It's still there, just hiding!

Yes, it is true!! As we grow older and fatter, certain parts of our bodies go into hiding! On my quest to a thinner, more healthy body, I too have found body parts that I thought were lost! Since I have turned 60 and have also lost weight, I wanted to share what and how you might uncover some too!! First of all, my butt, which instead of being down behind my knees is right where it should be, right under my back, nice and tight and cozy! The following worked great for me to find and firm this one fat-covered part of this mature body!

First you get on all fours and raise one leg at a time behind you as high as you can. If you have good balance, you could also raise the same corresponding arm!! This additional action will not only burn a few more calories but also work on that other disappearing part of our mature bodies; the firm underarm that has become parachutes or bat wings!!! This is an exercise that works extremely well, but it not that hard. At this age I am or do not desire to build anything or bust my ass, I just want to be as firm as I can with minimum effort!

When can I have pizza?!

For me the pizza or junk food thing is MOSTLY over!! I do not deprive myself of stuff I use to eat all the time, just most of the time! When I go shopping I still walk down the cookie aisle, but just that, WALK on by!! I envision what my favorite cookies used to taste like, then tell myself - OK...that's enough, and walk on!! Sometime I even eat pizza!... the trick I use is to once I eat something, then I forget about that food for at least two months and get back to my exercise and diet routine!! This works for me! Although my mind stills acts and thinks like it, my body is slower and reacts differently to most foods! Foods that I used to be able to chow down and not have a second thought about how my body would be affected by it!!! Bottom line - if you do indulge, get back on your journey to a better you!

Healthy Garlic Chicken Recipe

A friend of mine sent this recipe to me. Sounds healthy and delicious.

If you have any recipes that you would like to send me, feel free to do so. Make sure they are HEALTHY!







Ingredients
4    skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (about 1-1/4 pounds total)
    Salt and ground black pepper
1  tablespoon  olive oil or cooking oil
1-1/2  cups  sliced zucchini (1 medium)
3/4  cup  chopped green sweet pepper (1 medium)
1  medium  onion, sliced and separated into rings
2  cloves  garlic, minced
1/8  teaspoon  ground black pepper
1/4  cup  water
1  10.75-ounce can  condensed tomato soup
2  cups  hot cooked couscous*
1/2  cup  crumbled feta cheese (2 ounces)
    Lemon wedges
Directions
1. Sprinkle chicken with salt and black pepper. In a 12-inch skillet cook chicken in hot oil over medium heat for 12 to 15 minutes or until internal temperature of chicken registers 170F on an instant-read thermometer, turning once. Remove chicken from skillet; keep warm.
2. Add zucchini, sweet pepper, onion, garlic, and the 1/8 teaspoon black pepper to skillet. Add the water; reduce heat. Cover and cook for 5 minutes, stirring once or twice. Stir in soup. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes more, stirring once.
3. To serve, divide couscous among dinner plates. Place chicken on couscous. Spoon vegetable mixture over chicken and couscous. Sprinkle with feta cheese and serve with lemon wedges. Makes 4 servings.
4. *Note: For 2 cups cooked couscous, in a 1-quart saucepan bring 1 cup water and a dash of salt to boiling. Stir in 2/3 cup quick-cooking couscous. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4 servings
Calories401,
Total Fat (g)10,
Saturated Fat (g)4,
Monounsaturated Fat (g)4,
Polyunsaturated Fat (g)1,
Cholesterol (mg)99,
Sodium (mg)827,
Carbohydrate (g)36,
Total Sugar (g)9,
Fiber (g)4,
Protein (g)41,
Vitamin C (DV%)50,
Calcium (DV%)14,
Iron (DV%)12,
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Always stay on track!!

I have said this before and I will say it till you tell me to shut up!! There is always someone that seems to delight in the fact that we don't do what we say. Sometimes it is people we work with, sometimes our "friends", it might be our family, or; dare I say it...YOURSELF!! Just as you set your goals in life, wife, kids, job you want; setting and staying on track with your health should be in your top five!! The goal I have set for myself is to be in the best health and weight I can! And I hope to inspire some of you or at least offer some hints and ways to help us all care about ourselves first and foremost!! Without your health, life is like rowing our boat in quicksand!
Eating good is so essential to losing weight and better health! I want to start including recipes that I think are great for our new life of great health! Please feel free to send your healthy favorites along with your comments!! Let's get out of the quicksand!

It is true!!! - you have to make lemonade

I have always thought that the statement about making lemonade when life gives you lemons was corny, but I have found out how very accurate it is!! While this blog is about my journey to get in better physical shape, I have also found out that the mental aspect of life is equally important!! Several years ago I was diagnosed with Ataxia. I had never heard of this before and when I found out what it was I wish I never did!! Needless to say, exercise and controlling my health has gotten tougher, along with all facets of my life. I am talking about this because most of my life, I have not given much consideration how much what I think affects me. Your mind IS a terrible thing to waste!! Since part of my brain is actually affected, I have to max out what I have!! I have learned that while you can train your body by exercise, you can also train your brain to act the way you want!! Walking is one, albeit one of the simplest ways to do this! Walking, especially on a treadmill is very beneficial for both the mind and body!!!

If you hit a bump in the road, take another path

One of the things I have learned about trying to lose weight and stay in shape is that it is a full time job! If one day you go off track, jumping back on is essential. Staying moving is very important, and I don' mean getting up to forage in the fridge! A bump in the road for me is sometimes not wanting to excersise or eating foods that I know I should not. Whatever your "bump" is, the most important thing is that you find a way around it to get to your goal!!

Eating better is so essential!

One of the key steps in my journey to better health is food. There are so many diets and foods that people tell you to eat. The key - USE COMMON SENSE!! Like our mothers told us, fruits and veggies are the best for you! I have this one thought that guides me - if I know it is good for me, I eat it! So right away that takes away fast food!! Just cause something tastes good does not mean it is good for you. For me very little meat and white flour is a great start! On my journey to take better care of my body through food and excersise I have had some great help! I watch Dr. Oz and The biggest loser to get some good tips, both about exercise and food.

Health and exercise helps

I am 60 and entering a new phase of my life!! This blog will hopefully help and inform as we take this journey together! I am starting out by posting a picture of me when I was fatter, YES I SAID IT!!, we should know that we are fat!! There is a big misconception here - this fat person was not that jolly! Let's face it, our weight is not laughing matter!

P.S. The cigar is gone and so is 40 pounds!!!