Marge

Not a good idea for me. Two young men were just here to break the seals on the cabinets and the counter top, so as to get a head start on  the cabinet removal, new DOUBLE sink (I love that) new cabinet tops, new cabinets, fridge, stove and new floor. What a mess I am in for! Trying to pack up the contents of 15 cabinets and put them somewhere so I can still move around in my w/c. It will be beautiful, if I live through the trauma. May not be able to get to the computer from the 7th thru 10th. I need to go back and redo my eating and exercise plan. I have been slipping and need to visit buddyslim and record my food as well as CHILL OUT!! It’s only remodeling. Plaster dust and floor adhesive everywhere. Paint fumes and mess! AHHHH, help. Love, Marge

People from 14 states are reporting illness from the melons grown in Honduras. The water they were irrigated with was contaminated. If you have any melons from the last few days call your place of purchase and if from Honduras DUMP them. Here we are trying to eat healthy foods and I think ”they” are trying to kill us. Not sure who “they” is but all the recalls are driving me crazy. Hugs, marge

emotional eating because of finances. Reading the newspaper tells me this is nation-wide. Not the eating but the finances. Make a plan if you can with your creditors and please try not to comfort yourself with food. Just pray hard and hang in there. You are not alone. Cut corners anywhere you can, but do not ruin your health… just more bills for doctors and meds. You can exercise at home, plan healthy meals with frozen and canned foods (rinse the salty ones), and I pray we all will get through this. Hang in there, one of my children is struggling, but at 51 it’s hard to start over. Hugs, Marge

while a blizzard rages outside. Sleet and snow and PBS radio DJ reported this morning we are going to get anywhere from 4″  to 1000″ by tomorrow. I am curled up with a book (or two) listening to music and enjoying. The joys of old age!! Used to have to get out and be at the hospital for a double shift many a night. All you who must get out, please be careful, so you can enjoy your old age, too. Making Tomato Bisque Soup for dinner tonight and probably a couple of more nights. Drop by if you can! Recipe makes enough for 6-8 people or a couple of Marges. Love you and do take care, Marge

I was sure when I joined this group ten months ago that I could never achieve my weight loss. At my age and with my immobility I was sure I was doomed to failure. But my buddies were always here for me, when I was in the depths of sorrow, when my motivation was faltering, when I was lonely and needed a friend. I feel I am a different person, more outgoing, taking better care of myself, leaping tall buildings in a single bound, (well, trying to anyway, who knows?) Thank all of you so much. I will continue to comment and drive you crazy, if that is allowed. 30 lbs= 10 months, sounds like a long time, doesn’t it? But the 10 months would still have passed and I would still be eating everything in sight, gaining as the months passed. Someone told me yesterday I looked better then I did 5 years ago. My eyes were shining and my skin glowing. (Sounds like a healthy dog, right?) It’s all the water and fruits and vegetables. I have a better attitude and taking more time to use oils and creams on my skin. When you feel good about yourself you take better care of yourself. Thank you, Dr. Marc, for the cholesterol lowering food plan. I won’t get my lipids checked for another four months, but I know I am doing the best that I can…… I have not cheated once on this plan, except to consume a little too much fiber in one day. I am beginning to eat out with others and just opt for a salad or fruit. Thank God I don’t crave the heavy sauces and calorie laden breads any longer. You really can eat more food when that food contains lots of FIBER! I think I am eating about 35-45 Gms. of fiber per day. Come on buddies, if this old, exercise hating Grannie can do this, I know you can… and wish me luck with maintaining. Love, Marge

have certainly out weighed the changes I have made in my food. I missed the dairy at first, but now I can’t imagine any other way of eating. I can relax and roll with the punches a little better, and needing to buy new under clothing is great. This is the second time since I started this new journey I have had to downsize my bras. I don’t mind that my tops and skirts are draped looking, but I need a firm foundation! Heaven knows, at my age, gravity is getting the upper hand. Just smile a lot and keep moving!! I am having fresh kale and baked sweet potato and baked apple with raisins for lunch today. So easy to cook and very filling. No stuffed feeling. I can hardly believe the difference. This way of eating has changed my life! Whoo hoo. Thank you Dr. Marc. He told me I would feel a difference! If my cholesterol doesn’t change because of my food changes I am continuing my vegan plan anyway. Here’s to our health and happiness! WE DESERVE IT! Love to you all, Marge

and I posted the plan on my fridge and have really stuck with it. I lost 2 pounds this week and have not been hungry at all!! I may forget and overdo the fiber a little and have some bloating. But I have learned not to eat some form of beans three times a day. I feel great and was sure I had gained because of the hunger factor. Drink your 8 glasses of water with the fiber and you feel FULL. No meat, fish, chicken or dairy sounds drastic until you really get into it. I have found so many great recipes. I have a big bowl of oatmeal with half an apple chopped in it for breakfast. FEW almond or walnuts for snack, Homemade soup for lunch, orange for snack, and soy and veggies for dinner. My arthritis is less painful, my G I tract is operating right for the first time in many years. Add my age appropiate exercise and the results have been amazing. I feel alive and full of energy (most days). Now if I could just learn to roll with the emotional punches, I would have few complaints. Take care with your bodies today, Buddies, it’s the only one we get! Big hug and love, Marge

Cleaned the apartment from top to bottom and it took 2-3 days because I went to a movie, a birthday party, my regular church and a pot luck dinner. Then I little boy sat last night. I don’t know why that call it baby sitting because you are on the move all the time. Especially with two of them. No blood was shed so I consider it a good job. The seven year old has high chol. which I can hardly believe. He reads the labels on anything he gets out of the machine downstairs…. I can’t believe one doughnut has 23 Gm.FAT. We left the package on the coffee counter for someone without that problem, say a 95 year old. Someone with good genes. The little fella is my great nephew and has inherited the genes I am also fighting. We shared computer and Play Station games, and some apples. They really brighten my evening. I am having less problem with my  new eating plan every day. I guess it all comes down to LOTS of fiber, very little fat, and feeling full on less food. Hope everyone is having a great week and on plan. Take care of yourselves and each other!! Love, Marge

Easy Black Bean Chili— 1 med. onion, chopped— 1 med. green bell pepper, chopped…2 cloves garlic, chopped— 2 cans (15 oz. each) black beans, rinsed and drained— 2 cans (15 oz. each) diced tomatoes, undrained—1 can (15 oz.) tomato sauce— 1-2 Tbl. chili powder— 2-3 Tbl. brown sugar - to taste.—Chop onion, garlic, green pepper, Lightly spray large pot with olive oil. Saute vegs until tender-crisp. Stir in other ingredents. Bring to a boil over med. heat. Cover, simmer over low-med heat for 30 mins. Reduce heat to low, stir, taste, adjust seasonings to taste. Let simmer on low heat, 1.5 to 2 more hours. Yields-Four 1 1/2 cup servings. Reheats and freezes well.

 Fruited Cole Slaw— 1 pkg cole slaw mix with carrots, (don’t use whole bag)—Can pineapple tidbits—8 oz.can mandarin oranges—Use drained fruit-save some pineapple juice, Dressing- 1 Tbl. pineapple juice— I Tbl. olive oil—1 tsp. sugar—1 1/2 tsp cider vinegar— salt and pepper to taste. Mix ahead of time and let flavors mingle. Purple cabbage, shredded, may be added and double the dressing.

   ENJOY!!      Marge