tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47541747421115115102024-02-07T06:34:00.419-07:00Fit by 41, Maybe 42Should be: "FIT BY '41, MAYBE '42" as in the YEAR 2042. Compulsive over eater, and it is hard to change old habits. Not giving up. Hip bursitis and plantar fasciitis have added to the difficulty but also to the necessity to shed the extra 80 pounds. Have to get over embarrassment of exercising in front of others because without some sort of exercise, I drop back into depression and coping with food. Including tracking calories thanks to free websites that make it doable. (Updated 2-22-12)Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.comBlogger139125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4754174742111511510.post-56552674666644969552012-05-28T20:29:00.003-06:002012-05-28T20:29:52.680-06:00A "Dear John" Letter<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHX4uh1w9ZPbEMr9JwXSWQ27u6xKL6Fx9nI4uM_WLMl0_mxbOtVOTLVHXW4T1A1wfiSBz1v9FA4VOximo1X0-g_dLBKXWFyjZ_iHQGlTp6GUij3WF_BvrYAkgNLQHo1aAA9fo6z9B8xhY/s1600/paper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHX4uh1w9ZPbEMr9JwXSWQ27u6xKL6Fx9nI4uM_WLMl0_mxbOtVOTLVHXW4T1A1wfiSBz1v9FA4VOximo1X0-g_dLBKXWFyjZ_iHQGlTp6GUij3WF_BvrYAkgNLQHo1aAA9fo6z9B8xhY/s1600/paper.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large; line-height: 16px;">Dear Sugar,</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We've been together a long time, but I find that I need to stop seeing you for a while.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's not you; it's me.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">You are very refined, but I need to be more down to earth. I want to be with someone more rooted and natural.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Actually, it is you.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I know this is hard to hear, but I just feel bad after being with you. Sure, you can be sweet and all, but I'm left drained, like I have no energy to go on. I get sad and moody, too. I know, I know, you're there to make me happy, again, but it's not real happiness. Besides, look at this extra 80 pounds I gained from trying to be happy with you! Frankly, you're just not good for my heart.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It's going to be awkward at first when we run into each other, which is inevitable because you are EVERYWHERE that I have to be. You are the life of the party and everybody loves you. But, I have to ignore you. I hope you understand.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, I've met someone else, actually, many others. They bring me sustained joy and lift me up, not leave me down like you do.(I don't know why I didn't give them the time-of-day before. Once I got to know them, I've discovered how wonderful they are... and beautiful. It's taken me a while to appreciate their beauty). If you want to meet them, that's fine, but remember, my attention is to them. It's not all about you anymore.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, please, don't call me nor tempt me. And, don't send your sister, White Flour, over, either. You're both kind of empty, and I just don't need that anymore.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sincerely,</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Gina</span></div>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4754174742111511510.post-40300443072807200532012-05-11T14:01:00.000-06:002012-05-11T14:01:11.614-06:00Pursenal<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do old <i>to-do lists</i> and <i>receipts </i>stuffed into my purse count as a personal journal?</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEC0TO8mTLbRxyaQ7FDhDrfU0bn0xIEJW13acdnlLVrO41_ELetA_2siOfroIUu5uK09xdiISosFDUr4va0hZWKdBdXwTCRdJ7zyOluG_z5HehKtzNK_Wow1YIcBgRMz2l14r1C_l8Bfc/s1600/purse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEC0TO8mTLbRxyaQ7FDhDrfU0bn0xIEJW13acdnlLVrO41_ELetA_2siOfroIUu5uK09xdiISosFDUr4va0hZWKdBdXwTCRdJ7zyOluG_z5HehKtzNK_Wow1YIcBgRMz2l14r1C_l8Bfc/s400/purse.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Scraps of Memories<br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On another note, I have had Spring-fever. I've been busy with outdoor repairs, maintenance and <strike>planting in my little garden</strike> getting the crops in... doing anything that let's me be outside. The inside is suffering, but I don't care <strike>as intensely</strike> because it's Spring!</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">(Keeping up with blogging has been suffering, too. I'm sorry for neglecting you, my blogging friends.)</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Keeping up with anything, actually, has been challenging. There are too many to-do lists with adult-type responsible things and not enough playing-in-the-dirt-type things.</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Do you have Spring-fever?</span>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4754174742111511510.post-1859944364972508592012-04-11T05:28:00.000-06:002018-01-11T13:51:54.189-07:00Done with March<span style="font-size: large;">March was...a blur. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Each kid (3) missed a week of school at some point while home sick. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Husband's heel was broken (still is). </span><span style="font-size: large;">I felt like I was back working in the animal hospital with my charts for all my patients. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> Last week was the first week that all kids were in school.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the scariest moments was when my 12 y.o. son had pneumonia. Doctors almost admitted him into the hospital when he threw up his meds. But, fortunately he was able to keep things down, again, and stay home. At one point he was on 7 different medications including the nebulizer. It was hard to see my little guy struggling.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Miracle: I didn't get sick. Somehow I avoided their viruses/infection. Here I am being coughed on while trying to remove encrusted goop from their eyes (yeah, two of them developed bacterial pink eye), sleep deprived, and trying to keep the rest of the house going (including birthday celebrations and making a costume for daughter's dance recital), yet I didn't get sick. I attribute part of that good fortune to the 4-5 weeks in February when I was regularly exercising and eating better. It's like I was in training for what was coming in March.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I wasn't able to keep up the exercise routine nor logging calories during March, though. Now that everyone is on the mend, I can feel myself starting to spiral down if I don't take care of me soon.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCsoMiprEcZOkW7YjzuZdIqZ6iWFGAlMfARapZwDCs8JvS0HmhDVQSdLmphncUq_h6tcHq7ZBBqfq-2EphSvo1q38HKH_6bbBsBBfArefwVLFG_BgtCG36ekJs2MUfin8M5fN9itdrdA/s200/blog+time+(1).JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remember this photo?<br />
Not happening.<br />
Except at 4:30 a.m.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">Kids are on Spring break. We've been busy trying to make this house look healthy, again. (11 y.o. daughter isn't so happy that her Spring break isn't much of a break - LOL). The to-do list never ends. But, it's Spring, and I'm happy April is here.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4blrVl7aSwM5aoEtfdPpOf4yWiAXXgVmGbP-aS22WzBP34taqIY2KO-hecM5tficL8b8Fcm9-pgxwKRK0Na8BQrOLI9KyQhUt0BORt9m-ztYuM8bWuS51dsud7ugNB64Doxlcz6vxPpI/s1600/modernwoman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4blrVl7aSwM5aoEtfdPpOf4yWiAXXgVmGbP-aS22WzBP34taqIY2KO-hecM5tficL8b8Fcm9-pgxwKRK0Na8BQrOLI9KyQhUt0BORt9m-ztYuM8bWuS51dsud7ugNB64Doxlcz6vxPpI/s400/modernwoman.jpg" width="155" /></a></div>
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Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4754174742111511510.post-47875987975928066172012-03-05T09:34:00.000-07:002012-03-05T09:34:33.328-07:00Hormonology: Knowing Your Cycle to Help You Get/Stay Fit<span style="font-size: large;">Hi! My friend, Anna, (mother of 4, including twins, who's hubby is also a pilot -- that's how we met) sent a link to me about hormones and how they can hinder and assist our weight-loss efforts. I knew hormones messed with me, but I didn't know the how's, why's, when's, and what-to-do's. I've put together a summary and a quick-peek chart that I will print for myself and keep near my calendar.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Adapted from Gabrielle Lichterman's <a href="http://www.bewellliving.com/hot_topics_hormonology.html">"Hormonology: Slim Down with Your Cycle."</a></span><br />
<br />
<u>Week 1</u> (Start of period - Day 7) LESS HUNGRY<br />
Why? <span style="background-color: white;"> Estrogen rising </span>= appetite suppressing effect<br />
Watch out for: Continuation of indulging from last week (week 4) out of habit and using junk food as comfort food for this week's aches and pains.<br />
Hormonal Slim-down Tip: Acknowledge you are less hungry and don't eat on autopilot.<br />
<br />
<u>Week 2</u> (Day 8-13) ALL OR NOTHING<br />
Why? Two directions:<br />
1. Eat nothing: Estrogen still rising >> suppresses appetite >> tempted to skip meals >> lowers metabolism >> weight gain<br />
2. Eat a lot : Testosterone rising >> more impulsive behavior >> sampling new foods<br />
Hormonal Slim-down Tip: Eat regularly and balanced. No skipping. Sample the new treat without overdoing (and I'm adding: if the treat isn't as fabulous as you thought it would be, DON'T FINISH IT, put it down and sample something else).<br />
<br />
<u>Week 3</u> (Day 14 *Ovulation* - 22) CRAVINGS<br />
Why? Progesterone rising >> preparing your body for possible pregnancy during ovulation which orders your body to crave energy-dense foods to put on pounds. <strike>And if that wasn't bad enough</strike>, our digestive tract also slows down >> triggers constipation >> leads to water retention. <strike>Happy happy joy joy</strike>.<br />
Hormonal Slim-down Tips:<br />
A. <b> For the Cravings</b><br />
1. First few days: <strike>Have family member put you in a straight jacket and lock you in a padded room</strike> don't give in to the junk-food cravings, there will be fewer cravings for the rest of the cycle.<br />
2. Squash cravings by taking a 10 minute walk.<br />
3. Distract self from cravings by doing something fun (<strike>padded rooms are fun</strike>).<br />
B. <b>For Constipation</b>: increase water intake and fiber-rich foods<br />
C. <b>For Water Retention:</b> decrease salt intake, sweat more, (and I'll add to drink more water. I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but it helps, and it also dilutes the sodium in the body).<br />
<br />
<i><b>Good News Break: </b></i> The body is more efficient at burning calories during weeks 3 and 4, and you will most likely be less tired from working out than other days.<br />
Why? The progesterone and estrogen combination<br />
<br />
<u>Week 4</u> (Day 23 - 28 or cycle's end) START MEDICINAL EATING<br />
Expect: *achy, *sadness, *irritability (PMS)<br />
Why? Estrogen descending >> reduction in serotonin >> increase craving carb-rich and sugary foods >> increase in serotonin and endorphins.<br />
Hormonal Slim-down Tip: Choose healthier carb-rich foods.<br />
<br />
*I'll add: Other things lead to these symptoms besides PMS: dehydration, poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, fatigue, seasonal changes (lack of sunshine).<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: magenta; font-size: large;">A summary of the summary:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><u>Week 1</u> (Start of Period - Day 7) LESS HUNGRY</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Estrogen rising > suppresses appetite</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Tip: Mindful eating, regular (don't skip) but not on autopilot</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><u>Week 2</u> (Day 8-13) ALL OR NOTHING</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Estrogen still rising (less hungry), Testosterone rising (more impulsive)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Tip: Don't skip meals, eat balanced, sample treat w/o overdoing</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><u>Week 3</u> (Day 14 Ovulation - 22) CRAVINGS (less tired, more calories burned)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Progesterone rising (prep for pregnancy), digestive tract slowing (constipation, water retention)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Tip: Don't cave to the junk-food crave for 3 days, take frequent short walks, distract self, drink more water, eat less salt, increase fiber, sweat more.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><u>Week 4</u> (Day 23 - 28ish) MEDICINAL EATING (less tired, more calories burned) PMS</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Estrogen descending > serotonin descending > cravings increasing for carbs and sugar</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Tip: Choose healthier carb-rich foods (whole wheat stuff, whole grains, fruit, popcorn, honey).</span>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4754174742111511510.post-82619588296084743032012-02-25T07:23:00.000-07:002012-02-25T07:52:27.450-07:00Self Portrait 17<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4MwKGQ2mVS4USovKm1aJNPIk8Qr1ljmSN2W3wF9dJ9QQRT2gFEbD_ejLC3TR9mhF4N8ci9Q3iFaW0sB0Z0U3vFCZD15qw6dQWf_1UZ-NJfh-RMObLrLGXtxvMkPYEjpma8KKohTNNcA/s1600/mess+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4MwKGQ2mVS4USovKm1aJNPIk8Qr1ljmSN2W3wF9dJ9QQRT2gFEbD_ejLC3TR9mhF4N8ci9Q3iFaW0sB0Z0U3vFCZD15qw6dQWf_1UZ-NJfh-RMObLrLGXtxvMkPYEjpma8KKohTNNcA/s320/mess+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Before</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2uMghrsNK7BNUkzWGgTvl9oXysErd_Fp26mLfMN7DSPl8IdlUpLo6oECq3GC31sJ08XBEIpn7VAhGugOxazj4Pu_mRxKN5yO7pl_OGwOF-La2YnDsEWxYsWAC-kpIuHsuy1AkzseUqc/s1600/mess+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI2uMghrsNK7BNUkzWGgTvl9oXysErd_Fp26mLfMN7DSPl8IdlUpLo6oECq3GC31sJ08XBEIpn7VAhGugOxazj4Pu_mRxKN5yO7pl_OGwOF-La2YnDsEWxYsWAC-kpIuHsuy1AkzseUqc/s320/mess+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">After</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What's the difference?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>The first photo</u>: the mess really bothered me. What you don't see are the pile of dishes behind and pile of stuff on the desk to my right. You also don't see the debris of crumbs, dog fur, candy wrappers, and scraps of my son's duct tape on the floor that should have been swept up by my kids <i>yesterday</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>The second photo</u>: pretty much the same mess but this time it doesn't bother me because in between I had exercised. I felt relaxed instead of anxious. I could focus on what needs to be done next instead of angry that it needs to be done at all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">My perspective changed, the mess didn't.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, yeah, I know I'm not technically in the photo for today's "self" portrait, but self includes perspective as well as flesh and bone. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I have learned that I </span><i style="font-size: x-large;">must</i><span style="font-size: large;"> to do some sort of exercise to help me with anxiety and depression issues. The mess and never-ending to-do list have to wait.</span></div>
</div>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4754174742111511510.post-63039378476318414532012-02-22T20:00:00.000-07:002012-02-25T07:50:32.754-07:00Self Portraits 15 & 16<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzsmE5eZW2o-VFoMAoM6kHNxZDpRPQgdnSdIE92zXF1iPKlFZUiW2eZv684mg_beL0Sx3z9KxSaxrGQ7R6sMF0PA_CLoyWPvCieMOrKATDjCZ2GXEVWCS7VfOoHOBxALAVuHWSFABWhvU/s1600/blog+walk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzsmE5eZW2o-VFoMAoM6kHNxZDpRPQgdnSdIE92zXF1iPKlFZUiW2eZv684mg_beL0Sx3z9KxSaxrGQ7R6sMF0PA_CLoyWPvCieMOrKATDjCZ2GXEVWCS7VfOoHOBxALAVuHWSFABWhvU/s320/blog+walk.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gray Day<br />Even the sky was overcast. It was actually a very productive<br />morning, but when the kids and hubby came home, I felt frozen, stuck.<br />The urge to eat was strong. I wasn't hungry, though -- just stuck, brain dead.<br />So, I went for a walk.<br />I may have been gone for only 10 minutes, but I felt a world better.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCsoMiprEcZOkW7YjzuZdIqZ6iWFGAlMfARapZwDCs8JvS0HmhDVQSdLmphncUq_h6tcHq7ZBBqfq-2EphSvo1q38HKH_6bbBsBBfArefwVLFG_BgtCG36ekJs2MUfin8M5fN9itdrdA/s1600/blog+time+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCCsoMiprEcZOkW7YjzuZdIqZ6iWFGAlMfARapZwDCs8JvS0HmhDVQSdLmphncUq_h6tcHq7ZBBqfq-2EphSvo1q38HKH_6bbBsBBfArefwVLFG_BgtCG36ekJs2MUfin8M5fN9itdrdA/s320/blog+time+(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mine!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I often feel I belong to everybody but me.<br />No one is taking advantage, per se, <i>I've just defined<br />that it was okay</i>. It's not anymore. Mornings until 10:30<br />are mine. Mine to exercise, prep for meals or menus, chores,<br />blog, shower, get ready for the day -- things that make me healthier.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4754174742111511510.post-17698386672723723432012-02-20T11:37:00.001-07:002018-01-11T14:02:30.368-07:00Self Portraits 12-14<span style="font-size: large;">I've been <strike>avoiding</strike> forgetting to take daily pictures. It's good to see where I'm at, but not always fun. These three pictures are from my past week. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZYBRiK3ai0nQYBvbRrM9CAhN1tXgKsMIrx-HND4IMKC-ZxbSkILVxwc6SKy70ARWBpXgNN92WMPrBz6XUB1VFbZM86wi7vAep7Uhi6VzAADdfpAL3W_hxO5SkItlf5Z00_VRWNS0_js/s1600/P1040386.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ZYBRiK3ai0nQYBvbRrM9CAhN1tXgKsMIrx-HND4IMKC-ZxbSkILVxwc6SKy70ARWBpXgNN92WMPrBz6XUB1VFbZM86wi7vAep7Uhi6VzAADdfpAL3W_hxO5SkItlf5Z00_VRWNS0_js/s320/P1040386.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sleepless early morning, catching up on scripture study.<br />I chose to read by candlelight because I both like it and<br /> because we have no walls dividing our kitchen, dining,<br />and family room. When I turn on a light, it floods<br />the hallways into the bedrooms. Candles are softer.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have a love-frustration relationship with the scriptures. I was called to be a Sunday school teacher for 14-15 year olds. It's good in the sense that I dedicate more time to reading and pondering the scriptures, but it's frustrating when I come across something that challenges my testimony, logic, and ethics. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Every year, we teach a different book and rotate every 4 years: Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants. When I began teaching, I started with the O.T. over 2 years ago -- Ugh! I'd be okay with some things then come across stuff that reminded me why I had been an atheist. I've resolved to not take things literally.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJZvNdsAfDcYferw2cpr0rA-FIZAFllQlzEFum3NcaFUQHPwPylPsTLB8q3y-cFl-GXCRlfkS1V9iQRN4kWHNmwiGXNWoE6esH2vjnkfUMjOJxu-4Z6Xa-9JPt6LESiiIJgmTt-UPBvc/s1600/P1040390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJZvNdsAfDcYferw2cpr0rA-FIZAFllQlzEFum3NcaFUQHPwPylPsTLB8q3y-cFl-GXCRlfkS1V9iQRN4kWHNmwiGXNWoE6esH2vjnkfUMjOJxu-4Z6Xa-9JPt6LESiiIJgmTt-UPBvc/s320/P1040390.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Little guy Skye woke up later and joined me.<br />I loved having him with me while he worked on<br />his masterpiece.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh939Zk6S88eYnsVvXSI2TnOaDSOFzrUxyKUd60l61rjLLDezeUyim_3xLfHxr1eVuyYb_t5F-7iq8AKhta7LzXCQ4YzVlXoU87gNKna-Z7TTGN8H4I4XMR2s61-sZHoxisDCznAecRM7A/s1600/CIMG2536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh939Zk6S88eYnsVvXSI2TnOaDSOFzrUxyKUd60l61rjLLDezeUyim_3xLfHxr1eVuyYb_t5F-7iq8AKhta7LzXCQ4YzVlXoU87gNKna-Z7TTGN8H4I4XMR2s61-sZHoxisDCznAecRM7A/s320/CIMG2536.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sending my first born on the "Klondike" - a camping<br />trip in the snowy mountains with his scout troop. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I look at the above photo and remember how we almost lost him at birth. He was born at 36 weeks by emergency c-section with an apgar of 2 and GERDS. He stayed in NICU for about 10-12 days and came home with machines we had to hook up to him -- oh, the awful tape that pulled at his skin. He's 12 now. Strong and healthy. I can't believe I allowed him to go sleep in a freezing tent on the snow. He.loved.it. And I love him.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XUsv0OTlw-GD79x909bb1EFlaOWNI0qp6Kw9Tign9rYMDVxg_0LQcLpt5Pi6Bgub12an3QzSUlfN7N9zkUa0aeZe0VTPhlKDOKneSfLUpe7QMKxNAE6pDQlgESd613UAkjpSn-i6NKs/s1600/P1040408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XUsv0OTlw-GD79x909bb1EFlaOWNI0qp6Kw9Tign9rYMDVxg_0LQcLpt5Pi6Bgub12an3QzSUlfN7N9zkUa0aeZe0VTPhlKDOKneSfLUpe7QMKxNAE6pDQlgESd613UAkjpSn-i6NKs/s320/P1040408.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Presidents' Day -- It's our turn to post the flags in<br />part of the neighborhood. It's wonderful to see the<br />streets lined with the flags. (Hard to see in this photo).</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: center;">Our church wants to make sure all the young people in the neighborhood (non-members and members, boys and girls, financially capable or incapable) are included in activities and camp-outs and pays for all </span><span style="text-align: center;">of the fees (including Boy Scouts). In return, the young men and women "work" for it by raising money and doing a flag service. Neighbors donate money to the fund, and the kids put a flag up in their yard every patriotic holiday for a year. I love being a part of this.</span></span>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4754174742111511510.post-24987132986074496402012-02-14T22:04:00.000-07:002012-02-25T07:50:56.080-07:00Self-Portraits 9-11<div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrwRTBDTB2oy5E_EYtaxRIealbjsUAI-Qw53q2xrxU234tiuZENpo-lcYzn-lBnGc-GS4KDjiTc9I8ajqnJE3LhO5LXR9PC_0ksifVDlpDtaOKex8053o1wxoSNDELqFM0-Hf0GPlvvA/s1600/pic2+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrwRTBDTB2oy5E_EYtaxRIealbjsUAI-Qw53q2xrxU234tiuZENpo-lcYzn-lBnGc-GS4KDjiTc9I8ajqnJE3LhO5LXR9PC_0ksifVDlpDtaOKex8053o1wxoSNDELqFM0-Hf0GPlvvA/s320/pic2+(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Feb. 12a<br />For better or for worse, this is me making an effort.<br />I can't believe it's Sunday, again.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5snlgGcm7kae1zeAkvN6uZGY5RkCcJeUHSSUNTGH27pDnPYlQg4SmajZFRdnXtrvWOyngyFIHgxJxDBivpvVa4fZAsaxk7z2MbnamvQ9G4VU9cZOxL-QDcpocqP63wfhF5lIw81IpbA/s1600/pic2+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5snlgGcm7kae1zeAkvN6uZGY5RkCcJeUHSSUNTGH27pDnPYlQg4SmajZFRdnXtrvWOyngyFIHgxJxDBivpvVa4fZAsaxk7z2MbnamvQ9G4VU9cZOxL-QDcpocqP63wfhF5lIw81IpbA/s320/pic2+(1).JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Feb. 12b<br />Trying a more flattering angle -- up higher. I'm also<br />sticking out my chin to smooth out the double.<br />Don't I look hopeful?</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQlnpupQ3MAk9g4kyCiEwE0R1qkvSnP0lle1H96nFMtxDi7RRkx7oDesFy_ypY6fiEpfy0mDNeEM-pPJD5grlJ5Ra9hukCVXhrRi33fC-fMvKVpTS_jIUe-dOtK8Ry0mlZL_OEnQMmrY/s1600/bed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQlnpupQ3MAk9g4kyCiEwE0R1qkvSnP0lle1H96nFMtxDi7RRkx7oDesFy_ypY6fiEpfy0mDNeEM-pPJD5grlJ5Ra9hukCVXhrRi33fC-fMvKVpTS_jIUe-dOtK8Ry0mlZL_OEnQMmrY/s320/bed.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;">Feb. 13<br />My favorite place to be. When I was a kid having a<br />bad day at school, I'd mentally go to my "happy place"<br />which was my bed. I'd say to myself, "This will all be<br />over, and tonight I'll be in bed with my pillow and<br />blanket and cool sheets."</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtkICOkOUBvIuwQLp8hQAA_wp0RVI7Wv15hlpJ-fjO9OLadMs9W38I7eejoxLyitIq9opcqxfGDlnh3RmtwYXXNn7qoQyg4JdPRLCf535pnkZUsXoHX-zp2FzBBhwA079gJqaU0Cnpjg/s1600/scale.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtkICOkOUBvIuwQLp8hQAA_wp0RVI7Wv15hlpJ-fjO9OLadMs9W38I7eejoxLyitIq9opcqxfGDlnh3RmtwYXXNn7qoQyg4JdPRLCf535pnkZUsXoHX-zp2FzBBhwA079gJqaU0Cnpjg/s320/scale.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Feb. 14<br />My almost all-time high. (227 was my highest during<br />the past several weeks). I'm 5' 8" - medium frame.<br />I'd like to be somewhere between 140 and 150.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4754174742111511510.post-91538746087943190922012-02-11T09:16:00.000-07:002012-02-25T07:51:07.135-07:00Self-Portraits 6-8<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">This first picture came to mind when <a href="http://thesassypear.wordpress.com/2012/02/09/self-portrait-4-whats-in-my-head-vs-reality/">Jill (The Sassy Pear)</a> spoke about thinking she looked better than what her picture showed and when <a href="http://thefitadventure.blogspot.com/2012/02/eggsactly.html">Kyra (Adventures in Fitness)</a> gave a funny description on her latest post about her running. I used to <strike>run</strike> <strike>jog</strike> slog before the plantar fasciitis and hip bursitis. I thought I was doing wonderfully. I felt so <i>athletic</i>. Then I saw my shadow one morning. It was like seeing the shadow of a parade float. So, I totally related to the following photo:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPim6Dxs41F0WsdCjNuefCDGTqJOVnti-NZptdWA6Gx0dILzIUzTxq3J9mazhMrr41ER5VWL2vSUzNtjB8j_w3JzZuzltJGqVUdKsnstjo0YP9VGSsTT65oD6yd-c8AdEIA_RTKy0V_0/s1600/Ikea.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPim6Dxs41F0WsdCjNuefCDGTqJOVnti-NZptdWA6Gx0dILzIUzTxq3J9mazhMrr41ER5VWL2vSUzNtjB8j_w3JzZuzltJGqVUdKsnstjo0YP9VGSsTT65oD6yd-c8AdEIA_RTKy0V_0/s320/Ikea.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Feb. 9<br />Danny and me at IKEA. We had a good time in spite of<br />his head cold and my headache. I love his smile.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTn65Ad3CesE8hjj9Ml91ER_UyHpLPyvRWMHxuao3wW397Fihceg3l-SOps6RDYP4pZVlVXeVsSjemIiiQoGhs0Hgv6K1gM7CjtPfH4rsZAcJ7KUuOcFebqcSAmUbbeQwjQNJFH03ftU/s1600/drive.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTn65Ad3CesE8hjj9Ml91ER_UyHpLPyvRWMHxuao3wW397Fihceg3l-SOps6RDYP4pZVlVXeVsSjemIiiQoGhs0Hgv6K1gM7CjtPfH4rsZAcJ7KUuOcFebqcSAmUbbeQwjQNJFH03ftU/s320/drive.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Feb. 10<br />He's helping me with this self-portrait-a-day project.<br />I hadn't snapped any pictures and didn't know what to take.<br />We were returning from Walmart after buying fabric for my<br />daughter's dress. I'm going to teach her how to sew with a pattern<br />and using the same sewing machine my mother and I learned on<br />(1961 Brother, lavender!).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrUJy7Ev5utbMRk43XUyhKLoXcjanzBbY4ZBOviC9RpaboQ2HN0XngptM7gw_1cOcgt5Z7asULw0HZvpr99604-2OaEtFasg9fAgNlLcfNzsXuCVGPgcJXNokvK88p7N-BpLBhjC7b3M/s1600/P1040342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtrUJy7Ev5utbMRk43XUyhKLoXcjanzBbY4ZBOviC9RpaboQ2HN0XngptM7gw_1cOcgt5Z7asULw0HZvpr99604-2OaEtFasg9fAgNlLcfNzsXuCVGPgcJXNokvK88p7N-BpLBhjC7b3M/s320/P1040342.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Feb. 11<br />Now. Saturday morning. My son has the computer I am<br />allergic to. Danny gave me the little red one as a gift --<br />much better. But, I really don't like spending a lot of time<br />on the computer anymore. <br />(My headboard used to be our fence in Chicagoland).</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">BTW, thank you for the support on my last post as I waded through the initial shock of what I was seeing.</span><br />
<br />Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4754174742111511510.post-83161003527982827732012-02-08T20:36:00.000-07:002012-02-25T07:51:24.344-07:00Self Portrait 1-5<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After the hip-bursitis diagnosis, I was really discouraged, depressed, and went into a tail-spin (and a tail inflation, too, I suppose, gaining 15 more pounds -- I'm at my all-time highest weight). I ignored the blog and spent little time on the computer anymore. A couple of blogs were still fed to my email. One was Jill's <a href="http://thesassypear.wordpress.com/2012/02/03/a-self-portrait-a-day-well-for-the-next-few-days-anyway/">"The Sassy Pear."</a> She was recently inspired by Kyra's <a href="http://thefitadventure.blogspot.com/">"(the never ending) Adventures in Fitness (& Life)"</a> and her project to take self-portraits every day for a month. At first I didn't want to, but then I though maybe I could learn something from it. I've been in a fog for months now, pretty much ignoring my circumstances and surviving on denial.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70UVtW9kEEmXhg6WqISintU42A-8KrMZQbO9y3a6GAco3VgmZkK4G0ofwyWP36-DJANeBEWyH-56XB0XckntlUAHm3XBSJOlM0h_aD84mwds7X-l6YxBBAy-Vg0ijMRTUpCBWGAqvvUo/s1600/P1040315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70UVtW9kEEmXhg6WqISintU42A-8KrMZQbO9y3a6GAco3VgmZkK4G0ofwyWP36-DJANeBEWyH-56XB0XckntlUAHm3XBSJOlM0h_aD84mwds7X-l6YxBBAy-Vg0ijMRTUpCBWGAqvvUo/s320/P1040315.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Feb. 4<br />My daughter and I after her Irish dancing competition.<br />We have a fun time together while I help her practice and<br />get her ready at 0'dark-thirty. She seems to really like me<br />and my company. I hope that lasts forever.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Feb. 5<br />Walking to church. We have three hours: sacrament<br />meeting, Sunday school, and Elders' Quorum/Relief<br />Society meetings. I was "called" as a Sunday school<br />teacher to the 14-15 year-olds. That has been both a<br />source of great anxiety and a growing experience. It<br />definitely is outside my comfort zone. I wasn't raised in<br />this church, so I feel highly unqualified. But, that's the whole<br />point of a calling, to stretch and develop us. <br />When I see this picture, I remember so many times wanting to<br />turn around and go home and not be around others.<br />I often force a smile. "Great! And you?"<br />I have to say though, by the end of the 3 hours, I am up-lifted and<br />glad I went. I keep telling myself that over and over as I make this<br />trip the following week.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Feb. 6<br />There it is -- the reason I avoid the camera and mirrors.<br />Behind me is my sweet family at dinnertime.<br />I am in my office, the kitchen.<br />I should label this, "Tired, Fat Mom Who Has Completely Let Herself Go."</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Feb. 7</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Day 4 was closing, and I still hadn't thought of what type<br />of self-portrait I should take. I wanted to take off my shoes<br />and began to pull on my pant leg to lift my leg onto my other knee;<br />I couldn't lift my foot otherwise -- too fat, pants too tight.<br />"THAT"S what I should take a picture of," I thought to myself.<br />"It's absolutely ridiculous that I've let myself get this way. I should<br />take a good, hard look of what I've become instead of numbly ignoring it."</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Feb. 8<br />I had just taken a shower and was grabbing a bite before<br />heading to the grocery store. My hubby sweetly said,<br />"You look pretty."<br />I asked him to take a picture so I could see what he sees.<br />I don't see it.<br />I see a fat, depressed, tired girl who has nearly given up and<br />is about to put a potato chip in her mouth. Wow. </span></td></tr>
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<br />Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4754174742111511510.post-37978493928121094592011-08-31T06:45:00.001-06:002018-01-11T14:04:46.105-07:00Hip Bursitis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I was diagnosed with <a href="http://www.sportlink.co.uk/hip_bursitis.php">bursitis</a> a couple of weeks ago when I was experiencing pain in both hips. Now my moderately-active lifestyle has been reduced to almost sedentary. No stairs. No walks.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I miss my long walks. They help clear my head, perk up my mood, and keep depression at bay. My mom has a new in-chair-aerobics exercise dvd for us to try. That should help.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The good news: the medication, an anti-inflammatory called diclofenac, seems to be kicking in. I was more active yesterday. The goal is to do more strength training for hips and core. And, of course, get the joint-damaging poundage off.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I've been tracking my calories and had reduced them during my sedentary days. I had lost 7 pounds but am since up 2. More adjustments.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here's a quote from Angela's blog, <a href="http://isladeangela.wordpress.com/">Isla de Angela</a>: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #63565f; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #ff6600; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>What if you woke up today with only the things you were thankful for yesterday?</i></span></span></strong></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #63565f; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #ff6600; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span></strong></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I hope you have a great day!</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></span>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4754174742111511510.post-77063792569905066082011-07-03T20:45:00.000-06:002011-07-03T20:45:01.026-06:00June Gone So Soon<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://dogstardaily.com/">Source</a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is NOT my summer so far.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">June has kicked me in the butt. I have absolutely nothing to complain about -- it's been great, actually -- but just so busy. It's like every moment is spoken for. No lazy days of summer here.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But now, I have an empty house (even the dog has gone to Grandma's), so I thought I'd check in.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I've maintained my weight, which pretty much means I'm still fat. I've really been lacking the meal-planning department and have not been cooking much. The amount of restaurant and fast food we've consumed astounds even me (not to mention the cost). Ugh. I feel hypocritical because my beliefs have been "I shouldn't be too busy to eat right." Then, when demands on my time increase, I'm in the frame of mind, "Okay, I'm needed here. Let me get this done <i>then</i> it's back on the straight and narrow." Or "There's only so much I can do in a day, you want me to cook, too?"</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">{grrr, empty house not empty anymore -- sigh}</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I have been walking, though, which is a God-send. It has really perked up my energy and mood, AND I've been staying off the caffeine, which helps me sleep better at night. High activity - good; not caring what I eat - bad.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So, what happened with the Eating for Your Soul program? I still believe in most of it, but I have not been applying myself or given much thought to intuitive eating. It's a program that teaches about having a good relationship with food and your body, but it's not a weight-loss program. When I told the leader, Jarah, at the last meeting I've really enjoyed the program and felt I learned and applied a lot BUT that<i> I have to lose the weight</i> -- it's not an option, my body and especially my feet hurt -- and how do I go about it, she pretty much said that when I work the program, I'll eventually start eating less and less. She added I won't lose the weight until I stop thinking about losing the weight.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">That was so discouraging. Maybe she's right, but she hasn't lived it. How does she know? Food (overeating/binges/obesity) has not been an issue for her. That's irrelevant, I suppose, because I'm the one that has to take the time to focus on what I'm putting in my mouth and why. Like any program, I have to do my part. In all honesty, I haven't (except for the exercise).</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Jar</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ah recommended one-on-one work, and I agreed, but I haven't heard from her since. I also wanted to purchase two more workbooks (one for my mom and I to work on together and one for a friend). I was supposed to get those over a month ago, but I haven't even received a phone call nor an email.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">...not sure why... maybe her summer has been as busy as mine... </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I hope you have a great Independence Day</span></div>
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<br />Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4754174742111511510.post-81275512483070128072011-06-09T02:57:00.167-06:002011-06-09T04:18:17.426-06:00Exercise with Immediate Results!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #741b47;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Don't you just love it when exercise feels like it has a purpose?!"</span></span></span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">That was a comment from Jill under my <a href="http://fitby41maybe42.blogspot.com/2011/05/5k-pioneer-style.html">"5K Pioneer Style"</a> post. And it is so true. For a person that likes to see immediate results for effort, it's hard to walk on a treadmill that goes nowhere or lift a bunch of weights and then look in the mirror to see nothing has changed.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Well, here's some exercise with purpose. (I should have taken a before picture). Recently, I've been putting in a garden. My yard is on a slope, and I wanted a place to grow vegetables, so I put in a couple of retaining walls and soil.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">When I said "I put in," I literally meant I put it in and didn't hire someone.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">-Dug in and removed sod and hauled it</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">-Loosened dirt underneath, removed rocks and chunks of cement</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">-Picked up retaining wall bricks brick-by-brick from d.i.y. center and put them on hand cart.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">-Put the bricks brick-by-brick into vehicle, then out of vehicle, then eventually into position, carrying many uphill.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">-Did this also with soil.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyUH6e7kqk43-8mGeJbTwvU48IuTncGvsCvMlhtRhi4hdy479vG45PJj8yE4qwwErpKAj-E5fCL0y416AePFncUqvdP9F6g89Diy6Db7kiglVo2sRZyftI1Mo2T6ZkYOI-qJiiAznig0/s1600/garden+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyUH6e7kqk43-8mGeJbTwvU48IuTncGvsCvMlhtRhi4hdy479vG45PJj8yE4qwwErpKAj-E5fCL0y416AePFncUqvdP9F6g89Diy6Db7kiglVo2sRZyftI1Mo2T6ZkYOI-qJiiAznig0/s320/garden+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This is the top level.<br /></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1u9p9fksmr9VCgPNOMk0frQndoYBQb60UglS2Ml-zmF2EIz0UwV6XuCSjCcwpsX0Pr88aiNa3B0I8gH17jUrAi8Xx_33aKVGkfKODf__wIXIFY4obo3LOBX23od4zqu02fFoD6vKpdg/s1600/P1030621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG1u9p9fksmr9VCgPNOMk0frQndoYBQb60UglS2Ml-zmF2EIz0UwV6XuCSjCcwpsX0Pr88aiNa3B0I8gH17jUrAi8Xx_33aKVGkfKODf__wIXIFY4obo3LOBX23od4zqu02fFoD6vKpdg/s320/P1030621.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The almost-finish product.<br />I started off with two short walls that just<br />ended bluntly . I added the top level and<br />extended the bottom levels, curving them around.<br /><div style="text-align: left;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">There, I planted white onions, garlic, collard greens, Swiss chard, lettuce, lots of spinach, summer squash, jalapeño peppers, carrots, parsnips, sugar snap peas, cucumbers, basil, cilantro, radishes, and tomatoes. The Brussels sprouts will go in later, and I need to find a spot for the spaghetti squash. I may plant them in front of my house with some pumpkins.</span><div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hopefully something grows.</span><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">After I finished the garden, neighbors came over and offered their unused garden plots for our use. They are elderly and don't keep them up. My kids were thrilled! We've been weeding and hand-tilling (okay, they weren't thrilled about that part). My 11 y.o. son planted his corn "field." My 5 y.o. son planted his watermelon patch. And my 10 y.o. daughter is surrounding the garden with giant sunflowers. I'm putting in cantaloupe.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We're dirty. We're tired. I'm sore. But it's great to accomplish something.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">I may see that I don't look much different in the mirror, but the yard sure is different, and that is so satisfying. I tried to use good form while lifting each brick or shovel. It seemed like every muscle was being used.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">And I was tired each day. A good tired.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'm not trading my weights or kettlebell for a landscaping business, but it was nice to exercise the original way for a while. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I have a friend who's exercise routine is vigorously cleaning her house. She really puts herself into it and works up a sweat.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;"><b>Do you have a non-gym activity that gives you a good work-out?</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Blogging has not been on the forefront. I hope to catch up with y'all in between summer activities (including weeding).</span><br />
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Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4754174742111511510.post-12393816038133164502011-05-19T05:57:00.000-06:002011-05-19T05:57:37.462-06:00Blurry and Out of Focus<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It's 4 in the morning and my head is spinning with my to-do lists. Items continue to be added to it, and the line between what is important and what is urgent is blurred. Everything is good, but it's so easy to slip back into old, familiar eating and <strike>non</strike>exercise patterns when there is a lot demanded from me.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I noticed lately that I'm not taking the time to truly taste my food nor eat slowly. I'm busting over my stop signals and eating things that I don't even like much.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiudqE_7vzrfDjUIKYYmkmy2JHWwSVfZU6IESlP8DzkkMvpt-JTeCHTtUrczm5E98pbcZL2DYSNCA2lNqes53CDxPhiT9T5ZqCMO2wmAY1vdz06TJqAWRibz7iRX622uqtfhIiiaubXOU/s1600/Blurry_men_climbing_stairs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiudqE_7vzrfDjUIKYYmkmy2JHWwSVfZU6IESlP8DzkkMvpt-JTeCHTtUrczm5E98pbcZL2DYSNCA2lNqes53CDxPhiT9T5ZqCMO2wmAY1vdz06TJqAWRibz7iRX622uqtfhIiiaubXOU/s320/Blurry_men_climbing_stairs.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/">Source</a></td></tr>
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</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am by habit a "chaotic eater"* as defined by Jarah Christensen's <u><a href="http://eatingforyoursoul.com/">Eating For Your Soul</a></u>. When I multi-task and am being pulled in many directions, I don't take the time to feed myself. Then I become famished and make poor food choices and overeat or binge on those poor choices. Starve - binge - starve - binge. When I'm in this chaotic mode, I hate dealing with food (especially when I'm the only one that cooks). I don't hate cooking, but there's only so much of me and my time, and I don't want to deal with it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So, yes, I'm slipping back into that way of eating. "Chaos is not conducive to listening to my body." No kidding.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I've also traditionally been an "emotional eater." I don't <i>think</i> I've slipped back into this. If I have, then not by much. But, I don't emotionally binge the way I used to: buying packages/trays/bakery boxes of pastry-type stuff and digging in, sometimes crying, sometimes numbly staring off into space.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">*{Other types of eaters are: Control Eaters, Professional Dieter, Waste-Not Eater, Offend-Not Eater, Emotional Eater, and Closet Eater}.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZyKpDwa-LIS7EL4Ou_4MHYvUiYFfE9lKKaRxBsidX11QfCxnrkIENsFMqF6qPcMgJajWDsc3t34glBXtvRfUcXqmfpetpiMz_sPmB56O_zDu4Py88fM-C_7NzxYvppS1eWQvEo1N1tU/s1600/Blurry_Prison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZyKpDwa-LIS7EL4Ou_4MHYvUiYFfE9lKKaRxBsidX11QfCxnrkIENsFMqF6qPcMgJajWDsc3t34glBXtvRfUcXqmfpetpiMz_sPmB56O_zDu4Py88fM-C_7NzxYvppS1eWQvEo1N1tU/s320/Blurry_Prison.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/">Source</a></td></tr>
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</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So, what am I going to do about this? I can't be cloned. The list isn't going away.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>I am important; my well-being is good for everybody and the list.</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><u>Be still, then move</u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">First, renew my focus. I will take quiet time for myself -- no kids, no computer, no list -- and meditate/ponder/pray about what I want to do for my body that day. I'll write it down, say it out loud, come up with a mantra - something - to reinforce listening to my body.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Second, move. I will take at least a 5 minute walk or turn on music and dance. This is separate from regular exercise. This is just to pump up some energy and my mood. If I can take a quiet walk, that will help clear my head about priorities.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My plan of action doesn't seem like much, but it's a foundation. It's so easy for me to just roll out of bed and get into auto-mommy mode and not even think about the day ahead or to let the day go by without focus nor quiet time.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>What do you do to get your vision back?</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4754174742111511510.post-12597524890317061962011-05-13T21:21:00.000-06:002018-01-11T14:10:21.779-07:005K Pioneer Style<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I don't remember having such fun school field trips when I was a kid in Phoenix, AZ. Today I helped chaparone a 20-handcart trek for my daughter's 4th grade field trip -- it was literally a trip through a field.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Each handcart had a "pioneer family" of about 8 people. We took the handcarts from her school, through the neighborhood and turned into a field and then crossed a creek (mud and all) into a wetland reserve that I never would have known was there from driving by. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">There we had a chuck-wagon lunch and learned different skills at several stations.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>What's a Handcart?</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">During the 1800's, memebers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka "Mormons") were driven from their homes in Nauvoo, Illinois. Some had covered wagons and horses, but supplies and money dwindled, and many resorted to handcarts.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here in Utah, especially Utah County, having pioneer ancesestors is common, even if one isn't an active LDS member. Students are taught to appreciate the pioneers, Utah history and its settlement.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I had a great time, and was super hot and tired when finished. I'm treating a headache now -- so worth it. I'm thankful for a cool home to go to and clean water from the faucet. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I hope you enjoy the pictures.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beginning our trek from the school and through<br />
the neighborhood.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Fun" hills.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItgrokyctxkQ3d8N59niigA0LMFk8as52Xv1XKqhDTm7esoFmNz0LCdTauBLLB0JLjsId1BCLIRVbZuP-raXOwVgaMOsOy1HUm7m9kVc6Qwa8mLwPZH3P8aXxxDG0_Sdy0GPrJLfiHW0/s1600/P1030551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItgrokyctxkQ3d8N59niigA0LMFk8as52Xv1XKqhDTm7esoFmNz0LCdTauBLLB0JLjsId1BCLIRVbZuP-raXOwVgaMOsOy1HUm7m9kVc6Qwa8mLwPZH3P8aXxxDG0_Sdy0GPrJLfiHW0/s320/P1030551.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going down and down and down.<br />
The kids had to do all the work.<br />
The front steers. Those holding the back of the<br />
cart keep it from going too fast. Those with the<br />
ropes are the "brakes."<br />
Teamwork. Trust.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muddy creek.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2YQeryg9HP0ILI1ziBKPt6manjfqqfUnVynEkfAEXxaa-TYJFwQsQwcD-3isqUw5XC1m5QGK7fOrbeus5SopqNc8BLtj_nLVqblUKD1uMvSDGmFo5ykvWdFDK1axOtOa89EDV5oyTaQ/s1600/P1030568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG2YQeryg9HP0ILI1ziBKPt6manjfqqfUnVynEkfAEXxaa-TYJFwQsQwcD-3isqUw5XC1m5QGK7fOrbeus5SopqNc8BLtj_nLVqblUKD1uMvSDGmFo5ykvWdFDK1axOtOa89EDV5oyTaQ/s320/P1030568.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marie and me.<br />
(That dress is so comfortable and forgiving.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtHwzkyNiagW0Lu1-AuciXEMvNXZ41U6te2U4MDCB01xqdseW177EJ1hzBVLtK3z7dF3Sq-ryEK9TCpeRlKo5wme6kDYZcP9epxMNC40WXSp8-stcP7NNgKly8ayUfcKtZ_zrDmfkw9U/s1600/P1030559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtHwzkyNiagW0Lu1-AuciXEMvNXZ41U6te2U4MDCB01xqdseW177EJ1hzBVLtK3z7dF3Sq-ryEK9TCpeRlKo5wme6kDYZcP9epxMNC40WXSp8-stcP7NNgKly8ayUfcKtZ_zrDmfkw9U/s320/P1030559.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marie catching a bug.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLF7pjavSDhAyaxznTkBZ8wJq-OAvs8QPXDO3XGk9gIKh1cuEP4I4KA31xAJQhrbsGrLul3Jqer-xMno40M_anPLkLzMxA8mf-D3PoIZA-ocBag3BdvPNVX8feIyFQToybsrGCdEclEro/s1600/P1030562.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLF7pjavSDhAyaxznTkBZ8wJq-OAvs8QPXDO3XGk9gIKh1cuEP4I4KA31xAJQhrbsGrLul3Jqer-xMno40M_anPLkLzMxA8mf-D3PoIZA-ocBag3BdvPNVX8feIyFQToybsrGCdEclEro/s320/P1030562.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Row of 20 handcarts.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuorzAQ4JRKTZFPNqhqpSze27oenAlpQ006mI_5RuCUqSS8_JKntGpqicchyphenhyphenuCc3axcvKjeaRn3cXD2JjoX_sI5FEhJUSRdAEX-g6lQq2rmjr5mtPHIt7Fp-3-YTINfcbseK6kS4v0Zo/s1600/P1030564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuorzAQ4JRKTZFPNqhqpSze27oenAlpQ006mI_5RuCUqSS8_JKntGpqicchyphenhyphenuCc3axcvKjeaRn3cXD2JjoX_sI5FEhJUSRdAEX-g6lQq2rmjr5mtPHIt7Fp-3-YTINfcbseK6kS4v0Zo/s320/P1030564.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stew by the stream.<br />
(And cornbread with honey butter and the best<br />
apple I've ever had).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5Tl1gVkTHrJ6Ejqb2S_L_UwoqKW-ETYtHmroNbGR7iURud8zEkXG55xU2aJZUbep6UwUDI-oaddisHUpA-oq20RaE85ERhplRpc4-Pqg-3fVClR49bhoqRrZM-LybdX1c7ngAb2q9mg/s1600/P1030565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD5Tl1gVkTHrJ6Ejqb2S_L_UwoqKW-ETYtHmroNbGR7iURud8zEkXG55xU2aJZUbep6UwUDI-oaddisHUpA-oq20RaE85ERhplRpc4-Pqg-3fVClR49bhoqRrZM-LybdX1c7ngAb2q9mg/s320/P1030565.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I get to call this part of my home.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkh26FW3HCxQ2wi_x8HzG0eLhlcBfYwPXGEZeudRIKHPz6hQdkE35BDNFM-hR7mbgAezV8b0rpIYNJE4mcOIAQ1yv95ePhRbJ-FfoK0P_vUGIl9_u12npD5Gqx_GGPY-wTI_gEKHabyw/s1600/P1030545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAkh26FW3HCxQ2wi_x8HzG0eLhlcBfYwPXGEZeudRIKHPz6hQdkE35BDNFM-hR7mbgAezV8b0rpIYNJE4mcOIAQ1yv95ePhRbJ-FfoK0P_vUGIl9_u12npD5Gqx_GGPY-wTI_gEKHabyw/s320/P1030545.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marie and me.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-f7YgcKhzuSW6Yimi7lDczhtG9e1CfPZZ-wkzOlVNOFwf2MSjN6dqc53EKUewgLLNTx_NGYMbBKF3WzP-s_9DutK3lyslnS0ZPLDXS5TTjZZ71NBOB3MLQl2P04u05V8ALV9dqjcNxl8/s1600/P1030554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-f7YgcKhzuSW6Yimi7lDczhtG9e1CfPZZ-wkzOlVNOFwf2MSjN6dqc53EKUewgLLNTx_NGYMbBKF3WzP-s_9DutK3lyslnS0ZPLDXS5TTjZZ71NBOB3MLQl2P04u05V8ALV9dqjcNxl8/s320/P1030554.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJq44j7IM9PrIrrpEZDDIJg8DbamG1kIk2Y_iF4zAPr9uw7N4saVJ2J0ZiiPCTu2ifFme3Jof-v_-OQLpO_oyxPuW3-EEHbovX-Pe3BJ3yCwVKdgdRqhvayKPgc9634D8UrmPy0vkZmAk/s1600/P1030556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJq44j7IM9PrIrrpEZDDIJg8DbamG1kIk2Y_iF4zAPr9uw7N4saVJ2J0ZiiPCTu2ifFme3Jof-v_-OQLpO_oyxPuW3-EEHbovX-Pe3BJ3yCwVKdgdRqhvayKPgc9634D8UrmPy0vkZmAk/s320/P1030556.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My girl.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4754174742111511510.post-63611381455419984702011-05-10T21:32:00.000-06:002011-05-10T21:32:53.687-06:00Trekkin' On<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'm sorry I haven't been around lately nor visited your blogs. <b><i> Anybody else feeling the end-of-the-school-year crunch? </i></b>Reports are due. Costumes need to be made. Field trips attended. It's all good but just busy. I'll be going with my daughter on her 4th grade field trip: a pioneer handcart trek this Friday to aid in Utah history studies. I'm getting our "pioneer" clothing and supplies ready</span>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsMaMS8wUYARrcUljFNaR_Sa_tJqstbIqoS3IxEFVY_OGZ2hdAlGUDW27enQmDqslTba4SMIIMyFIW31rblCLByqNN59hqFSV2sxwWB_ITomxaegOkE6ZLfbH0PlB0cGMhBmage1MzC8/s1600/iowaCityArticle1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsMaMS8wUYARrcUljFNaR_Sa_tJqstbIqoS3IxEFVY_OGZ2hdAlGUDW27enQmDqslTba4SMIIMyFIW31rblCLByqNN59hqFSV2sxwWB_ITomxaegOkE6ZLfbH0PlB0cGMhBmage1MzC8/s1600/iowaCityArticle1.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Then we'll be getting up the next morning at 5:30 to get ready for her Irish dance competition that day.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNB8Ov75Eiegf_C7CzljsG_PciXYAcbnGNrNK1dwCGrVWnpwAxvWKPX89SwTHxyg52bzCZQphUSjLb1oyb_nOXsGGDo5sVchmghMnrpRMMay1h14iAagiLEbkglK5iC7hVQ2fZpyCGwbU/s1600/soft-shoes-on-feet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNB8Ov75Eiegf_C7CzljsG_PciXYAcbnGNrNK1dwCGrVWnpwAxvWKPX89SwTHxyg52bzCZQphUSjLb1oyb_nOXsGGDo5sVchmghMnrpRMMay1h14iAagiLEbkglK5iC7hVQ2fZpyCGwbU/s1600/soft-shoes-on-feet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNB8Ov75Eiegf_C7CzljsG_PciXYAcbnGNrNK1dwCGrVWnpwAxvWKPX89SwTHxyg52bzCZQphUSjLb1oyb_nOXsGGDo5sVchmghMnrpRMMay1h14iAagiLEbkglK5iC7hVQ2fZpyCGwbU/s1600/soft-shoes-on-feet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNB8Ov75Eiegf_C7CzljsG_PciXYAcbnGNrNK1dwCGrVWnpwAxvWKPX89SwTHxyg52bzCZQphUSjLb1oyb_nOXsGGDo5sVchmghMnrpRMMay1h14iAagiLEbkglK5iC7hVQ2fZpyCGwbU/s1600/soft-shoes-on-feet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNB8Ov75Eiegf_C7CzljsG_PciXYAcbnGNrNK1dwCGrVWnpwAxvWKPX89SwTHxyg52bzCZQphUSjLb1oyb_nOXsGGDo5sVchmghMnrpRMMay1h14iAagiLEbkglK5iC7hVQ2fZpyCGwbU/s1600/soft-shoes-on-feet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNB8Ov75Eiegf_C7CzljsG_PciXYAcbnGNrNK1dwCGrVWnpwAxvWKPX89SwTHxyg52bzCZQphUSjLb1oyb_nOXsGGDo5sVchmghMnrpRMMay1h14iAagiLEbkglK5iC7hVQ2fZpyCGwbU/s1600/soft-shoes-on-feet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNB8Ov75Eiegf_C7CzljsG_PciXYAcbnGNrNK1dwCGrVWnpwAxvWKPX89SwTHxyg52bzCZQphUSjLb1oyb_nOXsGGDo5sVchmghMnrpRMMay1h14iAagiLEbkglK5iC7hVQ2fZpyCGwbU/s1600/soft-shoes-on-feet.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br />
</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNB8Ov75Eiegf_C7CzljsG_PciXYAcbnGNrNK1dwCGrVWnpwAxvWKPX89SwTHxyg52bzCZQphUSjLb1oyb_nOXsGGDo5sVchmghMnrpRMMay1h14iAagiLEbkglK5iC7hVQ2fZpyCGwbU/s1600/soft-shoes-on-feet.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNB8Ov75Eiegf_C7CzljsG_PciXYAcbnGNrNK1dwCGrVWnpwAxvWKPX89SwTHxyg52bzCZQphUSjLb1oyb_nOXsGGDo5sVchmghMnrpRMMay1h14iAagiLEbkglK5iC7hVQ2fZpyCGwbU/s200/soft-shoes-on-feet.png" width="165" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Next in line is making a sea-creature type costume for her 4th grade "opera" which she is dreading. "It's so embarrassing," she says. She's looking forward to making the costume, though.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'm feeling bloated and bleh. Last week I was roaming for chocolate. I <strike>stopped</strike> paused myself and wondered why I wasn't listening to my stop signals. I checked my calendar and sure enough, I was two days away from "lady time" (as a blogging friend calls it), and the urge to overeat was strong. I became extra busy and didn't plan very well and my choices were not good. My body has been complaining about it, too.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">How was your Mother's Day? I have a funny story. Last Sunday, my youngest needed my help cleaning him after his BM. So there I am, toilet paper in hand and helping him when he sweetly and sincerely said, "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Happy Mother's day, Mommy."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HvsxzCMwXuflNQ7AmLThDt3AfOnZhuuFjNpmnVzJOsZXBp3BZOJ1GY2leiIFjCfWO_x_q1w97N-Rayh1_RbPpVSuXdwJQW6go-kfLIROqucYGGY6lM6a1obp8oMrs6RhDJq1mhIS6P8/s1600/pottytraining.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HvsxzCMwXuflNQ7AmLThDt3AfOnZhuuFjNpmnVzJOsZXBp3BZOJ1GY2leiIFjCfWO_x_q1w97N-Rayh1_RbPpVSuXdwJQW6go-kfLIROqucYGGY6lM6a1obp8oMrs6RhDJq1mhIS6P8/s320/pottytraining.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4754174742111511510.post-77151855709544804952011-05-06T20:35:00.001-06:002011-05-19T17:42:28.506-06:00"Food" -- Poor Puppy Dog (Quickie Humor)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqqxvpkLU40Xu5SP7YUPTPSLtGAInnkAxUEab_3HCoIqtF45sGuPApWYABsN15l401ocZVJ6X0F8A9jArrWUmRicYbt6yK0DqBcIZN4mGS58m4fRXWC_WCuvFhTxLt8C9jvHpWdxUbpI/s1600/ultimate-dog-tease.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtqqxvpkLU40Xu5SP7YUPTPSLtGAInnkAxUEab_3HCoIqtF45sGuPApWYABsN15l401ocZVJ6X0F8A9jArrWUmRicYbt6yK0DqBcIZN4mGS58m4fRXWC_WCuvFhTxLt8C9jvHpWdxUbpI/s320/ultimate-dog-tease.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lifewithdogs.tv/">source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGeKSiCQkPw"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>I noticed the original link was broken. I have since updated The Ultimate Dog Tease link</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>.</i></span></a><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This reminds me of <b>me</b> during a restrictive, deprivation diet!</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Click <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGeKSiCQkPw">HERE.</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">(About 1 minute length).</span>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4754174742111511510.post-219867762313875722011-04-29T19:16:00.002-06:002018-01-11T14:17:01.767-07:00Decoffeenated<div style="font-size: x-large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcc8FGIlh4dKOMvVMSohtSxOZUxEr1-kAfM9xs8mTxZpXLFIO4j6YVvK03QD64VgXoYjlKuImCAaaz_k107Nme_eHavxe89X5q8sn_AjeZhgYaOansbf5YtjQ8mbSFldER0mRzpYBVaps/s1600/coffee-cup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcc8FGIlh4dKOMvVMSohtSxOZUxEr1-kAfM9xs8mTxZpXLFIO4j6YVvK03QD64VgXoYjlKuImCAaaz_k107Nme_eHavxe89X5q8sn_AjeZhgYaOansbf5YtjQ8mbSFldER0mRzpYBVaps/s320/coffee-cup.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #228822; font-family: "arial"; line-height: 15px;"><a href="http://photographyblogger.net/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">photographyblogger.net</span></a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt;">Oh, the aroma! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 24px;">Sweet heaven. I love the smell of coffee. It brings back great childhood memories of waking up every day to the familiar and comforting scent of my father's coffee.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: x-large; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt;">When Danny and I were first married in '95, we used to enjoy our morning coffee together. We had our own bean grinder and would explore different flavors. At night, we enjoyed our beer and brandy. We fell in love over Malibu rum and Bob Marley. In the morning, we'd start another day with some java.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt;">This went on until 1999 when we both decided to stop addictive substances, particularly alcohol and coffee.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRqzRihGMmoIr6Pypq2Mz_YRqvpjBe97NZDdz8hSar2fJ-vnEox7rZ3U9qYWC-vVt4gFSYaO5pq-zscL0QB_k-ntaeAoKW026wTvct_27iADWNetc2YwZ8l85gE9EZVei3VhFsmfw_qg/s1600/5171596211_27ae72a9b5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRqzRihGMmoIr6Pypq2Mz_YRqvpjBe97NZDdz8hSar2fJ-vnEox7rZ3U9qYWC-vVt4gFSYaO5pq-zscL0QB_k-ntaeAoKW026wTvct_27iADWNetc2YwZ8l85gE9EZVei3VhFsmfw_qg/s200/5171596211_27ae72a9b5.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4111/5171596211_27ae72a9b5.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.flickr.com/photos/leprechaun947/5171596211/&usg=__w2qKS63K_AWL9mpt3zAqDDGwIk8=&h=500&w=333&sz=70&hl=en&start=42&sig2=tPuKGOcP9imsUvgcqYJ1iQ&zoom=1&tbnid=_lVXVr4kKsw86M:&tbnh=124&tbnw=76&ei=h1y7TcX6KYmqsAOdpIXIBQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dkitten%2Bin%2Bcoffee%2Bcup%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1024%26bih%3D432%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch0%2C1082&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=448&page=5&ndsp=11&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:42&tx=47&ty=53&biw=1024&bih=432">Source</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt;">We were fortunate enough to be able to give up those items without too much trouble. We were abstinent for many, many years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt;">But, I became a coffee-drinker, again. It didn’t happen overnight. It began with caffeine tablets once per month to help me through PMS. Then it became ½ tsp instant coffee once per month. The coffee use joe-balled to more and more – stronger doses, more days per month, more times per day. I would stay up later, telling myself I’d make up for it with a cup of coffee in the morning. The longer my to-do lists became, the more I would drink. I had many excuses to justify my use.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNa3e6kfgGf4tAzmFTEdmhSd1bPaq96IMIhv1P1fk8UC-OiFFDx4rhwfII2UlpWxBJsLeftPcsDBLf86kVhLRYZ3TXvaVeaRGhaz0lkv8-VhvAGtMsImk9NmQRXNgq2ioAwj8EhZwMfo/s1600/11515Drink-Coffee-Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDNa3e6kfgGf4tAzmFTEdmhSd1bPaq96IMIhv1P1fk8UC-OiFFDx4rhwfII2UlpWxBJsLeftPcsDBLf86kVhLRYZ3TXvaVeaRGhaz0lkv8-VhvAGtMsImk9NmQRXNgq2ioAwj8EhZwMfo/s320/11515Drink-Coffee-Poster.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkV2fNfxRLdotbAiZNsytWY2X0DJ8vbwh5jfSlrDz49pn2hXvp86XaoRSn1ZzQWjbDSHV69P3dMvquN4DaQVJz4KPKj0YismHSLrMWE47AoexUBGV_zML75ujP19HwRT2KTvf5uhgPmEM/s1600/11515Drink-Coffee-Poster.jpg&imgrefurl=http://geekishlyapropos.blogspot.com/2010_08_01_archive.html&usg=__XTUfcZtNIXSK4hT-EKqeD6PKPak=&h=314&w=400&sz=34&hl=en&start=63&sig2=7v0tEdk1ckN5kH5wXMY7Qw&zoom=1&tbnid=86yMM3VUWvFROM:&tbnh=119&tbnw=152&ei=Hly7TaDINZKasAPXzcHKBQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dcoffee%2Bposter%2Bsleep%2Bwhen%2Bdead%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1G1GGLQ_ENUS271%26biw%3D1024%26bih%3D432%26tbm%3Disch0%2C1490&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=540&vpy=130&dur=1210&hovh=199&hovw=253&tx=115&ty=125&page=6&ndsp=13&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:63&biw=1024&bih=432">Source</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt;">I wasn’t getting the same effect as I once did. It used to make me happier, brighten my day, reduce my anxiety, ward off depression, and give me enough energy for the demands of motherhood. Towards the end, I was more tired with uneven moods. I felt I had to have it and was dependent on it. It certainly didn’t help control my appetite; if anything, it stimulated it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomStxuF4oInB6oRQmBeLhAM6HWonGOYF8POazHpVL9M0WyS57vuo54jwloHA_wwYpVUQBsPx9ODV3Dc4R602TGtvKqVrYJdwOCNyXh_x8N6GsoxcoC9PggsXJjpcQZ1JbnCP2zEXQnz4/s1600/starbucks-caramel-macchiato.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjomStxuF4oInB6oRQmBeLhAM6HWonGOYF8POazHpVL9M0WyS57vuo54jwloHA_wwYpVUQBsPx9ODV3Dc4R602TGtvKqVrYJdwOCNyXh_x8N6GsoxcoC9PggsXJjpcQZ1JbnCP2zEXQnz4/s1600/starbucks-caramel-macchiato.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.starbuckcoffee.net/images/starbucks-caramel-macchiato.gif&imgrefurl=http://starbuckcoffee.net/how-to-make-a-starbucks-caramel-macchiato.html&h=233&w=308&sz=33&tbnid=xckE-N7NrzCxzM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=117&prev=/search%3Fq%3DCaramel%2Bmacchiato%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=Caramel+macchiato&hl=en&usg=__WUkJYl4QlShxd5Se0EoF32cJb2E=&sa=X&ei=elu7TbfsM4H4sAPip-XeBQ&ved=0CD4Q9QEwAg">Source</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt;">I’ve been studying intuitive eating and exercising the past several months.<span style="color: black;"> </span>Those things emphasize listening to the body.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="color: black;"> </span>It dawned on me that I was not listening to my body’s cues and was instead trying to manipulate them with coffee.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #38761d;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvTJhU5mSgSpEZzZE5Na9AIWgNNC7e5iaYu3SiT0pVLfqNgxFMrIhZB0g2YZtVXxrpiKC_Kgq8Cuc04OXzGEwddX818zkpN63LGp4iBk_0aZu0cWSKIUEtUzpEC41OhyphenhyphenzVSXosXkch8o/s1600/homeopathy-for-dogs-golden-retriever-with-icebag-on-head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjvTJhU5mSgSpEZzZE5Na9AIWgNNC7e5iaYu3SiT0pVLfqNgxFMrIhZB0g2YZtVXxrpiKC_Kgq8Cuc04OXzGEwddX818zkpN63LGp4iBk_0aZu0cWSKIUEtUzpEC41OhyphenhyphenzVSXosXkch8o/s1600/homeopathy-for-dogs-golden-retriever-with-icebag-on-head.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.the-happy-dog-spot.com/images/homeopathy-for-dogs-golden-retriever-with-icebag-on-head.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.the-happy-dog-spot.com/homeopathy-for-dogs.html&usg=__xNMHDrTATRfS54jlLp3214OzBz8=&h=212&w=320&sz=38&hl=en&start=0&sig2=MXTM07kDfwUj40s_LOorPw&zoom=1&tbnid=fbn10CgCtdsUsM:&tbnh=138&tbnw=208&ei=tV-7Tc_RJYLQsAPPpezLBQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dice%2Bbag%2Bon%2Bhead%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1024%26bih%3D475%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=296&vpy=118&dur=770&hovh=169&hovw=256&tx=155&ty=59&page=1&ndsp=9&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0">Source</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt;">About that time, I became ill. I thought this was a perfect time to completely detox from caffeine. I felt horrible anyway, what were a few more caffeine headaches/migraines?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt;">That was a few weeks ago, and I see and feel a huge difference now that I vowed to not drink coffee anymore. I wake easily in the morning. I fall asleep faster at night. I do get tired in the afternoon, but instead of ignoring my body’s signal for rest, I honor it and sit or lie down for 5-10 minutes with my eyes closed. I’m not groggy afterwards. To perk up (and if I have time), I take a 10-20 minute walk. Sometimes dancing around the kitchen is a good substitute. And, without the stimulating caffeine, I can also listen to my body’s true hunger cues. My next goal is to simplify my life so I don’t have a marathon of activities tempting me to bring on the brew, again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt;">I still love the smell and have a coffee-scented candle. Gotta say, though, it feels good to be decoffeenated.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVa-dvA0bbpFL-E2wT8e8oB7rEFd5y_ybgH22Si2qDhtuCnyz1HV2kxGdopbmK9_qIL1tJVqnnjQYFvao6lOBVQbQseIejMsSRdIS1g0r8V3rdfp4VfhQkNqReZrPbYoHWMXQNsxExswg/s1600/candle-784749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVa-dvA0bbpFL-E2wT8e8oB7rEFd5y_ybgH22Si2qDhtuCnyz1HV2kxGdopbmK9_qIL1tJVqnnjQYFvao6lOBVQbQseIejMsSRdIS1g0r8V3rdfp4VfhQkNqReZrPbYoHWMXQNsxExswg/s1600/candle-784749.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.thecoffeebump.com/blog/uploaded_images/candle-784749.jpg&imgrefurl=http://blog.thecoffeebump.com/2009/07/learn-how-to-make-coffee-candle.html&usg=__auCYqvuDxMh4g5mqvKD5dGPQIYg=&h=244&w=307&sz=19&hl=en&start=0&sig2=sgx-dhII3Ol6V1RQFIwj8g&zoom=1&tbnid=Nu9VAxNqeIIJBM:&tbnh=79&tbnw=101&ei=_Vy7TcyjEpC4sAOK_MGNBg&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dcoffee%2Bscented%2Bcandle%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D1024%26bih%3D432%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=96&vpy=133&dur=1049&hovh=195&hovw=245&tx=147&ty=135&page=1&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0">Source</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt;">Has anyone else given up coffee (or sodas)?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4754174742111511510.post-71980307475880353012011-04-27T08:29:00.000-06:002011-04-27T08:29:43.787-06:00Parsnip Pancakes<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I tried a new veggie on my family: parsnips. Here is the link for the recipe: <a href="http://42veggiequest.blogspot.com/2011/04/parsnip-pancakes.html"> Parsnip Pancakes (they actually look like hash browns) at What Am I Supposed To Do With That?</a></span><br />
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font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: absolute; right: 0px; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;" target="_blank">Sponsored Links</a></div></div></span></span></div></div></div><h3 class="description_section" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Vitamins</span></span></h3><div class="" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Parsnips are rich in several vitamins. A serving provides 38 percent DV for vitamin C, which helps form collagen; maintain capillaries, bone and teeth; metabolize protein; and absorb iron. Vitamin K, which acts a coenzyme during the synthesis of proteins involved in blood clotting and bone metabolism, is present at 37 percent DV. Parsnips contain 22 percent DV for folate, which aids in protein metabolism, prevents megaloblastic anemia, helps lower blood homocysteine levels and prevents neural tube birth defects. They also provide 13 percent DV for vitamin E which, along with vitamin C, is a powerful antioxidant. Parsnips have 8 percent DV for thiamine and pantothenic acid, and 4 to 6 percent DV for riboflavin, niacin and B-6.</span></div><div class="" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Parsnips also provides 6.5 g fiber, or 26 percent of the Daily Value (DV).<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
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Read more: <a href="http://www.livestrong.com/article/389317-parsnip-nutrition-information/#ixzz1KjXvgNuZ" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #003399; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;">http://www.livestrong.com/article/389317-parsnip-nutrition-information/#ixzz1KjXvgNuZ</a></span></span>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4754174742111511510.post-72715552028153839302011-04-22T18:58:00.002-06:002018-01-11T14:20:19.014-07:00Snack Attack Report 5 and Quality<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJ3QJ-6cQME8w6IDmmgtZ20rhLLVUV21z3pwqS9rs7wpRuYhY1kKBURs2G0hhYbURWEMxfePUFzRqZpRB0AwecvWcEnvo1HtpKaPl9QTUhr9WuGe2hQAddifvtAmRXxNw7MMVmq81pZ0/s1600/snoopy-with-pancakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJ3QJ-6cQME8w6IDmmgtZ20rhLLVUV21z3pwqS9rs7wpRuYhY1kKBURs2G0hhYbURWEMxfePUFzRqZpRB0AwecvWcEnvo1HtpKaPl9QTUhr9WuGe2hQAddifvtAmRXxNw7MMVmq81pZ0/s200/snoopy-with-pancakes.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A month has passed since I began <a href="http://fitby41maybe42.blogspot.com/2011/03/snack-attack-experiment.html">the experiment</a>, and it's time to reevaluate. Neither DH nor I were comfortable with how much sugar was being consumed, and DH was not happy with the eat-when-you-want-to practice. We did like how certain foods weren't as big of a deal anymore and how competitive eating stopped.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><u>Observations</u>:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">5 y.o. - He: shared his stash often,went through it slowly, chose to snack on a variety of real and play foods</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">10 y.o. - She: went through her stash slowly, shared with her friends, chose to snack on a variety of real and play foods, <i>ate a lot more candy than usual</i> (Before the experiment, her holiday candy would sit on a shelf, forgotten. When it became part of her stash, she began eating it more and more).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">11 y.o. - He: went through stash quickly (nearly empty by Fri's restocking day), prefers the extra-sugary stuff, does enjoy and requests fresh fruit</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Me: I had no desire to dip into their stash; I had my own: a large bag of peanut M&M's that I'm still working on (In all fairness, I was sick for two weeks and had no desire for them. Otherwise, they'd be gone, I'm sure). I keep a zip-bag of them in my purse along with some pecans.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><u>What's Next:</u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We are continuing the snack stash boxes with modifications. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Each box will have (typically): </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>favorite</b> nuts, dried fruit, real granola bars (not candy bars disguised as granola bars), and ONE play food -- all customized to their tastes. Additionally, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'm buying different types of beef jerky for them to try -- a higher quality<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">*</span>, less greasy variety -- and ad to their boxes.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">5 y.o.'s choices: pistachios and cashews, raisins, rolled wafer cookies (plus the granola bars and beef jerkey I'm having them try)</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">10 y.o.'s choices: pistachios, dates, Lindt dark chocolate truffles<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">*</span> (plus granola bars)</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">11 y.o.'s choices: cashews, apricots, pop tarts (3 of the 4 packages in the box), (plus granola bars and beef jerkey I'm having them try).</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><u>Guidelines:</u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">-They can eat when they are hungry, BUT they must ask first when the next meal is ready (if it's within 20-30 minutes, they'll need to wait).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">-They can snack on veggies and fruit almost any time (supplied in fridge and counter).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">-They have to make their play food last at least a week. (We'll restock once per week).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">-I will provide additional real-food after-school snacks; then they can dip into their stash if still hungry.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">-Future holiday candy: they can choose their ultimate favorites and donate the remainder to the Bishop's office (he has a candy jar).</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOiae87r4zmTQag22ZwhUcGbzBd41ocO9LI08Gul4tMTaK_JGoGvlK-nLoMN73ebv2y-cyDPn5f8DNbpr9mT01r6H5bXif5ZPOb9cm-uWxgx_oNTc-nh2PvatxNUBufuk48UNujbPolLY/s1600/quality-quantity2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOiae87r4zmTQag22ZwhUcGbzBd41ocO9LI08Gul4tMTaK_JGoGvlK-nLoMN73ebv2y-cyDPn5f8DNbpr9mT01r6H5bXif5ZPOb9cm-uWxgx_oNTc-nh2PvatxNUBufuk48UNujbPolLY/s320/quality-quantity2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://toprankedwebsite.com.au/">Source</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">*</span><u>Quality</u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Lindt truffles can be expensive but are a better quality chocolate. I want to encourage them to get a taste for quality in a variety of foods. Then they'll learn that cheap versions are not "worth their taste buds." We may not purchase a lot, but the quality will be savored. That's also why I'm trying better quality beef jerky for the boys.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I've noticed this for myself: when I choose better quality, I lose a taste for cheap stuff (which is usually less healthy). I've been working to learn to cook and bring in flavorful veggies and better quality meats, etc. In the process, I have lost the taste for most fast-food. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">(This is a work in progress, one I haven't mastered, yet, but do see changes in).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For example, I used to buy steaks for everyone in the family for dinner. I'd buy the cheaper cuts that didn't turn out very good (I know, my skills may have a lot to do with that). Now, I buy the expensive cuts of meat, but because they are expensive, I buy one cut, and we all (5 of us) share the one. Although less quantity, it's so much better. It's enjoyable. With that joy comes a feeling of being satisfied and fed.</span>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4754174742111511510.post-38192500979998288222011-04-19T07:58:00.000-06:002011-04-19T07:58:25.982-06:00Exfoliate the Scale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bEyavTi51s8GZJhEFq7mpvj0VZ0Ve61SGhsqpfggB9j8Eg2eExyFIJwA-yk-616eunXhRXpeFbNHNUdCYGtJmJp_5Jp9C_AgczZYzi7L59Qp5zrKGNiWES1dRjJaN2QXr9ZOPom9Tx4/s1600/p.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bEyavTi51s8GZJhEFq7mpvj0VZ0Ve61SGhsqpfggB9j8Eg2eExyFIJwA-yk-616eunXhRXpeFbNHNUdCYGtJmJp_5Jp9C_AgczZYzi7L59Qp5zrKGNiWES1dRjJaN2QXr9ZOPom9Tx4/s640/p.gif" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I used to weigh myself everyday, and every month I would do several measurements and report them on the side bar: BMI, belly fat, fat %, etc. The scale messed with my mind. I'd lose weight, see the number go down and think, "That was easy," then not be diligent. Or, I'd feel like I should have lost weight, (worked hard, felt good in my skin, happy), then I'd see the number higher than expected and feel like giving up.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I stopped weighing myself several months ago as a challenge from Jarah (<a href="http://eatingforyoursoul.com/">Eating for Your Soul</a> - a program about intuitive eating/exercising and spiritual growth). This is an action about being more kind and respectful to myself.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here's a quote from Jarah, "Getting on the scale is all about judgment, and it brings you back to the diet perspective you learned about in Step Two. <u>You are letting the numbers determine your day</u> and once you get on the scale, the thoughts of calorie counting, good vs. bad food, and exercise for the sake of weight loss return and there you go! To stop the cycle and the diet perspective, you need stop weighing yourself. It's about giving up the need to control the body <i>so that you can start to listen to it</i>."</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It's been an empowering experience after packing away the scale. I pay more attention to how tight or loose my clothing are instead, and I take other cue's from my body. If I have been exercising and eating quality foods, I feel great. I don't need a scale to throw me off track.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This step also included getting rid of clothes that didn't fit (posted about it <a href="http://fitby41maybe42.blogspot.com/2011/02/at-least-my-closet-lost-weight.html">here</a>). That was really tough for me, and I didn't do it the first time I went through the program/steps. I felt like I was some how giving up ever being size I want to be, again, by getting rid of the clothes. This time I compromised and instead packed my favorite too-small clothes away in the garage. Now, every item in my closet fits me, and it's no longer depressing to go in there.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Do you have any non-scale victories (NSV)?</span>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4754174742111511510.post-7558752951450809822011-04-15T10:13:00.000-06:002011-04-15T10:13:56.046-06:00Snack Attack Report 3 and 4<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">You would think being sick in bed would be the perfect time to blog. Strangely, I haven't felt like blogging or being on the computer at all for over a week. I barely watched television. I slept when I could and read quite a bit (as well as exercising my brain with several Sudoku puzzles). Reading and rest are luxuries I'm not afforded very often. Maybe that will be "my thing" to be passionate about (referring to a <a href="http://fitby41maybe42.blogspot.com/2011/03/what-is-your-passion-or-hobby-or-talent.html">previous post about passions and hobbies</a>).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I haven't been diligent about keeping track and restocking the snack boxes during my sick time. I notice my 5 yo shares with everybody without even being asked which is so different than my oldest (see photo below). My daughter is eating more of her Halloween candy than before (she used to forget about it).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Before getting sick I restocked with:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">5 yo</span></u><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Slim Jims</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Fruit snacks</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Fig Bars</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Fruit leather</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">10 yo</span></u><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Dark Choc M&Ms</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Better quality fruit leather than last week</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Raspberries</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">11 yo</span></u><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">8 Pop Tarts (UGH! I KNOW!!!)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">BBQ Kettle baked potato chips (I don't know if baked is that much better than fried)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Fruit leather</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Raspberries</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This week, they all asked for pop tarts and granola bars (I did introduce organic alternatives).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It's been about a month. I'd like to continue a version of the snack boxes similar to what I did for the second week: have one of their favorite play foods mixed in with real-food snacks like a favorite nut, dried fruit, granola bar, beef jerky. I will continue to serve fruit and/or veggies after-school-snacks.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNB1_4AZ3nWZB5-nGfw5ZWLC6nKw4XVp0nhev0n6ZWUGGe8hpNQXV7d_HtYkSwi3s7PqJXacKMaPpbs3HmWC4xbCqTfOK4khG065kBeqIIOAo4RA9j8j7s4_li4jg6n42D-dmD9s3yikU/s1600/P1030401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNB1_4AZ3nWZB5-nGfw5ZWLC6nKw4XVp0nhev0n6ZWUGGe8hpNQXV7d_HtYkSwi3s7PqJXacKMaPpbs3HmWC4xbCqTfOK4khG065kBeqIIOAo4RA9j8j7s4_li4jg6n42D-dmD9s3yikU/s320/P1030401.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Thomas's Pepsi <u>Not</u> everybody's!<br />
Do <u>NOT</u> touch !!!!"<br />
Yeah, a <i>little</i> possessive.</span><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I haven't spoken to DH about continuing the snack box idea. He was against it but said he'd give me a month. Ironically, though, he brought home a six-pack of Pepsi (short cans) for our 11 yo. DH bought himself a liter of Squirt. I.don't.buy.soda. He'll say our son only had 3 and was made to share the rest with his play dates and brother and sister. I'm not comfortable with a soda stash in the house. Maybe it should be included in the true sense of the experiment, but I can't bring myself to include it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It's a gorgeous spring day today. Time to walk amongst the living. (whiff) Are those pop-tarts I smell?</span>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4754174742111511510.post-51895193039099461662011-04-09T14:55:00.000-06:002018-01-11T14:27:07.712-07:00A Bit of This and That (Ahhchooo!)I guess it's my turn to get sick. I'm so wiped out. I haven't felt like being on the computer at all the past few days. I hope all is good in your neck of the woods.<br />
<br />
Snack attack reports -- I have a rough draft of the 3rd report I did over a week ago, and I've been too uninterested to even think about it. I think they are doing okay. There's still stuff in there, and I haven't wanted any of it. My own bag of M&M's is still there.<br />
<br />
Eating for Your Soul - The 10 week program is over. It's been great. I will now have one-on-one sessions.<br />
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Well, that's about it. My blanket and pillow have a stronger pull on me than this computer. Stay healthy, everybody.Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4754174742111511510.post-63862226624617569072011-04-04T12:53:00.000-06:002011-04-04T12:53:12.960-06:00Candy-free Easter<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.heraldextra.com/momclick/parenting/article_8eab9da6-5d60-11e0-aa8f-001cc4c03286.html">Candy-free Easter: 10 Easter basket ideas kids will love - without the sweets</a> - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://www.heraldextra.com/search/?l=50&sd=desc&s=start_time&f=html&byline=Anne%20Wallace%20AllenFor%20The%20Associated%20Press" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #34526f; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="author vcard" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="fn" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>A</b></span></span><span class="fn" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">nne Wallace Allen For The Associated Press</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> - Daily Herald</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18px;">Susie Peyton, an art teacher in Redwood City, Calif., has always tried to minimize the candy in holiday traditions with her three kids, now ages 11 and 15.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“I’m the awful mom who goes through their Halloween basket and throws out all their hard candy,” said Peyton. “They have a big sweet tooth, and they would eat candy for breakfast if they could.”</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Easter, with its expectation of chocolate eggs and marshmallow peeps, presents unique challenges for mothers like Peyton. Store aisles are bulging with Easter-themed chocolate and confectionary.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But there are plenty of other options, as inventive mothers like Peyton have found out over the years. Here are 10 themes for candy-free Easter baskets kids will love.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">∫ <u>Gardening basket.</u> </span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Gardening is at least as much as symbol of Easter as a foil-wrapped rabbit, and a row of carrot tops pushing through the soil is something kids will remember long after the last jelly bean is gone. Instead of using a basket, try a small rubber gardening tub, a plastic watering can, or a bucket organizer — $25 at Gardeners Supply catalogue, <a href="http://www.gardeners.com/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #34526f; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">www.gardeners.com</a>. Add colorful seed packets, a pair of gardening gloves and a few intriguing gardening tools.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">∫ <u>Sleepover basket</u>. </span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cradle a pair of slippers, some new pajamas, and a couple of silly joke books or bottles of nail polish in a small, sturdy overnight bag. Add a plain pillowcase and some fabric markers so the child can decorate it. Then add a nightlight. There’s a good selection of affordable ones in themes from Las Vegas to T-Rex at Lamps Plus, bit.ly/dUHibY.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">∫ <u>Bird lover’s basket</u>. </span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Birds are another sure-fire sign of spring. You can use the birdfeeder as the basket; many of them have lift-off roofs that provide an original nest for a bird-friendly collection including birdseed, some seed-covered suet bells, and a pair of inexpensive binoculars or a stuffed owl. The National Audubon Society has a free brochure called “Bird Feeding Basics,” downloadable from its website: bit.ly/fpqIih.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">∫<u> Art basket.</u> </span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Peyton used to start with an inexpensive plastic beach bucket from the dollar store. Add a sketchbook, gel pens and fancy-edged scissors. Scrapbooking stores carry a fantastic array of rubber stamps or places like Stampadoodle Art & Paper, in Bellingham, Wash., will custom-make any stamp you want. <a href="http://www.stampadoodle.com/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #34526f; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">www.stampadoodle.com</a>.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">∫<u> Sports-themed basket, geared toward the passion of the child in question.</u> </span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For a gymnast, that might mean a new leotard, shorts or warm-up gear, all nestled in a handy mini-laundry basket. Throw in some new grips, chalk or wrist guards. Gymnasts also like gymnastics-themed T-shirts, posters for their rooms, hair ties and the all-important hairspray and curlers. Nail polish is usually prohibited in competition, so add some nail polish remover to the mix. For Little Leaguers, try new batting gloves, baseball hat with the logo of a favorite team, sunglasses and a book about a legendary player. Future hoops stars might like a pump and needles to keep basketballs firm, a team jersey and matching shorts, and a sweatband.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">∫<u> The food basket</u>. </span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Just because candy is off-limits doesn’t mean all food has to be. Pancake mix, exotic cookies such as Pocki sticks (a Japanese treat available at most Asian stores) and some fresh fruit. Retired Portland, Ore., dietician Carolyn Knutson, who has spent time comparing sports bars, recommends Kashi chewy granola bars, which are low in fat and sugar compared to their shelf-mates at the grocery store.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">∫ <u>The goldfish bowl.</u> </span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Every year, humane organizations around </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">the country plead with parents to steer clear of gift bunnies and chicks because so many of those impulse purchases turn into unwanted pets. But if it’s a live gift you need, try goldfish. The setup is inexpensive, the care is minimal and the fish themselves, in the right setting, are a strangely soothing addition to any kitchen counter. </span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">∫ <u>The cooking basket.</u> </span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Use a large mixing bowl as your container. Add a kid-sized apron — Williams-Sonoma has a nice one for $22 with a garden theme, <a href="http://www.williams-sonoma.com/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #34526f; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">www.williams-sonoma.com</a> — and mixing spoons — Anthropologie has beautiful nesting spoons and cup measures, and a darling chicken-themed egg timer — along with a colorful spatula (Oxo’s is just $7.99, available at Bed, Bath & Beyond). As for instructions, there’s no better guide for the newly hatched chef than Georgeanne Brennan’s “Green Eggs and Ham Cookbook.” Brennan shows a rare sensitivity in her treatment of delicacies like Shlopp (homemade granola) and Lime Ice.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">∫<u> The memory basket.</u> </span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Craft stores like Michaels and Jo-Ann Fabrics sell sturdy decorated cardboard file boxes and upholstered sewing baskets that can be made into scrapbooking kits for the very young. Add a photo album, some scrapbooking paper and some prints, either from your own printer or an inexpensive site like Snapfish, <a href="http://www2.snapfish.com/" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #34526f; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline;">www2.snapfish.com</a>. Add a blank book and an invitation to write in the journal every day, even if it’s only a line.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">∫ <u>The sweet-smelling basket.</u> </span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">One of the biggest hits among the seventh-graders I know this Christmas was a scented candle that smelled like a cupcake. As any pre-teen will tell you, you can find a lip gloss, candle, or lotion in almost any flavor or fragrance under the sun. Recently, Jelly Belly got in on the act with a host of products that smell like jelly beans but don’t cause cavities, such as bubble wands, nail polish, candles and even stationery.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And even if you’re anti-candy, consider throwing in a few real jelly beans and chocolate bunnies.</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“The bottom line is that all foods have a place in a diet, but it’s a matter of frequency and amount,” said Knutson, who was a department chairwoman at Clackamas Community College in Oregon and has worked in community and hospital nutrition. “It’s OK to have candy on special occasions. It’s a part of living.”</span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />
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</b></span></div>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4754174742111511510.post-40118365903209948252011-03-31T13:47:00.002-06:002018-01-11T14:33:29.646-07:00Animal Behavior and Preference for High-Calorie Foods (Answering Anon's Q)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Anonymous" posed the following question to me several days ago under my <a href="http://fitby41maybe42.blogspot.com/2011/03/snack-attack-experiment.html">"Snack Attack Experiment"</a> post:</span><br />
<blockquote>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">"Just curious about this idea. As a zoology major, what do you think about the tendency of all animals to 'prefer' high-calorie foods as a survival instinct? To clarify: sugar, starches and fats taste 'good' because it is more advantageous to the body than low-calorie food sources like grains or veggies. You know, bigger bang for your dietary buck. Any thoughts?"</span></blockquote>
<i style="font-size: x-large;">I do have thoughts (and rare moments to quietly think them through in a tangible flow). I'm certainly no expert on animal behavior, but I enjoyed mulling over your question. Although I recall reading about this subject, I have no references before me, and I don't know if this tendency applies to "all" animals -- it may, but I can't make that claim. </i>(Continues below picture).<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrjH4agF6MrUQNrC3xhwV6JWOA52ynK3sxmgO6bcqwWPEti4H7EHZs65j8Tw8BtqJoUNmeizsOwmKPMJyU8zlLlqdYywuzxlPXjuPqBQnFIJyIYVZ-OVUHMLdtEXUhZwhAzeK3y72irQ/s1600/hunters.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrjH4agF6MrUQNrC3xhwV6JWOA52ynK3sxmgO6bcqwWPEti4H7EHZs65j8Tw8BtqJoUNmeizsOwmKPMJyU8zlLlqdYywuzxlPXjuPqBQnFIJyIYVZ-OVUHMLdtEXUhZwhAzeK3y72irQ/s400/hunters.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: "lucida grande" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 16px;">Source: <a href="http://www.banksy.co.uk/indoors/hunters.html" style="color: #2277dd; text-decoration: none;">Bansky</a></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><u>What we're talking about:</u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In a <s>raw, unsalted</s> nut shell, many animals (including us) evolved and experienced times when food was scarce and had to be worked for (hunt, gather, till). It was advantageous to like high-caloric foods in order to be sustained until more food was found. With meat-eaters, for example, the fatty muscles of the kill would be eaten first. That extra energy was needed for survival: obtain more food, find and defend shelter, and do the mating dance (including looking healthy enough to attract a mate).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioL1aP01LmY-WN9vL_o2kAX81iSevW_ETorYBBEvmkPLNhCbEtA8YUiRGPRYKLhMp2DSzjFtyj-vr7XPEIJunPpySDXbrXYfCz4i_5KhUzHZbyFYGUAGvRnAQKthT5QGL-igHTNzwaJOw/s1600/P1030362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioL1aP01LmY-WN9vL_o2kAX81iSevW_ETorYBBEvmkPLNhCbEtA8YUiRGPRYKLhMp2DSzjFtyj-vr7XPEIJunPpySDXbrXYfCz4i_5KhUzHZbyFYGUAGvRnAQKthT5QGL-igHTNzwaJOw/s320/P1030362.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My youngest.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">On top of desiring sweeter, high-caloric choices, our taste buds also detect bitterness - a survival trait to avoid ingesting poisons. Green vegetables can be bitter, especially raw. The bitterness, it's been suggested, is an indication of toxicity. The levels are low in the common green veggies we consume and won't harm us. However, that bitterness is stronger for children's taste buds, they are more sensitive to it. Which makes sense because their bodies are smaller and may not handle the toxicity levels the same way an adult can. Their bodies tell them "Ugh! Don't eat this!" They eventually, with repetitive exposure and patience, will grow into their green veggies and eat them. Until then, they will most likely choose the sweeter, high-caloric foods, which they NEED for their growing bodies and seemingly endless supply of energy. Nuts and fruit certainly fit the bill, but according to their taste buds, so do cookies, ice cream, and candy, and maybe even more so because of the high sugar content.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Therefore, if given a choice between a sweet, high-energy food or a possibly bitter, lower-energy food, the natural tendency is to choose the sweet one, just like Anonymous pointed out.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><u>Our modern lifestyle doesn't require as many fatty/starchy/sugary foods because we move less.</u></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPNjIp6FeZiwUBKNoWU7nbEAT_m5Q2t9Ep-oHDyfBTDkRTqg0T5hEp9XvDYZfZHreHd4f1Qu56djQqSizIy7CccTC9Q6QdZ3y6dzf9gNS7M3tZDL4HayUyDtv3ex8JVQ4Ov_l0GXY0z0/s1600/cubicles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNPNjIp6FeZiwUBKNoWU7nbEAT_m5Q2t9Ep-oHDyfBTDkRTqg0T5hEp9XvDYZfZHreHd4f1Qu56djQqSizIy7CccTC9Q6QdZ3y6dzf9gNS7M3tZDL4HayUyDtv3ex8JVQ4Ov_l0GXY0z0/s200/cubicles.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thecitrusreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/cubicles.jpg">Source</a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We still need to earn a living to obtain food, find shelter, and support a mate/family -- but now a lot of it can be done while sitting down. Even finding a mate can be done sitting down with computer-dating services. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTEGz-4i0JvkkiuWSbw34P6D9IRdLlBjUAIwGf1X_j2G_3k-Nc983fob9EmDXPjeS3leeF1YgKyS4ODnIXFKiHn3L3_wBNbC6OvnAE7amEpu3VUS9PCGb0DcQCvRETYjUk1-0wu8EJc8/s1600/menage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTEGz-4i0JvkkiuWSbw34P6D9IRdLlBjUAIwGf1X_j2G_3k-Nc983fob9EmDXPjeS3leeF1YgKyS4ODnIXFKiHn3L3_wBNbC6OvnAE7amEpu3VUS9PCGb0DcQCvRETYjUk1-0wu8EJc8/s200/menage.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.atlp.org/">Source</a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">At the risk of over-simplifying, for much of the modern population, we've moved from an </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">active-because-you-have-to </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">environment to a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">sit-because-you-can</span> </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">civilization. BUT, we still have the high-caloric-desiring tendencies. Bummer.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><u>Expending energy.</u></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnY8a6Ew6VC9kHkoM2FfD467BQlSgOtxpsTQdFsnMfv-NfG9XcgW8agN_hLDVp7rR5QmtzpvXSAyaIo-jC0p-F9FaoZGaiffHUVmmq0_Mt1_FV0ZMES7bcSMXadLEX1iKxNUmGkQ8nxs0/s1600/2838230833_d37c02a1e3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnY8a6Ew6VC9kHkoM2FfD467BQlSgOtxpsTQdFsnMfv-NfG9XcgW8agN_hLDVp7rR5QmtzpvXSAyaIo-jC0p-F9FaoZGaiffHUVmmq0_Mt1_FV0ZMES7bcSMXadLEX1iKxNUmGkQ8nxs0/s320/2838230833_d37c02a1e3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3294/2838230833_d37c02a1e3.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.flickr.com/photos/70363861%40N00/2849584213/&usg=__4lIRVP6DW8rOgOAogjG9VDV2sEM=&h=340&w=500&sz=168&hl=en&start=0&sig2=JFiG2UYfR1pX-bqeTV5Pyw&zoom=1&tbnid=q8XDgQb5WgE1vM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=125&ei=tdKUTYW6A6jniALixY2dCQ&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dwolf%2Bpups%2Bplaying%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1G1GGLQ_ENUS271%26biw%3D1024%26bih%3D475%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C73&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=499&vpy=141&dur=1394&hovh=185&hovw=272&tx=121&ty=100&oei=tdKUTYW6A6jniALixY2dCQ&page=1&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0&biw=1024&bih=475">Source</a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Young children (as well as most young mammals) want to play, jump around, and chase each other; it's part of their development and preparation for adulthood. As adults, energy is conserved for survival needs. Some potential prey will be foregone if the cost of energy to catch it is too great, especially if there are other food sources available, although less-tasty.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchZSbHv3fk548UG0ZcRzou_9SV9OLkl_ZI0zskColwd3kQTZwFN2yYi2tjf4UZyAukXL2RRRxgTOTC5sHDGKd6V_om2fwUTp2TlkyBiUnbAc2BX0rPgDXhOj7GZACvfEXAcgBytUmaC0/s1600/man-eating-lion-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchZSbHv3fk548UG0ZcRzou_9SV9OLkl_ZI0zskColwd3kQTZwFN2yYi2tjf4UZyAukXL2RRRxgTOTC5sHDGKd6V_om2fwUTp2TlkyBiUnbAc2BX0rPgDXhOj7GZACvfEXAcgBytUmaC0/s200/man-eating-lion-1.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">For instance, would you run a mile for a hamburger that may or may not be there, or conserve energy and go for positively-available greens, roots, berries and nuts?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But we have many choices at our fingertips. And many of them are poor, inferior choices. They are "convenient" alternatives to the real thing, resulting in not only conserving energy but packing on more "energy stores" a.k.a. "fat" in the process. Thanks to our taste buds, food chemists, food giants and marketing schemes, we learn to prefer fruit snacks to fruit because they are more convenient to eat (it's easier to pop a fruit snack than to deal with sticky fruit, peels and seeds).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>At this point you may be thinking I'm ready to chuck <a href="http://fitby41maybe42.blogspot.com/2011/03/snack-attack-report-2.html">my kids' snack boxes</a> and force them to only eat nutrient and power-dense foods.</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><u>If we go on mindlessly succumbing to convenient play food and a sedentary lifestyle, our health will pay the toll.</u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We gravitate towards easy energy disguised as food. Now we need to educate ourselves of the differences, but we still want them! We didn't used to have to learn about the difference between play/junk food and real food. You ate what was available, and what was available was real, and you had to work somehow to get it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><u>Education will help us stop being mindless/ignorant to what's happening.</u></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KxbA4yct2uaX8u2omLgghZrp-2bx_P6P_VBekxn9sjBEkAJ2CjOfpEX0Wt88ACzoI67-P3l8kc4weetmrcMRPi8eEGxYeAK0D6aV0O2bAga7eUOnR-di8X6YgP7bzTDorn82DDMfXR0/s1600/wake-up-early.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KxbA4yct2uaX8u2omLgghZrp-2bx_P6P_VBekxn9sjBEkAJ2CjOfpEX0Wt88ACzoI67-P3l8kc4weetmrcMRPi8eEGxYeAK0D6aV0O2bAga7eUOnR-di8X6YgP7bzTDorn82DDMfXR0/s1600/wake-up-early.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #228822; font-family: "arial"; line-height: 15px;">toptenz.net</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We need to teach ourselves to compensate for lifestyle changes. Manipulated "foods" won't be going away. Sedentary lifestyles are easy to slip into. We, therefore, must <b>wake up</b> and work to try to return some of what our bodies were built to do and process. We have to educate ourselves that our bodies feel better with real foods and activity. Our emotions and mental capacities improve, also.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><u>It takes work/effort/desire to educate ourselves and family to make better choices.</u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It takes work to provide vegetables and grains in a pleasing way especially if my family isn't used to it. It's so much easier to grab a "convenience" food. When I'm especially hungry, I don't feel like washing and chopping and preparing. I just want to eat. It takes work to plan ahead. And it takes work to educate ourselves that those convenience foods aren't so convenient to our health if they are the main source of our nutrition.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22JGuC9hDn_HRFX7yKVhuuFJYlENKmm3Ahs9gtNo9Jjqo1PQyjzYtfBTB1pSvV4PZncB_972FJBgV7XSk8as4kn5P0rNE6pPWutFnd40hsEsaViwS80WuSSPlhpwKjkV_XOcQv33dieg/s1600/stairmaster-stepmill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi22JGuC9hDn_HRFX7yKVhuuFJYlENKmm3Ahs9gtNo9Jjqo1PQyjzYtfBTB1pSvV4PZncB_972FJBgV7XSk8as4kn5P0rNE6pPWutFnd40hsEsaViwS80WuSSPlhpwKjkV_XOcQv33dieg/s200/stairmaster-stepmill.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #228822; font-family: "arial"; line-height: 15px;">oneshotfitness.com</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It may take work for some of us to MOVE in our sedentary lifestyle (and stop conserving energy for the hunt or migration). To some it comes naturally because they know how good moving feels and of its benefits. They have found exercises they like. For others, it takes work to convince themselves to run although no one is chasing them, or climb going no where or to do any kind of exercise that doesn't result in obtaining food and shelter (wouldn't our ancestors laugh at us?!). {<i>Me personally, I know how good activity feels, and my body craves it, but sometimes I ignore my body's incessant reminders that it needs to be more active. I'm an all-or-nothing kind of person for most things in my life, including exercises. I'm teaching myself 10 minutes here and there is okay, and that I don't have to act like a person in training</i>}.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><u>Educate ourselves and our family. But who do you believe?</u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We need to educate ourselves, and it may take trial and error to find what is right you. Now, who do you believe to provide you with accurate information in an ever-changing, multi-million dollar diet industry? Who's expert advice do you believe?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #274e13;">The body, untainted, is an expert.</span></b> It's amazing. It will tell you when it is hungry and full. It will tell you it didn't like what you just ate. It will tell you what it needs. It has evolved to do that. And in the last 60 or so years, we've managed to mess with its perfect system by ignoring the body's signals.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HRd2pph7zaYlvEUnYXtJnoH9-QmRQYqVDuFt1fmCwnLaeZdGIXnkJGsh1eC7MuA7_GeRjWmeNFyJbCItfAGrv5o2xn3smRQ8El0sWeVJNefkiAVEUKPZQZJO5qO_QLpATc3WdLBUz8Y/s1600/2171492103_8d2b559487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HRd2pph7zaYlvEUnYXtJnoH9-QmRQYqVDuFt1fmCwnLaeZdGIXnkJGsh1eC7MuA7_GeRjWmeNFyJbCItfAGrv5o2xn3smRQ8El0sWeVJNefkiAVEUKPZQZJO5qO_QLpATc3WdLBUz8Y/s320/2171492103_8d2b559487.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://draft.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1637134900"></span>I'm amazed I found this photo.<br />
I love how "I have a voice" is in front of the<br />
body and stomach area.<span id="goog_1637134901"></span></a></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><u>We blame ourselves for having cravings.</u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cravings are signals from the body. When we go on fad diets and eliminate food groups, the body tells you it needs it. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: cyan;">The signal is ignored because it doesn't fit into the diet designed by "experts."</span> The body proceeds to scream for it in the form of cravings. Then you grab a cheap, junky version of what it's really asking for and blame yourself for not having willpower.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><u>I love this quote (don't know the source), "Obesity is a symptom of starvation."</u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Like I said earlier, the body is the expert. It sends us signals. We grab sub par versions of what it is asking for (we follow only our taste buds), and our bodies never really get fed and sends more signals. There may be something in the stomach, and our taste buds approve, but our bodies are not happy or satisfied -- it's starving for real nutrition.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><u>What to do?</u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Do I pull the snack stash boxes? No, not yet. I want all of us to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple; font-size: x-large;"><b>be conscious</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><i>what</i> is out there </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-size: large;"><i>why</i> it is out there </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">and make choices.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'm not going to be around forever to tell them (my kids), "No, you can't have that (play/junk food)." I want them to learn they can have it but then choose not to most of the time. (Besides, how much more do you want something that you are told you can't have?)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'm <u>learning</u> how to cook real foods <u>and</u> am <u>teaching</u> my kids how to cook so they are not at the mercy of fast-food chains, packaged foods, and restaurants. <b>The art of cooking in everyday households is disappearing - zap a tray, open a box, dump a can. When all else fails, drive to a drive-thru.</b></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">(Interesting, after cooking real foods with real flavors, fast food chains have become unappealing for the most part).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><u>Looks like I've written a lot (Anonymous, are you sorry you asked?).</u></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Other things on my mind but won't get into:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">-I wonder if we are the only species that binges. I'm sure there's some rat-study somewhere.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">-Emotions, what kind of affect they have on our energy and desire to grab sugar</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">-Artificial ways of receiving energy</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">-Thinking you are healthy because you are skinny</span>Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12410897346234609178noreply@blogger.com0