Lanell Brown Stuart

WEIGHT LOSS REPORT

2011-02-25T17:34:00.000-08:00

Well, you'll be happy to know--I've found success. Or maybe you will be interested in the "helps" along the way? Maybe so, I hope you will find the success I have.

I have found success eating less.

I have lost 6 pounds in 2 months.

I must tell you of an aid I have found most helpful. It's a web site called: myfitnessplan.com

With this aid I found, with my son-in-law's help, I have been able to account for the calories and fats I take on every day. I eat sensibly and am able to eat some otherwise "forbidden fruit" so to speak. I stay with chicken or fish mostly and feel like that is a better choice for most days, even though I do eat beef once-in-a-while.

I don't count the calories before I eat. I just enter the data and the site figures the calories for me. In the evening I make sure I haven't had too many calories that day so that I don't eat all the snacks I have been known to eat in the past.

"It works for me" as an actor has been known to say.

Therefore, my advice is eat sensibly, not too many fats or calories and stop eating all the snacks in the evening hours. As your mother would say, "eat all your vegetables". I don't feel like I'm on a "diet" as such. I feel free to be me.

February, 24, 2011

Report On My New Knee

2010-12-27T19:48:00.000-08:00

Well, things are looking up. I have been walking regularly for about three weeks. What a difference it has made for me. I first walked 15 minutes, sitting after 5 minutes. I have managed to work up to 30 minutes sitting after 10 minutes. It's difficult with the high blood pressure and pain of my knee.

However, today was good. Yesterday, Sunday was the start of it. I woke up without pain in my right knee. This morning, Monday, I woke up without having pain all night with my left hip and left knee.

I had been overcompensating the pain in my right knee by exaggerating use of my left side. It took its toll for the past three months. I was and am praying really hard my left knee and/or hip don't need replacing.

It's an ordeal I don't want to put my husband nor myself through again. I hope the pain is gone for good.

Dieting Obsession

2010-12-27T19:16:00.000-08:00

Well, I've come to the big fork in the road, again, so-to-speak. Will I lose weight or won't I? It's a big decision. There are so many "rules of engagement". So many ways people advise others about weight loss.

One thing for sure: it takes a lot of thought. Do you want to become "obsessed" with food? For most the answer is a resounding "no". Sometimes in the past that is what it has become for me. In the past exercise also has become an obsession in order to lose weight. Therefore I spent most of my day obsessed with weight loss. It's not fun and almost became an illness.

So, I read a book called, "Seven Secrets of Slim People" by Vikki Hanson, M.S.W. and Shawn Goodman. Most of the information people know just because the information has been around a long time. There are some good points to ponder.

I'm going to try a new approach. "Eat sensibly and in moderation and walk regularly." Especially since my family Dr. has advised me to lose at least 10 pounds. My knee dr. has advised that I exercise my "new" knee. I hope very much these people know what they are talking about. I'll let you know in a few months how that turned out.

Knee Replacement Surgery

2010-10-27T11:35:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a trying time for me and my husband. After about three to five years of limping every time I walked, I made the big decision: Knee surgery.

I knew it would be tough, but endurance is not one of my better suites. It is difficult to have that nagging pain. Not too much pain to deal with, just enough to aggravate the tar out of someone.

Well, I shouldn't complain. My husband has the worst part of it as care-giver. He was always faithful to tend to my every need. He deserves a lot of stars in his crown for this one.

He was always cheerful and ready to serve whatever I needed.

We had this machine that exercised my knee automatically. It weight about 8 to 10 pounds. My leg would get tired being raised all the time, so I would ask him to take it down every so often. I just know it was trouble. But, I hurt.

So here is my tribute to Tommy Stuart:

Thank you for all the hard work you do. Learning to be a house-husband and nurse-maid to me. Cooking, washing dishes, laundry, giving medications, changing sheets on the bed and numerous other chores you never complained about doing.

Today you finally got to work in your garden (not the virtual one). I am so proud of you and hope you keep your sense of humor always.

TRIBUTE TO ANITA AND THE DOLLS SHE GAVE ME

2010-09-19T12:56:00.000-07:00

Anita was my sister and eight years my senior. We all loved and adored her. She was the most giving person I think I ever met.

She worked down the street, in the 4500 Proctor Street. It was near the town of Lakeview which doesn't exist any more. The little restaurant doesn't exist either.

I could walk there from where we lived on Trinity Ave. She would serve me a glass of "coca-cola".

Then one day I couldn't go anymore. She said I was drinking her profits. I was so young I didn't realize she had to pay for the drinks. I was just playing "store".

Then she worked at Glass Drug Store downtown Port Arthur on 5th Street about the 6 or 700 block. They sold "story book" dolls and every occasion she would buy me a doll. They were about 5 or 6 inches tall. One was a "Canasta" doll that had playing cards all over her dress. One was "Little Bo-Peep" that had a staff in her hand and looked like a fairy princess in pink.

My favorite which I still have are "Peter Pan and Tinker Bell". They are dressed in green. He looks rather like Robin Hood with the hat with a feather in it. "Tinker Bell" looks like fairy with "wings". I still have "Peter Pan and Tinker Bell". They are put away somewhere. When I find them I shall put a picture of them on this site. I think I still have the other dolls also.

I entered one of my dolls in a contest for the CavOilCade festival, Port Arthur had a long time ago. She was a dressed with a white gown and red cape. She was supposed to be a "queen". She won 2nd or 3 rd place. I'm sorry I don't still have the ribbon. I kept it for a long time but time gets away from us. I don't remember if I still have the princess doll or not. I was only 10 or 11 years of age at the time.

I must get pictures and post them when I get a chance.

The Old .38 Pistol

2010-09-18T14:52:00.000-07:00

When I was about 8 years old my sister, Anita, was 16 years of age. My older brother, Jerry, was 15 and my younger brother, Tommy was 11.

One summer day, while my mom and dad were working during the day, Jerry and Anita had some teen-age friends over to the house. They were all in the kitchen discussing what teens discuss. Tommy decided he wanted in on the conversation and whatever was going on. You know how younger can pester the older. Well, needless to say, Jerry and Anita wanted their privacy and told Tommy he better scoot out of the kitchen.

That didn't sit well with Tommy so he decides to go get dad's .38 pistol. Now you have to understand the pistol was almost as big as Tommy was.

He walks into the kitchen brandishing the pistol and teen-agers scatter far and wide. Out the windows and doors and behind the fridge, any place to protect themselves. Who knows what can happen when a little kid is slinging a .38 around and around.

My part in this was, I heard all the commotion and ran to the kitchen to see what was going on. Jerry said, "Lanell, get outta here, go somewhere else." Needless to say we were all scared out of out wits.

Jerry being the "man" of the house finally talked Tommy out of the pistol and all was safe again.

To my knowledge mom and dad, to this day, never found out about that incident. It is a wonder we didn't kill each other, being left on our own during a hot summer day of the '50's.

Brother's Tom & Jerry Brown

2010-04-15T07:16:00.000-07:00

I couldn't ask for better brothers. They are good Christian men in spite of hard times as youths. Yet, I'm sure others had harder times also. Living in Port Arthur, TX was simpler than now, though. If you want to compare.

It's a wonder we survived. Left on our own, we learned to take care of each other. At least, they took care of me.

Port Arthur, TX, known as "The Wicked City" or "The Windy City". A port town with refineries at their peak of production.

A time when most everyone was buying a car, and a home. Who remembers the Port Theatre, in the Del Mar addition, The Sabine Theatre downtown, or The Village Theatre out 16th Street, near St James Catholic church? It was a quarter for the Saturday Matinee, with serials like "Rocket Man", Comic strips, like Elmer Fudd, & Tom & Jerry, & Tweetie Bird & Syl

Who remembers Kress five and dime stores, or Fornett Men's Wear, or Bluesteins? They were the best stores.

Who remembers having your gas pumped by an attendant?

When mom went to Houston via Hwy. 90 she always stopped in Liberty to have her car filled up with gas because the attendant always swept out her floor board. She thought that was being treated like royalty.

Well, enough nostalgia.

We were taught through experience to look after one another. I think we taught our kids to do the same, look after one another, and I hope they teach their kids to do the same also.

Christmas Time/New Year

2009-12-18T07:21:00.000-08:00

Well, the year is about done. What can anyone say? It's been a journey.

I am looking forward to the new year 2010.

I have all kinds of plans, and hope they develop into productive times.

Straightening the house and making better use of "space".?? Recon that will happen?

Looking into the genealogy thing again. Something I started years ago and never went any further than great-great grandfather Brown. Still don't have any of his dates.

I'll let you know how this progresses sometime in February or sooner if I succeed quicker than I think.

As for today, I have a Christmas party to go to and better get my "dish" ready.

My wish is for all of my followers and family to have a safe and great Christmas Season!

Health Issues

2009-09-07T10:53:00.000-07:00

Don't we all feel "under the weather" sometimes? I feel I have had more than my share. But, whose counting? The Lord always sees to it that I come back to bright and cheerful.

I had one of my "days" last week. Couldn't think, brain washed out, fuzzy head and anything else you can think of where the head is not as functional as it should be. I get like that and can't think much less attend to any other business that may come my way. I asked the Lord, "Just end this day" tomorrow will be better. Well, the next day was better.

It's always hard to remember Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," the Lord declares, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen."

We all have bad days and must learn to deal with them the best way we can. No one had a worse day than Jesus when He went into the wilderness and came out tempted by Satan. The Lord delivered Jesus from His humanity feeling of hunger, powers to overcome nature's strongholds and power to rule the world and power over God himself.

I see these three things as the basic human needs by which Satan thinks he can control the world. Our human condition to want food. Our human condition to want to rule over mankind. Our human condition to want to rule the physical world, nature.

Therefore, we trust God to rule, with Jesus at His side and the Holy Spirit to reveal to each of us what God wants for our life. We pray to God and know because we have His word, His plan to prosper us and not to harm us.

May your day be blessed by the reading His word!

Mothers and Daughters

2009-04-27T14:20:00.000-07:00

Chicken Soup For The Soul books has come out with a "Mothers and Daughters" book. I can't wait to read it.

I'm not sure what is refers to, but I just thought I'd do a "take" on my daughters and me.

I have three daughters. Each one is as unique as can be yet, alike in some ways.

First born is Kathy, Katherine Lois Stuart. How do you like that? First billing? Named for me, the Lois "thing". She is as independent as the day is long. She's a survivor as are the other two in their own way. Can't take "shopping"--not like her mother. They keep as close as they can with their "work-a-day" world. Unlike their mother they are in the "work-force". A must in today's world. She is a dedicated Registered Nurse and loves the excitement of the ER and ICU and CCU. She remains single at this writing but, soon will probably be hearing wedding bells.

Debbie Gail Smith, my second born. The "middle" child. Poor her. However, she is my "writer".

She followed her father's footsteps to work and the "plant". She is now considered a publisher and editor of a small magazine "Alive In Christ". It is put out by the writer's guild she founded. The Agape Inspirational Writers Alive writer's guild is connected to the IWA of Houston, First Baptist Church.

She has inspired me to write and "blog". She favors my mom and I have pictures to prove it. She is the mother to my only grandchild, a son, Thomas. She is very proud of him with a right to be. But, hold on this is about mothers and daughters. She loves to shop. Now that's where she comes to be like me.

Not quite as avid a shopper as I, she usually "thinks" over each purchase very carefully.

Tracey Lynn Rabalais, my "baby". Sorry, girls. :):) I was my father's "baby" when I was 50. She's stuck with the label as I have with my brothers. She's a "workaholic" like the others. They are alike in that way. They get that from their father, even if I do stay "busy" most of the time.

She's my "shopper", though. We are always finding "bargains" and sharing information about shopping.

One time I went to Houston, where she lived, to shop with her. I arrived there at 9 a.m. and we started when the stores opened at 10 a.m. We were still shopping at 9 p.m that night. When, Bobby, her then boyfriend, called her she said we were headed to another store. His reply was, "Where can you shop at 9 p.m? Aren't the stores closed?" She said, "No, there's always "Wal-mart". We shopped til 10 p.m.

What can I say? My mom and I went shopping every Saturday afternoon, downtown, Port Arthur, Texas in the 50's. She has taken me as far away as San Antonio and Houston to shop with her. She had "style". However she liked jewelry. I prefer clothes.

My mother's mother bought material and had clothes made for my mother and for me when I was young.

I can only guess, there are many things handed down from generation to generation. I know this is one thing we can't escape. "Shopping".

Good Luck in your endeavors as you reach the "peak" of your lives, girls. Live today as fully as you can.

Mom/Lanell

Goals For The Future

2009-01-20T17:04:00.000-08:00

Goals give us a since of hope and accomplishment. Goals can be long term or short term. They can be challenging or simple. Goals should be reasonable and attainable. They should be set for a certain time limit. Too long from now and we will feel overwhelmed.

Some people don't want to have goals because of fear they may not be able to accomplish those desires. Therefore they use generalizations such as "I'll try to be a better person". Too many times we have set goals and not been able to accomplish them. Therefore we don't set any goals at all. How sad not to look forward to anything and settle for the mundane and end up with a boring life.

Happiness can come from setting new goals and looking forward to the future. We don't always know what the future holds, but nothing comes from doing nothing. Goals can keep us involved with people and doing the Lord's work.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster to give you hope and a future.

Praise Jesus Now

2008-12-10T19:25:00.000-08:00

Christmas is my favorite time of year. It was my mother's favorite also. She loved buying gifts for just about any and everyone she could think of. All the hustle and bustle of shopping. All of the Christmas carols being heard in the stores and in church.

I hope you will keep in mind the reason for the season: Jesus. He loves you so much. He wants the best for you and your family.

He fills me with a peace that passes all understanding. I am particularly mindful of His presence this year because so many good things have happened recently. My health is better than it has been in a long time. I'm happier than I've been in a long time. I believe it is because He has chosen this path for me.

Events happen in our lives to prove God is an ever present help. You too can have this presence. Just call upon His Name, Jesus and He will lead you in the paths of rightness. Even when life gets hectic as it can. He can give you the peace that you deserve. This is a time of year for peace and happiness, so don't let life get you down. Look up to the heavens and praise God for your life and those people that come into your life.

Praise His holy name and all that is within me!

Christmas This Week

2008-12-07T17:28:00.000-08:00

I have so much to do and a short time to do it in. Isn't that something like a song?
Parties, parties, parties, what can I say. Monday our Senior Choir will sing at a local nursing home while the Women's Missionary Group serves cookies and presents. That evening is the S.S. Department party for 3 S.S. classes.
Tuesday, I may have time to do some christmas shopping????
Wednesday, is a Bible Study luncheon at a member's house and I will make sandwiches for that. The luncheon will last till about 2 p.m. I am looking forward to attending. Wednesday evening is the last of a Beth Moore study: "Believing God".
Thursday is a Christmas party for the Jeff Chem club and we will eat supper there and play games.
Friday is my husbands S.S. Department Christmas party in the evening.
Saturday is really a big day. My first born is coming for Christmas celebration from Houston. She will be in Florida this year on Christmas day. She will be enjoying a new and exciting relationship with her new boyfriend and his family. I hope it turns out happy for her.

Weight Loss

2008-12-06T13:08:00.000-08:00

“7 Weight Loss Tips That Will Enrich Your Life”

With the Lord’s help, and reading many books on the subject of weight loss, I was able to lose 40 pounds in 6 months. By incorporating the Bible with some good advise from worthwhile people you too can learn some hints to keep the weight off once you commit to doing so. Some of the verses will probably be familiar, some new to you. All scripture is worth learning. I just praise the Lord for being kind to me. The first scripture is probably familiar and can be used throughout each hint. Proverbs 3:6 in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. (NIV)

1. KNOWING WHEN YOU ARE FULL. Gwen Shamblin’s “Weigh Down Diet” says gauge your fullness as if you had a tank of gas from ‘e’ being empty to f being full. Combining this with hint with no. 3 you should be able to tell the difference between full and stuffed.
2. KOWING WHEN YOU ARE EMPTY. Most people eat because the old clock on the wall says to. Have you ever waited to see if you were “hungry”? This is America there are food establishments on the next street corner. You will not go hungry if you don’t eat at 12 noon on the dot.
3. EAT SLOWLY. It sounds like a myth but it really does work. Dr. Phil Mac Graw in his “Ultimate Weight Loss Solutions” says it takes 20 minutes for the message to go from your stomach to your brain when you are full. Put your fork down between bites. Our life styles don’t always advocate it. Take all 30 minutes of your lunch break if that’s all you have. It’s better than taking 10 minutes to “stuff” yourself with what you really aren’t hungry for anyway. Matthew 17:20b if you have faith as small as a mustard seed……..nothing will be impossible for you.(NIV)
4. WHERE YOU EAT. TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) advocates eating at the table instead of in front of the tv. This will keep you from “mindless” eating and make you more aware of not overeating.
5. DEVELOP GOOD EATING HABITS. Try each step for a week. It will make a difference. In a month you should lose from 5 to 8 pounds.
6. EATING OUT. You can eat your favorite foods. Just ask for a to-go box before you start your meal and leave half of it on your plate. I have taken leftovers and used them for the evening meal. You can microwave for one minute and place them in a toaster oven for 5 minutes and it is as crispy and tasty as when you first ordered it. If you finish before your friends, just sit back and enjoy the dinner conversation. You can even enjoy a cup of coffee during that time.The “E” word
7. EXERCISE. Don’t be intimidated. You don’t have to be a gymnast. Start by walking for 10 minutes a day if that’s all you can walk and work up slowly to 20 minutes a day. This one is difficult for me but, I try very hard to do something 20 minutes 2 times a week. If you have time just exercise 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the afternoon I am able to know I am trying my best. Isaiah 40:31b you shall walk and not grow weary you shall run and not faint. (NIV)

Introduction

2008-12-05T09:21:00.000-08:00

I'm new to writing and cyber space. I have found some new friends at a recent college writing course through cyber space who have encouraged blogging. Also to mention my writing daughter, Debbie, who has inspired me to write devotionals, other articles for magazines and blogging.

I haven't been published yet, except in a local newsletter. It is called Alive In Christ and published through our Agape Inspirational Writer's Alive chapter.

I invite you to email me and join our little writer's group.