Enjoying Life

I recently took a leap of faith and purchased a bicycle. The first bike I've owned since elementary school. Tom and I rode down to Ocean City on Friday when the temperature was in the 80's and rode along the boardwalk, approximately 5 miles. I hadn't thought about riding a bike, or tried to in over twenty-five years. It was wonderful! The warm breeze blowing through my hair taking in the scenery as it goes by.

I feel like I am finally enjoying my life. So many doors have opened for me, with just the simple act of shedding some pounds. Life is so much more enjoyable.

I recently flew to California and was able to fit in the plane seat without the use of a seat-belt extension! That is a huge victory for me!! So much shame and anxiety came from plane rides in the past....and that's just what that is now MY past!

Inspiring Quote

Everyone needs inspiration, we get it from different sources each and every day. I thought I'd share this with you today. In honor of the month of February! It has been a tough month for me, battling an ongoing sinus infection has made it difficult to keep to my normal workout routine. My grandmother was hospitalized for a week; which brought back a lot of anxiety surrounding mortality and losing those close to us...and triggered bad eating habits. The point is, THINGS happen...and each day when we wake up we have a chance to start fresh, NEW! Make today that day for you!

Source: 25.media.tumblr.com via Kathy on Pinterest

How To Quiet Those Voices

We all have them, those nagging voices in our heads that tell us we want chocolate or chips. The question is, do you give into them? For many years I fell victim to those voices; they can be extremely loud and persistent.

It is completely a battle of the wills. Are you going to give up the power to the little yellow man? I have a few tricks of my sleeve that help me not fall victim to him.

First and foremost, make sure you are fueling your body with the proper nutrients. If your body doesn't have the proper balance of lean proteins, fruits and veggies, whole grains and water you are bound to give in to him. I find it much easier to stave off those cravings when I have a diet higher in lean proteins and fiber.

Secondly, be sure to keep yourself hydrated! Many times when I think that I'm feeling hungry and I drink a glass of water those feelings go away. There are so many benefits to drinking water, but this is just one of them.

Finally I will say, I do chew my fair share of gum. It does do the trick when you're craving something sweet. Keep your desk drawer at work, purse or pocket stocked with gum or sugar free lozenges.

Blowing Goals Apart

A couple weeks ago I set another goal of losing 75lbs by March 15th, considering I was sitting pretty at a 60lbs weight loss. I found this to be a realistic yet somewhat challenging goal. I never thought in a million years 21 days later I would already be at a 72lb weight loss!! What a wild ride the month of January has been! I'm enjoying every minute of it and holding on tight to see where this roller coaster leads me! The one thing that I can say has remained consistent is my diet. I may have missed going to the gym for two weeks while recovering from my surgery but I never faltered from my diet. The key to this journey is consistency, the weight is going to fall off eventually. Don't get discouraged if you have a bad day or a bad week on the scale, eventually the numbers will show up!

I've set a new goal for March 15th, 85lbs!

A lot of people ask me what I'm eating, so I thought I would share with you.

Breakfast: Chobani Greek Yogurt mixed with Kashi Go Lean Cereal
The combination of the protein, whole grains and fiber keep me full and feeling satisfied all morning.
If I workout before work I will drink a protein drink that has 30 grams of protein in it after my workout.
Mid Morning Snack- A piece of whole fruit. Apple, banana, or sugar free apple sauce.
Lunch- Salad with a lean protein on it. ( lunch meat, boiled egg whites ) sugar free pudding or applesauce.
Dinner- Well balanced dinner, a lean protein, lots of veggies and a whole grain

I drink at least 100 ounces of water a day. I cut out all diet soda and allow myself sugar free drinks such as crystal light. I chew my fair share of sugar free gum when I feel like snacking. I really try not to eat any snacks after my dinner.

So, there you go. There is my diet in a nut shell.

Experimenting in the kitchen

One of my most favorite past times is cooking, I love creating things in the kitchen. Baking isn't always something I excel at because it's so exact with measurements etc. and I love to "wing" it. However every once in a while I like to indulge in a baked good or two. One of my favorites is banana nut bread. So, this morning I got creative in the kitchen with a recipe, did some modifying and this is what I came up with.

2 Cups of All Purpose Flour
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1 Tsp. of Baking Powder
3/4 Cup of Splenda Brown Sugar Blend
1 unsweetened apple sauce (pre-packaged serving)
2 Tbsp. of whipped light butter
1/2 Egg Beaters
4 Large over ripened banana's - mashed
1 Tsp. vanilla
Optional- 1/4 cup of chopped walnuts, 2 Tbsp. of Tastefully Simple Cinnamon Caramel Sprinkles

Cream together Apple Sauce, Butter, Egg substitute, vanilla & sugar. Add flour, salt, baking powder. With a wooden spoon stir in the mashed bananas. Mix in the nuts and cinnamon caramel.

To combat portion control I used my Pampered Chef mini muffin tin. Used my small scooper and put the perfect portion size into each tin. They took approximately 14 minutes to bake at 350 degrees. I plan on putting them in the freezer and taking one or two out each time I want one.

You can use a loaf pan, it should bake for approximately 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes at 350.

Small Bumps in the road

A journey wouldn't be a "Journey" without bumps in the road. Let's face it, life isn't always going to have newly paved smooth roads to ride on. I can say without a doubt that having health issues is always a bump in the road for many if not all people.

I underwent surgery on Monday to have my gallbladder removed. In December I had an attack with enough pain to land me in the emergency room. To say it was scary is an understatement. I have had issues with my gallbladder in the past, but was trying to hold off on surgery. December was the "straw that broke the camels back."

The exact procedure that I had is described below:

Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery for gallstones

Laparoscopic gallbladder surgery (cholecystectomy) removes the gallbladder and gallstones through several small incisions in the abdomen. The surgeon inflates your abdomen with air or carbon dioxide in order to see clearly.

The surgeon inserts a lighted scope attached to a video camera (laparoscope) into one incision near the belly button. The surgeon then uses a video monitor as a guide while inserting surgical instruments into the other incisions to remove your gallbladder.

While he was operating he took a biopsy of my liver, blood tests revealed elevated liver functions. We will wait to see the results.

Anytime that you are under anesthesia there are risks, and its scary. I tried to keep a positive attitude leading up to the procedure. Prayed and gave my worries up to God. It doesn't mean I wasn't nervous, I wouldn't be human if I wasn't. The most difficult part of the day was the anticipation and waiting to be called back; and the waking up. (Or lack of waking up)

It is incredibly difficult to wake up from anesthesia, not to mention your drive to breathe is diminished. I felt such a struggle to take each breath or to open my eyes; this coupled with nausea made the afternoon a 'delight'.

As I reflect on my experience I have to believe that the strength I was empowered with to fight through these challenges came from deep within and were guided by the holy spirit. The same determination and strength I've had driving me through daily life to succeed at the dinner table and on the gym floor.

I'm well on my way to making a full recovering; only three days after my procedure! I have an incredible husband and friends who have been there for me every step of the way!

Setting Goals

Setting goals and more importantly mini goals have been essential to my success! As I mentioned in a previous entry I had hoped to lose 55lbs by January 1st. This morning I hit a milestone of 60lbs! Each pound is an achievement that I celebrate! Honestly, when I go to Sams club to pick up my monthly bag of dog food (50lbs) I dread lifting that bag into the cart, then into and out of the car at home. I can't imagine having 50 or 60 extra lbs on my frame again! So, when you have a weight loss of 1lb, 2 or 5lbs celebrate it! I've already set my next goal of 75lbs by March 15th! You can't reach your goal if you don't set one.

I spent part of my holiday break reading two Biggest Loser Cookbooks that I received for Christmas; and I absorbed so many great ideas and facts about eating cleaner. Looking forward to sharing these tips and tricks with you in some of my future entries.