HALLOWEEN.... and Stuff I googled for FRIDAY....

Something we do in our neighborhood at Halloween: Someone started doing this last year ..Yesterday morning we discovered our goody basket at the front door... so this morning.. on the way to take Steve to the airport we deposited 2 Goody baskets to two of our neighbors... Nothing like creeping up to your neighbors house at 5 am.. lol.. first you have to find neighbors that have not been hit.. as the letter states.. hope you can read it... in the goody basket is a mask.. you put that mask on your mailbox post.. so others know you have been hit.. Its kinda fun to do.
and gets us all in the Halloween spirit...




SOME HEALTHIER OPTIONS FOR HALLOWEENING :

Found this while googling...

Roasting Pumpkin Seeds :
Cutting open the top of the pumpkin,
reaching your hand into the ooey gooey mess of pumpkin seeds and “guts”, clearing it all out and beginning your canvas.
Aaahhh – the fabulous sense of Halloween is upon you. But wait!
After every good carving session,
you really should enjoy the oh-so-seasonal treat of fresh roasted pumpkin seeds!

Start by rinsing all the pumpkin guts from the seeds, then pat them dry with cotton tea towels.
In a bowl, mix your seeds with a little bit of cold-pressed sunflower or safflower oil, and a good shake or two of sea salt.
Spread onto a baking pan in a single layer and bake in a 350 degree oven until are light, golden brown, stirring occasionally to make sure they are evenly roasted.
Let them cool,
then crack them open and splurge on the delicious innards.
Now that tastes like Halloween!

Did you know that pumpkin seeds are a fabulous source of protein, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, fiber and amino acids? They also contain calcium, potassium, zinc, selenium, folate and niacin! What a power packed Halloween treat!
A FEW MORE HALLOWEEN IDEAS CHECK THESE LINKS OUT:


http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/9-19-2005-77119.asp

http://www.thatsfit.com/2007/10/09/a-few-simple-and-healthy-halloween-snack-ideas/

I did google some rather disturbing things.. there is an I hate fat people website out there.. It is called the Hate Book.. geez kinda scarey if you ask me.

From me to you:
The world out there seems to hate us..
The world in our soul strives to love ourselves as we are in this moment.. To me this moment does not mean forever.. it is just the Now.. who I am now and what I weigh right now.. I have to love that person as well as love the healthier thinner me being born.. with out love nothing can be done.. to hate oneself..is a waste of energy .. to love oneself is a work of art.
Be proud of your accomplishments thus far..
Love who you are .. even you are not in the exact place you want to be.

Wish me well
Wish you well too...

SO I REALLY DID HEAR MY NECK CRACK.. ecchh...

Yesterday I ventured out into the world of chiropractic care... and yes he did crack my neck.. and oddly enough.. my neck feels pretty darn good.. now the space between the back of my neck at the top of my ass ( MY BACK!!!!) is raging right now.. lets see if I can give you a graphic discription.. I woke up crying.. yeah thats pretty bad pain.. it lightened up a bit after a hot shower.. but I am sitting here wondering if the chiropractor is a good thing or a bad thing.. I can turn my neck completely to the left right now.. which is amazing because I have not done that in a VERY VERY LONG TIME.. and I* can turn it completely to the right and lean it back and fowards with very little pulling or pain.. but everything else is just screaming.. so.. if any one has done the chirpractor thing.. toss in your words of advice.. do i tough it out or give it up...

Food wise.. I am okay.. so thats good.. I am going to try a new recipe this weekend.. Black Bean brownies.. I am going to make it the cheap way first ( box brownie mix and black beans..) if I like it that way then I will use on of the scratch recipes.. suppose to be good.. we shall see.. I will post on it on Monday..
I want to thank each of you once again for your stellar responses and kind comments... I do so appreciate it ... and it is important to me that you know that....

. I was once asked to give a sample of my daily menu .. so here it is..: I am not big about posting what I eat since I keep a food log.. but here is an idea:

This morning...
Homemade real oatmeal ( I make it on Sunday night a huge batch and eat it throug the week)
with fresh chopped apples.. and a little fat free milk .. mixed together and nuked..

snack Yoplait thick and creamy 100 calorie yogurt YYY YUM...
small Black Arkansas apple with PB2 PB

Lunch will be : a tomato and light cream cheese sandwich on multi grain healthy bread
small Black Arkansas apple

Snack : Fiber one chocolate bar

Dinner : Homemade Chicken soup with lots of carrots in it YUMMMMY.. a slice of multi grain bread with a one ounce of a good hard cheese ( I forget the name) melted on it..

Snack ... 1 Sugar free fudge pop

Sometimes I eat more fruits .. some times more veggies.. sometimes I throw in a rice cake or 2 it just depends.. but that is my menu for today... now I gotta go log it..

Today I am keeping it short and sweet...
Wish me well
Wish you well too..

WHERE IS MY MIND??? AND A WHOLE SLEW OF RANDOM RANTING FOR WEDNESDAY

OKAY... sooooooo.. would someone please tell my why I threw out all my thank you notes over the weekend... I am not actually sure I did throw them out I just remember grabbing a bunch of papers and throwing them out and I think I picked up the thank you notes with the intention of putting them somewhere else so I would remember to use them to thank folks for our wedding gifts.. I have been doing a good job sending them out.. I have four right now I need to write.. why on earth would I have dumped them.. anyhow I went to Wallyvilla ( hey it makes Wallmart sound a little fancier don't you think?? me neither .. lol ) this morning to pick up some more.. as I am walking in the store I notice that my tee shirt is ripped.. wtf.. how did I do that???.. so I go to the clearance rack and found another black tee for about 3. 50.. my kinda tee shirt lol... ( i am in yoga clothes today because i am seeing that chiropractor doctor person who hopefully well help relieve some of this mess in my back.. I have got to do something before the wedding...) then I wander over to check out the yogurt and find my Thick and Creamy Yoplait light.. 100 calories.. this stuff ROCKS .. it is so good.. however why is it that that it must be on the top shelf????.. so I lean over the lower portion of the cooler.. and can barely reach the bottom cup.. I almost succesfully knocked down the whole display.. it wiggled and it wobbled and I even closed my eyes for a split second slowly opening one eye at time..... I was able to snag 4 of them with out doing too much damage.. I also bought 2 of the boston creme light.. I heard those were good too.. 110 calories I think .. ohh that reminds me after I post today I have to do my food log.. FOOD LOG.. ahhhhhhhhhh that reminds me..



I have a friend who has a terrific blog Scale Junkie that I discovered a while back.. I visit her daily as I visit most of you daily.. well.. I really got irritated ... when I was making my comment and noticed in the comment section that some dude or dud in this case.. really let her have it.. I mean it was to me very insulting and lousy... and that brings me too my next random rant... I checked this guys blog out.. and he posts his food log.. ... he is an OA member too.. he has lost a lot of weight and still has more to go.. but his eating.. is RIDICULOUS... nothing nutritional.. ( unless you call eating a king size snickers for lunch.. meeting all your food groups.. and I suppose in a off handed squinting your eyes really tight so you can see a different image way it is. nuts=protien, chocolate= dairy etc...) he harped on her rudely.. and I simply do not get that behavior..



EACH OF US HERE>> READING THIS.. BLOGGING... are on our on individual journeys and it is an honor to befriend each and every one of you.. I look forward to your comments as a way to nurture my soul .. not rant at me and tell me I am wrong.. who is anyone to tell me I am wrong???... Now granted I did just make a comment about that guy's eating habits.. but I guess that works for him.. and I do think his menus lack nutritional value.. but .. well.. I either I can say it nicely to him if I chose to post on his blog... maybe make some suggestions in a light and kind way..... I would never attack someone... I guess I am attacking him though.. I am sure each of you understands what I am trying to say... *sigh* ........... okay in case you do not .. what I am trying to say is... Suggesting things is one thing.. attacking people who are working so hard to try and change old habits and deal with old issues is an entirely different thing. Us that bare our souls out here.. don't need a kick in the ass... trust me .. we have kicked ourselves farther than anyone else can... what we need is positive energy. what we need is support.. and if something needs to be constructively commented on then do so kindly.. with a good heart... Not a wagging finger.. for the truth is... we are all in this together even if the journeys are a bit different .. we all have the ultimate same goal.. to be smaller , healthier and wiser... okay... enough ranting.. I am done..

going to go log my food..

Love you guys...

Wish me well

Wish you well too...

p.s. just found this site while I was hunting for a picture..

http://www.thedailyplate.com/

THIS THING CALLED FAT .. I JUST CAN'T HANDLE IT...

All of us have spent many hours thinking about being FAT .. about FOOD .. how we can eat less of it.. how we can change it.. thinking about willpower.. HOW DO WE HANDLE FOOD.. how do we have WILLPOWER...and how can one make the choice between the chocolate and the carrot. .. hmmm Willpower.. ? didn't we simply just make a choice by choosing the carrot over the chocolate.. is there really such a thing as willpower? with that in mind.. I decided to peruse the internet and see what I could find out about the mystical strength called willpower..... I was suprised to see many articles out there.. one that caught my eye was this one ..

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/07/11/arts/snweight.php titled AN ARGUMENT FOR RETURNING TO TREATING OBESITY WITH SIMPLE WILLPOWER ... I liked what this doctor said.. I do believe that encouraging someone to exercise better choices.. and limiting snacking and exercising at least 3 times a week.. and encouraging them to use self control can work.. this article mentions that research has shown that people adapted better when society discourages bad health behavior ie.. drinking too much( bars can be held acountable for serving too much liquior to a customer via a few states that have legislated this into laws...) .. .. smoking ( taxing cigarettes has cut down on smoking) I seriously doubt that much will change for an over eater if there are more stringent society based rules.. Eating is far different than those other issues.. u can live with out liquor or cigarettes... but you have eat... I believe that individual responsibility is always the key.. We are responsible whether we want to be or not; we are responsible for our choices.. willpower or no willpower.. how one eats is a choice....

Another article titled Weight Loss: Does Willpower Matter : http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=77640

suggests that eating is about choices ( hello??) and not so much about willpower.. but that changing the way we think about food is a major key to successful weight loss. This article states that even when we feel an overwhelming desire to indulge that basically thats just our own behavior or a bad habit.... the article goes in more depth talking about the biology of willpower ...
Another area that caught my eye in this article was this : For many, the key lies in understanding their tolerance level for "food frustration," and the ability to plan ahead for how to handle it. I love that .. I really believe in that too especially in my life.. when I have a plan I succeed.. when I don't I flounder...

Last night when I gave my talk about motivation one of the factors the nutritionist bought up and I think is a very truthful is that when one eats... there are 4 bites of food that are the most important.. the first 2 bites of food are great.. as are the last 2.. the first two ... well it tastes good.. the last 2 because you know that your food is almost finished.. so to really be satisfied one only needs 4 bites.. ( NOT HUGE) of a food (say a holiday food ) to enjoy it. the bites in between are usually eaten mindlessly..

I also think that what we think about food or when we think something would taste really yummy that it is fine to THINK about it.. but try and shift your thinking to something else.. first... if that does not work.. it is far better to indulge in a bite or two than deny yourself and end up feeling like you are alway denying yourself.. when we deny ourselves we end up being resentful towards healthy eating.. this does not mean go out and eat 12 pieces of Pizza because you "DESIRE " that.. and you don't want to "DENY" yourself... it means changing your whole approach towards thinking and eating food.. If you know there are certain foods that trigger binges.. keep it out of the house.. and have it in portion controlled quantities should you be able to get it elsewhere. Know what you are eating and don't be afraid of logging it...

LOGGING IT??? Honi, you mean keeping a food record..
WHY yes.. thats exactly what I mean... keeping a food record.. either on the internet .. such as this site ..(I use this one) http://caloriecount.about.com/ or with just pen and a notebook .. is very important be it holiday foods.. or your daily foods.. keep a log.. as much of the time as you can.. its a great tool.. TOOL!!! its not being a tattle tale on you.. its a TOOL so you know what you are REALLY eating.. wether you eat on your program or indulge a little.. know what you are doing... know your choices..
Keeping this simple.. food logging, listening to yourself.. not berating yourself over a choice... being honest with yourself.. are tools that will help you as you.. and I journey through this ... thing.. called FAT .. on our way to a healthier self....
Wish me well
Wish you well too

SHOW AND TELL (What I did over the weekend and a cute video of Keep Away)

On the road somewhere near Collinsville, Al. I love taking pictures of these old farm houses:

I always see these guys on the corners in the small towns.. never have taken a photo of one before.... I wish I had taken a picture of the guy near the Sonic .... he had a HUGE picture of Jesus.. but it was evil looking.. mean... and he had a loudspeaker and was yelling at the passersby.. how bad they had sinned and so forth.. a group of bikers watched him intently from a CVS parking lot.. His voice was not preaching anything to do with love.. it was about hate.. and how evil we all are.. I think what bewildered me most about this screaming man is.. that he was not asking you to come praise God.. he was not asking you what you believed.. he was shouting at you how bad you are .. and you are hopeless unless you listen to him... what a contrast in pictures.. this peaceful man standing on street corner trying to deliver his message of faith.. and then down the road that Loud obnoxious.. ( I mean no offense to anyone of the Christian faith but I promise you had you seen this other guy screaming at people I think you would have felt really weird compared to seeing this peaceful man with a peaceful message)

A picture of Steve and I ...


A nice clean Motorcycle

and now for a cute video.. Steve and Bazzie play Keep Away

and .. that was my weekend.. hope you had a fun one...!!!

FOODCENTRIC and a thought on my Blog buddies

Ahh it's lovely Friday again and time for me to google to my hearts delight... lets see what I can come up with... For healthy recipes that are delicious try this website :
http://www.cookinglight.com/cooking/ I love COOKING LIGHT..

On Meals Matter I found this and it looks wonderful I have had this prepared similarly .. and its wonderful SWEET POTATO CASSAROLE http://www.mealsmatter.org/recipes-meals/recipe/8168

In case you were wondering what the worlds healthiest foods are try this website :http://www.whfoods.com/foodstoc.php

Snagged this from FOODFIT.com http://www.foodfit.com/recipes/recipe.asp?rid=942 pumkin cookies.. which is a great seque into my next topic.

This is dedicated to all of you who are moms or dads who while trying to lose weight and get healthier .. also raise famlies, take care of spouses.. deal with hectic schedules and far more food issues than I have to deal with..
See even though Steve is in the food business and if you go downstairs in our home.. there is every not so healthy treat you can imagine.. from samples of pies, to cookies, to bread doughs to cookie doughs to pre packaged honey buns, muffins, cookies, meats.. etc... I can avoid all of that..because its business.... but you .. the parent.. most folks do not want to deny their children treats while creating a healthier eating environment.. so you have to deal with not only creating your meals with snacks etc.. but having to dole out meals and snacks for your kids that may not exactly be on your program.. Steve and I eat basically the same thing.. and when he wants a naughty nosh .. or something I am staying away from.. he goes and has it.. and I dont have to deal with it.. I admire all of you who not only take care of yourselves but deal with feeding your children and having those other foods around that might not be in your best interest. Some people tell me that their kids eat what they eat.. some people tell me that they prepare one meal for themselves and something else for their spouses and kids.. well whatever group you fall into.. just know you have a fan out here in blogger land.. MORE POWER TO YOU.. now for those of us with out kids .. we are still grand warriors too.. I just wanted those that have more to handle to know exactly what I thought.. ROCK ON you guys .. You are amazing men and women to me and I SIMPLY LOVE YOUR BLOGS.. and everyone's blogs.. I think I am a BLOGAHOLIC.. .. hey thats it.. now I bet if I googled.. bloggers anonymous .. BA for short.. you think I would find it??? one never knows... does one...
Well time for Honi to go log her food..
Have a devine weekend.. get out there and walk.. eat healthy and most importanly enjoy life!!!
Wish me well
Wish you well too!!

OKAY I KNOW.. I have posted twice already .. had to share this with you .. FOOD MONITORING SHOPPING CARTS..

SAW THIS ON AOL

HERE IS WHAT IT SAYS:

Sure, you've got TV and your friends to remind you not to eat certain foods and tell you that you're a fatty, but what if your shopping cart told you before you even got out of the super market?

US-based technology company EDS imagines such a world, where intelligent shopping carts scan bar codes on food as you load them into your cart, giving you nutritional and ethical information about the products (as well as price) you're about to eat.

While the carts don't exist yet, they were outlined in a research paper published by EDS this week.

The concept carts are fitted with touch-screen computers that track the nutritional value of everything loaded into your cart. They tell you when you've exceeded a certain caloric limit or when your cart contains too many saturated fats, sodium, or carbohydrates. These smart-carts also save on packaging, since labels could be shed if consumers had access to nutritional information stored on the bar codes.Says EDS, "It's high-time that the humble barcode is recognized as a practical and cost-effective solution to consumers' thirst for information." hmmm not sure I am that Thirsty .....

MY SECRET NAMES : loved this so I borrowed it : MEME FROM CHOOSING TO LIVE (FUNNY)

My Secret Names
Really cute to do ...
My secret names:
1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME (first pet & current car)
SHANE MATRIX

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie)
PRALINES AND CREAM CHOCOLATE CHIP

3. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)
PURPLE PUPPY

4. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (Last 3 letters of one of my dog's name and first two letters of my other dog's name; use whatever names you like also and where they came from)
ZIECO not sure where I come from

5. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink)
THE RED SUNKIST diet ORANGE

6. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers)
DAVE HYMAN

7. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter)
MORGAN MEMPHIS

8. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower)
AUTUMN ROSES

9. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”)
APPLE JEANSY ( now thats funny)

10. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree)
OATMEAL CHERRY BLOSSOM


11. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”)
THE MOTORCYLING SUNSHINE TOUR

Those where fun.. if you want to participate just copy the names fill in your own information and be sure to send me a link back in my coments...