
Saturday, January 16, 2010
old habits die hard
my family came over last night - why is it that family functions almost always equate to overeating? I made spaghetti, homemade sauce that cooked for hours, whole grain organic noodles and cheated last minute and tossed in frozen meatballs (ran out of time). But even with and enormous salad, I still cheated and had a serving of pasta with all the trimmings (no cheese :)I just wonder sometimes if all the work we do on ourselves gets hijaked every time we are with family, there is something so habitual, so comfortable in falling back into old natalie.... hmmm I wonder why that is.
oh well onto better things... I guess :0) today I ate the salad :) of course leftovers welcome me everytime I open the fridge ;0)wink

Thursday, January 14, 2010
5 more down.... about 35 more to go....
I lost 5 more pounds!!!!! So far that brings me down to an even 50lbs lost!!!! yay - I need to celebrate... not sure yet what my reward should be...something great - like a new pair of running shoes maybe?...
well my dear friend Beej (journey to sanctification) rewarded me with a challenge to list ten things that make me happy - I don't usually get into these awards much - but this one was pretty nice to think about... so here it is:
1. Marrying my best friend
2. Kids that start the day with a smile (and usually a hug)
3. My Saviors love (corny - I know...but true)
4. Spicy food .... mmmm chips 'n salsa...drool
5. Sexy Shoes (they make you feel great no matter what your size)
6. The great outdoors (running on a treadmill sucks)
7. Going to dinner with friends
8. Watching loved one's make good choices
9. Serving others (no really - it works every time)
10. Being creative - love to problem solve.. I know, I'm such a dork!
- is it bad that 2 items included food... no wonder I'm chubby
well my dear friend Beej (journey to sanctification) rewarded me with a challenge to list ten things that make me happy - I don't usually get into these awards much - but this one was pretty nice to think about... so here it is:
1. Marrying my best friend
2. Kids that start the day with a smile (and usually a hug)
3. My Saviors love (corny - I know...but true)
4. Spicy food .... mmmm chips 'n salsa...drool
5. Sexy Shoes (they make you feel great no matter what your size)
6. The great outdoors (running on a treadmill sucks)
7. Going to dinner with friends
8. Watching loved one's make good choices
9. Serving others (no really - it works every time)
10. Being creative - love to problem solve.. I know, I'm such a dork!
- is it bad that 2 items included food... no wonder I'm chubby
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
I'm baaaaack
drumroll pleeeease....... I HAVE THE INTERNET AGAIN!!!!!!! wow, talk about feeling isolated! I missed you guys!!!!!!
ok, so we are in the new home, the craziness of holiday travel is behind us, and we finally found someone to give us service up here on the side of a mountain - but man is it all worth it!!!! I have the most amazing view of the valley I live in, and the enviroment is perfect for me. There are people snowboarding, skiing, sledding all over these homemade runs up here everyday - I think I will have to find myself a winter sport :)
I can't wait till spring when I can go hiking just 2 houses away from my home is the mountain... I wish you could all come along - but I promise some pics soon :) (camera is still packed up)
I'll be brief - no reason to catch you up on ALL the details of my 2 week hiatus...but lets just say -new house, new year, new me.. working out 3 times a week and strating to cut out the daily dose of chocolate (my drug of choice)
well I'm off to catch up on all of you! I can't wait to see everything you've all been doing - thanks to all for not forgetting about me...sigh... ;)wink
ok, so we are in the new home, the craziness of holiday travel is behind us, and we finally found someone to give us service up here on the side of a mountain - but man is it all worth it!!!! I have the most amazing view of the valley I live in, and the enviroment is perfect for me. There are people snowboarding, skiing, sledding all over these homemade runs up here everyday - I think I will have to find myself a winter sport :)
I can't wait till spring when I can go hiking just 2 houses away from my home is the mountain... I wish you could all come along - but I promise some pics soon :) (camera is still packed up)
I'll be brief - no reason to catch you up on ALL the details of my 2 week hiatus...but lets just say -new house, new year, new me.. working out 3 times a week and strating to cut out the daily dose of chocolate (my drug of choice)
well I'm off to catch up on all of you! I can't wait to see everything you've all been doing - thanks to all for not forgetting about me...sigh... ;)wink
Saturday, December 12, 2009
the mystery of food...ancient chinese secret
A friend sent me this e-mail...I thought it was pretty funny. Couldn't get the photo to transfer, but he's a cute little dalai lama-esk asian doctor.
His practice has no more room for new patients! Apparently they consider him a medical wizard....

Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Heart only good for so many beats, and that it.... Don't waste on exercise. Everything wear out eventually.. Speed up heart not make live longer; that like say you can extend life of car by driving faster. Want live longer? Take nap.
Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does cow eat? Hay and corn. What are these? Vegetables. So, steak nothing more than efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef also good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And pork chop can give 100% recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.
Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine. That means they take water out of fruity bit; get even more of goodness that way. Beer also made out of grain. Bottoms up!
Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: If you have body and you have fat, ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, ratio is two to one, etc.
Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Cannot think of single one, sorry. My philosophy: No Pain...Good!
Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU NOT LISTENING!!! .... Foods fried in vegetable oil. How getting more vegetables be bad for you?
Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise muscle, it get bigger. You should only do sit-ups if want bigger stomach.
Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: You crazy? HELLO ... Cocoa beans! Vegetable!!! Cocoa beans best feel-good food around!
Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming good for figure, explain whales to me.
Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is shape!
Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.
His practice has no more room for new patients! Apparently they consider him a medical wizard....

Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Heart only good for so many beats, and that it.... Don't waste on exercise. Everything wear out eventually.. Speed up heart not make live longer; that like say you can extend life of car by driving faster. Want live longer? Take nap.
Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?
A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does cow eat? Hay and corn. What are these? Vegetables. So, steak nothing more than efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef also good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And pork chop can give 100% recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.
Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine. That means they take water out of fruity bit; get even more of goodness that way. Beer also made out of grain. Bottoms up!
Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: If you have body and you have fat, ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, ratio is two to one, etc.
Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Cannot think of single one, sorry. My philosophy: No Pain...Good!
Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU NOT LISTENING!!! .... Foods fried in vegetable oil. How getting more vegetables be bad for you?
Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise muscle, it get bigger. You should only do sit-ups if want bigger stomach.
Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: You crazy? HELLO ... Cocoa beans! Vegetable!!! Cocoa beans best feel-good food around!
Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming good for figure, explain whales to me.
Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is shape!
Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.
Friday, December 11, 2009
new beginnings

It ours!!!!! We officially own our new home!!!!! Yay!!!! Sorry I haven't been posting - just hang in there with me, it might be a bit sporadic, but I'll be with ya soon. We bought a cute little 2 story and the best news is...I will have my own gym again!!! yay!!!! It might be a bit older and not much to look at, but it's all ours :)
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Women Who Sleep Less, Eat Less...and Still Gain
So in my constant battle to find the best research on health and weight loss I stubbled on this little article about how sleep effects your weight...it's crazy but they found that sleep was PARAMOUNT to the success of your body function specifically, weight loss. I have a little tidbit of it here for you to digest...
Inadequate sleep:
http://thyroid.about.com/od/loseweightsuccessfully/a/sleepdiet.htm
•interferes with the body's ability to metabolize carbohydrates and causes high blood levels of glucose, which leads to higher insulin levels and greater body-fat storage.
•drives down leptin levels, which causes the body to crave carbohydrates.
•reduces levels of growth hormone--a protein that helps regulate the body's proportions of fat and muscle.
•can lead to insulin resistance and contribute to increased risk of diabetes
•can increase blood pressure
•can increase the risk of heart disease
Even in young, healthy people, a sleep deficit of three to four hours a night over the course of a week has a triple-whammy effect on the body.
go read the rest...is a small article, but gets you thinking!
Inadequate sleep:
http://thyroid.about.com/od/loseweightsuccessfully/a/sleepdiet.htm
•interferes with the body's ability to metabolize carbohydrates and causes high blood levels of glucose, which leads to higher insulin levels and greater body-fat storage.
•drives down leptin levels, which causes the body to crave carbohydrates.
•reduces levels of growth hormone--a protein that helps regulate the body's proportions of fat and muscle.
•can lead to insulin resistance and contribute to increased risk of diabetes
•can increase blood pressure
•can increase the risk of heart disease
Even in young, healthy people, a sleep deficit of three to four hours a night over the course of a week has a triple-whammy effect on the body.
go read the rest...is a small article, but gets you thinking!
Friday, December 4, 2009
what?!? redheads...extinct?!?!?

I will be refraining this evening, from my usual crazy health ramblings to ramble on another subject. As you know, I'm a strawberry blond (you can see from the crazy photo to my right) and I am a natural redhead - no hair from a box for me. Now, I know that I'm a rarity... this is obvious to me, when no one makes products for red hair...whilst blonds and brunettes have their own shampoos, styling products, eyebrow pencils and more. But imagine my surprise when a sweet friend sent me an e-mail about an article she read in a medical journal...the extinction of the red head.
We are an anomalie, one that began as a mutation in Europe centuries ago, and one that (due to cross breading) is become more and more rare... less than 2%, in fact in the world. they predict that in 100 years - red heads will be no more, that it will be "bred" out of the gene pool...say it ain't so. Well I for one, hope they're wrong. I love my hair! I love the color, the reputation..whatever the costs, the mean names in grade school... I love it! And now when I look down on my lone redheaded child (my newborn daughter is a strawberry tart just like her mom - my two boys both toe heads) and I pray she keeps the gene and passes it along....because let's be honest:
what would the world be like, without redheads?
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