Fun family time last night. Dug out the old vinyl albums, danced and sang.

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless

Mother Teresa

Lord, help me to use my words today to make a difference in someone's life.

When we praise, our hearts become less hardened and bitter. When we praise, we give of ourselves and take our eyes off our selfish needs. When we praise, we see the enjoyment of our life and a God who unconditionally loves us and we can in return pass it on.

From Weight Watchers:

Use the stairs whenever possible"Taking the stairs strengthens all the major muscle groups in your lower extremity. Hamstrings, glutes, quads and calves are all going to reap that benefit," says Cedric Bryant, PhD, chief science officer for the American Council on Exercise. As a side bonus, you'll also burn a calorie for every 15 steps.
Identify and separate exhaustion from hunger. When you are tired, go to bed rather than stay up and eat.

While the claims for drinking 64 ounces or more of water each do not have a valid scientific basis behind them, drinking enough fluids to prevent dehydration is critical. This means replacing the water that is lost each day in urine, sweat, breathing, and other bodily functions. Water losses are greater in warmer climates, during strenuous exercise, in high altitudes, and in older adults. For most people, these losses can be covered by drinking about 48 ounces of fluid per day which is the amount Weight Watchers suggests as a guideline for good health.

The true source of my strength:

Put God's wisdom to work in my heart today.

from Weight Watchers:
Curbing your cravings
So your number one crave controller is to identify where it's coming from. But that doesn't mean that if a big craving comes along you can't satisfy it. Try these top tactics:
Distract it When you notice a craving setting in, try to find something else to think about. Take a walk, listen to your favorite playlist, browse your favorite Web site. Just set your mind to something else. If that doesn't work and after 10 to 15 minutes your craving's still kicking, move on.
Fake it
Try eating the lowest-fat, lowest-calorie variety of the item you're craving. If you find yourself wanting sweets like chocolate, for example (a frequently-craved food, according to studies), opt for nonfat chocolate frozen yogurt instead of chocolate cake. If you're prone to over-doing it, however, don't bring the coveted food into the house, no matter how low-fat or fat-free it is. Instead, go out for your frozen yogurt and order a single-serving cone or cup.
Feed it
If faking it doesn't work for you — say you're still craving something truly decadent, such as peanut butter chocolate ice cream or a burger — go out and get some. Just order from the kid's menu.
Dig deeper
If cravings linger, dig deeper to get at the root of them. Have you been too restrictive? If you suspect so, plan it differently, including more variety and more foods you enjoy into your diet. Is there something going on in your life that's making you anxious, angry or stressed? If that's the case, face the issue head on. For example, if you're worried about an upcoming meeting at work, do your best to prepare for it. By being proactive and making yourself aware of why you may be craving a certain food, your desire for it may abate.

Great 4th of July

Middle of summer now. Not much heat this summer and with the weight loss, I am feeling the chill. I have not experienced that for awhile!

I am still maintaining my weight loss and still following my food plan. Lots of shopping and planning but seems to be going well. Sweets and Fats do not bother me when I am around them, so that is a good thing. I think this is because I have not have any of that for some time.

Makes sense! Calorie reduction is good for me, hard to do though.