Calling all of you out there that are health-conscious Grandmothers, mothers on-the-go, working girls, college girls, or high school girls or ANY AGE FEMALE! 

Take my advice - please do not do what BUBBLES has done with her health, eating habits, and lack of exercise.  I went for my annual physical last November (2010). My good friend and Doctor, John Inman, said everything looked great but the weight gain was movin’ on up the scale.  Hey, now I look at myself everyday in the mirror and I did NOT see what he was talking about.  But girlfriends, the dead giveaway is when you have to lie on the bed to zip those jeans and then you cannot breathe when you stand up!  Does anyone out there know what I am talking about?  I bet you do!

Long story short, I found out that my thyroid was malfunctioning and my metabolism was as slow as syrup pouring out of the jar. Dr. Buddy Bethea (a very dear friend) in Norfolk, Virginia had already alerted me to this fact and I just thought the purple pill would take care of everything – WRONG! Well, Dr. Inman referred me to the endocrinologist in his office, Dr. Christina Kile.  Now you are talking!  A female will surely understand why I cannot lose weight without dieting or exercising. 

Well guess what, she is a love, and very honest.  She told me that when you reach my age it all goes KAPOOT and the only way to speed up the metabolism is to EXERCISE and DIET! These words are curse words to me! Boy, I could not get to the Dairy Queen fast enough and indulge for the last time (I pray) in a hot fudge sundae with roasted peanuts on top, of course with whipped cream from a can (chemicals) and a beautiful red cherry on top! I slurped every drop and then threw the container away before I got home so that Phil would not know what I had had for lunch!  Going home I decided to throw out everything in the pantry that I liked.  It was hard to let those peanut M&M’s drop in the trash can, but I let them go!

Why wait another day, let’s get this program going! It is Thursday and where am I going to find a trainer on such short notice to help me burn up this FAT!  I got the diet program going, cut calories, shakes and bars for supplements. As fate would have it, my good friend and also a grandmother, Barbara McClendon, told me about the trainer that she and her husband were using and that I was welcome to join them. I said to myself, “Bubbles you have to start sometime”, so off I go on Thursday night to work out with Shellie Gay.  She should be in the army!  I have never in my wildest dreams thought that my ear lobes would be sore!  Lord my legs were killing me the next day.  Thank goodness we have grab bars in the bathroom.  Anyone know what I am talking about – been there before? 

Needless to say, I have become addicted to the curse words (EXERCISE and DIET)!  Barbara and I have switched to a day program where the group is made up of young mothers and soccer players from Darton College.  Shellie has gone from being my dreaded BUTT BUSTER drill sergeant to becoming a dear friend.  Almost one year later, exercise and diet have proven to me that this is now a way of life.  Pants have to be altered and a new size has been added to the closet – SMALLER!  Amen Sista’s and it ain’t been easy!

I will share with you a recipe that I would never have attempted until just recently.  Yes, it is healthy and good for you and NO it is not a chocolate sundae.  It is easy and Collins and Carson, my grand girls love it!  I take it to my exercise buddies for their snack after our BUTT BUSTING BOOT CAMP.  By the way, I go 3 days a week and I have been 5 days.  If anyone out there is suffering from my symptoms – count to 10 real slow and face reality! The sooner the better, believe me!

These bars are wonderful and packed with protein!  EASY and so GOOD! Great snack for any age!

HONEY NUT CRANRAISIN BARS

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a 13x9 inch casserole dish with coconut oil.

In a food processor grind the nuts listed below into coarse nut flour.

½ cup raw natural cashews
1 cup pumpkin seeds
1 cup raw natural almonds
In a medium size bowl stir in the following:
½ cup sunflower seeds
½ cup pumpkin seeds
1 cup cranraisins
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Melt in a small saucepan ½ cup honey and ¼ cup coconut oil (I could only find the solid coconut oil in Albany!  Looks like Crisco in a jar)
Pour the honey and oil mixture over the nut mixture and stir until evenly coated with honey mixture.  If the mixture is too stiff, add honey until the nuts are coated.  Press evenly in prepared casserole dish and bake for 20-30 minutes until lightly browned.  All ovens are different.  Just be sure the top of the mixture is toasty.  The bars will hold their shape if the mixture has been cooked until firm.
Cool for 20 minutes.  Allow the very gently cut bars to cool on a plate.  If the bars seem to be too crumbly, just mold them back into shape.
When cool wrap tightly with saran wrap and place in the refrigerator.

These are so easy and good for you!  Do not be scared to try this recipe.

Until next time, remote kisses to all of you!

Bubbles

P.S.  In my last Blog a lot of you wanted to know where to find Candi Quik.  In Albany, Georgia it is on the aisle with the cake mixes and chocolate chips.
Coconut Oil is solid and I found it in the organic section in a jar.  Good luck!  Let me hear from you.