Flax Meal Decreases Appetite, Who Knew?

  I recently started adding flax seed and flax meal to my smoothies, oatmeal, and cookies/brownies. It adds a great nutty flavor and is a great source of protein, fiber, and omega 3. These are the reasons I started to add flax seeds or meal to my foods. Over the past couple of weeks, I noticed that I feel full and satisfied longer when flax is added to my foods. I also noticed that I don't want to stuff my face at night when I get home from work.
  I have read that flax stabilizes blood pressure and blood sugar levels. I have also noticed that I don't crave fatty, sweet foods like I used too. I recommend trying it because from my experience I am pleasantly surprised.
  Do some research, you may be surprised.

Why Nurses Stress Eat

  Tonight I went into work and found this terrible site in the break room.

  Not only am I trying to lose weight, but I am a nurse working the evening shift. I am constantly bombarded with junk food, cake, snacks of all kinds. It makes weight loss so hard to accomplish.
  Nursing is stressful and with stress most nurses snack. Snacks make us feel better which leads to poor eating habits. I swear since I started working an off shift 6 years ago, I gained a ton of weight. Don't get me wrong, I should be able to control myself, but I am weak. It is a challenge almost every night I work and I'm sure I am not the only one to experience this sabotage.
  I did resist tonight, but who knows if I will be strong enough tomorrow night......

The Majestic Beauty of Mt. Washington

  Off the original topic of my blog for a moment, I was encouraged to post a picture from a vacation I went on to New Hampshire with my family in 2010. Keep in mind that although the picture is beautiful and serene, it is with pure luck, not skill, that I captured it. I was freaking out behind the camera and yelling to them to hurry up so we could get off the mountain because the fog was rolling in and the precarious dirt road going down the mountain was frightening as hell!

Enjoy

Hot Pants and My "Fatty" Word of the Day

I just have to give a shout out to zaggora hot pants and my sister for turning me on to them. Thanks Mary! Housework has now become a workout with the benefit of my hotpants, which leads me to my word of the day.......

Swass: Sweat and ass combined (my sister, 2011).

Used in a sentence: "My hotpants give me such a swass, I think I might float away!"

My Afternoon at the Audubon Society of Rhode Island updated picture

  On Labor Day I wasn't sure of what to do with my daughters for the afternoon. My husband was going out on his sailboat, so I figured I would do something enjoyable and physically active (I don't go on the sailboat yet because I have a fear of the ocean, it's inhabitants, and sailboats-I know.....silly). We decided to go to the Audubon Society of Rhode Island.
  The Audubon Society of Rhode Island is a relaxing, inexpensive, and educational bird and wildlife sanctuary in Bristol, RI that is dedicated to the education and preservation of the wildlife and it's surroundings in Rhode Island.  The cost to get in was six dollars for adults and 4 dollars for children fours years old and over, under the age of four are free.The santuary has a small hands-on exhibit featuring Harbor seal history, fish and sea life native to Rhode Island and of course, a variety of birds. There was a wonderful, small area where kids of all ages could handle seashells, snails, crabs, and conch. Small children love this area because of it's hands on aproach to learning and the helpful and patient guidance from the staff (Older woman Louise was very helpful and encouraging, expecially with my stubborn and rambunctious 3 1/2 year old!)

 

  After about an hour inside the exhibit hall, we ventured outside to the nature trail. The trail consists of a beautiful boardwalk that makes the walk relaxing and quiet. It is also great because it keeps children from venturing off, which makes it easier to enjoy the walk and not worry about chasing after kids. We spotted some grasshoppers, dragonflies, and a rabbit, which is very exciting to young children! The surrounding area around the boardwalk is filled with tall grasses and different types of trees and wildflowers.
  At the end of the trail walk, we were rewarded with a beautiful, ocean view. The breeze was warm and the air smelled strongly of salt. There were many sailboats out and the water was rippling wildly. It was a nice reward after the walk.

  I was also rewarded with some sweat, a full bladder, thirst, and hungry children. I felt like we accomplished something fulfilling and health wise as a family unit, at least until my 3 1/2 year old had a melt down and wanted me to "catch" her a butterfly so she could take it home.
  Ah.....the wonders and joy of motherhood.

 

A beautiful picture that I forgot to post. Enjoy!

 



My "Fatty" Word of the Day

Lobat (adjective): Being low on energy (Merriam-Webster, 2012).

 Used in a sentence: "I am so tired and lobat most of the time because I am overweight, that it seems like it is even harder to get the energy to exercise to become a healthy weight. It seems to be a vicious, all consuming battle in my life."

My "Fatty" Word of the Day

Cibophobia (noun): Afear of food (Merriam-Webster, 2012).

Used in a sentence: "I certainly do not have cibophobia, although I wish I had a little bit of it! If I did I wouldn't be so darn "fluffy"!