Marcia's Blog is a lifestyle change and dieting blog written by a beloved and respected nutritionist/weight loss counselor/lecturer Marcia Bodenstein. She has helped thousands of kosher consumers achieve and maintain weight loss.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

It's getting closer...and the pressure's on. Every single day I think of yet another thing to do before Pesach. And that's BESIDES cleaning and cooking and planning and shopping. There's the cleaners (what am I going to wear?), there's a haircut (before Sfirah)there's packing (I'm going away early on the first day of Chol Hamoed after 3 days of Yom Tov with company in my house)and the various birthday cards (April is a big month in my family), paying all the bills before Yom Tov and vacation, closing the office properly for all the days of Pesach... the list is endless. The most important thing, though, is planning for my food and to make sure I dont fall victim to snack attack and chocoholism - because that would ruin everything, and i wouldnt enjoy this beautiful time of year - hectic, yes, but really nice, too. So with everything going on, i have to make sure that i have a Pesach vegetable soup, roasted vegetables, baked potatoes, salads, and everything I need - a Pesachdig scale, measuring equipment and water bottle. I am no longer surprised that these seemingly small preparations make THE difference in my Yom Tov. A good Pesach to all...

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Wow!This month has gone by so quickly - and each day is so packed with thought and activity. Life is full. And it only gets more full and fulfilled if I take care of myself in the best ways I know how - eat in the most healthy manner I can, sleep at least 7 hours a night, exercise 4-5 times a week, drink 8-10 cups of water daily, and learn to deal appropriately with life's stresses. What a list!Who can do that perfectly? Certainly not me. But wait! It doesnt have to be perfect. It has to be MOST OF THE TIME,and that sounds more do-able. You see? That's the problem.If we cant do it 100%, then we retreat to "0",forgetting that the rule is DO MORE THAN NONE!
I also see that I am in this for the long haul,and if so, then I have to make my food interesting, tasty, with some variety. So, over the years I have bought "help" in the form of a Champion Juicer - put in a frozen banana and it makes banana ice cream, a vegetable cutter - to make making vegetable soup easier, various choppers, blenders, peelers and cutters. So, I would like to tell you about my new addition - an ice cream maker. Yes, you read right. But I have no intention of making high fat, full of cream and sugar confections. In this ice cream maker I put 8 oz. of milk (lowfat), 8 oz. blueberries, 1 egg , sweetener and 2 capfuls of vanilla extract. This machine has the compresser built in, so I set the timer for 45 minutes and VOILA - breakfast. It was amazing!! Imagine ice cream for breakfast.
Anyway if you are interested it is the GELATO and it is made by LELLO. I bought it at Zabar's on Broadway at 80th Street in Manhattan - and I am enjoying it immensely!
Have a great week!