Homemade Treats for My Best Friend

If I am going to make my own food so that I can be healthy, why wouldn't I do the same thing for my best friend?  I want us to be healthy together so we can do what we both love...have outdoor adventures.

Today I made homemade chicken jerky and Peanut Butter Banana Treats.  The chicken jerky was easy.  It was an already cooked piece of chicken breast that my husband didn't want anymore.  So I just sliced it real thin and put in the oven on 200 degrees until it was dried out.  Charlie approves!

I adapted the peanut butter banana treats based on Whole Foods Market's recipe.  I made my own oat flour and peanut butter in the Vitamix.  I also added ground flax seed because it is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids which are good for his skin and coat.  I also added granulated garlic because well, it's flea season again and it also is an immune booster.

Tastes do change over time!

I can remember a couple years ago when my bfff Kristie told me she was going to follow the Eat to Live program.  I thought she was crazy and I thought to myself, "I could never do that, I can't give up cheese!"  I remember she even let me try some of her Almond Milk.  I would have never bought it unless she let me try it, because let's be honest, it sounds weird and gross or at least it did to me.  :)  Now I exclusively use Almond or Rice milk.  Thanks for hooking me up btw!
I am living, walking proof that tastes can and do change!  I never liked fresh mushrooms and would sometimes tolerate the ones in jars.  Now I eat fresh mushrooms almost every day!
There are a couple things that helped me be willing to try new things:

• My pickings were slim--I had eliminated meat, dairy, and most processed foods.  Once I did, I realized that was the majority of what I ate!  So I had no other choice but to find new foods to eat because I still love food and was still hungry!
• I wanted to get healthy--I suffered from GERD, migraines, and sleep apnea.  I was in pain all day, everyday.  Pain is a powerful motivator for change!
• I wanted to lose weight--I was tired of letting life pass me by because I was too heavy to do anything.  I used to hate summer because I couldn't wear shorts and would just sit and sweat.  Ugh that is no way to live.  Now the more weight I lose, I hate winter because I'm so cold all the time, but I would never gain the weight back.  I'll take summer now!  :)  I'm not saying that I rock the summer wear but at this point I feel good about the 146 pounds I have lost and if anyone wants to look at the fat I have left, go for it, because it will be gone too, sooner or later!
• I wanted to feel good about my choices--I do feel better about the food choices I am making because it physically and mentally makes me feel good.  How can you not feel good about eating healthy foods?  The more colorful they are the better they make me feel!

Today was a rough day with all kinds of stuff going wrong (took Charlie to the vet for a bad leg, washer flooded the laundry room, and I got a migraine on top of it all).  Normally I would have just said let's order a pizza.  I actually considered it today but then thought about how bad it would make me feel.  

So I had a spaghetti squash that needed to be cooked.  I poked it with a fork a few times and threw it in the microwave for 10 minutes.  While it was cooking, I cut up two onions, 10 cloves of garlic, a pound of mushrooms, and a handful of cherry tomatoes.  When the squash was done I cut it open and let it cool.  Meanwhile I sauteed my garlic, onions, and mushrooms.  I scooped the seeds out of the spaghetti squash and then used a fork to get the "spaghetti" out, which I added to my pan.  I added a can of diced tomatoes and some fresh parsley and let it all cook together for about 5 minutes.  This was so yummy for my tummy!  

With everyone around me getting sick, I kicked up the dose of the garlic because I know it helps build your immune system up.  I have yet to get sick this year or last when everyone else was passing around the flu and nasty colds!  Plus garlic helps when you are suffering from arthritis!  The parsley is also an anti-inflammatory and helps you build a healthy immune system!  Not to mention the health benefits of mushrooms and onions...according to Dr. Fuhrman, we should be eating G-BOMBS everyday!  What are G-BOMBS?  Greens, Beans, Onions, Mushrooms, Berries, and Seeds. Check out his article to learn more about why you should do your best to eat these foods everyday!

Had a plan and stuck with it!

I have been feeling pretty proud of myself this week! I had a plan I have stuck with it! I have lost like 7 lbs so far but my weigh in isn't until Monday!  However it has not been focused on nutrition or what is good for my body! It has totally been on calories and what I like.   I am proud of myself because I have not binged on anything.  I have not ate any chocolate or anything bad.  Someone even brought it some cupcakes yesterday and I stayed away!  What I find is one of the best things is Yoplait Greek 100 calorie yogurt.  I am not a big fan of yogurt especially greek, but yoplait is quite yummie!  I am drinking a lot of water as well.   Also I have been exercising which is helping! Love my Zumba:) Anyway if you are interested in seeing what I am eating I have a account on myfitnesspal so add me as a friend! My user name huclkengirl and my diary is public of what foods I am eating.   It is really simple that is why I can stay with it.  For example my lunch is PB & J and carrots and hummus everyday.  I just really enjoy it:) If you get on there let me know what you think!

Blessings!

Changing it up

I never thought I'd be able to eat oatmeal without cinnamon and sugar and butter!  Dealing with a fungus overgrowth where my thumbs peel and losing two nails has made me take a fresh look and be willing to change things up a bit!

So this morning I made old fashioned oats with frozen blueberries (the only fruit I'm allowed right now), chopped pecans and sprinkle of cinnamon.  I have to admit it was pretty yummy and went nicely with my pomegranate raspberry tea!  Here's to a good day and good health!

ZUMBA!!!!

I was reading Denise's blog celebrate the small things! I admit I have a hard time doing that:(  So what if I lost 5 lbs I have 100 lbs to go.  However as I was reading it I decided yep I really do need to take a step back and celebrate the small things! For me that is Zumba! I have been doing Zumba for over a year maybe two.  I really don't remember but there were times I didn't do it for months.  Anyway Zumba is one of the things that motivate me! It is so fun and I know I don't look good doing it.  I just don't care! I feel better after each class and I am ALWAYS thankful I did it.  There are times that I wait to last minute to go because I really don't want to go.  Then I remember how great I will feel and how I feel better about myself.   Even though I go back and forth with weight gain and loss Zumba has always been there! When My mom died I had Zumba! When my grandma died I had Zumba! When my dog died I had Zumba! Every ounce of my being at times didn't want to go! My feelings were like why I am not even loosing weight.   However I went! Why you ask?  Not just because my instructor knows how to make Zumba fun! She is a great person and she is always smiling.  I love that! She motivates me! Also I have met so many people through going to that class that I have built great relationships.  Plus these people understand it all! I feel understood and they relate to what I am going through.  They also have great tips and ideas of their own that we share.  I love that! Not everyday I am going in a great mood! There are times I am depressed when I go! I might be annoyed with life and people.  So many things could be the reason! However Zumba is my medicine:) I always leave feeling like I accomplished something and I am happy!  So today I am celebrating Zumba:)

Celebrate the small things

Yesterday was not a very good day for me and typically it would have been my ticket to have a full on binge for the rest of the weekend.  I don't think I ate any vegetables yesterday unless you count french fries and spring rolls?  

Looking back on it this morning though I had to pat myself on the back because at least I did not eat meat or dairy and I did not eat after 8pm.  So I celebrated the small goals I was still able to stick with this morning and it helped me stay focused today.

Let me tell you that was not an easy task because I also started my menstrual cycle today (sorry for any guys reading this, but you ladies feel my pain)!  I have to celebrate the fact that I did not push the person out of my car that was eating Reese's Peanut Butter cups in front of me!  I was offered one but I celebrated the fact that I turned it down and did not shove it down his throat.  :) Hey we need to remember the small things that eventually will add up to big rewards.  I did buy some dark chocolate but only ate the serving size.  

Normally I would have said, "Oh one won't hurt, I deserve it!"  But I know myself enough now that one will hurt!  For me it will trigger an eating binge.  If I have milk chocolate then I think I have to have something salty because who can eat sweet without salty right?  So then I'd eat a whole bag of pistachios or a whole bag of chips.  I have to keep reminding myself everyday that NOTHING tastes as good as healthy feels!  

Even though I am still kind of at a plateau right now and am not enjoying the 5 pound a week weight losses, I have to celebrate that I am persevering and maintaining the weight loss.  

I have the perfectionist personality that thinks if I can't do it 100% correctly, why bother doing it at all?  I think that's why I weighed 400 pounds for so long.  I never thought I would be able to lose the weight and keep it off, so why even bother denying myself what makes me feel good right now?  I tried to lie to myself and tell myself that I was going to be happy with who I was, at the weight I was.  But let's face it, who can be happy at 400 pounds?  Who can be truly at peace when normal every day things cause you to have a panic attack for fear of embarrassment?  

I can remember having an anxiety attack every time someone invited me to a restaurant to eat.  I would wonder if they had table and chairs because I knew I wouldn't be able to fit into the booths.  I had to get to the restaurant half an hour before anyone else so that I could ask for a table instead of a booth without being embarrassed about asking in front of whoever invited me.  

So I have to remind myself now that I can celebrate the fact that I can fit in a booth, I can buckle my seatbelt, and I can even bend over and tie my shoe without worrying that my pants will split!

So instead of beating yourself up about all the things you aren't doing right, think of the things you are, no matter how small and pat yourself on the back, because this is not easy, but you are doing it!  What small things can you celebrate today?

Music sweeps the cobwebs from my soul

I go through phases on when I listen to music and what type of music I listen to.  Most of the time I try to stick to music that inspires or encourages me.  Lately, I've been drawn to Shawn McDonald, Chris Tomlin, and Point of Grace.  

This morning on my walk with Charlie I listened to Heal the Wounds by Point of Grace.  


I used to wish that I could rewrite history
I used to dream that each mistake could be erased
Then I could just pretend
I never knew me back then
I used to pray that You would take this shame away
Hide all the evidence of who I've been
But it's the memory of 
The place You brought me from 
That keeps me on my knees
And even though I'm free

Chorus : 
Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound but leave the scar

I have not lived a life that boasts of anything
I don't take pride in what I bring
But I'll build an altar with
The rubble that You've found me in
And every stone will sing
Of what You can redeem

Don't let me forget
Everything You've done for me
Don't let me forget
The beauty in the suffering

This song really speaks to me because I really did and still do sometimes wish that I could erase my past or rewrite history.  I have had many wounds in my life, as I'm sure most everyone has.  I don't think we should be ashamed of them though.  I am actually proud of my scars now because it shows that I have survived and overcome what tried to destroy me!  

I do believe that everything happens for a reason.  Even though we may never know what that reason was, I believe that God will never leave us and He will give us beauty for ashes.  

I think this is why I am committed to myself to continue on this path of wellness.  I know that God intended for me to be vibrant and healthy so I can fulfill His purpose for my life.  I want to help pass that on and encourage others to embrace their past, it is what made you who you are today.  Forgive others for hurting you and forgive yourself for any mistakes you have made.  Wellness is not just losing weight and being skinny, it's being healthy mentally, physically, and spiritually.