This post is ironic, since in the last post I hinted at the fact that I'm addicted to sweet tea, but I'll post this anyway. To keep my addiction as healthy and as cost effective as possible, I brew my own tea at home. This way, I know when it was made, and I can control the amount of sugar in the tea.
I bought an iced tea maker at Target for $20.00. I bought 70 tea bags and a 32 oz. bag of Turbinado Sugar at for $3.99 each. I brew about 3 pitchers of tea a week, and I only put 1/2 cup of sugar in each pitcher. I eventually want to get to 1/4 cup of sugar in each pitcher, then unsweet tea, then water, but it's gonna be a while.
Again, I'll keep you updated.
Sunday, July 12, 2015
I Stopped Drinking Soda
I've always been thin, but when I was drinking soda, I looked like a little pregnant lady. I used to drink 3-4 sodas a day, with all of that corn syrup and carbs going straight to my stomach. I was HEAVILY addicted to the sugar and caffeine, so going cold turkey wasn't gonna happen...so...
Week 1: Soda six days a week.
Week 2: Soda four days a week.
Week 3: Soda two days a week.
Week 4: Soda one day a week.
I LOVED soda, so I kept my soda one day a week for a while. I called my "cheat day". My cheat day was on Tuesdays, and I remember looking forward to Tuesdays like it was Christmas. My friend and I would go to lunch, I'd order my Dr. Pepper, and wait with joy like the arrival of a new baby. I'd drink that soda like it was liquid gold...
Then one Tuesday we got to the restaurant, and I didn't want a soda. I got lemonade instead. I had finally kicked the habit, and I lost about seven pounds...just because I stopped drinking soda.
Every now and then I'll have a Virgil's Real Rootbeer. No corn syrup, and all natural ingredients, but I can't tell you the last time I've had a Dr. Pepper.
I have a new addiction, and it's sweet tea. I seriously think I need to use the method above to break my sweet tea addiction.
I'll keep you updated...
I Began to Cook at Home
Once I began making good food choices with fast food, I began to have more energy, so I began cooking at home. In the beginning, I would cook about once a week. The first healthy meal I learned to cook was salmon, spinach, and baked sweet potato. Let me tell you, that stuff was good! I hadn't fully evolved yet, so my salmon had maple syrup and soy sauce all over it, the spinach and sweet potato were drowning in butter, but I was making progress.
The more I cooked, the more I enjoyed cooking. The more I enjoyed cooking, the more I realized that all of the ready made, quick prep processed food wasn't much faster than just cooking with real food. I used to eat Hamburger Helper (on those rare occasions when I would cook), and I realized that I still had to cook the meat and I still had to boil the noodles. Instead of adding the processed package, I realized that I could add some tomato sauce with salt, pepper, garlic salt, and oregano, and have a meal that was better for me, that tasted better!
Early on, the prep is what was took me forever! If I wanted a salad, I would peel the cucumber, slice it, then slice the tomato. 10 minutes, at least. I was really slow. Today, I can peel, and slice up a cucumber in about two minutes.
This past Monday I roasted a whole chicken! I didn't have twine so I used dental floss to tie it up, and miraculously, my chicken didn't taste minty! :). I ate some of the chicken for dinner, pulled the rest of it, mixed it with organic mayo and celery, put it in the food processor, and I had the best chicken salad I've ever had! ...and I made it myself! Also, because I used almost an entire chicken, it lasted me the entire week! #savingmoney
The more I cooked, the more I enjoyed cooking. The more I enjoyed cooking, the more I realized that all of the ready made, quick prep processed food wasn't much faster than just cooking with real food. I used to eat Hamburger Helper (on those rare occasions when I would cook), and I realized that I still had to cook the meat and I still had to boil the noodles. Instead of adding the processed package, I realized that I could add some tomato sauce with salt, pepper, garlic salt, and oregano, and have a meal that was better for me, that tasted better!
Early on, the prep is what was took me forever! If I wanted a salad, I would peel the cucumber, slice it, then slice the tomato. 10 minutes, at least. I was really slow. Today, I can peel, and slice up a cucumber in about two minutes.
This past Monday I roasted a whole chicken! I didn't have twine so I used dental floss to tie it up, and miraculously, my chicken didn't taste minty! :). I ate some of the chicken for dinner, pulled the rest of it, mixed it with organic mayo and celery, put it in the food processor, and I had the best chicken salad I've ever had! ...and I made it myself! Also, because I used almost an entire chicken, it lasted me the entire week! #savingmoney
Friday, November 28, 2014
I Started Snacking Healthier
I LOVE snacking! I love sweet snacks, salty snacks, crunchy snacks, and chewy snacks. If it's a snack, I love it (except for chestnuts, but I'll get to that in a minute).
In the old days, my snacks were Cheetos and Dr. Pepper. As I type this, I'm snacking. I'm currently snacking on Organic Sea Salt Kettle Chips and Pomegranate San Pellegrino.
Two years ago you wouldn't have been able to PAY me to snack on what I'm snacking on today, but I made baby steps. Not once did I try to diet or deprive myself. I just continue to make small steps to a better lifestyle.
You may be wondering... "Why aren't you eating a piece of fruit and a glass of water?" I'll tell you. My snack time looks different each week. Bananas and apples are my favorite fruits to snack on, but mostly, I love crunchy snacks, so I usually snack on trail mix. I actually make my own trail mix. I buy raisins, pecans, and cashews in bulk, then mix them together! What I like most about making it myself is that I don't have to eat "around" something I don't enjoy.
Other days like today, I cheat a little and have what reminds me of a "bad" snack, but is good for me, and tastes like I'm cheating.
Here are a few other tips:
Instead of microwave popcorn, I buy organic popcorn, put it in a paper bag, and pop it in the microwave. I melt some 100% grass-fed butter, and sprinkle on some Himalayan Pink Salt. Delicious.
Instead of peanut M&M's, I eat dark chocolate covered almonds. The almonds are healthy, and the dark chocolate is full of antioxidants...and they taste great!
Instead of a chocolate milkshake, I blend up two bananas with 100% cacao/cocoa powder, and almond milk. So good!
In the old days, my snacks were Cheetos and Dr. Pepper. As I type this, I'm snacking. I'm currently snacking on Organic Sea Salt Kettle Chips and Pomegranate San Pellegrino.
Two years ago you wouldn't have been able to PAY me to snack on what I'm snacking on today, but I made baby steps. Not once did I try to diet or deprive myself. I just continue to make small steps to a better lifestyle.
You may be wondering... "Why aren't you eating a piece of fruit and a glass of water?" I'll tell you. My snack time looks different each week. Bananas and apples are my favorite fruits to snack on, but mostly, I love crunchy snacks, so I usually snack on trail mix. I actually make my own trail mix. I buy raisins, pecans, and cashews in bulk, then mix them together! What I like most about making it myself is that I don't have to eat "around" something I don't enjoy.
Other days like today, I cheat a little and have what reminds me of a "bad" snack, but is good for me, and tastes like I'm cheating.
Here are a few other tips:
Instead of microwave popcorn, I buy organic popcorn, put it in a paper bag, and pop it in the microwave. I melt some 100% grass-fed butter, and sprinkle on some Himalayan Pink Salt. Delicious.
Instead of peanut M&M's, I eat dark chocolate covered almonds. The almonds are healthy, and the dark chocolate is full of antioxidants...and they taste great!
Instead of a chocolate milkshake, I blend up two bananas with 100% cacao/cocoa powder, and almond milk. So good!
The Evolution
Today, as I was walking out of Natural Grocers with my cloth bags, to my Prius, I had to take a moment to reflect on how I got here.
Like I mentioned, two years ago I was living on cake and chips, and today I'm a completely different person. I drink Kale Smoothies, I oil pull, I go to the Farmer's Market each week, I have a set bed time, and when I shop, I take the time to actually read the ingredients first.
Who am I, and how did I get here?!
Here is a summary of how I got here.
I started making one good decision with each meal. I started snacking healthier. I started cooking at home. I stopped drinking soda. I started brewing my own sweet tea. I transitioned to 100% grass-fed beef and dairy, and free range chicken. I started drinking Almond Milk. I started shopping at the Farmer's Market. I started drinking Kale smoothies. I started taking a multi-vitamin each morning. I started going to bed at the same time each night. I started eating organic, non-GMO produce. I started using natural toothpaste and natural deodorant. I started oil pulling. I started using Essential Oils. Three weeks ago I bought a Prius, and today I bought natural laundry soap for the first time.
I will detail each of these items in subsequent blogs to paint a clear picture of my transition. I want you to know something, my transition was not free of backsliding. I titled this blog "Healthy Wagon" because every now and then, I fall off of the "wagon". This past summer I fell off of the wagon and ate fast food for dinner for two weeks because I just got super busy. Here's the good news. My worst food decisions today are much better than my best food decisions two years ago. If you're like I was, and you're tired of being sick and tired, take a ride with me on the healthy wagon. You'll be glad you did.
Like I mentioned, two years ago I was living on cake and chips, and today I'm a completely different person. I drink Kale Smoothies, I oil pull, I go to the Farmer's Market each week, I have a set bed time, and when I shop, I take the time to actually read the ingredients first.
Who am I, and how did I get here?!
Here is a summary of how I got here.
I started making one good decision with each meal. I started snacking healthier. I started cooking at home. I stopped drinking soda. I started brewing my own sweet tea. I transitioned to 100% grass-fed beef and dairy, and free range chicken. I started drinking Almond Milk. I started shopping at the Farmer's Market. I started drinking Kale smoothies. I started taking a multi-vitamin each morning. I started going to bed at the same time each night. I started eating organic, non-GMO produce. I started using natural toothpaste and natural deodorant. I started oil pulling. I started using Essential Oils. Three weeks ago I bought a Prius, and today I bought natural laundry soap for the first time.
I will detail each of these items in subsequent blogs to paint a clear picture of my transition. I want you to know something, my transition was not free of backsliding. I titled this blog "Healthy Wagon" because every now and then, I fall off of the "wagon". This past summer I fell off of the wagon and ate fast food for dinner for two weeks because I just got super busy. Here's the good news. My worst food decisions today are much better than my best food decisions two years ago. If you're like I was, and you're tired of being sick and tired, take a ride with me on the healthy wagon. You'll be glad you did.
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Hungry for Change
After I decided to eat better to feel better, I started doing some research. My research led me to Netflix. Yes, Netflix. On Netflix, I found a documentary titled "Hungry for Change". In this "Food Doc" I learned how bad certain foods are for us, and how good certain foods are for us. At one point in the doc, it goes into detail about bad diet soda is for us. Then, toward the end, it challenges us to make one good decision with every meal, and that's just what I began to do.
During my subsequent fast food visits, I made good decisions with each meal. The first time, I didn't supersize my soda or my fries. Later, I subbed my fries for fruit. Then, I got grilled chicken instead of fried. I wasn't taking huge leaps; I was making small steps, but I was making progress.
The more good decisions I made, the better I felt physically (for obvious reasons) and I felt better emotionally, because I realized that I could exist without constantly being face down in a bowl of sugar.
After being so impacted by "Hungry for Change", I began watching every "Food Doc" I could find. "Food Matters", "Forks Over Knives", and my fave..."Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead". The more "Food Docs" I watched, the more I realized the depth of how unhealthy I truly was.
By nothing short of a miracle, one of my best friends is a professional chef and culinary instructor. (Her blog is http://www.kitchenno4.com.) How convenient!!! Let me quickly back up and say that she has been preaching to me FOR YEARS about how I needed to eat healthier. Well Lu-Lu (that's her name), I finally saw the light!
During my subsequent fast food visits, I made good decisions with each meal. The first time, I didn't supersize my soda or my fries. Later, I subbed my fries for fruit. Then, I got grilled chicken instead of fried. I wasn't taking huge leaps; I was making small steps, but I was making progress.
The more good decisions I made, the better I felt physically (for obvious reasons) and I felt better emotionally, because I realized that I could exist without constantly being face down in a bowl of sugar.
After being so impacted by "Hungry for Change", I began watching every "Food Doc" I could find. "Food Matters", "Forks Over Knives", and my fave..."Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead". The more "Food Docs" I watched, the more I realized the depth of how unhealthy I truly was.
By nothing short of a miracle, one of my best friends is a professional chef and culinary instructor. (Her blog is http://www.kitchenno4.com.) How convenient!!! Let me quickly back up and say that she has been preaching to me FOR YEARS about how I needed to eat healthier. Well Lu-Lu (that's her name), I finally saw the light!
Why I Got on The Wagon
Hello there!
Two years ago, I was a junk-food junkie. I ate fast food every day, mostly Chick-Fil-A. I literally drank soda like it was water, and when my friends would challenge me to drink water, I would respond with "there's water in the ice". I ate cookies and candy like my life depended on it. It wasn't unusual to find Oreos, Cheetos, and Oatmeal Cream Pies in my nightstand. I hated water, I hated veggies, and if it wasn't dipped in sugar and fried, I wasn't interested. Then something changed...
After a youth leadership conference called "Capacity", I felt like God was calling me to fast. If you're not familiar with spiritual fasting, basically it's going without something (typically food) for a period of time to grow closer to God. Anyhoo, I felt like God was calling me to fast for 30 days. He wasn't specific about the kind of fast, so I began to entertain thoughts of various types of fasts. I wasn't about to do an absolute fast, (no food at all), so I began to weigh my options. I thought about a Daniel Fast, (fruits, veggies, and grains), but I had done that fast before and hated it. A few days into my search for a fast, I had lunch with one of my friends who was on the Paleo Diet, (meat, veggies, and fruit), I researched it, found out I could just sit around and eat bacon all day, and I. WAS. IN.
Lord, I'm gonna do a bacon...I mean Paleo Fast.
The first few days, I literally ate bacon, Lil' Smokies, and chicken nuggets. Even though I was still eating terrible, guess what I wasn't eating? Cake, cookies, and chips. Guess what else? I wasn't drinking soda. The first few days I felt like I had just escaped from rehab. My head was hurting, I felt like I was getting the flu, and I broke out in cold sweats. My life was terrible. After detoxing, I started feeling...better! For the next few weeks, I had energy! I was able to think critically and make great decisions! I felt like a new person....until.... the 30 days was over, and I returned to my prior diet of soda and cake sandwiches. In a just a few days, I felt awful again. I didn't want to feel awful again, but I didn't want to eat meat and veggies for the rest of my life. I was tired of being tired, and knew I needed to make a change, but had no idea what to do or how to do it.
Two years ago, I was a junk-food junkie. I ate fast food every day, mostly Chick-Fil-A. I literally drank soda like it was water, and when my friends would challenge me to drink water, I would respond with "there's water in the ice". I ate cookies and candy like my life depended on it. It wasn't unusual to find Oreos, Cheetos, and Oatmeal Cream Pies in my nightstand. I hated water, I hated veggies, and if it wasn't dipped in sugar and fried, I wasn't interested. Then something changed...
After a youth leadership conference called "Capacity", I felt like God was calling me to fast. If you're not familiar with spiritual fasting, basically it's going without something (typically food) for a period of time to grow closer to God. Anyhoo, I felt like God was calling me to fast for 30 days. He wasn't specific about the kind of fast, so I began to entertain thoughts of various types of fasts. I wasn't about to do an absolute fast, (no food at all), so I began to weigh my options. I thought about a Daniel Fast, (fruits, veggies, and grains), but I had done that fast before and hated it. A few days into my search for a fast, I had lunch with one of my friends who was on the Paleo Diet, (meat, veggies, and fruit), I researched it, found out I could just sit around and eat bacon all day, and I. WAS. IN.
Lord, I'm gonna do a bacon...I mean Paleo Fast.
The first few days, I literally ate bacon, Lil' Smokies, and chicken nuggets. Even though I was still eating terrible, guess what I wasn't eating? Cake, cookies, and chips. Guess what else? I wasn't drinking soda. The first few days I felt like I had just escaped from rehab. My head was hurting, I felt like I was getting the flu, and I broke out in cold sweats. My life was terrible. After detoxing, I started feeling...better! For the next few weeks, I had energy! I was able to think critically and make great decisions! I felt like a new person....until.... the 30 days was over, and I returned to my prior diet of soda and cake sandwiches. In a just a few days, I felt awful again. I didn't want to feel awful again, but I didn't want to eat meat and veggies for the rest of my life. I was tired of being tired, and knew I needed to make a change, but had no idea what to do or how to do it.
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