LEARNING TO SWALLOW MY PRIDE - CHALLENGE #23

                                                         

 

 

Apologizing doesn’t mean that you are wrong.  It just means that you value your relationship more than your ego.

 

 

There is a lesson in and a reason for this particular challenge no longer being here. 

The picture below gives you an inkling of why! 

I will address that in a future blog!  

 

 

SIMPLE THINGS TO SAVE US TIME & MONEY! - CHALLENGE #22

Cute and Practical!

 

Make yourself a thankfulness / favourite quote board or message centre to keep track of your family's comings and goings. An old cheap frame, chalk board paint, masonite board (high density fiber board) cut to fit, some white paint (or any colour, really), a little container or basket to hold the chalk/eraser (glue gun needed), and white vinyl letters (Staples)!

It's always kind of fun to research new ideas and hear what other's have to share about what little things they do that save money and time.  I hope that you are inspired and find something that you can use in your home.  Most of these I have used in my own place and maybe you have, too!
 

Here it goes:

 

. On the days you get gas - remember this:

GAS IN, GARBAGE OUT  

Take the time that you are filling up to get into the habit of cleaning out the vehicle (and your purse) - chuck out the dried apple cores, crumpled kleenex, and endless pieces of paper.  Shake out the mats (if you feel like it) or if you are like me, and keep a rag under the front seat, you can "sweep" out stuff lying on the floor.  Doing this makes a big difference in keeping things half-way presentable.  I always keep a cooler in my trunk and a plastic bin (the kind from Super Store) with grocery bags. Keep the bin inside the cooler to save space in your trunk, if you need to.  Use the bin for groceries but also for when you are cleaning up (on gas days) - while you are waiting at the pump, gather up all the stuff left in your vehicle and bring into the house when you get home. Don't forget to return to your trunk when it's emptied.
 

. Get up a 1/2 hour sooner than you have to.  It's amazing what you will get done when no one is around to bug you!

 

. When I do laundry, I always set up the iron and ironing board.  When you bring down the hamper of clothes - bring down the empty hangers with it.  Take warm things out of the dryer and you will find you only have to touch up anything that needs ironing.  Ironing later (and pulling from a pile that's been sitting for a week) is horrible.  Iron it (if it needs it) and put it straight onto the hanger. 

 

. Wear runners or lace up shoes when you are working around the house.  Seriously, you WILL work differently.  Wearing flip flops or slippers will not motivate your head that you are working . . . lace up shoes, will.  Not sure why, but it does work.

 

. Keep cleaning supplies under each sink.  I have an ice cream bucket under each of mine and it saves you time looking for what you need. Keeps it all together, too.  I don't really have cleaning supplies that are poisonous, so that's never an issue.  Any bleach products, if you use them, can be stored elsewhere.

 

. Pick only 3-5 daily must do's and make sure they get done.  Mine are:  making sure my hot spots (counter tops in kitchen, laundry room and my bathroom) are cleared before I leave for work / kitchen and living room are vacuumed / beds are made / I've done the 5 minute dash through the house with a basket putting away things that are out of place.  If you do this every day . . . you will have it down to a timed science and it makes such a difference coming home to a tidy space. Doing it regularly means that it takes less time when you do it. 

 

. Check your wall calendar every night and every morning.  Not something we always remember to do, but honestly, you can save yourself some big headaches if you get into the habit of doing this. Costco has a great one (large squares) - $10. Hang it in a very visible place.

 

. Spend some time once a week, going through each day to see what you need to buy, do and where you need to be.  Family meetings every Sunday afternoon (with the wall calendar) were key and still are in our busy months so that everyone in the family knew what we were doing.  It was surprising how many times, unexpected meetings or events came up that would have jinxed our carpooling had we not discussed the week.  We kept them short - often with a dessert but always doled out allowances at the very end. If you didn't come, you didn't get your allowance (or dessert).  Some incentive. I don't recall anyone ever missing family meeting.

 

. Consider the Side Tracked cleaning system (Ban Spring Cleaning Challenge - Challenge #20) - it can make a huge difference in getting the things done around the house that just don't seem to get done.

 

. Put a small sticky-backed magnet inside your bathroom medicine cabinet and your eye brow tweezers will hang perfectly in place. You always know where to find them!  Dollar stores carry magnet rolls, but Walmart and Michaels have better ones (and different styles).

. Folding your fitted sheets into quarters and then into thirds is an easy (with a little practice) way to store sheets.  Wrap folded flat sheet around the folded sheet, place pillowcase on top and then slide all of it into the second pillowcase to store in your linen closet.

 

 

 

.  Cutting an oval piece (just wide enough to fit your hand into) out of the side of a 2 litre pop bottle or milk jug works well to store all your plastic grocery bags in.  It's amazing how many you can push in. You can use the smaller bottles for the really small bags.  Fits easily into a drawer, under your sink or in your car.

. Travel with large sized ziplock bags.  I like the kind with the sliders because it's easy for everyone to open and close them.  Throw them out when you stop for gas stops. Perfect as a portable garbage when you are travelling - especially for messy and less than pleasant smelling clean-ups and any other emergencies that require the garbage to be sealed.  This way, you can have one for the front and one for the back.  Keep extras folded in your glove box.

. Getting ready for a holiday was always a nightmare on the morning we'd be leaving.  I'm one of those people that insists their house be clean before they drive away - returning home to a mess never appealed to me. One day, it occured to me (as I'm surrounded by people messing up the house and/or lying around on couches watching me cleaning and packing - grrrr) that it would actually be more helpful and less frustrating for me, if my hubby took the kids out to breakfast for 1 1/2 hours.  By the time they made it home, I would have finished packing last minute things into suitcases, loaded up the van, and tidied up the house - no dirty dishes!  We just needed to move the car seats over to the van, if there were any still in car seats.  They'd find me happily enjoying my last sip of coffee and ready to hit the road.  Totally worth it!  My husband would absolutely agree - a cranky wife is not someone you want sitting in the next seat at the beginning of a driving holiday. It's amazing what you can accomplish without others underfoot and "helping". Even if the suitcases are outside in the garage and ready to be packed up when hubby comes home - what a bonus to have things ready to go without interruptions!

. You can usually find a handful of wire hangers in my suitcase, as hotels never have enough.  Toss in a few before a trip - then, just leave them behind for the next people, if you want.

. If an iron isn't available a your hotel, laying your clothes on the bed and rubbing a wet facecloth over them, helps to get rid of wrinkles.

. Bought myself one of these fancy schmancy silicone garlic peelers.  Argg.  Half the time, it doesn't seem to roll properly.  Do this instead ... put your garlic cloves in a small tupperware container.  Put the lid on and shake the heck out of them.  Off come the peels.  Great way to do lots.  Keep shaking, if some of them are being stubborn. 

. If you take vitamins or supplements and find that when travelling, you have far too many bottles to tote, simply dump enough of what you will use into a plastic travel soap container and throw in your toiletries bag.  You know already which pills are which, and how many you need - combining them a case simplifies the bottle issue.  Actually, I do this at home.  I store the bottles out of the way and only deal with the soap container and refill it as needed.  I keep it with my toothbrush - way less clutter.  I don't have little kids going through my stuff so child proofing is not an issue here.  You can store all sorts of travel things in the soap containers, too - crayons, camera, phone, jewelry, sewing kits, q-tips, etc.  I like the cases where the lid is attached.  Buy lots, they come in so handy!   If you prefer something slimmer for your jewelry or earrings - try coin pouches ($ store) - takes up very little space.

. Really like this spray cleaner - equal amounts of vinegar and Dawn dish soap (blue).  Heat the vinegar and pour into spray container.  Add dish soap.  Let cool and then close up.  Great for cleaning and shining.  I leave a spray bottle under the sinks with a scrubber. 

. Really LOVE this stuff!  It's safe, natural and the gritty paste it makes when you dip your scrubber or sponge into water and then into this product, cleans like nobody's business.  It's made by Pink Solution (the same one you've prob. seen demo'd at Costco - they sell them individually at the demo's).  It's available on line in packages of 2 (if you google Pink Solution, it may be available in your city).  In Calgary, London Drugs sells it.  All the info about it is on-line.  I used it to remove 6 year old (at least) paint from a teacher's shelving unit in one of the classes.  She had given up trying to get it off.  We use it regularly for hard to remove messes in the Pre-school I work in.  At London Drugs it's often on sale for less than $8.  Lasts forever!  For sensitive cleaning areas - use a gentler scrubbing sponge. 

. Up for an Ice Cap? These are terrific and the recipe (The Perfect Iced Coffee) - compliments of The Pioneer Woman - Ree Drummond is easy and stores for a long time (a month) in the fridge.  I generally fill the mason jars almost to the top with ice, add about half or a little more of the coffee mix and top the rest with a wonderful Caramel Coffee Creamer I made using organic cane sugar (Super Store) from the Deliciously Organic website.  You may have to "test drive" yours to see how sweet you like it.  You will need a candy thermometer for the Creamer recipe.  I typically make triple recipe and store in an oversized mason jar (Michaels).  Refrigerate and you have a great drink all month long.  You can make Vietnamese coffee using Condensed Milk instead of the creamer but I find you have to stir it a lot to keep it mixed.  But very delicious.  You can use any kind of creamer you like really.  They have lots of selections at the store. This drink, of course, is not low cal, by any stretch of the imagination, so keep that in mind, when you are enjoying your 3rd!  You will need sturdy straws. The Great Canadian Wholesale Store sells many different kinds of straws but you want the fat ones that are strong.  They have the slurpee type (with the scoop at the end) and I like those the best.  When you make the coffee, you will need a large container to soak the coffee in (I have an incredibly large metal mixing bowl - use any large container but make sure it's nice and clean for the soaking - 8 hours!  Not sure if it stains so keep that in mind, too when using a light coloured container.)  I used a dark roast South American bag of coffee but you can use a medium roast if you like it less strong. 

. Incredible coffee scrub - enjoyed one of these beauty treatments on holidays and it is amazing. Save the coffee grounds from the ice coffee above in a container in your fridge and use a big scoop of it, now and again, in your shower.  Scrub your body (I'm not sure I would do the face - it's a pretty sensitive area) and you will feel INCREDIBLE. Your skin will love it.  Very invigorating!  Your skin will be so soft!  I would suggest you get your shower water warm before you get in and then turn off while you are scrubbing.  You really don't want the water ice cold when you turn it on to rinse off!  Trust me on that one!   I've tried using regular brewed coffee, but this seems to scrub nicer (must have something to do with the soaking).  Since coffee grounds are messy, take a  small bucket in with you, for rinsing out the shower after. 

. Baby wipes - use those things?  I tried some that my daughter made for her kids, and they were honestly ... pretty amazing.  If she hadn't told me, I would never have known they weren't regular wipes. Lauren tells me she uses Bounty towels and you can use fragrance free baby oil, shampoo, or wash, if you want. Aveeno and some other brands carry this, I believe.  She puts her's in ziplock bag and says because they are on a roll (I'm told you can cut roll in half with an electric knife) they are probably easier to use them at home.   Though she just takes some off and puts them in a little ziplock bag for her diaper bag. She says she has found them much more effective for cleaning her kids than many of the storebought brands. She priced it out and felt that with sales, the homemade were significantly cheaper.  The oil and wash goes a long way and says that she will probably never need to buy more than one bottle of each.  A few people mentioned a problem with mold (Lauren hasn't had any problems at all) but it was suggested to use distilled water to rectify this. http://www.mommysavers.com/2010/09/homemade-baby-wipes-frugal-diy/

. I came across a recipe for makeup remover cloths - will try this and let you know later down the road how that turned out.  Need to try it for a while to see if it's good in the long run.

. There are lots of home versions for removing labels and sticky stuff - some work for somethings but quite frankly, I found the GOO GONE to be awfully effective.  I've had my bottle for a very long time and it's worth having in your cupboard, if you ask me.  Bought mine at Canadian Tire. 

. If you find that you have grease and food stains on your clothes, keep a cheap bottle of shampoo in your laundry room and a nail brush.  Apply to the stain on backside of the garment.  Scrub and let sit for a bit before you toss into the wash.  Scrubbed an awful lot of my son's food stains from his kitchen uniform from work this way.  FYI - grass stains and most food stains will disappear if you spray them with lemon juice (vinegar prob. would work, too) and let them sit outside in the sun.  Then launder. 

   Food for Thought:

Remember Scrooge McDuck? 

One of his mottos was,

 "Work Smarter, Not Harder!"

Pretty good advice from a cartoon character!

Next week is Challenge #23 - Learning to Swallow My Pride!  Hope to see you then!  



 

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LEARNING TO BE OK WITH OK! - CHALLENGE #21

 

Sometimes the things that make us the happiest

are not the things that the world values.

Growing up in our house, life was really quite straightforward.   Not many surprises.  You got up, ate breakfast, spent the day at school, had an afterschool snack, did homework, ate dinner, finished your chores, played with friends, watched a little tv, and then headed off to bed.  Every school night pretty much repeated that pattern.  You listened to Mom - never ever talked back to Dad. There were no scheduled play dates - you just played with whoever happened to be on the street, sports were seldom organized - random ball games at a moment's notice, piano lessons were not a part of our family`s regimen, and sleepovers were a rarity.  We ate simple food, got an allowance on Saturday morning - just enough that you could easily blow it at the corner store by noon, traded comic books, hung out with our brothers and sisters, collected bottles for extra spending money, played marbles outside in the yard, walked or rode our bikes to where we needed to be, spent time at the local pool and library, and
gathered at least one night a week on a sibling`s bed to share scary stories, while our parents were downstairs thinking we were all asleep. Pretty simple life.

 

We were asked to pitch in with chores, but nothing overly complicated.  Once a week we were expected to clean our rooms.  No one checked to see if we did what we were asked - it was a given it WOULD be done. The younger kids wore hand me downs and new clothes pretty much meant that school was starting.  We didn't expect a dozen presents at Christmas (nor did we
get them), we ate homemade birthday cakes at parties in actual homes, and thought that Summer Holidays went on for ever.
 

Somewhere along the way, life around us became . . . complicated.  And still is.  Having a B on your report card used to be proudly shown around the class - now it's often viewed as, "not working to full potential."  Join a sports team these days and it's not uncommon for there to be an assumption that you've already spent extensive amounts of time and money in camps or have "club" experience.  Whatever happened with being a "late bloomer"?  Entering or changing a sport later in life (somewhere after elementary) virtually ensures you a seat on the bench (unless of course, you are a natural athlete and excel right off the get go.)

Remember when a a HOT holiday was a fun two week summer stint at your Grandparent's place and not a plane trip to an exotic winter destination. 
                                     
Electronics, in your average household, was a coloured tv.  Cell phones, iPods, and laptops would later become the norm.  Camp was code for a tent and family weiner roasts in some off the beaten camp site - eventually to be replaced with weekly organized programs to fill the summer months.

Lifestyles have changed.  In some ways, for the good, but not necessarily.  Time and rest are some key areas that have taken the biggest hits.  Getting ahead and making sure you secure a coveted spot is no longer the exception, but now often the rule.  I recall watching a Mom at school daily racing with her daughter down the sidewalk.  At one point, I did manage to find out where she was going.  Well - it just depended on the day.  Mondays and Wednesdays were dance, Tuesday and Thursdays were soccer, Friday was voice, and Saturday was Chinese school.  She also had an older son that played upper level hockey.   No wonder she was running.  How she did it in high heels was beyond me.  Parents do a lot for their kids.  Sometimes, maybe too much.
 

I've met preschool kids with iPads, very young elementary kids playing the latest and greatest violent killing video games, and teenagers driving nicer cars than I can ever hope to own.  Most homes have more random stuff in one bedroom closet than entire villages in third world countries own collectively.  We recycle only to refill our cupboards with more unnecessary filler.  It's not uncommon to hear the cry, "That's GHETTO!" when it is suggested they use their older sibling's outgrown bike.  Hand me downs seldom happen past lower elementary.  Even those little ones are savvy enough to know that it's viewed as not "cool" by lots of their peers.

So, what has all this got to do with learning to be ok with ok?  Simply that . . . it seems, today we have lost our sense of appreciation, not only for what we have, but who we are and how we want things done.

Many of us would agree that it's important that we appreciate "the effort" we put into things.  Personally, I would even go so far to say that it's even more important than making the top grade.  That's not to say that good grades aren't worth something - they are but they aren't the be all and end all. 

Encouraging ourselves and our kids to put in a good effort is first and foremost.  Anything that comes from that is bonus.  If we don't get the best mark, oh, well.  We will live.  And probably a lot happier.  The stress of always striving to be the best isn't necessasrily the best way to live your life.

 

Being able to look at our clothes closet and say that we have enough instead of whining about what's not in there, takes some effort, but one that's worth it.  If our family sees us forever toting bags home of yet more treasures, is it any wonder they feel they need to get on board.  More lessons are caught than taught. It's surprising how out of control we are and have absolutely no sense of it.  Not to say that having things (whether it's electronics, a big house, a new car, a trip, or clothes) are bad . . . being ok with what you have and learning to wait for things in life, are very good life lessons. 

After 55 years, this is what I have discovered: 

. a dress that makes you feel like a million $$ doesn't have to cost a million $$.  Too many of us fall into the trap of living up to other people's expectations, not our own.  Enjoy your outfit because it looks good on you . . . not because it's what others want you to wear.

. everyone gets older and wrinkles are inevitable, so be ok with who you are . . . set limits on what you are willing to do to feel and look good . . . then let it be. 

. Embrace your health ... no one lives long without it - even the rich and famous.

. We don't have to "fix" and improve everything - sometimes, "status quo" is just fine.

. an older car that doesn't involve car payments takes us from point A to point B cheaper than a fancy car we are making payments on.  The minute you drive the car off the lot, it's used. 

. Learn to be ok with your electronics --- next year they are old news.  Nothing is the latest and greatest for too long - repeat this mantra . . . "I like my phone and I don't need another one right now."

. Being happy for someone else's success, opportunities, and happiness is a sign of real maturity.  Encourage your family to do that and not be jealous. 
 
. it's not the end of the world when your child doesn't sign up for every sports camp . .. less than 1% of kids will make it to the BIG LEAGUES in any sport. 

. Jobs done at home don't have to be perfect.  It's more important they be done!  This has always been a hard one for me - but I'm learning!!

. It's ok to stay out of the malls and invest the money in worthwhile things. 

. it really is ok to turn the tv and computer off regularly - learning to enjoy reading, hobbies, and playing games (inside or out) makes for a well rounded person.

. it's more important for family dynamics that they eat KD at home together than expensive fast food in the car.

. kids' memories of family time are not rated by where they go but who they spend it with.  Be ok with "low profile" holidays.  Your kids take their cue from you.  In fact, get them away from electronics and their friends, and it's amazing how they might actually have fun (of course, they may not admit it to their friends, but hey . . .)

. temporary happiness is not the same as living a fulfilled life.

. If you like who you are, those that matter the most to you in your life, will too. Being the best at something is short lived - there will always be others who come along and will one up you. Appreciate that you are good at something - we can't be great at everything in life and that's ok.

. Stuff is replaceable, people who love us, are not.

. Quiet time is a good way to teach ourselves (and our kids) to slow down and learn to be ok with our own company.

. Choosing to spend less for the right reasons and sharing those reasons with our kids, teaches and empowers them.

. Learning to say no to time commitments that takes us away from each other as a family (and telling them why) says a lot to our loved ones.

. Complimenting our kids for a good mark that "effort" has gone into, teaches them to feel ok with trying their best.  A great mark, where on-going parental pressure has been applied, doesn't yield the same personal results.  Pride is the goal, not resentment.

Learning to be ok with lots of things in our life (I'm not talking about the bad things that need to change) is actually very freeing.  Not having to meet unreasonable expectations, being able to appreciate what you have, enjoying "the moment" without having your eyes always looking ahead, can make a huge difference in your day to day outlook.  I hope you will join me in making the small choices that in fact, may ultimately be the big choices.    

  Food for Thought:

 

ENJOY THE LITTLE THINGS IN LIFE,

FOR SOMEDAY YOU WILL REALIZE

THEY WERE THE BIG THINGS.. 

 

 

Next week is Challenge # 22 – Simple Things That Can Save Us Money and Time.

 

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HEY SWEETIE! - CHALLENGE #20

 

Dollars to donuts there will a tray of something similar to this on the staff room table within the first couple weeks of the school year.  Who can resist these amazing temptations?  It's funny how your radar just zones in on stuff like this?  Word gets out quick, "Hey, make sure you get into the staff room a.s.a.p. - someone brought in these awesome desserts!"  Knowing we might be heading for a diabetic coma doesn't even slow us down from making a bee-line as quick as can be to the staffroom. 

Of course, I'm just as guilty as the next person with leaving tempting things to snack on in the lunch room at school. I've just been thinking about that . . . guess I'll have to make some serious changes there, too. I'm sure the gals at school would appreciate some healthier options.

 

All I can think of is . . . "all that hard work of jumping on the rebounder . . . out the window!"  My self-control has definitely been getting better, but I have noticed something about myself.  It sure is hard to stop at one!  lol   I'm sure that's the case for most people. You think you can, but seriously . . . not an easy feat.   Especially, if it sits there and you walk by it time and time again.  At home, put "goodies" away - out of sight, out of mind (mostly) - but I have been known to eat stuff frozen!  And I'm not even a big sweet eater!   It's almost like my brain thinks . . . if it's there . . . it must be eaten!  Not sure.  But, that is what ends up happening. Again, if I have time on my hands and it's sitting in front of my eyes  . . .  for sure - a deadly combination for me. 

I've been doing really well with my snacking at home.  If I bake something (I try not to do that too often) . . . I no longer make the double recipe version (so there are some for other days).  Typically, I try to have only have one piece and then my gang at home, inhale the rest - problem solved.  These days, we only have desserts or sweeter things once or twice a week - mostly on Sunday when the whole family is together.  I haven't been going out very often for breakfasts or lunches and when I do - no appetizers or desserts.  Not really missing it - but I do make sure I order a pot of tea to finish off the meal.  Seems to work pretty well.  Some days, I can look at menus and feel like ordering 80% of everything on the appetizer side of the menu - I DO MANAGE to restrain myself - good
thing - the fat and sugar counts
are probably through the roof
on most of it. 

As I said, it's pretty hard to show restraint when it comes to sweet and savory things.  Honestly, the best course of action sometimes would be, to not even take that first bite.  Once you start, not so easy to stop.  But, realistically, I know that is easier said than done.  There are times when you just can't avoid the treats.  So, if you can't or don't want to, at least try your best to cut back on the amount or types of items.  Self-control is not easy some days (or a lot of days) but as you take babysteps . . . it does get easier.  Like most things in life, eh?

It's crazy how addictive sugar is.  And what is even crazier, is how sugar affects your body and how little added sugar you are actually allowed to have, according to health and medical specialists.  As I mentioned in an earlier blog - what is sugar not in?  It's virtually everywhere and it sure doesn't take much at all before you have surpassed your daily limit.

          This is a woman's daily limit for added sugar -

       6 teaspoons or 24 gms a day
 
(A juice box can be up to 28 gms.  That basically means that I would have drunk my daily limit with one little juice box.)

 

FYI - 1 teaspoon sugar = 4 gms  

Men = 9 teaspoons daily 

I would think those amounts could vary a bit, if you are physically active.  
 

 

When you see the number of grams of sugar listed - you have to stop thinking of it in terms of grams (most of us don't really think it through as to how much that REALLY is.)  Start thinking of GRAMS in terms of TEASPOONS of sugar   Those little juice boxes might ONLY have 28 grams of sugar but that really means - 7 teaspoons of sugar.  Would you really mix 7 teaspoons of sugar into your child's drink.  That is pretty much we are doing.  Remember - these juice boxes have had the juices processed - they have less nutrients and no fibre.  This applies to even the 100% fruit juice boxes.  It's not uncommon for juice boxes to have only a percentage of real juice - often they add in more sugar and minerals / vitamins (sometimes, artificial).  Studies have shown that children are drinking less water (so important for them) . . . they want the colourful, handy dandy juice boxes.  Good habit to have them kick - buy them a cute/cool water bottle instead.  Save yourself a pile of money, to boot.  Sometimes, using them just makes sense (picnics, travelling) but for most days . . pass!

 

      

Keep the sugar in mind when checking out the packaging on your favourite treats.   It's super easy to forget how much a gram is when you see it listed on the side of a box.  One little gram.  Doesn't sound like a lot, but they add up and when you can start dividing those grams by 4 and see what they look like in terms of teaspoons - it really does wake you up.  Hopefully, it makes us think twice on our choices.  There's a lot of options out there - don't settle.   One of those regular packages of Skittles -
47 grams of sugar.  That's almost
12 teaspoons of sugar 
(or 12 sugar cubes) in someone's lunchbag. Maybe the small bag might be a better idea, if candy is a "must".                
 

I see kids of all ages in schools drinking that Sunny D - there's 8 teaspoons of sugar for you - not to mention the added vegetable oil.  What's with that? 
Kool-aid Jammers - 5 teaspoons of added sugar, chocolate milk - 6 teaspoons of added sugar.

I've decided that the unsweetened orange juice we have been buying is just not a good idea.  We'll eat the orange, thank you.  One glass of that oj is 6 teaspoons of sugar. That's my allotment for the day!  No wonder we are overweight! 

In the old days, I'd easily scarf down an O Henry Bar at the movies but now I'm thinking twice . . . 31 gm of sugar.  That would mean me eating almost 8 teaspoons of sugar.   What about those large slurpees (and I'm not even talking about the really big ones) that people LOVE to pick up on a super hot day . . . 23 teaspoons of sugar. Are you seriously telling me that you'd willingly stand at the kitchen counter and down 23 teaspoons of sugar out of the sugar bowl?  Same dif. 

Recently, I heard a neurologist, who has been doing extensive research on memory loss / Alzheimers (an issue for my family already) say that these have been linked to flab around the waist and obesity issues  - yet more reasons for me to stop packing on the pounds.  It's surprising how obesity is on many people's minds these days. For good reason.  From the Childhood Obesity Foundation:

"Currently, 59% of adult Canadians are either overweight or obese. Cities in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia were significantly higher in overweight/obesity population than the national average for adults.
There has also been a dramatic increase in unhealthy weights in children. In 1978, only 15% of children were overweight or obese. By 2007, Statistics Canada found that 29% of adolescents had unhealthy weights. Most adolescents do not outgrow this problem and in fact, many continue to gain excess weight. If current trends continue, by 2040, up to 70% of adults aged 40 years will be either overweight or obese"


No one expects us to stop eating sugar but being a little aware of what you are putting into your body is always food for thought!  I hope that you will seriously give some thought to portion control and especially, sugar consumption.  Less IS more! 


Side note:  To find your Body Mass Index (BMI) - check this site out:

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/adult_bmi/english_bmi_calculator/bmi_calculator.html

I am considered overweight - surprise, surprise - my tight pants already told me that.  But - I'm less than I was a number of challenges back.  No one would probably have guessed (or maybe I'm just kidding myself) - that I've gained 40 lbs. since I was first married (Oh, the good life).  It helps to be tall - you can hide it easier!  Slowly, the weight has creeped on and slowly it's coming off.  Learning self-control - even though it has been baby steps - is still a good thing.  I'm thinking that I'd really be quite ok with losing 15 lbs. That is my goal, anyway.  Starting to feel healthier already with the few pounds I've already lost. I'm actually scooting up the stairs with laundry in my arms without huffing and puffing - YIPPEE!

Food for Thought:        

                                    This your allotment of added sugar for THE DAY!

THIS IS WHAT ONE EX-LARGE SLURPEE LOOKS LIKE.

A mere 36 teaspoons of sugar. Cut back and make them an occasional treat or maybe just a 12 oz. (only 12 teaspoons - lol).

If you remember nothing else - remember these two things:  
                                          
                         SUGAR NOT BURNED CONVERTS TO FAT

4 GRAMS OF SUGAR = 1 TEASPOON OF SUGAR

See you next week for Challenge #21 - Learning to be OK with OK.

Images by:  sweetbakes4u.webs.com; servewell.co.uk; articlesofinterest-kelley.blogspot.com; survelas.info; www.hsmm.ca/wp/wp-content/.../how-sweet-it-is-healthy-start.pdf ; weelicious.com; thatsfit.com; en.wikipedia.org; dominickspizzaedison.com