Almost 100 lbs gone!

Here I am fighting this last 5-7 lbs to be able to reach 2 of my goals. Getting under 200 and losing 100 lbs. Seems like the past few weeks have been a struggle and sometimes I feel like I am comfortable here. Maybe  I'll accept this weight and just hang out. But then I run across an old picture of me and I see how far I have come and I can not give up at this point. I am getting there, I never thought I would be able to do this. Thought I was just destined to be overweight.
Now I have accepted the fact that I will never be SKINNY. Nor do I want to. When I am working out, and  can now see my leg muscles , I love it! I worked for that! Now just to get off that extra weight around them, so others can see!
Well anyway, here are a few pictures of where I am now. I still have a long way to go, got lots of lumps to iron out, but wow its better than its ever been!
 I was trying on new workout clothes. I don't have a full mirror at home, so I use one when I get the chance :)

Bad Combination!

Well I am still here! Been a bad last 2 weeks. I am very sad to say I have gained :( I know, its ok.....we all do......I felt powerless the past couple of weeks. Almost a give up point. I think Ill go back and look through some old pictures to help remind myself where I once was. I'll be glad to share them too.
So as of Monday of this week I was at 218. Not happy! I came off my juice detox and knew I needed to eat CLEAN. Well I went out with some girlfriends and of course didnt make the best decisions. Although I do want to say I didn't make horrible  just not the best for me at that time. Also Hello PMS! What a deadly combination! So for a week, I eat. I still worked out 6 days a week. But again, you CAN NOT exercise away a poor diet. Lesson learned, again.
This week has been much better. I am already down 2 lbs. I am back to drinking my water, eating better and not craving the junk I know I shouldn't eat to begin with!
We all mess up, we all fall off the wagon sometimes. The most important thing is to NOT give up! Learn from our mistakes and move on.
I did learn something from this. I know that when I do reach my goal, and I will, I will have to maintain it! Its not going to be a "hey I'm here lets go grab a burger" . I am going to have to work just as hard to maintain that weight. So this was a little eye opener for me. Now lets move onward!! :)

5 Day Juice Detox

So this is the beginning! Marlaina, me and Tracey gearing up for a week of juicing. See that big green jug Marlaina is holding.....yea its my breakfast, lunch and dinner!!

Day 1 Monday:

Weight: 212

Feeling: Pretty good. Not starving yet.

What am I missing: My morning coffee.


Scripture:  Philippians 4 : 11-13  Thanks to my friend Wanda Brothers
11:  Not that I speak in respect of want for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
12: I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound, every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

I think the hardest thing for me is drinking the warm lemon water in the mornings. I would much rather have my coffee!!
So far so good. I have never been a V8 drinker. So this is all new to me. I have never been a big veggie eater either. Much better these days. So I am taking "shots" through out the day. That way I am not sipping on it and it lingering in my mouth.
My juice was all pre-made the night before by my good friend Marlaina. Its all mixed together and is the same until Wednesday. All organic Kale, Spinach, Celery, Carrots, Tomatoes, Garlic and Ginger.

By the end of the day I felt awful. I felt like I was going to pass out. But not from hunger pains. I couldn't focus, and I had 3 more hours with the 3 yr old. So I had a banana! Afterwards I felt so much better.
So maybe I am not ready for complete juice.



Day 2 Tuesday:

Weight : 210.8

Feeling: Better than I thought I would. Just started getting hungry

What am I missing: Nothing much at the moment.


Scripture:  Luke 11 :17 But he knowing their thoughts, said unto them. Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation and a house divided against a house falleth.

Im using this scripture only to say it would be easy if everyone was doing it together. I know I have to be strong and not rely on others, but if you are able to have your family do this together it would be awesome! Plus this is a great scripture to use for many things!


Day 3 Wednesday:

Weight: 209

Feeling: Pretty good

What am I missing: Really craving a nice piece of salmon and big salad.

Scripture: Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Again thanks to my friend Wanda for posting such great verses each day to help us get through this.
Each time I feel hunger or the need to eat, I am reminding myself that my soul should ache for the Lord just as much. Most of us don't go a day with out eating or drinking. Neither should we go a day without praying and seeking Jesus.

Also at my heart changers meeting last night, my good friend Marlaina made some awesome new juices. So today I am enjoying one called Kale Cleanser. Its Kale, Cucumber, Pineapple and something else. lol
Its much better than what I have been drinking. Also I am getting some fruit today and will be making some sweet yummies.

So later today I was getting hunger pains! My son who never eats wanted to eat today. So that was a challenge. But I didn't not snack on ANYTHING! I didn't put one morsel of food in mouth. Instead I prayed. Each time I got a hunger pain, I took a burden up the Lord. Some where mine and some were others. Starting to really get a grip on the fasting aspect of this and understanding its importance.


Day 4 Thursday:

Weight: 207 , this makes a total loss of 87lbs!!!

Feeling: A little hungry, but not starving like I thought I would

What am I missing: Crunching on something!

Scripture:

Yesterday evening I juiced up enough to get me through the last 2 days! Cant believe its almost over! On the menu today my green juice will be a mixture of Spinach, pineapple,cucumber and apple. This is more spinach  and cucumber than anything. My fruit juices are going to be a pineapple,mango, and cantaloupe. Oh this is so good! And then I have some Carrot, Apple and Ginger juice.
Hoping to get the gym today. I have had cake orders this week and been tied up with those. But I feel like am energized and able. So far this hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be for me. I am already looking forward to another in a few more months.

Day 5

I made it!!!WOW! This was harder than I thought. I want to consider this my practice run and the next time I do it, I will be more ready and knowing what I am getting in to.
I was down to 207 the morning of day 5. But after another 24 hrs I was at 205!!! Whoop whoop!

Count down is on!

12 lbs away, 12 lbs!!!!! I cant believe it! I cant wait to see 199!! I cant wait to get to my goal. Right now it still stands at 150. Maybe when I get there I may see I need to lose another 20 or so. But wow! How far I have come!
And one more thing, I ran my first mile today!!! With energy to keep on , but I didnt because I didnt want to dragging all day lol. Yay me!!

Veggie stir fry

I get ask for healthy fast dinner ideas by friends. Here is one that is one of my favorites. Its great to have it on hand and I can have it thrown together and ready to eat in minutes.
I cook my brown rice in advance. Cook up a cup or two and put in the fridge. I will last about 4-5 days. One thing I have learned is that it is best to use the short grain brown rice. Not the 10 minute. Which I have used for years. So take some time on a Sunday or Monday and cook up the old fashion style rice and then put up for the week.
I also go ahead and wash and cut my broccoli and carrots. And any veggies you want! This is a great dish to use those vegetables that might be getting ready to go bad.
Get a pan that has a lid. Throw in your rice. Couple of spoon full and your veggies. And I use this stuff called Braggs Liquid Aminos. Its a natural non gmo soy sauce alternative. It still has sodium like that lovely soy sauce, but you don't need much at all. I use about 2-3 big splashes for the whole dish. You can find this at Ingles. Garners in Spartanburg has small bottles if you dont want to invest in such a big bottle This one was about 8 or 9 bucks. But is a huge bottle and will last a while!

Now stir lightly and cover and this will allow your veggies to steam. I would say medium heat for about 10  minutes? I am bad at measuring, degrees and timing when I am cooking. I just look and smell! lol
Soon you will have a simple, healthy FAST food! :)

Notice I am eating on Miles' kid plate. This also helps in portion size. I eat on smaller plates and my eyes and stomach just think I have a plate FULL of food! Sounds crazy, but really helps! Try it out!

Easter Dinner

Here we are almost in April! I'm at 214!!! I cant wait to knock off the next 14 lbs and get out of the 200's! I cant remember when I wasn't in the 200's. This is huge for me!

I met with my health coach yesterday ( I love our sessions!) and she ask me what was one positive change I have had since we last met. Out of the top of my head I thought about how I hadn't really been thinking about what we were going to eat for Easter dinner on Sunday. I actually had to stop and think about it the other day when my husband mentioned it. This is HUGE for me. Normally a week or 2 in advance I would be thinking about it daily. Thinking about eating, and what all we were going to have. From the mac and cheese to the coconut cake. But wow, I hadn't gave it much thought. This proves again this is life changing for me. I don't wake up to eat and then start thinking about lunch and dinner. I am not living to eat anymore, I am eating to stay alive! To be healthy! To actually LIVE!

So you may be wondering what I will be having for Easter dinner. We are having a mexican dinner. So I will enjoy mostly everything, but in small amounts. Its ok to enjoy family dinners, but just not seconds and thirds. And maybe pick one rich food to indulge in and not ALL of them.

Say NO to an Empty Stomach!

An empty stomach is the devil deli!

Having an empty stomach leads to unhealthy snacking. If you find yourself hunger between meals be sure to have healthy snacks on hand. Drink a couple glasses of water, eat and an apple or a small hand full of nuts.
I keep apples clean and ready to eat on the table. I always have almonds on hand too. Most important is to drink water! Water , water and more water. Water helps you stay full, oh it helps with tons of things!

If you see you are hunger almost all the time, re-evaluate what you are eating. Are you getting enough fiber. Fiber helps you stay full longer. Not protein, as I was grown up to think. Get your fiber from fresh fruits and veggies and you will see a difference!