Microwave--Throw it away!

My Microwave died about 3 months ago. I was so mad. It just started smoking. I think it was only around 3 years old. It was one of those huge ones that you could fit big food in! After it died I decided I would try living without one until it was convenient (in our budget) to get a new one of the same size. I did not want a little one. Little did I know that without a microwave I would be depriving my self of many of my favorite easy to make foods. I like to call them quick snacks. I used my microwave for defrosting meat. I knew that I would have to do more meal planning. I needed to know what we were going to eat for supper the day before so I could get the meat out and defrost it in the refrigerator. That was quite a challenge for a few weeks and there were a couple of nights it didn't happen and we had to go out to a restaurant and eat. After a while I got good at the meal planning. One thing I didn't plan on was that the microwave wouldn't be around for all the other things? What other things? ummm quick mac and cheese, nachos and cheese, those lovely quick brownies, etc. etc. You get the picture. Now I have to slow cook everything! Some things that I was buying in the store don't even have oven or stove top directions. Most of the stuff I was cooking in the microwave were over processed, chemical abundant junk foods. Now that I am microwave free, I don't plan on going back. I like the fact that I have to put more thought and time into my food choices. I like the fact that my kids and husband have to wait on me to cook the food the old fashioned way and can't just pop some junk in the microwave to eat in 30 seconds. Everyone has adjusted and we are all feeling better about ourselves. I should have killed the microwave years ago!

Eggs???????

Whoooo Hooooo, I had a great workout this morning!!! I Busted up my triceps and back. I feel so great. I almost drove through the drive through for a sausage biscuit and a water this morning, because I was out of water and egg whites at home and I was hungry. Lesson (always keep your fridge, car, pockets stocked with the good stuff ie... walnuts, pistachios, tuna, spinach etc. I DID NOT DO IT.... I rolled on threw while looking at my sharpie tattoo knowing that I would not feel good afterwards. Keep your eye on the prize! Go Girls!!!!!!

Can you guess what the best food in the world for you is? (in my opionion) It is the EGG. Many people are under the impression that eggs are not good for you. They think that eggs increase your bad cholesterol and guess what, that is true. BUT.... They also increase your good cholesterol so they cancel each other out. YEE HAW. Eggs are the perfect food. They contain tons of protein which you need to build muscle which in turn burns fat. Yes, the more muscle you build (LIFTING WEIGHTS-so important for women) the more fat you burn all day long. Eggs are great! If you don't want the calories associated with the egg. I think they are like 70 calories a piece you can use EGG WHITES (my fav.) They are only 30 calories a serving. You can buy them in the grocery store. Egg Beaters makes them but if you just buy plain Egg whites they are cheaper. Because you are eating healthy and eggs are great fill your plate up. Add some Laughing cow light cheese, spinach, peppers, onions (anything green or veggie-ish) works. Your tummy will be full. Make sure you are eating every three hours or so. You want to keep your fire going on the inside and your metabolism humming along. If you eat this way, you won't ever be hungry. A great book to buy to teach you how to eat properly is the EAT CLEAN DIET BOOK by Tosca Reno, or Volumetrics. Volumetrics is an evidence based book and The Eat Clean book is written by a popular author. I believe both are excellent!
Okay ladies GO EAT YOUR EGGS!

Motivation-visual

Well today as I was thinking about the mind body connection and how powerful it is. If you haven't ever considered the power your mind has over your success in weight loss, do so now. I am in constant turmoil in my head when I get hungry. I try not to ever be hungry by always being prepared with my meals and eating LOTS of the good stuff. However, inevitably there are times when I a faced with hunger, tiredness, lack of motivation etc. I carry on this internal dialogue that sounds something like this "I am hungry." "No I am not, it is just an emotional food craving" "I could just eat one chocolate bar and it will make me feel all better" "No because when I feel hungry that means that my body is getting ready to lose some weight, if I give in then I won't lose that pound" "Everyone deserves one cheat meal every now and then" "NO, I will feel crappy after I eat it" "Yes, it won't hurt. You can get back on track the rest of the day" BLAH BLAH BLAH.... There is lots of research showing the power of the mind. In college I took a health psychology class. It was my most favorite class ever. I learned how stress can make us sick, and how people respond physically after they get worrisome news about their condition. IT is all true. Well how to fight the internal dialogue????? I am trying to find a product that I can keep on myself at all time that will remind me when I forget what I am fighting for (health, lower BMI etc) but for now a sharpie tattoo is my weapon of choice. I am really bad about carrying a picture or some other trinket everywhere I go so I decided to put a GS (Go Sara) on my hand with a sharpie. That way I see it all the time and I remember that I am in control. I have made the decision to live a healthier life and I can do it. I even shout Go Sara, after a good workout or after I win a food battle. I can see my sharpie tattoo while I am driving, bathing, eating, watching T.V. etc. When I am not strong, I look at the simple letters and know that I AM STRONG. So get your own Sharpie tattoo or a real one if you choose in a place that will be with you wherever you go. A fat picture on the fridge works great, but only while I am standing in front of my refrigerator, not when I am at my moms, eating out with friends, at the gym, passing all the fast food on the highway etc. GO SARA or GO _________!(your name goes there.)

WARNING! Do not eat Chinese food after and while you are eating clean!

I know, I have not formally introduced myself and only created this blog today, but I had an experience I just had to write about today!!
I have been eating clean for a few weeks now and really really pushing hard in the gym. I have not "cheated" once and have been really proud of my progress. Well my children had social engagements tonight and my husband is out of the house too. That left me at home with my four year old. Our Microwave has been broken for about 3 months and I decided that we didn't need a new one. I forgot to get food out yesterday to defrost for tonight, sooooo... I of course opted to go out to a "dinner date" (that's what my 4 year old daughter calls it) with her.
We almost went to Mexican but I knew that would be bad, so we opted for chinese. .....Wrong Decision. We ordered sweat and sour chicken, egg roll, and egg drop soup.
Everything was fine until we got home and boy I am sick. In the past this would not have bothered me. I think when you cram terrible food into your mouth everyday your insides get covered in the yuck (just my opinion, I'm no doctor, but this is how it feels) Everything just passes right through. I used to have no sensitivities when it came to food. After you start cleansing your system with great whole foods all the yuck stuck to your organs is washed out and you feel great. But WARNING!!!! If you eat the yuck and your body is all clean inside it really messes you up and you feel really bad. I feel disgusting!!!!!
I am an optimist and realize that this one slip will not destroy my effort! I will ride my elliptical while watching a good show tonight so no big deal. It makes me want to put signs all over the place reminding myself how I feel after eating junk. Feeling this way is a great motivator to not want to feel this way ever again.
When you eat whole foods and only shop around the outside isles of your supermarket your body rewards you in soooo many ways. I feel more energy; I lose weight; I am never hungry because I get to eat alot of the good stuff; my skin looks and feals better; I GLOW!!!!! I know that sounds funny, but seriously when I have a diet rich in good fats (extra virgin olive oil, nuts, fish)I lose that dull look. My oldest daughter actually thought I had lathered on the glistening lotion the other day when she was looking at my legs.
Don't sabatoge your eating clean efforts with yucko food!!! If you do, You will feel bad physically. Don't let that get you down mentally though. Keep on trucking and make a mental note of your feelings about the event.
Love yourself no matter what!