Post 14 / Day 86 ~ We Only Live Once!

In my last few posts what have been about portion control, as well as what types of foods are good for us.

Well that's all fine and dandy... however, what is more important to remember is that we only live once!

Why am I bringing this up?  Fact of the matter IS that we only live once...and with that said, I have chosen to do things my way from here on out!  (LOL)  Oh I'm not a type A personality, now am I?  wink, wink.

What I mean is that all my life I have been a slave to diets.  (Exercise included.)  I have counted calories, avoided carbs, and have eaten more than my share of salads.  To mention a few.  Sure, all these tactics have given me immediate results, but what they lacked was a long lasting effect.  

I have now gotten to a point in my life (I am two years away from the BIG 5-0) that all I want out of life is happiness.  Although I do want to look good and be healthy, I also have come to terms with the fact that I will never be a skinny-minny... and I am ok with all of this.  After all, I have taken care of myself enough to be no more than 20 or 25 pounds from my perfect weight.

SO (as I stand with a wide stance and place my fists on my waist) ... I am going to do this my way now.

I only have one life, and I will live what's left of it how I want to.  My way.  

I will not deprive myself of anything that I love to eat and will do so in a healthy manner.  I know about portions... I know what foods are good for me... I know to exercise and make healthy physical choices (ie. taking the stairs instead of the escalator at the mall)... I also know that if I keep a good pace and eat slow, I will get full quicker... I also know that water is a definite must, and plenty of it...  I also know moderation... I know that my stomach is about the size of my fist.. and I also know that I should not eat more than the size of my fist at one sitting.

I may not be able to have my crème brûlée every night... oh but when that lovely dinner comes around where I finally get my dessert... I will savor each bite and work it off the next day and then some.  Tomorrow's dessert...?  hmmm... 

Sounds like I am contradicting my self, coming across as if I am depriving myself from my favorite dessert... however... I have more than one favorite dessert, as well as favorite foods.. Yes, that was plural... F O O D S  and I can not very well eat them all at one sitting... 

Therefore I alternate all my favorite foods, using what I know above and then some...Bottom line I am not depriving myself of anything!  quite the contrary  Big Smile!

Bon Appetit!

Here's to another glass of water!

Stay healthy and Think Positive!

Blessings to you and yours. 

Images courtesy of google images.

Post 13 / Day 79 ~ Are Your Portions Off?

Proper food portions?  You mean I can't eat all that I want, as much as I want? 

Not if you want to live a healthy life.

 I last spoke of healthy foods to eat, and dabbled a little about nutritional labels.  

Those darn nutrition labels!!  I wish they were a little more straight forward to help the consumer, and not so sugar coated to help out the food manufacturer.  

Huh?

The funny thing about all of this is that as the food manufacturer starts putting their numbers together, they start seeing how unhealthy their product may be.  What will we do?  I know!  Lets make the serving size five chips!  The numbers will go down then!!

OK!  Who eats just five chips?!  I don't know about you, but you can not just eat five.  Even if you are "waist" conscious, you will still eat more than five chips!  

I personally know that I do not want to eat a piece of steak larger than my palm, did you?  To make life simpler for some of us, I have come across some images that may help you when you're putting your meal together.  

And no... you will not need to carry measuring cups, measuring spoons or a food scale with you!

First off... when serving meals for my family... I do not use my dinner [size] plates!  I use salad [size] plates for us, sometimes even pulling out the desert [size] plate for Calley!  You trick your mind into thinking that you are eating more.

For when we are our family's home, I use the following [mental] pictures to assist me in serving for my husband and daughter.  For us visual people, I  have collected a few different pictures for you to help you with portions.  Then there's a couple for those of you that are less visual.

Finally, some creative nutritionists have put some plates together as to what our plates should look like...

Sure hope this helps put proportions into perspective for you.  It did me!

Here's to another glass of water!

Stay healthy and Think Positive!

Blessings to you and yours. 

Images courtesy of google images.