More than a month, close to 6 weeks....

First off I have to say I am amazed that I have stuck with it this long!  I don't see giving up anytime soon either.  I go to the doctor at the end of this month, so we'll see how this has changed my health.  Like I said before, I am amazed.  First exercising and now this - maybe I really am going to be healthy after all this. Anyone who knows me, knows that I have always said that my forties have to be better than my thirties!  Yes, I admit it is sort of right around the corner(about 5 more months).  Does help that I still see myself as young?

I have found this is really all about choices.  I find myself reading labels and asking what is in things - I am trying very hard.  I think that if I have just a little I'll want more, so its better just not to have any!

I did have a very trying experience last Sunday.  Our choir went to a local ice cream store.  I had done my homework about what they served, so I figured I would go.  I was all set to have a fruit smoothie or sherbet.  We got there, stood in line only to find out that their mixer was out of service - no smoothie for me. Okay, I'll have the sherbet - no, they had the one kind I didn't like.  So here I was surrounded by ice cream and I had nothing.  I sat and watched everyone eat and eat and eat.  I made it though....not to say I wasn't tempted....the littlest one had left hers by me while she went to the bathroom.....I had a thought to take just one bite....it won't hurt.....but I was afraid if I took one I would want another and another and another.....

Needles to say I didn't take the bite and am glad I didn't.  I do need to find recipes for cakes/cookies/treats that I can give to my mother in law.  She loves to bake and experiment - I'll volunteer to be the taste tester.

As for the weight loss, I am one pound from where I want to be.  Yes, I have hit a plateau.  I am also going to look into seeing a dietitian, so I make sure I am getting everything I need.  I have noticed the aches and pains have subsided and I have more energy.  I think my mood has changed too - not sure if my children would agree........

Okay I am rambling, so I am going to sign off now - Carrie

Two weeks and still going strong!

I have been doing very well - the planning - that's probably the hardest part. I planned ahead for church Wed. night, so that went smooth.  I had my first craving on that night, but it quickly passed.  The littlest one had this great looking angel cake with chocolate frosting smothering it - it was hard - but just for a moment.

Tomorrow I get to go out to lunch with co-workers and I get to have a salad w/out cheese - I could order fries now that I think of it - but I already put my order in...I am having fried mushrooms - that's healthy right?

Other than this nagging cough and sometimes sore throat - I feel great!  I do feel like I have more energy - I am peddling faster on my bike, and have a skip in my step(as much as I can have).  I have lost 5 lbs - not that I'm trying too hard and I can see parts of my body shrinking.  The hubby has noticed too - he mentioned it to me tonight as I was getting the family dinner : ) Made my day!

I've been exercising for close to 2 months now - and on this new eating plan for 2 weeks - I'm hoping to see some big results come the end of March - can't wait!

Hope this finds everyone well and thanks for stopping by.........Peace - Carrie 

Day 9.....

Well, I did it!  One complete week and one work week down. 

I will say that I am not really craving the food I used to love....I'm just not interested in it anymore.  Tonight I went to the carnival at Jefferson school, of course I ate before I went.  But the kid needed to eat, so I sat there with her while she ate.  I wasn't even tempted, not one bit.  There was a whole table of baked goods sitting right there, and me, who normally can't get enough of that kind of stuff - didn't want it.  No wonder the weight is coming off!

Dinner at church Wednesday night was also interesting.  I had called ahead to see what they were having - soup, salad, and then lots of veggies.  Well, when I got there - the soup I thought I could pick the meat out of was way too packed with it to even try.  The salad ended up being Cesar Salad - ugh - good thing they had lots of fixings for the sandwiches.   I took a sandwich - gave the insides to the older child and made a veggie sandwich and ate the other veggies they had.

I've been contemplating how I plan to eat when I am out.  I am okay with doing just vegetarian in those moments.  Like I told someone this week - I'm not doing this to protest anything or be radical.  I'm doing it to get/be healthy.  The real test will come at my next blood draw in March.

I won't say it has been easy planning meals.  Anyone who knows me knows I don't like to cook.  I have found plenty of recipes- but I need to find some that don't take too long to make.  Or do what I did with the lasagna - make it on a day off and stock it up in the freezer.

Thanks for stopping by...........

Day 6....

Well I have done it!  I have been back at work for two days and so far so good! Having to pack lunch is taking some getting use to.  Before, I would either eat the school lunch or order out Jimmy John's if I didn't pack anything.  Now, I really don't have that choice.  I could order JJ's, I usually get the vegetarian, I could still get that, but without the mayo and the cheese.  Don't know if it would be the same.........

I did have to run to the store to pick up more veggies and fruit.  Having more fruit in the house is good for us all.  I'm not the only one eating it, so we are going through it faster.  I just hate going to the store when it's so COLD!

Tomorrow is the big weigh in day at school.  We are doing our own version of the biggest loser.  I'm trying to decide - do I go in and weigh in and then eat- or do I just eat and hope for the best?  

Breakfast has been the hardest for me.  Before last week I made a DAILY trip to McDonald's for breakfast.  Lg Ice Tea and a breakfast burrito - (that was the meat I ate daily). I miss the drink more - I would get to work and fill it up with water all day long.  Since I haven't been doing that, I find myself not drinking as much.  I need to get one of those cool water bottles!  Now I just make my breakfast and eat it on the way to work.  One of these days I'll take the time to sit at home to eat!  I just get so much done at work when no one is around........if you don't know, I like to socialize :)

So far so good  - hope everyone out there is staying healthy......................Peace <3

Day 4

First off, I'm feeling much better!  And I moved the alarm clock so it is right next to the bed, no more jumping out of bed to turn it off.

I really think I can do this....still getting slack from my eldest daughter, but it is more out of concern.....I think.

A big test was going to church this morning and the coffee and doughnuts.  The doughnuts would be hard for me....or so I thought.  I really didn't crave them, or even miss them.  I was excited to find they had non dairy creamer for my coffee!  It's the little things...

I'm finding myself getting fuller faster and then eating more often.  Good things of course.  I have lost about 3 pounds... and I can tell in the mirror(or maybe it is just me imagining it :)  ) 

Tomorrow it is back to work then class after.  I will pack my lunch and snacks tonight - it is easier and I do it while I am putting leftovers away.

I will say that I have gotten rid of a lot of crud lately - literally - I didn't know I was so full of it :)

Oh well, so far so good, tomorrow will be the real test........have a good one...

Day 2

I know it isn't day 2 - but I will sum it up for you all.

We actually had school, or so I thought. I got up when the alarm went off and was standing watching the closings and then all the sudden I was on the ground and my chin hurt.  Yep, I had another one of my "fainting episodes".  I hadn't had one since Dec. and then it was linked to the flu.  I continued to get ready for work with my ever watchful hubby following me around.  I made it to the kitchen and started my breakfast, but then felt it coming on again, so I decided to call in and went to the couch to lay down. 

I feel like it was probably the flu this time too.  I had a headache all day and pretty much stayed flat on couch all day. 

Other that that, I was able to keep food down and felt pretty good .....weird thing was that when I went to put my jeans on for work they were very loose!  I haven't gotten on the scale to see if I have lost anything yet, but I am thinking I have!

Day 1

Well we were graced with another day off from school and work.  The roads are getting better, but let me tell you - it is COLD out there!

I ventured out today to go grocery shopping.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I dislike grocery shopping.  That being said, I ended up spending almost 2 hours there!  The girls were worried and began calling - they couldn't believe I was still there. 

Why 2 hours you ask? Well, I had never been in the health/natural food section of our grocery store.  I had to read labels and my list and compare prices, etc.  I was quite surprised to find out that they do have quite a selection to chose from.  Needless to say, I was able to find most things I was looking for. 

I am thinking I can take regular recipes and tweak them so I can eat them.  Today I am going to make vegetable lasagna using a friend's recipe and tweak it a little.  Then I will cut it up into serving sizes and freeze them.  My family would have never eaten it in the first place, so I won't even attempt to have them try it.

Today for lunch I made portabello pizzas.  It was delicious!  I was so hungry when I sat down that I thought I would eat them both, but after one I was full.  I saved the other one for tomorrow's lunch.  I decided to try the soy milk vanilla flavored and had a glass of that too.  I will have to get used to that.  I think it will be fine on cereal, but straight - I'll keep trying.  On the a good note when I brought it home my youngest said "I've had that before, it's really good!"  Maybe I can get her to drink it too :)

At this point, my family is not so sure about the journey I have decided to take.  My husband thinks I should just do vegetarian first, then go all the way.  My response was that I basically already don't eat meat, it's the dairy that I do.  I know this will be hard, but hopefully they will see that I mean business.  Kathy Fretson even talks about just leaning into it.  But for me, I feel I just need to do it this way.

I'm starting to ramble, so I will close....so far so good - work tomorrow will be another challenge :)