Mike Thorn is the owner of Three Points Automotive in High Point . Here is his contact info:
(336) 883-2886
5271 HIGH POINT RD
HIGH POINT, NC 27265-1139
Facebook Page
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
NC Chicken Stew!
Paula’s homemade Chicken Stew (simply Southern style)
3 to 4 Cooked chicken breasts
½ gallon…Chicken broth
½ gallon…Milk (Half broth / half milk)
Up to 4 Chicken bullion cubes
½ stick…Butter
½ Teaspoon…Salt
½ Teaspoon…Pepper
Mix ingredients in large pot.
Bring to gentle boil for 20 to 30 minutes.
(**Add 1 tablespoon of all purpose flour to make thicker)
Serve with your favorite style cracker (or hot, fresh corn bread), Dill or Bread n Butter pickles and sweet tea. Eat and Enjoy…
3 to 4 Cooked chicken breasts
½ gallon…Chicken broth
½ gallon…Milk (Half broth / half milk)
Up to 4 Chicken bullion cubes
½ stick…Butter
½ Teaspoon…Salt
½ Teaspoon…Pepper
Mix ingredients in large pot.
Bring to gentle boil for 20 to 30 minutes.
(**Add 1 tablespoon of all purpose flour to make thicker)
Serve with your favorite style cracker (or hot, fresh corn bread), Dill or Bread n Butter pickles and sweet tea. Eat and Enjoy…
Holiday Mail for Heroes
http://www.redcross.org/holidaymail
It’s that time of year again! The American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes have teamed up for the fourth annual Holiday Mail for Heroes program.
From now until December 10th you are invited to send holiday cards to our American service members, their families, and veterans all over the world. Anyone can send a card and you can send as many as you would like! Please send all cards to:
Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD
20791-5456
It’s that time of year again! The American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes have teamed up for the fourth annual Holiday Mail for Heroes program.
From now until December 10th you are invited to send holiday cards to our American service members, their families, and veterans all over the world. Anyone can send a card and you can send as many as you would like! Please send all cards to:
Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD
20791-5456
Monday, November 08, 2010
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Save and Be Safe This Winter
Richard Harrington and Jeff Vance from Gwyn Services joined us this morning to talk about heating your home safely and efficiently this winter. For more info, visit http://www.gwynservices.com/ or email: info@gwynservices.com .
Vote for Bishop McGuinness!
Here is an email that I recieved from a student at Bishop McGuinness yesterday. Let's help theses local students win!!
Hello Tami,
My name is Meghan George and I am a student at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School in Kernersville, NC. We entered a contest about a month ago that is sponsored by Bing and Microsoft entitled Our School Needs. The winner of this contest will receive $100,000 dollars to go towards the project that their school needs. There is also a second prize of $50,000 dollars that the 3 runners up of each category (elementary, middle, and high school) will receive. What our school needs is a performance pavilion and we entered the contest about a month ago. We wrote an 800 word essay to submit and we had all of our music students come together and write a song and we performed it and made a music video. I sang the solo for said video. We have made it out of 700 schools to the final round of the contest which consists of 15 schools (5 middle, 5 elementary, and 5 high schools.) It is an incredible feat to have made it this far. To see our entry please go to http://ourschoolneeds.discoverbing.com/Projects/Default.aspx?prj=242#fbid=c6Z-assybVl&wom=false
I am writing to you because I was wondering if WBFJ could help our school get the word out about our part in this contest. The way you win is that people have to go onto the website, make an account, and vote for your school. The school with the highest number of votes after this Sunday, November 7th, wins the contest. The way the voting works is you have to go to the bing website and make an account providing your name, e-mail, and birthday. Once you make an account you will be sent a confirmation e-mail to verify your account. The e-mail will contain a link to the website and if you click that link, log in, and you are now able to vote. You can vote once a day and we are asking everyone to tell everyone that they know that has a computer and is able to vote for us. The head of our music department, Doctor Alan Hirsh, has been working so hard for 12 years on getting this performance pavilion and if we were to win this contest our dream could become a reality.
Thank you so much for your time and we at Bishop McGuinness appreciate anything that you and WBFJ can do to help our school.
In Christ,
Meghan George
Junior at Bishop McGuinness
Hello Tami,
My name is Meghan George and I am a student at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School in Kernersville, NC. We entered a contest about a month ago that is sponsored by Bing and Microsoft entitled Our School Needs. The winner of this contest will receive $100,000 dollars to go towards the project that their school needs. There is also a second prize of $50,000 dollars that the 3 runners up of each category (elementary, middle, and high school) will receive. What our school needs is a performance pavilion and we entered the contest about a month ago. We wrote an 800 word essay to submit and we had all of our music students come together and write a song and we performed it and made a music video. I sang the solo for said video. We have made it out of 700 schools to the final round of the contest which consists of 15 schools (5 middle, 5 elementary, and 5 high schools.) It is an incredible feat to have made it this far. To see our entry please go to http://ourschoolneeds.discoverbing.com/Projects/Default.aspx?prj=242#fbid=c6Z-assybVl&wom=false
I am writing to you because I was wondering if WBFJ could help our school get the word out about our part in this contest. The way you win is that people have to go onto the website, make an account, and vote for your school. The school with the highest number of votes after this Sunday, November 7th, wins the contest. The way the voting works is you have to go to the bing website and make an account providing your name, e-mail, and birthday. Once you make an account you will be sent a confirmation e-mail to verify your account. The e-mail will contain a link to the website and if you click that link, log in, and you are now able to vote. You can vote once a day and we are asking everyone to tell everyone that they know that has a computer and is able to vote for us. The head of our music department, Doctor Alan Hirsh, has been working so hard for 12 years on getting this performance pavilion and if we were to win this contest our dream could become a reality.
Thank you so much for your time and we at Bishop McGuinness appreciate anything that you and WBFJ can do to help our school.
In Christ,
Meghan George
Junior at Bishop McGuinness
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
CAREGIVER STRESS- The Dangers of Being a Good Samaritan
By Dwight Bain, Nationally Certified Counselor & Certified Life Coach
“Don’t take life so seriously, you’ll never get out of it alive,” was the simple advice I saw on a greeting card once and it makes sense, especially when thinking about the incredible pressures placed on those in the important role of caregiver for a loved one. You’ve got to lighten up the load to prevent major burnout.
Many times it’s easy to overlook just how tired, frustrated, or angry someone feels when they are buried in the dozens of day-to-day tasks required of a primary caregiver. This special report is designed to help you spot the warning signs when you’ve done too much for too long and don’t have enough energy left in the tank to help anyone, including yourself.
There was a popular song many years ago that had the lyric, “he ain’t heavy- he’s my brother” which isn’t exactly accurate. If you are piggy-back riding your brother, sister, child, or any other family member, their actual weight is still the same, but because you love and care for them, you have extra energy to serve them. Love will allow you to carry someone you care about for a while – but after a while they do get heavy again, and you will feel the pressure to want to take a break. That’s normal and not a sign of lack of love, rather just a sign of being human. So what does it mean to be a ‘Care-Giver’ anyway?
To be a Caregiver is to provide financial, relational, physical, spiritual, or emotional support to someone who is unable to live independently like:
— newborns or small children
— those recovering from an injury or illness
— aging loved ones
— anyone facing a terminal illness
— those who are disabled in some way (physically, mentally, emotionally)
This just about covers parents and people from all walks of life and all ages, so it probably impacts you or someone you care about. Let’s un-package this important issue to understand the dangers of being a ‘good Samaritan’ and find out how to avoid the often overwhelming stress that can come from being a compassionate parent, adult child, or primary caregiver.
Let’s start by defining the difference between CARETAKERS and CAREGIVERS.
A caretaker provides a level of compassionate service for someone in need, often for a fee or salary of some kind. They may feel a special calling to help out (like nurses, teachers, doctors, counselors, or pastors), yet at the end of the day, it’s their job and they are compensated in some way for their services. Caretakers can do their important work in many ways. For instance, they can work with children, with patients, wounded people, or by managing property or running a museum. It’s important work, often tiring, but not usually overwhelming enough to create compassion fatigue or massive distress because there are clear boundaries, defined duties, and reasonable expectations, as well as defined hours of service.
Being a caretaker is much less complicated than being a caregiver. Caregivers do the same work, but often with greater intensity, since they often aren’t compensated in some way and just work out of the goodness of their hearts to show compassion to the person in need. They often give and give expecting nothing in return, yet that is often why they run out of energy and burnout. They don’t have defined hours, schedules, or budgets. It can get very stressful, very fast because they can’t do everything for everyone all the time without it leading to caregiver stress.
Consider the following warning signs I first learned from my friend June Hunt to see if you are experiencing this type of roadblock to healthy relationships.
The Caregiver Stress Checklist
In asking yourself these questions, honestly assess your feelings to determine if it could be time to seek professional help to overcome caregiver stress.
• Am I easily agitated with those I love?
• Am I becoming more critical of others?
• Am I having difficulty laughing or having fun?
• Am I turning down most invitations to be with others?
• Am I feeling depressed about my situation?
• Am I feeling hurt when my efforts go unnoticed?
• Am I resentful when other family members are not helping?
• Am I feeling trapped by all the responsibilities?
• Am I being manipulated?
• Am I missing sleep and regular exercise?
• Am I too busy for quiet time with God?
• Am I feeling guilty when I take time for myself?
Warning Signs of Caregiver Stress:
___ Physically – exhausted and worn out
___ Emotionally – resentful, stressed, bitter
___ Relationally – feeling used or unappreciated
___ Financially – overwhelmed or depleted
It’s right to care for people in need. It’s healthy to show compassion. Those are good things and make us feel better for having made a difference in the lives of others. You can show care in a lot of ways and should. Consider the meanings of the verb care: “To have a personal interest in, or be watchful over, to be affectionate toward, to look out for, to be concerned about, to provide for, to give serious attention to and to keep safe.” Caring is important, but there are some hidden dangers if you care too much.
Hidden Facts about the Good Samaritan
There is no better example of being a compassionate caregiver than the timeless story taught by Jesus about the Good Samaritan. You may remember the story – a man is mugged by thieves and left for dead on the side of the road. Then a pastor and a lawyer pass by on the other side to avoid getting involved. Finally, a man from another cultural background stops, applies first aid, transports the victim to a respite center, and pays for his care. Jesus showed that the person who really showed love for his neighbor wasn’t the most religious or best educated, or even from the same culture; rather, the one who showed the greatest compassion was the only one who fulfilled the great commandment to 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
This is a life changing spiritual teaching for anyone, yet one should not miss some basic factors to protect the Good Samaritan from compassion fatigue. Yes, he jumped in to help a stranger, and, yes, he showed great love for another human being, but he didn’t do it alone! The Good Samaritan started a healing process in the life of a wounded man and allowed others, like the inn-keeper, to be part of the team to make a positive difference in helping a man rebuild and recover. When you are part of a team helping someone going through a crisis, you are less likely to burnout. And that’s a good thing for everyone so you can have a lot more energy to help others for years to come.
Self Care Comes First
Chaplain Max Helton worked next to me at Ground Zero after the terrorist attacks in New York on 9-11-01. He taught me a wonderful process in dealing with overwhelming situations. First, focus on ‘self-care,’ then ‘buddy care,’ and finally ‘other care’. This way you can protect your own energy, help others facing the same care-giving challenges, and then together be much stronger and more focused to better serve others.
It can be done, but it can’t be done alone. God designed us to work together in partnership with others. Moms and dads, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, fellow church members, neighbors, co-workers, community members, basically anyone could be in a situation to be a caregiver. But remember the principle to not go it alone. Let others help you.
If you are facing a major care-giving role alone, let me challenge you to reach out for some help. It could come from friends, family, pastors, churches, a MOPS group, or other supportive group, but whatever you do, don’t try to do it all yourself. Caring is good; exhaustion isn’t. If you are aware that you are feeling pressure to do it all, take the checklists and insights from this article to review with someone close to you for an objective point of view just to keep you from the stress of caring too much that you get lost in the process. Or perhaps you have a friend, co-worker, or family member that appears to be struggling with compassion fatigue that you could invite for a cup of coffee to review the key points and then open up a discussion on how you might be an encouragement to help them better manage the stress of caring for someone in need.
You don’t have to do it all alone, but you do have to openly bring up the subject to let the people who care about you likely know the pressure is building and that you need some help. Here are some strategies to guide you with a sense of balance as you willingly share your heart of compassion without getting crushed from too much care.
How to prevent being so full of “care” that you can’t care for yourself
1) Be aware of the common stress signals that come with being a caregiver:
___ irritability or moodiness
___ feelings of resentment
___ loss of sleep or feeling frequently exhausted
___ increased susceptibility to colds and flu
___ feeling guilty about taking time for yourself
2) Be aware of the pressure of care-giving and that it builds over time.
3) Be aware that as care-giving goes up, additional coping skills should go up, too.
4) Be aware of your own needs and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
"You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage -- pleasantly, smilingly, non-apologetically -- to say 'no' to other things. And the way you do that is by having a bigger 'yes' burning inside. The enemy of the 'best' is often the 'good.'" — Stephen Covey
5) Be aware of the resources around you, and be willing to take a respite.
Tips to add compassionate care - Send cards and handwritten notes - Make visits to the hospital or nursing home - Send flowers or small gifts - Provide food and occasionally an entire meal - Volunteer to be a driver (transportation) - Entertain children or other family members - Shop for needed items - Set aside time for regular reading aloud - Take walks and do other outdoor activities - Offer to do laundry and housecleaning - Be a willing and attentive listener - Extend emotional and physical affection - Provide financial assistance - Pray for someone in a crisis and ask others to join you in providing spiritual support for those in great need.
6) Be aware that sometimes you need to just sit on the floor and laugh or cry.
"I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all." — Laura Ingalls Wilder
7) Be aware that care-giving is hard work and often you may want to quit, yet it is still one of the most loving acts of Servant Leadership.
“For the heartsick, bleeding soul out there today who is desperate for a word of encouragement, let me assure you that you can trust this Lord of heaven and earth.There is security and rest in the wisdom of the eternal Scriptures. I believe the Lord can be trusted, even when He cannot be tracked. Of this you can be certain: Jehovah, King of kings and Lord of lords, is not pacing the corridors of heaven in confusion over the problems in your life! He hung the worlds in space. He can handle the burdens that have weighed you down, and He cares about you deeply. He says to you, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalms 46:10 — James Dobson, Ph.D.
________________________________________
Reprinted with permission from the LifeWorks Group, www.LifeWorksGroup.org eNews (Copyright, 2004-2010, by the LifeWorks Group in Florida. 407-647-7005 ).
About the author
Dwight Bain is dedicated to helping people achieve greater results. He is a Nationally Certified Counselor, Certified Life Coach, and Certified Family Law Mediator in practice since 1984 with a primary focus on solving crisis events and managing major change. He partners with media, corporations, and non-profit organizations to make a positive difference in our culture. Access more counseling and coaching resources designed to save you time by solving stressful situations by visiting his counseling blog with over 300 complimentary articles and special reports at www.LifeWorksGroup.org
“Don’t take life so seriously, you’ll never get out of it alive,” was the simple advice I saw on a greeting card once and it makes sense, especially when thinking about the incredible pressures placed on those in the important role of caregiver for a loved one. You’ve got to lighten up the load to prevent major burnout.
Many times it’s easy to overlook just how tired, frustrated, or angry someone feels when they are buried in the dozens of day-to-day tasks required of a primary caregiver. This special report is designed to help you spot the warning signs when you’ve done too much for too long and don’t have enough energy left in the tank to help anyone, including yourself.
There was a popular song many years ago that had the lyric, “he ain’t heavy- he’s my brother” which isn’t exactly accurate. If you are piggy-back riding your brother, sister, child, or any other family member, their actual weight is still the same, but because you love and care for them, you have extra energy to serve them. Love will allow you to carry someone you care about for a while – but after a while they do get heavy again, and you will feel the pressure to want to take a break. That’s normal and not a sign of lack of love, rather just a sign of being human. So what does it mean to be a ‘Care-Giver’ anyway?
To be a Caregiver is to provide financial, relational, physical, spiritual, or emotional support to someone who is unable to live independently like:
— newborns or small children
— those recovering from an injury or illness
— aging loved ones
— anyone facing a terminal illness
— those who are disabled in some way (physically, mentally, emotionally)
This just about covers parents and people from all walks of life and all ages, so it probably impacts you or someone you care about. Let’s un-package this important issue to understand the dangers of being a ‘good Samaritan’ and find out how to avoid the often overwhelming stress that can come from being a compassionate parent, adult child, or primary caregiver.
Let’s start by defining the difference between CARETAKERS and CAREGIVERS.
A caretaker provides a level of compassionate service for someone in need, often for a fee or salary of some kind. They may feel a special calling to help out (like nurses, teachers, doctors, counselors, or pastors), yet at the end of the day, it’s their job and they are compensated in some way for their services. Caretakers can do their important work in many ways. For instance, they can work with children, with patients, wounded people, or by managing property or running a museum. It’s important work, often tiring, but not usually overwhelming enough to create compassion fatigue or massive distress because there are clear boundaries, defined duties, and reasonable expectations, as well as defined hours of service.
Being a caretaker is much less complicated than being a caregiver. Caregivers do the same work, but often with greater intensity, since they often aren’t compensated in some way and just work out of the goodness of their hearts to show compassion to the person in need. They often give and give expecting nothing in return, yet that is often why they run out of energy and burnout. They don’t have defined hours, schedules, or budgets. It can get very stressful, very fast because they can’t do everything for everyone all the time without it leading to caregiver stress.
Consider the following warning signs I first learned from my friend June Hunt to see if you are experiencing this type of roadblock to healthy relationships.
The Caregiver Stress Checklist
In asking yourself these questions, honestly assess your feelings to determine if it could be time to seek professional help to overcome caregiver stress.
• Am I easily agitated with those I love?
• Am I becoming more critical of others?
• Am I having difficulty laughing or having fun?
• Am I turning down most invitations to be with others?
• Am I feeling depressed about my situation?
• Am I feeling hurt when my efforts go unnoticed?
• Am I resentful when other family members are not helping?
• Am I feeling trapped by all the responsibilities?
• Am I being manipulated?
• Am I missing sleep and regular exercise?
• Am I too busy for quiet time with God?
• Am I feeling guilty when I take time for myself?
Warning Signs of Caregiver Stress:
___ Physically – exhausted and worn out
___ Emotionally – resentful, stressed, bitter
___ Relationally – feeling used or unappreciated
___ Financially – overwhelmed or depleted
It’s right to care for people in need. It’s healthy to show compassion. Those are good things and make us feel better for having made a difference in the lives of others. You can show care in a lot of ways and should. Consider the meanings of the verb care: “To have a personal interest in, or be watchful over, to be affectionate toward, to look out for, to be concerned about, to provide for, to give serious attention to and to keep safe.” Caring is important, but there are some hidden dangers if you care too much.
Hidden Facts about the Good Samaritan
There is no better example of being a compassionate caregiver than the timeless story taught by Jesus about the Good Samaritan. You may remember the story – a man is mugged by thieves and left for dead on the side of the road. Then a pastor and a lawyer pass by on the other side to avoid getting involved. Finally, a man from another cultural background stops, applies first aid, transports the victim to a respite center, and pays for his care. Jesus showed that the person who really showed love for his neighbor wasn’t the most religious or best educated, or even from the same culture; rather, the one who showed the greatest compassion was the only one who fulfilled the great commandment to 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
This is a life changing spiritual teaching for anyone, yet one should not miss some basic factors to protect the Good Samaritan from compassion fatigue. Yes, he jumped in to help a stranger, and, yes, he showed great love for another human being, but he didn’t do it alone! The Good Samaritan started a healing process in the life of a wounded man and allowed others, like the inn-keeper, to be part of the team to make a positive difference in helping a man rebuild and recover. When you are part of a team helping someone going through a crisis, you are less likely to burnout. And that’s a good thing for everyone so you can have a lot more energy to help others for years to come.
Self Care Comes First
Chaplain Max Helton worked next to me at Ground Zero after the terrorist attacks in New York on 9-11-01. He taught me a wonderful process in dealing with overwhelming situations. First, focus on ‘self-care,’ then ‘buddy care,’ and finally ‘other care’. This way you can protect your own energy, help others facing the same care-giving challenges, and then together be much stronger and more focused to better serve others.
It can be done, but it can’t be done alone. God designed us to work together in partnership with others. Moms and dads, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, fellow church members, neighbors, co-workers, community members, basically anyone could be in a situation to be a caregiver. But remember the principle to not go it alone. Let others help you.
If you are facing a major care-giving role alone, let me challenge you to reach out for some help. It could come from friends, family, pastors, churches, a MOPS group, or other supportive group, but whatever you do, don’t try to do it all yourself. Caring is good; exhaustion isn’t. If you are aware that you are feeling pressure to do it all, take the checklists and insights from this article to review with someone close to you for an objective point of view just to keep you from the stress of caring too much that you get lost in the process. Or perhaps you have a friend, co-worker, or family member that appears to be struggling with compassion fatigue that you could invite for a cup of coffee to review the key points and then open up a discussion on how you might be an encouragement to help them better manage the stress of caring for someone in need.
You don’t have to do it all alone, but you do have to openly bring up the subject to let the people who care about you likely know the pressure is building and that you need some help. Here are some strategies to guide you with a sense of balance as you willingly share your heart of compassion without getting crushed from too much care.
How to prevent being so full of “care” that you can’t care for yourself
1) Be aware of the common stress signals that come with being a caregiver:
___ irritability or moodiness
___ feelings of resentment
___ loss of sleep or feeling frequently exhausted
___ increased susceptibility to colds and flu
___ feeling guilty about taking time for yourself
2) Be aware of the pressure of care-giving and that it builds over time.
3) Be aware that as care-giving goes up, additional coping skills should go up, too.
4) Be aware of your own needs and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
"You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage -- pleasantly, smilingly, non-apologetically -- to say 'no' to other things. And the way you do that is by having a bigger 'yes' burning inside. The enemy of the 'best' is often the 'good.'" — Stephen Covey
5) Be aware of the resources around you, and be willing to take a respite.
Tips to add compassionate care - Send cards and handwritten notes - Make visits to the hospital or nursing home - Send flowers or small gifts - Provide food and occasionally an entire meal - Volunteer to be a driver (transportation) - Entertain children or other family members - Shop for needed items - Set aside time for regular reading aloud - Take walks and do other outdoor activities - Offer to do laundry and housecleaning - Be a willing and attentive listener - Extend emotional and physical affection - Provide financial assistance - Pray for someone in a crisis and ask others to join you in providing spiritual support for those in great need.
6) Be aware that sometimes you need to just sit on the floor and laugh or cry.
"I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all." — Laura Ingalls Wilder
7) Be aware that care-giving is hard work and often you may want to quit, yet it is still one of the most loving acts of Servant Leadership.
“For the heartsick, bleeding soul out there today who is desperate for a word of encouragement, let me assure you that you can trust this Lord of heaven and earth.There is security and rest in the wisdom of the eternal Scriptures. I believe the Lord can be trusted, even when He cannot be tracked. Of this you can be certain: Jehovah, King of kings and Lord of lords, is not pacing the corridors of heaven in confusion over the problems in your life! He hung the worlds in space. He can handle the burdens that have weighed you down, and He cares about you deeply. He says to you, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalms 46:10 — James Dobson, Ph.D.
________________________________________
Reprinted with permission from the LifeWorks Group, www.LifeWorksGroup.org eNews (Copyright, 2004-2010, by the LifeWorks Group in Florida. 407-647-7005 ).
About the author
Dwight Bain is dedicated to helping people achieve greater results. He is a Nationally Certified Counselor, Certified Life Coach, and Certified Family Law Mediator in practice since 1984 with a primary focus on solving crisis events and managing major change. He partners with media, corporations, and non-profit organizations to make a positive difference in our culture. Access more counseling and coaching resources designed to save you time by solving stressful situations by visiting his counseling blog with over 300 complimentary articles and special reports at www.LifeWorksGroup.org
Monday, November 01, 2010
20 Ways NOT to Gain Weight Over the Holidays
I know the holidays are coming///what can I do to prevent weight gain?
That answer is simple: Stick with your plan. You've overcome temptations and slip-ups before. Every day poses challenges, yet you remain strong and continue to make progress toward your goals. Why should the holidays be any different? If you want to lose weight this month, you can. You just have to choose to stay in control, one day at a time. Here are 20 tips that will help you keep holiday weight gain at bay and lose a few pounds by new year.
1. Track your food intake. That means all of it, from the spoonful of cookie batter you ate while baking to the free sample of ham at the grocery store. These "hidden" calories are easy to gloss over but can really add up. If you do nothing else during the holidays, track your food diligently every day.
2. Plan your holiday meals. A continuation of tip #1, plan your meals and snacks in advance so you can enjoy your favorites and still stay on track. Before you head to another party or sit down for a holiday dinner, pre-track your food for the day. Find places to cut back on calories in order to splurge a little more on your holiday meal, for example. Decide which foods you'll have (and how much)
3. Look up calories before you bite. Use websites to calculate the nutrition information in your favorite holiday foods so you can add them to your tracker. If you really want to eat a cookie from a co-worker, open your Nutrition Tracker first and decide whether it fits in with your plan (see #2 above).
4. Make fitness a priority. I like to remind people that food is only one part of the equation that determines whether you'll lose or gain weight. Fitness is just as important. Don't let your workouts go by the wayside. If anything, you should be trying to work out more than before to curb weight gain and extra eating. Just remember this: Burn it (exercise) to earn it (extra holiday calories).
5. Schedule your workout like an appointment. You wouldn't miss work, a doctor's appointment or an important meeting to bake cookies or do some holiday shopping, would you? Add your workouts to your calendar so that other obligations don't get in the way of your gym time. Tell your friend that you'd love to bring some cookies to her party but that you won't arrive until after Fitness Classes let out.
6. Bring your own food. This is a great tip if you're heading to a party and don't know what's in the food (or how it was prepared). No matter what kind of food is there, you'll have at least one dish you can eat with confidence.
7. Don't drink alcohol. It lowers inhibitions, making it more likely that you'll forget about your nutrition plan and overindulge. Plus, alcohol alone is pretty high in calories. (along with various other reasons it isnt a good idea)
8. Re-gift treats and food. Of course, your loved ones mean well when they give you delicious food and candy gifts. But just because they give them does not mean you have to eat them! There are plenty of opportunities to re-gift food gifts over the holidays: bring them to parties, potlucks, and other get-togethers. Or, donate store-bought foods to a local food pantry or hospital to spread the holiday spirit to others. Take home-baked goods to a homeless shelter.
9. Bring your food to work. If you feel guilty about re-gifting, Share it in a communal space like the office café for others to partake of as they choose.
10. Don't make mountains out of molehills. It's easy to go over your calories one day and feel like a failure. But remember that it takes much more than one day of overeating to thwart your progress. Accept your slip-ups, learn from them and move on.
11. Add 10 extra minutes of cardio to your days. Some experts say that adding just 10 minutes of vigorous exercise to your usual workout routine can counter the effects of a little extra holiday eating. You can spare an extra 10 minutes, right? Even if you can't fit it in all at once, try to do small amounts throughout the day. High-intensity moves like jumping jacks, high-knee running in place, or jumping rope all work. Or you can try one of the classes at Fitness One that burn 400-800 Calories per session!
12. Maintain your active lifestyle. Remember that "running" errands isn't the same as running—or exercising. But the more activity you can add to your days (in addition to planned fitness) the better off you'll be.
13. Keep an emergency snack on hand. Stashing some healthy snacks in your car, purse, and desk drawer can help satisfy your cravings and prevent you from going overboard on all the wrong foods. This is a good idea when you're hungry at work and cookies sound tempting, or when you're shopping late at the mall and hear the food court calling.
14. Watch your portions. There's nothing wrong with enjoying some once-a-year favorites if you keep your portions in check. Sometimes just a little taste is all you need. Estimate portion sizes when eating at parties and holiday dinners.
15. Focus on people. Isn't that what the holidays are all about? At parties and gatherings, enjoy the good conversation and activities instead of hovering around the food table. Create lasting memories that don't revolve around eating, and you won't feel like you're missing out.
16. Drink your water. Recent studies found that when people drink more water throughout the day, they end up eating fewer total calories. Water and water-rich foods can help fill you up longer. Keep a cup of water in hand at parties, sip water between bites, and meet your daily quota to help prevent overeating.
17. Wake up with exercise. People who exercise first thing in the morning are more likely to exercise regularly than those who exercise later in the day.
18. Don't act as if it's your only chance to eat. With every food that crosses your path, remind yourself that you'll have plenty of chances later to eat. Forgo the "last supper" mentality. Honor your true feelings of hunger and fullness, and if you're not hungry or in the mood for a certain food, don't feel obligated to eat it. Be a (polite) food snob. Don't waste calories on a treat you don't really like or that isn't very delicious. If you accept a co-worker's cookie or Aunt Mary's bacon salad, but it's not very tasty, stop eating it. No one will fault you for saying you want to just have a taste.
19. Slow down. Savor your food and the experience of eating. You'll eat less, feel more satisfied, and recognize feelings of hunger before it's too late.
20. Keep your eye on the prize. Before you take a bite or hit snooze instead of hitting the gym, remember your goals. It's going to take work to get there and survive the holiday season. Before you act, ask yourself, "Will this help me get where I want to go?" If not, make another decision. And remember that YOU are in control during the holidays, not the other way around.
Here's to staying fit, looking great, and reaching your goals all month long!
Allen Branch CPT, SCS, NASM-PES
Fitness One Training Solutions
American Martial Arts Systems
336-655-4558
trainer@myfitnessone.com
"Its time to put a fitness expert in your corner."
That answer is simple: Stick with your plan. You've overcome temptations and slip-ups before. Every day poses challenges, yet you remain strong and continue to make progress toward your goals. Why should the holidays be any different? If you want to lose weight this month, you can. You just have to choose to stay in control, one day at a time. Here are 20 tips that will help you keep holiday weight gain at bay and lose a few pounds by new year.
1. Track your food intake. That means all of it, from the spoonful of cookie batter you ate while baking to the free sample of ham at the grocery store. These "hidden" calories are easy to gloss over but can really add up. If you do nothing else during the holidays, track your food diligently every day.
2. Plan your holiday meals. A continuation of tip #1, plan your meals and snacks in advance so you can enjoy your favorites and still stay on track. Before you head to another party or sit down for a holiday dinner, pre-track your food for the day. Find places to cut back on calories in order to splurge a little more on your holiday meal, for example. Decide which foods you'll have (and how much)
3. Look up calories before you bite. Use websites to calculate the nutrition information in your favorite holiday foods so you can add them to your tracker. If you really want to eat a cookie from a co-worker, open your Nutrition Tracker first and decide whether it fits in with your plan (see #2 above).
4. Make fitness a priority. I like to remind people that food is only one part of the equation that determines whether you'll lose or gain weight. Fitness is just as important. Don't let your workouts go by the wayside. If anything, you should be trying to work out more than before to curb weight gain and extra eating. Just remember this: Burn it (exercise) to earn it (extra holiday calories).
5. Schedule your workout like an appointment. You wouldn't miss work, a doctor's appointment or an important meeting to bake cookies or do some holiday shopping, would you? Add your workouts to your calendar so that other obligations don't get in the way of your gym time. Tell your friend that you'd love to bring some cookies to her party but that you won't arrive until after Fitness Classes let out.
6. Bring your own food. This is a great tip if you're heading to a party and don't know what's in the food (or how it was prepared). No matter what kind of food is there, you'll have at least one dish you can eat with confidence.
7. Don't drink alcohol. It lowers inhibitions, making it more likely that you'll forget about your nutrition plan and overindulge. Plus, alcohol alone is pretty high in calories. (along with various other reasons it isnt a good idea)
8. Re-gift treats and food. Of course, your loved ones mean well when they give you delicious food and candy gifts. But just because they give them does not mean you have to eat them! There are plenty of opportunities to re-gift food gifts over the holidays: bring them to parties, potlucks, and other get-togethers. Or, donate store-bought foods to a local food pantry or hospital to spread the holiday spirit to others. Take home-baked goods to a homeless shelter.
9. Bring your food to work. If you feel guilty about re-gifting, Share it in a communal space like the office café for others to partake of as they choose.
10. Don't make mountains out of molehills. It's easy to go over your calories one day and feel like a failure. But remember that it takes much more than one day of overeating to thwart your progress. Accept your slip-ups, learn from them and move on.
11. Add 10 extra minutes of cardio to your days. Some experts say that adding just 10 minutes of vigorous exercise to your usual workout routine can counter the effects of a little extra holiday eating. You can spare an extra 10 minutes, right? Even if you can't fit it in all at once, try to do small amounts throughout the day. High-intensity moves like jumping jacks, high-knee running in place, or jumping rope all work. Or you can try one of the classes at Fitness One that burn 400-800 Calories per session!
12. Maintain your active lifestyle. Remember that "running" errands isn't the same as running—or exercising. But the more activity you can add to your days (in addition to planned fitness) the better off you'll be.
13. Keep an emergency snack on hand. Stashing some healthy snacks in your car, purse, and desk drawer can help satisfy your cravings and prevent you from going overboard on all the wrong foods. This is a good idea when you're hungry at work and cookies sound tempting, or when you're shopping late at the mall and hear the food court calling.
14. Watch your portions. There's nothing wrong with enjoying some once-a-year favorites if you keep your portions in check. Sometimes just a little taste is all you need. Estimate portion sizes when eating at parties and holiday dinners.
15. Focus on people. Isn't that what the holidays are all about? At parties and gatherings, enjoy the good conversation and activities instead of hovering around the food table. Create lasting memories that don't revolve around eating, and you won't feel like you're missing out.
16. Drink your water. Recent studies found that when people drink more water throughout the day, they end up eating fewer total calories. Water and water-rich foods can help fill you up longer. Keep a cup of water in hand at parties, sip water between bites, and meet your daily quota to help prevent overeating.
17. Wake up with exercise. People who exercise first thing in the morning are more likely to exercise regularly than those who exercise later in the day.
18. Don't act as if it's your only chance to eat. With every food that crosses your path, remind yourself that you'll have plenty of chances later to eat. Forgo the "last supper" mentality. Honor your true feelings of hunger and fullness, and if you're not hungry or in the mood for a certain food, don't feel obligated to eat it. Be a (polite) food snob. Don't waste calories on a treat you don't really like or that isn't very delicious. If you accept a co-worker's cookie or Aunt Mary's bacon salad, but it's not very tasty, stop eating it. No one will fault you for saying you want to just have a taste.
19. Slow down. Savor your food and the experience of eating. You'll eat less, feel more satisfied, and recognize feelings of hunger before it's too late.
20. Keep your eye on the prize. Before you take a bite or hit snooze instead of hitting the gym, remember your goals. It's going to take work to get there and survive the holiday season. Before you act, ask yourself, "Will this help me get where I want to go?" If not, make another decision. And remember that YOU are in control during the holidays, not the other way around.
Here's to staying fit, looking great, and reaching your goals all month long!
Allen Branch CPT, SCS, NASM-PES
Fitness One Training Solutions
American Martial Arts Systems
336-655-4558
trainer@myfitnessone.com
"Its time to put a fitness expert in your corner."
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