Homespun Healers

Hershey Bar Haystacks

(1 Stack – 71 calories, 4g fat, 12 carbs, 5g fiber, 2g protein – 1 WW point)

1 Cup Fiber One Cereal
1 (1.5 oz.) Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bar
1 Tbsp. reduced fat peanut butter, smooth or chunky

Directions:
Melt bar and peanut butter in microwave until smooth, at 30-second intervals. Be careful not to burn or overcook. Stir chocolate and peanut butter mixture. Add cereal and gently toss till coated. Drop onto wax paper, making 6 stacks. Refrigerate until chocolate hardens

Ingredients:

1 package Diet Swiss Miss Cocoa
1 tablespoon peanut butter
1 banana
1/4 cup Grape Nuts cereal

Instructions:

Put all ingredients in a mixer.
After mixing up, then divide into 2 servings by putting half of the mixture on one piece of aluminum foil then folding edges to keep fresh.
Do the same thing with the other bar.
Now put both in freezer and have for a snack anytime.

Yield: 2 servings
2 POINTS per serving

Nutrition information:
Per serving: 102 calories, 4.4g fat, 0mg cholesterol, 38mg sodium, 15.4g carbohydrates, 1.9g fiber, 2.6g protein

“Albert Einstein discovered that a tiny amount of mass is equal to a huge amount of energy, which explains why, as Einstein himself so eloquently put it in a famous 1939 speech to the Physics Department at Princeton, ‘You have to exercise for a week to work off the thigh fat from a single Snickers.’”  ~Dave Barry, Dave Barry Turns 50

This is true for me!  But I’ve noticed that not everyone has such a tough time getting that Snickers bar weight off.

I’ve heard this joke a hundred times.  It always goes something like this: 

A chicken and a pig were standing across the road from a little country cafe watching the satisfied breakfast customers leave.

The chicken said: “Doesn’t it make you feel really good to know we can help people become satisfied like that?”

To which the pig replied: “It’s easy for you to say because all you do is make a small contribution to their breakfast. With me it’s total commitment!”

What I’ve noticed as I’m working on losing some weight to get healthier is that some people only have to make a little contribution to achieve weight loss.  Maybe someone only has to stop drinking sugary beverages but continues to eat as usual and never exercises at all, and he ends up losing five pounds in a week.  On the other hand, some people have to make a total commitment (probably not equivalent to the pig’s commitment, but still a major effort).  So, while the other person is just giving up Cokes, the committed person has to watch and count every single morsel that goes into her mouth, drink tons of water to avoid water retention, and exercise every single day just to lose two pounds.  It doesn’t seem fair, but then life isn’t always fair for the pig or for us.

The truth is that a lot of people make a commitment and then they go through various phases.  At the beginning they are motivated fully to give it everything they have.  They are careful and conscious of everything they eat and every step they take.  They keep records and journals and are totally responsible for themselves.  But after a while, especially with some success, they begin to slack off a little.  Then the commitment becomes more moderate.  And soon enough, it might even become pretty slack.  But when that happens, things start to stand still, or worse, weight starts creeping back on.  And then there is a renewed more solid commitment again.  Rarely does anyone stay 100% committed all the time.  So, just remember that when things start getting too slack, take a look at your goals and re-commit to meeting them as soon as possible.

Whether we devote a little of ourselves or a lot makes a big difference in our results.  So, try to stay motivated to make your strongest commitment, but be kind to yourself when you tire and slow down.  You can always rev yourself back up to your most motivated state.  And progress will be made!

I lost another 1.6 pounds this week for a total of 17.8 total weight loss so far.  I think I need to rev up my commitment a little!