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

Well, this week's weigh in was a bust. I didn't lost anything. But I knew that would be the case, because my whole body felt weighed down, like I was full of fluid. So I can only think the numbers on the scale weren't accurate. I don't know why I felt so bloated all weekend? We've been eating a lot of bagels - maybe that's it. I tried to drink my water this week, and thought I was doing pretty well. All I can do is get back at it tomorrow. That's all you can ever do - keep at it! I was hoping to find something to replace water in the afternoon, something that would still hydrate me, but no luck yet. Water can be hard sometimes... What keeps me going is how far I've come. I realized since I started this journey in 2018, I've lost 2inches off my stomach, and 4 inches off my hips. It might be small, but it's something, and it has stayed off. Small victories, and time to keep at it for more results! I have a goal, and I am determined to...

You'd think with as far as I've come with learning how to eat healthy, that staying at home wouldn't be so difficult. I'd love to sit here and say I've been killing it drinking my shakes and avoiding temptation, and getting my steps in...but that would be a lie. How are you doing? Are you finding it challenging to stay motivated? I am. Are you snacking? I am. I'm trying to be honest here. And it's not pretty. Since Easter, I haven't been having my shakes for lunch. Instead, I've been eating leftovers for lunch. And snacking on Easter Candies - mostly things like jelly beans. Damn sugary things are addicting! But, I have been trying to drink my water at least. I don't always make my goal, but I'm trying. It's not easy... And if you are having the same issues, it's okay to admit. I feel like I have lost my stride. During the day I am HUNGRY. I WANT to eat/snack. Today I started my shakes again, and all I felt like as I d...

I thought about what I wrote yesterday... "I hate to exercise" How lame was that, lol? For real... Obviously I know I should exercise and I need to exercise. But I swear every time I start something gets in the way. If it's not one thing, it's another. And it's hard to get in a routine when you are only going every few weeks. And every reason I have will sound like excuses. And I have a million of them... I am at a point where I have plateaued. Even when I eat poorly I only gain a pound or two, but losing any more is difficult. I am sure I need to add some exercise to get past it. So, I will be working on that. Like I said, I have the gym membership, I just have to physically go. And I know what you're thinking, I need a gym buddy! No. No, I really don't. When I go to the gym, I like to do it by myself. I pop in some ear buds, turn my hairband music up real loud and just walk the treadmill. I don't like to have conversation, because I literally...

Do you ever have those days where you get an idea, and you focus on it all day? Yesterday was one of those days for me. My Dad was talking about flavored coffee creamer, and how it is really not so great for your health. I got home and it bugged me all night - because I love my flavored coffee creamer. And I'm slowly learning that it isn't very healthy for you (as tasty as it is). Today I have spent most of my morning researching different brands of coffee creamer and their ingredients. What brand do you use? What brand do you like? Anyone have a secret recipe they created and would like to share? I am all ears! My thought of the day is trans fats... I've narrowed it down to Califia Farms dairy free creamer. Now, the difficult part will be finding where I can buy it. I know for sure that my local grocer, that I frequent many times a week, does not carry it. Do you use this brand? Is it any good? As soon as I find it I'll let you know...because I am very picky ab...

I'll fess up... I haven't been to the gym in over a month. I had some things going on where the last thing I felt like doing was exercising. And with school starting, I never figured it into my daily routine. I need to do that. But, I haven't gained any of my weight back, in fact, I lost a few more pounds. That is where "learning how to eat" comes in. Some people probably think it sounds like a lot of talk, but when I heard it, I took it to heart. I had no idea how to eat. I moved out of my parents house and in with my husband. I finally was making my own decisions and rules, and that included fast food. SO. MUCH. FAST. FOOD. (it happens, right?) And all these years later, we had a taste for not so healthy food. Once I started paying attention to what I was eating, I was shocked at how many calories we ate in a single day! Here's where re-learning how to eat comes in. Once you see what you are eating, you can adjust, make better choices, and eat smaller...

This week I got back on track with my healthy lifestyle. I kept my calories in check, I drank my water, and I got in 4k-5k steps daily. And it felt great. Today was the pay off - weigh in day. I dropped 4lbs from last week - granted, about half of that was water weight. But it helps me want to keep going. Oh, did I mention my husband brought home sprinkle thumbprint cookies from the grocery store bakery yesterday??? My kryptonite...my nemisis... whatever you want to call it. I LOVE thumbprint cookies - heck, you might as well have put a cupcake in front of me. But, today was weigh in day, and I didn't want that lump of sugar (even though I did look up the calorie count of one cookie...I really did) to define my work for the week. Maybe tonight I will have ONE.

Sorry I haven't been blogging in a while... I haven't been "feeling" like sticking to my healthy eating plan. Now, I DO understand this is a lifestyle, not a diet. And some days are harder than others. Well, the last few weeks have been those kinds of days. I decided yesterday, Monday, was a good day to re-start. I woke up, ready and with a positive attitude. Then the stress hit me like a brick wall. I fought all day with myself... stress eat or stay on track. Well, I stayed on track, but didn't exercise at all. I did drink 6 glasses of water though - even though I was aiming for 8. But, I call it a win. I won over the stress. Today is a new day, and the fight starts over every morning. You have to CHOOSE to be positive. You have to push aside the negative that tries to take over. Yesterday that was harder said than done, but I at least won the stress eating battle. And one good day makes you want another, then another, then another. I can do this. I nev...

I have to admit, I haven't been doing great on the low carb/low sugar eating. Not great at all...lol I gave into a carb craving here and there, and now it's all I want. I will admit, it's hard to cut back on carbs, I love my bread, and potatoes, and pasta... BUT the good news is, I have not gained anything back. Somehow, even though I've been enjoying low salt chips, bagels, and pasta, my weight has stayed the same. Bad news? I haven't lost anything more. What this does tell me, is that I can eat the things I enjoy in MODERATION. I can go enjoy a pizza, or a delicious plate of pasta, or a night out at my favorite resturant, just not all in the same day and not EVERY day, lol. I've still been watching my portions. For instance, if we do go out, I get a sandwich, and I only eat half, and take the rest home. It's a first step. Now, I need to get stronger about being better. QOTD, are there Low carb bagels out there? And are they any good? #AskingForMe

Sorry it's been a while since my last post. I need to admit that these last few months have been rough for me. Probably the worst out of the last 14months. This post is what my good friend likes to call the B-Side of my life. I'm not perfect. And as hard as I try to keep up the healthy living, it isn't always easy. But who wants to read about that? And I sure don't want to post about that, lol. But here we are... Christmas threw me off. I ate cookies and potatoes and loved it all. But when the New Year came, I was ready to get back on track. And then that didn't happen. And then my Grandmother's health declined. I was home all day everyday, and we still had cookies and goodies around. And I ate my feelings. (I do much better when the junk food ISN'T in the house. Why? Well, because I am mostly too lazy to go out to the store to buy more, so if it's not here, I won't eat it.) I was stressed and sad, and I snacked. When my Grandmother passed awa...

After one year of following Burton Nutrition (and changing my life) I am down 33.5lbs and lost 4 inches off my waist. At first that didn't seem like a lot to me, but then I realized that I lost and KEPT OFF those pounds for a YEAR. Now that is a big accomplishment for me. I've been on numerous diets. I tried the Curves diet after my son was born. At first it was fine. But the cooking special meals became tedious, and once he started to crawl there wasn't a lot of time. I lost 20lbs then gave up, it got too hard to keep it up. Those 20lbs returned once I added the carbs back into my diet. Same with every other diet. But when I did calorie counting ones, cell phones weren't a thing, so everything was calculated and logged on paper. That got tedious too. Again, I gave up and gained it back. But with Burton Nutrition, they lay a plan out for you, and you are on your own. I WANTED to see what this plan was all about because the "Coach" was my favorite Soap star ...