Monthly Archive for November, 2007

Make A List And Stick To It!

Grocery shoppingGrocery shopping with cart listAs we prepare for Thanksgiving or any grocery shopping trip, planning ahead is important. Go to the grocery store armed with the tools to keep impulse purchases in check. Here’s some tips:

*Make a list at home and stick to it! Write your list at home when you are in familiar, safe environment rather than the “buy me” environment of stores. The tendency for impulse purchases is high when you are in the store. Your guard is possibly lower than it is at home. While you wait at the checkstand, make it a policy not to purchase any of the items placed there to prompt impulse buys.

*Don’t go to the grocery store when you are hungry, stressed, or tired. You’ll be more apt to give in to the temptation of purchases that you normally would not make.

*If you notice, the best, healthiest foods are found on the outside of the store. Fruits, vegetables, meats, and dairy are outside of those processed food aisles. Stay outside of those aisles as much as you can.

*By making a list at home, you include what items you NEED. By veering off from your list at the store, you will get items that you WANT but probably don’t need.

*Studies show that the longer you are in the grocery store, the higher probability that you’ll buy impulsively. Organize your list according to the flow of the items you’ll need.

If it’s not on the list, don’t buy because it won’t be missed! You’ll save money and calories!

Believe In Yourself,
Cathy

Your Definition and Measure of Success

We all want to be successful. Successful in our personal lives, businesses, jobs, and certainly weight loss. Even though success is something that is often discussed, it is seldom defined. Everyone wants to obtain success but have you stopped to consider what success looks like for you and what it really means? You already have successes but are you waiting for the Big One?

So many people buy into a definition or standard that is accepted by society. We then spend our lives trying to satisfy other people’s expectations instead of our own. As far as weight loss, I determined success whether the scale showed me a Magic Number (that I conjured up and sounded good). In other areas of my life, I defined success based on whether I achieved my goals. If I didn’t achieve my goals (some unrealistic, some reasonable), I felt like a failure. I never felt good enough because of this unrealistic, unattainable cycle of setting myself up to never experience my definition of success.

The problem that I created, and many other people do as well, was being dependent on circumstances to determine my self-worth. Very stressful and self-depreciating. Through the experience of my own life, weight loss journey, and extensive coach training, I’ve learned it is best to allow life to happen in its own spontaneous way. I now have confidence in myself to know whatever is ahead, I can handle it and I’ll be successful no matter what it is. I’ve even learned that something I might label as “failure” actually turns out to be a success.

I now understand that success, true success, is an inner journey in which we step up confidently, and use our own knowledge and experience to overcome or deal with any circumstances. It is certainly a process but one that is ongoing and fulfilling. True success is being persistent to live your life that is congruent with your true values, and live with the courage to walk your talk.

Success isn’t crossing the finishing line and thinking that’s all there is. Successes come to us in big ways but more often in small ways that are to be noticed, savored, and treasured. Appreciate all of the successes in your life. There are many waiting for you to celebrate.

Believe In Yourself,
Cathy

Are You Sure Health Foods Are All Healthy?

Because a food item is labeled as “health food” or “healthy” does that make it so?  One of my clients was at a plateau for a number of weeks and was getting progressively frustrated.  After working as her weight loss coach, we discussed the consumption of “health food” and misleading labeling. 

An item that is fat free doesn’t mean free.  Consider the ratio between total calories, grams of protein, fat, carbohydrates, and sugars.  Also, make sure of the serving size in the container.  Multiply the nutritional values in the container by the number of servings.  My client was shocked at the information on some of her favorite healthy foods.  In losing and maintaining weight, it is important to be your own nutrition detective. 

My client loved yogurt covered raisins and consumed them almost every day since they were so “healthy” and good for her.  One cup of her yogurt covered raisins contained 735 calories and 15 grams of fat!  As a healthy alternative, she switched to a quarter cup of plain raisins and one cup of vanilla fat free yogurt.  With this simple substitution, she consumed one-third of the calories and felt much more satisfied with this healthy snack.

Many of us believe yogurt, pretzels, peanuts, and raisins are healthy so why not combine for a winning, yummy snack combination?  Check these combos: 

1) 1 cup yogurt covered peanuts: 921 calories, 63 grams fat
2) 1 cup yogurt covered raisins: 7350 calories, 15 grams fat
3) 1 cup chocolate covered raisins: 741 calories, 28 grams fat
4) 1 cup yogurt covered pretzels: 392 calories, 14 grams fat
5) 1 cup trail mix: 707 calories, 47 grams fat

Check your food choices thoroughly to make sure they contain what YOU think they should.  Don’t rely on labels - rely on your own good, healthy judgment and decision-making.

Believe In Yourself,
Cathy

Sugar and its Relatives

When reading food labels, sugar is sugar, right?  No.  Sugar has lots of relatives that still are recognized by our body as sugar.  Sugar comes in many forms so make sure to read nutritional labels carefully.  The first ingredient listed is the largest.  These terms are all the same as sugar:  sucrose, dextrose, maltose, brown sugar, honey, malt, fruit juice, fruit juice concentrate, maple syrup, rice syrup, and brown ride syrup.  If is ends in “ose”, think sugar.

Believe In Yourself,
Cathy

Yoga

An option to include in your exercise routine is yoga.  If you find you need to add some variety from your current program of movement, give yoga a try.  You can use yoga to enhance any aspect of your daily life.  Yoga is a great way to relax and can also aid in improving your ability to carry out your daily activities.  The regular practice of yoga will enhance agility, balance, and coordination along with core strength and flexibility.   Incorporating yoga into your life can also provide a sense of being grounded and centered that you carry all day long.

Believe In Yourself,
Cathy

 

Rules For Being Human

Sometimes I wish I’d been issued an Operator’s Manual For Life when I was born.  I think the lesson is to create your own manual for your life.   The “Rules For Being Human” by Dr. Cherie Carter-Scott are wonderful! 

Believe In Yourself,
Cathy

RULES FOR BEING HUMAN

You will receive a body. 
You may like it or hate it,
but it’s yours to keep
for the entire period.

You will learn lessons.
You are enrolled in a full-time,
informal school called life.
There are no mistakes, only lessons.

Growth is a process of trial, error
and experimentation.
The “failed” experiments are as much
a part of the process as the experiments
that ultimately “work”. 

Lessons are repeated until they are learned.
A lesson will be presented to you in various forms
until you have learned it.
When you have learned it,
you can go on to the next lesson.

Learning lessons do not end.
There is no part of life that doesn’t
contain it’s lessons.
If you’re alive,
there are still lessons to be learned.

“There” is no better than “here”.
When your “there” has become “here”,
you will simply obtain another “there”.

Other people are merely mirrors of you.
You can not love or hate something
about another person unless it reflects to you
something you love or hate about yourself. 

What you make of your life is up to you.
You have all the tools and resources you need.
What you do with them is up to you.

The choice is yours.

by: Dr. Cherie Carter-Scott

Grateful?

What are YOU grateful for?  As we prepare for Thanksgiving festivities, stop and ask yourself what you are grateful for?  Make a list.  What are the special gifts or blessings in your life? 

If there are special people that are on your list, let them know.  Make a phone call, write an e-mail or card, or meet for lunch and let them know they are on your grateful list. 

Make sure to list the wonderful qualities within yourself that makes you special and uniquely you!

Believe In Yourself,
Cathy

The Most…….

In one of my many coaching references, I saw this and wanted to share with you…..

“THE MOST”

The most selfish one letter word………..”I” 
Avoid it.

The most satisfying two-letter word…….”WE”
Use it.

The most poisonous three-letter word…..”EGO”
Kill it.

The most used four-letter word………..”LOVE”
Value it.

The most pleasing five-letter word…….”SMILE”
Keep it.

The fastest spreading six-letter word…”RUMOR”
Ignore it.

The most enviable eight-letter word….”JEALOUSY”
Distance it.

The most powerful nine-letter word….”KNOWLEDGE”
Acquire it.

The most essential ten-letter word….”CONFIDENCE”
Trust it.

–Author Unknown

Sesame Ginger Chicken


SESAME GINGER CHICKEN

1-1/2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger root
3 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Nonstick cooking spray

Combine first 4 ingredients and set aside.
Pierce each breast a couple times on both sides with a fork.
Brush some of the soy sauce mixture over chicken, coating both sides and reserving some for basting.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Grill or broil chicken breasts over medium heat 8-10 minutes or until no longer pink.
Frequently baste and turn chicken during cooking and discard any remaining marinade.

Makes 6 Servings
Serving Size: 1 chicken breast


Nutrients per serving
:
Calories:  310
Total fat:  4 grams (12% of calories)
Saturated fat:  1 gram
Cholesterol:  137 mg
Sodium:  454 mg
Carbohydrate:  10 grams (14% of calories)
Protein:  55 grams (74% of calories)
Dietary fiber: trace


Exchanges per serving
:
Starch/Bread 0
Lean Meat 7 1/2
Vegetable 0
Fruit 0
Non-fat Milk 0
Fat 0
Other Carbohydrate ½

Cheddar Chicken Breasts

 

CHEDDAR CHICKEN BREASTS

4 small (4 ounce) boneless skinless chicken breasts

4 1-ounce slices reduced fat cheddar cheese

2 cups crushed corn flakes cereal

Salt and pepper to taste

1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes

1/2 cup skim milk

Directions:
Cut a 2-inch long slit 1/2 way through each breast along the thickest side.
Place 1 piece of cheese into each chicken breast and secure the opening with wooden picks.
Combine cereal and seasoning.
Dip chicken into milk then generously roll in cereal mixture to cover completely.
Place chicken breasts in a baking dish sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
Bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes or until no longer pink.

Makes 4 Servings
Serving Size: 1 chicken breast

Nutritional Breakdown per serving:
Calories:  224
Total fat:  3 grams (13% of calories)
Saturated fat:  1 gram
Cholesterol:  71 mg
Sodium:  369 mg
Carbohydrate:  14 grams (26% of calories)
Protein:  33 grams (61% of calories)
Dietary fiber: trace

Exchanges per serving:
Starch/Bread 1
Lean Meat 4 1/2
Vegetable 0
Fruit 0
Non-fat Milk 0
Fat 0
Other Carbohydrate 0