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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. 

WEIGHT LOSS STRUGGLES

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Eating disorders are usually seen as someone who is anorexic and extremely thin, or someone who obviously struggles with bulimia. As a young adult I suffered from eating disorders, I was very thin and dr’s said I was on the verge of anorexia. As time went on my weight stabilized, and it seemed like I was free of my past struggles. I won’t get into much detail of my eating disorder past, this post is about today. 

I have been overweight a few times in my life, the last time before now was in 2013 when I started this blog. Once I got my weight under control it seemed like my obsessive guilty thoughts about food went away, until I gained half my weight back in 2017. When someone looks at someone like me, they never connect I can have an eating disorder. I’ve weighed much more and I’ve weighed much less, but no matter how much I weigh; my eating disorder past comes back when I’m vulnerable and weak, or when life throws me curveballs.

I haven’t been consistent on this blog because I go silent when I struggle.  I’m embarrassed that I’m failing and lost all I worked so hard for. I get motivated and then struggles occur, and again I go silent. I have trouble admitting it’s so hard for me this time around. I’ve been down, then I see people going through much more than me and then I feel ashamed. It’s a vicious circle and I’m desperately looking to get on a more positive path. I want to keep trying until I get it right, I think from now on I’m going to share my ups and downs, my in between and the good and the bad; my middle of my journey. Since January I lost 10 lbs, my current weight is 180. The scale won’t continue to drop until I get myself and my diet and exercise on point consistently. I’m in the gray area, a little stuck and trying to push myself back to living in a Technicolor world.

Food is such a struggle for me. Most people love a good meal, and so do I. The difference is my thoughts about food. I eat healthy most of the time, I probably don’t eat enough. I’m vegan and I eat Whole Foods and plant-based. Once in a while I make a home cooked vegan meal, like spaghetti or a holiday meal. I always overeat spaghetti even if it’s a healthy type of pasta. My husband remarks how good he feels after such a meal, I only feel guilt and disgust. This started again Easter weekend. Special meals make me feel like a failure, so I don’t post here because no one wants to read about someone on a weight loss journey who is faltering. When I eat clean I feel in control, when I eat for pleasure I feel sick after. Not all foods make me feel like this, but spaghetti and holiday meals always leave me on the opposite side of balanced. Afterwards I have trouble getting back on track.

Life has not been smooth here in Texas for the last two years, I won’t get into why but I will say things are really improving. I’m on the verge of really starting over, I just need to get over small hurdles that keep coming my way. My confidence is shot and I need to work on getting it back. I need to work on my food issues, and realized sometimes I can be an emotional eater. I need to get more consistent with all of my workouts because it’s the key to balance. I know what I need to do, I just need to start and not keep stopping. 

Here is a picture of one of my inspirations in life. A beautiful couple I knew from the gym in West Hollywood, CA. She’s a holocaust survivor who’s lived on every continent but one. Every time they saw me they remarked I should be on tv. I always remarked back I needed to lose weight. She always told me embrace your health, when one gets sick they get skinny. Be happy you are healthy. I’m going to really try to work on my health, wellness and fitness. I won’t go silent when I’m struggling. I will try to post the good, the bad and the ugly. I love life-like my friend did, and I’m going to live it as she did and forgive my shortcomings. Love and light to all. 

Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying

The Shawshank Redemption

 

 

 

WEIGH IN DAY

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Happy Monday to all. It is spring and Easter week. A time for rebirth. I weighed in this morning and I stayed at 183 lbs, which is fine for me. My food choices have been erratic and I ate vegan processed foods and skipped meals. I didn’t plan and I realized how important it is to plan going forward. 

I am beginning to do some meal prepping and I started bringing food with me to work, no more eating at midnight after work. I’m really planning on focusing on my nutrition and getting in most of Dr Greger’s Daily Dozen. I’m also keeping a food journal, I started yesterday. 

I’m starting completely over with my weight loss and my fitness journey. My past successes and past failures mean nothing to me now. I’m looking forward and my number one goal is health and fitness. I admit to feeling terrible about gaining half my weight back. My ego is bruised, I feel the f word and it doesn’t feel good. So today I begin with a healthy narrative,  only positive vocabulary. No fat shaming myself, no more feeling like a big fat ugly failure.

I’m focusing on the beauty that is life and the wonderful opportunities I have because I am alive. I’m moving forward with kindness for myself. I live with a kindness motto but I’ve been less than kind to me. Today is the first day of the rest of my life. I’m going to really try to be on this blog daily and share everything. 

This was yesterday’s food journal. My work days will look like this, for me it’s easier to keep it simple on my work days. Cooking and experimenting with recipes will be saved for days off. I plan to have one vegan cheat day ( within reason) once a week. This week my cheat day is Easter Sunday.  The food journal below was around 1,500 calories and over 60 grams of protein. I’m starting this all again, same blog since 2013 but with a vegan brand new vibe. Up next, my new fitness journey. Treat yourself kind as you begin to be healthy.

Namaste, love and Light

Breakfast:

Vegan protein bar, coffee with soy creamer and 1 tablespoon Black strap molasses.

Lunch

Smoothie with 8 oz. organic soy milk, 2 cups spinach, 1/2 cup berries, half banana, 1 tbs flax seed, 2 tbs peanut butter, 1/2 cup carrots.  Half cup of unsalted garbanzo beans.

Dinner

2 cups romaine, 1/2 cup tomatoes, 1/4 cup red onions, 1 baked potato, 1/2 cup garbanzo beans. Topped with red wine vinegar and 1 tablespoon of champagne vinaigrette.

Snack

1 slice low sodium Ezekiel bread with 1 tablespoon Polaner all fruit strawberry spread.

Lots of water and fresh lemon.

 

Vegan Staples

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Let food me thy medicine and medicine be thy food.

Hippocrates

Happy Wednesday to all. I’m  in the process of really reinventing this blog, posting more as  I begin my round two of fitness and weight loss. A lot of people are asking me about what to buy at the grocery store, so I decided to post a very basic whole foods plant-based grocery list. This does not include my favorite vegan fun foods, those convenience foods you reach for when you want vegan cheese or vegan veggie burgers. Those are my occasional treats, not my everyday staples.

This is a healthy list, the foods I eat daily. It’s just a basic list, really you can have as much fresh fruits and vegetables as you like.  Recipes will follow. I recommend watching the film Forks over Knives and What the Health. Let’s get started. This list is also budget friendly. 

This is my personal list but I’m also attaching a video and post from Dr Greger. The vegan health doctors all agree to avoid nuts and avocado if you have heart disease. I eat  minimum oils, salt, and sugar. I try to do Dr Greger’s Daily Dozen. I have the app and my goal is to do the Dozen Dozen every day.

 

I hope this helps. I started my day today with oatmeal in organic soy milk with berries, chia seeds with coffee and soy creamer. I will make a large smoothie before work with Trader Joe’s pea protein powder, organic soy milk, spinach, kale, banana and flax seeds. For dinner I will have lentil and vegetable soup with toasted Ezekiel bread and romaine salad with vegetables. I follow a lady who has a website with great YouTube videos. I will post her link when I’m not rushed for time. I wish you joy on the road to health and happiness. Links and list below. 

Love and light

Rose

 

https://nutritionstudies.org/plant-based-grocery-shopping-guide/

 

Produce Staples: frozen berries, fresh berries, bananas, oranges, apples, large bag of spinach, large bag of kale, fresh or frozen broccoli,fresh or frozen cauliflower, bag mini peppers, green peppers, celery, carrots, yellow onions, red onions, garlic, fresh or frozen green beans, zucchini, eggplant, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, frozen peas, cubed butternut squash, potatoes, lemons.

Pantry Staples: Quick Oats, Ezekiel Bread, bag lentils, bag split peas, cans low sodium garbanzo beans, cans low sodium black beans, cans low sodium kidney beans, cans low sodium pinto beans, cans low sodium great northern beans, brown rice, wild rice, quinoa, flax seeds, chia seeds, hemp seeds, date sugar, tofu, unsweetened organic soy milk or almond milk, unsweetened silk soy creamer, unsalted peanut butter or almond butter, unsalted cans diced tomatoes, unsalted cans crushed tomatoes, hummus, low sodium vegetable stock.

Some Trader Joe’s staples: steamed lentils, unsweetened pea protein powder, sprouted whole grain bagels, low sodium vegetable stock, hummus, dates, soy creamer, frozen shredded potatoes, tofu, maple syrup, Black strap molasses, balsamic vinegar, basil, oregano, cumin, chili spice, turmeric, cinnamon, paprika.

 

 

 

 

WEIGH IN MONDAY

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Happy St Patty’s Day. I hope everyone is having a wonderful Monday. This weekend I splurged a little on a veggie burger, tater tots, and Nada Moo Chocolate Chip Mint. My hubby made me a splurge meal, and the vegan ice cream was my version of a vegan shamrock shake. 

i rarely eat salt, and I try to not eat vegan processed foods on a regular basis. I weighed in this morning up a pound. I understand it’s water weight and I’m ok with it. I don’t plan to eat salty foods on a regular basis. I’m trying to eat mostly Whole Foods, plant based most of my days. I’m also trying to find balance with food. My aim is good nutrition, but I don’t want to become obsessive. I want my focus to be on fitness and health. I also occasionally think it’s ok to live a little. 

This week my plan is to focus on Whole Foods, with just one treat. My treat will be a small pastry or item from a new vegan bakery I’m hoping to try. I will let you know if I do. A vegan bakery and cafe opening up where I live in The Woodlands TX is a rare occurrence. I’m so excited to go there. 

I plan to eat to my standards, my vegan stance is a personal moral decision. There is no cheating, it’s a lifestyle not a diet. My weight loss/health Whole Foods plant based journey is a process, one where I may splurge from time to time. There’s a difference with the two, but I’m trying to balance it all. After all I’m human. 

Weigh in today up 1lb 183

Short term goal is 159 ( my weight before I moved from Los Angeles to Texas in May 2017) 

Next stop beginning my fitness journey all over again. Stay tuned. 

Love and light and Irish Blessings 

Rose 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s a Lifestyle

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Happy Day after Valentine’s Day to all. I hope the special day brought you joy, whether you have a valentine or not. I work in a restaurant at night so my day was all work and no play. That’s ok, it’s my hump day and soon my my off days will be here. I’m working hard for the money and grateful for my blessings. 

It’s day 4 of my 30 day Whole Foods plant-based challenge. I’m vegan and I’m trying to lean more towards a cleaner way of taking care of my temple. Day 4 and I feel fabulous, not as fatigued from waiting tables. For a while I thought I was getting sick, or old, and now I realize I just wasn’t feeding my body correctly. I’m doing the challenge to help myself kick it into high gear, to be accountable. At the end I will have a delicious vegan cheat day and do another 30 day challenge. I’m going to do this plan going forward. I plan to check my cholesterol in a few months, to see how this is working for my body. Staying away from all oils is the biggest hurdle, but I’m sticking to it. In 30 days I will jump on the scale, and going forward I will only weigh myself once a month. 

We had a cat health scare with Max, but it was a false alarm. I will take him in to be safe soon, but it seems he was constipated. I found out today my Mom’s sister, my Aunt Elaine in Chicago had a stroke. I think she’s going to be ok, but send her lots of prayers. In life, challenges pop up when you least expect them. No matter what comes, I’m not deviating from my food plan. This is for my heath, period. My weight loss will be an added bonus. 

Next week I will post on my fitness plans, and more of what I’m eating. I’m going forward and not looking back. Onward and upward for me.

Love and Light 

Rose

MY JOURNEY 2.0

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It seems I keep starting and stopping the second half of my weight loss journey due to mundane issues of life. I didn’t quit, I just was on a self-inflicted hiatus, with random moments of jumping back on here and claiming the rebirth of this blog. Robert Frost said it best, “The best way out is always through.” I made it through some of my struggles and with the Chinese New Year I am starting anew now. Right now my struggles are of the tech sort of issues, but I plan to sort through my lack of tech savvy and begin despite being just a little lost on this front. Join me on my brand new journey, where it will take me is up to me.

 

 

 

MONDAY MOTIVATION 2019

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Today is the true beginning to my wellness journey. Last week I didn’t begin eating whole foods-plant based because we ended up with vegan holiday junk food left over from the holiday. We are on a very strict budget so we decided to finish what we had on hand rather than toss it into the trash. No guilt, we are grateful for the food and now we are moving towards plant based wellness. The plan was to begin fresh on Monday which is today.

I have a very long grocery list I will share soon, but to be painfully honest I am trying to pay off some of our bills and debt and we are on a food budget. I did get the necessities to begin with, and we plan on doing a small food haul today or tomorrow. We have the basic tools to begin. I may start posting my meals for each day so we can share this journey together. Each day is a day I go after my larger goals by eating for wellness and moving my body in fitness. Each day I take the necessary steps that are a part of every day living, like brushing my teeth. I am not worried about a quick fix to look skinnier. Each day I take a baby step to success. Big leaps will come later when I am fit enough to take them.

Today I began my day with two slices of gluten free bread with my coffee. After my coffee I indulged in a green smoothie and a green water chaser. You may be asking what a green water chaser is? First, let me share with you my green smoothie. Kale, spinach, hemp seeds, flax seeds, banana and one cup of organic soy milk. After I had my smoothie I blended two more cups of kale and spinach and water, and drank my green water. I know what you are thinking, but it doesn’t taste bad. I plan to get as many living foods into my temple as possible. I am getting my glow on from the inside out. This is what makes me feel alive, energetic and ageless. I love eating plants.

Tonight I am making spit pea soup, all homemade. I first make homemade vegetable broth. I am eating whole foods-plant based with minimum salt, oil and sugar. I will season my soup with back pepper, basil and a touch of sea salt. I will post the recipe soon. My hubby likes to eat his soup with bread so Ezekiel toast it is.

This is a brand new journey, and I am navigating this while working almost 40 hours serving in a restaurant. This is not easy, and on most days I may be doing my workouts after work around 11 pm. Today is my day off, so I will be working out earlier. I plan to revisit my Youtube channel as soon as I get a tripod, no one wants to watch videos in selfie mode. Baby steps.

I hope you are having a wonderful beginning to 2019. I have so many plans, but I am beginning with the basics. Like in the Sound of Music when Julie Andrews sings, let’s start at the very beginning, it’s a very good place to start.

Begin with me, there is no day like today. Let’s do this. Love and Light.

Rose

WEIGH IN WEDNESDAY

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Today was weigh in Wednesday, the first weigh in of the New Year. I gained 6 lbs between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but that is ok. I am only going forward from this moment on. No longer will I be looking back at past successes and failures. This is a brand new journey starting in 2019. I will change my whole life this year, beginning with my health and fitness. I have weighed in at 186 lbs. My goal for the year is to be in the 150’s and possibly the 140’s.

I am keeping this short and sweet today, I have a full day. I will be posting my whole foods-plant based grocery list tomorrow. Happy New Beginnings to all.

Have a wonderful day

Rose