Unfortunately, I fell off the healthy eating/Simply Fit Meals wagon. There are various excuses as to why. The most recent one is I've been traveling non-stop for my job over the past 3 weeks and as many can attest to... it messes up your routine and really messes with your head.
All the excuses aside I'M BACK ON TRACK! I started this morning with Simply Fit Meals' Ham & Cheddar Frittatas. They were great (one was a little overcooked, but 1 out of 4 ain't bad). Surprisingly I finished all 4 without feeling overly stuffed like before. The flavor and texture were good. You could taste the egg, cheese, and green onions and of course they were very fluffy!
I have a hair appointment at lunch however, I will be eating the Beef and Broccoli meal before I leave. After lunch (and my hair appointment) I will have apple slices, grapes, cheese cubes, and grapefruit slices for a snack. Dinner will be another meal (not sure which one).
I went to Simply Fit Meals in Park Cities (off Northwest Hwy) and bought meals to last me through Sunday. This Sunday I will go to the Plano location and pick up more meals to last me through Thursday of next week. I've learned NOT to freeze the meals as I forget to transfer them from the freezer to the fridge in time and you get more water and less flavor in the meals too. Buying them every 4 days ensures fresh meals and keeps me accountable. :-)
Additionally, when I'm purchasing meals, I'm paying attention to the "good thru" date and buying meals with different dates. Then, I organize my fridge with those meals by their dates to ensure nothing goes bad!
Talk soon... I do have to work!
Friday, September 26, 2014
Friday, July 25, 2014
Weigh In Results
Looks like I'm down 13 pounds as of this morning. I believe I am slowing down because a girl's best friend has decided to show up (if you know what I mean). Always hate trying to lose weight at that time of the month.
None the less, I have continued my Simply Fit Meals and yesterday had TWO KIND bars as I did not have time to run home for dinner and figured I would get hungry later in the night (which I did) so I snuck in a second bar. Tried a new one too! It's called Almond & Apricot and although I'm not a huge apricot fan, it wasn't half bad. I had forgotten the sweetness that apricots have. In that same 5 minute shopping trip, I found a few new bars too! There is a Blueberry Pecan one which I picked up and sounds really good. Have to wait on that one until next Tuesday!
Had my Banana Walnut Muffin this morning on the way to work (running late as usual). Tomorrow I will try their Omelet with avocado, tomato, and spinach for breakfast.
For lunch I had the Chicken Parmesan with broccoli. Are you a broccoli fan? I am, but it has to have some other flavor with it. These were plain old broccoli... no salt, so garlic, nothing. :-( I ended up mixing some of the breaded chicken and sauce with it and I survived. (lol) The Chicken Parmesan part of the meal was AWESOME!
I have to say, I have been really impressed by the taste of these "healthy" meals. That's why I chose Simply Fit Meals... their meals appeared to be normal meals. Not just here's your protein, here's your veggie... eat up! But meals you and I would recognize like the Chicken Parmesan, meatloaf, or spaghetti and meatballs. All familiar dishes, right?
Tonight, I do not know what I'm having just yet, but I will let you know how it tastes tomorrow!
None the less, I have continued my Simply Fit Meals and yesterday had TWO KIND bars as I did not have time to run home for dinner and figured I would get hungry later in the night (which I did) so I snuck in a second bar. Tried a new one too! It's called Almond & Apricot and although I'm not a huge apricot fan, it wasn't half bad. I had forgotten the sweetness that apricots have. In that same 5 minute shopping trip, I found a few new bars too! There is a Blueberry Pecan one which I picked up and sounds really good. Have to wait on that one until next Tuesday!
Had my Banana Walnut Muffin this morning on the way to work (running late as usual). Tomorrow I will try their Omelet with avocado, tomato, and spinach for breakfast.
For lunch I had the Chicken Parmesan with broccoli. Are you a broccoli fan? I am, but it has to have some other flavor with it. These were plain old broccoli... no salt, so garlic, nothing. :-( I ended up mixing some of the breaded chicken and sauce with it and I survived. (lol) The Chicken Parmesan part of the meal was AWESOME!
I have to say, I have been really impressed by the taste of these "healthy" meals. That's why I chose Simply Fit Meals... their meals appeared to be normal meals. Not just here's your protein, here's your veggie... eat up! But meals you and I would recognize like the Chicken Parmesan, meatloaf, or spaghetti and meatballs. All familiar dishes, right?
Tonight, I do not know what I'm having just yet, but I will let you know how it tastes tomorrow!
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Weight Loss Update
It has been awhile since I posted, but I have good news. I am down 12 pounds! I cannot believe it as I have cheated twice where time got away from me.
Example #1: Monday, July 21... I decided on Saturday I would go and test drive a car. Of course they never let you leave after a test drive without showing you numbers. I said "sure" as I had nothing else to do that day and everyone seemed friendly. We negotiated back and forth and I got input from a friend and decided it was not the right time. Well Sunday came around and I got to thinking so I ran some numbers and realized they were giving me a pretty good deal. What I had focused on at the dealership was the purchase price versus just how much they were giving me for my trade.
So I went in Monday morning to visit them again. Thinking, they've already given me numbers, this shouldn't take too long. THREE hours later, I signed the papers and sent my car to their Service department to have a cargo cover installed. When I finally left, it was lunch time and what was sitting in my old car that I did not even think to bring inside? MY LUNCH (and it was fish)! I was so mad... for a second. More concerned with getting the smell out of my lunch bag. :-P On the way back to work, I found the closest place to the office which was Whataburger. Not the healthiest and no, I did not get a salad.
Example #2: Yesterday evening... I was good ALL day. Ate my lunch, ate my breakfast, had me snack even. However, I think the day before messed up my system because I was STARVING come 6pm and I had to go pick up my new car. I finally get home at 7:45pm change to go ref volleyball and realize I have 5 minutes to heat my food and eat it or I will be late. Needless to I chose to eat on the road so I didn't make myself sick (although what I ate kind of did). I stopped by Wendy's (I know so healthy). Fortunately, I neglected to ask for "medium-sized" so I received a small drink and small fries. Finished everything right on time and walked onto the courts.
HOWEVER, after eating garbage for two meals, I still lost 12 pounds. I guess the preceding 3 days of Simply Fit Meals (without wavering) and the other 4 days of eating their meals 2 times a day really made a difference. I also haven't had desserts or lots of bread.
Guess eating clean/organic/TASTY meals really helps your system!
Example #1: Monday, July 21... I decided on Saturday I would go and test drive a car. Of course they never let you leave after a test drive without showing you numbers. I said "sure" as I had nothing else to do that day and everyone seemed friendly. We negotiated back and forth and I got input from a friend and decided it was not the right time. Well Sunday came around and I got to thinking so I ran some numbers and realized they were giving me a pretty good deal. What I had focused on at the dealership was the purchase price versus just how much they were giving me for my trade.
So I went in Monday morning to visit them again. Thinking, they've already given me numbers, this shouldn't take too long. THREE hours later, I signed the papers and sent my car to their Service department to have a cargo cover installed. When I finally left, it was lunch time and what was sitting in my old car that I did not even think to bring inside? MY LUNCH (and it was fish)! I was so mad... for a second. More concerned with getting the smell out of my lunch bag. :-P On the way back to work, I found the closest place to the office which was Whataburger. Not the healthiest and no, I did not get a salad.
Example #2: Yesterday evening... I was good ALL day. Ate my lunch, ate my breakfast, had me snack even. However, I think the day before messed up my system because I was STARVING come 6pm and I had to go pick up my new car. I finally get home at 7:45pm change to go ref volleyball and realize I have 5 minutes to heat my food and eat it or I will be late. Needless to I chose to eat on the road so I didn't make myself sick (although what I ate kind of did). I stopped by Wendy's (I know so healthy). Fortunately, I neglected to ask for "medium-sized" so I received a small drink and small fries. Finished everything right on time and walked onto the courts.
HOWEVER, after eating garbage for two meals, I still lost 12 pounds. I guess the preceding 3 days of Simply Fit Meals (without wavering) and the other 4 days of eating their meals 2 times a day really made a difference. I also haven't had desserts or lots of bread.
Guess eating clean/organic/TASTY meals really helps your system!
Friday, July 18, 2014
Simply Fit Meals Day 3
So this morning I posted the picture below on my Facebook page. This was AFTER I put my Apple Cinnamon Raisin Oatmeal in the microwave and it wasn't thick at all. :-( I think this was my fault and I'm very mad at myself for it because I was looking forward to oatmeal. I froze the oatmeal so it did not go bad and I think the frost from being in the freezer, which became water when it thawed, made my oatmeal runny. FYI: each meal has an expiration date on its label which is either the upcoming Thursday or Sunday from the purchase date). So... moved on to option #2:
Don't these look like biscuits with eggs, ham, and green onion on top? Well you might need to see them from the side, but they really do look like the biscuits you buy in the roll (the peel apart and bake kind) or the Pillsbury bagged ones you find in the freezer. They were VERY good too and filling. There were 4 frittata's to begin with and I ate 3 plus one more bite of the 4th and I was done. I felt my stomach saying "it's ok to stop now", so I did. It would have taken me at least 15 minutes to prep these things, then another 15 or so to cook, then another 5 to cool. I pulled these out of the fridge, popped them in the microwave, and started eating them within 3 minutes! Totally worth it as I am always running late in the morning.
For lunch I'm having the Cowboy Beef Chili with free-range beef, black beans, and spices on top of quinoa and topped with cheese. Sounds awesome and I will update later with a picture! This meal sounds perfect as this morning it was 66 degrees on my way to work! Crazy weather!
Dinner, I don't know yet. I will update when I figure it out. :-) If I'm hungry for my snack, I will have the Mediterranean Mash which has a tabbouleh salad with cucumbers, grape tomatoes, a lemon wedge, and hummus. I've never tried tabbouleh, so I will report back the results from my taste test! Have to try something to know if you'll like it!
For lunch I'm having the Cowboy Beef Chili with free-range beef, black beans, and spices on top of quinoa and topped with cheese. Sounds awesome and I will update later with a picture! This meal sounds perfect as this morning it was 66 degrees on my way to work! Crazy weather!
Dinner, I don't know yet. I will update when I figure it out. :-) If I'm hungry for my snack, I will have the Mediterranean Mash which has a tabbouleh salad with cucumbers, grape tomatoes, a lemon wedge, and hummus. I've never tried tabbouleh, so I will report back the results from my taste test! Have to try something to know if you'll like it!
KIND Bars
Have you ever tried these? Ever heard of them? I have seen them at Sprouts, Whole Foods, and recently found them in Tom Thumb and Wal-Mart.
Did a little research of the ingredients and found the only "additive" is soy lecithin. This is an emulsifier found in hundreds of processed foods including health supplements and infant formulas. It does have benefits such as aiding in the performance of our heart, brain, and liver however, there is concern because it is considered a GMO (genetically modified organism). As I mentioned in a previous post, the way we process and consume soy here in the United States is not like Asian countries. As a result, soy can be detrimental to our health.
All this being said, the soy lecithin is the LAST ingredient listed and we (consumers) know that ingredients should be listed by amount used. As a result, I am not terribly concerned however, will be making a trip to Sprouts/Whole Foods to see what they have that is truly additive free.
I did pick up 5 of these Kind Bars this week as I help organize and ref a sand volleyball league. The start time is usually around 6pm and I am rarely hungry at that time. Also, the venue doesn't have a great selection of "healthy" food and when you add a meal onto the $1.50 per bottle of water, your tab can be painful. So... I sneak in these bars so I have a small meal to hold me over. I would NOT rely on these if I was actually playing because you will be starving after the first match is over.
The KIND company is all about being "kind". They have a motto: "do the kind thing for your body, your tastebuds, and the world". Love it!
Did a little research of the ingredients and found the only "additive" is soy lecithin. This is an emulsifier found in hundreds of processed foods including health supplements and infant formulas. It does have benefits such as aiding in the performance of our heart, brain, and liver however, there is concern because it is considered a GMO (genetically modified organism). As I mentioned in a previous post, the way we process and consume soy here in the United States is not like Asian countries. As a result, soy can be detrimental to our health.
All this being said, the soy lecithin is the LAST ingredient listed and we (consumers) know that ingredients should be listed by amount used. As a result, I am not terribly concerned however, will be making a trip to Sprouts/Whole Foods to see what they have that is truly additive free.
I did pick up 5 of these Kind Bars this week as I help organize and ref a sand volleyball league. The start time is usually around 6pm and I am rarely hungry at that time. Also, the venue doesn't have a great selection of "healthy" food and when you add a meal onto the $1.50 per bottle of water, your tab can be painful. So... I sneak in these bars so I have a small meal to hold me over. I would NOT rely on these if I was actually playing because you will be starving after the first match is over.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
SFM Meals Update
I have to say, I have been very impressed by Simply Fit Meals foods. They do not taste "healthy" but they are!
I had their Banana Nut Muffin yesterday on the way to work and it was REALLY good. It was both gluten and dairy free and the texture/taste were perfect. I could have eaten two! For lunch, I had their Healthy Cobb Salad. It had a spring mix of lettuce, tomatoes, a hard-boiled egg, avocado (YUM), chicken, blue cheese crumbles, and turkey bacon. Their dressing was a balsamic vinaigrette. Of course there was more lettuce than dressing however, I know I need to cut down on the amount of dressing in my salads, so it was all good! My snack was a box of fruit and cheese that included grapes, apple and grapefruit slices, and (I believe) Colby Jack cheese cubes. Definitely something I can do at home (which I'm really excited about)!
Part of my goal with SFM is to not continue to purchase their snacks unless they more complicated then chopping and putting in a container. :-P The ultimate plan is to eat their lunches and dinners (unless I have plans with friends/family). Make my own breakfast smoothies during the week and eat their breakfasts on the weekend to change things up. Making my smoothies and snacks will help to keep the cost down as well.
Speaking of their breakfasts... I had their Huevos Rancheros this morning. SO good! Additional salt not required! The beans had enough spice and flavor that I ended up mixing the eggs with the beans and it was perfect. I would like to remove the need for additional sugar AND salt from my diet (everyday consumption of food, not temporary). In doing so, you really taste the true flavor of the foods.
Going to pick up lunches and dinners for 10 days tonight! Can't wait!
I had their Banana Nut Muffin yesterday on the way to work and it was REALLY good. It was both gluten and dairy free and the texture/taste were perfect. I could have eaten two! For lunch, I had their Healthy Cobb Salad. It had a spring mix of lettuce, tomatoes, a hard-boiled egg, avocado (YUM), chicken, blue cheese crumbles, and turkey bacon. Their dressing was a balsamic vinaigrette. Of course there was more lettuce than dressing however, I know I need to cut down on the amount of dressing in my salads, so it was all good! My snack was a box of fruit and cheese that included grapes, apple and grapefruit slices, and (I believe) Colby Jack cheese cubes. Definitely something I can do at home (which I'm really excited about)!
Part of my goal with SFM is to not continue to purchase their snacks unless they more complicated then chopping and putting in a container. :-P The ultimate plan is to eat their lunches and dinners (unless I have plans with friends/family). Make my own breakfast smoothies during the week and eat their breakfasts on the weekend to change things up. Making my smoothies and snacks will help to keep the cost down as well.
Speaking of their breakfasts... I had their Huevos Rancheros this morning. SO good! Additional salt not required! The beans had enough spice and flavor that I ended up mixing the eggs with the beans and it was perfect. I would like to remove the need for additional sugar AND salt from my diet (everyday consumption of food, not temporary). In doing so, you really taste the true flavor of the foods.
Going to pick up lunches and dinners for 10 days tonight! Can't wait!
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
DailyBurn.com
Ever heard of this website? I think it is pretty cool. If you are self-motivated or have a friend/significant other available to work out with/simultaneously, you should check this out. For $10 per month, you get unlimited access to 14 workout programs which total to 100+ individual workouts. You can choose to follow a specific program or search for workouts based on difficulty, time, or trainer.
Never worked out before or it has been YEARS? Try True Beginner.
Like Insanity and P90X? Try Inferno and InfernoHR.
Like to dance? Try Move!
If you are limited on time, there is a program focused on 15 minute workouts called DB15.
No equipment? Go with the TBT program. Your body weight is the equipment. :-)
Pregnant? Want something to do during the last trimester (or sooner), follow Beautiful Belly.
Seriously, you can find something you enjoy doing on DailyBurn.com AND it's only $10! If you need/want nutrition help, they have a program called Ignite and you have access to recipes, knowledge, a community of people eating (or trying to eat) the same way.
I am starting with Cardio Sculpt. It is a 90 program with 6 workouts a week and on day 7 you do a recover video instead of a full-blown workout. For this program, I need a yoga mat, dumbbells, a step, and the optional piece is a medicine ball. The really optional piece of equipment is a pull up bar. Sorry, I have no intentions of trying that out. Not for me!
Day 1 will be tomorrow, day 90 will be October 7th. This is perfect because I was thinking of then completing the Move! videos to prep for the dance floor on my cruise! Woohoo!
Never worked out before or it has been YEARS? Try True Beginner.
Like Insanity and P90X? Try Inferno and InfernoHR.
Like to dance? Try Move!
If you are limited on time, there is a program focused on 15 minute workouts called DB15.
No equipment? Go with the TBT program. Your body weight is the equipment. :-)
Pregnant? Want something to do during the last trimester (or sooner), follow Beautiful Belly.
Seriously, you can find something you enjoy doing on DailyBurn.com AND it's only $10! If you need/want nutrition help, they have a program called Ignite and you have access to recipes, knowledge, a community of people eating (or trying to eat) the same way.
I am starting with Cardio Sculpt. It is a 90 program with 6 workouts a week and on day 7 you do a recover video instead of a full-blown workout. For this program, I need a yoga mat, dumbbells, a step, and the optional piece is a medicine ball. The really optional piece of equipment is a pull up bar. Sorry, I have no intentions of trying that out. Not for me!
Day 1 will be tomorrow, day 90 will be October 7th. This is perfect because I was thinking of then completing the Move! videos to prep for the dance floor on my cruise! Woohoo!
Juice Cleanse Day 2
Day 1 is over and needless to say... I did not complete the cleanse. I did find however, that I really do like the California Sunrise juice! It has grapefruit, pineapple, orange, lemon, and lime. Really good mix and is available for a limited time! SFM is replacing it with the Watermelon Tart (which sounds really good too).
I now have 14 bottles of juice in my fridge which I will not consume. Although, make it 12 and I will for sure drink the California Sunrises. Plus... I'm out $140. But hey, I tried something new, realized I didn't like it (at least not at this time). Never know if you like something until you try it.
Next phase... try EVERYTHING on Simply Fit Meals menu and I mean everything! Their meals, snacks, smoothies, and their newest addition... the acai bowls. I'm thinking I will not have a problem with their food. ;-)
I now have 14 bottles of juice in my fridge which I will not consume. Although, make it 12 and I will for sure drink the California Sunrises. Plus... I'm out $140. But hey, I tried something new, realized I didn't like it (at least not at this time). Never know if you like something until you try it.
Next phase... try EVERYTHING on Simply Fit Meals menu and I mean everything! Their meals, snacks, smoothies, and their newest addition... the acai bowls. I'm thinking I will not have a problem with their food. ;-)
Monday, July 14, 2014
Juice Cleanse Day 1
All I can say is OMG after this morning! Granted, I said we could do anything we put our minds to... The Clean Slate juice (like the Master Cleanse juice plus cayenne pepper) was hard to get down the pipe. Patrick with SFM agreed that it can be difficult however, the benefits are well worth it.
So... I thought I would try the second juice. It is called Smooth Hydration and has cucumber, coconut water, kale, apple, and aloe. This one was hard to get down the pipe as well (I know not a way to sell the cleanse), but for a different reason.
I think the first juice was difficult because of the vinegar. I'm not a huge fan of vinegar and the cayenne definitely provided a kick at the back of the throat. This second juice... if you LOVE cucumber, this is for you! I am beginning to think my taste buds are too unhealthy for this cleanse. :-/ My next (and third) juice is the Sweet Beet. Although I am 30 years old, I have never consumed beet before. I have seen it in recipes for a "healthy" chocolate cake so I assume it has a sweet flavor to it. We will find out soon!
So... I thought I would try the second juice. It is called Smooth Hydration and has cucumber, coconut water, kale, apple, and aloe. This one was hard to get down the pipe as well (I know not a way to sell the cleanse), but for a different reason.
I think the first juice was difficult because of the vinegar. I'm not a huge fan of vinegar and the cayenne definitely provided a kick at the back of the throat. This second juice... if you LOVE cucumber, this is for you! I am beginning to think my taste buds are too unhealthy for this cleanse. :-/ My next (and third) juice is the Sweet Beet. Although I am 30 years old, I have never consumed beet before. I have seen it in recipes for a "healthy" chocolate cake so I assume it has a sweet flavor to it. We will find out soon!
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Pre-Juice Cleanse
TODAY IS A VERY EXCITING DAY! I picked up my juice cleanse (well 3 days of it anyway)! I chose to get mine from Simply Fit Meals (www.simplyfitmeals.com) in Plano although, they have 4 locations (Allen, Fort Worth, Park Cities, and Plano/Frisco) with a new location to open in Uptown this Fall.
I chose Simply Fit Meals over their competition because of the price and convenience. The cost for a 3-day cleanse with SFM is $140.00 versus $200.00+ OR $48.00 per day versus $65.00+. The convenience factor is that I can pick up my juices at any of their 4 locations.
Have you ever juiced before? Are you an avid juicer? I never created a juice myself and as a result, never became an avid juicer. I know, I know... I could buy a juicer and make these myself, right? You are correct. However, we are in a convenience minded society and I am no different. ;-) I could go and buy a $200.00 Breville juicer (regularly $500.00) AND the bags to keep the pulp side clean. Then go buy all the fruits and vegetables. Then store them in a fridge and become a scientist to figure out the quantities of each needed to provide optimum flavor. OR I could order the juice cleanse and have it ready for me on Sunday. :-) In addition, it is hard for me to find a juice from a home juicer that isn't overly pulpy (if that's a word) and thick, somewhat like a smoothie. I always picture juice like what you find in the stores. My favorite juices are the "Simply" brand. You have the "good" stuff at the bottom and you just shake the bottle and everything mixed. It's not thick. This is the same for the SFM juices. All the good stuff is at the bottom and you shake up your juice before you drink it. Everything mixes together and nothing sticks to the side of the bottle.
I should say there is third reason I chose Simply Fit Meals' Juice Cleanse. I searched the internet and found a few reviews that were very positive. They provided similar pictures to mine (below) and blogged their 7 day experience. Mine will be 28 DAYS! The gal at the front desk said "I could never do a 28 day cleanse, maybe a 24 hour one". Ha! I told her I "need" to. For years I have tried various pills, drinks, to reset my system. I have always had a STRONG sweet tooth along with a desire for carbs (which turn to sugar). I would love to lose the desire for both! The juices are 100% fruits and vegetables which means I will become vegan for a month! Fruit (which I love) should provide me the sugar satisfaction and provide a pleasing taste to the juice. Ever notice an alcoholic drink mixed with just a small amount of fruit juice tastes 1,000 times better? It is amazing what fruit juice does.
The other plus to this juice cleanse? No preparation needed! I'm not wasting a Sunday pulling out the juicer, trimming fruits and veggies (after I figure out how to use the juicer) and creating juices for a few days, the week, or even one day. Six juices each day is A LOT of work (I would think).
Talk to you tomorrow... Day 1 is almost here!
I chose Simply Fit Meals over their competition because of the price and convenience. The cost for a 3-day cleanse with SFM is $140.00 versus $200.00+ OR $48.00 per day versus $65.00+. The convenience factor is that I can pick up my juices at any of their 4 locations.
Have you ever juiced before? Are you an avid juicer? I never created a juice myself and as a result, never became an avid juicer. I know, I know... I could buy a juicer and make these myself, right? You are correct. However, we are in a convenience minded society and I am no different. ;-) I could go and buy a $200.00 Breville juicer (regularly $500.00) AND the bags to keep the pulp side clean. Then go buy all the fruits and vegetables. Then store them in a fridge and become a scientist to figure out the quantities of each needed to provide optimum flavor. OR I could order the juice cleanse and have it ready for me on Sunday. :-) In addition, it is hard for me to find a juice from a home juicer that isn't overly pulpy (if that's a word) and thick, somewhat like a smoothie. I always picture juice like what you find in the stores. My favorite juices are the "Simply" brand. You have the "good" stuff at the bottom and you just shake the bottle and everything mixed. It's not thick. This is the same for the SFM juices. All the good stuff is at the bottom and you shake up your juice before you drink it. Everything mixes together and nothing sticks to the side of the bottle.
I should say there is third reason I chose Simply Fit Meals' Juice Cleanse. I searched the internet and found a few reviews that were very positive. They provided similar pictures to mine (below) and blogged their 7 day experience. Mine will be 28 DAYS! The gal at the front desk said "I could never do a 28 day cleanse, maybe a 24 hour one". Ha! I told her I "need" to. For years I have tried various pills, drinks, to reset my system. I have always had a STRONG sweet tooth along with a desire for carbs (which turn to sugar). I would love to lose the desire for both! The juices are 100% fruits and vegetables which means I will become vegan for a month! Fruit (which I love) should provide me the sugar satisfaction and provide a pleasing taste to the juice. Ever notice an alcoholic drink mixed with just a small amount of fruit juice tastes 1,000 times better? It is amazing what fruit juice does.
The other plus to this juice cleanse? No preparation needed! I'm not wasting a Sunday pulling out the juicer, trimming fruits and veggies (after I figure out how to use the juicer) and creating juices for a few days, the week, or even one day. Six juices each day is A LOT of work (I would think).
Talk to you tomorrow... Day 1 is almost here!
Friday, July 11, 2014
The Dreaded Word... DIET
Truth be told, we lost sight of eating right years ago. The Paleo diet's way of eating dates back to caveman times. The "organic" way of eating dates back 10,000 years when people went from hunting and gathering to growing items locally. For instance, the flour used for bread was ground up wheat straight from the field not enriched like today's flour. Less than a century ago, processed foods came into play out of convenience. Canning vegetables/fruits has been around much longer however, there were no preservatives except removing air from the food and the occasional salt/vinegar.
The pure definition of "diet" is the foods eaten, as by a particular person or group. Today's definition of diet (such a selection or a limitation on the amount a person eats for reducing weight) is relatively new (within the last century). It wasn't until this time that the weight loss industry started booming. Ever heard of the HCG diet or the Master Cleanse? Both diets started in the 1940's and 1950's. This was the time when processed and convenience foods started to become reality. The basis for both diets (meant for short-term use) was to bring our bodies back to a normal way of eating.
If you look at the non-pill diets or ways of eating, you will notice they all have something in common... Getting back to the perimeter of the grocery store. Staying away from the processed foods with the exception of spices, oils, and vinegars. Frozen fruits and vegetables are good too.
I've read several books (which are about to go to a garage sale) including:
The Virgin Diet
Chris Powell's Choose More, Lose More
Cook Yourself Thin
Eating For Life
The South Beach Diet
The Paleo Diet Solution
The Mayo Clinic Diet
Oh the list goes on (can't remember every book I invested my hard-earned money into). Again, they all have something in common... eating whole foods. Yes, some of them do provide dessert options other than fruit, but all focus on eating fruits, vegetables, meats, etc. which are located in the outer sections of the grocery store.
All this being said, have you tried any of these? Were you successful? I know I have and (obviously) was not successful. IT IS HARD!!! You are used to eating a certain way for all of your life and now you have to undo those teachings and habits and it is not easy! On top of it, it is not cheap either. Every tried eating healthy? Even going to Trader Joe's or Costco (much better organic selection than Sam's), the total at the cash register is just painful.
So what to you do? Some would say "FORGET IT" and continue as they have. Some people really are strong and can do it on their own. Some people need a team to help them. Some people hit rock bottom health-wise are forced to. What would make you breakdown and remove processed sugars, dairy, and gluten?
The pure definition of "diet" is the foods eaten, as by a particular person or group. Today's definition of diet (such a selection or a limitation on the amount a person eats for reducing weight) is relatively new (within the last century). It wasn't until this time that the weight loss industry started booming. Ever heard of the HCG diet or the Master Cleanse? Both diets started in the 1940's and 1950's. This was the time when processed and convenience foods started to become reality. The basis for both diets (meant for short-term use) was to bring our bodies back to a normal way of eating.
If you look at the non-pill diets or ways of eating, you will notice they all have something in common... Getting back to the perimeter of the grocery store. Staying away from the processed foods with the exception of spices, oils, and vinegars. Frozen fruits and vegetables are good too.
I've read several books (which are about to go to a garage sale) including:
The Virgin Diet
Chris Powell's Choose More, Lose More
Cook Yourself Thin
Eating For Life
The South Beach Diet
The Paleo Diet Solution
The Mayo Clinic Diet
Oh the list goes on (can't remember every book I invested my hard-earned money into). Again, they all have something in common... eating whole foods. Yes, some of them do provide dessert options other than fruit, but all focus on eating fruits, vegetables, meats, etc. which are located in the outer sections of the grocery store.
All this being said, have you tried any of these? Were you successful? I know I have and (obviously) was not successful. IT IS HARD!!! You are used to eating a certain way for all of your life and now you have to undo those teachings and habits and it is not easy! On top of it, it is not cheap either. Every tried eating healthy? Even going to Trader Joe's or Costco (much better organic selection than Sam's), the total at the cash register is just painful.
So what to you do? Some would say "FORGET IT" and continue as they have. Some people really are strong and can do it on their own. Some people need a team to help them. Some people hit rock bottom health-wise are forced to. What would make you breakdown and remove processed sugars, dairy, and gluten?
All-In-One Breakfast
I read a book called The Virgin Diet. It was an interesting read and eye opening as well. Do you know what chickens eat? Corn. Do you know what corn does to those chickens? It plumps them up! Do you know that is the reason farmers started feeding corn to their cows? To help "plump" them up? Do you know that organic/grass-fed beef does not have the marbling we have grown accustomed to? Like I said... eye opening. JJ Virgin goes on to talk about Soy and how it can prevent someone from losing weight. Example... she had a patient who was 100 or so pounds overweight and came into her office (she is a nutritionist) and said "I don't understand, I'm eating everything I should be". In looking through her journal, she noticed a lot of soy products being consumed. Apparently soy can impair thyroid function in addition to being a GMO. There are several other "bad" aspects mainly because we over-process our soy. If you go to Asia, you do not see them eating soy burgers, soy ice cream, soy milk.
I tried her 21 day elimination plan where you do not eat (ready for it?): corn, soy, dairy, sugar/artificial sweeteners, gluten, eggs, and peanuts. Can you imagine your diet without these? Corn and sugar/artificial sweeteners are in EVERYTHING! Needless to say, like my mom, I gave up too. I did keep a few things in my brain (in fact a lot). I found a locally available protein called Vega One. It's NOT like the whey protein, but the benefits are tremendous. You get HALF your daily vitamins in ONE SCOOP! All the ingredients are natural and whole foods which means are getting a TON of antioxidants, fiber, protein, omegas, and greens (see below)!
Isn't that crazy! Like I said, it's not like the whey protein you may accustomed to. Getting used to the flavor/texture does take time. I would not say I love (even now), but the benefits far out weight the flavor. Additionally, I think of buying a good quality multivitamin, like New Chapter's Every Woman's Multivitamin, plus buying supplies for breakfast and I break even. The cost of NC multi is $20 for a 24 day supply (depending on where you buy them). The cost of Vega One is roughly $60 and there are 22 servings. The total cost per breakfast is $3 and change. Yes that's more than cereal and milk, but compare the nutritional info.
I tried her 21 day elimination plan where you do not eat (ready for it?): corn, soy, dairy, sugar/artificial sweeteners, gluten, eggs, and peanuts. Can you imagine your diet without these? Corn and sugar/artificial sweeteners are in EVERYTHING! Needless to say, like my mom, I gave up too. I did keep a few things in my brain (in fact a lot). I found a locally available protein called Vega One. It's NOT like the whey protein, but the benefits are tremendous. You get HALF your daily vitamins in ONE SCOOP! All the ingredients are natural and whole foods which means are getting a TON of antioxidants, fiber, protein, omegas, and greens (see below)!
WEIGHT and LOSS
So... today is Friday (TGIF). It's been a long few weeks as I started a new job a little over a month ago. As exciting as that is... the job itself is new. I get to create it from the ground up which is nice however, the VP's description or thoughts of what I should be doing have changed multiple times since my interview. Top that with my finally learning what they want me to do and that is to be solely Inside Sales. This means making phone calls ALL DAY long. Ugh! Not what I initially thought or signed up for. At the same time, I made the commitment which means I am making this work. Dang it!
Now to why you are really here... Weight loss. These two words just SUCK! The first one all by itself is terrible and then you add in the second and you are just screwed. No way around it. I am 30 years old and I have struggled with my weight for 24 of those years. Why only 24? Well I was diagnosed with allergies to corn and wheat when I was little. These allergies really didn't start to affect me until the age of 6 (or so). Can you imagine cutting these two our 24 years ago??? I feel for my mother. Honestly, I cannot blame her for giving up on eliminating both of those from my diet as she was a single mother feeding two children and I was the only one with the problem. As a result, I ballooned up (or out)! Initially we thought it was the medication I was on for ADD (diagnosed at the age of 6ish). Once I changed medicines, my weight did not decrease. Huh? Why not? It wasn't until a few years ago that I understood why.
The pure definition of "weight" is the amount a thing weighs. Do you consider yourself a "thing"? The pure definition of "loss" is something that is lost. Or a detriment, disadvantage, and deprivation. Are you going to look for your weight once its lost? Do you think the amount of weight you have to lose is a disadvantage? Some do. I know when I did boot camps, my weight definitely held me back. I was always the last runner to come to the finish line. When it came to lifting weights... that wasn't an issue. Another way to say weight loss is a thing that is lost. Yes, me losing 80 pounds to some people would mean I've lost a lot of "things" being that each pound is a "thing". At the same time, I hope to not be looking for those "things" once they are lost. I would hope I am of the mindset that they are not lost, but gone (forever)!
These two words have been the backbone of a multi-billion dollar industry. One of which I am tired of being a part of! I have tried HCG, thought of trying the Master Cleanse, Weight Watchers, frozen meals for lunch and dinner, calorie counting, bought various pills and As Seen On TV products (like the breathing exercise where you can breathe yourself thin... will NEVER forget that one). I should've kept a tally of all the money I have spent! Or maybe not. I might be in the fetal position crying if I did. :-(
What about you? What have you tried? I'm an all or nothing gal myself and as a result, a lot of my mistakes tend to be financially costly.
Now to why you are really here... Weight loss. These two words just SUCK! The first one all by itself is terrible and then you add in the second and you are just screwed. No way around it. I am 30 years old and I have struggled with my weight for 24 of those years. Why only 24? Well I was diagnosed with allergies to corn and wheat when I was little. These allergies really didn't start to affect me until the age of 6 (or so). Can you imagine cutting these two our 24 years ago??? I feel for my mother. Honestly, I cannot blame her for giving up on eliminating both of those from my diet as she was a single mother feeding two children and I was the only one with the problem. As a result, I ballooned up (or out)! Initially we thought it was the medication I was on for ADD (diagnosed at the age of 6ish). Once I changed medicines, my weight did not decrease. Huh? Why not? It wasn't until a few years ago that I understood why.
The pure definition of "weight" is the amount a thing weighs. Do you consider yourself a "thing"? The pure definition of "loss" is something that is lost. Or a detriment, disadvantage, and deprivation. Are you going to look for your weight once its lost? Do you think the amount of weight you have to lose is a disadvantage? Some do. I know when I did boot camps, my weight definitely held me back. I was always the last runner to come to the finish line. When it came to lifting weights... that wasn't an issue. Another way to say weight loss is a thing that is lost. Yes, me losing 80 pounds to some people would mean I've lost a lot of "things" being that each pound is a "thing". At the same time, I hope to not be looking for those "things" once they are lost. I would hope I am of the mindset that they are not lost, but gone (forever)!
These two words have been the backbone of a multi-billion dollar industry. One of which I am tired of being a part of! I have tried HCG, thought of trying the Master Cleanse, Weight Watchers, frozen meals for lunch and dinner, calorie counting, bought various pills and As Seen On TV products (like the breathing exercise where you can breathe yourself thin... will NEVER forget that one). I should've kept a tally of all the money I have spent! Or maybe not. I might be in the fetal position crying if I did. :-(
What about you? What have you tried? I'm an all or nothing gal myself and as a result, a lot of my mistakes tend to be financially costly.
Thursday, July 10, 2014
My First Post! :-)
Not sure about you, but I have struggled with weight loss most of my life. I have tried various diets, lost a lot of weight, then gained it all back. It suffices to say, I am not happy with how I look. I look back at my high school and middle school years and wish I could tell myself (although I was a big kid), that I looked great! I wish I was that size today. What is the saying? If I only knew then what I know now? It really is true.
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