So, "Its been a long time (time), we shouldn't have left you (left you). Without a dope beat to step to (step to, step to)" etc.  ^;^

The daily fight still continues. I've lost about 20lbs  since the begining of the year. I know, not very good. I've learned a lot about myself in the process though. I've also managed to find some nifty things to help keep me on track.

First up:

These wonderful little tablets "Transform foods you never thought could be so sweet and delicious. Lemons taste like lemonade. Hot sauce taste like hot doughnut glaze. Miracle berries makes healthy eating fun and delicious."

And I have to say most of this is true. While the results will vary from person to person, especially when it comes to the duration of their effect. I have tried them and for me the effect lasts anywhere from 20 min. to an hour. Lemons are my favorite to eat with these as they taste to me more like concentrated lemonade with a whole pound of sugar on top. Very sweet and a bit overwhelming, but when combined with green tea which we know is great for weight loss, it adds cleansing and reduces hunger cravings and with the mberry, the tea will taste sweet without having to add any sugar! I do advise drinking the green tea lemon combination cold as for some reason (at least for me) the heat causes the mberry's effect to dissipate quickly.

Most people use these to host "flavor tripping parties", but I think they are a great addition to the fight against sugar cravings. They can be purchased through their website. 

* Please note I am not paid for endorsing any of these products I just really like them and my opinions are my own.

Has anyone heard of the Skinny Girl Diet? It looks pretty straight forward. Just consume the amount of calories prescribed per day and weekends are marked red. This might be easier to pull off since you technically eating you could just wait to eat until you are forced to or when (insert occasion here) calls for it. I think it's simple enough that no one would think you are doing anything wrong.

I'm on day one today and so far so good, but then again my family could give a crap. I also have the added advantage of not being skinny yet so for now my weight loss is a good thing in their eyes. Hopefully by the time I get there I'll have found a better way to conceal it.

It says it should be started on a Monday but I figured the earlier the better. I'm allowing myself 650cals for the day since that seems to be the weekend average.

(to see how to make these scroll to bottom)

I've been searching the endless abyss that is the internet on ways to lose weight quickly and came across this plan. Basically you're supposed to eat nothing but Jell-o (the sugar-free low calories versions) and lose a ton of weight. Now I'm all up for losing weight with simple to follow plans that don't require complicated shopping lists, cooking instructions, scales (because let's face it, with the busy lives we lead who really has time for all of that?) but this seemed a little too good to be true. Eat something yummy and lose weight without effort? Ok what's the catch? Turns out, that it may not be as easy at it seems. Even with the numerous different flavors that Kraft has, I'm pretty sure that after 3 days of nothing but Jell-o I'd be ready to kick someones small dog through a field goal. But the thought of losing weight quickly is too appealing to pass up, so I'd thought that I would give it try with some modifications.

Breakfast: Fruit (Jump start the metabolism and won't kill me in calories)
Lunch: Small salad (only because I usually eat with a co-worker and I don't want any questions)
Dinner: Jell-o (Only the sugar-free/ reduced calorie versions)
Snacks: same as above

I figure if I keep my fruit choices to lowest calorie ones, keep my salad under 200 calories including dressing, and eat jello to kill cravings, (of course still taking my multivitamin) I should still be able to lose a significant amount of weight.


Fruit(calories): (keep in mind that these are just the fruits that I prefer that are low cal. There are more that have even lower calories.)

Peach - Medium Fresh: 37
Cantaloupe - 1cup: 53
Cranberries - 1cup: 44
Grapefruit - White 1/2: 39
Kiwi - Medium: 46
Lemon - Small: 17
Lime - Small: 20

Nectarine - Medium: 67

Orange - Medium: 62

Pomegranate: Medium 1/2: 52

Strawberries - 1 cup: 45

Tangerines - Medium: 37

Watermelon - 1cup: 51

Salad(calories value estimated):

Iceberg lettuce (chopped or shredded) - 1 cup: 8

Mushrooms (sliced) - 1/2 cup : 8

Cucumber (sliced) - 1/2 cup: 8

Carrots (chopped) - 1/4 cup: 13

Grape tomatoes - 1/2 cup : 15

Dressing (Fat free Balsamic Vinaigrette) - 2tbsp: 5

Total: 49 (estimated)

Jello (Gelatin per snack size serving - 1 snack cup):

Cherry & Black Cherry - sugar-free & low calorie : 10  

Lemon Lime & Orange - sugar-free & low calorie : 10

Raspberry & Orange - sugar-free : 10

Strawberry - sugar-free & low calorie: 10

Strawberry kiwi & Tropical berry - sugar-free & low calorie : 10

Jello (Pudding per snack size serving - 1 snack cup):
Boston Cream Pie - sugar-free & reduced calorie: 60
Chocolate - sugar-free & reduced calorie: 60
Chocolate & Vanilla Swirl - sugar-free & reduced calorie: 60

Chocolate & Vanilla Swirl - fat-free: 100 (be careful about which you pick up)

Creme Brulee - sugar-free & reduced calorie: 70

Dark Chocolate - sugar-free & reduced calorie: 60

Double Chocolate - sugar-free & reduced calorie: 60

Dulce de Leche - sugar-free & reduced calorie: 60

Rice Pudding - sugar-free & reduced calorie: 70

Vanilla - sugar-free & reduced calorie: 60

 Orange Slice Shots:

Orange Wedge Jell-O Shots
What you’ll need:
2 oranges
1 package orange flavored Jell-O (calories per box: 80)
1/2 cup boiling water
1/2 cup Vodka ( you can exclude this if you want the non-alcoholic version just follow jell-o box directions instead)
Directions:
1. Slice oranges in half. Using a spoon, scoop out all the flesh and divider pith. Put aside for later use.
2. In a bowl, mix Jell-O and boiling water using a wire whisk. When all of the Jell-O has dissolved, add vodka and mix thoroughly.
3. Pour liquid Jell-O into orange halves. Cover with plastic cling wrap and refrigerate for approximately 4 hours, preferably overnight.
4. Once Jell-O is firm, slice each half into 3 wedges and serve.
Makes 12 Jell-O shots.

So far on my journey, I found a lot of inspirational blogs with beautiful pictures and inpiring quotations, but many of them are lacking in highlighting beautiful women of different colors and ethnicities who would serve as great sources of inspiriation. So to my rainbow family I present these lovely ladies!