Banking Economics and The Federal Government (It's Called Capitalism, People!)

If your bank has started charging you fees, don't be angry at your bank. They are just responding to the federal government legislating how they are allowed to make money. A bank is like any other business: it has to be profitable to STAY in business. A bank has to buy supplies; they have to make payroll; they have to pay the light bill; and they have to pay taxes. Interest rates are low, which is great if you want to borrow, but it cuts into a bank's profit margin.

Now I know there have been some dirty dog institutions out there, but why is a bank being profitable wrong? Would you buy stock in a department store chain, or manufacturer, or any other business if it weren't successful?? I am not against all the new legislation, because there have been abuses. But if you write a bad check, why shouldn't you pay a fee?? Especially if the bank floats the funds to cover you. We all make mistakes, but some folks abuse the privilege.

You can look for more fees to come. The Durbin Interchange Amendment (proposed legislation) will slice at the profitability of check card income. Merchants pay fees so they can accept Visa, Mastercard, etc. A portion of that income goes to the bank that issued the card. You get the safety and convenience of a cashless card, and the merchant is able to service more customers. This proposed law will limit what banks are allowed to earn. Now, if merchants have to pay less to accept your card, do you think WalMart or Home Depot or the gas station will pass that savings onto you?? I DON'T THINK SO. Your free check card may be a thing of the past.

The current administration has already excluded private lenders from subsidized student loans. (This nugget was attached to the Obama healthcare bill.) This sounds great--as a student--until you realize how many jobs were lost in the private sector. And how student loan rates will rise from 3.4 to 6.8 in 2012. And how much more of our lives "Uncle Fed" now controls. Our government continues to encroach on our lives. It is now a bloated, bankrupt system. There is no such thing as too big to fail.

Boxes, Part 3 (x 2)

Fifth car load:
One box of magazines to recycling.
Two boxes of books to the used book store.

The best part?
I have inspired my friend to do the same at her house.

I have helped her move out many boxes of stuff for donation, too!

Tres, trois, drei

TODAY'S FOOD

Breakfast:
1/2 c. Cottage cheese
3 large strawberries
Hard boiled egg
2 Coffees w/flavored creamer

Lunch:
1/2 c. Tuna salad (w/mayo & veges)
6 Ritz-type crackers
1/2 c. Mandarin oranges
1/2 c. Banana chips
Diet Dr. Pepper

Snacks:
Few Hamburger dill pickle chips
Few Banana chips
1 Low cal yogurt
1 fat-free licorice twist

Dinner:
6 oz. 50% reduced-fat chicken sausage
2/3 c. Scalloped potatoes
1 c. Green Beans
Decaf Mint Tea w/stevia sweetener

Dessert:
30 M&Ms (105 calories)

Water: VIII


TODAY'S EXERCISE

Warm up
2 mile walk
Cool down and stretches


BTW: Today was my Mama's 75th Birthday. She is the sweetest, smartest, most talented woman in the world. I love her very much.

Day Two!

TODAY'S FOOD

Breakfast:
Low cal yogurt
Boiled egg (salt)
2 coffees w/flavored creamer

Lunch:
Oatmeal w/apples, dried cranberries, raisins and milk (290 calories)
Diet Dr. Pepper

Snack:
Organic pumpkin seed cracker

Dinner:
Tortilla chips and salsa and queso (small amount, but still BAD!)
Beef enchilada w/ranchero sauce
Chicken enchilada w/sour cream (small amount)
Few bites papas and refried beans
[Water to drink]

Water: VII


TODAY'S EXERCISE:

Warm up
30 minutes of intense balance ball workout
Cool down and stretches

Time to Get Serious

Since I finished High School, I have been gaining a few pounds a year. I might lose a few, then gain a few, but basically, over the course of 25 years it adds up to 100 pounds! 100 pounds that I now need to lose. I know I'll never be as skinny as I was at 16, but I cannot age healthfully at this weight. I want my senior years to be as healthy and vibrant as possible. I want to be able to be independent as long as possible. I want to fend off senility as long as possible. I am not yet fifty, but the time to prepare for old age is now! The first part of my life flew by, and time just seems to go faster as we get older. For years I have planned to lose weight, talked and read about losing weight. It has to become a reality NOW. I must start redeeming the time NOW!!

My husband and I are going to spend the next 90 days eating clean and exercising regularly. It will be interesting to see how much weight I can lose during that time period. 90 days is just over 12 weeks, so I think 25 pounds is a reasonable weight loss goal. Our food plan will consist of lean proteins, whole grains, healthy fats, low-fat dairy, and fruits and vegetables. I will be reducing the sweets and salty snacks I eat, and cutting back on artificial sweeteners. I will increase my water consumption. My exercise program will include weight training, walking, and yoga. This will cover the 3 of the basic components of fitness: cardio-vascular health, strength, and balance and flexibility. As we get older we lose muscle mass, and our balance can falter. I hope to stave off these issues with regular exercise.


TODAY'S EXERCISE
Warm up
20 minutes of upper body weight training
1 mile walk
Cool down and stretches


TODAY'S FOOD

Breakfast:
Boiled egg
Low cal yogurt
1/4 cup Grape Nuts
Coffee w/flavored creamer (Gotta get off this stuff!)

Lunch:
Grilled chicken thigh (skin and fat removed/no sauce)
Lima beans w/2 tsp. Smart Balance
Cinnamon apple sauce

Snack:
NO sugar added cocoa (The high is 60 degrees here today...usually it's 80!)
1/4 cup dried cranberries

Dinner:
Salad of mixed greens with steak; also tomato, cucumber, cheese, olives, tortilla crisps, and chipotle ranch dressing.
Unsweetened peppermint tea

Dessert:
30 M&Ms (105 calories)

Water:V