I woke up this morning with the answer to what REALLY causes obesity is.  It was one of those amazing life-changing moments that I have to share with the world.  It is so complex (different for everyone), yet so simple that I'm sure it will not just change my life forever, but the lives of many others.

This is way too much for the blog and I'm going to be writing like a mad woman all day, so for now, you just have to get yourself moving for the day, do good things and watch for the most incredible TA-DA moment that is brutally honest, in your life.

If you are obese or know someone who is, you are not going to want to miss this.

Stay tuned,

Priscilla

This is the FIRST day of December and you need to take a moment to think about your health.  Make a plan for the next month, set goals on the calendar (I did as I turned the page on the one that hangs in my kitchen) and then try to meet them everyday.

If you have a great December with eating and getting your daily exercise, it will make setting a New Year's resolution a snap!

Enjoy this lovely day and here is a little story I wrote that you might enjoy.  Do something BRILLIANT today, think of your own health first and make a difference in YOUR life!

Priscilla

Christmas Past of Presents

No matter where you are in the world or what religion you subscribe to, you can't help but feel a certain excitement when December rolls around.  It is the end of one year with another whole new year within the turn of a calendar page.  Exciting times indeed!

As I type I'm listening to the television on a station that plays just music, set on the Holiday Classics station.  It really takes me back and makes me glad that this year no one in my family is going to go crazy at Christmas in their spending.

Growing up being one of six children in a home where only my dad worked, our Christmas was a lot different than the glitz and glamour you see today.  It was easier, better and my parents never had to worry about how to pay for the gifts, even though their budget had to be incredibly tight.

One of my happiest December memories came when I was just 7 years old.  We were all together, none of the family grown and gone yet and my little brother taped a white washcloth (flannel for my British readers) to his chin and distributed our two gifts each.  One being from my parents and one from my grandmother.

That year I broke the news to my grandmother, who got very excited when my little brother who completed his outfit by putting on a red turtleneck sweater and white socks and underwear (no pants!) dropped a big round cylander shaped package in her lap.  "It's just a can of coffee!" I chirped, after all, I didn't want her to get her hopes up too much.  Everyone laughed, the older ones anyway, and she loved the gift.

My gift that year was a baby doll that my little brother decided he wanted.  He cried for Baby Goes Bye-Bye until I had to give her up.  I had no interest in all in swapping for his Tonka truck, nor would he have given it up.  I was left with the gift from my grandmother of a package of seeds to plant in the garden with her in the spring and a pretty card. 

Of course I always had my stocking as well.  This was really my stocking.  The longest sock I could find, knee sock of course, and that was what Santa filled for us.  It was always the same thing that the big man brought us, a tangerine, a few walnuts in their shells and a few small pieces of chocolate.

Today if a parent tried those gifts I shudder at the thought of what the children would do.  We all work ourselves up for buying gifts for people who need nothing, usually things they would never buy themselves (for good reason) and then we stress as to whether they will like them.  Or we give money. 

How about this year we focus on getting together with people we never see (and actually WANT to see) avoid buying gifts for everyone in the family, neighborhood and your kid's carpool and think instead of making a gift if you HAVE to give one.  Just a suggestion though, far be it from me to tell you what to do!

All I know is that with the "no gift zone" going on with my family we are ALL smiling more, not saying, "What do you really want?" and there will be no credit card bills to pay off come January.  Of course I might have to get my mom a gift, perhaps a big can of coffee.

Hello world,

Today will be an special day, spent with family and even though it might be a tad unconventional, the food that I eat might not be butter soaked and deep-fried, I will attempt healthy eating on a day that is set aside of over-indulging.  I'll let you know how it works out.

One of my most wonderful memories of growing up was with my mom when her and I went to visit Plymouth, Massachusetts when I was a teenager.  It was just for a weekend and in the lovely summer of my sixteenth year, but I can remember this feeling of time and history when we visited the historic place the the pilgrims settled hundreds of winters ago.

Time seemed to be captured in a village set up on a hill with actors dressed in appropriate garb going through their day to day life for tourists like mom and I to pay to see.  It was worth every penny and wasn't cheesy at all.  It did give me a real sense of how America began, with being thankful as a big part of it.  The only thing that was a little off-putting was the fact that I was wearing a tube top (this was on a "BC" body, the BC standing for "before children") and I felt like I was nude beside the women in their long wool skirts while my legs were sticking out of short shorts.

Mom and I spent our brief time there doing all the tourist things, the Mayflower II, a little presentation in a shop/theatre that was called the Mayflower Experience and of course I bought a few tacky little keepsakes to remember the trip. 

No matter where you are in this world, if you are breathing, you have EVERYTHING to be thankful for.  This is one fantastic miracle that we are even alive and kicking on this planet and we fail to see the simple beauty of just being alive.  Enjoy the day, eat what you like today (just think of moderation and smaller portion sizes) and most of all, be thankful for those brave people who left their homes and families far across the water to come to this new world.

The people who were already living in the new world, the real Americans, shared and helped strangers to survive.  For today, forget how badly they were treated afterwards and remember that glowing time when strangers became friends and we actually got along.  What a beautiful world it was and could be with a bit of kindness, understanding and a big heap of thankfulness on a daily basis.

Enjoy your day, make it the best Thanksgiving ever.

Priscilla

Spending the whole day preparing the food today for tomorrow!  The plus note of this is my lovely grandson is going to be helping me, Grandma, all day...bliss! 

It makes me smile thinking about a Thanksgiving long ago when his mommy was a little one and helped with the cooking at age two.  She did everything that didn't include knives or dangerous food, watching and helping with keen interest. 

After being super careful of not letting her in contact with the turkey or things like raw eggs, I was just getting the turkey ready to go in the oven and sat it on a kitchen chair as I lowered the hot door with a warning for her to keep back from it.  She did keep back, walking to the other side of the turkey.

Before I could stop her she stood on tiptoe, leaned her little head down and kissed the turkey, right on the raw breast.  She then said "Bye bye turkey" and waved as I put the bird in the oven.

We then went right to the tub for a bubble bath because being a young and worried mother, I didn't want her to contract any naked turkey germs.

Today is pie day, coleslaw day and all the things that need done ahead of time.  It will give Alexander lots of kitchen time, learning to cook, wash hands and the turkey is something that we will sneak in the oven in the early morning tomorrow, without bye bye kisses.

KP duty,

Prisciila

It's almost time for that one day a year that we can stuff our faces (actually, it might even be the law in some states) and indulge in the delight of food, glorious food.

If you are a regular to my blog you will know I love to eat but I'm not really an accomplished cook.  I hate to think of how high my weight would have gotten if I would be a good cook.  440 pounds was high enough.

In the spirit of trying NEW things, this year I'm going to be making a few changes in the family recipes I have done each year.

My baby carrots which had been loaded with brown sugar and butter are going on a diet by being steamed with a special glaze I make to pour over them.  The glaze will consist of sugar free syrup, honey and walnuts.  Hopefully it will be not just edible but delicious!

My stuffing which has always been my best thing and had been done with white bread will be replaced with a lovely and healthy textured whole grains bread mixture, the butter that I've put in it in the past with be olive oil butter-like cooking stick (there are several to choose from out there) and I'm going to load it up with celery, bit of onion and of course egg.

Dessert of pumpkin pie is also going on a healthy diet.  I'm going to make individual pumpkin pies that have no crust, basically the same recipe only minus all the extra calories that a shortening crust adds.

My alternative desser is going to be my very own creation of Stuffed Naked Apple Dumplings!  It is going to consist of stripping the apple of the crusty and calorie filled wrap and instead going with something a little different.  I cut the apple in two, scoop out the core and fill with mixture to taste.  Some things I have put in are cranberries & raisins, nuts & one single carmel (a little taste goes a long way) or a bit of cheddar cheese.  Then I put it in a oven safe glass bowl, sprinkle with cinnamon and then put a TINY bit of pastry dough on top.  You can make your own or buy it ready made in the refrigerator section.  The real star of this treat is the lovely apple, that has been baked at 350 F for 35 minutes and allowed to stew in it's own juice.  Delicious!

Of course the star of the show is the turkey, which this year I PLEDGE to not eat any skin.  My naughty confession is that I could really eat a plate of crispy skin, but I know it is oh-so bad for you.  I'm going to opt for breast meat, minus the skin and use a special cranberry sauce to really make it special.

The cranberry sauce is something I never ate as a child or an adult.  I never liked the way it looked, wiggling out of the can.  I just couldn't bring myself to try that kind.  Then a few years ago I discovered REAL cranberry sauce that you make in your own kitchen just as the turkey is finishing!  It is so quick and easy, just take fresh cranberries in a pan, about a half cup of water, simmer until the berries pop open.  You can add whatever you like to this, think CRANBERRY SALSA...nuts, diced orange, diced mango...really experiment with tastes and above all else, DO NOT just save this low-cal and super healthy treat for Thanksgiving.  Have it anytime of the year.  You will be able to create through delicious experimenting, a blend that is perfect for you.

Remember to keep the key word in mind this year.  Being THANKFUL for our wonderful lives, the people in our lives and the joy of being alive.  Smile, eat, enjoy and why not start a wonderful tradition of the post-turkey walk?  Your big meal with digest better and you will get to enjoy this fabulous world we live in.

If you have a friend or neighbor that is alone for the holidays, INVITE them to share a meal with you.  Extend a hand of friendship and you will never regret it.  It will make the holiday that much more authentic and you will discover one more thing to be thankful about.

Off to shop, wisely and with my heart in mind.

Priscilla

What a perfect day after a wild and crazy night.  The walk was BRILLIANT and I could have easily kept right on walking, south towards warmer weather of course, but we ended up only doing about an hour.

A few of us opted to go out for breakfast afterwards where we could get in out of the cold and have a good chat, over food, about what a delicious problem food can be.  It was really a good time and even though way too many people in this world are too CAMERA SHY...a splendid time really was had by all.  A huge thanks to those brave souls who weathered the weather and helped kick off www.WalkOffObesity.com  <<<  new pictures posted there!

On January 1, 2009 in Key West, at the historic marker at the southern most point in the US of A, we will be doing another one of these.  It will be a LOT warmer then the chilly temps of today and you are all invited to come along and get moving towards better health.

Now about that crazy night before our big day.  Morton was at work, nightshift at the moment and I was in bed by 11 pm.  At 1 am I was woke up with water splashing in my face and the lower half of my bed drenched.  My lovely neighbor upstairs was having a bath and overflowing her tub on my bedroom ceiling. 

Niagra Falls continued for over an hour leaving the walls soaking wet, the bed ruined and the bathroom ceiling almost falling down.  Lucky Morton to be at work!  This is the fifth time this has happened in the last few months and needless to say I didn't get much sleep.

This morning when I headed out my door at 7:30 am I decided to leave my troubles in the apartment.  Soggy carpet, ruined bedding (full of nasty black mouldy water now) and only three hours of sleep were all just a distant memory as I got in the car and drove the 12 miles to City Island.

The nightmare from the night before faded away as I saw smiling faces, people out taking their health in their own hands and my mood changed completely with the thrill of a brilliant walk.

With many miles in front of me and a neighbor who doesn't realize that letting your bathtub overflow for an hour isn't a good thing I need to keep things in perspective.  I'm not going to let the little things worry or bother me, they will all work out.  Life is beautiful like that.

Keep walking, keep making those little changes and take two minutes right now to email me & your best friend about what is happening on your road to fitness!  Your words of motivation will help more than you know.

Priscilla

Hello world,

Almost midnight here and I'm off to bed.  Hopefully you will be getting up nice and early tomorrow, meeting up with us at City Island to kick off www.WalkOffObesity.com and lets get the whole world walking. 

My email is always full of great stuff and I just wanted to share this one with you.  The author of the message is unknown, but the message is something that should be known by every woman on the planet.  Take care of yourself and get moving!

Priscilla

*****email message****

NURSE'S HEART ATTACK EXPERIENCE I am an ER nurse and this is the best description of this event that I have ever heard. Please read, pay attention, and send it on! FEMALE HEART ATTACKS I was aware that female heart attacks are different, but this is the best description I've ever read. Women and heart attacks (Myocardial infarction).

Did you know that women rarely have the same dramatic symptoms that men have when experiencing heart attack ... you know, the sudden stabbing pain in the chest, the cold sweat, grabbing the chest & dropping to the floor that we see in the movies. Here is the story of one woman's experience with a heart attack. 'I had a heart attack at about 10 :30 PM with NO prior exertion, NO prior emotional trauma that one would suspect might've brought it on. I was sitting all snugly & warm on a cold evening, with my purring cat in my lap , reading an interesting story my friend had sent me, and actually thinking, 'A-A-h, this is the life, all cozy and warm in my soft, cushy Lazy Boy with my feet propped up.

A moment later, I felt that awful sensation of indigestion, when you've been in a hurry and grabbed a bite of sandwich and washed it down with a dash of water, and that hurried bite seems to feel like you've swallowed a golf ball going down the esophagus in slow motion and it is most uncomfortable. You realize you shouldn't have gulped it down so fast and needed to chew it more thoroughly and this time drink a glass of water to hasten its progress down to the stomach. This was my initial sensation---the only trouble was that I hadn't taken a bite of anything since about 5:00 p.m. After it seemed to subside, the next sensation was like little squeezing motions that seemed to be racing up my SPINE (hind-sight, it was probably my aorta spasming), gaining speed as they continued racing up and under my sternum (breast bone, where one presses rhythmically when administering CPR).

This fascinating process continued on into my throat and branched out into both jaws. 'AHA!! NOW I stopped puzzling about what was happening -- we all have read and/or heard about pain in the jaws being one of the signals of an MI happening, haven't we? I said aloud to myself and the cat, Dear God, I think I'm having a heart attack! I lowered the footrest dumping the cat from my lap, started to take a step and fell on the floor instead. I thought to myself, If this is a heart attack, I shouldn't be walking into the next room where the phone is or anywhere else ... but, on the other hand, if I don't, nobody will know that I need help, and if I wait any longer I may not be able to get up in moment. I pulled myself up with the arms of the chair, walked slowly into the next room and dialed the Paramedics .

I told her I thought I was having a heart attack due to the pressure building under the sternum and radiating into my jaws. I didn't feel hysterical or afraid, just stating the facts. She said she was sending the Paramedics over immediately, asked if the front door was near to me, and if so, to unbolt the door and then lie down on the floor where they could see me when they came in. I unlocked the door and then laid down on the floor as instructed and lost consciousness, as I don't remember the medics coming in, their examination, lifting me onto a gurney or getting me into their ambulance, or hearing the call they made to St. Jude ER on the way, but I did briefly awaken when we arrived and saw that the Cardiologist was already there in his surgical blues and cap, helping the medics pull my stretcher out of the ambulance. He was bending over me asking questions (probably something like 'Have you taken any medications?') but I couldn't make my mind interpret what he was saying, or form an answer, and nodded off again, not waking up until the Cardiologist and partner had already threaded the teeny angiogram balloon up my femoral artery into the aorta and into my heart where they installed 2 side by side stents to hold open my right coronary artery.

 'I know it sounds like all my thinking and actions at home must have taken at least 20-30 minutes before calling the Paramedics, but actually it took perhaps 4-5 minutes before the call, and both the fire station and St. Jude are only minutes away from my home, and my Cardiologist was already to go to the OR in his scrubs and get going on restarting my heart (which had stopped somewhere between my arrival and the procedure) and installing the stents. 'Why have I written all of this to you with so much detail? Because I want all of you who are so important in my life to know what I learned first hand.'

1. Be aware that something very different is happening in your body not the usual men's symptoms but inexplicable things happening (until my sternum and jaws got into the act).  It is said that many more women than men die of their first (and last) MI because they didn't know they were having one and commonly mistake it as indigestion, take some Maalox or other anti-heartburn preparation and go to bed, hoping they'll feel better in the morning when they wake up .. which doesn't happen. My female friends, your symptoms might not be exactly like mine, so I advise you to call the Paramedics if ANYTHING is unpleasantly happening that you've not felt before. It is better to have a 'false alarm' visitation than to risk your life guessing what it might be!

2. Note that I said 'Call the Paramedics.' And if you can take an asprin. Ladies, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! Do NOT try to drive yourself to the ER - you are a hazard to others on the road. Do NOT have your panicked husband who will be speeding and looking anxiously at what's happening with you instead of the road. Do NOT call your doctor -- he doesn't know where you live and if it's at night you won't reach him anyway, and if it's daytime, his assistants (or answering service) will tell you to call the Paramedics. He doesn't carry the equipment in his car that you need to be saved! The Paramedics do, principally OXYGEN that you need ASAP. Your Dr. will be notified later.

3. Don't assume it couldn't be a heart attack because you have a normal cholesterol count. Research has discovered that a cholesterol elevated reading is rarely the cause of an MI (unless it's unbelievably high and/or accompanied by high blood pressure). MIs are usually caused by long-term stress and inflammation in the body, which dumps all sorts of deadly hormones into your system to sludge things up in there. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive.

Today winter came to Central Pennsylvania, at least two inches of winter anyway.  I woke up after a brief four hours of sleep to a cold carpet of white and put on my MBT boots for a walk on the frozen side.

It is fine for me to walk in this weather, but I panic when I think about people coming from out of the area to walk with me on Sunday on City Island.  I don't want anyone getting frostbite, so I looked up the weather forecast.  Sunday is suppose to be 41 degrees and sunny.  It will still be brrrrr, but not as cold as today has been.

This snow is the first one that Alexander, my grandson, is seeing and understanding.  When I saw him today I took a clean handfull of the white stuff into his house for him to touch.  He watched me scoop it from the grass and was excited to touch it.  Like a typical fifteen month old baby, he grabbed the snow and stuffed a little lump of it in his mouth.  Making a face he reached for a second helping deciding he liked the taste of snow.

There was still a small mountain of melting snow in my hand and I ate it.  It was actually nice.  Perhaps I have found a great secret for losing weight, no-calorie snow!

If you ARE planning on joining me on Sunday, please dress for it, wear good shoes and make sure you bring a very POSITIVE attitude.  Regardless of the weather, it will be the best day of our lives.  For more details visit the SPECIAL WALKS section on http://www.WalkOffObesity.com

Get moving, keep warm and let me know what you are up to.  Use the brilliant FORUM on the new site to share with the world.

Priscilla

Good morning world,

Are you feeling a bit sluggish?  Maybe you are feeling hungry when you know you aren't.  If your like most people, me included, you aren't getting enough water each day.

We would never think about driving our cars around without making sure the fluids were full, yet we do it almost daily in our own bodies.

There are different rules of thought as to how much water we need.  The thing you hear the most is 8 glasses that are 8 ounces each.  That is 64 ounces each and every day, and no, soda ISN'T water, nor is tea and coffee. 

Invest in a water purifier that you keep in your refrigerator that is just yours.  Use this to calculate your water each day.

Yesterday I had only two glasses of water (don't ask me how that happened because I'm a BIG water drinker) and had a headache, felt very lethargic and during the night of tossing and turning, my throat was so dry that I woke up this morning with a very sore throat.

This morning I filled my glass, drank it and am going to strive very hard to make sure I don't let myself get dehydrated again. 

Do something amazing today and take care of yourself.

Priscilla

Sunday is just a few days away people and I hope that EVERYONE even close to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania will consider meeting me on City Island for 9 am at the merry-go-round to kick off the website, www.WalkOffObesity.com and get the whole world walking.

Watching snow flurries last night I thought that the weather might keep some of you away, but trust me on this one, it is WAY better to take a nice brisk walk in the cold rather than the heat. 

If you are coming, please dress for it, wear layers, bring water for yourself and get ready to meet lots of people (the brave ones who battle the elements anyway!) like you, who want to make a healthy difference in your own life as well as others.

We can do this!  See you there.

Priscilla - off for a 7 am walk in the freezing cold