World According to Shia

So as of tomorrow (Friday) I am on vacation until Wednesday!  Believe me it is much needed and couldn't have come soon enough.  Paul and I are doing some day trips to some places but other than that it will just be some peaceful relaxing time spent with Paul.  I'm going to do like I did in NH.  Don't tell me what day it is and no counting down the days until I return....actually no thoughts of work.  I hope to have lots of blogs for when I get back.  I mean it's not a LONG time away but a long weekend is just as nice as a full week!   I'm going to start getting back to the randomness of my blog.  So I'm going to compile MANY MANY topics while I'm away.  There's too much going up about food, working out, etc.  I'm getting healthy...okay!  Moving on!   I want to start writing some solid pieces with some depth and or amusement...maybe even both.  

(From Self June 2010) Mind over munchies! Treat yourself .  Cutting out food you love only makes you want it more.  Dieters who were told not to think about chocolate ate twice as many candies as those who weren't resisting.  Self suggests picking a guiltless substitute"  Ice cream for Fudge Bar.  ( I eat Sugar Free Fudgsiciles as my ice cream treat...ice cream and chocolate...perfect fix for a craving) Turn off triggers.   Break patterns that encourage binges.  Are you a postwork snacker?  Come home through a door that doesn't lead to the kitchen and you'll be 18 percent less likely to graze. Feed your hunger.   Going past hungry to ravenous might make you choose junk.  Mice injected with high doses of ghrelin preferred a room where they had previously found high-fat over one where they expected to find less fat and sugar.  Eat protein and fiber at every meal to keep ghrelin gremlins at bay.  ...

The Quiz (Self June 2010) "Do your cravings control you?" Ever taken a quiz in a magazine and none of the answers in the multiple choice apply to you?  I feel like this happens to me constantly.  Am I being too critical?  Probably.  My tip is answer to the best of your ability, think back to previous encounters or pose the question of if this happened to me today what would I do, so here we go... 1.  When a coworker brings cupcakes for her birthday, you... A  Decide to have one (it's my treat for the day) and savor every crumb. B  Eat two at the party and then return to my desk stuffed.  I feel a little sick from all of that sugar and wish I'd stopped at one. C  Vow to abstain but down a whole one before the party is over.  Later, I sneak back for another, because I've already blown it. Before I start my analysis of the three options let me first admit that this is a scenario that happens too FREQUENTLY at our firm.  Not ...

The Issue We have all felt like we were about to die if we didn't get something we were craving.  Whether it was a cheeseburger, fries or a chocolate milkshake (heck we might be dying for all three) there was that need that we just had to have it and being strong and ignoring that craving just didn't cut it.  We then feel like these items are haunting us...eat me....eat me...until we give in.  Then at this point, we've tried to hold out for so long that we just chow down and when we're done and the craving is gone, we're then just left with the guilt and unpleasant fullness.  Apparently, it really is all in our minds, it's actually a system of interconnected neurons in our brains which has evolved through out time and placed this evil curse on us.  We just have to figure out the triggers and learn to overcome the cravings and then eliminating the guilt.

My closet went from embarrassing to amazing but I felt like it needed just a tad more help.... Still a mess waiting to move itself onto the floor.. I found these at Target.  2 Fabric Drawers on sale for 10.99 (reg price 12.99) There weren't many colors to choose from and no black (unless you bought them individually for 5.99) These navy were cheaper so ahem...of course I went with these. Here's the drawer And...here's the improvement!  The stuff in the middle (workout clothes) will hopefully remain nicely folded...did you just laugh because I did.  I'm hoping that these two cubes will be okay because the drawers are too small to fit all these clothes.  So here's hoping ... also maybe I don't need 8 million pairs of workout pants....I know exactly what I was thinking too...get rid of some of it!! I actually went to Target in search for these magazine holders currently on sale for $2.50.   I bought a couple, one for bridal ...

We all know when I'm motivated ... I'm motivated.  Well since I have vowed to Taller that I'll give up Sweet and Low if she gives up Diet Coke...I now vow to Jennifer that I will start my version of Atkins.  If you want to know more about Atkins check out the website.  Atkin.com.  However, here's SHIAtkins... Daily Intake: Calories 1000-1500 (google calorie intake and figure out what is best for you or click on the link to an older post below...a link to a calorie counter is attached.) Fat 33-42g/day (same for everyone) Sodium no more than 2300g/day  (same for everyone) Carbs* 20-50g/day (* this is where SHIAtkins comes into play...the norm is 100-225g per day but Atkins gives you only 20 in your first stage...so SHIAtkins will allow some room so 20-50g/day and then moving up to 100g after awhile...more on that later...I'd say about 6 months, but depending on the weight loss success it could be sooner or later...I'll keep you posted with my progress.) Fib...

So my closet has always gone from neat and tidy to nightmare over time.  The main issues were I had too much stuff I was never going to wear or use again in there, stuff just didn't have a proper place and constantly just wound up on the floor and there was just wasted space. Before.... Sad sad SAD sight... I know hence the fix! This shoe storage was absolutely wasted space and effort.   My shoes wind up downstairs where I put them on and take  them off so this is going to the down stairs closet. The space between these two storage compartments just screamed... stuff unwanted things here.  Which is where all my "winter" clothes wound up. Purses...really?   There are some that I wouldn't carry again if my life depended on it.   So guess what...I'm getting rid of them.   More bags...a tote full of totes... Old jeans and stuff.   I took all these pants down and eliminated the ones that  I'll ne...