Pumpkin Carving 101

Halloween Means More Than Eating Bags of Miniature Candy Bars

Remember carving pumpkins as a kid? Mine always looked the same, but if I’d had the Pumpkin Carving Instructions found at Pumpkin-Carving.com, it could have been a different story.

Everything you’ve always wanted to know about carving pumpkins, but were afraid to ask including Pumpkin Carving History with the story of Jack O’ Lanterns; How to choose the right pumpkins; pumpkin carving tools; traditional carving and more.

Start now and just think how excellent your pumpkins for next year could be!

The Super Bowl of Eating

Super Bowl Sunday
Second only to Thanksgiving Day, Super Bowl Sunday is the biggest eat fest of the entire year. It’s not about turkey and dressing but snacks, snacks, and more snacks. “Get your hot-n-spicy wings while you can for tomorrow we diet,” they cry.

Not a Fan but I get in on the Eating

I’ll admit, I’m not a sports fan — don’t throw things — it’s just that I’ve got too many other things going on and don’t have time for watching games. I know, it’s un-American, in fact the political police may just pay me a call now that I’ve admitted I don’t watch the Super Bowl. If I hear everyone cheering I might peek in for a minute or two though, I’m not stupid.

Doesn’t mean I don’t think about having a Super Bowl party though. My husband joked he’d have a big bowl of rice and invite everyone over (he eats primarily a Macrobiotic diet). I bought an enormous sandwich that I don’t know who will eat. I’ll have some but frankly, this thing is huge, and the bread? It’s about 6 inches thick. I’ll have to use a knife and fork. But it’s Super Bowl Sunday and ever I am in the party mood.

Speaking of a knife and fork, did you know you can drive a teenager insane by eating pizza with utensils? It’s true, try it.

The eating today is “party eating” to the extreme. Finger foods, greasy, dippy stuff. Fun food. On my “Calendar of Excuses” this is a red-letter day. I’ll bet the Sweet Potato Queens go all out today.

How you handle a food fest says a lot about your potential to kick your weight issues out of your life forever. Go ahead and eat, enjoy, and do not for one tiny second feel guilty or mad at yourself. A party day is for enjoying yourself. Don’t gorge – that’s not necessary. There’s always the next meal. This won’t be your last chance to eat chicken wings, even if you’ve resolved to start a diet tomorrow.

What’s the difference between stuffing yourself and gorging? To me gorging means stuffing it in as fast as you can because you’re afraid there won’t be enough. Gorging is out-of-control, frantic wanting and no matter what, it’s never enough.

Stuffing on the other hand simply means you’re full, and you’re still reaching for more. Stuffing is a choice, gorging feels as if you’re choice has been taken away.

Today, while you’re eating, or tomorrow if you’re reading this after the Super Bowl of Eating, just know you’re okay even if you’re overeating. Some occasions call for it, some days you just feel like it. It’s okay. You’re okay.

Feeling okay with your choices goes a long way toward getting you past the sticking points – sometimes can even lead to a decision to make better choices. It’s what you do the majority of the time that matters, not the occasional overindulgence.

I gained weight over the holidays because I ate chocolate much more often, and I ate desserts more often, and I over ate much more often, so naturally, I gained some weight. Now it’s a month later, and nothing changed except I went back to my usual eating habits and now that weight is gone. Easy and painless.

BTW, I still have a few chocolates left over, my favorite Joseph Schmidt truffles. Why haven’t I eaten them? I ate so many over December and the first week of January that I grew satisfied. I know they’re there, and I think about having one occasionally but I’m usually already full or don’t feel any hunger, and I’d rather wait for hunger. Then what happens when I do get hungry, I think of real food, not chocolate, so there they sit. That can happen to you too when you start to listen to what you’re body wants and stop being afraid to eat an apple or an orange. Fruit is good, fresh is good, clean food is good. Try eating for appetite control. It works, and you just might like it

How to Enjoy a Holiday Indulgence & Not Gain Weight

Surviving the Holidays Without Gaining Weight

Holidays are here! Great joy. Days of anticipation and foods bought and left waiting are soon to be consumed. I’m giddy with delight and I hope you are as well. Holidays are not an excuse to go crazy, but they are also not a time to cause yourself distress.

My holiday Rules For Eating, Enjoying and Not Gaining Weight

  • Enjoy yourself. This is critical.
  • Eat what looks wonderful, pass on the ordinary. In other words, choose homemade (if you have a choice).
  • Take the time to enjoy the food. Try to determine what, if anything, is especially good to you? You might gain some insight into why particular foods call to you.
  • Use EFT all day – quietly tap the karate point when you feel stress, and say to yourself, “Even though I’m getting annoyed with Uncle Charlie, I deeply and completely accept myself.” It will quietly calm you.
  • Smile all day like you know a secret. People will go crazy trying to figure out what’s “different” about you.

Use EFT before you eat for any worries and concerns, and after you eat for any guilt or bad feelings. There is no need to feel guilty for eating and enjoying yourself.

EFT for the Holidays

If you have “issues” surrounding holidays, then tap like crazy on that. “Even though I hate the holidays, I deeply and completely accept myself.”

“Even though everyone has somewhere to go but me, I deeply and completely accept myself.”

“Even though I couldn’t afford to buy nice presents, I deeply and completely accept myself.”

This is the time to reflect on the year gone by and look toward the new.