Walking Works...

New study: walking can make over your workout and your brain

• by Sarah McColl, Shine staff, on Mon Sep 13, 2010 8:22am PDT

A new study in the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience shows that walking for forty minutes three times a week can improve the connectivity between brain circuits that tend to erode as we age. The study took a group of couch potatoes who reported fewer than two 30-minute bouts of exercise in the past six months (!), and found that at the end of twelve months, their brain connectivity had improved.

Dr. Arthur F. Kramer, who led the study, explained to Reuters: "Patterns of connectivity decrease as we get older. Networks aren't as well connected to support the things we do, such as driving," he said. "But we found as a function of aerobic fitness, the networks became more coherent."

Walking became the ultimate brain anti-ager, turning the clock back decades. "As the older people in the walking group became more fit, the coherence among different regions in the networks increased and became similar to those of the 20-year-olds," Kramer explained.

Kramer told Science Daily, that while previous studies had indicated the effects of exercise on the brain, this study shows that even moderate aerobic exercise can increase brain function.

In this study, the lesson of how to improve our lives comes through loud and clear again: we don't have to make dramatic, top-to-bottom change to start living well. But we do have to stick with it. The group showed no significant effects at the six-month marker; it wasn't until the end of the trial that the results were significant.

Furthermore, it wasn't just brain connectivity that benefited: "The aerobic group also improved in memory, attention and a variety of other cognitive processes," Kramer said.

For creative types, author Julia Cameron has long recommended walking as a way to give your creativity a boost. Strolling through the neighborhood gives our brain a chance to take a wider view, rather than focusing on a singular task, enabling us to come up with great ideas and make connections.

And when it comes to starting a new workout routine, the least intimidating starting place of all is walking: No special equipment, skills, or memberships required.

The tricky part for most of us is sticking to our new plan. Whether our goal is boost brain function or get physically stronger, how do you keep up the health resolutions that you make? If you were going to resolve to start walking three times a week, how would you actually make that happen?

3 Real Weight-Loss Stories

How I Did It: 3 Real Weight-Loss Stories

By Woman's Day Staff

Losing weight is a struggle unique to each person. While some manage to drop the pounds with extra trips to the gym or by cutting back on junk food, for others, their problem runs much deeper than bad habits alone. Cammy Chapel got bigger as her self-confidence got weaker; Audrey Holden found comfort in food after her son's tragic death and Hollie Johnson grew up in a household of overeaters. But whatever the underlying issue, these three women learned to deal with the underlying reasons they gained the weight so they could undertake the difficult journey of losing it. Here are their stories.

In My Shoes

Blogger Cammy Chapel ( TippyToeDiet.com), 52, Memphis, TN

“We don’t have anything that will fit you here. Your sizes are somewhere else.” It’s been 20 years and those words—spoken loudly and rudely by a clerk in a high-end department store—still sting. Never mind that I was looking for something for a friend. I hadn’t even asked for help; she just saw me and decided I had no business shopping there. Believe me, I wanted nothing more than to be somewhere, anywhere else at that moment to escape the shame and embarrassment as other shoppers turned to look at me, the woman who was too large for that department.

Comments like that—not to mention muffled snickering and offensive gestures—are pretty typical when you’re 100 pounds overweight. But my thick waistline didn’t equate to thick skin, and I hated knowing that those people assumed I was lazy or undisciplined or apathetic. When I finally committed to losing the weight, my main motivation was better health. But I also wanted others to see the strong, capable person I really was.

Now I’ve lost those 100 pounds and kept them off for over a year. I eat healthy foods (mostly) and I exercise six days a week. I thought that once I slimmed down I’d escape the harsh judgments of others, but that’s not so. Yes, I’m healthier and more fit than I used to be, but some well-meaning people seem to view me as a formerly overweight person who needs to be monitored. One friend called recently, crowing that he’d “caught” me going to Taco Bell for lunch. “Sorry to spoil your party,” I told him, “but that wasn’t me.” I’ll spare you all the back-and-forth that followed. I finally figured out that he’d seen me turning into my gym, which happens to share a parking lot with Taco Bell.

Although my first instinct was to get upset about his mistake, I really couldn’t. After all, now I, too, have a habit of judging others: I silently criticize the woman at the gym who rests too long between sets, and I scrutinize the grocery carts of fellow shoppers to see if they’re buying a lot of cookies, chips or soda. Without knowing anything about these people, I apply my newfound standards to their actions and find them lacking. I don’t know why I do it, though it does seem like playing judge has become a national pastime (just look at the popularity of reality TV featuring panels of judges deciding who goes or stays). Regardless, I’m trying to stop.

Whenever I catch myself jumping to conclusions based on what I think rather than what I know, I’m ashamed. I know how hurtful and demoralizing it is when other people do it to me, and the idea that I could be inflicting those feelings on other people feels even worse. They deserve compassion and acceptance, not judgment. Especially when the person doing the judging is far from perfect herself.

Check out before and after photos for 10 incredible weight-loss transformations.

Feeding My Emotions

Blogger Audrey Holden ( IamBarkingMad.com), 41, Saratoga Springs, NY

I was sitting against the plush black leather of the limousine as it carried me away from the grave of my 2-year-old son, Joshua, who had been killed days earlier after being struck by a pickup truck. Yet all I could think about was food. With bitter tears running down my cheeks, I closed my eyes and pictured the platters of roast beef, creamy mashed potatoes and assorted pastries that my friends had lovingly set out at the wake. I imagined piling my plate with as much food as possible and swallowing all of it, pushing the pain down as far as it would go. The more I thought about food, the less I thought about seeing those precious brown eyes of Joshua’s closed forever.

Some people cope with the loss of a child by turning to alcohol or drugs. My drug of choice was food. When Joshua died, I was 40 or 50 pounds overweight. In the 20 years since, I have “comforted” myself to nearly 400 pounds.

Believe me, I’ve tried to lose the weight. I’ve been on countless diets, at times subsisting on little but grapefruit or cabbage. I’ve tried pills and liquid diets. I’ve taken laxatives and have tried starving and purging. Every time I lost and regained I felt like more of a failure.

My struggle with weight has been compounded by a society that sees the obese as something akin to lepers. We’re viewed as hideous, stupid, ignorant, loathsome and worst of all, worthless. There are laws that prevent discriminating against minorities and the disabled; there are no advocates for the obese. I’ve been passed over for jobs due to my weight, and my insurance company specifically excludes any treatment for obesity.

Of course, all the discrimination takes a toll. I’ve spent the last three years mostly indoors, hiding from the world, and at times my self-esteem has been nonexistent. At one point, I became so depressed that I contemplated committing suicide.

The day I realized that I wanted to live and discard the shroud that I had used as protection against the pain of losing my son came a few months ago, when I broke a toilet seat because I was so obese. For the first time in years I looked at myself in the mirror and saw a person—not just a huge mound of flesh, but a real woman who was so guilt-ridden about not being able to save her son that she didn’t think she was worthy of making the changes necessary to save herself.

So I’m finally committed to doing what it takes to start losing the weight. The moment that toilet seat cracked was when my hard shell of self-loathing cracked as well.

Try, Try Again

Blogger Hollie Johnson ( SkinnyHollie.com), 34, Nashville, TN

When I was 7 years old, the pediatrician told my mom to put me on a diet. She wasn’t surprised—I weighed 146 pounds and wore the same size clothes as my older sister, who was in her 20s. Of course I had been eating all the wrong things, but in our house we never had any rules about food. On the way home from the checkup I started crying, so my mom stopped to get me an ice cream cone to make me feel better.

That mixed message was repeated for most of my childhood. One moment my mom would chastise me for being too fat and insist that I eat a salad while the rest of the family was having fast food. But there were plenty of other times when she would let me eat whatever I wanted. She had her own problems with food; today she’s over 300 pounds.

Around the time I turned 12, I started making a genuine effort to lose weight. I weighed 200 pounds, which got me invited to an afterschool program for overweight kids. We learned some exercises and how to shop for food. Soon I started experimenting with a slew of diets, a pattern that extended for years. I tried every diet imaginable, but nothing worked. I always felt deprived, so I’d give up.

Today I have more than 140 pounds to lose. But I am more optimistic than ever, because I’ve given up quick fixes. About a year ago a friend encouraged me to think about how particular foods benefit my body, and something clicked. I realized it wasn’t just about avoiding fattening foods but more about choosing foods to keep me healthy. I want to avoid the problems that my mom started experiencing in her 40s, like diabetes and heart disease.

I’m not following any “plan,” but I’m eating fresh, whole foods. I drink water instead of soda, and I’m logging lots of time on the elliptical machine (even though I hate exercise). But it’s not easy: I’m a single mom, a graduate student and a new teacher, so time is tight. When you have three children demanding dinner, forgetting to defrost a chicken can spell disaster.

To keep on track, I’m thinking of dieting as a part-time job. When I have to punch a clock at a certain time in order to get paid, you’d better believe I take it seriously! Preparing healthy foods and making time to exercise has to be equally nonnegotiable. I started scheduling gym time as I would a meeting; when my phone beeps, I have to go. And when I’m tempted to skip packing lunch, I tell myself that’s not an option: It’s my job to keep myself and my kids healthy. Sure, it’s a job that will never make me rich, but the benefits of good health are priceless.

Original article appeared on WomansDay.com

7 Foods That Boost Every Type of Bad Mood

• by Woman's Day, on Wed Sep 1, 2010 10:14am PDT

By Sarah Jio

While that tub of ice cream in the back of the freezer may be what you crave when you’re feeling blue, there is a long list of other (healthier!) foods that can cure a grouchy morning or a stressed-out afternoon. We talked to the experts to get the scoop on what to eat to make you feel better no matter what your mood.

Stressed: Eat Chocolate

The scenario: It’s Friday at 6:30 p.m. You're hungry, tired and late for your dinner date. You were supposed to be out of work an hour ago, but your boss has asked you for a favor…again. The stress is building, so what can calm you down fast? Now’s the time to pull out the chocolate bar hiding in the back of your desk drawer. Experts say that chocolate—particularly dark chocolate—may help reduce the stress hormones that are swarming in your body. In fact, a recent study by researchers in Switzerland, published in the Journal of Proteome Research, found that eating just a smidge of dark chocolate (about 1.4 ounces) has the power to lower the stress hormones cortisol and catecholamines in the body, reducing your anxiety and giving you a better chance to get the job done—and make your date.

Sluggish: Eat a Spinach Salad

Can’t concentrate? Trouble keeping your eyes open? Skip the coffee and have a spinach salad instead, says Joanna Dolgoff, MD, author of Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right. “Folic acid, or folate, helps your body to process and lower homocysteine levels,” says Dr. Dolgoff. “High levels of homocysteine are associated with damage to blood vessels, in addition to interfering with the flow of blood and nutrients to the brain. Impaired blood flow may leave you feeling sluggish or slow to process or recall information.” The best way to get a boost? Eat folate-rich foods like spinach and other leafy green vegetables as well as potatoes, fortified breads and cereals, beans, peas and mushrooms.

Cranky: Eat an Apple with Peanut Butter

Did you snap at your kids…and the telemarketer on the phone? Crankiness can be a sign that your body needs fuel. Just be sure to refuel the right way: with foods that don’t leave you with a blood sugar crash an hour later, setting the crankiness cycle in motion all over again. To blast irritability, “eat combination foods at each meal and snack,” says Dr. Dolgoff. “Combination foods contain a carbohydrate in combination with either some protein or some fat. Carbohydrates are a great source of energy that quickly burns out. Adding some fat or protein will slow the digestion process, causing your sugar and energy levels to remain stable for a longer amount of time. A great example of a combination snack is an apple with peanut butter. The apple is your healthy complex carbohydrate and the peanut butter is a healthy fat. Combining these powerhouse foods tastes delicious and gives you energy that lasts for hours!”

Anxious: Eat a Salmon Burger

Worrying about your finances, your marriage, your kids? If anxiety and worries are consuming your day, consider heading out to lunch with a friend. The conversation will do you good, and so will the meal—if you order salmon, which is one of the richest sources of omega-3 fatty acids, a nutrient that may help tame your anxiety. "Regular consumption of omega-3s has extensive research support for both the prevention and treatment of clinical depression. And there's growing evidence that omega-3s also help reduce anger and irritability,” says Stephen Ilardi, PhD, author of The Depression Cure. While there are plant-based sources of omega-3s, Dr. Ilardi says it’s best to stick with fish: “The specific form of omega-3 that most strongly boosts mood is found most abundantly in coldwater fish such as salmon, herring, sardines and mackerel,” he says.

Incorporate salmon into your diet with these delicious dinner recipes.

Angry: Sip Green Tea

Maybe your neighbor’s dog barked all night long and kept you up or your coworker took credit for a project you worked on over the weekend. Whatever the reason for the grrrrrrs, if you need to calm down fast, consider sipping a cup of green tea, says Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, a researcher, nutrition expert and author of Beat Sugar Addiction NOW! Here’s why: “Green tea contains theanine, which calms you and helps you maintain clear concentration and focus,” he says. Green tea’s modest amount of caffeine won’t send you into an angry rage, either; it’s gentler on your body than coffee.

Sad: Eat Whole-Grain Cereal with Lowfat Milk

Need a happiness boost? While the source of your sadness could be work- or relationship-related, it also may have something to do with a deficiency of vitamin D in your diet. “This nutrient has many different roles in the body, one of which is to help in the production of serotonin,” says Dr. Dolgoff, explaining that serotonin is a neurotransmitter known as the “feel-good hormone” that can help you feel calm, relaxed and happy. If you’re low on vitamin D, you may be affecting your body’s ability to stabilize your mood and reduce feelings of depression. To boost your intake of vitamin D, turn to lowfat fortified milk, fortified cereals or mushrooms. “Depending on your diet, you may also need to take a calcium and vitamin D supplement,” adds Dr. Dolgoff.

PMS: Eat an Egg-Salad Sandwich

If your go-to PMS meal usually comes in the form of comfort food (mac ’n’ cheese, potato chips, ice cream) consider making an egg-salad sandwich instead. In the days before your period, it’s normal for women to begin craving carbohydrates, says Stella Metsovas, BS, CN, a nutritionist in private practice in Laguna Beach, California. And for good reason: Carbs help your body boost its serotonin levels, in turn helping you improve your mood. But avoid high-sugar, high-fat carbohydrates, like doughnuts or chips, which can leave you feeling sluggish—or worse, grumpy—after your blood sugar spikes, then drops. Opt for whole grains, such as whole-wheat bread, and for extra PMS-zapping strength, pair them with tryptophan-rich protein such as eggs, sunflower seeds or turkey, which may enhance the release of serotonin, adds Metsovas. An egg-salad sandwich on whole-grain bread offers the perfect carbohydrate-tryptophan combination. Try our favorite tip: Cut the mayo and mix your diced hard-cooked eggs with a teaspoon of fat-free or lowfat plain Greek yogurt and half a teaspoon of whole-grain Dijon mustard.

All photos by Shutterstock.

The Truth About 12 Health Myths

By Jennifer Tung
Images by Holly Lindem

Learn which adages—about nutrition, home remedies, and more—need an update.

You’ve Always Heard That…

You Shouldn’t Cut Off the Bread’s Crust. It’s Full of Vitamins.

The truth is: In a 2002 German study, researchers found that the baking process produces a novel type of cancer-fighting antioxidant in bread that is eight times more abundant in the crust than in the crumb. That said, it’s more important to serve whole-wheat bread, with or without the crust, because it’s all around higher in nutrients, such as fiber, says New York City nutritionist Keri Glassman, author of The O2 Diet ($25, amazon.com). Make sure the ingredients list “100% whole-wheat flour.” Breads simply labeled “wheat” are usually made with a mixture of enriched white flour and whole-wheat flour and have less fiber.

Related: Healthy Fast Food and Takeout

If You Go Out With Wet Hair, You’ll Catch a Cold.

The truth is: You will feel cold but will be just fine healthwise, says Jim Sears, a board-certified pediatrician in San Clemente, California, and a cohost of the daytime-TV show The Doctors. He cites a study done at the Common Cold Research Unit, in Salisbury, England, in which a group of volunteers was inoculated with a cold virus up their noses. Half the group stayed in a warm room while the rest took a bath and stood dripping wet in a hallway for half an hour, then got dressed but wore wet socks for a few more hours. The wet group didn’t catch any more colds than the dry. Sears’s conclusion: “Feeling cold doesn’t affect your immune system.”

If You Cross Your Eyes, They’ll Stay That Way.

The truth is: “There’s no harm in voluntary eye crossing,” says W. Walker Motley, an assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. But if you notice your child doing this a lot (when he’s not mimicking a cartoon character), he might have other vision problems.

Related: 7 Ways to Protect Your Vision

You Should Feed a Cold and Starve a Fever.

The truth is: In both cases, eat and drink, then drink some more. “Staying hydrated is the most important thing to do, because you lose a lot of fluids when you’re ill,” says Sears, who adds that there’s no need for special beverages containing electrolytes (like Gatorade) unless you’re severely dehydrated from vomiting or diarrhea.

Gum Stays in Your Stomach for Seven Years.

The truth is: Your Little Leaguer’s wad of Big League Chew won’t (literally) stick around until high school graduation. “As with most nonfood objects that kids swallow, fluids carry gum through the intestinal tract, and within days it passes,” says David Pollack, a senior physician in the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Care Network. And even though gum isn’t easily broken down in the digestive system, it probably won’t cause a stomachache, either.

An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away.

The truth is: A handful of blueberries a day will keep the doctor away more effectively. Blueberries are a nutritional jackpot, rich in antioxidants and fiber, and they’re also easy to toss into cereal and yogurt. That said, eating a variety of fruits and vegetables is important to prevent many chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, down the road. (To find out how much earth-grown goodness your child should be getting, enter his or her age, sex, and level of physical activity at fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov.)

Related: Doctor's Tips for Keeping Your Kids Healthy

You Lose 75 Percent of Your Body Heat Through Your Head.

The truth is: “This adage was probably based on an infant’s head size, which is a much greater percentage of the total body than an adult head,” says Pollack. That’s why it’s important to make sure an infant’s head remains covered in cold weather. (This also explains those ubiquitous newborn caps at the hospital.) But for an adult, the figure is more like 10 percent. And keep in mind that heat escapes from any exposed area (feet, arms, hands), so putting on a hat is no more important than slipping on gloves.

To Get Rid of Hiccups, Have Someone Startle You.

The truth is: Most home remedies, like holding your breath or drinking from a glass of water backward, haven’t been medically proven to be effective, says Pollack. However, you can try this trick dating back to 1971, when it was published in The New England Journal of Medicine: Swallow one teaspoon of white granulated sugar. According to the study, this tactic resulted in the cessation of hiccups in 19 out of 20 afflicted patients. Sweet.

Eating Fish Makes You Smart.

The truth is: For kids up to age three or four, this is indeed the case. Fish, especially oily ones, such as salmon, are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). “DHA is particularly beneficial in the first two years of life for brain development, cognition, and visual acuity,” says Beverly Hills pediatrician Scott W. Cohen, the author of Eat, Sleep, Poop: A Common Sense Guide to Your Baby’s First Year ($16, amazon.com). And a 2008 study in Clinical Pediatrics showed an increase in vocabulary and comprehension for four-year-olds who were given daily DHA supplements. Omega-3 options for the fish-phobic? Try avocados, walnuts, and canola oil.

Related: What You Need to Know About Multivitamins

You Shouldn’t Swim for an Hour After Eating.

The truth is: Splash away. “After you eat, more blood flows to the digestive system and away from the muscles,” says Cohen. “The thinking was that if you exercised strenuously right after eating, that lack of blood would cause you to cramp up and drown.” But that won’t happen. Sears concurs: “You might have less energy to swim vigorously, but it shouldn’t inhibit your ability to tread water or play.”

Every Child Needs a Daily Multivitamin.

The truth is: Children who are solely breast-fed during their first year should be given a vitamin D supplement. After that, a multivitamin won’t hurt anyone, but many experts say that even if your child is in a picky phase, there’s no need to sneak Fred, Wilma, and company into his applesauce. “Even extremely fussy eaters grow normally,” Cohen says. “Your kids will eventually get what they need, even if it seems as if they’re subsisting on air and sunlight.”

Warm Milk Will Help You Fall Asleep.

The truth is: Milk contains small amounts of tryptophan (the same amino acid in turkey), “but you would have to drink gallons to get any soporific effect,” says Michael Breus, a clinical psychologist in Scottsdale, Arizona, who specializes in sleep disorders. “What is effective is a routine to help kids wind down,” he says. And if a glass of warm milk is part of the process, it can have a placebo effect, regardless of science.

This is for college kids, but I think these are good tips for everyone!

Courtesy of...


10 Eating Tips For Avoiding the Freshman 15

user by FitSugar, on Wed Aug 18, 2010 8:35pm PDT

Going away to school can be dangerous on the waistline. The dorm dining hall is like a giant, all-you-can-eat buffet. And let's be real, the food choices at most campuses are not healthy. On top of that, many students don't have access to a kitchen, and will ultimately eat all of their meals out. It's no wonder most of us gain some weight when going off to college, though the infamous "freshman 15" is really more like 10 pounds. And don't be fooled — weight gain isn't reserved to first-year students only. The eating habits you develop during your first year away can stay with you through college and beyond.

Whether you're eating in a dining hall or cooking for yourself in your first apartment, a few simple strategies can help you avoid that first-year college weight gain. Here are my tips for eating healthy while you're away at school.

1. Don't skip meals, especially breakfast. Starting with a filling breakfast helps steady your metabolism throughout the day. Here are five ideas for quick but healthy starts.
2. Drink lots of water. At the dining hall, during lectures, throughout cram sessions, whenever! Skip the soda and carry a water bottle that you can refill throughout the day to prevent constipation and bloating.
3. Include at least three food groups in every meal. When choosing from the endless dining hall bounty, make an effort to get plenty of fresh fruits and veggies, lean protein, and calcium — not just pizza and chicken fingers. And the more color on your plate, the better.

4. Control your portions. Just because you can fill your plate, doesn't mean you should. Familiarize yourself with what proper portions look like and stick to them.
5. Treat yourself occasionally. Go ahead and indulge, but don't go overboard. If you have a cookie after lunch, skip the ice cream after dinner. Here are some ideas for healthy sweet treats.
6. Avoid a fourth meal. In my dorm-room days, there were always late-night pizzas being delivered or roommates making mac and cheese at midnight. It's OK to fortify yourself with the occasional snack while studying, but make sure it's actually a snack, not the equivalent of a second dinner or dessert.
7. Stock healthy snacks. For those late-night study sessions when you do get hungry, keep your dorm room full of healthy snacks like nuts, pretzels, fruit, popcorn, and nutrition bars.
8. Pick your liquor carefully. Freshmen aren't supposed to drink! But if you do, remember that alcoholic beverages are full of empty calories, and sugary cocktails are the worst for both calories and hangovers.
9. Shop smart. If you live in an apartment, choose healthy foods when grocery shopping. Only shop the perimeter of a grocery store, or go to a farmers market instead. If you're worried about food going bad, buy items like frozen vegetables and fruit, yogurt, low-fat string cheese, and healthy frozen meals.
10. Exercise! OK, this isn't really a healthy eating tip, but it's an essential part of keeping the pounds off in college. Walk or bike to class, frequent the school gym, or join an intramural team and get moving!

What are your tips for incoming freshmen looking to avoid the traditional weight gain?

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/10-eating-tips-for-avoiding-the-freshman-15-2339823/

6 Best Foods for Healthy Skin

6 Best Foods for Healthy Skin

OK so I know its been a while since I blogged and I apologize for that. Its just that life gets in the way, but its no excuse. The great thing for all of you is that I am taking a Nutrtion Class this semester so you are all going to get an ear-full of healthy things. Plus as I come across great little pieces like this I will continue to share. I want this to be a very healthy blog for everyone to enjoy!

xoxo...Niesse

Week 10 - Day 64 "Oops"

Ok so I missed a week. I couldn't believe it and didn't notice until last Wednesday. Just go's to show no one is paying attention to this blog because no one even said anything to me. Oh well...all alone in the world.

Well 2 months into this and I am so excited. I have a month and a half to go and only need to lose 18 more pounds to make my goal. I am so going to make and exceed my goal (I hope). But I am under 200 and not looking back. I have eaten well and worked out well. I am loving my daily walks and my Wii Fit Plus. You almost don't feel like you are working out.

Lots has happened in the last two weeks. We have slightly remodeled our home. We painted the living room, dining room, hallway and entry way. We got new base boards and new carpet. It almost looks like a new house. To start decorating we got new living room furniture, new blinds, curtains and shelves. It is so fun to decorate. It turns into a huge snow ball though because once you start with one thing then the next thing has to get done. Check my photo's in my album on Facebook to see the progress made.

I finally started reading the Sookie Stackhouse Series. The first one is "Dead After Dark." Its fun to start reading it finally, especially since I have already seen seasons 1 & 2 of True Blood on HBO. Its fun to have faces to the characters while I read.

As far as movies are concerned, OMG! What a good 2 weeks for movies. First of all "ECLIPSE" was incredible. I saw it opening night in the trilogy in Napa with one of my girls Kimmy and my mom. Then I went and saw it on IMAX in Fairfield last weekend and thanks to a great friend I watched it 1.5 times today. Also I saw Remember Me finally. What a great flick. Totally wasn't expecting the ending at all and so grateful that it was not ruined for me. I highly recommend it. This weekend was fun for movies. I actually did an HP marathon. 6 movies in 2 days. I love these movies and cannot wait until November for the first part of the final movie.

Well...its late and I should be off to bed. Plan to do a little reading before bed and then sweet dreams.

I hope we all have a good week.

xoxo...
Niesse

Week 8 - Day 50+2 "Mommy's Home"

So sorry everyone for the 2 day late thing. As most of you probably saw on my Facebook we had no power on Sunday for 7.5 hours. So I was not able to do anything. I couldn't weigh, blog or farm. Hehehe...I have issues. It was so darn hot but let me come back to that.

The week started off good. We finally went to Gillespie's Carpet in Fairfield and got our carpet ordered. They said they had to order it from the warehouse so we knew it would be 2 weeks before we had to do anything else. My mom finally came home from Texas on Tuesday. I was anxious all day waiting for time to pass so I could get pick her up. Wednesday was the usual "Fresh Choice Wednesday". So yum. I don't know where it came from but then my husband says, "Lets go to Ashley Furniture and see what kind of deals they have." We had nothing better to do so we did. $1300 later we have a new living room set on the way within in a couple of weeks. Thursday my husband finds out that the carpet is ready and can be installed next week. NEXT WEEK??? Oh crap. We thought we had time to paint and such. Well now we have to kick it into high gear because carpet will be installed on the 1st of July. Oh boy, time to go to Home Depot. Chris made a stop there Thursday afternoon to pick up a bunch of paint samples so I could decide on colors. My inspirations was a few pictures that we have at home with different bible verses. They have a lot of earthy tones. So once I got home Thursday (left early that day) I looked at the samples and made a decision in under 5 minutes. Where is my Staples Button? "That was easy!" So Chris and I were off to Home Depot to get the paint. We decided on one gallon of the accent wall color and 5 gallons of the other wall color. Worked out perfectly. When I got home I started pulling everything off the walls so Chris could fill in holes and prep. By the evening we starting painting accent walls. By 8:30 that night I decided I better take Friday off. I called Howard (my business partner) and said I have to stay home. Friday morning we all got up early and painted ALL DAY. OMG it looks far better than I could have dreamed. Chris had photo shoots on Saturday and his parents coming over on Sunday so we wanted to get as much done as we could Friday. Well it turned out very well.

Saturday my mom and I did some window shopping looking for items to match the house with no real luck. We decided to get my car washed, grab some lunch and go home to watch a movie. We watched "When in Rome". Really cute movie. Later that night we decided to do a Bingo marathon. We started at 4pm and finished just after 1am. So much fun but man were we tired. We went to Vaca Valley Bingo in support of the Scarlet Brigade (my former high school band, which I was a part of).

Sunday was a mad dash in the morning. Chris and I went to Home Depot and Walmart to get items for the house. We found at Walmart great curtains and Home Depot the curtain rods. We then went to Raley's to pick up some drinks and buns for the pulled pork sandwiches Chris made. So good. Chris' parents came and went. And so did the power. Chris was in the middle of hanging the curtain rod for the dinning room slider when everything just turned off. So luckily he was hanging the rod because with the sun hitting that side of the house it was going to get really hot and fast. We expected the power to come on quickly but as time passed it got hotter and hotter in the house. Soon we were hanging out in the front yard with the sprinkler on for Christian. As the sun set behind the houses we moved to the backyard for Christian to play with his toys. While Chris ran to Subway to get dinner, I walked around to neighbor houses to make sure they had candles. I didn't want anyone left in the dark. Finally at 11pm we gave up and went to bed and of course no one could sleep because of the heat. Well by 12:30am it came back on. We were out of our bed so fast to turn off lights and close windows. And we were out. So tired.

Fun and busy week for sure. This week is just as crazy but I will report on Sunday. Same time, same channel.

As for my weight, well I am doing fine. I just don't know my exact weight from Sunday night so I guess I just have a bye this week and I will give an update next blog.

Have a good week everyone!

xoxo
Niesse

PS... Final painting pics to be posted on next week's blog.

Week 7 - Day 43 "Happy Father's Day"

...and Happy Birthday to my BFF Raina.

I am sore. I worked muscles this week that I didn't even know I had. I started doing Kung Fu and Boxing on the Wii. So fun! I didn't lose any weight this week, but I want to believe its because I gained more muscle. That's how it works in my head. So I hope to make it up this week. Which means I hope to break the 200 mark and never turn back.

How is your workout going people? No one ever tells me how they are doing.

This week was busy as usual. I stuck to my usual stuff, walking every day at work, working out on the Wii every night and Fresh Choice Wednesday.

I got to see husband #2 this weekend which was awesome. Its always good times to see Michael. He came over Thursday night. The boy was with the in-laws so we went to dinner and hung at the house to watch the movie "Up in the Air". Good flick. Mike was helping Christopher with two photo shoots on Friday and when they came home we ordered pizza and played Wii all night.

Saturday was dull but I did see "Alice in Wonderland" (Tim Burton/Johnny Depp version). Totally loved it, wish I could have seen the 3D version in the theaters. I did a lot of relaxing and playing with the boy.

Sunday (today) we went to Sunnyvale to visit with Chris' cousins that were in town. That was a long drive but so nice to see them. I hope they come back soon.

I FINALLY finished my book House of Night: Burned. Gosh darn it. I am so irritated that these authors don't knock these books out faster. I don't want to wait to see what happens next. Oh well. I will have to occupy my time with another series.

Did anyone watch anything interesting this week? All my shows were awesome this week especially True Blood tonight. I want to know what everyone thinks of different shows, movies and books. I need more ideas!

OK, I am tired and off to bed. Sorry my blog is boring this week. I will try to do something of interest this week to report.

Have a good week!

xoxo...
Niesse

Week 6 - Day 36 "How the Other Half Lives"

Woo Hoo! Made it another week and another pound lighter. I never expected to lose a lot of weight each week like the contestants on the Biggest Loser and I am proud of my progress. Loss is loss and I prefer to lose it slow and steady so that I know it will stay off this time.

Lots to report for this week. The week started off slow but I stayed entertained with my new set of shows. The Bachelorette, So you think you can dance, Jillian Michael's Losin' It and FINALLY True Blood. I don't know about you but I love TV, probably too much. There are a couple more shows I am looking forward to that start this next week. We will see how it goes and I will report back.

The work week was short because of a seminar that I was invited to in Half Moon Bay at the Ritz Carlton. So I only had to work Monday through Wednesday. Then Thursday it was on the way to Half Moon Bay (LOL that rhymed). Its so funny how you can arrive at a location and feel totally out of sorts. Like you want to belong and wish you belonged to this exclusive club...but yet you don't. That's one thing I love about my job though, you get to do these awesome things and go to these awesome places for FREE. It was incredible, the property was beautiful, the ocean gorgeous (of course not blue like Hawaii) and the food was amazing. We had a beautiful suite where we had turn down service with chocolates on the pillows and everything. I felt like I was in a movie. I had to take a bath in the luxurious tub just to say I did. It was so much fun. The next day we had an awesome breakfast at this cute little place called Cafe Classique. I would definitely recommend it if you are ever in the area.

Then back to reality. We picked up Christian at Chris' parents house and headed home. My wonderful husband decided to wash and detail my car. It was awesome. He was making up for using my car so much when he went to weddings. I finally got to put my Disneyland Family Stickers and my Hawaii Flip-Flop Stickers on the back of my car. My two favorite places to go!

Chris had a wedding on Saturday. I spent the day with Christian which as usual is always fun. We even braved the heat to walk to the park. It was a little too hot outside and even Christian was ready to head home. 90 degrees was a little much. Chris had a wedding event/show in Sacramento today so once again it was me in the kid. He was quite independent today, playing by himself and watching his shows. So I just hung out, played FV and played Catan on the XBox 360. The day flew and finally Chris was home. We had a yummy dinner and then relaxed. I did watch the movie "Young Victoria" on Comcast's ON DEMAND. Very good movie. I would recommend to anyone who loves history and period movies.

My goal this weeks is to lose 2 more pounds. I would like to maintain the losing 2 lbs per week and so far as averages go I am on track. 5 weeks and 10 lbs. I will work out every day this week and eat good. I also will do my walk every day at work.

My last goal is that I will finish reading Burned. I slacked this week getting it done because I let other things get in the way.

I hope you all had a great week last week and I hope you have a fabulous week this week. I know my week can't be as "fabulous" this next week without the Ritz, but I certainly will try!

I hope to add more readers to my blog...so if you read this please follow me on this blog, just click follow on top!!! See you next week.

xoxo
Niesse

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS THIS WEEK, SHARE THEM WITH ME IN THE COMMENTS SECTION OF THIS BLOG OR ON THE COMMENTS SECTION OF FACEBOOK.

Week 5 - Day 29 "A Month Later"

Really? It's been a month already (2 days shy). So in one month I am down 9 lbs. That's right, I lost 2 more this week. Unbelievable! But now I have to step up my game. Still have 21 lbs to go. Very do-able with 2.5 months to go. I slacked a little this week with working out but with as busy as I was I still burned some major calories. Plus the daily walks at work are helping.

Even with the craziness, it was still a pretty uneventful week. I got my hair done as I mentioned last week. I absolutely love it. Much props to Allyson Witt at Glo in Fair Oaks. She has done some amazing things with my hair in the past, but this last time with the color and the Brazillian Blow-Out... my hair is magical now. Thanks Allyson! If you want to know her let me know...I will introduce.

I think more than anything this week I just missed my husband. He had an engagement shoot on Friday, a wedding on Saturday in Oakland and as I type he is in Lake Tahoe/Reno finishing yet another wedding. He won't be home til tomorrow. So it was a lot of me and Christian time. We got to go to a graduation party for Thomas (good friend of the family's son). It was awesome to see some people I hadn't seen in a while.

One major thing this week was my husband doing some crazy kissing ass. Which led to a new car. (Don't tell him but I would have let him get it anyway.) I did enjoy coming home to an amazingly clean house one day this week. He got a 2010 Mazda 3. A car he has been pining over for a long time. How convenient for him that one of my good friends had one on his lot. BTW, anyone looking for a new or used car let me know. I can get you hooked up with a major deal. My friend Robby is the Sales Manager at Vacaville Honda.

I finished a book "Vampire Academy: Spirit Bound" What an amazing book and series. I cant wait for the next to come out, which will probably be a year or so. In the mean time I have the next book to keep me occupied. "House of Night: Burned"

Lastly I started back on my Spanish. Rosetta Stone rocks. I am almost done with Level 1. I cant believe how many words I know. I am getting better at sentence structure and conjugating verbs. Sounds crazy but its so much fun.

So I am proud of myself for keeping at this every Sunday night. I still don't know if many of your read this but the 8 of you that do make my week. If there are more of you then please add as a follower on this blog page. No need to comment on the blog itself, you can just leave a comment on Facebook.

PS...Mom comes home in about a week and a half. I cant wait, I miss you mom.

XOXO...Niesse

Week 4 - Day 22: "4 Day Weekend"

Ok, I know I just got back from vacation and now I have a 4 day weekend. It doesn't get any better. It was the typical week...get up, go to work, come home, play with Christian, go to bed. Every day, all week. We did typical "Fresh Choice Wednesday" (which no one showed up for).

The highlights of my week was knowing that I had a 4 day weekend coming up. My shows are over and summer ones don't start until next week.

I did celebrate my 6 year wedding anniversary on Saturday. I had to spend it alone since Chris had to shoot a wedding but he made up for it with a card and roses when he walked in the door. The roses are gorgeous. My in-laws also sent a flower-cake (non-edible) via 1-800-flowers. Very cute.

I feel retarded with nothing to report.

I did start reading for pleasure again. FINALLY. I was tired of reading text books. So on this weeks reading agenda we have the next installment of Richelle Mead's "Vampire Academy: Spirit Bound". I also saw for the first time today on Comcast's ON DEMAND "Dear John". Good Flick! Chick Flick for sure!

I did do very well this week with my weight and working out. I walked every day at lunch time, weighed at night and did my Wii workout. I lost 2 lbs this week which is a steady pace. I am down 7 lbs now in 2 weeks. 7/30. Only 23 to go til goal weight.

I had an old friend make me feel very good this week. She said my blog inspired her to lose weight and so she started her own blog to be accountable to the world like I am. I now have two followers on this blog. I know some of you read me on Facebook but do me a favor and click follow on this site so I know you care and are watching me. I need your help to get through this.

Well, we will see what this week brings. I know it involves a cut/color/brazillian blowout. I will post a pic when its done. (Tuesday is the appointment).

Have a fabulous week!
xoxo
Niesse


PS...check out my Wii Family (Top Right) (Me, Chris & Christian)

Week 3 - Day 15 "It begins and ends with Hawaii"

What a roller coaster of a week. It started with me flying home from Hawaii. I was so excited to pick up my little boy after not seeing him for 5 days. We got home and crashed. So glad I took Tuesday off just to re-group and get my head in the game for the week to come.

We had finals this week which I am proud to say I passed both classes. Again, what the heck was I thinking taking Econ 1 & 2 at the same time. Crazy person!

It was nice to be back to work and into a routine again. My OCD needs a routine.

Wednesday was business as usual... except "Fresh Choice Wednesday." We had to go on Thursday this week due to an unscheduled photo shoot. If anyone is actually reading this blog I hope you come and join us. We go every week, same day, same time. Wednesday by 5pm. (We are old folks, we get there before 5pm to pay $6.99 instead of $9.99, LOL)

So Thursday was Wednesday? This was a great week for Season Finale's. I am just a TV nut. Grey's Anatomy, can you say "OMG" Oh My Grey's. Can you believe how it ended. Cant wait for next season. I dont know about Bones though. Love the show tremendously. Can Booth and Bones just get together already???

And Friday was TGIF. It was a short work week but seemed long for some reason. Oh I know why, because I have been waiting for the Series Finale of LOST FOREVER. 6 years in the making (which I actually started about a year ago...better late than never). But man its only Friday. Somehow I lost my kid to my in-laws, not bad considering I needed a long good nights sleep.

Spent Saturday studying and taking tests which I mentioned above I passed. We had dinner at Uncle Chung's in Pinole and brought the boy home.

Sunday was spend being LAZY until around 4 when I got my butt in gear to clean the house. Chris was an awesome help. We knocked it all out. I needed something to distract me while the clock was counting down. We got the boy off to bed and it was time for LOST. Two hours of recap and the two and a half hours of the Finale. The sad thing is I have Jimmy Kimmel Live paused right now trying to finish this weeks Blog as quickly as possible so I can see the interviews with the cast and the alternate endings.

In the middle of all of this weeks madness I managed to lost 5 lbs. Yes, that's right 5lbs. I have 1/6 of the way to my 30lb goal by the end of August. So lets hope this week brings goodness as well. I would like to attribute my weight loss to: 1.) Good Eating and 2.) My new exercise regimen on the Wii Fit Plus, LOVE it.

So as my title says the week began in Hawaii and it ends in Hawaii. LOST was taped in Hawaii. How awesome!?!

Toodles till next all.

Good night. xoxo
Niesse

Week 2 - Day 8 "Maui Baby"

Well its our last night in Hawai'i. It is bitter sweet. I absolutely would love to stay in paradise for another week, but I am dying to go home to my little boy. This was a fun week and fun trip. Here's how it went...

Thursday - arrived in Hawai'i, checked in, took a nap, went swimming and had a yummy pizza dinner.
Friday - went scouting for locations for our TTD shoot, yummy lunch, swimming, yummy dinner, shaved ice and bed.
Saturday - wedding, yummy dinner, swimming, na-nite.
Sunday - fabulous ttd shoot, (BAD SUNBURN), relax, movies, yummy dinner, and soon good night.

I am excited to go home and start my transformation. I know I could have started this week, but who wants to diet on vacation. I wasn't very bad, but I wasnt good.

Thank you to all who have commited to support me in my future endeavor. Chris and I are toying with the idea of another baby. I have a goal weight in mind if this is going to happen. If you support our idea to have another baby, please push me to be good!

Thanks everyone, have a fabulous week. I hope to have a great update for you next week. Keep in mind my weight might be higher but we will find that out tomorrow. But whatever my weight is tomorrow night when I get home will be the last time I will be that weight.

Xoxo...Niesse

Week 1 - Day 1: "Mothers Day", My Day???

I am so blessed to have my husband in my life. He constantly reminds why I live for what I do every day. As does my son. So when I woke up this morning I knew it was going to be a good day. A day of celebration for me, a mom. I got to sleep in, be lazy, watch movies, play games and do homework at my leisure. Now don't confuse my question mark in my title as this wasnt my day. It so was. I just woke up thinking that I am being celebrated by my family, but "I" didnt want to celebrate me. Why would I not want to do that? Here is why... I got on the scale and remembered that I am not fully happy with me. I need to lose weight. I have been blaming it on "baby weight" for two years now and thats not fair to anyone. Its just pure laziness and I decided that today is the day that I start to do something about it.

I want to celebrate me and so I decided that for one year I am going to work on me in every way I can... physically, emotionally, educationally, etc. I want to be a better person for everyone in my life, especially me.

So here is my challenge to myself. I weigh 208 pounds as of this morning. I am going to make this blog an outlet for to express how I am feeling, where I am, and where I am ready to be. By the end of the one year I hope to be 158 pounds. I know that is ambitious but I know I can do it.

Please support me. I will continually update you all (well anyone who cares to keep track). I will be accountable to everyone and espcially myself.

In one year you will see a better me. Not that the old me is bad and unhappy, but I am just ready to take me to the next level.

WISH ME LUCK!
XOXO

Niesse