Measurements #3: Drum Roll, Please!

I RARELY see The Oprah Winfrey Show anymore, but yesterday, I caught an episode (The Five Things You Need To Do in 2011) with my favorite M.D., Dr. Oz. He did this amazing demonstration about the ways in which hypertension effects the human body. When I tell you that it was the FIRST time that I really understood the concept, I am not exaggerating. After years of personal reading, research & my doctors' explanations, I finally got the reason why it's important to maintain a healthy systolic/diastolic pressure!
Also in that show, Dr. Oz stated that losing inches is more important than losing weight, especially for me because I carry extra weight in my midsection...which is very bad for my heart.

Well, this morning, I realized that I am 14 days into 2011 and I have not taken any measurements. So, I hopped out of bed, took care of some personal needs and whipped out my handy-dandy tape measure.

Here are the results:
* Bust: 42 3/4"----------------decrease of 1/2"
(under bust: 35" --------------decrease of 3/4"
* Waist (at navel): 34 1/4" ----decrease of 2 1/4"
GOAL of 30" or lower
* Pooch (under waist): 38" ----decrease of 1/2"
GOAL of 30" or lower
* Hips: 44" ------------------- decrease of 3/4"
* Left thigh: 28" --------------decrease of 1"
* Right thigh: 28 1/4"--------- decrease of 1/2"

Overall, I decreased inches on ALL parts of my body AND maintained a morning weight of 184.6!

Go Cindy...Go Cindy...Go Cindy!

*ARTICLE REVIEW*: Diversify Your Diet

On my journey to get feedback on Dr. Mehmet Oz's green juice, I surfed Oprah.com and found a link to Dr. Oz/Dr. Roizen's website, Real Age.com.

At first, I thought that Real Age.com was a gimmick to get money out of me. It seemed too good to be truly free. Then, I realized that it was a treasure-trove of ideas and recipes. As I stated in my 12-26-10 blog, I wanted to find different types of fruit and veggies to eat so that I can rotate my food choices.

The Diversity Your Diet article, on Real Age.com, takes a simple approach to diet variety. It suggests that we choose fruit and vegetables by color. Each color represents a different nutritional benefit for our bodies. As it turns out, many veggies & fruit are cancer-fighters, which is a plus for anyone's well-being.

Take the time to read this article from beginning to end. You will be amazed at the information that you will find.

Day 5: The Alpineblu Special & a Merry Christmas to ALL

I can tell you that I tried to sleep as LATE as possible today. Even though I arose to take my hypertension medication, feed my six zebra finches and get some water, I promptly went back to sleep until 11:50 a.m.! (Yeah for Cindy!)

My Christmas Day breakfast included a juiced apple and carrots that was blended with soymilk, fresh alfalfa sprouts, blueberries and pineapple slices. I will dub this drink my "Alpineblu Special". This new concoction made exactly 8 oz./1 cup of juice...yeah. I think that I just about have this process down.

In the January 10, 2011 First for Women magazine, Dr. Oz suggested that another slimming strategy was to "automate one meal". This means that I need to create a habit with one meal that stays the same. So, I am planning to make my morning juicing ritual my first good habit of the new year.

Unlike many people who start their new year resolution in January, I always clean out the old and bring in the new in December.

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2010...and it snowed in Atlanta (Rex) on CHRISTMAS!!