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?