Dino Nowak’s article, “Sneak Attack,” was absolutely shocking. The subtitle explained, “If you’re battling your weight, hidden calories may be the enemy.”

Here’s the opening:

You walk into the local coffee shop and order a large white chocolate mocha (with whipped cream of course), accompanied by an apple pastry. Congratulations! You just consumed more than half of the average adult woman’s entire caloric intake for the day.

What! Nowak explained that the coffee and pastry add up to more than 1,000 calories, including over 100 grams of sugar — which is like eating 25 teaspoons of table sugar. The article included eight foods that sneak calories on, similar to what I read online a few days ago in Heather Hatfield’s WebMD article, Diet-Busting Foods That May Surprise You.
Since I’m trying to prevent the weight I just lost from sneaking back on, I’m on the lookout for dangers like these. How about you?

Post from: Blisstree

Hidden Calories in a Coffee Shop

Well, I was wrong. Skipping breakfast is a big no-no if you want to be healthy long-term, and in the short-term, if you want to lose weight. Eating breakfast somehow … mysteriously … raises your metabolism, so your body says, “Woohoo. We’re happy. Let’s get moving and burn those calories.”

If you skip breakfast, your metabolism slows down — your body kicks into starvation mode and won’t let any of that fat go.So fuel yourself up to be fabulous. Eggs are the perfect food. This is what I eat just about every morning now.

Here’s a great article from Lifespan — Top Ten Reasons to Eat Breakfast. Ignore the picture of the white-flour waffle and strawberry. If you eat that, you’ll feel tired an hour later. Trust me when I say go for something with protein.

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Will Skipping Breakfast Help You Lose Weight?

TEN POUNDS … GONE. I’m ten pounds lighter than I was 2 weeks ago. People, this diet rocks! I’ve written before about what you cut out of Phase 1 — I gave up pasta, rice, bread, potatoes, fruit, and anything with sugar. I stuck to the diet pretty well until last weekend when I ate a few spaghetti noodles and some potato chips. And sure enough, the scale was up a little the next day. So I might as well just realize — this is a new way of life for me.

I’ve worked so hard there’s no way I’m going to let the weight creep back on. With South Beach Phase II, you can eat a few good carbs — so I’ll start eating oatmeal for breakfast (not the quick kind — the slow-cooking kind contains more fiber), along with my egg. I’ve still got 20 pounds to go. And I’m loving this new me. Actually, it’s the old me — she’s back. I have energy again.

I read The Zone last week — I’ll tell you more about it later. I found out from Dr. Barry Sears I’ve been stuck in “carbohydrate hell” the last decade. I hate that place — why didn’t anyone TELL ME eating that way zaps your energy and makes you fat? Live and learn.

Post from: Blisstree

South Beach Diet, Entering Phase II

This was my first time going to the movie theater since starting my new diet. I’m basically eating the same way a diabetic needs to eat — avoiding sugary/ high carb foods. So there was nothing we could eat from the concession — is this how all diabetics feel? Why don’t theaters offer anything healthy? My mom and I split a chocolate Atkins protein bar and nibbled on a few almonds, along with our Diet Cokes.

Meryl Streep is stunning in this movie, absolutely to-die-for. What an actress! With her porcelain skin, it’s hard to believe she’s 57. Although much of the movie involved skinny girls in spiked heels running in front of taxis while chatting on cell phones, I enjoyed being whisked away to the fashion glitz of NYC and Paris. I was actually kind of glad not to be munching on junk while watching Anne Hathaway shrink from her “unfashionable” size 6 to “tres chic” size 4. Whew!

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The Devil Wears Prada

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Check Out the Carnival

For a period of six years, the participants in this study kept track of how many calories they burned every day. Here’s what researchers found, as reported in WebMd:

The most physically active participants were nearly 70% less likely to die than those with the lowest physical activity level. Self-rated health, education, smoking status, and health conditions at the study’s start scarcely changed the results.

I’ve been taking a couple of walks a day while my knee is recuperating. I’m just adding a little bit more than I’d do anyway. Pushing a baby stroller and walking a dog keep it interesting. If possible, get outside to exercise — it’s good to fill your lungs with fresh air and see what’s going on out in the world!

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A Little Exercise Goes a Long Way

Here’s an article, Optimism Comes With Age, from Science.com that explains research from the journal, Psychology and Aging. The study’s leader, Derek Isaacowitz of Brandeis University says:

By focusing more on positive things and avoiding negative ones, older adults are able to maintain emotional resilience, which becomes acutely important in the face of dwindling time.

I think it’s a choice we have to make — to focus on the positive and to surround ourself with people who avoid the negative spiral of complaining and whining. (Adults can be worse than kids.) If you’re not happy, quit whining and do something about it! Oops …. I didn’t mean to be talking to myself online.

Here are a couple more articles on optimism:
Happiness Tends to Increase With Old Age
Optomists Live Longer

What kind of person are you?

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Don’t Worry; Be Optimistic