Losing & Maintaining Weight, Thru Good Tasting Foods

Copyright. "The Thought Spigot"

http://thethoughtspigot.com/

Everything looks sunnier, in life, when healthy and maintaining a good weight. There are hundreds of fad and real diets in the world today, and everyone knows they are constantly hocked on the Net. I am not doing this, in the least. I am just sharing how thru my life, there have been four diets, which have worked for me, during the course of my 36 years. All four diets worked, for what they needed to do, at the time (or for what I was doing, in my life). Please realize I am no doctor, and this is what I have had the best results with, but I am just hoping this may help one person (as what I will share, is safe). Obese people, those who are more than a few pounds overweight, and also those who just need to drop a few pounds and want to live a healthy lifestyle, eating a diet for a long period of time are all looked at as a monster, lazy, or whatever. Thin people, whether naturally, or thru diet, look at overweight people in a discriminatory manor, wherever you go. I have experienced being thin and an athlete, to the complete opposite extreme of being 160 lbs. overweight. However, I was not lazy, I had an accident, rendering me completely disabled and unable to exercise in any way, to now losing 117 lbs. on one diet and being back within 20 lbs. of my target weight.

I played baseball and basketball thru college, and during that time frame, I used the "Caloric Intake Diet" (http://www.weightlossforall.com/calorie-intake.htm). This diet was excellent, as playing these sports I needed lean muscle and a preferred body weight, while eating what I preferred, but watching my "caloric intake." After college, I began to "power lift weights." During this point in my life, about four years, I used the "Protein Diet," also known as the "Atkins and South Beach Diets," eating predominately lean meats, egg whites, and as much protein and vegetables, as I wished (http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/5414/1/Does-The-Protien-Diet-Work.html). However, there is no long term gain, without supplements and vitamins, as we are not "carnivores" and need a variety of things for our bodies. However, there has been a lot of success, with weight lifters and regular people alike (mostly those who just need to drop a handful of pounds). Then there is the "Carbohydrate Diet" (http://www.dietitian.com/locarb.html), which is a long term solution and a lot of dietitians recommend. Finally, there is the "Fat Free Diet" (http://www.gicare.com/diets/Low-Fat-Diarrhea-Gall-Bladder.aspx). While not totally "fat free," the majority of food intake is completely fat free, roughly around 95% (I also take a multi-vitamin, with my diet).

The "Fat Free Diet" is what I have lost over 100 lbs. with, and it is a wonderful diet, as there is no need to feel punished and there are plenty of excellent tasting foods and meals to eat with the diet. One thing I should say, a diet is never going to work for anyone, if they feel as though they are punished, down on the idea, and it is a full life long commitment. This diet is wonderful, as after the fifth to seventh day, the hunger had subsided, I was able to eat food that was good for me, but it is also very tasty. I am not only getting this information out, but also three recipes, which are easy to make and are not time consuming, as well. A helpful tip, which the majority of doctors and nutritionists agree, every 7-10 days, a person should have a "free day." The "free day" does not mean a whole pizza, gallon of ice cream, or a case of beer, but maybe a trip to Arby's (http://arbys.com/), for a roast beef sandwich, curly fries, and a diet coke/iced tea. A meal, not a "full day/free day," where you enjoy what you have accomplished, over the last 6-9 days. Lastly, this is a diet which can be done over the course of your life, not just until you loose your desired weight (which is the most important thing, living right and a full, healthy life).
===================================================================
This is a regular days food intake and the three recipes (which take 20-25 minutes to cook and serve):

Breakfast (7 AM):
4 egg whites, 4 pieces of turkey bacon, 1/2 a grapefruit, a piece of sugar free bread, glass of skim milk

Snack (9:30-10 AM):
A piece of fruit (apple, orange, the other 1/2 of the grapefruit), or maybe a Fat Free (F. F.) Pudding Cup

Lunch (Noon-1 PM):
4-5 slices deli turkey/chicken, two slices of S. F. bread, banana, F. F. pudding cup, glass of skim milk

Dinner (5-6:30 PM):
One of the recipes below

Snack/Dessert (hour after dinner, but not 3-4 hours before sleep):
1 cup F. F. Pudding (making it w/Skim Milk, or pudding cups), or Jell-O with 2-3 tble. spoon of F. F. cool whip
=======================================================================
These are the 3 recipes (out of 4, I am a single guy, who is picky about food and doesn't like to try new things, but there are loads of other recipes on the Net, or follow a link above), I promised above.
Three Full Dinners, that can be cooked under 20-25 Minutes to make and healthy (Mexican Dish and Italian can be made with Chicken, Ground Turkey, or Ground Beef). I do not eat red meat, when I cook, but if you do sub in the lean ground beef for the ground turkey, or chicken). Also, if you do not have kids, or a need to separate out, to different pots/skillets, in the directions, then you cook it all in the same:

Mexican Dish:

Ingredients: 2 lbs. Ground Turkey/chicken, 1 can 16 oz. fat free spicy/or regular refried beans (I like Old El Paso Spicy because they are not really that spicy, but are not regular either), 1 can 8 oz. enchilada sauce (Old El Paso), 2 cups rice (brown/or regular, I like white), 3 packages of taco spice (1 Taco Bell, 1 Old El, 1 La Tierra, it will say why differences later), 1 bottle of taco sauce/picante sauce (since your kids do not like chunks (like me) Ortega Taco Sauce and then whatever Picante you and your hubby like), 1 package cheddar cheese (your call on sharp/mild), 1 head of lettuce, and 1 purple onion for you:

Directions:
1. Brown the Turkey Meat/Chicken in a LARGE skillet
2. While browning, boil rice in regular pot with lid
3. Also combine Ref. beans and half of the Enchilada Sauce in a bowl and microwave (covered) for 2 min.
4. Also chop lettuce and onion, while tending to rice and meat (so you do not burn)
+++++Do not worry about the Ref. Beans, they will be fine while you are doing the above++++++
5. Stir the Ref. Beans, really good and add the rest of the enchilada sauce.
6. Drain meat/chicken and take rice off of the heat.
7. Put one package (Taco Bell) of taco seasoning/spice into the rice and stir then add Ref. beans and stir.
8. Put the other two packages of spice into the meat/chicken, and thoroughly stir
9. Then combine the rice/Ref. beans with the meat (into the meat skillet)
+++++++YOU ARE DONE, put the onion in a bowl, the cheese in a bowl, lettuce in a bowl+++++++

Then everyone can add the onion, lettuce, taco sauce/picante sauce, as needed. While you are setting the table, make sure the whole skillet is not covered and it will cool relatively fast. Then just spoon out onto plates, and add what is on the table as needed. 25 Min.
============================================================================
ITALIAN DISH:

2 lbs. Turkey meat/or 2 lbs. chicken, one box of Rotini (I like Am. Beauty), 1 jar of Newman's Own Marinara Sauce (for your kids, no chunks), 1 jar 4 cheese Prego, 1 loaf of Italian bread, butter, 1 pg... mozzarella. cheese, 1 thing of garlic spice.

DIRECTIONS:
1. brown meat/chicken
2. while browning, melt 2-3 tablespoons of butter
3. boil Rotini
4. drain the grease and finish browning meat
5. while you are finishing browning, take butter and spread it on each piece of bread and add garlic spice
6. Turn the oven to 350 (NO HIGHER, OR YOU WILL BURN THE BREAD) and put bread in immediately.
7. drain Rotini and put into the skillet with the meat (but put the pot, used to boil the water back on the stove, ON LOW)
8. Put the Rotini/meat, your kids will eat, into the pot on low, and add the Marinara sauce.
9. Put the sauce (you and your husband like, or the 4 cheese sauce, which is what I like) into the skillet.
10. Put about 1/4 of the cheese onto the top of the kids, and the rest sprinkled on the adults
11. Take bread out of the oven.
12. put the pot of the kids stuff, your skillet and bread onto the table and spoon it out. DONE! 25 Min.
===========================================================================
Ingredients:

++There are two ways to make this, 1. with Tyson/Banquet Popcorn chicken, or 2 lbs.. chicken breast++++
1. 2 lbs of boneless skinless chicken breast (always on sale at Price Chopper and/or HyVee), OR 1 package of banquet popcorn chicken ($3.98 at Wal-Mart, per bag).
2. 1 bag 20 Oz.'ish of Broccoli
3. 1 box of Kraft Shells and Cheese ($1.50 at Wal-Mart), with Velveeta

Directions:

1. Brown/cook chicken breast in skillet, (if using Popcorn Chicken) In large bowl micro. for 3 min.
2. Boil water and add shells
3. Drain chicken grease
4. add broccoli to the shells (which steams the broccoli while cooking the shells, to the end)
5. Drain broccoli and shells and add the cheese (BUT DONT STIR YET), in same pot.
6. Cut up chicken breast, as it should be done cooking (if using popcorn, put on another 3 1/2 Min.)
7. Stir up the broccoli and shells and cheese.
8. Add the broccoli and shells & cheese to the chicken in the BIG BOWL.
9. Stir up until all mixed up.
10. Set the whole big bowl on the table and you are done.

20 Minutes

A Difference Between Ego & Narcissism

Copyright, "The Thought Spigot"

http://thethoughtspigot.com/

To some extent, or another, every successful person has an ego. However, most of those people are not "egotistical," or "cocky." Looking at the past several months, there is no doubt the Obama Administration and especially President Obama himself (as the leader of the country), has surpassed being "cocky" and is a full on "egomaniac."

Today, the press pool, which has existed for fifty plus years, in order to insure the media is getting the White House's message out to the people, interviewing certain cabinet members and is an overall interviewing machine came out, in order to find out where they would rank/draw. However, it was announced, during the press pool conference Fox News would not be able to interview (in a sense, taking them out of the Press Pool) any of the White House staff/people. This, on the heals of the White House coming out, in full force, stating, "Fox News is not a news organization, at all." A statement they have not backed down from. Taking Shawn Hannity, Glenn Beck and Bill O'Reilly out of the picture (maybe not sending White House staff for interviews with them), is understandable, as they are "OPINION NEWS PEOPLE." However, Chris Wallace and the countless other news men and women at Fox are not only news people, but they are some of the top people in the "news field" (winning countless awards, since it's inception).

Another example, is the fact Barack Obama's minions (Axelrod and Emmanuel) went out on the Sunday news shows and stated the Bush White House was at fault for Obama having to "start the Afghanistan strategy from scratch." Come to find out, after Dick Cheney explaining the whole Bush/Cheney military team worked hand in hand with the Obama transition team (and Barack Obama himself) to make sure and have a strategy, for him to be able to take office and start running with Afghanistan plans and a new strategy on the ground. However, the Obama people asked, "Please keep this confidential and do not announce this to the press," and the Bush people agreed, in good faith. March came and President Obama named Gen. McCristol, as his main general on the ground in Afghanistan, kept Gen. Petreaus in his job (as Cent. Com. Commander) and also (for the first time in history) kept Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (from the Bush Admin.), then implemented the strategy the Bush and Obama people agreed on. However, now Obama is blaming President Bush once again, going against the original deal of keeping things away from the press, because he does not know whether to deploy the 40,000 troops his generals want, pull out, or the other option of leaving things as they are. The hubris of Barack Obama to blame others, for his shortfalls (once again, looks more and more like a huge ego and thin skin).

There are other examples of the Barack Obama White House "ego trip," but the last one (I will write about) is health care. A situation that is one sixth of the American economy, the people have spoken on the "Government./Public Option" at a 62-64% no vote/polling, and yet the Obama people, congress and senate are still trying to ram the public option thru, by using the A. M. A. (which only represent about 30-35% of doctors, in America), false advertising (one by MoveOn.org stating 72% of Americans are for the Public/Government. option), and just an in the American's face approach, of "we will do what we want now, with the majorities, because we may not get another chance." This is not good government, government for the people, but it is a President (who is gallivanting all over the country, doing fund raisers for the Dem. Party, Gov. Corzine of N. J., and running around in full campaign mode stating how things should be, rather than how they are) full of himself. The fake fight with Fox News should be so far on the back burner, when people need jobs, don't want Public/Government. Health Care, we have a $1.4 trillion addition to the national debt (just this year), and countless other problems.

Lastly, to just show how Egotistical Barack Obama is, look at what he said about Cap and Trade. "I know that heating costs will go up for Americans, but it is more important to do this now, rather than wait." So, screw the Americans, in a recession, with 10% unemployment (in some states, like Michigan and California it is over 15%) after promising "if we pass the stimulus bill, unemployment will not go above 8%", and he continues to hire czars (without senate/congressional approval) even though Americans are not for these people either. It is like Obama just continues to fast track every single issue, the democratic party and he wants, as he knows, once America realizes what he is about, believes in, and wants for America, they will turn on the whole party in an instant. Thumbing his nose at most Americans, staying completely out of touch, with what Americans want is what Barack Obama and his cronies are all about. This is just the definition of a narcissistic man, who has never had any money, just quip pro quo deals (from college, to the Chicago corrupt political system, to the Presidency), so how could he care for Americans and what America has stood for, for over 250 years.

8 Points On President Obama

1. Primary 2008, Barack Obama promises, "I will have no lobbyists, or people from the media, in the White House, or my cabinet." As of today, there are over twenty lobbyists (32 Czars) and ten people from the media, in places of power, in the Obama White House. 21 people total from Chicago/with Chicago ties (from Czars who are not elected/screened/vetted by the Senate or Congress and lobbyists). This does not count czars, advisors, and the others in the cabinet.

2. Primary 2008, Barack Obama promises "I will make sure every single bill will be posted, on the White House web site, before it goes to the floor of Congress for a vote, for five days." As of today, there have been countless bills and decisions, behind closed doors, lock outs of Republicans (on bills and major decisions). Yet, there has not been any postings on the White House web site, until after the bills have become law, or were voted on. Now President Obama, has changed his policy altogether, stating, "Things will be posted on the web site, after the bill goes thru Congress and the Senate, for the public to see." Kind of odd, for a man who pounded the previous White House (saying, "They were the worst in history on transparency"), don't you think?

3. 2009, Congress (led by Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, and others) has passed thru Congress five bills, which were not read, before a vote was made. How can anyone vote on a bill, or make any kind of a decision at all, if a person has not read what they are voting on? There is no integrity, having a vote (for the people of the United States, on ANYTHING), in which there is no time to read the bill, but the vote happens anyway. The first four were bad enough, causing a $1.4 trillion deficit, 3 times more than when G W. Bush left office (and it is from the bail outs, Stimulus, Omnibus bill, and Cap and Tax, not even counting the $10 Trillion+ Health Bill.

4. May 2008, evidently, the democrats thought it would be funny to bring a speed reader, to the floor of Congress, and read (as fast as he possibly could) while the debate was happening. Once again, there is no integrity for Ms. Pelosi to pull this kind of a stunt, considering it is American business (not her own personal stand up comedy show).5. Cap & Trade Bill--- This bill will tax/raise prices for all things using any kind of energy. From the farm (gas for crops, to the drive to the market/prep house), to the Prep House to the Store (diesel gas and truck drivers will have higher rates), to the food distribution places (prices will be higher because from the bottom up, the groceries will be more expensive at wholesale prices), to the stores (where the higher prices will be passed onto the consumers). You will not be ABLE TO SELL YOUR HOUSE, until it is "retro-fitted for "Green Energy", from the light plug ins, to the windows, to how you power your house, and wiring will all have to be 100% approved by the govt., before you can sell it.). Everything from gas, ethanol, electricity, coal, will all be taxed heavily. However, this will not help the "Global Warming", as China and India will be pumping away and have already said "They will not cut any emissions at all, due to the building of their countries." This is just a quick overview of cap and trade (some call it "Cap & Tax). The main thing on this is Obama said, "I will NEVER raise taxes on anyone who makes less than $250,000, but this will effect every person in the United States. Yet, the "middle class" will not benefit from this hype global warming/"green jobs shit", as most of the jobs won't be ready to go for 6-8 years (remember in the primaries, during 2007-08, the Dems said it would take 3-5 years to get the oil off the coast, new clean coal tech. going, and nuclear energy? Well, we are on the door step of the 3-5 year period and they want 5-8 more years to revamp and change the country to going "Green". Screw the other time that went by and being independent on oil, with our own oil, now (which would have saved/helped the car companies, banks, etc...etc....), but then again, GE would not be getting a $35 Billion contract for curly light bulbs if we did that, right?

6. Health Care--- The health care bill was originally supposed to cost (as Obama stated in the Primaries and in the first three months of his office) a total of $650 billion. However, the C.B.O. (Congressional Budget Office), which is a "NON-PARTISAN" (no affiliation office, which is very conservative in estimating the different budget items) said it would cost between $1.7 to $2.6 trillion, originally. However, the new Health Care bill will cost (in the first year alone) $2.5-3.6 trillion, as of new figures. There are three main points with the health care bill: 1. The price tag, for the first year above, but the $26 trillion it will cost Americans, over the first 15-18 years it is in place (quadrupling the deficit, from $3 trillion, as it stand now, to around $12-15 Trillion, in three years, Obama said, in the primaries "he would pay as we go, and would cut the deficit in half, in the first two years in office). 2. "Preventive Care"--example You will not be able to buy candies, sweets, all things which are deemed "unhealthy" (including GUNS!) will be raised in prices, over a 4-6 year period (including fast food and other foods THE GOVERNMENT DEEMS bad). Also, if a person is older (example 87 year old man has cancer, and he breaks his hip, the GOVT DEEMS, he will not get the hip replacement (as the money to be spent, should go to someone who will live longer. Same thing with liver, lung, heart and other transplant patients. If you are to old, you do not get care, or are put on a huge waiting list, like in Canada, France, Europe). 3. The GOVERNMENT will decide on who gets health care, by the GOVT. becoming a "carrier of health care", but if the health care bill passes, it will raise the total cost per person $2500-2750, whether you are under the "govt. health care bill", or not. Plus, the govt wants everyone to be covered, but this bill will leave/people will get dropped by their health care provider, 35-45 million people without care. Therefore care will be "rationed," to those who the GOVT. DEEMS. In addition, people who do not have health care (or businesses who do not cover people, like HyVee and part timers) will be fined for not having health care. (THIS IS JUST A SMALL AND QUICK SHOT AT SOME OF THE PROBLEMS, I wrote a whole blog about Kathleen Subelious and Health Care explaining more). None of this even counts with the best case scenario there will still be 25 million people still uninsured, if the govt. does the health care plan (now there are 40-45. SO, for 15-20 million people there will be a complete overhaul of our way of life (taxes on soda/pop, candy, sugar, anything the govt. deems unhealthy. This bill is in the house now, on the pop/chips/sugar bill, now, they are not waiting.), putting us between $15 and $20 trillion, over the next 12-15 years.

7. For the last thirty years, the bipartisan support has been overflowing, for the infidelity of the politicians of Washington. Congressman Barney Frank having homosexual prostitution relations and a business (out of his own basement), Senator Ted Kennedy's affair (ending in a woman being killed), President Bill Clinton's two indiscretions (Paula Jones and Monica "blue dress" Lewinski, plus their are countless others), N. Y. Gov. Elliot Spitzer busted with prostitutes, Rep. Congressman Mark Foley soliciting/emailing "pages"/assistants of the same sex (on sexual topics), and the latest is S. C. Republican Gov. Mark Sanford left the country, going to Argentina, to continue his affair with an exotic T. V. reporter. Of course the overall problem is a Republican and Dem. problem. WHICH IS WHY THEY HAVE A 21-23% APPROVAL RATING. The lowest in history. Do we not have anyone else better to lead us?

8. Lastly, the Obama Govt. is pushing thru Health Care, Cap & Trade, Stimulus, Omni-bus Bill, Banking bill, Housing bill, and 2 other smaller bills thru in the first year of Obama's term. Barack Obama has spent more money in 5 months, than any other human in the history of the world, more than WWI, WWII, Vietnam, Korea, Gulf War I, Iraq War (we are in now) and Afghanistan put together, with $4-6.5 TRILLION left over to spend. The GOVT. IS GOING FOR THE BIGGEST POWER/MONEY/TAKE AWAY THE CONSTITUTION GRAB IN AMERICAN HISTORY. They want this all to go thru, behind closed doors (every single bill that has been passed and/or is in the Congress/Senate now, has been drawn up by OBAMA, PELOSI, SEN. CHRIS DODD, & BARNEY FRANK, with the rest of the liberal democrats, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WHERE NO REPUBLICANS CAN EVEN SEE THE BILL/HAVE INPUT/BE A PART OF IT AT ALL, UNTIL 2-4 HOURS BEFORE THE VOTE). This is all being done as fast as possible, because IF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE KNEW WHAT WAS ACTUALLY GOING ON AND BEING PASSED, THEY WOULD NEVER GO FOR IT. The government is taking away the American people's choices/liberties, as if people can't choose what to do for themselves, what to eat, what to buy (Guns, health care policies) and they are destroying Capitalism as we know it.