This very sweet life

Let me preface this by mentioning that recently completed a whole 30…. Read more about what that is here…http://whole30.com/
Needless to say, it’s a pretty strict eating plan, of only whole foods, nothing processed for 30 days . I have felt so good..that I have pretty much stuck with that eating plan well beyond the first 30 days and am planning on continuing further with it. 
I’ve been busy the last couple months.. Like really busy.. From long road trip vacations, to baseball games, long day hikes, family holiday get togethers, Disneyland, trips to visit family and just the usual after work kid’s activities that keep you on the go all evening long. This non-stop lifestyle I have been leading lately, got me thinking about and forced to prepare for, eating healthy on the go.. That means no fast food…just good, nutritious food, fast! The key to this, as I have said before, is preparation. This means, sometimes you have to think about what you want for dinner on Thursday, on Monday.. Cook your food ahead of time and pack it in a cooler or lunch bag…I make meals when I know I am going to be gone from the house for a long period of time or gone during a meal time and can’t get to any healthy food options… Or you might have to research items on a menu before actually going to a restaurant.. It means packing simple, healthy food with you so you’re not stuck without options.. Or maybe even bringing your own salad dressing with you to a restaurant 😬. When you are prepared, you are much less likely to make bad food choices..so set yourself up for success. 

When I’m at endless hours of baseball practice, ballet recitals, on a airplane..or anywhere…here are some of my favorite things to have with me.. 

Rx bars are one of the EASIEST things to throw in your bag when you’re on the go.. They have only the ingredients listed on the wrapper, no added sugar and they are DELICIOUS! Most protein bars have a bunch on junk in them, but Rx bars are pure, clean ingredients. Try them for yourself.. Buy them here..

http://www.rxbar.com/

Simple, easy, filling…need I say more? 

Packaged tuna or lunch meat (if you have a cooler with you)..are both great sources of lean protien.. Pair with fresh or dried fruit and it will keep you full for hours. 

Nuts are a great, and easy protien source and these dried fruit products are delicious and filling as well. 

Hope this helps…happy travels!

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven’t posted in so long, it has been a CRAZY busy past couple of months..but I would like to share with you some more recipes that are somewhat regulars on my dinner table.. 

Let me preface this by saying that I recently did my first whole 30 and I HIGHLY recommend it..I feel so amazing eating this way, that for the most part I haven’t stopped.. So this includes some additional dietary restrictions besides sugar that you may notice in these recipes…like dairy, grains and legumes…It is just focusing on whole foods and getting rid of all processed foods.. If I come across a recipe that contains something that is not compliant, then I will find a way to change the recipe so that it is. I have had great success with this and even after being at a plateau, weight-wise, for a while now, it has pushed me past that and I am now losing weight again!  Although there is so much more to it than weight loss.. If you’d like to read more about it, check it out here…

http://whole30.com/
Below are some quick weeknight recipes that I love.. I tend to make extras so I have leftovers and don’t have to cook every night. 

http://whole360.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_20.html?m=1
These salmon cakes are so delicious and reheat well. For the riced cauliflower, I buy fresh or frozen pre riced cauliflower at trader joes and just sauté in olive oil with salt and pepper (shown here with mushrooms).  You could also put some cauliflower heads in a food processor and make them into riced size pieces.  

As for the tarter sauce, I start with homemade mayo http://whole30.com/2014/05/mayo/.. And add relish (check your labels, a lot of them have added sugar) salt, pepper and a little tobasco sauce. 

http://www.mychocolatetherapy.com/2012/01/crockpot-chicken-tacos.html?m=1
I love making a huge crockpot full of this amazing and simple chicken taco meat.   It’s good in salads, soups and lettuce wrapped tacos.. In this recipe I don’t use the taco seasoning packet (which has sugar 🙄).. I just add a bunch of chili powder, some cumin, salt  and garlic powder and of course your favorite salsa (but as always check the label). I usually end up with a ton of leftovers and freeze them for later! 

I don’t have a link to a recipe for these.. I just cook ground turkey meat just as you would regular taco meat, but like in the crockpot chicken recipe I use chili powder, cumin, salt and garlic powder instead of the taco seasoning packet (this way you can control the spice level to your liking as well). Wrap the meat up with some hot sauce and avocado in either bibb or romaine lettuce. 

This one doesn’t have any specific recipe either. I just mix together some olive oil, balsamic vinegar and Dijon mustard and brush it on boneless pork chops, salt and pepper on top. 

 Brush some olive oil on cut up sweet potatoes and sprinkle with salt and a little bit of cumin for a kick.. 

Cook both at 425 for about 20-25min.. Turning potatoes once. 

I served it with sautéed vegetables. Sooo simple.. So good! 

I like to make a really big pot of this one and have it for lunches or dinners.. It can be frozen for later too! Again, no real recipe.. It can be whatever veggies you have lying around.  Here is what I typically put in mine..

• 2 lbs ground turkey meat
• Minced garlic
• Chopped onion 

Allow to cook through, then add 

• Chicken broth (depending on how soupy you like it, I use about 1 box or a little less) 
• Zucchini 
• Sweet potatoes 
• Mushrooms 
• Tomatoes 
• Cumin, chili powder and Frank’s red hot sauce (spice to taste) 

This makes at least 8 servings and is perfect as leftovers! I use sweet potatoes in place of beans because of whole 30..they give you a similar texture and the sweet offsets the spice. 

That’s all for now! Stay tuned for more.. I’ll soon have an on-the-go post about what I’m eating when I travel, or go to events or places that typically don’t have great food choices (sporting events, theme parks etc). Thank you all for all the support! 💕💕💕💕💕💕💕

So, you’ve read what I make for breakfasts…and you know what I prep for lunches..but what do I eat for dinner? You asked, so I’m answering!  Here are just some of my favorite recipes for healthy dinners.. I change them here and there to fit my needs..but they are all delicious and SIMPLE! Because, if you know me, you know…I won’t make it if it’s complicated…I just flat out don’t have time for anything but simple 😉. 

  
Garlic lime chicken
  
Baked coconut shrimp
Use unsweetened coconut here (recipe calls for sweetened) 

  
Tomato basil salmon
Cauliflower mash
Such a delicious substitute for mashed potatoes!

  
 
Zucchini noodles are my absolute favorite!!!!! They are so good with your favorite pasta sauce and you can have a whole big plate without feeling weighted down and gross like when you have pasta. 

  
Just get something like this..(this is the exact one I have) and once you spiralize your veggies, sauté in a little bit of olive oil and top with your fave sauce! 

  
This is actually my go to weekend lunch, or those weekday evenings when I literally have zero time in my schedule for dinner.. It tastes so fresh in the pepper..its so good! 

For my chicken salad, I just mix canned chicken (drained) with mayo, Dijon mustard and relish (check ALL your labels, there are hidden sugars in a lot of these products, find the ones that don’t have sugar!) and salt and pepper to taste. Top with avocado…yum!! 

Try these recipes out! There will be more to come! Follow this page so you don’t miss out! 

Obviously I didn’t come up with the idea of meal prep, but I can’t say enough good things about it. Preparation is key. When you are as busy as I am, and I’m sure many of you are, it is so important to be prepared.. Every weekend, I take a few hours and make all my breakfasts and lunches for the week.  Below is what I prep and some links to recipes I use often: 

  
Here are some of my favorites: 

Chicken tortilla soup
Everyone loves the chicken tacos in the beginning of this recipe and the leftovers are used for the soup! I like to add zucchini 😉

Spicy turkey kielbasa soup
Love, love, love this one..no change!

Sausage, kale and white bean soup
I used chicken sausage in this one. 

Chicken, sweet potato and kale soup 

I like to add a little jalapeños for a bit of a kick..and I cook it in the crock pot instead 

With all of these, I will change here and there, add, take away, according to my taste. I tend to add more veggies than what the recipes call for.. But the common thread is usually lean proteins and lots of vegetables.. They are all really hearty and keep me full. 

  
Great addition to my lunch every day.. The key is, mix up the ingredients every week so you don’t get tired of the same stuff. Also…watch the salad dressing! Lots of added sugar in some..read your labels! 

And we all know about my breakfasts from a previous post… 

  

So that’s my weekend routine! It takes a little bit of time, but it is soooo worth it! When you are prepared..you won’t make bad food choices! And the more you do it, the quicker you will get.  For me, I am willing to spend a few hours on the weekend because during the week I don’t have an extra minute to spare! 

Some people ask me if I get tired of the same thing day after day, week after week.. First of all, everything I make, I make with variations week to week. Different ingredients in the salads and egg cups and different soup recipes. Second of all, when you begin to think of your food as fuel and nourishment for your body, you’re (at least I am) a little less concerned with always having something different, and for me, being prepared outweighs the need for great variety. Thirdly (that’s a word, right?!) my dinners are always different, so I still get lots of variety. 

I hope you all enjoy this! And I hope it helps! Look for your own recipes and see what works for you! 

Thanks for all your support, love you all💖

  
It can be done! Make a change today.. 

Left: 3 years ago

Right: a few days ago 

Read on to learn more…

Here are some of the benefits that I have personally experienced by giving sugar the boot…for good.. 

  
It’s not all about weight loss.. But it’s a big part of it!  As I have said before.. I lost 60 lbs in 1 year (70 lbs in 2 years) and 5 sizes! 

I’ve lowered my risk of diseases.. With my lifestyle 2 1/2 years ago.. I was well on my way to heart disease, diabetes and a long list of many other diseases at an early age.. The fact that I’m doing everything in my power to prevent these things makes me feel a lot better, for myself as well as my children.. http://www.m.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20100420/high-sugar-diet-linked-lower-good-cholesterol

The amount of energy I now have continues to amaze me.. Call me crazy.. But I actually WANT to work out!  My change of diet also changed my lifestyle.. I want to get up and move, I want to get outside and run or hike!  And I am committed to doing those things at least 4 days a week.. Also, I have more sustained energy… I hear a lot of people talk about going home after work and relaxing..but when I get home at 5pm, that’s when I work out. I don’t get those crazy sugar highs and blood sugar spikes.. So I don’t have those crashes.  I also sleep like a baby because of all of that!! Of course, I still need my coffee (I mean, I am still human 😜) but I can keep up with my kids, a very busy schedule and a regimented work out routine. 

My sugar cravings have been reduced greatly since starting this journey.  For those of you just starting..it does take about 3-4 weeks before they really start to go away..so stick with it!  Once the sugar cravings were just about gone..I stopped craving refined carbohydrates as well.  I was amazed by the link between consuming sugar and craving other carbohydrates. I do allow myself a serving of  refined carbohydrates (breads, etc) every once in a while (twice a month at most) but I don’t have the cravings I used to anymore.. I actually feel fuller and more sustained with lean proteins and vegetables. (I know how crazy that sounds, by the way, I wouldn’t have believed me either, but I promise it’s true!)  For the first time in my life, and this is huge, folks: I finally feel like I have the control over the food, not the other way around. 

Ever have that foggy brain feeling? Well, that has all but gone away with me now.. Of course it’s there from time to time if I didn’t get enough sleep or something.. But overall, my focus is a million times better than it used to be. 

Giving up sugar has been AMAZING for my immune system! This is a big one!!! When everyone around me is getting sick with coughs, colds, the flu, etc (including my kids bringing home school germs) I have been sick once in the past 3 years. And when I say sick.. I mean a runny nose and slight sore throat.. I still went to work and went about all my other business as normal..so I was a little sick.  Obviously I’m not completely immune…but you can’t say giving up sugar hasn’t helped!  Sorry, but nobody will ever convince me that not getting sick is just a coincidence. 

“Eating or drinking too much sugar curbs immune system cells that attack bacteria.” Source- http://www.m.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/10-immune-system-busters-boosters

Sugar is hard on your skin cells too.. My skin has cleared up quite a bit since I started this journey. I’ve also seen a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles (and trust me I’ve been through enough stress to put quite a few on this face of mine). Again, you can’t tell me that this is just a coincidence. 

I would say, though, that most importantly I have gained the confidence in myself that I was so desperately missing before.  This journey has been just as psychological as it has been physical.  I now know how strong I truly am.. I know that I have the strength and willpower to absolutely anything I put my mind to. Period.  At a certain point it isn’t about the weight anymore, all these benefits I found are all great..amazing even..

but it becomes about knowing your own worth. 

I am worthy of being the very best version of myself…and so are you.. I have proven that to myself..and I continue and will continue to prove it to myself every single day. 

Now it’s your turn…you only deserve the very best…of yourself! 

  

Here is a very simple snack that packs a lot of potassium, fiber and protein into a small bite.. It tastes like a treat but has no sugar..and it’s so easy that often times my kids make it without my help at all!  Great energy for pre or post workout too! 
Here is what you do: 

  

  
(Make sure you are using peanut butter without anything added to it, a lot of peanut or other nut butters have added sugar, and also the coconut flakes!)  

Freeze on a cookie sheet with wax paper.. Once they are frozen I take them off and put in Tupperware and store in freezer.. So good!  Just enough sweet to satisfy a craving.. Make them today and help yourself stay away from all the Christmas sweets!  

  
Thanks for all the support! Like and share! More to come! 😘

I’ve gotten quite a few messages from people who are taking this journey and they have mentioned the cravings and headaches.. I am ALL TOO familiar with these side effects.. But I promise…IT GETS BETTER! I don’t have to deal with those things very much any more, but here are some tricks that helped me in the beginning…

Peppermint and lavender oil..
  

 

I have been using essential oils for a year or so now.. Lavender and peppermint are my favorites because they are so versatile. I often use them mixed with almond oil for headaches (which I get VERY infrequently now). Just rub on your temples for headaches. For sugar cravings some people find it helpful to inhale or diffuse peppermint oil, or even rub on temples or wrists.. Make sure you always mix your oils with a carrier oil (like almond or coconut) if you are going to apply on your skin. 
Eat a piece of fruit

  
The fiber and vitamins found in fruits helps your body to slow the absorption of sugar into your system, your body won’t produce as much insulin to regulate your blood sugar, which means you won’t store the excess as fat, when eaten in moderation. That being said…don’t over due it! Too much and your body still can store the excess as fat, even if it is fructose. Keep it to 2 servings a day.. Save it for when you are craving the sweet stuff. 
Drink tea

  
This particular tea is my favorite…it really needs nothing added to it (although is amazing with coconut milk) and tastes great! But find what you like. I find tea particularly helpful in the evenings when those after dinner/nighttime cravings come along. 

Distract yourself…go for a walk/hike/run 

  
Everyone knows the benefits of exercise for your heart and body, but don’t underestimate what it can do for your mind too! It really can distract you from your cravings and refocus on feeling better.. Running or hiking is better than therapy in my book.  

Obviously, fitness has been a big part of my weight loss journey as well. I run 3-4 miles at least 4 days a week…but I didn’t start that way. I wasn’t able to do that when I began. I started with walking/jogging intervals…1/4 mile each. I slowly built up how long/far I could jog..1/2 mile, then 1 mile..and more. It was just pushing myself to the next goal because I KNEW I could do it.. It was purely mind over matter for me. As of now…I’ve gone up to 7 miles straight running and I know I can push myself to the next level..and I will! 

I can’t thank everyone enough for all the support and encouragement with my blog.. I love getting your messages and hearing how everyone is doing!  Stick with it…it gets easier! I’m proud of everyone that has decided to join me on this journey! 
  

  

A few years ago I had a choice to make..I was run down in every way imaginable..physically, mentally, emotionally…I was done…I had some very difficult life circumstances thrown at me, that could have sank me…that left me as a single mother of twins, yet I chose to rise above my situation…for me and them. This journey to health was just as much emotional as it was physical. In the years prior, I had lost who I was, I had lost my self worth. I finally realize now, that I need to take care of myself..physically, mentally and emotionally, because I AM WORTH IT. It took me a long time to get there, and it’s not because of the number on the scale that I’m finally here, it’s because I am finally realizing my worth in God’s eyes. My journey wouldn’t have been what it was without His strength. I strive every day to become the very best version of me…to be someone great to the people around me, to inspire and encourage…starting first with my kids and working outward from there. I can finally be who God made me to be, for my kids and for others. I am continually learning and growing..learning what I need, what makes me feel healthy inside and out, and what I can’t allow for myself anymore. Because of my journey, I know my strength and I thank God that I’ve been through what I have, because I don’t know where I’d be WITHOUT my struggle…it’s made me who I am.

Are you who you need to be for yourself and for those around you? Are you living at your full potential? I wouldn’t even know how to answer that question a few years ago..but today, I can say that I am well on my way..  Being in my 30’s now, I see the importance of knowing who I am and who I need to be. Take a step to becoming the person you should be, for yourself and for the people you influence and live at your full potential..because YOU ARE WORTH IT.  Start today…