so it's been a while...

Well hi there dear blog! Yes, it's been almost a month since you've been updated. Time to get to it, right?

Things have been going really great with the weightloss. I was at a stand still for a few weeks where I wasn't losing hardly anything; maybe like a lb a week or less. But all of the sudden things are picking up and fast! It's exciting! This week alone I've lost 5 lbs. in 4 days. For a total of 35 lbs lost from my highest weight and 24 lbs lost since doing the no sugar thing. Not too shabby! My goal was to lose 30 lbs. before I go back to my Dr. in October. I'm almost there! YAY!

Last Saturday Ryan and I were at Costco about to buy the Jack LaLaine Juicer. We put it in our cart and continued on with shopping. On our way to checkout we stopped at the demo they have for the Blendtec. He hadn't started yet, but I told him I was interested in seeing how this thing worked. Ryan says to him, "yeah, and we've got your competition right here in our cart!" The guy laughed and talked to us a bit before starting the demo. He mentioned that some juicers will juice the fruits and veggies but then get rid of the left over. In most cases those left over parts are the most important parts, as they contain the fiber. Otherwise you'd just be drinking the sugar part in fruits. He mentioned that for Diabetics it's not good to just have the sugar part, but need the fiber most of all. Ding, ding, ding!! That was the magic phrase for me and Ryan, since I'm a diabetic.

He started his demo, people gathered around in awe of this magical blender - we were in awe as well. We sampled his tasty treats, soup, and watched as he ground up wheat. Amazing! I knew Ryan was hooked when he said, "do you want this instead of the juicer?" and "what color do you want?", since it comes in 3 different colors. "I'll take the black one", I said.

We went home and I made a green smoothie right away. I mean, we had just purchased a monster bag of Spinach...I needed to start using it.

That night I made taco soup in the blender...and it warmed it up as well. YUM! I'm a huge advocate for getting this blender. It's nice to make healthy things and not worry about MSG and all those added things. But to know that I'm putting in whole veggies and making a delicious meal.

I've had a lot of people ask me about my green smoothie recipe, and the Peanut Butter Smoothie (to die for) recipe. Here they are...


Here's a recipe I've been doing each morning for my juicing/smoothies...

Green juice/smoothie: (this can vary depending what fruit I have in the fridge)


12 oz. XANGO juice (I use that because I get it free, but you can use water)
1 whole Asian Pear
1 whole Nectarine (take out the seed)
1/2 banana
1/2 c. Frozen Blueberries
4 huge handfuls of raw Spinach
1/2 c. crushed ice
1 TBSP Flaxseed Oil *

This makes about 32 oz. of yummy goodness...and I drink it all!

*If you drink this everyday, watch out for the flaxseed oil. It will make you have the runs. Try adding it in every other day.


Peanut Butter Smoothie:
I don't usually measure things so this is a guesstimate. (I'm so like my Mother)

12 oz. Almond Milk
1/4-1/2 cup PB (I use the natural kind)
1 TBSP. Agave Nectar
1 TBSP. Flaxseed oil*
1/3-1/2 of a banana
1 tsp. Cocoa power (the kind you bake with)
1/2c. oats
1c. crushed ice

This should make at least enough for 4 people to enjoy. It's soooo good!!!!

*If you drink this everyday, watch out for the flaxseed oil. It will make you have the runs. Try adding it in every other day.

Enjoy! I'd love to hear if some of you made it and what you thought? :)

Happy drinking healthy!

Shan

5k

August 9th was my 34th birthday. Since I've been working on my health and becoming healthier I decided that for my birthday this year and every year to come I wanted to do something hard, something challenging. For my 34th b-day I decided that a 5k was a good start. We would do it a few days before my birthday, August 6th, in the evening.

I let all my family know about it and wanted as many of them as possible to join me, not just in the 5k but in the quest to becoming healthier. They agreed. I was happy!

The day before the 5k, I was reminded about a photo shoot I had previously scheduled. Oops! So, the 5k plans had to be moved. However life got busy and I didn't think about it much, until this past weekend. Sharon (my sis-in-law) sent me a text that said "we should do the 5k on labor day". Perfect!

So, we did it. But unfortunately not everyone could make it on short notice. So, It was just me and Sharon. Ryan and my nephew Aidan rode on their bikes together while we ran.

I gotta say, it was hard. I hadn't trained for this AT ALL! Mentally I was ready, but physically I wasn't.  But I did it. Sharon pushed me and told me to keep going when it got hard. She kept saying things like, "keep going all the way to the light and then we'll walk for a little bit". I'd then focus on that light and reaching that little goal, and reach other goals along the way. She was a great running partner.

We finished in 39 minutes. Not great for those other natural runners, or those who prepare more, but it was so much better then I have ever done. I did two 5k's at my work, two years in a row and both times I was around 50 minutes. So, although it averaged out to be 13 minute miles I was proud of myself.

I've known this for a few months now, but I realized it even more today... I CAN DO HARD THINGS. I really can! We all can if we put our heart and mind to it.

I found this quote on Pinterest that I really love..."if it is important to you, you will find a way. If not, you'll find an excuse." I have always found an excuse for things in my life, and I finally feel like that was the old me...but this is me now... I CAN DO HARD THINGS. I CAN DO CHALLENGING THINGS. And I do them because it's important to me, and I will find a way.

I'm excited for the many other 5k's to come, and someday and half marathon, and a Ragnar or two. The possibilities are endless.

Now, I just need some ibuprofen and a good ice bath. I hurt.

Happyness

I'm happy. I'm in a good place and I'm happy. I'm happy to not eat sugar, I'm happy to not drink soda, I'm happy to not eat the other evil "white" things. I'm happy.

Even if you eat some decadent sugary, floury thing in front of me...I'm still happy to not eat it. And THAT my friends makes me happy. :)

WOOHOO!

So, that 6 week trial is over. They pricked my finger, drew some blood, put it through a cool little machine and voila, out came my stats. And man, was I happy!!

Weight loss: 15 lbs.
Body Fat: Down 1% (It should have been more...but I didn't exercise all that much like I should have)
Triglycerides: Down quite a bit. Now in the normal range.
Good Cholesterol: Up by 6 points
Bad Cholesterol: Down by like 30 points, I'm now in the normal range
Blood Sugar: It read a little high today because I hadn't eaten, nor taken my meds...but it was still down by about 100 points.

Overall I'm quite pleased.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

I'm back!

Yeah, it's been a while since I've dedicated myself to healthy living, and posting on this blog. I always felt guilty that I put this blog out there and didn't always follow through with being healthy.

Now that I'm back...I'll be back for a long time. Unfortunately, due to the years of eating unhealthily and living a sedendtary life, I found out a few days ago that it is confirmed that I have Diabetes, type 2. Not cool!

The crazy thing is that I would have had no idea, if it wasn't for my awesome work. They were doing a study on a new weight loss product and I wanted to be a part of it. They pricked my finger and did a little blood work to test my levels before starting. Well, my blood sugar was WAY too high! I panicked, big time. I stopped drinking soda and eating sugar. I lost 8 lbs. in a week and a half. I made a doctors appointment, which I went to the other day. This is where he confirmed that my blood glucose levels were too high.

So, I'm back to eating healthy...like drastically healthy and exercising. I don't crave sugar or breads...I crave meat now, crazy. I love eating veggies, making sure I'm staying away from the 5 whites - white rice, white sugar, white flour, white potatoes, white pasta.

The doctor said that for the next 2-3 months I need to make these changes and then go back to see where my numbers are again, and if they're not better...Insulin shots everyday. I'm SO NOT going to go there. Changes are on the horizon my friends. And I couldn't be more willing.

My journey has really begun now.

I can do this!

Soda, pop, the fizzy stuff...

I love me some Diet Coke, but I've been off soda for almost 2 weeks now in the hopes of becoming healthier.

I've also been off sugar for the same amount of time.

I feel better, but man sometimes a soda can really quench my thirst. Lemon water has become my new best friend. I love it!

Speaking of Soda, and becoming healthier check out this chart below that shows how bad soda is for you! No wonder I'm not healthy!!...but I'm getting there. :)


Via: Term Life Insurance

realization...

..Days I've been drinking my green smoothie in the morning?  13. 

Awes!!!