Category Archives: Houston Food Bank

STARTING OVER 2023

It’s my first weigh in day. Starting over isn’t easy. Here’s my thoughts after returning to this blog and trying for the millionth time to lose the fifty pounds I gained over the last six years.

Transition isn’t easy, and besides the pandemic I’ve been the queen of changes. When I was in Los Angeles I had a community behind this blog, I felt the support on a deep level. Now in our first house as I start over I realize I need to look to myself for inspiration and make the commitment on a deeper level. I need to be able to stand alone and get it done. That means home workouts and meal prep.

Those late night junk food days are over. In the last week I’ve lost 3 lbs weighing in at 197 lbs. I made it to onederland as they say, and I hope to never see 200 lbs again. I set my plan with the loseitapp and my maximum calorie budget in a day is 1,610. This week I’ve hovered under 1,400 calories. Last night my husband James wanted beyond burgers with the bun and fries etc. I chose to eat mine bunless with a salad. I’m also limiting my breads. I feel for me bread is the gateway to my binges. First it’s bread, than a ton of pasta and finally I find myself reaching for sweets. Those things are not off limits permanently but limiting them now, especially in these crucial first days of my diet is so important as I build my mindset momentum.

In the early days of this new journey it’s important for me to build my willpower back up. If I slip up too early in this process I will keep yo yo’ing and gain five lose five pounds over and over. I had a revelation. When I eat or overeat junk food, it’s usually gone or over in five to ten minutes. Those five to ten minutes of satiation are not worth the sacrifice of my goals. I’m trying to be mindful of this lightbulb moment each time I have a craving to overindulge.

It’s a vicious circle, a cycle I overcame the first time I began this weight loss blog in 2013. I know what I must do to overcome any chance of an early setback. I’m going to choose a charity for my first ten pounds, something attainable. Maybe a can food drive for a local food bank. I’m open to suggestions. I’m also reinventing my passion project of Letters From Uncle Louie, we give back by sending snail mail to those who need cheer. I’m working on many writing projects and I started a part time server job so I’m busy, but I am so excited for fall. Fall to me is new beginnings, autumn 🍂 decor and fashion, and more social time because we will finally cool down here in Texas.

So if you find yourself thinking you can’t start again for whatever reason, I’m here to start again right beside you. We can do this, connecting virtually and cheering each other on from our little corner of the world. It’s not our location that makes us achieve great things, it’s our dedication. Happy Weekend to all. 

WEIGH IN UPDATE

Happy Monday to all. I would first like to begin by expressing my sorrow regarding the California fires. I lived in Los Angeles twice and we spent our weekends in beautiful Malibu, and we also lived in San Francisco. I’m just heartbroken for the people and animals and those in the wake of the fire. California is my adopted home and my friends there are my family. 

Update on my progress in the last week. I weighed in today, and for the second week my weight stayed the same. I weigh 182 lbs. in August I was 192 lbs so I’m happy I lost ten pounds. I admit last week I didn’t focus as much as I should on a clean diet, I stayed within my calories but I ate a little more vegan junk food than I should have. I try to only eat vegan convenience food once or twice a week but I gave in and had a veggie burger or two. It’s ok, this week I will do better. I’m planning to focus on routine, fitness and nutrition this week. 

We are moving into the holiday season, and even as a vegan it’s not easy to focus and not gain weight. My goal is to be in the mid 170’s by Christmas. We are having our first vegan Thanksgiving. I’m really excited to be living my most authentic life.

Our food drive for the Houston Food Bank is in full swing, as is the toy drive for Toys for Tots; courtesy of the kind people I get the pleasure to work beside. These are my last two charities for this particular project. After these two charities I plan to continue this blog as a vegan weight loss and fitness blog, but I will no longer be doing charities with each ten pounds. I’m planning a new project to help others,  and I will be posting about that at a later date. My plans to launch this new giving project are in February 2019. My goals are to really focus on changing my health and fitness on this blog, and keep my philanthropic goals separate with my new project.

We have been through a lot the last few years, but I feel the tide is about to change. A lot of good things are happening and we may be in transition again. I’m excited about the future and all new opportunities for both of us.

Life is definitely a road trip of hills and valleys, but it’s the people you meet along the journey that matter. They are with you as you navigate the lows and highs. Drive steady my friends. We all are here for one another to take the wheel when needed. 

So much love and light and prayers for my beloved California and to my California family we are with you in heart and spirit.

HOUSTON FOOD BANK DRIVE

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” 

— Mahatma Gandhi

Happy Saturday. I love that quote. I am finding myself again, getting fit and losing weight as I give back to those who need it. I am collecting cans for the Houston Food Bank as my next ten pound charity. I will be volunteering and delivering the cans on September 15th 2018. I already have over a box of can goods. 

Losing weight is not super easy for me, and I found out I have hypothyroidism. That is the reason I chose September as my volunteer date. I am travelling and I need some time to collect as many cans while I am home and time to actually get the weight off. I will post later what I am doing to lose weight and get fit. This is not my first rodeo so I got this. The only difference this time is I live a plant-based lifestyle, and I am mostly vegan. I say mostly vegan because it is a learning process for me. 

My birthday is in less than six months, and I plan to be the person I wish to be on that date. Healthier, fitter, happier, and using my time to help those who need it most. I am not doing this for appearance sake. It is so easy to get wrapped up in images in today’s world. Images we see of others and images of ourselves. I am a mere soul inhabiting a body which is my shell. I will treat my shell as a temple and not trash it, but I understand the image my shell portrays to the world is not the essence of me. I understand I must take care of my body to be able to express my love and giving to others. My essence is my soul but I cannot share that if I live in a body which is unhealthy and unfit. 

People have suggested I start a Youtube Channel to document my journey. I am marinating on that idea and looking into ways to do it until I would be able to get proper equipment. I am open to suggestions.

Happy Saturday

Rose

 

Happy Saturday to all.