Whole 30 Challenge

For the first time in a long time, my New Year’s Resolution isn’t about changing the number on the scale (I would still like to lose 35lbs, but I am not going to obsess over the number) it is going to be about changing my lifestyle and eating A LOT healthier! Starting January 2014 I am going to embark on a new journey and I am going to do a Whole 30 Challenge. As most of you know by now, I had Roux En Y Gastric Bypass about 6 months ago… my body doesn’t handle pasta, breads, grains very well these days so I figured what the heck, might as well try something different. All the research I’ve done suggests this could help with my RNY, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and even my kidneys! (Not to mention all the other benefits) I will post weekly and keep you all updated on how I am feeling and what foods I am eating. I’ll post recipes and before and after pictures of myself, as well as helpful links! I hope all of you have a Happy New Year! Don’t let this year be a flop! Be active, take control, and get healthy!
 

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My Journey

Here is my story… I have always struggled with my weight! I never seen myself as huge until recently, but I was always the bigger girl compared to all of my friends. Back then, I played softball, basketball, tennis, and cheerleading…I was very active as a kid and teenager, but to look at me you wouldn’t have been able to tell. I have always been self conscious and my weight issues have always bothered me. I remember dieting and exercising, but it seemed no matter what I would do I just couldn’t lose the weight.  In high school I remember I would go days without eating, caffeine was definitely my friend back then, and that seemed to be the only way I could get the number on the scale to go down…. but when I would finally eat, I would gain that plus more back. It seemed to be this never ending cycle. I went to doctors, but they all blamed it on my Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or said I needed to change my diet. I remember going to another state just to get diet pills… the kind of diet pills that weren’t really legal. I was willing to do anything to be skinny, to be pretty…. at least back then that’s what I thought it took to be pretty. I remember back in 2007 when I met my husband…. I couldn’t believe he was attracted to me, I couldn’t believe he wanted me for me. He didn’t care that I wasn’t a stick figure, he loved me for me. I don’t think he will ever know just how much that really meant and still means to me. Fast forward to this year (2013) This past Spring, I went to the doctor to have a normal checkup and when my blood-work came back the doctor immediately called and wanted to see me. My liver enzymes were tripled and we knew something was wrong. To make a long story short, after a few tests and a liver biopsy (which was horrible I might add) they came to the conclusion that I have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. My body wasn’t getting rid of the fat that it needed to and it was building up in my liver. In order for this to get better, I needed to lose weight and do it fast and well let’s be honest… I needed to completely change my diet and lifestyle. So after a couple opinions with 2 different specialists, I decided to have RNY Gastric Bypass. Thank goodness surgery went well and my liver is now on the mend! I am 4 months post op and I have lost 70 lbs! I still have about 40 lbs to go before I reach my ultimate goal weight, but I will get there! Some people say this is the easy way out, but if you truly think that then you don’t have a clue. This has by far been the hardest thing I have ever done in my life… not easy by any means. It is not just a diet that I can do for a week and then say to heck with its… this is for the rest of my life!  I now have to take a multivitamin on a daily basis, I have to get vitamin b12 shots once a month, and I have to drink plenty of water and make sure my protein in take is where it needs to be daily…. if I don’t do these things I could get really sick. I neglected my protein for a couple of weeks and my hair started to fall out bad! Thankfully, it has slowed down some and most people say that wont last long thank goodness! Even though I’ve told you all of those things, I am so glad I made the choice I did to have the surgery! I am so much healthier and happier! I know I made the right decision and if I had to make the decision again, I’d do it in a heart beat! I have been struggling on whether to post this or not, because I was afraid. I was afraid of people making fun of me and I was afraid that people would judge, but then I realized people will judge no matter what and that’s okay. I am proud of my accomplishment of losing this weight and I refuse to be afraid any longer. I am who I am… and for the first time in a long time… I am happy with who I am!

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Homemade Finger Paint

 

Homemade finger paints! Ha what a genius idea! My Daughter absolutely loves finger painting, but buying store bought can get expensive…and well I like the fact that when I make it, I know the ingredients are non-toxic!

Ingredients Needed:

Flour

Sugar

Food Coloring

Plastic Cups

Water

First, you start out by adding 2 tablespoons of sugar, 1/3 cup flour into a sauce pan. Add 2 cups of water into the saucepan as well and wisk together.

Turn heat on medium and stir continually until mixture thickens.

Once your mixture thickens, pour into plastic cups.

Add food coloring to your mixture and stir.

Let cool before letting your kiddo dig in and get messy!

 

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Holly Candy

Holly Candy is one of my favorites! It is something that my Great Grandma Mackie taught me how to make and I plan on passing it onto my daughter one of these days.

While this isn’t exactly the healthiest treat, it is fun to make and boy oh boy is it delish!

Ingredients Needed:

1/4 cup Butter

1 small bag of Marshmallows (10oz.)

5 cups Kellogg’s  Corn or Rice Cereal

Green Food Coloring

Red Candy Decor

Melt butter in saucepan, add marshmallows.

Stir continuously until marshmallows are completely melted.

Add a couple drops of food coloring and mix together.

Turn off heat and add your Kellogg’s

Stir continuously until all flakes are covered.

Spoon out onto dish.

Add red hot candies or any type of red candy décor.

Eat! Enjoy!

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Antique Desk Makeover

I have been searching for a computer/writing desk for a while now, but I just couldn’t bring myself to buy a brand new one. I knew what kind of desk I wanted, now the hard part was finding it! Thankfully, within a couple of months I found this antique beauty at a yard sale and I just couldn’t pass it up! I knew all it needed was a fresh coat of paint, and possibly new hardware. I decided to go with an antique white for the color of the paint.  After painting, I decided I liked the old hardware. I went ahead and put it back on the desk and I am so glad that I did! I love it! I do have plans to spray paint the hardware black, but for now I like it the way it is! I’m so glad that I waited and did not buy brand new, because I love my “new” used desk! (Also please excuse the fact that I put some of the hardware in upside down! hahaha I realized that after I took this picture!!) -Lindsey

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Baby Burp Cloths

Have you noticed that store bought burp cloths are just really flimsy and any type of liquid just soaks right through them? Well if you are looking for a solution this is it! Homemade Burp Cloths Materials Needed: 2 pieces of fabric at least 20 in long and 9 in wide (I prefer flannel, but receiving blankets work really well also) 1 piece of batting (same size as fabric- I prefer Warm and Natural) Thread Sewing Machine Scissors First, you will take your two pieces of fabric and lay them on top of each other. Than you will cut it into a shape of a burp-cloth... I prefer to cut it into a peanut shape, like so…. Lay the two cut pieces of fabric onto the batting and cut the batting in the same size and shape as the other two pieces of fabric. Sandwich the batting in between the two pieces of fabric (remember to make sure that the right sides are facing outward). Pin around the edges to prevent the fabric from moving while you are sewing. Then, begin sewing about 1/2 in around the fabric. Finally, take a pair of scissors and cut little slits on the outside of the fabric to make it frilly. Wash and Dry- Normal Cycle I absolutely love these burp cloths; they are heavy duty and soft.... not to mention WAY cuter than store bought ;)   

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Spicy Cooked Cabbage

It’s been years since I have eaten cabbage and after running across a recipe on Pinterest, I decided I needed to give it a try! It’s not that I hated cabbage, it’s just I am really picky when it comes to this certain vegetable and I like it cooked a certain way!… with LOTS of butter Since I have a hard time following orders, I tweaked the recipe quite a bit and added a lot of butter at the end… Needless to say it was pretty amazing! Ingredients:

• 1 small head of green cabbage
  
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  
• ½ teaspoon of ground cumin
  
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  
• 1 tablespoon sugar
  
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
  
• ½ teaspoon pepper
  
• 1 teaspoon celery salt
  
• 5 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar

Put a large pot of water on stove to boil, chop cabbage into small pieces (as if you were making coleslaw) add all the ingredients to pot of water, let simmer for approx. 30 minutes, drain, add butter, eat!

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Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Okay who doesn’t like meatballs?!
When I ran across this recipe on Pinterest I squealed and was so excited! I get sick of the plain ol’ meatballs in spaghetti sauce and badly needed a new recipe!
I already had all the ingredients I needed so I decided that’s what was going to be for dinner! I admit, my picture taking skills aren’t the greatest, but this recipe is amazing!  

• For this specific recipe you will need:

• 3/4 pound extra-lean ground beef
  
• 3/4 pound ground turkey
  
• 1 small onion, minced
  
• 1/4 cup egg substitute
  
• 1/2 cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
  
• 3/4 cup ketchup
  
• 1/3 cup white vinegar
  
• 1/4 cup low-sodium Worcestershire sauce
  
• 3 tablespoons sugar
  
• 2 teaspoons dry mustard

Click (here) for the full recipe!

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Homemade Applesauce

I love love love this recipe! I will never buy store bought applesauce again!!!
Ingredients
6-8 Apples ( cored, peeled, and chopped into chunks) 3/4 c water 1/2 c brown sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• Put ingredients in medium saucepan
  
• Bring to a boil
  
• Let simmer for about 15-20 minutes until apples are nice and soft
  
• Let cool
  
• Enjoy!!

    Simple as that! Much better than store bought! ;) -Lindsey

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