Be Real

one day i noticed that my friend barb was wearing a fuel band and we talked about walking and trying to lose weight. she kindly agreed to be interviewed and here are her very honest answers to my questions concerning fitness, diet and how to keep going.

1. i know you walk-how did that begin, how much, how often?

I began walking with my husband 3 years ago in an effort to lose weight and get in shape.  We both needed a way to jump start healthier habits and walking seemed to be the best way.  I started slowly,a couple of miles each day until I built up my stamina.  Today I walk a minimum of 6 to 7 miles everyday,(weather permitting) and up to 9 miles on the weekends.

We are very fortunate to live close to the beach and golf course, which makes walking extremely pleasurable.  We have also become part of the "regulars" crowd, and made some new friends.

2. do you wear a tracking device-if so do you feel it helps to motivate you?

When I first started walking, I did wear a tracking device.  I found it very helpful and very motivating.  It was a barometer by which I could measure my progress and it reminded me everyday that I had to get up and move.  I also used an app for tracking my calorie intake.  That was very informative and gave me a good sense of food portions and associated calories.  It was a successful combination for me and I lost almost 30 pounds in the first 4-5 months.

While I still monitor my calorie intake, I don't wear a tracking device anymore.  Walking has become a habit.  I look forward to it and actually feel guilty if I miss a day.  I am self motivated after all this time.  My husband, though, does still wear a GPS watch.  He likes to calculate the total number of miles we have walked in a month/year.

If you are just starting to walk or run, I think a tracking device is a good idea.  Before wearing it, I never knew just how far 10,000 steps was!

3. what are your goals concerning the walking?

Maintaining good health, losing weight and keeping it off.  Getting to spend quality time outside. This is undoubtedly a lifestyle change.  As my doctor says, "just keep doing what your doing, all your numbers look great." 

4. do you do any other type of exercise?

During the winter time when it gets to cold to walk, I use the elliptical machine.  I am fortunate to have an exercise room in my house (only because I can't stand the thought of going out at 5am in the cold and dark, to work out in a gym).  

I used to do weight training, sit-ups and push-ups, but time constraints made that difficult because of work. This winter, however, I am going to continue the elliptical and start back with the weights and core strength training.  I realize now how important this is especially for women.  I will just have to get up earlier.

5. what results have you experienced from the above mentioned activities?

As I mentioned before, I did lose 30 pounds over a 4 - 5 month period of time.  I really did feel great.  I was sleeping better and had more energy at the end of the day.  I looked younger, my clothes fit better...what can I say, it was all good.

I must, however be truthful in saying that unfortunately, like alot of people, I have gained back some of the weight I lost.  If you lose the discipline and think you can eat more than you know you should, the pounds will creep back slowly.  

6. are you on a particular diet?

No, I can't say I am on any particular named diet.  I have a body that simply cannot tolerate carbohydrates of any kind.  I come from a family with a history of obesity, so I have a predisposition to storing energy.  What works for me is a high protein diet, lots of fish and chicken, and vegetables/salads.  If I have fruit, it is berries and I try to stay away from dairy.

7. what advice would you give to people to help them get motivated to walk, exercise?

Be real.  You know better than anyone else what works best for you. Buy a tracking device and start counting steps.  If you struggle doing it alone, try to find a friend who is willing to walk with you.

ps: speaking of keep going- this is my 100th blog post! be nice to hear if it has been at all helpful or of interest to you. 

Is it Possible?

have you eaten a nicely grilled burger this summer? Impossible Foods wants to do the impossible by creating a totally plant based burger that has the texture and taste of the real thing. the california based company was started in 2012 by a stanford university biologist/physician. the company, one of several in this growing field, has so far raised over 74 million dollars. it aims to create meats and cheeses totally from plants with their "impossible burger" to debut next year.
    so how will they do it? their scientists break down animal nutrients, fats, etc. to their molecular level and create plant based copies that mimic the real thing. of course, by using only plants the food products then have the benefits of no cholesterol, hormones, antibiotics or other contaminates. the other big word heard around this is "sustainable". but the products being created are- to put it mildly-highly processed-usually not a good thing.
    will these foods be as good as their companies claim? will they have the same or more protein than the foods they would replace? will consumers embrace them as healthier and buy them even though they are likely to have a high cost? right now its just impossible to predict.

for further information: impossiblefoods.com or hello@impossiblefoods.com

Hot Pants

this recently caught my attention in the ongoing search for  weight loss helpers. started in 2011 by dessi bell, a former banker who was trying to quickly lose weight for her upcoming wedding, zaggora hot wear claims that you will increase your calorie burn by around 11% by wearing their clothing. the clothing has neoprene ( think wet suits) and other special layers that besides holding you in also keeps your heat in. they are priced from  $70.00-$150.00. OK, maybe. but it reminds me of the old days when some people would just wrap themselves in cellophane then put on  their sweat pants before working out. it was supposed to help get rid of that dreaded cellulite. really.
    dessi was and is a very smart marketer with a big presence on social media. savvy too that she realized how quickly high end fitness clothing is becoming big business-lululemon anyone. but let's face it -for zaggora clothing to work you still need to get out there and move!

p.s. re added sugar: you might want to google "the sugar film" a documentary recently released by damon gameau. in it he starts eating 40 teaspoons of sugar a day after having avoided sugar for many years and we learn what happens to his health.

Eat Your Veggies

if you are a gardener then, like me, you might have more zucchini than you know what to do with. since i haven't done any recipes for a while i thought that this might be a good time to do so. of course zucchini can be used in many different recipes-sauteed with onions, in many baked goods, raw and as pasta.
    pasta? yes and very quickly too. it does help to have a spiral cutter (you can cut by hand but it does take longer) and the trick is just to put your favorite sauce that is hot right on top of the zucchini pasta. this way, after a few minutes, the zucchini will be al dente and not turn into mush.
    listed below is  another favorite summer recipe. it can be served as is or with a side of sour cream or plain yogurt. fairly simple, you can create your own flavor combinations by using different herbs and adding grated cheese and/or bread crumbs.

zucchini fritters-makes about 2 dozen depending on size

3 TB fresh parsley
salt/pepper
1 small chopped onion or scallions
2-3 TB flour. can use coconut flour if gluten free. amount will vary depending on how wet your mixture becomes and the type of flour used
2-3 eggs lightly beaten
2-3 cups grated zucchini. squeeze out the extra liquid with clean dish or paper towel
vegetable or coconut oil for frying

mix everything in a large bowl (except for the oil)
heat small amount of oil in sauté/ fry pan. add more oil as needed with each batch
drop mixture by tablespoon (or you can make small pancake sized ones) into the hot oil and fry on    each side until golden brown.
as you take each batch out drain on paper towels
enjoy