_I loved this and the ending was so surprising. Isn't that what is supposed to happen in a great story?
Watch this to the end. It made me cry but was I'm glad I watched it. So helpful.

flickspire - Jane Handly Childhood Story www.flickspire.com

The video grabbed my heart and didn't let go. The way the story is told and the message hit me like a ton of bricks. It was just the shot of inspiration I needed today, so I wanted to pass it along to you.

Have you looked at the 1 Million Kilo Challenge.
Eating my words this morning about it this morning.
When I looked at it a couple of days ago I backed off in horror at the protein powder adds as I do not 'do' highly processed foods regardless of if they are called junk food or health food they are all in my opinion no where near as healthy as in season fresh food.
However what I read last night about it not being about counting calories but eating healthy while being aware of calories is far more in keeping with my ideals. Also the calorie intake suggestion was far more realistic - and healthy than some.

It is a great age to live in. There is so many self help and learning opportunities you can reach out for on line and do from home these days. You can start guitar lessons online or learn to write. Last night before bed I watched an hour of video advice for writers. I am loving my internet as a tool for research and advanced learning. 

So while I still don't like excessive emphasis on weight as a life focus, I'm giving this program a 'worth taking a closers look at,' tick for now.

I so agree with this attitude.  This is based on the guidelines in the 1 Million Kilo Challenge adjusted to how I would apply it for myself. It is close to the eating plan I originally used to release my excess weight in 2007. Not so much a diet as a lifestyle.

The type of food and the amount that you are eating is far more important than the amount of calories or kilojoules.

If you base your eating solely on calorie or kilojoule intake, you don't take into account the quality of food you are eating. This means you could rationalise adding a Mars Bar or piece of cake and then eat less for dinner to stay within your recommended range. We don't believe this is a healthy, responsible way of living and eating, nor does it facilitate weight loss, in the short or long term.

Eating for permanent weight loss is about changing bad food choices into healthy ones, which becomes a natural part of your every day life. This saves you from being bogged down, consumed by and a slave to laborious maths every time you need to eat. That's 5 times a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year worth of calculations. No thanks!

I believe:
• All your food should be as close to its original state as possible, so minimal processing, preservatives and additives
• Half your plate should be vegetables
• One quarter should be lean protein: approximately 100g red meat, 125g skinless chicken, 150g fish or 180g tofu
• One quarter should be unrefined, unprocessed carbohydrates ie. brown rice, lentils, chickpeas, beans, barley etc
• Minimal added sugar, and only unprocessed, without compromising flavour
• Minimal added fat, preferably unsaturated and added as an ingredient rather than cooking in it.

For those of you who like to know figures, this is a good aim for most females who desire to release weight,
1200-1600 calories a day
This will be made up of:
250-350 calories for breakfast
350-450 for lunch and dinner
and around 150-200 per snack for mid morning and mid afternoon.

I like to choose healthy and portion controlled and be aware of calories without counting them fanatically.

_I'll be setting some modest fitness goals.
I have not recovered from a bad fall half way though last year. This year I have begun a self planned and motivated program to regain a lot of the fitness I have lost over the pat 18 months following a few st backs and of course I wish to keep Reg as fit as I have encouraged him to become.  We are going to a fantastic holiday park where there will be unlimited beaches to walk, fish and run on once I get good enough to do that.  Now that could be a great,. if my back allows goal - to run on the beach again. 

As there is a coral reef right near the beach good Sunglasses will be essential for both of us so we can view the coral at low tide and so Reg can see the rocks under the water and try to avoid snagging his fishing line.  It is going to be a great fitness year for the two of us, filled with activities to fit in with out senior status.

I don't speak about it much and lol, I actually delete posts that begin everyday with anyone giving a health run down. lol so I'll never do that.

I would jut love to see more fitness interested people posting advice for people who are not up to training for half marathons - as in most people. -

Any takers there from the fitness industry?

_Good luck to those who want it but I see Fitness at age 65 as having nothing whatever to do with setting goals to run 10 klm in 12 weeks time.
To walk that distance is an achievement.
I would love to see a lot more fitness programs with an understanding of seniors and I don't mean private trainers as few seniors have the budget for that. We just need more sensational senior information out there.

_
I am posting this because I take offense at the Biggest Looser's current advertisement (2012 Australian series) that creates the negative attitude that you have to be slim to be worthy of love.

I am not against striving for fitness but fitness is also a positive attitude that you are worthy of love and can be confident and beautiful at any size.

_Every one seems to love ice cream. I have even watched my grandchildren playing with the xbox 360 controller  while attempting to eat ice cream and too engrossed to stop the game to eat.
I made myself some mini healthy ingredient, (no sugar or artificial sweetener gunk) ice cream treats this morning and have them in the freezer for when an ice cream craving hits again.

I got over my ice cream craving last night by eating some roasted almonds.

I just don't like eating processed junk food though I do love ice cream.
With a little prior preparation and portion control I can have my ice cream and eat it too. I will eat mine with crushed fresh roasted almonds on nuts on top. If you wanted a lower fat version get some recipies that use gelatine and water and skim milk powder. Most true icecream is a double wiping process. You do not need an ice cream maker, just a freezer and whip the mixture twice when it is semi frozen to aerate it then freeze again.  Forget recipes, just follow basic guidelines and choose your own preferred ingredients. Believe me it works.

All I did was to freeze pure cream in 1 teaspoon size dollops which I can eat how I like, sprinkled with cinnamon or spice or plain. I could have mixed pure vanilla essence or cocoa powder into them or mashed fruit, the choice is endless. The benefit is no highly refined carbohydrates to spike then crash your sugar levels if you are susceptible to fluctuating sugar levels. It fits in with a low to moderately low carb eating plan and there are no artificial ingredients.

No it isn't low fat. I actually do not eat low fat, I try to eat low saturated fats hence my freezing this ice cream into teaspoonful size treats not cup quantities.  A little of what I fancy without triggering my appetite as high sugar and high starch foods do.

I do not exclude any sort of food from my diet, I simply strive to eat healthy and balanced meals and consider myself fortunate not to have a sweet tooth however I know this is because I choose to eat nothing sweeter than natural friut - that definitely includes not touching those over sweet to my taste artificially sweetened so called diet and weight watcher (I refuse to call them food) junk.

Ice Cream. Healthy Easy No Recipe Version.

I don't know bout you but when I see a pomegranate fruit I just have to suck the bitter sweet center.  I find it irresistible picked straight from the bush.  I used to grow the dwarf variety for the all year round beauty of the plant in the garden.
The fruit the flower and the leaves in autumn are especially beautiful. Now we are learning of the health benefits as well.

Pomegranates have high levels of antioxidants and, according to US researchers, drinking just 1 glass of the fruit juice a day has been shown to keep prostate cancer at bay, and could even prevent men dying from the disease.

Books » Health & Wellbeing » Dieting
The Low-Starch Diabetes Solution Six Steps to Optimal Control of Your Adult-Onset (Type 2) Diabetes

By Rob Thompson, Dana Carpender


The author of the popular The Glycemic- Load Diet reveals how to keep blood sugar stable for life Renowned diet author Robert Thompson brings you a scientifically-proven low-starch diet and exercise program that promises to stabilize blood sugar in just 7 days. Dr. Thompson has changed the way we think about treating diabetes--and kept his own under control for 10 years--with his theory that starch, not sugar, is the number one cause behind this chronic condition. With delicious low-starch recipes and the latest medical information on how to avoid the complications of diabetes, The Low-Starch Diabetes Solution shows you how to stabilize your blood sugar for life, while still enjoying a satisfying, well-balanced diet.

Table of Contents
The Low-Starch Diabetes Solution Part One: The Tasteless Toxin That Brings on Diabetes Introduction Chapter 1: A Gift From the Mediterranean Chapter 2: Lowering Blood Sugar the Old-Fashioned Way Chapter 3: Glycemic Load: The New Old Way Chapter 4: The Culprit Chapter 5: What Starch Does to Your Body Chapter 6: Starch's Slippery Mimic Chapter 7: The Starch-Vulnerable Individual: Insulin Resistance Chapter 8: Things That Get Better When You Eliminate Starch Chapter 9: Why We Are Addicted Part Two: Six Steps to Optimal Control Chapter 10: Step One: Eliminate Starch Chapter 11: Step Two: Inhibit Starch Absorption Chapter 12: Step Three: Sensitize Your Muscles to Insulin Chapter 13: Step Four: Sensitize Your Liver to Insulin Chapter 14: Step Five: Make Up Any Insulin Deficit With Insulin Chapter 15: Step Six: Optimize Your Cholesterol and Blood Pressure Part Three: Low-Starch Eating Chapter 16: Starch Substitutes That Taste Better Than Starch Chapter 17: The Art of Baking With Starch-Free Flours Chapter 18: 7 Days of Low-Starch Menus

About the Author
Rob Thompson, M.D. (Seattle, WA) is a board-certified cardiologist in private practice who has counseled patients with high cholesterol, diabetes, and heart disease for more than 25 years. He is on staff at Swedish Hospital Medical Center in Seattle and is the author of The New Low-Carb Way of Life as well as The Glycemic-Load Diet.

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