My 2014 Weight loss Challenge Week 11 My FC

Last week I shared with you my first 3 days on Trim Healthy Mama's Fuel Cycle, Deep S days. Today I share how I did on Fuel Pull Days and Energizing Days.

Monday was my first FP day and it was hard! I thought I knew how to do a FP day but I quickly realized that I didn't! Basically FP days are very low in fat with only 3 oz of protein and no more than 6-10 gm of carbs per meal. I've done FP snacks but not meals and I had a hard time. 

After my first FP day I was down: 0.2 lbs. 

I realized that weight loss would slow down and it was probably going to happen because I was going from very high fat to very low.

Tuesday was the same but I felt more comfortable with how to prepare my FP meals but I couldn't wait for the day to be over!

After my second FP day I was down another 0.4 lbs.

I've read from other THM's that when you are doing a Fuel Cycle some people gain weight or not loose at all. I lost 1/2 lb in these two days...I call it a success!

Wednesday couldn't come soon enough! I was really looking forward for some more food and I enjoyed my carbs so much! Over the weekend I thought I loved Low Carb eating but now I know my favorites are the Energizing meals. Love the extra food and the right combination of carbs.

After my first E day I was down: 0.6 lbs

Thursday was another great day and I was trying to decide on doing a second week or not. 

After my second E day I didn't loose anything more. The reason...I started my menstrual cycle!

Total loss for my 1st Fuel Cycle is : 4 lbs! and a total of 6.2 lbs since I started Trim Healthy Mama in January. 

I know some may be thinking that it is a very low number but for me I know this is normal, I'm a THM Turtle...remember?

My goal for this first FC was to break that 5 lb on and off cycle I had and I did it!!!!

On my last day of this FC on Thursday I took what is known as a "selfie" to see if I could see any changes since I started THM. Let me remind you of what I looked like when I started in January

This is me after being on THM for almost 3 months and on last day of my first Fuel Cycle:

I know it's not the best quality of a photo but I wanted to share with you to show you that I am loosing inches. This is a perfect example of a TURTLE like me that sometimes gets discouraged and needs just a little reminder. 

At the end of my first week I learned that yes I loose faster with S meals but E meals are just as good and rewarding on weight loss. I also learned how important FP days are and I should include at least 1 full day every week along with some snacks.

If you are wondering if I am going to do a second week of FC? The answer is...a big FAT YES!!!

It's truly a life style change and a mind change!

This week my blog is partying here!

My 2014 Weight Loss Challenge Week 10- My FC

I just ended my 10th. Week on my Weight Loss Challenge for 2014. I have learned that I am a Turtle when it comes to weight loss because of so many years of not taking good care of this body God gave me. I am learning that weight loss is not as important as helping my body heal itself and that yes I still want to loose weight but I want to be healthy even more!
This week was a tough one because we went to Disneyland for two days. I put in many hours of walking exercise in and even though I brought healthy snacks and did not touch one single sugary item (I didn't even lick one!) I ate off plan for a couple of meals. The result was that I didn't loose weight but gained! It's like "Really? after all my hard work to keep those 5 lbs. lost I now am gaining them back?" I decided by Wednesday that I was going to do what is called...a FUEL CYCLE

If you are familiar with Trim Healthy Mama you know that it is recommended you don't do this cycle until you have been on plan for at least 2 months...that's ME!
It is basically a way to kick butt those stubborn pounds that just don't want to leave your body! I found a very helpful blog that I think you all will love as well, it is Little Natural Cottage. It is full of information on the Fuel Cycle and has many helpful print outs!

Here is a diary of my first 3 days on Fuel Cycle.
I decided Friday would be a good day to start my first Deep S meals. For me, it is easier to eat Satisfying meals on the weekends because my husband loves going out to eat on these days.
My morning started with 3 over easy eggs and two small slices of T-Bone Steak (left overs from the night before from Norm's Restaurant) and some Carnitas (deep fried pork).  I also had black coffee because even though we are allowed a swirl of Heavy Cream on our first 3 days of the FC I really wanted to try and not have it at all. I figured with such a large breakfast it would keep me full for the 3 hrs. we need to wait in between. My aunt came to visit and I didn't eat my next meal until 4 1/2 hrs! This was not good because we are not suppose to go more than 4 hrs. in between meals when we are doing the FC. After, I had my Lunch that consisted of a Salmon patty and steamed broccoli with butter I got hungry within 2hrs. I ate a Turkey patty and I made the Lemon Mouse. It was good just not my favorite, but I was glad I had something to keep me full longer. Well within an hour of eating this my husband got home and wanted to go out to eat. By this time it was already 7:30 pm and by the time we ate it was almost 8:30 pm. All I could have at the Salvadorean restaurant my husband chose was Carnitas again with a cabbage lemon salad. I was only able to eat two small pieces because I was still full from the Turkey patty. Again it was only 2 hrs. in between meals and I didn't like it, but it was, what it was.
I got home and wanted something sweet and I made the Skinny Chocolate. Wow! I loved it! I only ate a little small chunk and was satisfied. My goal for the next 3 days is to add Coconut oil to as many food items I consume as I can. Here is a Link from Dr. Oz regarding Coconut oil. I'm sure you can find more info. this is just a small description.

Here they are! I put them in a Ziploc bag and placed in the freezer.  This is how I ended my first night on FC

Saturday: I decided to weigh in every day this week to find out what type of meal makes me loose more weight. Today is the first day I weigh in and I lost 1.6 lbs.
Day 2 on FC S day:
Today was basically the same as yesterday with very high fat foods, but I made sure I ate every 3 hrs. I did have a double double from In n Out without their dressing but it did have the cheese. Cheese is off plan but I didn't think it would affect me. I tried a new protein shake made with almond milk and I added one of the skinny chocolates...it was amazing! It reminded me of Chocolate chip cookie ice cream! I made it with my Magic Bullet and I tell ya, it's the best kitchen tool I have! It's a must have!

Sunday: I am down another 0.8 this makes me 2.4 lbs lighter in two days!
Third Day was the same with high fat meals. Tomorrow I will find out how much I lost in these three Deep S days of my First Fuel Cycle. 
Down: 0.4 today!

Note: I had a horrible migraine Saturday night and Sunday night. Hoping it goes away with the added fruits and grains this coming week.

I lost 2.8 lbs over the weekend :) 

Now to my 2 Fuel Pull days and 2 E meal days...I'll tell you about them when I am done with my first week of Fuel Cycle!

A Trim Healthy Mama -Jam Recipe

I love it when I am able to make something I love in a very simple way. I love making jam but the truth is that it is time consuming and my family ends up not using the jams I make. Not because it comes out bad or they are not good jams, but because I am the only one that loves to eat it!

If you are following my Weight Loss Challenge for 2014 you know that I am following the Trim Healthy Mama way of eating and I can't say it enough...it has changed the way I eat and how I see food! I love to eat but for me food has become fuel. Fuel to make sure I don't go on empty and have a hypoglecia seizure.

I love pancakes and having these with jam, well it is glorious for me!

This is my less than 10 minutes recipe of Tripple Berry Healthy Mama Jam!

Yes, it took me less than 10 minutes to make this jam!!!
Here are the ingredients:

*1 Cup of Berry Medley- I used them as they were frozen 
*1 Tablespoon of water
*1 Tablespoon of Chia Seeds- Chia seeds have so many healthy benefits you really should research it and add it to your diet. I use it on a daily basis and love it!
*Stevia powder to taste

Directions:
In a pot add your Berries and the 1 tablespoon of water. When the berries start to thaw mash them to the consistency you would like for your jam. When the berries start to bubble turn OFF heat and add your Stevia to taste (be very careful with stevia, a little goes a long way!) and the 1 Tablespoon of Chia seeds. Stir until you see your jam starting to get jelly because of the Chia seeds. Turn the flame on again to a low simmer. Stir for about 2 minutes and your are DONE! I think it took me about 8 min. from start to finish to make this yummy jam!
I used it on my Trim Healthy Mama Pancakes made with Oat flour and I added 1 teaspoon of organic peanut butter to the top of my pancakes. I wish I had a photo of my pancakes with this deliciousness on top of them but they were so good I gobble them up!

When my jam was done I just poured into this small mason jar with a lid and done! It will be good for about 1 week in the refrigerator. Perfect just for me!

Enjoy!

My 2014 Weight Loss Challenge Week 9 with Trim Healthy Mama

Hello my fellow readers! I sure hope you've had a wonderful blessed week. For me it has been a week of challenges and discoveries.
This week I joined the Trim Healthy Mama Turtle groups. This is their description of the group and a link for you to find on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/407690945990018/

We are a group of women following the Trim Healthy Mama principles in order to gain health and lose some, or a lot of weight. What makes us Turtles is not so much how much we have to lose, but the difficulty we have in losing. An average healthy weight loss rate is typically an average of 1 to 2 pounds a week. Here in the Turtles we lose much less than that. Most of us here lose half a pound or less a week. Some only lose a half a pound a month.

Many of the women here are Turtles because of a vast variety of health issues. We have a lot of healing to do before our systems can even really begin to lose the weight. For us the “Healthy” in the title is our main goal while the “Trim” is a wonderful by product we plan to eventually see from our gained health. We really believe that slow and steady will help us win the race in terms of both health and weight.

You can imagine how excited I was to find this group. It has been frustrating yet enlighting to realize I am not like so many of the Trim Healthy Mama ladies. I don't loose 5 or 8 lbs in a month unless it is my first month trying a diet and than slowly that weight starts to come back. It's like my fat is so comfortable being attached to me that when I throw it out it screams, "No, don't do this to me! I'm so comfortable here in your thighs!" 
I know that it helps to know I'm not alone. Other Mamas are following plan to the T and still not loosing as fast as we would like but we still see the benefits in the long haul of this new way of eating.

My Week:
It started last Friday by taking my children up the San Bernardino mountains for a Jr. High retreat where they were serving as leaders. My son had never driven on his own there and we thought it would be a great way to give him tips and safety precautions and make it a date for my husband and I. 
Well, I don't know what was wrong with me but as soon as we started to go up the mountain I started to get a headache that very soon turned in to a migraine! I had not had a migraine in months why now? I've been up that mountain dozens of times and never had I had this issue! We spent a few hours just driving around and by the time we came down to the city with my husband this migraine was in full swing! It continued on Saturday and we had a party to go to. At the party I did not eat on plan and oh did I pay for it! Sunday my migraine continued and now my hormones started to do their nasty thang! I was in a horrible mood, nauseated, emotional and not to mention the body aches that started on Monday! I had not had a Fibromyalgia episode in months and now I was in total bed rest with not an ounce of energy and severe pain all over my body. Thursday I started to feel better and I was inspite of my bed rest eating clean and for that I was very thankful because I know that eating clean is what helped me heal faster than other times.
I didn't loose weight...again, but I am full of energy and I know I am doing right by my body and eventually will start to let go of this stubborn fat!

I made a yummy Low Carb (S) Cheesecake and it was super delicious! I found the recipe for the cheesecake on this blog:
http://www.piarecipes.com/2013/04/new-york-cheesecake.html

Remember that small victories are still victories. We may want the results of our efforts to show faster but God has perfect timing in all He does. We just have to continue to do our part and He takes care of the rest.

My 2014 Weight Loss Challenge Weeks 4-8

It has been over a month since I have given you any updates on my Weight Loss challenge for 2014.
Last time I updated you I was working on my kitchen and oh I'm so glad to say all I have left to do is paint the door! Yes, I am that kind of person that can't say I'm done till that last detail is completed. Here is just a little bit of what I've been doing the last two months. Still waiting to put up the wall decorations till I know for sure what I really want on them.

 We had to place a custom made order for this blinds but we are so glad we did! I still have to hang my curtains but I love it!

 This is a small built in shelf that I didn't know what to do with it. I bought some items at the vintage thrift store and I think it came out pretty nice.

This is my Pinterest inspired Coffee Station. So far it has become our favorite and most used spot in our kitchen.

Now to my Weight Loss Challenge update:
I have been doing pretty good sticking to my diet but I must say, weekends are always the hardest and I find myself having to do S meals (Trim Healthy Mama) to fix what my last meal ruined. I have to say that after all these years of trying diet after diet, this is the first time I feel I have adopted a new way of eating. This is HUGE people! If you are like me this is what we always dream of finding but we are so addicted to DIETS that we never find that perfect one that will help us get there. 
The turning point for me was my health. I have been dealing with real health issues for the past 4 yrs. and managing my insulin levels is a must and no longer a choice. I'm not diabetic but I do have an overload of insulin in my body (insulin resistance) and this keeps me from loosing weight. Because of this health issue I have only lost 5 lbs in the last 2 months of following THM but I have noticed that my clothes fit so much better and I no longer have issues with my insulin dropping unless I go off plan. I have so much energy and LOVE the recipes I have tried!
For those of you that don't know what Trim Healthy Mama is here is a link to a wonderful blog that I use frequently:
Gwens Nest

Recipe:
Here is a recipe I have been having at least 3x a week for the past month and it's oh so good! This recipe belongs to Trim Healthy Mama-Chocolate Muffin in a Mug and I found it on this blog:
Colourful Palate

I place a big spoonful of Fat Free Greek Yogurt on my plate and than I eat it like this!

This is oh soooo good! You must try it!