Bunch of info...

I am, by no means, saying that the way I eat (when dieting) is healthy.  Probably not, but I stumbled over to Health.com this morning and found a few things that support things I have been saying either here on my blog or in real life.

27 Mistakes Healthy People Make got my attention mostly because of my rants about how people think skinny means healthy.  Even this title says so.  I sort of wish it said 27 Mistakes "Healthy" People Make.  Of course, this is just the beginning.  #1 - buying organic.  People think buying organic is healthier.  "Buying organic is wise for certain foods, such as beef or strawberries, but it doesn't make much difference for others, like avocados or eggs.  
And don't assume that all organic foods are healthier than non-organic options, or that organic equals healthy. Organic choices are usually pricier, for one thing. And organic high-calorie, high-fat granola bars and sugary cereals are just as bad for you as the non-organic version."
My note: Buying organic is a bloated politically correct thing we are supposed to to if we care about the environment.  I learned that "organic" as often an advertising ploy as tainted as anything else.  Example: Generally, cows raised for milk are given antibiotics constantly.  True.  Organic means some governing agency has made sure the cows have never had antibiotics or other medication.  True.  Then I saw a farmer who sells his milk and cheese at a farmer's market because he does not qualify as either organic or non-organic.  Why?  Because he does not distribute antibiotics to his animals *unless they are sick*.  Humane.  He wanted to become organic because, he claims, he realizes the milk is better without those antibiotics and growth hormones, but he also could not stand by and watch his animals die because they caught something and in order to be certified organic, you have to just let them die.  Wow.  Well, we don't eat much beef in this family and we mainly buy soy milk because of allergies to cow's milk so cheese is my only worry and...well... that's processed and such in a way that I can't justify "organic" cheese.

Besides, organic products always cost more.  Someone is making more money by slapping that label on there.  I realize that it's supposed to be because it costs more to raise things this way (you lose more crops, more cows, whatever and those have to be replaced) and it's a simple supply and demand issue - it will continue to cost more as popularity for it rises.

I won't go through these one by one, but they list a bunch of things I know are true.  Don't skimp on sleep.  Socialize more (that was interesting, but I do see the value.  Like sleep, our mental health affects our physical health.)

Supplements - I heard this pyramid scheme which sells diet shakes so that it's "legit" saying that you should never take supplements because your body doesn't digest it and use it.  It simply goes through and you poop it out.  Classy.  Also, wrong.  Your body uses what it can.  If there is too much of something, your liver and kidneys are there to get rid of it.  Granted, this article points out you can still be taking too much, but I think we sometimes forget that our bodies are efficient machines.

Germaphobes (slide #8) - But evidence also suggests that some germ exposure could steer the immune system away from allergies, and that an overly sterile environment might be bad.


I'm quite sure I did a post about this before.  Your immune system gets stronger by fighting things off.  Yeah, take precautions, but don't overdo!

#9 You over- or underdo alternative remedies
Agreed.  I believe both are very useful, but so many I talk to seem to think it's one or the other.  Don't discount the herbal remedies, but don't believe whatever the doctor is selling without question, either.



#13 - calorie free sodas.  yeah, it's my weakness.  I know I did better when I cut way back on them, but even when losing weight, I did have a little every day.  My guilty pleasure.  I defend the fact that people should remember that if they can narrow down just one thing that makes the whole diet thing bearable, then find a way to work that in.  Love sweets?  Allow yourself a piece of Extra's dessert gum or one can of soda per day.   I'm sure we shouldn't have it at all to be truly healthy, but for me this is what helps me make it through.  My husband loves salty chips so we buy Special K snacks or Baked Lays.  Low in salt, but just enough to get him through from time to time.

#14 - water... they are talking about drinking too much, but I admit, I don't drink enough.  This amused me.  The other day I was told that our body only recognizes straight water as water.  "It thinks" anything else is food.  Personifying is one of those annoying things people do.  The body is a machine.  Cells, fat, and the liver don't think, they simply process.  I know that you can't count soda or Gatorade as your daily water intake, but your body doesn't think my coffee is food.  I also know if I drink 16 oz of coffee, my body does not get 16 oz of water from that.

#16 - you think you know more than your doc.

Sometimes you do.  Yeah, I think some people are looking at things on the internet and believing what they read because it sounds good (or bad, sometimes) but they don't look at the supporting facts that prove it's wrong.  People who don't immunize at all are following a trend that seems informed, but in reality, there is way way way more information showing why you should.  They don't bother to research why they question, they just think they are being informed.

Meanwhile, we've had diagnoses from a doctor that is complete nonsense.  We look at symptoms on the internet and realize the doc made the diagnosis based solely on weight, not on symptoms.  A person with sleep apnea is often fatigued, snores, doesn't breathe in the middle of the night, etc, etc.  Scott had anxiety over our house fire and the doctor decided the anxiety was due to lack of sleep which was due to apnea.  Later, the same doctor decided he needed diabetic medication because he was not told about a blood test that day and ate a blueberry bagel before the blood test which spiked the blood once.  Since then, his levels have been well below normal - below the numbers that have had other family members taken off their diabetic meds, yet he is still on them.  I get frustrated because he listens to these doctors too much.  I think it's a balance.  Listen to your doctor, but it's okay to question them as well.

#17 - You think healthy packaging equals healthy food.

Ha, so true!  Healthy food is a marketing ploy and it is working because people buy into these things without research or question!  I saw a documentary about food and I loved this one guy who pointed out that he could sell you a bag of sugar that says "fat free!" but it will still make you fat.  People don't realize that while there are good fats and bad fats, both should be limited, but cutting out all bad fats won't make you thin, by itself.  You also have to simply eat less.  You feel hungry sometimes, sure, but you have to just eat less.  Fat free isn't helpful unless you still count calories or something.

#19 - you still don't eat your fruits and veggies.

Oh, thank god!  It's not just me!  I mean, I try every day, but....

$24 - You don't read nutrition labels.

I do, now, and I have to say it is eye opening!  Often, I'll be at a party or lunch and hear people say things that I know aren't true about certain foods because I've read the label and obviously they haven't.   Kashi go lean might have more fiber, but the "go lean" is deceiving because Eggo waffles and most cereals we buy are lower in both calories and fat than Kashi products... so what are they comparing it to?  go lean from what?  A pound of bacon for breakfast?  Yes.  Leaner than Cheerios?  Nope.

Okay, that's enough blathering for today.  I just realized the time and I need to start my other tasks for the day...

Trying for weekly update...

Last week was okay.  Not good, but okay.  Some ups and downs, some feeling fatter, but getting complimented a couple times for looking like I've lost weight.  Always weird.

Peanut Butter... So, I thought the Skippy I bought before was 210 calories per serving and the delicious reduced fat was 180 so hey; saving 30, right?  I went to buy a new jar, got looking and realized the regular Skippy is 190 so it only saves 10 calories.  Don't care though.  I still, personally, think it tastes better.

Which is my segue into nuts.  First, I don't like nuts.  I like the flavor of almonds and on occasion I'll snack on some pistachios, but in general, I don't like nuts.  I don't buy them and usually pass them up at a snack bar.

So often, people will offer me some nuts.  "No, thanks" because good manners says keep it simple.  Why in this world do people need to say "NO!  I'm deathly allergic." With that implied sound of "How dare you offer?" (leading me to other rude behaviours like launching into a medical history including diseases and problems for which people haven't been diagnosed, but they exhibit one or two symptoms on a small scale so are convinced they have it and the whole world should feel sorry for them or give allowances for their rude or ignorant behaviour because of it.  End rant...sorry)

"They're good for you."  Sometimes I slip up and respond to this with "nuts are kind of high in calories and I've been dieting, you know, so thanks, but I'm okay."  I'm still polite, but.... this always ALWAYS leads to "But they are good fats."

Yes.  Nuts have good fats.  Nuts are kind of good for you - within reason.  I often want to launch into a moderation speech, but always refrain myself.  The fact is, nuts have good fats, but too much of them is still not good.  There are serving size suggestions on bags of nuts just like every other food, but I'll see people complain they can't lose weight, thinking that eating good fats is a good way to fill up, and eat a tube of nuts that is supposed to serve 3 people.  This is why the calorie method is just simpler.  It might not be comprehensive, but just like people who exhibit one symptom of asperger's syndrome don't necessarily have it, those who know only a little about nutrition should not act like nutritionists. (See how I brought that back to my earlier rant?  It's like I planned it!)  It's complicated.  The calorie method is simple.

I am aware I'm in the minority, though, because the new fad is Fitness Pal and once again, it didn't help me.  Doctor's say they have way more success with patients who use groups and things like that, but it has never worked for me and though nothing else is working right now, when things WERE working, those groups halted progress and then I progessed again as soon as I stopped participating.

Clearly, I'm meant to be a lonely soul.

And now the smoking.  Cut way way back, good.  Quit altogether?  {deep breath}  No.  Seriously, it's easier to quit smoking than to diet, though, so I know I can do it.  Getting there.  Not more than 24 hours, but close.  Close.  Trigger today is that I'm going out with the person who started me smoking again.  I know she won't pressure me, but still, the temptation is there.

Update

Yes, we've been neglectful.  We've actually been back onto good eating habits along with continuing our walks for the last few weeks.  My scale broke, but if my pants are an indication, I've lost at least a few little pounds.

Back on track
Things that are hard to get back to resisting: baking (I so LOVE to bake!), putting sauces on food to make them more palatable, and choosing butter OR jam for toast; not both.  In comparing stories, I hear much about how people think they are eating better, but can't lose weight.  One thing I notice on counting calories is they skip counting cream in coffee, butter on toast, etc, etc.  So, this is my official statement to remind people, you must count everything that passes your lips, even if they are hanging on to something else like a little parasite.  Low fat, low calorie dressings still add calories to your salad.  Nuts may contain good fats, but also a lot of calories.  Adding croutons, nuts, raisins, OR bacon bits to a salad can make it more tasty.  Adding all of them makes it a hamburger (from the calorie perspective.)

It's all about choices and when you are confining yourself to a strict diet of difficult choices, it makes other things easier to avoid.  Today I thought I might treat myself to that leftover cupcake from book club last week.  I kept it covered, but took a bite and...it was tasty, but a little dry.  Not delectable so I realized that in my moment of weakness I was about to sell out several hundred calories for that disappointment and I threw it away.  If I'm going to have a goodie, it better be melt in the mouth, taste-bud party delicious.  Otherwise I'll save it for a reliable tasty goodness like my favourite creamer in coffee or a little cheese on my tomato bisque lunch.

Other things: I turned on TV the other day to while away some time while making a Halloween decoration only to be confronted by a certain TV doctor (from over the rainbow?) who I regard highly, but who I do disagree with on rare occasion, touting the evils of artificial sweeteners.  Look, I know they aren't good for you, but I still say if you are trying to lose weight, unless you are the rare breed who can change their life completely overnight and not be tempted by anything, then it's a lesser evil.  In order to make the whole diet thing doable, I, personally, being a human being with thoughts, feelings, temptations, and weak moments, must have one treat a day to get me through.  For me, it's diet soda.  Sure I'd do better if I quit the soda, but that's unrealistic.  Asking someone to be 100% perfect in how they eat and how much the exercise is the unrealistic bit.  For some people, having nutra sweet makes them crave MORE sweets so if that's the case, they shouldn't use this substitute.  No one can do our exact diet because it wouldn't work for someone else.

Anyone who wants to eat healthy must hear the news every day and consider becoming anorexic because it's impossible to make sense of one study after another.  That being said, This TV Dr. mentioned the cancer risks associated with artificial sweeteners and this bothered me.  Just because you've heard something for decades doesn't make it true.  The fact is the one study showing cancer risks to mice in the 70s has been dis-proven hundreds of times.  I lost the article with the exact numbers, but I assure you it was a reputable source.  Besides, artificial sweeteners do not affect diabetes or tooth decay.  (I thought it did, but according to a New York Times article comparing sweeteners, they do not!  Good to know!)

I have some to realize that the knowledge we gain in high school health class is like basic math.  It's find for everyday life, but in order to solve REAL problems (like imbalance, losing weight, gaining weight, making up for allergies, etc) you need to know Calculus Nutrition.  I'm becoming a bit more Algebraic Nutritionist with all my research, but the way I live and eat day to day is more remedial.  I just feel so bombarded with information saying whatever choice you make is the wrong choice.  It's completely overwhelming! Of course, the information they fill our heads with is maintaining perfect nutrition.  If you're off, you'll need to compensate, and if you need to lose weight, well, forget it.  There really is, imo, no way to lose weight and still eat everything you're supposed to eat.  Still, it's better than OVEReating bad fats so I'll only defend the choices to a point.

When you are in a group, especially with women, there will always be that person who has the answer to your problems, too.  If you tell them you are doing everything, they will have the key to why you aren't losing weight.  They can be wrong, but still convinced because it is what worked for them.  There are the ones who convince you it's easy if you just hit the right formula or do this one trick they know.

It does get easier, I'll give them that, but it's not easy.  I repeat, is in not easy.  Not at any point, and especially at the jumping off point.  I think it's the combination of too much BAD information from sources people trust (the news, TV doctors, and uninformed physicians - who act like experts, but let's keep in mind they are required to stay refreshed on their specific specialty and between that, patients, and a personal life are unlikely to become armchair experts in anything else like nutrition), pressure from friends and family, people who make it sound like your social obligation to be thin, and people who make it all sound so easy that sets many people up for failure when it comes to weight loss.  At some point, just close your eyes, point, commit to a plan, and follow it no matter what else you learn along the way.  Of course if you realize you're not eating foods with potassium, you could adjust your diet to include bananas or if you have low iron, it might be good to pile on spinach to the salad or eat more meat, but every time a study pops up or someone tells you you are doing it wrong is not enough reason to quit or sabotage the plan.

Workouts
Last note, a few weeks ago I was told about a webpage <a href="http://www.skimble.com/">Skimble</a>.  It has a great variety of workouts and it's easy to find what you need to focus on.  It is designed as a smart phone app, but for those of us who like our phones stupid, it's still easy enough to navigate and do in front of the computer screen. We walk 7 days a week, but I do my other workouts 2-3 times a week (my goal is 3-4, but I have to be proud of every little accomplishment these days!) and I have found mixing these in keeps it lively.  Not all require equipment, but many do.  It's just another nice resource.

Going out to Eat Isn't Just Picking the Healthy Option

I learned earlier off in the diet (choosing better foods) that many restraunts offer a nutrition guide. I was like wahoo, I can still find things to eat that are within my calorie count for the day. So when I looked at a restraunt that offered Chicken and Artichoke dinner and a Meatloaf dinner - I was great healthy option, but to my surprise the "healthy" option chicken and artichoke dinner had 980 calories for the chicken, sauce, veggies, and rice. I was wowed that it was so many calories. Then I check the meatloaf dinner which was just below the chicken option and the dinner including veggies and mashed potatoes was only 650 calories for the entire meal. So I went with the lower calorie meal at that restraunt. I have also been going with taco's at my favoriate fast food because the basic taco was lower in calories than all of their other menu items. Now that I know better I noticed that we also need to check out the calories from fat. While the meatloaf was lower calories over 1/2 the calories were fat calories as well as the tacos. While the chicken option while more calories only 1/3 of those calories were from fat. So which one is the better option? For me neither since one has too many calories for one meal and the other has too many fat calories, and I don't need that many fats in my diet.

Next we need to be wary, many of the places that I like to go offer salads. I have been told you can go there and just get the salad, it is better for you. However, these places that offer salads add carmelized nuts, high calorie cheeses, and fruit in them. While they are quite tasty and I am sure a lot more healthy than a burger and fries - they sometimes rival them for the calorie count, especially when one adds the kickin' dressing that they have paired to the salad. So yes healthier due to the less fat content (which your stomach will appreciate) they are not feasible on a low cal diet like we are.

Start Simple (dinner)

1st: a correction. I took Scott's word for it that Mrs. Butterworth's is sweetened with molasses. Well, upon inspection today, it does contain aspertame. Sorry!

According to the men, dinner starts with meat...
Before we even start on meat, save up a little money and go grab yourself a George Foreman Grill. We use ours 4 - 5 times a week so it was definitely a worthwhile investment. I’m sure it makes the calories a bit lower, but I still calculate as normal. I’ll repeat cooking tips when I start posting recipes.

Seasonings: While you’re out, see if you can find a tiny spritzer (I’ve seen them at the dollar store and Sally Beauty Supply) and a bottle of Liquid Smoke. Put the Liquid Smoke in the spritzer anytime you want to fool your taste buds into thinking you made something fresh off the barbecue grill. If you can get your hands on Yoshida’s Gourmet Sauce, a drop or two makes a veggie patty taste like a grilled beef patty.

Bwawk!
I like chicken. It’s pretty tasty, but how many things can you do with chicken and still like it 6 months later?

Our favorite place to shop for many things is either Costco or Target. At Costco, you can get wonderful flash frozen chicken breast tenders. These are quick and versatile, but you can usually save just a little more per pound by picking up the boneless skinless breasts. Try to buy the ones that look flattened as they actually cook better on your grill. The thick ones have to cook so long that the juices cook out of it so flat is oddly juicier.

GF Grill: 8 minutes for chicken tenders, 9-10 for breasts. If they are very thick, it may take a couple more minutes, but make sure you take them off the instant they are cooked in the middle. Surprisingly, they will still be juicy and delicious, unlike barbecue grilled chicken.

Our daughter doesn’t like chicken much so for months we served it to her with barbecue sauce. Well, one day I was poking around and found that marinade packets are only a few calories per serving. Substitute Extra Virgin Olive Oil (most reliable sources agree that Olive Oil’s fats are better for you than canola oil) for the vegetable oil and balsamic vinegar (just my opinion that it enhances flavors) if it calls for white vinegar. It doesn’t lower calories by much – if at all – but you do pour most of it out at the end. When I marinate the chicken, I can switch it up every night and still get her to eat a little. 3 – 4 days a week, we have about 6 oz of chicken and a green salad for dinner. The other nights have more variety – see recipes.

Fish
What a great alternative to unhealthy meats! Oh, unless you don’t like fish. I do not. In fact, sometimes it makes me feel ill just to smell it cooking. After a horrible experiment, though I have not been officially diagnosed, we believe I may be allergic to some fish oils. In general, if I buy fish, it’s just enough for Him and the youth so I let Him cook it for them both. (He’s an excellent cook.)

Pork
Here’s where the fats do come in. Lotsa fat means lotsa calories. Pork is something we now eat – maybe – once a month. When we do, we put it in the crock pot, slow cook it all day, then shred it so that we can scrape out as much fat as possible. Cut back on the barbecue sauce you put in it and serve with no more than ½ a cup of the free veggies and you should be able to enjoy it.

Beef
I wasn’t a big fan of beef before so it’s not much of a sacrifice to cut it out of our diets. Beef is actually one of the most difficult meats for your body to digest anyway. In the last six months, we have bought beef exactly once and we made sure to get a very lean shoulder roast. It’s tasty, however it is a meat that requires long, slow cooking if you want it to be remotely tender. Put it in the crock pot or bake in an oven bag with some free veggies, adding only things like pepper, garlic, or other no-calorie seasonings.

Other suggestions: Turkey breast, turkey ham, or Black Forest Ham. Read the labels. Some Black Forest Ham is quite lean, therefore on the low calorie side.

Meat without the meat

We’ve tried Gardenburgers, Boca Burger, and Annie’s Original Veggie burgers. I think we both agreed that while the popular Gardenburger is nice, the Boca Burgers are quite delicious (especially with that drop of sauce). Scott tried Annie’s on his own. Last word? Horrible! He told me not to even try it because he was sure it wasn’t going to be to anyone’s liking.

Veggies
Veggies are easy. ½ raw (slightly less when cooked) are considered free foods. Broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, carrots, celery, peas, bell peppers… they can all add variety to salad. We have salads A LOT so we like to buy several free foods, then mix it up every night to keep it interesting. Mushrooms are also free. Corn, tomatoes, avocados, olives, and other fruits are not. Potatoes are not a vegetable.

Peppers
Honestly, I was never a fan of any kind of pepper other than black peppercorn. Now I’ve experimented and realized I love yellow and orange bell peppers. They have nice flavor, but aren’t spicy. I also add green chili sauce or chopped green chilies to many recipes in order to add flavor without calories. Sometimes dieting is just a matter of experimenting and growing accustomed to foods.


Pasta
There are plenty of people who will tell you that whole wheat pasta is better for you. Once again, upon research, it is mostly about the fiber. I find pasta filling enough; I'm not sure I need the added fiber. Several brands offer other additives like protein and Omega-3, but those brands usually cost a lot more. In our diet, it doesn't really matter. The calories are about the same between both kinds, but old school wins because of cost and taste. Many whole wheat and multi-grain pastas are gummy, chewy, or have a nasty after taste.

You'll note that pasta sauces are fairly reasonable as far as sauces go. The major pasta change is in presentation. Old school: I cooked a pan of pasta and a separate pot of sauce to which I added some sort of meat or extra cheese (I often added mushroom and that's still acceptable!) Diners filled their dish with the pasta and then slathered on the sauce, followed by a good amount of cheese. Now I measure the exact amount of pasta for three servings, then cook, drain, and cook with the exact measurement of pasta. We got excited for a minute because we thought Kraft Parmesan was 20 calories, but it's for just 2 teaspoons. Surprisingly, it still tasted good without the cheese! (Of course, sometimes we really want the cheese. Before cheese, depending on your pasta and sauce choice, it's about 300 calories so cheese will typically depend on whether or not you might want a snack later.)

Nitty gritty

Why is it that when you talk about weight loss, everyone is full of advice? It’s not the advice that’s annoying nearly as much as the commands. There is a difference between friendly, supportive advice (something from either experience or education) and trying to rain on someone else’s parade, trying to look smart, or just telling someone that they are doing it wrong (sometimes based on rumors or things you heard from your friend’s sister’s herbalist).

1. Fats – “It’s not just about cutting calories, you know. You also have to cut fat.” Well, if you are cutting calories, won’t you automatically cut fats? When you give up certain foods or choose between certain foods, can’t you see that counting fat might be less important? We now choose leaner meats and skip a lot of the junk food. Sometimes that’s the perfect thing because when we do treat ourselves to a high fat food, we realize it doesn’t taste as good as we thought it did.

Clearly we are becoming accustomed to less fat because if we eat something fatty at a dinner party, it will sit quite heavy for a while. Maybe we are still eating too much fat. Maybe not. Either way, there is no question that it’s already been cut.

2. Carbs – Even those of us with just a passing interest in cars found ourselves wondering why people on diets were suddenly obsessed with carburetors for a few days before we figured it out, right? I don’t care what you say; CARBS are NOT EVIL. Your body gets its energy from carbs and without energy, how the hell are you supposed to exercise? When you eat more carbs than your body uses, however, it will turn to fat. Granted it needs to be in balance like anything else and in general, we (humans) often eat more than we need. Low carb diets work, but what about balance? For me, it’s simply a matter of it being too strict. I can’t stick with it forever. I don’t miss potatoes, rice, or noodles. I can live without bread, cookies, chocolate. The thing is, I want sauce from time to time and I would cry if I couldn’t eat more fruit than one tiny strawberry a day. While fruit has calories so you still have to limit it, when I tried the low carb diet I found if I ate one carb over, I gained weight. I do find that if I spend too many of my daily calories on high-carbohydrate foods, it slows down my weight loss.

It’s my verdict that if you want a diet you can stick to, eat a few carbs. Just don’t create a diet of carbs or you won’t lose much. Eat something with carbohydrates before you go out for exercise, but avoid it at dinner.

3. Fiber – I find the last word on fiber to be non-existent. I’ve heard all sorts of stories on why fibers are good and why you need to watch the fiber numbers in your diet. The benefit I see requires getting VERY real. When you diet, your digestive system goes crazy. The end result? Troubles in the bathroom. Fiber will help to regulate that so eat your fiber. Additionally, high fiber foods do tend to make you feel full faster and longer just because they take longer to chew and digest. Veggies are free foods that are usually high fiber that make great filler foods. Suggestions on how to work these in will come later.

4. Multivitamins – It happens to be true that most people don’t actually need supplements, but if you are dieting, there is a good chance your body is getting shorted something, somewhere. Still, even at a lower calorie level, it’s possible you still don’t need them. He didn’t seem to need them, but I kept having strange feelings of general “unwell”ness until I started taking iron and Vitamin B complex supplements. Deficiencies in those areas have long been a problem for me which is the main reason I constantly discount vegetarian diets for myself. I now take a Women’s vitamin supplement. Despite hearing that your body doesn’t use vitamins, the truth is that if your body has what it needs and can’t use it, it will dispose of it in your urine so it’s harmless. Meanwhile, if your body is short of something, multivitamins can fill in the blank.

Don’t trust the guy at the store who is trying to sell you his overpriced product. Don’t trust the webpage that is paid for by the supplement you are researching. Do consider finding one of some kind or another especially if you just don’t “feel” right or if you’re quite sure you have a deficiency. If you are a woman of child bearing years, please consider making sure you get enough iron and B-vitamins from somewhere.

5. Water – drink lots of it. The general consensus is 8 servings at 8 oz. per serving. Personally, I can’t remember to do 8 things a day, let alone keep track of 8 glasses of water. Instead I carry around a large 32 oz cup which I fill in the morning and try to make sure I fill again by afternoon. That’s 64 oz a day which is the recommendation. Sometimes when I feel like I want a snack or something crunchy, a couple large gulps from my cup helps subside the craving.

6. Exercise - The "right" way is to do at least 3 days of strength training and 3 days of cardio a week, according to the majority of people who think they have the last word on weight loss. We've done a lot of walking (cardio) and similar things and I have no problem with strength training, per se, but again we are just focusing on the one thing because it's something we can do. We don't have weights or a lot of equipment. Besides, when you build a lot of muscle with a modicum of weight loss, you find yourself not losing much, if anything at all. How discouraging is that? It's been a motivator to see the pounds flee so we prefer this method.

Still, I have started doing certain muscle building routines just because the skin is a bit saggy and I am hoping that building muscle will give me something to sit on seeing as how my rear feels so freakin' bony all the time (and I still have ample!)

Basically, while I agree that all of these things are important, I want to make it clear that it is only calories we are counting. I think you should keep the other information in mind, but counting calories trickles down into the other areas. This is what works for us. If you find something else that works for you, kudos!

Please stop making it so complicated! If it’s complicated, either one of two things will happen. The person will become so discouraged, they will quit OR the person will become one of those people who can only talk about weight, diets, fiber, calories, etc and if they are like, they will become so bored with themselves that they will quit. If they are the latter and they don’t quit, they will just be boring and who wants to hang out with a boring person? Stop boring me and let’s talk about something else other than what I’m doing wrong, mmkay, pumpkin?