Day 30! WOOHOO!!!

Stuffed Bell Peppers

Garden Pasta Salad



Garlic Greens

I am officially on day 30:) These are some of the recipes I made this past week! They were all very good! I really enjoyed the Garlic Greens more than I thought I would.  It was so satisfying and I loved it just felt good on my belly. 

The past 30 days have been pretty amazing! I learned a lot about myself.  For example I CAN do something I put my mind to.  I can eat healthy and do it around a family who eats a Standard American Diet on a daily basis.  I am not going to lie and say I didn't struggle at all! There were plenty of times I had opportunity to choose something bad but I didn't.  I didn't because of all the support I have around me! My Zumba girls are amazing! They are so encouraging and supportive! Julie the creator of www.protectivediet.com has been a wonderful source of support and joy! I am so thankful she created recipes that I can actually make and they satisfy me. 

I really feel like I can do this for the rest of my life! This is how I want to be:) I can't see me ever driving through a fast food place to get a hamburger:( Never again going to order Chinese takeout:)  haha If you know me at all you know Chinese was a big source of my emotional eating.   I felt addicted to that and sugar! I am not saying I won't have more challenges a head of me.  I am saying though I can choose to remember all the hard work I have put into having a plant based lifestyle! I can choose to remember that there is plenty of outs when offered something bad.  You can so no:)  You can choose to eat better!  It really just depends where you are at in your life. 

I just got to the point in my life that I was sick and tired of the yo-yo dieting! I am sick of being Fat! I knew I had to either do it or not.  So one day I just said yes I am going to do it for 30 days and see what happens.  What happened is I feel like www.protectivediet.com gave me a chance and changed my life. 

I also want my BFFF Denise to know that I love her and all her support! I am so happy we are in the same place right now in our lives!

If you want a change and you are sick of being where you are at! Why not try Protective Diet for 30 days like I did.  The website is very informative and if you have questions you can ask right on the site.  If you have any questions how I started I be happy to share them! If you have any questions at all please comment:)  If you enjoy the blog and would like me to continue to write let me know that as well:)

(doing Happy Dance on day 30)

Road Trip

In the past when I would plan for a road trip part of the planning was to find what places I could eat at.  I always got excited because I could eat something "good" that I wouldn't normally be able to get where I live.  The first thing that comes to mind is Dunkin Donuts or Jack in the box.

This time I thought about eating out and even searched online but thought it would be too difficult to stay on the plan.  So I decided to pack what I needed so I wouldn't have to stop and by junk.

I used up all my fresh food in the fridge so it wouldn't spoil before I got back.  I packed two salads (w/homemade dressing), 2 green smoothies, homemade potato wedges, carrot sticks, and leftover soup with some roasted vegetables added.  I also had a bag of air popped popcorn.  

I only had to stop to fill up on gas and use the restroom.  I never even had to go into a store.  Which is good for me because I probably would have bought candy, chips and chocolate to munch on while I was driving to keep me awake.

I was hoping to find a rest area but there weren't any on the road I was on so I decided to stop at Cracker Barrel.  They had a pretty big lawn so we sat out on the picnic blanket I brought.  Charlie ate his dinner and I ate my salad.  We did get some pretty funny looks, but oh well.  

I was pretty proud of myself for sticking with the plan.  Sticking with it at my parent's house will be a little more difficult but I am committed to it!  

To good to be true disease!

I think it is so funny how I have been following www.protectivediet.com for almost 3 weeks now and I am still asking questions like when do I stop eating the potatoes and the pasta? Do I need to cut back so I can loose weight?  While I was talking to Julie she said I had the to good to be true disease! That was brilliant! So very true as well! Every time I lost weight in the past its because I had to restrict what I was eating! Never did I eat all that I wanted and be full.  I was always hungry and counting every calorie.  I love that I am not doing this anymore!

I am a little obsessive with the scale to! I feel like I need to get on it every morning to track my progress! If you know me I have had issues with this in the past! I get a little crazy:) So far though the scale keeps going down so its been a good feeling:) :)

I went and bought a dress for my daughters graduation tomorrow! I don't know if I like it.  It is weird I have never bought a dress before and liked it! Is that weird? Does anyone else go through this? I buy clothes mainly because I have to wear them.   I never have enjoyed shopping because every time I went nothing fit right or looked good! I usually have to take someone with me because I don't really know if something looks good! So this dress probably makes me look a little older which don't bother me I am a mom of a 18 year old.  There was not a whole lot to choose from in my size!  However what I was super excited about is how close I was to a size smaller than I have ever been! yes it was a little tight and I would not wear it but I could soon:) That made me feel pretty good!  But this is the dress in the picture I ended up buying. What do you think???

I made creamy potato and kale soup tonight for dinner! It is one of my favorite soups.  I really enjoy it! I thinking about making a frosty tonight but not sure yet! I hope you all have a great weekend!

Loaded Nachos Night!

I decided last night I wanted a little snack and the loaded nachos looked good to me.  So I decided to make some crispy corn tortilla chips,guac faux mole, and no fat not yo cheeze sauce!  Can I just say wow:) I am loving all this food still! Seriously guys I am not getting paid to promote protective diet.  This is truly how I am feeling and this stuff is really good!

Here it is all together! Yum! I think it be neat to use the no fat not yo cheeze sauce for some other things to! My mind is creating some things:)!! I think it is just because its so darn good I want to eat it a bunch..haha  I am thankful I have had this stuff because I have been working longer days so I don't have as much time to prepare.  This really didn't take me long! I baked the tortillas for 30 mins and while they were baking I make the other stuff! So in 30 mins I had a meal and it will last 3 days at least.  Not bad if I do say so myself:) I still have not had sugar, processed food, dairy, meat or oil:) I am feeling pretty good! Talk to you guys soon:)

What a weekend!

I started out my weekend making breaded mushrooms and onion rings! If you are wanting some snack foods though this would be the recipe! The funny part is I also made creamy ranch dressingand in the recipe it says 2 teaspoons of garlic. I put 2 1/2 Tablespoons in it..haha  I ate it with the mushrooms and onion rings but wow yeah I don't think I can finish it.  Anyway it was pretty funny I thought! I knew as soon as I did it.  My husband knew I ate the garlic as well:) So that was my Friday:)

I had to start preparing for my daughter's (Taylor) open house.  I knew I was going to have hamburgers, hotdogs, chips and cake! I was not to worried but I knew I needed to make a couple recipes so I didn't want all the bad stuff at the open house.  I ended up making creamy mustard herb potato salad which was soooo awesome!  I made it twice in a week..haha

I also made black bean and corn summer salad and pita chips.  I could eat this everyday! I loved how refreshing it was and so easy to make! The pita chips just topped it off.  I could eat it with a spoon or with the chips.  I really liked it and I felt like I could eat a lot of it.    The people who tried both recipes at the open house seemed to like them.  My daughter liked them as well:)

Today I am on my third week! I started out 243.2 and I am 232.6 this morning which is 10.6 lbs in 2 weeks.  I am pretty excited actually if you think about it I have been eating potato salad, chili, pita chips, breaded mushrooms and onion rings! I have been eating frosty's and chia seed pudding! I mean WOW! I have ate lasagna, fat free fredo with noodles, pita pizzas and potatoes.  I have not wanted anything I have not went to bed hungry.  I feel totally satisfied eating any recipe off of www.protectivediet.com. I am still in shock and really believe for the first time I could actually loose weight and keep it off.

 If you are a yo-yo dieter like I have always been you get to a point where you don't even want to try anymore.  Yeah you can loose weight but keeping it off is the worst.  When you go back to eating like you did it never fails you gain weight.  I feel like though eating off of protective diet I am already eating like I want and I feel like I am cheating sometimes..lol  The food is good and satisfying I am not looking to do something else.  I am loosing weight while doing it.   I know 232 is still high for people but I have not been this weight for years.   My highest ever was 296 and that was a few years ago.  I always got stuck about 260 and would try another diet get to 250 be excited then couldn't stick with it because it was to hard and would eventually binge on something.  Then gain 10 to 15 lbs! To me this is a dream come true being able to eat, be satisfied and loose weight. 

I want to shout it off the roof tops! I just know many of my friends struggle with stupid weight! There is a answer! I am willing to get together and make some stuff for you if you want to try some something! Today everyone is having their cookouts and family time! Enjoy it but know you don't have to eat the way you do! There are easy alternative ways go to www.protectivediet.com and look up some recipes.  Read some of her articles on there! All good information:) I think I am going to go make me a frosty:)

12 days into it:)

I made this potato salad last night and it was freaking awesome! I am just blown away each time I try a new recipe.  There have been a few I was like I am not so sure I am going to like this.  However I love them just about every time.  It feels so good to be able to eat stuff and loose weight.   I also made the roasted broccoli with lemon to go with it! It was pretty yummie to but I like broccoli already so that was no surprise:)

This weekend is my daughters open house I will be doing it cookout style! I will have hamburgers, hotdogs, chips and a graduation cake:)  I also will have veggie tray with the creamy ranch dressing as a dip! I am making the potato salad and black bean and corn summer salad for people like me that don't want to eat the junk:) This is a emotional time as well I was a emotional eater my whole life! My baby girl is graduating and she is growing up.  For once though I feel like I am in a great place.  I have been through a lot the past couple years. ( I know a lot of people have) I am just happy! I have joy and I thank God for that!  I also thank God for helping me find www.protectivediet.com. I think God knew what I needed and put the people in my life that would encourage and help me.  He is pretty cool that way:) Life is good! 

I encourage you if you have not tried any recipes from www.protectivediet.com go and try something! You don't have to go full time right away! Try some recipes that is what I did at first.  When I realized everything I was trying I liked a lot, I made the decision to go all in!    

Still in awe!!

I am happy to announce my first week on the new way of eating 6.4 lbs gone:) Super excited!

I had some fat free fredo sauce for dinner Monday night and it was good:) I enjoyed it and even felt like I was eating something bad because it tasted so good.  Before when I would eat pasta I would always over eat and feel bloated.  The next day it was a easy 5 lb gain.  I ate this though and had that same thought in my head and stopped!  Then I ate a little more:)  Not feeling bloated or gaining a bunch of weight.  I am still amazed everyday when I eat until I am full! Then I snack on some potatoes, frosty and I am satisfied.  This is the first time I am not stressing over things.   I still plan but I am not sitting here starving counting down the minutes to my next meal.  If you have this problem you totally understand how great it would feel not to do that! I am telling you it does! 

There was a couple times as well that I enjoyed chia seed chocolate pudding.  Oh man it was so good! My kids love it to.  When I wanted something sweet or a snack I enjoyed one of these.

I want to talk about Julie the creator of protective diet!  She is so encouraging! Every time I have talked to her she is so positive and helps me.  She does personal coaching! look under coaching on her site. We all know its hard to do any kind of lifestyle change if you don't have people in your life that support you.  Sadly many of us have people who try to sabotage us more so then help.  It is just so nice to have Julie to talk to and ask questions.  Plus again you have all the recipes for free.  I don't know I just feel like I am very blessed.   Not only is she just super sweet but she is very knowledgeable.   She knows her stuff! I have learned a lot from her already! 

 

I have tried every diet out there! No kidding! I struggle still at times.  I think its more out of bad habits then anything else.  I use to everyday come home get a tortilla shell. I would spread peanut butter and chocolate chips on it and roll it up.  It was my sweet thing that I LOVED!  One of the hardest things to give up until I decided I was done.  I got sick of getting up in the morning and thinking about that snack and couldn't wait to have it.  It was so satisfying for that few minutes.  There were time I ate two of them then I would skip dinner.  I guess my point is I don't want to be controlled by food anymore.   I want to eat for health.  I want what goes into my body to be healthy and giving life to it.  I don't want to waste it on stupid calories anymore.    I am 36 years old.  I have been overweight for 30 of those years.  30 years obese!!!  I just don't want to go another day like the last 30 years have been.  So I decided to change and found protective diet and something clicked for the first time in 30 years.  I hope that you go to this site and something clicks for you to.  Just read some of the information Julie has.  Really good stuff on there!  Once a week try one of her recipes and see if you like them.  I recommend creamy potato and kale soup.  It was so good and my daughter loved it to.   Go for it whats stopping you?

 

Thanks to all you who read this! It is awesome to have so much support and encouragement!