IT took me all of last year to lose 24 pounds. I was 297 pounds the heaviest I had ever been.I joined weight watchers for the millionth time and I did points “Most days”. I am stubborn but not in the way I should be I was stubborn in my old ways of eating. I knew I was losing my motivation when a flatter tummy was losing to eating snacky stuff when I was bored again. I saw in a photo that the famous double chin was coming back with a vengence. I had to go back to Weight Watchers. I heard the new program was letting people have fruit for free now.To me that seemed shocking and great because Sometimes I wouldn’t eat a fruit because I didn’t want to waste a point on an apple when I could use it towards say a slice of pizza. I re-inrolled yesterday. I had a big dinner last night because it was my wedding anniversary, but today I spent the morning reading about the new plan. Had I read the booklets yesterday I don’t think I would have went overboard last night. The plan has totally changed and if I tried to go back to the old points I think I would be lost.When you hear you can eat fruit without writing it down it is tempting to a person who sometimes eat of sheer boredom. That habit has to stop, but at least if you eat an apple you know something good got into your system instead of say a one point fudge pop. I am trying hard. I am sitting her with a bowl of soup and I had a banana for a snack. I will always tell everyone there is nothing wrong with being a fuller figured woman I get compliments everyday, its about being able to walk up the steps without thinking I will flat line and its about hoping to drop my blood sugar meds down some. I never kept it in mind last time, I think some part of me from last year wanted me to snap out of my thinking that it’s okay to over eat because I knew it wasn’t. I know its not and knowledge is power and I hope to learn a lot on this new Weight Watchers program its a little bit like going back to school and I want to do well!

Are you bored with your wardrobe? Would you like a little more attention? What can turn some heads and have someone think you are a red carpet celeb? Let’s look at a few things that are hot right now..

1.Buy less but buy what you love! That’s right stop dragging home every “cute” thing that clutters up your home and spend for what you really love. Spend some extra time in the store and think about how much you really want that piece of jewelry, handbag or scarf..

2.Own at least one tiny but elegant clutch – Look back at the 40′s and 50′s how elegant the startlets were with their beautiful clutch bags it adds an elegant detail to any outfit.

3.Dress in Neutrals to help jewelry stand out even more.

4. Wear you jewelry in different places ! I have always loved to pin a broach to a head band and wear it on the headband you can add pins especially to so many things you can pin a pin on your bag also to add life to a simple black clutch !

5.Try a long skirt and sexy sweater, sometimes you can be sexy even covered up 1

6. Have a “Statement necklace” notice all the long necklaces out there right now? Get one find one you really like and wear it ! Layer it with other necklaces look at magazines for ideas on how to wear it..

Also remember a price tag does not bring compliments, get something that really says your name and make it your own..

M

I want everyone to feel like they went to some exotic land. I have been fortunate to travel to India many times and even before that as a child I dreamy of exotic travels. I love to sit on my bed and pour out my box of beads I love to see the many colors and I sometimes don’t plan how I will string the beads. I try to imagine myself as a woman in the market place sitting on the ground my hands busy with beads on string or wire, I like to use wire. When I am beading I am somewhere else my mind is in India or in Egypt or Markech. I don’t want to make the kind of beads that scream “Oh I’m a lady…” Mine say “I am from far away come to my land, know my name.” I went to a fine diamond store in the mall one day wearing a couple strands of my creations. I had a few rings from there over the years. I proudly said ” Look what I made.” one of the ladies said “When you have so many fine pieces why do you wear what you made?” I was a bit insulted and I said to her “because I made them.” and I walked away. To me, jewelry does not have to come with a huge price tag or be fine gem stones to be much loved. I remember when I was a little girl our neighbor made beaded jewelry sometimes she would make something for me and I was in heaven wearing my beads and carrying my granny’s big pocketbook.When a bead “maker” or “Artist” or “Lover” takes their work to sell many people will say “Why is it 25 bucks?” I don’t think people realize someone actually sat there and took one bead at a time and carefully made it into a piece of jewelry.Also beads are not cheap sadly. I want to get broken jewelry and make it into new things I always have ideas but I really don’t know what I am going to have until I hold it up finished it sort of makes itself sometimes I’m just the hands…

Winter can be a very frustrating time when it comes to beauty.Cold Winter air whips the skin like a studded glove, sometimes, we may just not feel like trying to look our best because we are worn down by the cold. I am finding that if I make a little extra effort I can go out looking cute and confident in this Polar Bear paradise. The first thing you have to keep in mind is to use something to keep our skin moist because winter can dry out your skin. So I put on something like Oil of Olay before I put on my foundation. I add my foundation then a powder. I love Cover Girl’s blush that is like a foundation I can’t think of the name right now but it is in swirl pattern and the color is mixed with lotion for moisture so if you add that on your cheeks that is non drying and truly a more natural looking blush to your cheeks. Apply chapstick to your lips before you do your lip stick and or gloss…I also like to brush on a very light touch of bronzer on my forhead, nose, cheeks and chin to make me look warmer.. as far as eyes try some gold and silver Christmas may be over but the festive fun doesn’t have to be !

I was really excited to see Country Strong starring Gweneth Paltrow, Tim Mcgraw and two other fab up and coming actors. I was pulled into Paltrow’s character who is a country star with an addiction. Tim Mcgraw is the husband turned business obsessed man who seems more interested in booking a show rather than kiss his wife. He takes her out of rehab early to get her back on the road to stardom. She is lost and really is craving love after a loss of a baby brought on by her drinking. The couple has problems and its evident you can feel the tension. She has another man in her life and because of the strained marriage I was happy to see that and was somewhat disappointed to see he has feelings for the younger singer that comes on board to tour with Paltrow’s character.When I watched this movie I truly wanted Paltrow’s character Kelly to pull through and I enjoyed the music she had a lovely singing voice and made everything very “real” for me. I enjoyed this movie very much and highly recommend it.

M

You have said mean things, you even started to feel stronger after a painful break up. You see him or her at a party and He or she comes towards you. Is your heart beating faster? Is the attraction gone? Is the hurt gone? Once you loved someone it’s very hard to forget them. People do move on every day however. In a realationship if one or the other ignores the feelings of the one that loves them what is going to happen? Sometimes in relationships of any kind people can take each other for granted.We need to talk. You have to keep a open line of communication. I know many people like to play the strong silent type but it is much better to hear what one feels, hopes dreams or hurts. We have seen in movies time and time again one or other characters comes back after realizing he or she truly loved the one they left behind and it was too late the woman is married swinging a baby on the porch swing or the woman finds her beloved at the aisle of a church ready to say “I do.” none of can predict the future but in the present if you love someone enjoy the moment don’t be afraid to love someone back.

You had it all. You had chemistry, you fell in love. The only problem was he was thousands of miles away and dumping you was easy it was just a click away..You cried, you hurt. You thought after all you had been through online nothing could break you up again. Distance stretched before you and you could not reach the one you loved. He would not wait for you to come to his country, it was over.I once believed Distance could not damage real love, maybe it wasn’t real love.I won’t know because I can’t get to him.My on line love the guy I met online, laughed with, talked to heard him say on the phone “I love you.” Distance…if I was there he would of known what it was like to hold me in his arms he would of known my touch and “breaking up” wouldn’t have been so easy.

If Distance did play a part in your online break up how can you deal with it?

*Accept it- Nothing we can do can change geography
*Think in the present
*It takes two people to be in a realationship if he or she wasn’t willing to try to come see you remember that fact in a realationship both people should work together to meet
*Don’t dislike the country he or she is in-I am sure you learned a lot about the state or country your loved one is in take that knowledge and cherish it you learned something about a different place and or culture!
Let time heal wounds-If you both have cut each other out of your lives accept it, mourn for the loss of love, talk to people, keep busy, know you are valuable.
And most of all if you two really care no miles in the world could separate you in body but never in spirt and if it’s destined that you will meet someday you will !!

*and if not
keep learning about different places no one can ever take away the things you learn.

This blog turned a year old in October, I once had about 347 posts but I deleted them. I think in blogging sometimes it’s okay to have a fresh start if you feel the ship is sinking its either abandon it or bail the water out fast as you can..I left my ship for a while. Dis the distance, started when a friend and me were so thrilled that we had met we wanted to share our stories with others who met online. Our friendship has been through many storms. He’s in Grad School now and I’m a mom to 3. We don’t get to talk as much as we did and coming here to the blog was painful as we had drifted apart. I kept thinking lately that DIS THE DISTANCE blog and website may mean something to somene someday so I am back and I hope you will join in on discussions and stories I would love to hear from you

Margo

DURING Workout Shake = 4-8 scoops Xtend (Bodyweight pending – 0.17g BCAAs/lb bodyweight) in 20-24 oz cold water

Meal 1

6 egg whites
1 whole egg
2 oz grilled chicken breast
1.33 cup steamed spinach
12 almonds
6.5 oz PEELED ruby red grapefruit or 99g blueberries

42g protein, 25g carbohydrates, 15g fat

Meal 2     2 scoops Scivation Whey
2 tbsp peanut butter or 18 almonds
1 cup steamed Broccoli or green beans or 8 oz steamed asparagus

42g protein, 10g carbohydrates, 15g fat

Meal 3     6 oz grilled chicken breast or halibut/tilapia or Sirloin fillet or Tuna (albacore packed/canned in water)
1 cup steamed Broccoli or green beans or 8 oz steamed asparagus
2 tbsp peanut butter or 18 almonds

42g protein, 10g carbohydrates, 15g fat

Meal 4     2 scoops Scivation Whey
1 cup steamed Broccoli or green beans or 8 oz steamed asparagus
4 tsp peanut butter or 12 almonds

42g protein, 10g carbohydrates, 10g fat

Meal 5     6 oz grilled chicken breast or halibut/tilapia or Sirloin fillet or Tuna (albacore packed/canned in water)+ 5g GlutaForm
12 almonds
6.5 oz PEELED ruby red grapefruit or 99g blueberries
1 cup steamed Broccoli or green beans or 8 oz steamed asparagus

42g protein, 25g carbohydrates, 10g fat

Meal 6     5 oz grilled chicken breast or halibut/tilapia or Sirloin fillet or Tuna (albacore packed/canned in water)
½ cup steamed Broccoli or green beans or 4oz asparagus
1 oz avocado

35g protein, 5g carbohydrates, 5g fat

Protein – 245g = 980 Calories, Carbohydrates (not including Carbohydrate night) –
85g = 340 Calories, Fat – 70g = 630 Calories

Total Calories – 1950 Calories NON-carbohydrate night
Total Calories – 2495 Calories – Carbohydrate nights

Every 18th meal is the Carb meal. It is the last meal and it replaces Meal 6. The
Carb Meal must be eaten in this order.
1.5 cups steamed green beans or 12 oz asparagus = 15g carbohydrates
¾ cup oatmeal (measured dry then add water and microwave) = 45g carbohydrates
6.5 oz PEELED ruby red grapefruit or 99g blueberries = 15g carbohydrates
18 almonds = 15g fat
6 oz yam or sweet potato = 45g carbohydrates
2 tbsp peanut butter or almond butter = 15g fat

120g Carbohydrates = 480 Kcals, 30g Fat = 270 Kcals

Do you think that this is a suitable diet? Do you think the calorie plan I chose was proper?

Absence makes the heart grow fonder that is what we lovers have always heard,read or lived through.If we find someone somewhere that makes ud feel alive only to be parted by miles and circumstances how do we keep that love alive.Today,we are lucky to have email and webcams and the phone.Love can seem slmost sterile however longing to touch but being unable to do so.Arguments can break out over misunderstandings that can not be cooled with a kiss or a hug.l”Ong distance love can make lovers go crazy.When we can not be held or touched by the person we adore,hours drag out and days are punishment..There may be break ups and makeups and heart ache.Longing may seem romantic but it can make one sick literally and depressed.Couples who decide that they will ‘wait’ things out must have patience.family members may not always be supportive.Sometimes,when a couple are each from a dufferent culture they can face opposition from their family.Religious differences can be a common hurdle for people in love from a distance.How can people deal with so many issues from long distances it may supris you but the answer is the same for couples near and far they are quite simple listen to one another,trust and have faith in the love that you founf in one another because no where can be another couple like you.