Weigh In Day

Let’s cut to the chase. I keep falling off the wagon. I started this blog in 2013, and I was totally on it once I committed. What most people didn’t know I went spent years yo-yo-ing. I need to get serious again.

I plan to start a new blog but I decided for now to stay here, to lose the weight and chronicle my struggles. Then I will begin anew. I started weight watchers, but stopped counting a few weeks ago and I went up 8 lbs. My clothes don’t fit. I feel miserable. This is in my control to fix, so fix it I will. I don’t care who reads this I just care that I change my routine, patterns, and habits.

It’s time to get serious, for me. I don’t need any more cheat days, comfort food, or splurges. I need to choose what’s important. I have one day I have to try vegan restaurants for an article I’m writing, but every other day I plan to track and be on point. I started today.

Today! Starting weight 190 lbs. First simple goals. Work out with trainer on Monday’s  and walk daily. Track daily. Eat clean vegan, nourishing food that makes me feel healthy and strong. Drink water. Be better. For me. The buck starts here.

 

 

 

 

 

WEIGH IN DAY


Today is Friday, and my weigh in day. My first week of ww, (which is the new name of weight watchers) is in the books. I tracked everything on the app, I stayed within my points range. Each day I ate healthy vegan food but I was not obsessive, practicing portion control. It was a successful beginning to my new weight loss/ fitness and wellness journey. I went from 192.4 to 188.8. It’s so wonderful to see the scale move.

I’m off to have my vegan zucchini bread and coffee and begin my day. It’s amazing how this program makes me feel. Happy Friday to all.
Love and light, Rose

 

FASHION FOR ALL BODIES

 

As I’m in the process of beginning my weight loss journey, I realize clothes are not just for when you hit your goals. Fashion is for all bodies and all ages. We are all a now, so wear all the clothes now.

A lot of people might not know how much I love fashion, since I was a teenager. My Mother bought me outfits that my sister said looked straight out of Seventeen Magazine, my favorite magazine. I was first introduced to the pages of teen fashion by my childhood friend Judy. I would spend days at her house, perusing her endless stack of magazines. I was soon hooked, and to this day I love a good fashion magazine. I learn a lot from YouTube these days too. 

I have a little time on my hands this week, I took time off for my second vaccine. I was sick for a little over a day, and now I’m  going through my wardrobe purging what doesn’t serve me. I realized a lot of these clothes hang with hopes I will feel good enough to wear them. I’m good enough now. It’s important to feel good about yourself as you make big lifestyle health and wellness changes. Feeling good is not just reserved for getting to goal.

Wear what makes you feel comfortable in your own skin, whatever that means for you. Everyone has something positive to highlight. It’s all individual. Don’t focus on your self perceived flaws. Confidence is everything. 

Weigh in is tomorrow. Week one is in the books. I think I did great, but I’m also not going to be a slave to my scale. I really do love weight watchers, it quiets all the negative noise in my mind. I also had blood work done this week, something I always dread. It was perfect, so moving on to all things healthy, positive and happy. 

There’s no art on my bedroom walls because we are moving. I am really looking forward to my last six months in Texas, lots of amazing experiences planned. 
The best part of this photo is Cosmo photo bomb.

Be your own happiness and health guru. I’m learning from all the experts how to improve my life for the better, but I’m my own life coach. It’s all up to me. I am self actualizing the life I want to live.
Are you with me?

wear all the clothes ❤️ 

TODAY IS A GREAT DAY FOR CHANGE

It’s Sunday and I just started weight watchers Friday. I’m feeling a bit reflective.

It usually takes me a thousand tries before it sticks. I get sidetracked, I’m all over the map with my goals and I’m not a multitasker.

The reason I chose weight watchers again is because I don’t vilify food when on this program. It’s just food. It’s not bad or good. It’s super easy to do with the app, and if I need support I can attend a meeting.

If you really know me you know I eat a very healthy vegan diet, but it’s not enough. Portions, age related obstacles and the synthroid I take for hypothyroidism are all a part of my weight gain equation.

But that’s ok, I’m not looking backwards. I’m not going that way.

Those obstacles are not a dead end. I’m jumping over the road blocks, I’m finding how to navigate my vegan ways with some semblance of balance. If I want toast with coffee I will have toast with coffee, but I count it and usually don’t eat bread the rest of the day. It’s about the little choices you make that will help you journey to your destination.

Exercise is huge. I couldn’t do it without movement. I will keep working on it to be as fit as this body will be.

The one thing I do know, when my food feels in control and balanced everything else follows. My journey this time is not that much different than it was in July 2013 when I began mychangeforaten. I am better and chasing goals, better at life when my food is in control. 

Today is a great day for change. As my husband James always says, don’t think, just do. He also says don’t live in fear, because if you do, you are not living at all. I think we can all relate to fear after the last year and a half. 

Live, and thrive today. You can’t make a difference in the world if you do not take care of your health. We want you here. So if you need to change, today is a great day for change. Begin Today. In six months you will thank your younger self. 

Love and Light, 

Rose 

 

TRAIN LIKE YOU MEAN IT

I am beginning again with my fitness journey, and I have a few experts helping me along my way. My inspiration is always my best friend Melissa at #benderfitness. I always turn to her videos, for workouts, yoga especially. She always helps me and gives me amazing advice. If you love home workouts you can find her here. She’s a total professional.

http://www.benderfitness.com/


I also realized need someone in person to motivate and kick my but. When I began this blog back in July  2013 I worked out with my friend and trainer Mike, and it made all the difference. Sometimes we need someone in person to push us to be our very best. I got extremely stagnant over the Pandemic, and I’m really back at square one.  I knew I had to make a change. I posted in a local group and luckily I found the perfect person. 

Introducing my NASM certified personal trainer Kristi Burr Blount. Kristi started training me a few weeks ago, before my return to this blog. I can’t express how thrilled I am to be working with her, TRX, weights, functional training etc.  Our sessions have been amazing and challenging, and she knows when to make a session more difficult than the last. She really takes care to insure you do not get injured and that you are using proper form in your movements. This is just the beginning. I’m absolutely thrilled to be training with her.

You can find her here.

 

https://m.facebook.com/KBLifestyleandFitness/

As I go forward I will be sharing everything I’m doing, to help others as they start over. It’s not easy to begin again, but it’s so much better than staying stagnant.
Here’s to brand new beginnings.
love and light,

Rose

 

 



SUMMER SOLSTICE NEW BEGINNING

June 21st 2021

Monday.

Good Morning to all. Happy New Beginnings. It’s the week of the Summer Solstice, and to me it’s the perfect time to start over. Yes, I have been starting over for four years now, usually with zero success. I’ve been a literal yo yo, up and down, lose ten gain five. After the pandemic and a lot of soul searching and feeling like €&@%, I decided to have another go at it.

I have a lot of plans and goals, but I’m starting with the basics first, fitness, fun, and food. I now have a personal trainer I’m working with named Kristi, Tuesday’s post will be all about her. I’m also looking to my bestie and fitness expert Melissa Bender Fitness. I’m using the lose it app and cleaning up my act. I’m plan to work on new routines, planning and living life to the fullest. I want to love the skin I’m in again. It all begins with a commitment to health. My plans will include ballroom dancing, yoga and meditation.

This post today is a short one, just to announce I’m back, and I’m counting down from the summer solstice to my winter solstice Birthday. I love time challenges, they really motivate me.

My starting weight is 186 lbs. I plan to take a fat measurement test and do measurements. To mark my starting point.

This time I will get it right. My favorite quote as if late is actually from my husband James, “Don’t think, just do.”

Happy Happy New Beginnings.

Love and Light,
Rose

 

 

 

 

My Change For A Ten

Good Monday Morning, 

After being Mia for quite some time, I decided to return back to this blog, and the theme behind it. I’ve been running in circles for a few years, but I’ve finally caught up with myself and I’m making changes. In my weight loss journey I have over forty pounds to lose. I’ve decided to go back to what made this blog and my motivation work, sponsoring a charity with each ten pounds I lose. I’m still running my group Letters From Uncle Louie, and it’s such a blessing. Every time I lose a pound I’m going to put ten dollars in a jar. Each ten pounds will equal one hundred dollars. I’m going to donate one hundred dollars to a charity I choose. That’s how I’m going forward with sponsoring a charity, along with possible volunteer work. The idea is I lose and I give so someone gains as I get healthy. Just like I did when I began.

I will also be sharing my program, my routines, my vegan fitness and nutrition and everything I’m doing to be healthier and happier in mind and body. That includes tackling the health anxiety I’ve had since the pandemic began. I no longer wish to live in fear, but I choose to live in joy and abundance.

I hope you join me on this new endeavor, as I get back to this blog and to fitness and wellness. It’s been way too long. I missed you.

Love and light to all and Namaste’

Rose 

 

SALSA RECIPE

We finally got a blender. It’s a decent one, not the one I dream of. I dream of a vita-mix or a Ninja that can help me make all of the vegan goodies.

This blender is good though, and I’m happy with it. I’m making lots of green smoothies and we finally did a salsa experiment. It was delicious, fresh but my hubby thought not salty enough. Eating less salt takes time as your palate adjusts.

Happy Thursday. Here’s the easy peasy recipe. Enjoy 

You will need:

Six Roma tomatoes.

a small can no salt diced tomatoes.

A quarter of a large red onion.

Two green onions.

1 clove garlic.

Half jalapeño.

Handful of cilantro.

Juice of one lime.

Dash of salt and pepper to taste.

This is so easy. Dice the Roma tomatoes. Add to blender with the canned no salt diced tomatoes with juice. Add all ingredients and blend until you achieve a salsa consistency. Do not over blend if you like chunky salsa. Add to bowl and flavor with a dash of salt and pepper. Garnish with a few chopped green onions.

This recipe can be altered to any taste you have. Get creative. I know some people who roast the veggies before making the salsa. I may try that next.

We loved it. I put mine on my tofu wrap and my hubby ate his with tortilla chips. It really was so fresh.

Let me know if you attempt  homemade salsa.

Have a wonderful day. Love and light, Rose

 

 

 

What happened week one vegan no oil

Happy Tuesday. I’m a little late updating my weight loss so I decided to combine my week one weigh in and what’s happened after nine days eating vegan whole plant foods no oil, with little salt and just a dash of sugar in my coffee.
1. I lost six pounds week one.
2. my joints feel so much better, any aches and pains I had are now almost gone.
3. This is a little TMI but I normally have a lot of gas issues and daily diarrhea. It’s probably why my potassium was so low. I assumed it was all the fiber. Now I think it was the processed foods and oil. I now feel normal in that department.
4. When I usually sit for a while and stand up it takes me a minute or two to walk off the stiffness. It’s all gone. No more stiffness.
5. Got swollen eyes? No salt and no oil means less swelling under your eyes, in your feet etc. My shoes are not as tight. This is all only after nine days. I plan to eat like this for ten weeks, journaling every bite and sticking to Dr Greger’s Daily Dozen. After ten weeks I will start the next ten weeks of food journaling. I feel amazing so far. It keeps my motivation going feeling this good. I am trying no oil recipes so I will be posting those soon.
Have a wonderful day.
love and light,

Rose

 

VEGAN PROTEIN BALLS

My coffee is life to me. I tried to use plain soy milk in my coffee but it just tasted watered down. I decided to have my soy creamer as my one treat.

Vegan Protein Bars are delicious and my go to breakfast. I first learned about them from Melissa Bender Fitness. Since I’m doing Dr Greger’s Daily Dozen I wanted to make my protein bars in portion controlled servings, so I know which boxes to tick off. Mine have three ingredients and they make one serving, four protein bars are 1/2 cup oats which is 1 grain and 1 TBS nut butter which ticks off the nut box. I add a few raisins but you could add any dried fruit or chocolate chips. They are perfect accompaniment with my coffee.

You will need.
1/2 cup oats, 1 tbs nut butter, preferably no salt and no added oils. 1 tablespoon raisins or chocolate chips, or any dried fruit. In a bowl add oats, then spoon in nut butter. I chose a runny nut butter which makes assembling the protein balls much easier, or you can microwave it for a few seconds. I add the raisins and mix. Chill for at least a half hour and then you should be able to form 4 protein balls.

Above is Dr Greger’s Daily Dozen chart. I find it’s the best tool for me to get all of my nutritional needs in. I follow all the plant based Dr’s and I take what works for me. I’m definitely sticking to no oil and only a dash of sugar or molasses in my coffee. No sodium and that’s it. A very clean vegan diet going forward. My health is my why.

Change begins when you decide there is need for change. When you are ready you will show up. It’s time for me, I’m here and committed.

Happy Tuesday to all. Love and light, Rose