SO, YOU ATE TOO MUCH!

SO, YOU ATE TOO MUCH!

Let's talk about weight loss here.  You have a plan.  You are working it.  You are doing good.  Then the weekend comes.  Or you go out of town.  Or someone brings some goodies by.   You eat too much.  You eat something not on your plan.  What happens?

You feel like a failure!  YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE!  YOU ARE HUMAN!  None of us are perfect.  We aren't going to be perfect on our weight loss journey.  There are going to be times we overeat.  Times we go off our plan, times we just want something we are trying to avoid.

So do we just give up?  Should we throw our hands up in the air and say, "I QUIT!  I'M A FAILURE!  I ALWAYS FAIL AT LOSING WEIGHT!" 

No!  Just enjoy what you ate and when you go to sleep, LET IT GO!  Tomorrow is a new day.  You will wake up refreshed and re-focused.    Don’t wallow in a pool of self-pity.  Just pick yourself up and dust yourself off.  You hit a pot hole; not a 5 car pick-up.  At this point it is easy to get back on track.

Don't give up and don't beat yourself up.  It's not a sprint.  It's a marathon.  One meal will not sabotage your weight loss unless you let it.

copyrighted 2015

caryn cannatella

Skinny Fiber Sales:  www.caryncann2.com

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Caryncann

Fan Page:  https://www.facebook.com/mylighterside?fref=photo

Weight Loss Support Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/CarynsChamps/?ref=bookmarks

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FAILURE IS NOT PART OF MY VOCABULARY!!

FAILURE IS NOT PART OF MY VOCABULARY!!

We can learn a lot from babies!

We don't remember learning to walk.  Can you imagine just how hard that is for a baby?  First they have to actually pull themselves up to a standing position. 

Remember seeing a baby wobble back and forth while they hold on to the edge of the coffee table?  We watch as they fall.  We want to catch them but we don't unless they are going to be hurt.  Over and over they fall and get back up.

Once they master just standing up right, they start moving around that table.   They realize that they can move!  It's amazing to watch this happen.   Before you know it, they are ready for the next step.

Soon they are letting go and trying to take that first step without holding on.  I know we have all held our arms out for a baby to walk to us.  I don't know whose eyes are lit up more:  the baby's or our own! 

In a few short months, our baby has gone from rocking on their knees to standing, holding on to walk, letting go, walking and finally running!

Can you imagine if our babies decided after the first fall or two that they had failed and would never get up again?   Can you imagine your baby feeling like a failure who would never walk because they fell down a time or two?

Babies don't know failure.  We teach our children and ourselves failure.

Whatever your goal is at this particular time, view it like a baby.  Fun, exciting, keep trying.  Babies know they can learn to walk.  They see everyone around them walking.   Failure?  It isn't in their vocabulary or experience.

Look around you at the people doing or living the way you want to live.  Do you think their path has been any easier than the one you will have to travel?  Who cares how many times you fall?  Yes, sometimes, you will even get hurt.  Just like babies do.  

All it takes is getting back up and trying again.  You may need a rest.  You may need to think about a better way to try.  The most important thing to remember is:  YOU CAN NEVER FAIL IF YOU GET BACK UP!

At the end of the day, if you have gotten off track for your goals, put it to bed.  Remind yourself of all the things you did right for the day. 

Tomorrow is a new day.  A chance to start over.  Embrace it.  Every day is a new opportunity to focus and walk your path to your goal.  You are strong.  Be like that baby learning to walk.  They know only success!  Failure is not in their vocabulary.  Don't let it be a part of yours!

copyrighted 2015

caryn cannatella

Skinny Fiber Sales:  www.caryncann2.com

Ageless Sales:  www.caryncann.com

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Caryncann

Fan Page:  https://www.facebook.com/mylighterside?fref=photo

Weight Loss Support Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/CarynsChamps/?ref=bookmarks

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Caryncann

BREAKFAST! WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

BREAKFAST!  WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT? 

Breakfast means to BREAK FAST.  You have not eaten in 10-12 hours.  Your metabolism is sluggish.  Your body is using very little energy.  You've probably been sleeping.

You need to break that fast to get your body moving and your metabolism lit!  You need food.  Yeah, I know, you want to lose weight!  That's great!  But you have to eat to lose weight!  Unlike most addictions, you cannot avoid your addiction.  You have to eat every day. 

Eating breakfast starts your engine.  It gets your body warmed up.  You are letting your body know that rest time is over and it's time to start working again. 

Be sure to include protein in your breakfast.  That is easy to do.  Eggs, protein powder, Greek yogurt.  Protein is so important, especially if you are trying to lose weight.   It helps you feel full and it will keep you from getting hungry much longer than carbs will.

We have all heard for years that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  It is.  Even when I had blown up to 317 pounds I retained the habit of eating breakfast.   Now, I probably wasn't eating healthy or filled with protein but the habit remained.  It has helped me during the last 18 months of weight loss.

Whether you are on a weight loss program or not, commit to eating breakfast for the next 30 days.   At the end of that time, let me know if you don't feel much better.   I bet you do!

copyrighted 2015

caryn cannatella

Skinny Fiber Sales:  www.caryncann2.com

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Caryncann

Fan Page:  https://www.facebook.com/mylighterside?ref=bookmarks

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Caryncann

BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN!

BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN!

Struggles, struggles, struggles.  We all have them.  And i don't just mean when we are trying to lose weight and get healthy. 

Between January 1 and the middle of March my weight increased 15 pounds.  Not sure why.  Didn't seem to matter what I ate or didn't eat.  My dr wasn't very sympathetic or encouraging.  I thought I might bitch slap her at one point.  lolo

I did a 9 day food cleanse and dropped 9 pounds.  I did another two weeks of a modified cleanse.  Didn't drop a pound.  That is so depressing.  I know some of you can relate. 

So what to do?  I threw the scale back in the closet.  Way in the back.

I decided to go back to what has worked for me.  Low carb; high protein.  And I'm going back to jogging.  I'm going to have to force myself to jog any day it is not raining since it seems to rain Thursday - Sunday here in Houston.

I want to lose at least 30 pounds by November.  I'd really like to lose 45 but I'm not sure that is reasonable.  I don't want to feel defeated before I even get started.  November is when Angie (my best friend’s daughter) is getting married.   I really want to be wearing a size 14 dress by then.  And by wear, I don’t mean looking like a stuffed sausage in it.  I mean wear a size 14 that is loose and flowing.

Thirty total pounds lost is 5 pounds a month or 1.25 pounds a week.   In calories that is 4375 calories less a week.  That's either eating fewer calories or using more calories.  I'll be doing both.

Based on my weight, height, gender and age, I burn 390 calories jogging 30 minutes.  If I jog 5 days a week, that burns 1950 calories in a week.  That leaves 2425 calories I need to eliminate during the week. 

That breaks down to a decrease of 346 a day in my eating.  I don't really count calories since I low carb but I do tend to eat at least 1800 calories a day on average.  According to a calculator I used, to maintain my weight I need to eat 2300 calories a day.  To lose I need to stay under 1839 calories a day.  To see rapid weight loss, I should drop to 1380 calories a day.   And I should get rid of all sharp objects that might be used to hurt people when I'm hungry.  lol

To those of you who are on the weight loss campaign, what are you using?  Do you have a diet or food plan?  Low cal, low carb, whole foods, weight watchers, Skinny Fiber, etc.?   What about exercise?  How much are you doing?  Do you know how much you are burning each time you exercise?

I have calculators that show you how much you are burning when you exercise and how many calories you need to cut from your diet to lose.  If anyone is interested, comment and I will post them.

I’m re-focused and motivated.  I’m back in the saddle again! 

I'm ready, are you?  Come join me!

copyrighted 2015

caryn cannatella

Skinny Fiber Sales:  www.caryncann2.com

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Caryncann

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Caryncann

Fan Page:  https://www.facebook.com/mylighterside?ref=bookmarks

BEAUTY ISN’T MEASURED IN POUNDS!

BEAUTY ISN’T MEASURED IN POUNDS!

Why do we believe this?  Because everywhere we look that is what we are told. 

When we go to the dr, they weigh us and that is what they make their determination on.  They don't ask "have you lost weight?"  They just assume you are a big fat pig who never does anything but stuff your face.  “You need to lose weight.”   “I am.”  “You need to lose more.”   I bite my tongue and hold back stinging tears.  What I want to say is, “Bite me!”   But I don’t.  Because when you are fat, anyone and everyone has the ultimate weapon against you.  All they have to say is “YEAH, BUT YOU ARE FAT!”  End of discussion; end of argument.  You go home and lick your wounds.  And sometimes the spoon after you eat that pint of ice cream.

They never ask if you are doing any exercise.  They ASSUME that if you are fat, you are lazy and certainly could not be walking, or jogging or working out.   You should see the faces of people (and drs) when I tell them I jog and that I have completed a 5K.  They give me that poor pitiful look like “sure you have”.   Sometimes knowing the truth is all you have.  Hang on to it.

And I've never had one dr in 62 years ever comment about my beauty.  Not my nails, not my hair, not my make-up, not my clothes, not my smile, not NOTHING!

Then look at tv, magazines, award shows. newspapers, etc.  Models and celebrities are photo shopped and air brushed to make them look thinner, prettier, younger, etc.   And then we, the everyday woman, thinks that is what we should look like.   And if we had a nutritionist, chef, hair stylist, make-up artist, trainer, someone picking out our clothes for us, an air brush artist, a photo shop expert, etc., we would be looking darn good too!

Our beauty is not limited to the house we live in.  Just like the home we live in, the house our inner self abides in does not tell the entire story.  Haven't you seen a beautiful home before and you knew the family inside didn't not reflect the outside appearance?  Same goes for us and our bodies.

Instead of always looking at your body and defining and judging yourself based on the pounds on the scale, why not try looking at the REAL you who resides inside your body.  Being fat does not mean you are automatically a good person.   However, I know many many overweight people who are the salt of the earth, nicest, most giving people around.  They will give you whatever they have and go without.  Many times they do it without a thank you and sadly, many of us do not even expect a thank you.

The next time you step on that scale and you start to judge yourself for the numbers going up or staying the same, just take one minute to stand in front of the mirror and say out loud: 

I AM NOT JUST A PERSON WHOSE BODY IS FAT.  I'M A GOOD, LOVING, LOYAL AND GIVING PERSON.  Embrace that part of YOU.  Your spirit.  Your being. 

Remind yourself of that daily.   Let that sparkle from knowing this dance in your eyes!  Others will see it even if they don't acknowledge it.  The most important thing is that YOU know it, see it and acknowledge it.

Your beauty is not measured by the numbers on a scale.  Only numbers are. 

copyrighted 2014

caryn cannatella

Skinny Fiber Sales:  www.caryncann2.com

REMODELING TIP OF THE DAY!

REMODELING TIP OF THE DAY!

I love my home.  But every time I walk around I find things the contractors didn't do, or didn't complete.  I was an equal opportunity employer.  I had one white, one black and one latino.  None of them completed the job or completed them properly.  I wonder if I had done work for them the way they did for me, if they would have been satisfied and paid me all the money I paid them.  Sometimes I think, "was it because I was a woman?"  I don't think so.  I just think they take short cuts, do shoddy work and don't complete work.  What we called people like this back in the day was unethical.  Of course, political correctness doesn't allow the truth any more.

So, if you are ever in the position to remodel, here are my tips.

1.  Rethink doing it.   Maybe you should just sell your home and build a new home. 

2.  Get references that are not friends of the contractor.

3.  THEY ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND!   No matter what they say!  They work for you.  Treat them like an employee!

4.  If they want money up front, RUN!  They don't have the working capital to do your job.  That’s like a car dealer asking for money up front to pay for the car for you to buy from them. 

5.  Don't let them use your credit card for any materials.  Period.  If you do, don’t be surprised if you find that they bought things for other people while putting used crap in your home.

6.  Everything must be in writing.  Any changes require an addendum. 

7.  If they don't carry liability insurance, DON'T TALK TO THEM.  One contractor flooded my house twice.   A plumber caused two floods in the house.  Neither had insurance.  My insurance had to pay and it put my insurance in jeopardy.

8.  Never, ever pay everything due until every last thing is done.  Once they get your money, trust me, THEY ARE DONE AND GONE!

After spending $80,000 remodeling, I will have to spend at least $20,000 more to redo my wood floors (flooded 4 times during remodel), redo both bathrooms (the master bath has been remodeled twice already and still a mess), correcting all the electrical problems, and then things like replacing the crappy kitchen cabinets (second set) and all the crown molding (don't ask). 

Like I said, I love my home.  It's old (60 years old) and durable.  It has character and it’s mine.  I don't think they build homes like they did back then.  And I can live it in now while I save the money to fix the stuff that wasn't done or wasn't done properly.  But next time will be different.  I am a more educated consumer on this subject. 

I won't be as nice or as accepting.  It will be my way or no money.  They will know and understand that they work for me not the other way around.  Any demands will be made from me; not them.  I know there are honest, ethical contractors out there.  Next time I'll hold out for that or I'll just continue to live in the house as is.

copyrighted 2015

caryn cannatella

Skinny Sales:  www.caryncann2.com

PUT THE SCALE AWAY!

PUT THE SCALE AWAY!

How many times have you heard:  Put the scale away?  There is a reason for it!

Let's take me for instance.  I completed my 9 day Food Cleanse.  I lost 8 pounds.  That’s 28,000 calories reduced in a week or 3111 calories a day.  Not possible.  Really.  I would have to have weighed over 400 pounds when I started and then eaten what was on the cleanse.   The first week is some fat, water and shock.  Yes, shock to my body!

I stated my 21 day Food plan on April 1st.  Yesterday I completed the first week.  This morning I thought, ok, let's see how I did.  I was down .2 of a pound.  I've had bowel movements that weighed more!  I've peed that much water during the night!  So WHAT IS THE PROBLEM, HOUSTON?

You know what the problem is? 

NOTHING!

That's right!  There isn't a problem.  The scale reflects numbers.  That's it.  Just numbers. 

I know I am losing because my clothes are getting looser.  I know I am eating healthy and have cut out excess calories to lose weight.  The only thing I haven't added back in is walking 3-4 times a week.   Just a side note:  I've never lost a pound exercising but I have toned up my muscles!   The weight I didn’t lose this week, is actually the water weight lost that is now fat loss. 

So what's a girl to do?  Should I give up because I didn't even lose a pound this past week?  Should I go grab a box (or two) of 12 ice creams and gobble them down to show my body who is in charge?  Should I go out and eat at a Mexican restaurant and pack in 3500 calories or more?  Oh, I’ve tried both of those solutions. 

As my therapist used to tell me when I would come up with outrageous ideas, "That's always an option."

What I decided to do instead is put that darn scale away.   Again.  In the closet in the kitchen.  On a shelf.  In the very back.   A place I won't see it unless I am looking for it.

Am I disappointed that the scale did not reflect a greater loss?  Your darn tootin' I am!  Am I going to quit!  NEVER!

I'm going to keep eating just the way I have been for the past 16 days.  Eventually, the numbers will fall.   If I do my part, keep on my food plan and stay focused, then everything will come out in the wash, as we used to say in the country!

The scale only matters if you are in this for the short haul.  I'm not.  I'm in it until the end.  

This truly is my LAST weight loss journey.  If it takes another year or two or three, I'll eventually reach the finish line!  Nothing, and especially not the scale, is going to deter me!

copyrighted 2015

caryn cannatella

Skinny Fiber Sales:  www.caryncann2.com

SIZE 14

SIZE 14

Today is a great day! Today I bought a pair of size 14 capris. And I got them on and zipped them up! Now, don't get me wrong, I can't breathe for more than about 15 minutes and I wouldn't wear them out in public yet BUT.....

 I GOT THEM ON AND ZIPPED UP!

Do you know when the last time I wore a 14 of anything was? 

1967!!! It was the fall of my ninth grade year. I was 14.

NOW I’M DOWN FROM A TIGHT 28 in July 2013!

I am so stoked! Back on track and focused!

If you are looking to get back on track losing weight and getting healthy, come join me! I'm on a new 90 day challenge and I would love to have you with me!

Order Skinny Fiber and get that little help to keep you on track! Order yours here:  www.caryncann2.com

And watch me wearing these capris in a month or so!  WOO HOO!

copyrighted 2015

caryn cannatella

Skinny Fiber Sales:  www.caryncann2.com

JUST FOR TODAY

JUST FOR TODAY

 

Have you ever had a goal that was going to take months and months to accomplish?  That is how it is for me losing weight.  My goal from the beginning was at least 100 pounds.  I knew from the start that this was not going to happen in a few weeks or months.  Oh, sure, that’s how I have approached it in the past.   And that’s one of the reasons I always failed.

This time has been different.  It has been 20 months and I’m still on my weight loss journey.  I have never stayed on a weight loss journey 20 months.  Not even when I had my stomach stapled.  I would get tired, lazy, unmotivated, deprived, etc.  I think this is the first time that my mind has been in the right place to actually see weight loss as a very long term goal.  This time I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Oh, it is only a faint flicker in the distance but I see it!  And I know as the weeks go by that light will shine brighter encouraging me to keep going!

Do I have my struggles?  YES!  Do I sometimes want to quit?  YES!  Do I sometimes blow caution to the wind and just stuff my face?  YES!  But for only a day or two only.  Do I sometimes gain some weight?  YES!  Do I get frustrated?  YES! BUT!  I have not given up!  Not once!  I haven’t even considered it.  And that is a big difference this time for me.

What is different this time?  First, I have changed my mindset.  I was and am ready to lose this weight and get healthy.  That is more important to me than stuffing my face day after day.   I have been able to track my progress over the months.  Being able to actually see my progress through pictures has helped me so much.  We don’t always notice the difference when we look in the mirror.  If you can compare two pictures, you will see the difference.   And most importantly, I have not given up!

I think something that helps so much is to approach losing weight as a lot of short term goals.  When you first start on a weight loss journey, it is so difficult.  That 25, 50, 100 pounds looks like a huge mountain you have to climb.  And the truth is, you usually don’t see a huge difference for about 3 months.  It can be overwhelming and depressing.

My goals for eating are short these days.  My attitude when I get up now is “Just for today.”   Just for today I will take my Skinny Fiber.  Just for today I will drink my water.  Just for today I will stick to my food plan.  Just for today I will move.  Just for today I will get 8 hours of sleep.

Just for today.  It’s a much easier goal to embrace and achieve than one 6 months, a year, two years down the road.  It’s doable.

So just for today I am doing what I need to do to accomplish my weight loss goal today.  And this day will turn into a week, a month, a year, and beyond.  I’m doing it.  You can too!  And in the near future, we will get to our destination.

copyright 2014

caryn cannatella

Skinny Fiber Sales:  www.caryncann2.com