Need a bit of inspiration today? Read some successful weight loss stories...and gasp at the huge breakfast I ate (confession time)

Here are some big loser-winners over at Good Housekeeping.  To see some success stories of ladies who lost 100 pounds or MORE, go here.  Here's a snapshot of the eating plan of someone who lost 122 lbs (no big surprises here on what she ate, right?).

This lady lost 227 lbs. Here's a quick summary of her eating and exercise plan. Her after picture is amazing. Whoa.

No big revelations. It takes work (ie exercise) and planning (ie lighter meals) and consistency.

Okay, so I'm a bit jealous. :)

I had a HUGE, HUGE breakfast. (Woke up ravenous after missing dinner due to sheer pooped-out-edness.) It consisted of healthful stuff, just TOO much of it:

1. Greek scramble made with fresh chopped onions, green peppers, tomatoes (about a cup and a half of veggies) with 2 large eggs and 2 egg whites scrambled in EVOO and then sprinkled with some feta cheese (a bit over a quarter cup). Oregano liberally sprinkled on top.

2. Mushrooms, 1.5 cups, sauteed in a bit of Smart Balance.

3. 1.25 cups fresh squeezed orange juice (man, the oranges were great this week).

4. 2 slices of Ezekiel Bread (the one with sesame seeds which I adore), toasted, with Smart Balance spread and some Nature's Hollow sugar-free apricot jam (amazingly fresh-tasting stuff, love it, and 20 calories per tablespoon, made with xylitol).

5. 2 cups of coffee made fresh from Rwandan Buf Mills beans (soooo good).

6. 10 ounces of organic coconut water (to counteract the salt in the feta) and hydrate me. (I'm getting over a mildish case of food poisoning I got from a take-out moussaka a couple days ago).

Lotta food, huh? It totals 1128 calories (so says SparkPeople's nutrition tracker). That's two-thirds of my daily intake if I wanna lose weight.

Doesn't leave me much to work with for the rest of the day, even if I aim for 2000 instead of 1800. But it's certainly not impossible, and I got tons of nutrition from what totals five servings of fruits and veggies in one meal. I ate what for some dieters is their day's calorie count.

I guarantee those success stories gals don't have 1200 calorie meals anymore. But there it is. I went breakfast hog wild.

But it sure was pretty--all colorful and flavorful. And I love, love the taste of EVOO on my tomato. Mmmm. One of the best things on earth: a tomato with EVOO and a pinch of coarse sea salt. AHHHHHH.

Lunch will be soup (preferably some legume) and something on the side, not sure what yet other than cherries and watermelon (which are both lovely now, too). Maybe some greens?

I was gonna make a super-high-fiber/lower-carb veggie lasagna for dinner.  I might still. Not sure. Will recheck fridge for options that hubby will accept.

Please have your fresh produce and lean proteins and whole grains today. And please don't have a 1200 calorie meal like me. Okay? :)

Happy Thursday, folks...

Dangerously overweight teenager is put on Herbalife by her doctors

My oh my... at first I told myself that I do not want to post any success stories or testimonial about Herbalife by others here in my Herbalife blog. The reason WAS that I wanna feature those who get their intakes from me only. But life ain't never fair right. I found this great success story by Stephanie from the official Herbalife site. I thought its so interesting that I have to post it here. What when its about an overweight teenager whose been recommended to Herbalife by her doctors! Read on people--


By Stephanie

At 15, Stephanie was dangerously overweight at 226 pounds. She suffered from high blood pressure and doctors warned her that if she didn't lose weight, she could be at risk for serious health problems. None of this motivated her enough. Then, someone told her boyfriend's mother she looked pregnant. Stephanie exclaims, "I knew it was time to do something about it."

Because of Stephanie's high blood pressure and other health risks, many over-the-counter weight-loss programs were out of the question. Herbalife was the only program Stephanie's doctors approved. "The program was easy to follow, and I liked the foods I could eat," Stephanie says.

Stephanie went on to lose 100 pounds in a year and is now a happy, healthy 16-year-old. Her weight loss was gradual, but steady and consistent. "I noticed a big difference during my first month on the program," she remembers. "And a year later, I'm still on it and still losing weight. I didn't believe it could work until I tried for myself!"*

Weight Before & After:

Before: 226 pounds
After: 126 pounds
Pounds lost: 100

"If you really want to change your life, Herbalife is the way to do it!"

*These results are not typical. Individual results will vary.