100th Post !!! How Extra Weight Sneaks Up On YOU !!!

Can you believe its my 100th post :)) Wheee.

Tonight is also Relay for Life, so please wish me luck and good weather for it tonite :)

I worked out at the gym for two hours yesterday.. and still watching what I am eating. Hope everyone has a Blessed day and enjoys this bit of information ..


http://www.webmd.com/video/nestle-gain-weight?ecd=wnl_day_032809

How Extra Weight
Sneaks Up on You

The equation is simple: Bad eating habits add up to extra weight - and it doesn't take long for this to happen. Get tips from an expert on how to keep your food choices and waistline in check.

There is also a box next to the video you can clik on for further information.

Get the lowdown on no-calorie sweeteners !

Good Morning !

Want to get the low-down on artificial sweeteners ?

They have fewer calories, but are they safe ? Take a look at the latest research.

I personally use Splenda. My hubby prefers Stevia. Whats your favorite and WHY ?

Resource : All You Magazine. 4-17-09 Issue





(click on image to make LARGER)

Have a Blessed Day !

Portion Size Plate Control

Portion control is a critical part of successful weight loss and weight management. The WebMD Portion Size Plate gives you easy-to-understand guidelines to help you avoid some common portion-size pitfalls.

Some nice printables are listed. Just SCROLL DOWN A BIT after clicking on the url above.


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Get The Portion Size Plate To Go

Stay on track even while you're away from the computer with these handy WebMD printable portion guides!

Wallet Size Portion GuideFridge Size Portion Guide
Plan Your Meals Along With Your Portion Sizes!
Planning ahead is good for your waistline and your wallet.

In a Hurry?

Check out the Food-o-Meter. WebMD's quick calorie counter and nutrition facts look up!

Have A Few Minutes?

Check out the Food & Fitness Planner and get personalized recommendations on how to meet your goals

Monday Monday... so good to me :)

Monday Monday, so good to me,
Monday Monday, it was all I hoped it would be

I having a marvelous Monday here !

Its been beautiful weather lately. I had the chance over the weekend to go visit our property we purchased not long ago. Its a nice two acre spread, completely cleared. I learned a lesson though.. ALWAYS bring along one of those regular self-proppeled lawn mowers, lol..

Can you believe we got the Gravely (its like a Toro Lawn "Machine") as I call it, one of those 360 degree models like they have that hurry up and mow the lawns of football fields). Anywho we got the Gravely, STUCK twice. It must have rained on our property, and even with the beautiful dry weather we've been having this March in Louisiana, the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain musta got a deluge last Friday.

Everything is in blossom, and today I feel like I'm in Blossom ! LOL. I had a really good workout the two-hour kind with both cardio and weight machines. The pool at the club is scrubbed and painted.. only waiting for warmer weather before they fill it ! I cannot wait !

I weighed in today. I was 132 pounds, down yet another pound ! :) Yeah for meeeeee :)

I'm not trying to loose anymore weight, but lest face it, if it happens, so be it.
So now I'm down 32 pounds from the original 164. How do ya like Those Numbers ???

I'm eating good. Yesterday I pigged out, and ate at Mc Donald's. I had a double cheeseburger and YES I ate the bun. Its all about the bun, when you are carbing out.

I hope everyone else is doing well in their weight loss. :)

Today, I have not eaten yet. I just got back from a good dental cleaning, and my mouth still hurts.. but I do have some chicken salad prepared, which I will eat on wheat bread.

Have a Blessed Day , everyone :) ENJOY !

Bayoubabe

Good Carbs, Bad Carbs: Why Carbohydrates Matter to You ?

The right kind of carbohydrates CAN boost your health :)

What’s the difference between a sandwich made on white bread and one made with 100% whole grain bread?

Or, the difference between French fries and side salad made with spinach, tomatoes, carrots, and kidney beans?

All the foods above are carbohydrates. But the second option in both questions includes good carbohydrate foods (whole grains and vegetables)

Here are the facts according to WEBMD.COM



http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/nutrition-labels-9/carbohydrates

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Carbohydrates: Good or Bad?

In the past five years the reputation of carbohydrates has swung wildly. Carbs have been touted as the feared food in fad diets. And some carbs have also been promoted as a healthful nutrient associated with lower risk of chronic disease.

So which is it? Are carbs good or bad? The short answer is that they are both.
Fortunately, it’s easy separate the good from the bad.

We can reap the health benefits of good carbs by choosing carbohydrates full of fiber. These carbs that get absorbed slowly into our systems, avoiding spikes in blood sugar levels. Examples: whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and beans.

We can minimize the health risk of bad carbs by eating fewer refined and processed carbohydrates that strip away beneficial fiber. Examples: white bread and white rice.
Why Carbohydrates Matter

In September 2002, the National Academies Institute of Medicine recommended that people focus on getting more good carbs with fiber into their diet. The following statements are based on information given in the report:

To meet the body's daily nutritional needs while minimizing risk for chronic disease, adults should get 45% to 65% of their calories from carbohydrates, 20% to 35% from fat, and 10% to 35% from protein.

There is only one way to get fiber -- eat plant foods. Plants such as fruits and vegetables are quality carbohydrates that are loaded with fiber. Studies show an increased risk for heart disease with low-fiber diets. There is also some evidence to suggest that fiber in the diet may also help to prevent colon cancer and promote weight control.
The recommendations:

Men aged 50 or younger should get 38 grams of fiber a day.
Women aged 50 or younger should get 25 grams of fiber a day.

Because we need fewer calories and food as we get older, men over aged 50 should get 30 grams of fiber a day.

Women over aged 50 should get 21 grams of fiber a day.

What Are The Good Carbs?

Most of us know what the good carbs are: plant foods that deliver fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals along with grams of carbohydrate, such as whole grains, beans, vegetables, and fruits. You can’t judge a carb as “good” without considering its fiber content (unless it’s a naturally low-fiber food like skim or low-fat milk).

Why Fiber in Carbohydrates Counts

Fiber is the part in plant foods that humans can’t digest. Even though fiber isn’t absorbed, it does all sorts of great stuff for our bodies.

Fiber slows down the absorption of other nutrients eaten at the same meal, including carbohydrates.

This slowing down may help prevent peaks and valleys in your blood sugar levels, reducing your risk for type 2 diabetes.

Certain types of fiber found in oats, beans, and some fruits can also help lower blood cholesterol.
As an added plus, fiber helps people feel full, adding to satiety.

The problem is that the typical American diet is anything but high in fiber.

“White” grain is the American mode of operation: we eat a muffin or bagel made with white flour in the morning, have our hamburger on a white bun, and then have white rice with our dinner.

In general, the more refined, or “whiter,” the grain-based food, the lower the fiber.

To get some fiber into almost every meal takes a little effort. Here are three tips:

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Just eating five servings a day of fruits and vegetables will get you to about 10 or more grams of fiber, depending on your choices.
Include some beans and bean products in your diet. A half-cup of cooked beans will add from 4 to 8 grams of fiber to your day.

Switch to whole grains every single possible way (buns, rolls, bread, tortillas, pasta, crackers, etc).

What Are the Bad Carbs?

Sugars

“Added” sugars
Refined “white” grains

There’s no way to sugarcoat the truth: Americans are eating more sugar than ever before. In fact, the average adult takes in about 20 teaspoons of added sugar every day, according to the USDA’s recent nationwide food consumption survey. That’s about 320 calories, which can quickly up to extra pounds. Many adults simply don’t realize how much added sugar is in their diets.

Sugars and refined grains and starches supply quick energy to the body in the form of glucose. That’s a good thing if your body needs quick energy, for example if you’re running a race or competing in sports.

The better carbs for most people are unprocessed or minimally processed whole foods that contain natural sugars, like fructose in fruit or lactose in milk

Avoid Excess “Added Sugars”

“Added sugars, also known as caloric sweeteners, are sugars and syrups that are added to foods at the table or during processing or preparation (such as high fructose corn syrup in sweetened beverages and baked products),” explains Christine Gerbstadt, MD, RD, a spokeswoman with the American Dietetic Association.

Added sugars supply calories but few or no nutrients, Gerbstadt says.

“Americans are very aware of low-fat diets and because of that we’ve been eating more fat-free and low-fat products,” notes Shanthy Bowman, USDA food scientist and author of a recently published study on sugar in the American diet.

“But what many people don't know is that in many of these products, sugar is being substituted for fat, so we've really been trading fat for sugar,” Bowman says.

The USDA recommends that we get no more than 6% to 10% of our total calories from added sugar -- that’s about nine teaspoons a day for most of us.

Use the Nutrition Label to Track Your Carbohydrates

The Nutrition Facts section on food labels can help you sort the good carbs from the bad carbs. Here’s what to look for on the Nutrition Facts label.


Total Carbohydrate

For tracking the total amount of carbohydrate in the food, per serving, look for the line that says “Total Carbohydrate.” You’ll find that often the grams of “fiber,” grams of “sugars” and grams of “other carbohydrate” will add up to the grams of “total carbohydrate” on the label.


Dietary Fiber

The line that says Dietary Fiber tells you the total amount of fiber in the food, per serving. Dietary fiber is the amount of carbohydrate that is indigestible and will likely pass through the intestinal tract without being absorbed.

Sugars

“Sugars” tells you the total amount of carbohydrate from sugar in the food, from all sources -- natural sources like lactose and fructose as well as added sugars like high-fructose corn syrup. It’s important to distinguish between natural sugars and added sugars. For example, the average 1% low-fat milk label will list 15 grams of “sugar” per cup. Those grams come from the lactose (milk sugars) not from added sweeteners.

To get an idea of how many grams of sugar on the label come from added sugars – such as high fructose corn syrup or white or brown sugar -- check the list of ingredients on the label. See if any of those sweeteners are in the top three or four ingredients. Ingredients are listed in order of quantity, so the bulk of most food is made up of the first few ingredients.

Other Carbohydrate

The category "other carbohydrate" represents the digestible carbohydrate that is not considered a sugar (natural or otherwise). 



Sugar Alcohols. Some product labels also break out “sugar alcohols” under “Total Carbohydrate.”

In some people, sugar alcohol carbohydrates can cause intestinal problems such as gas, cramping, or diarrhea. If you look on the ingredient label, the sugar alcohols are listed as lactitol, mannitol, maltitol, sorbitol, xylitol, and others. Many “sugar free” or “reduced calorie” foods contain some sugar alcohols even when another alternative sweetener like Splenda is in the product.

On the sunny side of life..

Today was a good day overall, great weather.

For lunch I had an all meat sandwich with lettuce and tomato, 100 calorie Cheetos puffs and some nuts.

I worked out for 30 minutes today.

For dinner, I'm having bacon, and not sure what else. We have a cheese burger cheese stuffed DiGiorno Pizza in the oven, which is VERY enticing. I may just slide the toppings off and eat those.

I'm in a good mood :) Amen to that.

Have a blessed evening :)

Had to have it...

Last week, I decided to have it. You know something food-wise that you crave. For me it was HOT BREAD PUDDING. The smell in the supermarket overwhelmed the senses. When I got home I at half of the bread pudding. it was SO good. I even licked my fingers.

Later on that evening... I found out that TOO much sugar.. well, goes right through ya. I was sick for the entire next day.. Like a kid in a candy shop that ate too much...

Go figure.

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Today I worked out for two hours at the gym. I had not worked out since my overload.. So it had been almost 5 days. It was slow going for sure. Now its everything in moderation. Food AND exercise.

Lunch : Subway Turkey and Ham Green Salad with Ranch Dressing.

Dessert : Strawberries and Whipped cream

My advice to yall is to NOT overdo eating. It may look and taste good... but sometimes too much of a good thing is NOT good. I know firsthand.

Please drop me a line and let me know how yall are doing.

Have a Blessed day !

Bayoubabe

Ham Salad

I suppose one of the easiest sandwiches to make. One of my favorite also... It's like Egg Salad, but with added Ham :)

3 boiled eggs
4-5 pieces of cooked ham
pickles
mayo to taste

Smash your three boiled eggs in a bowl. Take the ham pieces and cut them up, put them in the food processor and grind them till they are tiny. Add eggs, mix together in the food processor.

Add chopped pickles, and mayo to taste.

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Enjoy ! Bayoubabe

31 pounds in 5 months !!

Hi Everyone !

I just weighed in this morn at the gym. I lost another pound, down to 133. That makes a total of 31 pounds in 5 months. Wow, time sure has flown by.

It just seemed no matter how many months I try to loose weight, the ideal thing is to learn what is right for your body and stick to it. No matter how many hours you devote to working out, or planning your meals, or reading your favorite magazine or blog site, there will always remain a bit of a mystery in dieting.

There is that fundamental , incomprehensible miracle that transforms a seed into a plant, a thorn-bedecked stalk into a branch of blooming roses.. But there are also far more mundane questions.. Why did my home made breadmachine bread not rise on the first, second, or third try ? Why did no other diet work for me EXCEPT low carb ? Why are some of my meals tastier than others when they are ALL low carb ? Even if you can figure out some answers, they provoke even more questions. . Should I try a different recipe.. ? Should I try a different type diet ? Should I drink more water, or exercise more ? Or should I cut my losses ??

When it comes to dieting. I have found two things work for me. Low carb dieting and exercise. Two ways are learning by doing and absorbing information from other low carb dieters who are more experienced than I am. And while what works for others, don't necessarily always work for ourselves, we can gain some great insight and knowledge on what COULD work for us, and 'tweak' it to our own menus, exercising and planning. We can gain this knowledge from those who have SUCCEEDED.

I would NOT say that I have succeeded entirely. I would say that I found a low carb diet that works for ME. The majority of my 31 pound weight loss came during the first 3 1/2 months. A bit TOO fast. But what did I know ? I was excited that SOMETHING worked, when in fact nothing else would or could. I found something and I STUCK TO IT.

Where does that lead me now ? For the past three weeks, I did not gain or loose any weight. I was happy with the 134 pounds.. So to my surprise when I weighed myself this morning, I had lost yet another pound !

I am still low carbing, exercising, and have extended my membership at the local gym to include my ENTIRE FAMILY. I finally got hubby from couch potato... well, to at least moving :) lol

He is coming to the gym with me now when he can and he's a great motivational buddy.

I love the season of spring,... it feels like it here in New Orleans, I live vicariously through the smells of the blossoms on the trees, the birds singing and not to mention the 80+ degree weather we have been having here lately. Over the weekend.. I washed my truck and pulled out the BBQ... it was fantastic. I say bring on the SPRING... the DST is here. So am I. :)

Today, I took a trip to town with my hubby. We ate at a cozy little restaurant called Le Madeline. I had the Chicken Cordon Bleu – Breaded chicken breast stuffed with ham and Swiss cheese on a buttery alpinette with honey Dijon, lettuce and tomatoes. & veggie soup. It was delish :)

For supper I had two beef patties, some peanuts and 100 calorie cheetos puffs.

I've missed everyone ! Give me a shout if you are still reading this blog :)

Blessings,

Bayoubabe

Jean's Relay for Life...

Hi Everyone !

As yall know, I'm an active person. I will be in the St. Charles Parish Relay for Life later this month. I’ve decided to take action a stand and fight back against cancer by participating in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life® event right here in my community.

This is my first time, so Please support me in this important cause by making a secure, tax-deductible donation online using the link below :

http://main.acsevents.org:80/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY09National?px=8890592&pg=personal&fr_id=15485

I relay because I have family members who have battled with cancer in their lives. My father died at the age of 54 from colon and liver cancer. My mother had kidney cancer. I have a 50 year old brother with Stage 4 Colon Cancer, who recently underwent liver surgery to remove more cancerous tumors.

I want to see an end to cancer during my lifetime. Relay gives me the unique opportunity to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and support the American Cancer Society’s lifesaving mission by fighting back against a disease that has already taken too much.

Relay For Life® is a life-changing event that brings together more than 3.5 million people worldwide to:

CELEBRATE the lives of those who have battled cancer. The strength of survivors inspires others to continue to fight.

REMEMBER loved ones lost to the disease. At Relay, people who have walked alongside people battling cancer can grieve and find healing.

FIGHT BACK. We Relay because we have been touched by cancer and desperately want to put an end to the disease.

Whatever you can give will help - it all adds up! I greatly appreciate your support and will keep you posted on my progress.

Sincerely,

Jean (Bayoubabe)

Wednesday...

Wow ! Can you believe it is March, already ??



Today was a good day.



I exercised at the gym for an hour, then had my Bible Study. I am doing the Beth Moore study on the Book of Esther,, which has many twists and turns, so it makes for an exciting read.



For lunch, I ate a turkey and ham salad from Subway. I topped it with pepperoni slices and lots of cheese.

Moday - Funday !

Yesterday was my post-birthday outing with my Aunt Carol from Mississippi. We ate at Olive Garden.




I had the Grilled Chicken Spiedini Skewered chicken marinated in Italian herbs and extra-virgin olive oil. Served with broccoli and grilled vegetables. a nice 21 carbs.

We visited my brother in the hospital. He is now out of ICU and in a private room. Please continue to pray for him.

For supper, I had a hamburger patti, on two slices of the bread machine bread, I made yesterday.

I exercised at the gym for 1 1/2 hours. Still not back to my 'old self' in exercising, but slowly getting there !

Better Bread That's Low Carb - 3 net carbs per serving

Better Bread That's Low Carb - 3 net carbs per serving that's what "Big Daddy D" calls it. (gotta love his nickname !)

RECIPE :

http://lowcarbohydrate.blogspot.com/search?q=better+bread+thats+low+carb

I loved the idea of the different ingredients, it gave for a very interesting bread texture. I think my only beef would be is that it definitely needs that pinch of salt and some more SPLENDA.

It definitely makes a smaller loaf than I anticipated.. but hey I'm open for ANY bread recipe that works in my 1.5 to 2 pound bread machine. I put mine on 'basic' setting , with a 'light' crust, and an allover time of 3 hours to make in the machine from start to finish :)

I think next batch will be made with the above improvements.

Cheers !

Bayoubabe

It's a COLD day here in the Big Easy...

Barely making it out of the 50's today. The weather is crazy. 80 degrees one day, 50's another. No wonder everyone is SICK.

So I'm on day three of my meds. They are finally starting to kick in from the upper respiratory infection I got on my birthday. I'm still not exercising, but hope to be doing so tomorrow at the gym.

For breakfast, I ate two scrambled eggs on wheat toast.

Lunch was a mixed meat sandwich on wheat.

I've found a new DIFFERENT recipe for homemade low carb bread I'm going to try in my breadmachine this afternoon. Details to follow :)

Have A Blessed Day !

Bayoubabe