Day 39 - Barb's Sticky Fitness Tip #3

WooHOO, it's FRIDAY, people. YAY!

Time for another fabulous fitness tip from our friend, Barb.

What's it going to be THIS week?


FITNESS TIP #3:  Refrain from High Fructose Corn Syrup Products

Simply by refraining from foods or drinks that contain high fructose corn syrup will help you lose weight! These products tend to make you crave sugar. At the time you're consuming sugary products you may feel energized temporarily, but then you're apt to feel sluggish afterwards. Start reading the ingredients on boxes and labels. You'll be surprised that some of the foods that are being promoted as healthy choices actually contain high fructose corn syrup. If you are craving something sweet, try a piece of fruit. Once you stop consuming sugary products, over time, you'll discover that you no longer crave sweets.

Well, now, this totally makes sense. We all know what sugar can do to us and in regard to our weight loss journey, AND in general, no one wants to feel sluggish and miserable. Barb got me thinking with this tip and so I did a bit of research about High Fructose Corn Syrup; here's what I found:

Many foods we shouldn't be eating, as well and some we do eat while working toward healthy DO contain High Fructose Corn Syrup.

Stuff like soda, muffins and bread, processed foods, candy, and fruit drinks are all laden with the sticky stuff. Added to preserve, beautify, or simply to replace sugar, these foods are not our friends.

But you will also find the sweet alternative in tomato sauce, yogurt, and many cereals.

So how do you know and WHAT should you do?

I recommend trying to eat as cleanly as possible. Protein, veggies, fruits (like Barb says, if you've got a sweet craving, fruit is the way to go), and the like will ensure that you know what you are putting in your mouth and that you AREN'T getting too sticky in the process.

Find natural ways to "spice" up your food and make it taste great, without having to use items containing the dreaded High Fructose Corn Syrup. Even many low-cal salad dressings use higher amounts of the stuff so use caution when choosing how you will dress your salad.

And remember, if you have to go processed, READ your labels. Knowledge is power and we all have the power to OWN this weight loss journey!

I did, through my little learning journey, find a site dedicated to dispelling some of the supposed myths about High Fructose Corn Syrup and I'm sharing that link HERE.

However, I am going with Barb - and my shrinking gut - on this one and will work on cutting out the syrup. As I said, it just makes sense. I don't need ANYthing helping me derail and neither do you!

Till next time!

...where I'll be sharing a bit about three NEW weight loss/walking/get healthy challenges I've been "roped" into...stay tuned!

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August 100 Miles Challenge Update: 

Sandi: 57.65 miles

Anna:  39.5 miles

Kathy: 81.99 miles

Steffie: 58.05 miles 

Bernie: 4.3 miles

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Remember, if you want me to track your miles for August, just shoot me a note and I will add you to the blog. If you are here already and I've got your numbers wrong, just shoot me...no, no, just let me know and I'll change it. I'm good with that. Cheers!

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Starting Weight: 306.4

Goal Weight: 150

Today's Weight: 286.8

Total Lost to Date: 19.6

Scale 'n' Toes 8.24.12

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I am a work in progress, always. Sometimes I stumble, but I always get back up. The hard part is knowing which direction to turn. If I go THAT way, I know I will fail. This time, I'm going THIS way. It's a new direction for me and I will NOT fail. Cheers!

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Day 38 - I Refuse to DIE-t!

Today is Thursday, August 23rd, and I want to talk about the word DIET.

It's probably one of the ugliest words in the dictionary. For me, anyway...and maybe you too, if you are working toward a healthier you.

You can't diet.

You can't go ON a diet.

You can't BE dieting.

Not if you want to get healthy.

Any serious, life-changing-soon to be former fat girl (or guy) KNOWS this.

DIETing sounds just awful. Like going on a trip to H E double hockey sticks.

I don't WANT to go there.

I don't WANT to go on a diet and deprive myself of all the goodies I used to eat. Because when I come BACK from that diet, I'm going to EAT all those goodies I couldn't while on my diet - gaining back all that weight and more; come on, you've been THERE.

Besides...

...wait for it...

Who wants to do ANYthing that has the word DIE in it?

There, I said it.

So, here's my advice:

Don't go on a diet.

Don't deprive yourself of things you like to eat but ON THE OTHER HAND (I seem to be yelling a lot today...) don't be stupid about what you're eating, either.

You can't control your portions (1 cookie instead of 6) and drink your liquids (water instead of soda and juice) and exercise...which APPARENTLY 2 CRAZY hours at the beach and more than 1500 calories burned is NOT...

Ugh.

I'm totally off topic and completely distracted this morning.

The bottom line is that you are NOT dieting. You are life-changing. You can't DO this without making changes.

And you can't change your life without making good choices.

Here, yesterday, is where I failed.

I made excellent choices for breakfast and lunch. Then Mags and I hit the beach (actually ate our yummy salads AT the beach) where we played and jumped and dove in the waves for a solid 2 hours.

I had promised her an ice cream treat on the way home. I treated myself too but didn't go CRA-CRA; so, feelin' good and still WAY under calories for the day.

But then...

duh duh DUH (scary movie music...)

I had a whole can of chicken corn chowder (Chunky's) and a (small, you know...the cute little ones) bagel with cream cheese - one of my all time favorite meals, believe it or not. AND...rather than donate the old cans in the cupboard (like G SAID to do, I thought I'd help us out by eating...)

Major DUMB.

I took ALL that good work and destroyed it.

(...it's what I get for not wanting to load up on groceries before the move...WHICH is just a stupid excuse because I COULD just buy a few healthy things to get us to next week...)

I was still way under cals but it was the WRONG food. And the scale proved it. (PS: my scale knows my 285 fear, too.)

So ya see?

You can't deprive yourself of treats. But you have to make smart decisions about when, how much, and WHY...oh, WHY is so very important. We'll talk about that in another post.

Okay, so THIS post is a bit all of over the place, isn't it?

Well, I've got a kid who's excited about seeing her Auntie today (or that her Auntie has a pool, probably, lol) and then there's me...

Going insane with all that has to be done before next Tuesday and losing my mind (it's totally different from going insane, you know) over how it's all going to play out.

Here's where G usually says: No worries, baby, we'll work it out, we always do.

Ugh. Can't help but love him, because he's right.

Till next time!

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August 100 Miles Challenge Update: 

Sandi: 53.79 miles

Anna:  39.5 miles

Kathy: 81.99 miles

Steffie: 58.05 miles 

Bernie: 4.3 miles

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Remember, if you want me to track your miles for August, just shoot me a note and I will add you to the blog. If you are here already and I've got your numbers wrong, just shoot me...no, no, just let me know and I'll change it. I'm good with that. Cheers!

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Starting Weight: 306.4

Goal Weight: 150

Today's Weight: 287.6

Total Lost to Date: 18.8

Stupid Scale is FREAKIN' GLOWING Today...UGH!

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I am a work in progress, always. Sometimes I stumble, but I always get back up. The hard part is knowing which direction to turn. If I go THAT way, I know I will fail. This time, I'm going THIS way. It's a new direction for me and I will NOT fail. Cheers!

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