Last Year

Last year I consider to be my year. My life changed forever last year. I have an amazing husband and three beautiful children. I was fulfilled in that area, but I was not happy with myself. I decided to make a change, and finally get healthy. I have said for years and years I am going to do it this year. Nothing ever worked for me. I realize now that I was just not ready. Nothing will ever change until we are ready for it to change. Nobody else can do it for us. I got off my butt and finally did something about it. I joined a gym and started strength training.  I stopped eating unhealthy processed crap and drinking sodas, and now eat clean organic foods and drink only water. I cannot believe how much better I feel about myself. I am amazed by the things that I am now able to do. I know if I put my mind to it anything is possible. Last year I went from a size 20/22 to an 8. I lost over 50 inches all over my body, and I lost 90 pounds. All of this happened from March 2013 to December 2013. Anything is possible as long as we believe it is.

Whatever works...

I am an advocate for strength training and clean eating. In all my years of trying to get healthy this is the only thing that has ever worked for me, and actually stuck. I think it is important for me to continue this lifestyle for the rest of my life. I look forward to helping my children live healthy lives, and anyone that I may inspire in the process....but...the same thing may not work for you. I am a firm believer that part of living a healthy life is also living a happy life. Yes you can eat clean and strength train, but if you are not happy while doing it then this is not the program for you. I think what is important is that you get yourself happy and healthy. Whichever route you take is completely up to you. I read things all the time knocking this and that, but if someone is trying why would you knock them. I do not like cardio, but I am not going to knock it. It works for a lot of people. I do not count calories, I wrote a post about that the other day, because eating clean wholesome foods I really do not need to, but if that is what works for you then by all means do it. We should all be supporting each other in our efforts to get healthy, and not knock someone down because they are not doing the same way we are (off topic, but that is how I view everything in life by the way). Everyone is different, our circumstances are different, budget is different, values are different, goals are different, availability to foods equipment is different, knowledge is different, health is different, and motivation is different. So if you come across someone trying to get healthy, even if it is not how you "think" they should do it, applaud them for their efforts and offer support and encouragement. If they ask for your advice then by all means give it to them, but never say this is what you need to do because that is not your place to decide that for them. I have been telling about my journey on this blog through what has worked for me. I hope I will inspire some people, that is my whole point in creating this blog. If you follow the plan I am doing, which I am by no means a personal trainer or nutritionist, I am more than happy to encourage you and offer support and motivation for whenever you need it. Also if you decide to follow your own path to getting healthy I am more than happy to encourage you and offer support and motivation for whenever you need it. I think that is one thing that has made me successful is by surrounding myself with people that love, encourage and support me through everything. So if you do not have a person in your life doing that for you you need one. If you cannot find one then message me and I am always here to lend a hand. The point is find something that works for you and makes you happy and make that a success in your life.

Clean eating staples

The decision to eat clean was one of the best ones I have ever made. The thing is before I started eating clean I was a very big couponer. I could get $300 of food for under $100 it was so exciting. I loved going to the store with my big binder of coupons, and seeing the dollars come off my total. The problem was I was buying processed, fat, sugar filled crap. I was basically killing myself and my family. So the choice was kill my family with unhealthy crap to save some money, or pay a little extra and have a healthy family. The answer was obvious. I can sometimes find some coupons for clean eating foods, but for the most part they are for processed foods.

One part of living a healthy lifestyle is to have it in every area of our lives. It is essential that we live on a budget. So yes I want my family to eat healthy, clean foods, but I also have to be realistic about it. We have to stick to our budget to keep a healthy lifestyle for our bank account. The question was where do I begin. I had never really eaten like this before. Obviously I had eaten fresh foods, but cutting out processed foods? That was a challenge for me. I thought I would be spending $600 or more every two weeks, that is how often I go shopping other than odds and ends, but I have been very surprised that I do not spend anywhere near that. Yes eating clean can be done on a budget!! You just have to be willing to put a little work into it.


The best place to begin is to first figure out exactly what clean eating is. It is exactly what it says. You want your foods to be clean. They should be the way they were intended to be found in nature. Your meats and dairy should be antibiotic and hormone free. Preferably grassfed or even grain fed. With my fruits and vegetables I try to buy fresh organic produce mostly. Obviously everyone's budget is different. I cannot afford to buy everything organic. So I try to stick to the clean 15, dirty 12 as much as possible. Now if I find something off the clean list that is organic at a great price. I will go ahead and get that as well. I do buy some frozen vegetables or fruits, but I look at the label and if anything other than that fruit or vegetable is in there I do not get it. I never buy canned. For my carbs I only get complex carbohydrates, no white pasta, bread or rice. You want to try to get those unprocessed if possible. I look for the non-gmo label on my products as well. The best tip I can say is try to buy as many foods as possible without a label. That way you know they are fresh. If there is a label you want a very small list of ingredients, and make sure you can pronounce everything. You don't want a bunch of crap in your foods. Try to stick as much as possible to this. Now obviously like I said everyone's budget is different. Try to make as many healthy choices as possible while still sticking to your budget.

So now that we know what clean eating is where do we get started. I found that the best thing is to gradually wean yourself off of the unhealthy stuff. You may very well be able to cut it all out cold turkey and not have any problems at all. That was not the case for me. I had to start slow. I am still working on "cleaning" up some areas for our family. Snacks are the biggest area we struggle with. A good idea is to start building a stock pile of basics that can go for a lot of different recipes. Yes spending $10-15 on a grassfed roast, but if you can split that into 2-3 meals. It is actually not that much in the end. Obviously shopping at whole foods and earth fare are great options for clean eating. The problem for us is 1) we do not have those stores in our town, they are about 45 minutes away. I do try to go to them to get things, but it is not the main place I go. 2) I do not have the budget to buy everything at those places. I find that a lot of the grocery stores around us have great prices on the foods we are now eating. I go to the farmer's market, Aldi, Sam's club, Publix, BI-LO, Target, and yes even Wal-Mart for our clean eating. Sometimes I will go to Trader Joe's, Whole Foods or Earth Fare, but like I said that is a bit of a drive for me, and dragging 3 kids 45 minutes for groceries does not sound fun to me. You just have to look in the right places at these stores. My big advice stick to the outside aisles. Do not go up and down the processed food aisles. There are things that I buy down these aisles, but the main things are from the outer aisles. I try to buy staples monthly and then fill in the other things throughout the month. I do have a big chest freezer. So I can make some things ahead of time and freeze them for later which will definitely save you money in the long run. I used to think making things from scratch was so time consuming and expensive. That is totally false. It is actually cheaper to make things from scratch as long as you have your staples. For your staples think of the things that you can use in multiple recipes.



Clean Eating Staples

quinoa
flour (whole grain, coconut, oat etc. I like the King Arthur brand)
Oil (coconut, olive, sesame, grapeseed etc.)
seeds (chia, flax, sesame etc.)
nut butters (peanut butter, almond butter, sun butter. I try to get the organic versions of these)
Pasta (quinoa pasta, whole grain pasta, brown rice pasta)
Rice (brown or wild)
Oats (oatmeal, oat bran, steel cut oats)
couscous
millet
frozen veggies (the biggest one I get frozen is broccoli or cauliflower, but look for no sodium for your frozen veggies and no other ingredients, just do not buy canned)
frozen fruits (look for the organic frozen fruits if possible. Trader Joe's has a lot of good options)
Milk (coconut, almond, if you are doing cow's milk try to get the milk without antibiotics or hormones. I know milk can be a big expense)
Nonfat plain Greek yogurt (I like Fage the best, I use this in a lot of things so I buy the big container and it goes very far)
Breads (Ezekiel brand or Rudi brands are good ones. They are in the freezer section. Although my hubby loves my homemade breads. Which you are using some of the staples you already have on hand :) )
Salt (sea-salt, I like no-salt it helps me watch my sodium intake)
Sweeteners (agave (this goes very far as you don't need a lot), raw honey, organic sugar)
Beans (black, pinto, chickpea etc. You can buy the organic low sodium beans in the can, but they are of course a little more expensive. The bagged ones are going to be very budget friendly. They just take a little more work to use.)
Meats (look for lean meats, chicken, turkey, fish, certain cuts of beef and pork. As I said look for meats that are grassfed or grain fed, no hormones or antibiotics, and very little fat on them). This area is probably where I spend the majority of my budget. We try to get proteins in a lot because that is what has helped us with our weight loss. Protein is essential to this process. Obviously there are other areas that we can get protein than just meats, and we do eat those things. For our meats though I have planned in our budget for this area to be 1/3 of it by itself. That way I am not worried about feeding my family hormone ridden meat. I also will find when there is a good sale on these meats and buy a lot of it and freeze it. I know that some of the nutrients are lost when we freeze them, but like I said budget is a factor as well. I have to buy what is best for our budget. I also will prepare some meals before hand with some of the meats and freeze those to pull out for easy meals later.
I don't buy any condiments other than ketchup (my kids love ketchup. I want to find a recipe to make my own). We do not eat salad dressing, mayo, mustard etc. If you do look for one's that are organic maybe with low sugars and low sodium and low fat.
Raw nuts (almonds, peanuts, walnuts, cashews, pecans etc. I get the ones that are unsalted)
Fresh fruits and vegetables (try as much as possible to look at the dirty/clean list)


I know there are a lot more foods that I did not address in this list. This is a basic list to get you started. I suggest meal planning and meal prep. Those are essential. That way you are not buying a bunch of stuff that you will never use. Feel free to comment with any questions about clean eating or send me an email sadie822@hotmail.com

Motivation Monday

I know that motivation is key to living a healthy lifestyle. I go through periods of time where I do not feel motivated, and have to try to re-motivate myself. Luckily I have great family and friends that are always there for me when I need them. I hope you all have that in your lives too. The best thing to do is to surround yourself with positive people who believe in the goals you set for yourself.

This is my biggest problem with motivation. I have come a long way on my journey, but I know there is still so much more I want to accomplish. I do not look at what I already have accomplished. My husband reminds me of this all the time. I focus on what areas I still need to work on. He has to tell me to stop that. Look at what areas have changed so much. I have been trying to focus more on that. So that I can be comfortable with where I am, and also to keep myself motivated to go even further.

Watch your Na intake...

 

 

 

 

Na = Sodium

 

 

 

Sodium helps your body function properly by assisting the muscles and nerves, and regulating blood pressure, among other functions. We need a certain amount of sodium in our everyday diets, but as Americans we way overdo it on the sodium. Have you been trying to eat healthy and exercise and wonder why you feel bloated? I bet you probably need to check your daily sodium intake. Sodium can make you retain water. A lot of foods naturally have sodium in them, and we add extra salt to it to "make it taste good". Not only can a lower sodium diet help you lose weight, but it also can help with high blood pressure and help to prevent heart disease and stroke. Now I know we all want to avoid those things. “Americans of all ages, regardless of individual risk factors, can improve their heart health and reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease by restricting their daily consumption of sodium to less than 1,500 mg,” American Heart Association chief executive officer Nancy Brown said in a statement.

Ok so we know that we should reduce our sodium intake, but it is much harder than you would think. The best way to eat is to eat foods that do not have nutrition labels, fresh fruits, vegetables, grains, and meats that are not packaged. This is not always possible for everyone so the best thing to do is to read your nutrition labels. Make sure you pay attention to the serving size. It may say only 250mg of sodium, but for what serving size. This is very important. I was very surprised when I started looking at the sodium content in my foods.

Sodium chloride or table salt is approximately 40% sodium. Understand just how much sodium is in salt so you can take measures to control your intake.

Americans’ sodium intake breaks down like this:

77% from packaged and restaurant food

12% is naturally occurring in foods

11% from adding salt to food while cooking or at the table

1/4 teaspoon salt = 600 mg sodium
1/2 teaspoon salt = 1,200 mg sodium
3/4 teaspoon salt = 1,800 mg sodium
1 teaspoon salt = 2,400 mg sodium

 

 

 canned soup as much as 950 milligrams per serving

a frozen pizza as much as 2,500 milligrams

canned peas as much as 800 milligrams per serving
pre-made spaghetti sauces have over 1,000 milligrams per cup

one cup of macaroni and cheese has almost 1,000 milligrams of sodium

 



 

Food (100g)	Salt (mg)	Food (100g)	Salt (mg)	Food (100g)	Salt (mg)
Apple juice, bottled	1	Cocoa, dry	6	Peanut butter	607
Apple, raw unpeeled	1	Cocoa, processed	717	Peanuts, roasted	5
Applesauce, sweetened	2	Coconut, fresh	23	Peanuts, salted	418
Asparagus, canned	236	Coffee, beverage,	1	Pears	2
Asparagus, fresh	1	Coffee, instant, dry	72	Peas, cooked	2
Avocado	4	Collards, cooked	25	Peas, dried	40
Bacon, Canadian	2,500	Cookies , plain	365	Peas, green, canned	236
Bacon, cooked	1,021	Cookies, Fig bars	252	Pecans, shelled	0
Baking powder	11,000	Cookies, oatmeal	170	Peppers, green	13
Banana	1	Corn, sweet canned	236	Perch	79
Barly, pearled	3	Corn, sweet, cooked	8	Pickles, dill	1,428
Bean sprouts, cooked	4	Cowpeas, dry, cooked	8	Pickles, relish, sweet	712
Bean, canned	236	Crabmeat, canned	1,000	Pie	350
Beans, canned with pork and tomato sauce	463	Crackers, Graham	670	Pie crust, baked	617
Beans, Lima	1	Crackers, saltines	1,100	Pike, walleye	51
Beans, Lima canned	236	Cranberry juice or sauce	1	Pineapple, raw or canned	1
Beans, snap green, cooked	4	Cream	40	Pizza, cheese	702
Beans, white common, cooked	7	Cucumber	6	Plums	2
Beef hamburger	47	Dates	1	Popcorn, salted with oil	1,940
Beef hash, canned	540	Doughnuts	500	Pork	65
Beef pie or stew, commercial	400	Duck	74	Pork canned ham	1,100
Beef, corned	1,740	Egg, whole, raw	74	Pork, cured ham	930
Beef, dried	4,300	Eggplant, cooked	1	Potato chips	1,000
Beef, roasted broiled or stewed	60	Endive, curly	14	Potatoes, baked, boiled or french fried	5
Beets canned	236	Figs	2	Potatoes, mashed salted	331
Beets, cooked	43	Flounder	78	Pretzels	1,680
Beverage, fruit drink	0	Flour	2	Prunes	4
Beverages, beer	7	Fruit cocktail	5	Pumpkin, canned	2
Beverages, wine	5	Gelatin, dry	0	Radishes	18
Biscuits	630	Grapefruit, fresh, canned or juice	1	Raisins, dried	27
Blackberries	1	Grapes	3	Raspberries	1
Bluefish, cooked	104	Haddock, battered	177	Rhubarb	2
Bouillon cubes	24,000	Haddock, raw	61	Rice, cooked and salted	374
Bread	500	Heart, beef	86	Rice, dry	5
Broccoli, cooked	10	Herring	74	Rolls, bread or sweet	500
Brussel sprouts, cooked	10	Honey	5	Rutabagas	4
Butter, salted	826	Honeydew melon	12	Rye wafers	882
Butter, unsalted	10	Ice cream, vanilla	87	Salad dressing	1,000
Cabbage	20	Jams and preserves	12	Salmon, canned	387
Cakes	300	Jellies	17	Salmon, fresh	64
Candy, caramels, fudge	200	Kale, cooked	43	Sardines, canned	400
Candy, hard	30	Lamb, lean	70	Sauerkraut	747
Cantaloupe	12	Lard	0	Sausage, Bologna	1,300
Carrots	40	Lasagna	490	Sausage, Frankfurter	1,100
Carrots canned	236	Lemon, juice or fresh	1	Sausage, pork	958
Cashews, unsalted	15	Lettuce	9	Scallops,	265
Cauliflower	10	Lime, fresh or juice	1	Shrimp	150
Celery, raw	126	Liver, beef	184	Soup, canned	400
Cereal, Corn grits	1	Liver, pork	111	Spaghetti with meatballs, canned	488
Cereal, Cornmeal	1	Lobster	210	Spaghetti, dry	2
Cereal, Farina, dry	2	Macar0ni,cheese	543	Spinach, raw	71
Cereal, Oatmeal, cooked and salted	218	Macaroni, dry	2	Squash	1
Cereal, Oatmeal, dry	2	Margarine	987	Strawberries	1
Cereal, Rice flakes	987	Milk	50	Sugar, brown	300
Cereal, wheat flakes	1,000	Milk, buttermilk	130	Sugar, white	1
Cereal, wheat, puffed	4	Milk, dried	549	Sunflower seeds	30
Cereal, wheat, shredded	3	Milk, evaporated	106	Sweet potatoes	12
Cereals bran, wheat, crude	9	Molasses, dark	96	Syrup	68
Cereals, commercial	1,100	Molasses, light	15	Tapioca, dry	3
Cheese, cheddar	620	Muffins, plain	441	Tomato juice, canned	200
Cheese, cottage	406	Mushrooms	14	Tomato ketchup	1,042
Cheese, cream	296	Mushrooms, canned	400	Tomato, canned	130
Cheese, Mozzarella	373	Mustard greens	18	Tomato, fresh	3
Cheese, Parmesan	1,862	Mustard, prepared yellow	1,252	Tongue, beef	61
Cheese, processed	1,189	Nectarine	6	Tuna in oil	800
Cheese, Swiss	260	Noodles, dry	5	Turkey,	82
Cherries, Raw	2	Oil, corn	0	Turnips	34
Chicken pot pie, commercial	411	Okra,	2	Veal	80
Chicken, cooked, without skin	80	Olives, green	2,400	Vinegar	1
Chickpeas, dry	8	Onions, green	7	Waffles	475
Chicory	7	Orange , fresh	1	Walnuts	3
Chili con carne, canned with beans	531	Oysters, raw	73	Watermelon	1
Chili powder with seasonings	1,574	Pancakes	425	Wheat germ	827
Chocolate syrup	52	Papayas, raw	3	Yeast active	52
Chocolate, plain	4	Parsley	45	Yeast, compressed	16
Clams, hard, round	205	Parsnips, cooked	8	Yogurt	46
Clams, raw soft	36	Peaches	2

 

 Pay attention to the labels on the front of the packages. Just because it says no salt does not mean there is no sodium.

Salt/Sodium-Free → Less than 5 mg of sodium per serving

Very Low Sodium → 35 mg of sodium or less per serving

Low Sodium → 140 mg of sodium or less per serving

Reduced Sodium → At least 25% less sodium than in the original product

Light in Sodium or Lightly Salted → At least 50% less sodium than the regular product

No-Salt-Added or Unsalted → No salt is added during processing, but not necessarily sodium-free. Check the Nutrition Facts Label to be sure!

The best ways to cut your sodium are:

1. Read the Nutrition Facts Label to see how much sodium is in the foods you are considering. All Americans should consume less than 100% of the Daily Value or less than 2400 mg of sodium each day. Check the label for lower sodium choices and compare sodium in different brands of foods — like frozen meals, packaged soups, breads, dressings/sauces, and snack foods — and choose those with lower sodium.
   
2. Prepare your own food when you can.  Don’t salt foods before or during cooking, and limit salt shaker use at the table. We use no-salt instead of salt in our food.
   
3. Add Flavor Without Adding Sodium. Use herbs and spices instead of salt to add flavor to your foods. Try rosemary, oregano, basil, curry powder, cayenne pepper, ginger, fresh garlic or garlic powder (not garlic salt), black or red pepper, vinegar or lemon juice, and no-salt seasoning blends.
   
4. Get fresh when you can. Buy fresh or frozen (not processed) poultry, pork and lean meat rather than canned, smoked or processed meats like luncheon meats, sausages and corned beef. Fresh foods are generally lower in sodium.  Also, check the package on fresh meat and poultry to see if salt water or saline has been added.
   
5. Watch your veggies. Buy fresh, frozen (without sauce), or low sodium or no-salt-added canned vegetables.
   
6. Give sodium the “rinse.” Rinse sodium-containing canned foods, such as tuna, vegetables, and beans before using. This removes some of the sodium.
   
7. Examine your dairy products. Choose fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products, such as milk, yogurt, cheese and fortified soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk in place of processed cheese products and spreads, which are higher in sodium.
   
8. “Unsalt” your snacks. Choose unsalted nuts and seeds, and snack products such as chips and pretzels, that are marked “low sodium” or “no-salt-added” – or have a carrot or celery stick instead.
   
9. Consider your condiments. Sodium in soy sauce, ketchup, salad dressings, and seasoning packets can add up. Choose liquid aminos instead of soy sauce and no-salt-added ketchup, add oil and vinegar to a salad rather than bottled salad dressings, and choose spices that do not contain sodium, mrs. dash has a wide variety of seasonings and they are all salt free.
   
10. Speak up at restaurants. Ask to see the nutrition information in restaurants and choose a lower-sodium option. Ask for your meal to be prepared without salt and request that sauces and salad dressings be served “on the side,” then use less of them. You can also reduce your portion size – less food means less sodium! For example, ask the server to put half of your meal in a take out container before it comes to your table or split an entrée with a dinner companion.

Do not cut sodium completely out of your diet. You do need some daily in your life, but just be conscientious of your daily intake, and try to limit it.



Research shows that eating foods high in potassium can lower blood pressure by reducing the adverse effects of sodium on blood pressure. Examples of foods rich in potassium include potatoes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, spinach, apricots, bananas, beans, low-fat or non-fat milk and yogurt, and juices (prune, carrot, tomato and orange).



Here is a sodium tracker to help you keep track of your daily intake. http://www.heart.org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@hcm/documents/downloadable/ucm_448279.pdf



Some yummy low sodium recipes are listed in these websites
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20515311,00.html
http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/collections/healthy_low_sodium_recipes
http://www.sodiumgirl.com/
http://thedailydish.us/thanksgiving/60-low-sodium-recipes-for-thanksgiving/



Colors are our friends!!

Eat a rainbow of colors often!!

 

 

 

Who wants to eat a plate of food with plain drab colors. It really does not sound appetizing at all. There are so many benefits to eating more colors other than they just look more appetizing. Different colored foods play different roles in the body. You should aim for at least three colors at every meal and two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables over the course of the day. Every meal should include fruits and vegetables because of their fiber and nutrient contents.

 

 

If you eat 3 colors each night at dinner that will add up to over 500 servings of vegetables over 6 months.

 

 

 

 

 



Red foods are packed with phytochemicals like lycopene and anthocyanin's, red foods help increase heart and circulatory health, improve memory, support urinary tract health, and decrease the risk of certain types of cancers. Some good red foods to eat are cherries, cranberries, red bell peppers, strawberries, red kidney beans,  red potatoes, rhubarb, beets and tomatoes.

 

 

Orange foods are high in antioxidants such as vitamin C, carotenoids, and bioflavonoids. Eating orange foods has been linked to skin and eye health, increased immunity, decreased risk of cancer, and a healthy heart. Some good orange foods to eat are carrots, oranges, sweet potatoes, peaches, apricots, cantaloupe, mangoes, tangerines, and butternut squash.

 

 

Pineapple, yellow peppers, corn, star fruit, and other yellow foods contain nutrients that promote good digestion and optimal brain function. High in alpha- and beta-carotenes, yellow foods have also been linked to increased immunity, a decreased risk of some cancers, and healthy eyes and skin. Some other good yellow foods are lemons, yellow watermelon, yellow tomatoes, yellow winter squash, and yellow apples.

 

 

Green fruits and vegetables contain varying amounts of potent phytochemicals such as lutein and indoles. Benefits include a lower risk of some cancers, improved eye health, rejuvenated musculature and bone, and strong teeth. Some good green foods are spinach, broccoli, kale, kiwi, avocados, honeydew, green peppers, green cabbage, green apples, zucchini, watercress, arugula, leafy greens, cucumbers, and Brussels sprouts.

 

 

These colorful foods get their bright hue from anthocyanin's, which have been linked with antioxidants and anti-aging properties in the body. Blue and purple foods help promote bone health, and have been shown to lower the risk of some cancers, improve memory, and increase urinary-tract health. The main benefit of blue and purple foods is increased circulation and microcirculation. Some good blue/purple foods are blueberries, plums, eggplant, purple grapes, figs, purple Belgian endive, purple-fleshed potatoes, purple asparagus, purple cabbage, and elderberries.


While many white foods are refined, like white bread and white rice, there are a lot of white foods that are packed with nutrients. White fruits and veggies have been linked to lower cholesterol, decreased blood pressure, and a lower risk of heart disease. The key benefit of white foods is increased immunity. Eating white foods helps enhance the immune system, the lymph systems, and aids in cellular recovery. Some good white foods to eat are garlic, onions, cauliflower, ginger, turnips, jicama, white corn, turnips, shallots, mushrooms, parsnips, Jerusalem artichoke, white peaches and white nectarines.

The goal should be to eat at least 1-2 from each color group every day. I sometimes find this hard to do. I try for as many colors as I can. I am still working on this. I like to eat a lot of colors, but I am still working on it. My kids do well with eating their colors. We are still working on it as a family. I know all of the benefits of colorful foods. The goal is to get more of them into my diet. Clean eating has really helped me a lot on my fitness journey. Eating the rich colorful fresh foods will only assist me in my fitness journey. Color is powerful on our plates.

 

 

 

 

 

 



It's not a diet...

Since starting my journey I have tried to surround myself with positive motivating people. I sometimes do encounter unsupportive people. I hear how's your diet going, why are you eating like that, oh it's ok if you have some, why do you need to workout, women should do cardio to lose weight not strength training etc... I am not on a diet. It is a LIFESTYLE!!!! This is how I plan to live the rest of my life. I am not living a life of depriving myself, but I also never, ever want to fall back to what I was doing before. These are my choices. I am not pushing them on anyone. If you feel guilty for what you are eating don't bring me down because of the choices I am making. I support your decision to eat and do what you want, and I would appreciate you doing the same for me. I workout to be healthy and strong. I lift weights to become healthy. Strength training is what has set me up for success!!

My journey so far....

I was a relatively healthy child and teenager. I was not really overweight. I did active things. I also enjoyed food, a lot. When I got into my 20's I started noticing I was putting on weight. After I was married in 2004 we decided we wanted to start having children. We started trying and it just wasn't working for us. I went to the doctor after almost a year of trying and was told that I would never have children. This sent me into depression. We finally found PREG. A fertility clinic. They tested me and my husband. It turned out I have a tumor on my pituitary gland. This was caused from the birth control I was on. The tumor is benign thankfully. After they got me on the right medicines it took about 2 months and I was pregnant finally. We ended up having 3 wonderful children. As long as I was on my medicine I was fine to conceive.

Even after having our wonderful children. I still felt depressed. I stopped working and stayed home to take care of the children. My wonderful husband works very hard to support our family. I just could not get myself motivated. I could feel the weight coming on. So instead of doing something about it I just kept eating. I tried several times to lose weight. I would lose 10 lbs or 15 lbs. Get excited and "celebrate" it. I was the biggest I had ever been in my life. Bigger than at 9 months pregnant with any of my children. Last September I turned 30 I said all year I wanted to lose weight, be a certain size by my birthday.  The day came and went and I was still at the same size doing nothing about it. I was the parent I never wanted to be. I was the big soccer mom standing on the side lines. I would not play with the kids at the park because I was too tired to. I could not fit down the slide with them. So I just turned back to eating. I had an addiction to sodas and food. I would drink a 12 pack of soda in 2 days. I remember eating an entire pack of Oreo's by myself in one sitting. Feeling bad about it I went and got another snack. I looked at my children and said what kind of example am I setting for them. I want to be there for them, and want them to live healthy lifestyles. My son's birthday is in January. Getting things ready for his party I finally realized that I needed to change something. I started working out and lost 15 lbs. I felt great about it. Then I "celebrated" again and gained it all back plus some more. At the end of February 2013 I was almost 270 lbs and in a size 22 pants. I was miserable. I saw pictures of myself from my sons birthday and it sent me into a deep depression. This time was different though. I finally was motivated. I finally was going to do something about it. I joined a gym and got a personal trainer. This was the best decision of my life. The workouts at the gym have been amazing. I also started doing some things at home. I found I like to walk and run. I joined a wonderfully supportive group of fellow mama's. We do monthly challenges, support each other, keep each other accountable for what we eat, what workouts we do etc... This group of ladies has been amazing for me. I also found the blog Muffin Top-less. I got a lot of information from her. She has wonderful recipes and workouts. I joined her group for the bikini body program. I started that program as well. Those ladies are also very supportive and motivating. I also started eating clean. I cut out processed foods, sodas, limited sodium and sugars. I upped my daily intake of proteins and water. My family is also eating this way which is very helpful. I am not surrounded with all of the unhealthy choices I was making before. I have surrounded myself with positive, motivating people. I am finally on the right track. Because of all the changes I have made, and all the love, support, and motivation from everyone in my life now I am down 61 lbs and am now in a size 12. I still have a ways that I want to go. I started this blog to help keep myself motivated and on track and hopefully help motivate some other people as well.

This is me last summer with my daughter at the park. I didn't want to play or anything with them. The second picture is this summer while we were hiking. I love including my family in my healthy journey.