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Coffee Lovers Rejoice!

"Coffee In Moderation May Offer Health Benefits"

"March 5, 2010
Dear Mayo Clinic:
What are the current thoughts on coffee as to how it affects one's health, good or bad?
Answer:
Over the past several years, research has busted some health myths about coffee. It doesn't contribute to heart attacks, cancer or reduced bone density — all of which have been suspected in the past.
We've learned that coffee, in moderation — perhaps 1 to 2 cups daily — isn't bad for you. And in some cases, coffee seems to offer health benefits, perhaps the most noteworthy being a reduction in the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Many studies have shown that coffee decreases the risk of type 2 diabetes. One study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in 2004, showed this significant protective effect increased with coffee consumption up to 6 cups a day. The effect was similar for caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee.
This study and others on the health effects of coffee highlight that there's more to coffee than caffeine. Where health benefits or risks have been documented, researchers don't necessarily know what components in coffee are linked to the health effects. A "cup of joe" has up to 2,000 different components, including micronutrients such as magnesium, potassium, niacin and vitamin E. Among coffee drinkers, coffee may be the largest food source of antioxidants — substances that protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals.
Studies have documented coffee's other health benefits in various areas:
Parkinson's disease: A number of studies have shown that coffee drinkers benefit from a protective effect against Parkinson's disease.
Asthma: Coffee may reduce asthma symptoms.
Gallstones: Coffee may reduce gallstone formation.
Cognition: Coffee increases alertness. That's why it's the morning wake-up call for many people. Studies also have shown that coffee can improve cognitive performance. Results from at least four studies suggest that coffee drinkers have a decreased risk of Alzheimer's disease.
Mental health: Three studies have shown a decreased risk of suicide with moderate coffee consumption. The reason for this isn't clear.
Liver disease: Coffee seems to offer a protective effect against liver disease including cancer, especially among those who drink alcohol.
Before you rush to brew a pot of coffee, know that there are some side effects and potential health concerns from drinking coffee. Side effects can include jitteriness, insomnia and benign heart palpitations. The extent of the side effects varies by individual and the ability to metabolize caffeine. Some people forgo coffee in the afternoon because it causes insomnia. Others can have a coffee nightcap and sleep soundly.
Side effects also can include loose stools and heartburn or reflux in people who are predisposed to those conditions. Coffee may worsen urinary symptoms for men with prostate problems.
Occasional coffee drinkers may see an increase in their blood pressure after a cup of coffee. With regular consumption, tolerance develops and the blood pressure falls to previous levels. If you are going to drink coffee, it's probably best to enjoy it daily to avoid blood pressure spikes.
Here's another reason for consistency. If you skip a day, you're likely to experience a withdrawal headache, since caffeine is slightly addictive.
Another health concern is that coffee in more than moderate amounts may affect a woman's fertility and possibly contribute to miscarriage. Other negatives are that coffee decreases iron and calcium absorption. It also increases urinary calcium loss, but this can be offset by increasing calcium consumption.
If you are not a coffee drinker, I wouldn't suggest starting for the sake of better health. On the other hand, if you enjoy a daily cup or two of coffee and aren't bothered by side effects, there's no need to worry about serious health risks from coffee. And you may be sipping in some health benefits, too.
— Donald Hensrud, M.D., Preventive and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn."

Go Nuts!

Nuts and your heart: Eating nuts for heart health (article from MayoClinic.com)

Eating nuts helps your heart. Discover how walnuts, almonds and other nuts help lower your cholesterol when eaten as part of a balanced diet.

By Mayo Clinic staff
Eating nuts as part of a healthy diet can be good for your heart. Nuts, which contain unsaturated fatty acids and other nutrients, are a great snack food, too. They're inexpensive, easy to store and easy to take with you to work or school.
The type of nut you eat isn't that important, although some nuts have more heart-healthy nutrients and fats than do others. Walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts — you name it — almost every type of nut has a lot of nutrition packed into a tiny package. If you have heart disease, eating nuts instead of a less healthy snack can help you more easily follow a heart-healthy diet.

Can eating nuts help your heart?

People who eat nuts as part of a heart-healthy diet can lower the LDL, low-density lipoprotein or "bad," cholesterol level in their blood. High LDL is one of the primary causes of heart disease.
Eating nuts reduces your risk of developing blood clots that can cause a fatal heart attack. Nuts also improve the health of the lining of your arteries. The evidence for the heart-healthy benefits of nuts isn't rock solid — the Food and Drug Administration only allows food companies to say evidence "suggests but does not prove" that eating nuts reduces heart disease risk.

What's in nuts that's thought to be heart healthy?

Although it varies by nut, most nuts contain at least some of these heart-healthy substances:

• Unsaturated fats. It's not entirely clear why, but it's thought that the "good" fats in nuts — both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats — lower bad cholesterol levels.
• Omega-3 fatty acids. Many nuts are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s are a healthy form of fatty acids that seem to help your heart by, among other things, preventing dangerous heart rhythms that can lead to heart attacks. Omega-3 fatty acids are also found in many kinds of fish, but nuts are one of the best plant-based sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
• Fiber. All nuts contain fiber, which helps lower your cholesterol. Fiber also makes you feel full, so you eat less. Fiber is also thought to play a role in preventing diabetes.
• Vitamin E. Vitamin E may help stop the development of plaques in your arteries, which can narrow them. Plaque development in your arteries can lead to chest pain, coronary artery disease or a heart attack.
• Plant sterols. Some nuts contain plant sterols, a substance that can help lower your cholesterol. Plant sterols are often added to products like margarine and orange juice for additional health benefits, but sterols occur naturally in nuts.
• L-arginine. Nuts are also a source of l-arginine, which is a substance that may help improve the health of your artery walls by making them more flexible and less prone to blood clots that can block blood flow.

What amount of nuts is considered healthy?

• Nuts contain a lot of fat; as much as 80 percent of a nut is fat. Even though most of this fat is healthy fat, it's still a lot of calories. That's why you should eat nuts in moderation. Ideally, you should use nuts as a substitute for saturated fats, such as those found in meats, eggs and dairy products.
  Instead of eating unhealthy saturated fats, try substituting a handful of nuts. According to the Food and Drug Administration, eating about a handful (1.5 ounces, or 42.5 grams) a day of most nuts, such as almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, some pine nuts, pistachio nuts and walnuts, may reduce your risk of heart disease. But again, do this as part of a heart-healthy diet. Just eating nuts and not cutting back on saturated fats found in many dairy and meat products won't do your heart any good.
  

  Does it matter what kind of nuts you eat?

  Possibly. Most nuts appear to be generally healthy, though some more so than others. Walnuts are one of the best-studied nuts, and it's been shown they contain high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Almonds, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts and pecans are other nuts that appear to be quite heart healthy. Even peanuts — which are technically not a nut, but a legume, like beans — seem to be relatively healthy. Coconut, which is technically a fruit, may be considered by some to be a nut, but it doesn't seem to have heart-healthy benefits. Both coconut meat and oil don't have the benefits of the mono- and polyunsaturated fats.
  Keep in mind, you could end up canceling out the heart-healthy benefits of nuts if they're covered with chocolate, sugar or salt.
  Here's some nutrition information on common types of nuts. All calorie and fat content measurements are for 1 ounce, or 28.4 grams (g), of unsalted nuts.
  

  Type of nut	Calories	Total fat (saturated/unsaturated fat)*
  Almonds, raw	163	14 g (1.1 g/12.2 g)
  Almonds, dry roasted	169	15 g (1.1 g/12.9 g)
  Brazil nuts, raw	186	19 g (4.3 g/12.8 g)
  Cashews, dry roasted	163	13.1 g (2.6 g/10 g)
  Chestnuts, roasted	69	0.6 g (0.1 g/0.5 g)
  Hazelnuts (filberts), raw	178	17 g (1.3 g/15.2 g)
  Hazelnuts (filberts), dry roasted	183	17.7 g (1.3 g/15.6 g)
  Macadamia nuts, raw	204	21.5 g (3.4 g/17.1 g)
  Macadamia nuts, dry roasted	204	21.6 g (3.4 g/17.2 g)
  Peanuts, dry roasted	166	14 g (2g/11.4 g)
  Pecans, dry roasted	201	21 g (1.8 g/18.3 g)
  Pistachios, dry roasted	161	12.7 g (1.6 g/10.5 g)
  Walnuts, halved	185	18.5 g (1.7 g/15.9 g)

  *The saturated and unsaturated fat contents in each nut may not add up to the total fat content because the fat value may also include some nonfatty acid material, such as sugars or phosphates.
  

  How about nut oils? Are they healthy, too?

  Nut oils are a good source of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E, but they lack the fiber found in whole nuts. Walnut oil is the highest in omega-3s. Nut oils contain saturated as well as unsaturated fats. Consider using nut oils in homemade salad dressing or in cooking. When cooking with nut oils, remember that they respond differently to heat than do vegetable oils. Nut oil, if overheated, can become bitter. Just like with nuts, use nut oil in moderation, as the oils are high in fat and calories.

White Hot

This is the time of the year that I always fall in love with white all over again! Here are some of my faves I found while "window shopping" online :)

*jewelry from OldNavy.com and Forever21.com. Bags from Target.com. Clothing from LaneBryant.com, FashionBug.com, VictoriasSecret.com, OldNavy.com. Shoes from Payless.com.*

Easter

Hey all! Long weekend coming up for Easter :) It's also my SIL's b-day this week and my mom's is next week. And...two weeks from now is my sissy's b-day and mine!

Needless to say, busy busy times ahead!

I'm going to see my SIL for her b-day hopefully this evening and Friday I am traveling out of town to visit my parents. While I'm there, I will be receiving an early b-day gift from my sis (who is a hairdresser) of highlights and a trim. Before and After pics along with other posts shall ensue when I return!

On a more serious note--below, I have posted a passage explaining what Easter is all about. This weekend, I hope you take time to reflect on the sacrifice that was made for you and me, and to remember that we serve a RISEN Savior!

"So they took Jesus, and he went out, bearing his own cross, to the place called The Place of a Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, and Jesus between them...Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken." And again another Scripture says, "They will look on him whom they have pierced."
 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.
 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?Whom are you seeking?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"—and that he had said these things to her."

~from John 19:17 - 20:18 ESV

Hope everyone has a safe and happy weekend!

I Will Praise You in this Storm

 
Yesterday was crazy! There was a massive line of thunderstorms with several large tornadoes that ripped through the area. Thank God for His protection through that...It was bad! (To read more about the storm, click here.) Thank goodness that passed over us quickly and to my knowledge, everything and everyone around our immediate area in Wake Forest, NC is safe.

Today was back to normal weather-wise, and despite us having to sop up water from our kitchen floor due to our drainage line being clogged from some alleged storm debris, it was a pretty good afternoon. Tomorrow, hopefully, our problem will be fixed. I wish the ones who were impacted by this storm could say the same.

All in all, we are grateful for God's mercy, grace, and provision through the storm and will continue pray for those who had injury, damages, or death in the family from this terrible weekend event.

*Title taken from Casting Crowns Song, Praise You in This Storm, courtesy of klove.com*

New Pages Added!

Don't laugh, but I had no idea how to add pages to my blog until a few days ago. Finding out how to do this has made me so excited!

On the pages I have added, you can read all about my weight loss progression (or regression--yikes!), search and clip coupons for healthy foods (just ignore the junk food and cereal coupons), and also check out recipes for healthy versions of comfort food.

Thanks for reading my little blog and I hope you enjoy!

Well, So Much for That

As you may have read in an earlier post, I started back on Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet on Monday, April 4th. If you don't know what Phase 1 is, I will give you a brief synopsis:

On Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet, you are not allowed to have any fruit, breads, fruit juice, certain veggies, or sugar of any kind. The reason for this is you are trying to break your body of craving sugar all the time by stabilizing your blood sugar levels. You are to stay on Phase 1 for at least two weeks and if you mess up and eat carbs, you have to start all over. Then, after this initial "no sugar" phase, you can begin Phase 2, in which you can slowly add healthy carbs, such as whole grain breads, back into your diet. 

So, last week, I was sooo prepared. I had containers filled with salads and chili and ready made veggies that I could heat up if I got hungry. I had Atkins bars and other non-sugar snacks on hand at all times. And I made it all the way until yesterday without eating a single carb. It was wonderful and I didn't get hungry at all---because I was PREPARED.

This week = not so much. I spent too much time off gallivanting with friends and family last weekend instead of taking time out to prepare my food for the week. (I should have planned better!) My hubby is getting sick so he needs more attention than normal. And last, but not least, my wonderful womanly visitor came and I feel like crap! Needless to say, all of this has left me unprepared. Thus, I have been grabbing the quickest, easiest, most comforting foods this week, which would just happen to be...CARBS like the ones pictured below. Looks like (once my life gets put back in place) I will be starting all over again. For now, this week has been an...

EPIC FAIL

Awesome Weekend

I had an awesome weekend! I got to hang with friends and family. My hubby and I had awesome QT together. I got reminded of how awesome God is in Sunday School today. And, I did very well on not cheating on my diet, which as you may or may not know is super duper tough on weekends and when you gather with loved ones :)

Friday night, the hubs and I went for dinner at a local Mexican restaurant and I had water and a taco salad with chicken. After that, we went for coffee (tall skinny hazelnut latte) and met his bro's sweet little fam downtown so we could walk around (bonus--we got some exercise!).

Saturday, I ate at Olive Garden with my mom and I got the gluten-free version of the Mixed Grill, which is steak and chicken with squash, zucchini, and broccoli. Again, I had water to drink and then we went and walked around the Southern Women's Show for a few hours. (Bonus--got more walking in!) Also, I resisted the temptation to try all the free samples of food that they offer, except for three tiny little homemade butter mints, but that was it!

Today, after church, I met two of my dear pals at the mall so we could walk and talk and just spend some time together. Also, they just bought a house, so they wanted to browse for home decor type stuff. Anyway, on the way to meet them, I stopped at Caribou coffee and got a medium soy chai latte.

When we were done at the mall, we went to a restaurant called Andy's, which is set up to look like a 50's diner and they serve burgers, fries, and shakes. Not good if you are on a diet! I did okay, though. I had diet Pepsi and I ordered a chicken cheesesteak with mushrooms, onions, and peppers and I only ate the insides out of it. I also resisted the urge to get a milkshake, even though my two buds were sitting right beside me enjoying theirs.

All in all, I would say I am doing pretty well and still "hangin' tough" :) Well, it's off to bed for now, so I can wake up tomorrow and start the weekday daily grind again. Goodnight!

Hangin' Tough

Day 5 on Phase 1...I'm hangin' tough like NKOTB. LOL Happy Friday!!! Hope you enjoy this throwback video :)

Celebrate Good Times, Come On!

For some reason, my hubby and I really like Thursdays. I mean, what's not to like? There are good shows on TV, it's the last night of the work week for him, and of course there is always the building anticipation of another oh-so-wonderful Friday rolling around. They are usually good days for us and today was no exception! Today was a red-letter day for a few reasons:

1. I wore a new pair of shoes today and they were sooo comfy!!!

2. Today was Day 4 of starting over on my "lifestyle change" and I haven't cheated yet!
3. My hubby found out he made a 99.5 on a midterm he had been stressing about.
4. The weather was awesome!

5. The results from some blood tests came back from my Endocrinologist showing I don't have diabetes and my thyroid levels are reaching more normal levels! (More about this in a future post...)

And last but not least, we walked (which means we exercised and had fun at the same time) to a local deli and had some awesome food and good conversation. It was a nice spontaneous Thursday night date night :)

Oh, and PS: 32 days 'til my b-day!

Blueberry Cheesecake Bars

Mmmm...Look what I just found on Splenda.com

INGREDIENTS

• 1¼ cups graham cracker crumbs
• ¼ cup SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated
• ⅓ cup light butter, melted
• 12 ounces reduced fat cream cheese, softened
• ⅔ cup SPLENDA^® No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated
• 2 large eggs
• ⅓ cup reduced-fat sour cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ¾ cup fresh or frozen blueberries
• ¼ cup reduced-sugar apricot preserves
• 1 tablespoon water

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an eight-inch square pan with vegetable cooking spray. Set aside.
2. Combine graham cracker crumbs, SPLENDA^® Granulated Sweetener, and butter, mixing well. Firmly press mixture evenly in bottom of prepared pan. Bake 5 minutes. Remove from oven; set aside.
3. Beat cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add SPLENDA^® Granulated Sweetener, beating until blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add sour cream and vanilla, beating just until blended. Gently stir in blueberries. Pour mixture into prepared pan.
4. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until firm. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Cover and chill 2 hours.
5. Topping Directions: Combine apricot preserves and water in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until jam melts. Spread over filling; cut into bars.

NUTRITION FACTS

Servings Per Recipe: 20

Amount Per Serving

Calories: 100 

Calories from Fat: 60 

Total Fat: 6g 

Saturated Fat: 3.5g 

Cholesterol: 40mg 

Sodium: 110mg 

Total Carbs: 8g 

Dietary Fiber: 0g 

Sugars: 3g 

Protein: 3g

 

I will be making these on Phase 2, which by the way, starts in 10 days :) 

Please Don't Stop the Music

Look what I just found! I might have to download this to listen to when I'm walking...hmmm maybe I should add an iPod to my birthday wish list....

Phase 2 and Birthday Countdown

Today is Day 3 of Round 2 of Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet. I only have 11 days to go until I get to start Phase 2 where I can start eating (healthy) carbs again...yay!

Now, onto more important things...

I know it's silly that I'm almost 30 and I still get excited about my birthday, but I don't care...It's not that I'm excited that I turn another year older or anything, I just really enjoy hearing people say, "Oh, it's your birthday today? Well, happy birthday!" Also, my selfish butt just likes to get presents. (Hey, at least I'll admit it.) In fact, here is my "offical wish list":

*Tom's Shoes--The best thing about Tom's is their cause, "One for One". For every pair of shoes you buy, they give one pair to people without shoes. I love their classics and glitters! I just haven't bought any yet because of the cost. That's why I want to wait 'til my b-day.

*HP Mini 210 10.1" Widescreen Netbook PC with Intel Atom N455 Processor & Windows 7 Starter--I don't neccesarily want this computer, mostly any laptop or netbook will do. I don't even need Windows 7. I just want to be able to blog, peek at Facebook, shop online, check emails, etc while my hubby sits at our desktop doing endless amounts of homework!

*Contacts--I know this is nothing but pure vanity, but sometimes I feel ugly when I wear my glasses. I pretty much have to wear them all the time beacause I need them when I am driving, working at the computer, or watching TV. They are also helpful when I'm shopping so I can spot sale signs easier :) (just sayin')...So, I want contacts for those times when I am so over having these black plastic rimmed things sitting on my face!

So today, I am starting my official b-day countdown...33 days 'til May 9th--The day I turn 28! Woohoo!!!

Ooh ooh. ooh ooh. ooooohh...I've Got a New Attitude...

I have officially started back over on the South Beach Diet! I cleared my pantry and fridge of all "bad" and "carby" things and stocked up with fresh veggies, lean meats, eggs, beans, low fat cheese, nuts, and I even got some diet orange soda, sugar free Jello, and Breyer's Carb Smart fudgecicles to treat myself for doing so well! Here is a sample of my healthier fare...(Thanks to my awesome SIL, Alicia, for the wonderful idea of snapping pics of your groceries!)

I have already made all my breakfast and lunches for this week, except I still need to make a pot of chili for something I can grab for lunch or dinner in case I get tired of salads. (Which, I'm sure I will because it was all I could do to choke one down today...) But, I digress. Here is the recipe for the yummy breakfast I made for myself to eat this week. I call it "Omelet Casserole"

Ingredients:
10-12 large white or brown eggs
1 medium bell pepper, chopped
1/2 of a yellow onion, chopped
1 small can of mushroom slices, drained
salt and pepper to taste
approx 4-6 oz 2% shredded cheddar cheese
cubed ham

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350. In a greased 8" x 8" glass pan, crack the eggs and scramble them well.
2. Once eggs are scrambled, stir in ham, bell pepper, onion, and mushrooms and season with salt and pepper.
3. Bake uncovered 30-35 mins.
4. Sprinkle cheese over the top and bake for 10-15 more mins until browned around edges and eggs are no longer runny.

Once cooled, casserole can be cut into pieces and you can freeze individual slices to microwave and have for breakfast throughout the week. :)

Enjoy!

Binging and Purging

If you have been reading my blog, you know that I have not been doing so hot on sticking to my diet "lifestyle change" for the past 4 to 5 months now. And I have not had enough willpower to hop back on the wagon. Well folks, I think I've finally done it. I have found my motivation. And it comes from the same place it did when I started my journey back in August of '09. I am finally disgusted enough with myself to do something about my weight gain....This disgust comes from the fact that my favorite size 14 jeans are too tight now!!!  :( And they were almost unbearable after my hubby and I went and gorged ourselves on Mexican food last night. (Let me tell ya, it was not homemade, either. It was the ever so yummy fattening kind.)

So today, after binging for the past few months, I am finally purging. Purging my pantry of all the carb-laden deliciousness that has been holding me back from my goal of becoming less of person. I have already made my shopping list and when I come back from the store, I will have some very necessary weapons in my arsenal to fight the "war on terror". Trust me, it's terror when you button your jeans and you have a muffin top...just sayin' :)

Happy Saturday!

Yikes!

Ok, my 10 year high school reunion is now 181 days away and I'm still floating between my 14's and 16's...I really need some motivation!

These pics help a little...I mean, I can't wear dresses like these with all the flab I'm carrying around right now. Sigh...

I just ate a big fat bagel with cream cheese...so that really didn't help.

Yikes!