Simple rules to concentrate on:

1. Eat only when my body is hungry: I often eat out of boredom or emotional eating.

Reduce the number of distractions while you eat: Allow yourself the pleasure of focusing on your meal. Be present at the meal...food is meant to be a pleasant experience. Taste, smell, savor each bite.

Eat while sitting down: Americans are famous for eating on the run, and much of our unconscious or mindless eating is done while driving.

Eat when your mind and body are relaxed. Take a quiet moment to invite the Lord of the wind and waves into your meal.

Eat and drink food and beverages that you enjoy: Too often, we get caught up in thinking we are "good" or "bad" based on what we eat. Food can't cleanse the heart no matter how little fat or how much fiber it contains. "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17"

Pay attention to my food while I am eating. Be intentional and make meals enjoyable.

Eat Slowly and enjoy each bite. Stop habitually inhaling your food. You will be surprised how little food it actually takes to satisfy your hunger. As you eat more slowly your stomach can accurately signal your brain as to when your physical need for food has been satisfied.

Stop before my body is "full". Stop at a point of comfort before your body is full or stuffed.

Daisy Dilemma: Something I need to remember" Everything is permissible for me"-but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"-but I will not be mastered by anything. (1 Corinthians 6:12) What masters you?

Labels: Dieting 101

Labels: diet help

Watch out world I'm heading to Virginia Beach this weekend.

That means my momma, home cooking, and the beach!

We leave this afternoon for a long weekend.

Going to catch some rays, and some waves!

Don't miss me too much!

Labels: home again

Your EQ is 140

You are remarkable when it comes to relating with others. Only the biggest losers get under your skin. You are warm and open. Even when life gets you down, you're unafraid of the world and its challenges. You are comfortable with who you are. And you accept your weaknesses - as well as the weaknesses of others. While you are quite stable, you don't respond perfectly to every bad situation that comes up. But you have enough emotional intelligence to know when you need a course correction.

Labels: meme

Labels: Biggest loser

Created by OnePlusYou

Labels: meme

You Are 92% Good

You are not only a good person... you are a model citizen and a natural leader. Whether you know it or not, your high moral standards and good judgment is truly rare. You don't take ethical short cuts in life. You are able to do what's right - even when it's very difficult. And while it may seem like no one else is as on track as you are, take heart in knowing that you set a good example for others. You are also probably: Very sensitive and in tune with the world Right now you are on track to being: A saint To be a better person: Gently mentor someone who is taking the wrong path in life

Labels: How good are you

Nope, not talking about having to take out a bank loan to put gasoline in our car. I'm talking about putting saline in the lap band. It was quite an experience but not really painful.

The surgical swelling is all gone now so food doesn't stay in the smaller pouch as long as it first did. Consequently I'm hungry faster and unfortunately can eat bigger portions.

To access the port they had me drink some strawberry flavored barium and I got to watch it go down using a fluoroscope . They stick a very long needle into the port and add saline. The cuff that lines the band fills with saline and the opening into the stomach grows smaller. The food stays in the pouch for longer periods of time because of the smaller opening. The whole thing took about 20 minutes and other than being poked by a needle it wasn't bad.

I'm on liquids and soft foods for the next day so of course we had to go to Sonic for a Lemon-Berry Cream Slush (after all it was Happy Hour!). I'm definitely not feeling hungry as often so am hopeful that maybe the weight will just fall of after all. HA!

Daisy Dilemma: What fills you up?

Labels: filler up?

Yep, except for the red hair this could be me! I have an exercise bike on the front porch that every few hours I hop on and begin to pedal and pray. ( No....I'm not praying that I can get off the bike quickly or that I don't die while riding the crazy thing. ) I pray for everyone I know starting with my family and friends.

I've also been doing some prayer walking around the neighborhood and around the mission. Did I say walking (limping is more like it right now!)

Did I tell you I have a camo cane.....yep, I can sneak up on you and you won't even see me! Ok, maybe that was a slight exaggeration.
But it is a cool cane.....I may have matching ones for different outfits. Every girl needs accessories right?


Daisy Dilemma: I'm still wondering how much weight I have to lose before my knee start to notice.....a thank you note would be nice too.

Labels: exercise, prayer

This is a picture taken of me in Savannah last October. I felt more at home with the elephants than with any other animal group.

I watched Biggest Loser last night and they had each of the contestants put on a fat suit that was the amount of weight they had lost and the same portions as when they started. Each of them struggled with extra poundage and each found it more difficult to move and even breath.

I've had some set backs with some health issues recently and it is more difficult to exercise some days because of my knee. I'm also fighting unrealistic expectations. I keep thinking that the weight should be falling off me automatically (if only!) I've lost 20 pounds but of course I was hoping for more.

I go back to UVA hospital Friday for the first fill of the lap band. I've noticed that the full feeling has gone and I'm hungry more often now. I've indulged in some foods (pizza, popcorn, chocolate pie and biscuits) that I won't be able to eat after Friday. In my mind .....It was a farewell meal but of course I regret it now.

Daisy Dilemma: Still trying to get my head in the game....how long does it take?

Labels: unrealistic expectations

My sister Bobbie recently wrote me an email....and sent these pictures of herself before and after having lap band surgery. She's always been my hero and some one I can depend on. Thanks sis!

I read your last "My Weigh of Thinking" blog and was amazed that anyone would make those comments-----How rude and unthinking!!! I am of the opinion that everyone has his or her "addictions" and weaknesses and we all need strength, prayer or whatever to overcome them. . . .Do not let the "turkeys" get you down. . .By the way, most people started to notice a weight loss after 50-60 pounds. At this point, a few people in my Sunday School class will say, "Didn't you lose a lot of weight?" After a 100 pound loss, I should say so!! But I do feel better, haven't had an asthma attacks in years, no incessant coughing and it is great to be able to run after the "grands"!!

Labels: before and after, Bobbie