Changing It Now

Kathryn Donatelli - March 15, 2012 - 10:57 am

Josie,

Two and a half months is about the right amount of time to plateau with weight loss. It happens even if you are doing everything “perfectly”. Which in my opinion there is no such thing as perfection. Because our bodies will set our metabolism according to our activity levels, today would be a good time to change up what you are doing and do something different.

How are you doing with the exercise DVD you started last week?

Love ya,
Kathie

Anne - March 15, 2012 - 1:27 pm

What a refreshing and inspiring blog post. Keeping realistic about yourself- all of ourselves, for no one is perfect- and staying committed to a goal, you motivate yourself and keep moving along, onward and upward. Not gaining back your weight is a success of its own. It seems your diligence and persistence are seeds in the garden of success (pun intended, however corny it sounded… oops, I did it again). Anyway, Your garden is going to be great, and I’ve been motivated by you to not give up on my own vegetable-herb garden dreams or my journey of healthy eating/lifestyle, however bumpy my journey is. I’m enjoying your posts… Thank you!

Robin - March 15, 2012 - 2:51 pm

I am drooling over your baby kales. Good luck with all the seeds too! So wonderful to turn little seeds like that into a labor of love and then onto your table.

Ginny - March 15, 2012 - 4:00 pm

Forget perfect; just stay the course and allow yourself to be human.

Debbie Phillips - March 15, 2012 - 8:20 pm

Love that you’ve come back to your blog … your safe place … your home. Please know how much I appreciate what you are doing and how inspiring you are!!

Planting the Seeds of My Organic Garden: Day 121

Tue. March 13, 2012 8:24 am

Do you want to win 4 Larabars? Tell me why you deserve to win.

I cant wait to plant my garden this year. I usually buy my plants at the “Master Gardner Fair” every year. This year I’m going to do my plants from seeds. I’m going to try anyway so wish me luck. This afternoon I’ll be off to Amberg Perennial Farms to buy some trays and some organic soil and some seeds. I’ll keep you posted on my progress with a few pictures as they grow.

3 comments

Betsy - March 13, 2012 - 10:26 am

Josie, your gardens are wonderful. I enjoy seeing the pictures.

admin - March 13, 2012 - 10:31 am

Thank you Betsy! I remember when you cheered me on with my doomed gardens in Austria. The flowers did well there but I couldn’t get those vegetables to produce for anything. I always enjoy it, whatever the outcome.

Kathryn Donatelli - March 14, 2012 - 10:30 pm

The reasons why I think I should win the 4 Lara bars:
1. They are the only snack bars that I can eat because they are gluten free, sugar free, artificial sweetener free and chemical free.
2. I can’t always afford to buy them for myself
3. I will have just one half of one in the afternoon and it picks me right up again.
4. When I have those around, I don’t crave other snacks that sabotage my program.
5. Ever since I switched to Lara bars I find weight control to be so much easier to manage.
6. I have serious physical reasons why I need to lose 50 or 60 pounds and Lara bars have really made a difference on that journey.
Thanks.

The Daily Grind and I Don’t Mean Coffee: Day 116

Thu. March 8, 2012 9:33 am

Hey, I’m still here. I’m alive and breathing. I’ve increased my exercise and guard my eating. I can do more and it shows as my weight loss slowed. I am almost 1/3 of the way through my year and I need to up the ante. It can be really hard on days that I just can’t find time for myself at all. I remember getting up at 4am or 5am to exercise when I knew I had a full day. That’s the kind of commitment that moves mountains. I am definitely a mountain that needs moving or so I feel like that some days.Just as I found that if I don’t exercise in the morning, or I if don’t post in the morning and put it off until later in the evening, I am often just too tired. Exercising and eating right help off set the daily grind and can bring vitality to your day.

Oh, here is something new. I got an email from LARABAR yesterday and here is what they said:

“Did you catch us on “The Biggest Loser” last night? Trainer-extraordinaire Dolvett Quince suggested Peanut Butter Cookie and Cherry Pie LÄRABARs as great go-to snacks before the contestants embarked on a hike – which made us pleased as punch! You can watch the clip here.

To celebrate our big news, we’d like to offer you the opportunity to give away 2 Peanut Butter Cookie and 2 Cherry Pie LÄRABARs on your blog.”

So I get to give away 4 LARABARS. Stay tuned and see if you can win the 4 LARABARS?

2 comments

Ginny - March 8, 2012 - 7:03 pm

Yes, indeed. If you can exercise before starting your day, than you know that nothing will interrupt you later. I have no ideas for your contest, but I am sure someone more clever than me will help you come up with something.

Kathryn Donatelli - March 9, 2012 - 1:32 am

josie, that’s the way to do it. I love what you said about being a mountain that needs moving. That’s very witty and it made me think about how much i need moving too.

My idea for a contest… come up with a new flavor that they don’t have yet and see if they like the suggestion.
My new flavor suggestion, honey, ginger, sesame.

Feeling the Workout Burn Day:111-112

Sun. March 4, 2012 2:43 pm

I shared the news back on Day 88, that a workout company Physique 57 reached out to me in an effort to support my weight loss journey. It was very inspiring for me to be contacted by them. In a way, it exemplified the power of blogging and social networking. They offered to send me some of their work out videos which they promptly did. Up to that point, I had been eating according to my plan, but I was missing an extremely key element, working out. I checked out their website and really liked what I saw. I worked out to the original Jane Fonda videos, back in the “80′s” and the first Tae Bo videos with Billy Blanks, but it has been years since I attempted anything new on video. In the 90′s, I worked out 6 days a week in a gym. After a skiing accident in “96″ and the birth of daughter in “97″, my workouts tapered off to a very occasional attempt to start again.

While a few weeks have gone by, I am now ready to take the next step on this year long journey. Yesterday, I opened the first DVD. The “Classic 57 Minute Full Body Workout”. I popped it in the Xbox and started to follow along. I am very out of shape and I found this workout very intense yet easy to keep up with it. Tanya Becker, the head instructor is really good. She’s motivating, inspiring and funny. I broke a sweat and felt burn in parts of my body that I forgot existed. Of course, getting to the final stretch is my favorite part.I woke up today already feeling the workout. Sweet Success!

My 14 year old daughter wanted to workout with me today. This was her first video workout and she felt the burn quickly. She gave up about 1/3 way through. I think I’ll try it again with her only using the “Express 30 Minute Workout” next time. I didn’t give up and completed day two. Whoo hoo!

Working out in your own home has many advantages and leaves little room for excuses. I’m looking forward to loosing weight and sculpting my body with Physique 57. I have sculpted my body in the past and along with eating right, Physique 57 and added cardio, I know I can again. I am already on my way.

Read Physique 57′s story here!

1 comment

jo's bo beaux - March 5, 2012 - 12:48 pm

I like what I hear Jo. I think that all the detoxing by healthy eating will help you to keep on that work out, and I believe that with each day it will get to be even greater fun and your own “slice of time in life” to stop all and do something for yourself.
You Rock, and I want to keep up with you. You’ve already had me reveiwing my eating patterns and have forced me to take a long hard look at my health. I love this blog! I hope that the momentum builds and I want to share with others on the strength and inspiration you have instilled my way.
Have a super day. Drinks lots of water, and keep with the training plan. one day at a time.

Healthy Ideas for a Rainy Day: Day 110

Fri. March 2, 2012 11:59 am

“Rainy days and Mondays” don’t have to get you down. There are so many healthy things you can do on a rainy day.

1) Break out the work video you’ve been wanting to work out to. Spend time stretching.

2) Cook up a big pot of your favorite healthy soup.

3) Take time to plan some future healthy menu’s.

4) Write a gratitude list.

5) Curl up with a book you’ve been wanting to read.

6) Watch movies on TV with yourself or someone you enjoy spending time with.

7) Play in the rain. Don’t be afraid to have some fun.

Looks like this bride didn’t let a little rain spoil her day!

Image by my photography partner, Brett Szemple as featured on 2 Capture Your Wedding

What are your favorite things to do when it rains?

3 comments

jo's bo beaux - March 3, 2012 - 12:55 pm

What a splendid way to ‘get your POS’ on. Rainy damp days can bring us down but don’t have to with so many wonderful things to do on a rainy day that keeps us positive.

w. ripnick - March 5, 2012 - 12:44 pm

Your Blog and My pal Mark are so inspiriational as to well being and taking card of one’s self. I am seriously revisiting the sugar free and gluten free options I have. I know it’s progress not perfection, and I hope to ‘keep my POS on’ as I keep rolling forward and getting healthier each day.
I’ve had many health challenges and just knowing that I can change starting today, and plant the seeds for tommorrow’s health has taken the burden off the long term plan. You’ve reminded me to stop beating myself up about the past and work today on tommorrows seedlings.
Yea!!!!

Rosalie Donatelli - March 6, 2012 - 12:49 pm

Great suggestions!

Thanks for the inspiration1

Recharging at the Borgata: Day 106

Tue. February 28, 2012 9:18 pm

I spent Sunday in the company of long time friends during a friends funeral and repass. There has been so much stress the last few weeks that I finally took an old girlfriend up on her invitation to join her for a few days in Atlantic City. I was able to take it easy and recharge my batteries. It was wonderful working out and relaxing. We stayed at the Water Club / the Borgata in Atlantic City.

I wish I had my wide angle lens with me.

3 comments

Kathryn Donatelli - February 29, 2012 - 3:20 am

Beautiful place! Now that’s the way to relax.

w. ripnick - March 1, 2012 - 9:35 pm

Yea! Looks like a beautiful place!!! Wish I was there!

w. ripnick - March 1, 2012 - 9:36 pm

Beautiful Beautiful Photos!

Popcorn, a Healthy Snack or Not, It’s Your Choice: Day 102

Thu. February 23, 2012 11:19 pm

A few days ago, my sister Rosalie Donatelli shared a link about how bad movie popcorn is. At least 20 – 25 years ago, Rosalie introduced me to ‘the brown paper bag’ and popcorn. She saw me using microwave popcorn and as she gasped, she informed me that I was making a bag of chemicals. She told me that if I take a brown paper bag, a little bigger then a lunch bag and add popcorn kernels to it, I would get great popped popcorn without the chemicals. It’s very quick and easy to do. Cover the bottom of the paper bag with kernels (I tape it closed) and microwave until the popping slows from steady to pop…pop…pop, about 2 minutes in my microwave. I have been using this method ever since. I just recently found jumbo sized lunch bags at a “Stop and Shop” grocery store. It’s a much better size then the regular for popping popcorn.

how-to-make-popcorn-in-a-paper-bag-on-changingitnow.com

Image from SquawkFox.com

The link Rosalie shared: Sparkpeople.com

I love this post on “Squawk Fox, where frugal living is, sexy, delicious, and fun”. They give detailed instructions on making popcorn in a bag along with a description of what is actually in those store bought bags of microwave popcorn.

“The Healthy Apron“ posted “Should we think twice” about how microwave popcorn? I say yes yes yes!

“Natural News”Microwave popcorn posts “Did you know? Microwave popcorn gives off a toxic, lung-damaging gas when cooked.”

I found this fun project on Kickstarter.com. Quinn Popcorn, “Microwave Popcorn Reinvented” I would love to see this make it out on local store shelves! Let me know if you’ve seen it.

WITH ALL THE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT’S HEALTY AND WHAT’S NOT, WE STILL CHOOSE TO EAT WHAT’S NOT. Here on ChangingitNow.com, we are choosing to eat what is!

3 comments

Janina - February 24, 2012 - 8:27 am

Thanks Josie! I’ve never heard about using brown lunch bags as an easy way to make popcorn instead of microwave bags. I usually use some good oil in a stainless steel pot but this sure sounds good for a quick and easy popcorn fix. I wonder if the brown lunch bags still have some chemicals though…

admin - February 24, 2012 - 8:46 am

Janina,
I found a link on the process that makes paper. http://greenlivingqa.com/content/brown-paper-lunch-bags It doesn’t answer the question. I’ll keep looking for a definitive answer

Lin - February 24, 2012 - 9:04 pm

That’s really cool. I’m totally going to try that!

Celebrating 100 Days on Day 101

Wed. February 22, 2012 4:08 pm

I’m congratulating myself today because 100 days has passed and I am still committed. I stopped to bring my mom a “real” coffee (as she puts it, not like the coffee in the rehab) and I was really tempted to get a skim latte with Splenda. I have not had a diet soda or any soda or any artificial sweeteners in 101 days today. The urge was strong but I did not give in. It’s not that having a Splenda once will kill me, I just know that if I give in once, it will be that much easier to give in again and I am really committed to changing this. I used a minimum of 3-5 packs a day of some kind of sweetener in my coffee or whatever, for 30 years or so.

I am still incredibly stressed but I am not quitting. Now that’s progress for me.

2 comments

Kathryn Donatelli - February 22, 2012 - 4:57 pm

You are so inspiring! I love reading your posts. The best of luck with continued success on your life style change and your blog.

Lin Vignola - February 22, 2012 - 8:27 pm

Rock on with your bad self Josie! You’re doing great. It takes a lot of strength to pass up your former favorite things. I’m so happy for you.

Healthy Food Need Not Be Boring: Day 99

Mon. February 20, 2012 11:29 pm

Healthy food need not be boring. These dishes just happen to all be seafood dishes. You can prepare all of these with all natural fresh ingredients. The dishes were prepared by Chef Klaus Kronsteiner in my kitchen and I photographed them on my kitchen counter. Food can be exciting and healthy at the same time.

3 comments

http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=808

Betsy - February 21, 2012 - 10:51 am

Did you take those photographs? Beautiful!! (The food looks good too.)

Rosalie Donatelli - February 21, 2012 - 11:23 am

Those pics look great! Even to me who wouldn’t eat the flesh foods. If I did, I’d want those plates in front of me right now!!!
all the wonderful plant based parts look great!

Rosalie Donatelli - February 21, 2012 - 11:28 am

Here is an interesting article about movie popcorn.

I remember when I used to take my son to the movies. We always stopped at the health food store first and picked up healthy snacks.
Or sometimes made air popped popcorn with sea salt and flax oil added. That may not sound it but it is delicious! My kid and I both loved it!

The secret is a very big purse looking bag to hide/carry it in LOL…

An Apple a Day… Day 96

Fri. February 17, 2012 8:04 am

Caring for sick loved ones can be especially stressful. I have been exhausted and off track the last two days. I love how each day is new and each day we can begin again.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Sounds simple? Check out Dr. Fuhrman’s Website. When I was brain storming to come up with the name of this blog, I was leaning towards concepts like ‘eating my way to health’ etc.

I’m looking forward to reading Dr. Fuhrman’s book “Eat for Health”. It’s arriving later today.

Joel Furhman's Food Pyramid

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