Working Out - 5 days and counting

Everybody starts somewhere, so I made a decision, hopped on my treadmill and did just that.

Day 1 I ran 1 mile in 10 mins and 6 seconds. I lifted weights for my arms, added in squats and finished with sit ups done at various angles.

Day 2 was similar but with time shaved off of my mile as was day 3 and day 4 (I ran 1 mile in 9 mins and 28 seconds).

So today is day 5 and I ran 1.44 miles in 14 mins and 30 seconds.

It was hard, I was huffing and puffing. I ran at a 6.0 miles per hour pace the whole time. Needless to say I am making progress. It's small but it's there. I'm going for total body health, cardio, muscles, etc. I want a healthy body, organs and mind! I am excited and determined.

Stuffed Chicken - When you're bored of your normal food fair!

Ingredients:

4 chicken breasts (this allows one each for dinner or left overs if there are only 2 of you)
2 slices of Bread (home made on plan)
1 purple onion cubed
6 slices of well cooked bacon
bacon fat
1 large spoonful of goat cheese


Directions:

1. Pound your chicken breasts flat.
2. Take the next 4 ingredients and put them in your food processor. Process until it's a fine mix (really fine, not chunky)
3. Take the last ingredient and in a bowl add to the processed 4. This will make a paste.
4. Spread the paste onto the chicken breasts
5. Roll your chicken and stick it together with tooth picks
6. Fry chicken on both sides
7. Pop in oven at 350 degrees until totally cooked (about 20-30 mins)

Serve with a side of Brussel sprouts and Salad with home made dressing (honey mustard is good).

This was super yummy and half eaten already - haha
Over Eager!

Tomato Soup - from scratch

Tomato soup:

•2 cans of whole tomatoes
•3-6 fresh tomatoes
•1-2 cubes of chicken broth
•Salt and pepper
•3 cups if water (may use less or none if adding chicken broth vs. boullion cubes)
1-2 onions diced and sautéed in butter
1 cup of almond milk

Boil all the ingredients with bullets for about 30 or so mins.
Meanwhile sauté the onions then add once soft and keep boiling for at least another 10-15 mins.
Purée everything till smooth
Add in milk and bring to simmer
Add s/p to taste (lots if pepper)

Cool, serve and enjoy!

A WEEK IN THE FOOD LIFE OF LAURA (and RAYMOND)

TITLES AND PICTURES

A WEEKS WORTH OF MENU ITEMS AT THE OOSTEROM HOUSE

I had a request for a week of titles and pictures of what I'm eating (maybe it will help you with your weight loss journey or give you some creative ideas on meals, snacks, or examples of different foods that you wouldn't have thought to try before).

Anyway as I am just starting the week (today is Sunday, May 19, 2013) there won't be any pictures with titles until the end of the day!

I hope you enjoy and have fun following along with me as I give a little insight into my world of food!

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Lunch & snack — I was so full!

BREAKFAST: One cup of tea and two cups of coffee (this isn't normal for me but I was on the worship team this AM and we had to be there super early and so my usual breakfast didn't happen - ladies and gentlemen, don't do this to yourself... PREPARE!)

LUNCH: SALAD ON BREAD!

DINNER: SALAD ON BREAD cont. IT WAS TOO MUCH FOOD          THE FIRST TIME TO FINISH AT LUNCH!

SNACK 1: APPLE PIECES AND PEANUT BUTTER

Monday, May 20, 2013

BREAKFAST: 2 pieces of toast with peanut butter and apple stropp
one mug of warm apple cider



LUNCH: 1 Huge Salad: lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, pickles, shaved roast beef, cheddar cheese, and avocado - I added home made mayonnaise and mustard for the dressing
1 Large Glass of lime water



DINNER: Honey Garlic Chicken (fry the chicken in garlic and butter then drizzle honey over when serving).
Steamed broccoli and cauliflower with butter and melted cheese

SNACK1: Apple slices with peanut butter

THE REST OF THE WEEK INCLUDED THESE MEALS!

Home Made Taco Shell
with Cheese and Almond Flour

Home Made Butternut Squash Fries
and
Honey Mustard Mayo Dipping Sauce

Home Made Tacos
(turned into more of a salad)

Raymond made Fried Chicken
Carrots and Cauliflower
One night

Stir Fry (honey garlic)

Home made chips with
guacamole dip

Salad!

SALAD

Cheesey Onion Omelet 

Waffle (Almond Flour) with
Yogurt and fresh pear and
cinnamon on top with honey
drizzel 

Apple Pear (Yummy)

Coffee with honey and
Cinnamon Drizzle
(home made almond milk)

Peanut Butter and Apples!
My favorite snack.

Pineapple chicken stir fry

Breakfast:
Coffee, Shake, Toast with
Home made Jam and
Clean Peanut Butter

MORNING SHAKES!

This Message is for EVERYONE

this message is for EVERYONE

if you have ever bought, stashed or thrown out product (skin care, or beauty) because it was the WRONG COLOR or not for your SKIN TYPE or only worked for ONE WEEK, ONE MONTH or NOT AT ALL then you weren't using mary kay!

MARY KAY products are ALWAYS the right color and formula for your skin type. the products last and do what they say they are going to do because THEY ARE 100% CUSTOMER SATISFACTION GUARANTEED!

Shop with me online and DON'T PAY for shipping and handling.

you can SHOP WITH ME at:
www.marykay.ca/loosterom

BREAD (grain free - tastes good)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of coconut flour

1 1/4 cups almond flour

1/4 cup ground chia seeds or flax seeds (i ground my chia seeds up in the magic bullet)

5 eggs

1/4 tsp sea salt

4 TBSP coconut oil (heat up to liquid form in microwave then cool off)

1 TBSP apple cider vinigar

2 Tbsp honey

1/2 tsp baking soda

*This makes a smaller loaf of bread so you will want to double it if you're hoping 

for a normal sized loaf

Directions:

1. Blend all dry ingredients in a bowl and in a separate bowl all the wet ingredients

2. Make sure to blend the eggs till frothy, about 3 minutes THEN stir the honey and vinegar into the eggs.

3. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet

4. Scoop your batter into a well greased loaf pan

I cut the loaf in half and then sliced the wrong way

5. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes (until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean)

6. Cool and Serve

This recipe enables you to have sandwiches, buns for burgers or toast in the morning while on the SCD

FROZEN MANGO SORBET (DAIRY AND SUGAR FREE)

FROZEN MANGO SORBET 

(DAIRY AND SUGAR FREE)

INGREDIENTS:

2 mangoes

2 cups of lactose free yogurt

3 TBSP honey (or more, depends on how sweet you like it)

1-2 tsp pure vanilla extract

APPLIANCE:

1 ice cream maker ready to go per instructions

1 magic bullet or blender of some kind

DIRECTIONS:

1. peel and pit your mangoes. place the flesh in the magic bullet and puree

2. take your yogurt, honey and vanilla, place all 3 ingredients in the magic bullet (a new cup) and puree until mixed.

3. pour both the mango puree and the yogurt into the ice cream maker and let it mix for 30 minutes until it's ice cream consistency.

30 DAY SHRED CHALLENGE

So, for the past 6 months I have eaten my way to a 38 pound loss without working out at all (besides starting to hike once a week with my husband for our date day).

Today we got on our running shoes after I got home from work, put on a 30 day shred video by Jillian Michaels and did the first 20 minute workout of 30.

My goal is to tone up, gain definition and slightly increase my muscle mass. During the workout I'm using two, two pound weights strapped to my legs as well as lifting 2 pound weights for the weight required exercises.

I have decided to do the level 1 for 7 days, level 2 for 7-10 days and level 3 for 13-16 days depending on how quickly my endurance increases. I want to be able to do the whole video full out by the end and begin to form a habit of working out daily whether it's for 20 minutes like these videos, 1-3 hours of hiking on a Saturday.

My ultimate goals are to run a half marathon, be benching 110 lbs - 150 lbs consistently and continue to eat cleanly while introducing rice and quinoa back into our diet in 2-3 years.

Be encouraged, we're all in this together - btw, I made some amazing frozen mango, yogurt sorbet tonight and will post the recipe and pictures soon!

THUMB PRINT COOKIES

THUMB PRINT COOKIES 

With Home Made Jam and Coconut Whip Cream!

Uncooked, After the Jam is Added

Ingredients:

Before the Jam is Added

For the Macaroons

2 Cups of Coconut (unsweetened, flaked)

1.5 Cups of Almond Flour

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 - 3/4 Cup of Honey (depends on how sweet you like them)

2.5 TBSP Coconut oil / 2 - 3 TBSP Butter

I made Blueberry Jam

For the Chia Seed Jam

3 Cups of Frozen Berries (Raspberry, Blueberry or Blackberry)

1/4 Cup of Honey (this jam isn't very sweet)

2 Tbsp Chia Seeds

1 TBSP pure vanilla extract

Instructions:

• For the Chia Seed Jam; Put the frozen or fresh berries in a pot, add the honey and stir until liquidy with a few berries (should look like jam). Bring the pot to a simmer; after 5 minutes add the chia seeds and cook down the mixture for about 15 minutes (should thicken) - STIR FREQUENTLY TO AVOID BURNING YOUR JAM! Remove from heat, stir in your vanilla and put in the fridge to chill.

Baked till golden brown

• Preheat the oven to 275F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a non stick mat. 
• In a large bowl combine all the ingredients together for the macaroon recipe. Using your electric beaters mix all the ingredients together. The dough is wet and sticky but this is normal.
• Grab a large spoonful of the dough, roll it into a ball and place it onto the lined tray. Using your thumb, make a print in the middle of the cookie. Repeat this process until the tray is full - PUT YOUR TRAY IN THE FRIDGE SO THEY FIRM UP.
• When you are ready to bake, first spoon your jam mixture into the holes in the cookies and then put them into the oven. 
• Bake at 275 for 20 minutes then rotate the pan and bake for another 20 minutes. 
• These cookies should be golden brown when fully baked and after a couple of minutes on the pan, firm enough to transfer them onto a cooling rack and then into the fridge.

Coconut Whip Cream:

Ingredients:

1 Can of coconut Cream

1 tsp of pure vanilla extract

1-2 Tbsp Honey

1/4 of a vanilla pod (optional - really adds to the vanilla flavoring and color)

Directions:

CHILL YOUR MIXING BOWL IN THE FREEZER!

• Open your can of Coconut cream, drain off the liquid (keep for shakes later) and keep the cream.
• Put your cream in your chilled mixing bowl (the bowl should be freezing) and mix on 3-4 speed with your electric beaters.
• When it's whip cream texture add the vanilla, honey and vanilla seeds (in the pod, scrape them out - don't put the pod itself into the cream) and whip it again.
• Put the cream in the fridge (taste it first, you may want to add more honey or vanilla extract)

When you are ready to serve your cookies, put a cookie on the plate, pour some cream over the top (or purposefully place with a spoon) and add a dollop of jam in the center of the cream. Serve with a fork and a cup of tea or coffee! ENJOY!

I'M AT MY PRE-MARRIAGE WEIGHT!

So I wanted to update really quickly by sharing that I am down to 143.6 lbs now. I'm so excited for that because I remember stepping on the scale a week before I got married and I weighed 143 lbs at that time too. It's been an exciting journey these past 5 months of changing what we eat and watching my body change because of that choice. I have officially lost 37 pounds, I started November 2012, and all I can say is that it's so sad how before I thought I could never lose the weight and that it would take so long to get it off. I believed that because it took me 2 years to put it all on that it would take even longer to get it off. I still have another 13 pounds to lose before I'm at my goal weight but I'm telling you that if I can do this so can you! I fully believe it 100%

Another exciting thing is a VEGAN dessert I stumbled upon, made and inhaled! It was "cheesecake" made from nuts! It tastes like cheesecake and is (was) so good! I will be posting the recipe soon and one for a chocolate carmel one too.

Eating in this way doesn't have to be restricted just different. It allows you and I to learn to cook with things we've never thought to try before and to experiment and relearn to make delicious dishes and desserts that are good for our bodies.

Thank you for continuing on this journey with me, I really appreciate it!
Laura

HE DIDN'T JUST CALL YOU FAT! (This is not the article you may think it is)

Are you hearing what is being said?

Okay ladies (and any gentlemen who read this) I'm about to get really honest. If you have a boyfriend, husband or male friend in your life (father, brother etc) that you care about their opinion DO NOT set them up for failure or bait them with loaded questions. It isn't fair! 

They get tongue tied, confused, nervous and most of the time will say the wrong answer because of what you are looking to hear. It's not them most of the time, it's you, me, us! 

As I gained an extra 40+ pounds I would ask my husband "Am I fat?" He would panic, swallow and say slowly "You have gained weight but you are still attractive to me." Then I would throw at him the "Do you think I need to lose weight?!" His reply would be "I think it would be good, yes."

Now before you get upset with him or take on any offense for me, listen to what he said. "1. You have gained weight (I had), 2. You still are attractive to me (I can't argue this although I tried), 3. I want you to lose weight so we can do the things we used to."

Lets take a look at the first one. I had gained weight and was continuing to gain at that point. When I asked him if I was fat the truth was that I was (at 180 lbs) and he wasn't going to lie to me. He didn't call me fat he said I had gained weight. It was true! The truth not only hurt but it fed my insecurity and after that answer I only heard the lies I was telling myself. They included, you're fat, that makes you ugly, that means you aren't attractive anymore, that means he doesn't like you and you already don't like yourself?! What a viscous cycle.

Men can separate things, categorize them and not let the one affect the other. For women it's the opposite, everything is connected and in most cases cannot or will not be separated. So when Raymond said that I had gained weight, I could still be attractive to him even though for me it was impossible to believe because in my head weight gain meant unattractive and there wasn't any other outcome. 

Now for all the ladies out there who are plus size, in the middle or larger I'M NOT BASHING YOU! I have been raised in a house where gaining weight was the worst thing that could happen to you. It created an mentality that if I gained weight (me, Laura Oosterom) then I was unattractive. However I have been friends and am friends with many plus sized girls and women and they are so beautiful in my eyes. They're sexy and voluptuous and I can't stop telling them how pretty or beautiful they are, how lucky some man will be to marry them one day and I mean it with all my heart. But for myself personally when it came to weight gain I couldn't get past how I had been raised to think about it.

It wasn't just the weight gain! It was so much more, for myself I became lethargic, I had no energy, I was sad, depressed, didn't want to cook, clean, get off the couch, go anywhere, be seen etc. As you can read, I wasn't a very fun, interactive wife, friend, sister or daughter. I was super insecure and trying to disappear. Part of the problem was that I didn't believe I was beautiful anymore and another part was that I thought I was stuck and growing. I didn't believe I could lose weight or change my future in this aspect and it was killing me. 

The second thing my husband would say was "You are still attractive to me" and he meant it. I couldn't or wouldn't hear him but he said it and meant it. Now something that I wish he had known to do was come to me and tell me how beautiful I was, how attractive I had become or how sexy I was to him. However as a cornered man he wasn't coming near the subject. And the truth for us as a couple is that he does prefer a more athletic build which is what I was before we got married and for at least the first year after. He fell in love with my athletic self and all of the activities we did together but with the new overweight version of me all of my joy and adventurous spirit and athletics disappeared. I fully believe that if I was my joyful, spontaneous, athletic self at 180 pounds he wouldn't have cared. 

The third thing he said was that yes he did think I should lose weight. It was a hard pill to swallow but it was sage advice as well. All he knew was that when I weighed less I was happy, energetic, up for adventures and challenges. He told me that he wanted those characteristics back. "I want my happy Laura back" he would say. He thought that losing weight and spending more time with God would do that for me. He was right. 

One other thing I will mention is that my husband also doesn't want me getting too skinny. He doesn't want a stick, he isn't some sicko that is looking for a magazine add in his wife. He just wants me. Some of you will read this and say "But you are you at 180 lbs and you are you at 140 lbs." That's true and it's not. I wrote in a previous blog that I didn't feel like myself, like I had been lost somewhere along the way. The truth was that at that heavier weight I wasn't me, I wasn't able to do the things I desire as Laura Oosterom. I have my own goals and dreams because I'm me (just as you have your own which makes you, you). I couldn't be who I want to be at that weight. I love being strong and being able to run, I like to cook and clean and go after crazy wild dreams that take a lot of energy and hard work. I thrive on being as strong as the boys or being able to compete with the work ethic being put out there. At 180 lbs I can't . 

So here's my challenge to you, LISTEN, step outside the moment, look at the big picture. If someone is asking you to be who you are called to be because they love you and they want you back then don't be offended. Don't corner the ones you love with the scary questions that have no positive outcome. Don't go looking for a screaming match or to feed your insecurity and self loathing. Either LOVE who you are and stay that way fully embracing the new you or love who you are now and start to change into the person you desire to be. Lose the weight or keep it, just make sure you are being faithful to yourself and know that you are beautiful! 

But be healthy! Too much weight will give health problems that nobody needs to experience or go through.

Ps. If someone is being a bully and calling you fat that's not okay. Tell somebody who loves you and cares for you and get that situation sorted out.

MARY KAY

So I have officially started with Mary Kay as a consultant in the Lower Mainland, BC Canada area. If you are interested in a facial or trying out their product or having a party please contact me here and I will give you a call! There is a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee and I'm all about finding what works for your skin! I won't sell you anything that you don't want or that is irritating to your skin.

My own testimony is that for my teenage years all the way up until about 2 weeks ago I have always had quite oily skin with frequent break outs, not to mention large open pores. I used to be quite good at covering up my blemishes and pores with make up and by drawing a lot of attention to my eyes. I decided to try Mary Kay after a woman at my church (who has amazing skin and who I thought was 20 years younger than she really is) told me what she used and that her mom was a consultant. I went to her mom's house, tried the product, liked how it felt and bought a package deal, plus I got 2 other items for half off.

For $235 I got face wash, face cream, night and day cream, foundation, microdermabrasion and lotion. The microdermabrasion and lotion cleaned out my pores and in two days I noticed them closing. The day cream and face cream together dried out my skin and my consultant promptly gave me a different day cream to try free of charge and took the other one back. Separately the creams are fine. My skin cleared up and even during that time of the month I only got one blemish that was easily hidden.

All that to say I am very happy with my purchase, I believe I have made a great investment, so much so I became a consultant myself and will be selling Mary Kay product as my new and second job.
I'm really excited to take you all on this journey of skin care that I have now brought into my health journey as we all have skin and should be taking the best care of it that we can.

Other important factors to good skin is at least 8 hours of sleep, each minute of sleep you get before midnight is worth 4 minutes to every minute you get after midnight. Also drinking a lot of water throughout the day keeps you hydrated, healthy and happy.

I would like to say that by changing what I ate I lost a lot of weight but my skin stayed the same. By introducing Mary Kay to my skin I have noticed a visible difference that I cannot deny. It's worth checking it out and trying it, because if you are not satisfied with the results you can always return it and get your money back. Also you can exchange your product for different product free of charge if it's not perfect for your skin type the first time you purchase Mary Kay, sometimes you need a little tweaking to your product choice.

STEAK, ASPARAGUS AND CESAR SALAD - Anybody want to lose 34 pounds with me?!

Tonight for Dinner I Had...

So tonight for dinner I made and ate a large cesar salad with delicious creamy dressing (made from scratch), steak, fried onions, pan fried asparagus in butter and garlic. For dessert I ate apple slices dipped in peanut butter and for my drink I stuck to water as I had already had a glass of orange juice during the cooking process. 

I have lost a total of 34 pounds (I am down to 146 pounds as of this week) and it has been 100% to diet. In my diet I do not eat sugar, grains, starch or dairy (although I have brought cream back with my coffee - it's my only exception). Because of the weight loss I have much more energy and so for the past few weeks my husband and I have done one fun outing every Saturday whether it be a hike, snow shoeing and today was ice skating. I lasted for an hour and fifteen minutes before I decided my socks were digging too deep into my skin due to rental skates. It was so much fun!

Due to my Mary Kay skin regime I have a clear face and that has been such a bonus to my weight loss. I feel so confident, joyful, energetic and I feel... Like myself again. For a couple of years I had lost myself. I gained 40+ pounds which changed so much more than my appearance. My energy flagged, my personality altered, I was sad and depressed, lethargic and a far cry from the happy, bouncing, beautiful woman my husband told me he had married. 

I've been on this journey since November 2012 which makes it 5 months ago that I gave all my food away and never looked back. It has changed my life and the life of my husband. He has been struggling health wise lately but he has kept on his weight and the relapse has looked different. He feels hopeful which is so important!

Here is a snap shot of tonights dinner that my husband took today. 

If we can do it, so can you, I believe it.

33 Pounds Lost and The Confidence to Start a Business!

Mary Kay and Me!

Today is March 30, 2013 and I weighed myself as I do on Saturday's and was surprised and happy to see that I am down 2 more pounds and now weigh 147.6 lbs.

Last night I got down on the floor before bed and did 22 push ups (full body, in a row) and today I'm going snow shoeing with the love of my life.

Before losing 33 pounds those things weren't possible. I was too heavy for more than 3-5 push ups, I was too tired and lethargic to even think about hiking or snowshoeing. The thought of those activities stressed me out and caused anxiety to creep in and I wouldn't be able to breath. This cut out the possibility of being active and doing things I had previously loved.

I'm still working towards my goal of being 130 lbs by the end and the end is in sight for sure. Only 17 lbs to go and now I have other goals as well. I want to be able to pump out 100 full body push ups in a row, I want to be able to do a 3 minute wall sit and a 5 minute plank. I want to be able to run AND jump again higher and faster, longer and with controlled breathing! I want to be able to do 25-50 pull ups and be flexible again (I have started stretching). I want to be healthy and fit, ready for anything whether it be a walk with friends or a 50 km bike ride or an over night hiking trip with full on gear or a half marathon.

I want to be able to do these things so that I can be strong and agile now, when I have children and as I get old. The grandparent figures in my life were in shape, could swim, hike, cook, bake, build, boat, garden, they were involved in their respective communities, traveled, loved, took chances and lived life. I don't want to find myself a couch potato when I'm 45 or 50 just because I was lazy and didn't take the time to develop my body or control my eating or get involved in the world around me. I want to live life for myself, not through my tv or movies. I want to be an active part of the people in my community, church, neighborhood and family.

These things are important, these things are real.

I also have just started the exciting adventure of becoming a business owner. I have started my own company with Mary Kay cosmetics and am the new Richmond BC consultant! I have been looking into various home owned businesses for a while now and decided to choose Mary Kay for a number of different but positive reasons.

Yes is was a substantial investment, yes it's taken commitment, but what doesn't that's worth anything. My husband is in full support of this choice and I can't wait to get started. My shipment comes in the second week of April and I will be booking parties and welcoming people into my home right away.

I feel so blessed to have been able to take this opportunity and also to have the confidence to do it. I remember being a teenager who had to sell coupon books for her school but couldn't muster up the courage to meet new people and find who needed and wanted the books. I feel as I've grown older I have gained a confidence that has allowed me to love and care for those around me. I'm not being busy with my insecurities or wondering what others think, I'm trying to bless and encourage those I come in contact with.

For me, I think the outside should reflect the inside. If you take care of yourself (get a hair cut once and awhile, dress comfortably but also nicely, put on some make up, exercise, make healthy food choices etc) it shows and others are attracted to that. When people are cared for they can care for others around them.

Mary Kay is a wonderful chance for me to take care of my family (my husband is quitting his job in September and attending university) and still be able to bless others even though we are going down to one income. This is HUGE for me and I was really saddened by the thought of not having enough to support ourselves which would mean we couldn't support the different charities and children that we are invested in. This is my chance to teach others how to take care of their skin (which we all have) and how to be more confident in themselves which is also very important to me.

Welcome on my journey as a Mary Kay consultant! I'm very excited about it and will be sharing my journey of health, exercise and now Mary Kay with you as you read along with my writing.

Thank You for any prayers and all of your support!
Laura O

When I'm Sick For Five Weeks....

When I feel like I can't go on, God reminds me He allowed me to marry a GREAT example of a non quitter, no matter how sick he is.

So I've been dealing with being sick for about 5 weeks now. It started with the flu, moved onto more stomach issues, continued down the path of a terrible cold and has finally ended with this week of sickness free!
It's allowed me to look into my husband's life for a bit. How he is sick every day and doesn't complain. He goes to work and works hard, he comes home and works hard, he attends functions such as church and lifegroup and doesn't murmur a peep.
Let me tell you that being sick for five weeks has been tiring, exhausting even. Going to work and coming home to everything that needs doing here has almost gotten the best of me more than once. I have not been complain free. I have cried, whined, whimpered, used my illnesses as an excuse not to pull my weight around the home and my husband, for the most part, has been understanding and picking up my slack.
I want to take this time to publicly thank him for his high standards for himself and his sacrifice and good example to me. He is tireless and works diligently until the job(s) are complete. He works first and rests at the end of the day. He is such a good leader and is also very patient and kind.
Thank you Raymond for showing me how to be self controlled, ordered, patient, kind, diligent, hard working and a non complainer. There are so many other good qualities I could add but I just wanted to do a little shout out for the things I've been noticing these past few weeks. And for the lessons you have been teaching me even when I didn't know it. I'm glad my eyes have been opened and that I can see all that you've been doing and teaching me even in my blindness, selfishness and stubbornness.

Today I made soup from scratch, baked chicken, fried fish and am about to put cookies in the oven. I managed to do all this because my husband needs to eat tomorrow and even though I'm tired (mostly from recovering) he would have done it for me. I love that when he's home I can count on him to make delicious dishes for me when I get home (even though he rarely feels top notch). I am also working on finishing up the laundry and the dishes I have recreated in my cooking ventures.

DEEP COVE HIKE

Quarry Rock Hike

This is an easy hike that took us 40 minutes to get up and 30 to get down. The view was beautiful and reminded me of home. I am currently out of shape although losing 30 pounds sure made a HUGE difference that I noticed (and my husband did too). We stopped a few times on the way up but I had an extra bounce in my step on the way down, I even jogged a little. I want to add that the way down had almost as many ups and flat places as the way up did. If you live in the Vancouver BC area I challenge you to check out this hike, gather some friends or your hubby and make a date of it! Enjoy yourself and make sure you pace yourself properly so you can enjoy your time and not feel as if you're dying! Good luck hiking, this is a fun one for starting out!

Views

The Trees are also Cool!

Me and my husband, March 11, 

Check out how to get there through this link!  http://www.vancouvertrails.com/trails/quarry-rock/

EGGPLANT BURGERS!

WHO KNEW EGGPLANT COULD TASTE SO GOOD!

ALL YOU NEED IS A PANINI GRILL

INGREDIENTS:

1 EGGPLANT - keep skin on and cut into rounds

Home made Mayonaise

Cheddar Cheese Sliced

White or Yellow Onions Cut into Rings

Tomatoes Cut into Thick Rings

Butter about 1/4 - 1/3  cup

Garlic - Fresh, Crush

Directions:

Dip your veggies in a garlic / butter mixture (melt 1/3 cup of butter and add 2-3 freshly crushed pieces of garlic, mix).

Grill them on the panini grill in stages (first the eggplant, then the tomatoes, next onions) 

Layer them.

1. Eggplant

2. Mayo

3. Cheese (should melt because veggies are hot)

4. Onion

5. Tomato

I served these with a side of pickles and pan fried garlic chicken. To make the chicken just cut up 1-3 chicken breasts into cubes (boneless and skinless are the easiest). Fry them in butter, coconut oil and 3 crushed pieces of fresh garlic till fully cooked. 

The chicken is also amazing on salad the next day or with a side of veggies!

This is a panini grill

This is pan fried chicken

This is to show the layers

The finished product! Yummy!

Trim Healthy Laura

All of the following information you are about to read comes from "Trim Healthy Mama" by Pearl Barrett and Serene Allison

This blog is not written word for word from their book but is a compilation of multiple chapters based on my own reading and understanding of what they are saying. I think that if you are reading this blog you should take the time to check out their book at AMAZON.COM and seriously consider purchasing it. I did and it's been a great source of information and learning as well as explaining why I have gained weight in the past by eating less or losing weight by eating more - IT'S HOW YOU EAT! 

(They also have a facebook page you can join "Trim Healthy Mama")

Some of you wanted to know how to get rid of that stubborn belly fat that won't seem to come off. 

Before telling you what to do I have a few questions for you first. 

1. Have you lost over 30 pounds in the past few months / Has a large amount of weight come off quickly?

2. Even though the pounds on the scale aren't budging your clothes feel looser or are fitting better (you are working out as well as trying to eat cleaner, healthier).

3. You think you have "plateau d" based on the fact you haven't lost weight in the last week or two or your weight loss has slowed.

In chapter 12 of Trim Healthy Mama they cover different reasons for the pounds that are not melting off of your body. In chapter 28 they tell you how to lose that stubborn belly fat BUT they also go over some reasons why it may be staying on in the first place. It's usually not as simple as your body doesn't want to lose it, trust me, healthy bodies want to let go of belly fat because it's not good for them. The whole book outlines a lifestyle way of eating that will cause your body to burn its own fat as fuel after it's burned the fuel you consumed. They talk about the different diets and fads out there and really explain the good and the bad of each diet and why they don't work for lasting results in the end. In this book they teach how to eat "S - satisfying meals" and "E - energizing meals" to lose weight (with fuel pull meals for extra weight loss) and how to incorporate "crossover meals" to maintain your weight after you've reached your goal. 

Their one rule is: NEVER INCLUDE LARGE AMOUNTS OF BOTH FATS AND CARBS IN THE SAME MEAL UNLESS YOU ARE TRYING TO GAIN OR MAINTAIN WEIGHT. DON'T TANDEM FUEL!

"Diets that tout ridiculously fast weight loss tax the adrenal glands and mess with your hormones. The catabolic hormone cortisol which comes from stress will start to pump through your body if you shed weight TOO FAST. After a while this high cortisol state will cause your weight to PLATEAU and your results will halt. You may have lost 40 pounds really fast but the remaining 20 pounds may become stubborn especially around your middle. This is because excessive cortisol, after it eats you up, will put on or keep weight in your mid section." (Right from the THM book)

You are going to want to seek a slow and steady rate of fat loss. Too fast of weight loss does not allow your skin to shrink in harmony with you're decreasing body shape. You may be able to get rid of some excess skin by lifting weights but you also don't want to look like Arnold in order to get rid of your excess skin problems either. If you lose too quickly and you are losing a large amount of weight you are guaranteed to have loose skin. Go slow, incorporate some cardio and weights and you are going to love the body you are creating.

Change ups are what keep your metabolism fired up. Switching between S and E fuel sources and occasionally adding a FUEL PULL keeps your metabolism hot and revved. Constantly consuming the same fuel over and over is a sure way to kill your slim figure. 

Okay so here is what you've been slogging through the blog to read. The above information was supposed to get you thinking as to whether you really have plateau d, if you are losing too fast, or ready for this brief metabolism shake up. To find out more about S and E meals (as well as their 'relatives' please check out the Trim Healthy Mama book by either ordering the paper copy or purchasing the E-Book).

The cycle is a seven day process repeated once for a total of two weeks. 

DAY 1 - Deep S  This is a full day of exclusive S meals. 

** The following information for DAY 1, 2 and 3 are applicable to all three days. 

Do not use any S helpers. 

Do not have any berries, fruit, grains or beans at all. 

For the next 3 days do not consume any nuts, seeds, avocados or peanut butter.

You many have unsweetened almond milk or flax milk for smoothies.

Any carbohydrates you consume need to be leafy greens, or a few cooked, buttered, NON-STARCHY vegetables. 

Be liberal with fats such as extra virgin coconut oil, and butter.

All meats and eggs are okay. 

Use only home made dressings.

No Yogurt, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese or cream cheese can be consumed. 

Do not use tomato based products - AT ALL. 

Eat very few onions and no sweet peas as these veggies are more middle carb level.

Enjoy cheese in small amounts (raw cheese is best)

Whey Protein is welcome. 

Page 433 and 434 have great meal ideas that will keep you full and satisfied during your "temporary tune up" you definitely DO NOT have to go hungry.

On this day you are flushing out excess glucose from your cells and switching to pure fat burning for fuel. Avoid all store-bought low-carb items! Adding lots of coconut oil will provide you with more energy and boost your thermogenic temperature. During these three S Fuel Days keep your focus on healthy meats, fish, eggs, fats, fresh salad and just a few cooked non-starchy veggies. 

DAY 2 - Deep S

You may have a little real, unsweetened whip cream in your coffee if you would like. 

Extra virgin coconut oil will accelerate weight loss and help keep your brain from fogginess as your glucose dips into a lower state. 

DAY 3 - Deep S

You may cook with butter during these 3 days. You need to bathe your body in good fats as they are going to be non existent on the next part of this cycle. 

Day 4 - The previous 3 days have depleted your muscle cells of glucose completely. Hopefully your body is now dipping into your adipose tissue and gnawing away at that. It's ok if it's not because we are about to ensure it does!

Starting at the day 4 mark you are going to strip all fat away to ensure that your body has nothing to fuel up on except its own fat. You'll only be eating these Fuel Pull meals for the next 2 days. 

No nuts, butters, seeds, seed butters, nut butters etc. MAY USE 1 TSP OF OIL. 

Eat a lot of Salad but only use vinegars, lemon juice and very small amounts of extra virgin olive oil (1 tsp max) for dressings.

Fill up on cooked, non starchy veggies. Try making fat free chicken soup or angel hair sliced cabbage with a chicken breast on top.

You may have konjac/glucomannan  noodles with low fat sugar free marinara sauce and one TBSP of parmesan cheese on top.

Tomatoes are now welcome back on your menu for the rest of the week. 

NO FRUIT for the next 2 days except berries.

NO grains, beans or starchy veggies.

You may have 0% Greek Yogurt for the rest of the week. Greek style yogurt is the only acceptable kind of yogurt for this week. 

You may have 1% cottage cheese for the next two days but NO ricotta as it's higher in calories.

No MORE than 3 oz of lean meats per meal during the next 2 days. And no RED MEATS only white is in for the next 2 days. White meat is lower in fat and these 2 days are as close to fat free as possible.

You may also eat white fish and egg whites for the next two days.

Unsweetened almond milk or flax milk is okay and your coffee must be black for the next 2 days or have Unsweetened Almond Milk in it.

DAY 5 - Repeat day 4

If you feel as if you can't do this it's most likely because you don't have the THM book which includes recipes and meal ideas for this week. I don't think its fair for me to include them in this post as I think it's a great book to purchase and read and also a great family to invest in by buying the book. The E-Book version is cheaper than the paper version of the book but remember that it has over 600 pages to it and is also more than a recipe book or diet fad. They explain the why behind the theory and show you scientifically why foods work or don't work together. They have information about all the other BIG diets out there and explain why they seem to work but why they are not the best in the end or for the long term. 

DAY 6 - The next two days are E days. You are going to force your body to burn a different type of fuel. NO SUGAR SPIKES OR CARB BINGES ladies!

Have lean protein with every snack and meal. This will ensure that there are no sugar spikes and enable your body to release glucagon along with insulin to temper its effect). 

Chana dahl and quinoa are great. They are both good sources of slow burning carbohydrates. 

Do NOT use more than 1 tsp of fat with any snack or meal. 

Enjoy fruit if you wish but don't overdo it. Your liver only has a small storehouse for fructose. 

No egg yolks. No full-fat cream or creamer. No goats milk either as it's high in fat.

Primarily whole foods are being promoted for this week.

Low fat cottage cheese, ricotta, low fat greek yogurt or regular yogurt, egg whites, chicken breast and fish may be utilized on day 6 and 7.

Day 7 - Same as day 6

Repeat the cycle starting at day one only once more. This week awakened your metabolism and if you have really stubborn weight you may need to complete this cycle twice more if you can stand it. HOWEVER, do not stay on this for longer as your body WILL become used to the lower calorie intake and lower your metabolism if you do. This is not a way of living, it's a boost for your metabolism to get it engaged in what it's supposed to be doing. Burning up its fuel sources of fat that need to come off in order for you to be healthy! 

After you have done this cycle DO NOT GO BACK to your old way of eating. Free style the girls S and E way of eating and you won't ever go back to your old weight. It's a bit of a thought process at first as you most likely will NEVER have previously thought of eating this way. Once you get your head around it its easy and totally doable. If you adopt this way of eating don't start with this temporary tune up as you may feel discouraged and quit before you start. Begin with by free styling the S and E meals and you may find that your body begins to shed the pounds by itself without the aid of this tune up week. 

Let me know how you make out and what you think! Thanks for challenging me to write this ladies, I hope you find it doable and encouraging. I also hope you look into purchasing the book as it's really helped me to clear up a lot of confusion about dieting, eating right and all of the fads out there. It's shown me the how to eat, the why of pairing up certain foods with others and which pairing to avoid. How to lose, gain or maintain weight in a natural and healthy way. 

I'VE LOST .... 28 POUNDS IN 14 WEEKS!

Braces and the Flu are Contributing Factors for Today's Weigh In

So for the past 2 weeks I have been living off shakes. Not by purely by choice but because I got braces and with that came spacers. Spacers are little white bumps of hard glue or cement that keep any of my molars from touching. Their purpose is to keep my top front teeth from biting the bottom front brackets off when I chew due to my large over bight. However, because of how high the spacers are, I cannot chew anything as none of my teeth touch each other. I've tried, but it consists of me swallowing whole foods which is to say the least, unpleasant.

I have a shake for breakfast, a shake for lunch and lots of water during the day. Sometimes I have a shake for a snack as well but my appetite has gone down since this whole spacers fiasco. My biggest concern is that the spacers won't be able to come off at the end of the 4 weeks if my teeth haven't shifted enough and I'll be stuck with not eating for even longer!

I also just finished a terrible bout of the flu which only lasted 24 hours but where I couldn't move or drink without vomiting. It was so sad. 

The reason I told you those 2 things is that they are small but definitely contributing factors. I lost another 5 pounds this week and at this point in the game a person usually loses 1 - 2 pounds per week as I had been doing up until this week. 

My goal weight to reach on this journey of learning to eat right, exercise and get healthy is 130 pounds. I have lost a total of 28 pounds and 14 weeks ago I was 180 pounds. I'm currently weighing in at 152 pounds and I'm so proud of my bodies hard work. 

For exercise I have been doing push ups (I'm up to 20 full body push ups in a row), sit ups, squats (with a weight) and my cardio consists of walks. Nothing too fancy or strenuous, but right now with my food limitations I can't afford to push myself. 

I'm really excited to be weighing in at 152 pounds in such a short time! I can't believe my body has done this all by itself and that by eating the proper foods my body knows what weight it needs and what is excess. 

I'm really excited to continue eating and living the way I want (I still enjoy home made cookies and candies according to the SCD recipes) and having all this extra energy that comes naturally from not carrying around an extra 28 pounds on my body!

So whether you've lost zero pounds because you're just starting, one pound or hundreds of pounds CONGRATULATIONS! Keep up the great work of balancing, eating right, enjoying treats here and there and exercising your way to a healthier, happier, more energetic you! 

6 Feet, 8 Inches at 177 pounds....

What to do When the Disease Seems to be Winning?

When I married the man of my dreams I knew he was sick. I had looked up the disease and had listened to him talk about it. What I didn't comprehend is how stressful it could be as I watched him waste away as I got heavier and heavier.

Ulcerative Colitis is a debilitating disease that strips you of your health and dignity. My husband has it, and I am so proud of the way he handles himself and strives to live as normal of a lifestyle as he can. If any of you know him, you may not know that he is taking a lot of medication or that he's even sick.

When we got married back in 2010 he had no body fat, but lots of nice muscles and so I wasn't concerned about the fact that he was very light in the pounds department for his height. I also didn't put the two together, that if he was doing well then he was closer to 182 lbs and if he was having a relapse that he was hovering at the 177 lbs mark.

Once things got stressful for us (as new marriages often can) he began dropping (stress is a huge trigger for a relapse) and I began gaining. The more he dropped the more anxious I became. When you are 6'8, one hundred and seventy-seven pounds isn't enough weight to keep you going. He was telling me that he was getting tired at work, his legs were giving out - there wasn't any energy left.

When he came home one day and told me about his work-friend's son being on the "Specific Carbohydrate Diet" and that he thought it might work for him I cleared out our old food and went grocery shopping.

A little while ago he had a surgery that enabled the specialist to take pictures of his intestines and take samples as well. The pictures showed intestines, free of inflammation (except one tiny spot that the doctor wasn't worried about) and we are still waiting for the results of the samples.

I'm writing to say that my husband has been following this diet without cheating once for 15 weeks now and he is currently 186 pounds. And that's with him currently not feeling well and thinking he is having a relapse. The book said at about the 3 month mark a relapse is common and that you shouldn't give up.

So here we are at the 3 month mark, my husband is sick but miraculously has also gained weight.

I'm so grateful for this small sign of hope and health!

Don't give up no matter your journey. I'm continuing to lose weight, with God's help my husband will be healed and continue to gain. Whatever you are going through you aren't alone and someone understands!

God Bless,
Laura

COCONUT FLOUR MINT COOKIES

MINT SHORTBREAD

Ingredients:

1 1/4 Cup Coconut Flour
1 Egg
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Salt
1 Tbsp Pure Mint Extract
1/4 - 1/2 Cup of Honey
1/3 - 1/2 Cup of Butter (Partly Melted - from fridge, 30 sec in microwave)

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together (beat the egg first, then add the rest of the wet and last mix in the dry)
Bake for 12-15 minutes at 350 degrees
Cool

Enjoy!

It's like a mint short bread - I rolled them into balls and pressed down with a fork the same as I would do for peanut butter cookies. VERY GOOD and doesn't have that almond flavor you can't escape when baking with almond flour.

EGGPLANT NOODLES

EGGPLANT NOODLES ARE YUMMY!

INGREDIENTS:

Eggplant (1-2)

Salt

DIRECTIONS:

Peel your eggplant

Cut length wise (a thicker strip)

Take each piece and cut them into thin strips (noodle size)

Put them in a bowl and sprinkle salt on them

Let them sit (they will sweat) for about 15 minutes

PUT THE NOODLES IN A TEA TOWEL AND SQUEEZE ALL THE REMAINING WATER OUT 

Either you can saute them in coconut oil until they are soft or you can boil them till soft. I sauteed them and haven't tried boiling yet. Saute until the "raw" texture is gone (or for as long as you like).

VEGETABLES:

I made a stir fry of vegetables to go with mine. Broccoli, Kale, Spinach, Red and Yellow Peppers, Mushrooms, Purple Onion,  and if you want some grated Carrot would be nice as well.

SAUCE:

For the sauce I used 1 can of coconut milk (no guar gum), 1 pkg of herbed goat cheese, 1-2 tsp green Thai curry and a little butter. I brought this to a boil and stirred until it was thick and all melted together. Then I mixed my veggies in it (yum yum)!

EGGPLANT LASAGNA

Eggplant Lasagna

Looks Good and Tastes Great!

Ingredients:

Sauce: 1 Can of Tomato Sauce (Crushed Tomato's, Italian)

             6 Fresh Basil Leaves Diced

             S/P to taste

Mix together and set a side

Noodles: 1-2 Large Eggplants; Peel, cut length wise and lay on parchment paper on baking sheet. 

Bake in pre-heated 400 degree oven for 15 minutes.

Cheese Filling: 1/2 - 1 Container of Dry Curd Cottage Cheese

                           1/3 of the Tubes of Goat Cheese (mix well with the dry curd cheese)

                           Spinach (Saute in butter and mix with cheese)

                           1 Yellow Onion (chop, saute with butter and s/p - mix while hot into the cheese mix)

Meat: 4 Chicken Breasts - Flatten with a meat pounder, sprinkle with s/p and crushed garlic

          Fry in Frying Pan

         1 Package of Ground Beef - Fry in Pan with s/p and crushed garlic

** Choose either chicken or beef, don't use both

Layer: Bottom of pan to top layer

Tomato Sauce

Eggplant

Cheese Mix

Meat

Repeat

Very Top Layer Sprinkle some Tomato Sauce and cover with your favorite hard cheese

Bake at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes YUMMY!!!

NOTES:

I put a piece of saran wrap over my chicken before I flattened it so that it wouldn't splatter everywhere. You have to pound it pretty hard as you want it quite flat. Don't put holes in it, just flatten it out.