We have discussed this health journey now for a few weeks. I want to take today's blog time to recap some important points we have already mentioned.
One of the most important steps any of us can take to getting on track with our health is to take a look at ourselves and really begin the inward journey to understand why we have allowed ourselves to become unhealthy in our life choices. I know it is easy to believe it just happened, but it didn't. I'll be transparent and admit I too tried to say my unhealthy habits just happened. The truth is my eyes were opened to what I had been doing to myself, what I had been ignoring. My weight gain and unhealthy habits where there all the time, I was simply trying to ignore them. It was not until I acknowledged where I was, that I was truly ready to start on a new track towards health.
In a previous blog we talked about how important it is to journal to learn more about your habits and the things you do. One thing I learned is if you have Windows 8, you actually have access to a health magazine, exercises and other health tips. If you don't have this, I suggest you look around to find the free tools that will help you. There are apps for your phones that will help you keep track of your calories and or workouts. If you know of some apps, share them in the comment section to help others. I know a few people have been telling me lately about some tracking apps they have located, so please share!
So let's say you are doing the things we talked about these past weeks. You are journalling, you are changing your eating, working out, yet you haven't seen any weight lost, so you are getting discouraged. Sometimes you may find yourself losing weight faster than other times. If you see no inches lost or weight lost within three weeks, then you need to re-evaluate what you are doing. Your body may have gotten adjusted to what you are doing, so you will need to ramp up your work out. Or maybe you are eating too many or not enough calories, so you need to evaluate that because the body will also slow down if you are not getting enough intake.
I also want to add something here. Sometimes you can be doing all the right things but your weight isn't coming off, so what do you do? I would suggest you look at getting a physical to make sure there isn't something medical going on that needs to be attended to. I also want to give you the freedom to seek help. I've read many blogs or post of individuals that speak harshly to people that use Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig or other weight lost programs. The key to using any of these programs is you still have to do the work. You can't go on any of these programs and not do the work.
If you need these programs for a season, then use them. I know sometimes people are not sure what will work for them. I suggest you ask someone you trust. That's what I did. I sought a friend that was a trainer to ask what things I could use to help me on my journey. She suggested some supplements. I wanted to make sure they would not harm me since I was on medicines. I found no adverse results because of that. In fact, someone I know took the supplements to their doctor and he said he was in agreement with her usage of them. I uses the supplements for a few months to help me as I made the adjustment in my eating and living habits. I was not depending on the supplements to do the work, I had to do it. I used CLA and CORE from Market America. These two products helped me to get rid of that weight from around my middle that I was struggling with. Once I came off the product I had to do the work to continue to maintain that lost. So I hope you are encouraged to keep reaching toward your goals, you can do what needs to be done, so that you can W.I.N. in Health.
One of the most important steps any of us can take to getting on track with our health is to take a look at ourselves and really begin the inward journey to understand why we have allowed ourselves to become unhealthy in our life choices. I know it is easy to believe it just happened, but it didn't. I'll be transparent and admit I too tried to say my unhealthy habits just happened. The truth is my eyes were opened to what I had been doing to myself, what I had been ignoring. My weight gain and unhealthy habits where there all the time, I was simply trying to ignore them. It was not until I acknowledged where I was, that I was truly ready to start on a new track towards health.
In a previous blog we talked about how important it is to journal to learn more about your habits and the things you do. One thing I learned is if you have Windows 8, you actually have access to a health magazine, exercises and other health tips. If you don't have this, I suggest you look around to find the free tools that will help you. There are apps for your phones that will help you keep track of your calories and or workouts. If you know of some apps, share them in the comment section to help others. I know a few people have been telling me lately about some tracking apps they have located, so please share!
So let's say you are doing the things we talked about these past weeks. You are journalling, you are changing your eating, working out, yet you haven't seen any weight lost, so you are getting discouraged. Sometimes you may find yourself losing weight faster than other times. If you see no inches lost or weight lost within three weeks, then you need to re-evaluate what you are doing. Your body may have gotten adjusted to what you are doing, so you will need to ramp up your work out. Or maybe you are eating too many or not enough calories, so you need to evaluate that because the body will also slow down if you are not getting enough intake.
I also want to add something here. Sometimes you can be doing all the right things but your weight isn't coming off, so what do you do? I would suggest you look at getting a physical to make sure there isn't something medical going on that needs to be attended to. I also want to give you the freedom to seek help. I've read many blogs or post of individuals that speak harshly to people that use Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig or other weight lost programs. The key to using any of these programs is you still have to do the work. You can't go on any of these programs and not do the work.
If you need these programs for a season, then use them. I know sometimes people are not sure what will work for them. I suggest you ask someone you trust. That's what I did. I sought a friend that was a trainer to ask what things I could use to help me on my journey. She suggested some supplements. I wanted to make sure they would not harm me since I was on medicines. I found no adverse results because of that. In fact, someone I know took the supplements to their doctor and he said he was in agreement with her usage of them. I uses the supplements for a few months to help me as I made the adjustment in my eating and living habits. I was not depending on the supplements to do the work, I had to do it. I used CLA and CORE from Market America. These two products helped me to get rid of that weight from around my middle that I was struggling with. Once I came off the product I had to do the work to continue to maintain that lost. So I hope you are encouraged to keep reaching toward your goals, you can do what needs to be done, so that you can W.I.N. in Health.
The first picture shows me down 20 pounds from 195, but as you can see, my middle was still not as slim as I would like. The second picture I was down another 10 pounds to 165. I went from a size 10 in the white, to a size 8 in the black. Also, I was larger up top so my tops were xlarge. I was able to come down to a med in my sweaters.
Healthy Cooking
Healthy Egg rolls
Egg roll one
cabbage
carrots
broccoli
(or a shredded cabbage mix)
flax seed
low-sodium soy sauce
Egg roll two
Kale
shredded Parmesan cheese
egg roll wraps
olive oil
preparation: If you have cabbage, carrots, broccoli then shred it and stir fry in pan (shown in the picture). To save time, you can pick the pre-shredded packets of cabbage slaw and lightly saute those. I add some flax, about 1 or 2 table spoons along with 1 table spoon of soy sauce to the cabbage mix. If you do the kale ones, I saute the kale until soft. I add after it is cooked a table spoon of shredded Parmesan cheese. Once your mixture is finished, wrap them in the egg roll wrappers. I spray a pan with cooking spray. Once I have wrapped all my egg rolls I lightly spray them and bake them at 350 until golden brown. this eliminates any extra oil. I created my own sweet and sour sauce. (crushed pineapples, soy sauce, organic sugar, two table spoons of flour or cornstarch, I was out, white vinegar). I cooked it until it thickened. Served 2 per person along with a fresh salad/ with assorted lettuce, diced strawberries and broccoli. A way to please that meat need.
Dessert
Chocolate covered raisins
Organic raisins
chocolate chips (organic or you can make your own chocolate sauce using coconut oil, cocao, agave nectar)
Preparation: If you make your own chocolate sauce you can use that. My oldest daughter can't eat coconut so I only make the sauce for myself. I use 2 table spoons of coconut oil, 2 tablespoons cocao powder, and raw agave nectar to taste. I put in raisins to coat, then let chill until ready to eat. If you use chocolate chips, I melt them with a tablespoon of organic butter. Once it is melted add raisins, coat then chill until ready. You can make these as nuts, or any assorted of nuts and fruits.
Yogurt medley
Coconut yogurt
2 strawberries
raw agave nectar
pecans, almonds or crushed unsalted cashews
preparation: I prefer the Trader Joe coconut yogurt. I place it in a bowl, add 2 diced strawberries or blue berries, a squirt of agave nectar and add nuts. Eat, a great treat that takes no time to prepare. If you want it as a frozen dessert, add the yogurt to your mixer along with the frozen fruit and your nectar. Once it is blended, add your nuts and it makes a great frozen dessert as well.
Egg roll one
cabbage
carrots
broccoli
(or a shredded cabbage mix)
flax seed
low-sodium soy sauce
Egg roll two
Kale
shredded Parmesan cheese
egg roll wraps
olive oil
preparation: If you have cabbage, carrots, broccoli then shred it and stir fry in pan (shown in the picture). To save time, you can pick the pre-shredded packets of cabbage slaw and lightly saute those. I add some flax, about 1 or 2 table spoons along with 1 table spoon of soy sauce to the cabbage mix. If you do the kale ones, I saute the kale until soft. I add after it is cooked a table spoon of shredded Parmesan cheese. Once your mixture is finished, wrap them in the egg roll wrappers. I spray a pan with cooking spray. Once I have wrapped all my egg rolls I lightly spray them and bake them at 350 until golden brown. this eliminates any extra oil. I created my own sweet and sour sauce. (crushed pineapples, soy sauce, organic sugar, two table spoons of flour or cornstarch, I was out, white vinegar). I cooked it until it thickened. Served 2 per person along with a fresh salad/ with assorted lettuce, diced strawberries and broccoli. A way to please that meat need.
Dessert
Chocolate covered raisins
Organic raisins
chocolate chips (organic or you can make your own chocolate sauce using coconut oil, cocao, agave nectar)
Preparation: If you make your own chocolate sauce you can use that. My oldest daughter can't eat coconut so I only make the sauce for myself. I use 2 table spoons of coconut oil, 2 tablespoons cocao powder, and raw agave nectar to taste. I put in raisins to coat, then let chill until ready to eat. If you use chocolate chips, I melt them with a tablespoon of organic butter. Once it is melted add raisins, coat then chill until ready. You can make these as nuts, or any assorted of nuts and fruits.
Yogurt medley
Coconut yogurt
2 strawberries
raw agave nectar
pecans, almonds or crushed unsalted cashews
preparation: I prefer the Trader Joe coconut yogurt. I place it in a bowl, add 2 diced strawberries or blue berries, a squirt of agave nectar and add nuts. Eat, a great treat that takes no time to prepare. If you want it as a frozen dessert, add the yogurt to your mixer along with the frozen fruit and your nectar. Once it is blended, add your nuts and it makes a great frozen dessert as well.
