According to Jim Cathcart, “There are eight words to motivate.” Ask yourself these eight questions to tap into your motivation.

TARGET – What are your most intense personal motivators? Use them effectively to your advantage. Write them down, post them and review them often! Long time fitness fanatic, Richard Simmons still does this.

TOOLS – Do you have all the correct and valid information needed to succeed? When you are losing weight you need accurate advice and a good healthy food plan. You don’t need another unhealthy fad diet. Check out all of Nutrition Data’s good information on the home page specifically dedicated to diet and weight loss. Everything you need is there!

TRAINING – Do you know how to use your weight loss tools well? If you are using a book have you read it through or have you just taken parts of it that you like? If you are using Nutrition Data’s tools have you explored them all and know which ones to use correctly?

“The way you think today will shape the way you live tomorrow.”- Jim Cathcart.

TIME – Have you had enough time for learning everything you need to implement for weight loss? Have you given up too soon before you have had time to make this a true lifestyle? (Do you have the correct carbs, tportion control, healthy snacking, food planning and shopping, socializing in a healthy way, emotional eating, etc. all in place?)

TRUTH – Do you know how all of the above fits together successfully? You know by how much weight you are losing.

TRACKING – Is someone adequately giving you the proper feedback for you to stay on track? Are you keeping a food diary to track your food intake? Record keeping is one of the most successful behavioral techniques for weight loss and maintenance according to the National Institute of Health. I recommend using FitDay.

TOUCH – Do you have enough support and encouragement in order for you to succeed?

TRUST – How do you know if your tracking is accurate? Do you have someone who understands what you are doing and who can help you?

There are several options for you low-carbers out there – don’t go to any Super Bowl parties … no, no, no – I’m kidding! But, seriously, when you do go to the parties – BYOS! (Bring Your Own Snacks)

Here are some suggestions and one really great recipe that’s incredibly easy to make and everyone will enjoy whether they do low-carb or not.

Come to the party armed with cucumber slices, celery sticks & pork rinds to scoop up dips that are low-carb friendly (including the Hoagie Dip recipe below). If all else fails, I will also use olives, cheese slices & rolled up deli meats.

Bring your own black olives, green olives, pickles, peel & eat shrimp, crab stuffed mushrooms, BLT-stuffed tomatoes, etc. I usually also bring Double Decker Knox Blox as well as Cheesecake Muffins. When you can have all of these yummy goodies – who needs potato chips or pretzels!

Here is my favorite dip because everyone can enjoy it! I’ll be posting my recipes for 2 more Low Carb Super Bowl Party Snacks tomorrow morning! Enjoy!

Hoagie Dip

Use 3 of the following meats – any combination
1/4 lb. bologna
1/4 lb. salami (I use hard salami)
1/4 lb. turkey breast
1/4 lb. ham
1/4 lb. roast beef
1/4 lb. slicing pepperoni

1/4 lb. provolone cheese
1/4 lb. munster cheese (or american)
2 tomatoes
shredded lettuce
heavy mayo

Dice up all the meats, cheeses and tomatoes.

Non-low carb: Mix everything together (including lettuce) with heavy mayo and eat with italian bread cubes as a hoagie dip.

Low Carb: Mix everything but the shredded lettuce together with heavy mayo and pour on shredded lettuce for a hoagie salad ~or~ make as a dip with the lettuce and use cucumber & celery slices as scoops!

It’s recommended (if you can wait that long) to make the dip (without lettuce) the night before and let the flavors meld together. Then add the lettuce right before serving if using as a dip.

Yummmmmm!

Good luck to both Super Bowl teams!

Why is it then – that almost the minute I know I can’t have sweets, I start wanting them?

Here’s a trick I learned and it’s saved my bacon on many an occasion.  I go to a Sam’s Club or BJ’s and buy the 1-oz. packets of Philly Creme Cheese.  I’ve never found them in a grocery store.  I carry them to work & if I am going to a party.  When a sweet craving hits – I’m prepared.  Mix the creme cheese with a bit of Splenda and it’s like having a bite or two of a no-bake cheesecake.  Ok, ok – so not EXACTLY like cheesecake.  But it’s better than scarfing down carb-loaded chocolate cake or that donut that’s calling my name.

If I’m smart – I’ll make Cream Cheese Muffins.  I found the recipe over on http://www.LowCarbFriends.com.  It’s a great place to find lots of great recipes!

Cream Cheese Muffins

16-oz. cream cheese
1/2 cup Pourable Splenda
2 eggs
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Soften cream cheese about 40 seconds in microwave (or for 1 hour at room temperature). Add other ingredients. Beat with mixer till smooth. Pour into 12 muffin pans lined with the papers. Bake at 350 for 20 min.  Muffins are better after they’ve cooled in the refrigerator (if you can wait that long).

I’ve also made this recipe and then discovered that I have no paper liners.  So I used a silicone loaf pan instead.  It doesn’t seem to matter what type of pan you use – the recipe is practically no-fail!

Induction friendly too!

Enjoy!