I ATE the whole thing ....

I am going on the record by saying that I do not care for fish in general ... it's too darn fishy tasting for my liking. Now if you fried it and threw in some Hush Puppies ... No, I just have never cared for fish. At the same time, I know how good the Omega-3 fatty acids are for us. Being overweight, having a high cholesterol level (under control with medication that may now being affecting my liver functions) having had both parents die due to heart attacks and/or strokes ... the point being I NEED those little ole Omega-3's.

For the past several years, The Duck and I have been eating fish, usually salmon on Tuesdays. The smelly garbage is picked up on Wednesdays. My daughter has been telling me that I shouldn't buy the farm raised salmon ... "but, I think it tastes less 'fishy' than the 'wild' salmon." Soooo ... I start the 30 Day Throw Down and I decide to 'go to the wild side.' I bought a Wild Fresh Alaskan Coho Salmon for dinner tonight. I choked only slightly over the price per pound, but I bought it. The Duck scored it, drizzled olive oil over the fillet and 'baked' it outside on the grill. (NO FISH SMELL!) I had stir-fired several different peppers, zucchini and sweet onions to accompany our green salad ... and our salmon.

Now the Duck is a sweetheart ... he will eat anything I put before him and he LOVES salmon ... only peanut butter ranks over the fish. I asked for a itty, bitty, piece of salmon "I'm not going to like it, it's going to taste WILD ... look it even looks different." I had forgotten the lemon wedges (and Tartar Sauce) to cover it up with, when I took my first bite. It DID taste different ... it tasted better than any salmon I have ever eaten. I even asked for more ... and ate the whole thing!

What the Experts Say about the Health Benefits of Wild Alaskan Salmon

Researchers at Harvard found that people who eat one to two servings of fish per week -- especially varieties higher in fatty oils, such as wild salmon -- may reduce their risk of death from heart attacks by 36 percent and the rate of death in general by 17 percent.
According to the American Heart Association research has shown that Omega-3 fatty acids decrease the risk of arrhythmias, which can lead to sudden cardiac death. Omega 3's also slightly lower blood pressure.
The American Heart Association reports that omega-3 fatty acids help prevent plaque buildup in arteries and also drive down triclycerides and LDL (bad) cholesterol.

What's the deal with farmed fish that I keep hearing about?

While farmed fish contain high concentrations of Omega Fatty Acids, it comes at a price:

• Thousands of salmon are kept in pens with netting, their waste contaminates their environment and surrounding waters
  
  
• The orange color you see in markets is the result of added dye, otherwise farmed fish would be grey (yummy!)
  
  
• Farmed salmon may be up to ten times higher in PCBs than a wild one, due to contaminates in their feed
  
  
• These fish are administered antibiotics as the risk of disease in pens is very high.
  

Seven Days on the 'Throw Down' Can Make One Weak

Okay ... I'm honestly joking about the 'weak' thing ... I haven't felt this good in quite a while. I started Robynn's Ravings 30 day Thrown Down on Monday, the 31st of August ... now who's a 'red pen'??? (inside joke) I weigh only once a week (on Mondays) so it just seemed that I should start this 'journey' on a Monday rather than the first of September which was a Tuesday. Besides September has only 30 days and one of them is my birthday ... well, I digress and I'm sure you get the idea. I wrote a bit of an 'emotional' comment on Robynn's initial posting about the 'Throw Down.' It actually did bring tears to my eyes (but then I bawl at the Depends commercials !!!) I have always used humor as a shield to hide behind ... not wanting others to either see the real me or see me. Obviously, some of my attempts have fallen flat!! I've had a life long battle with my weight and it is with reluctance and more than a little shame that I admit to 'Blogworld' that I am OBESE ... there .... it's official, for all the world to see ... I am part of an epidemic. Butt <--- not a typo!! I am, also, doing something about my weight this time. What makes this time any different that the tons of others attempts? I honestly cannot tell you, there are a myriad of reasons and perhaps for the first time in my life, none involve vanity. My impetus is to be healthier. It's that simple ... I want to grow old with The Duck ... I want to get down on the floor and play with my grandchildren, I want to see my grandchildren grow and blossom into self-sufficient, happy, kind, adults (just not too fast, please) ... I want to finish my book on hospice patients ... I want to live every day for the beginning it truly is and not lament that life is racing too fast towards a 'finish' line.

This past week has produced several successes ... I have not had any carbonated beverages, diet or otherwise. I have kept a journal of my food, I've attempted some new recipes using fresh vegetables, I have exercised four times (breaking a sweat in water aerobics is a big deal!!) , I've lost another 2 pounds (making the total since starting a whoppin' 6 pound loss) but that's not the biggest (no pun intended) result ... the one that I am most proud about and The Duck must be very appreciative for is my attitude. I have been in dire need of an AA meeting. (Attitude Adjustment) This first week of the challenge has ended with my having a very 'cheery' positive disposition!!! I more 'glass half-full' ... I hum while I'm doing chores ... I smile more ... I'm happier. I'm doing something for myself and it isn't selfish. Thank you to my 'partners in crime' going down this road with me. Thank you once again, Robynn.


WEIGHT LOSS TIP (from DIET HUMOR guru: Daniel Worona)

100 laughs a day is equal to 10 minutes of exercise! How can it can get any easier than that?

Day Three ... a revelation

The 'Fast Food' thing isn't the problem for me. It's the snacking between meals ... and not exercising. I did water aerobics again this morning. Using my ankle floats I stay in deep water, no bouncing, easier on my joints. IF I keep moving ... bicycling my legs and using my arms like I'm doing the breast stroke ... I burn calories. I never want to go ... (the water) "it's too cold" "I have so much to do at home" "I'm too tired/sore/sleepy ... " But I think the camaraderie gives me energy and I just plain feel better. I am tempted to munch on all the samples at the grocery store after the pool. But I've discovered something ... it might be called 'willpower' but I prefer to call it "Power." It is empowering to make a conscious decision to NOT eat something I really shouldn't. It is empowering to half your dinner (we ate out at the Thai restaurant last night) before you even take the first bite. I do not feel I'm being deprived (maybe a little depraved, but that's another posting) And sharing these thoughts with others, laughing with them, gritching with them "walking the walk and talking the talk" is empowering. Thank you again, Robynn, for this opportunity.

Day Two ... under my belt!!

This will be short ... I'm just checking in as I've completed Day Two of the 'Throw Down' from Robynn's Ravings challenge. Having no fast food for 30 days is a 'piece of cake' ... if you'll excuse the analogy. My problem .... well, okay, let's get real here, as Dr. Phil is fond of saying ... ONE of my problems (that I'm not too ashamed to admit in Blogdom) is I am an 'electric motor' or so says The Duck. I'm either ON or I am OFF. I don't do anything 'half way' ... thus, I went to water aerobics today and even though I hadn't been there in two months, I jogged across the pool like my life depended on reaching the other side. I did Jumping Jacks that would put Jane Fonda to shame ... well, if she had any shame ... but I digress ... that's another one of my problems! I do have an addictive personality, that is very real. I'm told recognizing a problem is the first step to correcting the problem. I'm doing this 'challenge' and I'm going to do it until I drop .... at least a few pounds! Dinner tonight was wonderful, Scallop Kabobs, Oriental Broccoli Slaw and fresh asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce. A friend asked if it was our anniversary, when I told her no, she wanted to know what I was after? I should have impressed her with "we always eat like this" but I told her the truth ... it's Tuesday evening and Wednesday is our garbage pickup day ... so on Tuesdays we have fish, so I can throw the smelly papers, skin, whatever away. It's as simple and dull as that. Another problem ... I tend to not have 'boundaries' ... I'm learning and I've completed the second day of this challenge. Bring it on ....

I'm taking the Challenge ....

... This is official, in front of God ( and all three of my loyal followers) I do hearby announce that I am joining The 30-Day-Throw-Down challenge posted by Robynn over at Robynn's Ravings. The kicking and screaming that you hear is only the thin person trapped inside me trying to escape!!! I'm really not overweight ... I'm just under tall!! I'm not fat ... I'm just 'fluffy!'

Even a blind man can see that I'm failing at my attempts of humor ... I have an insidious, seductive, addiction that involves FOOD ... especially sweets. Sometimes I think that an alcoholic has it easier since they only have to give up booze!!! But seriously, the challenge to give up 'fast foods,' processed foods, junk foods and the like could not have come at a better time for me.

Robynn usually leaves me laughing ... I love her slant on things and she is a very gifted writer. I wasn't laughing after reading about her 30-Day-Throw-Down, though, hopefully this is a wake-up call. My dad died of a heart attack when he was three years younger than I am now. My brother remarked that Dad "lived to eat" rather than eating to live. I think about him often ... how much I miss him and what he is missing. I want to be around several more years and only I can do something about my own health. So here's to 30 days of exercise and healthy eating ... wish me luck, please !!!

I'm not going to be as brave (or as open) as Libby at Neas Nuttiness by posting my 'successes' each of the 30 days but I do wish each of my 'co-challengers' the best of luck. The reward of being healthier and weighing less is more than enough, but the $100 Amazon gift card isn't 'chicken feed' either.