Dare to Believe

Dare to Believe By: Author Unknown

EVERYBODY KNOWS ...You can't be all things to all people.You can't do all things at once.You can't do all things equally well.You can't do all things better than everyone else.Your humanity is showing just like everyone else's.

SO ...You have to find out who you are, and be that.You have to decide what comes first, and do that.You have to discover your strengths, and use them.You have to learn not to compete with others,Because no one else is in the contest of "being you."

THEN ...You will have learned to accept your own uniqueness.You will have learned to set priorities and make decisions.You will have learned to live with your limitations.You will have learned to give yourself the respect that is due,And you'll be a most vital mortal.

DARE TO BELIEVE ...That you are a wonderful, unique person.That you are a once-in-all-history event.That it's more than a right, it's your duty, to be who you are.That life is not a problem to solve, but a gift to cherish.And you'll be able to stay one up on what used to get you down.

Applesauce Oatmeal Yogurt Muffins

1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 1/4 cups whole wheat floor
1 tbs cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup applesauce
1 cup non-fat plain yogurt - I use -(Fage Greek Yogurt)
1/3 cup non-fat milk
1/3 cup of brown splenda sugar
1 egg white
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup walnuts
cooking spray (PAM)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Throw the walnuts In a food processor and chop them up into pieces. Combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the yogurts, egg whites and milk until well blended. Add mixture to the dry ingredients and mix. Spray muffin tin with PAM cooking spray. Pour the batter in the muffin tin. Bake until brown. Enjoy! :)

Poem for Ricky Martin

You, my love, so true and dear, I have something to say, and want you to hear. I love you with all my heart, and I fell in love with you, I had no choice. When I am around you, simple things become more, Wings are made, which allow me to soar. I fly through the sky and above the moon, Feel up so high, and our hearts in tune. You are perfect, lovely, and true, I love you so much, you have not a clue. You’re perfect for me in every single way, My mind is on you each moment of the day. Your touch is like an angel’s skin, So soft and sweet, it pulls me in. Laying here on my bed , my body so relaxed, Listening to your music beating, feeling so blessed. The sound of your music, holds me tight, and never letting me depart, I want you so bad, I gave you my whole heart. Oh baby, without you, my soul is cold. Please don’t leave me, you are my air, You’re my reason for life, I love you, I swear. I want to be with you forever by your side, I want to be the one, that in me, you confide. I will spend every day, until my last breath, With you, until I’m stripped from life to death. I will always be your biggest fan, I will be cheering you on as much as I can. I will always be there, for you to talk to, Forever there, to help you through. Don’t ignore me, please don’t forget, Don’t leave me here, lying in a cold sweat. Baby, you are the greatest thing that has ever happened to me, Whenever I hear your music, it sets me free. Seeing you causes my heart to leap, Pulling me closer, pulling me in so deep. My love for you will last forever, You inspire me, my everlasting guide, I will do all in my power, to stay right by your side. Just remember this, and don’t forget, Time can be hard, and yet…When we both are sad and alone, When you feel a gust of wind, a kiss from me to you is blown. When I’m around you, I am in bliss, Sharing every moment, and every special kiss. I know a lot of guys, but with you, no one can compare, And with that said, bent on knee, I shall say a prayer. "Oh my dear and precious Lord, You put on this earth, a boy no one can afford. Never knew someone this great could ever be real, But I know about the love for him that I feel.He puts me up with you, in that place up there,He fixed my broken heart, I thought was beyond repair.He makes me feel so special, and makes me feel so great,He makes me nice to people, even ones I hate. Please don’t take him away, and leave me here, Without him now, I am nothing but a tear. He means more to me, then anyone would know, My love for him is like a constant river’s flow. Take care of my Ricky baby, watch over him please, I need him here, he puts me at ease. He’s my savior, my love, and friend,I want to be with him, till to heaven I ascend. Lord, you have never let me down before,I love him so, and now please don’t ignore…I’m saying thank you for sending me Ricky, And with this prayer now, I say amen."

Peanut Butter Banana Frozen Yogurt

Oh my goodness, this recipe is so yummy!

This is a great snack after you worked out :)

6oz. of fage yogurt

1 teaspoon of Skippy Natural Creamy peanut butter

1 teaspoon of fat free sugar free Vanilla pudding

1/2 of banana,chopped.

I mixed everything together and frozed it. You have to microwave for a few sec and then you can eat it. You'll really enjoy this snack. I love it. :)

Smoked Salmon Spinach Omelette

Smoked Salmon Spinach Omelette

1 whole egg

3 egg whites

3 tablespoons of skim milk

salt & pepper to taste

1 tablespoon of chopped red onion

cooking spray

1/2 cups of spinach,shredded

3 tablespoons of diced tomato-canned or 3 small tomatos

1/2 teaspoon of dill

1 tablespoon of low-fat mozzarella cheese

3oz of Smoked Salmon, shredded

1--Beat egg,egg whites & skim milk-Add salt & pepper

2--Saute onions in a nonstick pan until cooked.

3--Pour egg mixture into a nonstick pan coated with cooking spray (PAM)

4--When the omelette is cooked on one side, flip it over and then add cooked onions, spinach, tomato, salmon and dill to half of it.

5--Fold the other half over the top, cook until it is slightly firm and then EAT!

Enjoy! :)

Cinnamon Peanut Butter Pancakes

High Enegry protein breakfast!

Cinnamon Peanut Butter Pancakes

1/3 cup of old -fashion oatmeal
4 egg whites
1 tablespoon of natural peanut butter
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
Stevia, to taste-(or whatever sweetener you like)
Cooking spray

Combine first 5 ingredients in a medium bowl, mixing for about 1 minute. Lightly spray a skillet with cooking spray and preheat medium setting. Pour batter and cook until pancake firms,them flip and cook on the other side. - This recipe makes 2 servings. ENJOY!!!!! :-)

I love Hummus!

I love Hummus! Its a nutritious blend of chickpeas! olive or canola oil, pureed sesame seeds (also called "tahini"), lemon juice, spices, and garlic is a nutritious dip or spread. I don't worry too much about the calories from fat, since it contains mostly the healthy, unsaturated fats from healthy oils. Since it is higher in calories, I usually just make sure not to eat it by the cupful. A little goes a long way. Spread it on pita bread or whole-grain crackers and dip vegetables into it. Carrots dipped in hummus are amazing! :))

Legumes such as chickpeas from which hummus is made, are a great source for both complex carbohydrates and protein. Tahini, the second most important ingredient, is rich in minerals, fatty acids like Omega-3, and amino acids.

Here is my Homemade Hummus Recipe

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups cooked garbanzo beans
4 ounces silken tofu, well-drained
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
5 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp lime juice
1–2 cloves fresh garlic
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/3 cup sesame tahini
1 1/2 tsp sea salt
Cumin and paprika to taste

Directions

Blend all ingredients in a food processor until desired consistency is achieved. Garnish with a dash of paprika on top. Serve warm or chilled.

ALWAYS Think Positive!

ALWAYS Think Positive!

Your throughts and feelings make ripples. Put them together you get a beautiful ocean :)

Through my weight loss journey I always thought positive! This kept me on track and kept me moving forward!

Thinking positive will help you through your weight loss journey and through LIFE! A positive attitude will bring you happiness. Letting go of the past and not holding on to grudges. Remove old baggage from your life. Learn how to remove negative thoughts and people around you IS the key to being successsful. Once you learn how to think positive, then you can move forward and work on creating the NEW YOU! Don't think about this. The more you think about the what if's, why's how's. The more you become stressful about things. JUST DO IT! Don't think about it.

Stay positive !

Update on Sasha

Great NEWS!

Sasha is feeling a lot better. Our VET did a blood test on her and She does not have lyme! She has to stay on her pain meds. We are very happy. For the most part she is walking good and holding her own. Sasha is a very sweet dog. We love her very much. :)

My favorite snacks

My favorite weight loss surgery - (WLS) - post op healthy snacks are. light low calorie pop corn, nonfat cottage cheese, frozen grapes, protein bars, hard boiled egg, sugar free jello, sugar free protein pudding, orange slices, apple slices, frozen bluebrries, Broccoli Florets dipped in fage greek yogurt, Sliced Chicken Breast, shrimp, green salad, soy chips, Hummus, Cherry Tomatoes, Nonfat Yogurt, Frozen Mangos, Frozen Yogurt, Fruit Smoothies, Walnuts, Sunflower Seeds, Tuna, Pickles and Olives.

What are your favorite Healthy Low Calorie Snack Foods For Weight Loss? Please share! :)

Got joint pain?

Well actually I am talking about my dog who is 12 years old and has joint pain. Yes, she is on medicine plus joint supplements for dogs. Everyday I massage Sasha just trying to relax her a little more. She also has Lyme disease. The poor thing. After she finishes her meds. she will follow up with her VET. Please keep Sasha in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you. It is much appreicated.

Just call me Mrs Book worm!

Today I get my new glasses. I never wore glasses in my life. However, now I'm going blind! My eyes and head were hurting a couple months back. And I was squinting a lot. So my hubby and I went to get our eyes checked out and we both need glasses. I am both near and far sighted. JUST GREAT! My hubby said I am going to look like the book worm -up above. lol. He had me rolling, I couldn't stop laughing. Glasses look so HUGE on my face. I tried on everything at the eye glass store. The lady at the eye store said that i am tiny, very small body and have a small head. lol Well thank you, Ma'am. Much appreicated. I think? :P Small head ... ahh man, that is better then a BIG HEAD, don'tcha think? lol hahaha... Since I lost weight , my face is so much thinner now. I now look great :) Oh this HERE is my glasses. Check them out. They are beautiful. Mine is in black. With my hair being very dark, almost black. The lady at the eye glass store said that the glasses I picked out make my eyes look very exotic. lol hmm, okay. Well, I never heard that one before.... All i care about is , being able to see and my eyes and head don't hurt anymore. So, I hope these glasses help. I am keeping my fingers and toes corssed. :)



Do you wear glasses? Do they help you? Tell me, please share :)

I love the Ocean, do you?

I love the Ocean, do you? :)

Sharing my Lizzy creation that I made of a mermaid. I always love the ocean. When I stare at the waves , its very calming. Very meditating, soothing for my soul. Here is one of my favorite poems below that I would love to share with you. This poem below inspirated me to create this beautiful artwork up above. Thanks to Alfred Lord tennyson.

The Mermaid Poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson

Who would be A mermaid fair, Singing alone, Combing her hair Under the sea, In a golden curl With a comb of pearl, On a throne?

I would be a mermaid fair; I would sing to myself the whole of the day; With a comb of pearl I would comb my hair; And still as I comb'd I would sing and say, 'Who is it loves me? who loves not me?' I would comb my hair till my ringlets would fall Low adown, low adown, From under my starry sea-bud crown Low adown and around, And I should look like a fountain of gold Springing alone With a shrill inner sound Over the throne In the midst of the hall; Till that great sea-snake under the sea From his coiled sleeps in the central deeps Would slowly trail himself sevenfold Round the hall where I sate, and look in at the gate With his large calm eyes for the love of me. And all the mermen under the sea Would feel their immortality Die in their hearts for the love of me.

But at night I would wander away, away, I would fling on each side my low-flowing locks, And lightly vault from the throne and play With the mermen in and out of the rocks; We would run to and fro, and hide and seek, On the broad sea-wolds in the crimson shells, Whose silvery spikes are nighest the sea. But if any came near I would call and shriek, And adown the steep like a wave I would leap From the diamond-ledges that jut from the dells; For I would not be kiss'd by all who would list Of the bold merry mermen under the sea. They would sue me, and woo me, and flatter me, In the purple twilights under the sea; But the king of them all would carry me, Woo me, and win me, and marry me, In the branching jaspers under the sea. Then all the dry-pied things that be In the hueless mosses under the sea Would curl round my silver feet silently, All looking up for the love of me. And if I should carol aloud, from aloft All things that are forked, and horned, and soft Would lean out from the hollow sphere of the sea, All looking down for the love of me.

Oh I am so sore!!

Today was my weight lifting day. Tomorrow I will be sore. That's how the game goes. lol I will take a rest day in between so my body can catch up. In the meantime, I will do some ab workout and also run on my treadmil. and rest my other body parts. cardio does the body good :)



What's your favorite workout that you love to do?


Please share :)

Do ALL animals go to heaven?

For years I wonder if all animals go to heaven. Well , i got my answer in August of 2008, last year. My beloved kitty Sienna (CeCe) past away from lung cancer. I was in the kitchen washing dishes all of a sudden i felt something rubbing on my leg. So, I looked down and there was a shadow of a cat circling between my legs. Then the shadow of the cat slowly ran into my storage room. Sienna use to sleep in that room. My heart dropped. I thought, OH MY GOD! IS THIS FOR REAL? I never in my life believed in life after death. NOW, I believe it. I kept saying to myself, PLEASE let this be real! I want Sienna back in my life again. Oh, how I miss her. I truly had a hard time when she did go. Later on that week, I told my hubby what had happened and he said to me, Lizzy, she came to visit me ,too. It was just an amazing feeling I ever felt in my whole life. Never had I had this happen to me. NOW I DO BELIEVE! :)

After she died, I had a rough time with my weight loss. Not with my vitamin intake but eating on schedule. My eating habits went down the drain. I didn't care if I ate. Although, I did make sure I drank my protein shakes. At least twice a day. I drank my water and made sure I was well hydrated. But still, I could care less at the time. I wanted my Sienna baby back.

She was a beautiful gray tabby cat. She was my best friend in the world. She understood me like no one else did. We spent so much time together. We had a wonderful relationship. I am getting very emotional now writing this. When she passed, it felt like a piece of me dying with her. I had a HUGE hole in my heart and I had to replace it as soon as possible to keep myself from really getting depressed.

A few weeks after she passed, my hubby says to me. Lets adopt a kitten. And guess what ? He didn't want to adopt one, he wanted to adopt TWO KITTEN'S! I was SO THRILLED and SO HAPPY! I was on cloud 9. But still, all i had on my mind was losing the BEST kitty in the world.

It took a lot of time to get past Sienna's death. Its now been a year since she is gone. and I still get emotional when I think of her. No kitty will replace her. But I know she will want me to move on and give my love to all animals, especially cat's and kitten's. I will make sure I do my best to help all cats around where I live. I will stand up for their rights and fight for them!

If my tears can build a stairway to heaven, I'd walk right up there and bring you home with me again. CeCe you will always forever be in my heart and thoughts. I miss and love you. And I truly know you love me back because you can down to visit me. It was a very special moment for me as well as it was for you, sweetie.

YES, ALL animals go to heaven,too. I do believe. :)

Had you have this ever happen to you? If you did, please leave a coment and share your story and thoughts with me. Thank you :)

I FEEL AMAZING!

I am 5 years post op from weight loss surgery. I had my surgery on 6/08/04. I had my WLS done At south nassau hospital ,Hewlett Long Island, New York with Dr. Vohra and Dr. Nishimura. after my commitment to CHANGE. I have lost 155lbs. i commit to healthier life. I'm feeling great! Having surgery saved my life. It was the BEST thing I ever did. I don't regret having WLS one bit. I love being healthy and thin! Finally :)

If you had WLS as well, I would love to hear about your WLS journey and stories. Please leave a comment. I would appreicate it a lot. Thank you. :)