Just yesterday while discussing global warming, the end of winter, and the beginning of spring, I was remembering “Midnight Sun,” one of my favorite Twilight Zone episodes.

The Plot: A woman (Lois Nettleton) tries to survive as the earth hurtles toward the sun. Needless to say, it was a chilling episode, and its end twist even more disturbing!

Now, fast forward to this morning’s headlines:
NASA scientists reported that the massive earthquake that hit Chile (magnitude 8.8) on Saturday, appears to have shifted the Earth’s axis, thus shortening our days. According to early calculations, 1.26 microseconds shorter.

Earthquakes shift massive amounts of rock and therefore, alter the distribution of mass on the planet, thus changing the planet’s rotation rate. The rotation rate determines the length of the day.

A microsecond is one-millionth of a second. Clearly, a 1.26 microsecond shift is not the end of the world, but still – rather disconcerting – no? And for us nighttime eaters, every microsecond counts!

For more on nighttime eating! …
10 Ways to Curb, Control & Conquer Your Nighttime Eating
Mindless eating occurs primarily at night, after dinner, when – after a long, sometimes difficult day – you sit down and relax. What to do? Understand it and plan for it!

Here, Janice Taylor, Weight Loss Coach and Our Lady of Weight Loss, the patron saint of permanent fat removal (she who guides her), give you:

10 Ways to Curb, Conquer and Control Nighttime Eating

1. Awareness First. Nighttime is often a vulnerable time of day. You might be tired. You may have said, “No, thank you,” numerous times throughout your day, and you’re worn down. It could be, more likely than not, that this is the first time that you are able to focus on your personal life and it’s bringing up anxiety. Know that you are not alone. We could all (me especially) blow a day of healthful eating within 10 minutes of nighttime snacking! Just knowing what to expect is helpful. … READ ON!

Join with me at Omega:
Our Lady of Weight Loss EnLIGHTens; Health, Happiness & Well-Being

Janice Taylor, a 55-pound big-time-loser, wants to forever change the way we experience health, wellness, dieting, food, and ourself. She has a mission: to make health and weight loss fun and create balance and harmony in our life. … READ ON!

Spread the word … NOT the icing!
Janice

It’s not that Pierce Brosnan isn’t swell. But really!! If Keely Shaye Smith wants to get in shape or lose weight, I sure hope she’s doing it for herself, first and foremost.

If you are thinking that you might want to lose a pound or two or even twenty of fifty (or more), before you jump on the weight loss bandwagon, you might want to get clear on why you want to lose weight.

Here are 6 powerful ‘coach yourself thin’ questions from your Weight Loss Coach, Janice Taylor!

Just yesterday, I was sharing with a friend that my greatest accomplishment in life (yes, all of life) – aside from having children (got to say that, right?) – is that I permanently removed over 50 pounds and there is a space between my thighs! That’s right!!!

I no longer house economy-sized bottles of baby powder to rub between my thighs before a summer-time walk! I no longer suffer from thigh ‘chafing!’

Amazing accomplishment, no? Something you can relate to, yes?

Well then, you can imagine my upset when I read this morning that a study conducted by the British Medical Journey of approximately 3,000 men and women between the ages of 35 to 65 indicated that those with a thigh circumference of less than 23.6 inches “greatly increased” their risk of developing heart disease and dying prematurely!

The people at the greatest risk of developing heart and circulation problems and dying prematurely are people whose thigh circumference measures less than 18 inches! And, further – just so you know – there is no benefit from having thighs that are larger than 23.6 inches!

So to those who have 23.6 inch thighs, mazel tov! You’re perfect. To those who measure less than 18 inches, presumably like Victoria Beckham, take heed! As for me, I’m still thrilled with the space between my thighs, and I will continue to exercise, eat healthfully, think happy thoughts and monitor my blood pressure!

For the full skinny on the study, visit:
Thigh circumference and risk of heart disease and premature death: prospective cohort study

More Celebrity Weight:
Kirstie Alley – Will she lose it and find it AGAIN?
Mo’Nique Loses it! 40 pounds.
Kelly Clarkson AirBrushed Away?

Spread the word … NOT the icing!
Janice

It’s National Popcorn Day and rather than celebrating it by hitting the streets in search of a super-sized bucket or two of buttered caramel popcorn, this Weight Loss Artist ™® thought it the perfect opportunity to make a piece of Weight Loss Art™® !

A Weight Loss Artist™® is someone who makes art about food instead of eating it and, in the process, loses weight. I permanently removed over 50 pounds. (For the full skinny on how to permanently remove fat, keep your hands covered in glitter and make weight loss fun, be sure to pick up a copy of Our Lady of Weight Loss!!!)

Weight loss art is any form of art and/or craft that keeps your hands and mind busy creating rather than eating and, at the same time, the activity grounds you to your healthy lifestyle goals!

Certainly, a popcorn frame meets the criteria! Are you ready to pop some kernels and glue ‘em, and not eat ‘em?

Straight from the Our Lady of Weight Loss’ Craft Room
Pious Project: Popcorn Frame

Supplies:
popcorn
glitter glue
frame (small is good, with a flat few inches to work on)

Instructions:
pop your popcorn
let it cool.
put glitter glue on the frame
place popcorn on top of glue artistically

Note: I use glitter glue because it’s colorful, fun and pretty. And when a piece of popcorn shifts and there’s a little bit of the frame showing through it – well … glitters!

More fun weight loss tips:
Can Your Anger! Literally! CAN IT!
Make an AFFIRMATION Container and CHANGE Your Life!

Spread the word … NOT the icing!
Janice

21 Tips: The Thanksgiving Survival Guide
The Thanksgiving Calorie Guide
The Thanksgiving Prayer

And today, an extra added bonus!!!!

They bring you The Thanksgiving Survival Kit!
Janice shares, “It is our intent to prepare our fans to get through Thanksgiving, the big food day, the big family day, the big ‘mom’s gonna’ push my buttons’ day,’ fully prepared and armed!”

What will you bring to Thanksgiving that can help you navigate the screaming children? What will you bring that will keep you strong and able to say ‘no thank you’ to the heavily spiked Egg Nog when the slings and arrows of miss-communication are being sent your way? Seriously?!

If you think that I’m kidding, I am NOT! I have spend an entire week on the telephone talking to Weight Loss Coaching clients who are telling it like it is. The TRUTH! Concerned that they will go on a ‘food’ bender or worse! Some are unnerved by their controlling mother-in-laws (not my daughter-in-law – by the way), some by the screaming 4 and 5 year olds; some worried that comments will be made about the way they look – good or bad – IT IS charged! The anxiety is mounting and I say get ‘thy holiday survival kit’ together!

THE THANKSGIVING SURVIVAL KIT!

1. Meditation Music. Should you feel unnerved by anyone or anything, simply slip away, iPod in hand, to the bathroom. Lock yourself in and tune in to some meditation music! Take in a few deep breaths. Return to room when you are fully charged and returned to center!

2. Lights, Action, Camera. Taking photos will not only serve to record the day for future generations, but the camera acts as a butter – oops, Freudian slip … I mean BUFFER!!! It literally puts you in a place of observation. Note all with humor! Snap away happily.

3. Recorder. Last year, my 93 year-old mother, after 3 sips of Manichewitz, revealed some very hot details from her youth. Had I only had a recorder! A golden opportunity missed to record her in all her glory and in her voice!

4. Jigsaw Puzzle. Bring a puzzle and dump it on a table in the corner of the room. You have now created the official ‘drop in’ center. Drop in and play … drop out and return to bigger group.

5. Games n’ Puzzles for the Kids. Needless to say, if you’ve got a puzzle you’re working on, the little ones are going to want to play, too. So bring games n’ puzzles up the gazoo for the kids! Keep ‘em busy and happy.

6. Hand Project. Crochet, knit, needlepoint, pen and pad … whatever! Hand projects not only keep your hands and mind away from food, but they are calming. Best anti-anxiety medicine ever!!!

7. Walking Shoes. Not only is it okay to head out for a spell and take a walk, it’s a good idea. If you need some alone time, be sure to head out alone!!! (I am giving you permission to take care of yourself!) And if you want to take the lead and invite others for a bit of fresh air, do so!

Think outside of the stuffed turkey!
What are you going to put into your Thanksgiving Survival Kit?! Pack NOW!

Spread the word … NOT the icing!
Janice

If YOU Want to WAKE UP THINNER? then go to THE HOLIDAY DIET for details on the e-book, community and more!
________________________________

Does your weight loss chart look like an EKG?
In need of a coach? Write Janice!

Follow Janice on Twitter and/or Facebook!

Visit: www.OurLadyofWeightLoss.com
www.JaniceTaylorLiving.com

I’m wondering? How are you going to make it through the Holiday Glaze? Might you wake up on New Year’s Day fatter than you are now? Seriously, folks! You might want to think about it now and actually ‘create’ these next few months so that they support you and your health and weight management goals. If you don’t take control now, the “Devil’s Food” will take you over!

Here, Our Lady of Weight Loss and Janice Taylor, 50 pound big-time-loser (that’s me!), share 9 tasty tips from their inspired new e-program!

“The Holiday Diet: How to WAKE UP on New Year’s Day THINNER than you are NOW!”

1. Manage your holiday expectations.
Remember … Holidays are essentially just like any other day in life. They are filled with ups, downs, glitches and unexpected happenings. Whatever your expectations might be for this holiday season, I invite you to of lower them!!! NOW! And remember … No one has read the script you’ve written for them. Nor – frankly – have you read the script they have written for you!

2. Be Yourself. Everyone else is already taken. ~ Oscar Wilde
Jot down a list of the qualities you like most about yourself and bring the list with to all holiday gatherings, in particular, family events! Read them early and often!

3. Don’t Regress. Your brother isn’t 13, and you’re not 9.
It doesn’t matter that he was bigger than you, elbowed you, teased you, took your favorite toy and smashed it! NO! It really is NOT relevant in the NOW. Let go of the past!

4. Do NOT Accept Delivery of the Family Fat Genes!
Just because your mother and your grandmother, your sisters and every female in your family (or male – if any men are out there) are fat, it doesn’t mean that you have to accept the family genes, does it?

5. Who wants to gain a pound today?
Did you know that the average Thanksgiving dinner ranges from 2,000 to 4,500 calories? Did you know that one pound equals 3,500 calories? Let’s get a grip and put calories into perspective.

6. Make Your Home Your Safe Haven.
Dump it! Sorry to shock you like that, but whatever and whenever there are leftovers, dump them immediately. Halloween candy? Dump it! Christmas cookies? Dump them!

7. Become a Foto-Food Journalist.
Bring a camera to events (again, family ones in particular!) and give yourself a journalistic assignment. Photograph the food before eating! Taking photos of the food creates an opportunity for you to pause and consider the food and your actions. Any time you can create a ‘moment to pause and reflect,’ you are practicing mindful eating. A good thing to do!

8. All or Nothing? Embrace the 80/20 plan.
Remember … No one is perfect. That’s why pencils have erasers!

9. Want Power!
There is no such thing as will power; only want power. You have to want to wake up thinner more than you want that slice of pumpkin pie! How will you exercise your want power muscle?

REMEMBER: Contrary to the agreed upon reality, you do NOT have to gain 6 or 7 pounds this holiday season. Create a new reality. Join with us as embark on The Holiday Diet! Let’s start a new tradition: WAKE UP THINNER on New Year’s Day!

Spread the Holiday Diet word … NOT the EggNog!
Janice

Laugh it up while you slim down!
Visit janice’s daily motivational musings on Beliefnet.com
Our Lady of Weight Loss… for weight loss wisdom
Janice Taylor Living … for the Freshest Fully Baked Life & Wellness Coaching

Our Lady of Weight Loss is all about having fun. Anything for a laugh! Lightness personified! And to that end, she has discovered the best Halloween decoration ever!

Toilet Tattoos® … toilet lid embellishments that are removable, reusable and wipe-able clean! You can transform your toilet for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas or just for the heck of it. A gazillion toilet lid designs to choose from including but not limited to floral, holiday, whimsical themes, and all you do is peel it off, smooth it on!

I just shipped some to my kids who are having a Halloween party! (Do you think that’s enough of a bribe to get invited?!) Anyway, they are $9.95 each and considering the fact that they are reusable, not a bad deal!

Spread the word … NOT the icing!
Janice

Zeus emerged from the sea to discover a beautiful young mortal woman. She did not seem frightened by him or seem to notice that he was a god. Zeus, naturally, took full advantage of the opportunity and seduced her. Her name was Cynara, and it all ‘went’ so well that he decided to make her a goddess. This would enable her to live near to his home on Mt. Olympus. (Long distance romance was not his thing.)

Cynara agreed. Zeus had a plan. He thought that whenever his wife Hera was away, he’d get together with Cynara. However, Cynara soon became homesick. She missed her mother, so she slipped back to the earth for a short but meaningful visit with the mortals. When she returned, it was quite apparent that she had a new attitude. Zeus wasn’t particularly happy with her un-goddess-like behavior. He threw a fit and tossed her back to earth, and he changed her into the plant that we now call the artichoke.

The Modern Day Artichoke:
The artichoke is a part of the thistle group; a member of the sunflower family. The plant can reach heights of three to four feet, and its diameter can cover a six foot area. The “vegetable” we eat is actually the plant’s flower bud, and if allowed to flower, a gorgeous violet-blue blossom will present itself.

Artichokes are available twelve months a year, but their peak season is spring and fall. Most artichokes are grown in France, Italy, and Spain, but California farms nearly 100 percent of the United States’ crop. Baby artichokes are a smaller version of the larger artichokes. The flowers buds are picked from the lower part of the plant, where they receive less sun, which therefore stunts their growth.

Recent German studies indicate that artichoke extract lowers cholesterol.

Artichoke Salad

Ingredients:
2- 6 ounce cans chunk light tuna in water
1- 16-ounce can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1/2 cup chopped black olives
1/3 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lemon juice, fresh
salt and pepper to taste 

Instructions: Combine all ingredients in bowl. Mix with enthusiasm. Enjoy!

Spread the word … NOT the icing!
Janice