I'm Thirsty?

Those hunger pangs may just be your body telling you its thirsty. Our bodies are composed of 60% water. H2O is important for digestion, maintaining body temperature, and transporting waste. The amount of water needed varies . Weight, height, activity level, and food choices are all factors, but generally a human body needs to replenish 2.4 liters a day. Be careful not to overdo it, too much water can lead to water intoxication. 

I find it hard to drink water and discovered ways to make it easier to get hydrated.  Squeeze a small amount of your favorite fruit into a glass or let it soak in water. Strawberries, apples, oranges, pomegranates and even cucumbers are great choices.  A tall glass of lemon juice with lukewarm water is best before a meal because it helps with digestion. Crushed mint leaves make drinking water taste fresh. Try freezing grapes and use them as ice cubes. Experiment and create your own delicious combinations.

Read more about water: 

http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/propertyyou.html

   

Tea Time.

Tea glorious tea!!! I get hungry from about 6pm 'till I go to bed, but after I have my dinner and a small snack I have to stop eating. Tea is my solution. I absolutely love holiday teas. I know they are out of season, but luckily you can still find a few online. My personal favorite is the "sugar cookie" tea from Celestial Seasonings. Whether you opt for loose leaf or traditional tea bags, spice it up! Add some cinnamon sticks or agave hazelnut flavored syrup. Visit a tea store and mix up a special blend of you own. Try different kinds of tea (preferably caffeine free) until you get hooked and learn to enjoy your tea time.

Working It Out.

The time had come for me to figure out how to get fit. Walking around the grocery store with my "Shape Ups" (sneakers) was the extent of my work out, but I am not sure if that counts as exercise. I can't bare stepping foot into a gym. Instead, I opted to take a stroll at the local park. To my surprise, there are all these great machines that use your own body weight for resistance...pretty clever. Wait, but that would mean that fatter people would have a much harder workout. NO FAIR!!

There was lots to do. I discovered a huge sports field, tennis and basketball courts. There was a cute playing area for kids as well. I stuck to the jogging path, put on my music and felt like I was in the zone until about the 3rd lap when I got the itchy thighs! Some of you know what I'm talking about. After a few minutes of working out I start feeling like I have poison ivy all over my legs and back. When I was in junior high school, I tried convincing my PE coach that I was allergic to working out, but he didn't buy it. I looked it up once, it had a reference to people who are unfit or haven't exercised for a while can sometimes have capillaries struggling to open back up which causes the nerves to create an itching sensation or it can be cholinergic urticaria. This means that when your body rises in temperature, you experience itching, swelling or small hives. In any case, I know that after a few days of working out it will eventually go away.

If you are interested in finding a local park near you. Check this out Parks and Recreation Directory. (Los Angeles Area Only)

Curb Cravings.

Jelly Beans, where art thou? I miss Junk Food BADDD! I want chewy, gummy, artificial fruit flavoring, candy, candy, candy!!! It is almost unbearable...I see my ex everywhere I go and sometimes I can't help daydreaming of the good times.
To combat my cravings, I prepared a small bowl of fresh blueberries and pomegranate seeds. It did the trick, it instantly satisfied me and berries are loaded with antioxidants. They definitely made me forget about that loser!

Portion Control.

Too much of a good thing can sometimes be bad. Measuring my food really helps me stay on track. I have lost 2 more pounds! I have been using measuring cups and spoons all the time. You can go to your local market or dollar store to find these tools. If you would like to splurge and make it fun, I found a few cool items online that are worth checking out (see tools). I created a simple hand guide that I always keep in mind when I'm on the run or in a hurry.

Food Revolution.

It's about time someone takes action to stop Junk Food! Jamie Oliver fights to expose kids to a healthy lifestyle while they are still young. (Maybe it's because he doesn't want them ending up like me).

I went to the opening of "Jamie's Kitchen" in Westwood, California today. He opened a new center to help people learn how to cook fresh and healthier meals. The celebrity chef is leading a campaign to bring nutrition to public school cafeterias in efforts to end obesity. Jamie informed the crowd that he needs our support because he has been shut out by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).

His crusade has reached success in England, Australia and most recently in the United States in West Virginia. His trip to Huntington, WV was documented on his reality show, ABC's "Food Revolution". The second season will be based in Los Angeles, California. Where was Jamie when I was growing up??? Perhaps, having some tea and crumpets carrots in the UK...

For more information about getting involved, please log on to http://www.jamieoliver.com/campaigns/jamies-food-revolution

Losing it.

Good News, I managed to lose 1 pound last week. Bad News is that I lost control, over ate sushi and I had a brief encounter with my ex (M&Ms). I was so good all week. I made some new friends- carrots, apples and cucumber sticks. We hung out for some snacks. I didn't think about JF as much, but then towards the end of the week I really started to miss it. I broke down yesterday and I had quite a few M&Ms, but it was mixed in with trail mix so I felt initially like it was OK. Then, the flood gates were open and I went for the sushi with tempura flakes and sweet sauce.

What went wrong? Why did this happen? Am I addicted to JF? Why do I crave its sweet and savory sides? I started reading this book, "The End of Overeating" (see sidebar) from David Kessler, a Harvard-trained doctor, lawyer, medical school dean and former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. He concluded that foods high in fat, salt and sugar alter the brain's chemistry in ways that compel people to overeat. Dr. Kessler is helping me understand that Junk Food is not only messing with my body and health, but its playing mind games with me!!

Vitamins and Nutrients.

I always thought vitamins were especially important for kids and the elderly, for when the body is growing and deteriorating. My view was that if I over eat I'm sure to have had all the nutrients I need, right? WRONG! You can consume 3,000 calories a day and not be properly nourished. I was reading the "Nutrition for Dummies" book and it makes reference to alcoholics. People with an alcohol addiction usually substitute their meals with alcohol, but they tend to be at a normal weight and sometimes even overweight as opposed to heroin or cocaine addicts who are underweight. The reason for this is that they consume many "empty calories" that lack vitamins and nutrients. This is why they have a tendency of developing major organ damage. The body has been deprived of nourishment.

The many years I have been consumed with Junk Food could have taken a toll on my body. Junk Food may be sweet and spicy, but it is nothing nice. The actual definition of Junk Food is "A high-calorie food that is low in nutritional value." We have to be good to our bodies at every age.

I am making better choices and deciding what I allow into my life. I'm now looking for more substance. Vitamins and nutrients seem like they will be friends for life because they really care about my well-being. Check out my vitamins page to get more informed.

Assess & Analyze.

Now that my marriage is over with JF, what do I do? Where do I start? I could eat like a rabbit and stick to whole foods, but that would be no fun and I wouldn't last a day. I have tried every fad diet out there, but never really learned how to eat healthy. I did some research today and found some really helpful tools that are recession-proof. I posted them on a separate page for anyone interested (see links). I am "overweight" according to the official Body Mass Index (BMI) calculation. I should weigh approx. 35 lbs less than I do now. This may sound like a lot or a little depending on where you are, but my struggle with weight has been going on for a lifetime. I was the first kid to reach 100 lbs. in elementary school and its no wonder because of my love for Junk Food. I could have cakes, chocolate, pizza, ice cream, chips, and candy for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I love Junk in everything I eat. If it's a salad or veggies, it has to be swimming in Junk for me to eat it.

Plan Ahead.

Now that I have assessed and analyzed my current state. I have planned my exit strategy for a Junk-Free life by using my links. I am on a 1,200 calorie a day menu plan and I am able to track my progress as I go, but my cravings have already started kicking in. Gosh, how I feel like having just one more encounter with JF, but I can't I am committed to getting out. I have to remember the backlash of being with Junk Food and how it has added nothing to my life, but a whole lot of cellulite.

It is so important to plan my meals ahead of time. I was driving around one night on an empty stomach and saw JF at a drive thru and I just wanted to have a small chat in the form of a sweet milkshake. I tried to justify it in my head like, "it wouldn't be so bad. It might make me feel better to talk things out", but then I thought of all the tasty things he would tell me to get me sucked in and I know we would end up having dinner together. Instead, I rushed home to prepare my meal and felt relieved that I didn't give in to my cravings. Next time, I will not leave it up to chance. I have a tendency to skip meals and that is when I crave JF the most!!! I have to remember to prepare my meals (even the night before) and eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, and my snacks at the right time.

Happy New Year!

This is the time to make changes, start anew, and make a fresh start. I have decided to get a divorce from Junk Food and today is the perfect day to make it happen.  I am going to take you through my journey, one day at a time. This may just end up being a separation, but I hope for my sake, it's permanent.  Perhaps one day we can be friends in the future, but my marriage has to end now. My love for Junk Food started many years ago. I was a child when I first got introduced to it. We’ve had our share of break ups and make ups, but I now see the negative effects Junk Food has left on me. I’m done! I’ve had it! I want out! I want to be healthy, happy, and find a better way of life. I want to discover new foods and recipes that taste just as delicious, but are truly good for me.  I hope people out there can relate and join me in my mission.