Losing weight

“How did you lose so much weight?”

Let’s face it — there is no “miracle drug” or “quick fix” to losing weight.  If there were, obesity would not be so prevalent.  Of course, this doesn’t stop people from wanting instant results.  Why do they keep trying fad diets or take drastic measures? Well, sometimes they do lose weight.  For. A. Short. Time.  Then the weight comes back as soon as they are “off” the diet and it’s an endless cycle.

“How did you lose so much weight?”

If you lose the weight only by eating healthier and exercising, you can still gain it all back.  Why? You could revert to your old habits, if you don’t deal with the issues of why you gained the weight in the first place.

How did I lose so much weight?

 

Keeping it Off

As the weather starts to heat up, swimsuit season is almost here, but many of us cringe at the thought of bearing so much skin.  Whether we’re still losing weight or are at goal weight, words like “granny arms” and “thunder thighs” seem to whisper from our past, like annoying mosquitoes.

It takes inner strength to battle these pesky thoughts and replace them with positive ones.  That’s one of the key things that helps me stay fit after reaching my goal weight.  And keeping the weight off and being fit is ultimately what we all want, right?

Like many of my women friends, I’ve always found it easier to lose weight than to maintain it.  I’d follow a certain plan or regime, including eating healthier food and exercising A LOT and eventually I’d reach my goal.  The

 

My “What would you do?” moment

At the risk of sounding boastful, I want to share a story of a good deed. It was my “What would you do?” moment and I’m sharing it because I want people to know that someone cares and good deeds happen by strangers all the time.

I was driving with my teenage daughter on a busy two lane road (about 5:30 PM) and I noticed an elderly man in a wheelchair on the road’s shoulder.  His wheelchair looked stuck and his head was hanging as if he’d had a stroke or was extremely tired.  It was getting a little nippy out and the traffic was getting heavier, but this poor guy was sitting there on the road’s shoulder, which wasn’t more than a piece of broken-up concrete.  My daughter and I looked at each other and it was a “What would you do?” moment.  Keep driving? Or…turn around and help?

 

H1N1 Vaccine — Yea or Nay?

Did that person just spray H1N1 Influenza (swine flu) all over my shirt? Every sneeze and cough is starting to be suspect these days. Will I get it next? Worse yet, will my family and friends get it? These concerns are on a lot of people’s minds lately. In my case, it’s no surprise, since I work at an elementary school. It’s an ideal place for picking up germs, in the best of times. Many children sneeze and cough all over the place and, lucky me, sometimes I’m in close proximi ty to such sprayings.

According to the World Health Organization, 340,000 people have gotten the H1N1 Influenza and 4,100 people have died from it, worldwide. That’s nothing to sneeze at.  (Couldn’t help the pun).   Kidding aside, all of this m akes many people consider taking the H1N1 vaccine. Just this past week, the first doses arrived in Michigan. Health care workers will be vaccinated first and eventually, the vaccine should be available to everyone.

Is the vaccine safe? There is an overwhelming amount of information about the H1N1 vaccine on the internet and I’m still taking it all in. At this point, I am leaning toward taking it. However, before I make a final decision, I’d love to hear from others who’ve decided.

Will you or your family take the vaccine?  What was your deciding factor?   Thanks in advance.

~~ Maggie