Thursday, August 14, 2008
It’s mid-August and you know what that means—Back to School!
Believe it or not, even in the high-fat high-calorie “convenience” food cafeterias, fast food, vending machine world that our schools have become, parents can protect their children from the daily temptations with a little planning. The school may publish a healthy menu, but realistically children often choose to go through an alternative line and purchase more fattening options such as pizza, burgers and fries. Children are bombarded with marketing messages and are vulnerable to choosing foods that may contribute to long-term weight-control struggles. Take the guess work out of it and make health the only option for your child. With proper planning and some creativity, even the busiest parents can help their children make healthier choices.
According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control, about 35 percent of all American children and adolescents are overweight, an alarming 25 percent increase over 10 years ago. Although the problem is a complex one, obesity puts children at an increased risk of high blood pressure, higher cholesterol and blood lipid (fat) levels, and Type II diabetes (your Grandmother’s generation referred to it as "adult-onset”).
Sad reality is that Obesity is making many health conditions that were once “adult” diseases part of childhood. Tragically, we have 17-year olds who should be thinking about trying out for cheerleading, what to wear to homecoming or what colleges they should apply to being rushed to Emergency Rooms because of a heart attack—at 17!
We have to take action. Dr. David L. Katz recently sounded this alarm: “Continuing on the path that we are on, this generation is not expected to live as long as their parents generation.”
We can’t continue on that path. It just isn’t realistic anymore to send your precious child off to school and assume that they going to be able to provide busing, Physical Education, sports teams, music programs, teacher salaries AND serve a healthy and nutritious lunch given their already thinly stretched budgets.
YOU have to ensure that your child gets healthy meal each and every meal. Think about breakfast, lunch and dinner options as you plan your weekly shopping so that you can have nutritious ingredients handy.
Buy whole grain, fiber dense bread and pack sandwiches with tomato, lettuce, lean meat and low-fat cheese.
Beverages also can be packed with sugar and calories. Sodas and juice drinks add hundreds of calories without providing any nutritional value and many of the juice-type beverages parents buy thinking they are a healthy option contain high amounts of fructose corn syrup and only minimal amounts of fruit juice. Buy the mini-bottles of water and pack it in their lunch bag. Encouraging proper water consumption will help set them up for a life of health.
Hold the chips! A lunch doesn’t have to include Doritos to show you care! I put sliced carrots (they actually sell them cut w/ ridges and looking just like Ruffles potato chips!), mini carrots, sliced pickles, peppers and other veggies in my children’s lunch.
Every lunch we pack the kids always has a fresh piece of fruit in it; bananas, a bunch of grapes, watermelon cut with a melon-baller, we peel the oranges, slice the apples wrapping them in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil to prevent browning and to make it so easy to eat they have no excuse NOT to do so! (Kids are tricky, remember take away any potential unhealthy choice!)
Occasionally I will add a treat such a low-fat pudding or healthier home-made cookies. When ever I bake, I use MoreFiber (www.NuNaturals.com ) and Stevia instead of sugar. I have been doing this for about a year and no one has caught me yet! The cookies are just as sweet and so much better for the kids. Email me at Julia at JuliaHavey dot com if you want my recipe!
Finally, the bus. I most often walked to school or rode my bike when I was a kid—and I still grew up to have a weight problem. Today kids are bussed to school, driven in the minivan with Sponge Bob playing in the back seat. Kids have it pretty easy and pretty sedentary today. Many schools don’t offer P.E. anymore and those that do, it’s not nearly enough to fight the environment of fat we life in. Get your kids signed up for sports teams after school, ballet or gymnastics class, get them a shiny new bike and throw away the motorized scooter. Make a rule that the TV or computer games are limited to 30 minutes a day; no, it won’t kill them. A friend of mine doesn’t have a TV in her home. She is the most productive woman I know, she is a doctor and runs two health related businesses on the side, she literally gets more done in a day than most people do in a week. She is also a mother who has raised 3 brilliant children, all of whom are National Merit Scholars and got full-ride scholarships to the colleges of their choice! And she could afford tuition to any of those schools. NO TV! My son would be very upset with me if I dared ban it totally but it has served us well when we limit it. There is a direct correlation between what we DO and what we become, our bodies included.
Here’s what I have for you:
Get your children on Juice Plus+ Garden and Orchard chewables or capsules, unless they are eating 7-9 servings a day (1/2 cup of raw) fresh fruits and vegetables a day, they need to take Juice Plus+.
What it will do for you and for them, is to ensure that they get more of the nutrients found in the whole foods. We need these nutrients to prevent sickness and disease. Make sure you feeding them more fresh fruits and vegetables, and Juice Plus+.
Go to www.JPSupplement.com and get it today so that you can include their chewables in their diet each day!
The source for Obesity solutions
Julia Havey
http://www.JuliaHavey.com
Thursday, July 17, 2008
New York City's recent mandate to post calorie content at the point of purchase is proving to be quite interesting. It is very clear from this recent MSNBC.com article that we either won't order something unhealthy and fattening when just how bad it is for us is made clear before we order, or we prefer not to be told and just keep stuffing our bodies with junk!
Nora Cara was flabbergasted.
She was about to order her usual morning coffee and muffin at Dunkin’ Donuts when she saw the new calorie labels. The chocolate chip muffin she had her eye on was 630 calories. “I was blown away,” said Cara, a 27-year-old homemaker from Forest Hills in New York City. “I’m not a no-carb type of person, and I usually don’t even think about it. But you pick up a little muffin with your coffee, and it has 630 calories in it? That’s a bit extreme!”
I chuckled when I read that! An innocent enough "little muffin" that the woman thought she was consuming all this time was, in reality , chock full of 630 calories. It really doesn't matter what else she ate for the rest of the day, that was not going to be a "weight loss" day but rather a weight gain day as she was bound to exceed 2400 calories if she was making "little" choices like that throughout her day.
I am not throwing stones, I know first hand what she is talking about. When I was 300+ pounds and "ON" one of my many "diets" I would drive to the local bread co. on my way to work and get a big diet Coke and a "little bran muffin". Like Nora, I was shocked to find out that mine had 600 calories and 35 grams of FAT!
Little wonder" I kept getting bigger!!
At a Wendy’s nearby, where calorie counts were just posted next to prices on the menu-boards behind the counter, customers didn’t flinch. “I figure I’ve got 1,350 calories here on my tray,” said Tristan Rowe, 26, who lives in Brooklyn, pointing to his lunch of a chicken club sandwich, junior bacon-cheeseburger, large fries and a large Coke (which actually added up to 1,680 calories).
“It’s not going to change what I order — I’m not watching my waistline. I have a very active lifestyle.”
Despite the eye-opening revelations, whether New Yorkers will switch to lower calorie meals remains to be seen. They may just switch menus.
That’s what this woman did .
At T.G.I. Friday’s, one of the few sit-down chain restaurants to have already added calorie counts to menus, a group of young women gasped as they studied the menu, barely able to find a meal under 1,000 calories, never mind an appetizer or dessert. Both Stephanie Fowler and Lindsay Green asked about the suddenly popular Classic Sirloin — at 290 calories, it was one of the lowest calorie items on the menu — but learned the restaurant ran out by the time the dinner rush started. “I’m so upset,” she said, noting some entrees — like the Jack Daniels ribs and shrimp dinner — contain almost 2,000 calories, and the desserts were more of the same (the brownie obsession is 1,500 calories). “I wish they wouldn’t have done this.” But then Fowler noticed that the waiter had handed her friend an old menu, which didn’t have calorie counts on it.
“You got a menu without anything on it?” she asked her friend. “Can I have yours?”
New York City, along with the rest of the World is obviously in BIG trouble!
Twenty-six-year-old Tristan Rowe is NOT watching her waistline? Right! She's 26 but regardless of her active lifestyle, by age 40 this woman is going to be HUGE if she doesn't start watching what unhealthy garbage she opts to give her body in the name of nutrition; that is if she is even still alive! I hate to break it to young Tristan but heart disease cares about her waistline and the fatty foods she eats! You don't have to be obese or even overweight to die of causes directly brought on by the foods you eat!
Switching menus? Good grief, it doesn't make a bit of difference if you SEE or don't SEE the calories; your body is going to realize the ill-effect of them either way!
Take the blinders off America, start reading the fine print and making better decisions, your lives or the quailty of them is at stake!
Julia Havey
The Source for Obesity Solutions
http://www.JuliaHavey.com
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Denise's Journey...Vice Busting was her approach; I am so proud of her! She sent me this email today and I had to share it with you!
I want to share an interesting and very cool thing that happen to me last night at the Super Wal-Mart! I am checking out my over $100.00 in groceries and suddenly the lady behind me in line squeals in delight and says loudly, "Oh my goodness--YOU are the running lady!"
The woman was so excited about her revelation that the store worker actually stops scanning my groceries and looks between me and this kind, normal weight, 40 something year old lady. I turned a little embarrassed toward her and shared that I am a runner--and I am looking at her trying to figure out if I know her but I have no recollection of ever meeting her. She blurts out "You don't know me, but you have been running the hills of my neighborhood for years. She starts describing where she lives, the street, the house, and her barking dog in the fenced in yard etc. I smile knowing exactly what house "my neighbor" lives in, but still a bit bewilder why she is really excited to be standing in line next to me. She then steps around her cart that she was unloading and turns swirling around all smiles. She stops and reaches forward for my hand and said: "Thank you so much for be a die hard runner. I have to admit that I watched you for years from my living room window amazed at you running the hills - rarely missing a day. I even started looking for you to be coming by and I notice you went from be a big person to being small! (Love the part where she refers to me as "small.")
After two years of watching YOU, one day I really took stock of ME. I owned up to the fact I was 50 pounds overweight and certainly convinced myself that going up and down steps all day and chasing after my three kids was all the exercise I needed, and I did not worry about what I ate all day. I truth was I was overweight and plain tired. But then knowing that regardless of the summer heat, the spring rain, and or winter storms, most days I can look out and see you coming up that hill so focused on getting to the top. I knew I wanted to be out there on the hill and not have this extra 50 pounds.
She proceeded to tell me that she too started walking the hill and started changing what she was eating. She reported that it took two years but she lost the 50 pounds and she faithfully walks a couple miles four times a week. She told me I have inspired her to do all that and she always has meant to come out one day and meet me, but it just seemed to embarrassing and she reported she is shy in meeting new people. This lady was bubbling with excitement, full of energy, and slim looking, and you should have seen all the fruits, veggies, and healthy things in her cart. I asked her what her name is, and she said "Tara"." Then I told her--"YOU are one INCREDIBLE lady, Tara, to prioritize your health and fitness with such a busy life and to have achieved amazing results is a testament to YOU, and I believe you are an unstoppable person in whatever you do. Thank you for sharing your story with me and letting me know that I played a small part in you getting healthier!! And next time, just give a shout out to me.I love meeting new people." About this time I realize that not only has my cashier stopped working, but the lane next to us - as they all were paying attention to the drama in our lane - and then a marvelous thing happened, they all clapped and cheered for Tara and I. The cashier proceeded to ring up my order, I paid for my groceries, and then said with a smile, "see you around!" to my new neighbor and friend.
When I got to my car, I tucked the groceries in back and then got in the driver's seat and cried. I was so touched that my "actions" - influenced someone else to choose to be healthier. You see, this is the Hill. This is hill number one that is 3/4 of a mile straight up, the very hill that I was determined to walk (and eventual run) when I was most depressed, broken inside from the divorcée I was going through, and had so much emotional and spiritual pain - I needed to feel physical exhaustion to take my mind off my suffering. This is the very hill that as I started up and I would talk to God, questioning Him: "Why am I alive? Heaven sounded so peaceful. And even thought that I just had too much pain in me and I even believed that the world would better off without 300+ pound me around." This is the hill that I learned to let go of negativity and rather seek positive and affirming thoughts for myself. This is the hill that I learned to forgive myself for my shortcomings and eventually my husband and began a healing process. This is the hill that I started thinking of adventures and goals in life that would make me happy. This is the hill that I started to first pray for myself and others. This is the hill that I first tried jogging on and one day amazed myself when I ran 3/4 of a mile down hill. This is the hill that on the way down I would find something in my life to be thankful for, and tell God "Thank you." Of course, I eventually added more hills, and different routes, but this kind lady was a witness to me and the Hill. I had no idea anyone was watching, but now I am humbled to know that a lovely incredible woman, who is a mother of three, lives in a gray house, has a black lab dog, and is healthier and happier because of the small part I played in "taking the Hill."
See, the Hill not only served to give me my daily cardio work out, but became a symbol of my ability to dig deep into my inner strength - to be stronger then I thought I was and rise above. To believe in myself when others did not. And this in turn gave me more hope then I ever imagine possible, even at a desperate, lonely, and sad time in my life. It is about our ability to conquer adversity and challenges that we face in our busy imperfect lives and the daily choice to invest in our own health and happiness--whatever that may mean for you. I am 150 pounds lighter today and have keep all the weight of for five years. I still run those hills and I love helping others reach their dreams.
We are all destined to live a purpose driven life. We all influence others whether we know it or not. I ask you though, what kind of message do you send to others? Do you inspire others with your actions? Do you uplift someone with your actions? Do you under-estimate the gift you are to others? YOU can CHANGE today if need be. Because the real essence and magic of this story is about the influence that one stranger had on another. Just think of the IMPACT of your daily actions on your children, friends and families. Choose healthier actions today because you are a role model to others. Choose healthier actions today because you DESERVE health and happiness. Choose healthier actions today because life is all about the connections we make within ourselves and then with others. God indeed has a plan for each of us and living the authentic, joyful, deliriously happy life you were meant to is a gift to yourself, others and God.
Be courageous enough to change you bad habits. Be happy. Be healthy.
Now I am off to go run the hills!
Denise
I am very proud of Denise and her accomplishments and thrilled that my advice and program helped her make such amazing changes in her life, and in the lives of others.
...Julia
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Today I attended the funeral of a local woman who lost her 4.5 year battle w/ a brain tumor. My 14 yr old son Clark was a classmate of her elder son so we knew each other only through our infrequent school-mom-sports-fan connection since the boys were in Kindergarten but everytime that I had the pleasure of talking with her I found her to be one of the most genuine and lovely women I have ever met. Obvious by the packed church, I was not alone in my admiration for this woman. She not only lived a wonderful life, she also fought her illness with dignity, determination and strength. She left behind a great example of how to live as a good person and how to die surrounded by a life of love. In addition to caring for her health condition for the past 4.5 years, her middle son has been fighting Lukemia for 5+ years. So much for one family to contend with.
My reason for sharing this story with you is this, at the funeral, the woman who eulogized her mentioned a few things about the last months of her life that stood out to me and made me think. She mentioned someone bringing donuts and the very ill woman ate three, that she loved to watch the food network and every day for the last month of her life she enjoyed a Steak n' Shake lunch of burger, fries and chocolate milkshake.
The Tim McGraw song "Live like you are dying" came to my mind. I heard that on the radio the other day and really listened to it--it may be one of the best songs ever written (and sung!). Basically, the message is what would you if you found out you didn't have long to live?
My mission in life, my passion is to help the morbidly obese, the seriously overweight and yes, even the woman who hates her thighs, to lose weight. NOT for the end goal of looking svelte in a bikini but rather to avoid the disease and early death that obesity and excess weight inevitably bring. 300,000 people died last year directly due to Obesity related causes--OBESITY was written on their death certificate as the cause of their death. Another 2.6 million people, obesity contributed to their premature deaths.
My friend was not obese, probably she would have said she was one of the many women who would love to lose some weight, but it wasn't what she obsessed over like so many do. A brain tumor is what is likely listed on her death certificate as the cause.
The cause.
Obesity may be listed as "the cause" on so many death certificates, but it's a condition like a tumor, like Lukemia and like so many other diseases--but I ask you to think for a moment--WHAT causes them? Today so many people are getting cancer, tumors, diabetes, heart disease, and other horrible diseases. WHY?
I think it has to be in some way tied to the foods we consume, the beverages we drink and the lifestyles we lead. This is NOT to say the individual is to "blame" for an illness but rather can we PREVENT such horrible illnesses from attacking our bodies in the first place and after being diagnosed, can we help lessen the affect by our actions?
1Twelve years ago I thought I had a tumor on the base of my neck. Mine turned out to be a fat deposit. A humiliating diagnosis and I will admit that for a brief second, I actually wished the doctor would have declared it a tumor rather than something I caused. I know that had I been given a terminal diagnosis considering my then unhealthy lifestyle or lack of awareness of what nutrition means to our health; I would have opted to continue eating the foods that I loved; ice cream, McDonalds, Coke and candy (my biggest "vices" for sure!) and would have certainly continued to plan my days around what was on TV; but now, knowing what I know I am sure that if I am ever given a diagnosis of something terminal I would respond much differently.
As the song says, I would go sky diving, Rocky Mountain Climbing, heck, even 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fu Manchu. I would look deeper, love sweeter and give forgiveness and I would get IV's of whole food nutrients from fruits and vegetables. I wouldn't eat ice cream, I wouldn't get within 100 yards of a McDonalds and the only Coke I would consider would be in codiene to lessen pain!
I mentioned nutrition to this woman 2 years ago. I gave her a CD about a woman who totally turned her health around after developing cancer and she did it by changing her "DIET"--not going "ON" the Aktins Diet, calling Jenny or even heading to South Beach. NO, she did it be changing her nutrition and her lifestyle. That is exactly what I try to get people to do, as I KNOW that fast food, soft drinks and television are the 3 biggest contributors to the Obesity Pandemic.
I reiterate. My mission and my purpose is NOT to get you into a thong bikini but to get you and keep you as optimally healthy as possible for as long as possible.
In the service today ,our priest talked about the Smucker's segment w/ Willard Scott on the Today show which celebrates people who are 100+ years old. He wondered why some people live so long, and others lives are cut painfully and tragically short. He said maybe it is because they lived so well while here for a short time that their work was done. I think he is right. HOW we live matters so much more than what we acquire whether measured in years or in possessions; but to give my two cents worth:
Please, live like you are dying.
Live desperately thinking what can I possibly do today that will improve my health, lengthen my life and give me more time to do this thing called "LIFE" right.
And, you don't see many morbidly obese people on the back of Willard Smith's Smuckers jars. We call it Morbid Obesity for a reason. It kills and I don't want it to get anyone who reads this. If reading this makes you think twice about what you put in your body, what nutrition you nourish your body with and maybe, just maybe makes you also think about your soul and how you can also live more like Christ, then the tears I am shedding while writting mean something.
Ask my how I can help you live a more healthful and hopefully longer life--I am determined to help you do it if you ask! Julia@JuliaHavey.com
Respectfully,
Julia
ViceBusting...everything else is just a diet!
http://www.vicebustingdiet.com
Thursday, June 26, 2008
There are countless books and programs that are meant to help us control our minds, take charge of our destiny and realize our dreams and goals.
Often times we think that "turn around" will be a very long process and too difficult to work for us. Last night my wonderful mother-in-law, (and I really do mean wonderful--one of my biggest blessings in life is the family that I married into when I married Patrick!) told a story at dinner that I have to share with you. She and my father-in-law are AVID golfers, and the other day she was playing in a tournament and was teamed up with another woman from the club. The woman was not having a very good day.
Her legs were 'heavy', she had no energy and she just couldn't hit the ball where it needed to go no matter how hard she tried. Mom was 3/under par and this woman had an 8 over. On the 9th hole, 1/2 way to the end, the woman was getting really ticked and was ready to sit in the cart and ride the rest of the way watching Rosie do her Tiger Woods imitation--after hitting one last ball.
She t-d off and the ball sailed through the air, seeming to go rather close to the flag/hole far in the distance. Rosie hit her ball and it too looked like a good shot. The drove the cart to the green and got out to look for their balls.
Of course, Rosie's was 2 ft from the hole and an easy putt in. The woman's ball was no where to be seen. Her face showed her frustration and she was ready to throw her club in the sand when Rosie said, "Did you look in the hole?"
Sure enough! The ball right there in the hole--a HOLE in ONE! Apparently the screams were heard throughout the course as the two women celebrated the amazing feat.
The next nine holes? The woman outplayed Rosie and finished with one of her best games ever. The woman exclaimed, "I don't get it; I was having the worst game ever and suddenly I can hit the ball!?"
My wise mother-in-law pointed out: "There's nothing like a 'hole in one' to boost your confidence!"
I love that quote!
I think a boost in confidence is often times what we are all in need of when it comes to realizing our desired outcome and goals.
What can you do today to boost your confidence?
Vice Busting...everything else is just a diet!
...Julia
Thursday, June 12, 2008
I just got off the phone with a woman who was in tears over her desire to lose 30 pounds. It was one of the saddest conversations I have ever had with a reader of mine--or a friend!
She so desperately wants to lose the weight but something, or in this case, someone is holding her back.
That is a terrible feeling and a horrible thing to sit by and watch happen to someone. NO ONE should be allowed to steal your joy, to ruin your day or to keep you from realizing your dreams and goals.
NOT EVEN YOURSELF!
That's right, sometimes it is US who is holding us back. We can allow an overwhelming feeling of despair to take over and we lose control. Do not despair, do not be afraid. You are not alone. God walks with you on your path.
I want you to figure out what is hindering your progress and move past it! IF it's an individual; reassure them it's the fat you want to lose--not them! Reassure yourself that God is with you and that you can succeed.
Don't let anything stop you from realizing the life you want, life is short and you don't get to repeat what you don't get right! Where is the best place to turn when you feel that something is holding you back or hindering you from getting healthier? The bible! These are a few quotes that I find to be very helpful when thinking about what we eat and why.
"Do you not yet understand, that whatsoever enters in at the mouth, goes into the belly, and is cast out into the sewer?" ~ Matthew 15:17
"Be not anxious for what you shall eat, or what you shall drink ... or what you shall wear ... Isn't life more than food? ... and the body more than clothing?" ~ Luke 12:22; 29
"Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." ~ Matthew 4:4
"The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit." ~ Romans 14:17
"Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit ... therefore, glorify God in your body." ~ I Corinth 3:16; 6:19-20
As you read those, didn't they immediately bring a little peace to your thoughts? Imagine if you read them daily and/or every time you feel discouraged or challenged on your weight loss journey?
Print them out and put them on a 3x5 card and read them when you need someone in your corner and some additional strength.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Stop the presses! This is totally worth taking a look at!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfgvrM_BQv4
www.GuessTheAge.com
Honestly, you are not going to believe your eyes when the ages of these typical fast food hamburgers is revealed!
I bring a fast food hamburger with me as I travel the country for various media interviews and speeches. The one that I travel with is over 4 years old and is featured in this video.
People never believe me when I tell them just how old the hamburger really is. I have done nothing to it, it sat in the bag that it was purchased in for a very long time, but the bag is now in shreds from all the wear and tear, in fact the bun just broke in 1/2 a few weeks ago (thanks to Homeland Security and their rough inspection of my luggage!--image what they must have thought when they found a dried out burger in my suitcase!?).
I have not preserved any of the burgers in any way--they have NO MOLD, NO rotting, NO visible signs of aging; they are just dried out. IF you took the French Fries and rubbed your fingers on them, your fingers would be oily and salty.
I brought my burger to the NYC Oprah & Friends XM radio studio when Dr. Oz interviewed me on his show; both he and Dr. Mike Roizen were amazed when I told them how old the burger was. Unfortunately, that part of the show never made it on air. I mentioned the name of the fast food chain and they edited the whole segment out of the show! It was a fascinating discussion but everyone fears the wrath of this corporation and potential lawsuits. I don't fear it because the truth is the truth and I believe in always telling it!
The traditional media will NEVER cover this story out of fear that fast food companies will pull their ad dollars. Chicago’s FOX station had me booked for their morning show to discuss my book, The Vice Busting Diet, in which I go after the 3 biggest causes of the Obesity Pandemic -- one of which is fast food.
The lead producer called the night before the show. I was already in Chicago and she literally freaked out because she was told about the burger I carry with me. She said that I was in no way to mention the company by name or show the burger. Why?
This fast food company sponsors their show. So much so the roving reporter does a spot at a local restaurant every morning!
How's that for controlling any negative reporting about your product? They are so powerful and I am so tiny, they could squash me like a bug, but they can't as what I am showing is the truth and this is America and we have freedom of speech! So like it or not here I am!
Ever find old fries when cleaning out your car and wondered when those got there? Could have been from the owner YEARS before you ever got the car! These things don't age! It's freaky and you simply won't believe what you are seeing.
I urge you to watch the video, then take a guess at the date of purchase/age of each burger/meal and who knows, you may win a chance at $100,000!
Then, to ensure that you come away a winner, go to the nearest fast food restaurant, buy a hamburger, bring it home, set it up on a shelf somewhere and then peek at it every few weeks and see for yourself—these things don't age! They don't breakdown.
How does that make you a winner? Because it's pretty likely that you will NEVER eat this junk food again, and that will make you a winner at life and healthful living!
www.GuessTheAge.com
Healthy meals to you....until we meet again.
--Julia
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Ever had a bad day? I mean a really bad day where everything seems to go wrong and all you want is something to eat that will make it all better.
I had one of those days recently. I traveled from St. Louis to South Bend to speak at a Go Red for Women Heart Association event. I had so much work that needed to be completed before leaving for the trip, then I rushed to the airport only to be delayed by a mechanical problem. Then, I got to the city my flight connected in and it wasn't a "1-stop" flight like I have always done before, but a "change of plane"/connection flight--difference being you have to get all your stuff from the overhead and schlep it through the terminal and carry it all to the next flight and stow it all over again. Not a big deal, but certainly added more stress to the already frazzled day.
So, I get to South Bend, finally find all my luggage and proceed to try to carry my HUGE bag loaded with books and my 26-week audio program, my clothing bag and my portfolio bag with signs and props AND my HUGE purse outside to the cab waiting area.
I am dripping with sweat at this point, probably smelled like a goat and didn't have a smile anywhere to be found on my face--I was the least approachable person at the airport for sure. Well, I look up (usually a good idea when walking with a load of bags) and in front of me was a cab with bumper stickers all over it and a guy that looked like he was a hold over from the 70's standing there with the door open signaling for me to get in.
What a way to end a horrible day.
Little did I know what I was in store for. I handed my bags off to the long haired hippie looking man and noticed an earring dangling from his earlobe--a shiny, bejeweled cross. Nice. I started to smile a little bit. Then I actually read the many bumper stickers; every one was about Jesus! "Honk if you love the Lord", "Jesus Saves" and "God loves you"!
My bags were loaded, I sat in the back seat and the "hippie" jumped in the passenger side. "Who was going to drive" I wondered, when in the driver's door opened and in came Scott, the driver. He smiled and handed me his card and said "Welcome to the Jesus Cab!" On the dashboard was a small California license plate that said "Jesus Cab" on it.
The next 20 minutes as the Jesus Cab delivered me to my hotel, I shared much more than a ride with those two men, it was truly a ride of faith and fellowship. Scott immediately sized me up and said "Rough day? You know, the Lord will lift all your worries and your troubles away if you just ask Him to."
He shared stories with me about how he has brought at least a dozen people to faith from right there in his cab. He told me about his life and the hardships that he has endured and how his "passionate love affair with the Lord" has gotten him through all of them.
I thought about my day, it really wasn't that bad. Certainly not as bad as some of the events Scott dealt with in his life. Certainly not as bad as many people live through and absolutely not bad enough to cause me to eat something that is unhealthy, isn't going to help me closer to the body of my dreams and goals and totally not bad enough to cause me to forget "Let go and Let God!"
So, as you deal with your life, the economy, the problems that are part of all of our lives and you think you just have to eat nearest unhealthy food to make it better, I ask you this; do YOU need a ride in the Jesus Cab?" If so, and you can't get to South Bend at the moment, just pray. The destination is the same--inner peace, faith and happiness--and a healthier, thinner and more fit body!
That will be $12.90 plus tip -- thank you for riding with me today.
Julia
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Ten percent off! Does that get you excited when you are eyeing a new shirt at the mall and a sign proclaims that it is “On Sale” but they are only taking 10% off the regular price? If it was a $100 shirt, you would only save $10.
Doesn’t really seem like that big of a deal, does it?
I get excited when something that I have wanted to buy gets marked down 25% and even more tempted to buy it when it is 50% off—what a deal, and at 75% percent off, I convince myself that I am practically losing money if I don’t buy it! But 10%?! That doesn’t get my bargain hunting mechanism even turned on.
My point? Losing 10% of your body weight is a really good deal! A big savings when it comes to your health and improving it. If you weigh 200 lbs and lost 20 pounds, you likely add years to your life, lower your risk of getting many diseases such as heart disease and cancer by more than 10%!
But what’s the 10% “diet”? Here’s the deal, when you sit down to eat, I want you to look at your plate and simply take 10% off!
You are putting your diet on sale, sort of, but in reality what you are doing is shaving just a tiny 10% off, that’s just a few bites less that you will consume. Remember, it wouldn’t get you all excited at the mall if it was a shirt that was 10% off, it’s just not a whole lot off, or at least doesn’t seem like it, so it surely won’t feel like much off on your plate!
Can you do that? Consume 10% less than you normally would of everything—even drinks, all day long, except for your water in take, keep drinking all you can up to ½ your body weight in fluid ounces throughout the course of your day.
I promise you that after your “sale” is over, you will be at least 10% thinner for your efforts! Do the math, if you would normally consume 2000 calories and you take 10% off, you just saved 200 calories and are down to 1800---that will lead to weight loss over time. Tiny changes lead to big results as long as you are consistent with the changes you make.
Vice Busting...everything else is just a diet!
Julia
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Lay's Potato Chips made the slogan "Betcha can't eat just one" a household phrase. Today, consumers eat more Lay's Potato Chips than any other salty snack. Last year, consumers purchased approximately 4.6 million pounds of Lay's Potato Chips in just the Baltimore and Washington supermarkets, while consumers in Harrisburg and Scranton purchased approximately 2.5 million pounds in supermarkets. Folks, that is 6.1 MILLION pounds of potatoes in just 4 markets.
Frito-Lay, Inc., is the $10 billion snack food division of PepsiCo, Inc., (like they don’t ruin the health and waistlines of Americans enough with Pepsi!) Frito-Lay is the market leader in half of the world's top 10 snack chips markets with operations in 40 countries and a family of global, multi-billion-dollar brands including Lay's Potato Chips, Doritos Tortilla Chips, Ruffles Potato Chips, Tostitos Tortilla Chips and Cheetos Cheese-Flavored Snacks. It must be true, no one eats just ONE!
Numerous media reports these days have alerted the public to the growing concerns of health risks related to obesity. Among the several known causes of obesity, food advertising on television has received a significant amount of criticism for facilitating the consumption of unhealthy foods. Food advertising represented a little over $ 7 billion in ad expenditure, with over $ 2.5 billion on network television alone. These numbers are nearly double the amount of restaurants ad expenditure ($3.7 billion in total ad expenditures and $1.2 billion on television, respectively). Together, the combined expenditure of food and restaurants advertising add up to close to $ 10 billion—in ADS!
Chips and snack foods are listed as one of the biggest “vices” contributing to American’s obesity—that means it is a food that is consumed on a regular basis or in enough quantity that it hinders an individual from living at their ideal weight. This great concern about the rise in obesity is due primarily to the fact that many adverse health effects have been associated with obesity. According to the American Obesity Association (2004), obese individuals are at risk of developing arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, urinary stress incontinence, among several other severe health conditions. These factors together could lead to an increase of deaths from obese effects, which already numbered 300,000 in 2002, and is 180,000 cases more than alcohol and drug abuse deaths combined.
With the advancement of technology and the proliferation of media options, Americans are spending more time sitting in front of a computer/TV screen rather than engaging in physical activities—and TV is where much of the $10 Billion in ad dollars is spent! It has been documented that an average American adult these days watches between 4 and 4.5 hours of television per day. This tendency to live a sedentary lifestyle, coupled with increased food portion size and availability of snacks high in salt, sugar, and calories, are said to have produced an increasing number of obese adults.
My point? My point is this, I truly believe that anyone suffering from chronic overweight (you know, those 20 lbs you have been trying to lose for 20 years!) or anyone with 50 or more pounds to lose can NOT “eat just one”. Moderation of foods that one is addicted to is impossible. Now, it isn’t impossible to “eat just one” or small amount if you aren’t addicted to the particular food. But if you are like many people and one Frito leads way to eating the whole bag, or one Girl Scout cookie and the box is soon emptied, or one spoonful of ice-cream and before you fall asleep that night; the entire ½ gallon has vanished from the freezer—then you need to realize and admit that you are addicted to that particular food and stop setting yourself up for failure by trying to limit your intact to “one” or “some”. I promise you this; it is easier to have NONE than it is to try to stop at ONE bite, one cookie, one piece, one taste of any of the foods you love.
Recently I spoke about the torment of trying to control our vices via “moderation".. A few people adamantly disagreed with my stance and argued that any food in moderation is fine. After reading this does it make you think twice.
Can see the clear connection between the ads for unhealthy, fattening foods constantly being pushed in your face and your ‘cravings’ or desire to eat them? But they KNOW you can’t stop at one, and they KNOW if you eat some, you WILL come back for more.
Try this, if there is a food that you think you just can't make it through the day without consuming, pray for strength to go without it just for today. Tomorrow is another day and you can always ask God to help you through the craving again, but just worry about not giving in today!
Vice Busting...everything else is just a diet!
Julia
http://www.vicebustingdiet.com/