( Excerpt for Spark People)

I noticed a lot of things that we, as weight loss veterans, can learn from traffic jams. Next time you start to feel frustrated with your weight loss progress, keep these "lessons of the road" in mind:

• Pay less attention to how much further you have to travel. Stop asking yourself "are we there yet?" You’ll get there when you get there. Instead, look at the scenery, think about life, carry on a conversation, sing along with the radio, or simply be thankful for how far you’ve come.
• The journey is always more fun with a passenger. Have you asked anyone along for the ride?
  
• You know the route you need to take to reach your weight loss goals. It’s already mapped out. As long as you stay pointed in the right direction, you’ll get there. Even in the worst traffic jams, you still get to your destination at some point. It’s the same way with dieting – just a matter of time. It may take longer than you first expected, but you will get there.
  
• There will always be periods of stopping and starting. It’s something that you should just anticipate and allow for. No use getting upset or stressed about not making progress. It’s a normal part of the journey.
  
• Sometimes, you’ve just gotta go with the flow of what’s going on around you. Life can present some situations that you really can’t do anything about. When that happens, staying straight and steady – doing the best that you can – will keep you on track and sane. In traffic, impatient people stop, change lanes, weave in and out of other cars, driving themselves and everyone else crazy – and in the end, usually don’t get any farther along than you do by staying put and going with the flow.
  
• Shortcuts never work.
  
• Driving too fast is dangerous. That’s why they call it "crash" dieting. Slow down, take what life gives you, and make sure you arrive at your destination in good health

Today is the first day of Spring!

This is my happy dance to the vernal equinox.

Today there was just as much sunshine as darkness.

An equilibrium is achieved.....it is a celebration.

Don't laugh it's more exercise than I usually do!

Spring, new life, new energy, new growth.

Now all I have to do is remind myself :

We are Easter People,

Today may be Friday .......but Sunday is coming

"Why is it so simple to fall off the wagon, but next to impossible to get on? They say it takes 21 days to form a habit. For me I'd say it takes about 2.1 seconds to form a bad one. Chocolate, TV, and lazing on the sofa - I didn't need any period of adjustment for these. They just happened. "

( so she said, in one of her recent posts.)

It does totally amaze me how quickly I throw in the towel after all my great resolves and pep talks. I'm sure it's the course of least resistance and has been ingrained in my DNA since birth. I think the apostle Paul said it best... Romans 7 :18-19

"I have the desire to do what is good, but I can not carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing."

I really have nothing or no one to blame. So, I know what I need to do, now it's just following through day in and day out. Life is so daily.

According to Spark People:

To stay consistent long enough to become a creature of healthy habits, surround yourself with visual, written and well-placed reminders that steady the course and help you refocus. Use positive images and words. Find a visual that shows why you want to lose weight in the first place, or what you’ll be doing with your weight loss. A picture of your kids, the new dress you want to wear, a basketball.

Every day is a chance to build momentum or to slack. Every day, you have to decide to make the right choices. Keeping your goals and motivators close by helps you make that decision and feel good about it. Remember, this is a positive experience! You’re doing something good for yourself, your loved ones and your future. Don’t waste any opportunity to remind yourself of that fact and congratulate yourself on progress.

This was orginally written by Andy Rooney of 6o Minutes Fame: Why I Value Women over 30!

"As I grow in age, I value women who are over 30 most of all.

Here are a few reason's why:

- A woman over 30 will never wake you in the middle of the night to ask, "What are you thinking?" She doesn't care what you think.

-If a woman over 30 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around
whining about it. She does something she wants to do. And, it's usually something more interesting.

-A woman over 30 knows herself well enough to be assured in who she
is, what she is, what she wants and from whom.

-Few women past the age of 30 give a damn what you might think about her or
what she's doing.

-Women over 30 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you
at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you
deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you, if they think you can get away
with it

-Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what
it's like to be unappreciated.

A woman over 30 has the self-assurance to introduce you to her women
friends. A younger woman with a man will often ignore even her best firend
because she doesn't trust the guy with other women.

-Women over 30 couldn't care less if you're attracted to her friends
because she knows her friends won't betray her.

-Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a
woman over 30. They just know.

-A woman over 30 looks good wearing bright red lipstick. This is not true
of younger women.

-Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 30 is far sexier than her
younger counterpart.

-Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off if
you are a jerk, or you are acting like one! You never have to wonder where you
stand with her.

Yes, we praise women over 30 for a multitude of reasons.

Unfortunately it's not reciprocated. For every stunning, smart, well-coifed hot
woman of 30+, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of
himself with some 22 year old waitress.

Ladies, I apologize for all those men who say, "Why buy the cow, when you
can get the milk for free". Here's an update for you. Nowadays 80% of women are
against marriage. Why? Because women realize it's not worth buying an entire
pig, just to get a little sausage."

You Are Olive Green

You are the most real of all the green shades. You're always true to yourself. For you, authenticity and honesty are very important... both in others and yourself. You are grounded and secure. It takes a lot to shake you. People see you as dependable, probably the most dependable person they know.

How's that for a great revelation? It's something I've always known I just never seem to apply it!

My weight is up again and I'm down. I yoyo up and down all week and it's always fasicinated me that I allow it to affect me. I think I'm better at not being so down on myself. I try to tell myself, "Ok, that was yesterday, today I will make better choices, exercise, drink my water, write down what I consume and be conscious of my actions.

That last for about 5 minutes, long enough to go get a drink of water and start thinking about what I'm going to do for exercise........Then the darker side of my personality starts to get the better of me and the discouaging tapes start playing in my head. You know the ones, the one that says, "You've failed at dieting so many times before, what makes you think you'll succeed this time?....you might just as well quit now! Why bother? "

I've finally decided that those bad tapes that I allow in my head have a name. The name is fear. I fear failing. I fear getting my hopes up and not being able to pull it off. I fear telling people that I am dieting for fear of the eyeroll and the look that says, "It's about time!" I fear the condescending looks and the "all you need is a little self discipline " pep talks from thin well wishers.

I've recently discovered that FEAR has no power over me. It is short for False, Evidence, Appearing, Real. Fear is an illusion. Everyone is afraid of something. Bravery is not the abscence of fear, bravery is doing what must be done despite being fearful. In short, do it afraid! So ifI try and don't succeed. Do it again, and again, and again, till I finally get it right.

Here are some Road Signs I've learned along the way:

• Breakfast prevents you from overeating the rest of the day.
  
• One surefire way to sabbotage good diest intentions is getting too hungry.
• People believe the myth that if its fat-free or low fat, any amounts is O.K.
• Any type of regular exercise is better than none.
• Stress eating is not ok. Go do something constructive or as least get out of the kitchen.
• Have a goal. Working toward something can keep you on track
  

Chicken Club Brunch Ring

• 1/2 c. fat free mayo
• 1 tbsp minced fresh parsley
• 2 tsp honey dijon mustard
• 1-1/2 tsp finely chopped onion
• 1-3/4 c. cubed cooked chicken breast
• 2 bacon strips, cooked & crumbled (optional)
• 1 c. reduced-fat shredded swiss cheese
• 2 tubes reduced-fat crescent rolls
• 2 plum tomatoes
• 2 c. shredded lettuce

In a large bowl, combine the mayo, parsley, mustard & onion. Stir in the chicken, bacon & 3/4 c. of the cheese.

Unroll crescent dough, separate into 16 triangles. Arrange on an ungreased 12-in. round pizza pan, forming a ring with the pointed ends hanging over the edge of the pan and overlap the wide ends (sorta looks like a big sun).

Spoon the chicken mixture over the wide ends; slice tomato and place randomly on the top of the mixture; fold the outer tips over the mixture and tuck the ends inside the ring, underneath the wide ends.

Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle with remaining cheese & let stand for 5-10 minutes. Place lettuce in the center of the ring with some chopped tomato.

• Prepare chocolate sundaes with 1/2 cup nonfat yogart and 1-2 Tablespoons fat-free chocolate syrup (25-50 calories per Tablespoon). Top it off with a dollop of fat-free whipped cream or Cool Whip and a marashino cherry.
• Make a chocolate float with 1/2 cup nonfat chocolate frozen yogart and diet soda. Total indulgence: Less than 150 Calories!
• Savor a fat-free chocolate pudding cup or frozen fuge bar with less than 120 calories per serving.
• Sip a cup of sugar-free cocoa, add several mini marshmellows, a sprinkling of cinnamon, or a drop of vanilla extract for a special treat.
• Rice cakes and chocolate: Spread a thin layer (1 teaspoon of hazlenut chocolate spread over two carmel-flavored rice cakes.
• 2 oz angel food cake (137 calories) drizzled with 1-2 tablespoons fat-free chocolate syrup.
• 2 1/2 inch square fat-free brownie ( pre-pared from mix or homemade receipe).
• 3/4 cup strawberries (about 5-6 medium) dipped in 1 ounce melted dark chocolate chips.
  

Hmm......are you catching a theme here? (Taken from previousl mentioned article)

Everything you Don't Need to Know About Chocolate... But Might Enjoy Knowing!

• Mice are more attracted to coaco than they are to cheese.
  
• The higher the quality of chocolate the louder it should snap when you break it!
• The richness of chocolate goes way back. The ancient Mayas used chocolate as money.
• The word chocolate comes from two ancient Indian words meaning "bitter water".
• The blood in the infamous shower scene of Hitchcock's Psycho was chocolate syrup.
• Chocolate taste better on an empty stomach...you'll eat less and enjoy it more.
• The highest chocoloate consumption is between 8p.m. and midnight.
• More chocolate is consummed in the winter than in summer.
• The U.S. is the 8th largest consumer of chocolate at 3.1 billion pounds a year.
• The average American consumes approximately 11.7 pounds of chocolate each year.

Ok, I admit it .....I have chocolate on the brian.

Thought for the day: Eating chocolate may prevent you from binge eating.

You Are Miss Piggy

A total princess and diva, you're totally in charge - even if people don't know it. You want to be loved, adored, and worshiped. And you won't settle for anything less. You're going to be a total star, and you won't let any of the "little people" get in your way. Just remember, piggy, never eat more than you can lift!

Wouldn't you know it! Once a Diva, always a diva! Good advice on the diet tips too!

As If I needed a reason!

( Information taken from 26 Reason you should eat chocolate by Jyl Stenback, senior editor for Looking Good Now Magazine, Feb. 2006)

1. Chocolate is abundant in antioxidants ( catechins and phenols) that may help prevent heart disease and cancer.
2. Cocoa Powder is virtually fat-free. Need we say more!
3. Men who eat chocolate live longer than those who don't. Researchers at Harvard University found that men who eat chocolate a few times a month live significantly longer than those who rarely eat chocolate.
4. Chocolate does not cause acne! Acne is caused by hormones and genetic predisposition, not by the foods you eat.
5. Chocolate does not promote tooth decay. There may be antibacterial agents in chocolate products that inhibit plaque formation and slow down the tooth-decaying process.
6. Chocolate makes you feel good. Chocolate contains substances that act as natural opiates, dulling pain and incresing our feeling of well-being. Chocolate releases endorphins that make you feel happy.
7. Chocolate will not clot your arteries. Stearic acid, the primary fatty acid in chocolate, does not increase the blood cholestrol level the same way other types of saturated fats do.
8. Chocolate craving during PMS may be associated with the desire to supplement low levels of magnesium and copper both found in chocolate.
9. Indulge in the best. Darker is better. Dark chocolate provides the most antioxidants and stearic acid, followed by milk chocolate. White chocolate does not have any antioxidant properites; it is made from cocoa butter, not beans.
10. Chocolate is not addictive! Ranked as the single most craved food in the United States, people love the taste, scent, and texture of chocolate, but it is not addictive.

I recently read an article that stated People who weighed themselves daily lost more weight or had less weight gain over the course of 24 month than those who don't.

Researchers found that those who were trying to slim down and weighted themselves daily lost an average of 12 pounds in two years comparted to 6 pounds for people who weighed in weekly and 5 pounds for people who said they never go near the scale.

While in my head and in my heart I know this is right, it is hard for me. I seem to base my whole self-esteem on what registers on the scale. I know I'm much more than what the numbers indicate but I've given it power to alter my mood. If the numbers are up then I'm down! If the numbers are down then I'm up. What an incredible paradox!

When I'm in the "Weight Zone", ( similiar to the Twilight Zone) it is all consuming. I weigh myself every time I go to the bathroom, I plan every meal and snack, I weigh and measure everything, I'm a woman with a mission and obcessive in my every action. I dream about food, every food commerical on TV shouts out my name and my friends put flares around me to warn any unsuspecting person coming back from the snack machine to stay clear of me, the dieting diaster.


I don't want my weight to be the measure of who I am. I don't want to feel like a miserable failure with every flucuation of the scale. I don't want to feel like a victim of my circumstances either. So I'll keep on weighing my self daily and every day I'll keep reminding myself that I can make good choices and I will succeed.

Editor's Note: My apologies to Jack and the Beanstalk, Alice In Wonderland, Winnie the Pooh, Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella and The Wizard of Oz , for stealing plot lines!

Finally the scale is moving.....I thought maybe the gravitional pull of the earth had increased or something really funky in the universe was wacky.....(it certainly couldn't be ME)

What a thrill to see progress!

Yes, I've been here before but seems like it is an elusive dream. Who knew the climb up the bean stalk would be so challenging or that the giant that lives here would be so daunting? In the cartoons he looks "kind of cute" for a huge fat man.

I live in Two-terville ......The land of giants where people are 200 plus pounds. We command a great deal of space and I am a full time resident. I've lived here most of my adult life. At one time I might have even considered running for mayor! Life is comfortable here.....All the chairs are oversized, there's a refrigerator and TV close by, a recliner and the remote control are all within reach, and if nothing is on TV there's always the internet. In Two-terville no one asks you if you'd like to supersize that?....They do it automatically. No one stares at you, gawks, or snickers behind your back. It's a safe environment. Life is slow moving like most of our residents.

We tell ourselves that "everybody loves a jolly fat person". So we tell jokes on ourselves, hoping people will laugh with us instead of at us. We mask our pain behind "a great sense of humor" but it's always there. I read somewhere that "humor is pain turned inward!" (but I digress....)

I really want to live in One-derland, the land of people that are 100 plus pounds. I hear it's a great place to live, that people there are much more active and actually "have a life" rather than watching others vicariously. I also heard that the clothes are cuter!

I keep looking for Alice or the White Rabbit to follow, but they seem to be running down other rabbit holes right now. I haven't found the shrinking elixir yet so there is no way that I'll ever fit through the hole. So like my roly poly friend Winnie the Pooh I feel stuck between two worlds ......One half in Rabbit's front door and the other half in the outside world.

The honey that got me here was sweet, the liberty to move around in the outside world is even sweeter. I have decided that "wishing" is not going to get me where I want to be. I've been following the bread-crumb trail far too long that leads to the Gingerbread House. I'm looking for a fairy Godmother who will wave her "magic wand" and turn me into a beautiful princess instead of the ugly pumpkin shell I inhabit now.

One-derland lies off in the distance. So like most travelers, I'll gather up the brochures, start saving my resources, pack my bags and apply for a passport. The map says this is the right road even though there aren't any yellow bricks to follow. I'm sure there will be some detours on the trail, some unexpected breakdowns, and miles and miles of the same scenery but I think I'm finally ready to start the journey.

You've heard the expression, "I'm down today."

Usually it evokes sympathy from those around you and if you live with "a fixer" he will try to do something to help you out, lighten the load, encourage you or at least give you a hug.

Well, I'm down today, but I've discovered that in some cases Down is Good!

If you are on a tall building that is on fire.......Down is Good!

If your cat is stranded in a tree.......Down is Good!

If you are fearful of heights.......Down is Good!

When you've jumped out of a plane and the parachute opens......Down is Good!

When the scale finally starts moving.......Down is Great!

I was down two more pounds this morning ! Don't get me wrong, I am doing a "happy dance" today over their departure. I would have thrown them "a bon voyage" party except they keep coming back! These three pounds keep following "the bread crumb trail back home!".........(and yes, I'm pretty sure bread is the culprit that keeps them coming back!)

So even with a loss in the bank, I'm still back to ground zero! But hey, what a thrill to slide the weight bar to the left for a change! So I say, "Up with Down!"

Well, I weighed myself this morning and had a nice surprise. ( Down by one pound.) Any loss I will gladly take. It's nice to see the scale moving down again!

What have I learned since yesterday?

1. I learned that I need to weigh everyday so I'm not caught off guard when the scale starts showing bad choices that I've made.
2. I learned that I don't know how to do moderation. I'm seem to be "an all or nothing kind of girl." Either I'm obsessive compulsive with weight issues filling up my whole life......or I forget about it totally and when stressed over-medicate with food. I'm sure there has to be a middle ground somewhere but so far I haven't found it.
3. Since I know that about myself then the best course for me right now is to avoid my Red Flag foods or stay away from them totally. I can't even have weight watcher treats right now as I overeat them. I love the Snack Well cookie cakes at 1 point per cookie. I especially like the Chocolate Mint variety. I like them so much that I ate a whole box of them last weekend ( all 12 of them!) It tasted good at the time but now I'm into guilt and self-loathing (never a good combination!)
4. I learned that I need to plan my meals and snacks and have them on hand. If I have to go on a hunt for something I will choose the course of least resistance and the most calories.
5. I learned that I absolutely hate, loath, and despise all forms of exercise. I didn't get the name Lazy Daisy because of my boundless energy.
   
6. I learned that I have to exercise.......it doesn't matter what I think about it....as Nike says, "Just Do It!" Time, distance, and finances are a challenge right now so I have to be creative and disciplined. (Moan, I hate that combination!)
   
7. I learned that I need to be a "mermaid" as far as drinking water. (I just stoppped and ran and got a glass after writing that statement. ) According to most of of my" pounds to go" friends.....I need to be drinking alot more water. I guess that's how you get your exercise in for the day, by running back and forth to the toilet all day! I also read that by the time you feel thirsty that you are already dehydrated!
8. I have discovered that I'm a "secret eater". I usually eat late at night when Mr. Wonderful is asleep. I know it's stupid but some how in my thinking....items eaten in secret don't count! When I tell myself I can eat nothing after 7 p.m. it seems to works. (Now if I just keep listening to myself!)
   
9. Sleep is a wonderful thing. I like it.....I think I'll try to get more of it! Sleep deprivity leads to an increase in cortisol that leads to an increase in weight. (Great, now they tell me after working the night shift for 30 years!)
10. I know what to do to make this change. I can do these things to change. I will do these things to bring about permanet change.

Plan of the Day: Repeat day one!

Today went well. I met all my goals and despite snow flurries I was positive and productive.

It's just barely Monday......time to get serious about my diet.

Failure P) Pronunciation Key (flyr)
n.

1. The condition or fact of not achieving the desired end or ends: the failure of an experiment.
2. One that fails: a failure at one's career.
3. The condition or fact of being insufficient or falling short: a crop failure.
4. A cessation of proper functioning or performance: a power failure.
5. Nonperformance of what is requested or expected; omission: failure to report a change of address.
6. The act or fact of failing to pass a course, test, or assignment.
7. A decline in strength or effectiveness.
8. The act or fact of becoming bankrupt or insolvent.

I've been thinking about this word a lot lately. What makes a failure? Lack of motivation or knowledge? Lack of resources or effectiveness? What about unrealistic expectations? If you tried and didn't succeed does that make you a failure?

Why are we so hard on ourselves? Is it because we expect to hit a home run every time at bat? Is it because we deserve to see the scale move if we have put in the work? Have we become so tainted with success that anything less is failure?

I have to ask myself why am I emotionally bankrupt over a temporary setback? It's not that I don't know what to do. I just need to pick myself up and keep on keeping on. Persistence will pay off. I will get to the goal. It may take longer than what I anticipated but the journey is life and the detours only add to the scenery. Don't mind me.....I'm just fine. I'll keep on dancing, even if the music is only in my head.