DIET...

How many times have you heard this - The word 'diet' is negative and implies people can go on and off them!  It is so often true, I have seen this happen to so many people, myself included!  

What about “diet foods” -  how confusing can that be!  What diet is the 'diet food' geared for?  Is it low-calorie, low-fat, low-sodium, low-sugar, gluten-free, et cetera?  Besides, many of the foods that specifically target dieters seem to rarely satisfy. Take those 100-calorie snack packs, for example, made to help people control calories. Those often don't even work, after all, few people actually stop at only one pack.  It might be 100 calories, but don’t forget to look at the sugar and sodium included!  Than there is the point system - I feel these just don’t help you learn how to eat healthy!  

You don't need fancy plans or complicated point systems to be thin. All you need to do is make smart food choices, watch your portion sizes and stay active.  Learning to eat properly for a lifetime is more beneficial.  The emphasis should be on choosing healthful foods every day and changing lifestyles for the better. 

It’s never easy, but once you take the plunge, make the commitment it will get easier and become second nature!  So instead of sticking to diet fare, fill up on nutritious, wholesome foods. 

Until Monday - keep thinking veggies and protein! 

Tomatoes...

It's true that most veggies make for great diet fare. Non-starchy vegetables in particular, such as carrots, celery and spinach, are filled with fiber. Like other foods high in fiber, they can help keep you feeling satiated.  Plus, they're pretty self-regulating. You can't really overeat with non-starchy vegetables. After all, how many baby carrots can a person eat without needing to dunk them in some ranch dressing?

So while there are many veggies that can help you stay slim, tomatoes might be a particularly good option because they're so tasty. And, besides, with that whole a-tomato-is-a-vegetable-no-it's-a-fruit argument, you might have forgotten all about eating them. One cup of cooked, red tomatoes contains just 43 calories, but tastes just as delicious as any number of high-calorie foods.  There is nothing like a perfect, ripen tomato picked right off the vine.  Now, if our tomato plant, that has taken over our balcony would start producing tomatoes, I would be the happiest person in the world!

And that's at least half the secret, finding foods that are both healthy and tasty. The good thing is, they do exist. Over time, you'll discover what wholesome, filling foods you prefer, expanding your choices while shrinking your waistline. 

Happy 4th Of July....

I don't know where you live, but it is really HOT in Chicago.  It is a little cooler and breezier along the lake, but still not very comfortable.  Lot's of warnings about the heat index!  So be careful, take it down a notch and drink lots and lots of water!  I am going to go for a slow, short run so I don't feel guilty eating the wonderful dry rub ribs Bob is smoking and grilling today!

Be safe and be careful

Cookout...

Just a little reminder for your 4th of July gatherings,  most experienced dieters know the basics of navigating a cookout - fruit salad, yes; potato salad, no.  But even the most diligent calorie counter can overlook a slather of mayo here, a triple squirt of ketchup there.  People think that if they just have a dab of something and eat it standing up it doesn't count.  Ha ha regrettably, that's not the case and especially during bikini season, it's better to get your fill from what's inside the bun, not what's spread on it. The good news: You can add so much flavor to your food for practically no calories.  When in doubt - you basically can't blow it with mustard! There are plenty of zero-calorie varieties to choose from, and even honey mustard, with its marginal amount of sugar, has just five calories per teaspoon.

Paula Deen...

Sounds familiar!  Similiar to my story, only I started to clean up my act before I became type 2 diabetic and I didn’t have to do it infront of millions!  GO PAULA DEEN!  What an inspiration that change is good!  Things still taste great without sugar and butter!

Known for her high-calorie creations, Paula Deen was widely criticized earlier this year when she revealed that she has type 2 diabetes — and had been diagnosed with the disease three years earlier. Around the same time the Southern chef went public with her health crisis, she also landed an endorsement deal for a diabetes drug, so there was backlash about her motivation for speaking out in the first place. Six months later, Deen — who completely overhauled her diet — has dropped 30 pounds and is talking about how she lost the weight.

"I was surprised by the depth of hate," Deen, 65, said about the backlash to People. "This is not something I chose. I had been given lemons and I had to try to make lemonade — without sugar!"

Since January, the 5-foot-6 foodie has lost more than 30 pounds and has gone from a size 18 to a 10. "The architecture of my plate has changed," said Deen, who has daily injections to regulate her blood sugar. "I double up on greens — whether it's salad or vegetables — and my carbs are just a spoonful." Her shopping cart is now overflowing with broccoli, sweet potatoes, and fruit instead of regular potatoes (her weakness) and bread. Where she used to skip breakfast, she now has a smoothie. And a typical dessert for Deen is "a bowl of sugar-free ice cream with strawberries and blueberries on top."

Although she's changed her diet for the better, the Food Network host — who once instructed her viewers on how to make a burger topped with bacon and a fried egg on two doughnuts — still indulges. Once a week she allows herself to eat whatever she wants (think: a cheeseburger in a wrap). She also hasn't completely given up fried chicken; now she has it monthly instead of weekly.

Deen says incorporating exercise into her routine has been another factor in her weight loss. She walks 30 minutes a day but doesn't love it. "I heard that exercise is addictive," she said to People. "So far, it's not like cigarettes." Speaking of cigarettes, she still smokes but says quitting will be her next challenge.

Although her goal is to lose an additional 15 pounds, Deen already feels like a million bucks. "I feel a thousand times better," Deen told the magazine. "I have more energy. I sleep better. The weight loss has made my health issues better."