tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19323029199298660562011-11-27T18:57:47.837-05:00Diets and workouts and life, oh my!Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.comBlogger571100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-6032771600737411162010-01-10T22:21:00.001-05:002010-01-10T22:22:34.456-05:00

Doing a little New Year's Internet housecleaning and noticed that this thing is still hanging around.Nothing to see here, move along ... to Shrinkingsisters.com, where Carol and I are blogging regularly.

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-80101105258298493552008-11-29T20:07:00.005-05:002008-11-29T21:38:47.965-05:00

Sure, you can read everything but right now Shrinking Sisters is undergoing a makeover. Hang tight and I'll let you all know when I'm done noodling around.If you want to see what I'm working on, go to shrinkingsisters.typepad.com.

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-74826099138020277492008-11-25T22:21:00.004-05:002008-11-25T22:33:42.983-05:00

NBC photoJillian vows to help Michelle and Renee by beating the weight off of them. Aww, how generous of her. Poor naive Amy thinks all is well with Icky Vicky but she's still out to get her. Then Ali trots out Jerry Rice and Steve Young who demonstrate an NFL-inspired combine workout, which Icky Vicky game-played to win. Boo. But she did win $10,000 to donate to a school to fight childhood

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-8624114042846920342008-11-18T22:29:00.006-05:002008-11-19T20:46:48.796-05:00

Fitting that the show starts out with a shot of the pool since the show has become like an episode of Melrose Place. So what did Icky Vicky's sign say?REVENGEFool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.I will not rest until that lying B!TCH is out of this house.NBC photoOMG, how much do we hate Vicky??? I am so embarrassed that I own the same sneakers as her. Loved the talk that Bob had

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-78599573592766729662008-11-18T13:20:00.003-05:002008-11-18T13:33:54.438-05:00

During the workweek, I live on Lean Cuisines and other frozen meals, so I paid close attention to today's recall of three Lean Cuisine chicken entrees, because chicken's what I choose most often. The meals are being recalled because shards of plastic were found in some of the packages. Here's the info:9.5-ounce packages of "LEAN CUISINE PESTO CHICKEN WITH BOW TIE PASTA" brand frozen meals.

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-19266335222554929122008-11-11T23:01:00.003-05:002008-11-11T23:04:31.950-05:00

I posted this over at Examiner.com, but I'm also going to start posting my stuff here as well.I'll just admit it -- I do not like Vicky. She's more interested in playing the game than in getting healthy. Although it could all be in the editing.Bob had a little challenge with his team -- the person who runs the farthest in three minutes on the treadmill gets a "banana fudge sundae." I already

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-87288931473743835722008-11-05T18:29:00.001-05:002008-11-05T18:32:36.287-05:00

Because I had a coupon, I bought a quart of International Delight Caribbean Cinnamon Creme coffee creamer this past weekend, instead of my usual unflavored Silk creamer. I knew it had more calories and sugar that the Silk but once I measured out the teeny tablespoon I realized I was in trouble. The unflavored Silk creamer has 15 calories per tablespoon -- no biggie. The International Delight has

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-1791416364969150992008-10-29T15:45:00.009-04:002008-10-29T16:11:40.025-04:00

Through the help of the SparkPeople.com Flat Belly Diet team members, I sent off some questions about the diet to Prevention magazine editor and Flat Belly Diet author Liz Vaccariello. Here's the Q&A:Q. Is there a point at which adding the MUFAs raises the percent of fats too high? Nutrition guidelines suggest your fat intake be something like 20% to 30%. When I follow the diet I seem to be

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-75878563584885823982008-10-23T13:11:00.003-04:002008-10-23T13:12:49.055-04:00

Jason Bartlett of the Tampa Bay Rays may have not been on the winning team in the first game of the World Series but he did win America a free taco by stealing a base in the Rays 3-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday night.What we want to know is will we strike out on our diets if we eat it?Turns out the free crunchy beef taco will only set you back 170 calories. There are 10 grams of

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-48261126481134625082008-10-22T09:44:00.001-04:002008-10-22T09:48:49.887-04:00

If you saw the commercials for last night's episode, you knew in advance it was either going to be Black Team Phil or his wife, Blue Team Amy. (Thanks, NBC!) Loved how Bob was funnin' on Amy P's sissyness in the self-defense class. Then it was back to Dr. Huizenga to see how the contestants were doing. And, of course, everyone's making great strides driving down their biological ages with diet

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-37606095675935256492008-10-20T10:51:00.004-04:002008-10-20T11:02:03.918-04:00

I've been foundering around in Weight Loss Land since this summer. Haven't gained any weight but haven't lost any either.So today I took out my little Mary Kate and Ashley notebook (yes, really) and wrote down my meal plan for the foreseeable future. Here's what I have:Breakfast: High-protein, high-fiber cereal with fat-free, lactose-free milk or soymilk; piece of fruit and coffee.Lunch: Some

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-43214506523052314302008-10-16T07:01:00.000-04:002008-10-16T07:01:00.850-04:00

Just came across this offer on Facebook's fan site of Whole Foods (go figure)... Click here for a $5 off coupon off of a $25 purchase at whole foods. Offer expires 10/22/08

Carol B. Martorellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971975119744669234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-89493746553904889002008-10-14T14:20:00.004-04:002008-10-14T14:29:47.051-04:00

Lynn Haraldson Bering is my weight-loss hero. She lost over 150 pounds and has kept it off for more than a year. She's been profiled on Oprah, the Today show and People magazine. She, like me, blogs at multiple places, one of which is Lynn's Weigh: The Journey Continues, where she documents her life at goal. Recently she discovered sugar-free syrup and highly recommends Starbucks' Skinny Caramel

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-34957890044390165422008-10-13T11:09:00.001-04:002008-10-13T11:12:29.166-04:00

Banana prices are rising and shortages are being reported in Japan, where a Morning Banana Diet has people in a frenzy.Huh?It started in March with the publication of Morning Banana Diet, which claimed that eating only bananas and room-temperature water for breakfast jumpstarted weight loss, regardless of what was eaten during the rest of the day.So who came up with the diet? A guy who

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-46308488479031529852008-10-04T19:47:00.003-04:002008-10-04T19:57:56.126-04:00

Marielle, Erica and Runnin4fun -- so far you're the winners of our Starbucks gift card giveaway.Some ideas from our trio:Western Bagel alternative bagel with a Laughing Cow cheese wedgeOatmeal with a little brown sugar, walnuts, craisins and skim milkShredded wheat with banana or blueberries on topPlease e-mail your name and address to dietexaminer(at)bellsouth.net (replace the at with an @) and

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-68076147377111114642008-09-30T09:03:00.002-04:002008-09-30T09:06:21.220-04:00

We're extending the deadline for our Shrinking Sisters Starbucks breakfast giveaway. Just give us an idea for a quick and healthy breakfast and if you're chosen we'll send you a $5 Starbucks gift card.Just to make sure -- we will NEVER use your personal info for anything other than sending you your gift card. C'mon, we're just two moms with a blog and a dream!

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-65932414294193471402008-09-29T07:00:00.001-04:002008-09-29T07:00:00.731-04:00

In a tribute to my friends from Kingston, this week's produce of the week is the Ackee. Not commonly found fresh in the US, the Ackee is a member of the Sapindaceae (soapberry family), it is native to tropical West Africa, and was introduced into the Caribbean through slave ships. The fruit is found in Florida.Ackee is the national fruit of Jamaica; with Ackee and Saltfish being the national

Carol B. Martorellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971975119744669234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-11332497864771912822008-09-25T07:12:00.001-04:002008-09-25T07:13:37.026-04:00

Here's a link to the recipes chef Rocco diSpirito featured Tuesday night on The Biggest Loser, including the winning recipe for Tiny Turkey Meatball and Chickpea Soup.For the link, click HERE.There are also links to the recipes from last season.(I am going right out to buy ground turkey!)

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-59061720958116928092008-09-23T22:43:00.001-04:002008-09-23T22:45:49.357-04:00

Really, is it any big whup that Clay Aiken fiiiiiinallly came out? Here's the real reason to get the latest issue of People magazine: The Half Their Size People Weight Loss Challenge!I love their Half Their Size issues: I actually sent fan mail to one person this past January and now we're best buds!So what's the challenge? The magazine, and a companion special on ABC, will follow eight people

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-54669091812151196072008-09-23T17:36:00.004-04:002008-09-23T17:50:03.249-04:00

Here at Shrinking Sisters we're all about quick and healthy. So we're looking for your favorite quick and healthy breakfast. If we like your idea, we'll send you a $5 Starbucks gift card!If you didn't already know, the java giant has recently introduced new breakfast items that won't break your caloric bank. Among the new goodies:Perfect Oatmeal: Vitamin and mineral fortified, with your choice of

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-69793903167459458712008-09-22T07:00:00.001-04:002008-09-23T09:46:48.421-04:00

One of my new favorite veggies is the asparagus. Many years ago, Gail & I were Diet Workshop members, and a recipe for asparagus soup was shared. It is so simple and easy -- I love it. It uses canned veggies, so look for the salt free or reduced sodium varieties... but get out your pencils and paper... here it is...1) can of asparagus1) can of green beansMix in a blender.Heat and eat.Here's some

Carol B. Martorellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971975119744669234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-30397319871658789572008-09-20T09:23:00.005-04:002008-09-20T13:32:06.487-04:00

I was proctoring a test today at school and during one of our breaks, I came across this article about GE (Genetically Engineered Foods). I was nauseated at the fact that scientists are starting to mess with the genetic composition of farm animals and some fish to speed up the growth to produce super animals -- where a wild salmon can take up to 3 years to grow to maturity, GE salmon can get

Carol B. Martorellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971975119744669234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-27523018263185594932008-09-19T12:08:00.002-04:002008-09-19T12:14:17.918-04:00

I know we've been remiss in posting more but that is about to change. We have all sorts of stuff in store. We'll be sharing more of our weight loss ups and downs (down is good!) and maybe have a contest! We'd like to get you, our readers, more involved in the site.I've still been trying to find my way through my "new" life as a stay-at-home mom. Since I've been working since high school I'm

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-90308186907490436852008-09-17T10:04:00.004-04:002008-09-17T10:12:12.188-04:00

Bob and Jillian hand-picked their teams: Bob’s got 4 sets of married couples and Jillian’s got 4 sets of parents and kids. I interviewed Bob earlier this year and he loves the familial teams. He likes that the kids and their parent "enablers" are dealing with their issues together.Wanna read more about the season 6 premiere? Click HERE.

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-83371741703866329452008-09-08T20:04:00.003-04:002008-09-08T20:07:10.026-04:00

Interested in trying out some Nutrisystem entrees without the commitment? Big Lots discount stores are getting in huge stocks of lunch and dinner entrees for $1 and $2.50 apiece as well as $1 chippy-type snacks. The dollar meals are basically little tubs of "roni" or soup, not bad for a quick and brainless meal or very good for hurricane supplies.

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-4587270672161968322008-09-01T07:00:00.002-04:002008-09-23T09:52:19.065-04:00

A dear co-worker was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, in its very very early stages. Doctors don't want to do anything aggressive, but just monitor.He's increased his intake of pomegranate, due to its stabilizing effects on the PSA evels in men. Read more about it here in this WebMD article.My first memory of pomegranates is from when we lived in California as children. My schoolmates and

Carol B. Martorellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971975119744669234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-66309571658345972932008-08-29T07:23:00.002-04:002008-08-29T07:26:42.095-04:00

Despite my best attempts to keep track of all my healthy eating at the buffet restaurant Sweet Tomatoes, I've come to the conclusion that this place gets me in all kinds of trouble.I start out all virtuous, loading up my plate with raw veggies. Then comes just a spoonful of that addictive broccoli salad, then a little of that Mexican potato salad, then just a few croutons, only a piece of

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-22527555336617261252008-08-27T07:15:00.001-04:002008-08-28T12:28:36.799-04:00

I often order Vitalicious VitaMuffin VitaTops directly from the company. If you've never had one they come in many flavors (many of them chocolate), have 5 grams of fiber, vitamins and 100 calories, which make them a great snack or dessert.But I recently got a e-mail announcing that they'd be available in select Publix grocery stores (and probably many other groceries nationwide).To check if

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-22877220558581505232008-08-25T07:00:00.000-04:002008-08-25T07:00:00.717-04:00

Thanks to the suggestion of Shrinking Sisters reader Molly Brockwell, the Produce of the Week this week is Jicama, otherwise known as the Mexican potato. I've only ever eaten jicama as a garnish in my Japanese take-out, and I've always liked the taste and texture.So I set out to find a recipe that is both healthy and would showcase this food on its own. I came across this recipe on cooking.com.

Carol B. Martorellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971975119744669234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-37073506304704038182008-08-22T07:00:00.002-04:002008-08-22T09:47:21.414-04:00

I was so gung-ho about the Produce of the Week this week. I made 4 large beets and served them for dinner on Tuesday night. My kids turned their noses up to them, yet surprisingly each ate a half of a beet. Showing them how good they are, I think I ate the other three...Which leads me to the intent of this post. Eating too many beets at one sitting can produce... ummm.... surprising side effects.

Carol B. Martorellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971975119744669234noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-17850348687201077462008-08-20T07:00:00.002-04:002008-08-20T07:00:01.004-04:00

Camp Mommy had an unexpected extra two days this week, but today it's back to school for the kid and back to working out for me.It's just so much easier when we have the same early-morning routine every weekday: He puts his school clothes on, I put my workout clothes on. He goes to school, I go to the gym (or to the living room DVD workout).How do you make sure to fit in fitness?

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-92136519715042081892008-08-19T12:11:00.002-04:002008-08-19T12:15:07.807-04:00

As of today, I'm the new national Weight Loss Examiner at Examiner.com, a very cool new news site with lots of great ideas. I'll be posting there every weekday as well as here, so I'll be one very busy bee.(If only typing was a viable form of excercise ... sigh.)

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-86963080941773969182008-08-19T07:00:00.004-04:002008-08-19T12:16:07.872-04:00

It's funny: Now that I'm a stay-at-home mom, I find it much easier to cue into my hunger signals. When I was at a desk all day they kind of short-circuited. Prevention magazine sent out an e-mail over the weekend linking to an article here on how to tune into your hunger cues. Here are their 6 tips, which are fleshed out in the article:Learn to identify your spot on the hunger scale.Refuel every

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-65848114840003755872008-08-18T07:00:00.002-04:002008-08-18T07:00:00.860-04:00

When I started my own personal produce of the week, beets were the first selection I made. So when I was at Publix the other day, these lovely root vegetables spoke to me... Beets are a root vegetable with both the root portion and the leaves being used for food. Beets can be boiled, steamed or roasted or pickled or used in soups such as borscht. The young tender greens can be steamed, boiled or

Carol B. Martorellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971975119744669234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-87633239651999745732008-08-17T17:36:00.001-04:002008-08-17T17:39:26.948-04:00

Wow, I just got read the riot act by my 10-year-old. That's his quote to me in the headline.Since there's no school tomorrow, he is insisting that I get my butt to the gym (if it's open).Aye-aye, chief.

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-70205107460002842972008-08-17T08:41:00.004-04:002008-08-17T13:55:19.611-04:00

So, all the news reports say South Florida will be affected in some way by the storm, but that doesn't mean your diet has to be derailed.Since we're not expecting a full hit, I did some hurricane "lite" shopping. I bought 100% juice pouches for the kids and bottled water. I already had cans of water-packed tuna and found the seasoned packages of albacore tuna for something elegant. I stocked up

Carol B. Martorellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971975119744669234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-39882340304592508452008-08-15T07:00:00.001-04:002008-08-15T07:00:00.501-04:00

Emily Yoffe, Slate's Human Guinea Pig, decided that for the first time in her life she would work out hard and get buff.Did she enjoy the transformation? "If Torquemada were alive today, he wouldn't be a torturer, he'd be a trainer," she writes. She also did something that I and my sister do at the gym -- give people nicknames. At my gym, I have Drummer Boy, who plays imaginary drums on the

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-66814892212602010442008-08-14T07:00:00.002-04:002008-08-14T07:00:02.988-04:00

I've compiled a list of sites where you can find workouts online without needing a TV or DVD player. They're good for a quick workout or to check out a new DVD. (Bookmark this page cuz it took me a lot of time to compile.) Fitness magazine has a quite extensive collection of videos -- everything from the "skinny jeans" workout to one designed to work off the baby weight. You'll need to register,

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-89057187327604106952008-08-13T09:04:00.003-04:002008-08-13T09:08:54.603-04:00

I wanted to make tacos for dinner last night, and tacos we had (turkey tacos, made with ground turkey breast). But into that pristine turkey breast I sprinkled a packet of taco seasoning mix, which is loaded with salt. Add to that the sodium in the canned diced tomatoes, the sprinkling of cheddar and the taco shells themselves (not to mention the sodium in my other meals for the day) and I woke

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-56522616322396268902008-08-12T07:33:00.002-04:002008-08-12T07:33:01.326-04:00

I live in an apartment complex that has a workout room. Two ellipticals, two treadmills, two bikes and a circuit machine that is in some desperate need of a repairman. It's been a while since I've visited the room (it's free, and a 5-minute walk... go figure...) but what I would like to know is, "what is your favorite at home exercise DVD, and why?"I know Gail has an AWESOME exercise DVD library,

Carol B. Martorellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971975119744669234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-24673906113644103632008-08-12T07:00:00.000-04:002008-08-12T07:00:04.502-04:00

Dining out can be peppered with caloric landmines at every turn. Even a side of simple steamed broccoli can be unwittingly slathered with fat.So we here at Shrinking Sisters will share with you our favorite calorie bargains when dining out. First up is Ruby Tuesday's White Bean Chicken Chili. I think I order this every time we go because it's a slam dunk -- filling, tasty, cheap and low in

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-62904985690801995422008-08-11T07:10:00.000-04:002008-08-11T07:10:00.836-04:00

While exploring the produce department of my local grocery store, I was immediately stopped by the dragon fruit. It was $3.99, but the color and texture of the skin intrigued me. So, in my cart it went.I did a little research on the fruit, and found that it is grown primarily in Thailand and Vietnam. It is the fruit of a cactus, has a fuchsia skin, and a white flesh speckled with black spots. The

Carol B. Martorellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971975119744669234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-73393599500820496672008-08-11T07:00:00.002-04:002008-08-11T07:00:07.080-04:00

Between vacation, post-vacation, job stress and -- SURPRISE! -- job loss, I have been totally remiss in my weight-loss efforts.Fortunately I haven't gained one pound.But that all changes TODAY. It's back to:Journaling my foodPlanning my mealsTaking my Alli when the fat content is high enoughExercising regularly

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-5280386132507872192008-08-09T15:04:00.004-04:002008-08-09T17:06:58.151-04:00

One of my earliest childhood memories is having pop (I'm from Chicago) delivered to our house by the caseload (wooden caseload) by a large lumbering man named Mr. Lurch. It was probably lo-cal pop, sweetened with saccharin. There's a picture my mom has of either Gail or myself standing in front of an opened refrigerator chugging on a bottle of Tab. Tab has always been my favorite -- perhaps

Carol B. Martorellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971975119744669234noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-72363308270144861492008-08-09T09:55:00.006-04:002008-08-09T11:33:45.941-04:00

I woke up this morning and realized that I was OUT of coffee to brew. I put on my shoes and drove to the Dunkin Donuts to purchase a cup of coffee... ONLY. I was not to be tempted by any of the donuts that were making my mouth water just thinking about it. When what should I spy on the door, but a sticker advertising Dunkin Donuts flatbread sandwiches for under 300 calories... I was intrigued,

Carol B. Martorellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971975119744669234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-1284359873010600582008-08-08T11:02:00.003-04:002008-08-10T10:45:35.063-04:00

When the new season of NBC's Biggest Loser begins on Sept. 16, it'll be another couples format, but this time it's all family -- hence the name Biggest Loser: Families (which is important if you TiVo the show).And getting into the family spirit, Shrinking Sister Carol and I will relaunch my Biggest Loser Discussion Group every Wednesday morning, where we'll run down the episode and open things up

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-1751183184234441902008-08-08T07:35:00.003-04:002008-08-08T07:35:15.422-04:00

Well, it's started again, well-intentioned parents are descending upon the school office with food. Today's take? A dozen Einstein bagels with cream cheese. At least this mom brought both regular cream cheese AND low-fat cream cheese. Not soon after that, one of the moms who brought us a fruit basket last year came in and asked me flat out, "are you still dieting?" OUCH. But I thanked her, as

Carol B. Martorellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971975119744669234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-10863360777587767742008-08-07T08:49:00.003-04:002008-08-07T10:34:29.346-04:00

Here's what I'm having for breakfast this morning: My Pina Colada Sunshine Smoothie. I created it to make use of the monounsaturated fats (MUFAs) in flaxseed oil.Pina Colada Sunshine Smoothie1/2 cup fresh, canned or frozen pineapple (frozen is best)1 cup fat-free milk (or your favorite vanilla-flavored milk)1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder2 teaspoons Barlean's lemon-flavored flaxseed oil1

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-25911931795091325872008-08-07T07:00:00.001-04:002008-08-07T07:00:16.653-04:00

I hadn't been to Lane Bryant in awhile, but I needed some "grown-up pants" for job interviews. (All I own is denim.) So I checked out LB's Right Fit line of pants.A-MAZING!I have never been able to grab a pair of pants, try them on and have them fit perfectly.The Right Fit line is based on three different shapes: Yellow Square (if you're thick in the middle), Red Triangle (moderately curvy) and

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-50945981591556610162008-08-06T08:00:00.002-04:002008-08-06T15:33:29.814-04:00

(Yes, I'm repurposing this post from my former blog, but I had to share because she's so damn funny.) Sarah Haskins does these great Target: Women segments on the Current TV series InfoMania. Here's one on women and yogurt and our search for the perfect diet food:

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-48571079621716809052008-08-05T21:30:00.000-04:002008-08-05T21:40:25.334-04:00

I bit into a delicious pear today at my desk, realizing that I never buy pears. Why do I always pass by the pears and go to my old standbys, green and red apples, clementines and the occassional banana?Part of my produce patterns is to just buy what I know... what is safe... am I afraid that the pear I will buy will taste like a potato? Is this why I never buy a cantaloupe or a honeydew melon?

Carol B. Martorellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971975119744669234noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-45268709293521870352008-08-05T08:09:00.002-04:002008-08-05T08:14:53.306-04:00

A super huge shoutout to my pal Laura Kelly, who gracefully shut the door on our former blog The Skinny at my former employer.Carol and I can only hope to re-create the kind of community we had at The Skinny and hope you'll join us regularly.

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-88260868036072108552008-08-04T17:00:00.000-04:002008-08-04T17:06:17.791-04:00

When the Florida Marlins get 10 strikeouts in a game, you have 48 hours to get your butt to a Papa John's to trade in each ticket stub for a small cheese pizza.We have 5 stubs. And I'm not working right now so I'm not passing up the chance for free food.So that means that one of my favorite foods in the entire universe will be clogging up my fridge.I need willpower superpowers (or a kitchen full

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-11988658611732206922008-08-04T16:59:00.001-04:002008-08-04T17:51:11.515-04:00

Going back to school this year is putting a new "dent" in my budget.I work at a private school, and with that, my two children attend the private school as well. While the discount I get on tuition is nice, I get nothing off on the cost of school lunches. Now that the cost of a full lunch has gone up to $4.50, I've decided it's time to get creative. My daughter is going into the 3rd grade and

Carol B. Martorellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971975119744669234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-79072687696569107902008-08-03T14:01:00.001-04:002008-08-04T17:51:43.476-04:00

Looking back to what worked for me in the most recent past, I'm going back to my tried and true, high fiber, lean protein and LOTS of veggies.My recipe is simple. I take 4oz of lean protein, usually chicken breast or extra firm tofu. I stir fry it with 1/4 of Newman's Own Sesame salad dressing and 1/2 chopped onion. Then I add one cup of previously cooked short grain brown rice. I add some

Carol B. Martorellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971975119744669234noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-71103793287896458252008-08-02T16:40:00.001-04:002008-08-04T17:52:01.841-04:00

As in this is YOUR welcome to our blog.A bit about me. I am a veteran dieter, my last foray more public than others; I was featured in a 12-week series in the Sun-Sentinel (when it was a newspaper). 11 of my co-workers at American Heritage and I competed against another school, to see collectively who could lose the most weight. Our school won, and had the most fun. I dropped 40lbs, and have

Carol B. Martorellahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971975119744669234noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1932302919929866056.post-89161861347215706872008-08-02T15:52:00.001-04:002008-08-04T17:52:33.135-04:00

My sister and I started a blog a couple of years ago to detail our grand plans for weight loss and, well, got sidetracked.But we're back! And actually lighter than the last time we tried this.So stay tuned.

Gail Gedan Spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04995652799510905010noreply@blogger.com0