Secrets of Success

Sun Tea for cooling off

This summer, I've been putting 4 family-size tea bags in a two gallon glass jar with a lid and setting it our in the sun for a refreshing beverage. I leave it out for 3 hours and bring it in and put in the refrigerator so it's ready when I'm hot, thirsty and running on empty. A big glass of iced tea is a wonderful thirst-quencher and mood-enhancer.

portion size

When a recipe serves 4, I cut it in half to serve my husband and me, or I make the whole recipe and freeze half.

Go immediately to Sparkpoints

Log in to SP every day and go immediately to Sparkpoints to spin the wheel, then enter your food, exercise and other goals for the day. Then read encouraging blogs from others and you've started the day right.

Grilled veggies

When we fire up the charcoal grill for steak, fish or chicken, we also grill sliced zucchini, yellow summer squash, onion slices and sliced mushrooms sprayed with a little canola oil and seasoned with Cavender's Salt Free Greek Seasoning.

Healthy Snack

My husband and I are maintaining our weight by eating small
portions at meals and having a healthy snack mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Two favorite snacks are (1) a mini-bagel with a thin spread of no-fat cream cheese & lemon curd or
(2) 4 low-sodium crackers with 1 oz. low-fat mozzarella cheese

chair dancing

I have a tape called "Chair Dancing" which includes stretching, aerobics, and cool down. I do it evenings before my bath. It
uses calories and makes me feel good.

Once a Week

Weigh once a week, before breakfast wearing nothing.

Start with yoga

Start each day with 30 min. yoga before breakfast.

healthy snack

If I come up short on protein and carbohydrates, I add a snack of four low-sodium crackers and a slice of part-skim mozzarella cheese. Getting enough calories and nutrients is just as important as not eating too much.

Half a Loaf

my motto is" half a serving is better than a whole serving". This has helped me lose ten pounds on Sparkpeople. I eat 1/2 servings of whatever I want. I just don't want things like french fries, gooey sweet desserts or other things with too much fat, sugar and salt.