Progress

   It is noon and I am exhausted! I am not sure if it because I just didn't sleep well last night or from the pretty intense workout yesterday evening.  Either way I will be back in the gym this evening. I took the day off from running yesterday to give my hip a rest. I will be running today.  I missed it. 

   So I know this blog post is going to be a little unorganized but I just feel like rambling so hang in there lol.  Yesterday I was looking at my favorite instagrammers feed and I was just amazed at her progress.  I was even more impressed with her courage to post pictures of her progress. I haven't Realllllllly taken progress pictures of my body. They are just painful to look at. But I did it. Then my daughter told me to post the back picture on Instagram that the difference in just two months were impressive :) 

     As much as we like to deny it we all like to hear that they can see the results of our hard work. It is so hard to see the results ourselves partly because progress is slow and partly because of our poor self esteem that has come from years of telling ourselves that we are disgusting and not worthy of attention. 

    When looking at that Instagram picture I do see a difference and I do see that the  10-12+ hours I spend in the gym, giving up soda, and passing up amazing food, has paid off.  If these are the results I get within two months I cannot wait to see the next picture. 

Left mid October.        Right 12/28/13

The pain is real!

     I woke up and the first thing I noticed is I am SORE! Woo hoooo!  You here a lot of people say they do not want to work out because they do not want to hurt the next day.  You should WANT to be sore the next day.  It shows what you are doing is working! 

     Do you want to know how it works? When you work out little tiny tips in your muscles occur. Yep and that is why you are sore. When they repair more muscle. 

     If I could give you any type of advice to ease this it would be pay attention to your diet and make sure you are getting enough protein. Make sure you are getting enough sleep.  Also allow your body time to heal. Now I do cardio almost everyday. I love it but I do allow a few days in between working a particular muscle group with weights. I also take a multi vitamin oak everyday. If you are extremely sore heat and ice work. There has also been a few instances with my hip since I started running that I've had to take ibprophen. I prefer to take that because it helps with inflammation.  I would not recommend you take it unless you honestly need it. It takes an affect on your liver if you take too much. 

     I prefer to just enjoy the soreness and allow it to remind me that I got off my behind and took another step closer to my goal. Trust me it isn't easy to get up everyday and go to the gym. But I finally realize I'm worth it. 

Welcome welcome!!!!

   

 So I installed this app onto my phone so I could actually use this blog. I have been horrible about it so far. So hopefully I get into the swinger of things. 

     Now if you are looking for a formal blog with perfect grammar, may I suggest you please proceed to the X located in the upper right hand corner. 

     Sometimes I will write a formal post and then sometimes I will just get on here and bitch about something that pissed me off that day. But hey if you want to read that's awesome. If you don't, that's cool too.  

    However, it is time for this lady to take her rear end to bed but welcome to my blog.  ❤️

Soapbox and stuff.

      Wow has it been a while since I have written on here.  I really need to write more. My issue is when I do sit down I look around the house and find things that need to be done.  I have been in this house now for over two and a half months and I am still unpacking boxes and getting pictures hung.  Hopefully by summer I will be settled in lol.  No seriously I am not even sure how long I am going to be in this house.  It is small and OLD.  I called to find out the average electric bill and was told $150, which isn't too bad.  Then a few days I ago I received a bill for 373$ for one month. Um WHAT? I wish our area had more than one choice for an electric company.  Here it is a monopoly and they can charge whatever the heck they want and trust me they take EVERY opportunity to hike the rates.  The bills are getting more and more expensive and pay rates aren't keeping up.  Gotta love it.

     So anyway I will very lightly step down off my soap box.  LOL, running hasn't been very easy on my left hip muscles and tendons.  If you haven't gotten a chance to watch that video I will post it below.  I got over my mental block and am now running.  I use an app. called C25K.  I love it.  It eases you into it.  The first days hip discomfort was pretty painful but manageable.  The second, I barely felt it.  Then I took two days off and went back to run (yesterday) and by the end my hip was on fire!  I limped around the rest of the day.  I ended up buying a few Cold & Hot medicated patches to see if that helped.  It is a little less tender this morning but I do not think it would be a good idea to try to run today and trust me it is KILLING ME. I will see how I am feeling later today and go from there.   I LOVE that work out.  I am definitely a cardio girl. 

     If you are interested in running go get that app.  It is free and IDC if you are 150 or 250 pounds.  You can do it. I have learned that weight loss is more mental than physical.  You do have to push through. 

  Well that is it for now.  Say a prayer for me that my hip will allow me to run.

<3

    

The hammer is down.

     It has been so long since I have written and with no babies this weekend I just may have to get this blog "a movin". One thing if you do happen to drift onto my blog you will notice that I am not a professional writer (although I have had poetry published) and that my writing style is pretty laid back.  I am not a grammar and punctuation Nazi so if mistakes bother you, this may not be the blog for you lol.  

     So yesterday I made two videos and sat down last night to edit them and was so horrified by the way I looked that I immediately deleted the footage and decided I would redo them today when I had the chance to tame my crazy hair.  Something completely off subject here but do any of you notice that people with curly hair hate it and want straight hair and the people who have that almost always want the opposite.  We as humans are never satisfied it seems.  (Insert big sigh)  So hopefully by this evening I will have at least one of those videos edited and up.  Anyway back to where I was going besides the whole Medusa looking video footage…In the video I was talking about certain criticisms of my little "addiction" with Chipotle.  I enjoy it and it doesn't make me gain weight unless I am there everyday (trust me if I could I would) but if you know chipotle.  It isn't cheap.  You are talking about 10$ or more a visit.  Okay, okay let me get the mental images of deliciousness out of my mind and get to the point.  My point is that I know that people are going to criticize just about everything I choose to put on the Internet about my journey.  Just realize that as I say all the time in my videos, this is MY JOURNEY.  This is what works for me.  A quote that I like to remember is "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."  Yes, I used the word ain't… :O
I am not saying I am forgoing my goals to limit my love for the bowls but what I am saying is I am going to stop beating myself up for days if I choose to go get it.

     I have been trying to really change my "negative" thinking.  It does nothing but make me stress and who needs more stress in their lives?  Not me, that is for sure.  It is November.  We should all be getting into the mindset of being thankful.  I am THANKFUL I am able to even lose a pound.  I am THANKFUL I do not weigh very close to 300 pounds anymore.  And while I mention that, let me just say, I am quite sure I did hit 300 pounds at one point but didn't actually see it because I was so scared of the scale and in denial.

     I just want people to realize that a person on a weight loss journey, or any journey through life probably will not be perfect and it does not make them failures in what they are doing.  This is my journey and it has been filled with many hills and even some deserts but I continue to move and will forever continue to plow forward with or without any ones approval except my own.  It is my turn to be just a little bit selfish.  At 39 it is finally MY TIME.

May 2012 at nearly 300 pounds

Letting it go!

If you are friends with me on my facebook where I do my weight loss challenges you know the end result of something I have been dealing with for well over a year.  It saddens me and stresses me out to no end. But ANYWAY, we will be moving.

Four years ago we started to "rent to own" a townhouse.  I LOVE this house.  Braiden and Andrew (my grandchildren) both were brought home to this house from the hospital.  Last September 5th we received a knock on the door.  It was a man from a real estate company letting me know that the house that we had paid faithfully on had been bought by a bank because of foreclosure.  My husband and I immediately went to a lawyer and found out our rights and thankfully there was a law in place that protected "renting tenants".  Mind you, we had to come to the realization that the 32,000$ that we had paid the previous 3 years was gone.

A week later we got a strange call from the real estate company.  It was the owner and she was asking really odd questions.  To make a long story short, the real estate agent that we had dealt with was terminated for fraud.  He hadn't even been reporting that the property was still being managed by that real estate firm.  He had been pocketing our money since the very beginning.  He had been giving the owner less and less money and stating that we weren't paying.  Then the last year he had told the owner that he was trying to evict us but we were never home and the papers couldn't get served all while taking our payments each month.  We had just paid him for the month of September, 2012 3 days prior and the owner didn't even own the home any longer.  We also found out that we were not the only ones he had done this too.  There were 7 other clients that he had been taking from. r

The bank took over our lease and said we were free to stay until the market improved and they were ready to sell.  Our new lease ends October 31st and we just received news that they were indeed going to sell.  It breaks my heart that I have to move from so many memories and that I was so faithful in paying. 

At first when I received the letter that we would have to move, all the old anger toward this agent back rushing back.  Then this morning it dawned on me that I need to forgive this man.  I cannot hold anger in my heart because I do not know his situation.  I mean I do know he was arrested and that he lost his real estate license and his home but I didn't walk in his shoes.  Now I am not saying it gave him any right to steal from us or anyone else.  What I am saying is it ISN'T my RIGHT to judge him.  The anger in my heart doesn't change the situation so I am letting that go.

I will be moving in the next 7 weeks or so and hopefully I can find a home that I love just as much as this one and I can make new memories.  I will be stressed until I find a place no doubt and I am praying and determined to not let it have an impact on my journey. If you could offer any prayers I would surely appreciate it.  I believe in the power of prayer.  I have seen too many miracles happen not too.

Wish us luck!

Overnight Oat recipes

 

I LOVE OATMEAL.  I also love variety in my food.  "Boredom" is one of the main reasons people fall off the wagon. 

So I wanted to share a new love I have.

It's called "Overnight Oats".

Now the concept is not mine.  I found many delicious pictures on instagram but you had to buy the "ebook" to get most of the recipes.

So I have been experimenting and creating my own simple Overnight oats.

 

These can be eaten as a dessert or even as breakfast, lunch...whichever you choose.

Just remember every single thing you put in your oats will contain calories.

 

 

 

#1 with peanut butter and chocolate chips (dark)

 

 

You will need:

 

1/2 cup of dry oats (can be regular, steel cut, etc)

1/4 cup of skim milk or almond milk

2 tablespoons of plain yogurt

 (you can use the flavored but remember most flavored contain artificial sweeteners.  But it's up to you)

1 tablespoon of natural honey

1 tablespoon of cinnamon.

(Make sure it's not cinnamon sugar that is bad bad)

1 packet of stevia (optional)

1 tablespoon of NATURAL peanut butter or almond butter

6 DARK unsweetened chocolate chips (optional)

 

 

Mix all of the ingredients together EXCEPT the peanut butter and chips.

Cover in refrigerator overnight or at LEAST 30 minutes while the oats soften.

 

Get a container (mason jar or glass containers are my favorites)

Put a table spoon of oats then a half tablespoon of your peanut butter

Then another layer of each

On the top you can save a tad of pb then add chips

 

 

#2 Overnight oats with PB and Greek yogurt

 

 

 

1/2 cup of dry oats (can be regular, steel cut, etc)

1/4 cup of skim milk or almond milk

2 tablespoons of plain yogurt

 (you can use the flavored but remember most flavored contain artificial sweeteners.  But it's up to you)

1 tablespoon of natural honey

1 tablespoon of cinnamon.

(Make sure it's not cinnamon sugar that is bad bad)

1 packet of stevia (optional)

2-3 tablespoons of greek yogurt

Chocolate chips (dark) (optional)

 

 

 

Mix all of the ingredients together EXCEPT the peanut butter and chips.

Cover in refrigerator overnight or at LEAST 30 minutes while the oats soften.

 

Get a container (mason jar or glass containers are my favorites)

Put a table spoon of oats then a half tablespoon of your peanut butter,

A layer of 1 table spoon of yogurt

Then another layer of each

On the top you can save a tad of pb then add chips

 

 

I will tell you personally I did not add the chocolate chips or stevia to mine and it tasted great!  It's all up to you.  You can add granola, nuts, flax seed, your own pureed fruit

This allows you to be so creative.

Just REMEMBER EVERY SINGLE THING ADDS calories

but this WILL keep you full for hours.

 

 

IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO ADD THE NUTRITIONAL FACTS ABOUT THESE TWO SPECIFIC recipes let me know.



Get out of your comfort zone!

When I told my daughter about Amanda's spin class I didn't realize I would be going with her lol.  Can you imagine my 230+ pound arse spinning?  I shocked myself today when she suggested going by going with her!!!  I will tell you it was HARD.  I will tell you that I didn't NAIL every move.  I will tell you that I didn't stop.  I will tell you I was drenched.  I will also tell you I loved it!

If you take a spin class know that those bikes are hard on your tush and you will probably get cramps and cramps in your feet.  I STILL loved it.

I challenged myself and I did something out of my comfort zone and now I cannot wait for next Monday <3

P.s. Girls do NOT look like this during or after a spin class lol!

Ask.Fm

I had been hearing a lot about a new phone app for people lol who are obviously bored.  It's asked ask.fm .  You can have people ask you questions anonymously or you yourself can go ask someone a question and they will "never know who you are." Yes my first thought was this will be a trolls dream app. and it is.  I went ahead and got one just for the reason I said above.  I was bored. 

A few days went by and then a few weeks and surprisingly no rude comments or questions.
I got on a mom's and was reading her questions and answers and as realistic as I am I was still shocked at how rude and cruel people can be.  Talking about someone is one thing but attacking a beautiful, innocent child is another.  The behavior of some of these people just honestly make me fear what this world is heading toward. 

So then...lol a few questions started to filter in about Lindsey.  I answered them with honesty and without being rude.  That is until they started to TRY to lie in their questions.  I won't go into the lies just because I deleted the app and well it's just not worth it.  What I am writing this blog for is for one accusation in particular and a question I would like to throw out there for people to ponder.

The accusation stated that it was my fault that Lindsey got pregnant.  Now first anyone that has teenagers or has already gone through that stage knows that if a teenager wants to do something they will do it regardless of how strict a parent is.  Do I accept some responsibility for her pregnancy? Yes, of coarse I do.  I think EVERY parent will blame themselves for a hard time their child goes through.  I could sit here and tell you every reason I am or am not responsible but honestly if you already have a judgement in your head it isn't likely I will change it now.  But I will say is this, Is it YOUR parents fault that they raised a bully and a coward?
                                                                                        



What's in my kitchen?

I thought I would make a list of things I keep in my kitchen at all times during my weight loss journey and then a list of things I want to add. 

• Bananas
• low fat cheese
• whole grain pita bread
• protein shakes
• avocado
• Weight control oatmeal
• raw oats
• fat free milk
• olive oil and olive oil spray
• brown rice
• chicken breasts
• ground turkey
• egg white
• Whole wheat bagels
• Natural peanut butter
• Black beans
• Green tea
• Yogurt

What I want to add:

• Chia seeds
• Almonds
• Almond butter
• More fish

Do you see anything missing?  Let me know.

Inspiration

If you think you cannot do it please watch this video.  It is not mine.  I am not taking credit for it but I was asked to share it.  WOW!

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A wonderful story!

Disclaimer:  This is NOT my story and I do not make any claims to it.  I just wanted to share.

 

 

 

 

 

Grandma Raised In The South

A young woman went to her grandmother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose.

Her grandmother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her granddaughter, she asked, "Tell me what do you see?"

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they got soft.She then asked her to take an egg and break it.

After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The granddaughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma. The granddaughter then asked. "What's the point,grandmother?"

Her grandmother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity--boiling water--but each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her granddaughter.

"When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff?

Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate to another level?

---AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Ground tukey and veggies

I love this combination for a clean healthy lunch or dinner.  It will fill you up and you can even change what veggies and non salt spices to change up the taste.


1 package of Jenni O lean turkey (ground)
1 cup of baby spinach
1 cup of frozen corn
.5 cup of frozen peas
1 cup of mushrooms
Cherry tomatoes
2 Tablespoons of Majorian leaves
1 Tablespoon of garlic powder
pepper to taste if desired



Over medium heat brown turkey meat and drain and then pat with a paper towel.
Add frozen corn and peas and lower heat to L-M and allow veggies to become tender
Then add baby spinach and mushrooms and allow to cook thoroughly.

 Add Cherry tomatoes and serve! A serving is about half so you can save what is left over for the next day.  It is delicious.

Jenni O 220 calories (4 oz)
Corn boiled 59 calories (1 cup)
Peas boiled 55 calories (1/2 cup)
Mushrooms raw 15 calories (cup)
Cherry tomatoes 24 calories (8 tomatoes)
Baby spinach 10 calories (1 cup)

Total 383 calories

MY WORTH!

    Isn't it crazy how much your mind can change when it has something different to focus on?
I am 39 years old.  I have been a mother for almost 20 years of my life.  I am not a perfect mother.  I have made many, many mistakes.  I will probably make a few more.  A mother doesn't stop being a mother just because her children reach the age of 18.  I feel, as any mother does, that my children are the best.  I gladly gave up college and a career to stay at home with my children.  Now, medical issues played a part in that as well but I did it with a smile on my face.

     Something I always kept in mind as a mother is that my two perfect babies NEVER asked to be brought into this world.  I gave and gave willingly.  If I had 50 extra dollars my children got it. I lived my life that way and I would do it again a million times over so when I say this do not think for a moment I regret any of it.

     I already talked about being just absolutely disgusted at what I have made my children endure because of my choices and I can never take that back.  I also cannot take back at what those choices have done to me.  My body.. and not the outside. I mean the inside.  I think I convinced myself that I didn't deserve anything.  ANYTHING.
I can count the amount of pants I own on one hand.  I can count the amount of Bras I own on less than that.  I really started thinking about this when I joined July's challenge group and we got our challenges for each day of the week.  Wednesday is high heel day.  Folks, I own not one pair of high heels.  I own not one dress.  I own not one outfit I could wear to an interview. I use my daughters make up.  I wear her earrings.  I use her hair products.
I started to workout for me.  I love that I started doing SOMETHING for myself.  I have lost over 40 pounds.  I have gotten stronger.  I am a much happier person and you know what I know I DESERVE to have that pair of heels and when I reach 75 pounds that is exactly what I am going to do.  It may be a simple pair of shoes that I probably will never wear but it's more than that to me.  It's a symbol of my worth.  Realizing that giving to MYSELF ONCE IN A WHILE doesn't make me a bad mother.

A few of the reasons

I am sure everyone has their "reasons" they are on this journey and with me it is first about me.  Yes I am actually going to sound selfish for a minute.  I have given up goals and dreams GLADLY for the benefit of raising my children and would do so again in a heartbeat. But besides me there are other "reasons" I am working so hard to become healthy.  Here are a few of them....

 

My beautiful children William and my daughter Lindsey who are both going to college full time on academic scholarships.

 

My best friend. My grandson Braiden who just puts a smile on my face when I feel I have no reason to smile.  He is 2 and a half and I need to lose this weight to be able to keep up with him lol.

My beautiful grandson Andrew who is 5 months old and absolutely precious who will soon be having MiMi running around just like his brother <3

 

 I need to be around for all of them.  I am not ready to die and who would want to leave such a beautiful family.

Follow me on social media:

Instagram: Mrsfat2fit

Twitter: Mrsfat2fit

Youtube: Mrsfattofit

Monday...Blah!

     Rest days...
Why do I have issues with them?  I feel lazy and am scared to death to eat anything.  CRAZY!  But..... ......they are necessary.  When you sleep at night and during your off day(s) is when your body enters recovery mode and starts to heal what you have put it through.  I know when I return to the gym after my recovery day I am always able to go harder and faster.  I think that is my bodies way for thanking me for the day off lol.

But off to another subject...

     I weigh in later today and of course I am scared.  I always am.  I didn't eat terrible even on July 4th but I also know I haven't been eating enough.  Yes, I said it right.  I am on a weight loss journey and I am not eating enough.

     I was able to watch a video today explaining in detail about calories and if you should eat your calories back.  This really is a great video to watch if you are trying to lose weight and especially if you use the app "My fitness pal". I got Eliza's permission to post the link for the video so if you get a chance, watch it! I couldn't explain it better myself! I know this is my problem.


                 Eliza's video (Click here)

    To end this blog on a positive note I am starting to see a SMALL difference.  I just do not see it in my stomach which is where I WANT to see it.  My legs are looking awesome.  Just some work on my inner thighs but I have accepted I may always have that loose skin from stretching it out for so long.
I actually saw a little definition on my arms last night :D
Small victories and I am more than willing to take them.  I earned them.

Why can't I control myself?

Do you know someone on their journey that isn't struggling with SOMETHING?  Not really.  Well me. What am I struggling with right now?

Portion control
Portion control
Portion control

When is my brain going to be satisfied with less food.  I am down 41 pounds as of July 1st yet when I eat I need large portions.  You see on TV contestants eating a 6" sub and are just amazed at how good yet healthy for them.  Um, I'M STILL STARVING HERE! Then you add that extra 6" and the calories are almost 700 and that is without cheese, on a "healthy bread", no mayo...    One packet of weight control oatmeal..are you kidding me?

I just cannot win. I have tried the drinking water before eating, trying to fill up on veggies.
I can deal with some hunger when I do feel it.  I realize there are sacrifices you have to make.  I really do. 

This just goes to show you what years of abuse can do to your body.  It can trick you into thinking you need thousands of calories to function properly when in reality it is poisoning you (if you are a fast food frequent flyer).

I am praying my mental and physiological motivation will catch up with my physical motivation.

I'm sorry for the pain.

     I am going to apologize now for my burst of entries over the next day or so.  I am taking a rest day today and need to keep myself busy so I am writing.  One of the biggest things weighing on my mind is how cruel people can be, namely the youth in the world and how our choices as parents affect our children.

      We all know that when we get in arguments we tend to find a sore spot with the other person to maximize hurt.  The other day I got a hurt hand lesson in just how MY choices affects my children and in addition got me to thinking how many times have they gone through this all because of me.
Let's just say that one of my children got into an argument with someone who feels they are above everyone because of their PARENTS money.  The argument escalated to the point of there was nothing really left to say, well you would think.  Then the words "If your mom would get her ass off the couch and go to work...." "Your mom cannot work because she is too fat to work." Wow.
Now I will ignore the fact that I still do not understand why this person brought me into it when I have never been anything but nice and supportive and skip to how my child reacted to this.  They (my child) became so irate that I had to stop what I was doing to calm them down.  They were close to tears and I guess I just sat back and thought out of everything this person was saying my child was most upset about this.  I wonder how many times they both have had to defend me but never told me.  Thinking back, I would say quite a lot.

     I could sit all day and vent about the decay of morals, respect and manners but for the sake of space I will skip how wrong this was and move into how I feel responsible for my child's anger.
When we become parents we are all excited about molding that perfect little baby into a wonderful person and giving them the world.  Who would have thought that eating cheesecake, ice cream, steak after steak and the loads of garbage I shoveled into my face on a daily basis would cause such pain.
Do you think that being a very large woman didn't affect both my children in numerous ways?  How many times have people made comments about me to them? I bet I couldn't count them.

     I want to apologize to my children for each and every time I have ever caused them pain because of my poor choices.
We as parents must THINK before we act even if we do not feel we need to.  Once for ourselves and once for our children.

Spaghetti Squash recipe

What you will need:

1 spaghetti squash
1 yellow sweet pepper
1 red sweet pepper
1/2 onion
minced garlic
Italian seasoning
or any other spices you enjoy EXCEPT SALT..NO NO NO
can of low sodium or sodium free crushed tomatoes
can of tomato sauce- no sodium if you can find it
Low fat shredded cheese

Cut your spaghetti squash in half (length wise).  You CAN bake it whole but I used this method and it was quite easy.  Once cut clean out the seeds and such as you would a pumpkin.

Then place your squash on a baking sheet rind down.  I baked mine 50-60 minutes in a pre-heated over on 375

While you are waiting for your squash to bake. You can start your sauce.  This is where you can get creative but be careful if you want to keep it healthy.  I added red and yellow sweet papers (one small of each), half of an onion, 2 tablespoons of minced garlic, spices (majorian leaves, italian seasoning, pepper, ground cumin and parsley.  I allowed that to sauté with just a spritz of 100% pure olive oil.  I covered and allowed the steam to do it's magic on low to medium heat.  When this mixture was soft I added about a half of cup of spinach.  Now before you say ewww TRY IT. My husband hates spinach and didn't even realize I had put it in there.  I then added a can off crushed tomatoes.  You may need to add more depending on the amount of servings you will be making.  Let this mixture cook on low for 30-45 minutes.  Stir frequently.

When the squash is done it will look like this.  You will notice the inside around the rind is very porous.

Take a fork and start to work your way length wise.  The inside peels off just like pasta noodles except these noodles are VERY carb and calorie friendly!

This is what the noodles look like after scrapped from the rind.

I then combined the noodles to the sauce and allowed it to cook around 10 minutes together.

I added a SPRINKLE of low fat cheese and a slice of avocado with a few leaves of baby spinach for presentation.

I can honestly tell you I will not miss regular spaghetti AT ALL!  I loved this.

TIP:  My husband thought the sauce was a little bland for his taste so to his I added a cup of heart smart spaghetti sauce.  

It's that time!

I can say that this week has started out with a vengence.  The week a female starts her period is rough on weight loss. Things from cramps to bloat can send even the strongest back to bed with her heating pad and favorite Ben and Jerry's ice cream.

I have searched a lot of web sites and they say the average woman can gain between 1-6 pounds during her period. Talk about something that can deflate your mood and confidence but hey at least now you know where the added weight is coming from.

I also have learned there are some things that you can do to help PMS but please note each woman reacts differently during her menstral cycle.

Here are some tips I learned:

• Yep, drink more water.  Water can reduce the amount of weight gain during your period
• Exercise.  Even if you have cramps from hell (which I do) exercising through them can and will help you in the long run.
• Eat plenty of potassium (bananas, carrots, spinach, raisins, tomato, low fat plain yogurt, salmon)
• Ignore the cravings they will go away on their own.  WILL POWER!!!!

Confessions of a mad fat woman!

Who hasn't seen a girl in the gym and thought, "She makes me ill." Lean, hair in a pony, no make up and she still looks like she could be on the cover of a magazine.

Does she really make you "ill"? I have had quite a few of those experiences and found myself watching them while I was doing my workout.  Normally they are running while I am on the elliptical or the bike and let me be honest.  There were time when everything about them seemed to annoy me.

"Look at her dressed up in her Nike gear just to impress the men at the gym"
"Why is her behind shaking when she's walking"
"She doesn't even need to be here"

Have you ever just been doing something and thought, "Holy crap, there is nothing wrong with that girl other than the fact I envy her." I realized that and the fact that people who are fit go through judgement just as we obese people do.


Quite honestly if I could I WOULD be wearing the cute Nike gear to the gym and not to impress the male population but to show off my hard work because let me just tell you weight loss is NOT easy. Further,  just because a person is thin doesn't mean they are fit and everyone deserves to be fit.

It is crazy what enters our minds and how we feel we are entitled to just slap a label on anything that we have a strong feeling for or against.  Yes while it is human nature it doesn't make it right.

I think using my own advice is pertinent here.
"Worry about the dirt on your own back porch."
I think if we all stopped worrying about our own problems we wouldn't have as many problems.  Think about it....What issues are NOT caused by others sticking their noses where they do not belong?

In regards to my personal thoughts I realized that I shouldn't be worried about anyone else in that gym.  The moment I realized my thought I was completely disgusted with myself. I needed to focus on why I was there.  I wasn't there for anyone else but myself. No one else what the reason I was there other than myself.  It wasn't their faults I had spent years of my life abusing my body by stuffing my face with garbage.


 

Cooking & Weight loss tip!

    I talked about cooking in numerous videos so far and one of my biggest things I try to avoid is salt.  When I first started I really didn't know that even "sodium compounds" can have the same effect as salt.  I didn't even know what cooking ingredients were considered sodium compounds.  I started to do some research because I have completely cut sodium out of my cooking and I try to avoid it as much as possible. 

Here are a few things I didn't know were "sodium compounds":

• monosodium glutamate (MSG)
• baking soda
• baking powder
• sodium benzoate

Here are some cons to sodium:

• Sodium is addictive
• Can cause an increased risk of heart attack and stroke
• Can lead to high blood pressure
• Can lead to premature death
• Holds on to "water weight"

We do need some sodium for our bodies to function but it is recommended you consume less than 2,300 mg per day and in the United States most of us take in over 3,500 mg.

I know it is a challenge to remove it from your diet and cooking when you have been so use to having it.  Did you know there are other spices you can use to replace salt?  I can tell you I have stopped using it and I do not miss it.  Here are a list of things I use in place of salt.

• rosemary
• marjoram
• thyme
• tarragon
• onion or garlic powder  *NOT SALT*
•  curry powder
• pepper
• nutmeg
• cummin
• ginger
• cilantro
• bay leaf
• oregano
• dry mustard
• dill
• Sea salt *use very sparsely* 

Here are some things that are known to be VERY high in sodium:

• canned soups
• dressings
• spice packets
• Processed foods of any kind 

and I do not mean to beat a dead horse but DRINK YOUR WATER....It will flush these types of toxins out of your system.  

A confession!

     Being obese, let me rephrase that...Being MORBIDLY obese is just like any addiction out there. Yes, I said it and regardless of how angry it makes some of my supporters.  Mind you, I have seen a member of my family struggle through an addiction with drugs.  If you think I am bat shit crazy stop drinking soda for a week.  Stop eating your favorite food for two weeks.  I literally go through spells of shaking when I have come across foods that I really want or in the evening when I want to eat (that was my binge time).  I got severe headaches from the withdraw.  I would spend money that could have been going elsewhere going out to eat ALL THE TIME!  I AM the woman who would get a whole box of snack cakes and sit up at 3 in the morning and devour them.  I will tell you that the taste of those cakes was so great that I would feel like I was floating.  Some research I have read says that eating certain foods invokes the same feeling as being in love and like any other food addict out there I would say that is definitely true, plus the food doesn't leave the toilet seat up so even better ;)

     As with any addiction I really feel you have to hit rock bottom or come damn close to it to realize the damage it is doing.  I hit that rock bottom.   I came face to face with the fact that if I didn't stop eating and putting food before my family that I wasn't going to be here much longer.  You can only be in denial about your chest pains and heavy breathing for so long.

     I am here to tell you though, it does get better.  The cravings do go away but let me just be very real and blunt for a second.  You have to have some self control and you will have to want this change more than anything.

     Anyway, in closing, my name is Kristy and I am now a RECOVERING food addict.

Holy Savings!

 

So this little number right here has become my best friend.  Before this (which was just three days ago), I bought bottled water.  I calculated how much I spent on bottled water a month.  I would buy on average 4 32 packs of Aquafina water.  At our loal Wal-Mart it is $4.98 for a case which equaled out to about $20 a month.  I can tell you that was even before I started my weight loss journey and to be quite honest I am sure that amount would have at least added 2-3 more cases a month.  Doesn't seem like much does it?  If I bought 6 cases of water a month for a year that is $358.56 :O

I paid a whooping $8.88 for my Brita bottle.  Now to be fair I want to add in what I expect to spend on the replacement filters.  The filters are $6.88 for two.  They do say they last three months but since I am going to be drinking a lot more water I am going to say I will replace it every two months so I will need 3 packages of replacement filters.  That equals $20.64.  Just this bottle is going to save me over $328 a year on my grocery bill. YES PLEASE!!!!!  I also should mention I am not being paid or given any "perks" for talking about this product.

I have NEVER been a tap water drinker but I guarantee you this will make a difference in the taste of water.  I ALWAYS have water with me. Idc if I am just sitting down typing a blog.  You will find a bottle of water near me.  

I plan to do another blog soon about the benefits of water and yes there are tons of benefits.

Come on Endorphins!

 I didn't really feel like going to the gym today even when I got there.  I just wanted to turn around and go back home and lay in bed and read.  It is so hard in the beginning because it takes weeks to notice a real difference.  I saw a fact tweet about weight loss. I went something like; it takes 4 weeks for you to notice a difference, 8 weeks for your close friends and family to notice, and 12 weeks for the rest of the world.  I don't know about you but 4 weeks seems like FOREVER!  I know that my will power is amazing right now.  The mystery is always how a person is going to feel 2-3-4-6 weeks out.  I just know that being responsible to everyone is a huge help.  I like a challenge.

Thankfully, after about 10 minutes on the treadmill I was able to feel my body working.  I am not sure if anyone knows but there is an actual endorphins released by the pituitary gland while you are working out that makes you feel...."Alive!!"  This endorphin and the feeling it produces is why some people do become addicted to exercise.  I can tell you 4 years ago I was in that very position. I hope for that to kick in here soon lol.   :))

Today's workout:  32 minutes on the treadmill (intervals of inclines), 20 minutes on a recline bike (not sure if that is the official name)(This is a good one to do if your back starts hurting, 10 minutes elliptical.  Total workout:  62 minutes

It feels like the first time...AGAIN!

Well I did it.  I joined a gym again.  I have had both types of experiences with a gym.  The first time I joined I was dedicated.  I even got what you could call "addicted" to the gym.  I would spend hours there and even go twice a day.  Then I joined again and I lasted about two weeks and would make up every excuse in the world to stop.  Now I have so many reasons NOT to stop. This is my last chance to start a new life for me. FOR ME!

You know as a mother I have been far from perfect.  I still make mistakes to this day.  I probably will make many more.  What I do know is I put every dream I had on hold to raise my children.  You know I had big dreams.  I was the person who at a very young age was considered extremely intelligent.  I was the person who was suppose to "make it".   I do not regret being a mother to my children. They are my world.  What I do regret is that I failed to see what damage I was doing to myself.  I am not JUST talking about the weight.  I am talking about emotionally.  Now I do not mean that being a stay at home mother caused me to be depressed, it didn't.  Have you ever head if you tell someone something long enough that they start to believe it.  I did just that.  What I told myself, I will save it for another blog but lets just say it lead to a lot of bad behaviors and self destruction.  I realize that I not only have to fix the outside.  I have to fix the inside as well.

I worked out for the first time last night and about 5 minutes in I was hurting.  Are you kidding me? It really puts it into perspective on how bad of shape I am in.  I did push through it.  I kept going.  It may not have been at a fast pace but I was moving. My first work out lasted 52 minutes and consisted of 20 minutes on the elliptical, 22 minutes on the treadmill, 10 minutes back on the elliptical.  I feel good about that workout other than facing reality about how BAD I have let my body become.  This morning when I woke up lol, wow ouch!  I cannot say it is "bad" pain but trust me my body is screaming at me. Despite that screaming I will be going back tonight.  I need to.