Saturday, September 19, 2009

7 tips for successful weight loss

The desire to lose weight must come from the individual. If you're truly ambivalent about making changes in your lifestyle or are doing this to please someone else, you're likely to fail. When making changes, decide what's right for your lifestyle. Your best friend's diet and exercise plan may be completely wrong for your habits and interests. The key is to find a system that works for you.

Don't blame yourself if you aren't perfect. If you once fail at your attempt to curtail your overeating, it doesn't mean you are a failure at weight control and that you should just give up. Accept that you made a poor choice, but don't let that poor choice influence the rest of your plan. The same holds true with exercise. Skipping a few workouts doesn't mean you can't get back on track. Weight control does not involve making perfect choices all the time; rather, it's about attempting to make good choices more often than poor ones.

Avoid surroundings where you know you're tempted to make poor food choices. Everyone has a time when we're most likely to overeat, whether it's the morning coffee break or after-work gathering with friends. Try to plan other activities or distractions for those times, or plan in advance how you're going to handle them and stick to it.

Surround yourself with people who support your efforts. Even our good friends can knowingly or unknowingly sabotage weight-loss attempts. Spend time with those people who will not pressure you to make poor food choices.

Decide on some nonfood rewards for yourself when you reach interim goals. For examples, at the end of the first week of healthy eating or after the first 5 pounds lost, buy yourself a new CD or book.

Stock your pantry and refrigerator with healthy foods. Get rid of the high-calorie, low-nutrition snacks like chips and candy. But don't forget to have plenty of healthier options available as well, such as popcorn (hold the butter, try Parmesan cheese sprinkles), low-fat cheese and yogurt, fruit, instant cocoa without added sugar, sugar-free popsicles or puddings, or whatever appeals to you when you're hungry for a snack.

Set small goals and focus on these rather than the "big picture." Decide where you want to be in a week or in a month, rather than focusing on the total amount of weight you'd like to lose.

A Single Parents Network - Support & Resources for Single Mothers, Single Fathers & Step Parents

A Single Parents Network - Support & Resources for Single Mothers, Single Fathers & Step Parents

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Monday, September 7, 2009

400 CALORIE LUNCHES

B.A.L.T.

Layer 3 strips bacon, 3 slices avocado, 4 lettuce leaves, 2 slices tomato and 2 tbsp olive oil mayonnaise (such as Hellmann's) between 2 slices whole-wheat bread. Eat with 1 cup strawberries drizzled with 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar.

Steak salad

Toss 1 1/4 cups greens, 1/4 cup each sliced carrot and red onion, 1/2 cup grape tomatoes, 2 oz grilled lean flank steak, 1 tbsp blue cheese, 3/4 cup corn and 2 tbsp vinaigrette.

Beef and swiss roll-ups

Toss 2 cups spinach, 1/2 cup grape tomatoes, 1/4 cup sliced red onion tossed with 1 tbsp balsamic vinaigrette. Eat with 3 slices roast beef individually rolled with 3 slices lowfat Swiss and a small whole-grain roll. Check out these 24 creative and healthy snack ideas!

Chicken and pasta salad

Toss 3 oz chopped precooked chicken breast, 1/2 cup each diced tomato and cucumber, 1/4 cup reduced-fat feta, 1 cup cooked whole-wheat pasta and 1 1/2 tbsp balsamic vinaigrette.

Mango-chicken wrap

Fill a whole-wheat wrap with 2 oz sliced cooked chicken breast, 2 tbsp olive oil mayo, 1 tsp fresh tarragon, 1/4 cup spinach, 1/4 cup sliced mango. Serve with 15 small pretzels.

Greek salad

Toss 1 cup lettuce; 1/2 cup each chopped cucumbers and grape tomatoes; 1/2 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained; 2 olives; 1/8 cup sliced red onion; 1 tbsp feta; 1/2 tsp chili powder; 1 tbsp olive oil; 2 tbsp white wine vinegar. Eat with 1/2 whole-wheat pita. Learn 20 ways to eat healthier right now!

Taco toss

Top 2 cups lettuce with 12 baked tortilla chips, crushed; 1/4 cup shredded 2 percent cheddar; 1/2 cup warm canned chili; 2 tbsp salsa; and 1 tbsp nonfat plain yogurt.

Shrimp salad

10 cooked shrimp; 1/3 avocado, sliced; 1 tbsp slivered almonds; 2 tbsp each diced red onion and carrot; 1 tbsp prepared sesame dressing, tossed with 2 cups greens; 3 whole-green crispbreads.

Loaded lentil soup

Heat 1 cup canned low-sodium lentil soup and, as it's cooking, stir in 1/4 cup diced carrot, 1 handful chopped fresh kale and 1/4 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained. Enjoy with 3 whole-grain crackers topped with 1 oz shredded cheddar.

Global feast

Toss 1/2 cup cooked quinoa with 1/4 cup cannellini beans, rinsed and drained; 1/8 cup chopped red onion; 1/4 cup halved grape tomatoes; 1/4 cup artichoke hearts; 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice; 1 tsp olive oil; 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil; and 2 tbsp feta. Serve with 1/2 cup seltzer mixed with 1/2 cup pomegranate juice.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Making my list and sticking to it.

After numerous failed attempts at this whole weight-loss thing, I have decided to face what is really going on. I have NO discipline whatsoever in all areas of my life including Exercise and weight-loss. So now that I am owning this hopefully I am on the road to recovery and i will be healed from the diseases that ail me that are pure Laziness, Procrastination, complete lack of Discipline and lack of self respect because if I respected my body I would not treat it the way that I have been doing. I was fearfully and wonderfully made and its time I started appreciating the way that God made me and respecting his wonderful work. So once again watch this space, big things coming in smaller sizes I hope.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Giving it another Go...

I am going to take all that i have learnt in the past year and a half and in all my life thus far and I am going to attempt to lose 80lbs by December 2009, and to clean up my act in this life,clean up my house, work harder be more organized with my school work. My biggest problem is that I compromise in so many aspects and most areas of my life. I think that realizing that I should not compromise and putting it into practise in my daily life is the first step to living my best life. I am the key to my sucess and happiness,I am the key to my kids success and their happiness. Gotta get it together in the second half of the year. Yeah!!!

Friday, May 29, 2009

Weight loss Strategies...

• Set Realistic Goals – Set a realistic, short-term weight goal. It's best to take small steps so that you can feel successful with each accomplishment you make, even those that are small. In other words, set your first goal for 30 days from now, perhaps making that goal to lose 8-10 pounds. This is a very realistic and reachable goal if you stick to a well balanced diet. Once you've successfully accomplished this first goal, set your next for another 30 or 60 days and so on. In the end you will feel successful, accomplished and thin.

• Share Your Goals with Others – Yes, tell other people with whom you're close exactly what your weight loss goal is. By doing so you'll be more likely to stick with your goal due to the fact that you'll likely feel humiliated and embarrassed if you should fail. Remind your friends that you only have so many days left before your deadline is up. This is sure to keep you in line because nobody likes to feel like a failure or think that they look like a failure to others.

• Be Organized and Prepared – Be sure to have your refrigerator and cupboards stocked with healthy, low-calorie and low-fat foods. This will prevent you from being tempted to reach for unhealthy snacks. You see, if healthy foods aren't readily available and you're looking for a shack, it's quite likely that you'll reach for whatever may be available. You'll avoid this if you have a good supply of fruits, nuts and vegetables around.

• Think Before You Eat – If you're tempted to grab a bite to eat, stop and think for a moment. Ask yourself if you're really hungry or instead bored, stressed or perhaps reaching for food simply because it's in front of you. If you decide you're not really hungry after all, distract yourself by doing something productive, making a phone call, reading or even going for a walk. Just like with smoking, usually the temptation will pass.

• Keep a Food Journal – Make an entry for each meal and snack you consume, as well as the time and number of calories for these entries. This will assist you a great deal in ensuring that you're not overeating or exceeding the calorie limit you've set for yourself. Even if you should grab a cracker while you're on the run, be sure to log it in because every calorie should be counted. For a free journal, go to http://www.40isbeautiful.com

• Exercise – Make time to fit in a regular exercise routine, which includes weight training, as this will speed the time at which you lose inches. You see, by building muscle, you'll be raising your metabolic rate and, therefore, burning many calories, even while you're resting. I can't stress enough the significant role exercise plays in weight loss.

No matter what your weight loss goal may be, it's important to understand that you're capable of reaching that goal. With a little determination you'll be well on your way. As a matter of fact, you're already past the first step because you've taken the time to search for information related to weight loss. You will succeed!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009



Do you ever find yourself thinking, what can I do…one person can’t change the world? Sometimes it is easy to forget how much of a difference one person can actually make. This week try to think about something that you can do as just one person. Perhaps you could pick up the trash in your neighborhood or become a mentor? One person can make a huge impact on the lives of others, their environment, and even the world…so what are you waiting for?

Saturday, April 25, 2009

secrets of a fellow sparker.

THE SECRETS TO MY SUCCESS REVEALED! (12/4/08)

Sorry to burst your bubble, but I have no secrets. To lose the weight and to become fit, you already know what to do. You've heard it ALL before and I'm going to run it down for you again.

1. Time to change. Make your mind up once and for all that you are ready and will focus on becoming a better and healthier you. This starts in your brain. You have to want to change in order to become successful. Keep on doing the same 'ole stuff you're doing and you will keep on getting the same 'ole results you keep on getting!

2. Get serious and come up with a plan. And when I say that I mean you should be at a point where you are sick and tired of being big and out of shape. Making up a plan isn't hard at all. What you should do first is look at the way you're eating. You know what's good and you know what's bad. It's just like knowing right from wrong. You can be good to yourself by doing the right things for yourself.

3. Fitness is GOLD. As a beginner you're most likely not going to know where to start so what can do is buy a beginner cardio workout DVD and do that while researching a program that is right for you. There are loads of teams here on the Spark and when you find the right one for you then get to it. You can do several programs at a time, whatever makes you happy.

4. Push yourself/Motivation. You must stay on track...eating and working out wise. When you don't, you only fail yourself.

5. Make the most out of your workout. Each time you go to work out, make every minute count and push yourself further and further each time you workout. Your body and mind will thank you for it.

6. Educate yourself. Refer to fitness books, websites, teams on Spark, etc. to get information to improve yourself. Learn about the different muscle groups, learn about nutrition amongst other things. It's fun to do and you're learning at the same time.

7. Track your progress. Yes, write down everything you eat and count calories. Some people say not to count calories, but I say do it because in order to lose weight you need to know how many calories are going in and how many you need to burn. So if you know how many calories you are consuming you will know how many to burn off. Also track your fitness and numbers so that you will know what you did last time and how far to push yourself the next time. If you run into a problem, let's say a "plateau", how will you be able to go back to see what you've been doing all this time to remedy the problem? You must know what you're putting into your body, how you're feeling everyday, know what exercises you are doing, how much weight you are lifting, etc. because you will need to make adjustments to your overall program as you become more fit and stronger. It only makes sense.

8. Not a gym person? I'm not either. I have a home gym and it's quite small, most of my equipment is used and it could be better, but it's mine. People say they don't have space for this and that? Well, I think it's time for a little spring cleaning EARLY. Get rid of the junk and clutter out of your house and either put it up for sale on Craigslist.com or give it away on Freecycle.com or sell it on Ebay to make room for the rest of your life.

What things should you have in your home gym when you don't have a lot of space? A small stationary bike for cardio, a compact (folding incline) work bench, dumbbells (different weights) and small rack, a full size mirror you can hang on the wall (to watch your form), workout gloves, stability ball, workout mat, a stop watch, a radio (an MP3 player is better) and a tv/dvd player near by and workout DVDs, reference books and inspiration pictures/collage. Some optional stuff can be a medicine ball, a heart rate monitor, resistance bands (if you don't want to use weights, but sometimes you will want to alternate), a step, a poster of the muscles groups, in the body, sculpting bar, barbell, a treadmill or elliptical machine.

9. Effective Cardio Exercises: Jumping Jacks, Jump Rope, Running and Swimming because they are all high intensity and it uses your weight in order to get your heart rate up. These exercises are more effective than using a stationary bike or an elliptical machine. You want to move your lower and upper body in order to burn more calories.

10. What do you eat? Well, you need at least three servings of protein, two to three servings of fruit, two the three servings of dairy or veggies at least two to three servings of fiber in your diet per day. Limit your fat and sugar intake. Keep yourself hydrated with water, green tea, zero calorie Gatorade (or any other brand) or sweeten with Splenda if you don't like plain water. You know right from wrong. ;) If you're having a problem figuring out what to eat then find a successful person on the spark and check out their nutrition tracker to get ideas. I do it all the ti


The unknown and the untried have held more people back than any lack of ability. Most victories are never seen by anyone because they’re never attempted. The courage to face your fears can build momentum that creates magic. Each time you overcome an obstacle, a fear or a step back, you gain confidence. Every small victory helps you feel more sure of yourself and your direction, pushing you further and faster than you ever thought possible. You can do it! What’s holding you back? True, fears are intimidating. So start small. Believe in yourself and take one small swipe at your fear today just to see what happens. If you can’t talk yourself past the “point of no return”, get a friend to help. In the end, half of the doing is in the deciding. If you stumble, don’t be afraid to brush yourself off and jump back in.

Friday, April 17, 2009

The Big Plan ... is a life style change!

1. Healthy eating
2. Healthy exercise
3. Healthy attitude
4. Healthy karma
5. Healthy soul
5. Writing daily on her online blog

Saturday, March 14, 2009

pick a plan and stick with it....


I need to pick something that works and soon...I do not like being fat no no no no.....

Monday, February 23, 2009

Fat vs Muscle

I see that I have a lot of work to do but it will be well worth it. I saw this picture on a fellow Sparkers Page and i like it, puts everything into Perspective.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

try try try again...



Do you ever feel scared about taking the first step on a new path? At some point, we all do. Starting a new career, ending a comfortable relationship, moving on after a death…all of these can be frightening things to deal with. In life, you must be willing to take risks. Although that first step can be the most frightening, most of the time it is the most rewarding. It is the step that can launch you into success. So, risk it…and take that step you’ve been scared of.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

We cant please er'one.




It cannot be done. Plain and simple; it’s impossible. No matter what you do, no matter how you try, you cannot make every single person happy. You just can’t. You will drive yourself crazy if you think it’s achievable. Sometimes, you have to concentrate on yourself. Do what you think is right. If that means helping somebody else out, great. But don’t go crazy trying to please everybody. You’ll just end up frustrated or with hurt feelings. Try to be the best person that you can be. If that falls short of perfection, you’ll know that you are human like the rest of us.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Am I interested or committed!!



Are you interested in your goals, or are you fully committed? One of the most common complaints among goal setters nowadays is that there’s just not enough time to get to the ones that “really matter.” The real culprit is that most people don’t raise their goals beyond the level of general interest. They’re waiting for a vague time in the future when other things won’t get in the way or when they wrap things up. In other words, when it’s more convenient. And of course, that time never comes, does it? If your goals are truly that important to you, don’t let anything stand in your way. You have the power to say ‘no’ and to set your priorities. Make that commitment and you automatically create an obligation that you’re bound to fulfill.

Monday, January 5, 2009

High Fiber food choices

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-fiber-foods/NU00582

Saturday, January 3, 2009

Day 3...already!!


Old habits die hard zvakaoma shuwa. I am so mad at myself because I have already fallen off the wagon. How wrong is that. I was doing so well, I guess I have to dust myself of and just keep on keeping on. I hope that this time I will get it right. I think that the first thing is just admitting that I have messed up acknowledge it accept it and the move right along. I am the only one standing in the way of me. I have to pick up the pieces fast though because times awasting I cant believe that its already been 2days into 09. time to buckle down and JUST DO IT...like nikey.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

2009 keep watching this space...

“You will achieve your grand dream, a day at a time, so set goals for each day / not long and difficult projects, but chores that will take you, step by step, toward your rainbow. Write them down, if you must, but limit your list so that you won't have to drag today's undone matters into tomorrow.

Remember that you cannot build your pyramid in twenty-four hours. Be patient. Never allow your day to become so cluttered that you neglect your most important goal / to do the best you can, enjoy this day, and rest satisfied with what you have accomplished.” - Og Mandino

I got the above qoute from a Spark buddy's page. She has done so well in her quest to lose weight and she looks great. I hope that I will be to do well this time around. I would like to see the rest(74lbs) gone by the end of 2009. I have all the tools tha I need I just have to take a leap of faith and just do it. All things are possible with God.

Wish me luck and here we go.....