I believe I found a diet plan I can live with for the rest of my life. It's called the Glycemic Impact Diet. The bottom line of it is that you have a healthy balance of 40% carbs, 30% protein and 30% fats. It's supposed to be one of the easiest and healthiest ways to long term weight loss. So I'm going to give it a go and so will my whole family.

It includes whole-grains which I am all about so I'm encouraged that this is something I can enjoy. What I will have to learn to do is to identify foods that fall into this catagory. I'll have to do some research but I will try to post daily menu plans for ideas if someone is interested in this. Here's a sample menu:

Breakfast: Vegetable omelet with wheat bread and strawberries

Lunch: Grilled cheese and tomato sandwich with salad and milk (the milk will be hard for me as I'm lactose intolerant)

Afternoon snack: Roast beef roll ups with flatbread

Dinner: Chicken Florentine with brown rice and fruit

Late night snack- Yogurt with raspberries and almonds (look at that Freeky! Almonds!!)

So I think this is fairly close to what we eat already so it should be a good transition into a healthier eating style. I'll keep you posted!

We start the Discovery Body Challange on Saturday! Are you motivated? Ready to go? Need a bit of encouragement?

You got it, whatever you need!

Edited...

Ok I read a few reviews and most of them lead me to eDiets and I don't like that website so I'm going to look for a cookbook or something that will help make menus. I already eat a lot of whole grains but my white startches are where I probably get in trouble lol I'm not willing to give up potatoes..ever! I love them too much but I also enjoy sweet potatoes so I may have to incorporate more of them in.

Danni... I just typed in the diet name in google and came up with a lot of the same information.

One thing that a few sites did warn was this was hard to follow long term and people fall off the wagon and gain back weight. So I may look at altering it to fit into my plan.

I plan on taking in about 1800 calories a day. That is reducing my caloric intake from about 3200 a day to 1800. Reducing my liquid calories is my first step. I have started making more salads and need to purchase more fruit. I need to have an orchard in my back yard for as much fruit as we go through already. See we don't keep a high amount of chips or other snack foods so it's not that which is making me gain or rather not loose. It's lack of exercise, liquid calories and a high sugar intake I believe.

So I'm going to be walking daily again and reducing calories and incorporating the GI diet as it works for me.

I'll be using the Discovery Body Challange plan for the 8 week program though.. I think I have to work with that plan for it to be successful. Now that doesn't mean that I'm going to use all the food on their menu because I can't eat some of it but I can substitute similar and I think I'll be ok.

I'm pumped up! Whooooooooooooooo

Ok so I went and first let me start by saying I wish I'd seen her on Friday before I was put through hell. She listened, assessed and then ordered some test.

She thinks that I have H pylori, which is a type of bacteria that attacks the stomach lining. The fact that I'm responding well to the ulcer meds is a positive sign so far. The fact that I'm still having the side pain though isn't. So she ordered an Upper GI test, which I will have to drink that nasty stuff for again and a pelvic ultrasound.

It would appear as if I have two separate issues going on really. The pain which is low could be the prolapsed bladder issue from years ago or could be my ovaries. She wants to know what's going on there as well as what's going on in my upper gi area.

So tomorrow I have to call to set up those appointments. She did put a rush on them so I am hoping to get them done this week.

So that's where we stand as of now.. hurry up and wait.

Ok my take on the Bachelor.. Dr. Travis

He's not Dr. McDreamy by any means but seems like a nice guy who wants to be famous for 15 min.

The women:

As I discussed over on Danni's blog, the one lady who was the Oncologist, who didn't get picked seemed so utterly sad and desperate. She made a fool of herself and I half wonder if it wasn't a set up some how to bring some people back. She seemed like a rabid poodle after not being picked, teeth snarling and ready to bite his head off. She sat next to him at one point in the evening and said "I'm looking to reproduce so if you are too.. I'm here" WTF! I mean who the hell says that shit? She did.. and she went home. At the end of the show she was still whining and crying about why he didn't pick her..to camera crew! How sad.. this is why I half believe it was a set up. She seemed like a comedian and not a doctor.

The women he did pick.. He's a brunette kind of guy and he seems to like younger women than himself, only picking two close to his own age. He's in his 30's. He seems to have picked fun loving, adventerous types.

I picked 7 of the 12 he did pick so I didn't do too poorly. I won't win the stupid game but that's not bad I think...

I think this one is going to be interesting to say the least because ABC knows if this one fails the show is done. It's time to pull the plug on manufactured romance if it doesn't produce a couple. Only three of the previous 11 have remained together.. Trista and Ryan, Byron and Mary and Charlie and Sara B.  Yes, I was shocked that they were still together (charlie and sara) because there has been zero publicity on them. But that might be why they are still making it.. no cameras in their face all the time and no microscope analyzing their every move.

That's part of the problem in Hollywood.. these actors care too much about what the public thinks and if they are analyzed walking too far apart and US magazine has a body chemistry analysis that says they are drifting away from one another.. then they start to wonder.. hmm are we falling apart?

If a camera came to my house and followed my family around for more than a day they'd say we were doomed to divorce because we don't sit close enough together, or cuddle or even spend time in the same room all the time.

Give me a break! Ok this sort of went off in it's own direction lol but I couldn't help it..

So I think it will be interesting to watch because they are in Europe and I LOVE the vacation spots they highlighted. The women are skilled in Bachelor living psych and ready to roll with the punches..

I predict he won't find a woman to marry.. but will be in lust for awhile

Going for my doctor's appt today! I don't know if I wrote that I got one lol so I'm umm writing it again. I'm working through lunch because I have to leave at 2:30 to go to my appt. Might as well work through lunch and get some stuff done.

Watched the new show with Heather Graham last night. It was cute but not what I expected. It seemed too much like Sex in the City without the sex.. I watched the new Bachelor as well.. why do I do it? Because I'm a sucker for romance and the hope that maybe this time...

Steve's clearing and turning in his TA 50.. no turning back now not that we'd want to. Although the new BAH finally covers our mortgage wouldn't you know lol and now we're done. Oh well.. not worth it to stay that is for sure. He's excited, nervous and ready to move on.

Chelsea is driving daily for the next two weeks! Lord help the child! I've got to pick up her contacts today so she can see better than with her glasses. She's doing good and seems speed isn't going to be an issue for her lol She hit 60 yesterday and panicked, and the instructor told her to not brake but to let her foot off the pedal. Thank GOD I don't have to teach the child!

Jess is going to go to Washington with Steve in February. They will be gone a week and she's excited. I think it will be another memory for her to have with just her and her Dad. They've gone deep sea fishing and now will fly across the country to visit his family. I wish we could all go but Chelsea can't miss that much school and I can't miss work.

I guess this is all sort of random today..

Happy Tuesday

What does your handwriting say about YOU?
What does your handwriting say about YOU?

You plan ahead, and are interested in beauty, design, outward appearance, and symmetry. You are a shy, idealistic person who does not find it easy to have relationships, especially intimate ones.
You are diplomatic, objective, and live in the present.
You are a talkative person, maybe even a busybody!
You enjoy life in your own way and do not depend on the opinions of others.

Thanks Jen.. this was interesting!

How many of you have seen the new Dream Home from HGTV? I seriously think I would never leave if I could afford to live in that house. The view alone is enough to keep me there writing for years much less the peace and tranquility it would offer.

I've always been a beach girl till recent years. I find I'm drawn to the mountains and their stability and never ending presence of peace. I believe that is where you will find us on vacation this year.. up in the clean mountain air.

Back at work and busy as ever.. received a very nice compliment from a client today. It feels good to hear that others think you are doing a great job.

Happy Monday to you all

Oh there's a Ladybug outside my window! It's going to be a good day!

New recipes posted on Healthieryou2006

If anyone has any recipes to send or would like to post them on there please do! Most of the ones I've posted thus far have been Weight Watchers recipes from a book I purchased at the grocery store. I've also got several other WW cookbooks at home so I'll start to put those in as I can.

Things will be busy for me at work this next couple of week so I don't know if I'll be able to get as many on there. I just want to make sure we have healthy choices to cook with and a variety. I know I like variety and can't eat the same things over and over.

Oh and we ate and loved the Herb-Stuffed Peppers.. only change to it was I added garlic lol

Don't forget the recipe site.. New recipes added daily

Try as I might I still can't get that site to work for me.. so if someone else who has signed up wants to create a group and see if it works for them please do. I'm frustrated with the site and the way it doesn't work for me lol but not frustrated enough to stop using it.

The program begins January 14 so we have one week to plan our first week. Whether we get the group on their working or not we can support one another. If that group doesn't work I'll create a Yahoo group for us to use to track our progress. I believe in the power of positive encouragement and we can all gain something from this experience one way or another. We may not lose all the weight we want but we can make a dent in the number. We can also gain the weight we want as well.. I have a few friends who are in the opposite role and find themselves needing to gain rather than lose.  Whatever the case we can do this together and for long after as well.

I am in great need of losing this weight I'm carrying.. the number is not pretty and while I may not look like what I weigh, I do and I know it. I don't like that number and I want to lose it and have that number decrease.

So let's go and let's start this week by working our way into the plan. I'm going to work on the liquid calories this week and work water into my diet this week. I'm also going to try to come home and walk after work 3 times a week. I wish we had a gym closer to us.. but that's one of the downfalls of living in the country lol

And on to other things..

My stomach is hurting less after two doses of the meds they gave me. It has left an unexpected side effect.. called gas lol I don't know what to do about it! It's downright embarrassing! But I like having no stomach pain better. The pain in my side is still there so I guess I'll ask my gyn doctor to look at my ovaries and such when I go in.

Went to see Caeley and family last night. They were settling in but have had non-stop company. I don't want to smoother them all the time but I'd like to see her again lol  My sister and niece are here right now. I've taught her "abracadabra poof I disappeared" lol so now everyone is getting "disappeared".

Welp... I guess I should move, get dressed and start my day. I need to go shopping but I just don't feel like it.

Happy Sunday to you all

Well ok it wasn't a wasted day because I know what is NOT wrong with my abdominal area.. but I spent the entire day yesterday between my doctor's office and the hospital. I went in on walk in because I was still in pain, still not feeling good and I wanted some answers. I went through the speil with my doctor and he sent me straight to the ER. They were thinking it might be my appendix since I no longer had a gallbladder.

Get to the ER and I'm supposed to be able to just get straight in... NOPE. So I waited for about an hour and then they took me back. The doctor came in and I had to endure the most embarrasing test known to man and woman, but men get it more often... lol And she ordered a battery of test. One of those test was a ct scan with contrast.

Now if you have ever drank the liquid you must ingest to make you "glow" and didn't get sick.. well God Bless you lol because I took two sips and that was it. So they gave me a shot of phengran and down the hatch I went with three cups of the stuff. An hour later I was being rolled back for the ct scan.

I arrived at 11am and by this time it was after 5pm. My doctor was gone and a new one came around to tell me what was not wrong with me. He said everything was fine on the ct scan so I was not a surgical patient that day. Wahooo right! Well what he couldn't tell me was what was wrong and since I didn't need surgery they were letting me go.

Ummm why not just do the ultrasound, as he'd suggested, and take a look at the tube that used to run into my gallbladder. He strongly suspects that it might be inflammed or acting up and I could have stones, despite never having them prior to the removal of my gallbladder. Either way the two things he tossed out as suspect he wasn't going to investigate. He, instead, informed me that if the pain persisted to follow up with my regular doctor.

Now I don't go to the doctor that often but I went because the pain was persistent and I'm tired of being in pain and tired of feeling tired because of being in pain all the time. Why the hell not figure out what is wrong with me while I am there? All it would have taken was one more ultrasound... and at this point I'm glowing inside lol so why not take a look.

So I spent the entire day there to find out what wasn't wrong with me.. which it is good to know that I am not in need of surgery. But I didn't get to see my niece, get some work done etc...

My boss stopped by on her way home and said if I wanted a day off all I had to do was ask lol I said I could find better ways to spend my day than at the hospital drinking nasty stuff lmao

So now I'm going to my appointment this morning then I'm going to the hospital to see that beautiful new niece of mine!

Happy Weekend!

Caeley Marie 6 lbs 8 ozs, 19 1/4 in long and 13 in head born on 1/5/06 by C-Section to my baby brother and his wife ( I took the photo )