Saturday, December 31, 2011

Eggs on a cloud

I got my new Rachael Ray magazine a couple days ago and was thumbing through it. I found what looked like a fabulous recipe for eggs. Most of the time when I look at recipes now a days, I ask myself, 'how can I make this Paleo?' Well, all I had to do with this one, was to leave out cheese!! Oh it was fabulous!!! I even took step by step pictures so you can all see what it looks like as you go!

Preheat oven to 450*
What you will need:
4 eggs
Bacon
chives (optional)
Salt & Pepper

You want to cook up the bacon, I used 3 cooked strips to go into the eggs and then 2 strips for each person eating..
Next you want to separate your eggs. Put the egg whites into a bowl and each yolk into their own small bowls. Then you are going to whip the egg white until firm peaks form...
Now, take you bacon and chop it into small pieces, fold into the egg white along with chives if you wish. I didn't have chives this morning, so I added a little bit of dried minced onions. Then put on a lined baking sheet into 4 'clouds'. Each 'cloud' needs to have a deep well in it.
Cook in the oven for 3 minutes. The top will just start to turn golden brown. Take them out and put a yolk into each one of the wells on the 'clouds'.
Put it into the oven for 3 more minutes until the yolk is set and 'clouds' are nice and golden brown. Serve warm. :)
Oh so totally yummy!!!! Thank you Rachael Ray!!1

Till next time...

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

6 months ago

6 months ago today, I decided to make a HUGE life change. I finally decided it was time to lose weight and it had to be for good! Not one of these quick weight loss thing. I talked to a very good friend of mine, Charissa, and she sent me down the path that would be changing my life forever. See Charissa has known me for years and she knew exactly how to get me started. Slow and easy and work up in steps, so that is what we did!

I had stepped on the scale after months and months and saw an unbelievable number I never thought I would ever see and never thought I could ever weigh!! I saw 299. That was almost 300!!! Holy cow, I thought! I'm fat! I can't be like this and be here for my kids their whole life. I was scared! My kids are everything to me and I have to be there for them their whole life!! I want to see them grow, graduate, get married, have kids, and all that over again with their kids. If I continued down this road and keep gaining weight, there would be no way I would be here for any of that.

So, I started walking. I started on an app called Couch to 5K, but instead of running I was to walk briskly when it said run. I would walk normal, then pick up the pace. I'm not going to lie, it was hard! Not the walking, but walking briskly was. It was hurting in my calves. I also started that day, by cutting everything I drank down to ONLY water, black or green UNSWEETENED teas and black coffee. That was it! Nothing else! The first few days was extremely hard, but I was determined, and knew this is what I needed to do!

I set my goals for long term and short inter minted goals as well. My long term goal is to get to 175. That was 124 pounds to lose. Holy cow, that's a lot! That's like both my kids put together plus some! But, I was (still am) determined to do it! My first little goal was to get out of that 100 range and get down to only having 99 pounds to lose. Then it was 50 pounds for my wedding, then to get to my half way point. Today, my short term goal is to get out of the 200's all together and there is only 34 pounds to go for that to happen!! After losing 65 pounds, that seems like nothing!!

Today, 6 months later, I am  full on Paleo. Over the last month and a half, it's been slow because of getting married, honeymoon and holidays, but I've still managed to lose 8 pounds and stick to my  Paleo lifestyle as much as I can where I can! :) Once the new year is over with, I can jump back in full force and lose this last 59 pounds!!! :)

59 pounds, that's it! That seems like such a small number considering I started at needing to lose 124! Wow!
299 6 months ago, today I'm 234!
124 pounds to lose 6 months ago, toady 59 pounds to lose!
Size 24 6 months ago, today size 16!

Till next time!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Breakfast Recipe for Yule eggs

I must say, I made the best breakfast this morning. You see, it's Yule today. Which is an old Pagan, Celtic, Roman Empire, German, etc tradition. Yule is also known as the Winter Solstice. It is the shortest day of the year and longest night of the year. Today is the turn of a 'new year'. From this day forward until Summer Solstice, the days get longer and prepare mother earth for Spring time and planting all the plentiful crops that she will grow for us! So in honor of today, I made a breakfast that 'welcomes the sun'. (And it's totally Paleo!!)

So here's how you make this!!
1 lb of sausage (I used Jimmy Dean)
1/2 yellow onion - chopped
1/2 bell pepper - chopped (I used green)
1 tomato diced
1 cup salsa
4 eggs

Cook the sausage, onions and bell peppers until cooked all the way through. Add salsa and let simmer for 5 minutes. Divide into 4 portions in your pan, make a 'nest' in the sausage mixture and add tomatoes into each nest (Nest represents spring to come). Crack egg into each nest over the tomatoes. Cover and let cook for 15 minutes. (To make this non-paleo you can add cheese into the nest before you add your egg). Once the egg yolk (egg represents the sun) is set, you can serve!

It is totally yummy! I will make this other mornings besides today. I was a hit! I hope you try this!

Till next time!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

In just 4 days...

It's unbelievable! I was just saying that over the last month I haven't lost a whole lot of weight. Which was totally the case, but it's just come off since I was saying that! I'm down to 235!!! That's 2 pounds in the last 4 days.... I think getting back into the swing of things after all the happenings over the last month, has kicked my body back into the swing of things! What is so awesome to say is.. I have lost 64 pounds and have 60 pounds left to go! I'm over half way to my goal!!


Another way to look at this is... I have lost 64 pounds and only have 35 to go till I'm out of the 200's or till I've lost 100 pounds... That just seems crazy! I'm that close to the 100 pound mark!! That's awesome! I can totally see myself getting extremely close to or getting at my goal weight by summer time.

I'm back into the swing of cooking what needs to be cooked. Didn't really get out of it, but I have had so many extra things going on, that I needed to just get back into my groove of cooking! And I have!



So this is what was for dinner tonight! Steak on the grill with some sauteed mushrooms and onions, with fresh string beans with a little salt and garlic on them and a huge green salad with all sort of the 'salad' veggies that you can imagine!

So like I said, back into the swing of things.. The next thing on my mind.... How long is it going to take me to get to the 200 mark? I think maybe 3 months is what I'm thinking! Hopefully by my birthday (which is March 18th) I'll be at that mark!!! That would be an awesome way to spend my birthday!! :)

Till next time!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

My monumental goal met today!

I've been saying over the last month, that it hasn't been a huge weight loss happening with me. Well, that's true. However, today there is a monumental goal that has happened! I am officially at my half way mark!!! I HAVE LOST 62 POUNDS AND HAVE 62 LEFT TO GO!!!! This is BIG, GIANT, HUGE!!! Whatever way you want to look at it! I did it! I got to my half way point!

62 pounds has taken me 171 days to lose. That's 24 1/2 weeks, 5 1/2 months that it took me to lose 62 pounds!!!! That is approx 2 1/2 pounds a week that I have lost! All I can say is WOW! I'm amazed with it! I have never in my life lost this much weight at one time. I have never in my life been so excited about losing weight! It's unbelievable! I just stay in a constant good mood because of this! It's amazing what I life change can do not only for your physical health but for your mental health as well!
 (This is me now)

I started my journey at 299 pounds. After losing 62 pounds that puts me at 237 pounds. I don't even remember the last time I was this weight because I was always afraid or didn't care what my weight was. I can, however, tell you the last time I was in a size 16 clothes (which is where I'm at now), because I still have some of my size 16 clothes from back then. It was when I moved to Seattle at 19 and started working in the corporate world. This is before my first marriage, before kids, all of that! I also remember the last time I was a size 14 (which is the next size I'm aiming to get to), was when I was a Senior in High School. My Prom dress that I wore was a size 14.

(Back before kids! Last time I was a size 16!)


Can you imagine what it's going to be like when I go to my 20 year reunion in 2013 and be fit, thin, lean, healthy and look even BETTER then I did when I graduated from high school? I can't wait for that day to come! Haven't been to a reunion yet, but you better believe that I plan on going to that one!

So, my next long term goal is to get out of the 200's... only 37 pounds for that... seems like a cake walk now that I have lost 62 pounds! I KNOW I can do this! I can't see the light at the end of this tunnel! And don't you even once think that it's going to end there! It will go beyond just the weight loss. It will go into being healthy and getting fit and trim! It will morph into so much more then it already has been morphed into.

Thank you my dear friend, Charissa www.damselsoutofdistress.com for getting me to where I am today! Without your motivation, education and friendship I couldn't have done any of this! There are only better things to come and I know that you are going to get me there as well!

Till next time!

Monday, December 12, 2011

I'm still going.... :)

It's been slow this last month. Because of the holidays, wedding, cookie exchanges, etc there hasn't been a whole lot of weight loss. But I can say, I'm still slowing going down. I'm still in the 30's. I'm at 238 and that makes a 61 pound weight loss. That means 63 more pounds to my goal. That feels so good to say!!
I'm sure it's going to continue to be slow throughout the month of December, but I'm still going to be eating paleo and working out.

On another note, I've currently been working on a committee here in town called 'Citizens for Progress in Education'. We are working on getting a new levy and bond passed to build new schools and help stop the over crowding that is currently happening in our school system. I've been asked to help out at a Business Expo next month to get our information out and also been asked to be on the radio with 3 other committee members. I'm super excited, because this is just another level of feeling good about myself. I've always loved talking to people, especially about causes that I believe in. I just feel more comfortable now a days with the additional weight loss. :)

We will be having a web page built within the next week or two to help promote the word of the new levy and bond. I will surely post a link on my blog for it.

Till next time....

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Good bye 40's, Hello 30's!

Sounds so weird this time around... Shouldn't I be going from 30's to 40's? If I were talking age, yes I should.... but when I'm talking weight, going backwards is the way I want to go!

This morning, I am out of the 240's and into the 230's!!! 239 is were I am sitting right now! That means I have lost a whole 60 pounds! I can't believe it! 2 pounds till I hit my half way mark! 39 pounds till I can say good-bye to the 200's all together! That is going to be a big feat right there!
This picture was taken on Dec 3rd right before Chris and I went to his company Christmas party. I have been having so much fun putting together outfits, and wearing jewelry. I just feel so good about myself and the way I look!

Not only am I down into the 30's now, but I have also lost another pant size!!! I am now in a size 16!! Starting my journey at a size 24 and 299 pounds. I've made quite a bit of progress... I am not done though! I'm half way there! I'm still eating Paleo, still working out, still getting my sleep and drinking my water. It's a part of my everyday life!

5 1/2 months and I am half way there.... How long is it going to take to make my other half of the journey. I've heard the 2nd half is harder and may take a little longer, getting my body in better shape and what not. But you know what? I'm willing to take the time, how ever long it is. I'm willing to do what I need to do to lose the rest of this weight and get this body fit! And look good!

My goal for 6 months from now? I be able to take the kids to the pool and not be ashamed of what my body looks like in a bathing suit. Be comfortable laying out in the sun and getting that tan that I want! I'm keeping up with my kids, and I will be able to keep up with them even better this summer! I can't wait!

Till next time!

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Paleo Banana Muffins

Oh so so so, yummy!!! I have been having this craving for some sort of bread since Thanksgiving, so I decided to find a recipe and bake some Paleo friendly banana muffins. These will be another item on my must bake all the time list! The kids are even eating them up! They love them, and my husband even said he liked them!
So, here you go! Imagine all those people out there that are on a gluten free diet or maybe can't have wheat or dairy! Or for just us that are totally Paleo! These are awesome!

2 1/4 cup Almond meal/flour
2 tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
4 ripe bananas (mashed)
2 tbsp honey
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 375*.
2.Mix together all the dry ingredients.
3.In a separate bowl, mix mashed bananas, eggs, honey & vanilla. Stir until combined.
4. Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour wet into that well. Mix together. (You don't have to worry about over mixing with this recipe since it's gluten-free)
5. Fill muffin tin or cups 3/4 full. Bake for 24-28 minutes.
6. Let cool slightly. (You can use a slab of almond butter right on the top if you wish)

I have a friend up at the school that eats non-gluten and non-wheat because of allergies she has. She is going to love these tomorrow!

Till next time!