Smart lunch

I think it was the best choice for me today.

Turns out I'm sick. Bronchial pneumonia, sinus and ear infections... so eat light. nothing too heavy!

I had some mashed up salmon with mayo, sliced up radishes and broccoli, some roasted garlic/olive oil couscous. ( I'll add in pic )

it was quite tasty!!

I then proceeded to take a 10 mins catnap. I need more sleep lol.

Not sure what to make for supper?

If you're on Facebook look me up and tell me what I should make . lol.

Sharon Gifford.

Stress, blogging and eating!

I'm sorry I haven't blogged. Lot of stress going on right now. This and right before my period are hard times with eating the wrong kinds of food.

I'm actually quite proud of myself right now... even with the stress that's been going on many different fronts, I actually haven't gone out of my way to eat poorly!

I walked right by the candy and chip aisles!! actually I've done that for the past week or so.

I actually walked right by the Easter aisle... which is a VERY hard thing for me!! MMMM easter eggs!! MMMMMM easter peeps!! mmmmmmmm PEEPS!!!!

SORRY!!! LOL.

I guess it all comes down to will power???

Yesterday my will power went out the window!! I had Mcd's. I haven't had Mcd's in forever. I just can't eat that stuff anymore!! just the taste of it.. ugh.

last night however, I made myself some roasted garlic with marjarine COUSCOUS. I added a few apricots ( which is NOT a good plan TODAY! LOL ) and it was actually SO good!

I think I need to look up COUSCOUS and see really how bad it is.

ok ... I'm rambling. Just TONS of stress... and I think I need to go for a massage and pedi/mani!!!

YUP!!! That's what I need!!!!!

SUBWAY- EAT FRESH!

Well I did just that. lol.

Although the subway ( which is relatively new to our "neck of the woods" ) only had white or wheat tonight, I had the white.

I got TUNA! The drawback with tuna is sometimes they make it so LOOSE! ugh.

I usually ask for either 1 scoop or 1/2 a scoop ( depends on how generous they are being ) and I get the 6inch.

I decided on tomatoes, cucumbers and red onions. ( the guy was STINGY!! )

That's my supper tonight. Not too bad!! I surprised myself.. even though I'm wanting chips.. I didn't get any.. Nor did I get a drink to go with it.

I'll have some water tonight.

I think I'm heading to bed early to watch Army Wives season 3... I am thinking MARATHON of it!! LOL.

Have a good night!

The junkfood explanation...

and so it's Extremely clear today... :)

Why I've been junk hogging all day yesterday!!

URGHHH I HATE THIS TIMEFRAME!!!!!

What a JUNKY day!! :)

I think I ate ALL the junk in the world today!!!

2 marshmallow peeps, bowl of crunch and munch ( which again, miss Kernels from Montreal ), 7 jelly beans, can of sprite...


and then for supper.. I made BOW TIES WITH KASHA!!! ( went well with my 1 slice of leftover potroast ).

I forgot the fried onions for my bowties/kasha.. so I'll make that tomorrow and stir them in. lmao.

I have those days sometimes.. just junkfood. Not to say it's a good thing or a bad thing.. but it's a "thing" that takes me over for a day or two and then next thing I know.. I have my period. lol. Between that and the food no wonder I gain about 5 lbs of bloating.. which is gone by the time I finish my period thankfully!


aren't you glad you're reading this? LOL.

Surgery... pros and cons

I've come under a bit of attack for my take on surgery for weightloss.

While I am NOT AGAINST surgery!!!! I just don't think it works if you don't have your MIND CHANGED to the "NEW" way you NEED to live!

I have friends who have gone the route of surgery.. Whether it was gastric bypass or the lapband.

They lost some weight initially... but then they went to their way of eating, their way of not excersizing..

guess what.. they gained some back.

I'm not trying to talk behind anyone's back.. I'm hoping for their sakes that they get back on the right track and can get the weight off... and be an HUGE ( pardon the pun) INSPIRATION to others!!!

Now that I have lost 115 lbs on my own WITH NO SURGERY ( HINT HINT SOME PEOPLE ) I might actually consider getting the excess flab that won't tighten up removed.

I'm weighing my options with this one. Hard choice for me!

I want to wish everyone an easier journey what ever choice you decide on.. just make sure it's the right choice for you and your MINDSET is RIGHT ON!

: )

Beautiful LUNCH! mmm mmm good!

I'd SO reccomend this one!!

Tuna mixed/mashed up with some mayo. Put on 2 slices of country boule bread TOASTED.

cut up tomatos, celery and chickpeas with some onions.

Mix w/ little white vinegar and some veg. oil. sprinkle of salt and some salad spices.

Absolutely delish. filling!

I've been slowing down on my "excersize" portion recently and think I just got some motivation to re-start it up!!

Hard to do mind set when you have kids at home from school.. but then I think to myself, if you don't do it 100% of the time, that's OK!! Just pick it back up!

I know there are a lot of people in my life that are really big. I hope to help them.. but this journey... IS FOR ME! Hopefully THIS DOES HELP them!!

Who wants to commit to going on biggest loser with me? LOL.. I'm thinking about applying. :)

The weekend in full.

Wonders why it's harder to fight those "demons" while on the weekend.

I actually did pretty good. Went in to a bakery and got NOTHING! although I did buy a small bag of cracker jacks (impulse buy) and ate 4 kernels of it.

OMG I MISS KERNELS!!!! (MONTREAL I MEAN)

We did pretty good this weekend.. didn't eat too much in the way of junk food. I love the central market here! fantastic fresh foods.

I made a wonderful potroast last night.. and while I sat there and trimmed away the excess fat, I thought to myself... WHO KNEW there was SO much fat on things! I cooked these with the FAT side DOWN! Usually you cook them with the fat side on top.. but I didn't need all those drippings.

I find now that I've lost 115 lbs that fatty content does a HORRIBLE turn of events on my tummy!! ( I KNOW!! TOO MUCH INFO )

But I will say I ended up with a cherry Crush drink (SHAME)... but the good news is... I walked the central market ( atleast 3/4 of a mile around that place. lol ) and I walked a walmart.. meandering through the aisles, even you don't need anything is a good way to do more walking.

Test out the "training" equipment. lmao. Just say " you're thinking about buying this and was wondering how it will work out for the long haul!!"

lmao.. just use the dumbbells (miniweights whatever) while you walk around walmart. lol. Go FIRST THING in the morning!! LOL.

HERE YA GO!:)

VEGGIES!! The love of!

I LOVE VEGGIES!!

I had a wonderful veggie salad today.

Tomatoes, Kholrabi, celery, organic sweet carrots... with just a little veggie oil and white vinegar with some salad spices. Just a hint of salt splashed on there for a little brighter taste!!

DELISH!!

Pair that with Dolmas ( which I'm not sure if those are the "healthiest" of foods ) and some Caselatrano ( or something like that lol ) olives.. (green) and sliced FRESH bread.

HEAVENLY!!!

I think I'll have it again for supper!! ( Yes I'm running late tonight ).

I guess I'll go for simple, and light in the evening!!

:)

Actually maybe I'll add some salmon!! hmmmm... first to go work it off.. ;)

Minestrone Soup - HIDDEN SALT!

Can you believe a Campbells Minestrone Soup is 690 mg of SODIUM!?!?!

HOLY SHIT!

There's 2.5 servings.. and 690 per serving... so if you have the whole can ( even with watering it down ) you have 1725 mg salt????

You'd be bloated for a week!!!

I wish they made labels EASIER and more clear!! They say per serving.. but you'd think a small can of something would be 1 serving. very deceptive!!

I need to find more ideas for suppers!!!

Stress and losing weight!

The only weight you'll lose with a ton of stress in your life is the weight of your HAIR FALLING OUT!

My poor hair follicles!! Jumping ship! :(

The amount of stress life gives you, try to find a way to get rid of it.

I'm using this blog and hopefully my evil sense of humor to help it out!

I'm thinking about starting YOGA! OR the cheap version of Yoga.. sitting in a shower with NO ONE in the same room!

YA right! Taking a shower today.. I just can't leave my kids on the loose in my house while in a shower.

I know some people are ok with that... but that's just ASKING for trouble!!

Stress of life.. why do we let things that we have NO control over bother us...

for example...

people talking smack about us. I can't stop them. If people are being stupid enough to believe the "smack" then what does that say about them? Gossip hounds?

The only way to relieve your stress in situations like that??? take yourself to that "rumor" person and tell them your side... if that doesn't work? WHY BOTHER?? Get an easier concious knowing they are just miserable in their own lives and can't talk about themselves.

Stress from kids? Hmmmm still haven't figured out how to "fix" that situation.

Stress from your "other" half? ehhhh talk it out. work it out. That's what marriage is... whether it's married, living together, significant others.. it's ALL THE SAME.. just what's the difference in a PIECE OF PAPER!?

I know 2 ladies that live together.. can't get married.. they are sad... but not because they don't have the paper... that says "marriage" because in their hearts they are married.... it's more of the EQUAL rights one "married" couples have.

Stress. Thinking about many things.

I don't do well with stress.. but have to push through it!!!! SOooooo.. take 5 mins out... go to your room.. take your pillow.. SCREAM INTO IT!!!!

: )

Fish sticks and fries

HEALTHY? NO! especially when it is deep fried in some sort of batter with beer?

ugh.

I decided to just give it up and make that for supper last night. While it REALLY looked good and crunchy... it was DOUGHY in the middle with VERY LITTLE fish in it!!

The fries I made with it were WELL over done, they were more like crisps that you couldn't bite into!

I decided to chuck it! Threw it out... I will NOT get that again.

While it was BAKED technically.... I just don't think it's healthy!!

I think I'm going to start going grocery shopping on a daily basis.. get fresher ingredients, or BEG hubby to get them from the large market.

It seems the town I live in, or the next town over, does have groceries but their selection of GOOD and FRESH ingredients bites the big weenie!!!

I think this is a KEY ingredient of the aid to losing weight... get FRESH! not frozen! not canned ( if you can avoid it! )

Canned foods seem to have a lot of SODIUM (SALT).

I have a group on facebook with a bunch of recipes. If you're not on there already, go on.. HELP ME with healthier foods.. maybe we can all group together and help each other with ideas of what we "SHOULD" be eating.

You'd be surprised what people think is healthy... and you know.. some of it is!

Your body still needs some salt.. not over amounts of it! your body still needs sugar.. just in moderation.

so that's going to be a goal of mine. Find better fresher foods and make them.. take pics of them, share the recipes to them...

I hope you join in this journey!

FIND ME on FACEBOOK!!!! Sharon Bubblez ( I'm the HOT one!! )

SUGAR- the HORROR!!

Especially when it's 23 kids on it! I can't believe I used to eat that.

There were cupcakes, cheetos, pixie stix ( OMG I MIGHT HAVE TO SNAG ONE from the kids LOL ) drinks (juices), cookies, grapes, popcorn, marshmallows (the "strawberry" hearts), Doritos, bananas...

YES the kids ate all of it!!!

can you imagine??

I passed on EVERYTHING! I'm proud of myself. A little willpower... that and cupcakes that were touched by little fingers.. ehhh not my cup of tea. lol.

(I want a cupcake!!!!)

Todays menu...

Lucky charms for breakfast ( BIG BOWL. lol )
1 cinnamon/raisin whole wheat bagel with butter and cottage cheese.
Some puff n corn
1 bliss mini white chocolate bar (small square)
sunflower seeds (small bag)

hmmm what to have for supper?? NO ideas! It's crummy out! I hate crummy.. so I might do a pasta dinner then walk on the treadmill for 45 mins.

Some tips for getting on the right track.

Here's some tips for getting on the right track.

1.) START SLOW!! Sit down w/ paper and pen (OLD SCHOOL) and start writing your feelings of what you'd like to accomplish in the next week. the next month... the next 6 months. the next year!

2.) USE SMALLER PLATES!!! Smaller cups too!

You eye will trick your mind into thinking " OMG This plate has SO much stuff on it " when you have a smaller plate. It's mainly because you can have the same amount of food... but on a LARGE plate, it doesn't look like enough, so you are more likely to stock pile food ontop of it.

3.) Try to leave something over on your plate!

4.) Chew slower. YES this sounds ridiculous.. but it works! If you chew more thouroughly your stomach feels fuller.

It also helps if you drink water while you eat! You will tend to get fuller faster!

5.) eat between meals! a small snack. Whether it be a fruit or some cut up raw veggies or even a 100 calorie pack of cookies.

6.) WALK ( as mentioned when walking you work off calories... as long as your body is moving you will tend to keep it more active and the food / calories you've had will be stimulated!!)

7.)EAT something in the morning!! NEVER skip a meal!! your body will HOARD calories, and this will make it even worse to lose weight!!

8.)HAVE A FRIEND you can talk to! that will understand what you are going through with NO JUDGEMENTS!!

9.) Make your list of foods like you like. Think of something you've never had... TRY IT! :)

10.) Portion control is a good way of losing weight... but don't deprive yourself!!

Studies show that when you feel deprived of something... you will GORGE on it!

if you're offered a slice of cake.. GO AHEAD. have 3/4's of it... WILL POWER!! TRAIN YOURSELF WITH WILL POWER!! hard task... TRUST ME!!

but... have that "whatever" food... don't feel like you've FAILED!!! You can start FRESH the next day and don't have that food again!...

if you must buy chocolates.. buy the MINI size!! 3 of those are like a full size chocolate bar... but you then think.. " OMG I HAD 3 CHOCOLATES!!" so you trick your mind to thinking you had more then you would have had!

The mind does funny things... listen to your heart!!! Make sure your heart and MIND are in it.. for the LONG HAUL!

Photo of today 2-11-10

GOOD THURSDAY MORNING!! - Gonna be a long post :)

RISE AND SHINE! Wake up call 6AM.

Busy day of what to put off!! :)

I want to make this post for all to see... This might not be the nicest of posts... but you'll find in time that I'm NOT SO NICE somedays!!

:)

This is going to be the raw truth!! Like it.... GREAT! Don't like it... LET ME KNOW! :)


There's been rumors, speculations, gossiping about how I lost weight... how long it took me... and whether it was through "magic" pills, surgery or other means.

LET ME TAKE A STAND, AND CLEAR THE AIR!!

I DID NOT HAVE SURGERY! (STOP TALKING BULLSHIT ABOUT ME TO OTHERS!)

No I'm not opposed to it... it wasn't an option for me! I wanted to make sure I kept the weight off. If I used surgery, I wouldn't be learning how to keep the weight off.

Anything worth having is worth struggling for!!

I DID NOT TAKE ANY MAGIC DIET PILLS, NOR AM I BULLIMIC/ANOREXIC!! (AGAIN, STOP TALKING BULLSHIT ABOUT ME!)

I EAT! TRUST ME! With this blog you'll see that I eat!! LOL. If I'm doing something different, please help me! I'm open to suggestions!!

You can either believe me.. or believe some gossip YENTA that has their life falling apart at every seam! Your choice! It's not about "TAKING SIDES" it's about the truth!

I really am sick of hearing about "Oh they are just jealous!" YEAH... NO KIDDING! I will not stand or even sit down for the bull! ASK ME! Don't believe some sourpuss!

Weightloss is something you have to do for YOURSELF! Don't do it just because someone else is pressuring you! It won't work!!!

I've been looking through my photos. It's an extreme difference.. I've been overweight most of my life! Not so much because I ate junk ( which sometimes I did and it made it worse ) but because partly I have a medical condition that causes obesity!

If you're overweight, have issues with your periods check with the doctors to see if you possibly have PCOS! (Poly cystic ovarian syndrome) It's a very hard thing to detect, but can be done through bloodwork!

I was diagnosed with it when I was 24.. didn't start treatment for it until I was 28.. The treatment is simple! it also re-aligns your periods to be about 28-33 days apart! FANTASTIC!

KNOWING YOUR BODY is the first step! Get in touch ( NOT LITERALLY!!!!! ) with your body!! ( OK FINE!!! what you do literally is not for me to know!! LOL )

Sit down with yourself and try to see what you can change about your body, your mind... It's an "easy" fix if you're willing to work at it!

I'll be using this blog as a "TOOL" for me to get my thoughts out! I would love it if I could help others! :)

I will be doing this blog with HOPEFULLY a sense of humor that makes it seem like it's easier then it is!!

you can THINK BIG... but START SMALL!!! Have a goal. Write it down.. but PLEASE make it a reasonable goal!

It's a BALANCE of stuff in your life! Stress is a bad thing. WE ALL HAVE IT! Sometimes we have to let things roll... no matter HOW hard it is!

Stop contact with the stressful things. Start walking. Even if it's in the mall. Cut out sodas. Diet sodas!! They are the worst due to SODIUM! Sodium is a hidden form of salt that bloats you!

Look at labels! Go for the ones that have LOW SODIUM CONTENT!! ( more tips to come soon!)

SO, I'll end this post with .... NO MORE BULLSHIT from BULLSHITTERS!! TALK TO ME DIRECTLY!!! If you don't want to believe me.. ask my husband!! He's NO BULLSHITTER! Tells it like it is... even if I'm wrong!!

weight loss starting weight as of today is...

155 lbs. Can you believe that? I "officially" started my weight loss journey about 2 1/2 years ago.

I mean FULL serious about it.

I found that once I set my mind to something I was able to push through the doubts and all the naysaying and get my tuchass in gear!

My starting weight as of 2 1/2 years ago was ( if I recall correctly ) 270.

Can you believe that. I'm 4 foot 9 1/2 inches and was weighing in at 270 lbs. EMBARRASING!

This was just a bunch of things rolled in to one. I gained the weight. I had children, I didn't do much, I had stress up to the wazzooo.. and just didn't care.

I'm on a path now for ME! I will drop the last 40 lbs and maintain it! I'm determined.

Maybe it would help if I didn't have fried onions with perogies and sour cream tonight. lmfao. Ehhhhh details!!!!

Here's to a GREAT relationship! :)

February 10th, 2010 -WELCOME!!

Welcome to my NEW blog.

Here I will be talking about my daily routines, my weight loss tips, my ideas, my thoughts... Everything you can imagine!

While this blog is here I will warn you these will be MY thoughts! MY ideas. You might agree with stuff... you might disagree with stuff.

I'm not looking for any sort of negativity!

If you like my ideas, find me on facebook ( if you aren't already a friend ) and we can chat!

I hope this blog serves to be a small step in a large decision on everyone's part to get to their "ideal" goal weight!

NOW... ON TO THE SHOW!

THINK BIG.. Start small! :)