January Numbers & Deep Thoughts

I started this post originally with a negative tone.

I didn't lose any weight this week.

I read it a few times and deleted it.  It insinuates that I'm unhappy with my weigh in today.  Did I love seeing the same exact number as last week?  No, but it didn't depress me as it normally would.

Could it be I'm getting over my obsession with the scale?  An interesting thought, but not sure I can answer that since I'm sure, in an obsessive fit, I'll weight myself again.  Tomorrow.

It's the end of the month though and that means I take measurements too.  In my rational mind (not the one I always use!), I know inches are more important.  After all, muscle weighs more than fat.  I had already decided I would be lucky if I lost an inch this month when I got out my trusty measuring tape.

To my complete delight, I lost a total of 2.5 inches and 2.5 lbs this month!  One inch was from my "upper" belly alone!

I feel great this morning.  I was stagnant for so long that these 2.5 inches mean a lot to me.  It's incredible motivation to keep going in the right direction and not give up.

My wish is for every person struggling with their weight is to not give up.  It's so easy to get discouraged, I know.

It's What's on the Inside that Matters

I was at a baby shower yesterday.  It was hell- only because I had almost NO food choices.  I ate fruit, scallops (I peeled the bacon off), and meatballs.  I actually stopped eating the meatballs after two because I highly doubt they were prepared without BBQ sauce.  Temptation was everywhere- pasta salad, deviled eggs, thanksgiving rolls, tomato pie, and don't even ask me about the dessert table.  I'm pretty sure a tear rolled down my cheek when they cut the cake.

Oh and there was a keg and a wine bar.  

Anyway, I saw family members I haven't seen in awhile, which is nice but I had the same conversation with a few of them.  How much have I lost now?  How did I do it?

I get the feeling they mostly want me to say "I woke up one day, decided not to be unhealthy anymore, and now I'm not."

Ok, maybe not those words exactly, but they want to hear I took a pill or some other quick fix to lose 80 lbs.  I wish!

It's nice to hear from others how good I look (although it really makes me think I looked like complete CRAP before).   I always make a point thought to share the HEALTH affects of losing the weigh.  I no longer have high cholesterol and don't need medication for it.  My blood pressure is awesome.  For someone who's had TWO high risk pregnancies because of it, that's a relief.  My triglycerides are in the ideal range and I'm not pre-diabetic anymore.  

If I hadn't made the choice to not be unhealthy anymore, I don't know what I'd be dealing with now.  The outside benefits are nice too; I know my husband appreciates them too!   I'm just thankful I'm being proactive about my health and reactive.  

Whole30 Challenge Day 9

I am nine days into the Whole30 Challenge.  It's a paleo based challenge created by a company called Whole9, who've created a community focused on real food and healthy habits.

Basically it means I can't eat any sugar, grains, legumes, or processed food.

If you had asked me 10 days ago if I could do this, I would have said "Hell NO!!!"  The first few days were really hard and I kept dragging my feet before I would commit to doing it.  It takes a lot of will and preparation.  With two little kids and a full time job, when was I going to dedicate the time needed for prep?

I managed to find it and it hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be.

So what am I eating?

My main staples are sweet potatoes, lean meat (chicken and turkey- sometimes ground, sometimes not), fish like tilapia and salmon, veggies like asparagus, squash, carrots, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, and kale.  I'm snacking on almonds, cashews, pistachios, almond butter and fruits like apples, clementines, strawberries, and raspberries.  I've occasionally pineapple and bananas.

Here are some of the recipes I've made so far.  I'm not the best cook, but these have all been good.  My husband is even some of them!  I spend the afternoons on Saturdays or Sundays cooking for the week ahead.

• Coconut Chicken Soup
• Paleo Pumpkin Chili
• Zucchini Cakes
• Sagey Spiced Butternut Squash
• Steak and Veggies

I also have quicker meals of just fish or chicken and veggies in coconut aminos  sauteed in a pan.  I can make that quickly at night while preparing dinner for the kids.  I will add a salad of mixed greens, cucumbers, carrots, and guacamole or avocado. No dressing, but I might sprinkle some olive oil if it is ever too dry.  The guac/avocado usually is enough for me though.

I feel amazing!  I'm full at night now and don't have the hunger pains I would usually get around 9-10 pm EVERY.SINGLE. NIGHT.  I wake up in the morning and don't feel tired, which is great because I wake up around 5:15 AM almost every morning.

I can make the kids' breakfast and not graze on their leftovers- like pop tarts, toaster strudels, or Greek yogurt and granola.  I don't pick at their peanut butter sandwiches or pirate's booty or crackers when cleaning up lunch.  No more sneaking bites of pizza when putting dinner on the table.  Even Tim has noticed I'm not picking at dinner as we clean up!

You're not supposed to weigh yourself on this challenge, but I'm not that self disciplined!  I'm done two lbs so far in nine days!  I measure myself at the end of each month and I'm actually excited to do it this week!  Wednesdays are my weigh in day, so stay tuned for an update!

Squash

My newest food obsession is squash.  Yellow, zucchini, butternut, and spaghetti.  I'm slowly educating myself on all the different kinds and how you can cook them.  Since I'm trying the Whole30 Challenge, I have been scouring the internet for quick, easy recipes.  I'm learning that the words "quick" and "easy" don't exist in the Whole30 world.  Sigh.

I spent a lot of time this weekend cooking. I enjoy cooking, surprisingly enough,  but spending my weekend days in the kitchen takes me away from the kids. My time with them is so limited since I work full time, so I have a hard time not being with them as much as I can on the weekends.  A bit strange, I know, since we're in the same house, but I want to be engaging with them, making them smile, hearing them laugh.  I'm getting off track here- sorry!

I carved out some time today to make a few recipes using the squash I bought over the weekend.  I did major grocery shopping for this healthy eating challenge.  It actually took me three trips to get what I needed for the recipes I saved.

They were pretty easy, prep time was not very long, and from what I sampled, they tasted pretty good.  My new favorite web site Chow Stalker has a lot of recipes and I found some easier ones for my squash.  I cooked up a storm and my fridge is now packed full!

I'm really excited for this one

  Spaghetti Squash with Garlic and Parsley

And this one:

Turkey Spaghetti Squash

Still Stings

I'm not obsessed with working out, I'm serious about my health.  If people knew the genetics I've inherited, they'd understand.  Diabetes, heart attacks, strokes- not fun stuff!   I don't want to put my family through the emotional turmoil nor do I want to go through it myself.

It's sad that people can be negative towards someone trying to get and stay healthy. It's even worse that I let it bug me (still).  People ask me a lot about my weight loss and I'm always glad to share my experience, but I've gotten to the point that I'm wary of how much or what I share.  Weight and health are sensitive subjects and I never know how people will interpret my story.  I've encountered a few people who get negative and even a little nasty.  They imply that I'm crazy for getting up around 5 AM to work out or that I don't give enough attention to my kids because I "exercise all the time."  That's just not fair and I don't normally let it bother me.  I know that response is usually based in an unhappiness with themselves, it just still bothers me and is just unnecessary.

I've been bad about posting the last few days, but I've started the Whole30 Challenge.  I have lots to post on that!  Coming soon!

Mental

Prayers For Reesey

I found another mom's blog recently via FB.  She has four adorable redheads six years of age and under.  They are some of the cutest little girls I've ever seen with pretty red hair and gorgeous blue eyes.

The third little girl, Reese, was diagnosed with a brain tumor on Halloween 2012.

I spent a few hours one night a few weeks ago reading their story and it is sweet, funny, humbling, inspiring, and heart wrenching.  After reading her last entry last night, I now want to fly to Dallas and hug this amazing  little girl.  (Warning:  the blog will tug at your heart strings.  It make make you cry, but it is worth it!)

I wanted to share it here on my blog as they face another MRI next week to check the status of her tumors.  Please send out prayers, thoughts, vibes- whatever it is you do- to this family as they face this next step.

http://www.thisyearslovewilllast.com/