Just an Author Trying to Get Healthy in a Fast Food World

This has not been the best week for me. I feel like if I admit it on this blog, then I have no choice but to turn this around! Two words - Chocolate and Potatoes. The holidays left me with too many potatoes and chocolates. And I ate them. Yes, I ate them. I filled my own Easter bag with Protein bars so I wouldn't over indulge, and I did anyway... I'm not mad at myself, I just know I need to get back at it. First thing that needs done is a recipe search for dinners. Then a grocery trip to fill the house with only good foods. (which means no more chocolate, and whatever remains needs to go downstairs into the upright freezer - you know the kind... the one that is so out of the way that you rarely frequent it, lol) I do like potatoes, but last year, we cut wayyyyy back on potatoes. The only ones we ate were ones I made from freshly cut ones. Yep, that meant NO frozen french fries. And I was fine with that. But we've been lazy lately. And, I mean, french fries.....y...

Now that I'm paying attention to what I'm eating, I am starting to see how fast food chains contribute to us gaining weight (or how they have a helping hand in making us fat). If you know me, you know that I LOVE my Starbucks. I love my iced mocha, I love the Gingerbread Latte at holiday time, and the Maple Pecan Latte in the fall. I also love their cheese danish and chocolate croissant.  And I used to go many times a week. If you don't know Starbucks, you earn 2 stars for every dollar you spend there, then once you have enough stars, you earn a free drink (we all love free stuff). Well, to add to the cravings for Starbucks, they entice you by offering BONUS stars if you purchase multiple times within a week (or a weekend). I used to go solely to get these bonus stars. But now that I only try to go twice a month, I see these bonus dashes twice a week or every week, and I think "they are trying to make me fat" for real. Because one coffee can be anywhere from 200...

Today was one of those bad days. Not because I ate poorly, but because I felt terrible about myself. I looked in the mirror and all I saw was the second chin that I have tried so hard to get rid of. Maybe it looked the same as it has recently, but for some reason today it looked like it got bigger! I felt like I was retaining so much water, and like I had gained 50lbs! I refused to step on the scale, even though it was Friday and that is my weigh in day. I could see that my leg is swollen, so I knew I was holding at LEAST 5lbs of water. Ever have those days where you just feel like you are back to square one? That was me today. And that was odd, because as of late, I feel pretty awesome about the weight I've lost. I was even wanting to buy a new shirt to wear this weekend that showed off my weight loss. But, then today, I just wanted to hide under a t-shirt that was two sizes too big. I guess everyone has these days? But instead of pigging out even though I was sad, and grumpy,...

How's your week going? Friday is always my weigh in day, and the past few months it has been a consistent up and down, but I've been keeping off what I lost so far (even if I gain a few, I drop it again). I still look forward to Friday weigh in like a kid looks forward to Christmas. Is that weird? I like seeing my hard work pay off, and it helps me keep going. But this week I am in the middle of a gentle cleanse, and trying my best to be good. And it's paying off. I hit 35lbs lost this week! It has taken longer than I had hoped, but I am not discouraged. This is a lifestyle change, so it's not like in two years I'm just done...so if it takes three years, or even four to hit my ultimate goal, then that's what it takes. But I refuse to give up. With Easter right around the corner, we'll get enough chocolate from both parents house to let us have a little treat, so my Target basket is already filled with Protein bars, and low cal snack...

 I'll be making this again instead of ordering pizza on a non-pay week. Save money and calories! https://pin.it/hkj5pfoxlqfpzx This is a great recipe to replace Pizza Night! I made this tonight, and it was delicious. My zucchini was a little watery, but I'll see what I can do about that next time. I didn't care for the ground meat, so next time I'll keep it out and instead use mushrooms and maybe peppers.  I'm wondering if I put the zucchini on a cookie sheet if it will crisp more like a pizza crust? Dunno, but I'm willing to try it!    Ingredients Gluten free ∙ Serves 8 1 lb Ground beef 1/2 cup Onion 4 cups Zucchini 2 Eggs, large 1 can Italian tomato sauce 1 Red pepper, medium green or sweet 1/2 tsp Salt 1 cup Cheddar cheese 2 cups Mozzarella cheese, part-skim 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

I know it's April Fool's Day, but I don't do that, lol... I never have been a fan of it. But today I took the dog outside, and a neighbor who I haven't seen in a few months (because if it's cold out, I hurry up and get the dog inside as quick as possible, lol) was leaving her house. I waved and said hello. Now, either she was on one of those blue tooth phones, or she was talking to me. I am always the dummy who thinks people are talking to me when they really are talking on those, lol. She said "hello" and "you look great". I was shocked yet thrilled. But the thing is, today I have on the biggest shirt that I own (it is for real a 4x) and clearance "house pants" from K-Mart. The thing is, yes, I've lost 30lbs so far. But I don't see it. (Okay, I do in my face. I LOVE how I've almost lost all my extra chins. I've become the selfie princess since my chins took a hike, lol.) But I don't see it in my body. Yes, I ...