Exciting News!

I have a confession - it's been over a week since I last Blogged! LOL. But I come bearing 2 exciting newses! (Yes, you grammar freaks out there, I'm aware that's not a real word, I made it up, it is the plural of news, I have allot of made up words, they're Tinaisms)

News #1 - I'm down a total of 15 lbs. Not that I'm putting much emphasis on the scale, I weigh in once a week just to keep track. my clothes are fitting looser, I should be able to go down a size soon.

News #2 - I finally added the fitness component! So I've started with two things. First some history; 2 years ago, when I lived in St. John's, I had a personal trainer that came to my house to do my workouts, He did kick boxing with me, and I loved it! Since moving to Alberta, I try to get motivated to go to the gym, but I'm not very successful. He also did yoga with me, which I also loved. So 2 nights ago I was perusing facebook and I came across an add. It was for something called "30 minute hit" just for women, so I looked into it and it's a kick boxing circuit. You could sign up for a free trial, so I did! Tonight I went for the first time, it was one heck of a workout, I was exhausted by the end but it was so fun. Check it out here. So I liked it so much I signed up for a membership, and it's right on my way home from work and only takes 30 minutes to do the circuit, 2 minute stations with 15 second break in between.

The second thing I added was yoga, 30 minutes a day, I found a free online program to use. So yoga will be daily and 30 minute hit will be every second day for now until my fitness level improves, then I will do it daily.

When I got home from my workout tonight, I made a protein shake, my trainer from 2 years ago taught me to always have a protein shake after an intense workout to feed your muscles because they get tied and strained during a workout. As you know I make smoothies every morning, but I use a cup of fruit in them. Because it's evening, I didn't want to add the fruit, because of the natural sugar content. So I decided to try a new concoction and it turned out Amazing!! I wasn't sure what on earth it would taste like, but it turned out surprisingly well.

Kale
Cucumber
Plant based protein powder
5-6 Raw Almonds
1 TBSP coconut cream (less than I usually use because I try to intake most of my healthy fats early in the day, not at night because less time to bun them off)
and fill with coconut water.

It was amazing!

I'm starting to really get the hang of this Whole Food thing and I wish I had done it a long time ago!

I'll try to blog again sooner than a week!

Ciao for now!

I'm still at it

I haven't had time to blog, but I'm still on track. I'm pleased to report I'm down 6 lbs after the first week! *pause to allow for applause*. My colleague and good friend keeps referring to what I'm doing as a diet. By refusing to eat certain foods he says, well you can't stick to your diet 24/7 you'll end up going on a binge. And of course my 6 lb weight loss is attributed to me must have cut back on calories or fat. No.... You don't understand, I'm not on a "diet", and I haven't cut back, I eat way more now than I was and I eat way more fat than I ever did. Way more! You see by eating foods that the body was designed to eat, I'm giving the my body what it needs for fuel and to increase my metabolism. I'm eating the minerals and fats, and vitamins that my body needs and knows what to do with. I still don't think he gets it.

So I won't list out my entire meals and menus I will highlight a few of my favorite meals I've had over the last few days.

Chicken Tacos
marinate raw chicken pieces in fresh lime juice and sea salt
2 tbsp of coconut oil in a wok type frying pan
add to frying pan
2 cloves chopped garlic
chopped cilantro
add chicken breast pieces
add more fresh lime juice
simmer till chicken is cooked
lay down 2 or 3 pieces of green leaf lettuce on a plate
sprinkle on some grated raw organic cheese
add slices of fresh avocado
wrap up in lettuce and enjoy!

"Spaghetti"
1 spaghetti squash, halved and seeds removed
add to a frying pan
2 tbsp olive oil
half onion diced
3 cloves of garlic (I love garlic) chopped
red pepper diced
fresh oregano
let simmer till veggies are clear
add 1 can organic, no additives, crushed tomatoes
add any other spies you want, I only used the oregano and sea salt
let simmer for a while, not to long as you don't want all your "sauce" to evaporate
scoop out cooked squash on to a plate, top with sauce, grate some raw organic parmesan on top
Enjoy!
This was mega delicious!

that's all for now, I'm off to work!

I feel strange...

I feel strange today and my behaviour is odd. So I googled my symptoms and it turns out I may have this ailment called.... Energy? Which causes being productive before noon (my strange behaviour). I have pep in my step! That's an encouragement. So remember I said I was trying to perfect my smoothie recipe? I did it! Today's smoothie I've named "Mango Coconut Delight"
3 Tbsp coconut based icecream
1 cup mango chunks
2 Tbsp ground flax seed
1 Tbsp coconut oil
1 Tbsp plant based protein powder
100% pure coconut water to top it up.

It was amazing!! Very delightful hense the name.

For supper at work I brought sautéed in 2Tbsp coconut oil, kale, fresh chopped garlic, zucchini and chicken! Can't wait to eat it!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia

You have the jingle in your head now don't you? Yup, those adorable lush fast growing little chia pets, the animal shaped plant things. That is what I'm sitting here drinking it water with fresh lemon juice as I type. I'd say it's delicious but I'd be lying. Well the lemon and water part is good, I love lemon in my water, but these seeds that expand to ten times there size and develop a gelatinous coating when soaked in water are gross. To say it's vile is an understatement. I want to vomit with each sip. So why am I drinking it you ask? I asked the same question. I'm told it's super good for me  Okay, but how good for me can it be to warrant the almost puking? So I took to google and found this article, "Chia sees benefits: 10 reasons to add chia seeds to you diet" Okay, so I guess 11 grams of dietary fibre and Omega 3 and and minerals and protein and the fact that it fills you and curbs your appetite are very good reasons to add it to my diet, but can't I just sprinkle it on my salad or something? Why am I drinking it in water? oh right, the hydration part... these little seeds hold 9 to 10 times their weight in water. So it super hydrates you as well. Okay fine. I will suppress my gag reflex and drink on. I'm sure I'll get used to it right?

End of day 2 - This is hard

I think I'm going through sugar withdraw, headache, sluggish, the feeling of "I would kill someone for a piece of candy or milk chocolate right now". That's normal right? Finding time to do all the food prep is challenging right now. I did cook some quinoa this morning and made a big bowl of quinoa salad. That's my go to lunch as it's quick and easy. To make it I used:

2 cups cooked Quinoa
1 can chick peas
1 English cucumber, quartered and chopped
2 tomatoes chopped
3 kale leaves, stem removed and chopped
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
sea salt

It makes a huge bowl and keeps in the fridge for several days.



My biggest struggles so far after 2 whole days:

Beverages: water, or lemon or lime water, just ain't cutting it. It's fine for during the day at work as it's all I drank anyways, but I find it very challenging in the evening, I need a good iced tea recipe or sparkling beverage of some kind.

Time: Food prep is time consuming, need  more quick grab on the go ideas.

Coffee: I can't drink it black, I need an alternative! Suggestions welcomed

F-word:  Fitness, still  trying to find time and energy.

Sleep Time :)

Had to have Coffee

I had to do it, I came home from work yesterday, got home at 5:30, sat down on couch to chill for a half hour with plans to then make supper and go for a bike ride.... I woke up at 9:30, went to bed and slept straight through till 7:00 this morning when alarm went off. I'm still tired. So yes I had to have coffee and yes with cream and sugar. I did use organic coconut sugar which is made from syrup of the coconut tree but it's still sugar and should be used in very small quantities. I may need 2 cups this morning though.

So yesterday I did pretty good. Drank my chia fresca first thing, then my smoothie. for my smoothie yesterday I had:

~2 Tablespoons plant based protein powder (plant based is better but from my learnings I guess it still contains stuff I don't need and is processed so once this container is gone I will be replacing with pure hemp seed) read more here: Why you REALLY shouldn't use Protein powder.
~ 1 Tbsp of coconut oil
~ 2 Tbsp organic ground flax seed
~ 2 Tbsp Coconut Icecream (not coconut flavoured ice cream, coconut milk based icecream, I used "So Good" (I need to increase this as it wasn't creamy enough)
~ 1/2 cup 100% pure natural apple juice
~ 1/2 banana
~1 cup blueberries

It was good but not quite creamy and frothy enough so I will adjust a few things when making it this morning.

I will try to post more later as I do have more to talk about but I have to get to work now!

What? Eat high fat foods? Have you lost your noodle?

As a chronic dieter and trying almost every program out there, this goes against everything I thought I knew about losing weight. I've heard this before and Cindy reaffirmed it. Now of course I'm talking about natural fats which you find in nuts, seeds, oils, avocado, meat etc. I always thought these were bad. I was told stay away from nuts, they are too high in fat, use oil very sparingly etc. The truth is these fats are good for you and your body needs them, and want to hear a real gem? They boost your metabolism!! I'm not even kidding you! 

 The natural fats are medium-chain fatty acids which the body can digest quickly and turn into energy. Poly polyunsaturates or long-chain fatty acids are hard for the body to digest and end up being stored as fat. Who knew?

One of the best things you can add to your diet apparently is Coconut oil, Organic coconut oil that hasn't had sex yet is best. I'll be adding a tablespoon of it in my morning smoothie, it is a really good metabolism booster apparently. I'll let you know how it goes.

So I should be avoiding mechanically and or chemically engineered low fat foods, the fat is replaced with something, usually starches or some form of sugar which you don't need me to tell you is bad. The body turns unhealthy starches and sugar into fat, which is bad and explains why I'm fat and 80 lbs over weight despite choosing low fat varieties of everything and why my metabolism sucks. 

So all natural food for me going forward. I will be posting what I eat and how I feel and how much weight I'm losing and everything I learn on this journey.

Tomorrow is day one

Morning drink: Chia Fresca

What the heck is that u ask? (it's ok, I did too)

Cindy says: It's water with the juice of a lemon or lime and 3 tbs of chia seeds- super good for you- hydrates and gives omega 3 and protein and fiber!! I drink one every morning!! Very good for you!!

Then for breakfast, a smoothie. I'll post my recipe tomorrow. I'm still trying to perfect it.

I'll Journal my food and pantry staples tomorrow. I'm tired. Good night.