Shari's Take Shape For Life Experience

Look at these Photos!

2010-11-07T10:39:00.000-07:00

I thought it would be great to showcase some of the results from people who are on Take Shape For Life and how their bodies have changed with the consumption of better healthier foods.

First is my Father:

Before, probably in June 2010.

After, End of October 2010

and 50# lighter!

Doesn't he look great?!

He feels wonderful too. He can do things he hasn't been able to do for a long time now. His health is 100% better and he is more exuberant and enthusiastic about life!

Love it Dad!!

You look awesome and I am so grateful that your health is better now.

We all love you bunches..................

.................

Next, I want to show you how my dear Husband is doing:

This was taken over Labor Day weekend 2010,

Michael started the program about a month before this.

He doesn't look happy,

maybe it's because it was

an impromptu photo shoot!

After over 42 pounds gone!

First of November 2010

You look awesome!!

I believe that you are smaller now than when we got married....

Cool.....

I am so proud of him too. He has gone all out to do his best on this program and everyone can see that it is really working for him. His work ordered shirts too large for him and they do look big. He will get his winter shirts soon, and they are supposed to be smaller. Let's hope so, not that anyone will see them, because they will be hidden under his coat/parka.

His health has improved so much that he is off his medications for cholesterol, high blood pressure and some of his asthmatic stuff. He has lost so much weight that his permanent knee brace is much too large and is not supporting his knee like it should be. He is having trouble with that at the moment. He is waiting for Workman's Comp to give approval for him to get an adjusted brace. Hang in there honey.......................

He is also only about 25 pounds away for my goal weight for him. Yes, I still do wear the pants in the family! I don't want him to get as skinny as a rail, like his frame can handle. But we will really see what happens.

I hope everyone is doing well on their quest to a Healthy fit body and life. I am doing well myself. I do have to say, that this is an easy, forgiving program. I have more stories to tell and I hope to get to them soon, this week.

Such as deviating from the plan and getting back on................

Easy to play catch up................... although dealing with consequences........ (sleep/potty)

Easy vs difficult..............

Being prepare at all times.............

Come back for more!!

Have a healthy fun day!

....

Reality of Life

2010-11-01T11:33:00.004-06:00

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To Learn more about

Take Shape For Life-

click the photo on the right.

October is OVER!!!

Cookies: Witch Fingers and Toes...

Can I say: HURRAY!!! October and Halloween candy and goodies are OVER!!!

I sure know I am human. Well a normal American to be more specific. One who sees non-healthy foods as desirable. I sometimes even eat these undesirable foods.... still.... when will I be stronger?

That is a big question. When will I be Stronger? What does this really mean? When I first sat down to write this, I was thinking how badly, wrongly, incorrectly I made choices this past month. ....is that really a writable sentence?.....

I made some great choices when it came to food this month. I made some pretty good choices about avoiding unhealthy foods as well. I made some pretty good choices as to how to handle cravings and to not be distracted as unwise food choices called my name.

But in the end, I was feeling like this month was a failure. However, it was not. I am living life to the end. I will have my great days, my good days, my OK days, my not so great days, etc. This is how life is. It is how I choose to categorize my days that will make the greatest impact on my overall total lifestyle.

Who am I to believe that I will always be perfect and choose the best healthy food at every moment? I am not perfect- hence the Practically Perfect, I love to be associated with. No one that I know on earth is perfect, certainly not me. But to be practically perfect is achievable by all.

According to Meriam-Webster "Synonyms for practically: about, all but, borderline, fair [chiefly British],fairly, feckly [chiefly Scottish], more or less, most, much,near, nearly, next to, nigh, almost, somewhere, virtually,well-nigh" which lends the word to be applicable to all phases of perfection. From Fairly to Nearly perfect and everywhere in between. See when you consider 'borderline' perfect, you are either perfect or not perfect. Black and white. There or not. So I will hold on to the fact that I have a Practically Perfect Life and keep enduring to the end, where I hope perfection will come. The end being Heaven and a whole new ball game or story- to be continued at a later time.

Practically is also in the eye of the beholder. I practically followed my Take Shape for Life program very well in October. Sure I had my mishaps and ragged on myself, but I am here to forgive myself and remind myself that life happens and I have to live each day the best I can. Then I can analyse my day and adjust anything that will make my next day even better.

So after all this above finger jabbering, I want to let everyone know that LIFE IS GOOD! I am having a few big challenges to figure out, but I am up to the challenge.

So with a new month beginning, I need to adjust my strategies for Living a Healthier Life:

*I plan on adding a walking program to my exercise needs. I have been trying to do aerobics but stopped as my knees were getting so sore, even with the non-impact actions. This is probably due to a lack of knowledge and instruction on my part, but I don't have an in house personal trainer to help me do things correctly.

*I want to go back to my favorite basics pertaining to the Replacement Meals. This will keep me happy, keep my life simple, and keep me from craving more diverse foods as I continue to drop my excess weight. For me 'the simpler the better' works best.

chocolate covered Oreos

*I must tell my Visiting Teachers (program with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) to not bring be treats!! during our monthly visits! This is a very big biggie!! I can't stand not eating the chocolates, chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate covered mint Oreos they have brought me. I am very lucky to have VT's that do such sweet treats, but I can't deal with them right now! And to those who say just give them to the kids.......... I could, but they wouldn't last long enough, if the kids were at school, which they usually are.

Mint Oreo w/ chocolate

AND, a big AND, if these treats aren't good for me, why would I want my kids to have them? they are not good for them either and I certainly don't want my kids to end up fighting bad food choices and weight fluctuations for the rest of their lives.

I need to continue to try to teach my children the better habits of health, the habits that will keep them fit and healthy for the rest of their lives. It is not easy to undo this bad habits for myself, much less teach them to the kids. But I will keep at it, because I know how important a healthy body is. And I know that it is obtainable!!

*I plan on accounting for each and every day throughout this month. I want to open-minded-ly look on each day before I go to sleep and see where I can improve on my health choices. I will be praising myself for my good choices and learning from my bad or difficult choices.

All I can say is that I am glad this program is a lifestyle program, because if it was a diet, I would have failed it miserably by now. Life happens and I know that each and everyday, I will have the opportunity to make good and not-so-good choices. I just hope that I can make more good choices each and everyday!

Future:
Now as far as November goes........ We have Thanksgiving coming up and I suppose that means more food choices to choose from. But, I am working on a plan.............. If I get it figured out, I will share it with you. But for now, I plan on sticking to my Medifast Meal Replacement every day. Adding exercise in the form of walking. I hope to not choose goodies and treats during this time. I will deal with treats on a personal basis, each choice to be analyzed upon presentation................. well I am going for now....

Here are some more photos: They make me crazy:

cake balls = no weight loss (bad food choice)

Received 5 Oreo treats, ate 4, shared 1.
Bad food choice.....

Cake balls can be so tempting........

Delicious Witch Finger Cookies
didn't eat a single one, good food choice for me!
I just knew, if I took one, I would never stop. It was
easy to avoid, as they were at my Mom's house.....
Remember- out of sight (house) out of mind!!

This guy is saying: Eat me, Eat me............
He called from the kitchen for 2 days!!
I finally put him out of his misery and ate him.
Then I was miserable............ bad choice..........

I hope I didn't make you too crazy or hungry. Just wanted to show you how temptation showed it's ugly face in my home this past month. Thing is, the treats weren't ugly......... they looked very good...................... The devil is so slick no matter what he's selling. (I didn't capitalize his name because I will not show him any respect.)

Photos: Where I Was, Where I Am Now....

2010-10-15T19:50:00.000-06:00

August 20, 2009

October 15, 2010

Above in 2009 I weighed 285. Today on October 15, 2010 I weigh 248. This is a difference of 36 pounds! Totally awesome!

September 1, 2010

October 15, 2010

On September 1, 2010 I weighed about 262. October 15, 2010 I weigh 248, so 14 pounds different in these photos.

September 1, 2010

October 15, 2010

August 30, 2008

I probably weighed about 285 here.

So on the Take Shape For Life program, I have lost a total of 27 pounds. (Since August- 7 weeks worth.) This is really awesome. And such a change from where I have been for the last 5 to 8 years!!! In 2000-2001, I had lost a bunch of weight and was down to 200 pounds. However, I only dieted and did not learn how to prepare healthy food and live a healthy lifestyle!

This time I am learning and practicing how to make healthy foods as I shed my excess weight. Healthy meals are easy, tasty and desirable. There will not be another time after this weight loss journey. I know how to keep the weight off and I will do it. I am committed to living a healthier lifestyle so that my children will reap the benefits now while they still have a few years in my nest where I can teach and nurture them in a healthy manner.

Thanks for your support!!

......//////

Changing My Life One Day at a Time

2010-10-14T10:45:00.000-06:00

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Living the Healthy Good Life

So I sit here trying to decide what to post. A beautiful empty canvas in front of me and no true thoughts in my fingers. I have been slacking on the posts recently. But hey, it's OK because I have been doing so much more lately and blogging is falling to the wayside.

I am taking enjoyment in keeping food, healthy food, ready in the fridge and freezer. Having foods prepared helps me to be able to put together a healthy meal in minutes and not letting the 'what's for dinner' woes from taking over and the Unhealthy Food Trolls putting their spell on me. Their spells are disastrous for healthy families and healthy eating habits.

The spell that was usually unleashed on my family has been the- 'you're too tired, hungry or sick to prepare a home made meal so go ahead an get a pizza, burgers, tacos anything you want from the fast food monsters. Don't worry about the calories and the extras you get from hidden, unnecessary ingredients. You're too tired to worry about such things.'

The spells of unhealthy choices have always worked. It didn't matter about the time, the money, the unhealthy foods or anything! What mattered was that I got food in my belly and the bellies of my family- healthy or not, it did not matter. I was so deep into the woes of unhealth! I am so grateful I have been able to swim and pull myself up to the edge of the barrel I was sinking in to see or peek over the edge and see that health and a healthy lifestyle was obtainable.

Many thanks to my health Coach team and my family who have been their helping me get back on the healthy life path. Thanks to all the inspirational and wonderful friends, family and strangers who provide examples of endurance and success with me and my family. This great network of people are the reason I have been able to change my life at this time. My timing is right and I am open and willing to learn from those around me. I am even learning from myself as I remember things I have learned in the past and apply them to my life's situation now.

I have also been repairing/mending towels, clothes and backpacks. I have put food away using the 'Seal-a-Meal'. I have rearranged cupboards in my kitchen. I have gone through piles of clothes that don't fit- too big or too little. I have been researching how to remake some of these clothes, so that I don't have to buy anything new right now. I have very little money and I would rather use the money for healthy foods. New clothes can wait.

I am talented enough to make do with what I have and I know I can alter some of my clothes to get some more wear out of them as the pounds drop. Skirts, t-shirts, tops and even some of my pants can be altered. So I am going to be fine.

Now blue jeans for my hubby are a different story. But thank heavens, his new temporary job is supplying him with a couple of pairs of jeans. Now if he can only not lose too much so that these new jeans fall off him! He might look awful funny wearing his jeans down below his hips! A good belt should help him there. Also we do have a few pair a jeans in smaller sizes for him to work into to. I just hope they will be the right sizes for him.

Why is it that girl clothes are easier to alter than men's? At least that is the stoma(belief) I am sticking too. I have not had any tailoring training and boy at this time I sure wish I had some. But it is all going to be fine. I can't do everything, but I can do a lot.

I can do a lot more than I have been and I am grateful for this change in my life. I am finding the real me, I am letting myself take charge of my life again. I am not allowing life to swallow me up anymore. I am making a difference in myself and my family, one thing at a time. We are living a healthier lifestyle and we will change our little world and the lives of our posterity. This is so very exciting!!

Would you like to join me on this wonderful journey? I would love to have you come along with me and make a better life for your children and their children. We have so much to be grateful for and there is no better way to say thanks than to Pay Our Blessing Forward!!!

Call me, text me or e-mail me and let's talk and put something together to change our little world!!

Love to you all.............

Shari

PS. Yesterday my son and husband were at the store. Pilot told me that he couldn't find dad anywhere. He said that he finally saw clothes that he recognized, but the body inside them didn't match the body of his dad. And then he looked closer and it was his dad. He did not recognize his dad's new body size. COOL!!! lol.... Hubby wasn't too big but 35 pounds has made a huge difference in him and obviously even Pilot who is with him every day saw a huge difference!!!

This new lifestyle living is changing our lives and we laugh about it and are content with loving it, each and every day.

...

Milestone Moment for Sunday October 10, 2010

2010-10-10T11:43:00.000-06:00

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Congratulations Shari!!!

You are down 26 pounds and into the 40's- something you haven't seen for many a year. You have less than 100 pounds to go!! WHoot WHoot...........

Soon you will be able to fit into your Wedding Dress of 17 1/2 years ago. You should be fitting into it now, but your shape has changed a bit with the events of having your two precious babes. Wait for a few more pounds and then try it on!!

Even though things have been rough on you this last week, you have done marvelous and have worked hard at making your body into a healthy vessel. The challenges you have faced have made you think, ponder and become stronger.

Food is your friend, good foods are that is. In the past, you had been hanging out with the wrong food friends and for quite a while now you were proportionately overboard with them. But it is encouraging to see that your new food friends are becoming your first choice. You spend only a healthy amount of time with them and use moderation in determining proper proportions.

Remember that even those coveted gooey brownies, chocolate fudge cake, ice cream, bread, breads and all types of breads don't have to be enemy foods, just take them in moderation and all will be well.

You are doing very well. Keep up the great work. This is a journey and a lifestyle change. Nothing worthwhile is easy, it is just worth the effort along the way and you will be better for the adventurous life lessons you will encounter, conquer and learn from.

Have a wonderful day, you have a wonderful week ahead of you. Your family and friends are on your side encouraging you towards health and fitness. They are all cheering your progress onward, they are your greatest cheerleaders!

Keep up the good fight and you will reach the finish line armed with the healthy lessons learned that will keep your body and mind fit for the rest of your life.

GO SHARI !!!!!

Love,

Your Best, BESTEST, BESTEREST, BESTERESTEDEST friend.............

......

Weekly Check In

2010-10-03T16:38:00.000-06:00

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Weekly Weight Loss Recap:

This has been a great week. Although some might think this week should not be considered successful because I am the same weight as I was last Sunday. However, I lost some pounds and gained some pounds during the week, ultimately beginning and ending the week at the some weight. This type of weight fluctuation can be very normal. For me it is pretty normal, especially when I have not been totally vigilant in my use of the program. I have made some choices that have affected my steady weight /pound loss. But I am not disappointed in my progress of no pounds lost as there are other measurements that tell me I am still on the correct path. That is my overall measure of my success- knowing that I am on the correct path. And I love to stop and smell the roses and take a side path once in a while. So it is not unusual for me to deviate a bit from the marked path, but I do try to always make my way back to the proven path.

Last week you will recall that I had started my exercise program. I found that my knees were not handling things very well. Even though the exercise was low impact, my knees have not been happy. I am going to try to go to the pool with my parents this week and see if exercising in the pool will help my knees be happier. However, I did more exercise this week than I have for a long time. I have been super busy and have done a ton more walking than I have for a long time as well.

So even though my exercise program is not turning out have I was planning, I am glad to report that I have realized it needed adjustment and I am adjusting to what I need at the very moment to make things better for my overall health. I am succeeding............. such a wonderful thing.

I am not going to recap all the weight loss weeks for you. The main reason is that you can go here to see them. And.......... I did not loose weight this week so the weight recap is the same as last weeks. BUT..........

I have lost some more inches!!! My clothes are even looser than before. Whoot, Whoot!!

Maybe with my little bits of exercise, I lost some lighter fat pounds and traded them for heavier muscle pounds. I really don't even care. All I know is that I still feel better than I have for a very long time and my clothes are looser and I am positive that live is good and headed in a good direction. Does anything else really matter?

OK I KNOW SPIRITUALLY I am still behind and lacking, but I am heading towards a better spiritual situation as well. I am working heavily on my physical self because it is the greatest part of my life that is out of balance. As time goes on, my physical self will come into a better balance with my emotional, spiritual, financial and serving sides and all will be in balance to where I will feel great about my whole life.

Here is a photo of me in my favorite

vest that was too small for me when

I found it at the second hand shop,

but had to have it anyway because

I believe it is beautiful.

I love wearing this vest now. So it

has become one of my few standard

uniforms.

Nothing tastes as good

as getting thin feels!!!

I could even button it, if

I was not going to sit down!

(weird flash thing happened)

.....

Weekly Weigh In

2010-09-26T10:52:00.001-06:00

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Weekly Weight Loss Recap:

(I am switching to Sundays as this is easier for me.)

Overall this week I feel enthusiastic about my progress. There have been moments of challenges, but we all face moments on a daily basis. The good thing to report is I am learning so much about my eating desires, post habits and how I want to change some things for my future of Optimal Health.

I started an exercise program and will gradually build it up in intensity as time goes by. I am using Tony and the Folks (Tony Horton from Power 90, BeachBody) which is for 55 yrs and up.... NO, NO I am not 55 yet, but my body might think it is. LOL. I am starting there and then will work my way back to the P-90 program, which I really love.

I am off and running. Thanks to everyone for their love and support. Thanks to all of you that inspire me through your humble examples, really appreciate you.

:) My Results for the Last 5 Weeks (:

Sunday 9-26-10 = 252

Lost 4 pounds = total lost in 5 weeks is 23 pounds

- - - - - - End of first month: 19 lbs melted away - - - - - -

Monday 9-20-10 = 256

Lost 2 more pounds for 19 total in 4 weeks! Awesome!!!

Monday 9-13-10 = 258

Lost 2 pounds- total now 17 pounds.

Monday 9-6-10 = 260
Lost 2 pounds- total now 15 pounds.

Monday 8-30-10 = 262

Lost 9 pounds for a total of 13 pounds down.

Monday 8-23-10 = 271

Lost 4 pounds.

- - - - - -

Start Weight Sunday 8-22-10 = 275

Nothing tastes as good

as getting thin feels!!!

.....

Chocolate.........Ahhh! I Needed That!!

2010-09-25T13:04:00.001-06:00

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Today I experimented
with the brownie mix and
ended up with a
Molten Brownie.

Chocolate.........Ahhh!

I Needed That!!

( making choices that work )

I have a love for chocolate. Anyone who knows me knows this. I am an admitted chocoholic. However it is nice to know that I don't have to give up my chocolate, ever! I just have to redefine our relationship. For right now, I am mostly giving up extra chocolate. I say mostly, because a chocolate chip or M&M here and there have invaded my body.

I did make the choice to put these items in my mouth, but I don't consider myself a loser, a failure or a cheater. I just remind myself that each food choice I put in my mouth will either lead me closer to or away from a thin healthy body. I don't intend on being perfect, but I am doing a very nice job of changing my eating habits.

This is what the TSFL program is all about- my relationship to food. I am choosing to learn how to better understand the foods I like and how I can use them in my daily food intake. So let me tell you why the name of this post is Chocolate- I needed that.

I was trying to decide which of my chocolate meals I would delve into for Mid-morning snack. I already had hot cocoa for breakfast- I have hot cocoa almost every morning now and I love to start my day this way. I was thinking I should go for a brownie next. But I wasn't in the mood for one small brownie, so I decided to change things up a bit.

Molten Chocolate Lovers Brownie

I took my brownie mix, added 1 T cocoa powder and 1/2 tsp Splenda to it and mixed them into the powder very well. Then I added 6 or 8 T of water, now I can't remember how many. LOL.... Then I mixed it in a soup mug and put it in the Microwave for about 2.5 mins. It did start to boil up near the end, so I stopped the micro and let it sit for a couple of seconds and then let it cook again until it bubbled and let it rest and cook one more time.

Very hot and runny.

When it came out, it was super hot! And runny. But as it cooled it thickened into a nice pudding type bowl of delish molten chocolate. I ate it with a spoon and was surprised at how the cooking method was a hit for me. I personally loved it, but I am easy to please.

This is thickening up.

There are rarely food failures in my home that I won't eat, so beware that what I like might not be liked by you. Isn't this normal though?, I believe it is.

I really enjoyed this- my chocolate indulgence and I took my time eating it. Savored each and every bite. Ahh......... I needed that.........

Stay in touch and ...........

Keep on Living the Good Life of Optimal Health!!

......

Scale- One More Time.........

2010-09-24T10:15:00.000-06:00

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Let's talk about the Scale again!

(Because I am learning something important!!)

I have been taught over the years how to deal with weight loss from many different sources. Some programs suggest that you weigh everyday. Some suggest you weigh once a week. There are many other suggestions too like don't weigh yourself at all, but these two, daily vs weekly weigh-ins are the ones I want to touch on.

First, for me, I am learning that even though I know that the scale does not tell the whole story it is a vital part of my weight loss story. However, I was finding myself being preoccupied with the scales results. There have been some mornings that I jump up and run downstairs to weigh myself before I add even a drop of water into my mouth. Or before the shower's water might stay in my hair and show more weight on the scale! That is a little obsessive, I admit. But hey that was the direction I was heading. Scary!!

There were some mornings at 4am I would wake up and want to run to the scale, I only did it once, but I thought about it a half dozen times. Usually I was disappointed in the scales' reading. And that could have set me up for a day full of disastrous food choices! But thank heavens, I didn't follow that path. Much. LOL....

I made a discovery the other day, and then made a choice that was dependent on that information. Yesterday, I did not obsess getting to the scale, in fact I nearly forgot to weigh in at all. But I finally did. I am choosing to weigh in nearly every day as a learning tool and useful knowledge to help my clients.

I know that there will be some people that will obsess with the scale as I have done, and I will have information to help them through the rough spots. I go down in weight, stay the same, gain a pound, go down a pound, stay the same, drop a pound and repeat the cycle over and over again. It is NORMAL!! The main thing is that I am consistent in my pattern.

Start 8-22-10 = 275

9-20-10 = 256

19 Pounds lost

This is my discovery- I can feel better about my scale if we meet only one day a week!! (Sunday or Monday) I see greater progression when I look at my weekly loss compared to the daily weights: up, down, the same. The information I gathered was that I am doing fine on the program. In one month, I lost an amazing 19 pounds, to date I have dropped 21 pounds- 4.5 weeks.

Start 8-22-10 = 275

Present 9-24-10 = 254

Lost 21 Pounds

As I was weighing myself each day, I felt like I was failing. There was no significant weight loss. I can not expect to see a pound or more every day, so I was feeling unsuccessful. However as I approached the scale each day, I wanted to see big pound losses, even though it was not realistic. But the bigger picture is seen over time, for me a weeks time and a months time.

I am keeping two weigh loss graphs. One on a daily basis for information to help others and the other on a weekly basis to actually keep track of my success. My weekly graph is for me. I might only keep the daily one for a bit longer as I have plenty of information to help others understand the ups and downs of the scale. I have enough information to compare the readings and help others to understand that a weekly weigh in is better suited for a healthy lifestyle of the mind!

I have to brag, I just tried on a pair of shorts that were much too small for me to squeeze into and they now fit! I am so elated. I am finding that my clothes are getting quite loose and I am always hitching up my pants! They are elastic waist, no belt loops. I guess I will have to find them a new home and slip into my smaller sizes. It feels good to be heading into the correct healthy body direction.

I also tried on a skirt that was too small, it fits! No elastic waist, has a zipper and fits just right. Maybe I will wear it Sunday, not sure, because I am finding lots of things I can wear again and I am going to have to choose! What a dilemma! I don't want to wear nylons, so I probably won't wear the black skirt, yet. I will wait until it gets a bit colder and then I'll put on the hose. Choices, Choices, Choices..........

It is good to have choices again. Oh I know I always have had choices, but I chose to be unhealthy and it was a terrible choice. Now that I feel more healthy, I feel more alive and feel like I can make the right choices in many things. It is freeing!!!

So bottom line is to weigh yourself once a week. Observe how your clothes are fitting, if they are getting tight, check with your scale for a second opinion. If you need to cut back on your condiments, snacks or increase your exercise, do so. If you are doing everything per plan and you are still having issues, call me and let's figure out what might be happening.

If you are in maintenance, there are multitudes of things we can do to keep you on track.

Stay in touch and ...........

Keep on Living the Good Life of Optimal Health!!

.....

Choosing A Program For My Lifestyle Change

2010-09-19T16:28:00.000-06:00

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Thoughts on Choosing a Program

There is no one size fits all when it comes to eating strategies. Choosing a program for weight loss must be carefully analysed to see if it fits into your lifestyle. You must be able to stick with your program for life, that means long term, plain and simple.

That doesn't mean that you won't be adjusting your plan, so where you start out might be far from where you end up. The main thing is to learn as you go and make choices that will keep you headed towards your end goal. My end goal is Optimal Health, a healthy thin body and sharp mind.

In doing my homework, I looked for a program that would help me get to where I desired to spend the rest of my life. I knew I needed easy quick weight loss and an opportunity to learn how to change my eating habits and beliefs towards food. There are many programs out on the market, I have done most of them during my 40 years of trying to loose my excess weight for good. The problem is I have not ever succeeded, in making permanent changes.

It's not that I haven't learned anything in my 50 years on this earth, it's that I am human and haven't figured out how to take this knowledge and make it work for me. So I am going to throw off my humanness, trust in my higher power and do everything possible to apply my knowledge to create a new lifestyle. I am changing my eating habits on my journey to obtaining a healthy thin body.

I could write books about what I have learned over the years, the right way to loose weight, keep it off, the best foods to eat or avoid, etc. I could co-author with almost all of you as well. We have the knowledge, we have the tips, tricks, secrets, we have it all. We have will power and desire, we really do have it all. So what is our problem?

Our problem is that we have not changed our minds. Mind control over ourselves is the only way we can change our lifestyle for the better. It isn't that hard, in fact it is easy. But we do have to decide where we want to be and then consistently work on our habits, so that time can be our friend as we make new our new habits work for us.

Each of us have different tastes and food desires. We each need to recognize our likes and dislikes and understand how we can build our healthy lifestyle. I will always love chocolate, but I visualize chocolate as my friend. I don't over use it, I respect it. I definitely will not give it up, but I will have a healthy relationship with it.

All foods will fit into a healthy lifestyle in moderation. So my favorites like bread, bacon, chocolate, tortillas and turkey dinners can be included in my meals as I live a healthy lifestyle. However, they will only be used in moderation. Moderation to me means a healthy relationship. I am in the process of learning how to respect food and how I can understand and experience a healthy relationship with food for my overall health.

I am able to restrict certain foods from my meal plan right now, because of the Take Shape For Life program. Normally when a food is restricted from your diet, cravings are triggered and eventually you are driven crazy with desire and soon you give in and start eating that restricted food. When you are on a healthy weight loss program, your cravings dissipate and you are able to have a healthy relationship with the food around you.

This is not to say that you totally give up your favorite foods forever. But from personal experience I am finding that these favorite foods are loosing their fanatical hold on me. Take pizza for instance, one of my favorite foods because of the bread crust, tomatoes, veggies. Not so much the meat parts. But I love bread and veggies.

So for my first 3 weeks on the Take Shape For Life all was well. I was doing just fine adhering to the plan and soon my initial cravings for bread, sugars, salts and fats disappeared. But then one day, I couldn't stand the idea that pizza was off limit for several months. So I made pizza.

Cauliflower crust pizza. Yum!

Cauliflower was my crust, cheese from the Meatless Options list, veggies and a homemade tomato sauce made my pizza. It was ultimately fantastic! I really loved the fake pizza!! But, isn't there always a but? But, I still wanted a bread pizza. Stupid, I know, but I was desperate, at least I thought I was desperate.

It didn't help that there were pizza ads everywhere. A new add for Papa Murphys showed up at our house, and every one else's in our city. Stuffed crust pepperoni for a pretty decent price. I gave in and had my Hubby order one. We do have kids after all, and they are not on the Adult version of the Take Shape For Life program. So I ordered it for them.

Who would guess that they really did not want pizza? They had some, but then there was tons left over. My plan was to eat the cheese and toppings with one bite of bread/crust. But the best of plans often fail. So after that first bite, which tasted fine, I couldn't stop. After several bites, I realized that the pizza didn't taste fine, it was rather blaugh. My cauliflower pizza was better in overall taste.

It was my brain that was mixed up, what I believe about the taste of pizza crust made of bread was not worth stopping my journey towards ultimate health. In fact nothing off program has tasted as good as my progress feels!! Sometimes we all have to make those choices of eating, tasting off program to realize that we can stay away from these foods for a while as we reach our goal weight.

While on maintenance, and as I add these foods back into my eating lifestyle, I will be able to manage my desire to remain healthy and eat proper portions. I will be master over my food choices and enjoy every bite that is alloted on my meal plan I make. I have great plans for the rest of my life. I will be healthy and happy. I will be able to move easier and enjoy activities with my family and friends unlike I have ever done before.

My homework brought me to the Take Shape For Life program. I had invested in the Medifast foods before and I had lost weight on their program. I knew that the Meal Replacements would help me loose the weight I needed to part with. I came back to Medifast because of the Take Shape For Life program. The program offers a personal health coach with the purchase of the Medifast Foods.

The coach and Take Shape For Life tools are helping me loose the weight and alter my eating habits and relationship with food. This is a lifestyle change and not a diet, get the weight off and go back to my old non-working habits. A wonderful lifestyle change that will allow me to take care of my health and then take care of my family's health and teach them how to eat healthier for Ultimate or Optimal Health.

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Diet or Program?

2010-09-18T11:36:00.001-06:00

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Misconceptions Surface

So many people have asked me if I am on a diet. I am thinner in the face and loosing inches so my clothes are becoming a bit roomy. I am not on a DIET!! I am learning how to be a healthy eater- consumer. I am on a program not Diet.

Big - BiG - BIG difference!!!

I am sure I have mentioned that Take Shape For Life is not a diet, it is a program for changing your eating lifestyle to incorporate healthy choices. If one is truly on the Take Shape For Life program, then one is reading Dr. Anderson's book Habits of Health and creating changes by using the companion work book Living a Longer Healthier Life.

We've all lost hundreds of pounds doing diets. Diets work to loose weight, but diets don't work if you want to keep the weight off.

TSFL works to keep the weight off, because we learn how to make wise choices concerning our food and activity level to maintain a healthy thin body.

Your coach is your lifeline and mentor. Your coach should be guiding you on your journey and helping you understand the changes that are occurring in your life. A coach should be able to answer your questions, or find answers for you by learning more themselves. They should be able to steer you to information to help you learn and answer your questions.

One thing a TSFL newbie mentioned is that they are tempted to take tastes or bites of food such as french fries, cookies and cakes. They are wondering if these little bites will affect their weight loss progress.

This is my opinionated answer. If you take a bite here and there, you will probably not do much harm, physically that is. The harm is mentally believing that just a taste won't hurt me. Then it is easier to take another taste, then the program begins to be harder and weight loss slower and your momentum is lost and you will most likely quit the program.

This is not only true for Take Shape For Life, but for any other program (or diet) you might be on. Try to choose a weight loss lifestyle changing program and not a diet!!

You need to decided what you truly want for you body. If thin and healthy is what you want, then giving up unhealthy foods is a wise choice. Giving up these foods are not just for during the program, they will be gone for life- or should be for life. When you are maintaining your weight, you will be able to sample these foods again, if you choose. Every great once in a while you might choose to have a fast food greasy drippy meal, you might even like it. But I will bet that you won't really enjoy it. Because you will know that thin feels better than unhealthy foods taste.

Who would want to eat something that would defeat the statement:

"Nothing tastes as good as thin feels."

I challenge everyone and all of us who are on the Take Shape For Life program, to read (or re-read) and do the workbook by Dr. Anderson- Habits of Health** and really desire to change our eating habits this time and obtain a Healthy body and mind through eating healthy foods and incorporating fitness in to our lifestyle.

**If you are on the Take Shape For Life plan and don't have these great books, please order them, I can help you do this.

If you are not on the program but would like to learn how to achieve a healthier eating lifestyle, (his book is written for everyone), let me know and I can order copies of Dr. Anderson's book and workbook for you.

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Could You Eat Every 2 to 3 Hours?

2010-09-17T16:41:00.000-06:00

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Eat Every Three Hours

Do you believe you can eat every 2 to 3 hours throughout the day? Don't you love food enough to give it a try? Well I am doing it and I love it! For the most part I am not hungry between my small meals and snacks. But I can tell you that I am losing weight and being a ton more productive than I used to be.

I have starved myself many times throughout my life and I know that starvation only makes me fatter. It makes most people fatter. I figured that if I ate less, my fat would be used by my body as fuel. But all my body wanted to do was hold onto my fat because it was starving. It believed that it needed to save every fat molecule in my fat storage cells it could to get me through the days until there was food again.

What I didn't know or understand was that my body is a fat burning machine and desires to be lean and healthy. It also knows how to store fuel for the times that food might be scarce. The problem is that these days there are very few days or times when we are in short supply of food.

So as I would intentionally starve myself, using the excuse I was dieting, I was signalling to my body to hold onto the fat reserves. Therefore I became more fat and more tired, so I didn't spend any extra calories and dip into my reserves.

Unbelievable! What a thing to not know and understand. Now I know that if I feed my body more often, consistently and with healthy foods, my body will begin to shed the extra storage of fat because it believes the famine is over. I just need to consistently feed my body and let the excess pounds melt off. So far it is working. I love how easy it is to just let my body do it thing.

When I say easy, I mean easy. Do I have some struggles? Of course I do. But I definitely can eat every 2 to 3 hours so that part of my lifestyle change is easy. Am I always satisfied with the snack or small meal I have just eaten? No, of course not. I still love the taste of food, and some foods taste way better than others. These really tasty foods still cause me to crave more, a larger portion than is necessary for my good health. So I am learning portion control.

I am learning how to distract myself and get away from the kitchen and food during these times. I am getting more successful everyday. But as in all things, there is no perfection in this area for me. I figure that doing my best will be good enough as I change my habits, my best is far from perfection. And I like this, practically perfect is good enough for me during this time.

I am practically perfect in all things, and still flawed to the core in many areas. So I am like most of the rest of the world. Normal or abnormal, trying to be my best, knowing that I will never be perfect. Trying to be happy with who I am, where I am and how I am doing on this journey through life.

So do you feel like eating every 2 to 3 hours? Then contact me and I will be happy to help you on your journey towards total fitness and Optimal Health.

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Snoring- What's the Silence or What Happened to the Nighttime Noise?

2010-09-17T10:47:00.000-06:00

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Snoring-

Let's just say that for many years there have been two very noisy nightime/sleeptime snorers in our home. Now for some weird reason, it appears that the snorers are not as noisy as they have been. Hurray for us!

My kids love the fact that it is quiet at night, however they sometimes get nervous that maybe the lack of noise means that Hubby or myself have quit breathing. That is weird coming from my kids. They seem to be more concerned about me, as I have been the most active, noisy snorer. "Mom are you OK? You're not snoring. Are you breathing?"

So what are we doing? Well let me tell you about me. I have tried a mouth guard and that works, but my jaw doesn't like it. My jaw is quite sore in the morning. So I don't use it very often. It seems to work. I haven't used anything else. So let's look at what I am doing right now.

I am eating healthier. That's it. Plain and simple. I have not yet begun to exercise. I am not taking any new medications. I am not doing anything different except eating every 2 to 3 hours, consuming 5 Medifast Meal Replacements and a healthy lean and green meal. This is all that is different.

So, I can almost safely say that because I have changed the foods I am ingesting that my body is beginning to be healthier and some of my problems are being altered. My kids have been telling me for over two weeks that I am not snoring. I didn't believe them at first. Then Hubby confirmed it. Oh, I occasionally do my snore thing I'm sure, but the frequency is so much less.

Hubby just says that I am not snoring. All I know for sure is that my snoring has changed and changed for the better. This is a wonderful thing.

My knees feel better. I am not retaining as much water. My morning blood sugars are more stable and consistently lower. I have much more energy and stamina. I have more enthusiasm for life and the projects I am involved in. I have a great desire to make healthy Lean & Green meals.

I want to gradually change the way I cook for my kids to ensure that they eat healthier and learn how to live a healthy eating lifestyle. I am studying the Habits of Health book and doing the workbook. I am doing the work so that I can change my inferior habits and learn better healthy eating habits. I want Health!!

I am here for you.

Come join me on the race to a Healthy Lifestyle!

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Dishes & Utensils

2010-09-15T18:55:00.000-06:00

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Dishes and Utensils

I don't know if I have mentioned this, but I have a favorite hot cocoa mug. It is an unusual shape- and I really love it! It holds my oatmeal and soups just perfectly. It also keeps my soup hot. I have loved using this mug even though it is not winter or Christmas time. I love Snowmen and I love seeing them all year round. My daughter thinks I am crazy to use this mug out of season, but I love it, so I use it.

However, my wonderful love affair with my favorite mug has been altered! My stupid ceramic sink and my beautiful snowman mug had a fight and the sink won. It beat my mug up and left it with a chip on the rim! I know it isn't broken beyond use, but I am highly saddened. So I have retired my mug to my computer side to be a pencil, pen, stick-like things holder. This way I can enjoy my mug all the time and not have to worry about the sink trying to beat up my mug again!

So I have been using my glass mug for shakes, hot cocoa and soup. I use my favorite soup (Scrabble soup bowl) bowl for my oatmeal. I do miss my mug, but that's life and I have to move on. Writing about my loss should help in the grieving process! Thanks for listening.

I love Scrabble, so when I saw this mug at the second hand store years ago, I grabbed it. I am so happy with it.

My favorites all together in one photo!

(This is before the accident that took my snowman mug away.)

Soup & oatmeal mug. Glass shake & hot cocoa mug.

Soup and oatmeal bowl. Dessert spoon and toddler spoon.

I mentioned before that I use a Tupperware bowl for making my soups in the microwave. This bowl is an 8 1/2 cup microwave bowl. I have not had anything boil up above this bowl, and I don't even have to watch my soups, hot cocoa or anything as it cooks in the microwave now. I love this bowl. It is also easy to scrape out and clean. After I use it, I wash it in the sink, rinse it and put it up to dry so that it is ready for my next use. Or Hubby's use.

8 1/2 cup Tupperware bowl for microwave cooking soups

& other foaming foods.

Utensils are another thing I have customized for myself. Choosing a smaller sized fork or spoon helps me to eat smaller bites, This helps me believe that my portions are not so small and I end up eating slower and feeling full faster.

I try to use the shrimp fork whenever I can. I also use a dessert spoon when I can. I love being in control and helping to trick my mind, so that I can learn my new behaviors and be successful in achieving an Optimal Healthy Life.

Here are all the sizes of eating utensils in our house.

(Except for the serving spoons and forks!)

Dinner fork, salad fork and shrimp fork. (Or crab fork)

Soup spoon, teaspoon, round teaspoon, dessert spoon, iced-tea spoon.

These disposable kid forks and spoons are very useful. They are small enough to help with small bite sizes. They are also quite inexpensive, so if you loose them it isn't so costly. I keep them all over, a spoon in my purse, some in the jockey box in the car, ready to go on picnics and camping. They are really nice to have around.

'Disposable' kids utensils. Think smaller bites of food.

Small plates, square bowls, and round bowls in small sizes.

Think portion control.

I also have some very small square plates and bowls. Then I have some small round bowls. They are all colorful and fun to use. They only hold a tiny bit, so this should help me with portion control in the future. I got these for use with my small stomach that I got 10 years ago. But over the years my stomach has been trained to stretch and hold a lot more food than it was designed to hold.

My small stomach was able to stretch really far up until 5 weeks ago. When I started eating the Medifast meals, my stomach did not have to stretch so far to hold the food. So now it is small again and I am finding that I am feeling full faster. I am so glad my tummy has shrunk!

I can wait a few months longer to begin my new lifestyle eating plan. Right now I am learning what I need to do, what I can do and what I need to know about fixing a healthy Lean & Green meal. In the future, 128 more pounds to go future, I will be creating a daily meal plan of 6 healthy balanced meals. I will hopefully be including some Medifast bars and shakes to help keep me in line. But the future is bright and I believe that making this eating lifestyle change is totally doable!!

Go Shari !

My life couldn't be better right now! I am on track to a healthy body and mind!!

Come join me on the quest for a Healthy Body! It is easy and simple. Doable and rewarding. Energetic and Satiable.

Call me, email me, text me, or ask me some questions, or join me by signing up for your own Medifast meals through Take Shape For Life!! (go to www.simplythin.tsfl.com) Once you have your meals, I will be your coach and will guide you and help you through your Take Shape For Life experience.

Important message:

In May, 2010 I decided for sure I wanted to do this program. I waited nearly 4 months to call my coach to get started. I just kept putting it off. I wish I had not wasted that time.

Don't make the same mistake as me- call me NOW!

I am here to help you!!

Together we can achieve the changes you want!!!

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