Rebecca Clark

Post Thanksgiving Review

Post Thanksgiving review starts with this quote, “The best laid plans of mice and men…”exercise

Cooking and Exercise

I had intended to try Rebecca J. Clark’s, author of The Checklist Diet suggestions for cooking and exercise.
  • Calf raises—whenever you're stirring something on the stove.
  • Side leg raises—while stirring/mixing away from the stove.
  • Stand on one leg—while washing your hands (don't forget to switch legs).
  • Arm circles—while waiting for the pot to boil.
  • Deep breathing—while chopping vegetables (in through the nose, pause, out through the mouth)
I’d also planned to play plenty of music and dance while I was cooking, but all I managed to do was a couple of calf raises. And the outdoor exercise I’d planned, never got off the ground. Of all… Read More

Managing Sugar

Managing Sugar

Managing sugar is a hit and miss problem for me. In the past, the more I eat, the more I want. When I’m not eating it, I don’t crave it, but when I am, I want more. It’s been addictive for me and I craved it constantly. I managed it by avoiding sugar all together. sugarBut an interesting thing has happened since I’ve started my weight loss quest. Now that I no longer deprive myself of desserts and sugar because I’m on a “diet”, I find I don’t crave it like I used to. I know I can have it, so I don’t treat it like it’s taboo or that I have to be good on my “diet”… Read More

Exercise Tips

exercise Doing Push-ups I’ve been following Rebecca J. Clark's 30 Day Weight Loss Challenge on Facebook, and it is loaded with fabulous exercise tips. Did you know that after just two weeks of being a couch potato you could lose 25 percent of your strength? That made me sit up and take notice, especially with winter on the way.

Exercise Tips

exercise Elbow Planks Rebecca said doing this circuit workout one to two times a week can maintain your strength.
  • Sit and stand from chair—20x
  • Jumping jacks—20-50x (if you can do 50, do 50)
  • Push-ups against the wall/counter/floor—15x
  • Step ups (up, up/down, down on step)—20 each leg
  • Elbow planks—hold as long… Read More

Social Eating

victories Taking a new path on my lifestyle Sorry for the hiatus last week. I was at a writers conference and just ran out of time to blog. But I came home with a topic after being dependent on restaurants and conference meals. This has always been a real challenge for me, especially before my lifestyle changes.

Eating Challenges

That isn’t to say there weren’t challenges and that I didn’t overindulge, but I did so mindfully. I accepted that I was eating when I wasn’t hungry and with food I didn’t necessarily want. victories View from the plane flying into Seattle But, I didn’t stuff myself until I… Read More

Healthy Eating

Healthy eating can definitely be a challenge, especially after I've worked all day and have nothing planned for dinner. But a recent blog post by Diane Carbonell, author of 150 Pounds Gone Forever reminded me that a nutritious meal doesn't have to be complicated or time-consuming. It can even be faster than preparing a TV dinner.

Nutritious and Filling

Chicken and salad or shrimp and salad is standard fare in the in the summer when it’s hot and heating the kitchen isn’t appealing. It's a fast, easy meal that is nutritious nutritious and filling. But now that fall is in the air, I want something heartier—stews, soups, casseroles. These meals are my friend because I don’t just make a single… Read More

Exercise Challenge

Exercise Challenge

challenge Mt. Fernie, Canada In one of my first blogs, I wrote about obesity and I threw out an exercise challenge. I said that since I was motivated to exercise and eat right, I would be support and encouragement for those of you who can’t. I promised I’d do double time—extra sit ups, run or swim an extra lap, ride another mile—all in honor of you. I’d be your helping hand, your lift up until you could take the torch and do it yourself. challenge Mountain biking Spense Mountain, Oregon So I took up the challenge, and since July 14, 2015 when I posted that… Read More

Blended Vacations

Blended Vacations

exercise Mountain biking Spense Mt. in Klamath Falls, Oregon In recent years, my husband and I are taking blended vacations. We do some sightseeing, eating out and relaxing. We also look for ways to explore the areas where we vacation by biking, hiking, kayaking or whatever exercise strikes our fancy. In the past, I’ve found eating out while on vacation a challenge. I want to splurge all the time, especially if we’ve been exercising. But if I’m listening to my body, that’s not always what it wants.exercise The two important takeaways from The Checklist Diet by Rebecca Clark that I keep… Read More

Trigger Foods & Emotional Eating

Taming Emotional Eating

trigger foods My trigger food—tortilla chips I've just turned into a giant tortilla chip. I started eating a handful of tortilla chips, and the next thing I knew, I’d finished the bag. How did it happen? I didn't want them, but one handful led to another and another. They are the trigger food that sends me spiraling into that dark hole of overeating, and it leaves me feeling bloated, fat and out of control.

Emotional Eating Studies research found these eating triggers:

  • Friends impact how you feel about food
  • Chronic work stress contributes to emotional eating
  • Exhaustion and low energy impact eating habits
  • Suppressing feelings leads to unhealthy eating
Three out of four of these were right on target for… Read More