring 2014

March 2014

6 months behind me.

W*O*W !

I feel so much much better, but still far to go. I tend to be able to carry weight and people not know that the number is a lot higher than they think. Amazing people will say, " Oh... don't get too thin, you look great and healthy now as you are, yet I am smack dab in the middle of an unhealthy /overweight /obese listing for height and weight.

Nice to fit into some of my clothes again, not be so tight in the upper arms and across the chest, but real goal would be to to slip back into some of my jeans.

I've kept a drawer full of jeans that don't fit. (hoarding issues... uh huh.) Some were from pre pregnancy (and therefore my previous weight / size) ,some that were altered to fit me perfectly. Can not even slide my knee and upper thigh into them right now. : (

Finally dipped back into "One-der-land" after the Christmas ski trip which was SO nice to see. I never want to see that 2++ number on the scale again and need to remember this feeling so that when the ebbs and flow of the process happen, I pull in the reigns and keep the trend heading down!!!

Holding, hovering and maintaining same weight throughout January of 2014.

Plowed through the annual Girl Scout cookie purchase of thin mint boxes. Really, it was the first real CHEATING and off plan, but once I got through that, they were gone and I got back on plan. The lesson learned from this was this process is not black and white, good or bad, all or nothing.  I am really applying the 80/20 rule and therefore on the rare occasions I fall off track, ( which is really not that hard to stay "on" track!) and get back to the plan the next time I eat and don't allow this binge to continue.

I have been strong during staff birthday cake celebrations of passing, or my good co worker friend allowing me to smell (yes literally inhale) the smell of the very sweet white cake / white icing, and then passing my piece.

Another mantra that helped I have posted to my desk -

"One step closer or one step away from your goal..."

Does eating that piece of cake put me a step closer or further from where I want to be? Or is it one of those days and I want the cake, and then get past that and eat a good next meal. I've tended to be able to easily skip it.

Another dear friend and co worker was describing that when we were growing up, we had a Sunday dinner. A larger pot roast, all the spreadings and a dessert. This was a once a week thing. As a society, we have allowed ourselves to relish in a Sunday dinner (celebration) everyday. That is too much! Sunday dinner, fast food, multiple cokes or a big 44 oz one, desserts, coffee's... whatever it is, it is time to get back to on occasion!


April 2014

Took the family on vacation in Florida again this spring.

On our trip last year, Spring 2013 and at my heaviest in a large, one piece swimsuit, I told myself this was about taking the kids to the ocean for the first time.Shelling, walking on the beach, boogie boarding and enjoying our family time together. No one cared about me being in a swim suit, there were bigger people out there walking around than a solid size 14/16/18 (?) and to get over myself. BUT... I also promised myself while relaxing into the beach chair and zoning out relaxing with the crashing of the waves, I was never coming back to Florida feeling like this again.

So... this year Spring 2014, I was trying to celebrate my accomplishment of being down 20 + lbs, (yes still far to go, but acknowledging the accomplishment) and although curvy as hell, and still no where close to goal,  I bought and wore a bikini the entire trip. I am a water skier and life long lake girl, so I needed to get back into the mentality of "surfer girl style" where I am comfortable and self defined.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

How 3 months of low carb living made a difference ! December 2013

December 2013

12/4 - Made it through Thanksgiving with no/ low carb. Enjoyed all the feast and then went right back on track.

Currently down 20 lbs + but it took 3 months. Want to continue and start getting exercise back into the mix. Going to just stay on track, stay in the pink, and try to let go of the timeline or expectations of when I will actually get to goal weight.

It has been beyond interesting how one day turned into two, then three, then a week, a month and now 3 months. How has this not been that hard after struggling, wishing, hoping, wanting, dreaming, waiting for the latch to be opened to a successful decline in the number on the scale.



What do you want to gain by losing weight?!

Note from September 2013



What do you want to gain ?

Self respect
Self Confidence
Happiness
Sassiness
New / or ability to wear old wardrobe (8 -10 pants)

An additional effort I am taking is the idea of a "DREAM BOARD" or a Vision Board. I am doing this via Pinterest and created a My Style board to help with my re styling!  This allows me to pin all the outfits, styles and trends I like, and then create them from my own closet! When cleaning out my closet or trying to organize it,  I realized I have plenty of things, I am just tired of the way I coordinate the items I have.  I mean if I like the way it looks on the site, then I should like the general look on whatever size my current body weight.

I will at least feel pulled together.

Pinterest allowed me to then print out my style board and I created a 3 ring binder "book". I flip through and put my outfits together for the day. This has been a great beginning of putting out a better image of myself, stylish, pulled together, and even trendy for a middle aged chica!

This process also created an automatic "Shopping List" of items I would like to blend into my wardrobe instead of constantly picking up another pair of black pants, white or black t shirt.

I really moved outside my comfort zone and picked up 2 pairs of colored jeans. Red and bright blue. I was getting really tired of Grey, Black or Kahki pants as the base.

I get compliments regularly, and feel this one step of taking time to dress well at the current size I am, instead of focusing on how much better life will be when I hit goal weight, is a huge part of the process of this self journey.





How week 2, 3, and 4 propelled me forward...on my low carb lifestyle

Notes taken in August / September 2013

Maintaining low carb and in regular ketosis.

Weight loss has stalled, but I feel good and people have complimented me. My Tri Athlete buddie thought my upper tummy / chest is smaller and a work colleague recognized my navy pants being cute. I've worn them before, but they fit better. In fact, they are one of the multi colored "uniform" pants that once I find a pair that fits well, I buy in multiple colors. The navy ones, although the same size as all the other colors, fit the smallest, so the fact that they are fitting better makes me feel like something is happening.

Going to keep on keeping on.

Not going to make the -25 lbs by the end of the month but I am down -9 lbs in 22 days.

Net Carb Counts:

8/9    - 20.3
8/10  - 26.4
8/11  - 33.3
8/12  - 1.1
8/13 - 33.3
8/14 - 23.4
8/15 - 26.5
8/16 - 36
8/17 - 30 . 6 ( minus 9 lbs)
8/18 - 16.6
8/19 - 27.5
8/20 - 25
8/21 - 23.5
8/22 - 30.7
8/23 - 26.7
8/24 - 29.3 (maintaining but no additional loss)
8/25 - 26.1
8/26 - 17.4
8/27 - 23.2
8/28 - 25.9
8/29 - 24.2
8/30 - 22.2 (frustrated by no loss, but in the pink and continuing on!)

Bought and read the The New Adkins for a New You version of Adkins based on the net carbs approach (Total carbs - g of fiber = Net Carbs you have to count toward your range)
(What is a Net Carb? and What is Ketosis?)

9/6 - 39.4 (minus 10.8 lbs in one month)
9/7 - 15.5 (lost again this AM!)
9/8 -
9/9-
9/10 Lost again! down 13.4 lbs ! YEAH!

Today I actually took the time to take measurements. I know I should have done this closer to day 1 as I think I have lost more inches than I will now hold myself against.

I measured my neck, my chest, my boob line, waist, hip/ butt widest area, upper thighs, knees, calves, upper arm/ biceps. This is my baseline and will help to motivate me when the scale is not moving down, if the inches are dropping off, so is the body fat.




How I made it through Week One of the Adkins diet Phase One

Reflecting and sharing my notes from the very beginning and not so long ago...


August, 2013


Carb Counts-

Day 1 - Net carbs - 42.5
(What is a net carb?)

Day 2- Pink ketone strip. "Small Trace" but totally in Ketosis ! Yeah.
Net Carbs 39

Day 3 - Woke up still in the pink. YEAH!
(What is IN THE PINK?)

Note: Aim for 1.5 - 3mmolL level for optimal ketosis

Eating protein based and low carb has been pretty easy so far. Snapple Diet Half and Half tea is a new find and a life saver for something other than water. 1 net carb makes it a good sub for my COKE habit. I have even had a cocktail with snaffle tea and vodka and still remain "in the pink" of low carb and "on program".

We've been out of town for Fri, Sat and Sun. Can't believe I decided this was the time to start this whole thing, but I am in and actually have stayed on program so running with it. Looking forward to an initial weigh in when we get back home to see if the positive ketosis  = weight loss results.

I need to take measurements now, at the beginning so I have that as a form of measurement too.

Day 4, 5, and 6 have remained true to no / low carbs and maintained ketosis. Sometimes slipping into "trace" but steadily "in the pink" and moderate level. Losing .5-1lb per day, by day 6, I am down 5.8 lbs in total. Just nice to see the scale actually MOVE and go DOWN!!!

A goal of  down 20-25 by the end of August would be a reasonable one at this rate ~ HOOT!
(*CURRENT DAY SIDE NOTE : notice, still early in the process and I am still holding myself to the philosophy "down this, by this, so should be down this by then...")

Day 7- REALLY not hard to stay on plan as long as I am prepared. The tea is yummy, love butter, meat, veggies, so not missing much with carbs 7 days in. Was trace at waking but in the pink mid day at work. Having the keto strips really motivates me that I am on track and doing the right thing. I left my lunch at home, but my hubby and kids brought it over to me which was VERY KIND and so appreciated to stay on plan. Enjoying almonds as snack for salty crunch. Need to make sure sugar free creamer for coffee isn't interfering, but as losing alb a day, can't complain too much.

Maintaining 33.4 net carbs

Monday, March 23, 2015

What I've learned over the last 20 months living low carb... Whew! What a ride!


"It doesn't matter if you know where your going, as long as you know where you've been"-  adapted from 'Mater and the movie Cars



So here we are, close to 20 months after the first post that was so full of HOPE! 



Full of hope and positivity, a personal trait that has the outside display of happy but self doubt and negativity lurking immediately below the surface. Starting, yet again, to run to the finish line of self satisfaction I so desperately wanted to achieve, yet continued to fall short and feel defeated.



In reflection, it is interesting in the first post, I set a baseline for "if I lost this much in this amount of time, I should be at this number by this date"


.... BULLS#IT. 

Like the very popular animated Disney movie says "Let it go,  -Let it go..." 

I have come to realize that I can not set a time perimeter on the process of dropping the weight I needed and desperately wanted to lose. My body would respond in it's own good time and I just needed to be *VERY* consistent in my approach.

I now have 20 months (T-W-E-N-T-Y- months !!!) under my belt of consistently eating a low carb, 
(lots of vegetables) and high protein (focused on protein each meal) diet and am currently down 65 lbs. 

*seriously*

Crazy part, it has not been that hard. 
(I know!)

After years, and I mean YEARS of feeling the struggle of controlling my eating, counting points, counting Fat/ Protein/ Carb ratio's, not eating, over eating, binge eating, even being a fitness instructor for twelve years with 15 + hours a week of cardio classes and actually exercising to the point of stress fractures, but seeing next to no results, reading, obsessing, yearning for normalcy... it finally kicked in and worked.

What clicked? Was it my mental state of surrender? 

I couldn't stand it any more! I didn't like the reflection or image I was putting out into the universe. I really didn't like having photos taken of me, was trying to find clothes to fit, felt all around frumpy and bumpy. Not good. 

That alone is a lot of mental negative self talk! 

I told a dear friend recently who is at the beginning of her journey, you have to WANT it. I mean, really want IT. 

I think I finally wanted to get thinner / healthier / fitter more than I wanted to eat the roll, drink a classic coke, or have a cookie. I just needed a little nod to success. 

As mentioned, I re read Idiot Proof Diet by these hilarious British ladies on their personal journeys, and decided, I was going to be like India. I was going to "do this" and not make excuses (like Neris... sorry Neris) or let myself down. (*huge AH- HA note there... would never let someone else down but tended to do it to myself... regularly)


so.....

I have kept journals, measurements and notes along the way. I will share them and reflect in future posts. It has not been a fast process... like I said above, I completely let the timeline go... it has been 20 months, and now down 65 lbs, so that is 3.8 lbs a month. Previously (or with a WW points / weekly meeting mentality) I would have bagged this a year ago. 

But I didn't.

I kept focusing on 2 things. 

1) Staying "on plan", which was high protein and low carb eating. Aiming for 25-30g or less per day. 

2) Testing with the ketosis strips. If I remained "in the pink" it was proof I was "on plan" whether the scale showed any success or not, the strip made me continue to the next feeding determined.

In a very short time, like between September and December of 2013, I had lost some weight, 
(about 15- 20 lbs) and I noticed changes in how clothes fit or occasionally receiving comments and encouragement, and that helped spurred me on. 

The truth of the matter was, within about the first week, I felt so much better, was really hopeful and enjoyed my meals and snacks, that between a minimal weight loss, and a little additional pep to my step... I was onto something!



"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming -- WHEW!-- What a Ride!"



Attributed to Bill McKenna, Anonymous and in a Nissan ad.