Category Archives: Uncategorized

CHEAT DAYS

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Cheat days, how does your mind and body react to having a weekly cheat day? My hubby James thinks I’m weird about food. After a delicious meal most people will say they feel satiated and satisfied. I just feel disgust and guilt, especially if I happened to overeat. It happens now and then, and it just doesn’t make me feel good. I decided to go at it alone without the WW app to save money, and I don’t think that was a good idea. In the next week or so I’m reinstating my account. It keeps me sane by tracking. I’ve come this far, I’m down 23 lbs since one year ago and 13 since using the ww app. It’s a tool I think I need, for my sanities sake.

I don’t think I will ever be normal when it comes to food but I will say this, going vegan is the best thing I’ve ever done. Even with the haunting of past eating disorders at least I know I’m eating with compassion and kindness. The rest I will figure out as I continue on this journey of mine. One thing I do know, vegan cheesecake is ok, pasta is not. It’s a diet and eating disorder fiasco. No more pasta for me. Pasta is my trigger food, so I plan to avoid it for the time being. But the cheesecake is worth the calories, counted in portion control of course. Do you have foods that detail your willpower?

Love and Light to all. Rose 

Starting weight 193

Current Weight 170

mini goal 160’s

First goal 159

Goal Weight 135-140

SAVE THE DATE BAKE SALE

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Happy Thursday!! Today is day three, back to counting my points, I’m proud to say I’m getting my willpower back. Soon I will be volunteering at the Horse Sanctuary. I lost my first ten. I’m going to remember I’m accountable to the charities I pick every time I want to succumb to stress eating, it helps me stay the course. Giving back is a lot of what this blog was about in the past, and I’m trying to make it just as much so now. Lose weight, give back and get fit. 

On that note I’m helping plan a bake sale for a great cause. Save the date!! We are planning a bake sale for Saturday September 28, 2019 12:00-3:00. All funds are going to help my friends dog Oreo, who needs surgery. I’m making vegan goodies and there will be plenty of baked goods to choose from. All the information is on the flyer photo below. There is also a go-fund me page. I understand what it’s like to have astronomical vet bills. Our companion animals are family. Isn’t Oreo just the cutest? If you live in the Houston area or anywhere near The Woodlands you should stop by. There will be lots of goodies for a very good cause. Save the date!!

Love and Light to all! It’s coffee time!!

Rose💕

WEIGH IN WEIGHT GAIN

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I was reading Mantra Wellness Magazine, (photo from the pages of the magazine). I opened the magazine and this was the first page. It totally spoke to me. I messed up, again. I gained 3 of the 13 lbs I lost. Here I am, facing the music and starting over.

Weight loss is a series of ups and downs. You begin all gun go until a holiday or other food related event comes along. All of a sudden you stop tracking and you promise yourself just one bad day. Then there’s leftovers, so one cheat day becomes two. Soon you have lost your momentum. I’ve been there when I was successful in my weight loss the first time around, and I’m there now at the beginning of my second weight loss journey. The key is to catch it, to own your slip up and get back on that weight loss wagon. Get on the scale, face it and get moving. I gained three pounds. My weight is currently 174 lbs. I’m still down ten, and I’m catching this now before I gain the whole ten back. I’m making like a GPS,  I’m yelling recalculating. Here’s how I’m going to get back at it and stop the gain cycle and continue on my wellness/weight loss/fitness journey part two.

The first thing is to access the damage, weigh yourself. You need to know where you are.It’s easy to be in denial. Better to cry over a few pounds now. I weighed myself and tracked my weight. 

My next step is to track all my food, and as a ww member I’m going to try to be in blue dots. That means stay within my healthy range of points, period. I noticed my weight went up when I didn’t track.  When I did track I went over my points. My day begins with 24 oz of water with lemon, and a banana and an apple or whatever fruit I have. I let my body digest it before my daily one cup of coffee. Then my breakfast. Lately I’m eating a garden of life plant based protein bar with my coffee. Hey, I’m on the run and it’s only 5 pts. I’m going to make oat and peanut butter protein balls too. If you are vegan I would love to know some fast and healthy breakfasts that are your favorites. 

Being accountable here helps, so I plan to try to blog daily and try to get better sleep. I have two Siamese cats, and the minute our heads touch the pillow they decide it’s time to party. We have to get better sleep, that’s number one. 

Move daily. Non negotiable. That’s my only fitness rule right now. I’ve been spotty with my fitness so I’m making this one goal to start. Move my body vigorously for 45 minutes to 1 hour daily. I will be more specific later, but that’s my rule. It could be running, walking fast, Melissa Bender Fitness workouts etc. I just have to move it for 45 minutes to 1 hour. I started this on Labor Day. Plus I’m going to also add sun salutations, stretching and legs up a wall pose for circulation. 

Eat clean 80/20. The majority of my vegan diet must be Whole Foods plant based with processed vegan food only occasionally. Tracking every bite. I stopped this and I gained three pounds. It’s ok, I’m painfully human. I may try to not eat past 8 pm, but this may be difficult with my work schedule. I’m going to try. Time to revisit vegan meal prepping. 

So this is my restart of my restart. We are still planning to go to Henry’s Home and Horse Sanctuary soon, definitely this month. Ive been asked by my husband James to go when he can go. I do plan to visit and volunteer regularly after our first visit. There’s a lot going on in our life but this is something I can’t wait to do. I’m also helping a friend with a bake sale for her dog that needs surgery. I will post more about that later. I’m baking vegan goodies!! I believe we are here to be of service to others. Sometimes stress gets in the way, I’m working on ways to destress naturally.

I’m off to get my daily exercise in. I want you to know the road to goal does have potholes, and an occasional thunderstorm or two that can throw you off track. The sun will shine again, just begin traveling your path as many times as need be. The destination will always be there. Love and Light. Rose

 

LIFE REPURPOSED

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We have moved a lot, and I’ve purged before each move and found wonderful new items for each new home. I love living a life of creativity. Does it take a lot of money? When you are on a budget you can still surround yourself with beauty by repurposing your ideas and things, and just getting a little creative while spending less cash. Abundance is for everyone and it’s not expensive. Moving has taught me this. This blog is about life and losing weight and getting in great shape, all while giving back. It’s also about living your best life. I’m definitely working on happiness on every level. We all deserve beauty in our life.

I have four beautiful black blazers, all different styles. I bought them at a discount day at a local thrift store for a little over a buck a blazer. Dry cleaned and they look fabulous and trendy with jeans. When you are losing weight it helps to feel good in all aspects of your life. Buying clothes is difficult as you are changing your body, so spending less makes a lot of sense.  Having an inviting space to live in is the ultimate comfort. Here are some of the creative ways I live my life for the better without spending a lot of green❤️ Wishing you beauty in all aspects of your life. 

Create your own art

Order used books on Amazon or find them at garage sales, thrift stores, library sales and discount book stores.

Make homemade and healthy treats.

I love finding pretty things at Marshall’s and Ross for Less.

Start photography and frame your work.

What to do with scraps when you prep fruits?

Add Chai Tea to scraps with cinnamon and water and simmer in a tea pot to make your home smell naturally delicious.

Simmer on low, add vanilla too. So much you can do to make natural room scents.

This was a dress for only 8 bucks at Ross. It’s my new fave girly robe. Morning motivation. Coziness and coffee.

I was curious about this book, got it used on Amazon for 10 bucks with prime free shipping. Another hint, with Amazon Prime you get discounts at Whole Foods.

A lantern makes an interesting piece stacked on books.

IKEA cart and inspiration from a coffee shop. Perfect book shelf and a place for fresh flowers.

Jonathan Adler butter dish I repurposed as decor for my living room.

Everything found in a thrift store. An Andrew Wyeth signed art work, the table, the cake plate Holding the apples. The candlesticks.

 

EASY VEGAN ALFREDO

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It’s Tuesday and I’m late to updating my weight loss. I’m down another 2 lbs, weighing in at 171 lbs. That’s 13 lbs since I joined WW online and 18 total weight loss. I was 159 lbs when I moved to Houston from Los Angeles in June 2017. I’m almost there. My first weight goal is 159 lbs. My ultimate weight loss goal is to weigh in around 140 lbs.

Soon I will also be sharing my fitness journey and my volunteering journey. I plan to try on new routines to help me get to all of my goals. Waitressing has taken up most of my time, and  some new time management skills are needed.  I am a work in progress for sure, but I keep on keeping on despite life’s stresses. I am losing weight again and I’m living my authentic life as a vegan, for that I’m immensely proud. 

I love to experiment with vegan cheat meals on my day off after weigh in, of course always counting my portions. I was craving Alfredo and my vegan Fettuccine  Alfredo hit the spot. It’s an easy recipe and just as creamy as Alfredo made with dairy. Here’s the recipe below, even vegans need cheat meals. 

Easy Vegan Fettuccine Alfredo

1 lb Fettuccine

2 Tbs olive oil, 1Tbs earth balance vegan butter

1 cup vegan creamer non sweetened or unsweetened soy milk

1 cup vegan Parmesan cheese, I used GoVeggie

4 cloves garlic

handful of fresh chopped basil, parsley

salt and pepper

Half of a fresh squeezed lemon juice

Cook Pasta  according to directions. I bring my water to a rolling boil and cook Fettuccine for 12 minutes. 

Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water. 

In a large pot sauté garlic in olive oil and earth balance for 3 minutes.

Salt and pepper.

Add unsweetened vegan creamer or unsweetened soy milk, bring to a boil, cooking for two minutes.

Add reserved pasta water, fresh lemon juice and vegan cheese. Bring to a boil and stir until lumps disappear.

Add salt, pepper, lemon juice and fresh basil.

Continue stirring until smooth.

Stir in cooked pasta, mixing well.

Garnish with fresh or dried parsley and additional vegan Parmesan cheese. 

You can add broccoli, or any vegetable you prefer. A little crushed red pepper would be delicious, or a can of diced tomatoes would be a wonderful addition. We loved it and I will make it again. My first attempt was a fail, I accidentally used vegan creamer with sugar. My second attempt was a major hit!!  I hope you love this as much as we did. 

Manga, 

Love and Light 

Rose 

 

 

 

 

WEIGH IN MONDAY

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Happy Monday to all. It’s rainy here, but rainy days and Mondays do not get me down. I’ve chosen happiness and I’m going forth with joy and kindness for myself and others.  I lost another pound. Cue my happy, coffee drinking  post weigh in dance. I’m currently 173 lbs. I’m down 11 lbs since I began WW. It’s slow and steady and I feel in control, so it’s perfect to me. I already feel lighter. I’m tweaking my fitness and I’m working with my number one fitness guru Melissa from Melissa Bender Fitness. I’m going back to what has worked in the past. Working on cardio, flexibility and strength.

As I settle into my fitness routine I will post more. I’m losing weight and baking vegan healthy cookies, for myself and others around me. I’m sharing kindness and joy, no longer wallowing in my weight. I ate pasta and tator tots last week, but the difference is I watched my portion control, I tracked everything, and most of my meals are clean and healthy. Saturday night after work my hubby made me veggie burgers and tator tots, such a treat. I skipped the bun! It’s little tweaks here and there that make a difference in your weight loss journey. I never binge anymore, everything is counted. WW sent me my ten pound charm, how cool is that? 

This weekend we have to buy work boots for our visit to Henry’s Home and Horse Sanctuary. I plan to be a regular there if they will have me. My life has its troubles and giving back helps me through the struggles. We all have them, it’s how we get through them that defines us. I started this blog in 2013 with intentions to lose weight and help a charity with each ten pounds I lost. I never dreamed I would gain half my weight back, but I’m so happy to be here doing what I’m doing today. The weight gain and restarting my weight loss is part of my life journey, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m learning so much about myself and growing. That’s a beautiful thing. I realized my success didn’t define me, my kindness defines me. Now I do what I do for my health and my goals, and if I end up looking better great. I’m in it to make a difference and that’s my motivation. 

Thunderstorms today and I love it. As much as I have missed the California sun, I really have grown to appreciate Texas weather. My motto going forward is to Bloom where I am planted. Make a difference in my own backyard. I’ve been baking vegan cookies and they are such a hit, I’m using the money for carrots and apples for the horses. Happy Brand new week. Namaste. Rose 

 

 

 

 

WEIGH IN MONDAY

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Happy Monday. It’s weigh in Monday and my weight stayed the same, holding steady at 175 lbs. I’m really proud that I’ve lost 9.4 since starting WW online. I’m almost at the 10 lbs mark, and I’m really looking forward to visiting Henry’s Home and Horse Sanctuary. Putting my emphasis on something else really helps me stay accountable, and it works. My hubby James wants to go with me, he’s really interested in giving back. 

Speaking of James, I was sick all last week and now I got him sick. Both of us are taking a rest   in fitness until we feel better. Sometimes rest is so important, as is learning to listen to your body. My weight loss goals are coming along and soon my fitness goals will follow. This is a lifestyle change not a fad fix. If your body is enervated you need to rest and recover. 

This post is short and sweet, I’m happy to be losing again and I really love using the WW app. Tracking and staying within my points is really making a difference. I fit into a few size 12 clothing items I had in storage. It feels so great to be losing again and feeling comfortable in my own skin. I find myself watching fashion videos on YouTube. My interest in fashion has returned with my new-found weight loss. It’s important to always have something nice to wear no matter what weight loss stage you are in. No more skipping functions with the excuse of nothing to wear. After all, you have to live. 

Have a wonderful beginning to a brand new week. I’m still not 100% so I may just chill and Netflix, or in truth watch Turner Classic Movies.  Love and light and keep chasing your goals.  Rose

WEIGHT LOSS UPDATE

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Happy Monday to all. Today is my weigh in day and I’m almost at the ten pound mark. I lost two pounds today, and my weight is officially 175 lbs. Soon I will be making arrangements to volunteer at Henry’s Home and Horse Sanctuary, most likely in July. I’m so excited to meet the animals and do anything to help this wonderful organization. 

This post is short and sweet, I’m under the weather with bad allergies and my energy is not 100%. My throat was hurting for days and my voice is really scratchy and rough. Today and tomorrow I’m laying low with workouts until I’m feeling better. Happy Monday and keep moving forward towards your goals. 

NSV’s

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I’m sitting in our courtyard waiting for my husband James. I’m so excited, we are going to see the film Rocket Man. We really loved Bohemian Rhapsody, and since we are such Elton John fans I’m sure we will love this film. Elton John is one of my favorites, and as a poet/writer I love lyricist Bernie Taupin. I often wish I can meet a musician so my words can become lyrics. 

As I sit here with my feet up, listening  to the mesmerizing sound of the fountain, I am so grateful to be back on my health journey. Yesterday I received my WW 5 lb key chain, and as I sit here in a tee shirt and jeans that I haven’t worn in over a year, I’m grateful for nsv’s ( non scale victories). 

NSV’s are the little moments that keep you going on a weight loss journey. Fitting into clothes you haven’t worn in forever, stepping away from late night cravings or second helpings you do not really need. For me, eating fruit instead of a vegan ice cream bar is a nsv, especially when I used up all of my daily points.

NSV’s are those simple yet wonderful achievements that keep you going. They set the tone of your wellness journey. They do not take the stage in dramatic fashion like before and after photos. They quietly cheer you on, and they are just as important to your weight loss quest as getting to your goal. They are the pebbles that line your path. Celebrate them, and cheer yourself on. You are doing a fantastic thing for yourself. What a victory that is. Congratulations on your simple and grand moments, and live in joy today. Love and Light. Rose 

 

 

WEIGHING IN ON WEIGHING IN

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Take a laxative. Someone I know said that to me when I was discussing my Monday morning weigh in. It’s an old school way of prepping for the scale, something I’m all too familiar with from back in my teen years. It was probably a half joke and half serious statement, most dieters in bygone eras went to drastic measurements to reduce their size. What’s frightening is for a nano second I contemplated running to the grocery store after work to do just that.  

I didn’t buy laxatives, these days I understand the goal of losing weight is health, wellness and fitness. My scale is my guideline and my focus is on my fitness, my strength, flexibility and endurance. I understand working out combined with healthy eating can change the way I look, but more importantly; how I feel. I weigh myself to be accountable, and I believe it’s so important to get to a healthy BMI. I’m a work in progress, and sometimes those die-hard warped eating disorder thoughts creep in.   I recognize them, and I take action to lose weight with a healthy state of mind, mindset is so important when setting goals and choosing happiness.  

i lost another pound and my weight is currently 177 lbs. The changes on the scale are slow, and that’s perfect for me. I’m looking to change my lifestyle for good, not in some  unhealthy crash diet shortcut or in ways that could damage my health. I joined WW online because tracking helps me stay the course, and it helps keep me from obsessing about food. It’s so wonderful for someone like me, it keeps me from extreme dieting and bingeing. I’m losing weight for myself, and I’m accountable to the charity I picked, which keeps me really on point. I’m really looking forward to going to Henry’s Home and Horse Sanctuary. I’m really looking forward to progressing into the best version of myself. No laxatives, no weight loss crutches; only good old-fashioned hard work, sweat and a little patience.