Miscellany Monday...

Today I'm participating in Miscellany Monday, hosted by Lowercase Letters

I've often mentioned on this blog that I spent a couple of years in Beirut, Lebanon when I was a little girl (my parents were missionaries.) One of my favorite links to that era in my life is Edgar Feghaly and now his wife Roseann.  Edgar, or Eddie as we called him, was a teen-ager when I was a little girl in Lebanon.  Now he heads up an amazing ministry to people in Arab countries.  He was the special speaker at our church's missions conference this past week, so my husband and I were able to spend time with him and Roseann.  It was a wonderful time of reminiscing about two years that made a lasting impression on my life.  Edgar and Roseann have literally risked their lives to bring the good news of Christ's love to the Middle East.  I love and respect them deeply!

Edgar and Roseann Feghaly, me and my husband Doug

I believe I've found the best tea-bag tea I've ever tasted!  Doug and I were at Olive Garden one night when I decided to have a cup of tea.  It was Tetley Orange Peach tea, and it was incredible.  It only took one sip for me to realize that this tea was in a class by itself.  I looked in almost every Rockford grocery store to find it, and couldn't. So I ordered it online, and I don't regret it for a moment.  A cup of this tea is like a treat!

November is special for many things, but one of them is the birthday of my precious little grandson, Josiah. (We call him JD most of the time.)  He turned 3 on November 9th.  I wish I could have been at him Thomas the Tank-themed party, but I console myself that we're going to spend Thanksgiving with him and his family.

He is such a sunny little fellow...I love so much! Happy birthday, JD!

I love this little boy so much!

The last time I went to my doctor and had my A1C (a 3 month test of how my blood sugar is doing--I'm a Type 2 Diabetic), I did NOT like the trend I was seeing.  My blood sugar was still in the safe zone, but it was definitely rising.  While diabetes is a degenerative disease, I realized there were things I could do better in the areas of managing my eating and increasing my exercise.  

I resolved to do both, and a key component was joining the site, My Fitness Pal.  I've always kept track of what I was eating..but what I didn't realize was just how many calories I was consuming! My Fitness Pal has made me accountable in both eating and exercise.  I've lost 8 pounds so far (it's taken about a month, so I'm losing slowly and safely) and hope to lose a total of 20 by the time I visit my doc again in January. I can't say enough good things about this site.  What's great is that you can also use it as an app on your smartphone. I recommend it highly!

Happy Monday, everyone!

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Is fast food from the devil?

Quick answer: it doesn't have to be.

Today is National Fast Food Day...and despite the (often deservedly) bad rap that fast food restaurants have garnered, there's still a lot of good things to say about the concept. From the website punchbowl.com:

The concept of ready-cooked food for sale can be attributed to the Ancient Romans. In many cities, street stands or "thermopoliums" (small pub-like shops) offered hot sausages, bread, and wine to patrons on-the-go.

Thousands of years later, in 1867, the first American fast food restaurant opened in New York. It was a hotdog stand on Coney Island!

Today, fast food is an American staple. There are over 300,000 fast food restaurants in the United States alone, making it nearly impossible to drive down the road without going by at least one fast food chain restaurant.

BeefARoo's Summer Berry Salad

Pictured above is the Summer Berry Salad from a local fast food chain (northwestern Illinois) called Beefaroo.

Yep, kind of a goofy name...but would that there were Beefaroo's all over America.  Why?  Because along with all the other stuff that's terrible for you, Beefaroo boasts a varied menu of choices that are both healthy and delicious.  Witness the Summer Berry Salad's nutrition facts:

Nutrition Facts

Beef-A-Roo - Summerberry Salad

1. Servings:  1 salad

Calories	321	Sodium	608 mg
Total Fat	14 g	Potassium	0 mg
Saturated	0 g	Total Carbs	21 g
Polyunsaturated	0 g	Dietary Fiber	5 g
Monounsaturated	0 g	Sugars	0 g
Trans	0 g	Protein	24 g
Cholesterol	15 mg
Vitamin A	0%	Calcium	0%
Vitamin C	0%	Iron	0%

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Not too shabby, eh?

But, you say mournfully, I don't have Beefaroo where I live.

I maintain that you can find healthy choices at almost every fast food outlet these days, even McDonald's.

And not just salad. Fast food "joints" (as my dad used to call hamburger places) now offer grilled chicken sandwiches, soups, veggies,yogurt parfaits, even oatmeal.

On most diets, even a small burger is OK if accompanied by a side salad instead of fries.

So...inquiring minds want to know.

Will you be celebrating National Fast Food Day with a visit to your favorite eatery?

Which one is your favorite, and why? What are your favorite fast food meal choices--healthy or not-so-healthy?

Let me know in my comments section!

2012: The Year of the Healthy Lifestyle

This poem kind of says it all:

Twas the month after Christmas,
and all through the house,
Nothing would fit me,
not even a blouse.

The cookies I'd nibbled,
the eggnog I'd taste,
At the holiday parties,
had gone to my waist.

When I got on the scales,
there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store,
(less a walk than a lumber).

I'd remember the marvelous,
meals I'd prepared;
The gravies and sauces,
and beef nicely rared,

The wine and the rum balls,
the bread and the cheese,
And the way I'd never said,
"No, thank you, please."

As I dressed myself,
in my husband's old shirt,
And prepared once again,
to do battle with dirt,

I said to myself,
as I only can
"You can't spend a winter
disguised as a man!"

So-away with the last,
of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake,
every cracker and chip.

Every last bit of food,
that I like must be banished
Till all the additional,
ounces have vanished.

I won't have a cookie,
not even a lick.
I'll want only to chew,
on a long celery stick.

I won't have hot biscuits,
or corn bread, or pie,
I'll munch on a carrot,
and quietly cry.

I'm hungry, I'm lonesome,
and life is a bore-
But isn't that what,
January is for?

But...

It doesn't have to be that way! You don't have to be "hungry, lonesome and bored" with exchanging and unhealthy lifestyle for a healthy one.

In fact, I know by experience that it's much more rewarding and satisfying to make healthy food choices and exercise regularly!

As a Type 2 Diabetic, I've been lax for the past several weeks. That changed, as of New Year's Day. And you know what? I'm EXCITED about it!

You'll probably notice more posts on this blog encouraging and providing tips and info for health, weight loss and fitness.

Who's with me?

*photo credit

My Quest to Lose 10 Pounds

Going Public With It!

I've made the decision that I want to lose 10 pounds. And yes, I'm going public with it.

This is kind of scary, but I think making this public will hold me accountable and maybe even give me some much-needed encouragement.

Also, if any of you want to join me in this quest, feel free!

10 and counting down

No, I'm NOT going to tell you how much I weigh...that is for me, God and my doctor to know! I'll start with 10 and count down to zero.

I weighed this morning, so I will weigh again next Monday, a week from today. (I don't believe in frequent weighings, because body weight can fluctuate so much).

I will report my results here. (Whooo...this is a little nerve-racking.)

My plan

These are my basic guidelines:

1) Try to stick as closely as possible to what my diabetes educators recommend for me, carb-wise: 45 carb grams per meal and 15 per snack.

2) Focus on vegetables, fruits, lean meats, legumes, whole grains.

3) Drink lots of water with lemon.

4) Exercise at least 30 minutes a day.

However, none of these guidelines are engraved in stone, because once I engrave them in stone, it's too easy to give up if I fail in one area. (That's just the way I am, unfortunately.)

By the way, I do need to lose more than 10 pounds, but I just want to conquer this 10 pounds at this particular juncture.

Wish me well! And comment if you'd like to join me.