Welcome to my health, wellness and weight-loss journey. My desire is that you receive something here from my personal testimony that will encourage you to a healthier lifestyle. I will try to update this journal often....hopefully every week if time permits.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS JOURNAL NOVEMBER 18, 2008
Due to the error in the SPLENDA PUMPKIN BREAD recipe that was featured, I want to feature it again with the corrections. If you printed the recipe previously, please make the correction 4 teaspoons baking powder, NOT 4 tablespoons!
Eating For Life Journal will resume after Thanksgiving...Wanda
HEALTH AND WELLNESS JOURNAL NOVEMBER 11, 2008
I've had so many request for the cabbage soup recipe...it's one of the favorites! If you printed the Splenda Pumpkin Bread recipe last week...there was a typo error. The recipe should have 4 teaspoons baking powder...NOT 4 tablespoons.
This is a very busy time for me, so I will not be updating the journal again until after Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving from my home to yours...Wanda
HEALTH AND WELLNESS JOURNAL NOVEMBER 4, 2008
With all the holiday baking that I'm doing, I should be back-tracking on my weight loss, but fortunately, I seem to be maintaining with about 6 pounds to reach my goal. The steamed veggies last week were so good, I doing it again this week.
My family is coming for the Thanksgiving holiday and I will be very busy these next few weeks. It may be necessary for me to take a little time off from the journal. I will squeeze one it if I have the time.
Happy Thanksgiving from my home to yours...Wanda
HEALTH AND WELLNESS JOURNAL OCTOBER 28, 2008
This Autumn weather brings with it a season of baking bread. I'm beginning to make breads (my kitchen smells divine) and I will be featuring some of them soon. I'm still working at staying focused with 6 pounds to my goal, it's not easy with me being a Happy Cooker. I love to cook and share recipes, hopefully making your menu planning a little easier. More holiday recipes coming soon!
It's good to have a nice variety of foods that will promote our healthy journey and weight loss. Today, I'm steaming vegetables - unpeeled carrot, zucchini, whole cauliflower, broccoli crowns, 1/2 cabbage and unpeeled red potato. Steaming is a healthy method to cook vegetables, the fresh taste is also very good!
See you next week...Wanda
HEALTH AND WELLNESS JOURNAL OCTOBER 21, 2008
YEAH...down one more pound with just six more to reach my goal. Seems like I've been rejuvenated with my attitude...and losing one more pound really helped. I've been asked about dieting...but I don't like to think about this as being a diet. I'd rather think about it being a journey to a better life with health and wellness; weight loss is something that goes along with it.
There's one important thing that I like to focus on, and that is that I don't have a time limit to reach my goal, I will reach it...in due time. This has really helped me from getting discouraged.
See you next week...Wanda
HEALTH AND WELLNESS JOURNAL OCTOBER 14, 2008
This week I'm doing something good for me...and getting my attitude back in line with my health, wellness and weight-loss journey. It's easy to slip off the right path to my goal, and not so easy to find my way back. I've learned that my attitude and mind-set plays a tremendous part in my success of reaching my goal and then changing old habits and ways into a life of success.
CHALLENGE FOR THIS WEEK:
- Focus on Goal - Remember the sweetness of success
- Drink more water
- Think Healthy (7 pounds to goal)
- There's no time limit on reaching my goal...I will do it!
See you all next week...Wanda
Health Tip: "Whole" is the word to look for on the labels of bread; whole Wheat, whole grain contains the highest amount of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants...and about 4 times the amount of fiber as white bread.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS JOURNAL OCTOBER 7, 2008
I've been busy all week trying to get caught up on the website things. I finally got around to making the cabbage soup and I'm trying to get back on track with my Health, Wellness and Weight-loss Journey. I've lost two pounds this week, so I'm back to 7 pounds to reaching my goal. I've had numerous request for the cabbage soup recipe...and it's a good time for me to feature it!
I hope to be caught up next week. I will begin to feature some of the fall/holiday recipes, some of which can be made into healthy type recipes.
Until next week...focus on your goal...Wanda
HEALTH AND WELLNESS JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 30, 2008
A quick report on my visit with my family...the time we had together was outstanding. The wonderful memories and our hearts touching is the closest thing to heaven here on this earth! I'm looking forward to them coming back for Thanksgiving and I'm already planning the menu!
While the family was visiting...I didn't stay very close to my weight-loss journey and I've gained 2 pounds. I am making the cabbage soup today and will again focus on my goal.
I'm still having internet problems and am doing the newsletter on my computer with a dial-up connection. I don't know when I will get this problem resolved. Hughes Net and Yahoo keep me going back and forth like a ping-pong ball. I've spent hours on tech calls...so this has hindered me from getting more things for you on this journal. I will be working on some new things next week, and hopefully have them for you soon.
Tuesday evening: I apologize about not getting the newsletter to you on the regular Tuesday AM. YAHOO had me blocked out of my website all day today and I was unable to get into the webhosting to update the pages.
See you next week...Wanda
HEALTH AND WELLNESS JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 23, 2008
My family is still here visiting me and I've had no time to make something new for you on this page. I will be getting back with my regular routine next week.
Have a wonderful first week of autumn...thank you, Wanda
HEALTH AND WELLNESS JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 16, 2008
Today's recipe, Healthy Pistachio Pineapple Delight has become a family favorite. I've made this 3 times in the past few weeks for different guest and our family dinner.
Due to problems with the website, I've gotten behind on things and I've not been able to get to all the emails...and time for this journal. I have family coming in from out of town, so most of you know how that is when you try to make everything special for them. I will try to do a new recipe for you next week if I have the time.
I'm down to 7 pounds to reach my goal.
See you next week, Wanda
PS. Just a little note to let you know that my "JOURNEY" does include my family. The time spent with them is much more important to me than loosing a few pounds. This is the menu for my family this weekend:
HONEY BAKED HAM, JALAPENO CHEESE GRITS, CARROT SOUFFLE, MIXED BEAN SALAD, COLLARD GREENS, SPINACH GELATIN SALAD, CORNBREAD, LEMONADE WHITE-GRAPE PUNCH
Desserts: MILLION DOLLAR PIE, COCONUT-ALMOND CHEESECAKE, HOMEMADE PINA COLADA ICE-CREAM
For our vegetarian guest: ASPARAGUS CREPES
HEALTH AND WELLNESS JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 09, 2008
I think Monday was the worst day I've ever had in the past 10 years of doing a website. I couldn't get into the web-hosting of Yahoo to work on my pages and get things ready for the newsletter. I was on tech calls all day with Yahoo and Hughes Net, finally about 7:00 PM last night we found that the problem was Hughes Net! I then worked on the pages until about 11:00 PM and literally ran out of gas. I was back up at 5:00AM today so that I could get the newsletter to you.
Sorry I don't have anything prepared for the journal. My goal is still 8 pounds away. Seems like I'm now holding at this weight.
Hope to have some good news for you next week...Wanda
PS. 10:30 AM Tuesday, My computer issues are not resolved. I just finished a 2 hour tech call with Hughes.net and the problem has been escalated to the engineering department. I should hear from them in about 48 hours. In the meantime, I am using the backup computer with a dial-up connection. I won't be able to respond to all the emails at this time. (I'm very tired)
HEALTH AND WELLNESS JOURNAL SEPTEMBER 02, 2008
I've had many requests for the Cabbage Soup recipe that I featured a couple of week's ago. Due to being so busy with other things, this is a good time for me to have the recipe again. NOTE: I do not archive the recipes, be sure to print them out when they are featured on the website.
I'm taking a little break from the journal and hope to have more to report soon.
Stay healthy and well...Wanda
HEALTH AND WELLNESS JOURNAL AUGUST 26, 2008
I've received several emails wanting to know the kind of diet I'm on. Actually, I'm not on a specific type of diet, rather just a sensible approach to a healthier way of eating. I try to follow sensible nutritional guidance, trimming the fat from pork chops, removing the skin from chicken, eating less red meat and eating more fresh fruits and vegetables.
I don't do very well if I get hungry...so I don't limit myself to certain size portions. I eat until I'm full, stopping just when my body says that's enough...and I try not to over eat and have that stuffed feeling. It's important to always have plenty of fresh fruits and veggies to snack on in between meals.
Sugar is one of the main things I try to avoid. If I eat a rich dessert with a lot of sugar, then I have cravings for several days. Thinking about my goal, gets me back on track.
I didn’t lose weight this week, the good thing is that I didn’t gain weight! I’m excited that I have just 8 more pounds to reach my goal.
More next week, Wanda
HEALTH AND WELLNESS JOURNAL AUGUST 19, 2008
I'm down one more pound this week...with 8 pounds to go to make my goal of 25 pounds! I've had many request for my healthy soups that I mention in the journal. The cabbage soup has been great in my health journey and weight loss. I also have a very good Curry Cauliflower Soup and Healthy Lentil Soup...I will be featuring these soups soon.
I've had many things to do this week...and not much time to focus on interesting things for this journal. The things that are working for me is what I want to share with you. I appreciate all your emails of encouragement...I would love to know what works for you!
Remember, stay focused on your GOAL...Wanda
HEALTH AND WELLNESS JOURNAL AUGUST 12, 2008
I lost ONE pound this week, making a total of 16 pounds with 9 more to go! One pound doesn't seem like much, but believe me...it is considering all the things I've done this week. The peach cake you can see if you click on What's New of the Happy Cooker site...is one of the things I'm talking about. I made an emergency trip last night to take the remainder of the cake over to my son Kevin and DIL Rocio..just to get it out of my house, otherwise I would have eaten the whole thing! I'm convinced that you can't put candy in front of a baby and not expect it to cry for the candy...and Grandma's are no exception!
The reason I set my goal for 25 pounds is because I believe I can do this. I love to WIN...and do not want to set myself up for failure. After I reach the 25 pounds, then I will evaluate my next goal.
Think positive and healthy...Wanda
HEALTH AND WELLNESS JOURNAL AUGUST 05, 2008
I'm happy to be back with you in my health, wellness and weight-loss journey. Many of you may not realize that I do not have a staff...I do all the website, cooking, taking photos...everything myself...and that's the reason I need to take a break occasionally.
I am still holding at 15 pounds weight-loss...my goal is to lose 25 pounds.
I hope to have a good report for you next week...Wanda
HEALTH AND WELLNESS JOURNAL JULY 15, 2008
Yeah...I've lost 15 pounds, ten pounds to go! It's not always easy to stay focused in my health, wellness and weight-loss journey with being the Happy Cooker. This week I had family over for dinner and made a real tasty dinner with the Eye of the Round roast, Broccoli Salad in a Bag, stir fry Squash, Onion and Baby Bella mushrooms...Texas Garlic Toast and then to top that off, I did a creamy Coconut Macaroon pudding dessert. Yes...I did eat a little of each one...and then sent the left-over home with my son and DIL. I gave myself permission to enjoy the time and food with my family. The next day, I was back full steam ahead in my journey.
See you next week...Wanda
HEALTH AND WELLNESS JOURNAL JULY 1, 2008
This has been a very busy week for me, and I'm still focusing on my health and wellness journey. I really watch the cholesterol in foods, with next month being my doctor's appointment for cholesterol check. I've been taking a few nutritional steps that are linked to cholesterol drops. I've upped my intake of omega-3s - mainly with supplements but also through some diet changes, like using flaxseed in foods. I eat oatmeal, whole almonds, lots of garlic, grapes and high-pulp orange juice. I admit...there was very little exercise on the treadmill this week (better next week). I lost one pound, making a total of 13 pounds. I hope to have a better report for you next week.
Until then, think healthy...Wanda
HEALTH AND WELLNESS JOURNAL JUNE 24, 2008
I am continuing in my journey for health, wellness and weight-loss. Loosing weight is not my top priority, but being healthy and well is. As I stated before, by following after the more healthy foods, my weight has dropped without much of an effort.
I began exercising this week...and I'm taking it slow, this is not something that I look forward to, but trying to discipline myself and exercise a little everyday on the treadmill. I sit at the computer much of my time and the exercise is way over-due.
One of the snack foods that I eat is whole almonds. I keep a small Ziploc bag in my car and eat them while driving. I've lost two pound this week! I'm feeling great even though a little sore from the exercise.
More next week.....Wanda
HEALTH AND WELLNESS JOURNAL JUNE 17, 2008
Yeah! I've lost 10 pounds, 15 pounds to go! I start the day with my GoLean cereal with 1% milk, and a glass of orange juice. The first 10 pounds was easy, so now I need to dig down a little deeper to continue with the weight loss. I plan to do this by walking on the treadmill. I will give you an update on the exercise next week. I went to my doctor about 6 week's ago, and my LDL cholesterol was at 140. The doctor wants this down to 130 on my next appointment in August. I'm really trying to cut back on the cholesterol and reading all the labels on things that I purchase to make sure there is no cholesterol.
I keep one of my healthy soups in the refrigerator at all times, and by doing this...I always have something healthy to eat when I don't have time to prepare the food that will keep me on my journey to health, wellness and weight-loss. Just so that you know...I will be 69 years old this year!
More of my journal next week, until then - think THIN....Wanda
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