Our Lady of Weight Loss

I queried my posse of nutrition-minded friends. "What IS a calorie?"

While most people know what a calorie does - gives us energy, fuels us, and sometimes if we eat enough of them, adds weight to our bodies - they're not exactly sure how to define it.

A calorie is a unit of heat. It is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one(1) gram of water one (1) degree Celsius. All calories come from either carbohydrates, proteins, fats or alcohol.

• Each gram of carbs contains 3.75 calories.
• Each gram of fat contains 9 calories.
• Each gram of protein contains 4 calories.
• Each gram of alcohol contains 7 calories.

Calories listed on food packages are actually kilocalories (1,000 calories = 1 kilocalorie). A food calorie contains 4,184 joules. A joule is a unit of energy. (A calorie is a measure of energy.) Four joules is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of a gram of water by 1 degree Celsius.

Most of us think of calories in relation to food (and weight), as in "This piece of cake has 360 calories. I'll blow my entire day if I eat this."

A calorie is also a unit of measurement of energy produced by food when it is used in the body. We need calories to fuel us. If we ingest more fuel into our bodies than we need for the amount of activity we do, our bodies will store this unused fuel. It may be stored as fat, or muscle, if we perform enough muscle-building exercises (i.e. weightlifting).

It's a simple matter of calories in and calories burned. You "burn" calories (fuel) when you perform physical activities, and you also burn calories just by sitting still, breathing and even thinking. A person who is physically active can eat more calories each day without gaining weight, because this person is using the fuel she pumps into her body, rather than storing it!

FATOID
Are all calories created equal?
Calories from fat are easily converted to body fat - only 3 percent of these calories are used up in the conversion process. Carb-calories, by comparison, are less easily converted to body fat, as up to 25 percent of these calories are used up in the conversion process. (Something for the anti-Carb people to think about.)

BONUS LINK:
25 Treats Under 300 Calories

Spread the word ... NOT the icing!
Janice

________________________
Janice Taylor is a Life & Wellness Coach, Cert. Hypnotist, author,columnist, seminar leader and 50 pound big-time-loser.

Want to wake up thinner on New Year's Day?

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Under Attack!! Rude Remarks that Ruffle My Feathers by Janice Taylor

Every so often, someone says something to me about my newly found thinness that is upsetting and sends me reeling. (Yes, it's been seven years since I permanently removed over 50 pounds, but it still feels newly found. Until I have lived more years thin than fat, I shall consider myself newly thin.)

Attacks have been made on my weigh-of-life - some critical of my eating style, some critical of my tight jeans, some lash out over my arched eyebrows.

When we change in any way, shape or form, it sometimes upsets other people's apple carts. They are unnerved. It's important to remember that it's not about us; it's about them and there is no truth to what they are saying.

The attacker is more than likely overcome by a flurry of uncomfortable feelings. If they feel threatened by your new lifestyle, your new sveltness, your beauty, your calm, your fabulous hair ... anything ... they may lash out. Their emotions are spilling out and over.

What to do?

• Stay cool man, real cool. - No point in escalating the negative vibes.
• Remember - it's not about you. You are not responsible for the attackers issues.
• Do NOT counter attack. If you feel compelled to say something, simply express how you felt when they said what they said. You do not want to escalate the 'war.'
• Take in a deep breath.
• Smile and walk away.
• You cannot control other people's actions, but you can control your own.

What's your 'stay cool' strategy? Comment below!

Spread the word ... NOT the icing,
Janice

________________________
Janice Taylor is a Life & Wellness Coach, Cert. Hypnotist, author,columnist, seminar leader and 50 pound big-time-loser.

Want to wake up thinner on New Year's Day?

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Recession or No Recession, You Still Gotta Eat! by Janice Taylor

As the news of the recession hits hard and food prices continue to climb, some of us are worried that we may not be able to feed our families in a healthy manner. Our Lady of Weight Loss to the rescue!

Before you head off to a burger joint to partake in their $2.00 'bargain' meal, here are four of Our Lady of Weight Loss's favorite recession proof foods that come fully loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and zeaxanthin (woo hoo, it has the world thin in it!). These scrumptious cheap eats will give you the best bang for both your calorie buck and your pocketbook buck!

Turkey: I hear-tell that there isn't much taste difference between a fresh and frozen turkey, and at 99 cents a pound (non-sale price!), a frozen turkey is half the price of a fresh turkey (double the bang). You get a whole lotta' bird that can be stretched from one dinner to the next. Turkey dinner one night turns into sandwiches the next, then potpies, tacos, fajitas, soup and anything else you can conjure up!

Turkey Rebellion (It seemed like a good name at the time and now I get requests at home for more of that Rebellion stuff.)

Ingredients:
1 pound Turkey, shredded or cut into julienne strips.
1 Iceberg lettuce, cleaned, chilled and torn into pieces
1 Bibb lettuce, cleaned, chilled and torn into pieces
1 green tart apples, unpeeled & cored, cut and diced
1 red tart apple, unpeeled & cored, cut and diced
2 or 3 tablespoons orange juice
1 cantaloupe, peeled and cut into bite-sized cubes
1/4 pound seedless red grapes
raspberry vinagrette (low-fat, low-cal) dressing - optional

Directions:
Combine all ingredients except lettuces in a large mixing bowl. Make sure that orange juice has coated the fruits and turkey. Place lettuce on salad plates. Arrange turkey and fruit mixture on bed of lettuce. Add dressing to taste.

Eggs: Known as the perfect protein, eggs are, in addition, a spectacular source of antioxidants, lutein, zeaxanthin and protein. You can poach 'em for breakfast, make egg salad for lunch and how about those dinner omelets! The egg industry has come up with some pretty sophisticated and fancy technology, enabling egg producers to keep prices (relatively) low. While other foods are now skyrocketing, eggs continue to be one of nature's best buys among high protein foods.

Devilishly Delicious EGGS (from Our Lady of Weight Loss: Miraculous and Motivational Musings form the Patron Saint of Permanent Fat Removal)

Ingredients:
1 dozen hard-boiled eggs
1/3 cup reduced fat mayo
1 sweet pickle, diced
2 heaping tablespoon honey Dijon mustard
juice from 1 fresh lemon
hot sauce, 2 major shakes - 3 if you are a hotty
salt n' pepper to taste
fresh parsley, optional!

Directions:
Take hard-boiled eggs and cut the long way. Take yokes out and put in medium-sized mixing bowl. Add reduced fat mayo. Mix in the rest of the ingredients until smooth and creamy. Then take a teaspoon of egg mixture and neatly place in the whites. (Do your best NOT to lick your fingers!) If you like, you can sprinkle a little paprika on top. The red is lovely on top of the yellow. And for a touch of green, add parsley sprigs here and there. Artfully, please.

Rice and Beans: Talk about cheap n' easy! Beans and Rice are the quintessential easy to make dish and the perfect combo. FYI, the average person eats 300 to 400 pounds of rice each year. Rice is the staple of the world and can be the meaning between life and death. Songs, poems and haiku's (Japanese poetry) are written and sung about rice. Check this haiku out!

It's Haiku Friday
Time for a Haiku Salad
Rice, salad leaves, beef! (by Apple Venus, KillerSalad.com)

Killer Rice n' Beans

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium Vidalia (sweet) onion, chopped, (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 medium green pepper, chopped (about 1 1/4 cups)
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 (14.5 ounce) can fire roasted diced tomatoes with green chilies
- plus 1-1/2 cans of water
1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, undrained
1 cup of rice, raw

Directions:
Heat olive oil in a large skillet that has a lid over medium heat. When hot, add onion and green pepper; sauté until the vegetables soften and brown a bit. Add the fire roasted diced tomatoes. Increase heat to medium high, add bay leaf and thyme and water. Stir in the beans with their liquid. Add one cup of raw rice. Reduce to simmer and cook until rice is fully plump!

Kale: Dark, leafy greens are cheap, easy and a good idea! They are loaded with vitamin C, carotenoids and calcium; and may well have more nutrients than any other vegetable!

Here is one of my favorite recipes from Our Lady of Weight Loss: Miraculous and Motivational Musings from the Patron Saint of Permanent Fat Removal. It was submitted by Kick in the Tush Club member, Mary Margaret of Houston, Texas. Mary Margaret tells us that a good way to eat an entire bunch of kale is to tear it into bite-sized pieces and put on a sprayed (olive oil spray or nonstick spray) cookie sheet. Dust with Parmesan cheese and put under the broiler for a very short time, until crispy. "I eat all those vitamins right off the tray by the stove," she says. "It never makes it to the table. Feels absolutely virtuous. "

Ingredients:
8 cups Kale
nonstick spray
4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
2 cup chopped pecans or slivered almonds

Directions:
Preheat over to 400 degrees. Stir in all ingredients except nuts until well blended and place on the cookie sheet. Scatter the nuts on top. Broil for 2 to 3 minutes. Serve at once!

Stay tuned for more recipes and tips on how to feel, look and be delicious through the good times and the bad times! Recession or not!! (Sign up for Our Lady's Daily Feed subscription!)

Spread the cheap n' easy word (NOT the icing!),
Janice

________________________
Janice Taylor is a Life & Wellness Coach, Cert. Hypnotist, author,columnist, seminar leader and 50 pound big-time-loser.

Want to wake up thinner on New Year's Day?

Follow her on Twitter!

Want a free Weight Loss Consult?

13 Small and Easy Steps that Will Get YOU Back on the Wagon NOW

Do NOT Give Up!
I promise you that it is totally okay that you overate this weekend. After all, one weekend doth not a fat person make. This is a time to chant our mantra, All Is Forgiven, Move On! Good. Say it again ...

... All Is Forgiven, MOVE ON!

That's right. This is a time to MOVE ON, get back on track, jump back on the wagon (gracefully, please). I know - it feels overwhelming, but if you try just one (or more) of these small steps every day, you'll be back in the saddle, losing once more in no time at all! And you'll be feeling great about yourself!

13 Small and Easy Steps that WILL Get YOU Back on the Wagon NOW!

1. Take a Short Walk. Even if it's a five minute slow stroll around the block, get up and move your booty!

2. Whip up just one healthy recipe. It doesn't have to be fancy, just healthy. Oatmeal will do!!

3. Start your day with a healthy breakfast. It does make a HUGE difference!

4. Drink your water. Water is the holy life force. Go for 8 to 12 glasses a day.

5. If you BITE IT; you must WRITE IT. Start writing down what you eat (again).

6. Get Support. Join the Kick in the Tush Club; go to the boards

7. Scissors and Glue. Get busy on your vision board. Cut and paste and psych yourself up! Include pictures of your goals and words that are meaningful to you!

8. Head to the health food section of your supermarket or the health food store and stock up on healthy!

9. Do yard work. In your yard or your neighborhood garden! There's nothing better than sticking your hands in the dirt to get grounded.

10. Listen to inspirational music. What are you favorites? Please comment below, so I can listen too!

11. Eat fruits and veggies! They say that we should eat 9 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Imagine, just for today that you actually did just that! Wow, what an accomplishment.

12. Slow down and savor the flavor. I promise you, it makes all the difference. You will enjoy your food and eat much much less.

13. Crochet, sew, play cards, work on a jigsaw puzzle. Create some nighttime activity that keeps your hands busy.

If I can get back on track, YOU CAN too!
Jump on the wagon with me!!!

Spread the word ... NOT the icing!
Janice
__________________________________
Janice Taylor is a Life & Wellness Coach, Cert. Hypnotist, author,columnist, seminar leader and 50 pound big-time-loser.

Want to wake up thinner on New Year's Day?

Follow her on Twitter!

Want a free Weight Loss Consult?

Today's 'Get Jiggy' jigsaw Our Lady of Weight Loss puzzle is inspired by the season! Yes, today is the last day of November ... tomorrow is December. The holiday season is here! OH My!!!

Are you ready to rock n' roll? Stay steady the course through-out the holiday season?
Join with me.

Jump on the Christmas Diet bandwagon! Let's wake up thinner on New Year's Day! Imagine that!!

Spread the word ... NOT the icing!
Janice
__________________________________
Janice Taylor is a Life & Wellness Coach, Cert. Hypnotist, author,columnist, seminar leader and 50 pound big-time-loser.

Want to wake up thinner on New Year's Day?

Follow her on Twitter!

Want a free Weight Loss Consult?