LACK OF POSTING?!

I bet you're all wondering "where are the diet tips and updates?" Well, I have a little explanation....
Someone is pregnant! Can you guess who?

Celebrating 4 Wonderful Years!!

It was on this day, back in 2006 that I married my wonderful husband Dave. It's been a great 4 years that's for sure. We had 2 beautiful children, bought 2 cars, bought a house, Dave graduated, we moved to a new city, went to Hawaii, started 2 businesses and more and more. I'm so grateful to be married to the greatest person I know. I love you Dave!! xoxox

I'm Going to Throw Up!

Alright calm down. Don't sound the alarms, I haven't gone bulimic or anything like that. I'm doing the apple cider vinegar diet and it's making me want to puke. I've never been a huge vinegar fan in general. I don't like vinegar salad dressings and I hardly ever eat pickles. Taking 2 tablespoons, 3 times a day, is pretty disgusting if you ask me. I put my 2 tablespoons of cider vinegar in a glass, with another glass full of water near by. I quickly swig back the cider vinegar and then promptly chase it down with a glass of water. I swear I almost threw up this morning after taking it. Also, while I was having breakfast, I couldn't stop thinking about how gross it is and almost threw up. Maybe that's how it helps people loose weight haa haa. No but seriously, I can see why they sell apple cider vinegar pills because people like me have a hard time getting it down. Despite the fact that this diet is torture for me I'm going to continue for a month, because I'm putting the DIE in diet! I'll tell you one thing, if this doesn't deliver the results I'm looking for I'll be emailing every single one of those websites. Oh man! How many days of this do I have left?

- Elisabeth

Apple Cider Vinegar - The Experiment

Back in the 80s and 90s, Apple Cider Vinegar was one of those miracle "cures" that everyone went crazy for. People were washing their hair with it, using it to cure allergies, to lower cholesterol, fight acne, AND LOOSE WEIGHT! I have no idea if it works or not, but a whole whack of website seemed to believe that it does. Even according to Web MD apple cider vinegar helps to regulate blood sugar levels and helps people feel full.

With that being said, I'm going to try it for about 1 month and see what happens. They say you can loose 1-2 pounds a week if you take 2 tablespoons with water before each meal.

Right now I weigh 150 pounds (I hate seeing that number on the scale). Each week (on Saturday) I'll weigh myself and see if the cider vinegar is working or not. On September 14th, I'll let you all know how it went, and if I noticed any side effects.

Wish me luck!
- Elisabeth

You've Got to See THIS

The woman who lost 530 pounds!!! Holy crapola she looks amazing now! Watch Oprah today to see the whole story. Talk about THINspiration!! If she can loose 530, I can loose just 30!!

Me Ka Aloha

- Elisabeth

http://www.oprah.com/showinfo/The-Woman-Who-Lost-530-Pounds

You Need Muscle

There are so many diets out there, promising to help the numbers on the scale drop. The thing is, they work! They all work in some way or another. Even the crazy grapefruit diet, where all you eat is grapefruit for 7 days, works. Here's the problem. Besides being next to impossible to stick to, most diets will make you loose water weight and muscle weight. Therefore, you'll just look like a smaller flabbier version of your old self. Sad, but true. Check out this picture of 2 different women. Both are a size 2, but one looks pretty good, where as the other looks AMAZING!What's the difference? Muscle! Instead of worrying about weight, it's a way better idea to worry about you body fat %. The leaner you are, the hotter you'll look, no matter what your weight. Here's a few reasons why having more muscle mass is WAY healthier.

1. The number 1 reason (haa haa at least for me) is that it looks better. We all know it, muscles (not too much) looks HOT!
2. Studies have shown that people with more fat around their abdomen are more likely to suffer from Type 2 Diabetes than those with lesser body fat around the waist

Read more about The Health Benefits From Having Low Body Fat Levels by 24 Hr Fitnessst

Studies have shown that people with more fat around their abdomens are more likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes
3. Reduced risks of developing certain types of cancer
4. Sleep better at night
5. Lower your blood pressure
6. Toxins are stored in fat cells, so less fat = less toxins
7. Reduced risk of heart problems that may arise due to clogged arteries and veins
8. Helps control your blood sugar levels
9. With added muscle comes some additional power and strength. This will help during normal everyday activities.
10. More energy throughout the day
11. The more muscle your body has, the faster your metabolism is. Essentially this means your body burns more calories to do normal functions. Bottom line...a faster metabolism means a better fat burning ability.

So what I'm trying to say is, dieting is ok if you're trying to kick start your body transformation, but the key to getting in shape is to lower your body fat percentage. I'll leave a post later in how to do this.

Me Ka Aloha
- Elisabeth

Morning walk

I just got back from my 6,5k morning walk and the weather could not be better... unfortunately the exclamationmark key is not working so forgive my lack of enthusiasm ;) I must say I feel very blessed to have the oppertunety to live in such a beautiful place. I have some pictures from my morning walk to show you but it does not do the truth justice.

We have also welcomed the newest and smallest member to our family. Say hi to little Milo. He is a papillon/chihuahua and I am going to train him to walk my 6,5k walk but his short legs needs to get worked up :)

The Mirror Doesn't Lie - Guest Blogger

Another email I received from Crazy Plump Asian Woman...

How do you know when it is time for drastic measures? You don't have to stand on a scale. Stand in front of a full length mirror naked. Clothes cover a multitude of sins.... so don't cheat....look at yourself naked in front of the mirror. .. If you resemble any of our cousins that swings from trees and eat bananas....it's time for drastic measures! Those little squirrel monkeys...very cute...but I'm talking Baboon..... That's right ...if you look like a baboon naked... it's time for drastic measures. If you don't think you need to do anything about that baboon gut, think again.... Denial is not just a river in Africa. I'm warming up to running by walking fast....faster and faster everyday....then work into a jog....from there I'll set my pace and go with that for a while. I'm making my own work out video...I'll keep you posted.

Yummier Protein Shakes

I'm not one of those "gym rats" that eat only chicken, egg whites, and shakes instead of real food. Trust me, the rest of the day I'm eating a lot of fruits, veggies, and whole grains (and the occasional treat) I've just learned from my personal trainer friends that extra protein is needed when you're trying to build muscle, and lower carbs (notice I said lower carbs instead of NO carbs) will help people lose weight. So here's how to make a protein shake actually taste good, instead of like cardboard.

First of all, the best tasting protein shake is called Whey Gourmet and you can get this at most sports nutrition places. If you want to save money, Exact (found at Fortinos in Canada) isn't too bad either.

Second, you'll need a blender like the Magic Bullet or whatever.

Third, drink your protein shake cold. There's nothing worse than a warm thick shake. Eeewww, I'm grossed out just thinking about it.

Here's a few ways I like my shakes

1. Chocolate Monkey - 2 scoops chocolate powder with half a frozen banana and water. Mix in the blender until smooth.
2. Strawberry Banana - 2 scoops vanilla powder with half a cup of frozen strawberries, half a banana and water. Mix in the blender until smooth.
3. Mint Chocolate - 2 scoops chocolate powder, 4-6 ice cubes, half a teaspoon mint extract, and water or skim milk. Mix in a blender until smooth
4. Orange Creamsicle - 2 scoops vanilla powder, 4-6 ice cubes, half a cup orange juice, and skim milk. Mix in a blender until smooth.
5. Pina Colada - 2 scoops vanilla powder, 4-6 ice cubes, 1/3 cup frozen pineapple chunks, 1 tablespoon canned sweetened coconut puree, water. Mix in a blender until smooth.

I've also heard that mixing in some instant coffee crystals makes a fabulous mocha shake, but I don't drink coffee.

Well, there you have it, 5 wonder ways to actually enjoy a protein shake.

- Elisabeth

Walk, walk fashion Baby

So I found these amazing workout leggings I want so bad! BuT I have to lose some serious lbs b4 I get into anything like this! But they are worth fighting for! I would LOVE strutting my stuff at the gym in these! BTW... Did I tell you I love pink?

xoxo Hungry Girl

Starvation Diet

Ok.. so after being a food sinner for almost 2 weeks I am back on track with my dietshakes doing damage control.. I gained like 5lbs (what!?) when my guest were here.. OOPS!
I am back doing morning walks b4 breakfast and I am always hungry!
The 2 past night I have been having trouble falling asleep cuz I am so hungry... No pain no gain I guess...

Well... its time for my morning walk so I am of for now....

See you on the slim side

xoxo Hungry Girl

Skinny Recipe - Veggie Power Soup

Whenever I diet I always worry that I'm not getting enough vitamins and nutrients, for obvious reasons. Here's a recipe that's full of veggies and it's super healthy! It also makes a HUGE pot so you can freeze some a save it for quick and easy meals when you're having one of those mega-too-busy-to-think days. It's also an excellent recipe for anyone suffering with inflammation because it contains turmeric and ginger. This soup is also alkalizing to the body. Many times, inflammation sufferers eat too much acid forming foods.

Veggie Power Soup

1 onion, chopped
1 head broccoli, chopped
1 head cauliflower, chopped
2 cups chopped celery
2 cups chopped carrots
1 small butternut squash, peeled and chopped
1 zucchini, chopped
3-4 cloves garlic chopped
1 tablespoon chopped ginger
2 tablespoons sea salt
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 cups cooked chickpeas
1 teaspoon thyme
1 tablespoon turmeric
1 cup chopped parsley
3 cups plain soy milk

Place vegetables and seasonings into large stock pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and simmer until vegetables are tender (about 40 minutes). Remove from heat. Puree in a blender until smooth. Stir in soy milk. Enjoy!!

Probably The WORST DIETER in the world!

So, I am sitting here with 2 pieces of toast and I am not at all dieting! I am aweful! Our us guests have been here for a week now and my diet has been away for just as long. On thursday they will be going home and I am on my VLC Diet on friday. Its hard to stick to a diet when your out sightseeing and making all sorts of nice foods... I just hope I have the streingh to get going on friday again. Hm... lets hope so cuz my 26th birthday is coming up in november and I am planning to have my skinniest bithday since I was 18! I´m gonna be 26 and 45lbs lighter then when I turned 25!

Happy Birthday To.... ME!!

Hello fellow dieters!! Today is my birthday and I'm going to be naughty and eat a piece of cake (gasp!) I know, I know, I know.... HORRIBLE right?! Well, it's actually proven to make you leaner when you have the occasional cheat day. Extreme dieting can put your body in starvation mode and you body will stop burning fat. When you increase your calories and add foods that you've been restricting for a long period of time (fats and carbohydrates), this can actually speed up your metabolism and make you look leaner - it's like telling your body, "We're not starving anymore; it's safe to start burning more calories now." Not only can an occasional "cheat meal" make you look leaner, but your muscles will also fill out and look bigger and firmer because your glycogen levels will increase from the all extra carbohydrates you take in.

I'll explain all that stuff in more detail another day. I have some birthday celebrating to do!!

Here's a picture of me 27 years ago, when looking chubby was acceptable.

We're NOT the Only Girls Trying to Get Thin... Guest Blogger

Here's an email I got from someone who is also putting the die in diet...

Crazy Plump Asian Woman

Hey there! Let me introduce myself. I was once a cute little Asian woman many moons ago... now I'm a crazy plump Asian woman. Before I was married I weighed 105 pounds with no breasts....just nipples. No bra fit me... I wore bandages. That's right... my husband married a boy-looking wife. But after I had my first child... I went from Justin Bieber to Dolly Parton. Wa-hoooo! So fast forward... I now have 5 kids and 4 grand kids... and I weigh 140 pounds (I'm 5'4") My breast are more like mangoes (small mangoes) than melons. I know what you're thinking. You're thinking.... 140 pounds ain't so bad. Let me put it another way for you my friend. I WAS 105 pounds... I gained 35 pounds... that's a 33.3% weight gain... that's one third!!! How would you feel if you gained one third of your weight? And I can tell you that none of that weight gain is muscle. Would I even be on this blog if it were muscle? HECK NO! I will turn the big FIVE ZERO this year. I wanted to run a half marathon to celebrate, but I'm thinking I don't want to run with 3 bags of potatoes or should I say rice. Yes.. one bag attached to my gut and one attached to each leg. My birthday is in September. If I'm going to run ANY distance, something has to be done. This calls for DRASTIC measures! I'm putting the DIE in DIET.... and the KILL in KILOMETERS!!! I know you're with me girls. Let's do it!!!

For my weight I should be how tall????!

According to the BMI chart that Lis poster earlier my ideal hight for my curren weight is 5,10-6,6! Oh no! I don´t think I am growing anymore at all! Not hight wise anyway...
yestoday I thought I was going to die cuz I was dissy and felt like puking and I guess staying awake 36hrs straight on less than 1000 kalories is not so smart. Next time I am woking I am brining something like yogurt, not chocolate ok Linda? No chocolate!

This diet makes me feel a bit like a zombi, but I am only thinking about food... and I am always tired. Hm.. this makes me think if its worth it? But then I look in the mirror or try on my pre pregnancy jeans and relize that it has to be! Anything must be better than the flab?!

xoxo
Linda

Ideal Weight Calculation

Just as I suspected, I'm NOT the ideal weight. According to women that are the same age and height as me, they ideal weight is 134 pounds (time to loose 12 pounds at LEAST!) The website says that women look their best with a BMI of 20-22, and mine is 22.9. That just confirmed to me that I NEED to stick to my diet, even if the chocolate cake is screaming my name. Here's the website so you can see where you stand. http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm



Me Ka Aloha (with love)
- Elisabeth

Magic Genie, I Want These Abs Please!

Can you say AMAZING?! Shakira has by far the most beautiful abs I've ever seen. Maybe I should take up belly dancing!



Me Ka Aloha
- Elisabeth

Update

I just woke up after sleeping a few hrs after work and being addicted to the scale I got on it the first thing I did and it showed 75,1 or 165 lbs. So even after being up for 24hrs I still lost some weight. I hope it continues cuz these shakes makes me sick!

Thinspiration of the Day

Today Britney will be thinspiration. She gains weigh and loses is and right now she looks just fab! Fit and toned and helathy, never mind her lack of style ;)

I am so HUNGRY!

Help me!

14 Days of this!?

Feels like I have a hole in where food should be!

Greetings from Canada!

Hello fellow skinny wannabes!

We all know the classic North American stereotype.... FAT! Well I think that's only half true. The first group of people are like me, who need to loose 20 pounds or more, and then there's this group of perfectly skinny girls that make the the first group insanely jealous. I mean really, when I check out my friends facebook pictures, most of them have great bodies, so there goes the fat stereotype. Believe me, if all of us North Americans were fat, then I'd be pretty comfortable with my flabdomen, but that's just not the case. Yes I agree that there are a bunch of people in North America that probably live in McDonalds, but we still have our fair share of "super model" looking girls, and I want to be one of them!

I'm a 26 year old mother of 2, I'm 5 feet 7 inches and weigh 145-148 pounds. Most people would think that's not too bad. WELL, to all of you that think I'm a crazy person for wanting to loose weight, you haven't seen me in a bikini. I look HORRIBLE in a bikini because my stomach is so flabby and my thighs and arms need to be toned. I don't just want to look "ok" I want to look GREAT! I always hear people say "you need to learn to accept your body the way it is." Would you tell your kid who is getting mostly Cs in school to just "accept" those grades? Or would you tell them that they need to work harder and that they CAN achieve the grades they want and deserve? Obviously nobody would accept mediocrity in other aspects of their life, so why do we feel the need to accept it when it comes to our bodies. We CAN change our bodies for the better!! It's happened for a number of people, so why not me?

Follow me as I work my butt off and loose 20 pounds and go from "you look good for a mom" to "You look like a Victoria Secret model"!

Me Ka Aloha (with love)
- Elisabeth

Lifesavers

ok.. its now 12pm and I am already closing in on desperate mode... I had some herbal tea earlier (a lifesaver when on a diet) and that helped a little bit... very little... I skipped my 10 ó clock shake and just had a ready to drink one insted. This is going to be hard... 14 days...I can do it! I hope...

Another lifesaver is diet soda. I know it´s full of nastiness lite foodcoloring and perservatives but once you are deserate you´ll take what you can! Like Diet Pesi och Diet Coke.. Those are my 2 best friends during nightshifts. How else am I supposed to stay awake with only 600 kalories a day? Well my job is good for one thing. It includes a lot of walking. I have a step counter in my phone and from 12am to 7am i had taken 3500 steps and thats pretty good for being in the middle of the night so once I take my evening walk on 7k I have filled up my 10 000 steps a day :) Well, last week I skipped my walk cuz I went shopping and when I came home I had taken 10 000 steps while shopping! Retail Fitness my friends!

Remeber!

All exersice is good exersice!

Diet Shake

So I thougth I should post what I am going to eat exactly... here in sweden we have a diet product called Nutrilett and you just mix the powder with water and drink.. it tastes like S**t.... And as a backup plan when I feel like I am going to cheat I have ready to drink mixes from a company called Naturdiet and those ate actually pretty good for being dietshakes but quite expensive ro drink 4-5 times a day so they are only for emergencies ir when I am working nightshifts like tonight. So every day I will eat about 500-600kcal. Thats starving is it not?

Mission- get skinny

So! Welcome to our new blog!
I will tell you the story that brougth us here, to this fantastic new blog! My name is Linda and I currently live in Sweden. I met Elisabeth in Burlington, Canada during the year we lived there (2007). Since then we have both had 2 babies and with thse budles of joy also came a few extra lbs. Not good! Our youngest ones just recently turned 1 and its time to get things going! I have to fit in my jeans now, its time and I wanna be a hot mom not a saggy fat25 year old mom!

During my first pregnancy i gained 50lbs and by the time my son turned 1 I had lost it all. Then I got pregnant again.. 3 days after losing the baby weight... Waste no time right? So this time around I gained 61 freakin lbs and I was the size of a small car by the time my daughter was born and unfortunately she was only 8lbs 8 oz and not 25lbs that I hoped for cuz I coud not possible have gained all those pounds my self???? Now she is 1 and I still have 33 lbs to my goal weight and 15 of those are pregnancy weight.

Today is my firts day of some serious dietshake diet. That is the only thing I will have for a full 14 days. I just had my firts shake and I feel like I´m starving allready!

Ok, so over to the interesting and sad stuff...

My current stats...

My weight today is 75,7kg or 166lbs! Will someone please kill me?

Before breakfast I took a 30 min ride on my new bike so hopefully that burned of a few calories.