Monthly Archives: June 2008

Oh, go HACK yourself!


Posted by katiebird

I don’t remember anymore how I discovered it but, my favorite diet is The Hacker’s Diet. Invented by John Walker, The Hacker’s Diet is an on-line (free) book that includes both a realistic weight loss plan, guidelines for keeping it off forever AND tools to help you do all this.

John Walker, like me, spent most of his life fat. An engineer, he could debug computer programs with ease but, he couldn’t get a grip on his own body’s system:

The absurdity of my situation finally struck home in 1987. “Look,” I said to myself, “you founded one of the five biggest software companies in the world, Autodesk. You wrote large pieces of AutoCAD, the world standard for computer aided design. You’ve made in excess of fifty million dollars without dropping dead, going crazy, or winding up in jail. You’ve succeeded at some pretty difficult things, and you can’t control your flippin’ weight?” Continue reading →


June 15, 2008 — Just 4 Today


Posted by katiebird

Just today, I’m not going to eat between meals and I’m not going to take seconds. And I’ll weigh myself and use Nutribase and the tools of The Hacker’s Diet to help me reach (and keep) my goals.

And Just 4 Today, I’ll drink my fiber twice (done once), drink 2 liters of water (I’ve drunk about 1/2 liter), walk 2 miles (Probably mowing our hell-lawn will put me over the top), NOT eat between meals & NOT take seconds.

And after the Lawns?  Patio Blogging!

What are you going to do today?


Envisioning success


Posted by katiebird

In honor of the Grand ReOpening I’m digging back into some of my favorite posts. This one is especially important to me because it’s turned into the guiding engine of this site. Beginning Monday we’ll get back into using these themes for discussion each weekday:

We need to decide what we want (a vision.) Decide how to do it – the steps (a plan.) Make working on the project a priority (a commitment.) Review our goals and plans everyday (an affirmation.) And do something everyday toward those goals (action.)

Here’s my personal checklist: Continue reading →


June 14, 2008 — Just 4 Today


Posted by katiebird

Just today, I’m not going to eat between meals and I’m not going to take seconds. And I’ll weigh myself and use Nutribase and the tools of The Hacker’s Diet to help me reach (and keep) my goals.

And Just 4 Today, I’ll drink my fiber twice (done once), drink 2 liters of water (I’ve drunk about 1/2 liter), walk 2 miles (which I did yesterday!), NOT eat between meals & NOT take seconds.

What are you going to do today?


Spanish Gardens — a love letter


Posted by katiebird

The Taco Seasoning and all Purpose Spice
We used Spanish Gardens for years — more than 10 maybe 20. Originally we got it because it’s low in sodium (40mg/serving) but we ran out about 6 months ago. We ran out and the Hy-Vee stopped carrying it. I couldn’t believe it. And on at least two occasions I went through every shelf in the store just to make sure they hadn’t moved it.

Because aside from the sodium issue, it’s just that good.

We found a substitute, Silva’s Taco Spice (sodium 190mg) but, it just wasn’t the same. It became a quest: something I just had to have. Internet searches turned up nothing. They don’t have a website. That didn’t stop me. And eventually I discovered that they’re a local Kansas City company!

How weird is that? This great product is suddenly unavailable — but they’re somewhere nearby? That sounds like the perfect solution to a quest. When it turned out they’re located right on my way to work, I thought my problems were over. I only wish that was true.

In the months that followed, I must have stopped by their building 10 times. They were NEVER open. I started to think that they most have gone out of business. But there were other Spanish Gardens products at Hy-Vee — just not the Taco Seasoning. So, I requested it. And asked again. And again. (OK that last time was an exaggeration 00 I only asked 3 times)

At our house we have what we call “Green Plate Specials” every Friday and Saturday night. Mister makes burritos or pizza or hamburgers — stuff like that with salad and baked-sliced-potatoes. And we eat our meals on these homely green picnic plates. So the loss of a favorite seasoning was a terrible blow to our lifestyle.

Friends, I have to tell you those dark days are over.

Two weeks ago I discovered Spanish Gardens on a shelf at Hy-Vee. I don’t know why this seasoning was so difficult to stock (they never said.) Mister made burritos with it last week and they were just as good as we remembered. And he made burritos again tonight.

I’m serious. These burritos are the best I’ve ever had. I feel like my life is perfect and nothing can go wrong. And this quest has taught me an important lesson.

There is nothing more satisfying than the successful conclusion to a righteous quest.