Almost forgot about the par-tay! WIAW & the best oatmeal ever!

It's what I ate Wednesday. Love the party of at Jenn's!  with all of the cool eats & pics.  Who knows, you may even make a new friend or 2.




O.K. on with what I've been eating:
Breakfast:

(oats, Justin's Chocolate Almond Butter, pink lady apple, vanilla, stevia, coconut)  This oatmeal was SO good!
Lunch:

(left over fruit from Christmas brunch, raw red bell pepper, steamed green beans, and Dr. McDougall's Black Bean Soup)

my kid's creation, "colorful unicorn" (they wanted me to include it)

Christmas Brunch:

(included in WIAW because the berries are so pretty :)  My youngest ate mostly berries and nothing else. 
Dinner: Chick-fil-a char-grilled chicken salad with honey mustard dressing
and
Too Much Snacking:
on this

 Dear Chocolate Almond Butter,I love you and our time spent together.  It was some of the happiest times of my life, but I think I need to see other nut butters.  Can we still be friends?
Love,Cat
O.K., all kidding aside, I do think I need to abstain from nut butter for a while.  I have not used great self control and moderation, so I'd rather just not have them because they're hindering my progress.  

Not the greatest picture, a little fuzzy, but it captures the emotion and pride of accomplishing something difficult and worth achieving.  Before I started this journey I was a size 16-18 or 1X in a shirt, yes a plus size.  When I first tried this shirt on in the store, I tried on a large and it hung well below my bra.  I just couldn't believe it because there was no way I was a medium! I haven't seen a medium for a decade, but I tried it on and it fit.  I actually loved it so much, I ended up buying 3 satin blouses, all in a medium!  I think I'll stay away from the mall for a while too ;).  
My point is that giving up nut butter for a while to regain control is so worth the feeling in this picture.  Giving up something so small and insignificant is so worth receiving something so much greater in return.  I mean increased self confidence and a sexy blouse is so worth it!
Just think when those around you are indulging in something sinfully delicious and you're not, just think of all you will receive in return for just forgoing a few delicious bites.  
"Don't trade what you want for what you want right now."- Scot Ferrell
(I think I need to post this in my kitchen ;)
Tell me:
Do you have quotes posted in your living area to keep your focus on living a healthy lifestyle?  If so, what are they? Please share.  
Thanks for listening this evening.  "Talking" with you really helps me stay in this healthy journey for the long haul.  Sometimes I think I could revert back in an instant to my old ways, but I know I never will because I've gained so much from this lifestyle that I'll never go back.  It's not just about looking better, it's about feeling better, increased self confidence, a better role model for my children and so much more.  I just  want to improve myself everyday and help others do the same.  It really feels amazing!
Take care,
Cat's Belly Fat Cure Facebook Page

The Secret to Successful Weight Loss, my story

At least for the last 10 years of my life I've tried to lose weight and spent countless hours reading and researching various ways of eating or "diet" programs.  I'm almost embarrassed to say during this time I've spent a minimum of 10 hours per week reading, researching, searching for the perfect plan for me.  I've done them all too!  Some have been successful, for about a WEEK!  After losing 25 pounds in 10 weeks with my current program, it is clear to me why other approaches have not resulted in lasting change.  A few days ago I had an epiphany as to the secret to successful weight loss & I just have to share!

Let me start before the beginning, about 14 weeks ago, when my father was in the end stages cancer.  I had the opportunity to spend lots of time with my him in the last months of his life.  As difficult as it was, seeing my father, a very strong, hardworking man succumb to the ravages of cancer, I wouldn't trade the time with him for anything.  He taught me lessons about life, love, sacrifice, will, determination, strength, kindness and so much more.  His legacy will forever live on in the hearts and minds of his loved ones.  At the time I wasn't ready to begin this weight loss journey as God had a different plan for me.  He died on August 5th.  At the funeral not one but 2 different people approached me offering congratulations on my pregnancy and one seemed excited for me expecting twins.  Yes twins!!!  It wasn't bad enough to look pregnant when I was not, but to look like I was expecting twins!  I can say without hesitation this was my wake up call or "aha moment" as Oprah would say.  After the funeral I returned home to live life without Dad.

Around this same time I read the book, Reshaping It All, Motivation for Physical and Spiritual Fitness, by Candace Cameron Bure.  She's a mother, actress, nationwide speaker about her faith in Christ, and wife to NHL star Valeri Bure. She says, "Embracing a healthier lifestyle begins by moving faith to the forefront, making some wise fundamental choices, and finding your worth in the eyes of God."  This was my starting point or cornerstone.  While I made better choices and grew closer to the Lord, several pieces of my weight loss success puzzle were missing.   I needed motivation to stick with my program, which is basically how Candace eats and exercises in real life, with a few tweaks. God was preparing me again, only giving me a piece of the puzzle at a time, for something amazing.

Several weeks passed as I floundered sometimes on track making wise choices and exercising frequently, sometimes not.  Then one day right before picking up my daughter at the bus stop, I received a friend request on Facebook from a friend I haven't seen in 15 years.  I hesitated briefly to accept the request because my life was so different when I knew him and we were very close friends.  Sometimes it's better to leave the past in the past, but this time was different as I was about to discover.  He told me he does radio and writes books now, so I checked out his website and radio shows.  I've listened to many of them, but one in particular stands out as extremely helpful for weight loss motivation, Failure To Launch.  After all we all need motivation to lose weight, but it was so much more than that.  It was a formula for success, with no room for failure or not reaching your dreams. I used his formula in conjunction with Candace Cameron Bure's book to formulate my plan for success.  It became another piece of the puzzle God was giving me in the journey to realize my dreams of a healthy body, mind, and spirit. 

I won't go into all of the details of what I do, but if you'd like to know please email or call me and I'll divulge all of my habits and tricks.  Are you wondering if I'll ever get to the secret of successful weight loss?  Well here is the bird's eye view:

1. You must be focused and driven and have the will to achieve your goal.
2. Must have a plan (nutrition, exercise, and spiritual) that resonates with your belief system. 
3. Discipline to carry out the plan.
4. Be aware of energy zappers and those that will sabotage your healthy efforts. Not everyone will embrace the new improved you.  Believe me.
5. Surround yourself with encouragers. You know, those that tell you, "You can do it.  You're beautiful.  You're awesome.  You're a rock star!"
6. This is the secret, the bomb, what I see consistently in myself and other successful dieters who have lost weight and maintained and continue to be successful.  If what you consider a cheat happens and it most definitely will happen, stop eating when satisfied, don't think you have to eat it all because tomorrow you'll start over again because a perfect tomorrow will never happen!  Let me repeat that, a perfect tomorrow will never happen!  I used to think, oh I'll have this half box of cookies because I'm starting my diet tomorrow, Monday, or whatever the case may be.  I thought when the diet started I would eat perfectly until I reached my goal weight, which never happened, leaving me in a vicious cycle.  So when a cheat happens eat only enough to satisfy, forgive yourself immediately, then immediately climb right back on that healthy eating, exercising, rock star lifestyle.  Any other mindset will end in failure. 

I think this post could have turned into a book (LOL), so I'll expound with more detail in subsequent posts. I was just so excited to share this with you tonight, so I wanted to at least get started.

Have a healthy, happy Monday everyone.

Take care,

I MADE MY CHILD EAT DONUTS and 3 POUNDS...

....lost this week!  Since I was out of town most of the week I had no idea what I weighed.  Needless to say I was very pleasantly surprised to learn I lost 3 POUNDS, yea! Happy dance!  I had treats, but was very mindful of portion sizes and tried to limit starches and snacks at night.  I also tried to bulk up meals with as many vegetables as possible. 

Fast forward to this week....PMS WEEK!!!!!!!!!!  I have STRONG  cravings for anything fluffy, refined, sugar filled, fruity and or chocolate.  O.K., this is how bad it is...please don't judge.  Tonight I made my 8 year old eat the rest of the leftover donuts from our beach trip, just so I wouldn't be tempted to eat them.  Yes, you heard me correctly.  I MADE MY CHILD EAT DONUTS!  I had several treats today I don't want to discuss.  I'll jump right back up on the wagon, would you circle back and pick me up please?  Thanks so much!

The old me would have thrown in the towel, and eaten every treat in site because I would start "over" tomorrow morning or on Monday or whenever.  I would think of every "cheat" I could eat that wouldn't be allowed on the latest and greatest diet craze. Just quiz me...I know the ins and outs of almost every diet on the market.  I "owed" it to myself to have ALL of these treats now because I wouldn't be able to have them on my new diet.  I can't tell you how many times I've eaten cinnamon sugar toast, loaded, and I mean LOADED with sugar and a TON of butter.  REALLY.

The new me isn't perfect by far, but & here's the EPIPHANY!  Are you ready?  Now when I fall off the wagon I don't overdue it.  I stop myself at a reasonable portion.  Still working on the not feeling guilty part.  I have an awesome friend who's helping me with those feelings.  Then I jump right back on my healthy lifestyle.   

I love this quote from Scot Ferrell , (I may be paraphrasing). "Don't end up trading what you want for what you want right now." 

Now I'm still stuck with PMS and these CRAZY CRAVINGS!  I think I feel another experiment in the making....  Tomorrow when I have a sweet craving I'm just gonna grab a piece of whole fruit.  If I still have a craving, I'll try some dark chocolate, 70%.  I wonder if the fruit will help with bloating as well?

See y'all tomorrow.

Have a happy, healthy Tuesday.

Take care,

Draw a line in the sand!

My day was going great today.  I had a dentist appointment this morning to fix a chipped tooth that went wonderfully.  I worked out completing 45 minutes of cardio, shoulder and abs strength training, and stretching.  I made good food choices.  Then it happened.

After dinner tonight instead of cleaning up the dinner dishes.  I worked on cleaning out my 4 year old's closet.  My reasoning was I can get more done, doing the closet now.  Then after the kids are in the bed I'll clean the kitchen.  I think since I've adhered to my eating plan fairly well, it didn't even cross my mind that I could have late night eating issues if I waited to clean the kitchen. WRONG!  I was loading the dishwasher, while I was exhausted & a little hungry.  I thought I'll have some Triscuits.  Then I thought well if I'm having some I might as well finish the whole box.  Don't worry I didn't do that.  I did have about a serving though.  Then, of course, I wanted something else so I poured out some Cheez-Its & ate those.  The old me would have eaten something else, probably something sweet.  I didn't.  I realized that I don't want to go back to living the old life, before I started making healthy changes.  I didn't snack on anything else.  I sat down at the computer and re-listened to failure to launch .  I knew at that moment it was time to draw a line in the sand and say enough!  I don't want to stay where I am!  It frightens me.  At that moment I knew I had to take responsibility for this behavior.  I came up with an action plan to conquer this late night eating demon!  Right now.

This is my action plan:

1. Clean the kitchen immediately after dinner.  Don't wait!  Then announce, "the kitchen is closed".
2. If I want a late night snack, drink a full glass of water AND a cup of hot tea instead.  
3. Assume responsibility!  Don't end up trading what I want for what I want right now. Just remember:  There is no try!
4. Put the past behind me.  Focus on the present and the future.  

That's it.  I feel like I have to do this, not try to do this.  I'm growing and learning so much along this journey that really will never end.  How awesome is that!  I can't believe it.  I'm actually enjoying this journey.  I'm so grateful my weight loss family is here to journey along this path with me.

Thanks for listening.

QUOTE OF THE DAY:    Psalm 94:19  "When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul."

Hope you have a wonderful evening.

Be healthy. Be strong.

Take care,

Week 3 Update and Excellent Motivational Speaker Links!

As many of you know I was a little worried about my weigh in this week, so I was happy to see a 1 pound weight loss.  I remember from watching The Biggest Loser that week 3 was always a tough week for them.  Anyway I'll definitely take it.

cran h2o

I'm trying a little something new this week, drinking 56 ounces of cran water a day.  For strict BFC followers it may not be something you want to do because the entire 56 ounces contain 9 grams of sugar.  However for me, I thought it was a reasonable amount of sugar, especially if it's a significant benefit.  It's not something drank all at once either.  I'll let you know what I think.

TODAY'S MENU:
Breakfast:  CLIF kid organic ZBAR  chocolate brownie
Lunch:  tuna (flavored with mustard, apple cider vinegar), TRISCUIT FIRE ROASTED TOMATO AND OLIVE OIL, 2 cucumbers (flavored with apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper)
Snack (if hungry):  apple and walnuts (small handful)
Dinner:  pork roast, broccoli, turnip greens
56 ounces of cran water for the day + lots of H2O.

 I found a new to me product I absolutely LOVE, the TRISCUIT crackers I referenced above!  In fact I think I love them a little too much!  I've been eating them with lunch, only 6 because that's a serving.  They're also SUPER BFC FRIENDLY, with 0 sugar and 20 carbs!  Do you love them?  They are super yummy and delicious with the tuna, but I think they'd be awesome with anything.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM LAST WEEK:  I learned that when cooking bacon I MUST NOT under any circumstances snack on bacon while cooking it!  I did that last week....let's just say my family didn't get to eat much of it.  I'll eat it in a recipe or with a meal, but that's it.  It's crack to me.  Ha.

I've mentioned before that I never stayed on track with any eating plan before I listened to this speaker.  It's really resonated with me in numerous ways.  It doesn't hurt that he's a good friend of mine, so I trust what he says.  Here's the blog talk radio episode (called Failure to Launch) that changed my life:

Listen to Internet radio with Scot Ferrell on Blog Talk Radio

Website:  scotferrell.com

Let me know what you think.

QUESTION OF THE DAY:  What motivates you?

WHAT TO IMPROVE UPON THIS WEEK:  sleep!  I don't get nearly enough of it.  This week my goal is to be in bed with the lights, PC, phone OFF by midnight.  Yeah, I'll sit up to about 2 a.m. on my accord, definitely not good for weight loss.  It makes me a carb-a-holic the next day.

Hope your day is a healthy, joyful one.

Be healthy. Be strong.