Fad Diets or Life Style Change?

So this past Saturday morning I went to Walgreen's to pick up some ice for our camping trip. The cashier guy at the counter was helping me try to find some protein bars or Larabars or something like them with no sugar in it. He said, "Good luck there is sugar in everything."
I said, "We've been doing pretty well eating low sugar etc."
He said that he just lost like 60 pounds over the last year.
I said, "I lost 47 since January."
He said "How did you do it?"
I said "Diet and Exercise."
He said, "Have you ever heard of  "H"erbal Life?" (as he pronounces the H...cracked me up)
He said, " I took it and didn't even need to exercise."
I said, "I like to exercise, I enjoy it!"

He said did you see tha guy in line? He is doing the EGG DIET! I was like what is that...He said, "He eats eggs and chicken 7 times a day!"
He said You look good I don't think you need to lose anymore. (I didn't say I did.)

On my drive back home I was thinking what in the world.....taking pills to lose weight (herbal or not)  no exercising.......eating eggs 7 times a day. Come on people there is no magic to losing weight it is called a HEALTHY LIFESTYLE!!! Plain and simple if you want an easy way around it it won't last that long it has to be something you can do for the rest of your life. A way of life so you can be healthy. I am not saying I have all the answers or that I am perfect everyday.....I am striving to have a "lifestyle" that we can all LIVE with and be healthy.

There......I said my peace :)

No More Coconut Bliss?

Well everyone I am sharing with you a disappointment today :( After reading this Article
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/07/03/can-this-popular-alternative-sweetener-spike-uric-acid-into-the-danger-zone.aspx?aid=CD945

Thanks to my sister who sent me the article.....I can no longer enjoy life! Just kidding. I knew there was controversy about agave nectar, now I understand. If I really want to be healthy I need to willing to give up things that are unhealthy. This hit me hard since I am a HUGE fan of Coconut Bliss and Agave Nectar is what they use to sweeten it. We live in a "Sugar World" and navigating it is hard sometimes.  Although my desire right now is to be SUGAR FREE I am not there yet. My family has come a LONG way these last few months and I am trying my best as there  mother to do what I feel is right for them.
                                                                

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Now if I could just find some other people out there like me it would make my life easier! I have been checking out books from the Library that will hopefully give me some good ideas for meals and even desserts that I can make! It seems everywhere my children go others are having  "treats" and we have to talk about it quite a bit, so they understand why they have to refuse them. I feel like I am a bad guy but I know I am not. It is hard for them to watch as other kids eat the sweets. So I am on a quest to learn how to make them acceptable alternatives :) I know some of you may say "Moderation" yes I understand this statement that is why I am looking for what I think are acceptable alternatives.