melting mama

SafSlim Creamy Oil Goo For Weight Loss?

You know I am a Google search watcher.  Here's a new one to me that just hit me.

Lose the weight AND keep it off?

People can lose weight and keep it off.  It's not just a tag-line.  

Although a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests otherwise. That, weight loss never EVER sticks -- that those who diet will fail.  Most of us probably believe that, right?  

Dr. Koven at Boston.com, says that weight loss CAN be maintained, and that there are several reasons people maintain a weight loss.  Three things in particular -

They pay attention. Whether they are keeping food journals, weighing themselves every day, or simply planning meals, their weight loss goals are never far from their minds...ever.

They've found a reason to lose weight that is truly meaningful to them. Whether it's a new sport, a new grandchild, a health scare, or--most powerful--how much better they feel being thinner, they stay mindful of why they wanted to lose weight.

They take the long view. They lose weight slowly, roll with the ups and downs, steer clear of rigid goals and deadlines. They've signed up for a permanent change.

I guess I qualify as a long-term weight loss success.  Although I don't weigh myself every day or take on any obsessive habits about my weight, caloric intake, etc.  I DO PAY ATTENTION.  Every. single. day.  My loss is forefront in my mind ALL the time, with EVERY food choice and EVERY DAY.  I don't 

What say you?  Are YOU maintaining a long-term weight loss?  What of these habits have you picked up on?  

How much is your Starbucks habit REALLY costing you? *dies*

MM runs on Starbucks.  I heart my 'bucks.  However I only get my jolt of real in-store 'bucks espresso once a week or less.  Since I don't drive, and there's no 'bucks anywhere near me, I have to wait until I'm in a 'bucks region.  I am fully aware of my likelihood to be a multibucks-per-day person.  Give me a job in the city -- and the option for 'bucks locally?  I'd be mainlining the stuff and twitching on the subway.  I am sure that I would find ways to rationalize my coffee spending.  Just watch me.  :)

However -- I am also frugal.  Reading this article from Yahoo Finance is damn near enough to make me DUMP the stuff cold-turkey and put the coffee-funds in the bank every week.

Because.  OMG.  Some of YOU are spending MORE THAN THIS!  (Don't even get me started on the OTHER addictions you're wasting money on.  Hi, butts!)

Yahoo Finance -

If you buy one $4 latte each day, that coffee habit will set you back $28 a week, about $120 a month and $1,460 per year.

Keep that up for five years, and you've slurped away $7,300, not including any money you might have earned by investing your cash instead.

If you account for missed investment returns, the loss amounts to roughly $9,300 (assuming a 9% average return).

After 10 years, your Starbucks habit costs you a car.

After 30 years, the $239,891 that you drank away (including investment returns), could have bought a house.

Over 40 years, the Starbucks habit could reduce your retirement nest-egg by anastounding $634,428 -- enough to generate an income of more than $2,600 a month.

Did you see my mouth drop?

How can you save a 'bucks?  Quit going there so often.  None of us NEED several 'bucks a day.  NONE OF US.  (That hurts my heart to even SAY.)  

Nobody needs a Frappuccino.

Um.  No.

Change up your order.  Learn how to order ghetto-bucks like MM.  Hey, I like saving money.  I get the most espresso I CAN for the least amount of money.  

• Learn to drink less 'bucks per day. 
• Dump the super high calorie drinks for simpler espresso, coffee and teas -- they're cheaper!
• Buy beans!  The beans at Starbucks "seem" the freshest, but they are available everywhere in grocery stores and places like Costco.  Brewed, they're all good.  
• Regular ground beans are the cheapest option, in a typical drip brewer.   
• It's worth it to get a high-end espresso maker for home -- and buy espresso beans.  You can match your spending in a couple months.
• K-Cups are lovely, but VERY expensive.  
• If you must buy K-Cups, buy in BULK.

Yes, I am calculating my potential savings.  But, you're still going to have to pry the espresso out of my hands.  My very cold hands.  It's 0 degrees outside, and I still want my Venti Iced Americano.

WOWYOULOOKAMAZING! Slim-Fast + Giveaways!

You know Slim-Fast.  You drank it.  You used it years ago.   Well.  Slimfast got a makeover.  She's WOW'ing.  No lie. 

How Stress Affects Your Digestion and Weight - Running from a lion!

As I sit here, 11 months into the gut death, I wonder!  This is highly interesting for PRE and POST weight loss surgery patients.