February???

Oh my goodness - where the heck did February go?  I can't believe that the month is coming to an end this weekend.  I look back and I am not sure I accomplished much, but I feel like I was constantly busy. 

I wasn't super focused on being perfect this month.  I am still trying hard to cook on Sunday to have meals planned for the week.  I totally feel the days that I do not eat properly.  I get major headaches and am so lethargic.  It's crazy what a little too much sugar will do to you.  I did hop on the scale and I stayed flat.  Even with a couple of snow days thrown in the there!  I didn't rebound, I just paused.

I have been thinking, but not doing, about starting to workout again.  I have some good videos that I can pop in the DVD Player in the morning and get a quick 30 minutes in.  I have to start doing this again to really get back on track.  When I was running before I was slimming down so fast. 

I am going to challenge myself in March to workout 30 minutes a day!  30 minutes x 31 days and see what happens to the number on the scale and more importantly the shape of my body.

I'm excited to report back to you all!

- Alison

Month #1 Update

Month #1 Total -

Pounds Removed - 13.4lbs
Inches Shrunk - 11.5 inches all over

I'm needing to buy a pant size down so I don't look so baggy.  Awesome!!

Whole30/Paleo will be continuing!  This really isn't too difficult at this point.  I am allowing myself one treat a week if I am craving something.

This month I need to be sure to include more vegetables and limit my cheese intake.

Hope all is well with you and you are finding your way to healthy living.  We all have different paths!!

Good Luck!!  Alison

Week 3 Update

Checking in late this week.  I cant believe that it is almost Wednesday already.  Where does the time go.  Well I had a CRAZY week last week.  It could have been one of those weeks that I allowed myself to really binge and eat everything in sight, but I kept to plan.  The food I have been eating has been so delicious!!  It really does take time to prepare, but so worth it!  (Sorry, a bit tired this evening for a big update).

This Week's Meals

1.) Pulled Pork Sliders
http://miloche.com/2013/09/paleo-pulled-pork-sliders/

2.) Spicy Slow Cooker Chorizo Chili
http://paleomommyx2.blogspot.com/2013/09/football-season-paleo-eats.html

Quick Update -
Lost another 2 lbs.  So at 12lbs lost.  YAY!!!

Week 2 Update and Week 3 Plan

So week 2 went really well.  I made super delicious taco meat and made tacos out of lettuce.  It was so good and something to look forward to for dinner.  I also made an egg, buffalo chicken casserole.  Again - super delicious!!

The week went really well.  I have been staying on track really well.  I am really working on the 80/20 rule.  As long as I am clean 80% of the time I am really happy with my progress.

I also started bumping up my morning walks with Roxie.  I am taking 3lb weights with me to do arm exercises while walking.  My biceps and shoulders are pretty sore.  I also started jogging portions of the walk.  I would like to start running 5ks again this spring and summer.  Maybe even work up to a 10k.  I wanted to do that last year, but just never got motivated. 

So all in all I had a good week.  Very stressful week coming up and I need to plan and be well prepared.  Snacks, meals all right at hand.  There won't be much time to cook this week.

Here are this week's recipes -
1.) Chicken Fajitas - http://popularpaleo.com/2013/10/29/crock-pot-fajita-chicken/

2.) Cauliflower Rice - http://popularpaleo.com/2013/01/07/cilantro-lime-cauliflower-rice/

3.) Crab Cakes - http://www.grassfedgirl.com/paleo-crab-cakes-2/

Weight Update -
Pounds Lost - 10lbs

Week 1 Review and Week 2 Plan

How did I feel Week 1 -
1.) Major headache the first few days as I started to withdrawal from sugar.
2.) Few breakouts.
3.) Felt a bit lethargic first week, but not too bad.
4.) Felt hunger waning by the end of the week.  I need to be careful about this and make sure that I am eating on my regular schedule.
5.) Confidence went up a little as I started to gain control.

Things I need to research/try -
1.) I need to find a substitute for my morning coffee creamer.  It has to be creamy and sweet.  I love starting my day with coffee, the news and emails.  So I have to have my morning coffee, but want to get rid of the chemical craziness that is called CoffeeMate Creamer!!

Things I need to start/continue/stop -
1.) START - I need to make sure I don't over extend myself on the weekends.  I have a lot that needs to be done in 2 days.  I MUST make sure that cooking and prep time are included in my Sunday plan or I will not do them and I will be in trouble. (which I didn't do yesterday so I am in trouble!).

2.) CONTINUE - working on my eating schedule.  I cannot be a free range eater.  It doesn't work for me.  I am not advocating this for everyone, it is just what I need to do.  This week has been good with a 7am, 12pm, 4 pm and 7pm eating schedule.  This includes plenty of water to make me feel full.


Plan for Week 2 -
1.) Buffalo Chicken Egg Muffins
http://balancedbites.com/2013/02/easy-recipe-buffalo-chicken-egg-muffins.html

2.) Slow Cooker Taco Meat (I bought lettuce for "shells"
http://www.rubiesandradishes.com/2013/12/07/easy-slow-cooker-taco-meat/


Want to Try -
1.) Broccoli Rice Casserole -
http://holisticallyengineered.com/2013/10/paleo-broccoli-rice-casserole.html

2.) Crab Cakes -
http://www.grassfedgirl.com/paleo-crab-cakes-2/

3.) Beef Rice Stuffed Zucchini -
http://holisticallyengineered.com/2013/01/days-8-and-9-and-whole30-beef-and-rice.html


First Week Results -
I lost 7 pounds!!  Woo Hoo!!  My body typically slows down losing weight over the next 2 weeks and then hits a steady stride.  So I am not going to weigh myself most of this week since I won't see big drops every day.  Wish each week would be like the first, but slow and steady wins the race.

Plan for Week 1 of Clean Eating Challenge

If you all have followed a Paleo eating plan in the past then you know that it takes a lot of planning to make sure that you have items on hand for meals and snacks.  The last thing you can do is come home starving with nothing ready to heat and serve.  That is a disaster waiting to happen for me.  So I have planned out the menu for the week.  When I am at my best I make several meals  on a Sunday and am prepared then for most of the week.  I usually need to make another few meals by Wednesday, but I still have food to heat and serve Wed. night so I am not cooking my dinner that night.

Here are the recipes for the week -

1.) Pot Roast with carrots, onion and garlic mashed cauliflower
http://holisticallyengineered.com/2012/10/low-carb-pot-roast-with-roasted-garlic.html

2.) Chicken Tenders
http://holisticallyengineered.com/2014/09/paleo-chicken-tender-low-carb.html

3.) Low Carb Shrimp and Kielbasa Scampi with Asparagus
http://holisticallyengineered.com/2012/01/low-carb-shrimp-and-kielbasa-scampi.html


This should be enough for several dinners and lunches as well.  Snacks this week will be almonds and apples with almond butter.

First 3 weeks are the toughest, but I will hold on and get my way through it.  Once through those weeks it is much easier! 

Here's wishing you a great week!!

Alison

30-Day Clean Eating Challenge

So I have joined a 30 clean eating challenge online. I joined the following event to start this challenge on January 5th. I want to use this to get back into my clean eating program (i.e. Paleo Program). It's time to make a change. I will incorporate this into my plan to eat regularly schedule meals.

Why I Like Paleo -
1.) Lose weight.
2.) Get lean - you lose fat and not muscle.
3.) Joints feel amazing!!
4.) Skin clears up.
5.) No headaches.
6.) Energy is through the roof.

Why Paleo is Hard -
1.) It takes preparation and planning.
2.) I have to cook.
3.) Reduced sweets is hard for my sweet tooth.
4.) It says no alcohol, but let's get real here.

https://www.facebook.com/events/938105119534141/

Time to take the challenge!!

Where have I been?

Well - that's a great questions. Thanks for asking. I can honestly say that I have been lost in a haze of sugar for the last 8 months. Last year I lost around 40lbs, I got into running, was eating very clean, got rid of joint pain, completely thinned down and felt awesome. Fast forward a year through a break up, a new stressful job, a home sale and purchase, a move, one of my kitties died and gained 55lbs. I feel horrible, nothing fits me anymore, and I look terrible. I have to find a way to get my life back under control. I know what needs to be done. I have resolve every morning to make it happen and then by the end of the day I have lost that resolve. . So I am going to take this in steps. Here are some life changes I will make through 2015. 1.) Start eating regular meals only and stop all day grazing. 2.) Eliminate all artificial sweeteners and additives. 3.) Get back to clean, Paleo eating. 4.) Incorporate regular exercise back into schedule. 5.) Get enough sleep each night. 6.) Drink water every day. (I haven't had a soda now in 2 years!) 7.) Mindful eating So step one is to work on #1 above. I will start eating at 7am, noon, 4pm energy bar, and dinner at 7:00pm. That is the plan. Here I go!! Merry Christmas! Alison

How's it going?

Well I can honestly say that I really thought this no TV thing was going to be difficult. It's really not. I still sit on my couch and eat dinner. I do like that instead of sitting at a table. But now it is just quiet and I can focus on what I am doing. I do feel that I have cut back on eating, especially eating mindlessly in front of the TV. Also - with the TV off to start with, this past weekend I just left it off most of the day and got things done around the house and for the Humane Society (new pages on the website for my feral program coming soon!).

As I work on this challenge I keep thinking about new challenges for myself. Other little things that I have put in place - take the stairs instead of elevators whenever possible and the only caffeine in the day is my morning coffee (which I love, love, love). I have a big idea for March that you will have to wait for. Oh my - on pins and needles now I am sure!!

Since I have survived this - I challenge you all to give it a try. Turn off the TV and computer when eating meals at home. Focus on what you are eating and how hungry you actually are. You can do it!!

Good Luck!

February Challenge

OK - I have decided on a challenge for myself for February. I am going to work on changing one bad habit that I have that I know affects my eating habits as well. Stopping this one activity is going to be a huge challenge, but one that starts tomorrow. I know you are waiting with baited breath or have already skipped ahead.

My challenge for February is - No eating and watching TV or being on the computer at home. (I'll take on the challenge of work later).

So....how do I make this happen. Well pretty simple and yet so difficult. If I need to eat something I have to turn off the TV and leave it off until I am done. That's it. No more mindless eating in front of the TV.

I picked this challenge for the month because I really do spend too much time sitting in front of the TV putting food in my mouth that I am not even tasting or really enjoying. It's just become something that I do. I want to enjoy my food and really taste it.

Wish me luck!!! This is years and years for me to change. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

What to do? What to do?

I have a really good life. I really do. I have a job that I get a lot of enjoyment out of. It does stress me out and keep me from sleep some nights, but I feel a sense of accomplishment there. And I feel that I am appreciated there. All good things.

I have a great home. I have a houseful of animals that I love dearly. I get out with Roxie every day for long walks. I have Nellie curled up next to me as I write this post. My animals are so super sweet and I can't imagine life without them.

I have a group of good friends. I don't get to see them as much as I would like. We are all pretty busy. Most of my girlfriends are moms now and have a lot of activities with their kids that keep them very busy.

All good things, right?

So why do I feel the overwhelming need and desire every night to fall face first into a large pizza, or chocolate, or cake or McDonald's? Why do I drive home with only thoughts of what I can eat that night and get such excitement out of it?

I have been thinking a lot about this. It's like I have a good life that is made up of routines, obligations, and things I have to do. I don't have much in my life that I LOVE to do. Or things that I look forward to every day. The one thing I do have is food!!

I look forward to eating food. I love tasting food. I love the smell of food. I love the abundance, the variety, the fact that I can get it any time.

I think that would be really fine if I could eat and enjoy the food in moderation without taking things to extremes. But there are times when I start eating that there is just no stopping.

So as I work towards getting my eating under control I have to figure out what to replace food with. What do I find that gives me that much enjoyment every day? What do I find in life that is stronger than food? What can I have in my life that isn't something I do because I have to do it, but something I do because I want to do it? I don't think I can fully remove my obsessive food eating until I can find a replacement for it. I feel so deprived when I go days without eating with abandon.

That is the mission. What is my passion?

Still searching.

Cold Turkey?

I have been thinking recently about what "going cold turkey" means to a person struggling with food addictions. With drugs or alcohol you would go cold turkey by not touching either substance. But my addiction is also necessary for my survival. Going cold turkey with food is not possible.

I have tried to go "cold turkey" with some of my favorite binge foods. I end up just going crazy with other food that is around. So that doesn't work all that well.

My latest thought is to focus on the main eating guideline from Geneen - eat when you are hungry. I was focused on this before the holidays and I lost a bit of focus over the last few weeks. So I am getting back on the band wagon and am going cold turkey - no more food in my mouth without feeling hungry.

Now, all this talk of turkey, I think I am hungry. :o)

I have been working on my resolution list this week trying to figure out what things to do each month to make sure I am focused. Following The Happiness Project I really need to build a "Resolution Chart" to give myself daily golds stars to keep myself on track. Each item below would have sub-actions. Things that I can focus on specifically. So that is the next step for this up coming week. Organize my thoughts and build a Resolution Chart.

Started A Few Things, but I need more of a plan:
Following my eating guidelines
Regular Exercise (Going to the gym 3 times per week)
Drinking 64oz of water
Meditating regularly
Reducing stress with more organization in the house
Taking a multi-vitamin
Watch less TV

No Action Yet (which is fine):
Getting more sleep
Limit salt intake
Adopt a better skin care program
Eating more fruits and vegetables, less fake foods (processed)
Cutting back on caffeine

Not too much else to report this week. Just keeping really busy with work, the pets and just getting back into the swing of things. Sorry not much of an update this week, but I did want to give a quick post.

Have a great week!

Alison

Happy New Year!!

Hi Everyone!!

Well - I am glad to be in 2012!! The end of last year was not the best per my previous posting and I am looking forward to the new year. With everything that has been going on I haven't been really great about focusing on myself and my practices.

I have been reading a book called The Happiness Project. It's about a woman that took a whole year to focus on different aspects of her life in an attempt to increase her overall happiness. I love the idea and how she went about her project. It was a lot of small changes over the course of a year and not an attempt to make a million sudden changes.

I have been thinking that I would like to try a similar approach this year, but call it my Health Project. I want to focus on several things this year:

Following my eating guidelines
Getting more sleep
Regular Exercise (Going to the gym 3 times per week)
Drinking 64oz of water
Cutting back on caffeine
Meditating regularly
Reducing stress with more organization in the house
Eating more fruits and vegetables, less fake foods (processed)
Taking a multi-vitamin
Watch less TV
Limit salt intake
Adopt a better skin care program

So what I need to do now is organize myself a bit and figure out what tasks I am going to focus on the different months. Step 1 for me is the Eating Guidelines and really paying attention to those and getting back on track. More to come on my plan!

Happy New Year! Here's hoping that this is the best year yet!!

Tough Few Weeks

It has been a tough few weeks for me and my family. My Dad's Mom passed away at 98 on 12/10. I just found out that my Mom's Mom just passed away earlier today 12/26. She was 88 years old. I talked to her yesterday on the phone and she had a bit of the stomach flu, but other than that she was fine. My uncle was able to be with her when she passed.

How strange it is. Just 17 days ago I had both of my Grandmas. Now all of my Grandparents have passed away.

So I will be heading up to Ohio this week for the funeral.

Hope everyone had a good Christmas!!

Alison

Thanksgiving Break

So what happened this weekend? I ate a lot more than I have in a long time. I spent some time trying to reflect on why I went so far off course.

1.) Family Time - even though family gatherings are not tough for me I still think that they bring back the memories of the past. My eating habits started as a kid. I think that being back there makes it all come back to me.

2.) Bad, ingrained habits - for as long as I can remember I have come home from family events and have eaten like crazy.

3.) Off regular routine and schedule - I like a routine and having a long weekend really kind of throws me off.

4.) Lonely time - even though I kept really fairly busy this weekend, I didn't spend any quality time with anyone. I was home alone most of the weekend doing chores and didn't spend much time out.

As we know, Christmas is coming up really soon. What do I do to change that holiday vacation -

1.) Create a holiday schedule so I am on a routine - gym, dog walk, meals, meditation, etc.

2.) Deal with family issues with inquiry and reflections.

3.) Spend time on the phone, in person, email with friends. Make the connections I need to stay in touch with people.

All of this will begin to create new habits for me. I am looking forward to putting these new ideas into practice.

Hope you all had a great holiday.

Just a quick note....

Hi Everyone!

I have been so incredibly busy at work and with the Humane Society that I haven't had a chance to write. I have been thinking about it though. That counts right?

Here are how things have been going with my practice:

Eating Guidelines
1.) Eat when hungry. (Doing pretty good with this one. I still have my moments, but for the most part I am just eating after a few hunger pains.)

2.) Eat sitting down in a calm environment, not in car. (I think for the most part things are calm. I don't eat in the car unless absolutely necessary.)

3.) Eat without distractions. (well you saw my last post. This one is pretty tough. I like watching TV and having dinner. So I have to work on that)

4.) Eat what your body wants. (I have been doing OK with this one. Sometimes my head takes over and I want cupcakes, but for the most part I have been eating protein, veggies and some fiber)

5.) Eat until your satisfied. (I think this is tied to #3. When I am not distracted I know I eat less. I am not however eating like crazy with no stopping. Even tough I may eat more than I would if not distracted, I am rarely stuffed after I eat.)

6.) Eat (with the intention of being) in full view of others (still trying to figure this one out. I guess it's not hiding food. )

7.) Eat with enjoyment, gusto and pleasure (I am trying to slow down my eating, put my fork down between bites, and enjoy the bite in my mouth. It's a change from the normal rapid fire shovel down the throut. So I am working on this one).

Work in progress. Things are going pretty well though. I feel in control for the first time in a long time. I am so happy I went to the retreat! I feel so much better!! Hope everyone is doing well with their journies!

Eating without Distraction

Lately the hardest eating guideline for me has been eating without distraction. I have been really pretty good about checking in with myself before eating to see if I am hungry or not. I just have this feeling that I always need to be doing 20 things at one time and if I am not then I am slacking. So it seems SO STRANGE to take the time to just eat and be reflective.

I know the value in eating without distractions. I have seen it work. You have a plate of food. You eat a few of the best bites, let it settle, check in again and repeat as needed. It's really not that hard. It just seems like such a foreign concept to just be doing that one thing. I want the TV on with the computer on and then eating dinner. But then I do forget to eat slowly, enjoy what I am eating and check in on my hunger.

So this is my next big challenge - make this habit. Turn off the monitor at work when it is lunch time and have lunch. Mute the TV and close the laptop when I am eating dinner.

Hope all is well with everyone!

Alison

My Own Poem

While at the retreat we did an exercise to write a poem to ourselves. We each had a photograph of ourselves at a young age when our addiction to food started to build in our lives. Mine was a picture of me at 13 years old at the beach. I was wearing tight shorts and a shirt that showed the no longer cute chubby rolls. I was smiling in the picture, but I remember that time at the beach dreaming of a tiny body that guys would admire. Dreaming that I could wear all the cute clothes. But I was also finding that food was comforting. It could cover up the pain of growing up in a house of eggshells. A house of unhappy parents - their marriage was never good from what I can remember. A house where my dad was gone all the time and I felt it was my fault that he chose golf over me. I felt it was my fault that the house wasn't happier. I thought it was my fault my brother didn't really like me much and seemed unhappy. I thought I was supposed to fix it and I never could. I think this is where it all started. Below is the poem that I wrote.

"13"

The lumps of the 3 in 13 like my new found lumps and curves
Developed overnight it seems, a new me I must serve
What do I do with this chunky me?
How am I to know who I am supposed to be?
Mom says I'm too big to buy cute clothes
Dad pushes me away because how to deal? Who knows?
I look at my body outside and try to see
Who am I, look at this fat, who can love me?
I need someone who won't laugh, criticize or judge
So I turn to food as my one true love

I am much older now and food is still there
It has become my cross to bear
Food took over and its time to let it go
Little girl 13, you are wonderful you, that you must know
No more suffering, hatred or shame
Take on the challenge, you deserve to win the life game.

The Journey

The Journey

One day you finally knew

what you had to do, and began

though the voices around you

kept shouting

their bad advice --

though the whole house

began to tremble

and you felt the old tug

at your ankles.

"Mend my life!"

each voice cried.

But you didn't stop.

You knew what you had to do,

though the wind pried

with its stiff fingers

at the very foundations,

though their melancholy

was terrible.

It was already late

enough, and a wild night,

and the road full of fallen

branches and stones.

But little by little,

as you left their voices behind,

the stars began to burn

through the sheets of clouds,

and there was a new voice

which you slowly

recognized as your own,

that kept you company

as you strode deeper and deeper

into the world,

determined to do

the only thing you could do --

determined to save

the only life you could save.

~ Mary Oliver ~