I'm in. 2 years ago I did a very low fat diet, brought my cholesterol down 56 points, walked at least a mile and a half daily. The stress at work and working all hours derailed that regime. I don't know why but since I've been home more, I've ballooned. I am way more active and am eating healthier and getting tubbier by the hour. I keep thinking about starting a food diary but haven't started. Maybe I don't want to know. I just don't think I can do spinach in a smoothie though. here's to a healthier year. Thanks heaps Margo for bringing it up. Gloria

I'm in! Have been trying to get the exercise in this past year, but has been sporadic for multiple reasons.
The gym we belong to has exercise log sheets they usually use when the trainer sets up a program, but I use them to keep track of the program I have set up.
Another good thing to remember is that the body will respond more quickly to a varied routine: walk on treadmill one day, ride exercise bike the next, climb a few flights on the stairclimber or work on the elliptical the next. A three day cycle is supposed to work well AND it changes the stresses on the muscles and joints so you don't get so sore.
PLEASE! check with your MD if you have health problems first. I have to repeat this. We don't want any quilters with good tips dropping on us because they didn't get the guidance they needed on the front end of the adventure!

Count me in, I had a bunch of related health issues this past year and to avoid surgery at all costs I need to get better on the healthy eating and exercises (that is why I asked Santa for a Wii for Christmas and I know it is under the tree).

Count me in. I may need extra encouragement..I have been severely hypothyroid all my life and the thyroid pills help with lots of things but somehow not much with the weight lost. I eat a fairly healthy diet, if I didn't I'd need a crane to move me around, but perhaps I need to pay closer attention to portion control and somehow move more. careful balance is the name of the game. I get careless when I get busy. I'm busy a lot.

Karen: I don't know about Dr. Oz's green drink in particular, but surely it has to be some variation on the themel

Judy: LOL! Good point about the name. Seems it had a double meaning all along Have fun experimenting!

Margo - Thanks for the inspiration. My main concern is not exercising enough. You've given me the impetus. Thanks! Carolyn in Kerrville, TX

Thanks, Fiberwoman. I wonder where you got your screenname? I think I would start small with the smoothies. Judy in AZ

My sister wanted to write a book on dieting and weight loss.... It would only have two pages...Page 1: Eat less!!!! Page 2: Move more!!!!

fiberwoman wrote: Is this like the "green" drink that Dr. Oz talks about??

Count me in!!!!!! I am totally out of control! I need to lose at least 50lbs at the minimum!!!!! Also, I would be interested in this spread sheet you are talking about Margo! Being accountable to others on TQS should spur me on!!!!!! Karen G

Facinating, Jan! I think we all have some educating to do this year!

LOL I realize that sounds overwhelming and maybe yucky Start small. Maybe banana and blueberries. Add a few cashews or walnuts (ideally soaked first - activates their enzymes and releases enzyme inhibitors). Then begin gradually sneaking in spinach. I don't think you'll taste it. Add a little vanilla extract or a piece of a vanilla bean.
I sometimes use nut milk as a base. Easy to make yourself! Soak 1 cup almonds in water overnight. Drain. In blender, put 4 cups pure water and the soaked almonds (or other nut). Blend on high, then strain through a nut milk bag or a couple layers of cheesecloth. YUMMM. I add vanilla bean to mine. It keeps in the fridge for a few days. Let your imagination(s) begin - you're quilters, after all

jbtaz36 wrote:
Judy, today my smoothie had water and coconut water as a base. I buy baby Thai coconuts and open them, using the water (great source of electrolytes) and I use the meat in other awesome recipes, although I know some people use the meat in their smoothies. You might start with yogurt as a base to get used to the taste. Then...are u ready? To about 16 oz. of water: a big handful of spinach, a couple of leaves of kale (carries 10x its weight in toxins out of your body - plus very high in vitamins and minerals), 3-4 leaves of romaine lettuce, a stalk of celery, a few leaves of cilantro, a few leaves of parsley, a couple of soaked, pitted dates, half an orange, half an apple, 2 bananas, handful of blueberries, handful of raspberries, TBSP bee pollen, TBSP hemp seeds (high in protein and EFAs), tsp or so of Spirulina. I think that was it. I rotate greens, and change fruits daily. I freeze most fruits ahead of time so I can save them to use in smoothies. If you feel you require more sweetness until you aquire the taste, up the raspberries or strawberries, or add a bit more dates or some honey or agave syrup, if you haven't used a yogurt with sugar already. I sometimes use Stevia (an herb).
This was breakfast for my husband and I......him one tall glass; me two big glasses. YUMMMM! One could go to work with you!
For some good ideas, recipes and videos, try http://www.greensmoothiegirl.com
Experiment and enjoy!!!! Smoothies are packed full of healing enzymes which are killed by cooking. We are said to have about 30 years worth of enzymes in our body, and each time we eat processed/cooked food, it depletes our bodys' natural stores. Live food is the only way to replace them; that's why the body seems to come to life when we give back that energy.

I have the same problem with motivation, but hopefully reading all these messages like you said will keep me accountable.. I know how much better I will feel..... I did lose about 30lbs earlier in the year but alot of that was water weight from congestive heart condition, but I seem to be at a standstill, but once again that is due to my lack of exercise I am sure......... I walked this morning
although not for long was more than I had done in awhile... so see you have me started already I would love to learn more about the smoothies also as I think that will be a great start to my morning as I am not really a big breakfast eater, I would just as soon skip it but I have to have something to take my medicine with so.....to me that would be a better solution......... anyway ladies I am trying to start already but I am sure this next few days will not help any although I am trying to be somewhat good
Be strong ladies in our quest, know that roadblocks are there but together we will overcome.....................mc