Mrs. Dash. Check it out sometime!  My favorites are Garlic and Herb and Table Seasoning.
It makes it so I don't need as much salt, butter, or oil for flavor.
Meanwhile, something cool happened to me yesterday.  I decided to polish my wedding ring.  I pulled it off and scrubbed it with an old toothbrush.  I put it on, but decided to polish it some more.  Just as I was putting it on again, it dawned on me-  I had pulled my ring off twice with no effort!  Before I started trying to get healthy, one of my goals was to avoid getting so pudgy that my rings would have to be cut off!  I couldn't take them off anymore so it seemed only a matter of time before it would be medically necessary.

I haven't worn my CTR ring because I pulled it off while I was pregnant and couldn't put it back on ... UNTIL NOW!!!  Yay!

Cardio at home

check out this video

   I printed off the following 1800 calorie plan from an Herbalife website:

• Breakfast: 1 Protein + 1 Fruit + Veggies (optional)
• Snack: 1 Protein
• Lunch: 2 Protein + 2 Veggies + Leafy Greens + 1 starch/grain +1 taste enhancer +1 fruit
• Snack: 1 Protein Snack +1 Fruit.  Unlimited Vegetable
• Dinner: 2 Protein +2 Veggies + 1 starch/grain + Leafy Greens +1 taste enhancer + 1 Fruit

Here's a sample:
BREAKFAST

• 1 cup nonfat cottage cheese
• 1 cup strawberries
• sprinkle cinnamon optional
• 1/2 cup nonfat vanilla yogurt

Lunch

• One large salad with:
• Unlimited leafy greens
• 2 c. chopped mixed veggies (carrots, peppers, tomato)
• 6 oz grilled chicken breast
• 1/2 cup cooked garbanzo beans
• 2 TBS low cal dressing
• 1 tangelo

Snack

• 1 oz nuts
• carrot and celery stick

Dinner

• 8 oz tuna
• 1/2 cooked brown rice
• steamed green beans with garlic and butter
• large leafy green salad
• 2 TBS low cal dressing
• DESSERT: 1 orange

I've learned that I typically eat a late breakfast between 7:30 and 8:30 and an early lunch at 11:30 or so, so, I don't need a morning snack. And I will change my grain from time to time so I have it in the morning as my protein oatmeal.

eating well

Hello, my name is Miriam and i am an overeater.

I stress eat.

I wish I could eat my stress away, but that's not how it works.

How it does work is self-destructive comfort. I typically talk myself into it.
"Well, you've had a hard day, so you deserve it."
"You're in pain.  You deserve a treat."
"You're so tired.  You  need  a pick me up."
"You've been trying so hard but the results don't show. What's another bite compared to how far you have to go?"
etc.

Sometimes it's unconscious, but the emotion is still the same.  It comes from a sense of selfishness.

The only way to combat this, is to love something more than me.  I can love myself constructively if I have something else to watch over besides my own pettiness.  I think it comes down to redefining my goals and priorities:

Goal 1 used to be, I will lose weight to be more vigorous ...so, (secretly added) I will perform better and look better in bed.  So.. I can keep up with all the other supermoms.  So... I will age more gracefully than my own  mother.  So... I will be more powerful and nothing bad will happen to me.

These were my deep dark secret goals.  However, I have some that are truly good.

I want to be more fun with my kids.
I want to be healthy enough to carry more children if that's what my future holds.
I want to be strong enough to be helpful around the farm and during the building of my home.
I want to avoid depression and anxiety and I know exercise and healthful eating and even my fit appearance will help me there.
I want to dance, run and play with abandon anytime and anywhere without getting too tired or embarrassed.
I want the Lord to be pleased with how I treat this one body that he gave me and blessed me with.
This body made me a mother.  This body gives me the opportunity to experience and do things and to be with the people I love on this earth.  This body gives me power and potential.  I love my body.

So, with those goals in mind, I will form my new affirmations:
*I love being a healthy mom!
*The Lord's will is where I get my willpower!
*I am strong and useful!
*Exercise makes me happy!
*My energy is sky high because of my good choices!
*I love how strong my body feels and looks!
* I have the power to shape myself!
*I move and dance to joyfully express myself!

Here's an awesome microwave trail mix cookie recipe that takes only 3 ingredients!

Dance walk- the new awesomeness of exercise

THIS, this makes me happy!
Couldn't you see us doing this? It would be so much fun! I'm thinking I'm going to do it anyways. Are you up for the challenge? I totally double dog dare ya! I'll even get a video of it and post it. Can't wait to see yours!

About Abs

So, this week, I have been doing Denise Austin Pilates
(remember this?)   before bed.

I know you might think exercise at night isn't good for sleep, but it seemed like the only time I wouldn't be crawled on or bothered while I did it.
However, I'm going to have to change it because, guess what?  Exercise at night is TERRIBLE for sleep.  I'm writing this at 6:20 AM after laying in bed for 2 hours without sleep, then giving up and blogging for another hour.

I do love her BE FIT videos on youtube, but I was trying to save my internet usage and I don't feel like I get the same Bang up workout from them everytime.  Matt suggested a wii abs dance thing he saw on TV. Did I mention he's been dieting this week?  Yeah.  Matt!  Eating salad!  Every day!  I KNOW!
It's because his brother that he works with is having to avoid a huge list of foods for this week on account of he's having a test done on his parathyroid glands Monday and many foods like iodized salt and dairy will interfere.  Matt is being supportive by eating the same foods.  No processed food, no dairy, no salt, no sugar, ... WOW.
I asked him if he wanted to continue it over the weekend when he's home.  He said yes!  But, he wants one or two stick to your ribs meals too. I just can't believe Matt is eating SALAD!
So, maybe we'll be healthy together this year!  That would rock!  We've always been out of balance that way.  I'd be young and healthy, he'd be overworked, overfed and tired.  He'd be fit from our stairs, I'd be sick and pregnant and fat.  But this might be the beginning of a good thing!
 We'll see.

Scarves

Check THIS out!
16 ways to tie a scarf! I love love LOVE  scarves...did I mention that I love scarves? I love how they immediately dress up or add class to a frumpy T-shirt. It's amazing what a scarf, pair of earrings and some mascara can do, i.e., an immediate dress up for an emergency outing, sudden conference or last minute date. 

I am a healthy person now

I found this link for healthy Fruit snacks that might be the answer to the desperate moment called, "I/my kids want candy, but I don't want to fall too far off the wagon"!

I love being healthier!  I love just thinking of myself as a healthier person.

I see someone who exercises and I think, I am one of those people.

I am filing my nails and I think, look how healthy those are!

I am sick, but it doesn't beat me to death and I think, that's because I'm healthy!

How's that for strange?  Can you be healthy while you have a cold?  Absolutely!  A healthy person can catch a cold, but the difference is, it doesn't kick the healthy person's butt!