Healthy Weight Loss

[Zimmeh]

One thing that I have found since I started my journey almost five years ago is this: just get up and walk around or like Tonya said, lift something up.

When I started my journey, I had no goal weight to shoot for, I just wanted to feel better. When I gave up soda by the first of February, I lost 35lbs automatically and with all of the walking and watching what I was eating, I lost another 25lbs. Today, it is harder to maintain my current weight and it is even harder at work. We are required to sit for long periods of time; sometimes up to seven hours a day. I have found walking up and down the stairs and doing stretches at work has helped. These last few days, I haven't been exercising as much as I should have been. But I am listening to my body and with my blood sugar being so low, that I was loopy at work on Tuesday, I decided to take a break and cut how much snacks I was consuming.

When I am at home, I can go to my fridge and pour myself a nice ice cold glass of water from the Brita pitcher and I can drink almost 60oz of water in one day. At work, it is hard since I am a phone operator. Hell, my trainer told me to stop drinking so much water because I constantly have to use the restroom. I explained to her, that I have very good kidneys and I wasn't jeopardizing them for anyone or any job...Needless to say, no one says anything to me about how many times I excuse myself to use the restroom..

My point, let's get up, turn our tv's and computers off, and hit the pavement...We can do this and we will do this!

Zimmy
<The former soda drinker who was bitchy for the first month from soda withdrawals, but doing a lot better..>

[jelli]

Watermelon Granita
Makes 8 half-cup servings
PointsPlus™ value per serving: 3


Ingredients

6 cups small peeled seedless watermelon chunks
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup lime juice
1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

Working in batches if necessary, place all ingredients in a food processor fitted with the chopping blade; process until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl.
Pour into ice-cube trays; freeze until hard, at least 8 hours or overnight. (The recipe can be made up to this point and kept in the freezer for up to 1 month.)
Release cubes into a food processor fitted with the chopping blade; pulse until somewhat slushy but still quite grainy.


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About the Watermelon Granita
"Granita" is Italian for "small grains," a reference to the ice crystals that form crunchy, irresistible little jewels in this fresh summer cooler.

[jelli]

Peach and Ginger Sorbet
Makes 8 half-cup servings
PointsPlus™ value per serving: 3


Ingredients

1/2 cup water
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup light corn syrup
2 tsp dried ground ginger
1 1/2 pounds fresh peaches, pitted and quartered
3 Tbsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

Combine the water, sugar, corn syrup, and ground ginger in a small saucepan set over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a simmer; boil 1 minute without stirring. Set aside 5 minutes to cool.
Pour the sugar mixture into a large blender or food processor fitted with the chopping blade. Add the peaches, lemon juice, and salt. Blend or process until puréed. Pour into a large bowl, cover, and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
Pour the mixture into an ice cream machine and freeze according to the manufacturer's instructions.

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About the Peach and Ginger Sorbet
Remember the rule when buying peaches: if they don't smell like anything, they probably won't taste like anything. To ripen peaches, seal them in a paper bag at room temperature for 24 hours.