Slim People in Progress

Marathon is only 3 weeks away...I need your help.

I haven't posted about my training for a few weeks. Trust me, it continues. Some days are better than others. My longest run was nearly 12 miles and took me 2 hours 40 minutes. We're in the tapering phase now, to maintain our endurance and ensure our bodies have the resources to do the big event on October 21.

So the marathon is draws near, but our fundraising deadline is even closer...October 5...Friday.

Will you help me exceed my $4,000 goal by Friday? I need at least $300.Here's the deal.

I'm running in honor of my brother-in-law Michael Knowlton. Michael has a rare form of lymphoma.  Waldenstrom's Disease is treatable but not curable at this time, and only about 1500 people in North America are known to be suffering from it.

It's Michael's birthday on Monday, October 1.  Wouldn't it be a great birthday gift to make a contribution to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society?

It takes $100,000 to fund one research grant. The team I'm part of has a goal to raise $300,000. I don't know exactly where we are, but I know we haven't made it yet. Whether it's $5, $50 or $500, every single dollar helps to help those with deadly blood cancers. Today, a woman at my gym handed me a five dollar bill when she heard me talking about my training. I almost cried.

Please, make a contribution for the people in your life who are suffering or who have suffered from cancer. Do it to help people like Michael who can benefit from vital research that needs to be done to find better treatments and cures. Do it as a birthday present for Michael and send him your love and good wishes while you're at it.

Donate here (tax deductible; the site is secure).

Many thanks.

Freedom From Hunger Day is Today

My sister sent me a notice that today is Freedom from Hunger day. When I think about how much I eat and my struggles with eating too much, it's a good reminder that there are millions of people who don't get enough to eat, who are hungry on a daily basis. Will you join me in making a donation to help stamp out hunger?

6 Diets to Avoid

This came from Joy Bauer, who writes a column for Yahoo Health, Joy's Healthy Bites.  It makes perfectly good sense to me to choose a weight loss plan that is realistic and fits into your lifestyle.

When it comes to losing weight, everyone's in search of a magic bullet. But don't fall for the hype. Unfortunately, there's no short-term fix for long lasting weight loss.

So learn to identify these six red flags:

1. Diets that promote or promise drastic weight loss. When you start a diet, you can potentially drop a lot of weight during the first two weeks (some of which will be water weight). However, if you lose more than two pounds per week in the weeks that follow, you run the risk of losing "muscle mass," and your metabolism will slow down in response. That's why true health experts advocate losing weight slowly and gradually -- so you melt away fat while sparing precious muscle.

2. Diets that claim to work because of special supplements, creams, or potions - no diet or exercise required! Or diets that make you buy MEGA supplements in order to follow the program. If it sounds too good to be true, it is!

3. Diets that differ entirely from the way you currently eat (or like to eat). If a plan is incompatible with your lifestyle, chances are slim you'll stick with it.

4. Diets that are less than 1,000 calories. Too difficult to sustain and can often leave you cranky, irritable, and with a bad headache. Not to mention hungry and lethargic.

5. Diets that claim they are effortless. There's no such animal. Losing weight takes focus and effort. Period.

6. Diets that cut out entire food groups, or focus on only a few foods. Not realistic for the long haul; the sign of a plan you're soon to go off.

150 Healthiest Foods on Earth

Today I received my copy of The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth by Jonny Bowden. Aside from the fact that the binding is falling apart after less than 24 hours, it's a great book.  I ignored my work and buried myself in it for quite awhile.

The book is FULL of details about the healthiest foods you can eat, with science to back up Bowden's choices. If you're on Weight Watchers Core Plan, this would be an excellent resource.  Even on the Flex plan, if one were to study and incorporate the foods he recommends, you'd be a much healthier person.

Bowden advocates eating "real food. Stuff your grandmother would have recognized as food. Stuff that doesn't usually come in a package." Guilty, here.  The less processing and chemicals the better, not that that is new, but it's always good to be reminded that "you are what you eat" and if you're eating a lot of processed food, what does that say about what's going on in your body?

I plan on studying this book and adding more healthy foods to my shopping list.

Heart Healthy Recipe

FRESH BASIL, SPINACH, AND TOMATO SOUP
Serves 4; 3/4 cup per serving
Just a few minutes of standing time brings out the delectable flavor of the fresh basil in this easy-to-prepare soup.
Ingredients
• 14.5-ounce can fat-free, low-sodium iiiichicken broth • 1 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled • 1 medium garlic clove, minced • 1/4 teaspoon dried tarragon, crumbled • 1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes • 4 small tomatoes, diced • 2 ounces spinach leaves, coarsely iiiichopped (about 2 cups) • 2 medium green onions, finely chopped • 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves • 1/2 teaspoon olive oil • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 4 lemon slices (optional)
In a medium saucepan, stir together the broth, oregano, garlic, tarragon, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
Stir in the remaining ingredients except the lemon. Let stand, covered, for 5 minutes to absorb flavors. To serve, ladle the soup into bowls. Place a lemon slice in each bowl. Cook's Tip: You'll get the very best flavor if you serve this soup right after the standing time.
Nutrition Analysis (per serving) Calories 38 Total Fat 1.0 g Saturated 0.0 g Polyunsaturated 0.0 g Monounsaturated 0.5 g Cholesterol 0 mg Sodium 176 mg Carbohydrates 6 g Fiber 2 g Sugar 3 g Protein 2 g Calcium 37 mg Potassium 404 mg Dietary Exchanges 1 vegetable This recipe is reprinted with permission from the American Heart Association Low-Salt Cookbook, Third Edition, Copyright © 2006 by the American Heart Association. Published by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, a division of Random House, Inc. Available from booksellers everywhere.

This recipe came from the American Heart Association Newsletter.  It just sounds delicious and has barely one point per serving!