Day 512

I learned something this week, it's something that I have always known, but this past weekend I really learned it. Health does not take a back seat to appearance. Lately I have received a lot of comments about how well I've done, how I must be so happy, and when I think about it, I really am proud of myself. However, I am not done, I still have my goals in mind, and I have not reached them yet. Although I am proud of myself for how far I have come physically, I am more proud of my progress mentally.

I just finished reading back through the few posts I have on here, and even though there aren't a lot of them, each of them are better than the last. This doesn't mean I never had set-backs, or never struggled, believe me when I say there has been no cake along this walk, and I'm still truckin' along.

You know those posts on Pinterest and other sites that say, "Don't put off starting because of how long it will take you, the time will pass anyway?" Let me tell you how true this is. Look at the title of this post, 1 year 4 months, 24 days. I have been working extremely hard to live as healthy as possible for almost 17 months now, and I still have a ways to go, but if I would have thrown up my hands and given up  before starting, simply because it was going to take too long, it would not have stopped me from reaching November 24, 2013, but it would have stopped me reaching it in the health I am in now.

Here is the lesson to take away from this: every little change, no matter how small will make you healthier tomorrow than you were today, and those little changes will add up to a better you in the future. Do not compare yourself to the people around you, or even to who you want to become. Compare yourself to the person you were yesterday, and compete with that person to make yourself just a little bit healthier.

Alright, Thanksgiving is coming up. Your friend this time of year is going to be Quinoa. Trust me. Quinoa is actually a seed, although it is labeled a lot of times as a grain. The difference is extremely subtle, but the point is it doesn't turn to pure sugar in your body. Also, it's packed full of protein, so it keeps you nice and full, and it absorbs surrounding flavors. I have a breakfast quinoa recipe below, and quinoa when mixed with veggies and sugar/yeast free broth also makes a great stuffing substitute. :)

Magical Quinoa Breakfast:

Ingredients:
1/4 c quinoa
1 tsp cinnamon (I love cinnamon, so I double this for my own)
1/2 tsp stevia
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk

Bring 1/4 cup quinoa to a boil,  lower heat and let summer for about 15 minutes, or until the small spirals start to detach from body of the seed.
Drain well.
Stir in cinnamon and stevia, add milk, and enjoy as a warm breakfast cereal!
I also love to add boiled Granny Smith apples to the mix when I have a little more time.

Happy health!

Day 486

I cannot believe I'm still going! I'm doing things I never thought I would.

I'm getting closer and closer to my goal, and now I have homework for anyone who comes across this blog, even if you are not trying to lose weight, this homework is about quality of life.

A dream list. I want everyone to make a list of things that they want to do. In my case, I am making a list of things that I have always wanted or wanted to accomplish, that I have not been able to do because of my weight. It doesn't matter why you are making the list, but make it. Realize your dreams, your needs and desires, and focus on complete health - this means mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. If you focus on a healthy life balance, then you can accomplish anything.

Now, here is something fun: first is the five minute pre-shower workout. Ready for this?

50 Jumping Jacks

20 Push-Ups

20 Squats

20 Crunches 

40 Bicycle Kicks (20 per leg)

30 Second Plank

Finish all of these, then choose one of the reps to repeat every day, and choose a different rep everyday. For example, complete the whole workout, then repeat the Jumping Jacks on the first day, second day do it all, then repeat the push-ups, and etc. Once you have cycled through repeating all of them once, take a day of rest.

Oh oh oh! I have a recipe for you too. Easiest thing ever, and super healthy. Now, normally I would say buy all organic produce for this recipe, but sometimes you just can't, so that's okay. As simple as it gets, this is a crockpot recipe!

I use frozen vegetables when I'm in a pinch, but fresh is always better.

All of this can be portioned to your taste, however I find these measurements fill a pot pretty well.
1/2 c green beans
1/2 c broccoli
1/2 c carrot slices
1/2 c cauliflower
1/2 c cabbage finely chopped
1 small sweet onion finely chopped
1 small green pepper finely chopped
3/4 c small peach squares (or mango if you prefer)
1 c thinly sliced skinless/boneless chicken breast
1 tbsp powdered garlic
1 tbsp basil
1 tbsp oregano
1 tbsp sage
Increase or decrease portions according to the size of your crockpot, and your personal taste.
Once all of this is combined, fill with water, and let simmer for approximately 6 - 8 hours.

Also, remember your fiber! Sweet Potatoes are an amazing thing to work with, my favorite way to prepare them is baking. Wrap them up in tin foil, and place them in the oven on 350 degrees for about two hours. The trick to this is - make sure to put an oven safe container filled with water in with the potatoes to keep the oven humid,  otherwise your sweet potatoes will be kind of dry. Now, everything in moderation, sweet potatoes are good, and they have great health benefits, but that does not mean go crazy and eat them everyday, because they are still starchy. The best thing is to treat yourself once a week or so, throw in a little cinnamon and you have a nice desert!

One step farther into a healthier way of living.

**Note: Peaches, Mangos, and Sweet Potatoes are not a part of the Phase One Anti Fungal diet. I use these as a blue moon treat.**

Day 369

Alright then.

One year.

I have officially been going for one year.  People ask me how long I'm going to do this, and that is what this post is going to be about (along with another meal idea and activity).

It seems very strange to me that I would be asked how long I'm going to continue. Just so everyone is on my page, I plan to live my lifestyle for the rest of my life (notice how I called it my "life"style? Yeah I did, as in for LIFE).

It may seem difficult, but once you get used to everything, it becomes second nature. I try to think about how my body is built, what makes it work, and work well. My favorite word I have used to describe my lifestyle is purity. Let me explain why, then I promise I will get over my babbling and get to the interesting stuff. Although the nice thing about reading things like this instead of talking in person is that I won't know if you are rude and interrupt me by stopping right here and scrolling down to the end.

Now then:

Purity -

1. the condition or quality of being pure; freedom from anything that contaminates, pollutes, etc.

2. freedom from any admixture or modifying addition.

3. cleanness.

4. freedom from guilt or evil; innocence. 

There you go, a free vocabulary lesson.

Food - energy intake, meant to be ingested in order to correct/enhance/sustain our bodies. Food is meant to treat problem areas, to give us the energy and nourishment we need to survive.

Exercise - energy output. Our bodies were made to work, made to be used, the problem is now that we have advanced enough in our society, we have not needed to work our bodies in order to survive. However, if you don't use something for a while, then it will stop working. Same with our bodies.

Drink - You hear all the time that we are mostly made up of water, and therefore need to drink a lot of it. Just think about that one for a moment, if your body is in need of something (hydration), and instead you put in sugary drinks, then your body not only has to fight the dehydration, but also process the junk you put into it. If you just replaced all of the drinks with water, that would be a major step toward a healthy body. Purity.

Sleep - Completely overlooked by most people. Our bodies need rest, if we don't give it the right kind or enough of it, we will wear down. Think about the type of sleep you get, is it pure, deep sleep? Is it enough sleep? It may seem pretty low on the priority list, but it needs to move up.

In summary, think about the purity of what you are doing, eating, drinking. Think about what your body needs.

Okay, fun stuff:

First of all, rock climbing is one of my new favorite sports. Such a great work-out and extremely fun. You won't even realize how much you did until you wake up sore the next day.

Now for the meal. I don't remember if I have posted about my green beans yet, but let me tell you about this amazing side dish. I simply take fresh green beans, cook them on the stove in a little bit of water. Let them brown just a tad, then add coconut oil to taste. Super healthy, and delicious. I need to post another main dish recipe... I think I'll experiment this weekend. Maybe a hamburger and vegetable casserole.

Hmm...

One of my clients just brought me a treat from a bakery... I put it in the fridge, and have spent the last 10 minutes staring at it. The one good thing about treats like that? They are too pretty to eat. Therefore I can just wait until my husband comes home, have a lick, and give the rest to him!

Husbands are so useful.

Day 341 - WOW 7K

Day 341. I've been stranded on this island for almost a year.

It has not been an easy journey, but it has been worth every tear, every drop of sweat, it has been worth it, and I proved that to myself this past Saturday.

On Saturday, June 1, 2013, I ran a 7k race for women's cancer. 295 people, and I was within the top 20. I ran the entire distance without stopping, and all with an injured knee. As I came around the last corner of the race, my husband stood there with a bright smile, cheering me on as I crossed the finish line. I wasn't listening to him, I wasn't listening to any of the cheers. All I was listening to was myself as I was saying over and over, "you can do this."

It was long - I never stopped
It was hot - I kept going
It was hard, but I am strong.

To all the people of the world who don't believe they have the strength or willpower to change their lives - yes, you do.

To all the women we ran for, all the women with this life altering disease - you are some of the strongest women I know. Never forget, you are strong.

With all my prayers and admiration.

Day 312

Alright. Found another amazing recipe. You need this to live:

Grill up (in aluminum foil), or pan fry (in water) salmon with some lime and cilantro.

Now for the good part, grab 1 mango and 2 avocados, purée them together with about a tsp. of lemon juice (or to taste). 

Throw that on top of your fish, and you have a delicious healthy meal. 

One of the easiest recipes I have made, and so tasty you might just cry. 


Side note: Mango is not technically supposed to be apart of this lifestyle, however, once you have cleaned out your system, there really is no harm in having a little extra fruit here and there.

Day 298

Alrighty, 298 days later. I can't believe it has been this long and I am still going. Wow.

Usually when I start a blog post, I want to be sarcastic and throw in a few random funny remarks, but this time is different. My life has changed so much, and all for the better. Drastically. I think that is the only word for it.

It's not just that I'm having to fit in more workouts, or that I'm having to worry about what foods I'm going to consume. No, that's not what I mean by change. What I mean is a mental change for what my lifestyle should be. 298 days, not even a year later, and I look at exercise differently, I look at food differently, I look at LIVING differently. Last year, I had to force myself off of the couch to go on short walks, even when my husband wanted to go. I would seriously sit there, and inside my brain I would be crying. I also had this skewed perception of food. I viewed food as an activity, something fun, something comforting, something even exciting at times. Now, don't get me wrong, I still love eating, but it's not that I'm eating because I want something to do, or because I'm sad. I eat because I need to fuel my body, I need to feed it the vitamins and minerals, protein and healthy fat, that will keep me energized, keep me feeling good on the inside, so I can be truly happy on the outside. I'm not doing this diet or exercising because I have to anymore, not even because I want to. I get up everyday and I take my vitamins, I eat a decent breakfast  (I used to hate the idea of consuming food in the mornings), I do a few crunches or push-ups, I go through my day and I workout in the evenings. I do this because it is now just my life. It's not even something I think about. I do it because I cannot imagine not doing it. I count my calories to make sure I get around the right amount, but it's not just about how many, it's about what kind. I feel like my eyes have been opened. I feel happy, truly happy, maybe not all the time, but when I think about how far I've come... It almost brings me to tears. As mooshy gooshy and slightly pathetic as that sounds.

I ran six miles two days ago without stopping, then I biked another six in the same day. I signed up to run a 7K in June. ME! A 7K! I just never dreamed...

Alright, enough with my pitiful display. On to other news, summer is upon us. This means swimming season, ick. Also means it's time to break out the 100 spf sunblock, or there is always the option of looking like a stop sign (little bit of white and a lot of red).

BTW (apparently I'm a giggling teenage girl cuz I can spel good), if you have happened upon this silly little blog of mine, or if you actually came here by choice, I would like for you to take up a challenge for me. Here it is: think of and start a healthy habit this summer, doesn't have to be anything big. Could be deciding to drink an extra glass of water a day, or to take your vitamins, or to work out a little more each week. Whatever it is, do it whole heatedly until you can no longer imagine not doing it.

Continuing on

Hello fellow health lovers,

It's been a while since I've been able to post, however I am still going strong on this interesting game of life alteration.

In the last month I have made two new additions to my life. The first, and the most painful, was a kickboxing class. Although the instructor of this class is bent on making every movement as painful as possible, I have never realized the sheer joy of beating the snot out of inanimate objects (a.k.a. the kickboxing bag).

Now the second thing is what I would like to focus on: Juicing. The odds are that if you have randomly (or not) found your way to this small, inconsequential blog about a lifestyle that is not very well known, you have at least heard about the juicing craze that is starting to make it's way around the health conscious circles. Juicing, in it's simplest form, is when you take fruits, vegetables, roots, and herbs, and send them through a juice extractor. The extractor then chews the food to a pulp (no pun intended, it just happened all on it's own), and sends the fresh, delicious, juice to a nice little container that makes for easy drinking (Okay, complete bunny trail, I'm watching Shaun the Sheep which is an Irish claymation, and they totally just used a segment of a song from Disney's version of Sleeping Beauty...). Anyway, long story made short, last week I purchased a juice extractor off of Amazon, and have been using it almost everyday. You would not believe how amazing the juice is, trust me, you have never tasted juice until you have it straight from the juicer.

Alright, just to make my intentions on this post clear, I am not saying that you should go the rout of Joe Cross with his Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead mentality. I do not think that juice is a suitable replacement for solid food. With that being said, I would normally never have a bowl of carrots, cucumbers, and celery in the morning, but with juicing I am able to enjoy ingesting what I normally never would. My body gets an easy-to-digest health boost, and I am more satisfied  throughout the day with the solid food I do eat. I honestly think that for the rushed individual (or family) that may not get the chance to eat the amount of fruits and vegetables that would be considered the necessary amount for a well balanced lifestyle, juicing is the most efficient way to go. So if you get the chance, look into it sometime.

Now, last but not least, I am posting a juicing recipe that I made the other day. A lot of the recipe's I have found thus far have included things that are not supposed to be on my initial phase diet, which means quite a bit of tweaking. So far my favorite has been just plain carrot and celery juice, but for the ones who need a little less of a vegetable flavor the following recipe is pretty good if I do say so myself.

3 large adult carrots
1/2 cucumber
2 granny smith apples (even if your juicer says it fits whole foods, it might be a good idea to cut these down)
7 or 8 strawberries
1 knob ginger root

Enjoy!