THINGS YOU COULD SAY

You could say ..you were under a lot of stress dealing with the flight and your mom .. and the oddities of aging. stopping at the store in the airport.. mom complaining that she needed gum.. the airport does not sell gum... mom walking down the hallway with her purse wide open and me explaining that you just can not do that.. You could say.. well Honi you know your mom almost fell in the grave at the cemetery head first.. so its okay.... You could say.. yeah that was funny about your mom with the lipstick in her hair... You could say a lot of things.. to me.. fact is there was no excuse for the way I ate the last 2 days... fact is I should have had better self control fact is .. I did not. At the cemetery .. in the jewish faith one of most meaningful things you can do for someone who passes is help bury them.. you pick up the shovel usually backwards.. ( so it would not be a task of ease ) and scoop some dirt in... I kept telling my sister to watch mom... sure enough when mom was putting the dirt in the grave she tripped and
almost fell in head first.... thank god.. the woman that officiated was there and grabbed mom... she looked at me and said.. boy I almost had a heart attack ...last night we were in the kitchen and I noticed a lump in moms hair.. I was laughing cuz I thought .. she had chocolate cake in her hair.. there were tons of folks here night so that was believable.. only it was not cake.. i pulled a chunk of it out. I really got tickled because I honestly thought it was cake until I smelled it and realized it was lipstick ... well I lost it at the point and started laughing tears rolling down my face... .. so did my cousin... we tried to get the lipstick out and then mom had like a purple patch of hair ... we were hysterical.. laughing... finally mom was able to get it out... how the lipstick got in her hair is a mystery... and it was her lipstick because my cousin discovered a chunk missing out of her lipstick oy... we were laughing this morning about it.. bless my moms heart... I just watch these things that happen to her... I almost feel she wants to be old before her time.. with some of the things she does... other times it just makes me sad to watch things just change with her... memory.. being self assured.. physical stability... emotional stability... just makes me sad...
Though it was wonderful to see my cousins I prefer it be under better circumstances... we did a lot of remenising... and laughing... My aunt was the type that took no shit from anyone... for example.. when my cousin was being bar mitzvahed .. my aunt went to publix to pick up some pies.. the lady behind the counter at the bakery said.. You jews are all alike.. picky and wear too much jewelry... my aunt did not say a word.. she then asked for a pie .. a boston cream pie.. she wanted to look at it.. she had it in her hand.. looked at .. and then promptly smashed it into the womans behind the counters face.... The police was called my aunt fell apart when she realized what she did... truth be told.. she knew what she was doing.. in her own somewhat not subtle and yet most wonderful way... All she wanted was to make it to our wedding.. all she got.. was being buried in the dress she had planned to wear...
In our faith... we have a period of mourning called Shiva.. it means 7 .. as in 7 days of mourning excluding the sabbath and jewish holidays... .. initially... most folks do 3 days...depending on how religious you are.. SO last night before the Shiva service... the woman who had officiated at the funeral.. her name is Beth Schafer Beth Schafer - Uniting people of faith through music. talked about my aunt... my cousins had told her I am planning on walking down the aisle to one of her songs... she played it for me.. in front of all the folks from the synagogue who came to make a condolence call last night... it was amazing.. you can go to her website and hear the song if you would like.. its called Lev b Lev.. ( it means Heart to Heart) its primarily in english .. so listen to the words... http://www.bethschafer.com/music-21.html ..

We got home this evening.. and it was fairly uneventful... a fairly large guy sat next to me in the plane I was between my mom and him.. and it was driving me nuts... he was pretty spread out and sleeping the whole way .. lucky my mom is little because I came close to sitting in her lap.. lol..

Well now I am home.. back in my routine..
Wish me well..
Wish you well too...

EVER CHANGING LIFE

At 11 am today Steve and I attended a memorial service for a wonderful gentleman.. He was leader in our community and up until he broke his hip 3 weeks ago at 96 years old a very active and vital man. He passed away this past Saturday morning in his sleep... Our synagogue was filled to the brim.. the service was lovely.. we did not go to the graveside service but we saw the processional leave the temple. Steve and I felt blessed because when he was 95 years old we made a dream of his come true... Steve gave him a ride on the motorcycle... and he and Steve had planned that when he turned 100 that Steve would take him out to Barbers Motorsport park for a ride around the track... We honestly thought he would make it too... his death though sad.. is a celebration of a good life.... On our way back to work.. my cell phone rang.. it was my sister letting me know that This morning my Aunt passed away..... I find comfort in knowing she does not suffer anymore.. and that I believe she is with my Uncle and might even be with my Dad. I find comfort in believing that those we lose are there to guide us from this life to that life. The funeral is Wednesday and I will be there with my mother. I probably will blog again on Thursday.. wish u all a great week...
Am going to try and remain balanced with my eating... and patient with myself.
Wish me well
Wish you well too...

NEVER EASY TO SAY GOODBYE

I have a very indifferent feeling right now.. I am waiting for the phone to ring with the news that my Aunt has passed away. 8 weeks ago she was diagnosed with cancer all over body 10 weeks ago she was a doting grandmother and worked in a business with her children. For everything we take for granted be reminded that in an instant it can all be taken away from you.. Most everything in our lives is beyond our control. Our lives... the one thing we think we have the ulitmate control over.. our bodies.. we really don't even have that. Sure we can control what we put in our bodies.. but we can not control what ultimately will happen to our bodies.. We really do not got to choose how we die. That is one of the quirks of life. You can be fine one second and poof.. gone the next.... Or you can linger .. not quiet ready to say goodbye... for some reason just holding on... and then you slip quietly away... I just wonder sometimes what the plan is.. why things fall as the do .. and why those we love have to suffer.. but I guess that is just one of those life questions with out an answer.. They say its just a matter of days now.. Hospice is back.. and the clock just sits there and ticks back and forth... Where is the comfort? the comfort is knowing that through medication she is no longer in pain.. For all we know.. my uncle is waiting to take her hand as she leaves us.. thats what I would like to think.. that she is with my uncle right now.. and might even see my dad soon... I would like to think it will be a peaceful transition for her.. Those of us here left with the suitcases full of grief.. and the tangible proof of life.. have the hard part.. I simpley do not know how my cousins are getting through each day... wondering when the last second will be that they have with their mother...
So my friends.. all I can say .. is love your family.. make sure they know it.. be thankful for all the goodness in life.. put the pettiness aside.. see people for what they really are not what you percieve them to be...and simply just be thankful for all of God's gifts.
Have a good weekend..
Food is good.. weight is good..
I walked on tuesday at the gym
and I have another infection in my foot.. oh JOY... other than that.. I plan to get back walking again.. even if I can not do a lot .. I am determined to do something...
Wish me well..
Wish you well too

WHAT PART OF START DON'T I UNDERSTAND

OKAY ..so I am nearly down 30 pounds.. whooo hooo great... but for the last 8 weeks I have weighed in and around the same weight... 183ish... SO WHAT PART OF START DON'T I UNDERSTAND!!!!!!! I have got to START moving again... I have got to START exercising CAREFULLY.. why am I so afraid of injuring myself.. ( DUH because I do it all the time) ... SO here is the plan.. today I have been released from PT to Walk on the track or any flat surface.. I can do the sitdown stair stepper, I can do the recumbant bike.. I still have another week before I can get in the pool.. SO on that note I went to Walmart I got an Armband for my IPOD.. and I am going to walk on the track after work today.. 30 minutes... moving my fat ass... Hopefully with my decent eating .. this will help shake up my system to start moving.. my goal before my wedding is to be out of the 180s... C'mon Honi this is doable.. I can do this.. my long term goal is 132... Rise and Shine Honi.. get with the program.. it is TIME!!!!!..
Wish me well
Wish you well too...

FLEXISM..and other tidbits from the news

Being a fan of Sparkpeople.com I love to read articles this website produces... here is a a great article about ... FLEXISM.. the ability to limit meat in your diet and adopt a more vegitarian outlook... in other words.. as I have said often times.. treating meat as a side item instead of the main course...http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=902.. It is a super article that discusses food options that are appealing with out sacrificing flavor or taste...

How about that study regarding the Mcdonald's logo on preschoolers... the power of advertising is amazing....http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/5030930.html and alarming obesity experts say.. OBESITY EXPERTS.. what the hell is an obesity expert... I think.. we all are obesity experts.. forget the lab coat... sorry.. I just hate the term obesity experts... anyhow.... the article stated that children given food wrapped in Mcdonalds wrappers prefered that over food wrapped in plain wrappers... the food was identical.. even baby carrots served in a Mcdonalds french fry wrapper was prefered over the typical wrapping of baby carrots.. Through the lovely media children are taught that anything in a Mcdonalds wrapper has to taste better then a plain wrapper.. hmm... I think that could be used to Mc D's advantage.. by promoting healthier options for everyone... It would have the Mcdonalds label on it.. but be more nutritionally sound... that would indeed be amazing..... Take a peak at the article and tell me what you think...

Gotta go log my food..
Wish me well.
Wish you well too..

MELTING MONDAY with a side of Questions...

okay!!! I am officially ready for winter... forget fall.. just bring me some cold outside air... it is sooooooo hot here.. will be about 100 today... even if it does rain it only succeeds in making the air so muggy its hardly breathable... Summer go away .. Winter come on down!!!!!

Enough weather meanderings... so here is a question for all of us out there? ... do you think you eat more in the Summer or winter.???.. In the winter do you feel sort of like a bear in hibernation.. pack on the warm rich foods of winter and stick to the cool fresh fruits of summer... Seems I find that I am less hungry in the summer because of the heat... I prefer cooler things.. Steve has gotten in the phenominal habit of making fresh fruit salad nearly every week.. We get Honeydews, Cantaloupes, Watermelons, grapes... and an occasional mango and mix it all together and you have a weeks worth of yummy good for you fruit salad... In the winter we tend to make a lot of soups or chili.. this year that is going to have to be ammended a little.. watching the fat in the soups and chili ... which I think is very doable..

Are you better at exercising in the summer or winter ??? I think I do better in the cooler weather but I am trying to get better in the warmer weather.. I just hate heat.... Yuck....!!!!
Well I am off to work...
wish me well
Wish you well too!!!

CHECKING OUT THOSE FOOD LABELS, WANDERING AROUND IN RECIPE LAND AND VARIOUS OTHER FOOD PONDERINGS...

Here is a link to one of my most favorite sites Hungry Girl.. this is todays newsletter about food that can seem friendly.. but should be avoided.. it also has a great blurb about label reading.. WE GOTTA READ THOSE LABELS CAREFULLY.... http://www.hungry-girl.com/girls/biteoutdetails.php?isid=1174 read it!!!...

This link provides in depth info about label reading... http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/foodlabel/newlabel.html#serving

Be informed and understand what a real serving is.. and if you see that that serving seems skimpy to you find something else that better suits you. HINT EAT YOUR VEGGIES... EAT YOUR FRUITS.. ( FRESH) remember bulk up on those water rich foods.. not calorie dense foods with no nutritional value...
The Summer time provides each of us with many great food adventures.. check out your local farmer's market for some fresh veggies and fruits... Or how about a little exercise with your shopping.. Check out one of the many blueberry and black berry fields in rural areas that let you pick your own fruit.. Steve and I picked fresh peaches not too long ago and it was a lot of fun to do. HEY!! here is a cool recipe website... check it out....http://www.recipezaar.com/
Otherwise its the same old same old for me... No change in the scale... this plateau has a hold on me.. but its all good.... . Have a great weekend
Wish me well
Wish you well too..

WHEN IT IS ABOUT PORTION CONTROL

I suppose a lot of folks would call me crazy.. but I firmly believe that creating illusion when you are trying to lose weight is a great idea.. in other words.. by using smaller mugs, bowls, plates and even eating utensils... it helps create the illusion that less is more .. and pretty soon this becomes habit.. For example .. last night we had cereal for dinner... Steve prepared it... even measuring out the cereal ( fiber one honey cluster cereal) he cut up a banana and divided it between the two GIANT mugs that he poured the cereal, milk and bananas in.. even with all of that the mug was only half full... and then he put a big spoon in it... My sensors went off like crazy... My first reaction was that this was not enough food for me.. I was hungry damnit and here u are giving a this tiny amount of cereal.. etc... Now if I had done it.. I would have used a smaller mug, measured everything out .. and used a smaller spoon.. guess what... same amount of food but since it is in a smaller mug it creates an illusion of being a lot ... and my mind is like .. OHHH yum this is great .. perfect.. I will be filled up... Food is such a head game for me.. and when I play the game right I always win. I used a smaller spoon and it helped me eat slower.. and I did get filled up... its just the illusion it creates.. I don't think Steve or most folks understand the power of illusion when it comes to serving food.... I like to use a smaller plate for my food.. again.. I create the illusion of a full plate even though its smaller than the dinner plate.. but I dont feel like I am missing anything.. I think when we work to create our meals or snacks in such a way that less is more.. then we are not only physically satisifed... but our mind's eye registers satisfaction too... I think it helps us realize that we can allow our bodies time to register to the fully mark... It takes around 20 minutes for the brain and body to communicate to each other that it is full... I think creating these illusions helps with that..
Just a thought..
Wish me well
Wish you well too...