ME AND LOU
Recently my hubby noticed that I was gaining more weight and remarked that I was starting to look more like my Mom. My Mother, Pauline, God rest her Soul was an attractive, sweet woman but as she aged losing weight became a constant struggle. Determined not to follow in her footsteps I decided to embark upon a lifestyle change that would keep me fit, trim and healthy. To this end I was also inspired by my my older brother Louis who is schizophrenic and under the care of my sister and her husband.
Louis was well over 300 pounds and on a routine visit to his physician was advised to lose weight or risk becoming diabetic. My sister decided to place a lock on the refrigerator and limit Louis to three square meals a day. She also required him to walk one hour everyday. Well a year and a half later dear Lou has lost a tremendous amount of weight — and is down to 211 pounds. Thus I named my weight loss program: "If Lou can do it, we can do it." I wrote a letter to my younger twin brothers who have also packed on the pounds over the years and other family members encouraging them to come on board with me. I received very positive feedback from everyone and we are all presently making this change to a healthier, trimmer and active lifestyle. This is what we are doing:
IF LOU CAN DO IT, WE CAN DO IT
The key of course is persistence: moderate fasting, smaller portions of food and limited amount of food intake plus daily exercise. I find fasting from 8PM until about 12 or 1PM a great boon to shedding pounds. In the morning a green drink with protein or some yogurt with fruit helps to get the engine going and then a meal at around 1PM with a moderate amount of calories, good fats, protein, whole grains and vegetables and vitamins. Some time after the meal I do 100 abdominal crunches (4 sets of 25) and include some walking. Throughout the day whenever I can — I do timed walking sessions of about 15-20 minutes, especially after eating. Other exercise regimens are ideal such as biking, swimming, gym workouts etc.
After that first meal if hunger strikes before the next and final meal, low calorie snacks like fruits, a small amount of nuts or carob treats (stevia sweetened) are fine. The next meal to be eaten before 8PM, again a moderate amount of food with good protein, whole grains and vegetables.
Be sure to hydrate throughout the day. I find lemon or (fruit juice) water sweetened with stevia encourages me to drink more. Eliminate all sugar and sugar based foods, bad fats, refined carbohydrates, excess salt and junk foods. If you are not familiar with stevia, it is a zero calorie all natural plant. Stevia powder is made from the plant and is used as a natural sweetener that is so much healthier for you than splenda and other artificial sweeteners.
Here is the recipe to a low calorie carob treat that tastes just like chocolate:
Ingredients: about 4 ounces of unsweetened carob drops, 2-4 teaspoons of stevia powder according to taste, milk powder, 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. Place carob and coconut oil into a double burner. If you don't have double burner you can use a large pot with a smaller pot inserted and suspended over boiling water in the first pot. With a wooden spoon gently stir carob and oil until melted. Add stevia according to taste, Stir well. Remove carob and drop by spoon into ice trays. For variety drop over raisins or other dried fruits. Or drop over walnuts or almonds or other nuts. Cover with plastic and refrigerate. Keep in mind although carob is very low in calorie adding the mixture to nuts and dried fruits increases the calorie content, so be aware of this. Plain carob sweetened with stevia is an excellent low calorie treat.
I also make frozen ice cube juice treats to curb the sweet tooth. In a large glass fill half glass with 100% pineapple juice or any 100% fruit juice you desire. Add stevia to taste. Add soy milk and soy creamer to the top. Mix and pour into ice cube tray, freeze and enjoy as a healthy, low calorie treat.
I will add more information and weight loss tips later. Remember:
"IF LOU CAN DO IT, WE CAN DO IT!"
Louis was well over 300 pounds and on a routine visit to his physician was advised to lose weight or risk becoming diabetic. My sister decided to place a lock on the refrigerator and limit Louis to three square meals a day. She also required him to walk one hour everyday. Well a year and a half later dear Lou has lost a tremendous amount of weight — and is down to 211 pounds. Thus I named my weight loss program: "If Lou can do it, we can do it." I wrote a letter to my younger twin brothers who have also packed on the pounds over the years and other family members encouraging them to come on board with me. I received very positive feedback from everyone and we are all presently making this change to a healthier, trimmer and active lifestyle. This is what we are doing:
IF LOU CAN DO IT, WE CAN DO IT
The key of course is persistence: moderate fasting, smaller portions of food and limited amount of food intake plus daily exercise. I find fasting from 8PM until about 12 or 1PM a great boon to shedding pounds. In the morning a green drink with protein or some yogurt with fruit helps to get the engine going and then a meal at around 1PM with a moderate amount of calories, good fats, protein, whole grains and vegetables and vitamins. Some time after the meal I do 100 abdominal crunches (4 sets of 25) and include some walking. Throughout the day whenever I can — I do timed walking sessions of about 15-20 minutes, especially after eating. Other exercise regimens are ideal such as biking, swimming, gym workouts etc.
After that first meal if hunger strikes before the next and final meal, low calorie snacks like fruits, a small amount of nuts or carob treats (stevia sweetened) are fine. The next meal to be eaten before 8PM, again a moderate amount of food with good protein, whole grains and vegetables.
Be sure to hydrate throughout the day. I find lemon or (fruit juice) water sweetened with stevia encourages me to drink more. Eliminate all sugar and sugar based foods, bad fats, refined carbohydrates, excess salt and junk foods. If you are not familiar with stevia, it is a zero calorie all natural plant. Stevia powder is made from the plant and is used as a natural sweetener that is so much healthier for you than splenda and other artificial sweeteners.
Here is the recipe to a low calorie carob treat that tastes just like chocolate:
Ingredients: about 4 ounces of unsweetened carob drops, 2-4 teaspoons of stevia powder according to taste, milk powder, 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. Place carob and coconut oil into a double burner. If you don't have double burner you can use a large pot with a smaller pot inserted and suspended over boiling water in the first pot. With a wooden spoon gently stir carob and oil until melted. Add stevia according to taste, Stir well. Remove carob and drop by spoon into ice trays. For variety drop over raisins or other dried fruits. Or drop over walnuts or almonds or other nuts. Cover with plastic and refrigerate. Keep in mind although carob is very low in calorie adding the mixture to nuts and dried fruits increases the calorie content, so be aware of this. Plain carob sweetened with stevia is an excellent low calorie treat.
I also make frozen ice cube juice treats to curb the sweet tooth. In a large glass fill half glass with 100% pineapple juice or any 100% fruit juice you desire. Add stevia to taste. Add soy milk and soy creamer to the top. Mix and pour into ice cube tray, freeze and enjoy as a healthy, low calorie treat.
I will add more information and weight loss tips later. Remember:
"IF LOU CAN DO IT, WE CAN DO IT!"
Here is a work-out that is sure to get your metabolism going:
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/geralyn-coopersmith-workout
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/geralyn-coopersmith-workout
