Daily Affirmations

It seems like motivation is the topic of the week. I've read several posts about it and I'm encouraged by the comments I've gotten. Thank you to those of you that have lent support. I'm always amazed how I get what I need, when I need it.

I just saw this on pinterest. I think this should be my new affirmation. I'm going to print it out and put it all over the house.

Along with this picture.

9 Months of Training

I went out for drinks with my Kinder Mom friends the other night and I jokingly said that I was training for the Eagle Bolt 5K race at the kids' school.

I'm serious but the joking part is that it's 9 months away.

Is there a Couch to 5K plan for people that take 9 months to train for something?

I've tried those programs before and I've never finished because I have to start week 1 over a half dozen times.  Or the weather turns crappy and I quit.

Does anyone have tips for staying motivated on these plans?  Is there a new and exciting app I need to know about?

Help me out!

My Beauty Resolutions

BlogHer has asked me to answer a question about looking my best.  They've obviously been spying on me and my brillant transformation from frumpy mommy to well dressed mother of a Kindergartener who has to interact with people every day.

What are your beauty resolutions this year?  How do you plan to shake up and streamline your routine?  What are the good habits you are committing to developing?

It's a well known fact that I'm addicted to resolutions.  I love starting a new year with a list of things that I'd like to accomplish and ways to make my life better.  Lists are a very big part of my mental health!

Once I turned 40, I really started to look at how I could work on my beauty routine.  Those pesky little lines are starting to form and I'm not getting carded at the liquor store anymore.  I've purchased a number of products that I think are working very well.

My Beauty Resolutions:

• Wash my face every night.
• Use eye cream.
• Drink 60 ounces of water a day.
• Monthly masks.
• Wear sunscreen AND make-up everyday. 
• Keep nails painted.  

What has been helping the most is getting into the habit of taking care of my skin before I go to bed at night.  Making a promise to myself that I'm important enough to spend 5-10 minutes taking care of.

This ritual is really very calming and prepares me for a good night sleep.  Speaking of sleep, another resolution for 2012 is to go to bed at the same time every night....even on the weekends.

BlogHer has a great article about ways to look your best. Come by and leave a comment.

Please visit the Life Well Lived Sweepstakes starting on January 26th and enter for a chance to win a Kindle Fire and a $50 Amazon Gift Card.

Nut Chips....YUM

In my quest to be gluten free....I'm always looking for something I can eat to replace the things I can't have anymore. 

Sometimes....I just want something crunchy.

I went to Sunflower Market on Saturday and wandered down the chip isle.  This caught my eye.

Chips made from RICE and NUTS?  You wouldn't think it would be good....but I love them!

Dr Google and Menopause

My husband is horribly ill.  He had two seperate colds over the holidays and now he has what could be the flu but I'm convinced that is mono.

That's what I get for consulting Dr. Google.

We'll find out if I'm right this afternoon when he sees the doctor again.

And as if that isn't enough on my plate.....I think TOM is trying to visit me again.  After only a 12 day break. 

This is bullshit!!!

I woke up with 3 extra pounds, a migraine and spotting. (sorry guys that might read this)

I seem to remember that this is how it started for my Mom.  CRAP!

We Interrupt This Experiment....

photo credit

In all of my research of Dandelion Root Tea....I did not read about it being a natural LAXATIVE.

In other news.....OMG!

An Experiment

I drank my tea yesterday and I figured out what it smells/tastes like.

An ashtray!!

I read up on the benefits of Dandelion Root and I liked what I learned.

Digestive issues
PMS
Detox of the liver and kidneys
Cleaning of the blood
Milk Supply

I could use help in all of these areas....expect the milk supply.  The barn is closed thankyouverymuch.

So...on to my experiment.

I decided to wear workout clothes today AND set a couple alarms on my phone encouraging me to do 15 minute spurts of working out.

Nothing serious....just squats, lunges, sit ups and lifting little hand weights.

I'm completely against wearing workout clothes to pick up my son from school but this is just a one day experiment.  We'll re-evaluate at the end of the day.

The Gates of Change

“Each of us guards a gate of change that can only be unlocked from the inside.”

—  Marilyn Ferguson

Unless it's this gate.

Photo credit ME!

I'm finding it so hard to get started! Between being sick and TOM arriving unexpectedly, I'm struggling.

I'm restarting the Bloat Blast Tea this morning.  According to a school friend of mine, the dandelion root tea is sold out all over our town so it must work, or lots of people are doing it.

Here we go...again! 

Let's Get This Party Started!

My cold is finally on it's way out so I'm going to get started! Yesterday I weighted in at 211. It seems to be a magic set point that I'd like to never see again.

Today.....I'm doing a juice fast with some fruit and veggies thrown in. And I'm starting the Bloat Blast.

I read conflicting reports about how that was supposed to be done. One said to mix the tea and juices in a 16 ounce glass. Another said to mix it with 60 ounces of water.

The 60 ounces seems like it would dilute the other ingredients so I'm going with the 16 ounce.

Dandelion Root Tea steeped in 16 ounces of water for 15 minutes.
Add.....1 tablespoon cranberry juice, 2 tablespoons for lemon juice.
DRINK!

In addition, I will then drink 60 ounces (or more) of water.

The Plan For 2012

I had dinner and drinks with my husband at PF Changs tonight and decided it was the perfect time to approach him about our plan for 2012.  I've gained about 4 pounds since September and he's gained 15.  I've stopped eating gluten-free and I can tell the difference in how I feel and my lip is back to being red and swollen. 

Basically: Paleo until we reach our first goal.

Me: 199 pounds
Him: 215 pounds

Day One: January 1st.....Juice Fast/Detox.

Day Two-Eight: Bloat Solution

Day Nine-Thirty One:  Paleo, Walks on the weekends and lots of water!

It is winter in Colorado so I'm not committing to any physical activity besides an occasional yoga DVD in the living room.  But we will modify the plan each month.

Looking Good

Wow. Where have I been? I'm amazed how much busier I've become since my son started school. It's a GOOD busy!

I've talked before about how my weight isn't changing.....but I can tell the difference in my clothes. Even naked....I can see some difference.

This is ALL thanks to a Paleo/Gluten-Free lifestyle. I combine the two because I make paleo meals frequently....but try to be gluten free at least 80% of the time.

It's really working for me!

I haven't weighed myself in a month. I've decided that I just don't care what that number is. I'd LOVE to fit into my size 12 clothes. And I think I will someday.

Right now....I think I'm looking pretty good.

No More Fat Pants

I had my vistor last week.

You know the one.  I call it TOM around here.

I like to focus on the positive and the best thing ever happened.

I didn't have to break out my fat pants.

I also realized that even though my weight hasn't budged.  My clothes are fitting better.

I gave my husband my fat pants and told him to hide them from me.

I don't want to wear them again.  EVER!

I'm Stuck

I've been stuck at 209.2 for 4 weeks.

I think it's time for me to kick this up a notch.

There are THREE weeks until Thanksgiving so I'm going to kick it in gear for the next three week and see what I can do.

I've been cheating (ie. eating gluten) way too much.  And it makes me feel like CRAP!

Here we go!

Crying Over Popcorn

I'm in mourning.

Remember that awesome Caramel Corn that I told you about?

My Whole Foods didn't have it (or a spot assigned for it) last time I went to stock up on my favorite Gluten-Free snacks.

I'm going to have to order a box of it because I can't live without it.

 I bought this Kettle Corn as a replacement and ate half the bag before I realized that it wasn't gluten free.  Dang it!

Weigh-In:

I'm holding steady at 209.  Which is kind of amazing because I've been having a love affair with some caramels.  I need to stop buying them.

I'm planning to get really serious about my diet again in about 5 days.  This will involve refusing to go out to eat so that I don't ruin my diet and eat something I shouldn't.

Wish me luck!

Hello My Gluten Free Lover

You know I'm sad about the bread situation.

Although...my friend Christina just left me a Paleo bread recipe that she says is fantastic! I'll try it out and get back to you on that.

I found this Rocky Mountain Caramel Corn at Whole Foods and I'm in love!

I can go to the movies again! I just have to stash this in my purse.

If your Whole Foods doesn't carry it....you can order it here.

Gluten Free Bread

I've been missing sandwiches.

Now, that's not completely true....I've been eating sandwiches. Naughty gluten filled sandwiches and because of this, I've NOT been losing any weight and my lip has been swollen.

I decided that I'd try the gluten free bread from Udi's. I even sucked it up and paid $5.99 for it at Whole Foods.

I brought my bread home and saw that it is supposed to remain frozen.  Weird.  That's going to make a REALLY crunchy sandwich.  Jolene told me to toast the bread.  Oh good idea.

I made sandwiches for me and my children and I was shocked by the size of my bread.

Mine is the little guy

I slapped some turkey lunch meat, swiss cheese and avocado on that little guy and went to town.  It tastes okay....a little different than what I'm used to, but my freakish big hands caused the bread to fall apart.   I had to get the Dyson out when I was done eating.

Not bad.....for gluten free.

Reason Number 28

that GLUTEN is evil.

I've gone 2 months....mostly gluten free.

This last week....has been a gluten nightmare.  I've eaten more of that crap then I care to admit with the last free for all being a never ending pasta bowl because someone sent my husband a gift card to Olive Garden for his birthday.

It was really good and I enjoyed it very much.

But today....two days later.  I'm having the worst migraine.  The kind that requires laying down in a dark, quiet room....except that I have two kids and there is nothing dark or quiet about my apartment right now.

This could be my ultimate reason for really quitting gluten forever.

Without gluten in my life....I went TWO MONTHS without a migraine.  That hasn't happened in 15 years.

Goodbye gluten....FOREVER!

Gluten Binge

My birthday was yesterday.

On Saturday, my husband took me out for any meal I wanted.

I wanted Mexican.  A burrito....with beans, cheese, guacamole and sour cream. 

I also wanted a Margarita.

Then we went to an Italian Festival and I had Sangria and Chianti and a Chocolate Cream filled Cannoli.

There is probably a rule that you shouldn't drink so many beverages that end in a vowel.

Yesterday....I ate the rest of my Mexican meal and then instead of cake, because I don't like cake.  I had a Java Chiller from Sonic.

I have never felt so sick in my whole life.   I was in a gluten coma!

And then I went to a coffee shop this morning and ate a bagel sandwich.  Because I figured if I was already in bad shape...it wouldn't hurt.

That breakfast sandwich was worth it all.  I should have just had the sandwich and skipped all of the other crap.

I'm back on my Paleo/Gluten Free (but with Dairy) plan as of 10am this morning.

This proves without a doubt that Paleo/Gluten Free is the life for me!

I'm A Cheater

Starting Weight: 208
September 1st:   207.4
September 8th:   207
LOSS:                    .4
Total Paleo Loss:  6.5 pounds

I'm pretty happy with this week's results....considering that I celebrated my birthday last weekend with some gluten.

There will be celebrating again this week with Mexican Food and I intend to eat a flour tortilla as big as my head filled with meat and cheese and sour cream!

I will not be having cake. I don't really like cake so I don't see the point of eating it on my special day.

Take That TOM!

Starting Weight: 208
September 1st:   207.4
LOSS:                    .6
Total Paleo Loss:  6.1 pounds

My scale broke the day after my last weigh in....on August 18th.   And then a week later....TOM snuck up on me.  It is so crazy to me since starting the Paleo plan that my PMS and hormonal migraines have completely disappeared.

I was without a scale that whole week and kept eating my yummy Paleo food.  I had no idea if I'd gained any weight...but a few days after TOM left....my clothes felt looser!  I couldn't believe it!

I was really fine with not having a scale.  But my husband was going crazy not being able to weigh himself. Looks like he's a bigger slave to that thing than I am!

He bought a new battery for our scale and I was thrilled to see that I had not gained a single pound!  Then this week...I lost .6 pounds.

I even cheated and ate TACO's this week!

I'll be weighing in on Thursday's from now on.