Fat City

How did I get to look like this?

I was one of those skinny kids that every mother felt it was her duty to fatten up.

One day, decades later, I looked in the mirror and YIKES! one of those well meaning mothers succeeded.

My ever helpful husband informed me, "There is only one way to loose weight. Eat less and exercise more."

I was sure there was a better way.

I got a rowing machine and rowed until I split the seams in several blouses and three blazers with my added muscles.

Next I got a stationery bike, and I biked and biked and biked, no luck.

Time to face the uncomfortable fact that my man was right. I just had to start eating less.

Now I eat as fat free as possible,grilling most meats, and before I eat dinner I cut everything in half and put it in a divided styrofoam for lunch at work. I also eat more fruits I work seven out of fourteen days, so on my days off I alternately walk,(6 miles in 90 min) and bike,(29 mph for 2 hour). It sounds horrible, I know, but I eased into this schedule and now it is very easy.

I have lost 20 pound and can wear big girl pants,(the ones that have zippers and buttons) not pull-ups.

I went to my daughter's wedding (November 1997) in a red sheath and got so many compliments, it made it worth it, all the days of half rations and the exercise.

Now I need to keep it up for 10 more pounds. Then I can relax into maitenance.

If anyone have suggestion or recipes, I'd love to hear from you.

In order to live like the rest of soceity, one needs a few receipes to make you feel like you aren't giving up everything.

Here's a tasty dip: Take a can of Hormel fat free chili and cut up chunks of Healthy Choise fat free cheese( You find it by the Velveta) add a little spice if you like more flavor, heat in micro and serve with baked tostito chips.( I have found Jays to be the best)

Another hint; when you boil potatoes to mash, add a thick slice of onion, then for more , add chunks of Healty Choice fat free cheese. YUM!!! Garlic, too adds flavor and not fat and calories.

Now with "The Turkey Store" and other such companies, there are brats, Italian sausage, and many other tasty choices. The bad news is we can't eat lots and lots of these goodies, we still have to watch the amount we eat. (sigh)

Here's a dessert that makes you think you are cheating!

2 1/23 C crushed pretzels
3/4 c melted no fat butter or butter spray
3 Tbsp sugar

Mix and bake at 350 for 10 min.

8 oz fat free cream cheese
1 c sugar
8 oz fat free Cool Whip

blend cheese and sugar,use the back of spoon method, a mixer or blender extracts the water from the cheese and makes it sloppy, fold in Cool Whip. Spread on pretzel layer.

6 oz strawberry Jello
2 c boiling water
2 10 oz frozen strawberries,thawed, do not drain

Mix. When nearly set, put on top of cheese mix. Chill

Be sides the watching you food intake, I needed to find more good exercise that I enjoyed, so I took up golf

One reason was because I wanted to be with my husband and the other is because it is outside. I am not real good, OK I stink! I see all the parts of the course that other golfers miss. The water mains behind the trees, what is in the center of all those trees, things like that. But I figure, I get my money's worth, my husband hits 3 maybe 6 times while I can hit many, many more times. I am improving though, I figure at this rate when I am in my mid to late 90's I should be pretty good!

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