I'm back

Years ago I started this blog to write about my interest and things going on in my life. Well I offended a friend in one of blogs even though I didn't say anything about her specific she was offended. I should have just blocked her and continued to write but I didn't. I stop writing all together so I have decided to start writing again. I'm going to apologize now. I'm sorry if I offend you. I'm sorry if I am actually talking about myself but you want to make things about you. So if you don't like what I have to say don't read it. I'm back.....

Another Weight loss Book

I know I said I wasn't going to buy another diet book but there I was watching The Monique show and my man, Dr. Ian Smith was up there talking about his book The 4-day Diet. As you know I read his other book The Fat Smash diet, so I thought maybe I should give his new book a try. The thing that peek my curiosity was he said in his new book, he would show you how to include real food in your diet. He will show you how to eat the foods you enjoy and still lose weight. He said these magic words "You can even eat pizza and french fries" in moderation of course, but you can include them in your diet. That's all it took for me to be on board.

I've only read through the first couple of chapters of the book and it been talking about setting realistic goals for weight loss. You see I am the type of person who wants to lose weight and have it all gone by the end of the week, knowing that it has taken me about 30 years to put it on. In my mind I understand the concept of I didn't put it on over night but for some strange reasons I want to see results fast. I often get discouraged when I don't see what I want, when I want to see it. So I'm working hard at not doing that this time. Patience is a virtue, right. I'm trying to set a reasonable weight loss goal for myself. I will let you know.

Another thing he discusses in the book is do not be a slave to the scale. ("Hello, My name is Pam and I am a Scale-aholic") Dr. Smith also discussed other ways inwhich you can see results of your weight loss such as Clothes that were once tight, that are fitting you better or loose. I am experiencing those things. I recently measured my waist and notice I have lost 3 inches in my waist. That made me feel great. That is a reason to celebrate, right. However, I want to see the number's ticking away on that scale. Patience IS a Virtue. I am 8 pounds lighter and I haven't gain anything back, yet. YAY!!!!

I will continue reading and continue working....I know there isn't any magic tricks but I know there is something out there that will work for me. I will let you know when I find it. I will continue to be PATIENT.

7 Pounds

Every New Years like most American, I come up with a New Year's Resolution that should help enhance my life and make me a better person. Last Year my resolution was to workout at least 3 days a week. Even though I had a few minor setbacks I stuck to my goal, through out the year. This year I wanted to change the way I looked at food, eat healthier and lose weight. I know that this is probably the goal for 90 percent of all Americans, but I am determined to change my life. So I must find a plan that will help me achieve my goals of major weight loss.

I have many books on weigh loss and exercise. So rather than go out and buy yet another book that claims to magically melt away the pounds I decided I need to look on my shelves and find a solution to my problem. So the first book I ran across was the Fat Smash Diet by Dr.Ian Smith from that TV show Celebrity Fit Club and the Fifty Million Pound Challenge. I have had this book for a while so I decided to give it a try. One of the main reasons was it was short, easy to read and it seemed easy to do. I found that a lot of weight loss books talk to much about the science of being overweight. Then when you get to the HOW of losing weight the book leaves you hanging.

In the Fat Smash diet you start out with Phase I, a 9-day detox of your body, eating only vegetables, limiting your sugar and salt intakes. I didn't try this years ago because I didn't think I could mentally go one day without eating meat more less 9 days. I am here to say I can and I did. The amazing thing was I didn't really miss meat that much, however, I would not make a lifestyle out of being a vegetarian. If I must say it simply I like meat. I filled my fridge with healthy veggies, the book gave you several recipes that you could use. however, I found that I had to prepare my veggies the way I liked rather than using those recipes in the book. I like my food with a little ethnic flair. The book also stated you should eat 4-5 small meals through out the day. So I broke my meals down and I also incorporated a fruit or a yogurt as a snack. I tried to listen to body about hunger and ate when I felt hungry. I tried to eliminate the boredom snacking. I never felt like I was starving. It was great! One of my major problems is portion control and eating too fast. That is still a work in progress. I will work it out in time.

You are also suppose to workout at least 30 minutes 5 days a week. That didn't happen. Something happened that I didn't quite expect. I'm just going to say it, it was "Gas Pain." Who knew that eating veggies could cause that much gas and that much pain. No wonder the Farm animals with their Greenhouse gases are hurting the ozone. If cows are releasing that kind of gas on a daily, weekly or yearly basis no wonder the Polar Icecaps are melting. I finally had to get some Beano and some GasX to help. It has helped a lot. Now I can get my workout on, again. I guess the old saying is true "No Pain, No Gain."

I am proud to announce I am 7 pounds lighter. I also lost a inch and half around my waist. I did it with little effort; I changed the way I ate and the way looked at food. It just took a few simple changes.

Now its time to start Phase II incorporating some of the things I eliminated from my diet in Phase I, like meat. Now is the time to step up my game. I will let you know how that turns out for me.

Living in Fear

I love reading a good book. When I am reading a good book, the book takes me to places I have never been. I get all caught up in the lives of the characters, and I get a little depressed when I finished the story. It almost feels like the end of a relationship sometimes. I just finished this book called Mrs. Big by Maryann Reid. It is a story about the women who go after professional athletes and what happens to one particular woman who is so stuck on the material things that she loses herself in the process. I love a good book with a message that makes me think about my life. While my life is nothing like the lives of the rich and famous in this book. I could relate to one on going theme of the book. The book was about fear. As I read the book and as the book came to it's climax I realized that I have been living in fear much like the characters in the book, and the things that I fear the most are the always the things that seem to come to pass in my life. The main character in the book, Loletta, visits a psychic and the woman told her that she was creating the turbulence in her life through her fears. That struck a cord with me, because the things I have feared the most have manifested themselves in my life. It saddens me to think that I did these things to myself and I am still doing it myself everyday. I had to take a long look at myself, ask myself why are you afraid and say "There is nothing to fear but fear itself." I never quite understood that statement until now. I mean why keep fearing tomorrow, Tomorrow isn't even promised to you. Why should you live in fear? I need to be Thankful for all that I have been blessed with, wash all my fears away and move on with my life. I need to stop waiting for the bad things to happen, stop creating negative things in my life.I didn't realize when I live in fear I tie Gods hands and I know that God has a plan for me. I will no longer speak fear in my life. So tonight I speak against the things that I am afraid of such as: failure, lack of finances, and being alone. In my life there is success, an abundance in my finances and no more loneliness, this is God's plan for me. Now I know why I love teaching, because you can learn some very important things from a book.

Revealing the Truth

Dr. Phil once said, "If someone tells you who they are you should believe them." A lot of the times people tell you who they are by actions and not by words. For example if someone hangs out at clubs every night, drinks, use drugs and has unprotected sex then you would probably consider that person reckless. If someone reads their bible, prays to God, donates their time to charitable organizations,and is always willing to give a helping hand you would consider that person to be someone of integrity. Finally, if a person steals, tell lies, and is constantly in trouble with the law you would consider that person dishonest. Why do we always want to ignore the truth when it has been revealed to us? Do we want to believe that some how they are different, we can change them or if they are with us long enough things will get better? Recently, someone whom I loved revealed themselves to me. They showed me exactly who they were I didn't like what I saw. Now I must admit there have been little clues here and there but me being the forgiving person that I am tried to overlook the behavior, I didn't want to accept they were the person they showed me. Now I am at the end of my rope and I'm tired, but I am happy that I now know who I am dealing with and I can adjust myself accordingly. Sometimes revealing the truth hurts but the pain always goes away with proper medication and attention. I'm aching a little and writing this blog was a small dose of medication. The pain will get better.

Silent Protest

I think I am going to have a silent protest against Reality Shows, especially those in which people call in to vote. These shows are merely popularity contest. Whenever I watch these shows I always notice that the person with the most talent very rarely wins. It's always the person who is the most popular. The person who can get the most people to call in which is just wrong. I am venting because on Dancing with the Stars Lil' Kim got kick off but that Rodeo Cowboy danced for another week. Then, last night Gilles Marini lost to Shawn Johnson. How could anyone choose the gymnast over Mr. Sex in the City? Please has anyone looked at Dancing with the Stars Ever? My second protest is over the length of time it takes to announce the winner. Last week I watched the finale of The Biggest Loser, it took 3 hours to announce the winner, which was ridiculous. They would bring a person out for a short interview, they would show a clip of that person's weight loss history, then they would send the person to the back to put on their Biggest Loser workout clothes, then just before they step on the scale they show another clip of their weight loss history. If that wasn't enough to waste time I don't know what was plus they had a commercial break after every contestant. I had plan to write them a worded letter about their process. The America's Next Top Model's finale happened in one hour. They did a photo shoot, a commercial, they walked on the catwalk in fashion show and they showed the contestants clips in one hour. That's what I'm talking about, this 2-3 hours for a finale is ridiculous so I am protesting in silence against them all. Maybe I watch to much TV. I think I'm going to read a book.

Can you believe this?

I was watching the news last night, and the big news was that President Obama was the Keynote speaker at the University of Notre Dame's Graduation Commencement. I couldn't believe there were protesters at the this event because of President Obama's views on abortion and stem cell research. Personally, I think abortion is a personal matter and shouldn't even be a debatable issue. I believe that it is the woman's right to choose what she wants to do with her body. I wouldn't have an abortion myself but I will not condemn a person who has one because it is between that person and God. Those are my thoughts on the issue. I just couldn't believe those protesters went to that graduation and tried to ruin the event for those students who had worked so hard to get there. I remember when I graduated from Winston-Salem State University. I felt like I was on top of the world. I thought it was very selfish of the protesters to put their own personal agenda before those students who worked so hard and their families who wanted to proudly see them receive their diploma. They didn't deserve to have their day ruined and to have all that negative press. I'm all about fighting for what you believe in but don't do at the expense of the innocent.