Our Very Own Website!

Thanks to my amazing husband, we now have our very own website! Brandon has worked very hard and I am so grateful! Come check us out and continue watching this crazy journey to a healthier lifestyle!

www.theskinnyonjanuary.com

Emotional Eating

That is why I am overweight. Along w/being addicted to sugar and other crap. Well, I've kicked the addiction by not eating any sugar the last 2 weeks. My physical cravings have subsided. Unfortunately I can't just kick my emotions to the curb as well! The last few days I've had some things to deal with...basically life. The other night I wanted to eat bad, bad food. This is why you can NOT have it in the house for an "occasional treat". I would have binged and eaten way too much, then felt guilty, then beat myself up only to eat more. So, I am happy I didn't have any bad food in the house. Last night I wanted something sweet, so I had another banana smoothie. YUM. Today I have eaten too many snacks. I just feel blah. The good thing about eating healthy and not turning to bad food is that you have to learn to just deal w/your emotions and rewire yourself. You become a healthier you not only physically, but also mentally.

• Amy's addictive smoothie

• Too much o. air popped popcorn w/olive oil and sea salt

• Edamame Beans

• Synergy Kombucha and H20

• Small serving of pasta w/marinara sauce (I always add oregano, basil, garlic and sea salt)

• I decided to allow myself a treat tonight. I had Trader Joe's Jo Jo candy cane cookies. I had previously read about them on a Mothering.com forum. Oh my gosh they were so good and I had too many. They were the yummiest.
  

H20

We all know we should drink plenty of water, right? Then why is that I know people who only drink tea and soda all day? They don't have one drop of water! How can that be? What is that doing to their body? It seems everyone recommends 8 full glasses or 64 oz. per day. Are you drinking that? You can find info about how much water to drink at places like here, but you know what? Use your head! I need to coin that term! Are you thirsty? Are you too hungry? Ask yourself if you have had enough water today!

What kind of water are you drinking? I don't know about you, but I just do not trust tap water. Have yours tested, you might be surprised. I love drinking distilled water. Some friends of ours turned us on to drinking distilled water (in glass if you can) a few years ago. It's the purest water you can get. Don't you only want pure things going into your body. I do. I'm sure there is info about distilled water that is for and against it. Just drink good water and get enough!


I Am What I Eat:

• Breakfast was once again Amy's Yummy Smoothie! I could eat these all the time! Oh wait...I am!
  

• O. air popped popcorn w/olive oil and sea salt

• My "Indian" o. tofu &o. couscous

• 2 slices o. apple w/peanut butter

• Synergy Kombucha and Whole Foods o. green tea
  

• O. Whole Foods flax oatmeal w,1 tsp o. brown sugar

• Edamame Beans w/sea salt

• I became hungry later on, so I made veggie fried rice
  

• Then I wanted something sweet, so I had another one of Amy's Addictive Yummy Smoothies!
  

Did I Exercise Today?








Overall and Tomorrow's Goals:
Need to drink more water and exercise!!!!!!!!!!!

Thought Of The Day

Thought Of The Day

I just have so much going through my brain when it comes to health, losing weight, etc. I'm also going to start posting articles. We are working on getting our own website up so we can transfer this blog over. That way we'll have more freedom and can better organize all of this information! It's kinda exciting actually! I can't wait to write posts/articles on raw dairy, my favorite snacks and drinks, excitotoxins (that's all Brandon), etc. There will be info, links and our thoughts on the subject. Hey, this is fun to us!

I Am What I Eat!

• Amy's Yummy Smoothie

• Cut up o. apple w/o. peanut butter

• O. brown rice, o. pinto beans, o. hot Emerald Valley salsa, 1/2 small avocado

• Bora Bora Wellness Bar

• Decaf Green and Red Raspberry Leaf tea, homemade and iced

• Bora Bora Wellness Bar

• Rice, guacamole and tortilla chips (a Christmas party).

Did I Exercise Today?

Nope (as I bow my head down in shame).

Overall and Tomorrow's Goals

I was a little nervous about the party. I did really well though. I ate vegetarian and stayed away from the tamales! I am so proud of myself. I didn't pop one piece of candy in my mouth and took no bites of all the cookies and desserts! It's almost like instinct to grab something and eat it. Obviously it's a habit and I'm breaking it! Go me!

Tomorrow I am walking to the park again. We have a playdate, so I have to go. It'll feel great!

Getting Off Your Butt!

You have to exercise the way that is best for you! Basically, whatever you will get off your butt and do... DO THAT! I won't use a treadmill and I don't want my kids in the daycare at a gym to use a treadmill, swimming is not feasible for me right now, and I do NOT like running (sorry to my running friends). Walking outside with the kids just works for me. The kids and I get out of the house and we usually find a walking path that leads us to a park. This way they can play and get their exercise and I get a break from crazy toddlers. It's perfect for us. What's right for you? Figure it out and get off you lazy, large rear-end and do it!

Can I just say I love jogger's? My friend Amy once said that if she could marry her jogger, she would. I hear ya girl! They are a working-out mama's best friend! So, I have a double jogger as I've mentioned before. Well, I have 3 kids. Carrying the baby in a sling will work for now, but then what? See, Brandon and I had the bright idea to have kids close in age, so they are 4 years old and under. None of them can keep up at the pace I want to go. Soooo, I want a triple jogger!!!!!!!! I really do. I mean look at that sucker! Isn't bad*ss?! It's on the Christmas list, so here's hoping Santa is generous this year (come on Santa, I've been a good girl)!


I Am What I Eat

• Amy's yummy banana smoothie

• Kombucha

• An o. apple, a Lara Bar and a Bora Bar, H20

• A "green lemonade". I don't have a juicer right now, so the fruit was whole and super blended in the Vitamix. It was a lemon, an apple, a celery stalk, 2/3 cucumber, and some leaves cut off our radishes. It was good and gave Brandon and I bursts of energy. Being that it was in a blender and not juiced, I'd add more juicy fruit and a little less cucumber. I can't wait to get another Jack Lalanne juicer!

• Made the tofu and couscous again with ginger this time.

• Decaf Green Tea

• O. air popped popcorn w/olive oil and sea salt

• Home made french fries (red potatoes cut up and cooked in olive and coconut oil), an Amy's (I seem to like Amy's!) California veggie burger cut up with o. ketchup.

• Glass of Silk chocolate soy milk.
  

Did I Exercise Today.

Yep. I walked a mile to the park and a mile home. I kept a good pace (once I switched the kids around, got the baby to stop crying, gave the kids snacks, etc). It felt really good. On the way home it got hot. My pelvis hurts tonight, but it was so worth it. I want to get that triple jogger and rock this neighborhood. I can be known as that crazy lady w/the huge stroller!

Overall and Tomorrow's Goals

I am proud of myself for eating well and getting exercise today. Tomorrow I am going to go on a shorter, easier walk just to get in the habit of walking everyday. Baby steps!

Eating Out of My Comfort Zone and Testing Boundaries

Sunday night we got together with the extended family for a birthday. I have to say it was interesting eating somewhere other than home since I made the switch to Vegan. First of all, the only thing I could eat was noodles and sauce (which my sister was kind enough to do w/no meat). I didn't feel deprived, but I just wanted to be home with my food!

Also, I realized that while my children can be vegan at home, when we are out I may be a little more relaxed and let them eat a vegetarian diet. No meat still, but won't panic if they have a little bite or serving of let's say a Coconut Cake from the Dish (a joint I love here). I might be slightly jealous, but hey, that's OK. My family was wonderful in supporting my food choices right now and I appreciate them very much.

Now, moving on to Monday night, my sister wanted me to meet up w/her for dessert. Great. Well, I told her the dessert was all her b/c I'm not eating it. No problem. We get there and I order a vegetarian soup. I'm doing awesome! Then, my daughter gets a chocolate chip Heath crunch cookie. It was HUGE. Am I eating any? NO! At least that's what I'm telling myself as I put it in my mouth and chew while thinking, "oh this is so good". I was wondering after I had a few bits why I ate it. It obviously has milk, butter and eggs in it. I do not want to eat those right now, so why did I? It's totally fine to have treats when losing weight (I did last time I had a large weight loss), but this wouldn't have been a treat I would have picked. I'm trying to say it wasn't a premeditated treat, but more of a heat of the moment treat. As I pondered it, I decided it was to test boundaries. I think I needed to see how I felt emotionally and physically after eating it. Do you want to know? I did not feel good. First of all I started feeling mucousy and gross, and I wished I hadn't eaten the dairy. I'm not against dairy and you don't have to stop eating it to lose weight. I just personally am experimenting with not eating it right now. I like to explore with food and different ways of eating to keep things interesting on my weight loss journey's. For me, if I were to eat dairy again, I only want it from farms I know, where the milk and cheese is raw, and when I can make butter from raw cream (this is a whole other post by the way). So, I tested that boundary and now I know I don't' want to do it again. Man, it's like I'm a 2 year old testing my limits!

I think for now I just need to eat at home as much as possible. The food we make is so delicious and we save money! It really is better!

Making Adjustments

Like I said in my previous post, I don't count calories. If I don't like how I'm feeling or don't think I'm losing right, then I make minor adjustments. I look at what I've been eating and change it. I think I've been allowing too many little carb snacks in. Having a handful of pita chips here and there adds up and it has no nutritional value whatsoever! So, today I am going to focus on eating all nutrient dense foods. We'll see how it goes!

I Am What I Eat:

• 1/2 banana, Amy's smoothie

• An o. apple w/o. peanut butter (probably about 1.5 tbsp if you really want to know)

• Decaf Green Tea

• Lunch was yummy tofu and couscous. I used coconut oil, soy sauce, minced garlic, turmeric, curry and orange peel. It was scruptioully umptious (as my sister would say)

• A couple handfuls of o. air popped popcorn w/olive oil and sea salt today

• Synergy Kombucha

• Bora Wellness Bar

• Dinner was o. short grain brown rice w/o. black beans, o. Emerald Valley hot salsa and 1/3 avocado on top! It was quite good I have to say. I would never have eaten rice and beans, but with the salsa, avocado and spices added to the beans (minced garlic, turmeric and sea salt), it was more than doable.

Did I Exercise Today

Ahhh! No! That's OK though, I have a play date at the park tomorrow, so 2, 1 mile walks are in my near future.

Overall and Tomorrow's Goals

I felt amazing today. My only "carbs" other than fruit, etc. was couscous and brown rice (and a little popcorn). I felt light and on my toes. I'm going to continue to watch which kind of carbs I am eating and make sure they are coming from great, nutritious sources.

Walk, Walk, Walk!

Counting Calories is for Sissies!

I am sure you have noticed that I don't count calories in numbers, points, or any other form. I don't measure 1/2 cups of everything or balance things on a little scale to make sure I don't eat too many ounces. You know what I do? I use my head! Use your head people! Are you hungry? Eat! Are you full? Stop Eating! I guess exercising "portion control" is the closest thing I can relate to. What does that mean though? Who decides on the portions? Well, you do! So, once again you have to decide how large or small of a portion to eat. Today I was starving at lunch. I had 2 bowls of home made fried rice. I didn't just eat 1 cup b/c someone told me that's all I should eat. Could I do that? Sure, I could eat 1 cup or 8 oz of everything, then later that night binge on a HUGE portion of ice cream b/c I'm ravenously hungry and have no control! Eat when you are hungry and eat something yummy and healthy and how much you need to. Your body, mind and not-guilty conscious will thank you!


I Am What I Eat:

• An o. clementine and o. banana, H20

• A Bora Wellness bar and an o. red apple (got hungry at church, hey a 3 hour block is long!)

• Applesauce, a handful of pita chips, a few bites of kids o. pb&j rollups

• A lot of vegetable fried rice (made w/leftover rice from last night...so easy and yummy)

• One of my friend Amy's (by the way she is one of the coolest, funniest people I know...check her out for yourself here!) smoothies! It was 1 cup rice/soymilk, 1 cup vanilla soy milk, 2 bananas, cinnamon, nutmeg and real vanilla syrup (no alcohol in it). It fed myself, my hubby and 2 kids. It was delicious! Thanks Amy!

• Synergy Kombucha, H20
  

• Small plate of noodles and o. marinara sauce

• 2 slices of an apple with peanut butter, handful of o. air popped popcorn, another Bora Bar
  

Did I Exercise Today?

Nope, it's the Sabbath. I might go on a leisure walk w/Brandon and the kids on Sundays, but nothing serious.

Overall and Tomorrow's Goals:

Other than being exhausted this morning form the kiddos waking up a lot, I feel great today!
I am going to go on a 1-2 mile walk 3 times this week!

Clarity

So, it's been a few day now that I have been on a no junk food, vegan diet. How do I feel so far? GREAT! Really, I do. I was just telling Brandon that my bloating and gas have disappeared, I have more energy and more clarity. It's true, my mind actually feels less foggy and free. There really is something to no eating crap. I know you don't want me to say it and you really don't want to believe it, but that is the honest truth. Sorry. Stop making excuses and justifying. It might make you feel a little better in your head, but your ass won't thank you. Cutting out artificial ingredients, dead meat and other animal products (oh raw cheese...yum!), white foods and adding in more non-GMO soy, lentils, beans, whole grains, lots of fruit and veggies is just the way to go. Your skin, brain, organs, shrinking fat cells and spirit will all praise you. Are you on board with me yet? Come on, throw out the tuna, cookies and hormone milk and join me. You really do deserve to feel and look your best!

I Am What I Eat:

Today was a snacking kind of day.

• Breakfast was an o. orange and o. clementine, H2O

• Snacked on: shelled edamame beans, 1/2 tortilla, 1/2 o. apple, few bites of apple sauce, o. air-popped popcorn with o. coconut oil and sea salt.
  

• Kombucha

• Dinner was a yummy tofu dish. I used tempeh, which I have never had before. I stir fried garlic cloves, onion, and tempeh in o. soy sauce and o. coconut oil, then added o. carrots and o. bok choy and a homemade sauce. The sauce was o. soy sauce, o. toasted sesame oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, and Chinese five spice. All served over steamed brown rice. YUMMY!

Did I Exercise?

Nope. It rained all day. Bummer

Overall and Tomorrow's Goals.

I feel fabuloso and I am going to eat great tomorrow and rest because it is the Sabbath!

What's on Your Grocery List?

I thought I'd give an example of what I'm buying. I went to Whole Foods today and got just about everything on my list. I stuck to the list hard core otherwise you can leave Whole Foods with no rent money! It is very easy to accrue a high grocery bill there! I love that freakin' place. When I was in Texas I would take my kids there for samples and shopping. We'd even meet up with close friends to have lunch and hang out.

Anywho, here it is.

Organic carrots, loose-3
Organic bok choy
2 bunches bananas
A box of organic clementines
Organic celery-1 bunch
5 organic red potatoes
1 bunch organic radish
10 organic red apples
5 organic green apples
Organic whole wheat tortillas (Whole Foods brand)
Organic banana chips
2 lbs. organic popcorn kernels
4 lbs. organic brown rice
A mozzarella vegan cheese*
Silk Soy plain soy milk
2 Silk Soy vanilla soy milk
A Mango Synergy Kombucha
2 Strawberry Synergy Kombuchas
3 Organic extra firm tofu (Whole Foods brand)
6 bags Whole Foods frozen edamame (shelled and unshelled)
A bag of organic frozen spinach leaves
A bag of super sweet organic corn (My oldest is currently using it as an icepack)
A box of Amy's California veggie burgers
2 cans organic black beans
2 can organic kidney beans
2 cans organic pinto beans
1 large organic Tamari wheat free soy sauce
A big bag of shelled peanuts
1 bag pita chips, sea salt
A jar of organic extra virgin coconut oil
1 water

The total bill was $118.86. We'll probably spend another $20 this week for fruit and a few other things. Not bad for mostly organic. The most expensive was the coconut oil and the packaged foods like the veggie burgers. Everything else was cheap. We have enough rice and soy milk, coconut oil, popcorn, etc. for 2 weeks, so we won't need those next week! It'll be something else though!

*The mozzarella vegan cheese. OK, I don't like it, but my daughter was so happy to have home made pizza today (tortilla with marinara sauce and cheese). I don't think it's worth it, but for her I will probably get it once in a while. It didn't melt well, but she didn't seem to mind!

I want to learn how to cook for from scratch and start growing some things in a little kitchen garden. This should save us money and we'll know exactly what we are eating!

Happy Shopping!

Modesty

There is nothing modest about this post! Here are pictures of where I am measuring. This is to give you an idea of how to do it yourself. Let's start with the in your face, all out fatty pics. Here's my waist measurement. Your waist is not at your belly button, but where your torso indents, like here.

It may seem odd to do a neck measurement, but your neck really does shrink when you lose weight! You'll see.

I didn't want to lift my pants for this pic b/c I didn't want all of you to see my lumpy thighs, but Brandon insisted. Thanks a lot sweetheart!

You were hoping my pants would be off for this one, weren't you? Sorry to disappoint!

I added my before measurements and pictures on the posts below for you to check out!

To tell you the truth, I can not believe I am posting this. Awful. I just tell myself that it'll be awesome when I can put them next to the pics of my new hot body!

The stretch marks are a bonus, and I think the Huggies in the background add a nice touch, don't you?

Organic

Yes, I believe in Organic Foods! I think they are the way to go. We all know with all the literature out there now that conventional foods are laden with pesticides and are genetically modified. I need to get a recommended list of books up and going. I hate citing research and crap. I leave that up to the husband. Maybe I can get him to do a few posts this weekend. Anyways, I don't worry about fruits with peels as much like bananas and avocados, but I don't compromise on fruits like apples!

Oh and by the way just b/c something is organic, especially certified USDA (the government just has to be involved) does not mean it is healthy for you or that the farmers are not getting away with using some bad crap. Read between the lines here. Just because they have to tell what they are doing, doesn't mean you might like what they are using! Try finding local farms that may not be certified but are practicing at an even higher ethical level than the certified farms. Read here under Costs...many small farms can't afford it or they don't want to be regulated. Good lick...I found these farms in Texas, but not in AZ! I guess the best way would be to grown your own, huh? We want to do this so bad! We hope to take on this adventure soon.

By the way:

I am not going to keep writing organic in front of everything I eat that is organic! You get the point. I'll put an "o." in front of something that is organic.

I Am What I Eat:

• Breakfast was a small o. banana, an o. red delicious apple and an o. orange.
  
• Sipping on Decaf Kombucha Green Tea-homemade and iced.

• Snacked on air-popped popcorn w/olive oil and sea salt

• Lunch was yummy home made tofu, veggie fried rice (in olive oil) with garlic and ginger. I had 2 bowls! I was very hungry apparently. I like this dish b/c I had fat, grains, protein from tofu and a few servings of veggies!

• Cherry Larabar

• Tonight is more of a snacking night just b/c I couldn't make it to the store. I've had a handful of Trader Joe's Veggie and Flax tortilla chips, a few bites of the kids pb&j (o. pb and o. jelly on sprouted bread), a glass of chocolate soy milk (first time I've had it and it'd delicious...by VitaSoy) and I think I'm going to make some edamame beans with sea salt!

Did I Exercise Today?

Nope. It was raining all day and seeing as I have no car, the only thing I can do is walk outside. That's ok though, I was sore last night from my walk (pelvis and whatnot).

Overall and Tomorrow's Goals

I did great today. I ate when I was hungry and all great for me foods. I think I'll reward myself with a nice hot bath (with no kids) and read a book! Now that's yummy!

Tomorrow I need to do a little shopping to make sure I have good food in the house. Also, I want to take the kids and go on a walk with Brandon. That'll be fun! I also want to go to the Library and get some Vegan cookbooks. I might get bored of rice for every meal!

A Vegan Mind...An Awakening

I feel like a new person today. I ate great yesterday. Not just that though. My thinking is changing even more. All of the changes I have made with food in the past are not comparable with the new level I am taking myself and my family to. I would not have been able to just "go vegan" a few years ago. I needed those baby steps that turned into us being "food freaks" according to friends, families and acquaintances. Now that I am already familiar with and ok with not eating a lot of foods, I am taking it further. I am opening my eyes for the first time (again). Kind of like Neo in the Matrix. The plug has been pulled from my brain and the mask taken off my eyes. I am not going to preach about animal cruelty and what meat/dairy does to your body. That I will save for a specific post. I just want to get across that it is so freeing to stop letting others influence you, to admit that you have been lied to and to stop believing those lies. Is this making any sense? Maybe it will spark an interest to learn more for some of you or maybe you aren't ready yet. Whatever the case, keep making those small changes and don't quit, b/c they will lead to a huge step and then even a leap of faith!

What did I eat today? Well last night I went to the store to get some fresh produce and rice and a few other things. While I was there I took my time looking through what I call the "tofu section" of Whole Foods. I wanted to see what products were available and if they were vegetarian or truly vegan. It was nice to take the time as I only had the baby with me. Anyways, I got our normal organic tofu (the Whole Foods Brandon) and decided to finally try tempeh. I have no idea what I'm doing, but isn't that the fun in it? I also did give into some Vegan chocolate chip cookies. I don't want to stock up on and indulge in what I have seen referred to as "vegan junk food", but I think it will be nice to have one little treat in the house at a time.

I am what I eat:

• An organic banana and an organic orange (foods with peels I'm not as concerned about organic if I can't afford them, but they were priced well last night)

• About 45 minutes later I was still hungry so I ate 2 slices of Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin bread with organic roasted (won't get roasted again, but I'm going to use it up) peanut butter.

• I drank a lot of water this morning. I need to drink a lot in the AM, b/c I love to sip on iced teas and Kombucha. I will tend to do that and have no water. Not good.

• Decaf Green Tea

• Lunch was an Amy's California Veggieburger cut up and dipped in organic ketchup and mustard. Organic edamame beans tossed in sea salt and cayenne pepper.
  

• A small bowl of air popped popcorn with a little organic extra virgin coconut oil and sea salt on top!

• 4 vegan chocolate cookies. Hey, they were freakin' good and the kids loved them too!

• An organic red delicious apple and a handful of organic baby carrots, water

• Dinner was simple pasta. An organic pasta sauce with added basil, oregano and sea salt. Served on white pasta. I know, I know. We are using it up before we buy the good stuff.

• Uugghhh...I got the munchies. So, I indulged in a (large) handful of organic Winne the Pooh cookies from Costco and dipped them in organic vanilla rice milk then ate some more air popped popcorn with 2 tbsp. of olive oil and sea salt

• Kombucha

Did I Exercise Today?

Yep. I walked a mile to the park with the babe in a sling and the toddlers in the jogger. Interesting, but I did it! Brandon picked us up b/c it got late.

Overall

I feel great about what I ate today. I can already in 2 days feel the difference w/no meat products. Less bloating and gas and a better mood. Pretty cool

Tomorrow's Goals

Eat a better balanced dinner and afterwards have some green tea or Kombucha, then brush teeth. This should keep me from munching away on calories and food I do not need!
Also, take 5-10 minutes to myself to meditate.

Keeping Track

I can't stand keeping track of weight loss. It sucks! Actually, it goes against my advice. Really. I don't think people should weigh. If you feel you must keep track, then measuring inches is better. I prefer looking in the mirror. Call me old fashioned, but when I was losing weight before, I threw my scale in the trash. Honestly! I was working so hard and at the end of one week I got on the scale and gained 2 pounds. Are you freakin' kidding me? It just isn't accurate for week to week keeping track. However, since you are following this blog to find out my weight loss, I am going to weigh every 2 weeks for now. I will measure weekly.

Beginning weight as of November 28th, 2007 is 235 pounds.

I will be weighing on my grandparents scale (like I said I don't own one). They have one of those scales like you see in gyms or Dr. offices where you move the bar over and you have to keep going and going. So embarrassing!

Beginning Measurements are as follows: (added Saturday November 30th)
Neck: 13.25 inches
Left Arm: 12.75 inches
Right Arm: just under 13 inches
Bust: 43 inches
Waist: 36.5 inches
Abdomen: 48 inches
Hips: 51.5 inches
Left Thigh: 27 inches
Right Thigh: 27 inches
Left Calf: 16 inches
Right Calf: 16 inches

Total Inches: 304!!!!!

That should cover it. Uuugghhhh!

Before Pictures

Here they are!!!!!!!!!!

OK, these pics are not great. I still look pregnant, but that's fine, b/c I know they will be great to compare to when I'm a hottie! I didn't do the ones in a bikini or anything like that. My goodness, I had to spare you. I promise though, under those clothes is a big tummy, a huge spare tire, flabbiness and a whole lot of clumpy fat! It's all good. Like I said I am inspired. Are you?

Skinny Bitch

Yes, that is the title of this post b/c it is inspired by the title of the book. It gets your attention, huh? That was probably what Rory Freedman and Kim Bornouin had in mind when they set out to write this book. I am about 2/3 of the way through it and it's awesome. Most of the stuff I already knew and was applying when I lost weight before. The only difference is they promote vegetarianism, specifically vegans. Well, I'm not telling you to drop all meat and dairy products, but for me this is not as crazy as a step. I only like eating raw milk and cheese and I don't eat a lot of meat anyways. When I was eating them, it was from local farms, etc. So, after reading this book, I'm taking the next step. My first thought is ,"oh this is gonna suck". That's not instinct, but 28 years of being taught by family, society and the oh so crafty advertising of the multi-billion dollar meat and dairy industries that this is ok and just how it is. My next thought is then, "NO, this is awesome and empowering! I am going to get back to only eating healthy, clean foods for my body." That rocks!

So, new Goals to add to my other goals.
No meat or diary, but a healthy vegan diet consisting of a lot of H2O, Kombucha, decaf green tea (brewed at home), organic fruits, veggies, lentils, grains and of course non-GMO soy! I will lose this 85 pounds and feel on top of the world.

What's great about this book is they break down products they know don't have any hidden crappy ingredients. Check out these awesome ladies here for more info on their book. I just have to give them a huge shout out (that sounds so old school) b/c they give info in such an "in your face" way that will have people reading info they may not have sought out before!

Thanks Ladies!
Your Fellow (soon to be Skinny) Bitch,
January

Goals

This was a picture of me at 204 pounds and man am I inspired! Here are my personal goals. Hey, you have to have something to work towards. Otherwise, where the heck are you going?

Exercise:
Walk 2-5 miles, 6 days per week

Food:
Eat as much organic and natural foods as possible. Always ask myself, "Is this good for my body/health?"

Weight:
Right now I am 235 pounds. I am 5'7" by the way. Sucky.
Anyways, my goal is to be 150 pounds. That's right... 85 pounds of fat I am going to get off my body! That's my first goal. Hey, I thought I was a hot mama at 204 pounds and a size 16. Sizzling!

I'm getting excited now. See, making goals is awesome!

Exercise...The Love/Hate Relationship

It has to be done! Period, no way around it. There are so many benefits as many of us know...higher seratonin levels for a happier you, good for your heart and gets that fat off your ass. So, my chosen method of shedding fat is walking. I like being outside instead of a gym and I can do it with the kids. This is how I lost the 60 lbs before getting preggo with my last baby. I invested in a double jogger and went to town. Now that I have 3, I am wearing the little one in a wrap...hey an extra 10 lbs will only help, right?

I live within a mile of a great park. So, that is where I'll be walking. A mile there and a mile back. However, right now I am still sore since birth (that's right STILL sore!), so when I walk there (I started this 2 weeks ago to try it out), I am sore for 3 days. For now, my goal is going to be to walk there, let the kids play at the park for a few hours, and walk home. For you stay at home moms or dads, this is perfect b/c the kids run around, get all their energy out and konk out on the way home. Sweet! I am going to build up to 6 days a week and walking another mile around the lake at the park. So it will be at least 2 miles, play at park and a mile home.

This is my account of my first walk 2 weeks ago:

The First Time Hurts!

Ok, so today was my first walk. Yes, I actually put on my tennis, loaded 2 kids in the jogger and put the baby in a sling. It is interesting what it takes to go from thinking about doing something to actually doing it. Nike has it right when they patented the slogan “Just Do It”, because that truly is the only way. I just decided to do it. I started in motion almost like a robot. Ok, I need snacks…check! Water…check! Tires filled up on the jogger…check! Shoes for us all…check, check, check! Kids in the jogger…check! Oh, the baby…in the sling…check! That’s right I need my keys and phone, oh an diapers and wipes…check. Ok, we are off and headed off down the sidewalk. Oh crap, my I-pod, b/c this will be the ONLY time to listen to my personal development…let’s turn around…while we’re at it find the sunglasses too…check, check! Now we are really on an adventure. This should all count as a mile’s worth of work. Anyways, down the road we go and the baby starts fussing. What else can I do but pull out the left boob and shove it in her mouth. Well, the baby’s now happy to continue walking. Oh my goodness at this point I am cracking up, thinking I’m nuts and proud of myself all at the same time. What else could do all those things? I walked about a mile to a local park. The kids played for about 90 minutes and I relaxed with the babe. We ate healthy snacks…apples, oranges, etc. This feels good. I’ve done it. Then Brandon picked us up and drove us home. LOL! Hey, I had to meet a maintenance man at the house and there was no way were going to get all loaded up and back home in time. Not to mention I am sore. I did just have a baby 5 weeks ago! The first time is done, it doesn’t hurt so much the 2nd and 3rd time and then it starts to get enjoyable and I’ll look forward to the fix! Wink!

What The Heck Am I Eating?

Geez. Ok, I'm going to give a rundown of what I am and am not eating. I mean let's get to the point, right? This is not a "diet", but it really is a lifestyle change. Does that sound cliche? It seems a lot of people are now saying that. It's true though. When you are someone who overeats or eats crap b/c you can't deal w/well, your crap, you can NOT diet! You really do have to make little changes for a lifetime. Diets come and go, but when you get obsessed with only wanting clean food in your body so you can be healthy, that's when weight will come off and stay off!

Things I am eating right now:
As much organic as possible
Fresh fruits and veggies (veggies is always the hardest for me)
Little meat and when I do eat it, I know where it came from and it better have been a happy cow or chicken!
Rice...ok, I LOVE white rice, but I'm going to do the switch to brown. I guess stripped rice isn't going to do me any good.
Beans
Other whole wheat grains like couscous
Food For Life sprouted bread products
Peanut and Almond Butters (not roasted, nothing roasted actually)
Homemade Hummus (the pictures above)
Olive oil
Coconut Oil
Spices of course
The occasional treat...and I make it count. Get the best of whatever it is you are craving or want!

To Drink?
Raw Kombucha
Decaf Green Tea or other homemade herbal organic decaf teas
H20
Maybe the occasional homemade juice or one from the store
That's it. No other "juices" or sodas. They are evil...diet or not!

What I'm cutting out:
Sugar...damn that sucks
White Foods
Anything that would have any of the following in it: artificial or natural flavors, colorings, msg in any hidden form including yeast extract, aspartame, ok you get the point.
Very little eating out and when I do it has to be at a place that I know what is in the food!
Really, that sums it up

Examples of meals:
Breakfast is fruit. A fruit smoothie or raw fruit. That is the best way for me to start the day. Healthy and easily digested.

For a midmorning snack maybe a Food for Life english muffin with peanut butter?

Lunch will be something probably with rice, b/c I just love rice right now. Yummy. Maybe plain with just soy sauce? Or how about some tuna salad with good whole wheat crackers. That's good too! If you like salad, then a big salad would be good w/and Aunt Annie's salad dressing and veggies! (but I just haven't been in the mood lately).

Afternoon snack around here would be fruit or air popped organic popcorn with olive oil and salt. The kids and I love it!

Dinners might be like tonight. I had rice and black beans with 2 sunny side eggs on top, or chili, pasta, fried rice, homemade soup, sliced tofu "fried" up in olive oil and served w/rice. This is where I try to get my veggies.

Throughout the day I'll sip on one of the drinks I mentioned above!

You get the point, right? Now let's see how I do cutting out that sugar I gave into way too much with those severe pregnancy cravings!

So Here's the Deal

I am getting skinny and you get to watch me do it. That's the gist of it. The whole story is this: I weighed 295 when I became pregnant with my first child, 265 when I conceived my second child and then worked my butt of (literally) to be 204 when I found out I was pregnant with my third who is now only 7 weeks old. I was gonna go into detail on how I lost the weight then, but it dawned on me this morning that's not why you'll come here. That's over and done with. I am now 235 lbs and why I lost 95 lbs in the past, that means diddly squat now. What matters now is watching me do it AGAIN!

I have so many before and after pictures from different times, what matters is my before picture now. So, that's what I'm posting...a picture of me at 235 lbs and 7 weeks postpartum. I'll post other pics later from previous times for fun.

So, here it is. The skinny on January. You get to see me transform into a skinny chick! I'll post what I'm eating, what I'm not, my thoughts and emotions through it all. I'll also post about my exercising and info on health and nutrition in general. I hope to get my husband to post some articles as well. He is a wealth of info when it comes to health, not to mention a damn machine. He can just eat for fuel and exercise, while always sticking to it, but that's another post in itself!

So, sit back, watch me get skinny and join me if you dare!