National Nachos Day good-for-you nachos and diet-friendly dips 'n chips

Happy National Nachos Day! On November 6, we celebrate nachos, said USA Today For The W!n Thursday. FTW writer Ted Berg pronounced nachos over-rated. In their common incarnation, they are. Tortilla chips smothered in some melange of fatty, salty, intensely caloric, MSG-soaked fake-cheese dip or topping--given Americans' rapidly-expanding waistlines, we should run screaming from them. Unless you make nachos healthier and diet-friendly, like this. National Nachos Day good-for-you nachos and diet-friendly dips 'n chips

National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day vegan cheesecake recipes

October 21 is National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day? Who knew there was a pumpkin day, let alone a pumpkin cheesecake one...or a national one? Instead of the caloric blowouts, how about a light vegan pumpkin cheesecake recipe? Eating this way helped me lose 100 pounds and this blog shows how! National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day? Yep, there's a holiday for that--October 21 - Grand Rapids Holidays | Examiner.com

How I Lost Over 100 Pounds: Keep on Truckin! - Bubblews

 When I started writing online, I was 50 pounds overweight. I kept gaining till, in 2011, I'd put on a whopping 100 pounds past my normal weight. I started playing around with dieting, but didn't really get serious till early 2012. The weight started coming off but very slowly. Here is



How I Lost Over 100 Pounds: Keep on Truckin!

Eat Your Way to Thin, Fat-Burning Fatty Acids Foods I Ate to Lose 100 Pounds

I started this blog to chronicle my weight loss journey. Here's the sitch: I was a chubby child, then normal weight in high school and thin in young adulthood. I weighed 110 pounds at 23, when I got married. I weighed 117 pounds when I went in for my first prenatal check up with my first child. Through four children, I stayed at low to normal weight.



Then things went haywire. I had a placental abruption during pregnancy 4. Child 5 and 6 were stillborn, in 2000 and 2004. Depression almost killed me. I started taking the antidepressant Paxil which made things worse though I couldn't see it while I was on in. I started early menopause at age 40, I doubled my weight (compare photos, 2012 and 2014 above).



In 2011, I began dieting, but truthfully, not very seriously. I explored weight loss and body reshaping. As I learned new things, I put them into practice. Then the weight started coming off in earnest. I have lost 100 pounds, dropped from size 20 to 3 and shaved off 14 BMI points.

How? Several ways: the most important being a total eating makeover. I didn't stop eating or cut out major food groups. That's crash dieting and not healthy. I didn't have surgery or take drugs. Those are temporary band-aids, and don't produce the real changes needed for weight loss.



Literally, I ate my way to thin by swapping less healthy, fat-building foods for healthy alternatives and natural herbal supplements. Here are my top 26 fat burning weight loss food from A to Z.  Fat-Burning Foods I Ate to Lose 100 Pounds

Fat Burning Fruits, Better Fruit Food Swaps for Weight Loss

I've lost 100 pounds (left then, right now) by counting calories and swapping worse foods for better ones. One common diet tip you hear alot is to boost vegetables and fruit. Good start. But it's not that simple. Some fruits are better than others. Some are fat burners and some should be avoided altogether. Here are fruit food swaps and recipes to trim pounds.  Fat Burning Fruits, Better Fruit Food Swaps to Lose Weight 

10 Ways to Lose 10 Pounds Fast, Drug-Free Summer Diet Tips

Want to shed post-holiday winter belly fat? Spring and summer are good times to tone up. I've lost nearly 100 pounds <----was me in 2011. This ---> is me now. I took weight off using drug-free, non-surgical methods. Here are 10 ways to shed 10 pounds fast and easy. So you need to lose more than 10? Keep reading and you'll learn how. 10 Ways to Lose 10 Pounds Fast, Safe Diet Tips

Delicious Diet Father's Day Grill Recipes Dads Will Love

If your dad's like ours, his favorite Father's Day gift is food--preferably homemade BBQ picnic--and lots of it. But what do you serve dads on diabetic, hypertension, gluten-free, low cholesterol or weight loss diets? Here are sugar-free, low sodium, low fat, gluten-free Father's Day grill recipes dad will love!  Delicious Lowfat Diet Father's Day Grill Recipes Dads Will Love

Summer Grill Recipes for Dieters, Light Holiday Picnic Foods

 I've lost 100 pounds by cutting calories and controlling portions. Holidays are the hardest time. So I use food swaps. Here are sinfully delicious, low-fat, low calorie Memorial Day picnic recipes, summer BBQ and grill alternatives.Memorial Day, Summer Grill Recipes for Dieters, Light Holiday Picnic Foods

Enjoy Memorial Day Picnics Without Blowing Your Diet

I've been seriously dieting for about 18 months and lost 100 pounds. Staying the weight loss course was easier in winter. But summer is my nemesis. 4th of July BBQs, beach picnics, holiday grill outs, Memorial Day parties--these can spell diet disaster. Here are diet grill recipes, low calorie picnic foods and summer weight loss tips. Memorial Day Picnic Foods, Holiday BBQ, Grill Recipes for Dieters

Fat Blasting Foods A-Z Challenge, A is for... (These Might Surprise you)

Almonds, avocados, apples, apple cider vinegar. Those top my fat-blasting foods list. I'm doing an A-Z challenge list of fat-burning foods. picks. Almonds and apples are full of fiber which acts to purge out fat. Apple cider is a cleanse. Avocados have lots of MUFAs (monounsaturated fatty acids) and omega-3. How does fat burn fat? Good fatty acids breaks down or dissolve saturated fat. Read on  Fat Blasting Foods A-Z Challenge, A is for... 

Want to Lose Weight? Rethink these Diet Myths

Common knowledge isn't always common sense. That's true in many life applications, especially weight loss. I've lost 98 pounds in two years. I've learned that many commonly-held dieting ideas are in fact, myths. To lose weight, rethink the misconceptions and try these common-sense approaches.  Want to Lose Weight? Quit Making These Common Diet Mistakes

Diet Tip Soy Causes Belly Fat, Almonds Burn It

I have lost 97 pounds with rigorous diet and calorie counting. I keep abreast of weight loss research and follow diet advice of trusted physicians like Dr. Oz. Standing in the checkout, I perused Woman's World magazine recently. A feature article on belly fat burners and boosters caught my eye (belly fat is my nemesis). I was surprised at some of the foods listed. Read on for the good and bad news.   Diet Tip Soy Causes Belly Fat, Almonds Burn It 

30 Ways to Get More Vegetables in Your Diet

I have lost 96 pounds. I did it with lots of little diet changes. I always ate a lot of vegetables but now I eat even more. I try to  make half my food intake fruits or vegetables. Thanks to First Lady Michelle Obama's vegetable dance, veggies are getting more love. Mrs. Obama's "Let's Move'" campaign may is for kids, but we could all benefit from eating better, exercising more. In that spirit, here are 30 recipes to boost vegetables. These include food swaps, like those in Mens' Health "Eat This, Not That." Michelle Obama Touts Vegetables, 30 Kid-Pleasing Veggie Recipes

Little Habit Changes Helped Me Lose 93 Pounds

I've lost 93 pounds. I put on 100 pounds after losing two stillborn babies and taking antidepressants. People ask how I did it and I say not in big, invasive ways (surgery, drugs) but with little habit changes. Here are 14 easy tweaks I made to help me lose. Get off the scale. Weight fluctuates. Weighing yourself all the time, it's hard to see progress. No sense getting discouraged.  How I Lost 93 Pounds With Little Diet Changes

Diet Tips How Many Calories Should I be Eating?

There's a plethora of information about how to lose weight. Most can be divided into "common sense" and "stupid and dangerous." But there are grey areas. Like calorie limit. Just how many calories should you eat per day? Depends on who you ask. I've lost 95 pounds. Diet TIp Just How Many Calories Should I be Eating, Anyway?



Here's how I calculate.

Catholic or Not, Lenten Fasting is Healthy

 By now you've probably heard that we Catholics observe Ash Wednesday today. That takes us into a penitential season fasting, prayer and almsgiving, called Lent. By giving up things we enjoy, we draw closer to God. But giving up vices and temptations isn't just healthy spiritually. It improves physical health, too. Fasting is great for weight loss! Left photo is this year. Right is me last year. 95 pounds gone. Read on Catholic or Not, Lenten Fasting is Healthy

Diet Tip Step Up Your Style Get Rid of Fat Clothes

 I've shed almost 100 pounds. So many people ask me how that I started sharing tips. Today's is to step up your style as you lose. I used to wear the fat suit--baggy sweaters, frumpy stretch pants. Fat clothes are either degrading--sweatshirts with or dumpy--dresses my 90 grannie who died in 2007 wouldn't wear. So I'm ramping up my style and loving it! Diet Tip Step Up Your Style

Diet Tip Are You Thirsty or Hungry?

 I've lost almost 100 pounds and dropped 8 clothing size-- 2X to 4. The top photo is me in 2013. The bottom is 2010. I'm working to trim the last of the fat. Every day, I learn new things about weight loss and I share them. Today's tip is learn the difference between hunger and thirst. Diet Tip Thirsty Vs Hungry?

Track Diet Progress with Monthly Before and After Weight Loss Photos

 Over the last year and a half, I've lost a lot of weight and trimmed a great deal of fat. I am down 93 pounds from my heaviest. I still have about 7 pounds to go. As with any behavior change, weight loss takes time. And dieting and calorie counting gets old. Sometimes I would like nothing more than to forget dieting altogether and eat whatever I want whenever I want.  Sick of Dieting? Compare Before and After Weight Loss Photos

Low Calorie Food Swaps That Taste as Good as Regular

I have lost over 90 pounds and dropped from size 2X to 4. How? I didn't make drastic cuts but I did change a lot of little things. A biggie was swapping out high calorie foods for low calorie, low sugar, low carb and lowfat versions. Some taste different, but these don't. They were easy food switches. You seriously don't notice the difference. Low Calorie Food Switches That Taste the Same as Regular

Where to Buy Cheap Almonds, Almond Milk, Almond Butter

Cheap almonds might sound like a silly article topic. But if you're dieting, you know that almonds top the recommended eating list. Here are places to find cheap almonds, almond milk and almond butter. Note: almonds are in the tree nut family, so avoid them if you are allergic. However, people with peanut allergies that lead to anaphylaxis may be able to eat almonds. Another reason they're touted. Where to Buy Cheap Almonds, Almond Milk, Almond Butter

Post Holiday Daily Diet Menu

 I have lost 90 pounds and decided, during Christmas vacation, to go off my diet. We were vacationing with daughter and son in law in Louisiana and were wined and dined. I knew I'd never be able to resist, plus they went to so much trouble cooking it seemed rude to calorie count. Now in January, I'm back on the wagon. I didn't lose but I didn't gain weight either (whew!) Here's a menu I'm following to get back on track.  Post Holiday Back on Diet Menu