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.