Teachlady

#1DONT EAT SAUCE AFTER IT HAS BEEN IN THE CROCK POT AND TURNED OFF FOR 6 HOURS! #2: THERE IS NO Protein IN pretzels. HOT chocolate A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups - porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate. When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: "Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each others cups. Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us. God makes the hot chocolate, man chooses the cups. The happiest people don't have the bestof everything. They just make the best of everything that they have. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. And enjoy your hot chocolate.

Tip o' the day... Are you living? Is there a dance in your life? Are you moving, growing, risking, taking the challenges of dangerous paths? In the acceptance of the danger, in the acceptance that anything can happen any moment, life comes to its best, to its fullest. Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it. Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

On Companionship: Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light. On Ability: We can do anything we want if we stick to it long enough. On Self Confidence: What I am looking for is not out there; it is in me. On Ability: When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another. I'll be happy when... We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are. After that, we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, when we are able to go on a nice vacation or when we retire. The truth is there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment that you have and treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time with..... and remember that time waits for no one. So, stop waiting Until your car or home is paid off. Until you get a new car or home. Until your kids leave the house. Until you go back to school. Until you finish school. Until you lose 10 lbs. Until you gain 10 lbs. Until you get married. Until you get a divorce Until you have kids. Until you retire. Until summer.. Until spring. Until winter. Until fall. Until you die. There is no better time than right now to be happy. Happiness is a journey, not a destination. So work like you don't need money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like no one's watching, If you want to brighten someone's day, pass this on to someone special. I just did! I am going to be happy today---want to join me?

10 Things You Can Do To Lose Fat Without Even Trying 1. Eat smaller more frequent meals - not only is your metabolism boosted every time you eat something, your body can more efficiently process smaller meals. Instead of having 3 large meals in a day, try to break them up into 5 or 6 smaller meals... 2. Drink more Water - regular water intake helps to flush away waste products in the body. Get at least six to eight 8 oz. glasses per day. An easy way to do this is to keep a water bottle handy and drink from it frequently. 3. Be inefficient - do you need to go to the kitchen to get a couple of things? Break it up into to two trips even if you can do it in one. Being inefficient like this can easily double your activity level, burning calories without even trying. 4. Eat more Protein - sources of protein include foods such as chicken, fish, eggs, dairy, Beans, lean red meats, etc. Your body burns more calories processing protein than either carbohydrates or fats. Protein also helps to support your muscle tissue, which burns calories all day long! 5. Take the stairs instead of the elevator - any time you can add in a little more physical activity, do it. This doesn?t mean you need to slog up 20 flights of stairs. Even a flight or two done regularly will add up. 6. Don?t let yourself get hungry - when you get hungry you will have a much greater tendency to overeat when you do finally get something to eat. As well, because your body is starting to go into starvation mode, it will be much more likely to hold onto whatever you give it. 7. Order small portions at restaurants - it?s tough to order small french fries when "supersizing" your order is such a great "value." Take note, however, your real savings will occur in the calories that don?t end up on your backside. 8. Eat more Fiber - fiber is very filling. By eating more fiber you will find yourself full sooner. This feeling of fullness will last a long time as well. 9. Wait 20 minutes between servings - your brain takes at least 20 minutes to register that you?re full. By waiting that long, you?ll give your brain a chance to realize that you don?t really need any more food. 10. Cheat on your diet - one thing I always make my clients promise is that they will cheat on their diet. The only thing I ask that they do is to cheat ONLY when they have planned to cheat. By planning when you are going to eat the foods you crave, you take back control of your eating habits. This way you no longer "give in" to your cravings. You "reward yourself" for sticking to proper nutritional habits. Do this once or twice a week and you will feel far more in control of your eating. In conclusion, if you follow even a few of these 10 easy tips in the long term, you will certainly notice a difference in your overall weight and health.

Quotes for the day. Nothing is impossible to a willing heart. - John Heywood, sixteenth-century English poet Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most...We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. - Marianne Williamson, American author and lecturer Ever find yourself thinking one thing and doing something altogether contradictory? Like "I should work on my project" and then turn the TV on? We're all a mass of contradictions, particularly when it comes to the things we think we "should" do. It's because we really have two brains. One is our emotional brain, which we share will all mammals. It only understands "pleasant" or "painful," and "safe" or "danger," the patterns for which were created when we were very young. The other is our thinking brain, where we decide that we want to do something different. But depending on what it is, how it's presented, and what we've done in the past, our emotional brain may not cooperate. That's why we so often "sabotage" ourselves—our emotional brain overrides what our thinking brain has decided in favor of immediate pleasure or perceived safety. That's why, to truly change, you've got to get your emotions on your side. We change not because it makes sense (I should go to the gym to be healthy), but by engaging our feelings (It's going to feel fabulous to be thinner.) If the change seems too scary, too hard, or no fun, your emotional brain is going to work against it.So how can you make this more fun? Engage your wanting self more? That's a key to success. -- MJ Ryan (Author of "This Year I Will...")

I tend to stay up too late at night, I found this kind of interesting. Plus I liked the quote, it seems appropriate, because we have all climbed our first mountain, and are kind of struggling with the next ones!! Jane That first peak is the best place to pause and look back, to see if you took the easiest route, to learn the lessons from the first climb. And it is the best place to examine the terrain ahead, to change your plans and goals, to take a deep breath and begin climbing again. - By Michael Johnson The Saboteur Late-Night TV Not getting enough deep sleep inhibits production of growth hormones, which could lead to premature symptoms of middle age, such as abdominal obesity, reduced muscle mass and strength, and diminished exercise capacity. In short: You become your grandmother overnight. Fix your head Don't plot a staffing reorganization before bed. Establish a ritual that signals your body that the day is over 30 minutes before you're ready to hit the sack turn off the computer, read, stretch, or set the TV volume low, Karas says. Fix your routine Exercise in the morning or afternoon, says Eric Nofzinger, M.D., an expert in sleep disorders at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Evening workouts may leave you too stimulated to sleep, so instead, develop a clear end-of-day habit. Snuggle with your guy while he's watching the NBA game. Put your head on his shoulder, and then let Shaq and the boys put you to sleep in seconds. Trust us. __________________

***TIP OF THE DAY*** Combatting the Feeling Fat Days We all have them... Red Does Wonders Have you ever noticed that certain colors make you feel a certain way? Green, for instance, can calm you down. Yellow can lift your spirits and bring a shot of joy into your heart. And red can work magic because it is the color of courage, strength, and power. And believe me, when you are having one of those fat days, a little courage helps a lot. Only yesterday I was feeling grumpy, pudgy, and tired. I took off the beige shirt I was wearing and slipped on a red blouse instead. Just looking at it made me feel more alive. It wasn't an instant cure, but it did remind me that strength and power are qualities I already possess, qualities so near that I wear them literally on my sleeve. My mother says red is a happy color. Red also evokes bravery and the ability to separate from what's keeping you stuck, which is important to do on a feeling-fat day. The truth is, feeling fat has less to do with last night's bread pudding than it does with your old beliefs about the connection between fat and self-worth, and between the size of your body and what you feel you are allowed to do or say or be. Wearing red supports the idea that your past does not rule your life. It is a message to your psyche that says, "Though I ate bread pudding last night, and my stomach is awash with ripples today, I am still allowed to be strong and powerful. I am still allowed to be loved and love myself. So pipe down." If you've avoided everything red because you are convinced that wearing this color makes you look terminally ill, the word on the street is that with the proper shade of red, anyone's skin will glow. Consider magenta, burgundy, fuchsia, or ruby. Or try shades that sound like romance novels: cherries in the snow, forever berry, or russet moon. But if you are steadfast in your anti-red stance, or if you need to wear sober uniforms to work, remember that you can adorn your toes, nails, and lips with red. As those who have spent years in retail therapy know, the operative word is accessorize, accessorize, accessorize. by Geneen Roth --Prevention Magazine.

REAL Tip of the Day... because we all struggle w/this at some point or another... Hungry Girl's Top 8 Guilt-Free chocolate Craving Busters: 1. Chocolate Vita Tops & Vita Brownies (100 cals) 2. 100 Calorie Packs Oreo Thin Crisps 3. No-Sugar Added Fudgsicles (40 cals)4. Jell-o sugar-free Chocolate pudding Snacks (60 cals) 5. Swiss Miss Diet Hot Coco Packets (25 cals) 6. Chocolite Individual Candies (30 cals) 7. Lightfull Chocolate Fudge smoothies (90 cals) 8. Quaker Chocolatey Drizzle Mini Delights (90 cals) Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and discover they were the big things! (now isn't that appropriate for bandsters????) Take 5 minutes for yourself today and reflect on the following: 1. Falling in love 2. Laughing so hard your face hurts 3. A hot shower. 4 No lines at the supermarket 5. A special glance. 6. Getting mail. 7. Taking a drive on a pretty road. 8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio. 9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside. 10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer. 11. Chocolate milkshake (vanilla or strawberry ). 12 A bubble bath. 13 Giggling. 14. A good conversation. 15. The beach. 16. Finding a 20 dollar bill in your coat from last winter. 17. Laughing at yourself. 18. Looking into their eyes and knowing they Love you 19. Midnight phone calls that last for hours. 20. Running through sprinklers. 21. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all. 22. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful. 23. Laughing at an inside joke with FRIENDS 24. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you. 25. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep. 26. Your first kiss (the very first). 27. Making new friends or spending time with old ones. 28. Playing with a new puppy. 29. Having someone play with your hair. 30. Sweet dreams. 31. Hot chocolate. 32. Road trips with friends. 33. Swinging on swings. 34. Making eye contact with a cute stranger. 35. Making chocolate chip Cookies. 36. Having your friends send you homemade cookies. 37. Holding hands with someone you care about. 38. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change. 39. Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much desired present from you. 40. Watching the sunrise. 41. Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another beautiful day. 42. Knowing that somebody misses you 43. Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply. 44.Knowing you've done the right thing, no matter what other people think

*******Get your moo juice. When women consumed low-fat dairy (such as skim milk, nonfat yogurt, and low-fat cheese) three to four times a day, they reduced their body fat by up to 70 percent, shows a study at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. "Calcium serves as a switch that tells your body to burn excess fat faster," explains study author Michael Zemel, Ph.D., director of the university's Nutrition Institute. And no, you won't get the same results if you drink calcium-fortified beverages such as orange juice: Research shows that you get the best results from dairy.******* I found two things of value, one was a short quote and the other an article on our choices. Will Rogers Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there. * You have achieved success if you have lived well, laughed often and loved much. Anonymous * Success is a state of mind. If you want success, start thinking of yourself as a success. Dr. Joyce Brothers That first peak is the best place to pause and look back, to see if you took the easiest route, to learn the lessons from the first climb. And it is the best place to examine the terrain ahead, to change your plans and goals, to take a deep breath and begin climbing again. - By Michael Johnson 7 Tips to Improve your Metabolism! 1. Get regular exercise While it seems like a simple solution, most people still don’t get enough exercise on a regular basis, and then wonder why they’re not burning any calories. Regular activity such as walking, biking, swimming, and hiking will help to speed up your metabolism and keep it at an elevated level even after you are done exercising. It’s easy to incorporate mini-workouts into your daily routine by taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or taking a walk instead of using the car. Cleaning the house and doing yard work will also help to increase your metabolic rate. 2. Get adequate sleep Researchers have discovered that a lack of sleep negatively affects the way our bodies metabolize carbohydrates. This results in glucose intolerance and can possibly lead to a slower metabolism with increased hunger. A lack of sleep also affects our levels of energy throughout the day and can cause us to forgo exercising because we’re too tired. 3. Eat regular meals Skipping meals is perhaps one of the most detrimental things a dieter can do to their body. Contrary to popular belief, skipping meals doesn’t merely save calories, it actually decreases metabolism causing you to burn calories at a much slower rate than normal. The body goes into a “starvation” mode to try to protect itself and compensate for the lack of calories and nutrition. The body then tries to hold onto its existing fat supply and will actually burn lean muscle instead. 4. Eat enough Protein Protein is essential for the body to build healthy, strong muscles. A good rule of thumb to follow is about one half gram of protein per pound of body weight. Which means that a 180 pound man would need up to 90 grams of protein per day. 5. Get enough Calcium Research has shown that three to four servings on a daily basis of low-fat dairy products can help the body to burn fat at a faster rate. Calcium, of course, is also essential for healthy bones. 6. Drink green tea Drinking green tea appears to slightly raise metabolic rates, and also speed up the oxidation of unhealthy fats. Green tea has other health benefits as it contains a significant amount of antioxidants to protect the body from diseases such as cancer and heart ailments. 7. Limit or eliminate alcohol consumption Scientific studies have shown that after drinking alcohol, the body burns fat at a slower rate than usual. It is believed that alcohol may actually play a role in suppressing the body’s natural ability to burn fat When Looking for the best results for speeding up metabolism, I also read that spicy foods up your metabolism for HOURS after eating it. So keep that in mind too!

Great idea, Pam. I started one and will get the tips transferred as best I can.

Good Morning, Violets.. 3 degrees here right now. Tons of Purple Power headed your way today, Jennifer!! Today is a lazy day for me. No meetings, no rehearsals and no Ethan. So I'll be doing laundry and cleaning house, but when I want to and if I want a nappie poo.. then I'll do it! My back is hurting a bit this morning. I did all my exercising yesterday, but didn't go in the hot tub cause the wind chill was -11. The hot tub always relaxes my muscles. HOpefully it won't be as cold tonight and I can get in it again. Off to fix some breakfast. Everyone have a good day!

107 days til the Violets Bandiversary Bash!!

Here tis... now delete the other one and we'll be back to normal!

The bobster and I haven't used a dinner plate at home since April. We use salad plates all the time. When we get meals out, the plates look so huge! Splitting a meal makes so much sense when you see the amount on that huge plate!!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr had a nice long post and then the cable went out! Terrible storm last night. Winds were up to 50 mph with rain turning to snow. Nothing is open around here right now and there is a Civil Emergency which means to stay off the roads until the road commission can do its thing. With the winds and snow, it's going to be impossible to keep the roads open. We brought the garage dog into the house last night cause she was so scared of the noise of the wind. We kept the little dogs with us in the bedroom and I didn't get much sleep from 2 a.m. on cause they were whining. Jetta slept here in the breezeway and was a little more comfortable. She's back in the garage now cause our one yorkie won't leave her alone and I'm afraid she'll bite him. Wouldn't take much to injure the little guy. BTW Pam Pam Bo Bam... ahem..... I am 60. Good looking, but 60.:frown: I have a hair appointment at 1 and choir tonight if all goes well. The Bobster had to go on a search and rescue mission this morning to find my wreath that was on the storm door plus a couple of other things that used to be on the porch. Kris spent the night here, but college was closed today so she's getting ready to head home. It's a half hour drive, but she should be ok with her 4wd. Finished a cheese omelette for breakfast and am going to go do a little bit on the trampoline. My guy John Edwards is backing down today.. sighhhhhhhh It's getting down to the nitty gritty now. Everyone have a great day! TracyK... wooo hooo on the weight loss, but take care of yourself!! TracyinKS... congrats on staying on the plan!! Make it 2 days in a row now! Michelle....9 more days!! Lucky you. Wish I had a camera to see the looks on your kid's faces when you tell them the news. Did I miss something?? Where's Kat? TTFN...

Gina!! welcome home!! Just 4 more pounds til you hit -100! You're gonna do it!! AWESOME!!!

Evening, Violets. My day is finally over. Had bell choir and a singing rehearsal tonight. NOw it's just waiting for the storm to hit. It poured rain here this evening and it's supposed to go down to 11 degrees, so you can guess what it's going to be like. No hot tub tonight, but I did another 15 minutes on the trampoline. Tomorrow is hair cut day and then choir in the evening if the weather holds. Michelle.... congrats on all the compliments. Doesn't it feel wonderful?? And great motivation too! Terry... did you conquer the cookie demon?? TracyK... hope you feel better tomorrow. Take care of yourself. I'll be getting all our info together for the tax man this weekend. I'm sure we won't get much back, never have. I'll be happy if we don't have to pay anything in. TracyinKS.... did you stay on plan the whole day?? I'm betting you did! Time to go visit with my chat friend in California. Everyone sleep well... Catch you tomorrow!

Kidney beans, garbonzo beans, green beans, black olives, green olives, marinated artichoke hearts (chopped), corn, celery, and onions. Dressing is 1/2 Cup splenda, 2/3 Cup vinegar, 1/3 Cup olive oil, 1 tsp salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper I also add parsley, dill and rosemary and whatever other spices I feel in the mood for. lol Makes a batch that lasts me for two weeks.

Yikes, gone for a few minutes and the format is changed again!! Just finished 15 minutes on the trampoline. It's so darn easy and doesn't hurt my joints at all. Suzie... you really have to come and join us!! What about drugs, duct tape and WD-40??? Those three things can take care of EVERY problem, ya know!

Suzie.... 8# is NOT awful!! It's great!!! Keep up the good work... you're on a roll now! And you are SOOOOOOOOOO worth it!

HAYDEE!! My chauffeur!! I get dibs on the front seat. pssssssssssstttttttttt, don't tell Pam Pam Bo Bam I asked. Just pretend it's your idea cause I'm old. :rolleyes2:

Good afternoon, violets. Just back from my hospital shift and I'm eating some chicken salad and bean salad. It's not going down easy so I'm keeping it slow. I've got homemade chicken soup on the stove for the Bobster when he gets home. I had 1/2 an english muffin this morning with peanut butter for breakfast, but could only eat 3/4 of it. It didn't want to go down either. Haven't had much water today, but I'll start on my 1st liter an hour after lunch. We're under a snow advisory for tonight and tomorrow. RIght now it's 44 and everything is melting. All that is supposed to freeze during the night and 40 mph winds will create blizzard conditions. arghhhhhhhhhh!! They are also saying another storm is coming in over the weekend and first part of next week. Sure glad I don't have to worry about traveling anywhere! I worked out on the mini-trampoline last night and it was soooooo much fun! It's really great to do while watching tv. Only problem is, I slammed my little toe into one of the legs of the trampoline while I was walking around it. Got a big, fat, black and blue toe now. I did my bike and glider last night too. Just can't face the elliptical. I think that will be the Bobster's machine. TracyK..hope you're hanging in there. Doesn't sound like you should be at work, but you do what you gotta do! Going to do a little bit of cleaning before daughter Kris gets here after class. She's spending the night tonight and I'm fixing shrimp parmesan with angel hair pasta. and of course more bean salad. I'm hooked on that stuff.. good source of protein.

Mine's right..........so far!

I had cottage cheese, FRESH blueberries ( they cost just about as much as gold here now!) and splenda brown sugar mix. Yummy dessert for breakfast. Had my first liter of slushy Crystal Light and the second is in the freezer. 1/2 can of progresso chicken corn chowder for lunch and I just finished making chicken salad for the rest of the week's lunches. Supper tonight is turkey sausage and oven roasted veggies. Did 50 jumping jacks on the mini trampoline plus some jogging. I'm loving it! I also ordered the Tony LIttle Rock & Roll Stepper. I'm going to build my own Curves here at the house!!

Looks neat. I just ordered one!