When I was a little girl, my mom called me her "fruit and vegetable girl". She had this silly song she would sing to me while she fed me her home made food. From an early age, my parents made sure they introduced me to every food possible. They didn't want me to turn out to be a picky eater. I think they did a pretty good job with that! Both of my parents always cooked and taught me how to cook at an early age and for that I'm very thankful.
Some where along the sea of fast food restaurants, I lost my inner "fruit and vegetable girl". I stopped eating my fresh fruits and vegetables and I stopped cooking, for the most part. Cooking, for me, used to be really fun. I made an activity out of it! I would put on some music and just go to town cooking and then when I was done, my husband and I would sit at the table, eat and enjoy each other's company. That was then... This is NOW: We grab something on the go and sit in front of the TV and stuff our mouths, while we barely talk to each other about each other's day or anything else, besides the TV. It's pretty sad, if you think about it...
When I was younger my enjoyment was helping my parents cook and then all of us sitting down at the table to enjoy what we had prepared together and discussing our day. It was kind of like the highlight of my day. We NEVER sat in front of the TV and ate...we always wanted to sit at the table.
Researchers say that sitting in front of the TV while you eat is actually less healthy for you. Mainly because you are so engrossed with what is on TV, that you keep stuffing your face with food and you don't even notice how much you are taking in. I TOTALLY believe that!
Researchers also say that families who sit at a table every night for dinner and converse with each other, have healthier relationships and the children actually do better in school. Who would have thought!
In my journey, I would like to bring that back... I am going to take a personal pledge to bring back the table!
So, here's the deal...along with that pledge, I've also decided that I'm going to start making dinner and eating fresh. Today, my husband and I are going to fight the Saturday rush and go grocery shopping. Before, when we shopped, we would just walk up and down every aisle and mindlessly pull things from the shelves in hopes we would use it one day...you know what that got us? A MORE EXPENSIVE GROCERY BILL!
Today, we need to watch our money! We have another mouth to feed now...my brother, who is temporarily (not sure how temporarily) living with us... This means, on about the same budget for food, we need to make healthy meals that stretch. This is why I've decided to make a grocery list and actually stick to it, clip coupons for the first time in my life, make a weekly meal plan and stick to a budget. All these things are going to be a challenge for me. But, I found some resources that might help me. I would like to share them and hopefully they will help you too!!
My first resource: Coupon Bug.
It's a website I saw an ad for while watching TV... You can print coupons for items in your area, for FREE!! It's a pretty cool concept...especially since I don't get the paper.
What you do: Sign up for free, install their coupon print agent, which helps print the bar codes, pick the coupons you want and wha-la! You've got coupons for ABSOLUTELY free!! Pretty sweet deal, huh? Here's the website....
http://www.couponbug.com/
My second resource: Recipes, recipes, recipes!!
SO, I used to REALLY love searching for new recipes, collecting recipes and trying them out. I am slowly starting to get back into that...and lucky for me, I just happen to have a friend who ABSOLUTELY LOVES cooking...Liza! I am picking her brain with all the food knowledge she has stored up there! I'm SO, SO glad she LOVES talking food...or else, I'd be in trouble! haha!! I have also asked my friend, Catherine, about food and what certain ones do and don't do and yada, yada...it's all REALLY interesting stuff! And through her, I found out that since I suffer from hypoglycemia and hypothyroidism, there are certain foods I should stay away from or eat in smaller portions. Like, starches, mainly...you know, your breads, grains, potatoes, corn. And the smaller portion foods, carrots and bananas...just to name a couple really important ones. She also told me to stay away from rice....BUT, I told her...."I'm sorry, Catherine! I love my rice WAY too much!" She told me, "that's okay...just don't eat it as often and portion it. You have to live a little! You still have to love what you eat too!" SO true, Catherine...SO true, indeed!
So, along with exchanging recipes and food knowledge with my friends, I figured I should also put all those recipe books back into good use! So, here are some of the books I am getting started with:
Low-Cholesterol Cookbook for Dummies. By: Molly Siple, MS, RD (I don't know what all those letters mean after her name...but in case you were wondering like me, she is a Dietitian. You are welcome!)
And, even though these have a lot of pasta recipes, there are still some good ones you can still cook or sub the pasta for something else, if you are like me and trying to cut back on the starches:
Rachel Ray 30-Minute Meals
Rachel Ray 365: No Repeats
I am also referring to my Mother-in-law's family cook book she sent me last Christmas. I am making sure they are healthy alternatives. I want to make sure my husband is still happy with what he is eating, while still eating healthy.
If you don't like books, here are some websites you can check out:
http://www.foodfit.com/
http://www.cookinglight.com/
http://www.foodnetwork.com/healthy-eating/index.html
http://allrecipes.com/Recipes/Healthy-Cooking/Main.aspx
http://www.eatingwell.com/
If you follow me, I would LOVE to see your favorite recipes or favorite recipe website or cookbook....if it has to do with food...I want to hear about it!!
SO...as I bring this blog to a close....one more quick thing: wish me luck on my grocery shopping! Today I am trying to achieve buying fresh for a 5 day meal plan, with a budget of $100. This might be COMPLETELY impossible...but I'm going to try it out for myself and see what comes of it!
THANKS FOR READING....and HAPPY SHOPPING/COOKING!!!
Showing posts with label hypoglycemia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hypoglycemia. Show all posts
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
This is just the beginning....
SO, here's the deal... I started this blog to keep a promise to myself. (My promise is stated in my previous blog).
I didn't realize when I wrote my promise on my Facebook account, that I would have gotten such amazing feedback! I even inspired a few people...which blew me away! I am REALLY happy that I can be that inspiration. But it doesn't stop here! I want to keep going! This is something BIG! I can feel it!
It wouldn't be right to start this blog without stating what inspired ME to do this. So, here it goes...
For the past few years....about 9 years, to be exact...I have been struggling with my weight. I feel like the moment I turned 18, I ballooned up and I didn't know why at the time. Back then, I just blamed it as "happy weight". I was in a great relationship with a wonderful man, Bryan; the love of my life. (In case you were wondering...yes, I am still with this wonderful man and we are married. I am SO lucky and blessed to have him by my side!)
It was in 2004 that I found out from my doctor that I had hypothyroidism. I was SO depressed about it! Mainly, because I knew this would change my life and I thought it would change my life in a bad way. You never want to be known as the girl who is "chunky" because she "suffers from a thyroid problem". I have heard too many thyroid jokes to make me feel more than self conscious. The doctor put me on medication for my thyroid and for the first year, while my body got used to the medication, I ballooned up even more! Because of this, my self consciousness and depression, worsened.
After everything was said and done, I had gained about 20 extra pounds. From the start, before my medication, I was 150 lbs. After my medication, 170 lbs.
All I could think after this was, "if this is what the medication is going to do to my body and if I have to live my life like this, forget it! I won't take my medication!" I talked to my mother, who is a nurse and who has hypothyroidism as well. She talked me through it and told me to stick to the medication. She said for some people it takes longer for the meds to go into affect. She was right, after about a year, the extra 20 pounds I had gained, came off naturally. However, I still had one problem: I was still 150 lbs. The extra weight HAD to come off!
So, here we are today...flash forward to 2010: My weight still continues to fluctuate. I have NEVER been able to lose weight successfully and keep it off. This is why I am doing this. I NEED to do this...for myself and for my health. While I am not in any great health risk at the moment, I don't want it to get to that point...so, I am starting now!
Along with hypothyroidism, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease runs in my family. I have PLENTY of reason to get healthy!
I should also mention that I suffer from hypoglycemia, this has been a constant struggle in my life, as well.
So far, in 2009 and 2010, I have had a lot of people put in my path to help me realize that it's time to get off my butt and do something!
First, my AMAZING prior manager and friend, Catherine. When I first met her, I could NOT believe she was in her 30's! She looked younger than me and I'm 27! I thought she was 24! She looked SO amazing and SO healthy! It wasn't until later that I found out her story: She used to be over weight like me, but she got her butt into gear, joined a fitness group (Crossfit) and started eating right. Now, she is this empowered, strong, wonderful, genuine woman. I strive to be like her. She is my classic inspiration. She turned me onto eating right and thinking about my health. She even set me up with a food plan from Crossfit on how to portion my food, eat healthy and what foods I should stay away from. She's also helped me balance my hypoglycemia with the food chart. I feel SO much better because of it! I could not thank her enough!
Catherine, you are the one who put the bug in my ear and you stir the change in my life and I am SO, SO blessed that I have met you! I love you SO much for that and for the person that you are!
Second person: Liza. Liza is a wonderful person I met here in Austin, when I first moved here in September 2009. I would like to say that she is my first official friend here in Austin. When we first met, she talked about the gym all the time and how she loves food and she loves working out. She was the second person to get me thinking about working out and eating right. Even though we live kind of far from each other, we still try to inspire each other and keep each other going via text, messenger and occasional hang out sessions. I love how she has become my partner in crime. She has taught me to not take life TOO seriously. Something I do quite often. Thank you Liza for being the awesome person that you are! I love you too!!
Third person: My mother-in-law, Jill. The last time I saw her, she looked different. I asked her why and she told me that she had lost 10 pounds on Weight Watchers. She looked REALLY happy and I realized in that moment, that I want that. She is happy because she is becoming healthier and she is finally doing what she loves in her life. She owns her own business and has written books. I am SO proud of her and SO happy for her! I want what she has in her life...happiness and health. I love you, Mom!!
Fouth person: My best friend, Ghadi. She has inspired me in ways I don't even think she can imagine! Not just inspiring me in becoming healthier, but in becoming my own individual and to always strive for what I want and never stop until I achieve it. One year on Thanksgiving, Ghadi ran her first 5K race. She told me that she has never felt prouder of herself. I am SO proud of her too! This year, in November, there is going to be a women's race in Scottsdale, AZ. She invited me to do it with her. I am still thinking on it and if I am going to do this or not...I will keep you posted!
I've noticed that my role models have been all women so far and all people I personally know. But they are all strong women. They know what they want and they go after it and I admire that SO much. What I admire the most though, is that they have all found balance in their life. They have been able to achieve health and happiness and keep it that way. They are all successful in my eyes.
Last, but not least...my fifth person: Jillian Michaels. Yup! That's right! I started watching her on The Biggest Loser and now I watch her on Losing It With Jillian. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE HER!! She is in people's faces and she gives them NO excuse to quit, back down or make excuses. Some people might think her approach is a bit harsh, but I admire her for what she does. She gives people that push they need. I love her training style! She inspires me to become healthier and to become a stronger individual. She made me realize that I need to hold myself accountable and that I DO deserve great things....thus the reason for this blog!
Please take a look at the links below. Some will help you understand certain medical conditions I have mentioned in my blog and some will give you a chance to look at some of the fitness programs available to you. All things I have mentioned in my blog above.
Hypothyroidism:
http://www.medicinenet.com/hypothyroidism/article.htm
Hypoglycemia:
http://www.medicinenet.com/hypoglycemia/article.htm
Crossfit:
http://www.crossfit.com/
Weight Watchers:
http://www.weightwatchers.com/Index.aspx
Jillian Michaels:
http://www.jillianmichaels.com/
THANK YOU FOR READING!!
I didn't realize when I wrote my promise on my Facebook account, that I would have gotten such amazing feedback! I even inspired a few people...which blew me away! I am REALLY happy that I can be that inspiration. But it doesn't stop here! I want to keep going! This is something BIG! I can feel it!
It wouldn't be right to start this blog without stating what inspired ME to do this. So, here it goes...
For the past few years....about 9 years, to be exact...I have been struggling with my weight. I feel like the moment I turned 18, I ballooned up and I didn't know why at the time. Back then, I just blamed it as "happy weight". I was in a great relationship with a wonderful man, Bryan; the love of my life. (In case you were wondering...yes, I am still with this wonderful man and we are married. I am SO lucky and blessed to have him by my side!)
It was in 2004 that I found out from my doctor that I had hypothyroidism. I was SO depressed about it! Mainly, because I knew this would change my life and I thought it would change my life in a bad way. You never want to be known as the girl who is "chunky" because she "suffers from a thyroid problem". I have heard too many thyroid jokes to make me feel more than self conscious. The doctor put me on medication for my thyroid and for the first year, while my body got used to the medication, I ballooned up even more! Because of this, my self consciousness and depression, worsened.
After everything was said and done, I had gained about 20 extra pounds. From the start, before my medication, I was 150 lbs. After my medication, 170 lbs.
All I could think after this was, "if this is what the medication is going to do to my body and if I have to live my life like this, forget it! I won't take my medication!" I talked to my mother, who is a nurse and who has hypothyroidism as well. She talked me through it and told me to stick to the medication. She said for some people it takes longer for the meds to go into affect. She was right, after about a year, the extra 20 pounds I had gained, came off naturally. However, I still had one problem: I was still 150 lbs. The extra weight HAD to come off!
So, here we are today...flash forward to 2010: My weight still continues to fluctuate. I have NEVER been able to lose weight successfully and keep it off. This is why I am doing this. I NEED to do this...for myself and for my health. While I am not in any great health risk at the moment, I don't want it to get to that point...so, I am starting now!
Along with hypothyroidism, diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease runs in my family. I have PLENTY of reason to get healthy!
I should also mention that I suffer from hypoglycemia, this has been a constant struggle in my life, as well.
So far, in 2009 and 2010, I have had a lot of people put in my path to help me realize that it's time to get off my butt and do something!
First, my AMAZING prior manager and friend, Catherine. When I first met her, I could NOT believe she was in her 30's! She looked younger than me and I'm 27! I thought she was 24! She looked SO amazing and SO healthy! It wasn't until later that I found out her story: She used to be over weight like me, but she got her butt into gear, joined a fitness group (Crossfit) and started eating right. Now, she is this empowered, strong, wonderful, genuine woman. I strive to be like her. She is my classic inspiration. She turned me onto eating right and thinking about my health. She even set me up with a food plan from Crossfit on how to portion my food, eat healthy and what foods I should stay away from. She's also helped me balance my hypoglycemia with the food chart. I feel SO much better because of it! I could not thank her enough!
Catherine, you are the one who put the bug in my ear and you stir the change in my life and I am SO, SO blessed that I have met you! I love you SO much for that and for the person that you are!
Second person: Liza. Liza is a wonderful person I met here in Austin, when I first moved here in September 2009. I would like to say that she is my first official friend here in Austin. When we first met, she talked about the gym all the time and how she loves food and she loves working out. She was the second person to get me thinking about working out and eating right. Even though we live kind of far from each other, we still try to inspire each other and keep each other going via text, messenger and occasional hang out sessions. I love how she has become my partner in crime. She has taught me to not take life TOO seriously. Something I do quite often. Thank you Liza for being the awesome person that you are! I love you too!!
Third person: My mother-in-law, Jill. The last time I saw her, she looked different. I asked her why and she told me that she had lost 10 pounds on Weight Watchers. She looked REALLY happy and I realized in that moment, that I want that. She is happy because she is becoming healthier and she is finally doing what she loves in her life. She owns her own business and has written books. I am SO proud of her and SO happy for her! I want what she has in her life...happiness and health. I love you, Mom!!
Fouth person: My best friend, Ghadi. She has inspired me in ways I don't even think she can imagine! Not just inspiring me in becoming healthier, but in becoming my own individual and to always strive for what I want and never stop until I achieve it. One year on Thanksgiving, Ghadi ran her first 5K race. She told me that she has never felt prouder of herself. I am SO proud of her too! This year, in November, there is going to be a women's race in Scottsdale, AZ. She invited me to do it with her. I am still thinking on it and if I am going to do this or not...I will keep you posted!
I've noticed that my role models have been all women so far and all people I personally know. But they are all strong women. They know what they want and they go after it and I admire that SO much. What I admire the most though, is that they have all found balance in their life. They have been able to achieve health and happiness and keep it that way. They are all successful in my eyes.
Last, but not least...my fifth person: Jillian Michaels. Yup! That's right! I started watching her on The Biggest Loser and now I watch her on Losing It With Jillian. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE HER!! She is in people's faces and she gives them NO excuse to quit, back down or make excuses. Some people might think her approach is a bit harsh, but I admire her for what she does. She gives people that push they need. I love her training style! She inspires me to become healthier and to become a stronger individual. She made me realize that I need to hold myself accountable and that I DO deserve great things....thus the reason for this blog!
Please take a look at the links below. Some will help you understand certain medical conditions I have mentioned in my blog and some will give you a chance to look at some of the fitness programs available to you. All things I have mentioned in my blog above.
Hypothyroidism:
http://www.medicinenet.com/hypothyroidism/article.htm
Hypoglycemia:
http://www.medicinenet.com/hypoglycemia/article.htm
Crossfit:
http://www.crossfit.com/
Weight Watchers:
http://www.weightwatchers.com/Index.aspx
Jillian Michaels:
http://www.jillianmichaels.com/
THANK YOU FOR READING!!
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