Fat Little Secrets

Re-Thinking the Maker's Diet: More Perplexed Than Ever

noreply@blogger.com (Marcia Wilwerding) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 22:36:00 +0000

I've been studying The Maker's Diet more in depth and am wondering how on earth anyone can follow it when the company (Garden of Life) has discontinued so many of the resources mentioned in the plan. This is just really discouraging to me.

I suppose my problem is I want someone to just tell me what to do, what to eat, when to eat, what supplements to take (if any), and just guide me through the process without having to really think it through.

I need simple solutions to good health. There is just so much JUNK out there, I don't know who to believe.

I'm just going to take some time over the next week or so to really pray about this and seek the Lord for guidance about how to care for this body He made me to live, worship, and serve Him in.

To start with, here are the things I want out of a health plan:

Balance: I don't want to go to extremes on anything, including food and exercise.
Weight loss: I know good and well the weight I weigh now is not healthy by any measure.
Clean eating: I want our food to be as close to natural (non-processed) as possible
Simplicity: If it's too complicated, I'll never follow it.
Economical choices: I have to be a good steward of the resources God gives us.

Perhaps there are other things I want, but these are a good start. It just seems to me that food and exercise should be the simplest things in the world. We've been eating and moving since we were created! Why does it have to be so complicated? :(

I'd appreciate some prayer support from anyone reading this blog.

Taking the Plunge With The Maker's Diet

noreply@blogger.com (Marcia Wilwerding) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:41:00 +0000

Some of you who have been following this blog for awhile understand the frustrations I have faced over the past three years. I am tired of endless diets which focus on nutrition deficient foods and intense exercise regimens. It just doesn't seem natural to me. I just want to be a normal human being. That should not include special additives in my food to satisfy my lusts while I still lose weight or expensive fees for weight-loss programs and gym memberships or dusty exercise equipment.

As a very wise man once said, "Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions." -- King Solomon (Ecclesiastes 7:29)

I am currently studying Jordan S. Rubin's The Maker's Diet, and, frankly, it makes total sense to me. I have a deep desire to be all my Creator Redeemer made me to be. I just want to be naturally normal.

Beginning January 1, 2012, I intend to begin Mr. Rubin's 40-Day Health Experience and hope to chronicle my journey on this blog. I would encourage you to get the book and join me. Just leave your comments or links to your own blog posts as you follow the plan. You don't have to do what I do or even follow the 40-Day Experience to the "T." I would just like to hear from others who are working on becoming what the Creator made us to be.

I would also love to hear your suggestions or comments regarding your past experience with this plan: the good, the bad, and even the ugly. Your feedback would help me so much.

And, in all things, let us seek the Lord together in prayer that we would have wisdom regarding our health. May He receive all the praise and glory.

There are many places you may buy Jordan's books and resources, but purchases made through my Amazon affiliate links may also go to support this blogger. Thanks!

Resources by Jordan S. Rubin

Spark People's Worst Diet Scams of 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Marcia Wilwerding) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:24:00 +0000

So, how many of these did you fall for? I am thankful I only tried the acai berry juice, a very expensive mistake. :(

http://www.dailyspark.com/blog.asp?post=the_worst_diet_scams_of_2011

Perplexed, But Not In Despair

noreply@blogger.com (Marcia Wilwerding) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:10:00 +0000

You guessed it: my weight is creeping back up, slowly but surely. I had an all-time best of 70 pounds lost, then things changed. I've already gained back 25 pounds and counting.

Things began to go south for me when Weight Watchers instituted their Points Plus program last year. Yes, it works for some people, but, unfortunately, it didn't work for me. I had been bouncing around a 10-pound increment for some time and just couldn't afford to keep paying for a weight loss plan which no longer gave me the results they promised. It may have been different if I only had 20 or even 50 pounds to lose and could get to their free maintenance level. But, I've spent $480 over the past year FOR NOTHING. :( I just can't justify that any longer.

Yet, there is another reason I quit WW. I began to realize the nutritional corners I was cutting in order to lose weight were not in my best interest for the long haul. Eating too much fruit and other carbs in order to avoid fat made my blood sugar levels fluctuate too much. Also, I started reading the labels of my diet foods. It was unbelievable how much total GARBAGE was in most of what fit into my Points Plus plan. Of course, they will tell you to eat healthy, mostly fruit and vegetables without fat or sweeteners. But the reality was I would always reach for the fake food substitutes I craved. I am convinced I can take my WW monthly fees and put those dollars into better nutritional choices.

As I said in the title, I am perplexed (confused about what to do next), but I am not in despair. I am not giving up on my health and weight loss. I simply must make better choices.

So, here are a few things I'd like to implement on my own to get back on track:

Weigh in at the doctor's office every Friday morning at 8:30
Sleep 8 hours per night on a regular schedule every night of the week (ideally, 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. -- set alarm if necessary)
Keep a glass pitcher of water and a glass near my desk and aim for at least 1/2 gallon of water per day in addition to tea and coffee
Not only track food with a free online tool, but pre-track by planning meals and snacks in a regular, revolving menu. The less I have to think the better.
Concentrate on portion control with nutritional exchanges
Take my various supplements while searching for food sources in order to phase them out; I want supplement money to go for good food
Choose organic when possible and choose prepared foods which use only whole ingredients -- GET RID OF THE GARBAGE
Eating out should be only as an occasional treat or while on the road; cannot store fast food coupons in my purse any longer -- poor nutrition is never a good deal
I may add a vinegar tonic or coconut oil to my diet, but I'm still researching these
Lift weights Mon.-Wed.-Fri. and walk Tue.-Thur.-Sat. Take a break Sun.

Perhaps this would help!

There is so much to change, and I am so undisciplined. But, I am leaning hard into Christ, trusting Him to not only lead and guide me but also to give me the grace (supernatural ability by His indwelling Spirit) to do it. I pray daily for wisdom with understanding and for knowledge with discretion.

If you think of me, please say a little prayer.

Best Tasting Foods in the World Made in America

noreply@blogger.com (Marcia Wilwerding) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 21:04:00 +0000

According to this CNN post, America has some of the best tasting food in the world. But, we already knew that. :)

#50 Buttered Popcorn
#48 Potato Chips
#39 Ketchup
#36 Texas Barbecue Pork
#15 Kalua Pig (Hawaiian)
#14 Donuts
#13 Corn on the Cob (supposedly "global," but we all know it tastes best in the U.S. Midwest)
#9 Ice Cream

(Sounds like the menu at one of our family reunions.)

http://www.cnngo.com/explorations/eat/worlds-50-most-delicious-foods-067535?page=0,0

A Difference 60 Pounds Can Make

noreply@blogger.com (Marcia Wilwerding) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 02:50:00 +0000

Just a little before-and-after pictures. The one at the top is of my husband and I at our oldest son's wedding two years ago. The one on the bottom is of us with our second son at his wedding this past month.

Though I still have a long way to go, I haven't given up. What God starts, He finishes. And, I trust Him to finish this in me, also.

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." -- Philippians 1:6

Five Steps to Getting Back on Track

noreply@blogger.com (Marcia Wilwerding) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 14:42:00 +0000

It's been a busy summer, hasn't it?

In this past week, I attended the wedding of our nephew (a 500-mile round trip), took in a one-day Bible conference (a 300-mile round trip), and moved our second son to where he and his new bride will be living (a 1,000-mile round trip). *Sigh* To say the least, my diet and exercise routines have each taken a direct hit.

In fact, on the one day this past week I thought I could get a good walk in, it came one of the worst wind and thunder storms this area has ever seen. If I had disregarded the thunder, I could have been injured or even killed by falling trees and limbs where I had planned to walk. So, I can't say it was a bad decision to forget it and head back home.

But, it's a new week. I have another chance to get back on track.

I imagine you've been where I am now. The temptation is to just give up. But, let me encourage you, friend. Rather than wandering around wringing your hands and walking in circles, look for the very next opportunity to find the trail. Let me share with you a five-step process for doing just that.

Pray

You can't do this on your own. The Flesh gets really tired of doing spiritual things. Begin by making confession to God for any sinful eating practices or laziness you have been indulging in. Then, ask for wisdom and strength to go forward in obedience and peace.

Plan

Get out a sheet of paper and a pen and begin writing down what you need to do to be successful in getting back on track. Write it down so you can review it later in the next step.

Is it time to try some new exercises? Instead of walking, could you go swimming or join an aerobics class? If your walking trails are becoming a bore, why not walk downtown for a change or at a new park? Write it down.

Prepare

Perhaps you need to clear out the junk food which has been accumulating during your excursion off the path. (NO, DO NOT EAT IT ALL AT ONE SITTING!) If you can't bring yourself to throw it away, share it with others who perhaps do not struggle with weight or health issues as much. Tell them you are having a party to celebrate a new start.

You will probably need to prepare some new lighter menus, make a shopping list, and head out to the store. And, what about your exercise gear? Do you need new walking shoes or swimwear?

Proceed

Don't put it off. Begin to put something from your planning and preparations into practice TODAY. Go shopping or just put your sneakers on and head out into the yard. If the sidewalk beckons, go a little farther. One step often leads to the next and the next and the next. Begin somewhere.

Praise!

As you see yourself once again walking in the light, take a few moments to just lift your heart in praise to God for bringing you back to that good and peaceful way.

The truth is, you really aren't very far from that right track even now. All it takes is five steps in the right direction.

Mock Thin Mints

noreply@blogger.com (Marcia Wilwerding) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 17:10:00 +0000

Who needs little girls in green uniforms

to get your chocolaty mint fix?

Mock "Thin Mints" Cookies

25 reduced-fat butter crackers (like Ritz)

4 oz. 60% Cacao or higher dark chocolate

1/4 tsp. peppermint extract

1. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Melt dark chocolate in a double boiler. Add mint extract and turn heat to low to keep chocolate warm.

2. Using two teaspoons, drop one cracker in the chocolate using the spoons to coat it. Lift the cracker out of the chocolate with the spoons, shaking off excess. Place on the parchment paper and repeat with remaining crackers.

3. Refrigerate until cooled and the chocolate is hard, about 20 minutes. Store in the fridge or freezer in an air tight container.

Makes 25 cookies

(If you're watching your PointsPlus® Values, these are 1 point each)

Found this in my weekly Weight Watchers e-newsletter.

70-Pound Milestone!

noreply@blogger.com (Marcia Wilwerding) — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 21:00:00 +0000

Yep. All praise be to God,

I finally did it. :)

This ten pounds has really been a trial for me. At first, I struggled with not having time to plan, then having to learn a new plan (Weight Watchers' PointsPlus), and then finally getting serious about it. But, as my WW leader says, "Perseverance, not perfection, will get you to your goal."

And, so I persevere through Christ Jesus my Lord who is the Author (originator) and Finisher (completer) of my faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Breaking Free of Yo-Yo Dieting

noreply@blogger.com (Marcia Wilwerding) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 21:22:00 +0000

I have to admit it: I'm in a yo-yo cycle again. This happened last year when I wandered up and down along a 10-pound interval in my weight for over five months. Now, I'm doing it again, only this time it's in a 10-pound increment less than last year. Thank goodness!

It is maddening, but I really can't blame anyone but myself. I have failed to plan and have, by default, planned my failure. So, I took the first step after gaining two pounds this week and stayed for the Weight Watchers meeting. My first impulse was to run and hide and have a good cry. That is not helpful. But, what I gained from my meeting was encouragement to move forward....or, better yet, downward.

So, the first thing I did after the meeting was go to Subway and get their Western egg-white breakfast sandwich and a coffee (with a re-fill). After enjoying every guilt-free bite (and sip) of that wonderfully lite meal, I sat quietly with my pen and notebook and started brainstorming. Here are my goals gleaned from that half hour of concentrated planning:

DAILY GOALS (starting with TODAY):

View and choose a weights workout video to do online in my office
Record every bite and what it's worth in PPVs
Limit myself to three fruits per day instead of unlimited
Limit myself to one treat per day
Limit myself to two large coffees per day (these usually include a little sugar, some fat-free creamer or ff half and half and sometimes lite whipped topping and cinnamon -- FUN!)
Drink at least 6 large glasses of water per day in addition to my "fun" drinks
Get in bed each night by at least 11 pm (I'm in a habit of going to bed between 11:45 and midnight -- not good)

WEEKLY GOALS:

Create a shopping list using WW's power foods list
Find recipes using those power foods
Make up menus using those recipes
Walk (or be otherwise active) 3X a week with strength training every other day (3X per week), taking Sunday off

MONTHLY GOALS:

Limit eating out to once a week
Serve dessert only once a week and make only enough to last one meal (share the rest with someone outside the family -- get it out of the house!)
Allow myself one free meal per month to eat whatever I want without limit (but not to excess)*
Allow myself one special "forbidden" treat per month*

I even made a note to myself to blog about this today. :)

Now, we move forward. I'm heading right now over to SparkPeople.com to look over whatever strength training videos they have available.

Time to put the yo-yo down.

*These should not be indulged in within the same week, however.

Fast Food Fast February

noreply@blogger.com (Marcia Wilwerding) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:53:00 +0000

Well, I made it.

I was determined during the month of February (the shortest month of the year, of course) not to purchase anything from a fast food place, including soft drinks from soda fountains at gas stations and grocery stores (I think I bought two fountain drinks). It was a Fast Food Fast February, and it was a great success. :)

I allowed myself to enjoy a meal out if someone else paid for it. So, I went out with my husband for Valentine's Day and out with our second son for helping him with his taxes. I also gave myself permission to enjoy free items with a coupon as long as an additional purchase was not required. I got a free taco and maybe something else (can't recall right now). So, the rules weren't fast and hard.

It was more about spending than about dieting, but it helped the diet, too, of course. Hopefully, this will help break my fast food/fountain drink habit and save us some moolah (and calories!).

Maybe you'd like to try going without fast food and soft drinks for a month some time. Come back and let me know how it goes and what you did.

Simple Stuffed Mini Peppers

noreply@blogger.com (Marcia Wilwerding) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 04:33:00 +0000

♥ I think I'm in love! ♥

I have found the absolutely tastiest way to enjoy these sweet little peppers. Now, let me clarify here that these are SWEET peppers, not hot peppers. They taste just like their grown up version, but with a little more intense flavor.

I purchased a two-pound bag of them from Sam's Club last week and enjoyed some with my homemade hummus. But, it seemed like the more I ate, the more there were! They just kept multiplying. I didn't want them to go bad, so I went hunting for a way to use them as a side dish. I found all sorts of variations of stuffed sweet mini peppers online. But, most of them involved complicated goat cheese and herb combinations. Then, I got an idea.

I just adore the Laughing Cow cheese wedges (only one PointsPlus Value per wedge!), so I figured their garlic and herb blend would make a great substitute for the fancy goat cheese fillings in the recipes I found. And did it ever!

Whip up these sweet little darlings anytime for a quick side dish, colorful party treat, or just for snacking sake.

********************************************************

Simple Stuffed Mini Peppers

Ingredients:

Oil cooking spray
Sweet mini peppers of various colors
Garlic and herb flavored soft cheese wedges (such as Laughing Cow), allowing one wedge for two or three peppers depending on their size

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare cookie sheet by spraying with oil spray.
Wash peppers and pat to dry. Slit each pepper open from stem to tip and carefully remove any seeds or membrane. Fill peppers with soft garlic and herb cheese just to full.
Arrange filled peppers on prepared pan with slit side up. Bake in 350-degree oven for 8-10 minutes for tender crisp or 10-12 minutes for soft peppers. Be careful they don't burn on the bottom.
Remove from pan and serve hot. May be prepared ahead of time and baked the next day.

********************************************************

Couldn't be more simple or more sweet and cheesy satisfying!

Those Sneaky Supplements Do Count

noreply@blogger.com (Marcia Wilwerding) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 15:44:00 +0000

How often do we down a handful of pills or pour out a shot of liquid supplements without even a clue how they will impact our daily intake allowances? I'd say just about every day!

While trying to determine whether or not I should take my acai berry juice supplement along with my cod liver oil supplement, I noticed there was a pretty good amount of fat (really?) in both. After entering the numbers into my Weight Watchers Points Plus calculator, I found each supplement serving adds one Points Plus Value to my day: that's 2 PPV's if I take them both. That's the equivalent of two slices of diet bread!

In the long haul, not counting these values could slow down or even halt my weight loss efforts. Armed with this knowledge, I have entered the values for these supplements into my online tracker and will count them into my daily values allowance.

Can you think of any other sneaky supplements or foods/drinks for which we may unwittingly not take into account?

A Gluten-Free Weight Loss Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Marcia Wilwerding) — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 20:16:00 +0000

I did a book review on my other blog recently which may be of help to those who are gluten intolerant but who also wish to shed some serious weight.

Let's Do Lunch Puts a New Spin on Dieting

Check it out!

Celebrate Feast Days on Your Diet

noreply@blogger.com (Marcia Wilwerding) — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:13:00 +0000

As Erma Bombeck said:

What we're really talking about is a wonderful day set aside on the fourth Thursday of November when no one diets. I mean, why else would they call it Thanksgiving?

She's got a good point there.

Celebrations, even holy ones, have always been about feasting. I'm not talking about eating to the point of illness or pain, but of satisfied fullness. I'm talking about eating things you don't eat every day, every week, or even every month.

It's like taking time to stop at the scenic overlook along the highway. You're not going to set up housekeeping there. You're not even pitching a tent for the night. You just want to enjoy that little part of the journey. If you plan this day into the whole scheme of your lifetime plan, you can get back on the daily diet freeway when the day is done without a load of guilt and feelings of failure.

I encourage you, if you are seriously trying to keep a diet that works for you, to veer off the path for scheduled feast days for enjoying some foods you have been denying yourself the rest of the year. Now, if you prefer, (and I'll probably do this, too) you can always lighten up your holiday feasts here and there. But, don't freak out over what you're eating.

Now, here's a little poem and a prayer for you:

'Twas the Night After Thanksgiving

Author Unknown

'Twas the night after Thanksgiving… I just couldn’t sleep,
I tried counting backwards, I tried counting sheep.

The leftovers beckoned – the dark meat and white,
but I fought the temptations with all of my might.

Tossing and turning with anticipation,
the thought of a snack was Infatuation.

So, I raced to the kitchen, flung open the door,
and gazed at the fridge, full of goodies galore.

I gobbled up turkey and buttered potatoes,
pickles and carrots, beans and tomatoes.

I felt myself swelling so plump and so round,
“til all of a sudden, I rose off the ground.

I crashed through the ceiling, floating into the sky,
with a mouthful of pudding and handful of pie.

But, I managed to yell as I soared past the trees…
Happy eating to all – pass the cranberries, please.

May your stuffing be tasty, may your turkey be plump,
may your ‘taters ‘n gravy have nary a lump.

May your yams be delicious, may your pies take the prize,
may your holiday dinner stay off of your thighs! ;)

60-Pound Milestone!

noreply@blogger.com (Marcia Wilwerding) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 21:34:00 +0000

I've been holding off announcing this 60-pound accomplishment because I've spent all summer hovering. I'd go up and down by .4 to 1.8 pounds and just wanted to be sure the loss was legit. But -- all glory to God! -- I've lost 60 pounds! It is almost like a dream.

In fact, I think I've been in denial. I'm still wearing the clothes I wore before I lost weight. They are really baggy, and I've had to get rid of some because they were too immodest falling off my shoulders and revealing my undergarments. :) That's a good problem.

So, I've gotten some newer, smaller clothes (one to two dress sizes and at least one shoe size) as I'm learning to adjust to my re-adjusting body.

I had a "duh" moment today, though, as I discovered something else I need to adjust to: fewer Weight Watchers Points®. The more one weighs, the more calories/fat she may get by with and still lose weight. In fact, my fluctuations in weight may actually be because I have not taken this fact into consideration. I've been struggling with keeping my Points® allotment per day/week, not realizing I have 3 less Points® to work with each day (21 less Points® per week!). Just having this in mind has really helped me to re-focus on what I'm allowing myself to put in my mouth.

If you have reached a plateau in your weight loss like I did, maybe it's time to decrease your intake or increase your activity. That's how it works, folks. If you work the plan, the plan works.

I'd love to hear how you are doing in your weight-loss journey or how you stay in shape. Leave your thoughts in the Comments below. Let's talk it up! :)

Carb Lovers Rejoice!

noreply@blogger.com (Marcia Wilwerding) — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 13:00:00 +0000

The pendulum has officially

swung in the opposite direction.

Orders made through this link 

will go to support this blogger. 

Thanks!

I am convinced that just about any diet will "work" if you stick with it. The key components are fewer calories and more movement. You may manipulate those two factors in many different ways. Hence, there may be one diet which works for one person, which doesn't work for another. You just have to find the one which works for your particular personality and lifestyle. This one may be it for you. :) Never give up.

Why Didn't McDonalds Think of This?

noreply@blogger.com (Marcia Wilwerding) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:24:00 +0000

Eating breakfast out has always been such a dilemma for dieters. That's why I was so excited to share with you about the egg-white muffin sandwiches at Subway. Hopefully, with the success of their light breakfast options, we may see a trend throughout the fat food industry to make mornings a little easier for waist watchers to stay on plan.

Subway's Western Egg & Cheese

The article link below reveals the chain's plans to expand their morning breakfast options including more coffee and beverage choices. I only hope they understand how important the low-fat, low-calorie options are to health-conscious consumers and consider whether or not this was a major factor in their success.

http://www.nrn.com/article/subway-says-breakfast-success

Using Leftover Fish

noreply@blogger.com (Marcia Wilwerding) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:37:00 +0000

I found a surprisingly good way to use leftover fish. Last evening I prepared tilapia fillets by marinading them in a bottle of fat-free Italian dressing with about 1/2 cup lemon juice. After letting them sit for about an hour, I popped them in the oven (still in the marinade) for half an hour at 350^oF. (If you are not watching your weight, you might wish to add a little oil to the marinade. They were a teeny bit dry, but the marinade gave them enough moisture for me.)

Since I made a huge pan full, we had about six fillets left over. So today for lunch, I flaked the flesh and mixed it with some light salad dressing and a little sweet pickle relish. (A little grated onion would have also been good if I would have thought about it.)

A 3-oz. serving of tilapia is very low in fat and calories and makes plenty for a sandwich on light bread or as a dip on pretzel thins. It was really very good.

So, how do you use leftover fish? I'd love to have some other ideas for when we have leftover fish again.

My First 5K Marathon

noreply@blogger.com (Marcia Wilwerding) — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 04:12:00 +0000

I did it!

I completed my very first 5K marathon
and lived to tell about it.

The Weight Watchers group from Holland, Michigan:

that's me on the far right with my poles, and

my Weight Watchers leader, Pat Card,

is in the blue t-shirt in the middle

The day, Saturday, June 5, 2010, was perfect for a walk.

At the starting line 

with walking poles in hand

Though the 10 a.m. starting time was a little later in the morning than I would have preferred, the temperature and humidity weren't too awfully bad, and I managed quite well with some  careful planning. I made arrangements for one of the kids to have our van parked at one-mile intervals along the route where I could sit down for a few minutes, re-hydrate, and clear the sweat off of my face and neck. These "pit stops" gave me what I needed to complete the race without completely collapsing.

At the second-mile pit stop

about ready to drop --
Where's that chair?!?

Making my second planned pit stop at 

the second-mile marker to re-hydrate 

with Gatorade and wipe the 

sweat off my face and neck

I'd like to give a special thank you to our children without whose help I would not have been able to make it. Lydia walked the whole 5K with me with only a few stops at some garage sales along the route. :) She kept my mind occupied in order to keep it off the pain and discomfort of the walk. In fact, we planned our whole summer during most of the way. Andrew drove the van around to the two pit stops at the one-mile intervals. He set up my chair so I could give my feet, knees, and hips a little breather, drink half a Gatorade, and wipe the sweat off my face and neck. Without these helpers, I would have had a miserable time of it and may not have even been able to do it.

 Team Wilwerding:

Andrew drove the van around to  the

two  one-mile pit stops while Lydia 

encouraged me through the whole walk

I would also like to thank all the folks from both the Wyoming and Holland, Michigan, Weight Watchers groups who waited around for me while I finished the walk. Most runners and walkers finished within the first hour, but I took one hour, thirty-five minutes. They didn't have to wait for me, but there was a small group cheering me in. I will never forget the joy I felt when I saw and heard them. It made a very sweet memory for me. God bless you one and all. You know who you are.

Rounding the last corner...

and sprinting to the finish line!

Ready to receive

a victory hug from

Weight Watchers

leader, Pat Card

Subway's New Breakfast

noreply@blogger.com (Marcia Wilwerding) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 22:26:00 +0000

Have you heard? Subway now has a breakfast menu. And, believe it or not, they offer the choice of an egg-white omelet on their light English muffin sandwiches. If you skip the cheese and pile on some veggies, you've got a hearty breakfast sandwich for a low calorie (Point) value.

Also, for a limited time, I hear you can get a sandwich and cup of coffee (Seattle's Best) combo for only $2.50! I think I know where we will be having breakfast on shopping day. ;)

Go here for details:

http://www.subwayfreshbuzz.com/menu/breakfast/index.asp?rdr=PartnerSites:SubwayCom:Breakfast:W3:2010

Fruits and Vegetables Do Not Guard Against Cancer

noreply@blogger.com (Marcia Wilwerding) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 23:40:00 +0000

A new study released by the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer (EPIC) states:

Thisstudy reveals a very modest association between high intakeof fruits and vegetables and reduced risk of cancer. [1]

So, what are we to make of this? For one thing, good health is more about balance than running to extremes. Also, you can't believe everything you hear in the news concerning good health.

My motto is:

All things...

In moderation...

With thanksgiving

[1] Fruit and vegetable intake and overall cancer risk in the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer (EPIC). JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Oxford Journals, (April 6, 2010), http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/djq072, (accessed April, 19, 2010).

50-Pound Milestone!

noreply@blogger.com (Marcia Wilwerding) — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 00:18:00 +0000

By the grace of God

I have lost 50 pounds!

Can you believe it!?! Boy, that one really snuck up on me. It seems as though I have a big drop of around 5 pounds, then I weigh in at -1, 0, or +1 pound for the next two weeks. It's sort of like taking five steps forward and one step back. However, the average is around 1.5 pounds per week which is good for my health. If you lose too much too quickly, it is very hard on your heart and other muscles.

Slowly, but surely, I will get to my goal. :)

I have also increased my exercise to a great degree. I'm already up to 1.5 miles toward my 5K walk (equals 3.1 miles). I am struggling a bit, but I hope to add a little more distance at a time until I make the whole 3.1 miles without sitting down to rest. I have seven weeks to go, so everybody pray!

Striding Toward the Impossible: My First 5K

noreply@blogger.com (Marcia Wilwerding) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:40:00 +0000

Weight Watchers is hosting a 5K Walk-It Challenge to be held on June 6, 2010. (The group I meet with, however, is having ours on June 5, since the 6th falls on a Sunday.)

I've never walked a 5K before. 5K sounds so much bigger than the 3.1 miles it turns out to be. Nevertheless, I've never walked more than, oh, I think 2 miles. Yet, the challenge is to train for it. Step by step, little by little, adding a little more each day, I can get there. At least they say I can. I am still a little skeptical, concerned for what my body at this size can handle.

But, as one of my kids once said, "You'll never know if you're going to fail if you don't try." I think he meant "succeed," but you get the point. If I try to fail, I probably will. But, if I try to succeed, I just might. But, I'll never know one way or another if I don't at least make an honest attempt.

I am so scared. I am most afraid of trying. But, I know that my fear is really the only thing holding me back from actually doing this. If fear is the only barrier, then I must push past that first. Walking a 5K is a cinch compared to conquering the fear I won't be able to do it.

Aren't we funny creatures?

Thankfully, I have my daughter, Lydia, here to cheer me on. Perhaps it would help to enlist my other family members still living at home as well. They are all much more athletic than I am.

As a way to make myself accountable, I am also committing to posting here each week how far I have been able to walk in the past week. I'll post on Mondays for anyone who might be interested.

Prayers, words of encouragement, and virtual kicks in the keister when I need them, are all welcome. :)

My motto: Walking a 5K begins with one step.

Update! I did it!
Please see this follow up post for details:
http://fatlittlesecrets.blogspot.com/2010/06/my-first-5k-marathon.html

News Flash: Muscle Does NOT Weigh More Than Fat

noreply@blogger.com (Marcia Wilwerding) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 21:25:00 +0000

I learned something new today at my Weight Watchers class:

Muscle tissue does not weigh more than fat tissue.

Haven't you always heard that? Our instructor explained that when we work out with weights, the muscle tissue breaks down and has to be built back up. The process of healing causes fluid retention in the muscle tissue, which causes a gain of weight. Of course, eventually, there will be more muscle tissue from the process, but the actual tissue itself does not weigh more than its fatty counterpart.

Very interesting.