Week 1: 90 Day Challenge & 30 Day Diet Supplement Review & My Recipes.

Recipes of the week & Monday 30 DayDiet Review

Clean Eating, Slow Carb Meat Loaf

So last Tuesday, I started my 90 Day challenge.

The biggest challenge was taking photos and measurements.  Seriously.  I was incredibly depressed after seeing those pictures.  I have never been this big before.  I've been close... especially after the last few babies... but my youngest "baby" turns 12 this month!  I can't use that as an excuse!

Summer 2011 I was still comfortable in a bikini, for heaven's sake.  After gaining 50 pounds in about 7 - 8 months, I started with the doctor and the tests once everything else failed to show results.  I gained another 20 over the course of taking tests and being repeatedly told that "everything is normal!  You're fine!"

This is me LAST AUGUST... after gaining 20 pounds in 3 months, I was still OKAY with myself... but definitely didn't think it would keep creeping up!

I've since gained ANOTHER 50 pounds and I can't even LOOK at the photos I took last week.  I want to get back to a weight I can be comfortable at.  I want to be able to look in the mirror without cringing.  I want to be able to sit without feeling my rolls.  

After 4 very long months, I FINALLY found a doctor willing to look past the test results and let me try Armour thyroid.  Ups and downs (ran out of my prescription and had issues getting it refilled/they filled it with the wrong prescription), but I finally feel like a somewhat normal person!  I can get out of bed in the morning and have at least some energy.  I am getting things done around the house, I'm having far less bouts of tears and depression, my constant itchiness is down and I've actually started going on walks with my husband in the evenings.

These are the supplements I take every morning.  I am adding my 30 Day Diet supplements to this stack.  I find that my mood and energy PLUMMET if I don't take my Ionix and B12 daily.

All of this gives me hope that I am finally ready for a change for the better. 

Day 1: Anyway, off topic (what a surprise)... Day 1 wasn't hard.  I was busy with stop motion animations for Bean's Monkey Business, and when I'm busy, my biggest challenge is remembering to even eat.  I felt a bit on edge, something that I tend to have when I'm taking any type of dietary supplement.  I'm majorly affected by supplements of just about any type.

So, grocery day isn't until Friday, and money is tight.  Thankfully, we already had some foods in the freezer that are acceptable.  It is kind of pushing me into the "Paleo" diet, though, because most of it is beef from a bulk package of meat we bought last month.

I finished off the last of our eggs, had a T bone steak and a chopped steak.  I also had 1/2 of an onion, some spinach, and because we have no "acceptable" vegetables in the house, I had an Isagenix meal replacement shake.  All in all, not an ideal nutrition day, but I have limited resources until Friday.

Day 2:  This stuff really curbs my appetite.  I didn't think I had much appetite before, but this is crazy.  I find myself kind of forcing myself to eat.  Of course it helps that I can't feed my carb addiction!

Day 3:  This is really easier than I thought it would be.  I'm making my grocery list for next week.  I plan to bulk cook up some of the recipes from this week and the ones I'll be blogging this week and freezing/refrigerating them in portion sizes so I don't have to think about it too much.  I find I'm looking forward to not having to try and figure out what to eat each day.

I'm feeling really down about my weight.  Yeah, I'm shallow, whatever, I feel really unattractive and its depressing.  I thought doing this weight loss challenge would make me feel instantly hopeful or something, but I just am more depressed from having to take photos.  That, and being blindsided by photos of myself from the wedding.  I hate this.

Day 5:  I'm taking Saturdays as a "cheat" day ala "Four Hour Body Slow Carb Diet" so that my metabolism doesn't plummet from the low calorie diet during the week.  These supplements REALLY curb your appetite.  Dang.  I thought I was just lacking appetite because my diet was so restricted, but even today, when I can eat anything I want and I'm supposed to be eating a LOT... I can barely force myself to.  I went and bought some of my favorite things and its just... not... I'm forcing myself to eat PIZZA for heaven's sake.  I think I'm going to have to go drink a shake.  I feel stuffed and I've not eaten that much today.  Huh.  I didn't expect that.

Day 6:  STILL not hungry.  I have to force myself to eat.  I have never had a supplement curb my appetite so completely without ALSO making me feel jittery, anxious and honestly, pissed off at everything.  Anything else I've tried has me biting everyone's heads off.  Before you get too excited, I AM more snappish than usual, but its not overwhelming like it has been with other things.  I'm hoping that part levels out for me.  I'm thrilled with the controlled appetite.  I'm wondering if I should measure this week or not.  I'm also thinking that I might do a weekly vlog review.... What do you think?

Next week I'll do another measuring session as well as pics and posting my progress.

Disclosure: I will be receiving product as a participant in the 90 Day Weight Loss Challenge. All opinions are my own. 

Green Beans with Sesame Seeds

90 Day Diet Challenge & Supplement Review: The Beginning

My supplements came Friday!  (WOW, that was FAST!!!)

I'm planning to start using the supplements today for the 90 Day Diet Challenge.  I chose the "30 Day Diet" option.  I'm going to "clean" up my diet again, hope the kids have finished off their (far too tempting) Halloween candy, and re-read Timothy Ferris' "Slow Carb" diet book... until my Paleo books show up on the library hold shelf.  It never hurts to refresh your memory... and I know that grains tend to affect me negatively, especially wheat, with bloating, cramps and just overall fatigue... so I'm going to try and keep those out completely, even though they're allowed.  I also absolutely can't handle artificial sweeteners, so I'll stick with Stevia and Xylitol as I have for the past couple of years.  I'm already used to using herbs without MSG or sugar, so that'll be easy enough.

**See my Week One Results Here!

My husband and I are starting to take our energetic 4 year old dog, Diva for walks around our neighborhood in the evenings after dinner.  I'm hoping that this helps get me in at least a little bit better shape... and if nothing else, it will be great for developing a new habit, and getting us both ready to hit the gym again by the end of the month when its probably going to be too cold for outside walks in the evening!

Now... for the before photos.  *gulp*  REEEEEAAAAAALLLY don't want to do this part.  Maybe I'll post before photos when I'm already losing a little bit, so its not quite so depressing.   I'll take the photos and hide them in a vault.  Yeah, that's it.  Then I can post at the end of the month to see how much of a difference I'e made!

At any rate, I can be incredibly sensitive to supplements (which can be a really good thing, or a really bad thing!), so I'm curious to see how this goes.  I'll be seeing my regular doctor on Monday, so I'll hopefully remember to bring up these supplements when I go.

I'll post some of my favorite recipes as I go, including what I find for Thanksgiving!

Here are some of my Top Five favorite past recipes that will fit this protocol 

(*some will need a slight tweak, but its doable!)

Super Easy Chicken w/Onion "Noodles"

Protein Smoothies:  A Quick Tip!*

Super Quick & Easy Mexican Eggs

Cajun Tilapia

Orange Tilapia*

What are your favorite healthy recipes?  Please share!  Include a link to your own blog recipes if you have one, I love finding new blogs!

I believe that planning can take the edge off.  I plan to have figured out serving sizes and plan with a list of available options for my breakfasts, lunches and dinners.  I'll have my grocery list ready to go and some serving size meals ready to heat and eat for those times (you know everyone has them) when I'm going to have a time crunch and need to eat RIGHT NOW.  Mostly, though, I just want to plan to get back to my healthy habits.  The fact that I let the stressful events in life get me down so much that I gave up on my emotional and physical health is very disappointing to me.  I'm going to give up the guilt and let myself move on and have hope that I can make the change a permanent one.

What are your no fail healthy eating tips?

Disclosure: I will be receiving product as a participant in the 90 Day Weight Loss Challenge. All opinions are my own. 

Diet Review: Weight Loss Supplements

Well, I finally caved and bought new jeans for a wedding, so I suppose this means that its time to finally get inspired to lose weight again.  And yeah, I just said that I broke down and bought jeans.  For a wedding.  This was mostly because literally every single dress I tried on made me cry.  A lot.  I'm talking full out sobbing in the dressing room.  Then all the way home.  My poor husband is at his wit's end.

The thing is that I gained a lot of weight quickly and I still haven't found that thing that is going to make it 'better'.  I have found that getting back to clean eating and keeping my grains to a minimum FINALLY got me to the point where I STOPPED gaining weight... but I'm still stuck at the same weight I stopped at.

Trust me, I find that highly preferable to continuing to gain, but having gained over 70 pounds and doubling a dress size in a year is not something that I can be "okay" with.  I don't like my body in this size, I just don't.  I've tried everything to work through my body image issues, and I can get to the point of not sobbing every time I look in the mirror, but I'm not happy.

In addition to looks, adding this much weight this fast has had a huge effect on my energy levels, on my joints and my feet.  I've started having back and neck issues, something that had completely disappeared when I was at a healthy weight.  I'm only 5'5"... this weight is too much for me.

So, that being said, I was over at The Palmetto Queen's blog the other day and saw that she had joined a 90 Day Challenge.  I decided that this was my chance to get inspired and take charge of my weight.  I have little things working in my favor, but I need help, because the typical things that used to work are not working for me.  Maybe its age, maybe its a health issue.  I'm getting things checked out and tests are coming back normal, but the weight and fatigue are still hanging on.  I discussed it with my husband, and after some research, he decided that he would be okay with me taking the 30 Day & Night Challenge for three months. The supplements include a lot of what he read about in Timothy Ferris' "Four Hour Body" book.  So that's the route I'm going to take.

I'm going to take this challenge as a way to help me make a positive, permanent change in my habits and lifestyle... who wants to join me?

Note: If you are a blogger who would like to participate in this challenge, they are accepting applications.

Disclosure: I will be receiving product as a participant in the 90 Day Weight Loss Challenge. All opinions are my own. 

When I receive my supplements, I'll even force myself to take before photos... stay tuned!

I Received my supplements Post Here!

Documentaries: Earthlings. A HARD thing to watch.

Have you ever tried to watch a documentary that was just too harsh to sit through?

One that made you close your eyes? Often?

One that made you actually ANGRY with the corporate greed going on?

One that actually, honestly and completely changed the way you look at food?

I've read the book 'Skinny Bitch' and READ about the horrible practices that animals go through in slaughter houses. I've watched "Food, Inc" and gotten a hint.

Today I watched... well, I AM watching the documentary Earthlings.  I must admit that the beginning seemed kind of overdone a bit.  I found the music distracting... I'm very A.D.D. with documentaries and I just want to get in, get the info and get out.  It didn't take long before I saw the point of the movie.


Make the Connection. EARTHLINGS.com
 
I literally have to pause every few minutes because it is THAT gut wrenching to watch.  And this is from someone who grew up on a farm.  I watched cattle being branded, I helped butcher cows and package the meat for our freezer.  I am not a complete innocent who knows nothing.

Or at least I thought I wasn't.  Of course my grandmother's small farm in rural Iowa had nothing on these huge corporate farms with the slaughter houses and just unbelievably horrific practices.

This is gut wrenching to watch.  I don't think I have ever had to look away so often.

Yes, I believe that I will be continuing with my vegetarian recipes.

Have you seen this documentary?  What did you think?  And please share... what are your favorite vegetarian/vegan recipes?

Saying Goodbye to Blogging in Bed:( My laptop DIED. DIED. IT DIED!

I know this isn't exactly "food related" but it is BLOG related, because now I can't blog in bed:(  WAHHH!

If you want to hear my stream of conciousness talking about when my laptop died.  I look really crappy because I'm still sweaty fromt he gym and cleaning and I just have been too freaking stressed today to have a 'relaxing' bath.

You might enjoy it.  Maybe they'll send me a new laptop if I get enough attention?

I'm making one for Ellen Degeneres next, because honestly, lately she has become my therapy.  She is just so flipping HAPPY and fun to watch.
I was in a somewhat... odd mood.  Well, normal mood for me.  Just watch and you'll see what I mean.  This is me.

Featured Friday: Misto (Oil Mister) Review

Guest blogger #2:  A longtime internet friend of mine, we've known each other through online journaling for quite a few years.  I consider her one of my closest friends.  Her blog is Susy Sustainability and is full of great information on living a healthier life.  This woman's strength, intelligence and dedication to her family is amazing, I strongly encourage you to go see her site and learn!

Misto:  A Review

So in our purge of chemicals in our lives I got rid of the cooking spray. This I replaced with oil & a pastry brush. That, while providing excellent coverage, was a royal pain to use. I looked for an oil mister. I saw many but all of them had very bad reviews. So I kept using the pastry brush for months. After a number of months I figured there HAD to be a better way. Back online I went.

This time I found a video in response to all the complaints about the Misto oil mister. It showed that you should only fill it half way at most; that you must pump it at least 10 times to use; and that the largest angle it can spray is 45 degrees. It was only $10, so armed with this info, I ordered one.

I've followed the directions on the video  and I really like the Misto mister. It needs a lot of pumping, 10 times doesn't get too far. And you will need to spray most things twice (or perhaps just slower than I do) to get sufficient coverage as this isn't aerosol but these seem like small things to be without chemicals or a pastry brush.

I plan to order a 2nd one so I will have one for canola oil and another for olive oil.


And there you have it!  Don't forget to check out her blog at Susy Sustainability!


I think I will definitely be trying this out!  We've been wanting to get rid of the aerosol as well.  Thanks for the review!


If you are interested in doing a guest post, just let me know in the comments!