Better Health Through Better Choices 2011 Challenge

**madhen** · 01-08-2011, 01:46 PM

It can be difficult to be reasonable when cheesecake is involved.

**pollypurebred39** · 01-08-2011, 02:26 PM

lol true, true. It could have fruit involved making it more redeeming.

**pollypurebred39** · 01-08-2011, 03:24 PM

I've started watching Dr Oz. I really like his show, so informative without being all preachy. His $5 Friday show had some super foods. Love that there's some really budget friendly super foods. Here's what he had on Friday's show.

Eggs- 6 a week!

Onions- 1/2 an onion a day

Chickpeas- 1 cup cooked a day

Popcorn- 3 cups a day for heart disease

Here's some other super foods listed on his site;

cayenne pepper- increases basal metabolic rate and stimulates the burning of fat for energy.

Beans or lentils- Not only do lentils help lower cholesterol, they are of special benefit in managing blood sugar disorders since their high fiber content prevents blood sugar levels from rising rapidly after a meal. Eating beans or lentils two or more times per week was associated with a 24 percent reduced risk of breast cancer.

Walnuts- Omega-3 fatty acids in walnuts have been found to improve mood and calm inflammation that may lead to brain-cell death. They also replace lost melatonin, which is necessary for healthy brain functioning.

Cinnamon- One recent investigation of sixty people with type-2 diabetes demonstrated that 1 to 6 g of cinnamon taken daily for 40 days reduced fasting blood glucose by 18 to 29 percent, triglycerides by 23 to 30 percent, LDL (bad) cholesterol by 7 to 27 percent, and total cholesterol by 12 to 26 percent. In contrast, there were no clear changes for the subjects who did not take the cinnamon.

Jojoba beans have been shown to have positive effects on the body, like increasing good cholesterol levels and raising the levels of the hunger-curbing hormone leptin.

Jojoba beans-The supplement jojoba extract (the supplement simmondsin is also made from jojoba) seems to work by stimulating CCK (a hunger suppressing chemical that is released from your intestines after a meal). The dose is about 2.5 to 5 grams for most people (50 mg per kg of weight).

I've never heard of these, I think I'll seek them out, or rather the extract.

Fish- has been shown to be very beneficial for protecting against

Heart disease
Alzheimer's disease
Many forms of cancer

Interesting that jelly doughnuts did not make the list. *giggles*

**madhen** · 01-08-2011, 03:56 PM

I've heard good things about cinnamon increasing your mental acuity as well, something I can always use a bit more of!!

Popcorn...mmmm....I'm guessing that it is sans butter and salt though.

**pollypurebred39** · 01-08-2011, 06:37 PM

Here you go Madhen

Gourmet Microwave Popcorn Recipe - Allrecipes.com

**madhen** · 01-08-2011, 07:02 PM

Hadn't thought about using olive oil. I make popcorn on the stove and use peanut oil. I know, bad, bad, BAD, for you, but it tastes REALLY good.

**pollypurebred39** · 01-08-2011, 07:28 PM

We used to do that all the time growing up. You're right, it is really yummy!

I never thought of using olive oil either. I figure it can't hurt to try it. My youngest already balked over not drizzling butter on his popcorn today. He insisted on having it buttered and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. *sigh* Well, at least cinnamon has some redeeming qualities, maybe it canceled out some of the bad.

**Palooka** · 01-08-2011, 10:30 PM

Polly, I love Dr. oz. I try to watch all his shows. Always learning something.

**pollypurebred39** · 01-09-2011, 02:48 AM

Palooka-I wish I would have started watching Dr Oz a long time ago, I feel like I've missed so much.

Today was another good vegetable/fruit day, however I did eat a handful of pseudo health food snack chips. Better then real junk food, but not by much.

**annymoll** · 01-09-2011, 07:10 PM

Had my 64 ounce mug of water, but could not eat as much as I needed to.Did my walking tapes.

**pollypurebred39** · 01-09-2011, 08:46 PM

I posting early, even though the day's not through. I thought that I'd make pumpkin muffins for breakfast, but decided against it. I was craving carbs and knew for sure that I'd end up eating more then one if I smelled that wonderful pumpkin wafting through the house. Sometimes you've just got to know your own limitations.

I'm still short on the vegetables for today, but good on the fruit. Today I realized that DS2 has almost eaten his share of the fruit that is supposed to last till Thursday.

He got a little too happy with it all. However, I realized that I did not purchase enough fruit for the week. After some calculations I realized I need 56 pieces of fruit a week to meet our doctor's recommendation.

I also realized that I will run out of salad greens tomorrow. *sigh* I'm having a real hard time calculating our needs for the week.

I need 2 more vegetables for today, I guess I'll have a bowl of soup for supper. I also am short on protein so I'll boil an egg.

**joyofsix** · 01-10-2011, 06:54 AM

I just want to say I'm loving this challenge. Even though I may not have time to post every day it's good to keep in my mind that even little changes count. You guys are inspiring.

Well, it wasn't a perfect weekend but it could have been worse. I kept myself to one piece of cheesecake. I chose fish and baked potato over a greasy burger and fries (it was my birthday meal so I splurged a little) which I'm sure was over calories but healthier. Yesterday I went to an Boy Scout Eagle ceremony but didn't have any of the cake. Dh and I went on a 45 minute walk. I don't think we broke speed records but better than being on the couch. Last night I had only 1 helping of spaghetti. That's huge for me because I could eat tons if I let myself.

**annymoll** · 01-10-2011, 08:08 PM

Did my walking tapes this morning, also got out and walked around our property. It felt good once I was warmed up.I had a 64 ounce mug of water, ate three healthy meals and three healthy snacks. Would like a small bowl of Breyer's, but really I don't feel hungry at all so I will pass.

**Palooka** · 01-10-2011, 10:26 PM

I've eaten pretty well the last few days (besides those fries) even though I haven't felt groovy.

Grrr, the price of fruit really ticks me off! I've just got apples left in the fridge but plenty of veggies.

**pollypurebred39** · 01-11-2011, 04:43 PM

Palooka, I agree on those fruit prices. Completely crazy.

Have you started Zumba yet?

Annymoll- Wow, you're doing awesome. And resisting ice cream!

Joyofsix- Resisting burger and fries, and cake too!

As far as calories, I think with better choices it will all balance out. Sometimes you'll eat healthy things that have far fewer calories. You're eating healthier and giving your body the nutrition it needs to fight illnesses and disease, that trumps calories.

Yesterday I woke up feeling really hungry, but sick to my stomach. I just could not eat. I monitored DS2's school and then went back to bed for a few hours. When I woke, I was still hungry, but not as sick. I just could not stomach oatmeal yet, or any vegetables like salad. I ended up eating a peanut butter and jelly on whole wheat. I used two pieces of bread rather then one.

Lunch ended up being oatmeal cooked with diced apple. Still could not handle anything raw in my stomach. Supper was a can of low carb slim fast. Not really a healthy day at all.

But, it got worse. After supper I started to feel some better and ended up eating popcorn drizzle with olive oil and a 1/3 of a pepperoni stick. (doughy thing from DH's work)

The day's not done yet, so I won't post today's happenings till later.