Today, February 28th, 2018, marks the four year anniversary of the beginning of my new life.  I have been reflecting back on the journey the last week or so and feeling so thankful and blessed that I actually made it this time.  115 pounds down!!!! So many times in the past I attempted to lose the weight and failed at some point in the journey, but not this time.  I started this one out with God and He certainly carried me through and provided the tools I needed along the way to see this part of the jouney to its completion.  My journey is not over by no means, but having the excess weight off is certainly a step in the right direction.

Did losing the weight and reaching my goal solve all my problems?  Definately not!  I always thought that if I were thinner life would be so much easier and it some ways it is, but I’ve still gone through so many challenges with my marriage, health and even a few situations with friends.  I have slowly discovered “ME” during this process and I really like this Sassy, Confident, Opinionated and Wise Woman that I am today.  I use to look to others for acceptance and validation but not now.  I am confidant in the woman God has created in me and I walk with my head held high because as God’s word says, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made”!(Psalm 139: Verse 14)

I continue to be a work in progress and look forward to what the future holds for me.  I will soon turn 50 and have never felt better in my life and am determined to be the best “50 Year Old Version of Me I Can Be”.  This life has not always been easy.  Actually, as a lot of you I have been through many troubles and trials but God has always seen me though and I give Him all the honor and glory for any good that’s come from this life.  I always look at it like this, there is noone good on this planet and if there is any good in us it’s because He placed it there.  I am forever grateful for this gift of health I have been given and hope that by sharing with you guys that you too will be inspired to be the “Best Version of You that You Can Be.” Love You All!!!  BIG HUGS!!!

So what it Closet Eating you ask?  My definition is purposely eating in secret so no one knows exactly how much you eat.  I was as guilty as anyone.  What brought this back to my remembrance was seeing a lady in the grocery store parking lot eating a piece of cake with a spoon she got from the salad bar before ever leaving the parking lot.  When I saw her eating with the spoon my first thought was “she’s eating cake”.  Curiosity got the best of me so as I drove by I looked out of the corner of my eye and sure enough, CHOCOLATE CAKE.  Been there – Done that, but mine was cheesecake! I’m not sure we realize that we are trying to keep it secret but later when you get a grip on reality and adopt a more healthier lifestyle you will see things more clearly.  I was always in denial as to the fact of how much I was eating.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not condemning anyone for this.  Guilty as charged here!!!  I remember going to my doctor once and he in his foreign accent told me I needed to lose weight.  Well!!! I was highly offended and quickly told him I didn’t eat that much, that I mostly drank soda.  He promptly said “If you’re going to Denver you have to put enough gas in the car or you’ll not make it to Denver”.  Meaning, you have been overeating or you wouldn’t be obese.  Painful to hear and needless to say I was on the defensive.  The poor nurse just stood in the corner and hung her head. LOL!

So to sum things up, if you really want to know exactly how much food you consume on a daily basis start logging it down.  Every single bite!  At the end of each day you may be surprised to find you’ve eaten 3000 calories or more.  You might say there’s no way a woman could eat that much but it’s possible to eat much more depending on the types of food you choose.  I loved sweets so it was easy for me to knock it out of the park everyday.  I had no limits and ate exactly what I wanted and how much I wanted.  As I stated in a previous blog cake is a major issue for me.  I can remember going to parties and eating two or three pieces of cake as well as whatever else they were serving.  Most likely I consumed 2000 or more calories in one sitting.

My goal with this topic is not to beat anyone down.  It’s to help you and hopefully keep you from wasting the rest of your life being unhealthy.  After losing over 100 lbs now, I can truly say that life is good and I want to make a difference in the lives of others.

HUGS!!!

Clothes shopping!  For some this is enjoyable but for others they would rather have a poke in the eye. LOL!  So lets look at it from the perspective of someone who’s took the bull by the horns and lost a significant amount of weight and is needing to update their wardrobe.  You look in the mirror and the image staring back at you is of someone you’re proud of and you no longer find it necessary to avoid having pictures made or dodging high school friends out in public.  It’s obvious to you and everyone around you that you have made great progress but then you go shopping!

As you sort through the racks of jeans you find what seems to be the most perfect pair so you choose it in your size and you get to the dressing room and try them on and it’s all you can do to get them buttoned and zipped.  What the crap!?!?  At first you go into a tail spin because it instantly sends your mind back to those traumatic shopping trips before you lost weight where nothing you wanted fit and you feel so defeated.  You question if the image of you in the mirror is real or is your mind playing tricks on you.  You think to yourself, “I might as well give up and just eat what I want wear a moomoo!” LOL!

So the truth is, the label isn’t always accurate!  Also, one clothing manufacturers size may differ from another.  My mother worked for a company that made jeans for years and said that each size is measured in inches and will pass inspection if it’s off a half inch either way.  So the size you normally wear could be a little tight or a little loose.  Good to know!!!  I have two different blouse sizes in my closet as well as two different pant sizes.  I also have things in my closet that I know according to the label are my size but fit like a latex glove and I look like a sausage in them but I no longer let that make me an emotional wreck because I know sizes vary.

So get out there and enjoy shopping again and don’t let a label dictate your mood or discourage you!  Understanding that clothes are man made and mistakes are made as well as sizes may vary from brand to brand gives you the freedom to enjoy the experience.  Shop on Sistas!!!

CAKE!  Need I say more?!?!  After three years of following a healthy lifestyle I am so tempted by cake right now.  It taunts me and begs me to eat it! LOL!  So what started this struggle? My son’s birthday on March 4th.  We wanted to make it a special day and show him how much we love him so we grilled out steak with some low fat sides of veggies and a salad of which I ate the appropriate amount and was so proud of myself but then came that four letter word C-A-K-E!  I even bought a very small cute little cake because I knew my son and husband wouldn’t eat very much of it and it would just be there daring me to eat it and I was right.  My son ate a piece and my husband ate none.

Let me explain my feelings here!  I am always baffled by this.  My son and husband are both very slim and can eat anything they want and how much they want and never gain weight.  Doesn’t sound fair to me but that’s just how it is.  So how can they just choose not to eat that delicious mound of dough and icing when it’s not going to show up on their thighs tomorrow?!?!  I on the other hand can eat a piece and worry that I’ll put weight back on.  I also forgot to mention that my son’s friends bought him cupcakes that were tempting as well that sat in the refrigerator for a few days and eyeballed me every time I opened the door.

So after a few days of battling and scraping icing off with my finger my husband did me the biggest favor and dumped it upside down in the trash and smeared it in coffee grounds. Lol!  That was the best technique for ridding me of this torture because if he had left it in the dish with the lid on it I may have been tempted to dig it out.  Not kidding!!!  It has been years since desserts have tempted me so why now?  I guess it just goes to show that no matter how far along you are in your journey you will come upon those road blocks that try to veer you off the path to success.  So I share this with you to show you that you can be successful in weight loss and still have those times you fail.  The difference is that you get back up, get back on track and keep moving.  One piece of cake won’t blow your diet but eating it on a regular basis will.  Know your limitations and if it means not bringing it in your house then that’s what you should do.  One side note about those cupcakes:  There was three left and when I threw them in the trash I took a bite of all the icing first! LOL!  Honesty is the best policy!  Confessing my faults here!

Hang in there guys!  Keep making right choices, get up and get moving and you will see results!

So this was me shortly after I began my weight loss journey “This Time” in the picture on the left.  I had already lost about 20 pounds when this picture was taken and a more recent picture of me on the right.  I’ve lost 90 pounds at this point and I feel so much better!  I always find it hard to find good pics of myself when I was heavier.  I don’t know if it’s just me but I purposely dodged having my picture taken if possible.  I can remember feeling so defeated seeing myself in pics when I was so huge.  It just seemed impossible to take off that much weight.  I am so glad I decided to start this journey even if my journey was slower than most.  The point is that it doesn’t matter how long the journey lasts as long as you reach your destination!

The picture above is me when I was at my absolute heaviest approximately 15 years ago.  I have lost and gained weight so many times in my life but I never gained back to this weight which I estimate to be over 280 pounds.  I was so miserable here I can’t even begin to explain.  Food was my comfort, my entertainment and also my greatest enemy!  I am so glad that I am now equipped with the tools I need to maintain a healthy life style for the rest of my life.  Never want to turn back!

My greatest desire now is to help others reach their destination and realize that they “CAN”  do this!  There are so many little short cuts I can show you to get you started without having to start out full blast.  In the future I want to feature my sister who is following my tips and has lost 73 pounds so far and she is building momentum daily!  She is doing awesome and life is beginning to open up for her and she is now living her life instead of watching others live around her.  I can’t wait to share her story, but we’ll wait until she is closer to her goal.  If you would like for me to help you feel free to message me and we’ll get you started.

I start out most days with a kefir smoothie and alternate with Juice Plus Smoothies on the other.  You may ask, What is Kefir?  If you will click on the link in blue it will take you to a great site that can explain in it in great detail.  Youtube is also a great resource when it comes to learning more about Kefir and how to process it as well as some awesome smoothie recipes.  Kefir is chocked full of probiotics that we all need and is readily available in the dairy section of your grocery store or you can obtain kefir grains and process your own at home which is what I do.  I don’t claim to be the authority on kefir information so please do some research and see what it can do for you.  I do however, recommend if you buy kefir from the grocery store get the plain version and add fruit to sweeten.  The flavored versions are usually loaded with sugar.  When you blend your own just add a little stevia or monk fruit if you need a little more sweetness.

The benefits of Kefir seem limitless and I just can’t say enough about this amazingly yogurty drink!  Kefir will drive out the bad bacteria in your gut and decrease bloating and can also aid in better bowel habits.  As I’ve gotten older that seems to be more important to me. (lol)  I’ve read other research where it’s actually helped with chronic ear infections in children and has slowed down cancer in some.  It’s also great for those pesky yeast infections ladies get after taking antibiotics.  All you do is continue to drink it and it battles the yeast for you without having to take another medication.

So in conclusion I wanted to share my daily experience with kefir and what goes into my smoothie.

-24 hrs prior, pour 2% milk over Kefir Grains and allow to sit on the counter in glass jar   that is covered with a breathable material such as cheese cloth or coffee filter as the grains are living organisms and must be able to breath. (Sounds gross but it’s actually awesome)

-Place strainer over a bowl and pour contents of jar in strainer.  Once all the liquid has gone through place bowl to the side while you rinse off the grains and put them back in the jar and cover them with milk to start the process over for the next day.

-Pour 1 cup of Kefir from bowl in blender and add stevia to taste as kefir is a bit tart. Add organic coconut, fresh or frozen peaches, bananas or pineapples and blend into a most tasty drink.  You can also add spinach for even more nutrition and you can’t even taste it.

So here’s to opening your eyes to something new and hoping you’ll dive in like I did and do something awesome for your health!  Your body will thank you! 😉

So it’s been quite a while since I’ve posted.  I’ve been a very busy lady to say the least.  After renting for six years I am happy to say that we are now home owners.  Yayyy!!!  What an ordeal that was getting all the paperwork together, not to mention proving to the bank where every penny we made came from.  Stressful doesn’t even come close to describing this ordeal.  I definitely devoted all my time to that process then upon closing on the loan the moving process started.  We’ve been there a month now and are starting to get settled in so hopefully my mind can focus on the blog again.

I am so very thankful for those who have asked about the blog and missed following my journey!  Knowing someone is being inspired by it encourages me!  As for my weight loss, it’s been a while since I’ve weighed so I’m not sure of the exact number at this point.  I will estimate 85 to 90 pounds down.  I’ve never been one to weigh everyday as our weight can fluctuate from day to day depending on water retention, what time of the day we weigh and so on….  I mostly use my clothes as a guide as to whether I am making progress and find that I usually only weigh at doctors appointments, which turns out to be every few months.  But then that’s just me!  I say, do what works for you.  If weighing daily keeps you accountable then more power to you. lol  I just tend to get discouraged by watching the number on the scale too closely.

So in conclusion, life gets complicated sometimes and we all have our way of coping with it, but don’t let food be your coping mechanism.  I found during the home buying and moving process I handled it well.  I can truly say that the new way I eat has become a lifestyle change and is just how I eat and no longer consider it a diet.  It just goes to show that we can adopt a better, more healthy way of eating and carry on with life and the weight will slowly melt away.  Remember, getting healthy shouldn’t be a quick, fly by night program you get on and abandon when you don’t see immediate results.  Make the changes and stick with them an you WILL see the results!!!

So it’s been a week since I’ve been able to post and I am so sorry!  Life takes over sometimes and we are continually thrown curve balls.  It’s in these times it would be easy to get off track and forget about eating healthy and just grab the most convenient or cheapest fattening food and just keep going.  Have you noticed that the healthier food is more expensive?  A lot of people use the high cost of eating healthy as an excuse not to make a healthier life style change.  I look at it as an investment in my health and pretty sure I will have fewer trips to the doctor in the long run since I’m nourishing my body properly.  Eating those cheap, fattening, greasy foods may be more convenient and more readily accessible but you definitely pay for it in the long run.  I can think of a few side effects to eating an unhealthy diet, such as, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease just to name a few.

When my Dad was first diagnosed with heart disease they had us sit in on a class at the hospital that gave some practical instruction on how to make some changes to get him back on track.  First off, eat fresh veggies if possible and I don’t mean fresh fried veggies. (lol)  Steamed or raw vegetables are best but if you can’t afford fresh then before cooking canned veggies pour out the water that’s in the can and rinse them before cooking.  By doing this you will decrease your sodium intake.  Be sure to change from vegetable oils to olive oil. Olive Oil is a healthier choice and is a bit more expensive but it doesn’t take much when you’re sauteing veggies and not deep frying.  Grill or bake your meats and season to taste just don’t over do the salt.  Another change you can make is cut out as much sugar in your diet as possible. There are some healthy alternatives to sugar out there like Stevia or Monk Fruit.  I use Stevia everyday in my tea, coffee and sometimes in my smoothie if I want a touch of sweetness.

So I guess what I’m saying here is if your health is important to you, you will be willing to make some compromises and go that extra mile and make the healthier choice.  So when life throws you that curve ball, knock it out of the park!!!  😉  Have a great day Friends!

*Please note that I am not a medical professional and that I am sharing my story and what worked for me.

It can be overwhelming once you’ve decided to be a healthier you with so much information out there these days, who wouldn’t be?!?!  As I’ve mentioned before, making small changes may be your best bet to success.  If you aren’t physically able to get out and exercise then start with your diet first.  Start out by eliminating as much processed foods as possible and keep it fresh and simple.  For instance, for lunch you may want a turkey, veggie wrap.  I would suggest a whole wheat wrap, with a sensible portion of turkey and then pile on the veggies.  Instead of mayo use avocado so it’s not so dry.  Avocado has fat in it but it’s a good fat that is beneficial to your body where mayo is just bad all the way around.  Dinner could be a grilled chicken breast, asparagus sauteed in olive oil and maybe a small salad with a vinegarette dressing.  Also, skip the bread and crackers for now.

Before eating anything ask yourself, “Is this healthy for me and what nutritional value does it have”?  If the answer is that is contains no nutritional value then don’t eat it.  A properly nourished body will begin to function in the manner God intended if we eat what is good for us.  A rare treat is absolutely okay, ’cause let’s face it we are human and we like sweets and all the fattening ooey gooey desserts .  I try to save my treats for special days like Christmas, Thanksgiving, Birthday, etc… because I know I will want to try something and not feel like I’m being cheated.

So if you’re not ready for a full blown diet change then start small with the advise I’ve just shared and remove processed foods.  Begin to only eat whole foods that have nutritional value and not concentrate so much on portion control at this point and just see how much better your body feels and begins to function.

*Please Note:  I am not a medical professional.  This is my story and what worked for me.