Dinner Tonight

It's all about simplicity:


I found some very soft (about to burst) organic heirloom tomatoes at the grocery store today. One is yellow, one is pinkish and one is purplish..and they were begging to be paired with some fresh mozzarella cheese and basil...


So I'm going to slice them and the cheese into medium-thick slices and drizzle them with some good quality EVOO...tear up some fresh basil and sprinkle some sea salt and freshly ground black pepper over the top. 


And while I wouldn't normally recommend eating something like this as your meal...That's it. That's dinner. You know why? Because we've all 4 eaten our daily requirements of protein, fruit, veggies, whole grains and fats...so we're gonna just have a very light and refreshing and nutritious "snacky" type of meal.  


The kids are in a very sad mood now that they know we're eating tomatoes for dinner. Oh well, they're gonna have to get over it because I'm very excited about it, and so is daddy:P 


And someday, they'll thank me for passing on a wealth of knowledge about clean, nutritious eating, right?! We shall see...  

January Bodies

This photo was taken of my sweet hubby and me on January 2, 2010. I'm tempted to put this dress back on now after 2 full months of Clean Eating to see how I look now;) We started eating clean on February 2nd and were very strict for the first 6 weeks. After that, I started snacking/grazing here and there. Hubby stayed strong, kept going to the gym, eating strictly and got some amazing results. Unfortunately, I think my lack of focus rubbed off on him a little, because it has been 3 weeks since he's been to the gym. He's still eating very clean though. As am I. I've picked up the best habits again and feel like although I have not seen any new results for 2 weeks, I still feel great! I look better too, and my clothes fit much more comfortably. I'd really love to start sharing some of my own recipes on here-maybe when I get some extra time! But for now, I'm just letting you know that I'm back on track. I lost my sharp focus for a few weeks, but it's all good now. I'm looking forward to taking some pictures now and calling them my "before" pics, even though they're not really before's. But I plan to have that much more success! They'll look like before's when we get to the after's...right? Well, I guess the above pic can actually serve as the "before" since it truly is. The kind of pics I'm talking about taking now are the ones I wouldn't have DREAMED of taking in January. You know, the kind with tight fitting clothes? I think I'll do those ones now. Side view, back view, front view...WOW. Am I really ready to share that?? I guess so! Luckily for me, I've only got 3 followers on this blog:)
Wish me luck. I'm gonna do it. OH, and I'm also going to set a target date for the actual weight in lbs that I want to hit. I'm not sure what that weight is though. I'm thinking 155. Sounds about right...I'm 5'6" and pretty muscular, so I'll never be a twig.

 Let me know what you're doing these days to stay motivated...

A Little at a Time

I'm really struggling with self-image. I need to stop this behavior like right now! I have a 7 year-old little girl who watches and mimics me. I don't think I've ever looked into a mirror and smiled or said something positive about myself:( I really don't want my beautiful little girl to be this way. 


This behavior must change. I need to figure out where that balance is. I've heard some people just focus on one feature that they're happy with or a particular part of their body that they like. Ummm, yeah. Can't really do that. I've got a new body after these kids. And it's not a pretty one if ya know what I mean! And 5 years after my 3rd pregnancy, I still can't 'embrace' it. Please don't get me wrong, I wouldn't change it for anything. The gift and joy of having my children far surpasses my issues of feeling upset with an ugly tummy. And I wish it could just end there, but surprise, I'm a woman. 


Here's the thing: We eat well and exercise mainly to be healthy and for overall improved quality of life. We pull up and push up weights, squat and run, sweat and ache, prepare and cook. We eat, breathe and live in a re-vamped world where our focus is on well-being. Obviously, things are going to change in a positive way. Our bodies are healthier, our minds are sharper. 


So, when am I going to see enough changes in my physical appearance? When is it that I'll be satisfied when I see myself naked? When will the moment come when I see just ONE positive thing in the mirror? I don't think it will happen until some deeper changes are made. I'm at this point, no better than people who have multiple plastic surgeries in search of perfection. And who the HECK do I think I am anyway?? There is no one out there that I need to impress. NOT ONE PERSON. So why does this chew up so much of my focus!?! 


I sound ridiculous, I'm aware. I'm just eagerly awaiting that peace of a positive self-image. When am I gonna grow up in this area? I recently had my husband throw out our scale. That was a HUGE thing for me to give up. You see, I've got a touch of OCD. I would weigh myself multiple times per day, KNOWING that I'd be upset by the end of any given day. Setting myself up for a let-down. I finally confessed my psycho behavior and got some help. Something that seemed so impossible to me in my cycle of wanting, expecting, and actually 'needing' to fail in order to stay motivated (sick, I know), was a total no-brainer for my husband. Thank God that he cares about me and also cares FOR me. 


So what's next? Will I need to resort to throwing out my full-length mirror? After all, if you don't have something nice to say...










A few questions for you: If you've been eating clean, how long did it take for you to reach your weight loss goals? Did you automatically experience a better self-image?

Robert Kennedy's Oxygen Women's Fitness

Robert Kennedy's Oxygen Women's Fitness

Good GRAVY

Just when I thought I was never looking back, life happened again. Don't you just sometimes despise the way that happens? I wish I could shout out loud- "DON'T DERAIL ME!" But I don't really know who to shout at? Who's to blame for the inconveniences of life? The checker at the grocery store for moving so slowly? The people who won't drive at LEAST the speed LIMIT? ARRGHH! 


And then out of nowhere, my husband says to me ever so sweetly- "you can stop trying to control the universe now." Ahhhhh, sigh of relief! Duh! Why do I get so silly and so tightly wound? God's got my back. And my present. And my future! Thank you very much, Lord. 


And yes, this is totally applicable to my clean eating lifestyle. I found out this week that I am a MAJOR stress-eater. Dang it!! Know how I found that out? A food journal. What a novel idea! (again, duh.) Ok, so I'm a PMS mess and my food journal showed it ever so bluntly...a pick here, a peck there...and guess what? I'd eaten an additional 400 calories just in carbohydrates. Sheeeesh! Oh, and um, that was just one day of my journaling. I was so upset at my finding, but immediately researched foods that one should consume while experiencing times of stress. Instead of reaching for whatever is closest and easiest, (which should still be somewhat clean if you've transformed your pantry and fridge to eat clean) eat a handful of almonds, some clean guacamole (avocado), spinach, an orange....you get the idea. When I get stressed, I grab the very WORST thing I can put in my mouth:(


So the important thing for me at this point is practicing self-control. Here's the thing, I'm home-I'm fine. I don't have any junk in the house, so I'm forced to eat an apple and egg whites when I'm hungry or stressed. When I'm not home- I'm not fine. My parents own a restaurant. I LOVE the food they serve. LOVE IT. It's BBQ people! Homemade, southern-style BBQ. I'm fortunate that I'm not 500lbs already. So, when I'm not home, I'm typically there at the restaurant helping out or just hanging out with my family. I can still choose to eat clean while I'm there: grilled chicken with broccoli or salad. But my kids don't want grilled chicken every time they eat there! They want chicken strips, fries, fried pickles or potatoes, ranch dressing, cheese sauce...the 'good stuff' And they're still little and don't always finish all their food, leaving the Mother Garbage Disposal job up to me. I HATE IT! I'll have one or two fried pickles before I even realize what I'm doing! Mindlessly eating. When I'm focused, I'm satisfied with a clean meal. When I'm tired or stressed....I'll eat till my eyes close. 


My point here is, eating clean takes work. It takes mental work and focus. It takes a good attitude and a soft but steady approach to changing your lifestyle. None of these things are my strong-suit. I'm sure in a few weeks, I'll have chewed on this info for a while and regurgitate it again in some form only for you to read it again:) But, believe it or not, it helps me to type it down. Journaling is a big key for me. It's like a built-in accountability partner. I avoid it only because my focus is lost. When I re-visit my thoughts and try to organize them, I find my focus again. I think I'll start sharing my food/mood journal on here. Probably not daily, but at least once in a while. I think I'll also try to remember to slow down and pray when things seem out of control. I know, I know...it's pretty obvious, but I'm a slow learner. 


Any suggestions for me? How do you exercise your self-control? 

Staying on Track

  We're doing great!! We've never felt better! I'd love to put an exclamation mark at the end of each sentence, but it gets old quick! Ok, but seriously, we are CLEAN. We mean business. In fact, my hubby told me last night-"I hope you're not planning on getting over this lifestyle, because I'm NOT going back to our old ways." Which to me, means two things that may at first glance seem daunting. 


1) I'm going to spend the rest of my LIFE in the kitchen. Prep, prep, and more prep. 


2) I'm going to be in the kitchen for the REST of my life. Hardly sounds like rest to me:(


  But, there's another side to each coin and I choose (yes, willfully) to see the more positive side of this situation:


  First, the obvious-I'm making ALL of the food that we put into our mouths. So the food will inherently be more healthful because it will not be processed and tainted with chemicals, etc...We are not living to eat anymore. We are eating to LIVE. So the more "alive" your food is, the more alive your body will be. And that's the obvious good reason, the benefits of a clean life. 


  Secondly, guess what moms? We're going to be in the kitchen for the rest of our lives anyway. Why not make the most of the job we've been given by our Creator? I want to take responsibility in this area that has been entrusted to me. I love that God trusts me enough to give me these children and this man to love and nurture! And what's great about it is that He has given me all of the tools I need. Not just in the area of nutrition, but in all facets of living out this life on earth. But, since we're discussing nutrition-YES-He has given us everything we need for our bodies to function as best they can. So, there's my encouragement. God Himself is right here with me, cheering me on, giving me all I need to succeed. If I'm careful with what He has entrusted to me, how much more will that love and nurturing and care-taking spill over to my children and then to their children and so on? 


   And so, yeah, I know it's a lot of work. It's a lot of planning and preparation. It's a lifestyle. It's day in, day out. But it's also a blessing. And I don't expect perfection. I think it's important to share that also. We've already had some "unplanned and unprepared" moments in the last month. Guess what? Life happens. And thankfully, when you choose to be better 90% of the time, you reap the benefits of it. It's not about that other 10% when you've slipped. There are times to celebrate and eat rich foods. There are many times when we just won't feel like cooking a chicken breast and we're wanting a hamburger with cheese and mayo. EAT IT! But, remember that you are responsible for how many "non-nutritive" things you and your family eat. 


  Even when it seems you don't have control over the things your children eat, (thank goodness for Grandmothers, but OMGosh, the SUGAR!)you have control when they're at your house, at your breakfast table, snack table, lunch table, and dinner table. Making the most of those times when you as Mother are responsible for their well-being is the key. Kids will eventually grow in the understanding that eating the foods God made for their bodies to grow up strong and healthy is what is best for them. They naturally want to please you and please God. Talk about why you're eating the foods you eat. Verbalize the benefits of eating apple slices as opposed to eating donut holes. Encourage them to eat clean more often than not, yet allow them the freedom to make unhealthy choices.


  My children have already found that after NOT eating processed sugar for a few weeks, an entire bag of M&M's is TOO MUCH sugar for their little bodies. And although I knew as their watchful eye mother hen that they'd get sick, and though I explained in excruciating detail how they would feel if they ate the whole bag...first-hand experience trumps a good lecture! As long as Mama sticks to clean eating, babies will follow.


  Can I talk briefly about the benefits I've experienced thus far? My energy levels are improved. For example, I'm typing this at 3pm, which was previously NAP TIME BABY! Haha! My skin looks better, my sugar cravings are very much diminished. If I want something fun and sweet, I'll either eat a baked sweet potato, topped with a little flax infused healthy* spread and cinnamon (*healthy means better than it could be)or I'll have a piece of dark chocolate. It seriously does the trick. I love it. I was SO addicted to sugar before and I'm totally over it. LOVING THAT. I never thought I'd be able to kick it. And about those sweet potatoes...I LOATHED sweet potatoes until about 3 weeks ago. Couldn't stand the sight, smell, or taste. But for some reason, after cooking one for my husband, I decided to try it again for the first time. To my utter disbelief-it tasted SO good. SO SWEET. Now I eat one almost every day because they are SO healthy and just packed with everything nice to your body. 


  There are loads of other benefits I've noticed, including the weight loss and inches lost, but also some not-so-desirable side effects of noshing on greens and beans. And eggs. I think you see where I'm headed with this. All of the material I've read so far says that once your body gets used to this new way of eating, the monstrous amount of gas you produce should level off and eventually go away. Um...could this please hurry up and happen already? I mean, I do have a husband that I'd like to keep. And the funny and most embarrassing thing about this- hubby has NO gas. Nice. He could at least have it right along with me...blehh. But I consider it all part of the process and someday I'll laugh at it. Someday. 


  And now you know WAY too much about me. 




Anyone else new to eating clean? Any suggestions? 

Starting at 10

I say starting at 10 because I tend to OVER do something at the beginning and then lose all my enthusiasm for it. Crash and burn! Not this time, people. I'm 30 now. I'm tired of that old predictable behavior. So far this year, my age has proven to be more than just a number, but more of a fresh start with a chance at a new attitude. Especially when it comes to my spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being. I am more than concerned about these facets of my life, I am actively pursuing the "well" half of well-being. So there's a lot more to come...about eating clean, workouts, self-image, and how God has His hand in all this.