Hello Friends,

I hope this finds you well. I am on day five on my detox diet. I am doing pretty good, had food today! Beef and tomatoes. I like tomatoes in salad just not by themselves so I opt for 100% tomato juice.  ½ cup is about the same as a whole tomato. I did cheat a little and had a very small no-bake cookie (size of a half dollar) from a batch I made for a neighbor whose husband died. I made spaghetti and no bake cookies for her family and let me tell you, those no bakes were talking to me. I caved a little to stop the annoying “eat me…eat me, eat just one…one won’t hurt. No one will know…” nagging.  Did I fail? Maybe. But normally I would have eaten 5 by then. So in my eyes I did well to limit the amount and size.

One thing I am learning with the plan is that I can be in control. And that my friends, is priceless. Today my kids had an ice cream social and I can proudly say that I did not have any ice cream. Instead, I had flavored coffee with a dash of cream, no sugar!

Did you watch “The Biggest Loser” show this week? We did not see the first half because of the Presidential speech. Part of me had a hard time watching because most of the contestants weigh less than me after starting out much heavier than me. The other part says they worked for it and deserve the loss. Several contests are at 100+ pounds loss in 12 weeks! I know its not my reality but it CAN happen if I want it bad enough. I sure wish I had the same opportunities as the contestants do. I’ve got to hand it to Tara. She pulled through a difficult time wanting to give up and in the end she soared. I wonder why the contestants kept their shirts on this week. All other times the men took their shirts off and women wore the sports bras.

I hope your week is going well and remember Designer Whey Products are swell…lol!

Take Care,

Camille

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Hello Friends, 

Did you know desserts spelled backwards is stressed? LOL… I hope this finds you well. My daughter and I are going to do a detox diet for one week. She wants to do this so I am going along to support her. It can’t hurt. It’s exciting to see her excited; the one in control of the “diet”. She made the grocery list and put it all together. When you have a teen that needs to lose a few, you support her efforts. The talks about eating healthy come to mind. She feels we need to do this and make a plan. So I will comply. The plan was created by GM and the FDA. You can ‘Google it’ by searching General Motors: Weight Loss Diet Program.

I kind of chilled today. I was pretty exhausted after cleaning house for 6 hours Friday. My days have been pretty busy and I just wanted a day of not doing anything. Never works out like that. Kids…

Can you believe that the “Biggest Loser” contestants did a 13 mile run? I would love to be able to do a 13 minute run! Someone said to me that it is not reality to do the things the contestants do in everyday life. Maybe not, but it is inspiring to see people who were bigger then I am jogging, being able to go 13 miles and all the challenges they do… it amazes me and gives me hope that I can too and that it is possible. It pushes me a little further in my journey to become healthy! Knowing that, “Yes I Can” lifts me to a higher level.

I hope your weekend is great. Get out and enjoy its beauty.

Camille From Michigan

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The contestants got to go home this week. They find out they would be running a half marathon for their challenge. They were also given cookies. For every cookie they wanted to eat, they could add 5 minutes to another contestants finish time. Of course Tara and Sione finished in the top spots. Did anyone eat the penalty cookies and risk gaining weight. You bet. Helen ate one cookie and the result was Tara losing the challenge and $10,000. Tara’s attitude was great about the loss. She’s such a competitor!

While at home, the contestants had to be diligent in working out and eating right. Helen went shopping and felt proud when she didn’t give into temptations of the pasties at the grocery store. Mikey and Ron had to turn down pizza and cookies (that were on the house) from on of their favorite restaurants. Mikey had a salad. Sione was challenged and said he actually had to ‘think’ about what to order off the menu, which turned out to be salmon, no sauce, and a double order of vegetables they only served white rice.

It was all tears when it was time to return to the ranch for a “Last Chance” workout before the weigh-in. Blue team got beat again. Cathy offered herself up on a platter and her team obliged. As much as I like Ron, its time for him to go home. Though he had a good weigh-in, what’s up with only running 4 miles!!!

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Hello Friends,

I just got back from a 14 mile bike ride. Yepper, I rode 14 miles! I rode to the place where I walk the dogs, took them out for their potty break. Rode up to Speedway and got my hubby some lunch. Rode to his work which is out by the airport in GR, had lunch with hubby and rode home. I did not have any houses lined up to clean today so I took advantage of this nice weather we are having here in Michigan.

When I got back from my ride I filled up my 24 oz cup with water and Lite and Lean Powder to help me recover from the ride and get some more energy to finish the second half of my day.

 Dummy me, ate some chips when I got home…ugh! Why did I do that? I mindlessly ate them. I have to figure how not to eat mindlessly! There is a chapter in the book I am reading On Target Nutrition that I talked about in another post so I am looking forward to learning how to stop, ‘the eating and its gone before I know it’, pattern.

Boy, I can tell my legs will be sore from all that riding! My knees are screaming…NO MORE! Lol… but I will be fine. I wanted to ride the 14 miles because the contestants on The Biggest Loser walk that far. Time does not allow me to walk that far. I think the amount of time would drive me nuts… too much time to think…

Its supposed to be nice this week and our yard sure needs some clean up. Dog poop, kid toys, branches, trash that blew in our yard over the winter, all need picked up. Some raking to do, so I am going to get outside and work a little on my yard this week. What are you planning to do to get your body moving this week?

Hope this finds you well. I just realized its St. Patrick’s Day tomorrow. Happy St. Patty’s Day Friends!

Take Care,

Camille

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Hello Friends,

 I hope you had a great week. I am kind of bummed. I weighed in and haven’t lost one stinkin’ pound in a month! I have been cleaning houses on the side to help make ends meet. I have been cleaning 3-6 hours a day! My weight did not budge. I feel I let my friends, Designer Whey, and myself down. I know it has to be because my eating plan gets all messed up. I can’t seem to get on track or stick to my schedule when I am working. In between houses I have been eating a handful of nuts and that may contribute to not losing weight…too many nuts! I need to pre mix my Designer Whey powders and carry a cooler with some fruit, maybe a sandwich and eat that instead of a handful of nuts all day long.

 I am reading a book called ‘Chris Johnson’s On Target Living Nutrition: The Power of Feeling Your Best’. It puts nutrition in very simple terms. Chris Johnson is a Michigan native and lives in the Lansing area. I just started reading. And as I do, I will share with my friends what I learn. One thing I get from flipping through the book is we don’t have to be perfect. To live an 80/20 mix of our healthy plan; that means 80% of the time stay on target the other 20% give our self some slack. I have never seen a book so simple. It lays it all out for you. They give you a list of “target foods” which consist of a variety of proteins, carbs and healthy fats. The list is starts out as the best foods, better foods, good foods, fair foods, and poor food choices;  basically take small steps to changing your health. The book suggests if you are starting a ground zero to do these 3 simple things. Drink 2-3 bottles of water a day, best if its spring water or mineral water (you can refill), walk for 10 minutes a day and to eat 1-2 proteins, 1-2 carbs and 1-2 healthy fats from the ‘best list’ from the list they give you in the book. Slow and steady wins the race! For me, simple is good. This book has me excited and recharged again.

 Did you watch the Biggest Loser this pass week? Were you shocked at the end result? I thought the black team would for sure lose with their binge episode. Jillian was right…they still do not get it…I don’t either. I have to admit I would have done the same thing if I was let loose on 24 hours of pampering. I know I would have because I’ve been to a buffet with my daughter on a field trip. I did well but the dessert table called me. I really had to restrain myself to one dessert and thankfully I was able; because if it had not been time to get back on the bus I would have had more helpings. I wish I had a mindful spirit to resist eating too much but I struggle and have to “talk” to myself and hold my self back. I do not have a natural desire to just say no.

 I will write again soon. Take care , Friends.

 Camille

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The teams were surprised big time in week 10. Allison brought the teams into the courtyard with a challenge. Winner of the challenge got to pit a member of the blue team against a member of the black team in the various challenges to come with them facing off each other at weigh in. The challenge was to squat against the wall with a ball in your lap. Team members started dropping off immediately. The final two were Mandi and Tara. Tara won the challenge by 2 seconds and had to decide who from each team would compete against each other.

The second challenge was an obstacle course at 24 Hour Fitness. The prize for the winning team was a 24 hour luxury spa event. At the end of the challenge the black team won. Again. The Blue team is not happy about losing again, but are confident they will win at weigh in.

The black team had a great time at the spa. In fact they binged on food, drink and smoking. They consumed at dinner over 16,000 calories. Meanwhile at the ranch the blue team is working out hard and treat themselves to a nice dinner. Total calories consumed by all the team members…1,612 calories.

After the black team gets back and Jillian meets them in the dining room, she is fit to be tied. She already knows what happened and is waiting to see of her team will confess. At first they don’t and with her yelling at them, they break down and confess. Filipe is not pleased about her attitude towards the team members and blows up at her accusing her of not working out with him but with everyone else etc. and leaves the room with his cousin following him out. But, more drama of course comes. The cousins walk into the gym and let Bob know what happened and that they want to work out with him and not Jillian. So both defect to Bob for workout as Jillian comes in with the rest of the black team. She ignores them.

Both teams come in for weigh in. As one blue and one black team member get on the scale, the winner of the weigh in gets 1 point for their team. Tara weighs in first since she picked the team rivarly and kept herself out so her weigh in will not count. Shock. She has consistently pulled in big numbers. She did not lose one pound. In fact she was at “0”. She had tears in her eyes getting off the scale. The rest of the teams weigh in against each other with both teams evenly at 2pts each. Then Mandi and Sione weigh in. He loses 6 pounds and Mandi gained 2 pounds! Bob and the blue team are devestated. She worked out the hardest and yet still gained. Therefore, the black team wins and is saved from elimination. The blue team will have to decide who will go home with one more insult to injury. Laura of the black team won last week to have an extra vote to who gets eliminated.

The blue team meets and it comes down to Mandi going home in week 10. Next week, the remaining team members get to go home for a visit!

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Hello Friends,

This week went by so fast! I was so busy that I did not get to watch my favorite show until Sunday. Oh the “Biggest Loser” show of course left us hanging to see the winners. Good thing I don’t have too many days to wait! Did you see the segment where Sugar Ray was on? I did and he said a cool quip. He said POWER means Prepare-Overcome-Win-Every-Round. How cool is that! Also Designer Whey had a nice promo too. I can’t help be get excited for Designer Whey when I see their promo…you guys rock! I tell all my friends about Designer Whey Products and how they have helped me on my journey to healthier me.

I picked up a “Biggest Loser” Weight management kit from Sam’s Club today. I heard that 55% of the Biggest Losers diet is protein. See, if you listen carefully you will get the tips and secrets to the contestant’s weight loss. Some contestants lost almost 90 pounds in 9 weeks! I sure wish I could be a contestant and have someone push me, train me, feed me and teach me like the contestants receive. I wish for a personal trainer and equipment but with our budget being so tight… for now I will have to rely on myself. I wish our dog was good on the leash I would love to go for walks with her but she is a stinker and jerks me and pulls I have not been able to break her of that.

Today I got really irked… I don’t even know if irked is a word but I will say irked to be nice… I shop at a discount grocery store to help save money and the person in line ahead of me had his groceries and 2 bottles of Bailey’s Cream…ok so far not so bad…but then he pulls out his bridge (food stamp) card and pays for his groceries then a 20 dollar bill to pay for the booze…I am like steaming… the man can’t pay for his groceries but has the money for booze….ugh!

Well friends its Monday and I always like Monday, it’s the beginning of a new week for new hopes.

Have a good one,

Camille

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Happy March, Friends…it’s suppose to warm up this weekend here in Michigan…Bring it on! I hope this finds you healthier then the day before. I have been thinking about patterns and realized that everything is based on a pattern. I, like a lot of Americans have lived an unhealthy pattern. If you pay attention to Bob, one of the “Biggest Loser” trainers he said to be healthy the pattern is “Fuel -> Move -> Rest. For me it was always Move -> Rest -> Fuel -> Rest some more. So I had it wrong.

Our church is having a diet and nutrition course for the next few weeks. I am learning a lot and thought I would share with you all what I have learned in just one session.

To stop cravings – eat every 3 hours small meals that include protein.

Exercise: How much and how long – You only need 30 minutes a day of cardio. Cardio is simply raising your heart rate higher then your sitting heart rate. Here is something interesting… you do not need to do 30 minutes in a row. I never seem to fit in 30 minutes a day then felt bad but if you do 3 – 10 minute work outs or even if you start out doing 5 minutes – 6 times a day that works! You can jog in place, jump rope, dance, rebound or anything that will get your heart rate above your sitting rate even… sex… LOL. OK, now run home and tell your husband its exercise time!

You need 1 hour each week strength training – it does not take very many pounds for strength. 2 – 5 pound weights is great! Carry a weight in your car and do bicep curls driving…ummm… one arm at a time! You can use soup cans or water bottles. I say use water bottles that you refill then after you are done doing reps, drink the water!

You need flexibility every day – stretching, bend touch your toes when you get out of bed, stand up from your computer. Practice flexibility anytime. Just get some stretching in wherever you can. That’s it to stay fit.

It’s best to exercise …ANYTIME! Morning does revs up your metabolism and helps keep it going all day.

The figure below is how to figure out how many calories you need to lose 1 pound a week just by your food intake. **Add exercise and you lose more!

1. Add 655 to this calculation 4.35 X Weight in Pounds
2. Add your answer to this calculation 4.7 X Height in inches
3. Subtract your answer to this calculation 4.7 X age
4. Subtract 500 calories

This equals the number of calories you need to take in each day to lose 1 pound a week. Not doing anything but this formula you could lose 52 pounds a year!

My weight is 278, Height 69 inches and I am 41
655 + 1209.3 (4.35 X 278) + 324.3 (4.7 X 69) – 192.7 (4.7 X 41) – 500 = 1495.9 calories a day. (1500 is close enough!)

To figure out how much water you need to drink a day it’s your weight divided by 2. My weigh is 278, I should be drinking 139 oz of water a day… whoa sure will be pee’n a lot! That’s over a gallon a day! That is hard to see doing but I think I will make it a goal to drink a gallon of water a day… Or lose weight so I don’t have to drink that much!

I hope this helps you with your weight loss journey. Start with figuring out your resting heart rate add a little more movement every day and before you know it you will have worked yourself up to 30 minutes of cardio a day. I will close for now…

Until next time… Camille from Michigan

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