I did it!

I finally reached the 20 pound mark! It took me three months, but it has been great! I still have alot more to go, but this is a great motivator to keep going. I have found a new passion in getting creative in my cooking as well. Who knows, maybe this will be part of my ministry one day....sharing with others how to cook and eat for mind, body, and soul!

I have to take a nutrition class in school, I am really looking forward to that! Speaking of school, I can't believe in 3 weeks I will be starting the last semester of my core classes and applying to nursing school! In a way the last 2 years have flown, but sometimes it feels like I was never going to get here. I just can't wait until the day I graduate....

I'm still here.....

The weight is still shedding, slowly, but it is coming off....and I promise you I DO NOT feel deprived in the least! I am eating foods that are amazingly tasty and healthy....IT CAN BE DONE! Steve is absolutely loving the new recipes I'm coming up with. It's amazing how much better food tastes in its natural form.

I went today and picked blueberries from an organic blueberry farm in Waynesboro today...I can't wait to have some in my oatmeal in the morning. Of course I had to pick a day it is close to 100 degrees! I am so thankful I don't have to do that for a living. I certainly have a new respect for those that do.

I am looking forward to having my annual bloodwork done next month....I know that I, and my doctor, will be pleasantly surprised!

Nothing else really...just school and home is all have time for. School is kicking my behind this summer. I will never recommend anyone to take microbiology in summer semester...I have no idea what I was thinking! It has been unbelievably stressful...I need prayer to get through the next 2 1/2 weeks for sure.

Been a while....

Summer semester has got me running crazy! I'm taking microbiology in warp speed, and it is not easy! But, I had hit a plateau with my weight loss for a while, and finally I lost 2 more pounds this weekend!

At first I was so excited about all of this, and I still am, but I was loving talking to other people about it...now I find myself almost trying not to talk about the switch to organic. I'm a little sad that now I seem to get rolling eyes or comments made like "I guess I just eat poison". This is something Steve and I decided to do for the health of our bodies, so that we may glorify God with the temple He has given us, and I was hoping others would be excited. I'm not saying everyone is acting this way, but I am surprised at what I have seen. I truly feel I am doing something God has called me to do....and I will continue to do it diligently, regardless.

I just want those that I care about to feel as good as we do about this....

Good Friday!

No, not THE Good Friday. But, I am now down 10.4 pounds! YAY! I've began working out this week. My parents had a step machine they had in a junk pile to throw away...it looked brand new! So, we brought it home and cleaned it up...good as new. So, I alternate between that and walking, and I am using some small weights to help tone my arms, sit ups to help with my tummy. With so much weight to lose I want to be sure I don't get flabby as I'm losing! I've also done alot of yard work this week, which helped to burn some calories....it is already 90 degrees here, so LOTS of sweating!

The weight is coming off slowly, but I didn't gain it overnight. Slow is better for the body anyway. I am also excited to find that my appetite is getting smaller still! For breakfast I am getting full on literally half of what I ate even a week ago. I'm not thinking about food like I used to either! Eating has become something that I need to fit it, rather than centering my schedule around it.

God has really blessed me with the will to do what I need to do to be healthy. As I was watering my garden and the grass yesterday, the song "Indescribable" came on on my Ipod...how fitting! As I watch my garden grow I feel so much closer to God....seeing more intimately that He is the provider of all we need. He is amazing!

"A woman's greatest strength is not found in her physical essence or personal independence, but in her dependence and obedience to God" ~Pastor David McKinley

I love God's lessons....

I am reading Beth Moore's book "Believing God," and it is amazing! She has so many quotes that I would love to write and post all over my house.

In chapter 2, she is discussing the Israelites that never made it to Canaan, and how sad that it is they never got to experience the Promised Land. When relating it to our life, she says...

"I know I am going to make it to heaven because I've trusted Christ as my Savior, but I want to make it to my Canaan on the way. I want to finish my race in the Promised Land, not the wilderness."

This quote is a motivator for me to continue making my body stronger and healthier. I want to finish the race in the best place I can be....in my Canaan, fulfilling God's purpose for my life.

Hmmm....

Well, I guess I am going to lose every other week....I'm stuck again this week. Maybe I should weigh every other week, then I'll feel better :-)

Came up with some pretty good stuff this week. I've now incorporated virgin coconut oil into my diet. Look it up, this stuff has wonderful benefits! I cut up some red potatoes and onions and cooked them in coconut oil...it was great!

I got some quick oats from Earth Fare's bulk section and have started making oatmeal for breakfast...the old fashioned way! I add honey, coconut oil and some fruit. This week I've used blueberries a good bit. This is really good! Trying to change the routine up a bit so I don't get bored with the same thing all the time.

I do realize that I HAVE to start working out somehow. I've got to come up with a schedule for the summer and fit that in. I will be taking microbiology in the summer "cram" session, as I call it, so this will definitely be an intense summer for me! But I know if I can get some exercise in it will help keep my mind clear. I also want to start taking Omega-3...hoping it will help with the "mind fog" I get as I am getting older, and busier.

Until next time...

♪♪♪ I got a new attitude ♪♪♪

I realized the other day that I don't even think about things that I "can't" have...I don't want them anymore! The thought of putting a Wendy's burger or (americanized) chinese food makes me feel sick. I literally look at those foods I used to love as poison.

I came across this video today of Beth Moore speaking about physical health, and it spoke alot of truth to me. If you don't have an account with Lightsource you need to, it's completely free to sign up, and you get to see alot of great bible teachings. Here is Beth's video I was talking about...it's worth the few minutes, I promise!

http://www.lightsource.com/ministry/life-today/20091223/

I want a healthy body for the glory of God...NOT for my glory!


♰Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. ~Romans 12:1

♥ And, please don't forget that the heart and mind is also a vital part of the body...keep it free from poison as well ♥

Weigh in # 3

It has now been 3 weeks since I have officially changed my eating lifestyle, and I have now lost a total of 8.6 pounds! Steve has lost 9 pounds! But, even more awesome than that, I can now walk from my car into the school without being out of breath :-), and I haven't had to take a Pepcid in over 2 weeks. I am anxious to go and check my blood pressure to see what that is doing. I'm hoping soon that it will be too low on the medication and I can come off of it. I am a little nervous about my pulse though. I have been tachycardic (rapid pulse) for a long time now....my resting pulse was around 100, and this medication helps with that. I am really praying that the change in diet helps with that too.

Another thing I noticed yesterday is that my appetite is finally starting to go down. Keeping up with having smaller portion sizes is starting to pay off! So, push through those times you feel hungry and know that you've had enough! It will get better!

One day this week I was not expecting to be home for lunch, but was, and wanted to cook. I had some chicken and wanted to do something with it besides bbq sauce, since we had just had that. So, I looked around the kitchen, got a bowl, and put in some EVOO, balsamic vinegar, cumin, cilantro, and minced garlic, stirred it up and brushed in on the chicken, then threw the chicken on the grill. It was soooo good! Steve loved it! So, watch out...Nancy's getting creative!

Gotta go for now...it's finals stress time....BUT, I have not given in to the "stress eating"!

I made bread Friday night using all organic ingredients...it was amazing! For dinner we had sandwiches with it, and it was the best sandwich I've ever had! An added bonus is that I figured out that it costs less than $2.00 to make a 2 pound loaf, I was paying $4.99 for a 1 1/2 pound loaf!

By request, I am posting the link to the Duggar's recipes (it includes the recipe of laundry detergent)....

http://www.duggarfamily.com/recipes.html

I also found this site that lists many organic/natural companies websites so that you can sign up for newsletters and get coupons...

http://www.grocerycouponguide.com/articles/organic-coupons-natural-food-coupons/3/

Yesterday I went to see Beth Moore at a conference she had in Woodstock, GA. She talked about how Christian women should be "exceptional women," and that who we are on the inside is going to show outward. I pondered on this a bit...I thought how changing what I am physically putting into my body is having an effect on the outward. How much more important is it to be just as careful about what we allow in our minds and hearts. What we put there determines our character, the very being of who we are. If we put more God in us, God is going to show outward to everyone around us!

So, as we take care of our bodies, let's not forget to take care of our souls, giving the glory to God....

Well, unfortunately it's Friday and I have no weight loss to report...no gain, but no loss. BUT, this is about the time I typically mysteriously gain anywhere from 2-4 pounds, so no gain is good here!

At Earth Fare I discovered they sell bulk sugar, flour, oats....all kind of stuff! They have Demerara sugar for 77 cents a pound and organic whole wheat bread flour for 1.27 a pound! I just bought 1.5 pounds of sugar at Walmart for 2.79, so this will be much cheaper! Soooo, I am going to make my own bread...yay! (of course in an electric bread maker) With a decent loaf of whole grain bread now costing 4.99 a loaf, this should save me some money! I'm gonna use it to make my own hamburger buns too!

My friend Roni and I made some laundry detergent too this week. The Duggars have their recipes posted and she came across this. It's supposed to cost about $2.00 per batch and each batch is about 40 loads. They also have a way to stretch fabric softener as well I'm gonna try....take liquid fabric softener and mix it 2 parts water with 1 part softener. Get some cheap sponges, cut them in half and keep them in the solution. When you dry clothes, wring out one of the sponges good and throw in the dryer! I would think that would last forever that way...

So, sorry that I don't have more to report for now. Since I walked alot today and was extremely busy....maybe I'll weigh again in the morning...just sayin' ;-)

The promised post...

Ok, I've had some asking me what changes I've made and how I started. Well, I really jumped into this with both feet. I know for me that is the way it has to be done or I run a risk of slowly slipping back into the old habits if the temptation is still around.

I immediately abandoned white flour, white sugar, table salt, and anything with those ingredients. No more foods containing high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, or pretty much anything I can't pronounce or don't recognize. I eat all natural/organic foods.

I have also switched to organic, soy, and almond milk. If I am just drinking a glass of milk I will typically drink 2% organic milk or chocolate soy. I use the vanilla almond milk in smoothies almost everyday.

Whole grains are very important to include. For sandwiches I use a natural whole grain bread, for a snack I love the Ezekiel breads, and in some meals I use whole grain tortillas.

My typical day has been this:

Breakfast:

Smoothie made with vanilla almond milk, fresh strawberries and banana, and some ice.

Half of an Ezekiel 4:9 english muffin with almond butter

Snack:

1 apple

Lunch:

Peanut butter sandwich

Handful of almonds (almonds are great for the heart!)

or

leftovers from dinner

Snack:

piece of fruit or half an Ezekiel muffin

Dinner:

I'll find a recipe from the Clean Eating magazine, which usually includes a lean meat and a vegetable or two.

Snack:

organic yogurt with fruit and a cup of chocolate soy milk (I used to have ovaltine every night before bed so I was happy to see I had an alternative)


I have bought organic sugar to use in coffee and sea salt to replace the table salt. I now have lots of herbs and spices (and have started growing a few of my own now) to season food with. Kettle chips are awesome for those salty cravings, there are desserts that can be made organically as well, so you don't have to feel deprived :-)

I can find a good bit of stuff at Walmart and Kroger, what I can't I go to Earth Fare for. OH! And an FYI about Earth Fare...if you sign up on the website for "My Health Journey" they will give you a coupon that says if you take in all your bad foods with high fructose corn syrup or hydrogenated oils, they will replace them for FREE with their brand of a healthy, natural alternative!!!


I'm still in the learning phase of this, so I am still finding new things I can have. I just bought some Kashi cereal for breakfast, so I'll try that soon too.

We have decided to try to buy local meats, vegetables, and fruits as much as possible. I want to stay away from meats from animals that are given antibiotics and steroids, and prefer they are grass fed. I want, as much as possible, to get fruits and vegetables that have not been genetically altered (GMO) or treated with chemical pesticides.

Since making these changes only just a little over a week ago, I can feel and see a huge difference in myself. I have posted before about this, but I can't tell you enough the difference it is making in my life.

I am so excited thinking about what the future brings when I actually get a substantial amount of weight off. I can only imagine how I will feel then!

First Garden!

Well, we just got our first veggie garden planted, and I'm sooo excited! What is really awesome is for the last 5 years we have been throwing fallen branches, trimmings from bushes and leaves raked in the back behind our shed and we ended up with lots of really good compost...making it truly organic! :-) Now I have to learn patience....

I have to say this is one of the best decisions I have made for my life (accepting Jesus being THE best, of course :-)). The difference I already feel truly amazes me...my joints don't ache anymore, I have tons more energy, and I sleep so much better at night! And not to mention I haven't had even a hint of problems with my asthma this past week! I still get a few sinus headaches here and there..but I do live in Augusta, Ga, that's inevidible.

Because I feel better I am also finding my mood and my spirits are alot better...and so are Steve's :-)

I promise to try tomorrow to post what exactly the changes are that I have made....see ya then!

Success!

Well, today is Friday weigh in day! One week ago today I started out at 236.6 and now I weigh....drum roll please....231.6! That's a grand total of 5.0 pounds in my first week! That is definitely enough to keep me motivated!

I am still in the learning process of this eating clean, but overall it's going well. One thing I did learn is to make sure I get enough complex carbs in. I found myself a couple of days struggling with just feeling hungry. I found the eat-clean diet website forum and saw that others were having the same problem. When one guy mentioned what his food intake was during the day, others told him he wasn't getting in enough complex carbs. I realized that I was mostly consuming proteins, fruits, and veggies. Once I started making sure I added in things like the Ezekial muffins or whole grain tortillas, I could feel the difference. So, if you are doing this as well....the key is definitely balance.

I've added a cute little ticker at the top to keep up with my weight loss. I've set my goal weight to 150. If when I get there I decide I could go a little more, then I'll make my adjustments then. But for now...150 it is.

Gotta love partners!

I am so excited to hear that I have friends that are switching to clean eating with me! YAY! It makes the transition so much easier when you have people right there with ya. I can see all of the recipe exchanges now!

I'm really excited because I found a clean eating recipe exchange page on Facebook. If you are interested, here is the link...

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Clean-Eating-Recipe-Exchange/165972915920

There are some crockpot ideas that sound pretty good. I'll let ya know if I try them.

Still feelin' great! If you have just decided to take this journey as well...hang in there! I really believe it is by the grace of God that this transition has gone so well for me. So, shower yourself with prayer...and I'll be praying for you as well. ♥

I have to ask myself this question: Is there a price for the health and life of myself and my family that is too much?

This new way of eating is definitely a bit more expensive than I anticipated. But I do have to realize that right now I'm basically replacing everything in my kitchen pantry and fridge! I am hoping that once most of everything is replaced that the cost will slow down a bit. The herbs and spices should last a while, I've replaced my cooking spray to olive oil spray, switched to organic sugar (which I don't use that much), getting things like balsamic vinegar for recipes, etc. I think once I really get going on this it won't be quite as bad. It doesn't help that I've been doing alot of shopping at Earth Fare...I need to learn what I can get at Walmart and Kroger. The meat is the biggest issue for me. I really want to switch to locally grown, veggie fed meat. I'll have to do some research to find the best and most economical place for that...

But one way that is going to eventually cut down on cost is by planting a garden....which we are doing this weekend! I can't wait! I am also going to plant a container herb garden. If anyone can give me any pointers on growing veggies in our zone (zone 8), please let me know.

I'm still feeling really good. I'm not thinking about the "bad" foods nearly as much as I thought I would. I do have to say that the natural foods are more satisfying, so I'm not constantly looking for more. It's just a matter of training your taste buds to not expect that overly sweet taste of processed sugar and the high fructose corn syrup that seems to be in everything!

This lifestyle change has also really got me thinking about other things differently. I have always been a staunch conservative, capitolist Republican. After watching Food, inc I have to say that I can see the downfall of having big corporations controlling so much of what we consume. I truly believe most companies start with good intentions and the welfare of the customers in mind, but once greed kicks in.... things can go sour. I really want to start supporting local, small businesses...ones that you can actually meet and see the owners. Ones that have a vested interest in their own community...local butcher shops, farmers markets...you get the drift. At least as much as possible...we are definitely limited in what we can get locally around here. I also see the need to care for the environment more than I used to, just not for the same reasons maybe as most liberal environmentalists. We have been given earth (note I WILL NOT call it "Mother" Earth) to take care of by God, and I think we can do better at this job.


As Mike Huckabee says: "these are my thoughts and I welcome yours"...

Good days and bad days...

I have to say that yesterday I did have a hard time. I'm thinking coming off of the sugar is not an easy task. I had a headache for most of the day yesterday and kind of stuggled to gain my energy. But, I plowed through and did not give in! And today I feel all the better for it! All though I do have to admit that I made some of the peanut butter chocolate chip cookies from the recipe that Shelly shared with us on the 4/9/10 post (in the comments). Totally organic...and totally delicious! Shelly...you saved my life....lol!

I really do believe this way of eating is something I can do for the rest of my life...with a little discipline of course. But I know my body will be in so much better shape if I eat my food the way God intended us to eat it. His plan was perfect...why mess it up?

I have come to realize that processed sugar is really and truly a drug. Think about it: It makes kids hyper, the more you have the more you want, and trying to come off of it has given me headaches. Doesn't that sound like the effects of a drug? All legal and USDA approved.

The evenings are definitely the hardest for me....I never realized how much I snacked in the evenings. A couple of hours after dinner I have been munching on fruit or half an Ezekial english muffin with a little almond butter and I'm good to go.

While it is taking some adjusting, I am definitely enjoying the benefits of the extra energy most of the time. Yesterday was tough, but today I felt awesome! It will be worth it if I just keep on keeping on.....with the help of  the Lord  :-)

Very good day :-)

Well, I feel today went very well. I've been eating better for about 3 days now and can already feel the difference!

For breakfast I had a strawberry smoothie-made simply with fresh strawberries, vanilla almond milk, and a little ice for crunch and coldness, and half of an Ezekial 4:9 english muffin.It was awesome! I definitely like almond milk better than soy milk...it almost felt like a treat! If you've never tried the Ezekial stuff, I highly recommend it! The only places I have found it is in the organic frozen section of Kroger and Publix. Publix is actually a little cheaper.

For lunch I had a turkey sandwich on whole grain bread and some almonds. I also got some organic fruit today. I had an organic banana as a mid-morning snack....I was really surprised at how much better it tasted.

We had a very active and productive today, which = calories burned. We cut grass, weeded, trimmed hedges, edged, and put out a new truckload of fresh, red mulch....I love it! I noticed about half-way through the work I felt a slump come on and felt a little hungry. So, I went in and grabbed an organic orange we bought today and split it with Steve. It was just what I needed to get over the hump...and it was really good!

Our Friday nights usually consists of sesame chicken, pork fried rice, and an eggroll from Happy China, then topped off with a bowl of moosetracks ice cream. But not tonight!!! I made an awesome pecan-encrusted chicken and mixed veggies. This chicken is SO awesome that I have to share this recipe!

Ingredients:

boneless skinless chicken breast
chopped pecans
bread crumbs*
ground cayenne pepper
orange zest (which I used from the orange I ate earlier :-))
egg white
water
olive oil (EVOO)

*the recipe called for regular bread crumbs, but I substituted with toasted whole grain bread

Pound chicken until about 1/4 in thick. In a food processor, blend pecans, bread, orange zest, and cayenne pepper (recipe called for ground chiptole pepper, but I couldn't find it). Dip chicken in egg white and water, then dip into dry mixture coating chicken well. Cook in EVOO in a skillet until chicken is done.

This is really easy to do. I did figure out why they say to make the chicken thin...the pecan crust will cooks pretty quick.

All in all this was a wonderful day. I am tired...but it's a good tired :-)

TGIF!

I have decided to make Friday my weigh in day. I figured if I see some progress, it will make it easier to stick to my guns on the weekend. So on my first weigh in...I am at 236.6 today.

I watched a movie last night that was recommended to me....Food, inc. Yikes! The things our food goes through before we put it into our bodies is unreal. After talking with my friend, Shelly (who is definitely going to be a tremendous help, and in the cheering section for me :-)), and watching that movie, I have decided to take a more natural approach to eating. I'm going today to see if I can find the magazine "Clean Eating" and get some ideas for recipes and such in there. I'm also going to see if I can get the book and start reading it.

This is not a diet I want to go on...this is a life change I'm looking for. I know this is going to involve changing my mindset about food. My friend, Guichun, once told me that she eats because she has to to live. Basically she's saying she "eats to live" and does not "live to eat." She grew up in a poor community in Mongolia where food was a precious commodity, especially meat. I have grown up in a community where there is a fast food restaurant on every corner. Get it for a dollar and get it fast! It's all about what has been programmed in our minds.

I am becoming a firm believer that what we put in our bodies effects how we feel both physically and mentally. How do you feel after sitting down and eating a bag of chips or a big bowl of ice cream? I usually feel pretty lousy and lazy, and feel guilt for realizing what I just did to myself. If we became just as particular about what we put in our bodies as what we put on our bodies, I wonder how we would feel.....

Ok, so let's get started!

I have decided to switch to soy and almond milk. I think I may be lactose intolerant anyway. For breakfast I blended some strawberries and bananas in with vanilla soy milk for breakfast (idea to be credited to my sis-in-law...thanks Ann!), and it was actually yummy and filling! I guess by biggest concern with all of this change in food is the cost. But like my hubby, Steve, said....we should lose weight just  because we have to eat less :-)

My first blog!

I guess I should start by introducing myself.... My name is Nancy. I am a 37 year old wife to a wonderful husband of 21 years, and mom to 2 grown boys (19 & 21...yeah, you do the math :-)). I love the Lord with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength....and now have realized that I am not honoring God by the way I treat my body.

I have decided that now is the time to get myself back into shape and be a healthier me. I decided it was time when I sat back and realized that I am 37 years old and on blood pressure medicine, have no energy, and weigh...I'll tell ya later :-)

This is going to be a difficult journey for me, so that's why I have decided to bring you along with me so that I can have accountability and support...and I hope to be an encouragement to you as well :-). I LOVE all of the food that is completely bad for me. I love all sweets, Chinese food (American style, of course), Zaxby's boneless wings and milkshakes, potato chips...you get the picture...the list could go on!

I used to work as a medical assistant for years and was on my feet all day long at work. But, now I am a pre-nursing student and spend alot of time sitting in class and studying at home. Since I quit working in a medical office I have gained about 70 pounds....yes...7 - 0 pounds! And I was overweight then, but I felt better and had more energy.

I need your help, and I hope to help others as well. If I am going to trust you to hold me accountable I have to tell you everything in order for me to succeed in this journey. I am right now 5'3" and weigh 235 pounds, I am wearing a size 2X in clothes, and I am miserable.

I need your help!

If you have recipes, tips, or words of encouragement I would greatly appreciate them! I hope that others in my situation can come here and find help and encouragement as well!

This is not just about how much I weigh and how I look.....I want to feel better and be a better servant to God. My dream is to be on the mission field one day, and if I continue on the path I've been on, there is no way that is happening.

So, let this journey begin......