The difference a month makes

Thirty days isn't that long as a time but that doesn't mean that big things can't happen. A month ago today I was at the allergist staring at this massive list of things I can't eat. I simply asked the Dr. what I was supposed to eat..he had no idea. Thanks. And so started the venture to eliminated all allergens from my diet. I didn't think I'd changed that much until just now as I looked at how effortlessly I had just gone through my morning. So what changed?

Breakfast then: tea with loads of chemical filled  "non-dairy" (dairy and soy filled) creamer and a bowl of store brand sugar coated cereal with banana and almond milk. Seemed okay at the time and I validated the sugar splurge with telling myself I ate health every other meal.

Breakfast now: tea with almond milk and either oatmeal with fresh fruit and honey or an organic egg on homemade whole-wheat toast (no egg or butter in the recipe, just a little oil) and maybe a few pieces of natural bacon with a tiny bit of brown sugar added for flavor and a few strawberries.


Lunch then: PB&J on store bread full of chemicals, jelly full of sugar and peanut butter with chemicals and more sugar with a small bag of butter filled (chemical) popcorn. I may even have some fast food if we're in town complete with chemical and sugar filled soda!


Lunch now: Organic pasta with fresh homemade spinach pesto and turkey kielbasa (chemical free) and some homemade lemonade. Fast food is no longer allowed!


Dinner then: Homemade spicy potato soup with fat filled cream, store bought salt and chemical soaked ham bits and chemical sprayed potatoes. This went great with chemical ridden dough goop from a can that baked itself into biscuits.

Dinner now: Baked chicken breast coated with Planko or homemade bread crumbs on organic pasta with organic or homemade spaghetti sauce. No garlic bread needed.

Somehow I managed to lose 85 lbs in about two years by eat my "old ways" but honestly I have no idea how looking back on it. All I did was eat chemicals and fake things!! Even when I did my best to eat healthy, it turns out it was still slowly killing me. No wonder I had to work so hard in my workouts to see a result! So now I'm getting ready to get back into working out and can't help but wonder what the results will be.

Chicken and barley stew

 Chicken and barley stew - from clean eating magazine site

INGREDIENTS:

• 32 oz low-fat, low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 tbsp garlic, minced
• 1 tsp garlic sea salt
• 1/2 tbsp thyme
• 1/2 tbsp basil
• 1/2 tbsp cilantro
• 1/4 tbsp dill
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 tbsp fresh ground black pepper
• 12 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed (uncooked)
• 1/2 cup uncooked black-eyed peas, rinsed and picked through
• 1/2 cup barley
• 1 medium sweet onion, cubed
• 20 oz potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 10 oz carrots (3 large), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch slices
• 8 tbsp low-fat sour cream (optional)

More than just a pace

For the past few days I've been getting in touch with fellow runners trying to find a way to improve my performance with the stroller. I've searched endlessly for some magic stride, tip..anything to help me. And then it dawned on me..it doesn't matter. Okay, it matters a little but not in the way I first thought.

I'd like to say that come my first 5K I'll run my goal of a 10 minute mile pushing my son who's 35lbs. Yeah, in a perfect world and with endless hours of training I could likely pull it off. I've realized over the last few days that although I'm still striving for my goal, I've already accomplished something much more valuable.  You see, every morning the littlest love of my life bounces out of bed ready to get himself dressed and strap into the stroller. Not because we're going someplace great but because he loves to sit in the stroller with his juice and a snack as he cheers me on to run faster and go farther. He absolutely loves to run with me!
photo credit

Flip the switch and forget the wall

If you've ever truly pushed yourself to your limits then you know what "the wall" is. It's that point in your workout where your body is just shy of giving in..your muscles get tired, your breathing becomes out of rhythm and you start to talk yourself into giving up..yes, that is "the wall". If you push just a little further past that point then you've flipped the switch (as I like to call it). Suddenly you've forgotten the pain you were in, your whole body becomes warm and you have now become a machine on a mission. Your feet are in step with your breathing and even the music in your ears has become background noise that you're out running. All you see is the finish line and before you know it you've overcome every obstacle you thought you had and are victorious!

Today was one of those nights for me. I was not a mom and wife running to erase a long day, I was a machine striving to become more refined in my skill. I was a runner. I'll be sore in morning and at the moment I smell ripe with sweat but it was worth it..I flipped the switch and ran through "the wall".

Time to give in..just a little Update!

I've had to give up running for the last week. I didn't think it would be this hard but the truth is, I miss it. I miss the peace, the space..the time dedicated to just me. I feel like I've been robbed of that. I had to give up running,walking, and exercise in general thanks to some very sore ankles. So here it is a week later and last night I geared up and tried to run. A five minute walk,a little sore. A 90 second run,not bad but tender. A three minute walk, went well...then came the three minute run..Nope! Here comes the pain..my heart sank. It was time to give in and accept the fact it was time to see the doctor and hope for the blessing to continue with my training..continue working out in general.

Challenging myself to the next step

In order to make the most of my running I need to get in some strength training too. Right now I'm running for half and hour three times a week and it's maintaining my weight but that's not my goal. In order to lose the weight I have to get in at least 5-6 days a week of workouts. So I'm giving myself the challenge of doing strength training through my P90X on the days that I don't run. I tried doing them the same days I ran..nope. Tried doing my 30 Day Shred on my non-run days but all the jumping jacks and such was too much the day after a run. So..this time I'm trying a third option: Mon/Wed/Fri- run  Tues,Thurs./Sat.-strength training Sun: pass out from the weeks' workouts!

It's a lot and I may fail a few times but eventually my body will give in and give me my goal!

From dream to reality

 (I wasn't going to post this til after my 5K but I changed my mind)

This is likely the most emotional post I’ll  ever write. It’s sole purpose is inspiration.

Born at 1 lb. 14 oz. , three and a half months early the doctors didn’t give me much hope of living. I finally came home in an incubator at three months old to my young mother with the mission of helping me thrive. She was given the news that walking wasn’t something I was likely to do. At the time they gave her a diagnosis they thought she could handle but in later years I dug through my records and discovered it wasn’t at all what that told her, it was actually a very mild form of Cerebal Palsy .She did an amazing job with what she had available. 

Fast forward a handful of years and I found myself at the Shriner’s Hospital for Crippled Children in Springfield Mass. These people are truly angels!! And so began twelve years of braces (just like Forest Gump only mine were hard plastic), cast that ran from my hips to the balls of my feet, more braces with metal bars and even a wheelchair. For all intents and purposes my childhood was spent immobile. Sports were not an option; in fact walking took years to get right…yes, 12 yrs to learn how to walk like the rest of you. My childhood was spent longing to play sports just like other kids instead of sitting on the sidelines or spending hours in therapy.

By the time I hit Jr. high School I could walk but I was noticeably uncoordinated when it came to simple things like stairs and I was still banned from gym class. No matter how well I did, I was still labeled “handi-capped” to the world. So when I changed schools and towns for high school I decided to make a complete change. I was going to start school “normal”! I threw out my braces and never said one word to anyone about my inability…in my mind, it didn’t exist!  

For the first time I went to gym class! I was horrible at sports, I was horrible at everything but I gave it all I could. I had never played a single sport in my life and here I was fumbling through soccer, basketball, football and volleyball! My legs hurt, my knees throbbed and my lower back screamed daily but I was determined to be normal. No matter how hard it was I wanted to walk the halls like everyone else, I was going to erase my handi-capped label for good! It wasn’t until my senior year that my knees going numb to the point where I couldn’t stand led me to tell the truth to my gym teacher. He wasn’t sure what to say; after all he’d badgered me all this time about my poor gym performance. From that day on he stopped getting on my case and just smiled at me. 

So here I am at thirty years old and to look at me you’d never know I went through all this. I still have days when my knees go numb and I’ve been known to be less than graceful. I trip over my own feet some days, I’m still horrible at sports and I’ve even been known to fall over standing still..yes, that’s possible. The difference is that because of endless support and sheer determination I’ve gone from fighting to walk to training for a 5K with the goal of one day finishing the Boston Marathon. I run to honor the Shriner’s and their commitment to those just like me!!

So why did I tell you all this? Because I want you to remember that you truly can overcome anything that stands between you and your goal. You’re going to have to dig deep and the pain may even be unbearable some days but push further and don’t give up!

Crank the music and press on!

When I started running last week I instantly enjoyed it but this last run something within me changed. Suddenly everything came together. In the middle of my run it was as if something magical happened, I had been transformed. My breathing was calm, my pace was steady and my body was limber.

The world was gone, it was just me, my music and the rhythm of my feet...there were no toddler needs, no bills, no worldly worries..just peace.

From that moment on I knew this was for me. I have never been a jock, I never understood the jocks until now. Now I understand their addiction now for better, faster, more. I finally found a sport that suites me. The competition is merely between me and the clock. I decide how hard to push, how far to go, not someone who has taken one look at me and has the wrong impression. There's no team drama, just a million fellow addicts to running and earning the props that go with it. 

When I run my life becomes simple..I crank the music and push on through the sweat and the muscle burn. At the end of my half hour run (per my training program) I'm soaked in sweat and I feel amazing! Even if I didn't make the time or mile marker I hoped for my body is telling me I gave all I had..and that's all that matters. Even in my exhausted state I'm so fired up that I often toss in some push-ups and sit-ups just for the pleasure of knowing I can. Yes, I'm addicted!

Give yourself a greater cause

When it comes to weight loss there isn't much worse then being stuck in a rut. You wake up every day knowing that you have a diet to stick to and an exercise routine to adhere to. All your days start to feel like the movie Groundhog Day, the same thing every day. Well if your brain is bored, imagine how your body feels! There's no doubt it's time for a change and if you aren't careful you'll talk yourself right out of success. You start thinking "nothing's changing so why bother, I just can't do it." And that dear friend is where you are wrong! You can do it! You just need to spice things up, put the fun back into it all.

It's easy to let yourself down, so the trick is to find a cause greater than yourself to work towards. While you're on your weight loss journey why not do some good! My advice, find a local walk/run event and train. Why? Well even if you can't run the 3.1 miles in a 5K that doesn't mean you can't walk it. You'll likely meet some great people and do something good for others, a perfect combination for motivation! Now you can get up every morning with a date on your calendar marked and a cause to work towards. Your workouts aren't just for you anymore, someone else is counting on you to get off your butt! Add some new tunes to your workout and you're halfway there!

I've recently found myself in this very same rut. Then I had an "ah ha" moment! Why not pick a cause dear to my heart and use it to re-inspire my workout? So off I went to find a cause. I've always wanted to do the 3 Day Walk for the Cure for breast cancer but knew I wasn't there just yet. So I found a 5K for the same cause..perfect! So the date was set, Sept. 17th! Having no ideal how to train I went hunting and found support groups and training podcast to help me. So last night I got my ipod ready and marked the calendar! I was asked by a friend what motivated me. My answer "Honestly there wasn't a reason not to do it. I'm already working towards being healthier so why not train with a cause greater than myself in mind? Surely running in this event is more fun then running on a treadmill like a hamster." I find myself thinking how great it'll be to run in the 5K with my husband and son cheering me on, knowing I worked hard for this moment and because of it, there just might be a cure someday. How could I not be inspired by that every morning!?

Zesty Chicken and Rice

 

Every week I troll the internet for food that's not only healthy but that I'd actually want to eat. I found one tonight and thought I'd share, one less recipe you have to hunt down when you make a healthy menu. If you like this one and want more, look here. For those who don't like spicy food, don't worry..it's not.



Ingredients
2 cups brown rice
4 cups water
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch strips
1 can low-sodium diced tomatoes
1 cup low-sodium chili sauce
1 -1/2 cup green pepper, chopped
1-1/2 cup celery, chopped
1/4 cup onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh basil (or 1 tsp. dried)
1 tablespoon fresh parsley ( or 1 tsp. dried)
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons olive oil
Directions

Heat 2 Tbsp. of olive oil in a large pot on medium heat. Add rice and stir until it starts to crackle (about 2 minutes). Add water and 1/2 tsp. of salt. Cover pot and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and allow to cook for about 30 minutes, until rice is soft. In a deep skillet, add 1 Tbsp. of olive oil and preheat over high heat. Cook chicken in skillet until no longer pink (about 4 minutes). Reduce heat and add all other ingredients. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cover for 10 minutes. Serve over the cooked brown rice. Makes 4 servings.

Nutritional Information
Zesty Chicken & Brown Rice

Servings Per Recipe: 4 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories: 310
Total Fat: 6g
Cholesterol: mg
Sodium: mg
Total Carbs: 43g
Dietary Fiber: g
Protein: 31g

If you're looking for inspiration...

Tomorrow a new show starts that just may be the inspiration you need. "Extreme Makeover Weight Loss" showcases one person per episode and shows and entire years worth of their struggle. No " thin in 30 seconds" here! You'll watch these people struggle with the same things you do, maybe more and see how they dug deep within themselves and stopped making excuses. Yes, they get a trainer and someone their to hold them accountable but that doesn't mean they have an advantage over you at all. Why? Well all that fancy stuff that they have doesn't mean anything, at the end of the day it's all about the person putting in the work! If you're looking for support and advice, you're already in the right place..that's why we're here. If our little blog doesn't do it for you, find something that does..that's the beauty of the internet. You're never alone!

Personally, I'll be watching this show and keeping it in the back of my mind as I strive for my goal. If at 500 lbs the lady on the first episode can get off her rear and into action..so can I! Remember, no matter what obstacles you think you have in your way..the only real one is YOU! (Get out of your own way already!)

Livin la vida low carb!

Okay readers, it's been a full week now off carbs..well down to one serving a day. Let me first start by re-stating how much I was so hopelessly and madly in love carbs of all kinds. I honestly didn't think I'd make it through the first night..I actually caught myself dreaming of Wheat thins! Yeah, it was that bad! Literally just about every thought I had involved a carb..that was a serious wake-up call.

So let's fast forward to today. I've been noticing that I don't get the afternoon sleepiness, I sleep better at night and my sweet tooth isn't near what it used to be. Oh, and I lost two inches all around in a week! Low carb dieting isn't the answer to everything but it's clearly made enough of a difference to warrant a lifestyle change.

A great example was my shopping trip today. I walked past isles and isles of sweets and honestly all I saw was sugar, chemicals and high processed muck in pretty package with tricky labels. My eyes saw the yummy foods but my brain realized what it really was..nasty! That 3 second rush of "yum!" is so not worth diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol (and a million other health risks) not to mention  crazy mood swings, low self-esteem and looking at cute clothes wishing they came in the size I could be if I'd just get my butt in gear! Nope. Not a sweet in the world worth all that! Don't get me wrong, I'm not swearing off chocolate (let's be serious here!) but I am going to think before I eat. (The back of the package stays a serving is one piece, not one bar..and no, you can't eat two pieces and then promise yourself you won't have any tomorrow...show some control.)

Okay ladies..let's pay if forward!

So tomorrow is national"pay it forward day" and it got me thinking about how we could help each other. Since we've working on weight loss and dealing with the yummy holiday temptation, why not share healthy recipes!? They don't have to be holiday recipes, just something yummy that doesn't go straight to the hips.

I'll start!

Lunchbox oatmeal cookies (more like peanut butter cookies to me)
* It's a diabetic recipe so it's low sugar and only 76 calories per cookie

1/2	cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2	cup reduced-fat peanut butter
1/3	cup  granulated sugar
1/3	cuppacked brown sugar
1/2	teaspoon baking soda
2	egg whites
1/2	teaspoon vanilla
1	cup all-purpose flour
1	cup quick-cooking rolled oats

1. In a large mixing bowl beat butter and peanut butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed about 30 seconds or until combined.

2. Add granulated sugar, brown sugar, and baking soda. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg whites and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour. Stir in oats.

3. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake in a 375 degree F oven for 7 to 8 minutes or until edges are golden. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool. Makes about 40 cookies.

Pasted from <http://www.diabeticlivingonline.com/recipe/cookies/lunch-box-oatmeal-cookies/>

Spinach pesto, sausage  and pasta dinner

*I tweaked this from the original link ,this is my version. The original seems to make around 1 serving so adjust the amounts according to your needs. (I double the pesto ingredients in bold.)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup spinach
• 1 cup fresh basil
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/4 cup white cooking wine
• 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1/2 cup Parmesan
• 3/4 cup sliced mushrooms
• 1 cup cooked whole wheat pasta-I make enough for 4 servings.

• 4 oz. lean turkey kielbasa- I use a whole package

Heat skillet over medium heat. Slice kielbasa and add to skillet, toasting both sides of each sausage slice until browned and cook mushrooms until tender. Add spinach, basil, garlic, pine nuts, lemon juice, wine, broth, Parmesan, and salt to blender, pulsing until combined and smooth. Add pasta and 2 Tb. of pesto sauce to mushrooms and chicken, stirring until combined and heated through. Top with 1 oz. grated Parmesan. (There will be extra pesto.)*I just add all the pesto to all the pasta since I make this recipe larger and there are still plenty of leftovers for lunch

Hi ladies..

I haven't been ignoring you, the truth is I've had to put my diet and fitness on hold. I've had some issues that take first priority but after my vacation in Sept. everything should be sorted out. Then it's back to the task at hand full force! I'm ready for results!

How are the rest of you doing?

Anyone here? Hello?

Okay, maybe I'm just not looking in the right place but it seems like no one is ever here. I don't see any updates, chatting...nothing. So, where is everyone? How's the progress going? Even if all you've done is camp out on the couch and enjoy junk food we'd still like to hear from you all.

Yes dear Donna, this includes you and your busy schedule.

We can't help support each other if we don't touch base.

Positive progress, even in pain

I've had a sinus migraine today and yesterday so I haven't been doing anything that isn't needed. Feeling like I really need a workout but until this passes, I'm useless. My new way of eating is working though, lost another inch..two in the last two week! I'm getting better at reaching my calorie goal too. Even without exercising I still burned more than I ate and met my goal!

I take my pedometer with me whenever I leave the house now. I want every bit of exercise to count. From the looks of things 5,000 steps is my average. (not bad seeing as I'm not going out of my way to get in more steps) I figure if I want to learn why I'm stuck at this weight I need to see what I'm naturally burning, traveling ect. so that I know what needs changing. I've started a Sparkpeople blog for myself, just to keep notes and so I don't overload this blog.

Go Go Green Monster!

For those that haven't heard of it..it's a smoothie packed with tons of vitamins and healthy, yummy stuff. I made my first one today (took the idea from my cousin who's a runner) and I'm in love! It cost about a dollar per smoothie for the ingredients.

My Green Monster
2 bananas
1 cup yogurt
1 (10oz) container of frozen sliced strawberries
1 cup fresh Spinach leaves (I'm not a huge spinach fan, you could add more if you are)

Throw it all in the blender til smooth, it's thick! Enjoy! It makes about 3-4 (8oz) servings

A little about me, Countrymama

Hi ya'll!
Donna was sweet enough to let me join this lovely group so I thought I should do a little intro.

I never used to have a weight issue, as a matter of fact when hubby and I met I as lean and in peak physical health thanks to training and diet but these past few years between medications (off them now) and pregnancy my body has completely changed.

I have no idea how to really  lose weight. After having Aiden I just went back to my training roots and it worked, kinda. I lost 75 lbs. the first year but for the last two I've been stuck at the same weight no matter what I do! I know I need to burn off more than I eat and I love working out..just have to force it in the days..the problem is I always end up spending most of the day hungry or bored with my choices of foods thanks to allergy restrictions. I love to run but my body doesn't, yet. I'm using Wii active/fit to ease myself into working out again and walking/jogging outside when I can. Last serious thing I did was a 5K 6 months preggo..he's almost 3 now! I work best with a coach of sorts but a trainer was a waste of time and money as was the gym membership. See, told you I was a mess! Thanks for listening.

Stats:
starting weight: 147.5
goal weight: 120
long term goal: finishing a 5K
short term goal: better self image
plan: using Wii/outside for exercise to work my way up to using P90X. I'm upping my water intake and tracking my calories/diet through Fitday.com just to see what I eat vs. what I burn.