Being Transparent

This last year I have struggled with losing weight and staying healthy. People think I'm working hard and I am sure they see that it is not working. The reason it isn't working is because I'm not working hard enough!!
I started using Saba products and even became a distributor in case anyone else wanted to get the product. But to be honest, other than giving me energy, the products didn't work all that well for me. And this discouraged me.
Recently I decided I am going to switch from Saba to Beachbody. No, I am NOT the type that switches from product to product for a get rich business. I have switched because I want to try to find something that works best for ME.
I have had my eye on Beachbody for YEARS but for some reason it has always intimidated me, so I would try other products instead. I have finally decided to quit being intimidated. This is the product I NEED! Not only do you get amazing meal replacement shakes, you get workout programs that help you!
It helps you lose weight, tone up, build muscle...whatever you need is they have a workout for it!!

Along with Beachbody I will be writing this blog, but with complete honesty. I want everyone to see the REAL me and the REAL struggles I go through with trying to lose weight...and with my regular every day life.

The idea came to me the other day when I was at the park with my boys. I'm running around...struggling to breathe. So I decide to swing a bit so I can catch my breath. My youngest decides to take some pictures of us with my phone.
Later when I looked at the pictures I noticed that only in ONE am I actually smiling...and it's not even a real smile!!!!!
There's one that shows my complete disappointment of myself. My big booty could barely fit in the dang swing. Even though it did fit, it hurt like heck!! It was very hard to swing without wincing.

I should not have this problem at only 28 years old!!!!! I should have the freedom to play with my kids!! I wanted to go home and cry!! But instead, I said SCREW THIS!! I am going to change my life!!!!!!!

So please keep a look out for more posts. Now that I have this app on my phone, I know I will be posting quite a bit. :)

New Challenge

Lately I have been very unhappy with myself. I have unfortunately and regretfully gained all my weight back. It's very hard to admit but I am very sure people have noticed by looking at me. I have seriously felt like a complete and total failure. So much so that I have been trying to hide from people. I've stopped attending bible study, training, going out, etc. All because I don't want people to see me. Last year people would tell me I was such an inspiration and how proud they were of me. I feel I've let everyone down, including my kids, but most importantly myself.

A lot of my old symptoms are back; shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, etc.
I have had my blood pressure checked a few times and it is up again. That just pisses me off.

I've been watching my family lately and noticed that my husband has gained weight and my oldest son as well, which breaks my heart. Aidyn isn't anywhere near being obese or maybe not even considered over weight yet, but I can tell he's put on some extra pounds that shouldn't be there. I've always made a vow to myself I'd never let my children become over weight. I want them to be strong and heatlhy.

Plus diabetes runs on both my mothers and fathers side of family. My mother has diabetes. I don't want my children to become diabetic.

I've been looking at our diet and seen recently we've been eating a lot of fast food. I think it's due to us being way more busy than we normally are(or should I say I've been more busy than usual, Marc's always been busy lol) and lack of preparation.
Yesterday Marc and I made a pack. We are, starting today, going a whole week of NO fast food. I know, it's just a week, doesn't seem long. But we want to take it one week at a time. Giving up fast food sounds easy, but I know it'll be harder than we think. My ultimate goal is to go a whole month...then hopefully up to a year!! And possibly give it up for good.
If I spend more time on preparing lunches and dinners ahead of time we won't need to depend on fast food places. So that's what I am going to do. :)

If it starts getting tough or tempting, I will post here. I will let y'all know how everything goes.

Pesto Pasta(NOT Vegan)

Ingredients:

1-pkg shell pasta

1lb fresh asparagus, trimmed

2T olive oil

Salt & pepper to taste

1/2C basil pesto

1/3C julienned sun dried tomatoes, drained

1/3C diced mozzarella cubes

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large pot, cook pasta according to package instructions. 

Place asparagus in a single layer on baking sheet. Drizzle olive oil, salt and pepper on asparagus. Bake in oven for 8-12 minutes or until tender but crisp. Cut into 1-inch pieces.

In a large bowl, combine pasta, pesto, asparagus, sun dried tomatoes and mozzarella.

Serve immediately.

BBQ Flavored Tofu

Unfortunately I don't have a pic of these but I made bbq flavored tofu tonight for my husband. He will be putting them in sandwiches and making himself a bbq sandwich. :)

This is WAYYYYY too easy to make.

Ingredients:

Extra Firm Tofu(drained)
BBQ Sauce

Instructions:


Preheat oven to 325 degrees.


Line a cooking sheet with aluminum foil. This will help make cleaning up easier. Spoon a thin layer of barbecue sauce across the lined pan.


Slice pressed tofu into 1/2 inch thick cutlets and place in pan. Spoon a layer of sauce across the top of the tofu and bake for approximately one hour, checking occasionally so as not to overcook.


Tofu is done cooking when sauce has baked in and tofu is moist, but not saucy.

Vegan White Sandwich Bread

Ever since reading that there is duck and human hair used in breads at the store to make them more fluffy, I haven't been able to eat bread since!!! YUCK! So I decided from now on we will be eating ONLY home made bread!!! Today I made my first 2 loaves of white sandwich bread and it is YUMMY! My husband and kids were definitely surprised and happy with it. 

**It seems like a long process but it really isn't that bad. 

Ingredients:

2 cups warm almond/soy milk

1/4 cup white sugar(I use Stevia)

1 1/2 T. active dry yeast

6 cups white bread flour

1 1/2 t. salt

1/4 cup oil

Instructions:

1. In a large bowl: mix almond milk, sugar and yeast, stirring gently to dissolve. Let mixture rest for 5-10 minutes or until foamy. 

2. In a medium bowl combine flour and salt.

3. Add oil to yeast mixture. Gradually add the flour: about one cup at a time. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until elastic and firm. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in a warm place for 1 hour or until dough is doubled in bulk.

4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, oil two 9"x5" loaf pans.

5. Punch down dough and turn out onto a dry surface, kneading 3-4 minutes. Divide dough in half, shape into two loaves and place in pans. Let the loaves rise in a warm place for 30-40 minutes more, or until loaves have risen above the edges of the pans.

6. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool slightly in pans before serving.

**Bread will keep for 5 days wrapped in plastic wrap.