Green Acres: April 2009

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

This Diet Works

I didn't think it was possible, but this diet really works. I've been on this diet going into my 3rd week now and I've lost 8 lbs. I haven't lacked for any food and have not had a craving for any sweets, bread or whatever. The first week I felt a little weak, especially at the gym, but the second week I felt my energy pick up and I was able to run in Pat's Run without fainting. I'm going to try Phase 1 for one more week to see if I can loose a few more lbs. and then begin Phase 2 by adding more fruits and whole grains. I have high cholesteral and am going in for my annual cholesteral test and want to see if this diet can bring the numbers down. Plus get the benefit of loosing a few too. I recommend this diet to anyone, you are never hungry, eating 6 times a day and you don't count calories or weigh your food. You eat until your full. And you only have to excercise for 20 minutes a day or until you break a sweat.

"The South Beach diet was created by Dr. Arthur Agatston who wanted to develop a delicious, healthy diet that was reasonable so that everyone can do it and be successful.

The diet basically starts by resetting your body chemistry. In the first two weeks you ban all of the bad carbohydrates and sugars. You do not have to ban all of the the carbohydrates, as long as you remember to eat the right ones, as outlined by the diet.

Phase one is meant to be done for two weeks only to reset the body and you may find that you may lose more weight on phase one simply because you are eliminating a lot of the sugar and bad carbs out of your diet, which tend to make your body retain more water. You will be replacing those bad carbs with fresh vegetables and lean meat and good fats such as almonds and peanut butter.

In phase two you will start to add some of the carbs and sugar back into your diet, remembering to use potion control of course. You will be adding in fruits and whole grain bread, pasta and rice. The weight loss may be slower now but remember that you are doing this to make an healthy life style change and anything that is worth doing is worth the wait. You will do phase two until you have reached you healthy weight goal and then you will be ready to start Phase Three.

Phase three of the diet is when you take all that you have learned in phases one and two and apply it to your everyday life. Remember that it is alright to occasionally deviate from your diet and have something “unhealthy” that you enjoy. But remember not to over do it. The diet is designed that if you get off track too much, you can start back on phase one.

Remember to always consult your doctor or a nutritionist before you start a program. There is no secret pill and the only sure way to get the body you want is by exercising in combination with a heatlhy meal plan."

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Farewell Mama Kiki - 18 good years

We finally had to put down our loyal cat who thought he was a dog this week. 18 years ago he followed our son Jon home one day from school. He wasn't a kitten but under a year old when he decided to adopt our family. His first name was Mitters because of his four white paws. Then it was "Mama's Mitters" and then one of my babysitting kids started calling him "Kiki" which he would come to any of those names. He was our healing cat. If you were not feeling well he would jump up on your lap and purr and rub his claws and paws onto your tummy until you would feel better. It was magic! He never backed away from any dog that would challenge him, swatting at them and holding his ground. He did swat at my mom one time when she forgot to feed him and she never let us forget the story which gets bigger and better every year. Derek took the best of care of him and slept with him most of the time. I was hoping he would still be alive when Derek returned from his mission but he got so skinny and was just not himself. This week his back leg swelled up and was hot to the touch and I knew that infection was setting in. So I took him in and he seemed very relaxed and purring and knew that's what he wanted. 18 years is an amazing long life for a cat. I can't ever remember having to take him into the vet for any sicknesses or anything. We buried him in our Secret Garden and have place a red antique wagon with a statue of a little girl holding a kitten. This cat will always hold a special place in our families heart. Farewell good and faithful friend.

Pat's Run Tempe Arizona - April 18th 2009

Waiting for the race to start - abt 7 a.m.

Running over the bridge on Scottsdale Road.

A very dog friendly race. Bentley would have loved it but I think it would have been a little far for him.

Last leg of the race running into the stadium with Pat's picture cheering you on.

This is the only race Rick and I like to run in. It's such a feel good race. It's a 4.2 mile run/walk celebrating the life of a former ASU football star (#42) and Army Ranger, Pat Tillman. Tillman walked away from the NFL to join the Army Rangers in the wake of September 11, 2001. He was killed while deployed in Afganistan in April 2004. More than 20,00 people entered the race. You start the race along side the ASU stadium and then run around Tempe Town Lake and then ending up in the football stadium with much fanfare and support from all the ASU Football players. The event benefits the Pat Tillman Foundation which supports a national veterans scholarship fund.
As long as Rick and I can either walk or run we are commited to this race every year.
Rick was kind enough to run along beside me the whole way and even waited for me at the end of the race.

Craig's Visit

A relaxing moment with my brother Craig, his wife Debbie and mom. Looking at the fountain go off up at Fountain Hills. It was a little breezy that day and the water cooled us off.

A rousing game of Scrabble up at the Lake.

We got some Subway sandwhiches and enjoyed eating them by the lake and watched the boats go by. We practically had the place to ourselves. If you go you might want to purchase ahead of time a recreation pass. I didn't have one and was nervous the whole time thinking I was going to get a ticket.

We brought our dog Bentley and the squirrels had a blast teasing him.

This is Sherriff Joe's Chain Gang hard at work. Look closely and you can see they are women in chains. This was taken on the corner of Brown and Stapley. My brother who lives in California knows all about Sherriff Joe and LOVES him.

We finished the day with a great Mexican dinner at our favorite restaurant "Tia Rosa". What a fun Family Day.

Mom's Birthday

Happy 88th Birthday

Shout out to my m om (Doris Marjorie 'Lee' Bashore) . My brother Craig and his wife Debbie came over
to help celebrate the happy occasion. We had alot of fun trying to blow out the self lighting candles. We got kind of concerned she would pass out from trying to blow them out. Mom is still doing well, loves to play scrabble twice a week, enjoys reading and getting together for family gatherings. She is a wonderful mom and brings so much joy into our lives. She has had a life long
love of music and played the violin in symphony orchestra's all the way up into her early 80's. She loved to garden, sew, refinished antique furniture and belonged to many social clubs. She grew up in Valley City, North Dakota and went to Pomona College in So. Calif where she met my Dad. They lived in the same house near there beloved college for 56 years, until they moved to Mesa 3 years ago. They are enjoying a more restful and carefree life style out in sunny Arizona.HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM