Countdown to Fitness

If only there weren’t so many left to lose! It was nice to see that the scale had again moved in the right direction, but I’m feeling impatient. I keep telling myself to think about other things, not the diet! I will say, however, that I’m not feeling tempted to quit. As long as I see progress, I hang in there. I just worry about the possibiity of hitting a plateau and losing my verve.

If you’ve read my article “Why Fitness Hopeful is Eating a High-Protein, High-Fiber, Moderate-Carb, Moderate-Fat Eating Plan,” you know that the food pyramid has been influenced by various parts of the food industry because certain businesses didn’t like the values the government was going to use.  Even worse, the pyramid is becoming more suspect as a source of contributing to health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. (more…)

Do you want to start an exercise program?  Are you already walking but want to know how to avoid blisters and other injuries?  Do you want to walk more efficiently and healthfully?  Are you landing incorrectly on your feet?  You might be surprised by what you learn.  I was!  In fact, this book has changed my life for the better.

If you want to learn how to walk correctly, I highly recommend Chi Walking: Fitness Walking for Lifelong Health and Energy and its companion DVD ChiWalking DVD: The Five Mindful Steps for Lifelong Health and Energy (sold separately).  Authors Danny Dreyer, an esteemed walking and running coach, and his wife Katherine, who has more than twenty years of experience in the health, personal growth, and fitness fields, describe a five step process to chi walking: getting aligned, engaging your core, creating balance, making a choice (e.g., cardio walking, aerobic walking, and meditation walking), and moving forward. (more…)

I was inspired to make this recipe after seeing the Fish Kebabs with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce recipe in the book Cook Yourself Thin Faster: Have Your Cake and Eat It Too with Over 75 New Recipes You Can Make in a Flash! (There is a different variation on the Cook Yourself Thin website: Kebabs with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce.)  I’ve made a few changes, and the recipe was a big hit.

Tip: Serve with brown rice.  Also, try adding onion pieces and mushrooms.

Serves 4

8 short skewers (if using wood or bamboo, soak for 30 minutes beforehand)
1 pound of 16-20 count shrimp
2 baby green zucchini, cut into approximately 12 chunks each
2 baby yellow squash, cut into approximately 12 chunks each
8 cherry tomatoes (more…)

Here’s the verdict for this week’s weigh in. Total loss since I began on 2/22? 11.6 pounds.

Here are some things I thought I’d share: (more…)