Do You Want To Sit Here or There

Last night I celebrated a friend's birthday; there were five of us.

When we arrived at the restaurant he turned to the other four and asked us if we wanted to sit in the big corner booth or at a table. The response from all four of us was we did not care where we sat. The host said he would clear the booth; it would take him a few minutes to clean it and set it. Two of the others suggested we just sit at the table. So we did.

Well it seems the birthday boy really wanted to sit at the booth; he let us know several times in the first fifteen minutes at our table.

I finally got tired of hearing the booth comments and said,"If you wanted to sit at the booth you should have just told us that was your preference and not given us a choice. We would have all been fine with it."

End of conversation.

But it did get me thinking about how often we don't get what we want because we're not firm in our message. In the early days of my weight loss I remember specifically telling people, I Want To Eat Here, I Prefer Not To Go There, I'd Feel More In Control If..............

Are there situations you could be handling a little bit better or smarter; situations that you could turn into great successes.

Now for the slower ones who cannot connect dots: This is not about how table choices impact your dieting approach; it is about asking for what you want in order to enjoy your journey.

100,000 pounds lost

I'm looking for 100,000 pounds lost.

I've lost 32.

I need 99,968 more pounds.

What is your current weight loss? Please click on the comments below and leave your name (it can be first name only) and amount lost.

Let's do it! Make sure you tell your skinny friends to visit this site and add theirs.

So here goes.....................

Rich DiGirolamo 32

The Wedding

My neighbor's daughter got married yesterday. It was quite an event and a heck of a lot of fun. I spent as much of the night as possible on the dance floor. So this morning, I thought I would amuse you with some of the observations/comments/thoughts that I walked away with:

Comment: I'm so uncomfortable, I'm stuffed
My Response to him: Well you inhaled plates of appetizers
His Response: Well you have to try the appetizers here. They're known for it.
My Thought: Then you deserve to be stuffed and uncomfortable

Comment: You're dripping wet. You must have lost 5 lbs. dancing tonight.
My response: Just a chuckle. My thought: While I knew she was joking it got me thinking about how clueless people can be and how they really do think that weight will just peel off by doing a minimal amount of movement; or those silly strolls that they call walking.

Comment: If I don't stay out here dancing, I will just eat.
My Response: I hear ya on that one. (as I continued to drip some more)

Comment: I can't believe they ate all their food. These portions are GIGANTIC.
My response: Maybe they didn't eat all those appetizers?

But my favorite comment of the evening: You really shouldn't be eating carbs this late in the day (as he inhaled his second piece of wedding cake)
My response: I asked his mother to dance.

My message to you today once again is to listen and watch the actions of those around you. It's a great way to pat yourself on the back for a job well done. Now go drink a glass of water.

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Have you got your copy of The Only Self-Help Book You'll Ever Need?

How about a recipe today?

You'll have to visit my other blog...................

http://funmotivationalspeaker.com/

So you're stuck....................

Wow seems like the little server error reconnected me with a lot of people. It was nice to hear from you. It is also nice to be missed. However, it is also time to accept the fact that Rich is not coming back to WW; but I still continue to write on the subject of weight loss and weight management.

Now with that, the underlying theme to so many of the emails I received was.......................

You're stuck. Hit a wall. Can't get over a hump.

Question: What do you do?

Answer: You go around it.

Now for those of you who need the long version of that answer here you go................

I'm talking about taking a different approach. Such as

• change your foods
• change up your meals; larger breakfasts and lunches
• exercise more
• exercise less
• buy yourself a new tool to motivate yourself (Click here for a good idea if i don't say so myself); a new book, exercise accessory, kitchen tool
• Get involved in a new activity - join a club of some sort
• Start hanging around with new people
• Go to a different WW meeting; get the perspective of a new leader and new people
• Tighten the belt for 5 days and act a bit irresponsible on the weekend; that works for many; I know it did for me when I lost my weight
• Take a break. Yes, can you maintain just for now and pick it up when you're ready
• Get the crap out of the house - I know it is there. I know all.
• Try a new food
• Have a little talk with yourself, an honest one; and ask why things have changed all of a sudden. Look in the mirror while you have this conversation. I am serious. I am sure some stuff will come out. Yes, the truth will hurt. Get over it . Or should I say the truth will help you get over it - the hump that is.
• Find an online peer group to complement your existing weight loss approach

And always remember getting stuck is like constipation. However, if you were constipated would you make the decision that you would never crap again? No, you would do something. So if you're stuck, go do something.

And let me know when you're unstuck. And please leave comments and your ideas here as well. We can all get skinny, healthy and happy by helping each other.

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Stress Makes You Eat? What a Crock!

So last night and this morning I have been dealing with a server nightmare. Seems that my web host had a malfunction and two of my mailing lists got tangled up; all kinds of strange emails and responses are going everywhere. Some of you reading this were victims.

And what does this have to do with getting Skinny?

Simple. Not once have I thought of running to the kitchen for food. I've got a problem and I'm resolving it. Food is not going to stop all the email bouncing. Food is not going to untangle the lists. Food is not going to get my web hosts to make things better in a shorter amount of time. Food cannot fix a problem, bring back a loved one, stop your spouse from being an ass or your kids from getting out of control. Food is not an answer.

So here's a great solution to those problems that you have; the ones where you turn to food................... How about solving the problem instead.

Then you can eat a nice healthy meal to celebrate two successes. Perhaps a crock of healthy chili?

Eating in front of the TV

I am changing my position on eating in front of the TV!

I used to tell people to sit and enjoy their meal. But now I am not so sure.........................

When the waiter dropped dinner off at the table last night my bowl was enough to feed the three of us dining. I started eating. We were seated in the bar. On the screen was this television show Wipeout. The three of us were laughing so hard that our meal became secondary.

I've got lunch today and maybe dinner and maybe breakfast tomorrow.............All because I decided to enjoy the dining out experience not for the food but for the friendship and fun.

Moral of the story.................When dining out where large portions are served, eat at the bar.

Cooking is like an adventure.....................

I remember the day I bought my first cookbook. I figured if I wanted to lose weight I better learn how to cook. I remember that first recipe...........Beef Pie Mexicali. It was awesome.

I bought another cookbook.

And another.

And another.

Then people started giving me cookbooks.

And they gave me more cookbooks.

I soon learned how to cook; and impressed a lot of people - it's really easy to impress people who eat out all the time. It's even easier to follow a recipe.

As part of my cooking process I started asking myself questions........... What if I substituted this for that? I wonder if the sauce used in that recipe can be used in _____? Hey, that's a great low fat and low calorie stuffing; besides a turkey what else can I stuff?

Do you get my point. Cooking started to become an adventure. Sometimes I reached the top of Mount Everest. Other times I plummeted to my death (like the time I made a lasagna with whole wheat noodles, 93% fat free beef and all those fat free cheeses. Can you spell puke!) But I digress.

I rarely use a cookbook anymore, the kitchen has become a place to play and experiment. So when my neighbor decided to have a tag sale I figured I would get a return on my investment. I dropped about 40 cookbooks off in his yard the other day.

I made $4

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Rich's New Book is due out this week. Order Yours Today

It's Raining It's Pouring

Then:
It's raining, it's pouring
The old man is snoring
He went to bed and he bumped his head
And couldn't get up in the morning

Now:
It's Raining, It's Pouring
The kitchen is calling
There's nothing to do since the sun went away
So I'll eat and drink; it's appalling

From Now On:
It's Raining, It's Pouring
The kitchen is calling
I'm tired of that, feeling of being so fat
so I'll hop in the car and go malling


Get the point?

And why did I buy that?

Oh c'mon, you know you've bought tofu and ended up throwing it out. You had the intention of doing something with it.................After all it is healthy and good for you.

Well another food item I have bought and tossed (after they turned a lovely shade of green) is wonton wrappers. So there they were this morning staring at me; asking me to be eaten, rather than left to decay like the dead chipmunk my pups were trying to devour this morning.

So I pulled out the wontons, cream cheese, cottage cheese and blueberries, and pan-fried me up a variety of little breakfast raviolis by following the directions on the package. The whole extravaganza including eating was under fifteen minutes.

Awesome - which is a good thing since there are about 800 wrappers in this little package.

Have you got fifteen minutes to create something new?

Create Your Own Pancake

Given all of the following options to create your own pancake, what would yours look like:

M&M's
Blueberry
Chocolate Chip
Marshmallow
Strawberry
Sprinkles

Please leave a response.

To Walk or Not To Walk

So, I'm on my stomach with needles in my back the other day (acupuncture) and I hear the doctor talking with another patient about walking as her form of exercise.

He basically tells her that walking, as she does it, is useless. He told her unless you're really increasing your heart rate, you're probably not doing much good. So he encourages her to raise and elevate her heart rate by power walking then slowing down for a bit, then power walking. You get the point. He went on to tell her that most people don't walk that way; they keep it at one pace the whole time and that is why they don't see the weight loss benefits or increased strength they are looking for.

Hmm..........I guess it makes sense.

Yesterday I'm reading an article where some exercise physiologist lady is trashing walking for the exact same reasons as the doctor.

Then I started thinking.............The way I became a stronger cyclist, with more endurance, was by doing periodic sprints and not just riding at the same speed all the time.

So while both of these people are not discouraging people from walking, they are basically saying you better move your ass a bit harder, faster and longer if you want to see the results.

I couldn't agree more.
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Donna Summer can't dance - maybe she should?

I went to see Donna Summer last night - live in concert. She was awesome. The QUEEN IS BACK!!!!

She belted out old and new songs and had me and several thousand others on our feet for almost 90 minutes.

But here is an oddity...............Donna Summer, The Queen of Disco, doesn't dance when she performs. I've seen her many times over the years, but she does not dance. Other people on the stage dance, but not her.

Now she has put a "few" pounds on over the years; but I can't help wonder what would happen if she Shook Her Booty, Hustled, did the Continental or the Bus Stop?

I've always been a strong proponent of dancing as a form of exercise. I remember my nights at the Funhouse (W. 26th St); gaining admission while underage; dancing until the wee hours of the morning. Gee, coincidentally, it was after I stopped dancing all night that all hell broke loose in my waist.

Hmmm............... Maybe it's time for you to Get Up and Boogie!!!
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To read more Donna Summer observations, visit my other blog at www.funmotivationalspeaker.com

The Names Have Been Changed To Protect The Innocent

When this little incident was shared with me by "Mary", I couldn't resist but get her okay to post. So here goes (with a little editing, just in case Mary's friend is reading).......................

We had visitors, a high school friend of Bob’s, and his wife. We haven’t seen them for over 20 years. Andy’s okay, even though he talks a lot, but his wife.....! She talks non-stop, primarily on three topics: medical, food, and their frequent trips to exotic places where they seem to have gained not much except frequent flyer miles to take more trips . She’s 5’3”, maybe 5’4” and weighs maybe 100 pounds. On Saturday, she had a reasonably large hotel breakfast. Then we had an early lunch. She had a large order of mussels in broth with butter and garlic bread, followed by a double ice cream cone. She bought a huge-shaped lollipop to eat on the road. Our next stop was a souvenir shop near a point of land with spectacular views. Forget the views. She walked in the door, bought a box of salt-water taffy (not a huge one, I grant you) and ate all but 4 pieces while walking around the shop. I had 2 pieces, her husband had 1, Bob had none. She consumed ALL the rest, but for 4 pieces – maybe a 12-15 in all. Then we had to stop downtown to make a reservation for dinner. While downtown, she insisted that we stop at a bakery where she bought and consumed a bar concoction with caramel, nuts, etc. Understand, while she was on this eating marathon, the three of us were pretty much bystanders, although Gary and I had small cups of ice cream after lunch and we did have a bit of taffy.

By 3:00 Bob & I were exhausted from all the talking (they tend to talk simultaneously so you can’t catch a break) and observing the ferocious eating, so we dropped them at their hotel and went home for naps. They went on to to a few other coastal towns, where I think she may have had another small snack. At 7:15, we had nice three-course dinners (their treat), including dessert. She literally asks the waiter which is biggest dessert and orders that. In this case, it was chocolate layer cake with ice cream.

By the time we got home, I was feeling stuffed and not so good. In the morning, I weighed 145.5 – my high for the week – and neither Bob nor I could face anything but melon and toast for breakfast. Gary & Michelle arrived around 11:15 on their way back to the city after another hearty hotel breakfast and we all walked up the hill to Dairy Queen where they had Blizzards for the road while Bob and I watched in utter astonishment.

They’re both skinny, he because he had to lose a lot of weight after a heart scare and she – I suppose – because of some insane metabolism. Michelle claims that they eat healthy all week – no fat; single, measured portions; no desserts – and then they eat what they want on the weekends and on their trips – he in moderation, she with no restraint whatsoever.

If I ate like that, I’d be soooooo sick. Too much rich food and I seem to spend half my time in the bathroom. I just don’t get it.

Rich's Comments: I'll bet the little witch thinks she's fat at times too! AARRGGHH!!!!

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Could your next conference use a humorous speaker on weight and obesity? Visit Rich DiGirolamo at http://www.obesityspeaker.com/ today.

A new weight loss plan!!!

I walked into a local business today and nearly passed out from the heat. I inquired if the air conditioning was broken. The owner informed me it is his summer weight loss program - sweat if off.

I replied "How about putting on the A/C and eating less?"

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Could your next conference use a humorous speaker on weight and obesity? Visit http://www.obesityspeaker.com/ today.

She'll (Probably) Always Be Fat!

So I'm having a chocolate attack the other day. Now conveniently I'm right outside the Brewster Sweets shop. I walk in. The smell was enough to add 30 lbs to my body.

I decide I want some of those gourmet malted milk balls. I grab a dozen - three dark chocolate, three mint chocolate, three caramel and three cappuccino; figuring my friends are going to have a taste. I am waiting for the clerk to weigh them; but she is helping another customer.

The other customer is conversing on the phone while the young clerk is trying to service her. She is telling her friend how she can't do Weight Watchers this week; she is on vacation; and there is just too much food here. She proceeds to tell her friend where she is and that she is getting a few pieces of candy for herself before she goes back on her diet next week.

$22.53 was the cost of her few pieces or chocolate. Mine was $3.32

Can't do Weight Watchers? More like she hasn't figured out how Weight Watchers works. You buy $3.00 worth of candy Stupid; not $22.00!

Like I said, she'll probably always be fat.

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Looking for a humorous speaker on weight loss, weight management and obesity; contact Rich DiGirolamo at http://www.obesityspeaker.com/

How To Get Back On Your Diet!

Here's a simple approach to getting back on your diet after a fun holiday weekend which may have included one too many hot dogs, two too many ice creams and way too many alcoholic beverages:

1. Throw out all the crap in your house that somehow mysteriously found its way into your kitchen during the weekend. Now of course you had nothing to do with its arrival, I know that. Please use a garbage can as the receptacle of the crap, not your mouth.
2. Throw away all the sad and evil thoughts about having "blown it" this weekend. You did it. No, you're not weak; you're normal - as frightening as that may seem. Now is time to focus on moving on, not wondering why you did whatever.
3. Throw your workout gear in your car or put it someplace visible - hopefully it still fits. On Monday, USE IT!
4. Throw a healthy lunch together Sunday night to take with you on Monday morning. Healthy does not mean boring, unsatisfying, depriving or prepared from the standpoint of punishment. You take that approach and next weekend you'll once again be dealing with one too many hot dogs, two too many ice creams and way too many alcoholic beverages.

That's it; four easy simple steps.

Well for most people.

Looking for a humorous speaker on weight loss, weight management and obesity; contact Rich DiGirolamo at http://www.obesityspeaker.com/

Weight Loss For a Price?

Happy 4th of July!!!

Don't eat too many hot dogs - even the fat free ones.

Take this survey:

http://foreverfightingfat.com/

Air Travel To be Priced by Weight

So here is comes...................You knew it would only be a matter of time.....................

It started out with obese people needing to buy a second airline seat; but have you heard about these upcoming changes to air travel............

• Fares will be priced by weight; the lowest prices starting for people who weigh less than 150 lbs and increasing $50 for each 50 lb increment. The assumption is heavier people are using more fuel. Random weights will be taken at the gate; so don't lie when purchasing your ticket
• A total weight limit for you and your baggage will be imposed and strictly adhered to. Want to bring more clothing, you better get off your butt today and start jogging before that next vacation or business trip
• Extender belts will now cost $5. Feel free to bring your own.
• Obese people will be required to drink diet soda, water or black coffee
• Overweight people will not be offered the traditional snack of peanuts, pretzels, biscoff cookies or cheese and crackers. You will be required to buy carrots or celery
• Larger and wider rows, with two, not three seats, will be put towards the back of the plane. People over a certain weight will be required to purchase them. They will not be cheap.

Now you have two choices here if you travel and you're a bit heavier.

1. Get angry with these changes
2. Go do something about it

Is this for real? What do you think?

Observations made at the beach...............

I made the following observations at the beach yesterday.................

• The skinny kids were running around laughing and screaming
• The skinny kids were playing on those skim boards
• The fat kids were sitting on the sides eating chips and cookies
• The skinny adults were reading, and playing Frisbee and other beach games
• The fat adults were sitting on their fat butts eating chips and cookies

Oh how I wish I had names and addresses of all the kids and could follow them through life to see who ends up fat. My gut feeling is I know the answer.

My other thought is there really should be a test before you're allowed to become a parent.

Okay remember that comment you made...........

that summer would easier because of all the fresh fruit and you're outdoors doing more things and it is time for grilling..............................

Well it is summer.

Why not start right now by dropping some of that fruit into a blender with some ice; and a splash of juice.

Oh and P.S. Six months of the year has passed. Back in January you also told yourself you would lose "x" number of pounds this year. Are you halfway there?