I'm Sorry To Tell You, You Are Not The Biggest Loser

It seems when Ali says those words very early on in a Biggest Loser season, they come a little bit easier. But, as the weeks roll by, relationships develop, bonds are formed, and I can just tell that she really hates to see these folks go home.

If I had been a contestant on the Biggest Loser this past week, I would have been the one to go home because I gained back 2 pounds. What the heck. I'm not in a contest, competing against other contestants for a giant financial reward or working out 8 hours a day. No, I'm just an ordinary woman trying to eat right, exercise and reclaim my health, and simply working for my right to just be alive and healthy and active for another 30 years or more!

When I started this whole program, I didn't have a specific "diet" I was going to follow. I've been on so many over the years, have learned a lot, and decided to take all the little things I have learned from each one and make up my own program. And, that first month, I lost 10 pounds. Success!

Then, I decided to get all fancy schmancy. I talked to a dietitian, I tracked my food, I worked out more, and you all know that my weight has barely budged now for two months. Up and down, up and down. If I were seeing a downward trend, I'd be cool with that. But, something has got to give. My newfound success in month one feels like so long ago.

I'm not saying that everyone I've worked with over the last two months is wrong, I'm just saying that for whatever reason, their plans are not working out for me. And I think that "whatever" reason has to do with my blood sugar, insulin response and the kind of calories I am consuming. At least I'm pretty sure that's the culprit.

Enter: A Week In The Zone, a book written by Dr. Barry Sears, the author of The Zone: by the year 2000, more than 5 million copies were sold! This book doesn't give quick fixes or magical promises. Rather, it is sensible, practical and very very doable.

Isn't it funny that we spend soooo much money on books that we hope will deliver a silver bullet? We are desperate as we feel our own wastebands expanding, and yet the problem is not going away. In fact, America is getting bigger and bigger every year.

Don't you think that if the problem with America's obesity rate was fat that we would be well on our way to eliminating the problem? We consume far less fat than we did 15 years ago, but just take a look next time you walk down a city street....we are getting wider all the time, and Dr. Barry Sears believes that it's not the fat that's making us fat.

No, he believes it's the simple carbs we consume that spike our insulin, and its insulin that makes us fat and keeps us fat. (NOTE: This is NOT a high protein diet like Atkins. Please read on.)

Dr. Sears has my attention. He doesn't propose a new fangled diet.  Instead he presents a very strong case for why simple carbs are wrecking havoc on America's health, and a very simple, straightforward solution. I promise you, this stuff isn't tough to figure out. It's not complicated. It IS scientific, tho, with Nobel Prize-winning research to back it up.

We don't need drugs, we don't need surgery, we don't need another diet to go on only to abandon. We don't even need diet foods to lose weight. No, all we need is lots and lots of fruits and veggies, lean protein, and healthy fats.

The easiest way to understand this program is to start using high glycemic carbs such as bread, rice, potatoes, corn, etc. as condiments, not the main course. If we can manage to make this mind-shift, we'll start to lose weight permanently, prevent disease, increase longevity and control insulin and blood sugar levels. I think it's worth it.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who either struggles with their weight or knows someone who does. Hubs and I are going to give the program 30 days. I'll report back on May 1 with our results!

$10 on Amazon. Not bad at all.

To health and long life,
Cheryl

Middle Eastern Chickpea Burgers

I am working on liking beans and legumes. I didn't have many of these nutrient wonders growing up, and even after I bought a good supply to start incorporating into my diet, they sat in my cupboard and were, ummm, passed over for weeks. I don't really think they are scary or anything, but how do I fix them so they taste good? I'm beginning to get that question answered.

It was Rachel Ray that introduced me to the idea of baking chickpeas for a crunchy snack. I tried this out at a dinner party with friends and they were a big hit! My sense of adventure began to gather steam, and lately I've been searching for creative ways to regularly get these powerhouse legumes on our menu.

So, I was super excited to see a delish recipe in the April 2010 issue of Experience Life magazine for Middle Eastern Chickpea Burgers! Reading through the list of ingredients, I knew it would be a hit with hubby.  We both love anything with cumin in it, and although he LOVES middle eastern cuisin, I'm still learning little by little to embrace it. This recipe is a real winner on both fronts and very economical too! It makes about 12 patties.

What you need:

• 15-ounce can chickpeas
• 1/2 t sea salt
• 1/2 t turmeric
• 1/2 t paprika
• 1/4 t cumin
• 1/4 t coriander
• 1/8 t cinnamon
• 2 t minced garlic
• 1 t minced fresh ginger
• 3 T extra virgin olive oil
• 2 T fresh lemon juice
• 2 1/2 c cooked brown rice
• 3 T finely diced red bell pepper
• 1/4 c minced flat leaf parsely

What you do:

1. Preheat oven to 375 and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
2. Drain & rinse the chickpeas and season with a splash of lemon juice and salt.
3. Combine the chickpeas, all the spices, olive oil and lemon juice in a food processor until smooth.
4. In a separate bowl, add the rice, bell pepper and parsley into the chickpea mixture and mix well.
5. With wet hands, shape into 1/4 inch thick patties about 3 inches in diameter.
6. Place the patties on the prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes or until the outside begins to get crispy.
7. Serve on a ciabatta roll with garnishments of your choice.

Bon appetit!
Cheryl

P.S.  Nutrtional Info per burger:  3 g protein, 1 g fat, 18 g carbs, 89 calories

And, The Award Goes To . . .

Me??!! Awwww! What a sweet surprise it was to learn that I am the honored recipient of two blog awards as of last night! Thanks to the fabulous Gillian over at Finding My Weigh I am now a winner of the Beautiful Blogger and One Lovely Blog awards!

And, I'll be passing these two awards on to 15 other deserving bloggers as well as REVEALING some stuff I bet you never knew about me....ooohh, the suspense of it all! Here's how it all works:

For the "One Lovely Blog Award":
* Thank and link to the person that gave you the award.
* Pass this award on to 15 fantastic bloggers you’ve recently discovered.
* Contact said Blogs and let them know they’ve won

For the "Beautiful Blogger" award:
* Thank and link to the person that gave you the award.
* Pass this award on to 15 fantastic bloggers you’ve recently discovered.
* Contact said Blogs and let them know they’ve won.
* State 7 things about yourself.

Here are the 15 bloggers I am passing these awards on to. Check them out when you have a chance!

1. Destination: Skinny
2. Making Over Me
3. The Snyder 5
4. I Shall Lose
5. Michelle Myers Writes
6. The Marketing Mama
7. Fit This Girl
8. Aspiring Mama
9. All Sam's Idea
10. A Fit and Spicy Life
11. Thrive Personal Fitness
12. Slowly But Surely
13. Celery In The City
14. Writing: My Life
15. Pure Vonda

And, here's the seven things about me (I sure hope they don't take away the awards after reading these, tee hee).

1. I have three handsome sons and two beautiful step daughters, all available! {correction: 2 of the 3 sons are available} :)
   
2. Once I wanted to stop saying sh#t and asked God to help me only to step out of my car into, yes, a pile of dog doodoo.
3. For 5 years I drove on the wrong side of the road more than the right side (I promise, I wasn't drinking).
4. I sold all my stuff except what I could fit in my Corolla and moved from Seattle to Minneapolis. For the weather. :)
5. Once in a very large business meeting with some very important people, I was, much to my surprise, asked a question for which I was not prepared...and just said nothing. Nothing. For 45 seconds. Turned very red.
6. I am afraid of anything that flies and stings, heights and being like everyone else. And, being asked questions I'm not prepared to answer in front of important people. :)
   
7. My husband and I live in 620 square feet and still love each other. :)

Thanks again to Gillian over at Finding My Weigh for these awards! Check out her blog, too, she's so great!

Cheryl

Protein Drink GiveAway!!

There's a FABULOUS giveaway going on over at the Me and Jorge blog that I don't want you guys to miss out on! If you use protein drinks to supplement your protein intake, you really should enter this giveaway!

In short, Jay Robb's protein powder is THE choice if you are looking for a protein drink that is low in sugar grams. Don't worry, it doesn't taste bad, it's sweetened instead with stevia, the natural herb sweetener that seems to be all the rage now!

The giveaway includes the following items (not just protein powder, all kinds of FUN stuff!):

• 2 packets each of: Tropical Dreamsicle, Pinacolda, Strawberry, Chocolate, Vanilla Whey Protein shakes.
• 1 packet each of Vanilla, Strawberry, Chocolate Egg Protein shakes
• 1 packet each of Vanilla, Strawberry, Chocolate Brown Rice Protein shakes.
• 3 Jay Robb Protein Bars
• Shaker Bottle
• Large reusable shoulder shopping bag 
• Bedazzled black tank top with Jay Robb printed on it!

So, run on over to the fabulous Amber's blog, Me and Jorge and get your entry in.

Hurry, it closes today!

Cheryl

Sultry Shrimp Stir-Fry

I have never been (and at one time would have sworn that I never would be) much of a fish girl. I lived a boat ride away from Seattle Pike's Place Market for 12 years and never learned to like fish ~ I'd say that was my best opportunity. But, I think I may just be turning over another new leaf in this here plan to get healthy.

Hubs and I had this Sultry Shrimp Stir-Fry* recipe for dinner a couple of nights ago, and have to say I devoured it. As a friend of mine would say, "you tore it up, girl!" I did, it was very very tastey. This would make a fabulous Sunday evening meal because it's light and healthy.

What You Need:

• 2 T vegetable oil (I used grapeseed oil)
• 1# frozen, uncooked medium shrimp, thawed & peeled
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 t red pepper flakes
• 1/2 c water chestnuts
• 1/2 c snow peas
• 1 c soybean sprouts
• 1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 2 packets Truvia (or stevia)
• 2 t toasted sesame oil
• 1/4 c soy sauce (I used Bragg's Liquid Aminos-MUCH less sodium)
• 2 T balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 c green onion, sliced
• 1/3 c cashews, raw
• 2 c. cooked brown rice

What You Do:

1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the vegetable oil. When the oil is hot, add the shrimp, garlic, and red pepper flakes and stir fry for 1 minute.
2. Add the water chestnuts and snow peas, and stir-fry for 6-8 minutes.
3. Add the sprouts and bell pepper and cook for an additional 5-7 minutes.
4. Stir together the Truvia, sesame seed oil, soy sauce and vinegar and pour into pan and cook until the shrimp is opaque and the vegetables are done to your liking.
5. Remove from the heat and stir in the green onions and cashews, reserving some of each for garnish.
6. Serve over rice and enjoy!

Makes 4 servings

Bon appetit,
Cheryl

*Recipe adapted from The Belly Fat Cure by Jorge Cruise

I WILL Make It!

A good friend of mine asked me the other day if I felt like it was a good decision to go public with my weight loss journey of 2010. Without hesitation, I responded with a definite YES! Telling the world that I am on this journey is a humbling thing for sure, but it is keeping me accountable and on track. Even when things don’t go as planned, it’s so great being surrounded with folks who ‘get it’, who have been there, and who care.

So, first I think a big thank you is in order to everyone who comes to read, to comment, to share and/or to support in this incredible journey I’m on!

Going public, in my opinion, with any kind of personal goal means one of two things:
1.  You are really serious about reaching that goal OR
2.  You are starved for attention!

For the record, let it be known that I am REALLY serious about my 2010 goal of losing 120 pounds! Perhaps once I accomplish that I’ll be ready for the attention thing, but for now I’m content to stay comfortably in the background, thank you very much. :)

But, WOW.  120# in 12 months.

That means on average 10 pounds a month should be lost, never to be found again, to stay on track. Ugh. I am behind. The plan was (and continues to be) to manage my body in a responsible manner… to lose pounds and inches the HEALTHY way…no crash diets, no insane exercise regimen, and no BL ranch (though I really wouldn’t mind that last one!).

Will I make it?

I will eat normal food, but work on making healthier choices. I will exercise my body but resist the temptation to become a workout fiend. I will learn to deal with my emotions and personal issues square on instead of piling food on top of them. And, finally, I will tell you guys about it as I go along. I reiterate these things to remind myself of what I’m REALLY trying to accomplish.

I really WANT to make it.

But, I soooo hate being behind the 8 ball. Because I am SERIOUS about reaching this goal, and since I am NOT giving up, I took some time to take stock. What’s working? What isn’t? How does my plan need to be refined? Here’s what I came up with:

NEW GOAL #1

I will lose 120 pounds or 5 pant sizes in 2010, whichever comes first.

I was putting way too much emphasis on the scale, and was even considering skipping strength training so as not to gain muscle. Ridiculous, I know. My real goal is to change my body composition, fit into smaller clothes and be HEALTHY! If I get into jeans that are 5 sizes smaller than what I wear now, I will be HAPPY regardless of how much less weight that is!

NEW GOAL #2

I will work out first thing in the morning before my calendar for the day fills up.

My intentions to get to the gym are good and honorable, but there always seems to be one more thing to get done before I go. No more. Working out is a priority for me (more about that next week) and as such, is first on the list.

NEW GOAL #3

I will keep my plan simple.

I just don’t do complicated AT ALL. So, no fancy schmancy detailed annoying plans. Eating and living an active lifestyle isn’t supposed to be complicated, and neither should learning to eat and move for good health. I will remember that the quality of my calories is as important as the quantity, and in order to change my body and my life I need to do something different than what I did to get to this uncomfortable, unhealthy, unattractive weight.

So, there it is. This is simple. This is doable. This is challenging. This I can do!

I WILL MAKE IT!!

Now, I have one other thing to share that is VERY exciting! I met a local photographer through Twitter a couple of months ago, and just today he offered me a FREE photo shoot once I reach my goal! He said it’s his way of inspiring and motivating me to keep going! It’s so great when others believe in us, isn’t it? I’m already imagining what I’m going to wear and where I want to do the photo shoot!

So, thanks to Jerry Johanning for believing in me and showing it with this very kind offer! Can’t wait to show off the new me! (A side note about Jerry: he did most of the photography for Christopher from Project Runway season 6! Talented? I think so!)

This blog is, and always will be, about gaining all the signs of life back….energy, vitality, activity .... and sharing that journey with you.  Looking good is going to feel VERY good, and I CANNOT wait for the photo shoot, but more than that I am doing cartwheels about the prospect of being healthy again. And, thanks to all of you, I WILL make it.

As always, I love to hear what you think and any helpful suggestions you’ve picked up along the way to a healthy lifestyle! Please share in the comments or email me here.

Yours in the journey,

Cheryl

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

There Will Be No Bike Riding At This Rate

It's Monday, and my weekly visit to the scale was not too encouraging. In fact, I experienced a gain of 3.2 pounds. I can't even begin to describe how discouraging this is.

How exactly does a person gain weight when they have a calorie deficit of 750+ calories a day? If losing weight is a simple equation of calories in calories out, then my weight really oughta be on the downhill slide.

????????

I have been consistent:

• 1600-2100 calories/day (recommended amount is 2100-2200)
• Excellent adherence to ratios of protein/fat/carbs (recommended by a professional dietition at a respectable club)
• 3-5 workouts each week (cardio & strength training)
• High quality vitamin supplementation
• a gallon or more of water every day
• Solid 7-8 hours of sleep with very few exceptions

Knowing this, I think it may be time for some adjustments. Our bodies tell us all kinds of information if we'll just listen, and as much as I do not want to put all my hope in the scale, the lack of consistent downward movement of its needle in the last month has me pondering. I've also experienced more tiredness this past month. So, I'm asking myself: What else can I do to move things along?

And, this brings up an important step to keep all of us moving forward toward our goals. While goals DO need to be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound, they also require us to handle them with a sense of fluidity. Periodically we should be asking:

What's working? What isn't? What might work better?

This is the best way I know to ensure that dreams and visions for the future stay connected to reality, and that we don't end up giving up all together.

So, I ask you, do your goals need tweaking too? If you are having trouble like I am, I encourage you to spend a little time and see what you can adjust. I know I will be doing this, and I promise to UNVEIL the new and improved list next time!

Come back on Wednesday to read all about it and to share your own renewed plans to find your dreams!

You-turns being contemplated,
Cheryl

P.S. If you have an experience to share of when you adjusted well laid out plans and strategies and how those adjustments propelled your forward, please contact me here!

A New Look

Hey everyone!
Today Blogger introduced their brand new template designer! Did you know this was coming?!  It offers some very nice customization AND a great collection of background photos to choose from, courtesty of iStock. So, whatta ya think? Would love to hear your comments!

I'm hoping the new look helps to clarify the theme going on here at Losing My Behind. See, it's not just about losing weight.  In fact, its really more about gaining things. Health. Vitality. Strength. The ability to get out and live an active lifestyle and not be stopped by weight and health limitations...and the courage to do things we never thought we could.

And, this is where the very 50ish looking bike in the new background comes in!

For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to participate in one of those bike trips through the hills of Vermont in the fall. I've had dreams about it, though not recently. I collected pamphlets a long time ago, but they are, hmmmm, somewhere, not exactly sure where. And, when I saw this background image, I knew I had found the new look for the blog . . . and felt this dream coming back to life!

We spend a lot of time thinking and talking about what we're giving up, what we're passing by in order to reach our goals. I say let's start focusing on what we're GAINING. 

One thing is for sure: our bodies will grow small.  And, in addition, as we do this very hard work ahead, our  hearts are going to grow to be really, really BIG, making room for all kinds of new and old dreams. I want to be ready for that too, don't you?!

So, what gains are you seeing? What dreams have been revived while you're workin' it? Please share your thoughts in the comments below...your comments are such an encouragement, not just to me but to everyone who stops by.

I hope you like the new look, I'm so glad you're here!


Lookin' in the rear view mirror,
Cheryl

P.S.  You can learn all about the new template designer right here!

I Love Sugar...and I Hate It

Sugar has been making loud and sloppy tracks through my mind lately. I don't have a huge sweet tooth, but I do enjoy certain things....and other certain things too much to even bring them in the house.

I admit that I have been dancing around with sugar for, ummm, a couple of years now. Dancing in this case = justifying, rationalizing, lots of buts when I do the aforementioned activities.

I am divided, conflicted, because:

1. I love it, and 2. My body hates it.

Ahhhh, the sweet treats that most of us indulge in now and then...a candy bar, a chocolate donut, circus peanuts, peanut butter cups, stuff like that. But, over the last 18 months I've noticed that whenever I eat something sweet like that, the enjoyment is pretty short lived. It doesn't take long before I end up feeling like I'm carrying around a giant bolder, or I just wanna curl up for a nap. Or, I get a bad headache. I've gotten to the point where the price just feels too high.

And, speaking of high prices, this leads to another topic heavy on my mind.

If you've been reading my blog for the last several weeks, you know that I have had my struggles with the scale. While I am getting stronger, building muscle no doubt, getting on the scale is like riding a roller coaster.

And, I'm getting discouraged.

I want off the ride.

And, I don't remember even buying this ticket.

I feel like the longer it takes me to get my weight down and under control, the higher the price I will pay with compromised health.

I'm not giving up, but am wondering what I'm doing wrong. The dips in weight bring their own brand of exhilaration only to be followed by the dreaded climb right back up the track. Two steps forward, one step back.

A friend of mine knew of my struggle and introduced me to the Jorge Cruise Belly Fat Cure program. Simply explained, Jorge is a sugar nazi!!! And, after reading the first couple of chapters of his book "The Belly Fat Cure", I understand why.

Jorge believes that we have waaaay too many grams of sugar in our daily diet (coming in the form of white flour found in lots of prepared food as well as many low fat foods), and that by limiting it, our cravings for copious amounts of both sugar and other carbs are calmed. He also believes that this is primarily where belly fat comes from, thus the name.

{Even if you are completely satisfied with the program you are following to lose weight (or maintain it), you owe it to yourself and your family to pick up this book. There is some really good information that I think everyone should have. Nobody is paying me to say this, either.}

For me, knowing how sugar already affects me, and since type 2 diabetes runs in my family, I have declared sugar as my new enemy. I'm thinking I might give Jorge's program the old college try.

If you've had any experience with this program, I'd love to hear about it. Or, if you have issues with sugar, what are you doing to keep it under control? According to many health experts, sugar is far more dangerous to our health than fat.


Committed more than ever,
Cheryl

Almond Butter

I love a simple recipe.

I love it even more when the food being prepared is a healthy alternative to another food that I also love.

Such is the case with Almond Butter. You won't believe how easy it is.

What You Need:

• 2 cups of raw almonds
• healthy oil (olive, grapeseed)
• salt to taste
• food processor

What You Do:

• Put almonds in food processor and turn to High.
• Continue working really hard at watching the food processor do all the work.
• The oils in the nuts will release, turning this dry and dusty substance into smooth and creamy. This can take up to 10 minutes.
• Drizzle oil into the smooth and creamy until desired thickness/thinness is achieved.
• Salt (optional)
• Store unused portion in an air-tight container in the fridge.

What You Get:

**** Healthy, homemade Almond Butter! *****

I told you it was easy!

Now, what would you spread it on?

Bon appetit,
Cheryl

Stress

One of the secret joys of living is not found by rushing from point A to point B, but by inventing 

some imaginary letters along the way.

~Douglas Pagels

Stress. It is, literally, a killer.

It will kill your drive, your energy, your attitude, and your day. It will also kill YOU if you don't manage to manage it.

And, stress was a big part of my week, last week. Add to that, I was also a lady in waiting for TOM to arrive, with all the emotional baggage to boot. Overall, I had a good week with my workouts and nutrition, so was hoping that the scale would be nice to me. I talked nice to it, even.

No loss. In fact, that evil scale showed a .5 pound gain! Seriously? I wanted to throw the scale out in the snow. And, I know there are other elements of getting healthy other than the scale to look for, but THIS WEEK I was looking for the scale element.

I could go on and on about what was stressing me out or the significant biological challenges that TOM always brings with him. But, the main thing I learned this past week is that stress must be managed or it will manage you.

The following is nothing brand new, not original with me for sure, but just three simple things anyone can do ~ imaginary letters if you will ~ to keep the inevitable stressors in life from stealing your joy.

Here they are . . . simple and to the point:

• Exercise ~ It pumps up your endorphins, improves your mood, and calms and centers your mind to better problem solve. Its true. You can depend on it.

• Get enough rest ~ period. Stressful events, circumstances and relationships require more of us and we need to recharge. It has been said that the time to rest is when you don't have the time. Don't. Skip. This.

• Talk about it ~ don't bottle stress, it will be like a pop bottle in the freezer...it WILL explode. I promise! A trusted friend is often the best medicine you can buy, and its free. Usually. If not, repeat step 1 to problem solve for new friends ... or find new ones at the park or gym or bicycle rack. :)

Stress CAN be dismissed but CANNOT be ignored.

There are, undoubtedly, MANY healthy ways to deal with stress. Please share your own imaginary letters that have proven to get you from point A to point B with a smile on your face.

Let's talk,
Cheryl

Reaching Out

Do you have LOTS going on right now?

Do you look at your to-do list and sometimes not even know where to start?

That's exactly where I'm at right now.

And, we all know what that's like. When the work that is demanded of us mounts higher and higher, we can begin to feel like we've got our very own personal giant(s) that we must somehow slay all  by ourselves.

Right now, I've got THREE giants that are storming towards me, but as I cling tight to my commitment to face each one square-on, I hardly know which way to face. Feelings of overwhelmed-ness are looming.

That is, until I received this from my hubs this morning:

With all of those giants that you are facing, none are immortal. They can each be slain by YOU. I know that. You know that too. You are a strong woman. David didn’t put all 5 stones in his sling at once. He knew that one at a time was the way to go. Each hour/day, focus on Only. One. Giant. Ignore the rest during that hour/day.

The weight animal was put under submission by you less than a decade ago. You know how to do it. You have proven yourself capable of doing it. In fact you are much more knowledgeable now, and have so many more weapons available to subdue this wild animal. By choosing your weapons wisely, the battle will be won by you.I really believe that you can do it !!

Right now, I see your only goal is 10 pounds in March. Break it down. 10 little steps. April, May, etc. do not exist right now. Only March.

Now, how can I NOT have a great day after that? Support from those who love us is MONUMENTAL in our success!

In that spirit, I want to give a big, huge shout out to Jen at Prior Fat Girl for organizing a fabulous meet-up this past Saturday morning at The Beat Coffeehouse in uptown Minneapolis!

It was a solid two hours of meeting, listening to and talking with 40 other women all fighting for the same thing....a healthy, whole body that looks good and feels good. Thanks Jen for your hard work in putting this together!  It was fun and INSPIRING!

We simply must do much more of this reaching out....and, more often! Who inspires you, and who can you inspire today?

Cheers,
Cheryl