A New Year, A New You!

How many times have you heard that in the last week? How many times have you said that to yourself in the last couple weeks? The new year always seems to bring those pesky resolutions. Come on, you know you have made a new year’s resolution in the past.

Everyone uses the new year to start fresh and do things that they feel they need to accomplish. Lofty goals are set, only to be unachieved! Below is some history on the New Year’s Resolution, some current data, and an example of the success rates.

The History of New Year's Resolutions

The tradition of the New Year's Resolutions goes all the way back to 153 B.C. Janus, a mythical king of early Rome was placed at the head of the calendar.

With two faces, Janus could look back on past events and forward to the future. Janus became the ancient symbol for resolutions and many Romans looked for forgiveness from their enemies and also exchanged gifts before the beginning of each year.

The New Year has not always begun on January 1, and it doesn't begin on that date everywhere today. It begins on that date only for cultures that use a 365-day solar calendar. January 1 became the beginning of the New Year in 46 B.C., when Julius Caesar developed a calendar that would more accurately reflect the seasons than previous calendars had.

The Romans named the first month of the year after Janus, the god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and entrances. He was always depicted with two faces, one on the front of his head and one on the back. Thus he could look backward and forward at the same time. At midnight on December 31, the Romans imagined Janus looking back at the old year and forward to the new. The Romans began a tradition of exchanging gifts on New Year's Eve by giving one another branches from sacred trees for good fortune. Later, nuts or coins imprinted with the god Janus became more common New Year's gifts.

In the Middle Ages, Christians changed New Year's Day to December 25, the birth of Jesus. Then they changed it to March 25, a holiday called the Annunciation. In the sixteenth century, Pope Gregory XIII revised the Julian calendar, and the celebration of the New Year was returned to January 1.

The Julian and Gregorian calendars are solar calendars. Some cultures have lunar calendars, however. A year in a lunar calendar is less than 365 days because the months are based on the phases of the moon. The Chinese use a lunar calendar. Their new year begins at the time of the first full moon (over the Far East) after the sun enters Aquarius- sometime between January 19 and February 21.

Although the date for New Year's Day is not the same in every culture, it is always a time for celebration and for customs to ensure good luck in the coming year.

www.goalsguy.com


A New Year's resolution is a commitment that an individual makes to a project or the reforming of a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally interpreted as advantageous. The name comes from the fact that these commitments normally go into effect on New Year's Day and remain until fulfilled or abandoned. More socio-centric examples include resolutions to donate to the poor more often, to become more assertive, or to become more economically or environmentally responsible. People may act similarly during the Christian fasting period of Lent, though the motive behind this holiday is more of sacrifice than of responsibility. The new year resolution is one example of the rolling forecast-method of planning. According to this method, plans are established at regular short or medium-term time intervals, when only a rough long-term plan exists.

There are religious parallels to this secular tradition. For example, in Judaism's holiest holiday, Yom Kippur, one is to reflect upon one's wrongdoings over the year and both seek and offer forgiveness. The concept, regardless of creed, is to reflect upon self-improvement annually.

Recent research shows that while 52% of participants in a resolution study were confident of success with their goals, only 12% actually achieved their goals. Men achieved their goal 22% more often when they engaged in goal setting, a system where small measurable goals are used (lose a pound a week, instead of saying "lose weight"), while women succeeded 10% more when they made their goals public and got support from their friends.[

www.wikipedia.com
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Some of the top NYR!

http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/New_Years_Resolutions.shtml
http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/new-years-resolutions-in-one-year-out-other

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A New Year’s Resolution is an ancient tradition, full of mythical and religious lore. It has long been a practice and will likely continue to be a practice. Personally, I do not make New Year’s Resolutions because they seem to largely be based on negative motivators.

Now, my history with WW will prove otherwise. The year that I finally reached goal, I joined on January 4th! While I didn’t start 2009 at goal, I did recommit on January 3rd! So, maybe I am into NYR more than I would like to admit.

The goal of achieving and maintain those resolutions is to not go cold tofurkey (turkey), and to not make your resolutions too lofty that you will give up easily. For many, the resolution practice every January 1 is a great motivator and a great tool to make healthy changes. These changes can stick, if you want them to! You have that choice.

So, what is your resolution(s) this year? Are you getting back on plan after a hiatus? Are you deciding to finally give into the new program and follow the new WW guidelines? Are you resolving to drink more water, exercise more, use that oil in your cooking, attend more meetings, post on the message boards…the list could go on and on?

Personally, I have been off program much of the last 16 months. Once I left, I thought, here is my chance! I can go crazy. That is what I did. The foods I chose to allow into my body were not always healthy and certainly sent my weight to crazy high numbers. I will not go further, as a prior post goes into the numbers. The key, I have felt like crap.

I decided this past Saturday to do a fruit and veggie detox. This is basically eating no animal products and just fruits and veggies. I felt like crap all day. I was so tired and loopy. Okay, maybe the fast had nothing to do with me being loopy. I am most days! I tried this once before and it didn’t have near the effect that it had this go around. I ate a sweet potato, avocado, fruit smoothie (may have bent the rules for that), a fresh squeezed juice in the am, salad, olive oil as dressing, sautéed veggies…it tasted so good! I continued this as much as possible Sunday and did have some bread at dinner. That was basically it that wasn’t on the detox.

Sunday, I was so warm and I felt clammy. I didn’t feel too good. I could tell that my liver was cleansing, as sweating and body heat are a sign that the liver is impure. I also started Garden of Life’s Perfect Cleanse yesterday. It is a 3 step evening process that is all natural and herbal. 3 pills before dinner, fiber drink after dinner, and 3 pills before bed. The fiber drink is nasty! I will be honest. But, it will help get rid of the last year and a half, cleanse my body, and allow my body to function at it’s tiptop shape. Today, I feel great!

I am even going to bring in a bowl to keep fruit on my desk! This re-embrace of healthy eating feels very good. I truly do love eating healthy foods and I love that I can enjoy food again and not feel bad afterwards!

Happy New Year!

Here it is, 2009! Can you believe it? 2008 was our year to be great. What can you do to be fine in 2009?

Fine could be the epitome of hot and sexy, as in “She’s so fine!”

Or

Fine could be fine with where you are on your journey, no matter where you are

Or

Fine could be accepting that you need to make some adjustments to your habits and attitudes and being okay with that.

So, what are you going to do this year to be fine in 2009?

“It’s so cold!” (recipe included)

I knew if I put that there was a recipe you would look!

With a temp of 1° this morning, that was the first thing I said as I sat on my leather seats in my car (thank you to the animals that provide these to me). They were so cold! How many of you have said these very words a lot lately? Seriously, is this only the second day of winter? I was working my part time job at Georgetown Market yesterday and looked up to see a whirl of snow. It looked so cold and bitter outside. The winds were fierce, the sky was blurred by the flakes falling (tiny flakes so it was especially blurred), and the customers were squinting and holding their hats to their heads. I was thankful to be indoors at that moment. I felt sad for them having to endure the climate they found themselves in, when they did not expect it.

This morning, I was so cold on the way to work. The seats finally started to warm, as I got to the parkign garage. I love seat warmers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Had I gone out to start the car and let it warm, it wouldn’t have shocked me as I sat to head into the office. The temp rose to 3° by the time I was downtown! That was something. I could feel those extra 2 degrees. I know I could. I walked across the street to get a veggie plate for lunch and a gaggle of coworkers exited behind me. One coworker said at least 3 times in a row, “It’s so cold!!!!!” I thought to myself, “you know it is cold, but I am prepared and the sun is shining.” Knowing it would be cold made it easier and faster to adjust. I was fine in the cold! It actually woke me up a bit, so that was nice. I don’t have much work today.

My weight watchers journey as of late is like the morning temps today. At first, I was shocked when I returned to meetings. I will say it. 215 pounds! My goal is 174. EEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, doing that math, I have 41 pounds to lose. I do not want to admit this, but I need to because the holiday treats are tempting me more than any year in the past. If I say it out loud, so to speak, here then I will be able to resist for fear of having to admit to you that I have gone off program yet again. The last year has been hellish and I have endured a lot in my personal life. I am slowly walking through the other side of all this, and I am choosing to embrace WW the best I can. Working for WW was not easy on a mind that still sees itself as a fat girl. While I know the faithful members, those probably the only ones still checking this website, did not judge me for my body, I did encounter many times where I was looked up and down during getting started sessions. I am sure some thought, 'she could lose more!' Or at least I think they thought that. What do you think? Hee!

I had to leave the environment that based my employment on the number on the scale. That being said, not having to weigh in monthly to keep my job has made it easy to slack off and take a breather. That breather has lasted way too long and no matter how shocking that number was, it is what it is. I can’t control the temperature in the air, but I can control the number on the scale. I may be shocked at first, but knowing where I am allows the shock to lessen and it to sink in. Getting back “On Plan (OP)” is shocking too. Tracking and watching what I eat is shocking. But, everyday, the shock lessens and so does the burden. I am growing more and more used to it, and that is refreshing.

I will always have to do WW. This I know, and some days I am even grateful for that. I will always have a fat girl mind, but it doesn’t have to rule me.

I will get back to goal weight, and just like I love you no matter where you are, I know you will love me no matter where I am! So, no shame.

And I lost 1.6 my first week back!

How about this (or as many of these as you can do) as a holiday gift to yourself:

• Get shocked and do something about it!
• Give yourself the grace you would give anyone else
• Do one thing today that you are willing to do the next day, and the next day, and the next day…
• Bring your lunch
• Eat before you go to that holiday party
• Take something WW friendly
• Track as much as you can
• Don’t force yourself – you will only resent having to do it
• Allow yourself a treat if you want one
• Give yourself a day of pampering as a reward for all your hard work this year. This can be at home and on the cheap!
• Take the candy you are given and make a big pile! Count how many days you can go without eating it! It will become a joke. I am on 12 days for a Hershey’s with Almonds – yum! I don’t even want it now!
• Ask for help!
• Go to meetings
• Weigh-in - you can't know what you have to do without knowing where you are
• Be proud of yourself! I am!

And, last but not least, email me and let me know how you are doing!!!!!!!!!!! I miss you all so much! My exit from WW was very fast, and I apologize if it felt as if I had abandoned you. I hadn’t. I still haven’t. If I could do it differently, I would. I know how much importance I put on my leaders and I am sure some of you were hurt. For that I am sorry. It was not my choice to leave, especially so fast. That pesky scale reared its ugly head and I couldn’t get around it any longer!

Happy Holidays and to all a happy, joyous, prosperous, and productive New Year!

Love,
Meg

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Baked Pasta with Butternut Squash and Ricotta

main meals
POINTS® Value: 5

Servings: 8

Preparation Time: 25 min

Cooking Time: 60 min

Level of Difficulty: Moderate

This pasta casserole is a hearty yet elegant combination of whole wheat penne, rich butternut squash, toasted walnuts, ricotta and Parmesan cheese.

Ingredients
2 spray(s) cooking spray
20 oz butternut squash
1/8 tsp table salt
12 oz uncooked whole-wheat pasta
1 1/4 cup(s) fat-free skim milk
2 tbsp white all-purpose flour
2 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp thyme
1/2 cup(s) part-skim ricotta cheese
1/3 cup(s) grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup(s) chopped walnuts

Instructions
· Preheat oven to 375ºF. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Coat a 2 1/2- to 3-quart baking dish with cooking spray.
· Place squash on prepared baking sheet; roast until tender, about 20 to 30 minutes. Place in a large bowl and mash.
· Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. After squash has been roasting for about 10 minutes, cook pasta according to package directions; drain and return to pot.
· In a medium saucepan, whisk together milk, flour, garlic, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, whisking frequently; reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring often, until thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in mashed squash and 2 1/2 teaspoons of thyme. Add sauce to pasta; toss to mix and coat.
· Transfer pasta mixture to prepared baking dish; dot with spoonfuls of ricotta and then sprinkle with Parmesan and walnuts. Bake until top is lightly browned in a few spots, about 15 to 20 minutes; remove from oven and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 teaspoon of thyme. Yields about 1 cup per serving.
· Place squash on prepared baking sheet; roast until tender, about 20 to 30 minutes. Place in a large bowl and mash.

Notes
· *Look for a 20 ounce bag of fresh, already peeled and cubed squash from your supermarket. If you can't find any, cut a medium squash in half lengthwise and place cut-side down on prepared baking sheet; roast until tender, about 45 minutes. Scoop squash out of skin into a large bowl, mash with a spoon and proceed as above.

Alternatively, you can microwave cubed squash, covered, in a shallow microwave-safe baking dish or container with 1/4 cup of water, until cooked through; mash squash in a bowl.

Kitties need a new home - HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Many of you know how much I love and treasure my kitties. Unfortunately, I am in a precarious situation and I need to find homes for a few of them. The economic times have been tough on me and I have to downsize and move, which means that all my babies can't come with me. This is heartbreaking to think about but it is necessary.

So, if you have it in your heart to give a deserving kitty a home I would be furever grateful.

Pouncer, a senior "russian blue" that likes to be the only kitty. She is very sweet and cuddly when she is by herself. She just turned 10, but she is a very young ten.

Eddie, Pouncer's baby girl. She is black and 8 years old. She has medium length fur and is very sweet. She loves to bump her head into things, which is very cute. She likes to run through the house and sometimes you can only guess that it is her. She is so sweet.

Bastian, aka the godfather! He is 6 and is a very hefty boy. He is very lovable and loves to give kisses. He is very much a lover. I am working to get his weight down, but it is a challenge. He is a black and grey tabby. He is finally not eating and eating and eating. He is walking away from the food bowl these days. Yay!

Just email me at meggysue90@hotmail.com if you are interested.

You will be missed Jonas!

I just received word that a foster puppy I had for a few days (I was his temporary foster) passed away from parvo. He was a doll, and so very cute! He was trapped, nearly 5 days after his siblings, and lived alone in an abandoned home. He was very skittish and untrusting, but quickly came out of his shell and was the biggest kisser of the litter. He was only around 9 weeks, and was neutered last Tuesday. He then went to his foster home, where he enjoyed rolling in the leaves and had a good appetite. He took a turn for the worse this past Saturday and was taken to the emergency vet on Sunday. I received word that he passed around 10:30 or 11 this morning.

While I only had him for a few days, he made a big paw-print on my heart.

Dr. Oz’s Cup of Fresh review and Indianapolis Marathon (and half Marathon and 5K - recipe at the bottom too!)

I decided a few months back that I would walk the Indianapolis Half Marathon. Well, a REALLY BAD case of plantar fasciitis ruined that. So, in August, I registered for the 5K. The day that I thought would take forever to get here is this Saturday! I can’t believe it. Two gals from the WW message boards are coming into town and are doing this with me. Well, they are so much more fit and strong that they are going to do the Half Marathon. I am such a proud friend!

I am so sick of foot pain. I can’t say that enough. It is VERY frustrating. I have had plantar fasciitis since August. I have some pain every day, most days pretty bad. I know I could have it much worse. Others are in much worse shape. My sympathies to all who are. I have to own the pain I am feeling. It is not fun and I am very bad, as my therapist keeps telling me. I have physical therapy twice a week now. A couple weeks down and finally I am feeling some relief. There is some, not much, but some. I am on 2 hours of a straight tightened muscle, like a Charlie horse. Ice is going on now. My therapist thinks I may not be able to do the 5K, but I am not losing my money and the chance to do something good for me! I will have ice packs at the ready for afterwards!

I also started a part time job this week at Georgetown Market. I am going to be working in the deli, so I will be on my feet all the time. Luckily, the more I move, the more blood flows to the muscles and tendons, thus reducing the pain. But, as I found in a 3.5 hour shift yesterday, they are going to get sore. But, I am looking at the bright side that this will be good for me, budget-wise and movement wise! No pain, no gain, right?

Come and see me Saturdays and Sundays. I start on my birthday, October 25th. Yes, that was a shameless plug! I have to work 8 hours on my birthday. At least I will be surrounded by lots of people on the big day and I will be making money too!

So, back to this marathon stuff! There is still room, if you would like to join in the fun Saturday. The website is www.indianapolismarathon.com.

I will post more from the Cancer Society booklet this week!

Oh, for all those interested in Dr. Oz’s Cup of Fresh Green Smoothie, it is good! I finally had it yesterday. I do NOT like ginger, so I would leave it out. One warning, you really need a juicer! I think he blended it on the show, but I don’t remember. I don’t see how it would blend easily. It is VERY refreshing.

Meg’s Marinara

8-9 tomatoes, boiled, peeled and chopped
2 T canola or olive oil
2 medium or 1 large yellow onion, chopped
Garlic to taste (I used two frozen cubes from a Trader Joe’s freezer pack – roughly 2 cloves)
1 small can Vegetable broth
Dried basil (I would say I used 1 teaspoon)
Dried Oregano (I would say I used ½ teaspoon)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 T sugar (roughly – start out with less and add more as necessary)

Boil tomatoes in water, remove when the skin cracks. Put in an ice bath to stop cooking and peel once cool. Chop and set aside.

While tomatoes are boiling, you can cut up onion and garlic and start sautéing in the oil. Cook on medium until onions are translucent. Add cut up tomatoes and all the remaining ingredients. Simmer on low-medium heat for 60 minutes. Stir often. Reduce to low and simmer another 30 minutes. I think the slow cooking really helps increase the flavor. It would be fine after 30minutes, I am sure, if you are pressed for time.

Take a potato masher and “mash” the tomatoes. I left some chunk. I just wanted to “puree” it a bit. It will not be a thick sauce before this. I like chunky marinara sauce!

I haven’t figured pts on this, but it is all core, except the sugar, which isn’t enough to make it even a half point per serving. And I haven’t measured it yet to see how much it yielded. I will do that tonight and post tomorrow!

Mini Marathon 2009

If you have considered doing the mini next year, register by November 1, 2008, to save $20.

$50 by 11/1/08

$70 after 11/1/08

Ouch! It sure has gotten expensive! But, 13.1 miles is a lot of activity pts. and the training before will certainly help your weight loss efforts!