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Diet Update - April

OoooK! So there were few ups and downs during April. My main focus was to get up every morning and exercise on the treadmill, which I did. I watched what I ate, except I couldn't resist desserts and chocolates. Not to forget about the yummy Gelato new flavors I had to sample. I didn't lose that much weight, nothing significant. Inspired by Rita Wilsons article which I posted previously, I know I have a slow metabolism. It takes it time until it revs up and start to burn calories and fat. I'm planning this month to make time to exercise at least two times a day, depending on my schedule. We'll see how this will go. Inshallah and I hope beyond that I'll be able to ease a little bit away from sweets and chocolates. It's like following a 12 steps program, except I'm addicted to food and laziness ;p

Rita Wilson : Losing It!

After gaining some unwanted pounds, Rita Wilson knew it was time for a change. Here, she chronicles her weight-loss journey.

By Rita Wilson Have you ever thrown open your closet doors in anticipation of picking out a fabulous outfit only to find yourself reaching for elastic-waistband pants? Or when someone says, "You're hot," he isn't talking about sex but referring to the beads of perspiration that have taken over your entire body since you turned 50? For some of you, this piece may be irrelevant--right now. But soon enough, your day of waterfalls cascading down your chest will come and you will remember me. Due to my middle-aged, menopausal "hotness," I had put on the freshman 15 at 53. My class of 54 was going to have me graduating to a permanent wardrobe of sweats if I didn't do something about it. But my head felt weighted down. I felt mentally heavy. I didn't have the energy to add one more thing to my already full plate ... of nachos, guacamole, chips. I had been experiencing some stress. The year 2010 was full of many transitions. So I comforted myself with comfort food. I found comfort in everything that passed in front of me. At the Emmys last year, I got trashed for wearing a dress that I loved but that had people in cyberspace querying if I was pregnant. Okay, really? If a 54-year-old woman were pregnant, wouldn't that be news you would hear about? Instead, Time magazine named my Emmy dress one of its Top 10 Fashion Statements for 2010 along with Lady Gaga's meat dress. This was not a compliment. Life changes affect each of us differently. My comfort food had now become ... uncomfortable. A change had to be made. Now, how you look is less important than how you feel, but I had lost my spunk and my energy. I remembered reading that if you don't take care of yourself, how can you take care of anyone else? It was time to get into shape, because how many times could I put one more photo of myself into my scrapbook, angling my body behind my husband's (or an unsuspecting person or a piece of furniture) so I would appear half my size? This was officially a pattern. Enter Jillian Michaels of The Biggest Loser fame. I knew she was a killer trainer, but when I met Jillian at a women's conference last year, I was immediately taken by her openness and warmth. The first day Jillian came over to my house, I thought we would just discuss process, diet, physiology--you know, two girlfriends shooting the breeze. (And boy, can I talk. I am sure I burn more calories talking than I do eating celery sticks.) So when Jillian told me to get up and start running my interior stairs, I thought she was joking. After numerous sprints up and down, she made me do lunges down my hallway, push-ups, tricep bends off an antique bench, and hardcore versions of downward dog that made me pant like a puppy. She told me I would get nauseous, and I did. This is a very good way not to eat. Every day for a week, we worked out. I was so impressed by how quickly Jillian was able to "empower" me into shape. She put me on a 1,200-calorie-a-day diet that was primarily grilled fish or chicken, steamed veggies, and big salads for lunch. You know the drill: no sugar. Very little dairy. No alcohol. A lot of exercise. Now, this is where Jillian's real magic lies. She could see the toll that the year of transitions had taken on me without my telling her. In conversation one day while I was stretching, she asked me what I would consider an indulgence. As a person who likes to give, I had to admit that I'd put myself on the back burner. I had felt that taking care of myself was more of an indulgence than a necessity. I had things to do. Responsibilities. A facial (which I hadn't had in years) or a massage was not a priority. Jillian smiled and set up an appointment for me with a dermatologist. I went and had all my questionable moles removed, followed by a formerly guilt-inducing facial in his office. Next, Jillian introduced me to a chiropractor who took care of an annoying shoulder injury I'd been living with for far too long. Doing these two things gave me comfort. The worrisome moles and shoulder pain I'd been neglecting were now dealt with, easing a mental burden of sorts and leaving me with two fewer things to worry about. I am keenly aware that I am blessed with health care and that I have the funds to get a facial, but anyone can steam her own face over a pot of chamomile tea, as I used to do as a teenager. Yet do we take the time? My next hurdle came with the vacation we had planned. We were taking my mom and our family to Greece for two weeks. When I returned, Jillian would be away for two weeks. Once I get started on a diet, I am pretty disciplined, but being on vacation with no wine, no dessert, no sugar, and twice-daily workouts seemed more like house arrest. Still, I was starting to notice the benefits of my intended goal: feeling healthy and being lighter, physically and, most important, mentally. Jillian assigned me her workout DVDs, and each day she would e-mail me my exercise routine. I would do one of her DVDs in the morning and cardio in the afternoon, and whatever other exercise I did was icing on my weight-loss cake. But what was great was that I was still able to do very vigorous workouts. My excuses went up in smoke like the Tareyton cigarettes my dad used to smoke when I was a kid. In one month, I had lost eight pounds. As we were now well into fall, Jillian and I continued to work out and talk (my favorite thing to do). I would much rather work my chops and chop my workout, if you catch my drift. But in these talks, she seemed to be able to draw from me a deeper understanding of myself and my thought processes. Through all the physicality, I learned that we tell ourselves so many things that keep us from being our best. It's so easy to buy into a false belief about who we are. One day Jillian asked me to do this push-up using just one arm to lift my entire body. I tried three times but couldn't do it. She calmly told me that I could do it and to try again. She gently held my hips as I raised my body using one arm, the so-called weak arm. Even though she was barely touching me, it proved to me that I had the ability within me yet I wasn't allowing myself to believe it. We all have a story we tell ourselves: "I'm weak." "I've never been able to lose weight." "I'm big boned." "I'm menopausal and my metabolism has changed." "I can't take time for myself." I read somewhere once that if your fantasies are your own, why not make them great ones? Why not "I will look like Gisele in a thong"? Now I'm thrilled to say that I'm 14 pounds lighter than when I started. I feel strong. I want to live life fully and healthfully. Now my weight is more about my health than about what I look like, although looking good in clothes is a nice by-product. I love life, and I love this imperfect body. I am learning to take care of myself, my body, and my spirit. I feel hotter than ever. But ... the good kind of hot.

Read more: Rita Wilson Weight Loss - Rita Wilson Losing Weight Story - Harper's BAZAAR

Diet Update - March

I spent most winter in leggings, long T's and Cardi's. I spent most winter stuffing myself with lots of Crabs, sugars and fat! I spent most winter either sampling new flavors or sitting in my corner unmoving for hours at a time either reading or just eating even more! And one morning I wakeup finding the weather warm, happily I reach to one of my essential clothing items I got last summer… and the HORROR!!! It doesn't fit!!! I dropped it and tried another piece of clothing! No!!!! It can't be!!! Have I unconsciously let myself go without realizing it? I'd be lying to myself if I said "YES!" I knew I was out of control the moment I went on vacation last December, although I tried to get back on track after I got back, but then I flew to Italy then Turkey and later on to Dubai. I couldn't deny myself the yummy foods I had while traveling. And after I got back it was hard to get back on track. I needed to focus and commit. I didn't have that. I was so distracted most of the time and had dead lines commited too. It was just stressful. Now the initial craziness has passed by. I have no excuse to stall the inevitable, I need to shed the winter weight!!! I'm starting a cleansing diet this week. I'm already feeling the hunger pangs and I'm craving a juicy cheese burger :s I found my old diary where I log everything in it from personal thoughts to meal and exercise plans. I was on a low carb diet when I first started my weight loss program, last year, with my dietitian and started with 30min exercise and gradually increased it until I've reached a 2 hours a day exercising. I've also noticed I went on a weekly spa relaxation massages. Then it suddenly stopped when school started. I was so under a lot of stress and worried about my son's education and I lost my focus on the diet. However now I don't have any excuse! Except for my ankle which I sprained a couple of weeks ago and it's still uncomfortable to exercise on it. But I'm swimming until it heels and it is doing me good and I have rearranged my priorities and my schedule, so I hope by the end of April I will have good news to share with you.

Diet Update - January

Who am I kidding? Of course Dr. Phil is saying the truth! With all the food I had during my last two trips, and what came in between, I have strayed from my weight loss regime not a little but a lot!!! However, since I got back, I've been watching what I'm eating and skipping dinner, and exercising for an hour every day. So far, I lost 1Kg, but that is only, as I know it, water retention. The hard work of losing the true weight is only beginning. So best of luck to me! And best of luck to all who are trying to get fit and healthy this year!

Diet Update - November

At the end of October beginning of November I broke the plateau I was on for a while. My nutritionist urged me to work harder to burn more calories and speed the weight loss. But then I fell ill with a mild sore throat which made me feel icky the whole time and just wanted to sit and do nothing.

Then the boys fell ill and all hell broke loose! My whole schedule went upside. I'd stay up until early morning with them, then their nanny takes over and I try to sleep but I can't since I’m a morning person, and I try to take a nap during the afternoon but you know when you're too tired you can hardly sleep? Last Wednesday I finally keeled over from stress and exhaustion. I was taken to the hospital. I still had a mild infection in my throat. I was chastised by my doctor because I wasn't eating properly. I'd stay on a latte all day until I remember I didn't eat anything and then have a salad or a sandwich. Of course I hardly sleep which I'm still struggling with. Last night I stayed up until 1.30 am and I forced myself to go to bed, but I just tossed and turned, and here I am up at 6am! I'm feeling tired, I want to go back to bed, but I'm already up and I know that I need to get back on the treadmill but I don't have the energy to do so. This week will be all about me. Taking care and rejuvenating myself.

Diet Update - October

Yeppiiiiiiii! I finally broke through that plateau I've been stuck at for the past few months! Its either I gain a couple of kilos or lose them and get stuck at the same number and it wouldn't budge! First … I changed my nutritionist. I found the one I was with before I had Ahmed and lost a lot of weight on the diets she gave me. The diets are not boring or impossible. I feel full half of the time and on some evenings I skip dinner because I don't feel hungry at all. My descent was slow but at least I broke through this plateau. Second ... those extra 30min walks I have in the evening with Abdulaziz paid off. We go at least three times a week. I already do every morning 30-40 min on the tread mill, 10-15 on the still cycle and every other day a quick light weight body toning. I found a Pilates club not far from where I live. I will check it out and if it is interesting I will join, a friend of mine swears by Pilates. I also have to return back to swimming, it is the #1 body toner! Am I a statuesque super model? Not yet! I still can't believe that I've lost the kilos I was stuck at and I can't believe it, every morning I go step on my scale just to be sure. I really enjoyed the compliments I've received the other evening during a family event. They were a real booster to my self-esteem and I'm encouraged to work harder.

Diet Update - September

I'm not following a particular diet… I went into a detox diet and I hated it. I do not recommend it to anyone who loves a hearty breakfast and lunch. It was pure torture but I lasted three days, where at the end I was hungry and out of temper. Now I'm watching what I'm eating and exercising. I've renewed my membership and going swimming every other day in the morning before breakfast. Yes…I feel a difference but I still have a long way to go ;) Inshallah, for October I'm going to follow a stricter diet…I need to burn off the fat and peel off the extra calories from my meals. My new incentive is an upcoming short trip with my friend in a couple of weeks and a beach getaway for Christmas with Fahad and the boys, and of course being light, fit and healthy ;p I'm walking 30min. Swimming every other day around 30 - 40 min Cycling three times a week 15 min Light weight twice a week for 15 min I know if I want to see more results, I have to increase my exercising time and eat less food ;p I found out that if I'm tired or stressed I eat more, which I am most of the time since Abdulaziz started school, but that is just a whole different post of its own.

6 Easy Mood Lifters

From Self Magazine ;)

Sweat to smile. Exercise may be as effective at relieving mild to moderate depression as the antidepressant Zoloft, reveals a study from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. "Physical activity stimulates the feel-good chemical dopamine, which increases our sense of well-being," explains Stephen Ilardi, Ph.D., author of The Depression Cure (Da Capo Press). A little stressed out? Of all of the things you can do to bring on calm, aerobic activity may be most effective. Studies show that workouts counteract stress-related memory loss by speeding up production of new nerve cells in the hippocampus, the brain's memory processing center. Tweak your diet. "The omega-3 fatty acids in cold-water fish help the brain respond to signals from the mood chemicals dopamine and serotonin," Ilardi says, adding, "The antioxidants and flavonoids in colorful fruit and veggies work in combination with omega-3s to protect the brain from harmful inflammation that can trigger depression." I love fish!!! I'll add more Salmon in my diet. ;) Sleep off sadness. People who have insomnia have a fivefold risk of developing depression compared with those who are well rested, according to a study from the University of North Texas in Denton. Lack of sleep has also been linked to weight gain. That is the only thing I'm not doing right. I'm sleeping late and waking up early... I'm just not getting enough sleep. Just say om. Some studies suggest that regular meditation reduces the recurrence of depression as effectively as medication. If sitting and chanting aren't appealing, start with baby steps by focusing on your breath. If your mind wanders, let your thoughts go and refocus on inhaling and exhaling. Aim to do this for a couple of minutes a few times a day—or anytime you feel like your head is ready to explode. I can't wait for the weather to cool a little so I can have long meditative walks in the evenings. See the light. "Sunlight is key for regulating your biological clock, which affects mood, sleep and energy," Ilardi says. Depressed people exposed to bright light for an hour upon waking for five weeks experienced a 54 percent improvement in symptoms, finds a study from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. Well not with our sun...but I do have a lot of natural light during the day from the big windows around my home.

Lean on a Friend

University of Chicago suggests that having a close circle is critical; people who are lonely have increased levels of depression. A study in the American Journal of Health and Behavior reports that socializing with friends can have as positive an impact on health as quitting smoking, working out or eating right. Curling up on the couch with a pal can be restorative, too. "A friendly touch puts the brakes on the brain's stress-response signals," Ilardi explains. Give someone you love a hug. Yes...this is the plan!!! Going out with friends during the week.

Turn back the clock on your life: 7 ways to keep yourself young

1. Break out the community college catalog or sign up for sign language class. Remember when people wrote in your high school yearbook, "Don't ever change"? Forget that. Although it was once believed that our brains were hardwired for specific tasks, new information shows that our brains are dynamic and even rejuvenating. This means a stroke victim may be able to transfer skills from a damaged region of the brain to one that is more viable, says Dr. Terry Grossman, author of Transcend: Nine Steps to Living Well Forever. It also means that acquiring new skills as we age will help keep us youthful."Utilizing previously unused areas of the brain as one ages can help slow down, stop, and reverse some signs of brain aging," Dr. Grossman says. How can you jump on that tomorrow? Dr. Grossman says learning a new language, taking music lessons to play a new instrument, sitting in on an adult education class in a subject you've always been curious about, or traveling to an area you've never explored are all ways to get neurons firing. 2. Work your body. Data strongly suggests that regular aerobic activity improves human brain power immediately and could protect us from major memory impairment in the long term. Even walking for 45 minutes a few times a week can make a difference."Even folks with limited mobility or cognitive impairment should be encouraged to maintain their aerobic wellness as much as possible by participating in activities that are accessible to them [such as "sit and be fit" programs, water aerobics, etc.]," Dr. Greene notes. "A small study a few years ago out of Australia suggested that regular aerobic activity may slow progression of memory impairment in individuals in the early stages of the disease. While that needs to be replicated and seen in larger samples, it was an interesting window into the role exercise may play for brain health across the board." 3. Feed your body, but only until it is 80 percent full. Whether you want to recapture or hang on to your youthfulness, you're going to have to pay more attention to the food and drink you put into your body.Longevity expert and author Dan Buettner partnered with National Geographic to study how people in some pockets of the world not only live longer, but live better. He compressed their lessons into nine tenets, and it's not a shocker that one of them is to eat wisely."Instead of groping from fad diet to fad diets, use strategies for eating 20 percent less at meals. Avoid meat and processed food," Buettner says. More obviously, he adds that it's a good idea to consume more vegetables and, if it works for your health history and current medical condition, drink red wine in moderation. 4. De-stress, and soon. We hear about releasing stress so often that it can easily feel like one more overwhelming task on the to-do list. But Dr. Grossman says it is a must if you want to live longer and feel good during all of those years.The stress situation in this country is dangerously excessive and could be causing us to age more quickly, he notes."It is estimated that with the current economic conditions, stress levels in the United States today are approaching those that existed in the days following 9/11," Dr. Grossman asserts.To break the cycle of stress, try engaging in a hobby, taking scheduled vacations, or regularly get spa treatments or massages. 5. Keep playing the classic games, just do them faster. Our intellectual skills change as we age. The great news, Dr. Greene says, is that deductive reasoning and our base of knowledge improve. The challenge, however, is that our attention, processing speed, short-term memory, and cognitive flexibility often slow. Just like our biceps, regularly exercising mental muscles can help us stay healthier over time. While you can certainly use online games for brain fitness, Dr. Greene also suggests pulling out games that challenge memory, oldies-but-goodies like Boggle, Simon, Bananagrams, or even the word jumble. To glean the greatest benefit, time yourself with the goal of getting faster each time. 6. Be social, but choose your friends wisely. "It has been found," Dr. Grossman reports plainly, "that being socially isolated has health risks on par with those of cigarette smoking."While the most important thing you can do to keep yourself young during your lifetime is to be social, Dr. Buettner says it is also critical that you spend time with people who have the healthy habits you prioritize or want to emulate. He calls this choosing "the right tribe" and says centenarians, people who live to at least 100f, show exactly how this works."All of the world's longest-lived people were born into -- or consciously chose to associate with -- the right people . If your three best friends are obese, there's a 50 percent better chance that you'll be obese," says Dr. Bruettner. "The reverse is true, too. If you dine with people who eat healthy food, you're more likely to eat healthy food, if the friends you spend most time with play a sport, you're more likely to join them."He says our trend toward isolation -- 15 years ago, the average American had three good friends, as compared to two today -- is shaving years off of our lives. Finding a community of just a few people who stimulate you intellectually, encourage you to try new things and be physically active, and maybe even play a round or two of Yahtzee! could hit lots of targets as you aim to stay young from year to year.What do you do if some of those important people, like caretakers or friends or even grown children, in your life won't stop telling you to slow down, reduce your activity, and accept your age? Dr. Grossman responds bluntly, "Wrong advice -- no matter how well-intentioned -- is still wrong. I would ignore it." 7. Take control of your life by taking control of your clutter.In a thought-provoking New York Times article on the physical, emotional, and cognitive toll possessions can have on older people, Dr. David J. Ekerdt spelled out the myriad approaches we can take to downsize during our later years.“This isn’t just a move from one residence to another, as it would be earlier in life. This is a step closer to the inevitable world of frail aging, a reminder that time is growing short. People want to hold on to the symbols of their former lives and competence,” Ekerdt told the Times.Getting rid of a wedding dress or sorting through old photos isn't just a de-cluttering exercise, it is a rite of passage. Sorting through all of that stuff can certainly be as physically and mentally draining as the British celebrity who put down her cane and walked across the room. However, if we take control of the possessions we keep and validate what the stuff we discard meant about who we once were, we will be better prepared to move forward into the next chapter of our lives.Ekerdt's research acknowledges the stress and pressure of sorting through a lifetime of possessions but also shows that people feel satisfied overall when it is accomplished.Perhaps we can apply both Ekerdt's study and the BBC experiment as we move through our own homes and years. Whether we opt to stand up out of a wheelchair, donate all those unopened cookbooks, or choose to take up French, making the choice to hold on to the fiery parts of ourselves and release the stereotypes of getting older might justl keep us thriving, no matter how many candles are on our cake. Article from Shine check out the link ;) http://shine.yahoo.com/event/vitality/turn-back-the-clock-on-your-life-7-ways-to-keep-yourself-young-2392273/

Makeover

I picked up this copy of Instyle on impulse because I knew

it was time for a makeover ;p

See how good Jennifer Hudson looks?

It's going to be almost one year since I started my diet, and I'm nowhere near my goal, or any goals I have set for myself. I did drop around 20Kgs but I've gained back 4kgs from the ones I lost. Now the crazy food fest month is over I have to get back on track. I don't feel too happy or comfortable with myself right now. I have to work out twice as hard, after a month of on and off exercising, sitting in front of the TV, the computer and not moving much. I feel sluggish and lazy. My whole body aches and feels stiff when I move around. And this month, I have a crazy schedule of work, taking care of myself and of course not to forget the boys are back to school!!!!

I want a 3-5 days detox diet...any ideas?

It is time for change. Time for a makeover ;) So my friends, I'm going to disappear from society for a couple of months (no..no..I'll still be blogging) and if you happen to bump into me by accident, please don't be alarmed ;p If I look a mess, don't mind me. Alkisha is only temporary, because I'm growing my hair. If you don't want to say "Hi" I'll understand. There will be lots of therapies I'm going to go through, skin, hair and body. Now to jump start my diet I need a good detox diet. My nephew sent me one, but it takes two weeks to detox. I need a three to five days. Any ideas? I also need to pay my nutritionist a visit, but after shedding the 4Kgs I gained ;p

I know I sound like an old broken record ;pp I will not post about my failures in my attempt to lose weight but of the progress I'd be making inshallah ;) Change is good, it boosts ones confidence.

I got it!

I don't like scales. They depress me and put me down when I'm not losing much weight. I passed by a pharmacy which sells the same kind of scale as my nutrutionist use. As soon as I reached home I got on it… Yeah… the numbers on the scale are not too encouraging from the last time I weighed at my nutritionist clinic. I gained 4Kg. However, I don't feel much depressed, at least not yet. It is less than two weeks to Eid, and I now know my dress pants will not fit me :s unless I make drastic changes. I am exercising, but it isn't doing much. I naturally bloat during Ramadan :( - Give up Vimto - Give up soup, sambosa, kuba or whatever fried appetizers there is if I'm having a heavy meal. - Give up ice cream - Give up desserts - Give up on carbs - Why not just shoot me and give up on life altogether ;p Nah! Really. I have to be serious. I don't want to end up where I used to be. Besides I have major events and lots of travel coming up in few months and have to be physically ready for them, etha allah a7yana, and I don't have to forget my bet with Fahad and one of my friends that I'll participate in a Triathlon inshallah. My friend is still teasing me about it.

42Kg? I wish! That is Abdulaziz.

The lowest weight I've been to for my 1.63 frame was 55Kg and that

was before I got married and had babies ;p

Diet Update - July

I've been good all month. I'm exercising every morning before I head out to work, treadmill and I added Steps. Sometimes I do 10min of brisk walking and 2x15 Steps & 2x15 wide steps and I alternate between the two for 45min, it really makes your heart pump. I also do light weights every other day. When I'm not in the mood for cardio I just do yoga and the fun thing about it, my kids join me. Ahmed has really become the yoga pro, and the Nanny told me that Abdulaziz has led a class of yoga at the club with the trainer. Abdulaziz started yoga about a month ago and he does it every morning. It helps him with his concentration.

I'm not sure how much I lost. Not much anyway. However I still can feel it in my clothes which are getting less constricting ;p I've been saying it for the past two months and I'm still saying it…I really have to get me a scale! Ramadan is coming inshallah… I'll continue exercising. I just hope I don't go crazy over food, desserts and Gelato!!! ;p

Diet Update - June

I've been dreading writing this post and putting it off each time I think about it. Month of June is the month of junking on food, whether eating out or in, greasy food or chocolates and sweets. I just went into a frenzy of eat all you can!!! Without checking myself and coming to my senses. The next morning I'd wake up and tell myself… "This morning I'll be good." I'm good until lunch time. I feel restless and craving foods that are forbidden on my list and once I start eating I find it hard to stop. I know it started with the stress I went through at the beginning of June, however mid June I was good and rested and I can't stop myself from eating! The worst part of the whole situation, I even stopped exercising… I'd exercise one day and stop for two, and they are not consistent! A couple of days ago I had a rude awakening, when I tried on one of my pants and it wouldn't close!!! Only a month ago it was loose on me, now I know I've gained one dress size.

I'm back on track this month. I have no choice but to double my efforts, Ramadan is coming and I hope I can hold myself away from the delicious food.

Wish me all the luck... maybe I'll post a week by week report of my progress just to keep me in line... I have to think about it ;)

5 Weight Loss Myths Holding You Back

Myth 1: Your ideal weight is what you weighed when you were first married (or graduated from college, or before you had children?

If you're hoping to get back to what you weighed a year or two ago, fine: There's a chance you really might get close to that weight again. But if we're talking 15 or 20 years ago, you might want to reconsider. Many people put on weight as they get older. And no matter how hard they try, they have a tough time being as active as they might have been in their early twenties. Don't live in the past. Set a weight-loss goal that's appropriate for the way you live now.

Myth 2: Your ideal weight is the number listed on a standard height and weight chart.

True, height and weight are often related. Taller people weigh more than shorter ones, all things being equal. But all things are never equal. Many other factors play a role in determining what you weigh. For example, your body type: big-boned and solid, small-boned and light, or in between. Your metabolism: whether you naturally burn brightly and move a lot, or take things more slowly. The number of fat cells you have. How much your parents and other relatives weigh. The number listed for someone your height on a standard weight and height chart is just an approximation of what your healthy weight should be. Don't let this one number be the way you determine if you've succeeded or failed.

Myth 3: Your ideal weight is the lowest weight you've been able to get down to when you've dieted in the past.

Okay, so you've lost that much weight. But the fact that you're dieting again says you gained at least some or perhaps all of it back again. If you set a weight-loss goal that's too low for you to maintain, you'll get caught in the trap of yo-yo dieting -- losing weight, gaining it back, and trying to lose it again. The best weight goal is one you can live with.

Myth 4: The less you weigh, the healthier you'll be.

Not true. In fact, many studies show that if you're overweight, even seriously overweight, losing just 5 percent of your current weight is all you have to do to get the bulk of the health benefits: Lose that much and you'll dramatically lower your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and even some forms of cancer. In fact, most of the health payoff comes in that first 5 to 10 percent.

Myth 5: If you don't get down to your dream weight, you'll never be happy.

You don't believe that, do you? A number is just a number. And if it's a number that leaves you frustrated and stuck in an endless cycle of losing weight and gaining it back again, it's time to retire it for a more reasonable one.

Sexy Hollywood Legs!

Ok...I can do the first and third move...but the second is way too hard for me! a7es maze3at ba6ni ;p 40 reps on each side!!! Ladies can you do it?

Diet Update - May

It is 1:03 pm as I'm typing this post and just had my breakfast! Let me explain, I didn't have anything important to do so I overslept, and started my exercise session a bit late. This week I've added another extra half hour to my sessions. I'm going on two hours and a half now. By the time I was done, showered and prepared my one slice egg salad sandwich with a cup of black coffee. Yes, it has been four days now since I gave up milk *Sniff*. I love my lattes but unfortunately I feel bloated the whole time and I don't like Soya milk. So I just have to give it up. I've added another 20-30 min in the evening… it is either cycling, dancing with the boys or a little bit of toning moves. When it comes to food, I'm eating sensibly but in small portions. I had a little rice and marag with a big piece of chicken breast and veggies this week, however most days I tend to stick to low carb meals. Then it hit me the portion I had on my plate, so much less than what I used to eat. I guess my stomach is getting smaller. I did sneak some chocolate a couple of times. But I'm not over eating. At 9pm when my stomach starts to growl I feel soo happy. I know I'm doing something right. For body toning I'm doing basic moves such as sit-ups, push-ups and squats. Every other day I do light weight upper body toning. I still have a bulge and some flab, which will only go with a nip'n tuck. Yep, I'm soo considering a procedure! But not now, of course. A couple of my friends went through it few months ago and they look so great that for the first time in my life I feel soo jealouse ;p Tip to beat Craving : Ice water. Keep a bottle of ice water next to you and sip when you feel cravings hit you late at night. I sometims add crystal light flavoring to my water. Tip on Exercising: On one of the health shows I watch on TV had a tip today about having better results and buring more fat while cycling. Here is the formula : 3x a week - 2o min. - 8 seconds sprint - 12 slow cycle Now its 3:37pm... I usually don't take that long to type a post, but between checking emails, replying to calls and other distractions I just finished :s

DownSize Me!

DOWNSIZE ME! is the ultimate weight loss series which guarantees a super-sized serving of sweat, tears and sensational results as diet guru Damian Kristof and straight-talking trainer Lee-Anne Wann help overweight New Zealanders to get on the path to lifelong good health in only two months,whilst the 'Crash Diet Dummies' stomach the downsizers' appalling old diets to see the effects it has on their healthy bodies. The results are astounding!

I just love watching this show while exercising...it inspires me to add more minutes and walk or run faster!! Also, you get great tips on food and exercise ;) It is on OSN variety at 6pm or 9am ;)

Easy Tone

Have you noticed the Reebok commercial on OSN? All those skinny sleek girls? Makes you want to have these shoes which will turn you into one of those girls? It is suppose to tone your legs and tushy. I was at the Athlete Foot the other week and asked about them, they still don't have them. Any idea where to get them? Has anyone tried them?

Diet Update - April

I'm doing well I'm sticking to my diet and exercise. I added cycling in my everyday routine. I started with 15min and now I'm at 30min.By the time I'm done I could hardly stand straight and feel my legs. I wonder how those professional cyclists do it. But I'm imagining my pink bicycle and the beautiful winter weather, inshallah etha allah a7yani by next winter you'll see me cruising in my pink bicycle.

This is the bike I want!!Look it even

has a cup holder!

Still searching for it. It is there on

the website, but none of the sellers have it yet.

I'm thinking of adding Yoga to my routine. I used to do yoga after I had Ahmed. It did my body a lot of good easing off the aches and pains after pregnancy. It is such a powerful exercise.

Dieting is hard. With my kind of job… it is very hard. About a week ago I was studying a recipe and looked at the picture it was sooo YummY!!! And the craving of having something sweet hit me hard! It was around 11:30pm the whole house was quiet and everyone was asleep. I try to ignore the craving. No. I've worked hard on my diet. No. I won't go there. I get up and go to the Kitchen and open the fridge. I grab an ice cold bottle of water and my eyes zeros on the Sara Lee marble pound cake (Fahad's favorite). My mind makes a quick flip. 1 slice of Pound cake cut in half with a teaspoon of Nutella! Zap it for few seconds in the microwave and I have something out of this world. I shake my head shutting away this destructive thought and take big gulp from my icy water. There! It will ease off the craving. I close my recipe book. Not a good time to study any recipes. Turn on the TV… nothing…OSN is sooo boring. I put it on mute and pick up the novel I'm reading. My mind goes back and forth to the pound cake and the Nutella! No! No! NO! I just can't! and a painful headache starts. God!!! Just this time, just to ease the headache off! My Will is weak and I give in! I rush to the Kitchen and prepare this delicious combination of cake and chocolate! I take the first bite. The cake warm and tender, melting immediately with the chocolate spread! I swoon. I close my burning eyes. Yes! I'm crying as I eat it, not because I'm enjoying it, because I have given in to my chocolate addiction! Thus the midnight binging…on and off begins and one of the reasons why my weight loss is so slow. Is there any medication to chocolate addiction? However when it comes to my regular meals I'm good. So for the next two days I stuff the boys with Nutella until the jar finished. Not that they need some energy, mashallah, but after a nutella tartine I take them to the pool at their favorite club and let them take out whatever craziness hit them after the chocolate snack. No more Nutella in my house unless I'm going to use it for a recipe that same day ; )