Get a Life Insurance Quote Today!

At lifeinsurancequotescheck.com, you can get a life insurance quote immediately and apply for one of our insurance packages right after. Our high speed technology allows us to get you the lowest insurance quote in just minutes. Worried about identity thieves or hackers? You don't have to as we our website is run on a consistently updated secure server. We've already approved thousands of people for life insurance using our online service, so why wait any longer? If you're ready to provide your family with the protection they need for a great future, get a life insurance quote and apply today!

Totally free credit score is reachable

The credit history lists creditors, payment history, status of the loans, and any derogatory reports in the companies who gave you credit. This report doesn't contain any scoring. You are able to obtain one free report each year from the US government. Credit ratings are different from your credit history, reporting agencies calculates you scores based on your payment performance and sells information to organization whom you are availing credit. You have to be sure that when getting your financial information, see to it that the organization is providing these free credit scores or reports for free. Another major consideration in getting free scores is the total scores generated from the three major credit agencies; Experian, Trans Union and Equifax. creditors take a look at the scores from these 3 agencies to generate an amalgamated of the overall credit history. Many sites will offer you a totally free credit history, although not free scores. Often you'll be given one score, but need to pay for that other two. They will force you to purchase the two other scores by emphasizing that bad information could show up on one credit history and not on others. This tricky marketing scheme might only make your free reports costly,

Another tactic that marketers use within the free credit file game would be to emphasize those home elevators your report can alter anytime. The tactic is actually to market monthly memberships for that assurance you they will keep an eye on any alterations in your scores. The issue at hand is that many people's scores don't change that rapidly, only financially active individuals are really looking to keep track on constant updates, including monthly ones. Average consumers will be doing fine checking a couple of times in a year. Although the intention is to keep you updated with your credit, the marketing scheme will cause paranoia. People believe they leave themselves susceptible to erroneous derogatory items when they aren't constantly checking. In reality, mistakes occur through the credit agencies, but this rarely happens. The businesses offering credit file also often oversimplify the loan system. The scores you will see for every bureau may not be what your creditors will have to say about you. Many creditors, like mortgage industry, weigh information regarding your character in paying for your rent. This score differs compared to general score you may see. This complex calculation may be the reason your general score is okay, however, you still get declined for a financial loan. Get a free credit scores now.

The Best Savings Rates

We Know that savings rates can vary hugely between bank accounts. While one bank might pay an huge 9% interest rate, another one might pay less than 1.5%.
But as the person who puts your capital in those accounts, you deserve to get the best savings rates possible. Unfortunately no one is going to make sure you get the top rates you have to go out there yourself and find them.
You should’nt just accept terrible savings accounts. You could stick with the same accounts because you have had it for a while. But you need to be careful if you do this. Banks and building societies are quick to promote their new high interest savings accounts . But when new accounts are released and new savings rates are announced, the previous rates tend to dip down to a lower rate of interest.
 click the link below to find more
Online Savings Account Check

Home Mortgage Refinance & Mortgage Refinancing

Welcome to our collection of articles on home mortgage refinance, to help you in managing your finances and home refinancing. The articles address both home mortgage refinance as well as mortgage refinancing. Whether you want to learn about the best home mortgage and refinancing options, or how to manage your credit rating and debt levels so you keep out of excessive debt, read the below articles.
Now that the boom times in easy home refinancing are over, it's more important than ever to arm yourself with knowledge. In today's market, when is it a good idea to pursue refinance credit or mortgage refinancing on your home? Is it even still possible? What are lenders looking for in today's market when homeowners want to tap the equity in their home? Under all scenarios, any loan applications you make will be helped if you have a higher credit rating, so be sure to read our articles on how to manage your debt so you can maintain good credit.
Click on a link below for more information. 
home mortgage 

auto insurance quote check

Are you looking for cheap auto insurance in your state? It's understandable, as car insurance has notoriously been known to be quite expensive. Seeing as how, at least in most states, it's required by law, you'll need to make that you're getting the most amount of auto insurance coverage without spending too much for it. Luckily, we’re a service that can help you out in that respect. Using our Cheap Auto Insurance Finder, you’ll be able to find the best policy for your money.

Auto insurance prices vary greatly depending on your age, the auto you drive and your driving record, but there are a number of ways to find cheap auto insurance no matter what your situation is.

Dozens of auto insurance companies promise low rates and special deals and it can be overwhelming to know where to start. It’s easy to take steps to make your premium lower no matter which company you chose. A number of tactics like getting longer policies with more vehicles and paying online will make sure you get the cheapest auto insurance.

Egg, Bacon & Cheese Breakfast Sandwich

(makes 1 servings)

Ingredients:

• 3 large egg whites


• 1 multigrain English muffin


• 1 oz Canadian bacon, cooked


• 1 slice (1 oz) low-fat sharp Cheddar cheese


• 1 cup fresh blueberries

Preparation:

• Scramble egg whites and place on half of toasted English muffin. Add Canadian bacon and cheese and top with muffin half. Serve with blueberries and 1 cup green tea or coffee.

Make 1 Servings:

Weight loss recipes Amount Per Serving : 380 Calories, 29 g Protein, 55 g Carbohydrates, 8 g Dietary Fiber, 7 g Fat, 3 g Saturated Fat, 871 mg Sodium

Day 180: Never underestimate the power one week can bring.

This past week I cut out a few items in my diet: salt, man-made carbohydrates and sugar. It always surprises me how quickly my body changes if I'm persistent, even for a short period of time.

Salt: the first day I didn't add salt to my cooking, I felt like I was sacrificing a lot and was surprised that it's easier to give up sugar than salt.  Everything I ate tasted bland, and I had to actually put some mental effort not to grab the salt shaker--at one point, I noticed I reached for the shaker without thinking.  I had no idea I had become such a salt fiend.
Surprise: After a day or two, I started to discover the flavor of foods. Things tasted differently to the point that I didn't even miss salt.  Scrambled eggs, homemade salad dressing and sweet potatoes taste fine without salt.  I'm shocked that I noticed a difference after a day and am considering putting the salt shaker back with the rest of the spices in the cupboard.

Man-made Carbs: At the beginning of the week I had a bit of a challenge wrapping my head around finding carbs that were not man made and gluten free.  Bread, we take that for granted.  It's super hard to find gluten free bread that doesn't look dry and cardboard tasting. I plan on making some with rice flour one day soon.  (Note: gluten free is only for a few months to rule out a gluten sensitivity.)
Surprise:By the end of the week, I found that I needed heavier carbs for my energy.  Not being able to grab bread or tortillas or a bun, I noticed that fruit alone wasn't enough carbohydrate load for my body's need.  Adding sweet potatoes, beans and brown rice did the trick.

Sugar:  This is a no brainer.  When is sugar ever a good thing to put in our body?  Sure, it does so much for the soul, but really, we can live healthy without it.  At the beginning of the week, I noticed I did have cravings and I actually took a bite of something the kids were eating, but that was it.  (I won't spend much time on this since I have oodles of other posts on my thoughts and struggles with sugar.)
Surprise: By the end of the week, I once again found the strength to be stronger than the cookie.  We went to a Arrow of Light Cub Scout Ceremony last night and there were some wonderful desserts I would have liked to have a plate of.  I was shocked that I didn't look twice.  (Okay, I'll be honest, I did.) I was ecstatic that I actually took a moment to visualize what I would feel like if I indulged.  I thought about the sugar coated throat I will feel after eating my weights-worth, and I found that a simple whiff of the gooey goodness of Smore brownies was enough to satisfy me.

I feel good.  I feel empowered.  A week ago I felt a bit out of control, like I couldn't say no to the things I loved and that brought comfort.  I honestly started this hormone balancing program with severe doubts since the first month is a bit strict, for obvious reasons.  In weight loss, it's not just about your brain making the decision, it's the way your body reacts to the food you feed it.  Just removing three things from my diet, I can feel my body responding, and this helps when my brain is weak. I am honestly surprised that I feel strong enough to make changes that are going to better my health, only after a week.  Never underestimate the power one week can bring.

Creamy Polenta with Cherry Tomato Relish

(makes 8 servings)

Ingredients:

• 6 cups cherry tomatoes
  
  


• Low-fat cooking spray
  
  


• 1 tbsp olive oil
  
  


• ¼ cup sliced shallots
  
  


• 1½ tbsp sugar
  
  


• ¾ cup dry white wine
  
  


• 1½ tsp divided salt
  
  


• ¼ tsp fresh ground pepper
  
  


• 2 cups 1% low-fat milk
  
  


• 1 cup dry polenta
  
  


• ½ cup shaved fresh Parmesan cheese
  
  

Preparation:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
  
  


• Spray a shallow roasting pan with low-fat cooking spray.
  
  


• Cut slits at bottom of each cherry tomato then place stem-side down in roasting pan. Bake at 425 degrees F for 20 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 degrees F and continue to bake for another 45 minutes. Remove from oven, cover with aluminum foil and let stand for 10-15 minutes.
  
  


• Heat olive oil in a large-size skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallots and sauté until lightly browned (about 5 minutes).
  
  


• Add white wine, reduce to medium-low heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
  
  


• Add 11/2 tsp of the salt and the pepper.
  
  


• Remove from heat, stir in tomatoes, cover and set aside.
  
  


• In a large-size saucepan, add milk and water and bring to a boil then remove from heat.
  
  


• Gradually add dry polenta while stirring constantly with a whisk. Cover and cook for 2 minutes over medium-low heat.
  
  


• Add 1 tsp salt, cover and let stand until polenta reaches a thick consistency (about 5 minutes), stirring occasionally.
  
  


• Pass the tomato relish and Parmesan shavings at the table.
  
  

Make 8 Servings:

Weight loss recipes Amount Per Serving(⅛ of recipe (220 g)): 184 Calories, 7 g Protein, 25 g carbohydrates, 3 g Dietary Fiber, 5 g fat, 2 g saturated fat, 7 mg cholesterol, 596 mg sodium

Calorie Needs

Hi all, I have been quiet for a few weeks, but I have been reading blogs all over blogsphere and tried to comment many a time, but for some reason since I got my new computer, it would seem I have to log in an infinite number of times to post comments, of which non actually got through so I gave up. I commented on Tina's, Caroline's and Alison's blogs yesterday without success - in particular Alison I have a remedy for Hair Dyed Neck Syndrome - Fag ash and lemon juice!!! It is grim, but it works. I had to get our lodger to chain smoke 5 fags in the garden last year to get some ash for the brew as I had dyed most of my upper body black. It should stink, as it sounds awful, but actually it is ok.. kind of charcoal smelling, but certainly not fag ash smelling!!! It's a tip from an old school hairdresser, and she said it works better than the chemical one they use in salons. In the old days before the H&S police they used fags & jif! haha

So yeah, its been a while since I posted properly. A lot of people liked the 8 year bandit post, which I thought was a brilliant post to be honest. I am 4 and a half years out, and still need those tips!!!

So, since we last spoke, I have had a new tumble dryer and a new computer to purchase as the others died. I will probably have to have a new oven soon too. The fan gets stuck and sticking a pencil in it to get it turning at the start of a baking/roasting session is kind of too hands on and a little scary even for me!

We have also just completed our first year tax return and our business made a profit!!! We are thrilled and also quite surprised that in just 1 year we have been able to make a profitable company which bucks the trend generally. Even our accountant told us that in the first year, it's usual to make a loss. He was very happy with us!

My health has taken a nose dive however. I am not sure why but things seem to be ramping up on the Lupus front. All of the above have got in the way of me sitting down and blogging to be honest and as I haven't lost weight this month at all I just couldn't be bothered to write all this stuff out.

Blogging is cathartic however, and I know life gets in the way for us old timing bandits. It's not the dizzy heights of those first exciting banded days any more, but nowadays having a band is like having a twisted friend that sometimes stabs you all over for the hell of it, and sometimes gives you a treat.

My band is certainly doing the do, but I think I could do with a small adjustment. However, I don't have £125 right now, and I think mainly I need to just cut my calories a little.

That leads me onto a cool thing I found:

A Basal Metabolic Rate calculator.  at 114kgs I need 1900 calories just to stay alive. So, If I lock myself in a cupboard for a few months I will lose a lot of weight!

For me, the website LiveStrong has been a great help as I can track all the stuff I eat, but sometimes its difficult as the foods people have put on don't correspond totally with the product labels and I have to do mathematical equations to get it right.

However, Knowing my metabolic rate is helpful as then you can work out your daily calorie needs to stay at the same weight, and obviously eating less than that = weight loss. :-)

As I exercise 3 times a week, I now know I need to eat (at the moment) 2613 calories a day just to maintain my bulk. Therefore I know I need to eat 500 calories less than that to lose 1 pound a week.

I think I can live on 2100 calories. I will use my Daily Plate thing at LiveStrong  to count it. They say I should have less calories, but I am going with the other one (more food! LOL)

The Gym is working out well... a little video for you of my success the other day:

So yeah, I am enjoying it. Me and TB go three times a week and we smile all the while!! HAHA

Back onto the old health issues... Well I dunno if you remember, but way back before xmas 2010 the doctor made me shit my pants when she told me a rash on my breast looked like Paget's Disease, which is the 'Big C'. Well I have had little success at getting the rash to...

1.) go away
2.) stop making more rashes.
3.) go away

...so F I N A L L Y they got me an appointment to see a dermatologist. How did this come about? Well I googled images of rashes and was astounded to find a lot of rashes similar to mine called...

WAIT FOR IT...

Subacute Cutaneous LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

Yes. Another type of Lupus.

Now, considering I already HAVE lupus you would think that some bright spark might have put 2 + 2 together but Noooooooo! It's been 18 months since I got the rash, and it was getting worse and worse and worse as you could see in that post from the photos here It did get even worse than this, on my boobs, and even a small patch under my chin - right where I have to pluck my beard out!

so I took those printed out photos to the doctor and asked him, as tactfully as I could, if he thought this looked similar to SCLE ???  They get that wry smile on their face which says "I studied for years to become a doctor and you do some google image searches and diagnose yourself. I pity you you poor ignorant wretch" and then took a look at his screen and YESSS! he concurred actually it did look the same, and referred me.

18 freaking months!!!! Doctors Shmoctors. I know there are billions of diseases but for FUCKS SAKE I already have the other type of Lupus goddammit! It's not that difficult surely??!?!?!

So got referred to the derm's and he took one look - like 2 seconds - and went "Ya, SCLE, here's some antimalarial tablets, 500mls for factor 50 sunscreen for ya body, 2 tubes of tinted face sunscreen cos ya can't use foundation any more and a referral to see the consultants again asap in London. Ya can't go in the sun at all ever again. have a base line eye test tomorrow too as your eyesight will turn shit taking these tablets"

Gee thanks mate. OMG I am not kidding I was like reeling when I came out. No more tanning, sun lotion each and everyday, rain or shine for EVER,  no clinique delicious foundation (and he was right - it goes all wierd on my skin if I use it over the suncream = random), antimalarials for rest of life and possible immunosupressants. God, as if I don't get ill enough.

YAY.

The other pleasantry is, if the rash isn't brought under control, it turns to skin cancer. Cool.

So I had a biopsy on the biggest and longest lasting rash - all clear. The bladder operation that I had 18 months ago was also caused by the same thing... these rashes are there too.

So now I am taking a cocktail of 5 drugs daily, the antimalarial's (not the normal ones you get for holidays!) make your hair fall out, skin dry out like a crusty rhino and all kinds of other shit including emotional disturbance (crying ALL the time) and eye damage. I have been taking them now for 5 weeks, and everything seems to have settled down.

I have to say that the invisible tint sunscreen is awesome though. I dont need makeup and my skin looks really good actually, so that is a bonus.

The first time I washed my hair after starting them I nearly passed out as handfuls came out in the shower. Thankfully its not patchy, just thinner all over, but its an experience I can tell you. I was distraught as I honestly thought it was all going to fall out. It blocked the shower!! I think I am losing about 150 hairs a day now, which is a little above average, but not too horrific. I have had to have it cut in a crappy straight across style because the thinning hair made it all look a little bitty and tatty at the ends, but there we go. It dries a lot quicker, and I should go back to normal hair loss soon.

At least I know what the rash is now, and can treat it with the proper stuff. I am a bit pissed off about having paid over £7 for each different anti fungal creams and steroid creams that I was prescribed but didn't need, must add up to about £40 I reckon, but hey ho. At least I don't need to pay for suncream any more. The 500ml bottle of stuff they gave me on prescription in £30 a bottle in the shops, and the tubes of face cream are £12!!! wowza.

So, that's the update on me.

I am going to make Mummy Fried Chicken or MFC for short tonight with savory rice. I am going to try and stay below my calorie limits and see what happens on the weightloss front.

This month I have been so crap with emotional eating, which is not a normal response for me. I usually prefer savory like Indian takeaways and chinese etc... but I have gorged myself on crisps and cheese and biscuits and chocolates, so for July I am going to get over myself and get back on track. I have 6 months until we go on holiday, and I want to be at least a stone or two lighter than now. Whats the point of going to the gym if I am just eating it all back in front of the telly?

Ok peeps, over and out x

Food Reward: a Dominant Factor in Obesity, Part VII

Now that I've explained the importance of food reward to obesity, and you're tired of reading about it, it's time to share my ideas on how to prevent and perhaps reverse fat gain.  First, I want to point out that although food reward is important, it's not the only factor.  Heritable factors (genetics and epigenetics), developmental factors (uterine environment, childhood diet), lifestyle factors (exercise, sleep, stress) and dietary factors besides reward also play a role.  That's why I called this series "a dominant factor in obesity", rather than "the dominant factor in obesity".
Read more »

Physical Exercise and Weight Loss Pills

Most of the best weight losing pills do not work the same way as
herbal or other categories of dieting medications and or procedures.
An exercise for instance helps one form muscle tissues. This helps one
to burn more calories. One has to eat more for the body to make up for
calories lost during the exercise. This might be a health hazard since
most people do not understand the importance of replenishing the
calories in certain proportions especially when undertaking heavy
physical exercises.
An added disadvantage to the disregard of the best weight losing pills
is that, studies done with people who go for dieting and exercise have
to combine both to achieve forty four percent of their desired results
in a spurn of time. This in itself is costly and since one has to
spend both on dieting programs and find time to exercise. The pills
option is in this case is one of the most reliable way to manage
your weight problem.

Going to hell in a handbasket

I haven't blogged for so long that when I went to sign in this morning I hesitated for a moment because I couldn't remember my password. I've thought about blogging, but when things aren't going well, I don't like to blog about it.

I had been blogging for months about how poorly I'm doing with trying to lose weight. Same shit, different day. I know it must be boring to read, and it sure is boring to write about too.

I was called this at 3:40 a.m. today with a severity one work issue. Sev 1's mean it has to be resolved within 30 minutes or a conference phone bridge is opened, and managers and directors from several areas of IT get on the bridge. It's not at all fun. In fact, it's downright stressful to the bone. Especially when you're the one in the hot seat trying to resolve the problem. In the past two weeks, I've had five Sev 1 calls, and several sev 2's (almost as bad, but not quite). That's unheard of, but it happened. The problem this morning turned out to belong to another team. Thank you Jesus. Really, I mean it.

About the diet and exercise, well, since I haven't been blogging it should be obvious that it's not going well. In fact, it's going horrible. Each day I get up with new resolve, and each day I fail. A lot of my problems are coming from work. I have added responsibilities since two people left our team (without added pay, I might add). The responsibilities aren't temporary until more people are hired, they are permanent (did I mention no additional pay). It adds a whole new layer of stress at my work, and I see it coming out in my eating and exercise habits.

I don't have time for snacks at work. I barely have time for lunch and definitely no time for a walk at lunch. I'm so exhausted that my six days of working out have fallen to three. I haven't tracked my food, although I try to eat healthy most of the time, I'm still eating too much. I have eaten candy and cookies in the last week, which is something new for me. In the past three and half years my binge foods have been chicken breasts or too much fruit or something else relatively healthy.

The only thing that might save me is I have vacation starting Thursday. I'm going to Fairbanks to see my sister (and the rest of the family, but mainly my sister). My niece (my brother's daughter) and her family are flying up from New Jersey on July 4. I haven't seen her in over twenty years. Long story about my brother's first marriage, and now his daughter wants to reconnect with the family. I've talked to her and her husband on the phone several times in the past two weeks, and I'm really looking forward to seeing her and meeting her husband and 10-year old daughter in person.

I spent a lot of time one summer in 1974 with her mother (my brother's first wife and his best one...he's on #3 now) while my brother was working up on the North Slope in Alaska (trans-Alaska pipeline days). We had a blast together that summer. Tammy, my niece, sounds exactly like her mother.

Anyway, the good thing about the trip is binge eating isn't an option at my sister's house. Plus it'll be a distraction from work, which I desperately need. I'll be gone for twelve days. Woohoo!

In the meantime, starting today, I'm going to get back on the straight and narrow. It's 4:40am and I'm going to get off the computer and get dressed for the gym, and be there when they open at 5am.

Today I'm going to drink all my water, even if that means I'll have to go to the bathroom a lot. I've even stopped drinking water because I don't have time. Wow, that sounds really crazy and insane when I write it. Too busy to drink water? This has got to stop. Now. Here. Today. I have to come first, the job has to come second.

Last thing, I haven't weighed in days. That's never a good sign. I'll get on the scales this morning, and document my weight. I'm pretty sure it's up since my size 16's felt snug yesterday. A sure sign things are amiss.

Tonight, I'll make time to read some blogs. That's another thing I stopped doing. Another sure sign things are going to hell.

New day, new attitude. I'm not going down without a fight. :)

Potato and Greens Frittata

(makes 6 servings)

Ingredients:

• 1½ Tbsp. olive oil
  
  


• 2 large sweet onions, thickly sliced
  
  


• 1 tsp. coarse salt
  
  


• ¼ tsp. ground black pepper
  
  


• 2 tsp. balsamic vinegar
  
  


• 1¼ C cubed ( ½”) cooked potatoes
  
  


• ¾ C cooked greens, such as mustard or kale, chopped
  
  


• 2 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled (optional)
  
  


• 8 large eggs, beaten
  
  

Preparation:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Heat olive oil in 10” ovenproof skillet over medium heat then add onion, ½ tsp. of the salt, and ⅛ tsp. of the ground pepper. Cook, turning onions with tongs for 10 minutes until well browned. Sprinkle with vinegar and cook for 1 minute longer.
  
  


• Add potatoes, greens, bacon (if using) and remaining salt and pepper. Pour eggs over vegetables and stir to blend. Cook over medium heat for 3 minutes or until the mixture begins to set.
  
  


• Place skillet in oven and bake until eggs are set (about 15 minutes). Let stand 5 minutes, then invert onto a platter. Cut into wedges to serve.
  
  

Make 6 Servings:

Weight loss recipes Amount Per Serving : 214 Calories, 11 g Protein, 18 g Carbohydrates, 2 g Dietary Fiber, 5.5 g Fat, 3 g Saturated Fat, 558 mg Sodium

Best Weight Loss Pills

Even the best weight loss pills cannot offer a permanent solution to weight
tribulations one might be facing. Reasons supporting this hypothesis lie in the
fact that the body is well equipped with hormones and other functions that
help it to store food to given levels. What therefore happens when one goes
for slimming pills is that the nutrients absorption blocked by the medicine
is replenished by the body through numerous complex processes that may
still not be understood properly. If the pill for instance blocks twenty or more
percent of the nutrients, the body will react by storing twenty or more percent
to make up for what the pills are blocking. In cases where the slimming
pills achieve success, it can never be counted on as a permanent solution. In
addition, if a body was engineered by nature in such a way that its metabolism
rate is low or high, healthy living might be the eventual key to solving over
weight problems.

Potato Tortilla

(makes 4 servings)

Ingredients:

• 5 tsp. olive oil
  
  


• 1 C chopped cooked potatoes
  
  


• ¼ C chopped onion
  
  


• ½ tsp. salt Pinch smoked paprika (optional)
  
  


• 6 large eggs
  
  


• ¼ C half-and-half or milk
  
  


• ½ C shredded Manchego or White Cheddar Cheese
  
  


• ⅓ C finely chopped yellow bell pepper
  
  


• ¼ tsp. thyme
  
  

Preparation:

• Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a 10” cast-iron skillet. Add potatoes, onion, salt, and paprika (if using). Cook and stir for 5 minutes or until potatoes are golden brown.
  
  


• Beat eggs in medium-size bowl. Add half-and-half. Stir in cheese, bell pepper and thyme. Pour over potatoes and onion. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes or until eggs are set. Garnish with chives or scallions, if desired.
  
  

Make 4 Servings:

Weight loss recipes Amount Per Serving : 259 Calories, 14 g Protein, 11 g Carbohydrates, 1 g Dietary Fiber, 18 g Fat, 6 g Saturated Fat, 495 mg Sodium

Savory Salmon Skillet

(makes 4 servings)

Ingredients:

• ⅔ cup fat-free sour cream
  
  


• 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
  
  


• 2½ teaspoons fresh dill chopped
  
  


• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  
  


• 1 packaged (28 ounces) frozen diced potatoes with onions and peppers (also called O’Brien potatoes)
  
  


• 2 cups cooked wild salmon (about ½ pounds)
  
  


• ⅓ cup chopped scallions
  
  


• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  
  


• Salt and freshly ground black pepper (For seasoning)
  
  

Preparation:

• In a small-size bowl, blend sour cream, lemon juice and 1½ tablespoons of the dill. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste then set aside.
  
  


• Coat large-size nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Add olive oil and place over medium heat. Spread potatoes evenly over bottom of pan. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through (about 10 minutes). Remove cover, raise heat to medium-high, and press potatoes with large spatula. Cook, turning occasionally, until potatoes brown and begin to crisp, about 5 minutes.
  
  


• Combine salmon, scallions, mustard, and remaining dill in a bowl while potatoes cook. Season with salt and pepper. Add salmon mixture to skillet, combining with potatoes by turning sections with spatula (try not to break up potatoes). Cook about 2 minutes or until heated through. Serve with dill cream.
  
  

Make 4 Servings:

Weight loss recipes Amount Per Serving : 310 Calories, 17 g Protein, 43 g Carbohydrates, 4 g Dietary Fiber, 8.5 g Fat, 1.5 g Saturated Fat, 156 mg Sodium

Weight Loss Help

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Training your brain to lose weight

Fighting my own self to lose weight has been the most difficult part. You must have also experienced the desire to eat a chocolate or dessert which you know will cause you a week’s dieting. You fall for this temptation when a colleague at your office or a friend offers you high carbohydrate food. You try to resist it but at the end you eat it. The happiness of eating such food will only last till the last bite and afterwards you will start to regret eating that food. You feel guilty about it but you cannot do anything to undo it, as unfortunately life doesn't come with an undo button. I will suggest you to think this sentence in your mind “life doesn't come with an undo button and so does my diet plan” when you find yourself falling for the tempting food.

One technique to make your will power stronger is that changing the files of your brain. You must be thinking I have gone nuts and brain is not a machine which contains files that can be changed.

But in reality our brain has some strongly held believes which can lead us to actions we do in our daily life. To cut the story in short, when you are about to fall asleep remind yourself that eating unhealthy food is the only hurdle to weight loss. When you are about to fall asleep your brain goes in alpha state which is more receptive state of brain for taking notes to add in your strong believes. When you remind yourself the goal of weight loss in that brain state, your brain enters this thought in strongly held believes. By doing this every day before falling asleep will change your brain files and will help you stick to your diet plan more strictly. When someone offers you any unhealthy food, your brain will not only warn you before eating it but will also stop you from eating it.

If you have any confusion regarding brain state I mentioned, more information is available on http://www.biotele.com/Brain%20States.htm

Adopt a balanced diet instead of starving

The secret behind losing weight is utilizing more than the daily calories you intake. When you utilize more calories than the daily intake, your body starts breaking down the accumulated fats.

There are different ways of losing weight and the most common among them is the starving method which people adopt. They reduce their daily intake of calories by not eating anything or eating very little. Then their body on not getting enough calories for proper functioning starts breaking fats. Well this is what people do to achieve their goal of weight loss but I won’t suggest this to you due to the harms it can cause in the longer run.

I will not suggest starving due to a simple reason; our body needs some very essential proteins and vitamins, on starving fats are broken down to run the normal functions yet fats cannot fulfill the requirements of those essential protein and vitamins. As a result our body grows weaker and our immune system weakens and we are prone to diseases and viral.

A balanced diet is what will help you reduce weight without causing any harm to your body organs. You can reduce your daily calories intake by eating foods containing less calories and carbohydrates instead of starving. Avoid things having lot of oil used during the preparation process. Avoid foods having high carbohydrates like potatoes and rice. Fast food is an enemy of your health so try to avoid burgers, fries, soft drinks etc.

If you follow these tips alone for 2 weeks, I can assure you 1 lbs. weight loss without any work out during these two weeks.

You can consult the following websites to know about calories per meal:

http://www.webmd.com/diet/calories-chart

http://www.fitwatch.com/caloriecounter.html

http://www.calories-in-foods.com/

Water o water

Recently I happen to read some articles that suggested that water is no magic potion for losing weight but rather people consuming water before meals consume less food which results in weight loss. That’s what the article said and I agree to it partially. I said partially because there are many other wonders that water can do for you resulting in weight loss and many other benefits are realized.

Drinking enough water say 10 to 16 glasses helps improve your metabolism rate. A good metabolism will definitely help you reduce few pounds. I have often seen people eating like monsters and still manage to have balanced weight and the reason for it is simple; a good metabolism rate.

There is one more important benefit that can be realized by drinking enough water throughout the day, and that is the calories you lose when you pee. Drinking less water than the amount required by your body leads to calories left out in your body because of urinating less often.

Other benefits of drinking water are fresh and glowing skin, healthy kidneys, energetic day and more. 

Day 176: Programs vs Pills

I don't like programs. As much as they have worked for me, even more have failed and left me frustrated.  I'm a black/white thinker and a perfectionist, and  it can help or hurt me when doing a program. It can be ugly at times since I can sabotage my efforts with, "Since I messed up on lunch, I may as well blow the rest of the day and start fresh tomorrow."  

I was very successful when I did Weight Watchers after my second child. I hit Lifetime (at the highest weight I could be to qualify) and I maintained until I was pregnant again a year later.  But after my third, the program no longer work for me.  Circumstances in my life had changed (husband's shift changed, favorite leader wasn't there, gym got expensive, etc. etc. etc.)  What was there for me to make it successful the first time, wasn't there for me the second time.  I failed. I kept sabotaging my efforts, because I could.  For me, I got into the habit of thinking, "What's the most amount of food I can have for the least amount of points?" Answer: Heaps of fake food. With fat-free this and sugar-free that, it's amazing what you can eat for low points. 

But what's missing in this type of thinking? Nutrition. Nutrition is everything.  It's the whole reason for eating in the first place, to fuel the body so it can work effectively.  This is why I don't like programs.  They often have me thinking about everything except what I should be focusing on.

After my last child I made the decision: no programs, just nutrition and healthy habits. I was successful. I firmly believe the more pure a person's diet is, the better they will feel and the better their body will work for them instead of against them.

Avoiding chemicals gives a body a better chance to stabilize and balance itself.  I try to use natural remedies first.  Often they work, but when they don't I will take the medicine that is needed.  Bodies are a miraculous thing. Have you ever really thought about the healing process?  Ever heard of homeostasis? <--I already looked it up for you. :) It just makes sense.

So what is this post all about? Well, I'm on a new program. Now wait.  Before you start thinking I'm a total hypocrite, please let me explain. ;)

I have PCOS  and I'm just starting to get symptoms of Fibromyalgia. Science doesn't know how or why a woman gets these ailments, so they simply treat the symptoms. There is a prescription for every symptom and if I used them for each one I have, I'd have a cabinet full of little orange bottles.  I'm also the lucky one.  I don't need any meds for my heart or blood sugar at this time, but many who have these ailments do.  If I don't get this weight off and balance my hormones,  I'll have to use medication in the future just to avoid a heart attack or deal with type 2 diabetes. 

So, I have two choices.  Follow a program for a few months in hopes to balance my metabolism and endocrine system naturally through food & lifestyle changes or take necessary medication in the future.  Since I prefer to be natural in all things, I'm going with the healing program. :)

Will power is the real power

Losing weight is a simple task as long as you are not doing. The day you realize that you are becoming over weight and will soon be included in the obesity division, you find out that losing weight is not as simple as you used to think. It requires determination, hard work and relentless effort. Losing a pound and then not falling for any tempting food is very difficult. I can say this because I can relate to you in this aspect. I was overweight once and losing even a single pound was not an easy job.

But let me tell you the real thing which will drive you all the way to successful weight loss. That real thing is your will. A strong will only can make you win from the fats and tempting foods. My emphasis is on the will power because there is nothing in the world which cannot be achieved by a string will power and the weight losing tips are just merely tools to achieve your goal. I will mention the tips time to time and will also tell you the ways to control your will.

Balsamic Glazed Pearl Onions

(makes 8 servings)

Ingredients:

• 2 qt. water
  
  


• 4 lbs. pearl onions
  
  


• 2 tbsp crushed fresh rosemary
  
  


• ⅔ cup dry red wine
  
  


• ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
  
  


• ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
  
  


• 2 tbsp olive oil
  
  


• 2 tbsp honey
  
  

Preparation:

• Preheat oven to 475 degrees F.
  
  


• Blanch onions in boiling water for about 3 minutes, then drain, cool and peel onions. Arrange on a jelly roll pan. Sprinkle onions evenly with rosemary.
  
  


• Whisk together wine, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, olive oil and honey in a medium-size bowl then drizzle over onions.
  
  


• Bake for about 30 minutes stirring once after first 15 minutes.
  
  


• Remove onions with a slotted spoon and set aside in a bowl. Pour remaining balsamic sauce from pan into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer until slightly syrupy (about 2 minutes).
  
  


• Pour balsamic sauce over onions then toss to coat.
  
  

Make 8 Servings:

Weight loss recipes Amount Per Serving(⅛ of recipe (273 g)): 151 Calories, 3 g Protein, 26 g carbohydrates, 4 g Dietary Fiber, 4 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 309 mg sodium

Turkey Bacon Omelet

(makes 2 servings)

Ingredients:

• 6 sun-dried tomato halves
  
  


• 2 plum tomatoes, quartered lengthwise and thinly sliced
  
  


• 2 thin strips turkey bacon, cooked and crumbled
  
  


• 2 Tbsp. crumbled ricotta salata cheese ( or goat cheese)
  
  


• 2 large eggs
  
  


• 3 egg whites
  
  


• 1 Tbsp. water
  
  


• 2 Tbsp. chives or scallions, chopped
  
  


• ¼ tsp. salt
  
  


• ¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
  
  


• 1 tsp. olive oil
  
  

Preparation:

• In a small-size dish, place sun-dried tomatoes then add boiling water to cover and let stand until softened (about 15 minutes). Drain and chop.
  
  


• In a small-size bowl, combine sun-dried tomatoes, plum tomatoes, bacon, and ricotta.
  
  


• In a another bowl, whisk together with the eggs, egg whites, water, chives, salt, and pepper until slightly frothy.
  
  


• In 10" nonstick skillet, heat ½ tsp. olive oil over medium heat then add half of the egg mixture (a scant ½ cup) and cook for 2 minutes, occasionally lifting edges with spatula and tilting pan, allowing uncooked mixture to flow underneath.
  
  


• Spoon half of tomato mixture down center of cooked egg when the eggs are almost set. Loosen edges of omelet with spatula and fold sides over filling. Slide onto warm plate. Repeat with remaining oil and egg and tomato mixtures.
  
  

Make 2 Servings:

Weight loss recipes Amount Per Serving : 215 Calories, 17 g Protein, 8 g Carbohydrates, 2 g Dietary Fiber, 13 g Fat, 7 g Saturated Fat, 800 mg Sodium

Drug Cessation and Weight Gain

Commenter "mem", who has been practicing healthcare for 30+ years, made an interesting remark that I think is relevant to this discussion:

Recovering substance dependent people often put on lots of weight and it is not uncommon for them to become obese or morbidly obese.

This relates to the question that commenter "Gunther Gatherer" and I have been pondering in the comments: can stimulating reward pathways through non-food stimuli influence body fatness?  

It's clear that smoking cigarettes, taking cocaine and certain other pleasure drugs suppress appetite and can prevent weight gain.  These drugs all activate dopamine-dependent reward centers, which is why they're addictive.  Cocaine in particular directly inhibits dopamine clearance from the synapse (neuron-neuron junction), increasing its availability for signaling.
Read more »

Breakfast in a Muffin

(makes 12 servings)

Ingredients:

• 1¼ cups finely crushed whole grain wheat or bran cereal
  
  


• ¾ cup all-purpose flour
  
  


• ½ cup stone-ground whole wheat flour
  
  


• 2 teaspoons baking powder
  
  


• ½ teaspoon baking soda
  
  


• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  
  


• ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  
  


• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  
  


• 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
  
  


• ½ teaspoon salt
  
  


• 2 egg whites or ¼ cup Egg Beaters
  
  


• 3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  
  


• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
  


• ½ cup packed brown sugar
  
  


• ½ cup fat-free plain yogurt
  
  


• ½ cup orange juice
  
  


• ⅓ cup raisins
  
  


• 1¼ cups fresh or frozen blueberries
  
  


• 1½ Tablespoon coarsely chopped almonds
  
  


• 1 Tablespoon turbinado sugar
  
  

Preparation:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
  
  


• In a large-size bowl, whisk together with cereal, flours, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, orange zest and salt.
  
  


• Combine egg whites, oil and vanilla in bowl. Whisk in brown sugar, yogurt and orange juice. Stir into dry ingredients until just blended. Fold in raisins and blueberries. Spoon into muffin cups.
  
  


• In small-size bowl, stir almonds and turbinado sugar. Sprinkle by rounded ½ teaspoons over each muffin.
  
  


• Bake until top of muffin springs back when lightly touched (about 20-25 minutes). Cool on rack in pan about 2 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool completely.
  
  

Make 12 Servings:

Weight loss recipes Amount Per Serving : 168 Calories, 3 g Protein, 30 g Carbohydrates, 2 g Dietary Fiber, 4 g Fat, 0.5 g Saturated Fat, 245 mg Sodium

2011 Haiku Winners Announced

Our voting is complete and I'm pleased to present
to you the winners of our
2011 Neighborhood Haiku Contest: