YES, you CAN Eat OUT and SOME Fast Food is going HEALTHY!

I am excited to say, that I am noticing more and more, that restaurants and some semi "Fast Food" places are catching on that folks want to ENJOY food on an excursion, but that they are becoming educated, that YES, YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT! Today, I was heading to Kent Station, and smiled ear to ear, twice, as I passed strip malls with regular little restaurants. One, a Sub Sandwich place, had a big reader board that said GLUTEN FREE! And if you don't understand why Gluten Free is catching on like wildfire (even though I've preached it from my "health pulpit" for years and years...smile ) then scroll backwards on my blog to the segments on that subject!  The second restaurant,  a typical Teriyaki establishment, said, BROWN RICE used in all dishes. And we know brown rice is a super food, slow on breaking down as a carb in the body, and chock full of B vitamins and fiber! I love seeing the change, as Americans realize, changing just a few eating habits can mean the difference between more energy, less illness, and weight control! 

Sooooooo, it was like Deja Vu today. We do eat Chipolte Mexican Grill, because they caught my eye several years ago when I saw a sign they posted that said FOOD with INTEGRITY! I said, what??? I discovered that they served food, I LIKED, that had a lot of HEALTHY components when you are out on the run. I can order a Veggie bowl, that is BTW Two Meals! So I get it for there, and ask for the metal "to go" top as shown in the picture. I eat half, am stuffed, and take the other half home for a tasty meal next day. Average cost to eat out there is then 3.00. Now to the difference they make in the quality of their meals.

Chipolte uses Organic whenever possible, in their produce, beans, veggies.  They serve whole black beans, which are one of my top SUPER food suggestions for you.  But just as I was about to go in to get my usual, I thought, oh, why don't they serve BROWN RICE instead of white?? And that would make it perfect! (White rice, to the body, is dead food, all the goodness was stripped away, and it works pretty similar to white refined sugar, unbalancing blood sugars, triggering insulin, and creating more chance for tummy fat)  I walked in, ready to go, and voila, there is a new container in back of the white rice, with, you got it, Brown Long Grain Rice. HURRAY!  I had a medium scoop of brown rice on the bottom, an extra spoonful of whole black beans, an extra serving of grilled green peppers and onions, the chopped tomato "stuff," a small drizzling of sour cream, just a smidge of grated white cheese scattered, and all the guacamole they want to give me ;-)  Oh, when you see just a smidge of white...(sour cream) I did have more put on and I ATE it before the picture! lol.......Now, I am mostly Vegan, but good news for you who want meat added. They strive for dairy products without  hormones/antibiotics, BUT even better, the chicken my grandson had, is FREE range, also hormone and antibiotic free. How about that?? 

So tell the restaurants, small or big you go to, that you want these better ingredients, and they will comply likely if enough folks ask over and over.  Leave out the typical fast food places.  They are not interested in your health as much as the financial gain.  It's like Kellogg's coming out with Gluten Free cereals.  Sorta like the K Mart version of a healthy Gluten Free cereal! Makes me laugh!

Nope, I do not trust they are a wholesome product!  I like small companies who derive as much satisfaction out of Foods that increase your health, as the monetary gratification.

OK. So you can make good choices in going out to eat, and still have some delicious times while doing it. Just remember! TAKE HALF HOME, or you are going to be eating healthier, but not winning the battle of the bulge!  Once you get into the habit of asking for take out and even filling the container before you eat to keep yourself honest, it just becomes so easy.  G'night all.  And keep learning that your health is so valuable, that if I asked for you to hand it to me today for a winning lottery ticket, I don't think it would be a contest. CHEERS, and we are making great progress!!! Thank you all!  P.S. You are seeing the HALF I brought home!  Think if you ate it all in one setting ;-)

SOY PROTEIN Drinks/Bars.... Are there BETTER ALTERNATIVES?!!

So many of you have gotten BIT by the EXERCISE Bug of late....be it running, jogging, the gym, etc. And while that is great, we all know it is vital we do some good quality foods to enhance our HEALTH and WEIGHT CONTROL simultaneously!

Besides using Complex, preferably Gluten-Free Carbs over stripped, refined white flour/white sugar
ones, we also know that many of us use PROTEIN SHAKES/SMOOTHIES for Energy and often as a meal substitute.  So I am going to give you a few tips on what you may want to consider in choosing the ingredients for these blender drinks.

Remember, that too much sugar, refined or even natural, creates a sugar rush that triggers insulin production.  And we want to always think of insulin output as a prime time for FAT STORAGE!  So using a fruit juice base, adds alot of calories and sugar and may defeat the purpose of the drink.  I really find a lot of friends who use ice cold RICE MILK, and like that it is thin and works well with the power and fruits and doesn't add a huge amount of sugar into the recipe like fruit juices. I like to use 8 ozs. in the blender, with my protein powder, sometimes some plain non-fat yogurt for thickness and I grab a handful of frozen berries (Traders has good buys on them) of mixed  berry blend or raspberries, and toss them in.   I blend it, until WELL mixed, and drink either before my working out, or walking, or as a meal replacement when in a hurry to find something quick and nutritious.  Smoothies from chain outlets that make these SUPERSIZED drinks,  often have large amounts of hidden sugars and  calories in them, BEWARE! 

Now to my most important information on Smoothies/Protein drinks. What do you use for the Protein powder?  For years now, many peope have used cans of SOY protein powder made from something called Soy Isolate, feeling that Soy was a good source. Soy Isolate is in many "health" products, and I do not use it. I use either a whey based or Rice Protein powder in mine, and this is why.

Soy in tofu, edamame, tempeh, is MUCH different than SOY Isolate. Man just can't seem to help himself from "adulterating" good foods sources by genetically altering them, super concentrating them, and isolating them in an unnatural manner. Many studies now indicate the Soy Isolate, besides causing us to be too acidic (we want to be ALKALINE) may promote a certain growth hormone, called IGF-1, or Insulin Growth Factor, that works in an abnormal, unhealthy way.  As we are younger and growing,  IGF-1 is present and working naturally in the body.  When we are grown, we do NOT want to STIMULATE this growth hormone as it can stimulate growth in areas that we do NOT want stimulated, namely hormones and even cancer cells some suggest. This is why I encourage anyone using soy-isolate on a regular basis, to do the research about how it may have a human growth hormone factor that is not advantageous and even could be dangerous. Whey, in simple terms, the protein part of milk w/out the mucous side effects, etc. is often an option. Just do NOT do too HUGE amounts of whey protein daily, as it could be hard on the kidneys and liver. Also, NutriBiotics Brown Rice Protein powder is my favorite, and the easiest utilized, but will need natural sweeteners such as berries, or their Natural Chocolate version to appeal to most people's taste. I like it. I also use Coconut Milk as well as Rice Milk in my Smoothies. With my liquid, berries and Whey or Rice Protein, I have a smoothie that is about 16 carbs, and has about 12 grams of protein.

There are folks who, like myself, really get into various Smoothie recipes. I list my favorites in my new upcoming E Book! I like to stay Alkaline, the KEY to health, which we'll talk about soon. But I use a recipe that uses Coconut Water for the base, ACAI  berry frozen  Juice packets, my Protein powder, cinnamon, and some Chlorophyll in a dropper. Really tasty, and so ALKALINE producing. Even the kids like it. Watch for my recipes on all different type smoothies that help with your exercising and meal replacement. Thanks for thinking about  Soy Isolate, and remember, you Vegans, it is what most all of your "artificial meats" are made from! Thanks for the read. And you don't need to implement it all,  just keep reading and getting educated. This is what  makes most of us want to take the small steps that lead eventually to some pretty fun, BIG results! CHEERS!!!

For the LADIES Tonight ONLY: Who Want Super Nutrition to STOP Pre-Mature Aging

NATURE surely expects  alot from Women. We often endure fluctuating HORMONES, many of us carry and deliver babies, make and manage money, cook and clean, shuttle children or ourselves to endless activities. With such SUPERHUMAN demands as they often seem, we certainly could use a few SUPER HUMAN Nutrition Heroes on our side, so we don't look like the top picture, but more like the ending photo. It will be great to learn just a few power hitters to help give us MORE ENERGY, LESS ILLNESS and DISEASE (especially serious disease) and even the BODY we can feel good in, as well as why not SLOW DOWN the AGING in and out,  including wrinkles, skin changes, sagging, etc. Let's learn today, and surely I hear a Hip Hip Hooray :-)


Well, you already hear from me every post, it's TIME to realize the value of taking processed, refined (especially carbs) pre-fab foods out of our lives for the most part. So we are slowly learning Whole, Naturally intact foods, especially Gluten and Dairy free may be key to our FOUNDATION of Health!  So what else can we do, to really empower our health as a female, and to slow down that aging process???


We talked about one of them in a previous post. If you didn't read the post on GREEN TEA, then scroll until you find it. It is a wonderful anti aging, special antioxidant to add in regularly.
Hot or cold, caffeine free, or caffeinated, your choice. Try it, you may learn to like it.


THE RIGHT OILS:  What will help us live longer and look radiant as we age??? Well, many of you use Olive Oil, and that's a wonderful monounsaturated oil, but I have one I use more for cooking: COCONUT OIL ! We'll have an entire lesson on that one. And you see the bottle of it on my collage of shopping items a few posts backs. Not only cook in it, stir it in or melt it and eat a tablespoon a day. But now, important OILS you take to supplement your HEALTH as well as your skin and hair! FISH OIL...don't go YUK! Or don't take fish capsules. Go with the new emulsified, YUMMY fish oils that contain not only healthy Omega 3-fatty oils for great heart health, but one that contains fish oil, Flax oil and borage oil..a Healthy Oil trio that is great for we women! Flaxseed oil has lignens, and helps modulate estrogen levels, may protect against breast cancer, and help with ENERGY. Borage is known for female hormone balance too! When your estrogen is balanced, you will feel more alive, more energetic, your skin should age more slowly, your moods may be better, hey, it's wonderful to take a yummy tasting fish oil you don't burp up and is so good, you'll say, Linda, I'm surprised! Here's a picture of one you can get in the refrigerator section at your local health store or in a grocery store that has a nutrition area.  I LOVE the taste!!!!  Barleans 3-6-9 Total Omega, Orange Swirl.


Blueberries! And other berries! The antioxidant effect again! Dr. Perricone talks about saving your skin w/antioxidants!  Use fresh, in  a handful, or on cereal or in a smoothie..I think the best bang for your buck is Trader  Joe's mixed Berry Medley. When I feel antsy for a snack, I bring up a small cup of frozen blueberries or raspberries and just let them one by one melt in my mouth, and it's like soooooo good for you, but I like feeling like having a fun snack that way! And you can supplement the fresh apples/berries/antioxidant rich fruits with ONE capsule of Resveratrol, that is an antioxidant capsule equal to over 70 glasses red wine, a pound or more of dark chocolate and about 20 cups of blueberries. So do NOT give up the blueberries and other berries, no on can reproduce Mother Nature, but try a boost of SUPER antioxidants in one 200 MG of Resveratrol a day.
Great to stop the aging process....In and OUT! And talk about great for cardiovascular. I think it's amazing!


Sardines and Salmon, wild of course!  Again, the Barleans Yummy Orange emulsified fish oil (almost like orange lemon meringue, no kiddin) is a necessary supplement to me every day, but I also try and eat Salmon, wild, at least 2-3 times a week. Or if you like Sardines, they are high in Omega 3 fatty oils as well.  Do BOTH.  Eat more of the fatty, omega rich fish, and take that one spoonful of TASTY fish oil w/flax and borage daily! HURRAY. Barleans!


Last tip, but not least! LEAFY GREENS. I take the time to spoil myself and if your kids or hubs or anyone doesn't want it, YOU learn to love salads that would be on the GOURMET SALAD side of a menu of a 5 star restaurant. NO ICEBERG, please, the nutritionless green..but good mixed greens or spinach as a base, and add some torn small pieces of KALE and CHARD. It's hearty, so just about 1/4 of the salad til you adjust. I add my apple cut up in it, and maybe some bright red grapefruit sections cut up, or some pecans or walnuts, some good dressing, and some dry shreds of parmesan cheese...just a little. CHANGE IT UP. I like this on it: I like to add fresh, firm blueberries on it too. Be creative. The POWERHOUSE of the CHARD and KALE to the base is sooooo powerful. Helps you avoid lack of calcium and osteoporosis! HIGH in folic acid in the baby years. And is well known for managing estrogen in such a way as to protect against breast cancer and other hormone related cancers! YAY! But it supercharges my health!
I have learned to incorporate chard and kale in slowly so I eat it regularly now, half and half. And have my daughter liking it, with a few lil strawberries, blueberries, small cut apple chunks and that splash of oil or caesar dressing with just a handful of dry fresh shredded parmesan cheese. The only cheese I use besides ricotta or string (mozzarella) 


There you have it. These things and lots of pure water, more whole natural foods, and living in the now with grace and gratitude,  is why the women you see in their 40's/50's/60's/70's  that have glossy hair, great skin tone, are also helping SLOW the aging process while empowering themselves with OPTIMAL health. Yep. Here's the picture we are looking for over the one in the beginning. CHEERS to all you women. For all you do. For all you give. Isn't it time you took care of you so you can be health, beautiful and energetic. It's worth the implementing these few things in your routine. I tell you, they work! Thanks for reading. You are my inspiration!






If you get to the sixth decade, and look and feel this great, the effort and re programming to a lifestyle you can just fall in love with...ALL WORTH IT!!! Beauty, in and out!

EXERCISE VS. WHOLE FOOD EATING: Which ONE is more effective in WEIGHT CONTROL?

Well hopefully, you know from the title of tonight's blog post, that we are "setting you up" in a way! But in a way, NOT really! Let's get to the "skinny" of both sides of the question!!! Tonight's talking is sort of like the chicken or the egg concept. What is going to bring you the greatest results, longterm, in your weight and health, EXERCISE or your greatest focus on programming off of dead, processed, refined feeds and eating more WHOLE, LIVE, CLEAN foods???


Well, wouldn't it be great if we paid equal attention to exercise, eating more whole, less refined foods, as well as to our positive, internal self  that affirms to us, that we cognitively tell ourselves like the Black Eyed Peas say, Today's gonna be a good, good day ;-) However, we usually don't build the wheel with perfectly balanced spokes. And that's ok.  I am  better in the eating department, my hubs in the exercising venue,  and my best girlfriend could wake up in a snowbank w/her socks missing, and go, isn't it gorgeous here ? So my question is,  if your wheel is too lopsided, will you eventually fall short in permanent weight maintaining and longterm health? And what if there is the chance for illnesses to crop up, even if you are in your 20's, 30's??? Exercising and all.
 And by the way, PLEASE show me REAL people in say, their 40's-60's in the weight exercise videos, the ads for equipment, etc.  Smile. What you learn here, right now, if you are younger, will carry you through the times metabolic rate drops, ( and it will, trust me, w/ea birthday) when you just plain can't just run and keep the weight off, because hormones are changing, stress increases, or any number of factors! So read on!


So the bottom line is: while Exercise is crucial to living longer, and leaner, if I had to choose, if I could just do one, which would I??? I would want to do the whole wheel, but I would pick..........the whole, live, foods eating for the rest of your life!
Why? Because while Exercising has many benefits, and we'll discuss that, but even if you are a marathon runner, and look lean and healthy, if you body doesn't receive the nutrition it needs to stay immune empowered, to keep arteries clear, to protect you from your "genetic time bomb" as I call it, you still could fail on living to longevity w/robust, disease free, HEALTH!  Exercise, without an emphasis on LESS (really less) refined, non-nutritional, dead foods (boxed, all cooked, lots of meats, convenience foods, simple carb, sugary foods) is like truly "spinning your wheels," in some ways.  Now conversely, to eat w/an emphasis on fresh foods daily, as well as complex carbs mostly, with moderation of animal products, and lots of pure clean water and no regular, two part exercise would be unwise.  But let me give you an example: I broke both of my ankles a decade ago. Had I not been on a whole food, well balanced food regime that was my regular lifestyle, because I couldn't even walk a block for a year,  I'd surely have gained at least a dozen pounds. I did not. I stayed as active as I could, but just continued my regular good eating, and was able to manage my weight. So let's at least agree that we don't want to do a one legged race. If we want the benefits of LONG TERM wellness and an acceptable weight, it's about going for it all! Finding a variety of exercises we can do that we enjoy, regularly, and forever. No fads. And the same with the food aspect. We keep enjoying food,  we just become educated how to SPECIFICALLY trade out and substitute, the whole live versions for the refined, disease and fat producing ingredients!


EXERCISE: My husband has been a regular exerciser for almost 40 years. He worked as a Tai Chi instructor/aquatics teacher  for 24 Hour Fitness for a decade or more. And here is his belief on the best exercise program you could do. But again, remember, it is WHAT YOU WILL DO, forever!  Not just a sprint. He likes the gym, the pool, the Insanity Workout.  I like to walk the neighborhood, use water bottles to use as my dumbells and I like to go up and down the stairs in our house, walk from the furthest part of the parking lot. He advocates the following:
Cardio: That would be walking, running, treadmill, etc. And while he finds cardio crucial to heart and lung health, stamina, and some weight maintaining and toning, and he does his cardio each day, he does not believe it's a whole package when it comes to exercise. And by the way, here's a tip about females walking or running to lose weight around the middle, belly fat, or visceral fat. CHANGE IT UP! Walk some, then put some jogging in.  Run backwards and then catch up w/your walking partner. Go up hills.  If you use a treadmill, get off for awhile and do some stairs. If you do this, you can lose up to double the belly fat than just running a steady pace, or walking the same gait. A rise and fall in intensity can trick the body into giving more weight up!
But Lloyd suggests that Cardio must be incorporated with weight resistant exercising. Your average Cardio walk/run/workout will raise the metabolic rate for a bit, but IF you eat enough portion of your food that day in refined, white foods, you basically are at square one...BUT if you do weight resistant, machine or free weight, be it my 32 oz water bottles I do...lol...regular free weights, machines, then the purposeful stress to the muscles, causes them to repair themselves, it generates heat, and raises the metabolism for a longer period of time.  And of course muscle mass is created very nicely, if one is lifting or working with weights, repeating in repetition, and in sets. And again, changing it up is important. Swimming is a great exercise, because while we mainly think of it as cardio, the push and pull against the water, and resistance is excellent. I highly suggest saline pools over chlorine pools.


In conclusion, why not make your exercise count??? Usually when I had people losing weight in my classes, and they were exercising, they would look at a white bagel, or a cupcake, and go, not today...I don't want to take the chance to negate my exercise. Now be realistic. Of course you are not seeking perfection in your eating,  but if it is a pattern, of mainly refined carbs, sugary foods and drinks, fatty meats, fast food, and lots of dairy,  then a pattern of less muscle, less permanent weight maintaining may be the result, even if you exercise somewhat.  Exercise is a valuable part of the wheel. But remember, without your health as well, from the bounty of whole live foods substituting your meals, your snacks, your eating out, well, the wheel could definitely go flat. It's all about balance. We suggest a complex carb before working out for energy release to the muscles. Brown rice would be an example. Or some gluten free item. Maybe some berries whirred in some cold rice milk... After working out, a protein is nice. Eggs, a KIND Nut bar, (Plus type) etc. I have a complete list in the book. But whatever you do, don't sell yourself short by just putting all your eggs in one basket. Work on the trio of healthy living together. PROPER EXERCISE, MORE WHOLE LIVE FOODS THAN PROCESSED/REFINED ONES, and A COGNITIVE, POSITIVE, GRATEFUL MINDSET. Go step by step. Rome wasn't built in a day. It is NORMAL to falter, just pick yourself back up and give it your best shot again.  Our goal: To Live to be a 100 and ENJOY getting there. Doesn't it make sense? CHEERS and G'night. Don't forget comments or questions. 

SHOPPING DAY: Puget Consumer's CO-OP and TRADER JOES

Today we went to Issaquah to our favorite shopping store besides Trader Joes, PCC, a Co-Op that is awesome. It's where we grocery shop. We just go to regular grocery stores for a few items. I wanted you to see how you buy brown rice, in the bulk area, to show you the fun new healthy soups in a box, you can take to work, and to show you a few items from Traders as well. Just a picture collage tonight. Tomorrow we'll talk about, will exercise do the trick for weight loss and maintaining w/out taking processed foods out? My expert, the hubs, who was a trainer/instructor for many years for 24 Hour Fitness in California. will be giving you valuable tips!  So enjoy the pictures. Try new things that are close to what your tastebuds like, but lower in calories, carbs, sugars, and made by companies who care more about your health than big huge corporation companies. FIND A CO-OP in your area. Unless money isn't an issue, then who wouldn't do WHOLE FOODS every time...smile. It is an awesome store..but can be pricey.


Have a good night, and remember, we are going for wonderful health and a fit body these next few months. This is just bits and pieces. The NEW BOOK will be available next month. YAY, I cannot wait for you to get something that you will find systematically filled with the story of how to live to be a hundred and enjoy getting there. Tomorrow, I will tell you the highest antioxidant you can take once a day, rather than a wheelbarrow of produce and food to SLOW the aging process, stop the wrinkles, stop inflammation and gobble up those nasty FREE RADICALS...CHEERS ALL. Hugs! 

Bulk Brown Rice Co-op

Healthy Soup in a Box

Mini Gluten Free Cookie-Pamelas

Brown rice noodles Trader Joes

Delicious push up yogurt Trader Joes

Evaporated Cane Juice Sugar

Rice Milk from Trader Joes

Parmesan shreds from Trader Joes

TUESDAY: Many say NO to Agave and Want this Fat Burner Information!

Well, taste is definitely an issue when changing to whole foods that help your health and weight. I have received a large amount of comments back on folks who do NOT like the Agave taste. Tis OK. It is different! So if you are fortunate enough to have a Trader Joes in your area, buy the Maple Syrup w/Agave, or just the Maple Syrup and do as I suggested, butter them generously, your gluten free pancakes or waffles, with the butter w/healthy oils stretching it, but just drizzle the Maple Syrup on. ANYTHING in it's whole state is better than refined, so don't stress on where it falls for now on the glycemic index unless you choose to.  If it isn't something palatable to you,  you won't stick with it. But PLEASE don't do white sugar, or regular pancake syrups. If you don't care for the Agave product, follow the other suggestions. And BTW: for you folks who do NOT have Trader Joes in your area, the wheat free waffles are available at most grocery stores that carry some "health food  products," including Safeway, Fred Meyer, etc.  Blast Traders w/emails to get one close!
Now, here's a fat burner, besides eating unrefined carbs, and putting in apples for fiber and pectin to help w/the fat burning. It's called GREEN TEA!!! And note: you can do this remarkable tea with caffeine or non-caffeine, Hot or Cold! The remarkable other aspect of Green Tea besides fat burning, is it's well known immune enhancement, with many reputable periodicals stressing that it may be a good food to fortify against cancer and heart disease. We know that Green Tea is a staple in most Asian populations, and we also know that until they were introduced to a westernized diet (thanks to our fast food chains, etc. :(  they had for decades the best stats for low cancer/heart disease, as well as they had a reputation for lack of even mild obesity. Just food for thought! Now to GREEN TEA!

Green Tea is rich in catechins, making it VERY high in antioxidants that help eliminate the "bad guys," free radicals, and that is why it is so valuable. It also works as an anti-inflammatory, is anti-viral, and has been considered by some to benefit their lowering of LDL (bad) cholesterol..But as a side effect to empowering your health, it also helps in weight loss. It surely did with me, when I did it daily. Let's discover why.


It appears that Green Tea slows down an enzyme called amylase, the one that breaks carbs down. Well, that is good. The slower carbs break down,  the better. We understand that by now. Slower insulin response= less fat storage. YIPEE!  Green Tea has been shown to also raise the metabolic rate, in a safe, healthy way. (I am not a fan of the pills you see on TV or in Walmart that raise metabolism by stimulation..no no no!) In my opinion, Green Tea is just something you may want to use on a regular basis. In the cold version, I suggest HONEST TEA, as it is so much lower in sugars than say, Tazo. Which is tasty, but pretty high in carbs and sugar. OR make your own cold like my hubs does. He brews Green Tea from bulk (my Dee days you get so much more out of bulk than a bag) and he adds some sweetener...your choices would be Stevia, Agave if you can adjust to the taste, a flat teaspoon of LOCAL RAW honey (but NO babies can have honey) or some of the other dry sweeteners we'll discuss soon. If you were at a place where they serve white, blue, pink or brown packets, use the BROWN one. Please consider limiting aspartame/nutrasweet/white sugar! OK, so he brews it hot, so the sweetener he uses will melt, then he mixes it, and pours the hot now over  a glass of ice cubes and Voila, has Iced Green Tea. He loves this. If you don't want to mess with bulk in a French Tea Press or Tea ball, just buy the bags, Yogi, Tazo, there's a ton.  But I'm lazy. And I like it cold, so I watch for Honest Tea to go on sale and buy cases at a time and get a really good price. I'm used to little sweetener, so I do the one shown in the picture called COMMUNITY. It is very unsweet, but yummy to me. You could add a touch of stevia. I suggest for the general populace,  GREEN DRAGON by Honest Tea if you like medium sweet, and it is still low in sugars. Just consider, when you are relaxing, some GREEN TEA. It is so empowering, so fat burning. Let me know which brand you like, and for those of you not wanting caffeine, yes, there are many caffeine free ones. 


OK...now use what things appeal to you. If something doesn't taste good to your palate at all, then move onto something else.  Just watch portion size and keep up the exercising. Little by little your tastebuds change, but sometimes they put up a roadblock to going too drastic too fast. Thanks to all who comment and tell me what does, and what doesn't work for them. 
So are you onto Coconut Oil and Coconut milk yet??? Oops, I've given away another segment. And has anyone tried the KIND bar, PLUS brand, with the brown colored ends with pluses on it! LOVE IT!!! OKIE DOKIE. Over and Out from HealthAngel. 

MONDAY POST: Part 2: More about your SWEETENER!!!

Hi friends! I didn't elaborate on the mention of Agave as a sweetener/spread for Pancakes or waffles or herb teas, etc. because there has been lively debate about it!   But I had a good comment  that made me decide to respond to it.  The majority of sites find it to be low enough on the glycemic index and give it good reviews.  If a sugar enters  into the bloodstream and causes the pancreas to produce insulin quickly, it is considered high on the glycemic scale. And the higher on the glycemic index, the more chance for fat storage and it could be problematic for diabetics, etc. 
Agave is from the Mexican Agave plant (tequilana, but don't worry...tee  heee) and though it has the same carbs basically as Maple Syrup , it is 1.5 to 2 times naturally sweeter, so you can use less, and it falls somewhere between 40-45 on the index, a good number.  It is a sweetener that you will have to try, adjust, and see what suits your taste and usage.  Agave is an enigma...the controversy (someone like  Mayo Clinic wanting more studies)  is the fact that it is 90 per cent fructose, and 10 per cent glucose, but seems to glycemically load the bloodstream/ system  still lower than other natural, liquid sweeteners. That does NOT mean you can use it in unlimited amounts.  As too much of even a good thing, well, you know the answer.  And,  because of taste adjustment and being slightly thinner in consistency, some folks will do the agave/maple syrup from Traders on gluten free pancakes, etc.  but not the straight agave.  It is a personal preference.   I do not promote ANY of the liquid sugars mentioned  for insulin injecting diabetics before they check with their doctor.  For the non-diabetic, such as myself, I will rotate it with the other sweeteners  I use, which will be a segment on it's own.  Most common brands would be Madhava and Wholesome, and Trader Joes has it's own. The LOWEST on the glycemic index is Blue Agave by Volcanic (27!!!) so you can try and find it online!  Agave mixes in unsweetened cold and hot drinks, but again use sparingly! It is sweet! And it comes in light, medium, dark. And by mixing the agave w/pure maple syrup, Traders has probably done a  smart move. It somewhat lowers the glycemic load, while keeping some of that yummy Maple Syrup flavor and makes it a bit thinner, more like real pancake syrup. You newbies ignore getting further confused, but for you Glycemic Index savvy folks, the formula to get the glycemic load, how it really impacts the insulin output, take the food's number on the  glycemic index, multiply that by the carbs of the food per serving and divide by a hundred. Just for fun! Bottom Line:  try the product, or the one mixed w/maple syrup and see how it works for you! And please try to STOP white sugar, or brown sugar, which is often just carmel colored white sugar...It's at the TOP of the glycemic index and only good for belly fat, higher cholesterol, immune dysfunction, and behavior issues...HA HA, do you think I want you to program off the white stuff??!!!!!! 
NOTE: If you do NOT have a Trader's Joes in your area, email them and ask why. They have over 360 stores in 28 states, why not yours??? BUG EM!!!!
Also, note: cooking with liquid sweeteners has it's drawbacks. I shall discuss which dry sweeteners work well for cooking with in the future. 

UPDATE on Question, is WHEAT FREE, GLUTEN FREE?? What tastes GOOD?

Questions and comments always create greater clarification. In regards to my recent post on Non-gluten possibly being good to try for those with any health issues or weight concerns,  I want to post on here, the answer to the question, "does wheat free, mean gluten-free???" And another follower asked, "can you tell me a noodle that is gluten free and tastes good?" And yet another very savvy reader suggested another alternative for a pancake/waffle syrup. Here's my response in the comment area that you may have missed!


As I received the question as I was singing the "non praises" of wheat for many, I realized I did not clarify what non-gluten really means. Gluten is the protein part of certain grains. It is present in wheat, but it is also in grains such as rye, oats, and even spelt as well as some others. For some,  it triggers an auto immune response even if they are not Celiac, a disease that requires NO gluten whatsoever. When I had an immune disorder a decade ago, I did a complete NON-gluten diet for six months, and then was able to introduce oat bran for my cereal back in, and spelt bread several times a week. Each time I used wheat in my diet however,   my immune system reacted, and I had symptoms that showed me wheat should not be a part of my diet.  I have been wheat free since then, but not totally gluten free. I do eat oat bran several times a week, and spelt bread. Barley also has gluten, but after giving up whole wheat, for a period of time, I found having barley in soups here and there, did not trigger a slow deterioration of my immune system as wheat did. Most will not realize if they have had their immune system weakened by gluten intolerance, or leaky gut syndrome, until they go on a gluten free diet, and see an improvement in their health AND weight.  I personally feel giving up wheat because of it's genetic modification and hearty gluten composition, is a food many could take out of their diet altogether. To summarize, if you feel your immune system is exhibiting health symptoms, try going completely gluten free. The villi do regenerate in non Celiac people. If you then introduce oat bran or steel cut, unrefined oats, or spelt, which still have gluten, you may be able to handle them with out any problems.  I personally do not think wheat is a healthful product for people who have any type immune dysfunction. I hope this helps. Thank you for the great question. The frozen pancakes at Trader Joes, are completely gluten AND wheat free, as is Pamela's mix from health food stores. They will be soft and fluffy and are made from rice flours and sorghum. If you want a chewier, more fiber filled pancake, Tree Street Grains has a multi grain, gluten free pancake that you can google and order online. It is a taste preference. With Traders you pop them in the toaster. With Pamela's and Tree Street, you use a mix and make from scratch. 
As far as noodles, etc. that are gluten free, many are not tasty. And if you serve something that isn't close to what your family has been eating in taste, of course they are going to balk. Try Trader Joe's brown rice spaghetti, and DeBoles noodles and I think you will be happy. I'll add in other brands that are tasty soon.
Also, remember that pure maple syrup has nutrients intact, and in a natural state, but still has a fairly high glycemic load (how it triggers insulin) So don't soak those nice gluten free pancakes or waffles or french toast in it. Also, Trader Joes has a maple syrup/agave blend product that you may find yummy and it has a slightly less glycemic load than the maple syrup itself. We prefer the taste now of pure maple syrup, we just drizzle it, and make it last.
Ok, I hope that helps. Take on the day, and go gently! ;-)

Solution to BETCHA CAN'T EAT JUST one: THE SNACK PATROL Answer!

Tonight isn't a big ole long teaching lesson! It's such a simple trick that I've taught for years and years, I thought everyone knew about it, until a girlfriend said, "Wow, I'm so tired of having to give up my snacky snacks, cuz before ya know it, I've done MINDLESS EATING as usual and eaten the whole bag!"  Happens soooooooo easily. I used to do the same thing, until I learned something that works so well, I taught it to her, and she lost a whole jean size just with this little routine.


It helps with any snack food. Hopefully, you'll start to know that snack foods can still be tasty and satisfy either sweet or salty, but just have higher grade, unprocessed ingredients in them. I like some brands like Barbara's, Bearitos, Pamela's cookies, etc. etc. We'll learn those later. But as you know when you read the back of the bag, it gives the calorie/carb count, and you go, "Oh, that's not too bad," forgetting that it gives those stats for ONE serving. That's a trick they even do with smoothie drinks, etc. You can look at an Odwalla chocolate protein smoothie, and it's not that big a bottle, and look carefully, it is TWO servings. Ya kinda get tricked into thinking the carb/sugar/calorie count, (the only things I really look at besides ingredients, ) is for the entire bottle/sack/etc. It's NOT!
OK, so when I shop, I come home, and say I buy a sack of Barbara's corn puffs (they satisfy my cheddar cheese urge, w/out eating the cheese itself, and  they are GOOD!) I turn the bag over, and you will see it says approximately how many servings are in the bag after it lists the readout of calories etc. for ONE serving. So this particular bag in the picture I've enclosed, says five servings. I get out my five BAGGIES, open the bag of snacks, and before I even start eating them, and have half the bag gone, I CREATE five servings to grab outta the pantry. You can eyeball em, or in the case of cookies, count em!  Or say you enjoy Nutty bites from Trader's, I know I can put three in a baggie.  We have plastic open containers in the pantry, I baggie them, MAKE sure they are closed tightly to avoid going stale, and VOILA, I throw them in the containers so I can grab one when a snack attack comes on.  Today when I ate my cheddar corn puffs, I was thinking, THIS IS ALOT!!! LOL....because instead of MINDLESS EATING, you are aware and eat each one savoring the taste, but it really seems you get full and have eaten the exact right amount.  ONE SERVING, Yay~!
TRY this on all your snacks. Read how many servings there are, and  baggie em up as soon as you get home from the store, and no more guessing, no more empty bags while watching TV and not paying attention, and the calories/carbs saved over time, can culmulatively make a BIG difference in how your clothes fit! OK, that's it! It REALLY works well. 


For those of you choosing to try the Gluten Free/Wheat free waffles or pancakes from Trader Joes that you put in the toaster (pancakes are SO delish) please consider your syrups are sugar, concentrated,  loaded, and you want to have something unrefined. So while it is still natural sugar,  PURE MAPLE SYRUP lightly drizzled is my choice for a syrup!  Grade B is the best, but Grade A will do. Look for sales, and it is more expensive then pancake syrups, but you learn to just use a drizzle. Butter:  it is "legal" in sensible spreading. I will not promote dairy in general, but butter is OK. Please consider Land O Lakes/w canola...OR we make our own. We take a med hard plastic container, put some farm fresh butter (we get ours from Whole Foods, but any will do) in it, let it set out and soften, and for ea cup of butter, we add 1/2 as much Pure Virgin Olive oil. We mix it well, and regrigerate it when not using. It will be somewhat soupy, but stretches the butter, a saturated fat, with a healthy monosaturated fat that is soooo good for you! Once you try it, I don't think you'll ever go back.  So enjoy your week. Look for the brown rice from Trader Joes, BOXED brown rice in the grocery stores is old and rancid, and not acceptable, start baggie controlling your snacks, and do consider the butter/olive oil idea.
That's it! I hope you are beginning to see, it just takes awareness, and we can begin to rebuild our health, feel our clothes fit bit by bit a little looser, and realize that we don't have to really ever go on a diet roller coaster again. CHEERS, and I surely appreciate your comments and questions! ;-)

GLUTEN FREE is here to STAY: Are Grains Making YOU SICK?????

This is probably one of the most important posts you will read.  So please give it your full attention . I know you have all been seeing Gluten Free hailed everywhere, and there is a distinct reason why!  Could your GRAINS be making you SICK?  Well, apparently a 30 year study in the Journal of American Medicine even indicates what I've been preaching for years may be true.  It is understanding this problem,  that was a key factor in building my own health back up, and why I go GLUTEN FREE.  May I explain?!!!

INFLAMMATION!  It is an internal destroyer of health and a precursor to all disease, from allergies to heart disease to cancer...to ANY illness and symptom!  I spend a whole chapter on inflammation and alkalinity in my E Book, as they are vital to the IMMUNE system!  So what went so wrong, when we used to consider grains, especially wheat to be the "staff of life?"   And now they may cause internal inflammation!  Let's talk about it.

Since the 60's we've become a nation that has consumed most everything we eat filled with white flour.  Pizza, sandwiches, waffles, bread....it just goes on and on.  People love carbs. Well, white flour, until the recent trend to go complex in carbs, did a number on our gut and colon, even if we weren't born with Celiac disease!  There were TWO ways we created ourselves to become sensitive to grains, to the point it may have affected millions of people's immune systems and be at the heart of ill health, small or large, in many Americans.  Now follow with me.

Our small intestine has gillions of hairlike thingies called villi that line the colon and move grains/wheat along as they undulate and help it digest. Well, what if you refine wheat and make it a sticky white, gooey mess that literally w/overuse just depletes the villi?  You got it.  You create a mild to serious copycat of the genetic disease, Celiac's disease, where villi are just gone.  And to top it off, big food growers Hybrid wheat (over 90% of all wheat is now) to get greater yields and make it impervious to pesticides, and wheat becomes now even harder to digest and utilize, w/our villi missing colon!!  So guess what happens?!! LEAKY GUT SYNDROME, where undigested wheat particles slip through the colon wall, straight into the bloodstream and it's like a big red light going off at the firestation!  RED ALERT to the Immune system. It sees the undigested grain particles as INVADERS and works overtime to respond to them. Do it hundreds, no thousands and thousands of times, and you have INFLAMMATION, a weakened immune function, and guess what, you have SYMPTOMS. But who would ever track these symptoms which later could turn into even deadly disease to overuse of white flour products, then coupled by genetically altered , SUPER WHEAT! Oy Vey!  If you have inflammation, it is a breeding ground for disease, from cancer to heart disease at it's worst...... to "just"  colds, sinus infections, aches and pains, fibromyalgia, need I go on?!!!! And you just keep eating and eating, and think that eating whole grains, hey it's fiber, and healthful, and you just don't know why GLUTEN FREE became so prevalent. The New England Journal of Medicine, says that over 55 diseases have been tracked to this downward spiral, from an unhealthy immune system and inflammation. From depression to autism to cancer and heart disease, or things like headaches, and arthritis, and kids having earaches, you name it, are being considered as linked to this issue with overuse of white flour (wheat in it's refined state) and now wheat  in it's HYBRID, altered state,  even more hard to digest!  Houston, we have a problem!!!!! Who wants inflammation, a weakened immune system and therefore weight. The body ALWAYS hangs onto weight for security, if you have symptoms!

So this is why I promote Gluten Free. If you have any health issues of any type, try Gluten Free for awhile and see if you see a difference in your health. The villi do come back over time. And your immune system goes....Ahhhhhh....and eventually, you can do mainly gluten free, NO WHEAT, but can do spelt breads ( a derivative) and oatbran/whole oats, rye crackers, etc. But NO WHEAT!  Gluten Free is AWESOME. It's become so easy to find YUMMY Gluten free breads, cookies, cakes, pancake mixes, etc. etc. etc. It's COOL to go Gluten Free now...but more than cool, it could be VITAL to your health!  I LOVE Pamela's Gluten Free products.  Her cookies and pancake mix and brownie mix are 2DIE4......Even Trader Joes has an awesome Gluten Free Chocolate cake mix/brownie mix that seems, hmmmm, like Pamela's under their name *wink* *wink*

So consider what you  might have learned tonight. Put down the multi grains and wheat for now, and stick to brown rice and gluten free flour and products.   OKIE DOKIE....time to take my Health Angel hat off and let you "digest" all this. Smile.  Here's pancakes/waffles for you quick toaster folks that are wheat free and at Traders.  More gluten free products to come! 

An APPLE a Day (or 2 or 3) Keeps the FAT Away??!!!!!

Hi Linda Blog Followers! May I say THANKS to each of you who follow me on our journey to be Happier, Healthier, and a weight that is optimal. But DON'T get overwhelmed. I'm giving you alot. So grab what works for you, and I'll keep repeating and repeating the same concepts often. So don't feel you have to eat an elephant in one bite! (the food puns just pop out, sorry :-)


We talked earlier, about choosing carbs that are in their whole, unrefined state. White is out, brown and textury is in. If you have a Trader Joe's, then frozen cooked brown rice is a must! If not, use one cup raw, bulk, short grain brown rice (from a co op, not a box) rinse and put into four cups rolling boiling water for about 30 mins. Rinse, put back in the pot, cover, and let sit OFF THE HEAT for ten mins. Double that for a bigger family. When you dish up your plates, and DO NOT do family style, it promotes overeating, but have your protein be 1/4 the smaller plate, your rice or red potato or sweet potato or yam, be 1/4 the plate, and 1/2 the plate should be salads and veggies. If you are going to overeat, and sometimes we do, overeat on something nutrient dense, and good for you. Did you know that you could possibly eat double the calories of whole, live, unprocessed foods over fast, processed refined ones. Think of it. If you eat 1200 calories of white rice, sugary desserts, white potato, etc. vs. foods that break down slowly, like brown rice, lentils, beans, steel cut oats or oatbran, nuts, etc. you can eat more calories and get away with more of the "legal" foods, as I call them. The slower the insulin rush, the less fat stored. Is it beginning to make sense why we go to complex carbs, in grains and veggies????  And if you are having potatoes for a change, use RED potatoes, over russets, and choose a fairly small one, or a 1/2 a sweet potato, or if you have fries, sweet potato fries from Traders are very tasty. The baked russet is HIGH GLYCEMIC. Meaning it turns to glucose or sugar in the body quickly and turns on the insulin spigot FAST! Not good! Insulin is put out to manage the sugar, and during that time, the body says, STORE FAT!!!!


OK..now lets close with talking about a surprise, that is sitting in the picture I took today showing some nice whole live foods. THE REMARKABLE APPLE. If you were to eat several small apples a day as snacks between meals, you may actually lose weight. WHY? They are incredibly high in soluble fiber, 5 grams, WOW! And soluble fiber slows absorption of carbs. And it is a sticky fiber that takes out the bad stuff, including fats, so it also helps in lowering of cholesterol in many people. It also includes pectin, which seems to be a fat burner, AND a small to med apple is about 55 calories. Are you surprised? Several small apples a day? I use one of mine chopped in small pieces, a gala, in my spinach salads with walnuts or pecans sprinkled, YUM. But here's what I want you to look at in the PICTURE!!! It is NOT an apple from the grocery store. Over half of our apples now come from China! They are covered with chemicals and pesticides and  coated with an easy to spot SHINY sealer, so in cold storage they stay forever, until put in the stores. YUK!!!! I only buy apples at the local fruit stands, the food co ops, or Whole Foods. They should be DULL!!! Like the one you see in my picture. Some grocery stores sell organic, but you'll pay less at co op's or local stands. They lose their nutrients the more you go inward,  so do get ones pesticide free and organic and eat the SKIN!!  So buy local, organic, and dull!


So there you go. You know to try to slowly integrate BROWN, whole grains, but NOT wheat, and that is the subject for our next post. WHY DO WE NOT DO WHEAT, EVEN WHOLE WHEAT anymore??? Pretty interesting. You won't want to miss it. Secondly, we want to start adding some local, whatever kind suits you, APPLES to our eating. Did you know they were so valuable??? Please use them in salads, I love them in mine. People say to me, but Linda, it costs more to buy some of these things, and yes, in some instances, it does. I always say the same thing: YOU PAY NOW, OR YOU PAY LATER! But my taking you shopping will help you only have your food budget be a little higher. OH, and NOT all foods at Traders are healthy and "legal." Let me tell you which ones are. And if you shop the big place that makes you show a card when you go through the entrance and they sell in BIG BULK, think about buying clothes or electronics or Christmas items there, but FOOD??? It's doesn't fit my standards 90% of the time. (Oh, I am just hearing the moans) Think of it, most of it is processed and battered and why would you want to supersize your groceries anymore than supersizing your portions at meals. OK...I thought we better pop that balloon and let you decide for yourself when you walk the aisles next time you go. Ask me questions, PLEASE about things you find there, that you think might be "legal." Comments are so welcome! 


I am just the messenger. You choose what works for you. If I educate you properly, you will WANT to make some changes, at the pace you desire. On our next installments, we'll be talking about some great subjects. It's swell we are working on our weight, but guess what, I believe it MUST be done as a side effect of healthy eating habits.  So put these on your shopping list and we will add to it regularly. Brown, cage free, hormone and antibiotic free eggs! Wild Salmon! Avocados! Lentils or lentil soup (BELLY FLATTENS) and KIND PLUS nut bars, which I will devote a whole segment to in a few days.  And relax, you're going to learn I eat yummy chips, corn curls, desserts, even brownies, pie, cookies, chocolate and gasp, even some spray whipping cream! Other than the spray whipping cream (8 calories a Tablespoon) there is a twist to make all the other stuff "legal." And yes, I eat out at least twice a week. I wish I could bring you all to my house and have my huge dining room table filled with foods, and you'd be OMGoshing all over the place saying, THIS IS DELICIOUS! I can't wait!  OK..as the hubs says, OVER and OUT. And look above at the man (Lloyd) who eats constantly, little portions and takes his time, with alot of the good and a little of the bad! Would you like that waistline? I'll teach you! It's so fun when you turn the corner, and never look back. If I could DO it, ANYONE reading this blog can, because I was addicted to completely processed foods, fast foods, and was very rebellious! Getting ill was such a wake up call. A blessing in disguise. Now, can anyone answer this question...I'm a Flexitarian. What does that mean :-) Nite all!

Don't Count Calories and Throw out the Scale....Step 1 of Optimal Weight

For years I made exceptional money managing a center that sold DIET mentality, all the way, packaged food.  You've seen it on TV.  We had a 98% failure rate after less than one year.  I quit.  Knowing I was selling a false bill of goods, I started my own business and never looked back.

Each one of you on this journey for happy weight and health, will begin w/a  unique age, body type, and health profile.  BEGIN this journey by your healthcare professional ( mine is a Naturopathic Doc) testing to make sure you do not have low thyroid function, whooped adrenal function, hence high cortisol levels that cause belly fat, or hormone imbalances.  If you wish to try a simple test for low thyroid function, buy some good ole iodine from your pharmacist, and paint a 50 cent piece circle on the underside of your wrist.  If it is not invisible in an hour or so, you likely have Hypo (low) thyroidism and need a testing.  If you are peri, meno, or post menopausal, you may want to consider talking to your Naturopath or Physician about Bioidentical Hormone treatment.  It changed my life!  But here are the things that likely are causing your weight issues, even if you are exercising.

1) Consuming dead, processed refined foods (they will be white and carbs)  that flood the bloodstream instantly causing insulin to be released.  Remember this if you remember nothing else in this first training.  FAT IS almost only stored when INSULIN is present!  So we will be talking in detail about complex vs. simple carbs, and the Glycemic Index.  Today, we will be taking one small step w/complex carbs.  It will be at the end, with a photo! (Oh, and pop or juice= LIQUID sugar)  Eat fruit whole & do not use fruit juice as a base for smoothies.  Read the carbs/sugars.  If above 20 or so per serving, steer away!  Try rice milk or coconut milk as a base for smoothies...not juices.  Get em cold and shake the box first!  Soy milk is NOT a good choice on a daily basis.  Later on why!

An extra tip:  Eating protein with the complex carb slows the instant insulin flood and hence, the storage of fat.  So if you eat eggs, have a small slice of spelt toast w/land o lakes canola butter rather than just the toast.  When I have oat bran w/coconut milk and a smidge of pure maple syrup, I add walnuts, and have a half slice of spelt toast with almond butter on it.  It is YUM!  Almond butter is much better for you than peanut butter and is available in stores that grind it fresh,  or at Trader Joe's  in a jar! Find a food co op in your area!

2) Not eating breakfast and going too long between meals and snacks.  You should be a grazer.  Five small meals a day stabilizes blood sugar, keeping insulin more level.  NEVER skip breakfast and I will be showing photos day by day of what I eat each morning.  It varies. I eat every three hours, & between meals, a snack that is "legal." I will teach you "legal" and the list is LONG!!!!  Learn to think ahead, baggie your snacks,  throw a Kind bar in your bag, and I'll teach you how easy it is.  It's just a little work to have stuff ready so you don't grab the wrong thing!  I'm NOT a cook, so this doesn't have to be time consuming or difficult! :-)

3) Portion size is too big.  Start shrinking your portions, to shrink your stomach.  We eat on a salad plate, not a dinner plate.  When we go out to eat, we automatically ask for a box ahead of time, take 1/2 home and eat the rest.  Eat smaller portions, more often.  And fill up on the "legal" which would be veggies, salad, or protein.  I am going to teach you how to fill up on salads and not be starving.  HINT HINT: It's in the picture at the end of this.  WOW it works.

Well, that's enough for today.  It will take many installments for you to just go on autopilot like myself, but you'll get there.  I kid and say it is as easy as falling off a turnip truck, to do my daily routine with food, and I think I eat FABULOUS tasting food.  I am NOT deprived. Deprivation is part of DIET mentality.  It's not about what you CAN'T have.  It's about opening up horizons about the beauty of what you CAN have! I LOVE whole, clean foods, and I used to be the world's worst processed food eater.  It is a process.  Go slowly and expect backsliding.  It's all part of the process.  You just get back on the horse and ride. Yahooooo!  When you get off track, say, oh well, and start again.   It's NORMAL!!!!

OK....now here's the picture.  And I hope you ALL know that the  staple and cornerstone of healthy eaters and weight savvy folks is BROWN RICE!!  Yes, the right carbs are essential, for energy, and B vitamins, and filling up.  But I don't have the time to cook it for 45 mins, because unlike white rice (same as sugar really to the body) it is not NAKED/stripped,  and requires longer to cook!   And once you get used to short grained brown yummy rice, the white stuff is like...PAPER..ha ha, even my grandson says so.

So make Trader Joe's BROWN RICE a MUST!  Shop for it today in their freezer! There are two kinds, reg or organic.  We buy either.  Here's the photo!  Comes 3 bags per box, ea. bag for 3 people.  Micro or drop it in the bag in boiling water, 3 mins.  VOILA, the greatest addition to your meals, as a snack, OR remember I said to make salads more filling!   Add a glop of warm brown rice to any salad, add a good dressing, and a small amount of dry parmesan shreds.  Here's the picture.  Over and out for now.  Am I going too fast?  Oh wow, I have so much to share.  I can't tell you what a difference this is going to make in your life, your weight, your health!     HOORAY!    We're on our way!    Feedback and questions welcome!!!!!!

Weight Less Ness from Linda's 30 years Tips :-)

Hi...I'm Linda! I have two blogs launching this week. This one, Weight Coach Linda, will give you a step by step approach to reach a goal weight that is reasonable, healthy, and can be maintained for your body style.

Anyone can lose weight!  Just cut calories, follow a "diet,"  exercise rigidly and you might lose the weight. And BTW: DIET is a four letter word in my book! It is losing the weight sensibly, slowly and being able to maintain it that means Success!!!  Gaining it back is where I come in. I can teach you the tips and behaviors to keep the weight off!!  The more diets you have been on, if you are past your 20's, well, you may need my daily coaching tips to not only lose weight, but to keep it off, FOREVER! 


Since my second blog, Don't Worry EAT Healthy is to teach you that adding in Whole, Live, Clean foods can help you Live to be a 100 and Enjoy getting there, you will find a common thread between the two blogs.

Food may be the number one addiction in America today! Why? Because we can't give up food, it is something we need to do every day!  With households needing multiple incomes, "fast and convenient" has replaced healthy and homemade. And who has time to learn healthy alternatives that still satisfy and taste good? And there is no doubt that most of us use food as an acceptable "drug" almost, to comfort, be our best friend, and even help us cope w/stress as well as boredom. And refined food companies have helped encourage acclimating to the taste of junk food that puts on the pounds! 


While I have the background/credentials to call myself an expert coach, (I was perhaps one of the most sought after Behavior Counselors for the largest weight loss company in the 80's/90's as well as a General Manager w/ 650 clients at a time, and I owned and operated my own business while also working as an executive for two large nutrition companies specializing in weight loss.) But my greatest expertise comes from putting all the research and the theory to real life re- programming. I've stayed the same weight for 25 years now! Choose a weight that is right for you, not your high school weight or a programmed fantasy weight instilled by the media! Strive for a weight that makes you feel good inside and out! 


Are you ready? It won't be a piece of cake (Ooops, FOOD TRIGGER...LOL) but it will be a great journey. I am so excited! I will take you step by step w/tips to boost metabolism, limit insulin output (the time when fat is stored) teach you how to read labels and understand what they mean, and much much more! This is my life's work!  Will you toss the scales, open your mind, and weigh in on one idea?  Diets DON'T work. Lifestyle changes, slowly over time can work for you to be at an optimal weight, for ALL time.  Here we goooooooooooo! What do you have to lose? Smile!