Even if you don't like the diet foods you're eating now...

JUST SHEDDING A LITTLE LIGHT ON HOW I'VE EATEN AND MAINTAINED MY HEALTH FOR OVER 65 YEARS...

Most of all, I remember being nick-named 'Sunshine' by my grandparents - sunshine; it's good for you. Start with fresh air - sun, or not....open up those windows - get out and move about in the morning air..........

You are #1, and don't you forget it! Take care of #1!!

Links to sites that help with weight-loss, and my CORE 750 diet plan - it's all here for you. Enjoy. Oh yes, and if you don't like the music; turn down the speakers, or 'leave it up' - it could kill your appetite (another way to curb those calories)...

Diane

Since I eat primarily 'raw foods', here's a tremendous link to a variety of videos who discuss why it's going to 'super-charge' you, as it has me for about 35 of my 65 years! Eating 'fresh' - puts not only the music in you, but the energy as well!

http://superchargeme.blip.tv/#862428

GO SUCK ON AN ICICLE; OR SOME CUBES - OR CRUSHED ICE IF YOUR REFRIGERATOR HAS THAT GIZMO!

I just love crushed ice, or ice cubes. I love to suck on them while I'm working on the computer!

You can FREEZE CUBES OF CRYSTAL-LITE FRUIT FLAVORS; INSTEAD OF DRINKING ALL OF THAT GREAT LIQUID, FREEZE SOME AND 'MUNCH' - BETTER THAN AN EXPENSIVE SORBET, AND KILLS HUNGER TOO.

For anyone who worries about the effects of artificial sweeteners, remember you only use about one tablespoon for the entire tray; a 'trace' amount. You can also freeze your favorite fruit juice - it won't be 100% calorie-free, but if you reduce the liquid (such as grape juice which is super-tasty) by 50%, you put in 50% juice; 50% water, and it 'flavors' the cubes (actually I'm quite fine eating crushed or cubed ice with nothing in it - but some aren't quite so keen on that 'bland' taste).

WAY AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE, I PUT MY 'CORE 750' (as I call it) DIET TO START ADDING TO AFTER YOU FOCUS ON GETTING THOSE FIRST 750 CALORIES IN!

I figured I should keep bringing this 'up' - as a new entry, so you don't have to kill your wire-less mouse batteries looking for it.

I also figured I'd better 'lower my type' - upper case is 'yelling', but sometimes I just get so excited over what I know has worked so well for me for 65 years, that I forget....

The reason I call it CORE750 (and have a copyright on the diet as well), is because many people have food preferences - not all the same. Many people have food allergies; we have to recognize this before we assume that just any 'diet' is going to work for everyone.

I was born with a myriad of food allergies; have them still - this is why I worked out this diet to suit me. I also have IBS and need to keep 'regular', so this is how I build my 'core' first.

After the core, ADD and count the calories you add. There are calorie-counting web-sites; I like the one at ABOUT.COM (it's listed on the side-bar where other valuable links are also provided).

LET'S DO CORE 750 NOW:

EVERY DAY AT BREAKFAST: One apple; Granola or Oatmeal, and 1/2 cup of cottage cheese.

EVERY DAY AT LUNCH: One pita - whole-wheat; 2 ounces of a lunch-meat, and 1 CUP of raw carrots.

EVERY DAY AT DINNER: Another cup of RAW carrots - Peas (about 12 pea pods - we like the sugar peas) - cooked, OR FRESH/RAW. One small red potato. There, now we're at 750 calories; I prefer to eat vegetarian, so I can finish off the rest of my 600 calories with 'more' of the same type of good fresh produce.

If you want meat: Three ounces of your favorite meat; grilled, roasted - broiled, just not 'doused' with anything except seasoning!

SNACK: 15 seedless grapes - only about 30 calories; won't hurt a thing!

As you can tell, these are the foods that I am NOT ALLERGIC TO.

NOTE: For years I was allergic to wheat, so I couldn't eat such things as bread; tortilla, or whole-wheat pita as I do now.

LUNCH MEAT: I always eat TUNA - WHITE ALBACORE; mix in a bit of YOGURT; season with celery salt and lemon juice; cut up some celery and mix it in. If I've got left-over soft-boiled eggs (I love these), I add some of that too. I rarely put in onion because after a day or 2, it doesn't taste all that great. Of course if you make each portion up fresh, then a bit of RED ONION is very tasty.

WHAT I ADD TO THAT CORE OF 750: I focus on lots of vegetables (raw); love red grapefruit slices (I get the ones in the Delmonte jar), and chow down on lots of BEETS.

FOR REGULARITY: I add 6 prunes - eat 2 in the morning; 2 with lunch, and 2 around 8:00 p.m. Prunes are like 'candy' - make that your evening snack; very low in calories as well.

I have only one serving of the pita bread - and my oatmeal or granola cereal at breakfast. With the prunes and these 2 servings, I stay regular and keep calories from fiber foods minimal.

I have dessert only ONCE A WEEK (when we eat out). My dessert normally is either the frozen cubes that I flavor with one of the Crystal-Light powders, prunes, or blackberries (I eat them slightly frozen and with a tiny amount of half and half).

I tell myself I 'hate sweets' - the more I say this, the more I actually do.

WE HAVE TO THINK HEALTHY, TO BE HEALTHY. THE POWER OF THE MIND IS WHAT WE EMPLOY IN ANYTHING WE DO!

If you succeed in your career, you can definitely succeed in maintaining or losing that weight!

THINK 750 TO LOSE AS WELL: Your exercise program should target losing 750 calories through a variety of activities (including house-work; gardening, and other things you do throughout the day. You don't have to go to the gymnasium or health club to 'burn' calories. There weren't any fancy machines like we have now, 400 years ago but people kept their weight off by working their 'butts off'. Yes, we often say this - that phrase came into being because people really did WORK HARD - remember that, and KEEP ACTIVE.

Again, refer to ABOUT.COM's activities tool if you join this group. They will show you what you 'burn' on a variety of activities - it's a great instrument to quickly calculate what you need to burn, or have burned.

HOW DO YOU ADD TO THIS CORE 750? If you like vegetables, by all means that's the first 'big step' because they are inexpensive; so good for you, and you're almost a vegetarian if you limit your meat as I do.

NEXT ADD FRUIT: I love grapefruit juice; however, it has many more calories than the FRUIT ITSELF. So, grab up those apples; those pears - lots of grapefruit and grapes. Bananas - 1; more than that, and you're taking in higher calories compared to the size serving you might be looking for. GRAPES AND STRAWBERRIES - they're low in calories; tasty - they are your dessert and your snack.

TRY NEXT FOR SOME GOOD CHEESE AND NUTS: A great plate for a meal is a pile of raw vegetables; some good cheeses (medium-hard); grapes and cut apples with chunks of fresh pineapple. You've got your protein in the cheese - it's all easy to 'cut and place' - napkins; iced tea (or 4 ounces of white wine), and there's not stove to clean in the kitchen!

STAY AWAY FROM: All things highly 'pickled' or 'spiced' - you'll add water-weight; that 5# of 'bloat' doesn't look good on anyone.

AVOID: Fast-food restaurants like the plague - and save your money by eating at home more of the time. If you start thinking "I can put on a decent meal in 20 minutes", you can. By keeping those fresh fruits, vegetables, and cheese handy you've always got a meal - add a few whole-wheat crackers and sneak another quick dinner past your family with a smile!

After everyone has 'eaten', you can fix up something in the kitchen while they're settled in doing 'other things'. Get the washer going with that load of whites; chop up some of those vegetables and make a great soup. If you're feeling 'guilty', make up a big batch of fruit smoothies; pour into glasses, and hand them out to your loved ones - it's time for a 'shake', and they'll love it!

There are so many recipes for fruit smoothies, I'm not even going to bore you by putting another one here. You just raid your fruit supply; throw in some milk and cottage cheese - a bit of vanilla extract for taste, and start that blender!

LADIES, HAVE WE STARTED OUR BLENDERS YET? Okay, maybe a few guys might be doing this too, but more often they're out in the garage souping up their cars while you're making the soup in your kitchen.............

BOOK-MARK THIS; MUSIC TO EXERCISE WITH - AND RELAX WITH LATER!

Some of the information might seem as old as the mountains - or dinosauers - but I think it's time we dug some of that good stuff out, and started using it again! Enjoy yourself. Diane

WHY YOU'LL WANT TO SET THIS AS A BOOK-MARK.

COOKING LIGHT IS GREAT - and I've picked FAMILY
EDUCATION because it reminds us all that we should be healthy not only for
ourselves, but for those that love us - more of all it's usually our
FAMILY!

You want your husband and children healthy; we all need to be a 'team' on that one.

I'VE LISTED A COUPLE LINKS WHERE WOMEN HAVE ACHIEVED GREAT WEIGHT LOSS AND DIET SUCCESS - one of these continues to share her recipes, and adorable videos as she goes through each day MAINTAINING HER WEIGHT LOSS AND ENJOYING HER LIFE!

Some of the songs from the PLAY-LIST inspire me (you
can make your own as well). I love WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS - we can be...in
anything!

I like HER STRUT - makes me want to get stronger so I can!

BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKING - more strutting; except
I do mine in my running shoes.

AMAZING - yes, let's all be amazing!

EVERY WOMAN IN THE WORLD by Air Supply - let's
supply some air for ourselves and others.

SWEET CHILD O' MINE - we want all our kids happy and
ever so 'sweet'.

I WANT TO BREAK FREE by Queen - yes we do, and we
can!

EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE - it should be a strong one; get walking in the fresh air!

YOU ROCK MY WORLD - let's do it!

YOU'RE SO VAIN - hey, being healthy isn't being
vain.

ANY WAY YOU WANT IT by Journey - yes, the journey is yours...any way you want it!

WONDERFUL TONIGHT - let's be that way every night!

MATERIAL GIRL: Well it doesn't have to be all about what Madonna says -
but then again, we must learn what's material, and what's immaterial; to our
lives - our individual goals and wants, as well as our essential needs!

CRAZY ON YOU by Heart - well if we have a strong and healthy heart, it has to come from being 'crazy on you' - crazy on good health.

WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS - Joe Cocker recognizes we sometimes
need that; don't be afraid to ask. But, most often your BEST FRIEND ON DIET AND WEIGHT LOSS, is your DOCTOR! Don't rely on web-sites for the ultimate in accurate information.

Don't let your friends tell you about 'what they read' - at best, let them show
you by what they've ACHIEVED THEMSELVES.

FREEBIRD - Lynyrd Skynyrd - figure out what freedom
means to you, then go for in your own way.

AFTER ABOUT 3 HOURS OF 'EXERCISE AND UPBEAT'
MUSIC, THE REST OF THE PLAY-LIST WILL HELP YOU UNWIND AND
RELAX.

ENJOY SOME OF
THOSE LOVELY SONGS WHILE YOU
SHOWER, AND GET READY FOR THE REST OF YOUR
DAY!

LOSE WEIGHT; ENJOY YOURSELF, AND NEVER LEAVE YOUR BEAUTIFUL HOME!

With the price of gas nearing $4.00 in our 'neck of the woods', I figured it was all the more reason to utilize what I have at home, to 'work out' - as well as eat right; enjoy my music (it should be playing on your computer right now if your speakers are turned up).

Here's what I do:

First: Clean that beautiful home; dust and sweep your 'castle' - and as you dust, remember where you got those beautiful treasures.

Smile as your polish the gifts your children and friends have given you!

Get out and enjoy your garden; bending and stretching - ah, feel so good!

Don't fret when you shovel the drive; it means you've got a car - some don't.

Don't complain about it being cold; exercising in the cold burns a few more calories! Your cheeks will get rosey - your complexion will benefit from this outside air and exercise!

I use THE DOME for 'stepping on' - even trying to stand on that 'squishy' thing builds tone for your muscle.

Lift those canned vegetables; light weights at 'no cost'. Grab those big bottles of water - one in each hand; weights, and then drink at least one of those bottles dry after your exercise.

Run and up down the stairs of your home; great for your legs. Walk around your imediate area 10 times; keep close to home in case you run out of energy, and have to head for that nice reclining chair!

Get a medicine ball; pass it back and forth with your husband or sweetie - sharing this way means you both benefit.

Laugh; it's great for your complexion and your tummy!

Shut down the television; play some games - it takes more to 'think and do', then it does just to 'vegetate' in front of the t.v. (and you don't snack as often).

Walk over and visit your neighbor; take a little gift of FRIENDSHIP TEA - talk and spend happy times together. Walk back....more calories gone!

Here's the recipe for that TEA:

One jar of freeze-dried tea. Empty that into a great big container (you'll store this dry).

Use that empty jar to meausre out: Crystal-light lemon-flavored drink.

Use that same empty jar to meausre out: 1/4 cup of cinnamon (good for you - speeds the metabolism); 2 tablespoons of cloves.

Add one jar of: Tang.

Shake all of this up - then use about 3 tablespoons of this mixture for each 6 ounces of hot water. If you want it stronger, add more!

Run outside with your children after they get home from school; choose an active game for at least an hour.

If you're a grandmother like I am, head over to their house and play some active games. I love to play basketball with my grand-kids; take them for a walk down-town or by the Colorado River.

Bring everyone back home for a treat of good stuff: Vegetables with sour-cream or cottage-cheese tip. You can allow a treat if the candy is SUGAR-FREE (we get those chocolate mints that you often get after dinner in the restaurants).

Suck on a fire-ball jaw-breaker; man that will stop your hunger and it's only 20 calories. Watch out for the red tongue - don't eat more than 3 or you can actually burn your tongue like I did.

Put on some great music before you got to sleep - you need your rest to properly 'lose weight' - try for 6 hours anyway.

To make this easy for you, here's my play-list of restful music that I use: http://www.playlist.com/standalone/27611243.

Now read the rest of this blog - all my 'ideas' are here.

Use the links - you'll find TONS of ideas to help you as well.

Diane

IF 'HE' DOESN'T BRING YOU FLOWERS ANY MORE, PICK YOUR OWN!

I think this is a BEAUTIFUL LADY! Do you notice she's not 'bone-thin' like a run-way model?

No, bone-thin isn't always healthy.

When you do think it's time for a little dessert - for yourself, and for your sweetie, then use the recipe (near the bottom of this 'blog'), that's not only yummy, but pretty healthy too!

Take time out to also do something creative and fun - for yourself and your family.

I built my photo-show; you can take a look at this (of course there's music included) - get out all those photos you love, and make 1, 2, 3 - or more - we all need to get away from the television set and create something of our own!

No commercials; make up a huge show and invite the family to join you!

If your family is spread all over the country, at least they can access these great pictures from their computer too!

Put up those incredible photos of your vacation. Add a show that includes all the photos of your class-mates; share - even your food!

Yes, order JUST ONE LARGE MEAL at that restaurant; put it in front of you - food for two just like 'tea for two'.

SHARE A SINGLE DESSERT - save calories and money.

SHARE THAT GLASS OF WINE - he drinks out of one side; you can tell your side - it's the one with the lipstick stain on it.

SHARE A HOT-FUDGE SUNDAE - remember when you only had so much money for that date - you shared; smiled, and listened to the juke-box. Ah, that might be why you got that single rose or carnation.

Here's my photo-show; make one of your own. http://www.photoshow.com/members/SIXTYFIVEALIVE/

Here's a juke-box for you; pick your own music: http://tropicalglen.com.

VEGETABLES; OFTEN IT TAKES MORE CALORIES TO BURN THEM, THEN THEY CONTAIN!

CAULIFLOWER - steamed; seasoned with a bit of basil and thyme; low-fat "I Can't Believe It's Butter" - yummy!

CAULIFLOWER - raw; replace potato chips - a light sprinkle of Kosher salt; a wee bit of celery salt - low calorie and good!

CARROTS - raw! Celery - raw! Put a dab of peanut butter on that celery - good! Dip celery into cottage cheese - great!

Asparagus; I like only the young ones, or the tips! Pickeled - great! Steamed - a bit of basil and thyme; a dab of celery salt - good! Mix chilled steamed asparagus with sliced beets, and pile it on fresh spinach leaves - spinkle feta cheese over it - delicious!

I love ARTICHOKES - packed in WATER. Pile on any salad - great! Use BAMBOO SHOOTS generously on any salad - low, low calories! I love BEETS - pickled as a 'side dish'; COOKED - or even from the CAN - super with SALMON.

BROCCOLI, BRUSSEL SPROUTS, AND CABBAGE - bring them 'on' - ALL OF THEM AT THE SAME MEAL - most of the time I eat vegetarian, so piles and piles of these with SWEET POTATOES, and I'm a 'happer camper'.

I LOVE CUCUMBER AND ONIONS - SLICED; A BIT OF VINEGAR MIXED WITH CELERY SEED; LEMON PEPPER, AND DILUTED WITH WHITE WINE - LET THEM SIT OVER-NIGHT; SUPER-TASTY!

Make up your favorite CAESAR SALAD - many of the links I've put here, will give you a variety of recipes for that; check them out (or use the one you already like to make).

SPINACH AND MUSTARD GREENS - GET THEM FROZEN; MIX THEM UP, and add some RED ONION as a 'topping' (or mix the slender sliced rings in) - skip the bacon-bits if you want to save on the calories. Lots of coarse-ground BLACK PEPPER is all I use to 'season' this with.

RADISHES, RADISHES - slice and get that 'potato-chip' crunch; leave whole, and feel the great crunch and pop of a LOW-CALORIE food that's great for you!

ZUCCHINI - sliced thin; RAW - mix with yogurt that's had a bit of cider vinegar added (about 1 to 2 T.). You can also add some sliced RED ONION to this; a bit of celery salt - love it! STEAMED ZUCCHINI - a tiny bit of basil and thyme for seasoning; a dab of that butter (this time use the real stuff) or a spray of OLIVE OIL (yes, they now have it in a spray can).

MAKE UP CABBAGE SOUP - the links give you lots of recipes for this; I have my own - no doubt, you've made it too - serve that at least THREE TIMES A WEEK...great for the waist-line.

Diane

TALL, SLENDER CACTUS - IT'S THE WATER IN THEM...PUT IT IN YOU!

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS!

I chill my water; we filter it using a REVERSE
OSMOSIS system.

Put put ONE QUART OF WATER IN A BOTTLE; then I ADD 1T of apple cider; 3T of lemon juice - drink that FOUR TIMES A DAY!

First quart: When you get up; finish that before you
take that ONE CUP OF COFFEE or that TWO CUPS OF BLACK TEA.

Around 11:00 a.m.: Another quart of water.

Around 3:30 p.m. - or 2 hours before dinner -
another quart of water.

Last quart of water: 1/2 hour AFTER dinner.

Make like a cactus - keep hydrated! Diane - Nevada -
USA