weight loss

The Daily Sugar Craving

February 7, 2017 destavertLeave a comment

I know I have done a post before on my love for sugar. What on spoon_full_of_sugar earth makes it so appealing? All sugar is are little tiny white granules, oh but when they are mixed together with other crap the deliciousness they create is something wonderful.This needs to stop! I HAVE A PROBLEM! There, I said it. As I write this I am also saying it out loud. I need to admit this to myself, and work at rectifying this horrible hold it has on my life.

To put this into perspective I inputted
my food into a calorie counter to see what I eat in the run of a day. Today was a particularly bad day, but to be honest bad days happen more often than should be expected. The recommended daily amount of sugar is 20 grams which is 5 tsp. Well, my final sugar count for the day was 108 grams, and there is a possibility I am even missing a couple things. For instance those candies that are at work. I grab one here and there, and before I know it I’ve had ten! So, instead of having the recommended 5 teaspoons of sugar I ended the day with 27 tsp. Wow! That is scary, and very worrisome.

This is certainly going to be a work in progress. To tell you the truth I don’t even know what foods contain high amounts of sugar. Well, of course other than your expected foods like candy bars, yogurt, and preservatives. For the most part it is fairly common sense, and I will be eating a lot of vegetables and fresh foods instead of prepackaged foods.

I’m ready to commit and share my confessions, hurdles, and happy moments on this journey with you.

weight loss

Friday Weigh In

January 27, 2017January 27, 2017 destavertLeave a comment

The dreaded weigh in day is here. This is the day where I actually have to admit to myself how much weight I’ve gained or lost in the week. What a nasty cycle it is. For the first time in a long time I actually didn’t weigh myself every day prior, and this felt right. It felt right only weighing in once a week instead of eating for the day based on what that number was that showed up in the morning on that emotionless scale. Ever since Adam and I moved into our new home I just don’t seem to be obsessed with weighing myself. I used to weigh myself every day just before I’d get in the shower. Then, depending on what the number was I would either try to have a really great eating day, or I would treat myself to something fatty/sugary like fast food, or a great piece of dessert.

Why don’t I care about weighing myself anymore? I’m not sure if it’s because I’m getting up too late in the morning, and barely have time to get showered and dressed for the day or, if it’s because I really don’t care what the scale says. Does that mean I am happy with where I am? No! It can’t! I’m not happy with my weight, but perhaps I know it’s going to come, and that I’m working on it? This of course could change by Sunday and I could find myself back in the vicious circle of a daily weigh in.

Well, today was a great weigh in to restart my weight loss journey. I weighed in at 225 lbs, which feels great! When I stepped on the scale my eyes bugged out, and I couldn’t believe what those three red numbers were telling me. How could it be that I didn’t gain weight? Not only did I not gain weight, but I lost a few pounds. Then I stepped off the scale and stepped back on for a second time. I was sure the scale wasn’t working and was giving me a wrong number. I know it’s not a big victory, but it just feels so great partly because it’s a much lower number than I was expecting, but also because that means I’m really just not eating as much as I used to! I only started watching what I eat again over the last couple days, and prior to that like I’ve said before I felt like I was shoveling everything into my mouth. I guess I wasn’t since I didn’t gain the weight I was expecting!

I started this journey at my highest weight of 240 lbs, and it feels good to be below the weight I normally plateau at. Based on what I eat and how much I exercise while not trying to be healthy I tend to float around 230 – 233lbs, and to be starting off already under that number feels great! What a great way to start the weekend!

Happy Friday!

Photo Diary

Day One

January 27, 2017 destavertLeave a comment

Well, I am embarking on a new challenge. I have spent many years tracking my food, and being sure I add every condiment to be sure I get the total calorie intake of my day correct. It has come to the point where it’s obviously not making a difference on whether I use it or not. Adding words to an app doesn’t matter to me, and by the time I enter the foods into the app or in some sort of tracking device I have already eaten it. By taking photos I will be holding myself much more accountable as I will obviously need to take the photo before I put the deliciousness in my mouth.

I started today, and although it’s something that is going to take a bit getting used to I really like the idea of holding myself more responsible for what I eat throughout the day while on this weight loss journey. I know what I need to work on within my diet, and having to look at it in a picture I’ll find it much easier to incorporate vegetables, water, and other healthy foods that I’m missing in my daily diet.

For breakfast I had a smoothie which consisted of orange juice, frozen strawberries, plain Greek yogurt, hemp hearts, and a bit of honey to add some sweetness.

I have an odd shift at work, and I’m stuck working splits Monday – Thursday, and I only do the morning shift on Friday. Most of the time I eat lunch at home, but today I had testing and didn’t get a break in between my two shifts. Lunch consisted of a salad from the grocery store. I never was much for salads at the grocery store, and now I know why. You never know if you are going to get the half rotten lettuce. Sure! It looks good in the packaging, but as soon as that cover is lifted you start to see all the nasty bits. This was no different!

I find it hard to get through the day without one of the strawberry pomegranate yogurts. I know they are high in sugar, but it’s exactly what I need in the afternoon to get me through the day. I also had two energy balls that I made a couple evenings ago.

To top it all off I had a hamburger patty, rice, and peas for supper.

weight loss

It’s Hard Getting off That Couch!

January 26, 2017 destavertLeave a comment

It’s been a nasty couple days around this place. It’s January, and I live on the East Coast of Canada, so you would assume blizzard like weather, or at least some snow. Well, unfortunately that hasn’t been what we have been getting. For the last 24 hours we have been over taken by ice pellets, freezing rain, and finally to top it off rain! It was getting to the point that I would have been able to kayak around my back yard. I’m not complaining about being inside all day, I love being home. I love cleaning, cooking, baking, watching TV, listening to music, and just doing nothing! Surprising enough though by the end of it I started going a bit crazy and just wanted to get out! I needed to breath in some fresh air, and feel it through my lungs.

Well, after sitting inside for what felt like FOREVER the weather finally cleared up, and I got my butt off the couch. It felt good. I took Oliver (puppy fur baby) for a walk around the neighborhood. I started takin 8641090f237bf2d49dedf913ae4e0c7e g him out for walks about a week ago, and each day I have been adding a bit to it. It’s a win-win situation! First, it’s a great excuse for me to get out and start getting back into a healthier routine, and second, it wears him out! Our 40 pound four month old lab is a pretty busy puppy. If I can get any energy out of him so I can have a break it’s a success. Walks are great because then he passes out on the floor for a couple hours and I can get some other things done!

I have been slacking with everything fitness and healthy. I haven’t gained any weight which means I must be eating a decent calorie intake…yep, I haven’t even been paying attention to what is going in my mouth. I have been having a little bit of that, a bit of that, oh and a whole lot of that. I can’t believe I am going to admit this, but two weeks ago every day I had fast food. It was not a good week! I am finally off that, and have been back at cooking, prepping, and not wasting money when I have cupboards filled with food. Between eating being back on track, and getting in some walks I’m starting to feel better, and looking forward to continuing on my weight loss journey.

Happy Hump Day!

Recipes

Energy Balls

January 25, 2017January 25, 2017 destavertLeave a comment

These little balls of deliciousness are one of my favorite go to treats! Unfortunately, I could easily eat ten of them, and we both know that is way too many calories! Sure most things in them are pretty healthy, but the ingredients are high in calories which doesn’t help out the waist line.

I usually like to have one or two of these with an apple as an afternoon snack to get me through until supper. There are so many recipes of these floating around, and I usually just make them based on what I have in the house. Sometimes I add almond slivers, sometimes I add Agave instead of honey, and sometimes I’ll even take out the chocolate…whoever heard of such a thing! An energy ball without chocolate, can you imagine!

Although I do love these things I do have mixed feelings about them. I am a measuring person, and I can’t stand putting an ingredient in without knowing exactly how much I am putting in. That being said, this recipe uses pretty much every measuring cup I own, and makes for a larger clean up than necessary. What I do like is I just throw everything in a bowl and mix! Can’t get any simpler than that! I love these for the work week and can quickly pop a couple in a baggie and grab a piece of fruit or some veggies if I’m in a rush…which is always!

balls

balls1

Energy Balls – Makes about 20

Ingredients

1/3 cup of honey

½ cup peanut butter

1 cup oats

¼ cup chocolate chips

½ cup flaxseed

2/3 cup coconut

Directions

Measure ingredients and add to bowl
Wash your hands, pull up your sleeves and combine
Roll into 1 inch balls and chill

100 Days Project

Day Seven – 100 Days of Happiness

January 20, 2017 destavertLeave a comment

Adam and I got a new fur baby in December. I have always been a huge animal love, but always small dogs and cuddly kitty cats. Well, we fell in love at first sight with a chubby Chocolate Lab. His name is Oliver and we took him home January 9^th. He was one of two chocolate labs, and we nabbed him up pretty quick!

oliver He now weighs in at 37 pounds of pure cuteness and is only fifteen weeks. He still has quite a bit of growing to do, and boy is he lucky he is as cute as he is! It sure makes up for all the bad things he does and gets into throughout the day.

I have never had a large dog before. Growing up I didn’t even have a dog until I was a teenager, and that was only because my grandmother had a puppy, and when she passed away we took Becky in. After that we had another puppy, and she is still going strong at my parent’s house. A Miniature Schnauzer is a bit different in size comparison to a Lab. Either way they sure do have a whole lot of lovin’ to give! And…in the grand scheme of things does it really matter if he eats my socks, won’t stay out of the garbage cans, jumps up at the counter, tackles our kitty on a daily basis, and puts everything in his mouth! It really doesn’t matter because that face and those cuddles make it a worthwhile.

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Holding on!

January 17, 2017 destavertLeave a comment

I feel like I checked out of life for the last two months. I’m finally starting to feel like I’m getting back to myself, or close enough anyways. What a whirlwind way to end a year, and begin a new one. I’m so glad to feel like my feet are firmly in place and planted on the ground again. I’m ready to take my life back and claim it as my own.

Not to bore you with the details and to be a chatterbox, but a lot has happened, and I’m glad to be on the other side of it. My husband and I purchased a house, which came on very unexpectedly and quickly. We brought a new fur baby into our family the beginning of December. We were in an animal friendly apartment, and well our landlord got wind of us getting a puppy and sent out new policies about animals in the buildings. Because of this, our new puppy wasn’t going to be allowed in the apartment. Adam and I were starting to think about purchasing a house, but we were going to wait until the spring. Our decision was made for us, and we immediately hit the pavement running and went house hunting. We looked at one house and fell in love at first sight. Don’t get b716712047c1288e7ee15d976035e3e8 me wrong, we had looked at numerous houses before, but this was the first time when we were 100% serious and ready to commit to something in the near future. We put a bid in that night, and now it’s old news.

Not only did we get a puppy and buy a house, but I had a miscarriage, my father had bypass surgery, my sister fell and broke her arm, and my mother was left to take care of two people that could hardly do anything for themselves. This then left me trying to pick up the slack while continuing to run my own life. This was all around Christmas, and between getting the house decorated, spending time with family, enjoying Sunday Church services, and buying Christmas presents I ran out of steam. This then turned into a full on flu which took me out for almost two weeks.

Like I said, it’s been a crazy couple months, and I’m happy to feel like myself once again. This being said I’m still as busy as ever, but now I’m spending my time organizing my house, enjoying my time with my new puppy, giving my kitty as many cuddles as she can take before clawing my face off, and enjoying the company of my husband, friends, and family.

Top of my list for working on myself for twenty seventeen are working on my career and where I see myself in the future, eating healthy/healthier, spending as much time as I can with friends and family, all while taking as many opportunities as I can in the rockin’ roller coaster world.

100 Days Project

Day Six – 100 Days of Happiness

December 6, 2016 destavertLeave a comment

Clementines!

I adore these little orange fruits. The thin peeling makes them that much quicker to get into, and then get into my mouth. I dislike that these are only usually available around the Christmas season, but as soon as I see the first box of the season my heart almost skips a beat! Don’t get me wrong, I love most kinds of fruit. I enjoy bananas, apples, kiwi, cantaloupe, and the list goes on and on. These little balls of yumminess only come out around Christmas, and every year I have to wait for them to appear again. It’s a special surprise that I almost forget about until I see them out on display in the grocery store.

I have also heard people refer to them as cuties, and I can see why. They are the perfect snack throughout the day, and are even better with some Greek Yogurt. It’s even better when you get a box of them without seeds, and are on the sweeter side. They make me feel like I’m having a healthy day when I’m able to sneak a couple into my meal plan for the day. SONY DSC

Every year we have a Christmas brunch while we are opening presents. It starts off with my parents, younger sister, myself, and hubby Adam. Then in the late morning/early afternoon my brother and his kids come over for a bite and to spend some time together on Christmas morning. I always associate clementines with my Christmas morning brunch because every year I peel them and display them on a plate for everyone to add to their plate of food.

weight loss

Healthy Eating on the Road

December 5, 2016December 5, 2016 destavertLeave a comment

Tomorrow afternoon I’m heading out of province with my mum and dad because my father has surgery. We will be spending the next few days in and out of the hospital as he has his surgery and recovers. This will in turn mean a lot of food on the go. When it comes to times like this not only do I become an emotional eater, but I also think it’s time to have a carb fest. I think being aware and knowing up front that this is what to expect will help me do things right. food-road-sign

If you are going to be on the road for any length of time here are some helpful tips to help you stay away from these dreaded exit signs.

Bring snacks – I like to bring snacks because then it stops me front stopping at the store and picking up a candy bar and a pop. Some ideas are fruit, crisp vegetables such as carrots and celery, trail mix, nuts, or energy balls.
Don’t skip meals – Skipping meals will make you feel that at your next meal you can indulge. You will end up eating far more calories than you intended to, and most likely feel sick after doing so. I also think having the snacks are good to be sure you don’t skip eating.
Drink water – I don’t only drink water because it helps with my appetite, but it also helps keep headaches away. I find when I’m travelling I can come down with them fairly quickly, and between keeping hydrated, and eating properly I can keep at bay.
Plan Ahead – Sometimes this isn’t possible, but for planned away from home trips you can usually have a good idea where you’re going to stop along the way. Sometimes I will even check the menu so I can decide before hand what I’m going to eat. Doing this helps me hold myself accountable for when I actually get to the restaurant.
Find out what the hotel has to offer – Sometimes hotels have a great healthy breakfast, and sometimes they have nothing. Our place unfortunately has nothing this time, but it does have a mini fridge and a microwave. Knowing this ahead of time is great because we can stop into the grocery store and pick up some milk and oatmeal, and with our fruit we are set for a good healthy start to the day.

100 Days Project

Day Five – 100 Days of Happiness

December 5, 2016December 5, 2016 destavertLeave a comment

Christmas Movies!

I watch so many Christmas movies, and I watch them all throughout the year. I typically watch your popular movies like Elf, The Santa Clause, and Home Alone. Those of you that know those movies know that there are more than one for each of them. I sometimes watch all three of them in one day, depending on what I’m doing.

This weekend I had one of those Christmas movie feelings. I wanted to get right into the spirit of things. I didn’t feel like watching the movies I norm mv5bmtc1odg3mjeyof5bml5banbnxkftztgwnzqwodgxmte-_v1_ux182_cr00182268_al_
ally tend to watch, so I went for something else. I love older films, and this is exactly what I watched.

I don’t remember seeing this film in the past, but t
here is a very good chance it was on around my parent’s house at some time or another. They have always been one for black and white films. I watched Holiday Affair with Robert Mitchum, Janet Leigh, and Wendell Corey. This was a lovely movie! Check the link below for the overview of the film.

Don’t miss these Christmas movies: