Day 12 and the big 4 6 is tomorrow!

12 days into my 100 burpees in 100 days.  The first 3 burpees I do are pretty good, the rest...well, I do them (sorta).  Tomorrow is day 13, I'll let you know...

Tomorrow is also my birthday.  Nothing special planned, but my eldest son got me flowers (awwwwww, isn't that sweet).  His dad is teaching him that when in doubt, get flowers.  The Colonel got us a new car a couple of weeks ago, so it counts as a birthday present!

Things are going pretty well.  I was hitting the 35% in fat ratio, which is not good.  This morning I was down to 34%, I want to get down some more.  27% would be awesome, but I'll take what I can get.  Now I am just working to 33% (one third seems like a lot, but there was a time I had a 47% body fat, yep, nearly half my weight was fat!). I am hoping that circumstances will allow for me to do another hCG round. I have stabilized well, and other than minor issues, I don't see a problem with doing another round to get to my holy grail weight on 160 to 175. This range would be good for me. All the experts say 148 is ideal, but I am not out to be a twig, just at a healthy (for me) weight. At dinner tonight, my birthday was brought up, and to be cheeky, my father in law said "39 again, and holding", I told him that I don't mind being 46, considering that two years ago, I didn't think I would make it to 46. He asked why. At 44, I 325 + pounds, sore knees from carting around all that weight, being prescribed high blood pressure meds, given a paper with a bunch of fake "heart healthy" foods to choose from to "control my cholesterol. When I asked about "something" to help me with weight loss, I just got the sad, pouty face from my nurse practitioner. I was treated like a lost cause. I felt like a lost cause. I also asked about hCG, and was told that it's a scam. Everyone who has used it just regained the weight. It wouldn't work. I should just eat the USDA heart healthy diet, and I would eventually lose the weight. Really? Because I have eaten "heart healthy" recommended diet for 44 years, and I was as big as a house! Sometimes you have to choose for yourself. I took the plunge. I did hCG, I took the time to research new ways of eating that involved whole foods, I made the choice to stay away from grains, legumes, processed sugar, almost all dairy products. In return, although still overweight, I have maintained my losses for 8 months now. I will never be "skinny", and I don't want to be. I am happy with who I am, another 20 to 40 lbs would be great, but even if I stayed in the 200 lb range, I can live with it. I have said before that I am a rebel. I do what I do, I take the time to learn, I take the easy road when I can, and the hard road if I have to. Barring any unforeseen tumbling episodes on the stairs, I will be alive tomorrow and for many years to come. I don't fear high blood pressure, because I don't have it. I don't fear high cholesterol because mine is normal. I don't fear a heart attack, because I am stronger and in better health now at 46 then I was 10 or even 20 years ago. I will wake up a happy human tomorrow. I will hug and kiss my husband and children. I will thank God for all that I have.

Still getting my s*** together...

Sloppy, sloppy, sloppy!

Wouldn't life be grand if we could stick to a plan?  By gosh, by golly, I am trying to focus, but I am all over the place.  I am not gaining outrageously, but I am not shrinking either.

I am still in my 16's, but my weight has shifted again (I hate that!), and I am fat in all the wrong places, OK, any place of fat sucks, but it's drifting around my middle section, where I don't need any help (thank you very much).

I did start the 100 Burpees in 100 Days (The-100-Day-Burpee-Challenge).  Here's the gist, you do one burpee on day one, then two burpees on day 2, then 3 burpees on day 3, get it?  On and on it goes until day 100 (yep, 100 burpees), there is a caveat, if you miss a day, you have to do the previous days burpees (say you are on day 21, but you missed day 20, then you do the 20 you missed, then the 21 you owe, best advice, don't miss).  You don't have to do them all at one time, once you get to the higher numbers.  If you are at day 80, you can do four sets of 20 (or 8 sets of 10) at different times (7 am, 11 am, 2pm, 8 pm, whatever).

We went to Sprout's Farmer's Market today (on Del Rio Rd., in Sacramento).  Like most "healthy stores" it can be a bit pricey.   But I did find some grass fed ground beef for $4.99/lb, which is a great price, but a sale price.  A clam shell of strawberries for .99 cents!  They also have a great selection of coconut based ice cream, plenty of organic produce, some of the hard to find items (coconut butter, coconut oil, Braggs, gluten-free items), even bulk bins (too pricey for me, but that's me).

My beloved wasn't thrilled with the whole "organic" thing (he thinks it's a crock), and doesn't get the whole "wild caught" thing with the fish (read $$$$$) or the grass fed thing, although he was thrilled to find buffalo (again, $$$$), and we might pick up some kangaroo for grins and giggles (nearly $8/lb), but will indulge me (he is so sweet!). 

I eat almost exclusively apart from the family.  Today, my hubby went to Jimboy's Tacos for lunch, and got something for everyone except me, I just cooked up a steak, had salad and leftover broccoli, so I was cool with it.  The family is seeing some old favorites, tuna helper and spaghetti, and Paleo versions of other favorites like meatloaf and onion rings (thanks to Tammy Credicott and her cookbook Paleo Indulgences for the onion rings, the main reason I bought the book...).  So they aren't suffering, but they aren't eating as healthy as they could, but since I can't seem to stem the flow of crap entering the house, what's a gal to do.  I bend like a reed in the wind...OK, I shut my mouth and keep my opinions to myself (until the old people tell the doctor that they eat "paleo", and I tell them to quit lying!)

So that's the haps for right now.

Confessions (Damn my eyes....)

Sorry gang, I have been naughty about posting.  I would love to say that I have been working diligently and melting away like I was on hCG, but I can't.

I have been staying Paleo, but eating far too much.  As everyone knows, portion control is not my forte. 

Yesterday was a wake up call.  I stepped on the scale and weighed in at 206.6 lbs!  That's 2 lbs over my last drop weight (204.4).  I realized that this has to be nipped in the bud immediately.

I fasted through breakfast, and had steak and cucumber for lunch (dipped in mustard).  Dinner was BBQ chicken and shredded sweet potatoes.  A bit too much starch, but I do have to keep up a decent calorie count.  500 cals a day are fine with hCG, but not without.  And just to make my life a bit more fun, my girly time kicked in. 

I am hoping a few of these added pounds are just water and yuck weight, but still, I have come too far to settle at anything above 200 lbs.  I still have a goal of 185 or less, so I have 20 lbs to lose.  I was hoping to do another round of hCG (it's so easy!), but our finances will not brook that, so back to basics the Paleo way.

Never fear, dear readers, a set back is just that, a set back.  It is so easy to quit and cry "foul", and "it's not fair", but, as you know, I don't do that.  I am responsible for what goes into my mouth.  This gain is on me for making poor decisions, for giving into my cravings and wants, instead of being diligent in my battle o'the bulge.

It happens to us all.  We can throw in the towel, or we can stand our ground, even against ourselves.

Do you want to quit?  Don't.  Stay the course.  If you veer off the path, turn around and get back on it.  Not tomorrow, now.  Don't let bad choices become habit. 

If it was easy, everyone would do it.  It's not easy, but it's worth it.  Totally.

I'm bbbbaaaaccccckkkkk

The move was a huge mess.  I did gain, but not too much (about 10 lbs).  Time to get back on the wagon, and get control before I am too far out of control!

It could have been worse, but thanks to Paleo eating, I am still in my size 16s.  I think that too much fast food, high stress, and far too many "treats (in the form of dark chocolate)" helped with the gains I am seeing.

Starting today, I am cutting all sugars (dark chocolate, honey, dates, high sugary fruits) and nuts (I love's me almonds!), including pseudo Paleo bakes.

Sticking to good proteins and veggies, with portion control, should put me back on the road to good health.

I am also needing to exercise.  You'd think lifting heavy furniture, boxes, and humping stairs 100 times a day, would count, but it doesn't.  So it's back to deep knee bends, sit ups, push ups, and get some running around with the kids.  We invested in a soccer ball, and it turns out that even with my limited knowledge, I am the most knowledgeable about soccer (how scary is that!), so I get to teach the boys how to "dribble" and direct the ball, plus some pointers on the game in general.

Being in a bigger city will make it easier to find organic foods, and a Fresh and Easy is going to open just down the street from me.  I have never heard of it, but will visit another location to see how they are.  They do carry grass fed ground beef at a reasonable price, plus organic fruits and veggies.

Tomorrow I will post with some stats, to get the ball (and accountability) rolling.

Until then!

Popping in to update

We got our house, now it's time to get everything moved.

Stress levels are leveling out toward the middle.  The nice thing in that I am not gaining, although I am eating way too much dark chocolate, but a girl has got to cope somehow.

Staying away from grains has been a real help. 

Moving will commence on Feb. 15th (fun, fun, fun, blah).  One trip.  It's just too far to do "loads".  My husband's company will be supplying trucks and some extra manpower.

Well, back to cleaning carpets.

So here's what's goin' on...

...PPPPPFFFFFFTTTTTT (tongue out and all the spit I can muster!)

All the house hunting duties have fallen on to me alone.  I was told to "go do" and I did.  After finding what I thought was the perfect house for us, was met with silence, and "we'll sees..."

I was told that all this moving and such needed to be done NOW.  So I did.  I have the extraneous stuff packed, got on track for a 5/3 house, and then was told to wait.  Someone else got the house, I wish them the best.

So now, I am being told that everything is moving too fast.  Whenever is good enough.  Seriously? 

OK, but we are are being considered for another house that's 4/2, the last 4/2 in the neighborhood we want, at a price we can afford.  Affordability is necessary, it's more than we pay now, and going to put us in a very grey area. 

Why am I lamenting over all this?  Because I am hugely stressed.  I want to dive face first into a gallon of rocky road, with a side of warm glazed doughnuts, slathered in butter.  That's why.

These are the times we turn to food.  When life is throwing those curve balls.  When life isn't fair.  Always remember Rule #1:  Life is not fair.  It's okay to be stressed for a short time.  What's not okay is to wallow in it.  This is the time to "man up" as it were.  I could spend this time eating until I puke.  Sucking down all the crap food in the house, and then head out to McDonald's a suck down 5 McRibs, with a stop on the way home for 2 Little Caesar's $5 pizzas.  Hello 300 + pounds.

No.  Instead, I vented to my husband.  Looked at the situation logically, and stayed out of the kitchen.  Food isn't going to make the house bigger.  Food isn't going to put any extra money into our bank account (although it will drain it!).  Food doesn't have a great idea to solve the problem.  Eating myself into oblivion isn't going to de-stress me, or even help in facing the problem.

What will help?  Acceptance.  This is the situation.  I must face it head on.  No hiding behind the ice cream, no drowning my sorrows in a Snicker's bar.

We all have battles to face.  Those of us who are fighting the weight loss battle, just have another front for our battle.  Life will throw everything it's got at you.  Stressful situations come in all sorts of forms.  Sick/ailing family and friends, a job loss, a home loss, fears, heartaches, depression, and so many more.  We are warriors.  We face these things with a sword in our hands.  Death before defeat! 

There are always going to be tough situations that we'll have to face.  We must always remember that food is a way to stay healthy (well, healthy foods!), not a friend to turn to in a time of need.  If you are feeling that need to eat, grab a carrot.  If a carrot doesn't sound good, then you aren't hungry, and you don't need to eat.  I know this is much easier said than done.  Cookies, cakes, breads, sweet treats, all seem like they will make things better.  If you are stressing now, imagine what would happen if you went back to old habits, and found yourself 10, 20, 30, or even 50 pound heavier?

I truly believe that where ever God closes a door, He opens a window somewhere else.  I don't want to be too fat to climb through that window. 

For us, this will be a short time problem.  If we get this house, then we'll move.  If we don't, then the search will continue, until we do move, or the company changes it's plans to open a new office.  Either way, I will not beat myself up with food. 

If you are facing a giant, then get your sling.  Stand tall, be brave, and don't give into the call of old habits.  You will be rewarded.

Busy Busy Busy

So much going on!

I was to start Crossfit last Monday, but unfortunately life got in the way.  My beloved Colonel was told that he needed to transfer to Sacramento to open a new office.  So, we are in the process of getting a house and preparing to move. 

I also went into the Whole 30 with good intentions (you know, the foundation of the road to Hell?), but have been a bit loosey goosey about the whole (no pun) thing.  I haven't strayed too far.  In fact, I am still trying to keep up with a healthy breakfast.  Yesterday was scrambled eggs with ham and some fried zucchini (in butter).  I am keeping the healthy greens flowing, the Grocery Outlet has a large box of organic spring lettuces that are really good at $4.99, so that helps with convenience and cost effectiveness.  I just plate up some greens, and throw on a protein.  Top with a homemade dressing (either Ranch or honey mustard).  Dinner is usually a protein and 2 veg, last night was baked chicken, broccoli, and pears (which I don't eat).  The problem with me is the in-between time, I have an orange and sometimes chocolate (dark of course).
So, all in all, I am doing good staying Paleo for the most part.

My weight is OK, at 193 lbs, which is only 8 lbs above goal, but I am having a real hard time getting into those 80's.  I have about 2 weeks until my girly time which means water retention and weight gain.  Hopefully, I won't skirt the 200's like I did last time, since there is no "holiday" excuse to eat in the Paleo fringes.

Paleo-ized foods can be just a damaging as standard foods.  Yeah, there is no grains, or legumes, but that doesn't mean that you would lose, in fact, they are really high in calories.

So many Paleo sites that have recipes focus on "replacements".  I am of the mindset that once in a while, "replacements" are good and tasty (breaded chicken strips, Paleo waffles/pancakes, muffins, biscuits...), but our focus should be on veggies, meat, and fat.  How can you go wrong?  Lots of veggies like salad, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus (in season, not now), kale and other greens, limited amounts of starchy veg like sweet potatoes and yams.  I've even come to terms with potatoes, once in a while, I will make the family gold potatoes or the like.  White potatoes are scary at best, especially with all the GMOs out there, so I avoid those like the plague.

You don't need fancy-schmancy meals that copy the standards.  Nothing is more American than chicken, salad, and veggies.  The difference is adding the extras that aren't needed, like mashed potatoes and bread.  Whether you are at home cooking, or out and about, you can always find something to eat. 

Since everything is so busy here, I will be posting sporadically, but still posting nevertheless.  Now that we are moving to a new city, I will have a front row seat to see how Paleo living is accepted there.  We did have lunch a popular eatery called Five Guys Burgers and Fries, that was sort of low carb friendly.  You can order a burger or hot dog as a wrap, but they are deep into peanuts and peanut oil.  If you are sensitive/allergic, don't go in, there are peanuts flying everywhere!

Until next time!