Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Haters & Food Pushers: NO MEANS NO!

Last Saturday's WW meeting AND tomorrow's impending Thanksgiving celebrating, prompted me to republish one of my favorite post titled HATERAID #1 DRINK OF HATERS. With any holiday, food, family, and friends surround you. And unfortunately, the food pushers come from out of the woodwork to bombard you with phrases like, "Try this, one little bite won't kill you." Or, "You can work out tomorrow."


As well as food pushers, a hater or two may try to throw salt in your weight loss "game" my making you feel bad about your weight loss efforts thus far. They may say things like, "Why do you want to lose weight?"   Or, "50 lbs...that's it! You could stand to lose more!" To help you survive the Thanksgiving pushers and haters, please use the following post at your own discretion. 


throw salt: throw salt means to interfere with one's plans or actions.

Hater: Someone who makes themselves feel good by knocking others down. Haters fail to recognize the accomplishment of others. Put simply, haters will not be happy for you.

An example of conversing with a hater:
TinaEvery since the promotion, Martin has stepped up his wardrobe.
Lisa (hater)If he's stepped up his wardrobe then why does he still wear that 1985 Member's Only jacket?


Hater-Aid: The drink of haters.
Used in a sentence:
Dang, why are you hating on Martin? Have you been drinking hater-aid?

Unfortunately haters live among us. Some work with us. They arrive at work with their boxes of kolaches and donuts coercing us to gobble them up. "Go ahead....eat one. You can eat just one." I call them THE PUSHERS. Drug dealers more like it...pushing my drug of choice...FOOD! The pushers push and push and push and push until you cave. AND THEY KNOW...they know you're trying your very bestest (not a real word, but it is now) to lead a healthy lifestyle. They know. In my opinion haters thrive on your failure. In the mind of a hater your failure confirms what they think they know about you...that you will fail to succeed at losing weight.


At my previous job (Head Start, no names), my colleagues sometimes made comments dripping with sarcasm, "Oh look at you eating all healthy. Hmmm...good for you." Whatever hater! I so badly wanted to respond, "The grocery store sells healthy food to everyone, not just me." Fortunately the ladies at my current job respect my weight loss efforts and offer food just once. AND A few of them provide encouragement and cheer me on...THANKS LADIES! But for those of you, not so fortunate I offer a few ways to avoid the THE PUSHERS a.k.a workplace HATERS:
  • Bring snacks or store snacks at work in case of hater emergencies. Same thing applies for holiday gatherings. Bring an emergency snack if you arrive and the holiday feast is not ready.
  • Lead by example...bring healthy alternatives for breakfast like bagels from Einstein Bros. 
  • STAY OUT OF THE LOUNGE or whatever "corner" the pushers hang out on. During holiday gatherings, stay OUT of the kitchen or away from the dessert table. Hang out outside and toss the old pigskin with the kids. 
  • Eat a hearty breakfast.
The same rules apply for potlucks or holiday feasts:
  • Bring your own lunch and only serve yourself the healthier potluck options: fruit, salad, low-fat dishes, etc.
  • Lead by example..bring a healthy dish to the potluck and only eat your food and some of the healthier options.
Refrain from falling victim to haters at work. Simply tell them no and keep it moving. If they can't take no for an answer then simply high-five their face with your hand. Keep in mind, not all pushers at work are haters. Just explain to unintentional pushers that you tend to move in a healthier direction when making food choices.


Now, the next type of hater (the most devastating type of hater) which I tend to lump into one category...THE FRIENDS AND FAMILY HATER! I deemed this hater the most devastating BECAUSE you expect friends and family to support whatever decisions you make regarding your healthy lifestyle changes. Sometimes your friends and family take on the role of the saboteur by making you feel bad about wanting to better your life and by discrediting weight loss progress made. O...you can count on them all right...you can count on them to point out ALL of the mistakes your making during your weight loss endeavor. Fortunately I have an awesome support system composed of my MOM and the SC (shout out to the Sista Circle). You know your friends and family better than I do, but when faced with a FRIENDS AND FAMILY HATER I offer the following advice:
  • You can't pick your family, but you can pick your friends. I've HAD friends who made me feel like I needed to hide my successes. The operative word in the previous sentence ...HAD! 
  • Try to refrain from forcing your new lifestyle on other people. This is a hard one. I enjoy sharing new products, successes, tips and recipes. Just make sure you share with people who...ummm...actually care. I decided a "safe" place to talk about my journey is here in this blogosphere chocked full of encouragement!
  • DO NOT RELINQUISH YOUR POWER TO HATERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Haters can't make you feel bad about yourself UNLESS you give them the power...YOUR POWER!

Well, I decided to STOP handing over my power to haters, and I resigned to stop associating with them as well. Hanging out with haters produces too much negative energy.

In closing...I leave you with this:

BEHIND EVERY SUCCESSFUL PERSON IS A PACK OF HATERS!

How do you deal with the haters in your life?

Friday, November 12, 2010

SUPPORT THE ARTS!

Before you read this post...help a sista out and VOTE...free furniture for the staff lounge WHEN we WIN! 


Listen up Houston blogger peeps...THIS FRIDAY MARKS THE 1st ANNUAL HIP HOP SHOWCASE FOR FLY WELLNESS & MOVEMENT ARTS STUDIO! Support the ARTS and attend...

FALLOUT: A HIP HOP CONCERT! TICKETS...$10!
Witness energy and enthusiasm on stage as some of Houston's best hip-hop dancers represent! 

Watch some of the fabulousness for yourself; CHECK OUT my oldest performing with the core crew!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Marvelous Mini Meatloaves...MMMMMMMMMM!

In my quest to jazz up my weight loss efforts I decided to try a new recipe...Turkey  Mini Meatloaves from the cookbook, Cook Yourself Thin (as seen on Lifetime Television). Baking the meatloaves in mini loaves or individual portions helps maintain portion control.  


Turkey Mini Meatloaves
Serves 4
Calories per serving , meatloaves:227


For the meatloaf:
1 slice whole wheat bread
½ cup skim milk
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil
1 onion, diced
5-ounce bag baby spinach leaves
¼pounds of ground turkey
2 tablespoons finely grated Parmesan
1 large egg
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg


For the glaze:
3 tablespoons ketchup
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon hot sauce


1.PREHEAT oven to 375 degrees. 


2. GRIND the bread in a food processor until fine crumbs form. Transfer to a large bowl, and pour milk over crumbs.


3.  HEAT 1 teaspoon oil in a large skillet, preferably nonstick, over medium heat.  Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and golden,  about 5 minutes.  Add spinach, and stir until just wilted , about 30 seconds.  Transfer to bowl with soaked crumbs.  Add the turkey cheese, egg, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.  Combine the mixture with your hands until well mixed, it may be quite wet. Okay...I veered from the recipe just a bit. Instead of spinach, I threw in some carrot shreds and zucchini.


4. PACK 1 cup of the mixture into a 1-cup dry measuring cup. Invert the cup onto to a rimmed baking sheet, gently shaking the cup to release the mixture. Gently pat the mound to smooth its shape. Repeat with the remaining mixture,  Bake mini meatloaves until cooked through and golden , about 40 minutes.


5. WHILE THE MEATLOAVES ARE COOKING, make the glaze: in a small bowl combine the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce. I did not make the glaze. I ate my meatloaves sans glaze.


6. REMOVE the meatloaves form the oven, brush the glaze over meatloaves, and enjoy!


Tip:
According to the cookbook authors, spinach keeps the mixture moist without adding fat. I concur; even though I substituted zucchini and carrots for spinach, the meatloaves remained moist even after eating leftovers for 2 days. 

Monday, November 8, 2010

EAT, DRINK...AND BE SCARY!

Hope your Halloween brought you a night full of fun and frights! Despite a last minute costume change (beyond my control), Halloween proved to be spook-takular  delight! Originally, I planned to rock a Whore-thy Dorothy costume, and in my excitement I hastily purchased ruby slippers and basket complete with Toto.
 So, instead of going as Dorothy I pulled this vintage ensemble from my closet.
In keeping with our yearly tradition, the boys and I rolled to Mimi's (my Mom) and distributed Halloween eats & treats to excited trick-or-treaters. This year we added a new addition to our Halloween tradition...our little cousin Spiderman!

After we handed out the last piece of candy we hit the streets to get some trick-or-treating done! My youngest decided to dress as JabbaWockee for Halloween. No, not the Jabbawokee from Alice in Wonderland. A JabbaWockee from the critically acclaimed dance crew. 
The video below highlights the JabbaWockees' last performance on the show America's Best Dance Crew.
In the entire neighborhood, only one teenage boy asked my son if he was a  JabbaWockee. Everyone else just gave him  a WTH look...guess they're not big dance fans!

I put together this photo montage to share some Halloween highlights. Make sure you check out the video of me screaming in the "haunted house" towards the end of the montage.

I hope you enjoyed the montage. 

As far as my candy consumption, I used my cheat sheet. I only ate 1 Snickers (2pts), and 1 Resees' Peanut Butter Cup (2 pts). I wanted to use my point for Gumbo my mom made, rather than candy. 

For next Halloween my boys and I decided to make it a family affair. We're gonna "EASE ON DOWN THE ROAD" as Dorothy, the Tin Man and the Scarecrow. AND...my mom will play the role of the Good Witch! So, GET STARTED on sewing those costumes MOM!

Thursday, November 4, 2010

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

TODAY I CELEBRATE MY 37th BIRTHDAY ( 57 POUNDS LIGHTER)! ROCK ON!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

AND THE WINNER IS...

THE WINNER OF MY "$75 CSN Christmas Comes Early Giveaway IS...


DRUM ROLL PLEASE...

Heather over at Scoomer! CONGRATS HEATHER and HAPPY SPENDING!

Quick weigh-in update...
Last Saturday's weigh results, -.6, the equivalent to a tube of toothpaste. Not bad, I lost a tube of toothpaste.   A loss is a loss no matter how big or small. And you know what? All of those small losses add up!  

So what's in store for this week? MY BIRTHDAY!  AND I PLAN TO GET MY PARTY ON!

Join the "CUTE as a BUNNY Weight Loss Challenge"

Join the "CUTE as a BUNNY Weight Loss Challenge"
Grab a Button!

Tales from the scale

Total Pageviews

BlogPlay

Share your links easily.