Top Tips on Weight Loss From TAME YOUR INNER OCTOPUS! CUTTING OUT EXTRA CALORIES!

I would love to say that I am one of those RARE people who know how to maintain their weight perfectly who never, ever go over their five pound cushioned area on the scale.  Everyone of us knows that type of person.  You've never seen an extra pound of fat on them in your life!  If you're one of them, I applaud you!

I'm not one of them but I am in awe of their commitment and control over their eating patterns.  I do strive to become one of them but I seem to miss the "mark" on occasion.

I am happy to say that I have been successful in maintaining my weight in a healthy area for over two years now but I still have to "tweak" my eating pattern if I go off course.  I would like to get to the point where I don't have to do much "tweaking" and I'm able to eliminate the little extra calories that creep on over time.

I've recently mentioned that I was in the process of taking off a few pounds added from back to back "special occasions" in my life.  I'm happy to say that those three to four pounds are gone!  Sure, I realize it doesn't sound like much but it is if you stop and think about it for a moment.  That's almost the weight of a five pound bag of sugar!

That's why I make it a point now to STOP and get rid of a few extra pounds before it becomes a problem.

That's why it's important to "tweak" your eating pattern in order to eliminate extra calories to get the extra unwanted pounds off so that you can return to the safe cushioned area on the scale where you maintain your desired weight.

It feels good to take off those 3-4 pounds but I'm going to continue on this path and take off a few more.  The holidays are right around the corner and I want to be in a comfortable place before they hit.

Wish me luck because I'm going to need it!

Top Tips on Weight Loss From TAME YOUR INNER OCTOPUS! TAKING OFF A FEW POUNDS!

It's not fun realizing you need to lose a few extra pounds.  It's far better to be able to shake them off right after they begin to accumulate but sometimes that's not possible.   Sometimes, special occasions fall back to back.  This summer we went on a summer vacation, had family visit from Louisiana capped off with two birthday celebrations.  This created several back to back situations of eating "off track".

I had to "STOP" and face the fact that I was five pounds over my safety cushion on the scale!  Yikes!  I also realized that very soon the holidays would be approaching.  That's when I knew it was time to get serious and create a deficit of calories in order to get rid of the few extra pounds.  I'm happy to say I've already had great results and I've lost three pounds.  I'm going to continue until I get to the low part of my cushion so that I can be ahead of the game once the holidays arrive.  I have no plans to go "hog wild" but let's face it, I want to enjoy Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day without restricting my calories to any great degree.  These are special times in our lives that we want to enjoy.

It's been a week and half and as I go through this process flashes from the past have re-surfaced.  I'm remembering how hard it was at first to break all of my old bad habits in order to lose all of the weight in the first place.   It makes me thankful that the healthy eating pattern I set up over two years ago has made it possible for me to maintain my weight in a good area. 

It also makes me realize why it's difficult for so many of us to lose weight in the first place.  People overeat for a multitude of reasons.  Here are just a few that I have observed and experienced.

• Boredom
• Stress
• Depression
• Happiness
• Comfort

I've noticed, once again, since I've restricted my intake that there is a tremendous degree of focus on food in our everyday lives.  Everywhere I look I see advertisements, magazines and restaurants that call out for the average person to focus on food.

There's little doubt that one could be labeled as slightly "abnormal" if they are able to stick to a healthy pattern of eating in order to maintain their weight for an extended period of time.

I'm convinced one of the main reasons that 68% of our nation is overweight or obese is because we simply have too many options.

Think about that for a second.  There was a time when man had only the barest of choices.

Realistically, do you think a "caveman" would be able to pass up a slice of Key Lime Pie?  I think not!

Top Tips on Weight Loss From TAME YOUR INNER OCTOPUS! Do Thin People Actually Eat?

What is it about those naturally thin people?  From recent statistics there are only approximately 32% of Americans that fall into this category.  The other 68% falls into the category of being overweight or obese.  Not good.

What traits do these thin people have in common?  Why do they seem to always have their eating habits under control?  It seems they have the ability to maintain their weight effortlessly.  Are they strongly intuitive and simply know when to stop eating or walk away from items many of us can't seem to resist?

I would venture to guess it's a combination of many of these things.  I, like many, used to believe they simply didn't eat and perhaps they were simply starving themselves in order to stay slim.  That can't be true because many of them would have passed away by now.

I looked up to them as if they were a "freak" of nature.  I told myself that because I couldn't imagine I would ever be able to maintain my desired weight without denying myself of great foods for eternity (that's a long time!) 
 
I now realize they've figured out a pattern of eating that works for them.  I had a father and mother-in-law who knew when to quit and how to eat in a healthful manner all throughout their lives.  I think most everyone has someone they know that falls into this description.

It's not a bad thing to observe their great habits and try to mimic them in order to set up your own healthy eating pattern for life.

I continually work to improve my daily eating habits.  I must; I know the consequences if I don't!

Have a great day!

Top Tips on Weight Loss From TAME YOUR INNER OCTOPUS! Taking off the dreaded "CREEPERS!"

Most of us experience putting on a couple of extra pounds after "special occasions" in our lives.  I call them the dreaded "creepers" because they're the 3-5 pounds that seem to creep on without us realizing when or how it happened! 

Maintaining control over the foods we eat each day is not always easy but it's the "key" in keeping weight off.  Some people do it effortlessly.  That amazes me!  It must be awesome to be able to instinctively know when to quit eating.  I had to set up a "go to" healthy pattern of eating in order to lose weight and maintain my weight.  I couldn't simply wing it and hope for the best.

I am in awe of thin people who aren't even tempted to overeat or eat things that they know will add pounds!  It makes me wonder if their taste buds are working properly or if they simply possess some type of "supernatural" control.  I have to admit, I'm not one of them!  I have to stay away from foods like that and not bring them into my home on a daily basis.  I have to make sure there aren't too many "special occasions" of off track eating in a row so that I can rid myself of any unwanted pounds before there's another holiday or "special occasion" in my life.

I know these things now because I failed at doing them for close to two decades.  That's why I am always questioning and "tweaking" my eating patterns.  I have to admit it's been a learning process since I've lost the weight two years ago and I find I'm still experimenting here or there.  That's a good thing because there is no "one" perfect way to maintain your weight.  You have to find your own way of doing it and do what works for you!  Like I've read recently: It's OK to always be working on losing the last 3 pounds because it keeps you from gaining more!

I've made efforts to watch when a few pounds show up on my body.  Here's my latest observation.  Most of the time, it's not one single thing that we do but a culmination of "special occasions" that set up a pattern where we continue to eat off track here or there.  I'm not talking about binge eating; I'm talking about simply adding a couple of a 100 or more calories here or there on a daily basis.  It all adds up and it's easy to do, even when you're eating low fat and sugar free items.  It takes approximately 3,500 extra calories in order to put on a pound, so it has to be a culmination of all the things we do both big and small to put on extra pounds over a period of time. 

That's what happened to me this summer.  It's no big deal.  I still fit in all my clothes but they're now a little snug.  I don't like snug.  Snug can turn real fast into not being able to button your pants.  You all know what I'm talking about.

I know how these "creepers" came back on and it's a good thing to know because it's a lot better than being in a state of denial!  Here's the list of how they came back on:

• We went on vacation (I ate many things I don't normally eat)
• Right when we came back I made a big "feast" for family members visiting from Louisiana
• I did it again the next day because I was on a roll and had an excuse to eat "off track" again
• We had a family birthday and I made another "feast" with pumpkin cake and Blue Bell ice cream
• On an everyday basis I started to slip here or there with my light snacks; I ate more than usual

All of the above caused me to gain 5 additional pounds that I don't normally carry.  I've noticed I haven't been able to shake off those pounds as fast as I normally do for the following reasons:

• On an everyday basis I started to slip here or there with my light snacks; I ate more than usual

That's the one reason I haven't been able to shake off those few extras pounds.  I haven't changed a thing about my daily exercise, so that hasn't been the issue.  This proves that exercise alone does not equal weight loss if you're eating more than you normal eat to maintain your weight.  I quickly realized I am not about to workout consistently and work against the grain of maintaining my weight by eating too much.  That's totally frustrating! That's why I am always experimenting.  I have to if I wish to maintain my desired weight.  I'm happy that I take the time to STOP to figure out where I've messed up and why I can't shake off undesired weight.  Here's my plan and it's already working.

• Since I couldn't shake off the weight, I had to get serious and cut back like I did when I lost all of the weight and drop my daily caloric intake to @ 1,200 calories (no lower for a woman).  A younger woman may choose to stay in the 1,400-1,600 range for weight loss.
• I upped my exercise routine by changing things up and increasing my cardio here or there. 
• I added swimming back into my routine.  I now realize it was a big factor last year in keeping weight off when it became so hot outside that I couldn't walk in the morning as usual.  I could only walk at night but even then, there's always an occasional rained out evening.

I've already lost 2 lbs. but more than that, I feel like I am in control, sort of like one of those "skinny" people who seem to possess "supernatural" powers.  I'm far from feeling hungry so that means the great foods that I've chosen, my basics, allow me to feel satisfied.

I guess I'll always be experimenting and that's a good thing because it means I have finally realized that I am the only person who is in control of my eating patterns when it pertains to maintaining my desired weight.

Do you have your own method of losing a few extra pounds?

Best Wishes!

Top Tips on Weight Loss From TAME YOUR INNER OCTOPUS! The Importance of Tweaking Your Workouts!

Let's face it, if you're like me, every now and then you become bored with your workouts.  Sometimes we don't even realize we're bored until we "tweak" our routines.  I workout consistently (thank goodness because I like to eat).  Even though I workout almost every single day (that's a good thing), I knew I was bored with my same routines.  In fact, I was becoming increasingly bored with my exercise routines.  I needed to do something fast before I began to dread working out out in general.

I kept remembering how much I enjoyed swimming laps last summer.  I reminded my husband how much we enjoyed it and I continued to mention that we needed to get back out there and test the waters (pun intended) again.  He happens to have a foot problem that has been interfering with his tennis and walking routines, and I knew this would be a good thing for him also.  We both enjoyed lap swimming years ago, when our children were younger and swam competitively.  We knew it would be a good thing to do.

Wow, I have to admit, it was an awesome idea!  There's nothing like getting into a 25 yard Olympic sized pool, where others are swimming laps right next to you.  Everyone is encouraging and it's plain fun to be out there with the sun shining brightly and you're so close to nature.  I love the way swimming allows you to work out every part of your body and relaxes you at the same time.  I'm glad we decided to get back in the water.  It's so beautiful being outside.  Sometimes, during cool down, I'll turn on my back and look up at the gorgeous blue sky and I'll see the tips of the Palm trees swaying in the breeze.  I forgot how relaxing swimming can be.  It's also a wonderful place to meditate.  It's just you, the pool and your thoughts.

There's little doubt that it can be difficult to get a walk/jog in with the summer heat.  I've done it but I have to admit it's been difficult at times this summer.  I imagine it's like that for everyone during the summer in most areas.  I'm glad I still managed to do it but in the future, I don't think I'll forget to add a swimming routine during the summer.

I've learned a huge lesson.  I've learned the importance of "tweaking" my exercise routines and not allowing myself to get in a rut!  I think it would be a great thing to switch things up each season or at the very least take a long look at your workout routines.  Maybe take some routines out and add new things in and bring them back later during another season.  That way you'll never allow yourself to get bored because you'll soon be changing things up! 

I need to work on that and while I'm doing that, I'm long over due in deleting all of my songs off my I-Pod.  Maybe that's what's been boring the heck out of me.  If I hear "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson one more time, I may begin to weep.  I don't care if I only add in 10 new songs, I can't bear to listen to the same songs that I've been listening to for the past two years!  Isn't it amazing how easy it is to stay in the same old rut?  Sometimes you don't even realize you're in one.  I guess we all have to remember to "tweak" different areas of our lives. 

Have a great day!

Top Tips on Weight Loss From TAME YOUR INNER OCTOPUS! Do We Over-Glorify Food in America?

Before I lost the extra pounds I had accumulated over the course of a near two decades, I found myself continually glorifying many of the foods I chose to prepare and eat.  Take Key Lime Pie, it's one of my favorites as everyone who reads my posts knows by now. It would be easy for me and I've done it, to over-glorify this dessert.  Here, let me give you an example of what I'm talking about with this picture of a slice of Key Lime Pie:

The crust is a rich golden brown shell made with crushed graham cracker crumbs and rich creamy butter.  The filling melts in your mouth, it is to die for as it contains two cans of luscious condensed milk, not one, and 1/2 cup of authentic Key Lime Juice from Key West.  The topping is real whipped cream that can be made into lovely miniature rosettes to adorn the edge of this creation.

That is an example of how people tend to over-glorify food.  Of course, I still enjoy things like Key Lime Pie, pecan pralines and peanut butter fudge but thank goodness, I am no longer "foaming at the mouth" in anticipation of preparing or eating these special delights.  Simply put, I had to stop OVER-GLORIFYING food and think more about getting the best fuel into my body in the proper amounts on a daily basis.

It doesn't even have to be a dessert, it could be lasagna from a special restaurant.  Just last night one of my daughters was asking me if I had eaten lasagna from a great local restaurant.  We both went on describing how it melted in your mouth.  I mentioned that the pasta had to be made from scratch because you can't get pasta like that from a box.  I will spare you the full description!  In the back of mind, I was thinking the entire time, that I was once again, over-glorifying food!  At least I am now aware of the problem.

It's OK to enjoy special desserts and special meals for special occasions in life.  We all know it's important to enjoy these times in life.  It's not a good thing, at least it wasn't for me, to eat these type foods on a daily basis and expect to maintain a proper healthy weight.

That's when we get into trouble.  We get into trouble when we over-glorify everything we eat and when we choose to eat this way on a daily or weekly basis.  If we do this, most of us cannot expect to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  I sure couldn't!

I had to form a new relationship with food.  I realized that right from the start.  I was way too involved in an emotional way with the preparation and enjoyment of food, especially foods that I should not have been eating on a daily or even weekly basis. I had to learn real quick to think of food as great fuel for my body.  In my mind I have only a certain amount of fuel my body requires each day in order to operate well and maintain my weight.  I had to LEARN to respect food and choose wisely.

I find it funny now because I am easily able to notice people who over-glorify food.  Last week I noticed someone famous on TV over-glorifying a high fat dish that was being prepared on the show.  This person is my age and has struggled with weight for decades.  I wanted to tell her all that I had learned.  I wanted to say, "Yes, it's a great dish but it's only food and we can't over-glorify these type foods.  We have to save them only for special occasions in our life! Don't over-glorify these type foods or you will continue to struggle to lose and maintain your weight!  I was just like you until I formed a new relationship with food."

No, I didn't talk to the TV set but I wanted to!  I realize all I can do is put it in a book and write it on my blog, so that I can continue to reach out to others to discuss the importance of enjoying these type foods on special occasions in our lives and eating in a healthful pattern 95% of the time.  I'm far from perfect but that's what I try to do on a daily basis. 

Have a great day!

Top Tips for Weight Loss From TAME YOUR INNER OCTOPUS! Losing the Last Five Pounds!

Most of us have experienced the difficulty of losing the last five pounds.  Why is it so difficult? One of the main reasons is because there’s less room for error in the area of cutting calories.  Many of us have felt the great rush of the first few pounds slipping off at a swift rate when we first cut back on calories. Not long after, we realize the scale seems to move at a much slower rate. In fact, many of us feel like there's a great deal of time in between dropped pounds where we begin to question if our scale is working properly. Trust me, it’s fine, it simply takes time and patience to lose weight. It will move again. The experts continually remind us that it’s best to lose weight in a healthful manner and at the rate of 1-2 pounds per week.

Once we get down to the last five or ten pounds patience while remaining consistent in our eating and exercise patterns comes into play in a big way.

It’s OK to always feel like we’re working on losing the last five pounds because it keeps us from gaining an additional five pounds. That’s why it is important to check the scale every couple of days. It’s a reminder of how well we’re doing at maintaining our weight. If we’re over the five-pound mark, it’s a big “red” flag that says, “You better watch your eating habits before the scale continues to move in the wrong direction.”

Most of us have said or heard others state the following: “I don’t know why I’m not losing weight; I’ve cut back on calories for several days; this is not working!” That’s what’s called being totally unrealistic. If you’ve cut back calories in weight loss mode to the area of around 1,400 daily for the average woman, you’re right on track to lose the extra pounds you wish to lose. All that’s required now is a great amount of PATIENCE. What’s most important to remember is that the process of losing weight whether it’s over a 100 pounds or the last 5 is the fact that it boils down to four steps:

1. Cutting back on calories in a healthful manner and sticking to your eating plan until you lose the extra weight

2. Exercise (aim for everyday, this way you’re covered if you have to miss a day or two)

3. Patience

4. Consistency

It may take a couple of weeks or more to lose five pounds at a rate of 1-2 pounds a week. It make take several months to lose 50-100 pounds or more but it’s going to happen if we do all four of the above steps.

It will happen; we simply have to possess the right mindset! We need to visualize how we want to look and feel from the moment we wake up, all throughout the day and until our head hits the pillow each night.

It’s not a matter of if; it’s only a matter of when. It will happen.

Have a great day!