Weekend Cooking: Two Books That Offer Healthy Guidelines for the Food We Eat

Many of us have made the decision this year to take control of the food we put into our bodies and to maintain healthier eating habits. For me personally, I began this journey two years ago after realizing that for the first time in my life, I needed to go on a diet. But it wasn't a diet I needed. It was a lifestyle change that I could adapt and continue to practice for the rest of my life. I began reading the nutrition labels on the food I was buying and learning what to stay away from. There's a lot of information in those labels if only you take the time to understand what they mean. Now I look at food a lot differently than I used to and I don't buy food just because it tastes good. Even though it may taste good, that doesn't necessarily mean its good for you. For two years now I've completely cut out processed foods from my diet and I can tell a significant change in my body. Most of the food I eat I prepare fresh at home from ingredients I choose. I rarely eat fast-food and when I occasionally slide, I immediately regret it because of how it makes me feel and then I vow never to to it again.

For today's post I wanted to share two books that I've come across that have helped me tremendously in my quest for eating healthy. The first book, HEALTHY FOOD GUIDE,  is a self-published ebook by Ceps Weston and is available on Kindle (for 2.99). Though not written perfectly, the information provided in the book allowed me to overlook the sub-par writing. (In my opinion) I read this book in a day and though its not an in depth, technical book, it is very helpful in identifying ingredients you should definitely stay away from and why.  This book would be great for those just starting to realize that they want to have more knowledge about what they are putting into their bodies.

The second book I want to mention is a much more in depth look at food in general and the benefits of eating real food, not food that the 'industry' tells us is healthy and good for us. This book came out in 2008 and was featured on many of the morning news shows for its bold statements about how the food industry manipulating the public into thinking they're providing us with healthy alternatives. Its a very interesting book written by Nina Planck, who is a renowned food expert who grew up on a farm in Virginia eating 'real' food and selling it at farm stands. Her knowledge of food is very broad and is not at all related to food trends, just simple whole foods.  This book is aptly titled REAL FOOD: What To Eat and Why. In it, Ms. Planck shares her wealth of knowledge about foods that have been around for thousands of years and the benefits of them. For anyone looking to learn about food and maintaining a healthier lifestyle I highly recommend this book.  I promise you won't look at food the same way again.

Thanks for stopping by today and I hope this post was helpful to you in some way. for more great cooking posts, please stop by Beth Fish Reads and check out all the other contributors for this weekly event. 

The Saturday Skinny: WW Week 15 Almost There!

Hello and thank you for stopping by today to check my Weight Watchers progress! I'm happy to report that at my weigh-in this morning I lost 3.2 pounds this week bringing my total to 25.8 pounds lost in 15 weeks! I am so close to my ultimate goal and sometimes I can't believe I've done so well.

I was a little surprised by my 3.2 loss because I haven't been working out as diligently in the last few weeks, with everything going on with my Dad. We've had to call Hospice in to come to the house and help take care of him a few times a week. So needless to say, my mind hasn't really been on working out. I did walk three days this week but that is all.

I can't say enough about the Weight Watchers Online program and how it has taught me so much about nutrition and what to look for in the labels. I would certainly recommend WW Online to anyone looking to shed a few pounds. In my opinion, it is the smartest way to lose weight and learn how to keep it off. There is no special food or crazy shakes to replace meals. It is simply a new way of looking at food that you can incorporate into your daily life without completely disupting your life.

I'm hoping to reach my ultimate goal by the end of June and it will be the end of this Saturday series but I have truly enjoyed sharing my experiences with you. I can always count on my fabulous blogger buddies for positive comments and that is also a big part of my success, so Thank You so much!! I hope I have encouraged others to take the plunge and lose those few extra pounds. If I can do this, anyone can!!

The Saturday Skinny: WW Week 12

Hello and thank you for visiting The Saturday Skinny! I've been tracking my weight loss now for 12 weeks and I am so glad that I chose Weight Watchers Online to do it. This system works so well for me because it has taught me to eat healthy. But more on that in a minute. First I want to get right to the important part - my weigh-in . . .

At my weigh-in this morning, I lost another 2.2 pounds! That brings my total weight lost to 19.6 pounds in 12 weeks! Needless to say, I'm very happy with that. With every week I'm getting closer and closer to my overall goal.

Like I said before, WW has really taught me how to eat healthy. I always thought I did eat healthy, until I started tracking all the food I put in my body. It didn't take long to figure out that I was wrong! I wasn't eating healthy at all. Too much butter, too much pasta, and my portions were totally wrong. For me, living alone only made it easier to eat too much. Plus, I loved to snack in the evenings. I was being so bad and didn't give it a thought! My friend, Brenda, and I were talking the other day about how we used to eat so much junk and not even think about how bad it was for us. I don't think we'll ever go back to that again. I really do care what I eat and I don't want to go back to where I was.

There's a great book I want to get called EAT THIS, NOT THAT by David Zinczinko. It seems like it would be a great tool to help with swapping out some of the fattier foods for less fatty alternatives. There's even a 2011 Version available now. I've seen David on the morning news shows several times and he always breaks down how many calories are in a lot of the foods we eat and compares them to what it is equal to. One that was really surprising to me was the salads that a lot of the restaurants serve. I usually always order a nice salad - my favorite is a Southwest Salad with pico de gallo, sour cream and a creamy ranch-type dressing. He showed that there are more calories in that salad than if I were to eat multiple Whoppers from Burger King! When he brings that plate out with the burgers and you visually see the comparisons it really is shocking! I always love when he is on TV and always try to watch him. I don't have this book yet, but I am going to get it soon! I think it would be a good partner to my diet program. In it he also explains that although many cereals claim to be 'healthy', you have to be careful of the sugar levels along with the calories. There were some shocking comparisons there as well! I am looking forward to getting this book. I love all the comparisons and alternatives! I'll let you know when I have it!

So that is my update for week 12 of my weight loss journey. Thanks so much for taking an interest and all of your encouraging words. It really does mean a lot. I hope everyone has a fabulous Easter weekend!

The Saturday Skinny: WW Week 11 The Moral of the Story...

Hello and Happy Saturday! Thanks for stopping by and checking in on my Weight Watchers progress. This is the end of my 11th week and I am happy to say that I have yet to be burned out on the program. But before I get into that, let me get to the important part - the numbers...

I pretty much broke even this week. Technically, I lost .2 pounds, but c'mon - really?! So my total lost is 17.4. Hey, as long as I didn't gain anything, I'm happy! I'm only 4 pounds away from the second goal that WW set for me. This week I was a little concerned about getting burned out on the program now that its been 11 weeks, so I just did what made me happy but still worked out everyday. I didn't go crazy, but I had some food fun!

It started with going out last Saturday night for a farewell dinner of a friend who was moving to New York. I ate some Cajun food, had some drinks and even a few bites of Key Lime pie! We had a blast and that's all that matters. Then I got back to business the first part of the week. On Thursday I went to a food tasting where several restaurants get together and you go around and sample their food. Oh my gosh! That was heaven! We sampled some delicious food in a relaxing pool-side atmosphere as the sun went down and shared a bottle of wine. It was a really fun evening and I was so glad my mom was able to go and enjoy herself too. She's been taking care of my dad who is suffering from cancer and it did her a lot of good to get out and relax. We all had a terrific time and the best part was that is was FREE! I like free!!

So even though I didn't really lose any weight this week, it meant more to me to enjoy some time with my friends and family. So the moral of the story is to not take your weight loss program so serious that you lose focus on what's really important in your life. Sometimes its the little things that really make you happy and being with the people I love is what makes me happy.

The Saturday Skinny: WW Week 8 - Blueberry Squares

Thanks for stopping by for The Saturday Skinny where, as you know, I've been tracking my weight-loss experience using Weight Watchers Online. I'm pressed for time this morning, so I'm going to get right to the numbers, then I'm going to share a yummy dessert recipe with you that I found on the WW site.

At my weigh-in this morning, I lost 3 pounds, bringing my total loss to 13.8 in 8 weeks! After having a disappointing result last week, this has obviously made up for it! I really pushed hard this week and was even stricter than normal. Another plus was that I walked 2 miles every day. I stayed slightly under my 29 point daily allowance and I ate A LOT of fruit. Wednesday was tough because I was at my sister's apartment cooking meals for her and it all looked so good, but I didn't even take a bite of anything. My sister, who is as tall as I am (5'9") is very thin and is actually trying to gain weight. She's always been thin and has been anorexic in the past, so I try to make her meals that are helpful in gaining weight so that she won't have to have the B12 shots from the doctor again.

Now I want to share a dessert that I made this week that is absolutely fantastic! Its called Blueberry Squares and it is the easiest thing you'll ever make in your life - I promise!

BLUEBERRY SQUARES

1 can Light Blueberry Pie Filling (or any flavor you like)

1 box Angel Food Cake Mix

Preheat oven to 350. Put cake mix in large bowl and add pie filling. Mix gently until well incorporated. Spray 9 x 13 cake pan with non-stick cooking spray. Pour batter into pan. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until top is golden and toothpick comes out clean. Let cool before cutting. Makes 24 squares of cake at 2 PointsPlus value each.

I used light cherry pie filling and it was so good! I split the cake and shared it with my friend Brenda, who is also on WW with me. The angel food cake is so light and moist and the cherries made it really tasty. You could even add a dollop of Cool Whip for 1 more point and still have a great treat! I will definitely be making these again. Even if you aren't on WW, this is a great dessert to make for the summer. If you try it be sure to let me know what you think of it.

Thanks again for stopping by to check my progress - your encouragement means so much! Have a wonderful Saturday!

The Saturday Skinny: WW Week 6 - A New Goal!

Hello and thank you for stopping by for The Saturday Skinny, where I track my experience using the Weight Watchers Online program. I have just completed my 6th week and I must say, I am absolutely thrilled with my progress. So let's get down to the numbers . . .

I weighed in this morning and I lost 2.4 pounds this week! That brings my total weight loss to 11.2 pounds in 6 weeks! This week is extra special to me because I've reached my first goal weight that WW set for me. I'm very pleased and it only gives me more incentive to keep on going.

I never expected to have such great results so quickly, but it just goes to show how this system works. I do stick to it very closely, track everything I put into my mouth and I exercise at least 30 minutes every day. I haven't fallen off the wagon since Valentines Day with the wine. The best part is I'm not going hungry. I think what works for me is that I eat a lot of fruit as snacks and I get the most out of the Smart Ones frozen dinners by adding a protein such as grilled chicken, salmon or shrimp to the side dishes and I add vegetables to the dinners that already have the meat included. This enables me to have a complete meal without leaving the table hungry. I've also discovered sherbet again! I love sherbet and I can have 1/2 cup for dessert for only 3 points. It may not sound like a lot, but really, it is just enough for me. Portion control was always my downfall and I've worked hard to get that under control. I've also found some great new fiber bars from Kellogg's that are so delicious, I feel guilty eating them and they, too, are only 3 points. The Dark Chocolate Almond is my favorite!

In closing, I would just like to thank my family for being so supportive of me on my weight-loss journey. They are so encouraging and never tire of hearing me talk about eating healthy or when I drag them to the walking trail with me. My hope is that when I go back to my doctor this summer, he will be able to lower the amount of blood pressure medicines I take to reflect my weight change. I have an enlarged heart on the right side, so I know I will never be totally off of the meds, but I'm hopeful that I can reduce the dosages at least.

Thanks again for stopping by and be sure to tell us about your progress as well. I realize many of you living up north don't have the advantage of the warmer weather like I do, but it will soon be here! Your encouraging words mean so much to me! Have a great week everyone.

Introducing...The Saturday Skinny - My Weekly Weight Loss Journey

Hello and Welcome to The Saturday Skinny! As some of you may have noticed from my Facebook page lately, I started a weight loss program at the end of January. My first ever 'real' diet. So, I've decided to add a new Saturday feature to my blog where I will chronicle my progress, obstacles I may encounter and my exercise routines. I'll also be featuring some good-for-you recipes and tips that you may want to try. With Spring around the corner, now is the time to get active and get on the right path for a healthier you!

Let me first start by telling you that the program I've joined is Weight Watchers Online but I don't consider it a diet, per se. I don't even like the word diet. This is more of a healthier way of life that I will continue with long after I've reached my ultimate goal. Most diets typically don't work because they have unrealistic expectations and once you go off of them, you gain the weight right back. This Weight Watchers Online program teaches you what to eat, how much to eat and what foods you have to be careful of. You don't have to give up that chocolate cake forever - just be mindful of how much of it you put in your body.

Exercise is another very important factor. As readers, we all know we're not getting any exercise flipping those pages or hitting the 'next' button on our Kindles! So, we have to make up for that immobility. Since I've had to retire, so-to-speak, I've put on at least 20 pounds. My doctor recently asked me what I'd been doing for fun and I said, 'Reading a lot of books' and he frowned and said, 'I meant for exercise'! Oops! The WW program (and my Doctor) suggests that we get at least 30 minutes of exercise every single day. And one of the best ways to exercise is simply by walking! Who doesn't enjoy a nice walk, right?

I've completed 4 weeks of WW and I've lost 7.6 pounds! I've found that the PointsPlus System works for me. Upon joining, they give you a PointsPlus calculator that you enter nutritional information into and it converts it to Points. This is very helpful in learning portion sizes and what foods to eat. Each week after you weigh in, you are given your PointsPlus Target. As you lose the weight, they reduce the number of daily points you can eat. I'm sure a lot of you already know how this works. I've been 20-25 pounds overweight a lot in my life and I've tried counting calories, eating all low-fat foods and nothing worked for me. But this PointsPlus System along with their fabulous eTools keeps me on track. And when I get discouraged I remember that I didn't gain this weight overnight and I'm not going to lose it overnight. It takes time and dedication. I'm doing WW with my good friend, Brenda, and we lean on each other and when our weigh-ins don't turn out like we'd hoped, we support each other and try harder the next week. We also walk at least 1 mile every day and sometimes 2 miles. I've even recruited my mom and sister to walk with me.

I hope that you will stop by each Saturday and if you are doing your own weight loss program, leave a comment and let me know how you are doing. We can encourage each other. Thanks for visiting today and i hope you'll come back soon!