Bloom!

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Gain a Pound, Taketh Away

Today was an accomplished one, but  not so much in the weight loss department because this area has been a bit like a yo yo for me this past month.    As far as tying up loose ends, and finishing my honey do list to myself,  I may  be making some  head way after all.   It began this morning when my neighbor drove up,  and said he forgot he promised to come by and  take a look at my broken,  two year  old washing machine,  over  three weeks ago!   I was  debating if I was going to take a loss on it,  and buy a new one.   He looked at it,  cleaned the filter (which I didn't know it had),  and now it runs like a charm,  with  no more leaking.   So the money I saved has now gone into  truck repairs!  Over the past few weeks  my husband and I are sharing one vehicle, while we look for another.  Last week I had to replace my truck's battery, and also had Sears give me a quote on an alignment, and on a new tire.  While driving this week I noticed bad sounds coming from my brakes.   When I drove my truck to Sears this morning,  and I had them go over it with a fine tooth comb.  I'm a "gas and go" girl,  and I've owned my truck  for  five years.   I've paid very little attention to it,  so quite literally I ran the tires off it.  Today is the first day it got treated like a "Queen",  and it is still in the shop!  New brakes, an alignment, one new tire and rotation, and an oil change will make her day!   I'm so happy all this got accomplished in a day and a half, and not another three weeks (Maui time).
While waiting for my repairs, and for Sears to call,  I stayed in the Mall and watched two movies.   The first movie I watched  was The Rite, and  thought it was done quite well.  I watched the second movie, The Black Swan which was a little more scary, and amazing because of the ballet in it,  the acting, and the storyline.  Natalie Portman should win an Oscar!  I recommend both movies!   So this is my day in a nutshell.  I hope all my Skinny Mini Sista's are doing well on their BFC'ing and F.T.'ing.  My weight  for the month of January has been,  gain  a pound,  taketh away.  So I'm going to believe February is going to be my month for positive change,  and for less major task on my honey do  list!

Monday, January 17, 2011

Jorge Cruise "No Fail Menu" for Women Over 40

Murphy's law is an adage or epigram that is typically stated as: "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong".     I began January with such great optimism that things were going to be easier this year.  We are only chipping away at week three in January,  and  already we have one broken washer (two yr. old),  one  engine  pau (finished) on our Ford Ranger , and  my  truck  wouldn't start  this morning.  I spent most of Saturday in  Emergency with my husband who was given antibiotics for an infection, and visited the doctor today to see if the antibiotics are working, he seems a little better.    After Dr. appointment went to Sears, and put a Die Hard battery in my truck, and it's running good again. Gained three pounds back in the last two weeks.  Stress makes me eat!  I've gotten into my Macadamia  Roca that I swore off in December, and I'm  literally, but  not physically  falling down!  I feel like a damn alcoholic (as "they" do stumble around a little)!   I don't want to wonder what is going to happen in the next two weeks to get us to February.  As far as my weight loss goal goes, it's getting further away, instead of closer to my reach.  I had only 10 lb. to go for my first real goal, and now I have 13 lb.
So as I'm writing all this down,  I'm thinking to myself- I have to keep it simple stupid!   Start at the beginning when things were working, and my weight was coming off:  I write because the answers come...so I will...
Start with Jorge's "No Fail Menu" for Women Over 40 as found on his web page @ http://jorgecruise.com/  
BREAKFAST:   2 or 3 eggs any style with one slice of whole grain toast with a pat of butter or cream cheese.   Coffee with cream or half and half.
SNACK:   1/4 cup of walnuts
LUNCH:  Tuna or turkey with my favorite cheese and lettuce wrapped in a medium whole grain tortilla.  Glass of unsweetened iced tea with lemon.
SNACK:  1 serving of string cheese.
DINNER:  Salad with baby spinach, grilled chicken,  olive oil, pepper, with a side of either broccoli or zucchini, sauteed in butter and topped with melted mozzarella.
DESSERT:  Decaf espresso with a dollop of heavy whipped cream sprinkled with cinnamon.  Add  a packet of Stevia, or Truvia if you want to sweeten it.  When you join Jorge Cruise online site he will send this menu, and another page of what other foods you can use instead of these during week one, and it's to get you started and to help with a weight loss up to four pounds.  I will try to tackle this during the week, and let you know the results next Tuesday.  Then again...
I will try one more week, and then another week, until I get back on some kind of track that leads me back to my one year goal.  Hope everyone has a better week ahead and that you can outwit Murphy's  law in your lives!   Lord, I need a huge dose of  faith right about now, and pour some on my Sista's while you're at it!

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Jorge Cruise and the Fast Track Program

Ok, so I passed up my opportunity to join the Fast Track Seminar with Jorge, and maybe regretting it just a pinch.  I know Helen has started it, and I've seen a few pictures of eggs, and spinach on Jorge Cruise's Face book page.  The seminar started two days ago, and the cost was 198.00 for four weeks of coaching, video's, menu planning,  shopping list, and help at all times.  I heard a lot of people saying the price was too high.  I think he's right when he says you have to consider the big picture of Health Care cost.  If you are caring a load of weight around your middle and do nothing about it ever,  then you can expect to have major health issues such as diabetes, cancer, or  heart disease.  For some people following the Fast Track program will be a very effect way to slim down, and learn about new options on how to stay slim.  It will cause those participating in a program like the Fast Track, to gain control  over  bad eating habits. I may sign up for the next four week Fast Track Seminar if Jorge offers another one, because it  will broaden my horizons in education about weight control,  and maintaining it once I get to my desired weight.

At this time I'm not in a good financial place to sign up to do Fast Track.  Our Ford Ranger truck (98) just broke down a few days ago, and now has major engine problems.  A mechanic came by the house today to repair it,  and  during his test  drive the engine seized up on it,  and a tow truck brought it back to our house.  We are now  in search of another vehicle.

I thought the Fast Track book would be coming out on the shelves soon, but from the sounds of it, Jorge has not yet finished it.  I'm not sure when it will be on sale, but for the time being I will keep going with my Belly Fat Cure lifestyle.   I might not be dropping weight as fast as I would by doing his Fast Track plan, but the BFC remains easy, and I'm seeing results.  Knowing about the Fast Track  has made me more conscious of the fact that I need to cut out some carbs, but not all like my new found  favorite "effective"  carb  called Tabbouleh.  It is found in the bulk section in our health food store.  I just looked it up and it's a whole grain,  and 1 cup has 26 grams of fiber!  It's so simple to make too.   Start with a  1/2 cup of  Tabbouleh,  pour boiling water over it, and stir.  Add 1tb. olive oil, and chopped tomatoes  (if you like).   After it sits a moment, you can add a few tablespoons to most salads.  I  sauteed my spinach,  fresh mushrooms,  added Feta cheese, and my (premixed) Tabbouleh - 2 Tb. ,   it's so healthy and tasty.  Just the right spice blend for spinach too.    Well over this past weekend  I discovered  bulk produce such as;  split pea soup, curry lentil soup mix, and Tabbouleh.  Just a half cup of each of these items, mixed with a  little boiling water in a bowl, stir, and wallah, you've got a  great  lunch for under 5 grams of sugar, and  next to nothing on carbs.   These taste great on a snowy afternoon,  but I wouldn't know much about that!  It has been raining here for the past few days, and we have just had  our second lightening and thunder show for the winter.  It's been cold here about 62 degrees!  Say a little prayer for Rosalie too!  Hope all our Sista's are doing well and losing!

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Jorge Cruise Has Started The Ball Rolling

I have a lot of thanks in my heart as I enter this new year!  If I didn't bend down and pick up  Jorge Cruise's book off the  shelf  while out shopping in the  Border's Book Store  I don't think I would be 22 lb. lighter today.  The Belly Fat Cure lifestyle is slowly and surely changing my underlying big belly, and most of my jeans that I had tucked away in my dresser drawers for the past 5  years  are fitting me again. Hallelujah!  I keep my jeans when I outgrow them, because I think I'm going to wear them again someday!   It's a good thing too,  because my two year old washing machine  is  on the fritz, and we are waiting for our repairman (who said he'd be over this past week) to possibly show up this  next week (Maui Time)!  My friend has been letting me do my laundry at her house until my washer gets repaired, and  I wanted to thank her for her kindness.   So what better way than to hit the  Grand Wailea Spa on New Year's day to start our year out away from chores, responsibilities, more chores such as; cooking, cleaning, and oh yes laundry!
We drove to Wailea in the morning and went to eat breakfast up at the Seawatch Restaurant.  As we drove in I noticed it's changed to Gannon's Restaurant, as I found out the Seawatch lost it's lease.  Beverly Gannon is a famous Chef here on Maui so she's taken over the lease, and has upgraded all the dinning area, and the decor is beautiful.  While dinning outside on the lanai,  our views look over the golf course and go all the way out to the ocean.  I ordered a Spinach Omelet, Wheat Toast, and  I was able to replace the Potatoes with a Cesar Salad.  It was an excellent choice.  After breakfast we drove two minutes to the Grand Wailea Resort, and  had the Valet park my ratty Maui Cruiser (not-Toyota truck), and then we walked to the Spa Grande.  We entered the Terme', Hydrotherapy Circuit;  five Japanese baths filled with different scents like Black Orchid, Mango, Coconut, and two others which I can't remember now for the life of me,  soothed our minds, healed our arthritis, and tons of other things they claim all that soaking does...  We went into the steam room,  forgot to go in the Sauna now that I'm thinking about it,  and sat under my favorite water feature, those little powerful Waterfalls.    I call this one,  the poor man's message!  It does relieve tight shoulders and on the bottom of the pool, gives a little foot message action.  We will definitively go there again!
Jorge Cruise has started my life rolling again into better health for the New Year, and I hope everyone who is waiting for that miracle to happen will take the first step, and create it for yourself this year.  You can make it better step by step.  Just start it for you!   Saga continues on into 2011.