A Maintainer's World

It's just certain times of the year now, that my life gets so busy.  I feel like I am on a very fast train, not a runaway train, just a fast train.  One thing, after another thing, and then some.  I have been careful about planning my meals and feel like it's going well.  I started a part-time job, nothing heavy, but it gives me something else to do (the empty-nester that I am), headed to Vegas to check-in with my parents (it's been a year) and driving to Phoenix for my 59 year-old sister's graduation (her Master's )--she will probably mind me putting her age out there but I think I have written somewhere that my sisters were 12 and 13 when I was born, c'est la vie!!!  Oh, yeah, and finished moving yesterday.  I was going to move to a new area (Alexandria) but just ended up moving apartments in my building, so glad I did this.  I didn't make any race plans for the Summer, only because, I just don't like the pressure of a race and the heat/humidity.  I have plans for my weekly 12-16 miles + 8-12 on Saturdays.  We also do aqua-jogging, which I love--I was doing Sundays and some Mondays--Our regular pool is closing down for the summer.  I should just stop being scared and use the one in my building, duh!!!  This is my commitment to myself for the summer.  Also a lot of walking whenever/wherever I can.  Let me know if you all have some summer commitments?  
My 30-year high school class reunion is in July, more on these plans later!!

Healthy Cooking Maintainers -- Caution possible cravings ahead!!
Diva Taunia -- Carmelized & Grilled Brussel Sprouts (You will LOVE them!)

Finding Radiance -- Date night dinner and a new helmet!

Green Lite Bites -- Quick Broccoli Pasta Salad

Hungry Girl -- Chew the Right Thing

HungryHealthyHappy -- Spicy Steak and Roasted Potato Salad with Chermoula Dressing

Kath Eats Real Food -- A Place at the Hill & Holler Table

Kaylyn's Kitchen -- Kalyn's Kitchen Turns Eight Years Old...

Mother Rimmy's Cooking Light Done Right -- Nasoya Nayonaise Asparagus, Tomato and Goat Cheese Salad

Nosh My Way --Slow-Cooked Carnitas

The World According to Eggface -- Build Your Own Salad Bar Night
Undressed Skeleton -- Grilled asparagus & Red Onion Salad with Edamame

Fitness Maintainers

MetamorFit -- CrossFit Chronicles: Edition 8

MizFit -- Why I Exercise Intuitively

My Journey to Fit -- Run for Remembrance 5K Recap!

Runs for Cookies --The not-so-silent alarm

Squat Like a Lady -- So, Uh, Where the F Have I Been?

The Fit Bee -- Don't Run Boston DRB 50K Race Recap

Tracy Reifkind's Training Food and Thought -- That's All She Wrote

Weight Off My Shoulders -- 117th Boston Marathon Recap...

Maintainers

110 Pounds and Counting – CxWorks

300 Pounds Down -- Identity Crisis

344 Pounds -- Hearty Breakfast under 500 Calories

At Goal Weight Watcher -- That Wasn't So Bad

CurvyFitGirl -- Guns.

Debby Weighs In -- Hope in Uncertain Times

Fit to the Finish – Guilt: The Unexpected Emotion in Weight Loss

Garden Girl -- Food Environment matters - Labels red & green

Half Size Me -- Tune in for the Latest Podcast

It Sux To Be Fat -- What Diet Haven't I Tried?

Jack Sh*t, Gettin' Fit -- The Newlyfit Game

Jack-Sprat.net -- Routine Choices

Keeping the Pounds OFF -- Is Home a Safe Haven

Lap Band Gal! -- Is Life with the Lap-Band All Rainbows & Butterflies for Me?

Losing 147 -- What Have I Learned?

Lynn's Weigh -- I See You. I Feel You

mama runrunrun -- Why I Gained Weight

Man Meets Scale -- Chance favors only the prepared mind...

Myra's Journey -- I Should Just Eat at Home

No Celery Please! -- Oh Yeah...I Forgot

Poonapalooza -- Jazzy and Leigh's High School Reunion

Roni’s Weigh -- Post Event Blah

The Anti-Jared -- Hope

Welcome to my World -- Disconnected, Today and May Whole 30

A Maintainer's World-Celebrity Edition

I used to be a huge tabloid reader back in the day, could not wait for Tuesdays (some of you know what I am talking about).  This was before EVERYONE read them, back then if you read tabloids you were really frowned upon, I didn't care--it was the late 70s-80s.  Alison Sweeney used to be one of their favorite targets along with the aging Elizabeth Taylor.  I am not a Days watcher but she was only 16, the tabloids didn't care and they chronicled her weight unending.  When I watch her on the Biggest Loser, I am just amazed at how she now looks, the show she is hosting, it's so full circle to me.  I am no longer a tabloid reader (just too much information) but now there's the Internet and even if we don't want to read about someone else's problems we can't help but see it.   I remember in some of my worst periods, I would scoff at those who 1. had a lot of money 2. and could not maintain their weight.  With age, there truly is maturity and I now realize we are all just people with the same issues, doubts, insecurities...this list could go on.
This will not be a weekly post but maybe a quarterly post, especially if they are in the news or have a book released.  The commentaries are my own
Celebrities

Al Roker -- had gastric bypass surgery over 10 years ago and still maintaining--love the title of his book

Alison Sweeney -- has maintained her weight since her late 20s, was terribly taunted in the tabloids, but not now

Art Smith -- an overweight chef who wanted a change

Chaka Khan -- once very petite, tiny--struggled as an adult and now, she wanted to save her life

Drew Carey -- "The Price is Right" host lost and is maintaining for health reasons/family history

Jared Fogle -- although unconventional, the Subway spokeperson has kept it off for 15 years

Jennifer Hudson -- amazing, after a tragic loss--her life and body could have gone either way--now, WW spokesperson

Jillian Michaels -- guru is what comes to mind, a chubby teen, got involved with martial arts and the rest is history, loving her new book---it really is a blueprint for maintaining

Joe Bastianich -- king (along with Mario Batali) of an Italian food/wine empire--knew he had to do something about his weight and started running, love this Runner's World article and his pasta recipes, yikes!!!

Jordin Sparks -- beautiful voice, she is maintaining

Kelly Osbourne -- her evolution has been lovely to see, I have The Osbournes first season on DVD, amazing

Kristian Alfonso -- she also with Alison Sweeney struggled with her weight and tabloids took note back in the day and she has now maintained her weight loss for over 20 yrs.--she concentrates on her jewelry line

Marie Osmond -- life happens, she gained weight, DWTS, health problems, lost the weight with NS and keeping it off

Michael Moore -- I really respect his work and glad he has taken off the weight and keeping it off

Mo'Nique -- the woman who once said she would never lose weight and that she loved her 262 lb self---she has now gotten healthy and looks great

Perez Hilton -- his earlier blog posts (circa 2007) tell the story, he has been maintaining  for a few years now

Randy Jackson -- gastric bypass ---he continues to strive to keep it off

Raven Symone -- she reminded me of my daughter, satisfied with herself but knew she had to do something

Rex Ryan -- lap band surgery in 2010, he is keeping it off
Ricki Lake -- watched her as a young woman in the public eye struggle, now she's been maintaining, she's featured on the Freshology site

Ricky Gervais -- decided to lose the weight, did it and now keeping it off
Robin Quivers -- she did the Detox, 21 lbs in 21 days and Master Cleanse--91 lbs later and has kept it off

Sarah Ferguson -- a princess in the public eye struggling with her weight, WW helped her get it off and she is still maintaining

Sean Murray -- NCIS fans know him, watched him come down during season 7

Star Jones -- say what you want, she is keeping it off, yes, she should have been more honest (or said nothing) because it was obvious to me, but whatever, it's off--

Valerie Bertinelli -- struggled as an adult, JC helped her lose it, posed in a bikini and the rest is history

William Jefferson Clinton -- struggled with his weight as POTUS, he is now maintaining and he's vegan

**of course this is not an exhaustive list, please feel free to let me know if anyone is missing.

A Maintainer's World

Whew, what a week, Boston, National Library Week (busy at my day job) and now we are at this week's end.  I am at 159lbs right now and doing well.  Practicing a lot of conscious eating, knowing when I am stressed and dealing with it right then and there; and still no white refined sugar or HFCS for over 18 months.   I am using maple sugar in my morning Cream of Wheat and I really love it.  I was at a gathering a few months ago and the feast was Mediterranean--I was happy!! Then they brought out the dessert--baklava!!! Yikes!! So I asked the caterers if this was made by them and she said yes and I asked her the ingredients---the only thing I was listening for was honey NOT Syrup, yay, yes, the butter, yada, yada--I mostly worry about my triggers and if she had said syrup---I would have just moved on--no worries.  I had 2 small diamond pieces.  Haven't thought about baklava since until typing this post.  I didn't want to run to the closest Greek or Mediterranean restaurant and order a tray to eat. 
My heart goes out to the City of Boston and the families of the victims and the injured.
Maintainers
110 Pounds and Counting – Needles and Knees
300 Pounds Down -- Unplugging from the Food Matrix

At Goal Weight Watcher -- Busy, Busy, Busy
Beth's Journey -- How to Help: Boston Marathon Tragedy
CurvyFitGirl -- Keeping it Simple
Fit to the Finish – Tell Me Again Walking Does Not Work

Fixing Myself Happy -- Checking In
Garden Girl – Bio-markers-my own improvements with weight loss and a low inflammatory diet
Half Size Me -- Tune in for the Latest Podcast
HungryHealthyHappy -- Losing weight did change me-I am not the same person
It Sux To Be Fat -- Spring Break 2013
Jack Sh*t, Gettin' Fit -- Nothing is More Exciting Than Healthy Living!
Jack-Sprat.net – Green Monster
Keeping off 200 lbs -- 7.5 Mile Run Report
Keeping the Pounds OFF -- Bogus
Lap Band Gal! -- And the Bikini Actually Fits!
Losing 147 -- What Time Do You Eat?
mama runrunrun -- Healthy Eating is Not (Really) About Deprivation or "Balancing"
No Celery Please! -- Water Water Everywhere 
Poonapalooza -- The post that needs no title
Refuse to Regain -- This Pill Guarantees Weight Loss
Roni’s Weigh -- GOOOOAAAAALLLL!
The World According to Eggface -- Cool Resource!
welcome to my world -- Fallout

Fitness Maintainers
MetamorFit -- CrossFit Chronicles: Edition 7
MizFit -- Take What You Need Day follow up 
My Journey to Fit -- Having an Accountabilibuddy
Runs for Cookies -- Martian Half-Marathon race report
The Fit Bee -- Boston Marathon After Thoughts
Tracy Reifkind's Training Food and Thought -- Week 2 Sinister Ladder
Weight Off My Shoulders -- The Aftermath of Marathon Monday

Healthy Cooking Maintainers -- Caution possible cravings ahead!!
Can You Stay for Dinner? -- Boston Love
Finding Radiance -- Lightening up
Green Lite Bites -- Roasted Rutabega, Who Knew?
Hungry Girl -- Chew the Right Thing
Kath Eats Real Food -- Tea Party
Kaylyn's Kitchen -- ...Chicken, Black Bean, Avacado and Radish Salad with Lime and Cilantro
Mother Rimmy's Cooking Light Done Right -- Sesame Ginger Shrimp and Snow Pea Salad
Nosh My Way -- Guinness Mac and Cheese
Undressed Skeleton -- Healthy Baked Chicken & Black Bean Tacos....

A Quote

"You are not going to be defined by your failures."  Kurt Warner, "The Moment" Episode 1.  When I heard this I wrote it down and thought that this isn't an obvious weight loss or maintenance quote; but it speaks to success and positive thinking. 

Obesity, Organ Donations, Prescription Pain Medications

The holy trinity of our healthcare system and it was all tackled on the season finale of Monday Mornings.  I have always loved lawyer and doctor shows, huge fan.  I really love David E. Kelley, LA Law, series; he and Aaron Sorkin are my favorite writer/series creators.  Anyway, if you get a chance to watch it, it's the episode entitled, "Family Ties."  I am sure this was a statement episode.  The obese 16-year-old male patient who has a heart attack at school.  The woman who is injured by a skateboarder, brought to the ER by and dies; even though she's an organ donor (signed the back of driver's license) her son sues to stop the harvesting.  The man who is addicted to painkillers going from hospital to hospital (he also looks very normal) seeking more painkillers; he is denied a prescription by the Attending (Ving Rhames); he then approaches another ER physician in the parking lot whom he has previously manipulated and when she tells him no, she is attacked and severely injured.  

While I was watching this show, I was astonished that these "issues" with healthcare were being addressed.  The obesity part was particularly poignant.  The doctor was angry and definitely crossed many lines but she was correct in addressing it.  "...this country spends $190 billion in obesity related healthcare costs...as physicians we just stand idly by and we should be outraged..." I promise that I haven't given away the episode because it's packed with revelations and aha(s).

A Maintainer's World Wednesday

oops, it's Thursday already...my apologies....National Library Week is next week and I am a very busy bee
Have a Wonderful Thursday!!

Fitness Maintainers
Fit This, Girl -- The decision has been made!
MetamorFit -- CrossFit Chronicles: Edition 6 The One Month Follow-up
My Journey to Fit -- SRPH 5K Race Recap!
Runs for Cookies -- Hills
The Fit Bee -- Countdown to The Boston Marathon!
Tracy Reifkind's Training Food and Thought -- I'm never bored with numbers!...
Weight Off My Shoulders -- Breakin' Down My RunnerBox

Maintainers
110 Pounds and Counting – Emotional Detox
300 Pounds Down -- Weight Loss, Hormonal Changes, Depression
344 Pounds -- Deaths
Ask Florine -- Tools of the Trade that I Wouldn't Trade guest post by Chef Isabella

Beth's Journey -- Run for Parkinson's: Take Two
CurvyFitGirl -- Some Great News!
Fit to the Finish – Keep it Simple and Lose Weight Forever

Garden Girl – Why I weigh in daily-rule 3, steps 1 and 2 from Refuse to Regain
Half Size Me -- Tune in for the Latest Podcast
HungryHealthyHappy -- What it Felt Like in the Beginning
It Sux To Be Fat -- April 2013 Goals
Jack-Sprat.net – Wait!
Keeping the Pounds OFF -- Don't Blame the Mess on Stress
Lap Band Gal! -- Breaking Old Habits is a Bitch
Lynn's Weigh -- Ready!!!
mama runrunrun -- Vanity Sizing
Man Meets Scale -- The perils of getting cocky
MizFit -- I Got Bored
Myra's Journey -- Mud and Vomit
No Celery Please! -- Life Need a Little Flavor!
Poonapalooza -- A lifestyle change is forever, not just for now
Refuse to Regain -- Real Bodies: Dealing with the Changes of Aging and Weight Loss
Roni’s Weigh -- 5 Reasons Why I Ditch My Food Journal (Diet)
The Anti-Jared -- "Are You Training for the Boston Marathon Next Week?"
welcome to my world --  Sick of it all/Take the Night Off
Healthy Cooking Maintainers -- Caution possible cravings ahead!!
Can You Stay for Dinner? -- Slow Cooker Italian Chicken and Marinara
Finding Radiance -- Work to Dohttp://findingradiance.com/2013/04/09/work-to-do/
Green Lite Bites -- Using Leftovers: Cheesy Twice-Baked Potato
Hungry Girl -- Chew the Right Thing
Kath Eats Real Food -- Into the Desert: A Morning at Canyon Ranch
Kaylyn's Kitchen -- Hake Loins Baked with Tomato, Kalamata Olive and Caper Salsa
Mother Rimmy's Cooking Light Done Right
Nosh My Way -- Chermoula Sauce
Undressed Skeleton -- Pineapple Mango Tropical Chicken Skewers...

What's New in Weight Maintenance Research

This is what I received in my monthly email,  #s 1 & 2 are free articles so click away and read.  #1 seems like something I will read. I am a little curious about #3.  There were 17 newly released articles this month--I only received 4, just don't want the huge email. Remember the "Epub ahead of print" --no volume, issue or page #--no get, for the time being.

1.	Weight-Loss Induced Changes in Physical Activity and Activity Energy Expenditure in Overweight and Obese Subjects before and after Energy Restriction.
	Bonomi AG, Soenen S, Goris AH, Westerterp KR.
	PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e59641. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059641. Epub 2013 Mar 21.
	PMID: 23555733 [PubMed - in process] Free Article
	Related citations

2.	Effects of reduced weight maintenance and leptin repletion on functional connectivity of the hypothalamus in obese humans.
	Hinkle W, Cordell M, Leibel R, Rosenbaum M, Hirsch J.
	PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e59114. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059114. Epub 2013 Mar 21.
	PMID: 23555620 [PubMed - in process] Free Article
	Related citations

3.	Weight loss, weight maintenance, and adaptive thermogenesis.
	Camps SG, Verhoef SP, Westerterp KR.
	Am J Clin Nutr. 2013 Mar 27. [Epub ahead of print]
	PMID: 23535105 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
	Related citations

4.	Adherence to behavioral targets and treatment attendance during a pediatric weight control trial.
	Theim KR, Sinton MM, Goldschmidt AB, Van Buren DJ, Doyle AC, Saelens BE, Stein RI, Epstein LH, Wilfley DE.
	Obesity (Silver Spring). 2013 Feb;21(2):394-7. doi: 10.1002/oby.20281.
	PMID: 23532993 [PubMed - in process]
	Related citations

A Maintainer's World Wednesday

No excuses is what I woke up this morning thinking about and told myself, it's too cold out still -- get up and run anyway, I am not posting as much as I want to because of work--do what you can!!!

Healthy Cooking Maintainers -- Caution possible cravings ahead!!
Can You Stay for Dinner? -- Fool-Proof Turkey Meatloaf
Finding Radiance -- April Goals
Green Lite Bites -- Easter Spinich Salad
Hungry Girl -- Chew the Right Thing
HungryHealthyHappy -- How I Lost 100 lbs
Kath Eats Real Food -- More Peas Please!
Kaylyn's Kitchen -- South Beach Diet Phase One Recipes Round-Up for March 2013
Mother Rimmy's Cooking Light Done Right --Easy Roasted Garlic and Eggplant Pizza
Nosh My Way -- Maitake Mushroom Roasted in Honey and Butter Recipe
Undressed Skeleton -- Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash...



Fitness Maintainers
MetamorFit -- Push Away the Screen-Busch Gardens
MizFit -- Blogging is Dead. Blogging will Never Die
My Journey to Fit -- Ukraine Do It 5K (PLUS) Recap!
Squat Like a Lady -- When it's raining, raining hard...
Tracy Reifkind's Training Food and Thought -- Advanced "Turn Up the Volume...
Weight Off My Shoulders -- My quest to 1,000 Miles in 2013!!

Maintainers
110 Pounds and Counting – A Taste of Summer
300 Pounds Down -- Trash It!
344 Pounds -- Monday is A Day of Opportunity

At Goal Weight Watcher -- A Morning in the Kitchen
Beth's Journey -- Highlights from Easter Weekend in DC
CurvyFitGirl -- Drive by Post
Debby Weighs In -- The 30-Second Exercise that can Help You Lose Weight

Garden Girl – Second Food Sober Easter Easter-2012
Half Size Me -- Tune in for the Latest Podcast
It Sux To Be Fat -- Please Take More Fat Pics
Jack-Sprat.net – Stretching to the Limit
Keeping the Pounds OFF -- Faith in Recovery
Lap Band Gal! -- I am a Triglyceride Bad Ass
Losing 147 -- Love Yourself, but...
Lynn's Weigh -- AIM: A Girl's Gotta Eat!
mama runrunrun -- Inspiring?
Myra's Journey -- Long Day
Poonapalooza -- Oh, it is on!!!!!!!
Refuse to Regain -- Factcheck: Bloomberg's bloated obesity claims
Roni’s Weigh -- I Fell Down
Runs for Cookies -- Run with me
The World According to Eggface -- Friday Five
welcome to my world -- I Can't Save Every Stray Kitten