So I have definitely made some changes for the better, but still have a lot of changes to make. I am still not quite eating exactly the way I should, but I have been better about eating actual meat. I still have animal products more than I want to, but small baby steps, so that I can ensure that this becomes a way of life vs just another short term diet. My goal is to give up dieting for good and to start eating healthy so that my weight and my health stay where they should be.
Yesterday, I bought "Breaking the Food Seduction" by Dr Neal Barnard. I have only read a couple of pages so I can't say how it is, but I am looking forward to reading more and figuring out how to break some of these bad habits/food addictions that I have. This is really going to be a huge change for me. I am really looking to change my way of thinking in general about a lot of things in life and the area of food, at least I hope, will make some positive changes in a lot of different areas in my life. My biggest goal is to stop eating meat and any animal product. I need to start increasing my intake of fruits and veggies, which I really enjoy when I actually eat them. I need to find good healthy options to deal with different cravings that I get, but I need to remember that once my body is back in health, I don't think that I'll continue to crave things like I do now. Hopefully when I crave things, it will be few and far between and I can allow myself to indulge on a small scale level. I also really need to give up the whole starchy carb thing, especially wheat, gluten, barley, malt, and yeast. These along with cow's dairy all came back as a high chance for allergies/intolerances and I know thta I don't deal well with dairy so I think it's time that I attempt to see how I feel when I don't eat these things.
I am hoping that getting better with my eating will help me to have more energy and concentration to work on other things in my life that I am interested in. I am also hoping that with better eating and adding in some exercise, my body will get back to a shape that I will be happy with and I will feel a little better about myself and have less doubts. Not that I was skinny and in shape before 3 kids, but having 3 kids, who at one point were all under 1, does not do nice things to your body.
So here's to taking control and getting my health back so that I can be happier in all areas of my life!
Amy
Friday, May 13, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Getting Back On Track
I'm finally getting back on track, albeit very, very slowly. There are some things that I have changed about my health/eating/creative life, which have gone back to my bad ways, but I am starting to get my focus back to where it needs to be and this time (even though I've said it before) I am taking things slow and really thinking about my decisions. I am really, really going to try not to beat myself up for not following through. I am going to really work at being positive about these changes that I want to make and I think just changing my attitude is going to be a huge help.
Along with changing my eating, there are a lot of other changes that I have been working on. Some have really worked out well, and some not so well. I was going to try to sew an hour a day this week, making clothes for the kids. That pretty much didn't happen. What I have done with regards to sewing for the kids is start working on their room darkening shades. I still have quite a bit to do for them, but at least I got started. Right now, as much as sewing clothes would be a benefit, I really need to focus on the shades. I could buy them, but where's the fun in that.
I have decided that I really love cooking, I just hate the cleaning up part. I think the cleaning up (not to mention the addiction I have to eating out and eating crap) is what makes me not want to cook. I am absolutely loving blogs. I think I have a slight addiction to reading blogs, I just don't have enough time to really read all the ones that I want to. I love that there are so many resources out there to help me find recipes that I really want to try. I love that, even though I love to buy cookbooks, I don't have to. I love that when I need to find a new and healthy recipe, I can just type in a search and I can find what I am looking for.
Along with reading cooking and craft blogs, I love finding natural health blogs. Aromatherapy and natural cleaning solutions are a couple of the areas that I have an interest in. I have to say though, my diet blogs are usually blogs that fall into the category of natural health because they are usually blogs that are vegetarian/vegan or deal with health and allergies, not just food blogs in general, or at least I look for healthy food options within my ideal diet on a lot of the blogs that I read (though I do admit to coveting a ton of non-healthy recipes that I don't make but would love to!).
Tonight I made broccoli rabe with white beans, carrots, and onions in a garlic walnut oil sauce and I ate it with brown rice. OMG, was it awesome. I love broccoli rabe anyway, but this was just a way to eat it with some protein and some other veggies and have it be just a little different. I used this recipe, http://hungrybruno.blogspot.com/2009/01/broccoli-rabe-with-beans.html, but I didn't add the bread crumbs or the parmesan cheese, which probably would have made it even better.
I am making a promise to myself now. I will not ever give up. the goals may change, but shouldn't they be fluid anyway?
Amy
Along with changing my eating, there are a lot of other changes that I have been working on. Some have really worked out well, and some not so well. I was going to try to sew an hour a day this week, making clothes for the kids. That pretty much didn't happen. What I have done with regards to sewing for the kids is start working on their room darkening shades. I still have quite a bit to do for them, but at least I got started. Right now, as much as sewing clothes would be a benefit, I really need to focus on the shades. I could buy them, but where's the fun in that.
I have decided that I really love cooking, I just hate the cleaning up part. I think the cleaning up (not to mention the addiction I have to eating out and eating crap) is what makes me not want to cook. I am absolutely loving blogs. I think I have a slight addiction to reading blogs, I just don't have enough time to really read all the ones that I want to. I love that there are so many resources out there to help me find recipes that I really want to try. I love that, even though I love to buy cookbooks, I don't have to. I love that when I need to find a new and healthy recipe, I can just type in a search and I can find what I am looking for.
Along with reading cooking and craft blogs, I love finding natural health blogs. Aromatherapy and natural cleaning solutions are a couple of the areas that I have an interest in. I have to say though, my diet blogs are usually blogs that fall into the category of natural health because they are usually blogs that are vegetarian/vegan or deal with health and allergies, not just food blogs in general, or at least I look for healthy food options within my ideal diet on a lot of the blogs that I read (though I do admit to coveting a ton of non-healthy recipes that I don't make but would love to!).
Tonight I made broccoli rabe with white beans, carrots, and onions in a garlic walnut oil sauce and I ate it with brown rice. OMG, was it awesome. I love broccoli rabe anyway, but this was just a way to eat it with some protein and some other veggies and have it be just a little different. I used this recipe, http://hungrybruno.blogspot.com/2009/01/broccoli-rabe-with-beans.html, but I didn't add the bread crumbs or the parmesan cheese, which probably would have made it even better.
I am making a promise to myself now. I will not ever give up. the goals may change, but shouldn't they be fluid anyway?
Amy
Monday, May 9, 2011
What Am I Doing and Where Am I Going?
As usual, I start out with the best of intentions and then I totally fade! I started out my day of a good note, but then I totally screwed it up. I have so much work to do to get to where I want to be. I had planned on making a great veggie dish tonight, but ran out of time. Here we are trying to eat more vegan, especially since my husband's doctor would prefer him to eat that way and that's how I want to eat, and I can't even get my act together to make meals. I have everything I need to make dinner tomorrow night and will most likely make it early in the day so that I can't use the excuse that I ran out of time. I am going to spend dome time and plan my meals for the week so that I again can't use the time excuse. I'm not exactly where my time goes, but I'm sure that I'm not being as productive as I can be.
I am not stepping foot in the cafeteria at work. First off, there is pretty much nothing I should be eating there. Secondly, I really shouldn't spend be spending money when I have plenty of food at home that I can be eating. Thirdly, I really want to be in control of my eating. Finally, I really want to learn how to cook and plan delicious tasting vegan meals.
When I go home tonight, I am going to eat my red lentils with rice. I am going to eat healthy snacks, like fruit and nut butters. I need to get back into my running, which I may try to do tonight, or I will do with the twins tomorrow morning. I really want to see how I do running without pushing a stroller, but I guess if I can run with a stroller, I can do even better without! I really will get this some day! I really will get healthy, eat healthy, and live healthy. I know what I want to do, I just have to step up and do it. I need to stop making excuses and start living my life the way I want and need to live it.
As for the creativity piece of life, I am starting to plan and cut out pattern pieces for kids clothes week challenge. I went to teh fabric store today and I have fabric and patterns to make. Now I just need to get cutting and sewing!
Thanks for listening to my therapy session. I feel like this way, there is nothing too sensitive that I am sharing, yet I am being accountable to anyone who reads this,
Amy
I am not stepping foot in the cafeteria at work. First off, there is pretty much nothing I should be eating there. Secondly, I really shouldn't spend be spending money when I have plenty of food at home that I can be eating. Thirdly, I really want to be in control of my eating. Finally, I really want to learn how to cook and plan delicious tasting vegan meals.
When I go home tonight, I am going to eat my red lentils with rice. I am going to eat healthy snacks, like fruit and nut butters. I need to get back into my running, which I may try to do tonight, or I will do with the twins tomorrow morning. I really want to see how I do running without pushing a stroller, but I guess if I can run with a stroller, I can do even better without! I really will get this some day! I really will get healthy, eat healthy, and live healthy. I know what I want to do, I just have to step up and do it. I need to stop making excuses and start living my life the way I want and need to live it.
As for the creativity piece of life, I am starting to plan and cut out pattern pieces for kids clothes week challenge. I went to teh fabric store today and I have fabric and patterns to make. Now I just need to get cutting and sewing!
Thanks for listening to my therapy session. I feel like this way, there is nothing too sensitive that I am sharing, yet I am being accountable to anyone who reads this,
Amy
Friday, April 29, 2011
Complete and Utter Failure!
Thankfully I don't have a ton of followers and not too many people read my blog. I have been a complete and utter failure with my eating. The only good thing I've done is try a couple of new recipes that were how I wanted to eat! Unfortunately, I ate horrible along with them so it basically negated any good that I did. What is it about being healthy that I can seem to follow through with? I have a feeling that this blog is going to be more of an online therapy session for me. It will be a place for me to talk about the issues that I have and hope that some how I can figure out what the hell is wrong with me and why I can't seem to be the healthy person that I want to be. I will keep trying to get to the point I want to be at. I am due to complete week2 day 3 of the C2 5K. I am hoping that after I put the kids in bed, I can head out and go by myself. I want to see if I do better without pushing the stroller with 2 kids.
On a more positive note, I finished my apron for the flirty apron swap I am in. I am always happy when I can make the tuck-ins. For me, I feel like I want to make them since we are creating an apron. I want to create the tuck-ins I send also. I need to mail it out tonight and then I get to wait for my package. I am truly loving sewing and I am pleased to say that even though it is a simple apron, I made it without a pattern and I actually love it and would have been happy to keep it for myself!
Onwards and upwards to becoming the healthy person I want to be!
Amy
On a more positive note, I finished my apron for the flirty apron swap I am in. I am always happy when I can make the tuck-ins. For me, I feel like I want to make them since we are creating an apron. I want to create the tuck-ins I send also. I need to mail it out tonight and then I get to wait for my package. I am truly loving sewing and I am pleased to say that even though it is a simple apron, I made it without a pattern and I actually love it and would have been happy to keep it for myself!
Onwards and upwards to becoming the healthy person I want to be!
Amy
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
On My Way
I am starting to think that even though it is going to be a huge undertaking and I will have many set back (trying to use words that make less of a negative impact) and also times that I do good, I am ready to make some major changes to my diet. I think it is time to start eliminating certain foods to see if they are things that I have a reaction to. I know that I can't tell if I have a reaction unless I actually eliminate them, but I am ready. My husband needs to follow a similar diet that I want to follow, only he doesn't need to be gluten/yeast free. We will be pretty much be a vegan family. He needs to cut out meat and I want to. I need to cut out dairy and so does he. The kids don't eat dairy.
For dinner tonight, I made this recipe: http://www.food.com/recipe/chickpea-quinoa-pilaf-vegan-295639 and substituted amaranth for the quinoa. It turned out pretty good. It will certainly be in my dinner rotation and fits the diet that I want to be eating. I really need to get my cookbooks/diet education books together so that I can prepare my meal plan based on the foods I should be eating. I love my iPad. I look up recipes, most often from blogs, and use the iPad as my own little cookbook. I love it, but I also still love having actual books, not just the internet. I may even start to put together binders so that I can keep hard copies of recipes from the internet, like the one above, so that if the recipe goes, I still have a copy.
Any vegan/gluten free/ yeast free websites, recipes, blogs are very much welcome. I have a few favorite blogs that I visit and try recipes from, but would love any and all suggestions! I will be certain to post what recipes I am trying and where they come from. I am loving trying out new healthy recipes, I just need to maintain my health and my resolve!
Amy
For dinner tonight, I made this recipe: http://www.food.com/recipe/chickpea-quinoa-pilaf-vegan-295639 and substituted amaranth for the quinoa. It turned out pretty good. It will certainly be in my dinner rotation and fits the diet that I want to be eating. I really need to get my cookbooks/diet education books together so that I can prepare my meal plan based on the foods I should be eating. I love my iPad. I look up recipes, most often from blogs, and use the iPad as my own little cookbook. I love it, but I also still love having actual books, not just the internet. I may even start to put together binders so that I can keep hard copies of recipes from the internet, like the one above, so that if the recipe goes, I still have a copy.
Any vegan/gluten free/ yeast free websites, recipes, blogs are very much welcome. I have a few favorite blogs that I visit and try recipes from, but would love any and all suggestions! I will be certain to post what recipes I am trying and where they come from. I am loving trying out new healthy recipes, I just need to maintain my health and my resolve!
Amy
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Inspiration
I have been reading a ton of food/health and craft blogs lately and I am so inspired! All I want to do know is sew and cook. Unfortunately I have many other priorities that take precedence over my desire to do this! Fortunately I have 3 beautiful children that need my time and attention, but I just wish that I had more time, or that they would be interested enough in sitting for a craft project so we could all do something creative. Hopefully when they get a little older they will sit longer. Fortunately, I have a house to clean and a job to go to that also take up my time. All of these things are things that everyone deals with when it comes to prioritizing their lives. The good thing is that I have a family to cook for so that helps with my desire to try out new recipes. Unfortunately my kids take after me and are picky eaters. I am hoping that behavior changes. As they get older, I will explain to them how much fun it can be to try new foods!
I love reading blogs. Any time I feel in a slump about being creative or being healthy, or being green, etc, all I need to do is read a blog and I get inspired all over again. I just need to make time to enjoy the things I love all while taking care of myself and my family, ie: getting enough sleep! I have written about my goals for removing tv from my life, or at least incorporating the things I need/want to do into watching tv. I have been doing better with this, but as always it is a work in progress. I think I need to start putting pictures on this blog. I tend to put pictures on my family blog, but nothing really here. I plan to put pictures of the things I create, the food I cook, and the gardens that I have.
For now, I am off to figure out how to sew some more tonight!
Amy
I love reading blogs. Any time I feel in a slump about being creative or being healthy, or being green, etc, all I need to do is read a blog and I get inspired all over again. I just need to make time to enjoy the things I love all while taking care of myself and my family, ie: getting enough sleep! I have written about my goals for removing tv from my life, or at least incorporating the things I need/want to do into watching tv. I have been doing better with this, but as always it is a work in progress. I think I need to start putting pictures on this blog. I tend to put pictures on my family blog, but nothing really here. I plan to put pictures of the things I create, the food I cook, and the gardens that I have.
For now, I am off to figure out how to sew some more tonight!
Amy
Monday, April 25, 2011
Earth Day: A Little Late
Friday was Earth Day and I have been thinking about what to write for today's post. I guess, at this point, I should take an inventory of how I am actually living my life. What am I actually doing to be more green and more earth friendly? I know I like to say that I am living a green life, but am I really? Am I just thinking that I am doing enough and I am actually following my beliefs? Am I really following through, or do I just say that I am living green and natural? As always, I am sure that there is more I can do, but am I really doing enough? I am sure that there is more we all can do, but is what I am doing really enough to coincide with my beliefs.
1) Cloth diapering- I haven't actually done the research myself, but I have read enough of the research that others have done to know that cloth diapering actually makes a difference. I have been cloth diapering since my oldest was about 18 months and my twins were 7 months. They are now almost 38 months and 27 months. I have definitely used disposables in that time period and sometimes I find that I am using them more than I would like, but over all, my kids are cloth diapered every day! The only regret I have is not doing it sooner.
2) Food- I would love to say that my food choices are great, but they are not. I have gotten away from eating beans and have started eating more meat. I'm not really liking my diet and I am trying to get back on track. More beans, less meat and processed grains for me (which means that's how my family will eat!).
3) Exercise- I have started the C2 5K program and was doing really well. I was getting outside with the kids and then crappy weather hit and fevers for 2 of the 3 kids. I was really enjoying getting out and exercising instead of joining a gym. I am hoping to get back on track tomorrow and start back up where I left off!
4) Making things- I am doing ok at making things from scratch. Be it food or clothing or anything, I am trying not to buy it already made! I made the kids Easter outfits and really enjoyed doing it. I wish I just had more time! My next goal is to start going to thrift stores and buying things cheap and stop always using brand new using things.
5) Using More Natural Items- I have been doing alright with using natural cleansers for the house and for health and beauty products. I want to do more. One of my next goals is to make soap. Then I'll actually know what is in it.
Amy
1) Cloth diapering- I haven't actually done the research myself, but I have read enough of the research that others have done to know that cloth diapering actually makes a difference. I have been cloth diapering since my oldest was about 18 months and my twins were 7 months. They are now almost 38 months and 27 months. I have definitely used disposables in that time period and sometimes I find that I am using them more than I would like, but over all, my kids are cloth diapered every day! The only regret I have is not doing it sooner.
2) Food- I would love to say that my food choices are great, but they are not. I have gotten away from eating beans and have started eating more meat. I'm not really liking my diet and I am trying to get back on track. More beans, less meat and processed grains for me (which means that's how my family will eat!).
3) Exercise- I have started the C2 5K program and was doing really well. I was getting outside with the kids and then crappy weather hit and fevers for 2 of the 3 kids. I was really enjoying getting out and exercising instead of joining a gym. I am hoping to get back on track tomorrow and start back up where I left off!
4) Making things- I am doing ok at making things from scratch. Be it food or clothing or anything, I am trying not to buy it already made! I made the kids Easter outfits and really enjoyed doing it. I wish I just had more time! My next goal is to start going to thrift stores and buying things cheap and stop always using brand new using things.
5) Using More Natural Items- I have been doing alright with using natural cleansers for the house and for health and beauty products. I want to do more. One of my next goals is to make soap. Then I'll actually know what is in it.
Amy
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