Martin & Carly's Wedding (Pics of Me)

Joy!

Best Friends

Laughter!

My mouth hurts from smiling so much!!

Amy & Me

Tamara & Me

Becky & Me

After Thoughts...

After much thought I have decided that I don't want my blog to just be about weight and the struggle that brings with it. I have decided I am going to blog about the many adventures and various activities/things/happenings in my life, as well as my journey with God (He is afterall the one who makes life an adventure!!). So to start this lovely new side of my blog hmmm.....Abbotsford/The Coast:


I spent a lovely couple of weeks down on the Coast, but mainly in Abbotsford, BC.  I spent some time with my family and got to see my cousin's graduation ceremony, which was beautiful and she looked amazing (she always does).  I also spent many hours hanging out with friends that I have missed spending time with.  I had fun just sitting around talking and listening to everyones stories and the things happening in their lives. I played some DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) and read some books.  I even made some new friends!

When I first arrived in Abbotsford most of my time was spent around wedding details and shower details.  I had a blast at Carly's bridal shower and at her wedding (Martin's too)! LOL!

Fun Times with Toilet Paper!

 

TAM TAM!!

Carly's Bridal Shower (Group Photo)

All Smiles for the Wedding!!

Day...I have no idea what day it is!

Ok, so it's been awhile since I've written anything. Oops. Time has just slipped away from me. LOL! I figured it's time to confess...I have been testing how my body will react to wheat, flour, dairy, etc. In the process I have had some things I probably shouldn't have, like chocolate chip cookies my mom made for mother's day! I am also having trouble starting over again in phase one! It's almost as if once I eat something its hard to not eat it! ARGHH! My plan is to start all over again at phase one and take it one day at a time. I will be starting phase one on Sunday!

Wish me luck!

The end of week 3

So I have to admit I am enjoying being able to incorporate more foods into my diet, however I have been eating popcorn almost everyday! A little excessive! Oops, oh well. I'm sure that will wind down eventually. I haven't written anything lately cuz nothing exciting or new has happened. I'm still trying new recipes and enjoying it! I am also enjoying the variety of fruits I can have now...my fruit salads are way more delicious! I also love the homemade Greek dressing I've been using on my salads. I don't really have anything else to say, but I will keep you posted!

Later

The start of phase two - Day 15

Today was the start of phase two and I am a very happy camper! I get to incorporate more fruit and I can have corn, which means I can have POPCORN! (snack food of choice!!!) This morning I had a pineapple smoothie (my favourite fruit) and this evening I got to eat popcorn!! YUMMY! I also got to try out my semi-new popcorn machine. It was awesome to watch the kernels popping and it tasted delicious! I definitely didn't drink enough water today and it doesn't help when I can't breathe through my nose cuz my lips and throat get dry really fast! Oh and instead of my usual fast day (Tuesday) I will be fasting on another day this week so we shall see how that goes.

That's all for now,

Later Gator

Day 13

Today would have been Absolutely Fabulous if I didn't feel slightly off...scratchy throat and plugged nose.  Oh well, life goes on!

I went down to the States, with Dee, to check out this health food store. I found some good stuff that I can use, plus I got some chicken for cheap and it is the best chicken I have tasted in a long time.

I am so proud of myself this evening! I made teriyaki sauce from scratch (with the help of Jeff & Dee's recipe and a little adaption), and I made Greek salad dressing from scratch too! The chicken was amazing with the sauce and the Greek salad was awesome! So all in all I would have to say my day has been quite successful in the kitchen!

PS. I even put tomatoes and olives in the Greek salad...I don't like either! Oh and Dee I even tried a cherry tomato, but spit it out (it's the taste I don't like not the texture) LOL! I ate the olives too! (those weren't bad, but not my favourite)

Day 12

Today was a GREAT day! I have lost 7 lbs since starting the Maker's Diet and have lost a total of 15 lbs since January 12th. I know that's not a lot for 3 months, but for me that's an achievement! I would lose more if I would exercise more, but I just can't seem to get on that band wagon...LOL!

During this week, I have discovered that no matter how much sleep I have, I have tons of energy throughout the day. No more 3 O'clock lull! Crazy! I feel so much better than I use to on a regular basis...it's FANTASTIC! I am looking forward to the weekend, as I am going to the States to checkout a health food store with great merchandise and great prices. It will also be nice to start week 3 as I will get to incorporate more foods! I am so excited about eating popcorn and pineapple! Yum Yum, my favourite!

I have to admit something...I cheated tonight! I ate a little bit of ketchup with my steak. Oops! I won't be doing that again. Shortly after I finished eating my dinner, I started getting a headache! Not FUN at all!!! Hopefully I learned my lesson.

The Beginning of Week Two!

It is officially week number two and I survived week one! YAH me! Actually it wasn't as hard as I originally thought it was going to be. I decided I would skip day 8 because nothing new happened and I didn't have any major epiphanies. Day 9 (today) is good ole fasting day...not something I was looking forward to, but it really is getting easier. I honestly don't know if I could go without food for a longer period of time than what I am already doing, but than again I just don't know. 

Today I got up early enough to make myself two servings of carrots juice and one serving of berry juice, both were FABULOUS of course! I also got in all three litres of water that I am suppose to drink! Now that's a first! Mark it on the wall and I shall see if I can do it again.  Well that's it for now...

The End of Week One - Day Seven

It's the end of day seven and I am quite surprised I actually made it through the week.  This way of eating is not very difficult if you pay attention to all the labels. I do find it hard to find organic/grass-fed animals to eat, expecially since I don't hunt or really know anyone that hunts, but I make do with what I can find.

I have discovered a new passion for cooking I didn't know I had! If I take the time to actually prepare food, it's fun! Tonight I prepared all the ingredients for chilli and put them in my crockpot to cook overnight. It looks delicious and smells good too! I also made homemade hamburgers, which were mighty tasty as well.

Guess what? I put my belt on today and it went one more noch! Yippee! Well that's all I have to say for now. I will keep you posted!

Your Body Knows! - Day Six

I would just like to say that it is absolutely stupid to ignore the signs that your body gives in regards to hunger, thirst, and tiredness/needing rest! I am speaking completely from personal experience. Since starting this lifestyle change, I have noticed how much my body actually speaks to me in its own way, telling me when it needs something. Previously I have ignored these small and simple signs for many years, but they have become quite loud over the last couple of days. For example, my body has been telling me its hungry not only by the grumbling in my stomach, but also by the small, yet sharp pain I get in the forfront of my head (headache I would presume...I don't usually get them). It has also been telling me to go to bed usually between 9-10pm by the same small, sharp head pain. So these lovely signals are really hard to ignore, which I suppose is actually a good thing. I am hoping to get to the point where my body doesn't need to tell me cuz I will already be doing it! That's one of my new goals, cuz I have a hard time listening to my body, however, my body is not to be ignored!! LOL!

My advice for everyone who reads this is: Do NOT ignore your body! It knows best! (in regards to what it needs)

Day Four & Five

I know I have not written in two days, but I have been exhausted! Anyway I am writing now...

So day four was a lot like day three, very irritable, tired, and not wanting to do much with my day. However, day five was a different story all together. I started taking this supplement called Vital Greens which contains: wheat grass, barley grass, alfalfa, soy lecithin, spirulina, pectin apple fiber, sprouted barley malt, brown rice bran,bee pollen, pineapple juice powder,Nova Scotia Dulse, fructooligosaccharides, chlorella, beetjuice powder, oat grass, rye grass, grape seed extract, peppermint leaf, royal jelly, acerola juice powder, licorice root, rhubarb juice powder, aloe vera, ginkgo biloba,ginger root and bilberry leaf, broccoli juice, carrot juice, tomato juice, beet juice, spinach juice, cucumber juice, Brussels sprout juice, cabbage juice, celery juice, kale juice, asparagus juice, green bell pepper juice, cauliflower juice, parsley juice, wheat grass juice.

Chlorophyll Powder 100mg
Aloe Vera Extract [200x] 7.5mg
triple filtered water, stevia, vegetable glycerine, sea salt, natural apple
and peppermint flavour.

Doesn't that just make your taste buds water! LOL! It's actually not as bad as it looks (which it literally looks like a jar of dark green food colouring!) YUMMY!

Anyway to continue with day five....all day I felt I had more energy, I was filled with more joy than the previous two days, and I didn't let any little thing get to me! All in all it was a great day.

PS. I think the Vital Greens really helped in the area of energy!

Day Three

So today wasn't really difficult for me, but it might have been difficult for those around me! Man, was I irritable. The littlest things were rubbing me the wrong way! I even wanted to tear the head off of the guy who was selling me my car insurance. CRAZYNESS! Anyway, as for the rest of the day, here is what I ate:

Breakfast:
Delicious grapefruit, carrot, and agave nectar juice
Mushroom, red pepper, and chive omelet

Lunch:
Salad with Turkey and sunflower seeds
Homemade salad dressing
Strawberries

Snack:
Almonds and sunflower seeds

Supper:
BBQ chicken with a combination of spices
BBQ veggies (kale, red pepper, carrots, celery, and garlic)

I am now going to bed as my eyes are going to roll to the back of my head and I am getting a headache!

Day Two - Fasting Day!

Ok, so today was a little more difficult for me, as today was the day I picked to do a partial fast (it is recommended that you pick one day a week where you fast breakfast and lunch). I have never fasted whole meals before! What an interesting experience. When I got hungry I just asked God to be my sustainer rather than food and He came through (not that I doubted, LOL)! I really didn't know if I could handle not eating until dinner time, but I made it through! Plus I got to make yummy carrot/strawberry juice with my new juicer.

For dinner I made lemon and dill sole (fish) with a salad overflowing with delicious veggies and homemade salad dressing, which I have never made before.  It was fabulous! My mom enjoyed the food, plus the fact that she didn't have to cook! LOL! Maybe I have hidden potential in the kitchen I just didn't know I had...HA HA, well maybe not! Only time will tell as to what I can create in the kitchen.

One thing I do have to say is I have never had so much water in my life! I am supposed to drink 100 ounces everyday! ARGHHH! Today I will be lucky to get in 64 ounces! I guess that's a start and better than drinking all the sugary drinks I was before this. Well I am off to drink some more water (no surprise there)!

Day One

I survived day one! It was nice to be able to sleep in, which helped with the whole eating factor since I only ate two meals. Oops! Oh well. Anyway, the day went by pretty fast and I didn't feel any symptoms of withdrawal (sugar), until probably 9:30pm, but that might have been my body's way of telling me to go to sleep.  I, of course, didn't listen. LOL!

I spent most of my day looking for a good quality juicer, which I did find. I also made homemade veggie soup with leftover turkey broth. Now that is the interesting part cuz as many of you know I am not one for being all domestic! But guess what?? I actually enjoyed being in the kitchen! I am also looking forward to cooking for my mom tomorrow! Ha, never thought you'd hear/see those words coming from me!

Prelude to a Healthy Beginning

I have been wanting to write on my blog for quite some time now, but I just didn't know what to say or where to start until now...

I have always struggled with my health/weight and living a "healthy lifestyle".  What is that suppose to mean anyway? Well I have decided to try the Maker's Diet to the best of my ability and with the guidance of God himself. (I figure why not ask the source himself since He knows what is best, right?).  Basically I am going to go back to the basics and eliminate most, if not all chemically enhanced foods, additives, and perservatives. My goal is to not only change the way I view food and make this a lifestyle change, but also to treat my body as a temple, the way God intended.

I am excited about what's coming in the next 40 days, but I am also nervous as I don't know what to expect! I know that it will be difficult, but I enjoy a good challenge. My body is not in the greatest condition and it is probably addicted to many things I don't even want to think about (sugar being a major one). The next couple of days are going to be the toughest as I detox my body from all the crap I have been putting into it over the last 28 years.  I look forward to sharing my journey with you all.


Lorrin