Another day up early to sit on the back porch with a good cup of coffee, some time in prayer and the Word. Then a jog and protein shake. My weight was down by 2 pounds this morning, but weight fluctuates from day to day.

Good start to my 9 week challenge!

I'm headed up to college to take some forgotten things to my daughter. We are taking her out to lunch. Not sure what lunch will be, but I will not stress. I will try to be healthy, but since I am letting her choose I will let it be about my kids, not food. It's just one meal.

Then we are heading to a movie. I usually go to the movies FOR the popcorn. So what will we do tonight? Not sure. Wade might not want to spend the money. I know that movie theater popcorn is my ultimate weakness. I love it! If we have it, we have it. I am eating healthy most of the time.

Enjoyed jogging today more than yesterday. I could jog longer, even on the hills. I walked very little. However, my body is so sore. Especially my back. Not fun. But I would much rather be out in God's creation exercising than at the gym. It's fun and refreshing, but I will be back in the gym next week.

Challenge is on! Making progress. We decided yesterday that Thursdays will be our weigh in days. Can't wait till Thursday. That might be what keeps me from eating popcorn tonight.........

9 Week Challenge

I have a friend. We are taking a 9-week financial class together that has really helped us in the area of discipline. This discipline has spilled over into other areas of our lives, but now we want to make the most of this 9 week time period. We both want to lose weight.

So we have challenged each other to see what we can do to lose weight and, mostly, get healthier in our choices. After much reading, I am tending to go more vegetarian and vegan although I am not bound to these. I am not a huge animal lover, so my motivation is not to save the animals. The books I have read just have convinced me that animal by-products have a negative affect on our health. For this reason, I am going to greatly lessen animal products in my diet.

But I will also every once in a while have a big, juicy burger! That's why I will never label myself or put myself in a box. My goal is greater health from the inside out. As I read and as technology changes, I am willing to change with it. That may mean that I need to change my eating again.

I want to make healthy eating as my lifestyle, but not so rigid that I can't have a juicy steak or decadent dessert every once in a while. If my body is used to healthy stuff going in, an occasional indulgence won't be damaging. The key is every once in a while.

The class started last Thursday, but I am just now getting around to posting about it. I have done well with the eating part, but haven't exercised until today. As a matter of fact, after working out 4-5 times a week, I haven't set foot in the gym for four weeks. Yes, four weeks. And my joints are feeling it.

This week I still can't get to the gym because I have no one out here to keep Grantmeister since three of my kiddos are gone. So I am going back to my old ways -- jogging down the road. It went just fine and my body did better than I anticipated.

Breakfast was a protein shake (after the jog) with blueberries, vanilla protein shake (I need to find a vegan option for this), banana and ice. It was okay. Very filling and little taste. I will have to tweak this recipe.

Lunch was a great salad with greens, iceberg lettuce, red leaf lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, avocado, broccoli, a little bit of feta and used salsa for dressing. Yummy!

Now I am watching Great Expectations since I recently read the book and while I watch, I had a cup of coffee with a touch of almond milk with a small square of dark chocolate.

Dinner is in the crockpot. For the family, salsa chicken with beans over rice. I will have all but the chicken. And only a small amount of rice. Even though it's brown rice, I'm limiting grains for the time being. Salad will be served alongside. Yes!

New Shoes

Tried out new shoes today on a short jog. I have been wondering how they would do because I bought a cheaper shoe this time. My daughter needed shoes, too, so we did a "buy one get one half off" and I bought NIKE and I never buy NIKE.

They were great! Better than my body since I haven't seen the inside of the gym in four weeks. Yes, shame on me. And my body is feeling it. My joints hurt when I don't work out.

This week I can't go because I have no one here to be with Grantmeister when I leave. So I'm going to just do it the old fashioned way: jog around out here in the woods. Works well.

Not feeling well today. Was up a lot last night because of sore throat, yucky eyes, and an earache.

I think I can attribute it all to really UNHEALTHY food for 3 days after eating so well for a while. It always lowers my immune system.

So today, one word: JUICE.

Kale, spinach, carrots, lemon, blueberries, kiwi, apples and oranges.

And lots and lots of reading on eating healthy. It always "reboots" my motivation.

Dr. Axe, Dr. Ornish, Christine Bailey, Rip Esselstyn, Dr. Fuhrman -- just to name a few.

What's on My Nightstand?

There are two books right now laying beside my bed ready to be devoured. After finishing the Engine 2 Diet Rescue book, I am going to move right into these next two.

"Forks Over Knives" we watched several months ago, so I bought the book last week. I can't wait to see what else is in the book that might not be in the documentary!

This book just looked like where we are headed. I browsed the "raw" section of books for over an hour and settled on this one. Praying it was a good choice after putting 4 others back on the shelves.

Review coming soon!

Juicing

Wade and I are juicing. We drink our nutrients for at least breakfast, but usually for breakfast and lunch each day. Wade doesn't love veggies and fruit, so he is getting so many different nutrients! We are drinking kale, spinach, cucumber, tomatoes, lemon, celery, peaches, apples, grapes, blueberries, oranges -- whatever is in the fridge.

And we are loving it!

Okay, I'm loving it. He is hungry and needs to find the perfect snacks for him. I am thinking nuts, fruit, and then a healthy dinner. He has lost 10 pounds in just over 2 weeks!

Guys. They always lose so much faster! Of course, he is way more disciplined than I am, too. :) He's not tempted by chocolate.

It does take so much fruit and so many veggies to juice. But it is so yummy. I've always struggled that juicing wastes so much of the fruit or veggie. I still struggle some with it, but I am buying my produce differently.

In bulk. No, I haven't started buying from Azure yet. But buying bags in the grocery store.

No, it's not organic. I can't buy all organic until we are in a different place financially. So I am buying what I can and scrubbing.

And juicing.

I feel great! My seasonal allergy struggle from last month is gone. Such a better answer than meds.

Want to see motivation on the screen? Google "Raw Rebecca." She has highly motivated and inspired me lately. Her blue jeans picture on Facebook has been saved on my phone for daily motivation.

The greatest part: We are getting healthier and healthier. After all of the reading I have been doing, I am so intrigued and interested in eating a vegetarian or even vegan diet. No decisions being made yet. Still researching.

This is the book I read the last few days. And I am loving it! I saw this guy on the Engine 2 Diet Rescue DVD a few weeks ago. He makes the changes in diet look so easy and appealing.

So this week I bought his book and I haven't been able to put it down. He spells out the whys of a plant-strong diet, the results of eating this kind of diet, as well as gives lots and lots of recipes to try. And they sound yummy!

Once I get my kitchen back (you'll have to see my other blog for this story), I will be trying his recipes.

PLANT-STRONG never looked so good!

Tip of the Day:

Eat a small amount of good fat with each meal.

What are good fats? Nuts, avocados, olive oil, and fish.

What does it do for you?

"Fat slows the rate at which sugar hits your bloodstream, and this allows your blood sugar levels to remain steady."

"Good fat also burns fat."

"Good fat also helps your body to absorb vitamins and minerals better."

"It (good fat) helps to cushion your joints from wear and tear."

(All quotes taken from book entitled "Clean and Lean Diet" by James Duigan)

So today I cooked my omelette in a very small amount of coconut oil (which gave it a very tropical taste!), took some fish oil (which I do daily), I will eat an avocado later today. Avocados are eaten everyday here!

And since I have come to enjoy a salad without any dressing, I will start drizzling a little olive oil over it to get in my healthy oils.

As I side note on oils -- though used in a different way -- I also use almond oil on my body each day. My chiropractor has suggested coconut oil as the best body moisterizer. I might try that one day. My girls have used it for their eczema.

Last night, my niece, who loves everything natural and is a wonderful massage therapist, suggested I also begin using geranium essential oil for my hormone changes that come with age. I plan on getting some of that today.

Oils. Good fats. All contributing to better health.

One change at a time. One day at a time. One meal at a time. One workout at a time.

In the end, I hope to change our family lifestyle.

WIN!

Having some "wins" lately and today was a good one for me. I crave -- C-R-A-V-E -- sweets in the afternoon, between 2-5pm. Today was just like any other day. Cravings started.

Drank water.

Cravings continued.

Ate blueberries.

Satisfied.

WIN!


Veggies/fruit today:
carrots
spinach (2 servings)
avocado (2 servings)
blueberries (2 servings)
onion
celery
banana

So far I've had 72 oz of water and still going.

Lean protein:
2 small organic eggs
1 slice of lean chicken
1 Tbsp of organic peanut butter with coconut (Have you tried this?!) :)


Worked out this morning, and for some reason, it kicked my butt! It was so hard for me this morning that I got really cranky with sweet hubby who was trying to tell me about another lower body exercise I could try.

But, no thanks! I was a crank-butt! Had to apologize and, thankfully, he laughed and forgave me. These hormones are going to KILL me or him yet! Ugh........

Feeling pretty good, but headed to someone else's house for dinner tonight. Thankfully, it's hubby's parents and she called today to say she knew we wouldn't want to eat the main dish so I am taking leftover grilled chicken that we had last night. We will have a big salad and chicken. I appreciate her being understanding and trying to help us change our lifestyle.

Good start to a new week. Every wise choice makes the next one easier.

Remember: Don't give up what you want MOST for what you want at the MOMENT.

SUCCESSES THIS WEEK: Five days of working out Some wise choices in eating each day (a few poor ones, too) More rest at night I am exhausted. It has been a long, relational week. Coffee. Lunches. People. Pain. This time I am learning to take my stress out at the gym. Not at the fridge.

Isn't it funny how quickly I can fall away from working out, making any excuses at all to not go work out? And for three weeks?! (That was my life April 20-May 12) But after going back and working hard again this past week, I find myself addicted to the feeling after a hard workout. Yesterday was lower body/abs. Upper body always takes me longer and I tend to work harder. Today was upper body and abs, then jumped on the bike for a while afterward. Upped my weights today and took my time. I was -- am -- exhausted, but love, love, love how I feel when I walk from the gym to my car. There is something so wonderful about that feeling that I want to walk back into the gym and do more reps! Throw more weight around. Jump on the elliptical and see how long I can go. This is the feeling I need to remember always. The sensation of being addicted to exercise. That's what I need to remind myself of every single day. Especially at 5 in the morning when it's time to get up. And as I wait on the scale to move.

Great morning workout! Went early with hubby to work lower body at 10 Fitness. Then met a friend at Two Rivers Bridge to walk and talk. We walked at a fairly good pace (avg 14:40/mile). We covered 3.68 miles in 54:13. And we managed to talk, too. I didn't know if I would be able to walk fast after a lower body workout, but it actually helped me focus on my breathing. The best part was after we walked fast and hard, we enjoyed a cup of java (and tea for my friend) at Starbucks. Love their spinach, feta, organic egg white wrap. Can't wait to do it again.

I am struggling to eat well. Why can't I get back on track?! I need a total detox, but instead I keep trying to slowly step back into healthy after 2-3 weeks of eating emotionally after a tragedy within our circle of friends. Hubby is right -- we need to be at a place in our health habits that it doesn't matter what is going on. We continue in the good things that we know and have done and allow those good habits to help carry us through hard times. Now if I can just get back to the healthy eating place........

Still going to the gym 4-5 times a week with hubby. I did miss two whole weeks due to some sickness in early March. Rough to get back in after that. But we are back in the normal routine.

Last week I met with a personal trainer. I can't afford to have a personal trainer on a regular basis, but I took good notes from what he shared and have been working that plan since last Tuesday. I am wearing my muscles out! Upper body 2x/week. Lower body 2x/week. If I go a fifth time in the week, I am doing a full body workout. We do cardio and abs every time we go.

Vince, the personal trainer I met with, shared with me that the paramid to accomplish my health goals goes like this: 10% cardio, 40% strength training, 50% nutrition. We had been going in and focusing on doing an hour of cardio and just sometimes doing weights.

Now we go in and warm up, then do strength training. Then we go back and do some cardio, but for less time. I am seeing some changes in how my clothes fit and I am losing some weight, but it is slow. My muscles ache, but then feel much better when I go back and workout again.

While talking to Wade last week, he told me about Forks Over Knives. So I watched it last week. I was so surprised that Wade was considering a vegan diet! He is a meat and potatoes guy! We are still doing research, but we are trying to make sure half of what is on our plate is fruit/veggies in their most natural state, little meat, whole grain rice (only 2 times a week), lots of water, no sugar.

Let me say that Wade is way more disciplined than I am. We've done well over the past week. This past weekend I was on a youth retreat and because of what was served found myself eating salad three times in a row, but that was okay. I was pleased that I could deny myself. It is the very first youth retreat that I didn't have any junk food - especially chocolate. YEAH! I can't believe it, but I even took chocolate for others and ate NONE!

Tonight we ate at my MIL's house. She makes THE best garlic butter yeast rolls. I would have caved and eaten some except that Wade was beside me and said he wasn't having even a little. He told me the main dish had enough "junk" in it and that we didn't need to eat the bread. So I didn't. I followed his lead. We took only a small bit of the main dish, a large portion of spinach, tomatoes, avocados for salad; and then a veggie salsa made of black beans, onions, corn, peppers, garlic, cilantro. Even though I don't care to ever have corn, it was really yummy! I plan on making this again and again for us. Wade loved it and could take it to work with him.

So the journey continues and I am pleased with what we are doing. I am getting stronger with every new week.

There are so many benefits to what we are doing together - greater health, weight loss, body strength, discipline, etc.

But the greatest benefit of all is building my friendship even more with Wade. He has always been my best friend, but going through the financial struggles and now the health journey has taken us to the next level.

And I am learning that when I get disciplined in one area, it helps me be disciplined in another.

I love that!

Hubby and I joined a gym a week ago. I lost 4.6 pounds this week alone. My muscles have been so very sore, but it's been a great kind of sore. My seized-up calf muscles made me walk like an old woman for 4 days! Today my chest and tricips are sore.

But I love it!

Little man has been sick this week, so I have not been to the gym since Monday. I hate that, but I am so on a roll, I have worked out everyday here at home. I am loving how I feel, sleeping great, and eating better.

And I love working out with my own personal trainer -- hubby.

My favorite workout partner!

This week has been great getting through "detox" (used loosely) from the holidays. No sugar. No white - bread, pasta, rice, etc. No junk. No beef. Raw slightly cooked veggies. Salmon. Venison. Fruit (a little). Lots and lots of water.

And exercise.

And I already feel so much better! I am totally amazed at how quickly eating great works for me.

One more thing: today my big "why" was solidified for me. I have been thinking a lot lately about NOT putting my kids through caring for me or having to make decisions about my health for me that I can't make. I want to enjoy them and them enjoy me (Lord willing!). So I need to be healthy.

Today I sat in the hospital as my dad had 2 stints put into the front artery of his heart. He has not felt well for a year, but began to be "out of breath" while lying in bed reading. Not good.

So this week he finally went to the doctor. He had cut two loads of wood and could't do very much. He felt it was time to get help.

We were so very thankful that the blockages were in the front where they could stint them. He still has 40% blockage in the artery behind his heart, but they don't do anything until it is 60% blocked.

My mom had 2 stints put in for 3 blockages this past year, as well.

My "family history" doesn't look good, does it?

But I know there is a way to change the direction of my health. I have the knowledge, now I just need to put it into action and be committed to health.

It began this week. It went well. I feel great! Lord, give me strength to continue to make differences in our family lifestyle so that we continue to get healthy. We have made slow changes, but after today, I am strongly encouraged to move a little faster toward the best health possible for me and mine.