Boot Camp....ouch...ouch....ouch

Okay. So you all know I went to the Biggest Loser Resort for a week and worked out for 7 hours a day - then why in the heck am I so sore from one hour of boot camp at 6:30 a.m. this morning? Oh my goodness. My butt, and legs are killing me. My guess is the fact I actually did some squats and lunges - at the resort my knee was bugging be so I opted out of those and did cardio instead. So, tomorrow boot camp is at 5:30 a.m. - am I crazy? Well, we already know the answer to that.

Tonight I made some nummy fried zucchini - I know fried sounds bad - but not so bad when you use just a little olive oil and a non-stick pan. They were so good. I need to get out an pick some more veggies tomorrow and then weed, weed, weed my garden. It is almost time to plant my Fall/Winter veggies.

What is a Chakra?

In my journey toward health and fitness, I have also been on a spiritual awakening journey too. I'm learning new things about yoga, crystals, angels, Atlantis, Reiki and all sorts of cool other things. Here is a little about Chakras:

What is a chakra?According to ancient Vedic wisdom, there are seven major energy centers in the body. These are known as chakras, a word that comes from the Sanskrit term cakram meaning “turning” or “wheel.”

The traditional Indian healing system known as Ayurveda teaches that the chakras are the energetic junction points connecting our local domain of form and phenomena with the non-local realm of the unmanifest. According to the ancient Vedic texts of the later Upanishads, there are thought to be 108 chakras in and outside of the body and seven main energy centers within the body.

The seven chakras are said to be the energy centers that radiate like wheels of light from a point on the physical body and outward through the layers of the subtle body (mind) and causal body (spirit) in an ever-increasing, fan- or heart-shaped formation. These points are thought to be the focal points for the reception and transmission of our vital life-force energy, known in Sanskrit as prana.

Where are the chakras?The seven main chakras are aligned in a column that begins at the base of your spine and extends to the top of your head. They’re located symmetrically up your body a distance of approximately seven fingers apart, which is one hand and then two additional fingers. From the tail bone to a bit below the navel, to the center of your chest called the solar plexus, to your heart, to your throat, to the third eye (an inch or so above your eye brows) and then the crown of your head.

Each chakra also has a specific color associated with it, and a vibration or mantra that opens or tunes the energy flow in each chakra. This tuning is similar to opening up additional lanes at a toll booth on a highway. When the traffic has broader bandwidth, it can flow more easily, and quickly.

Lazy day.....

The gloom got to me today and I pretty much just laid around all day. So, tomorrow I will be hitting it hard. Tuesday I will be starting my boot camp. I am excited to see what it entails - shouldn't be too bad after a week in Utah. LOL!

Missed my hike....

I am such a dork - I didn't set my alarm to get up at 6 a.m. to go on my hike with Kimiko. I totally missed it - I am so sorry Kimiko. Today turned out to be a pretty lazy day after that. Four weeks from tomorrow I will be going to Malibu this time to the Biggest Loser Resort again. So, four weeks to hit it exercise and diet wise!

Bounty from the garden and some great words of wisdom

Here is what I picked in my garden today - after being gone for almost two weeks my garden is a mess. It needs weeding and picking bad.  But, today I picked a ton of tomatoes, green beans, jalapenos, green peppers, bell peppers, a small pumpkin, a crazy looking cucumber, a purple and white eggplant and a couple of squash - not quite sure what they are. The other day I picked two foot long zucchinis - that is what happens when you don't tend to your garden in the summer. LOL!

Any ideas of what to make with all these veggies?

And, the words of wisdom:

I was reminded today that I attract the people, situations, experiences, etc. into my life that my repetitive thoughts create. If I'm living something that's unwanted, it's simply due to a dominant thought pattern that I'm co-creating. Change the focus, change your life. Focus on what you DO want and you will begin to attract that higher vibration into your life. 

Today I tried to go to Zumba class - I drove around in the parking lot for 15 minutes without finding a parking place - then I gave up because the class had already started. This turned out to be good news for Cleo- we went for a long walk - with a little jogging too. She loved it! Tomorrow a hike with Kimiko. We shall see if I have improved after a week of hiking in Utah. I hope so - the "hills" around here are killer!

Getting back into the swing of life

I'm getting back into the swing of real life without 8 hours of exercise a day!  LOL!  I had a great cardio workout this morning on the traedmill at the gym - way to hot to do a hike or walk. I am thinking about doing a bootcamp class for three days a week for the next three weeks before I go to Malibu. Hmmmm....6:30 a.m. three days a week, plus a workout at 7:15 one day and then hopefully a hike one day on the weekend. That ought to be plenty of working out - and all before 8:30 a.m. I say get it done in the morning! I plan to weigh myself again on Friday to see if I have lost anymore since the resort! We shall see - after two days in Las Vegas....LOL!

It is hard to get back to reality

Today has been an odd day for me - I am finding it a little hard to get back to reality after being at the Biggest Loser Resort for a week and then Las Vegas for two days. Tomorrow I am going to hit the gym again and then hopefully a hike on the weekend.

What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas....that is all I'm going to say

We had a great time in Las Vegas, but now it is back to reality and back to eating healthy and working out.

And the verdict is in...

I lost 8 pounds, and 5.5 inches at the resort. I am so happy! I feel good about my stay, and really feel like I made a shift in my lifestyle. Yes. I am in Las Vegas now, at the Red Rock Resort - pretty nice hotel - very nice rooms. We are having a good time just wandering around keeping it low key. Now we are going down for dinner - then a little gambling. More tomorrow about my winnings! LOL!

An amazing week and a blue butterfly!

This week was amazing!  Everyone here at the Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge is  awesome - all the trainers, the staff and all the other guests. This is a place of metamorphosis - a place of  accomplishment, optimism and challenges. Even the seemingly most fit person could challenge themself with a week here at the resort. Tonight was 'graduation' for all those that are leaving tomorrow - which is me. It is a little bitter sweet - I challenged myself to new heights this week, met some really great people who motivated me and who I motivated. The graduation consisted of a a presentation of a DVD of all of us sweating and pushing it, and still photos too. The presentation, along with all the sincere words of encouragement and triumphs made me cry. But, those of you that know me well know that I cry easily! But, seriously when people spoke of there accomplishments - conquering things they thought they could never do and tales of amazing fitness and health journeys - it was so heartwarming and special. I will definitely take what I have learned home with me and follow what I have learned to continue on this fitness and health journey that I am on. One valid point that one of the trainers mentioned tonight was that there is no end to this journey - you can always improve something  in your fitness and health. And, that is the journey I want to be on - one of consistent improvement of me, my health, my body, my mind and my soul.

I am excited to see hubby tomorrow and to relax a little in Las Vegas, after my six days of 7 hours of working out a day. Woo Hoo! Tomorrow morning I will be 'tested out' - where you see how many inches and pounds you have released. I can't wait to see! I'll let you know tomorrow from Las Vegas.

Oh yes....what did we do today. It was a light day  - we only did a two and a half hour hike and a circuit training class. LOL!  Then I had a fabulous massage and got a pedicure - my poor feet really needed it!

The bluebutterfly was a tatoo on one of the guest's shoulder. I noticed it a lunch the other day and then tonight when she spoke and told us all that she had lost 125 pounds in the last year and a half - I knew I could do it too. She said to those of us that are still on our weight loss journey - she is at her goal weight now and was here to get more fit and more toned -  that we should not give up and that we can do it. That is when I really shed a tear because at that moment I knew I was going to reach my goal too! When I decidede to manifest bluebutterflies I had know idea they would all have messages! So awesome!

The Climb

Well, I made it through the infamous stop sign hike here at Biggest Loser Resort. This was the longest steepest road I think I have ever seen, well not ever seen, but ever had the pleasure of walking up.  LOL! It was a beautiful hike, if you weren't looking at the pavement below your feet. LOL! Anyway, it was a climb. As you can see I was a sweaty mess after we made it to the top, even my entire baseball cap was soaked and all the hair in my ponytail. Now that is a workout! I feel great that I was able to do this - last time I didn't because I had a giant blister so I turned around at what they call the small stop sign. The rest of the day consisted of stretch - thank goodness, circuit training, Zumba - very fun - I will be doing this at the club when I get home, and games in the pool - also very fun - I think I want to get a pool now. I found out just how competitive I am when I intercepted quiet a few balls in the basketball like game we played in the pool.

Only one more day here - can't wait to see my results and then off to Las Vegas. Tomorrow will consist of one more hike and another class. Then I am getting a massage - I deserve it, and a pedicure - I need it. My feet really took a beating here with all the hiking. But, it was well worth it.

Some hike photos and all about RMR

Do you know what your RMR is? RMR means Resting Metabolic Rate. Today I got up at 5 a.m. to have a test done to tell me what mine is. Basically it means how many calories do you burn if you lay in bed all day. Knowing this one can figure out how many calories they need to eat to maintain or in my case lose weight. So, now I know mine. I figured out I was eating too little during the week - about 300 calories too few each day - and then I would be super hungry and ready to binge on the weekend. So, now I'm going to eat a little more each day and also follow the 90/10 rule - which basically means eat healthy 90 percent and have that 10 percent for when you eat a piece of cake or bowl of ice cream or whatever that you didn't expect to eat. Basically the whole process is calories in and calories out. We all know that, but now I know how many to each and how much to exercise to lose - I was a little off before. So, this is going to be fabulous.

Other than that helpful test and info today was also great. We went on a great hike to a place called overlook. Then we had stretching, and pool class, then lunch and another pool class, then ball class - doing all sorts of exercising holding a giant ball over your head etc. - argh! - and then treading. Oh sounds pretty easy, but treading is intense - five minutes getting your heart rate to its max, then five minutes recovery, then four minutes at max, then recovery and all the way down to one minute max, and recovery and then for fun an extra two minutes at max. This class kicked my butt. Then it was dinner and another lecture on meal planning when we get home.

Tomorrow we are supposed to do the hike called stop sign - it is supposed to be a killer. Time for bed for this one!

I'm worth it and so are you!

Yes. I am. One of the things we talked about in one of the classes today. We need to remember that we are worth it and take care of ourselves and our bodies. Whether it be eating the right foods, exercising, taking time for ourselves,getting enough sleep, etc. so many of us don't take care of ourselves. Many of us take care of everyone else but ourselves. But, a big theme in the lecture today was take care of yourself.

We also talked about the two places emotions come from. Can you guess? Emotions either come from a place of fear - like sadness, frustration, depression, anger, bordom, or from a place of love - like happiness, joy, compassion. The lecture focused on how to not emotional eat. And, guess what I do that a lot. Really, you say? LOL! Anyway, the steps they said to work on when you find yourself at the refrigerator looking for food or about to gobble down a gallon of ice cream or whatever your vice maybe were:
1. Figure out what it is you are feeling and let yourself experience it. Let it out. Cry if you have to. Yell if you have too, but just don't stuff it.
2. Make a list of the most frequent reasons you emotionally eat. Then make a list of things you can do instead of binging like take a walk, go to the gym, read a book, take a bath, go to the movies, whatever it is you can do to not eat that pound of Sees candy.
3. Focus on your goal. If in the middle of wanting to binge you can think aboout your goal. Realize it will take you that much longer to lose the weight or that you will have to do that much more exercise if you eat that whole pizza.
4.Be accountable for what you do eat, if you still decide to eat after the first steps. Add up how many calories you ate. Was that ice cream 950 calories or that pizza 2500 calories?
5. Was it worth it. Then ask yourself was it worth it. Were those calories worth it. And, remember the next time how you felt when you did eat emotionally. Did it solve your problem? No.
6. Don't beat yourself up if you do binge and emotionally eat. Just realize you won't always be able to stop yourself, but if you follow these steps you should be able to decrease the incidence.

Besides this great lecture. I went on a very scenic hike, did circuit training, kickboxing, mountain (again!) and a pool class. And, I am pooped and ready for bed.

Running?...okay jogging...

I went running today...okay jogging on the treamill during one of the clases here! I also went on another awesome hike this morning - it really is so beautiful here. Really an amazing place to hike. Today's hike was only about two hours long because we took a shuttle to the hike location. Then it was stretch class again, another lecture on how to eat well at a restaurant - now that can be a challenge! Then lunch and three more classes - water interval class, total body toning and then cardio intervals. Guess which one I ran in? Cardio Intervals! I decided that I needed to get on that treadmill and do it! It was tough, really tough - thought I was gonna puck, but I did it. Alas, now I am very, very tired.

I also had a little epiphany today that I need to be more accountable to my blog readers and do what I set out to do in this blog create a healthy lifestyle for myself and inspire others. I realize at times I have let you all down with saying I was going to do something and then not doing it - something I am, unfortunately very familiar with when it comes to myself. But, I usually have Integrity when it comes to others. Well, I realized today that I really haven't had Integrity towards you. But, this is going to change this blog is now going to be filled with more integrity. Yes. That means no more saying I am going to do something - like hike with Kimiko or go to Pilates, or eat healthy or whatever it is. Now if I will treat this blog and its readers as if you are all royalty! So, I hope you look forward to more inspiration and more exciting posts from me. Thanks to all of you for reading!!!

First day at the Biggest Loser Resort

Or should I say second first day at Biggest Loser Resort. I can't say it was any easier today than the last time I was here. The good news is that I knew what to expect hence less apprehension. This morning started bright and early with a two and a half hour hike. It was beautiful, but boy what a hill. I need to make sure I keep hiking when I get home. So, Kimiko I'll be looking for you on weekends. Now I just need a couple of weekday hikes when I get home and I'll be set. Any takers? Anyway, then after the hike was breakfast - I was so hungry by that time. Then we had stretch class which felt great, but was challenging for me. I'm gonna need to take some more yoga classes! Then it was Mountain - just like it sounds you basically simulate climing a mountain on either a bike, treadmill or elipital. I opted for bike and boy were my thighs burning. Then some lunch and a lecture. Then Deep Water Treading - yep a class dedicated to trying to drown the participants in the deep end. I survived - I'm writing this, right? Then it was circuite training - which is a combo between weight lifting and cardio - two sets of weights then to the cardio machine for 2 minutes - then on the the next weight machine and on and on and on. Then core class - I thought oh my stomach muscles are strong - not - not strong enought for this class. Ouchy!!! Then a delish dinner of chicken with wasabi mashed potatoes and asparagus. Now I am here in my room trying to prep my body and mind for tomorrow. Also, really realizing that I really don't have a very good connection with my body. I sort of just think about my face, my hands, my feet and my mind - and just ignore all then rest of it. I'm getting a connection with my body and learning to love it for what it can do and hopefully nurturing it and taking care of it (like going on a two and half hour hike) so it can do more. Last time I was here I wasn't thinking about my body like that - but this time I am. I think I am on to something here. I think it is called freedom.

Planes, delays and shuttles

I am here at the Biggest Loser Resort again -actually wondering why I decided to come again. LOL! No really I know why I am here because I am making a lifestyle change. I changing the way I look at life, food and exercise and this experience is going to jump start me back into my healthy lifestyle. I hate to admit it - but I have been way off track every weekend and some weekdays too. But, this should do the trick and then I will be home for four weeks and then to the new Biggest Loser Resort in Malibu in September. I can do this! I rode over from Las Vegas in the shuttle with four other ladies that were coming to the resort too. I could feel their fear at what was to come. It sure is a lot less scary being here when you know what do expect. I'm looking forward to tomorrow. First thing is a two and a half hour hike at 6:30 a.m. I'm sure glad it is early because it is sweltering here. So, tomorrow I will let you know how the hike goes and how all the other classes are. I'm hoping I loose at least another seven pounds this week. I'm hoping for ten. We shall see!! More tomorrow.....

Packing, packing, packing and Eat Pray Love

I spent most of today packing and doing laundry. Fun, fun! Then we went to see Eat, Pray, Love and had a nice dinner. A great movie – in my opinion. It had so many things in it that applied to me and my journey/metamorphosis. One epiphany that I loved was that we should live life doing the Dolce Far Niente - the sweetness of doing nothing. Or in other words just enjoy life! What a concept! That was profound to me because I am always busying myself with projects and this and that. I just loved the movie. I read the book and loved that too. Another thing I got from it was that we need to forgive ourselves and move on with our lives – which was pretty much what the main character’s focus. Hmmmm….I think that is something I need to take heed and do. Forgive self and others! So, I am so ready! So ready to get on the plane for Utah tomorrow and kick some hiking, exercising, and swimming butt.

Angel Yoga

Today I went to a great Angel Yoga class with my friend Alysia teaching the class and my friend Yvette taking the class with me. It was great class. Boy, do I need to do more stretching and yoga. I am not very flexible now - but I am working on it. Tomorrow I pack and then I am off to Utah. I will post again everyday and hopefully post some photos too. I am hoping to loose at least five pounds next week. We will see how I do. It will be interesting. Then Steve and I are off to Las Vegas for a couple of days. Hopefully I will come back with a big jackpot in my pocket.LOL! No seriously I really think I am going to win big!!

Farewell Dance

Tonight was our last dancing lesson. I was sad to end the lessons - we became quite close with the instructors Tatiana and Art. Great people. - really great dancers! We may go back in a few months. Steve and I can now say that we can dance the Rumba, Foxtrot and Meringue with some degree of perfection. Well, probably not perfection, but we can dance those three fairly well. We can also do a bit of Swing, Salsa and Cha Cha. I will have to find a new form of exercise that is fun to take the place of dancing. I'm thinking golfing. Anyone up for golf?

Now it there are only Friday and Saturday for me to pack and get ready for my trip to the Biggest Loser Resort. I am excited! I will be hiking in the beautiful Utah mountains and enjoying some delectable, healthy food. Mmmmmm….. And, then on the way home a couple of nights in Las Vegas at the Red Rock Resort with my sweetie - should be a fun ten days for me.

Tonight in my conference call with my Biggest Loser counselor I was given an assignment to write an essay about an emotion stemming from something in my life that I feel is holding me back from releasing this weight. I have to write something that helps me get through my emotions about a particular subject. I may share more later – but for now that is all I am going to say. Some of you can probably figure out what it is. This will be difficult, but hopefully it will be very cathartic and let me move on to better things.

More about the Little Drunk Monkey and how to calm him

This if from the book Shrink Yourself talking about how sometimes we - or what I like to call the little drunk monkey - are not kind to ourselves and this can hinder weight loss and just make us feel bad. Boy, do I know about this. I think writing in my gratitude journal and writing my intentions each day is helping with this too.

"Many people who struggle with their weight speak to themselves in the privacy of their own minds in a harsh, cruel or even abusive way. In a way that they would never dream of speaking to someone else. It's the voice that calls you fat, or lazy, or belittles you for not having enough discipline or willpower. This kind of voice, with weapons of shame and guilt, might get you to white knuckle it for a little while and lose weight. But the weight loss doesn't stick and you're left with only a drill sergeant in your brain.

The tip of the week is to begin to NOT listen to that negative voice in your head. Instead, pay attention to how you can change the tone, the message and the vocabulary. Losing weight and keeping it off (especially when you're an emotional eater, binge eater or compulsive over eater) is hard work. Talk to yourself in a manner that understands that. Use loving and compassionate words. And in the most simple of terms, be nice to yourself. Listen for the soft whispers of your "true will" and start to become your own best cheerleader!", from the book Shrink Yourself.

Here is a great quote too.

"It's really important that you feel good. Because this feeling good is what goes out as a signal into the universe and starts to attract more of itself to you. So the more you can feel good, the more you will attract the things that help you feel good and that will keep bringing you up higher and higher." Joe Vitale
Author and Speaker

Only five more days...and counting

I know this countdown is probably boring to you - but I am psyching my self up for my week at the Resort. I am excited and ready to do the exercise. At least this time I know what to expect. I will post each day from Utah - hopefully with some great photos of the beautiful scenery. More tomorrow.

More Wii Fit Plus....

I had a very relaxing day. I had a massage. Picked some vegetables. Read my O Magazine. Make a fabulous Barbeque Chicken Salad and played some more WiiFitPlus. A very lazy - but nice day. I am saving my strength for the Biggest Loser Resort week. LOL! No really I am!

Seven more days.....

I missed my walk this morning - 6:30 a.m. is really early on a weekend. And, I guess I didn't hear my alarm. Darn it! Anyway, I am starting to think about packing for the Biggest Loser Resort - only seven more days - a week from tomorrow. And, I am off to Utah! Then after my week at the resort Steve and I are going to Las Vegas for a few days. He is picking me up at the resort - I am flying there then he is coming to get me and whisk me off to Las Vegas for a couple of nights. That will be interesting after a week of eating healthy and mega exercise. My plan is to still eat healthy in Las Vegas and I'm sure we will be walking a lot while we are there. So, tomorrow I will start packing because I know next week will be a very busy week for me work wise.

A perfect day!

A little bit of fun,play and talk time with Karen,Shay, and Makayla. A little bit of work with Courtney and her new home. A little bit of lunch with Makayla. A little bit of dancing with my honey. A little bit of Wii Fit Plus with Renee and Makayla. All this makes for a perfect day for me!!!! And, a hike to a waterfall tomorrow with Kimiko. All is good in Suzanneland - AKA Suzyland!

My Declaration of Independence....

Here is my Declaration of Independence that I wrote as part of my counseling through the Biggest Loser Resort. I thought I'd share it with you. Only 10 more days until I go back again. YAY!!!

My Declaration of Independence

When in the course of my life it becomes necessary for me to dissolve the emotional and psychological bonds I have developed with food and negative body image, which are connected to the overweight state of my body and lack of self esteem. I hereby willingly resolve to conquer the oppression of this state. With the laws of nature, the Universe and God, I allow myself to have a healthy respect for my body and my emotions which will set me free from this self-imposed cruelty to my body and soul, and the suppression of my emotions, which will propel me into a new healthy lifestyle and a state of joy, bliss and delight.

When a long train of abuses and usurpations have plundered my life in this unhealthy path, it now is my responsibility to transform now and forever more my life to a state of absolute love, nurturing and respect for my body and my emotions.

I, therefore, declare that I, Suzanne, will dissolve all negative connection between real and/or perceived tribulations from my past and present, and to do all other acts and things which will inherently free me from the bondage of resentment, fear, and unhealthfulness.

I pledge to:

Nurture my body and soul, as I would nurture a child.

Realize that everything is how it needs to be right now, and look past the illusion to see the underlying order of my life.

Follow my intuition and manifest my dreams into reality.

Take action to bring my ideas to fruition.

Focus on my highest priorities to become mindful and motivated.

Keep and open mind, and learn new ideas. Then teach these new ideas to others.

Get outside, get some fresh air, and connect with nature to relieve stress, gain a new healthy lifestyle and encourage creative ideas.

High Fructose Corn Syrup - DO NOT EAT IT - It helps cancer cells grow

I read this article and thought I had to share it. We all better read our food labels better and not buy foods with this crap in it. It is in many processed foods. So, read your labels carefully!

A new study by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles, is challenging the idea that all sugars are processed equally, as producers of sugar subsitutes would like consumers to believe.

Cancer Cells Gorge on Fructose to Grow and Spread
Just a spoonful of fructose makes the cancer cells divide...
Doesn't have quite the life-affirming ring to it, does it?
A new study by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), is challenging the idea that all sugars are processed equally, as producers of sugar subsitutes would like consumers to believe.

The researchers fed glucose and fructose to a set of pancretic tumor cells, and found that the cancer cells used the two sugars in very different ways—notably, the cells soaked up fructose, metabolized it, and used it to divide and multiply.
High fructose corn syrup comes from federally subsidized corn.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly cancers. The researchers say their findings are important in prescribing a diet for patients with pancretic cancer. Although the study was limited to pancreatic tumor cells, the results are not necessarily unique to that cancer type.

According to the report, written by UCLA's Kim Irwin, "it’s widely known that cancers use glucose, a simple sugar, to fuel their growth"—but this is "the first time a link has been shown between fructose and cancer proliferation."

Many Americans unknowingly consume high levels of fructose daily in the form of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), a super-sweet substance made from corn. HFCS is used in a number of foods, from bread and pasta to tomato sauce and soda pop.

Irwin explains:
Between 1970 and 1990, the consumption of HFCS in the U.S. has increased over 1,000 percent, according to an article in the April 2004 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Food companies use HFCS—a mixture of fructose and glucose—because it’s inexpensive, easy to transport and keeps foods moist. And because it is so sweet, it’s cost effective for companies to use small quantities of HCFS in place of more expensive sweeteners or flavorings.

While the average consumer might understand the risks of sugar—and even avoid foods high in sugar—HFCS is less familiar, and consequently, so are its risks.

The study quotes Dr. Anthony Heaney, an associate professor of medicine and neurosurgery, a Jonsson Cancer Center researcher and senior author of the study: "The bottom line is the modern diet contains a lot of refined sugar including fructose and it’s a hidden danger implicated in a lot of modern diseases, such as obesity, diabetes and fatty liver."

So what can be done?

The first step to eliminating these dangers is an understanding of HFCS's popularity. As the study explained, it's inexpensive. Why? Because the U.S. government subsidizes corn, and high fructose corn syrup (as the name implies) is corn based. As long as companies are focusing on the bottom line—and as long as customers continue to accept sugar substitutes—the cheapest option available will always win out.

There are plenty of stakeholders. In April, the Corn Refiners Association petitioned the Food and Drug Administration to change the name of high fructose corn syrup to simply "corn syrup," in an attempt to salvage its image in the wake of studies that said HFCS causes obesity, and even attributes to mercury poisoning.

There's also Sweet Surprise, an image-cleanup campaign (also by the Corn Refiners Association) designed to "inform" consumers by softening HFCS's increasingly unpopular reputation.

The good news? Consumer demand has pushed some companies to make a change. Two months ago, Hunt's Ketchup announced that, bowing to consumer demand, it was going back to the basics, removing high fructose corn syrup from "every bottle of its ketchup products."

In a new era of consumer awareness, there is hope that other companies will follow suit, if only to appease their customers.

Until then, you can make a personal change by opting out on high fructose corn syrup, or take a bigger step and urge congress to tax high fructose corn syrup.

12 More Days Until I go back to the Biggest Loser Resort and 12 Types of Emotinal Eaters

Today I worked out with Marc and ate well - made some great fish tacos for dinner. Tomorrow the plan is to go to the gym in the morning for either spinning or Zumba - both classes are at the same time. I am starting to get exciting about going back to the resort. I realize it will jump start me again on my journey. Soon we will be seeing great results - I know it!

Here are the 12 types of emotional eaters according to the book
Shrink Yourself: Break Free from Emotional Eating Forever, by Roger Gould

Type 1. Dulling The Pain With The Food.
If you get really hungry when you feel angry, depressed, anxious, bored, or lonely, you suffer from Type 1 emotional hunger, and you use food to dull the pain that these emotions cause.

Type 2. Sticks And Stones May Break Your Bones, But Cake Won't Heal What Hurts You.
According to Dr. Gould and Mastering Food, if you react by getting hungry when others talk down to you, take advantage of you, belittle you or take you for granted, then you suffer from Type 2 emotional hunger. You eat to avoid confrontation.

Type 3. A Full Heart Fills An Empty Belly.
If you crave food when you have tension in your close relationships, you suffer from Type 3 emotional hunger. You eat to avoid feeling the pain of rejection or anger.

Type 4. Hate Yourself, Love Your Munchies.
If you tend to become hypercritical of yourself, if you label yourself "stupid," "lazy," or "a loser," you have Type 4 emotional hunger. You eat to "stuff down" self-doubts.

Type 5. Secret Desires Have No Calories.
If your hunger gets activated because your intimate relationships don't satisfy some basic need like trust or security, you suffer from Type 5 emotional hunger and you use food to try to fill the gap, according to Dr. Gould.

Type 6. Forty Gulps And The Well Is Still Empty.
If you eat to make up for the deprivation you experienced as a child, you have Type 6 emotional eating.

Type 7. It's My Pastry, and I'll Eat If I Want To.
If you eat to assert your independence because you don't want anyone telling you what to do, you have Type 7 emotional hunger.

Type 8. I Can't Come To Work Today--I'm Eating
According to Dr. Gould and Mastering Food, if your appetite kicks in when you're faced with new challenges--if you use food to avoid rising to the test, or to insulate yourself from the fear of failure--you have Type 8 emotional hunger.

Type 9. Aroused by Aromas, Not by the Chef.
If you stuff your face in order to avoid your sexuality-either to stay overweight so that nobody desires you or to hide from intimate encounters--you suffer from Type 9 emotional hunger.

Type 10. I'll Beat You With this Éclair.
Emotional eaters often eat to pay back those who have hurt them, often in the distant past. They use their bodies as battlegrounds for working out old resentments. If you do this, you're really battling type 10 emotional hunger

Type 11. Peter Pan and the Peanut Butter Cookie.
If you eat to make yourself feel carefree, like a child, you have Type 11 emotional hunger. You eat to keep yourself from facing the challenges of growing up.

Type 12. That Stranger In Shorts Wearing Your Face.
If you overeat because you fear getting thin, either consciously or unconsciously, you have Type 12 emotional hunger.

I can say, unfortunately, that I am learning to deal with the fact that I do emotionally eat for some of those reasons - reasons one, three, ten and twelve for sure! I'm working on it - Work in Progress Here!

The Eating Guidelines

I am counting down the days until I go back to the Biggest Loser Resort at Fitness Ridge. I will be arriving there in 13 days. Then the fun begins in 14 days with the morning hike at 6 a.m. I’m going to do some hikes before I go to get back into the swing of things. I can’t believe it is August already and I am going back there. Boy time sure flies. I guess when you have work and other things going on its time goes by quickly. I remember when I was talking about going for the first time and about doing the Mud Run. That was more than two months ago now. WOW!

I also have to admit that I have not put my gofitwear monitor back on yet, nor have I weighed myself. Tomorrow I will do both – with 13 days to go I must!

I just finished the book Women, Food and God – really good book. I am going to share the author’s guidelines for eating – pretty simple sounding. She also has guidelines for inquiring to yourself what you are feeling and what your body is feeling. Pretty cool stuff. In looking at them I don’t do most of them, most of the time. But, I am going to now.

Here are The Eating Guidelines:
1. Eat when you are hungry.
2. Eat sitting down in a calm environment. This does not include the car.
3. Eat without distractions. Distractions include radio, television, newspapers, books, intense or anxiety-producing conversations or music.
4. Eat what your body wants.
5. Eat until you are satisfied.
6. Eat (with the intention of being) in full view of others.
7. Eat with enjoyment, gusto and pleasure.

These sound obvious and easy, but in fact I can say that many times I eat when I am not hungry, I eat in the car, I eat while watching television, I don’t always eat what my body wants, I often eat past satisfaction until I am too full, and I sometimes eat alone at night. So, looks like I have some work to do here. How about you?

Wii Fit Plus again

I ran out and bought this today. And, have spent the last couple hours playing it. OH my gosh too much fun! Maybe this will release a few pounds! LOL!