What do I crave every now and then? Well, if you've read my "Where's the Willpower" post, I wrote that I have craved an Angry Whopper, chocolate, and all other kinds of foods. Last night, I was being whiny to my husband just because I could LOL.
I listed all the foods I was thinking about when I whined....
Ice Cream (green tea, cookies n cream and kona coffee flavors)
Honolulu Burger Company's burgers and sweet potato fries
Jack In the Box curly fries
Subway sandwiches
Pasta, pasta, pasta!
Filet Mignon
Pizza
Wine...Riesling, Carbernet Sauvignion, Rose...even the cheap stuff!
The list can go on and on! Not to mention the socialization that happens while eating these tasty foods. This subject came up when I was talking with my cousins during our annual Christmas shindig.
But I really have to remind myself what will happen if I eat these foods. I will have diarrhea, headaches, cramps, painful bloating, flushed feeling, and be on a sugar high for days! I am human, and I do make mistakes. And even with all the reminding, we still give in to old behaviors. But oh man, once you've eaten clean for a while and then have these delicious foods, your system rejects it big time! I know this for sure because this past Monday, I ate a typical American holiday meal: stuffing with raisins and sausage, turkey, mashed potatoes with the gravy and green bean casserole. It tasted great! It was kind of a no choice situation. I was at a friend's party and that's all the food they had...oh, and then dinner rolls! I steered clear from the rolls, but I had everything else. I didn't want to be rude and not eat their food...plus I was hungry! I didn't eat a lot, but it was just enough for me to be in pain and discomfort for days....and still to this day!
The temptations are out there and will continue to haunt me. I am so glad I do not have Celiac Disease. I would be so miserable, but then again disciplined because people with that disease have way more health concerns than I do, and they steer clear of those foods. Period.
I need to be more disciplined than how I am now so I don't get sick.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Change is good
In my last post, I had lots of changes. I changed what I ate and I lost fat (not weight, but fat). Now on to more changes.
I attempted to do an all vegetarian lifestyle...this lasted about 2 days LMAO. It was really hard because my husband eats meat, and with the holidays here, I'm around family and friends more, who also eat meat, and lots of it! I can honestly say that I do not care for pork, poultry or any red meat. But I cannot give up fish and squid. If I wasn't allergic, I would also still want shellfish! I live in Hawaii, and that stuff is just everywhere. Its in almost all the foods at family gatherings! Plus I am scared to become anemic again. But, if you do want to become a vegetarian, it is still possible to do so without being protein or iron deficient. There are lots of foods out there that can provide those nutrients.
But it wasn't all just a waist. I am now able to cut back my protein from fish to just one serving a day, so I am mostly vegetarian :) And there's so many benefits from not eating all those other meats...lessen the risk of cancer and illness due to bacteria in the food, and I have greatly reduced the risk of getting GMOs/hormones in my food. As long as I buy local fish and fish caught in the wild, I am free of that risk! And on top of all of that, I help reduce global warming, reduce my waste, and save on my grocery bill! Once my husband gets rid of those other meats from his diet, we'll be able to save even more!
The other change was my food intake. I know I have been preaching about the Diet Solution Program for months. It is a great program and it taught me so much, especially about myself. But for some reason, the weight stayed on me. It was not until I started P90x that the weight started coming off again. My coach told me that I should be cutting way more calories and stay away from oils/fats, contradicting the DSP teachings.
I have two conflicting view points, both with great advice on how to eat. So what did I do?
I took both concepts, one in each hand, and I fused them together! (This is for all you visual people). I cut my calories to 1400kcals, count my calories, weight my food, eat organic, have protein and carbohydrates in each meal, eat 6 times a day every 2.5 hours, and cut out the oils/fats. I may not have the right portions according to the DSP, but I have the best of both worlds.
There are some studies out there that suggest your metabolism will adjust to your diet accordingly, and you will have a harder time losing weight. So this calorie reduction will only last a couple of months, or until I start seeing a slow down in my progress. Once that happens, I will add more servings to my meals of protein to throw it off for one month, and then go back down to 1400kcals.
To tell you the truth, with me eating small meals throughout the day, I do not think I am dieting at all. Plus I found lots of foods that are great tasting, filling and not "bad" for you at all!
I still have to make organic, vegetarian filipino dishes and share them here.
.....
Day 60 fast approaches...I believe only 5 more days until I weigh and measure myself. I also ordered a few vegetarian cook books and lifestyle books on Amazon.com, which should be coming in the mail shortly. I can't wait!!!!!!!
Friday, December 16, 2011
Update on progress
So, I am at the end of Week 6 of doing P90x. A lot has changed since my last post.
~ I bought a digital scale to bring with me when I go to food bars such as at Whole Foods and Down To Earth...saves me so much money!
~As of 12/11/11, my eating habits have been free from pork, red meat and poultry. My protein from animals have been only fish and eggs. At first, I was having withdrawls from the steak, especially since I cook it for my husband...even caught myself licking my fingers because I got some of the juice on them LOL And even more so, I wanted chocolate really bad! Luckily, I have raw cacao powder, organic almond milk and stevia to make chocolate milk (quick tip: use a hand held blender to mix the ingredients and avoid a lumpy beverage). But now, I'm getting better at not wanting those meats and I've never felt better!
I still stay away from lactose and gluten, but have included back in my eating brown rice and potatoes (I tried to get rid of them, but I don't think they hinder me from losing weight).
~Starting tomorrow, 12/17/11 I will change my P90x routine to the Classic. I need to build more muscle so I can burn more fat.
~I reduced my portions to equal to 1600kcals/day. I don't count calories, however. All I did was recalculate my needs, and reduced all my food portions to this calorie amount.
Breakfast: 3 protein, 1 carb
Snack: 2 protein, 1 carb
Lunch: 4 protein, 1 carb, 2 fat (limited)
Snack: 2 protein, 1 carb
Recovery Drink post workout
Dinner: 5 protein, 1 carb, 2 fat (limited)
**Eat every three hours....at this rate, I have 6 meals a day.
Lately, I haven't been as hungry as before. I try not to skip a meal, even if I only eat a little bit of it. I really feel that its because I drink lots of water throughout the day and because I exercise 6 days a week (sometimes 7 days).
Quick Tip: Drink water throughout the day that is half your weight in ounces. So if you weigh 100lbs, you need at least 50 oz. of water daily. On top of that, drink 8oz of water before meals, during and post workouts. Also, drink water equal to the amount of caffeine you drink (so if you have a 16oz coffee, include 16oz more water in your day).
~I still supplement with an organic prenatal multivitamin, but now I also make my own Recovery Drink, which consists of fruit juice and protein (organic fruit juice, of course and only post workout, and currently L-Glutamine until I can find a complete protein powder that I can digest).
~I cut out most of the fat out of my diet. Don't get me wrong, it is important to still have good fats in your diet, but I just cut down the servings. I really, really need to invest in an atomizer so I can spritz on my coconut and olive oils when I cook instead of drizzling it on. I also need to buy more almond butter or PB2, as it contains less fat than other nut butters.
~I have a Beach Body Coach, Coach Jessie to help me with my journey. She is the one who help me make most of these changes that I list here. She even told me what to and not to eat to help with my women problems :) (more on this in another blog)
If you are interested in learning more about P90x, Beach Body, or my Coach Jessie (she's my coach because her story inspired me and tells me that nothing is impossible), visit the following websites:
Team Beach Body
Team Never Say Can't
Coach Jessie's Transformation
My coach Jessie will inspire you to get off your butt and work hard to achieve optimal health. You wouldn't even believe that she has hypothyroidism and an injured knee, yet able to look like how she does!
My husband's coach is also my coach's coach, Coach Wayne at http://teamripped.com/. Check out his awesome transformation at http://teamripped.com/my-story. He's even featured in the new P90x2, which me and my husband will get by next year after we've managed to do the original P90x a few times.
Also, if you live in Hawaii and want to see your trainer in person, see Yuko Koga! She is a Beach Body Coach and teaches lots of exercise classes including Turbo Kick Boxing (TKB) and Boot Camp! She teaches at various 24 Hour Fitness locations around O'ahu. She also has classes outside of 24 Hour Fitness. I have gone to one of her TKB classes. I love her to death, but man she is a beast! She's so much fun! So kind and whole-hearted, yet she will kick your butt in class! Unfortunately, I stopped my membership recently to save money and because I workout at home now. (Miss you, Yuko!) Here's her Team Beach Body link if you want her to be your coach: http://www.teambeachbody.com/member/sn/yuksmochi
Both Coaches have a list of what foods they eat and what exercises they do in order to stay fit. They both have YouTube videos on health and nutrition, workouts, etc. And both of them recently started eating a vegan diet, and still stay pretty ripped! I might head that road one day, but I need to do one thing at a time.
By Day 30 of P90x, I lost 2 inches on all of my measurements! And to date, a lot of my clothes don't fit well anymore (mind you, I can still wear them, but a lot of them are falling off unless I make adjustments LOL). Sometimes I crave the bad stuff, but I feel its mind over matter. I have days (like yesterday) when I really need it. But I try my best to find alternatives. I even get noticed (not that it matters) and complimented on my weight loss and skin complexion (one of my co-workers asked if I changed my makeup...I told her no...she said I look like I'm glowing...and no, I'm not pregnant LOL).
BTW, signing up with Team Beach Body is free, and they have lots of coaches to help you with your journey. I do not receive any profit from advertising/promoting them...I just believe in their programs. If you want help with dieting, Team Beach Body has that too for a small monthly fee. I have the Diet Solution Program (DSP) and my coach's advice, so I'm pretty much good to go. Don't follow my diet, because everyone is different. So far, this is what works for me.
More blogging to come this weekend!
~ I bought a digital scale to bring with me when I go to food bars such as at Whole Foods and Down To Earth...saves me so much money!
~As of 12/11/11, my eating habits have been free from pork, red meat and poultry. My protein from animals have been only fish and eggs. At first, I was having withdrawls from the steak, especially since I cook it for my husband...even caught myself licking my fingers because I got some of the juice on them LOL And even more so, I wanted chocolate really bad! Luckily, I have raw cacao powder, organic almond milk and stevia to make chocolate milk (quick tip: use a hand held blender to mix the ingredients and avoid a lumpy beverage). But now, I'm getting better at not wanting those meats and I've never felt better!
I still stay away from lactose and gluten, but have included back in my eating brown rice and potatoes (I tried to get rid of them, but I don't think they hinder me from losing weight).
~Starting tomorrow, 12/17/11 I will change my P90x routine to the Classic. I need to build more muscle so I can burn more fat.
~I reduced my portions to equal to 1600kcals/day. I don't count calories, however. All I did was recalculate my needs, and reduced all my food portions to this calorie amount.
Breakfast: 3 protein, 1 carb
Snack: 2 protein, 1 carb
Lunch: 4 protein, 1 carb, 2 fat (limited)
Snack: 2 protein, 1 carb
Recovery Drink post workout
Dinner: 5 protein, 1 carb, 2 fat (limited)
**Eat every three hours....at this rate, I have 6 meals a day.
Lately, I haven't been as hungry as before. I try not to skip a meal, even if I only eat a little bit of it. I really feel that its because I drink lots of water throughout the day and because I exercise 6 days a week (sometimes 7 days).
Quick Tip: Drink water throughout the day that is half your weight in ounces. So if you weigh 100lbs, you need at least 50 oz. of water daily. On top of that, drink 8oz of water before meals, during and post workouts. Also, drink water equal to the amount of caffeine you drink (so if you have a 16oz coffee, include 16oz more water in your day).
~I still supplement with an organic prenatal multivitamin, but now I also make my own Recovery Drink, which consists of fruit juice and protein (organic fruit juice, of course and only post workout, and currently L-Glutamine until I can find a complete protein powder that I can digest).
~I cut out most of the fat out of my diet. Don't get me wrong, it is important to still have good fats in your diet, but I just cut down the servings. I really, really need to invest in an atomizer so I can spritz on my coconut and olive oils when I cook instead of drizzling it on. I also need to buy more almond butter or PB2, as it contains less fat than other nut butters.
~I have a Beach Body Coach, Coach Jessie to help me with my journey. She is the one who help me make most of these changes that I list here. She even told me what to and not to eat to help with my women problems :) (more on this in another blog)
If you are interested in learning more about P90x, Beach Body, or my Coach Jessie (she's my coach because her story inspired me and tells me that nothing is impossible), visit the following websites:
Team Beach Body
Team Never Say Can't
Coach Jessie's Transformation
My coach Jessie will inspire you to get off your butt and work hard to achieve optimal health. You wouldn't even believe that she has hypothyroidism and an injured knee, yet able to look like how she does!
My husband's coach is also my coach's coach, Coach Wayne at http://teamripped.com/. Check out his awesome transformation at http://teamripped.com/my-story. He's even featured in the new P90x2, which me and my husband will get by next year after we've managed to do the original P90x a few times.
Also, if you live in Hawaii and want to see your trainer in person, see Yuko Koga! She is a Beach Body Coach and teaches lots of exercise classes including Turbo Kick Boxing (TKB) and Boot Camp! She teaches at various 24 Hour Fitness locations around O'ahu. She also has classes outside of 24 Hour Fitness. I have gone to one of her TKB classes. I love her to death, but man she is a beast! She's so much fun! So kind and whole-hearted, yet she will kick your butt in class! Unfortunately, I stopped my membership recently to save money and because I workout at home now. (Miss you, Yuko!) Here's her Team Beach Body link if you want her to be your coach: http://www.teambeachbody.com/member/sn/yuksmochi
Both Coaches have a list of what foods they eat and what exercises they do in order to stay fit. They both have YouTube videos on health and nutrition, workouts, etc. And both of them recently started eating a vegan diet, and still stay pretty ripped! I might head that road one day, but I need to do one thing at a time.
By Day 30 of P90x, I lost 2 inches on all of my measurements! And to date, a lot of my clothes don't fit well anymore (mind you, I can still wear them, but a lot of them are falling off unless I make adjustments LOL). Sometimes I crave the bad stuff, but I feel its mind over matter. I have days (like yesterday) when I really need it. But I try my best to find alternatives. I even get noticed (not that it matters) and complimented on my weight loss and skin complexion (one of my co-workers asked if I changed my makeup...I told her no...she said I look like I'm glowing...and no, I'm not pregnant LOL).
BTW, signing up with Team Beach Body is free, and they have lots of coaches to help you with your journey. I do not receive any profit from advertising/promoting them...I just believe in their programs. If you want help with dieting, Team Beach Body has that too for a small monthly fee. I have the Diet Solution Program (DSP) and my coach's advice, so I'm pretty much good to go. Don't follow my diet, because everyone is different. So far, this is what works for me.
More blogging to come this weekend!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
P90X Day 30...Bring It!!!
Today is Day 30 of our P90x journey.
Its funny because I didn't lose weight in pounds. If the scale is correct, I gained weight (not fair, since I didn't use the same scale from before...we will have to see at work on Monday)!
But!!!!! I lost 1" on my chest, .5" on my lower abs, 1.5" in my waist, 1" on my hips, 1.5" om my thighs and 1" on my arms. And ...my before/after shots are great! Not as round in the middle LOL!
I AM SEEING RESULTS!
Switching my diet to a Protein Type for the next 30 days. BRING IT!
But!!!!! I lost 1" on my chest, .5" on my lower abs, 1.5" in my waist, 1" on my hips, 1.5" om my thighs and 1" on my arms. And ...my before/after shots are great! Not as round in the middle LOL!
I AM SEEING RESULTS!
Switching my diet to a Protein Type for the next 30 days. BRING IT!
Later today, I will post before and after pictures :)
Friday, December 2, 2011
What Do I Eat?
I bought and started The Diet Solution Program on September 2011. It's a great way to learn how to eat better for your body, by the way. I've learned so much about my body through this program! I found out that I was really really lactose intolerant, and really really gluten intolerant. Since getting rid of all those ingredients from my diet, I no longer feel bloated, gassy, have headaches, etc. I don't want to get in to too much detail of my reactions to gluten and lactose, but let's just say I'm not a happy camper.
So what do I eat? When you sign up with The Diet Solution Program, it comes with a Metabolic Type Testing Worksheet (either in the book, .pdf file or online; Metabolic Type Testing usually costs close to $300!) They say I am a Protein Type, but to be on the safe side, I went with the Mixed Type (I tried going with the Protein Type, and I became weak and could not shake my headache).
After you find out your Metabolic Type, they tell you what to eat based on 1) how many calories you need to maintain your weight and 2) how many calories you need in order to gradually lose weight without regaining. The most important part of it is the protein-carbohydrate-fat combination you need to maintain a proper blood sugar level without making you feel hungry at all!
I was really skeptical after going through all these tests. I could not believe that in order for me to lose weight, I would need 2000kcals/day, versus the 1400kcal diet I was recently on! But it is true that if you starve your body of the calories it needs to sustain itself, it will hold on to every piece of energy it can!
The plus!!!! I never have to think about calorie counting again! All I need to do is count my servings :)
Here's my typical meals for the day:
Breakfast: scrambled eggs (3) with 1 cup of vegetables and either a piece of fruit or another serving of gluten-free starch; OR 2 eggs over hard, 1 bacon and 1 cup of vegetables and either a piece of fruit or another serving of gluten-free starch (I either use the fat from the bacon to cook my eggs, or I use extra virgin, unrefined, cold-pressed organic coconut oil)
Snack: 2T nut butter and banana
Lunch: 4oz chicken thighs, salad with olive oil
Snack 2: 2T nut butter and a piece of fruit
Dinner: 5oz steak, salad and roasted potatoes
**I eat every 3-4 hours too :)
Sounds pretty high-calorie, fattening, etc, right? Sounds even bad for you because of all the eggs, right? Well, I eat like this everyday and my labs have been the best in history! My doctor was so happy to call me about my labs last month because they were very impressive!!! Eggs are only bad for you if you buy conventional eggs instead of organic. And the other foods are only bad for you if you eat more than you should! I can't change your "conventional" way of thinking, but I can inform you. If you want to learn more, visit The Diet Solution Program. Other reliable sites will swear to you that eating whole, organic and natural foods are best for you and your family!
Also, I have a new place to eat...Maui Mike's in Wahiawa, O'ahu, Hawaii! Their roasted chicken is finger-licking good, and their chicken is 100% all-natural (no preservatives, antibiotics, hormones, etc). In fact, I have leftovers from yesterday waiting for me for my Snack #1!
Enjoy wholesome living!
So what do I eat? When you sign up with The Diet Solution Program, it comes with a Metabolic Type Testing Worksheet (either in the book, .pdf file or online; Metabolic Type Testing usually costs close to $300!) They say I am a Protein Type, but to be on the safe side, I went with the Mixed Type (I tried going with the Protein Type, and I became weak and could not shake my headache).
After you find out your Metabolic Type, they tell you what to eat based on 1) how many calories you need to maintain your weight and 2) how many calories you need in order to gradually lose weight without regaining. The most important part of it is the protein-carbohydrate-fat combination you need to maintain a proper blood sugar level without making you feel hungry at all!
I was really skeptical after going through all these tests. I could not believe that in order for me to lose weight, I would need 2000kcals/day, versus the 1400kcal diet I was recently on! But it is true that if you starve your body of the calories it needs to sustain itself, it will hold on to every piece of energy it can!
The plus!!!! I never have to think about calorie counting again! All I need to do is count my servings :)
Here's my typical meals for the day:
Breakfast: scrambled eggs (3) with 1 cup of vegetables and either a piece of fruit or another serving of gluten-free starch; OR 2 eggs over hard, 1 bacon and 1 cup of vegetables and either a piece of fruit or another serving of gluten-free starch (I either use the fat from the bacon to cook my eggs, or I use extra virgin, unrefined, cold-pressed organic coconut oil)
Snack: 2T nut butter and banana
Lunch: 4oz chicken thighs, salad with olive oil
Snack 2: 2T nut butter and a piece of fruit
Dinner: 5oz steak, salad and roasted potatoes
**I eat every 3-4 hours too :)
Sounds pretty high-calorie, fattening, etc, right? Sounds even bad for you because of all the eggs, right? Well, I eat like this everyday and my labs have been the best in history! My doctor was so happy to call me about my labs last month because they were very impressive!!! Eggs are only bad for you if you buy conventional eggs instead of organic. And the other foods are only bad for you if you eat more than you should! I can't change your "conventional" way of thinking, but I can inform you. If you want to learn more, visit The Diet Solution Program. Other reliable sites will swear to you that eating whole, organic and natural foods are best for you and your family!
Also, I have a new place to eat...Maui Mike's in Wahiawa, O'ahu, Hawaii! Their roasted chicken is finger-licking good, and their chicken is 100% all-natural (no preservatives, antibiotics, hormones, etc). In fact, I have leftovers from yesterday waiting for me for my Snack #1!
Enjoy wholesome living!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
My Grocery List
The art of buying organic is somewhat tricky, especially here in Hawaii. Even harder for those who live in the neighbor islands. I'm still trying to find more ways to save on our grocery bill such as buying according to sales, cutting coupons, etc. But then life happens and you can't always be so money savvy.
So, this is my approach to buying organic.About once a week, I go to the grocery store and buy fresh produce, fish and meats. But at least every two weeks, I do a mass grocery shopping. I write down all the items I need to get for our house, and then categorize them according to where it sells the cheapest, and where I can find them in the store so that I don't run all over the place. Here's an example:
Down To Earth (all organic/natural):
My favorite one is the one every Saturday morning at Kapiolani Community College right next to Diamond Head. Lots of fresh produce and food vendors! It gets packed, so go early and park outside the campus.
This is no joke. This is my usual grocery list! I don't go to Whole Foods as often as I should for our meats, but will soon. I am really happy that Foodland has a lot of organic foods now, especially local organic foods for a decent price, and its conveniently located just down the road from my house in Ewa Beach :) (not all Foodlands carry as much organic food such as Foodland Dillingham LOL). Down to Earth always has the food we need, except for the meats of course. And Costco always saves us money on the higher priced foods we eat.
Another tip for buying organic is that you don't have to go completely organic when shopping on a budget. You really must buy your eggs organic because they are filled with Omega-3 fatty acids which are good for you, versus conventionally-raised eggs, which are filled with Omega-6 fatty acids that can elevate your cholesterol. Read this article from Prevention Magazine: Organic Versus Conventional Eggs.
You should also read The "Dirty Dozen" article which gives you a list of which type of produce has the highest pesticide residue, and which do not. Talk about bargain shopping! :)
Hope you enjoyed this post! I gotta go shopping again this weekend LOL.
So, this is my approach to buying organic.About once a week, I go to the grocery store and buy fresh produce, fish and meats. But at least every two weeks, I do a mass grocery shopping. I write down all the items I need to get for our house, and then categorize them according to where it sells the cheapest, and where I can find them in the store so that I don't run all over the place. Here's an example:
Down To Earth (all organic/natural):
- Apples
- Potatoes (baking/russet/yukon gold/red, whichever is on sale)
- Papaya
- Bananas
- Cherry/Grape Tomatoes
- Nuts, nut butter
- Rice Breads (if they are on sale)
- Canned Goods (on sale)
- Rice Pasta, Quinoa and other packaged gluten-free grains on sale
- Mushrooms
- Organic Spinach
- Bacon (yeah, can't afford the nitrate/nitrite-free/organic bacon just yet)
- Chicken Thighs (non-organic...dark meat is cheaper than white meat)
- Beef Chuck Steak (non-organic)
- Organic Eggs ($5 per 18pk)
- Organic Milk (before we took out dairy from our diet...$10 per 3 half gallons)
- Organic Chicken Sausage
- Organic Ground Beef Patties (only found in Costco Waipio...haven't found this elsewhere)
- Wild Fish (organic)
- Free range/grass-fed/non-GMO/antibiotic-free Big Island Ground Beef
- Other organic foods
My favorite one is the one every Saturday morning at Kapiolani Community College right next to Diamond Head. Lots of fresh produce and food vendors! It gets packed, so go early and park outside the campus.
This is no joke. This is my usual grocery list! I don't go to Whole Foods as often as I should for our meats, but will soon. I am really happy that Foodland has a lot of organic foods now, especially local organic foods for a decent price, and its conveniently located just down the road from my house in Ewa Beach :) (not all Foodlands carry as much organic food such as Foodland Dillingham LOL). Down to Earth always has the food we need, except for the meats of course. And Costco always saves us money on the higher priced foods we eat.
Another tip for buying organic is that you don't have to go completely organic when shopping on a budget. You really must buy your eggs organic because they are filled with Omega-3 fatty acids which are good for you, versus conventionally-raised eggs, which are filled with Omega-6 fatty acids that can elevate your cholesterol. Read this article from Prevention Magazine: Organic Versus Conventional Eggs.
You should also read The "Dirty Dozen" article which gives you a list of which type of produce has the highest pesticide residue, and which do not. Talk about bargain shopping! :)
Hope you enjoyed this post! I gotta go shopping again this weekend LOL.
(Not-So) Mini Blog: Whole Foods Kahala
Whole Foods - Kahala Mall. Oh how I love thee. Let me count the ways (LOL just wanted to start off this blog with something corny).
1) Large Supply and Variety:
They have the largest supply of organic, natural, grass-fed, non-GMO, etc. foods on O'ahu, Hawaii. However, not all their food is organic. They have fresh baked goods, a gelato/ice cream bar, hot and cold foods bar, burger station (they use grass-fed, non-GMO, cage-free meats), sushi station, fresh deli meats, a cafe, pizza station, various donboris, fresh (never frozen) meats, fish and poultry, poke bar, antipasto bar, cured meats (i.e. prosciutto), cheeses by the slice and wheel, alcohol, fresh produce, a small gardening section (yay because I love gardening), a mini coffee station, frozen food section and all other kinds of foods. I really like their variety of gluten-free foods as well.
2) Friendly staff:
Yes, you will always have those one or two sales clerks that just get on your nerves for whatever reason. But Whole Foods Kahala has amazing, very knowledgeable staff. And, if they cannot answer your question, they will find someone who would know to help you out.
3) Representing the local farmers/businesses:
They have lots of local products here, despite their "big corporation/big shoulders" appearance. Some items I've seen include Maui grass-fed, cage-free, non-GMO, antibiotic-free meats; organic li hing mui (surprisingly, the organic li hing mui is yellow! Just goes to show you what other food vendors put in there), various fruits and vegetables, and poke!
4) The convenience of the Food Bar:
Whenever I am running late and cannot make my food for the day, I always stop by Whole Foods Kahala's food bar, especially their hot food. They change up the hot foods all the time (except this past Thanksgiving...I guess they had a lot of turkey left over). They even list all the ingredients in each food they prepare so that the customer is well-informed.
What I Like To Get:
1) Scrambled Eggs (although I wish they made it without milk and cooked with olive oil instead of canola oil)
2) Roasted Potatoes with extra Roasted Bell Peppers and Red Onion
3) Baked Goods (I don't always buy, but if you ever have a sweet tooth, organic baked goods are always the best! Everything tastes real and looks amazing!)
4) Some groceries, especially their meats (I haven't found much places that sell fresh organic meats on the island).
5) Soups! I especially love their Spit Pea and Beef Bourguignon soups!
6) Ice Cream! (low glycemic, non-dairy, gluten-free, soy-free, organic and made with coconut milk!)
7) Salad Bar!
But Buying Organic Food is Expensive!:
Whole Foods Kahala is great and buying organic can be the best thing you do for your health, but yes it comes with a price. So, you really gotta shop around and buy the items on sale. I try not to buy food from their food bars because its $8.99/lb. and they do not have a scale to weigh your food....so u might end up spending more than what you bargained for. I shop according to sales and use their coupon book (conveniently located at the store's entrance). I only buy foods that I cannot get elsewhere such as the meats, fish and poultry. On top of that, I rarely buy any of the packaged foods (except when rice, rice products, or gluten-free products are on sale). What would be great is if they started a Rewards Card. Stay tuned for tips on how to shop for organic foods on Oahu!
Whole Foods Kahala also gives tours for children, and for adults on how to shop in their store according to specific diets and budgets. They give you a bag credit if you bring your own bag (I believe), and they give you a complimentary bag of ice to keep your food cold (so convenient since I'm always in a rush, forget to pack ice packs and a cooler, and need to commute back home during peak traffic hours).
I can't wait for their new store to open in Kailua, O'ahu, Hawaii! They are also talking about opening another one either in Mililani or Kapolei, Oahu, Hawaii.
1) Large Supply and Variety:
They have the largest supply of organic, natural, grass-fed, non-GMO, etc. foods on O'ahu, Hawaii. However, not all their food is organic. They have fresh baked goods, a gelato/ice cream bar, hot and cold foods bar, burger station (they use grass-fed, non-GMO, cage-free meats), sushi station, fresh deli meats, a cafe, pizza station, various donboris, fresh (never frozen) meats, fish and poultry, poke bar, antipasto bar, cured meats (i.e. prosciutto), cheeses by the slice and wheel, alcohol, fresh produce, a small gardening section (yay because I love gardening), a mini coffee station, frozen food section and all other kinds of foods. I really like their variety of gluten-free foods as well.
2) Friendly staff:
Yes, you will always have those one or two sales clerks that just get on your nerves for whatever reason. But Whole Foods Kahala has amazing, very knowledgeable staff. And, if they cannot answer your question, they will find someone who would know to help you out.
3) Representing the local farmers/businesses:
They have lots of local products here, despite their "big corporation/big shoulders" appearance. Some items I've seen include Maui grass-fed, cage-free, non-GMO, antibiotic-free meats; organic li hing mui (surprisingly, the organic li hing mui is yellow! Just goes to show you what other food vendors put in there), various fruits and vegetables, and poke!
4) The convenience of the Food Bar:
Whenever I am running late and cannot make my food for the day, I always stop by Whole Foods Kahala's food bar, especially their hot food. They change up the hot foods all the time (except this past Thanksgiving...I guess they had a lot of turkey left over). They even list all the ingredients in each food they prepare so that the customer is well-informed.
What I Like To Get:
1) Scrambled Eggs (although I wish they made it without milk and cooked with olive oil instead of canola oil)
2) Roasted Potatoes with extra Roasted Bell Peppers and Red Onion
3) Baked Goods (I don't always buy, but if you ever have a sweet tooth, organic baked goods are always the best! Everything tastes real and looks amazing!)
4) Some groceries, especially their meats (I haven't found much places that sell fresh organic meats on the island).
5) Soups! I especially love their Spit Pea and Beef Bourguignon soups!
6) Ice Cream! (low glycemic, non-dairy, gluten-free, soy-free, organic and made with coconut milk!)
7) Salad Bar!
But Buying Organic Food is Expensive!:
Whole Foods Kahala is great and buying organic can be the best thing you do for your health, but yes it comes with a price. So, you really gotta shop around and buy the items on sale. I try not to buy food from their food bars because its $8.99/lb. and they do not have a scale to weigh your food....so u might end up spending more than what you bargained for. I shop according to sales and use their coupon book (conveniently located at the store's entrance). I only buy foods that I cannot get elsewhere such as the meats, fish and poultry. On top of that, I rarely buy any of the packaged foods (except when rice, rice products, or gluten-free products are on sale). What would be great is if they started a Rewards Card. Stay tuned for tips on how to shop for organic foods on Oahu!
Whole Foods Kahala also gives tours for children, and for adults on how to shop in their store according to specific diets and budgets. They give you a bag credit if you bring your own bag (I believe), and they give you a complimentary bag of ice to keep your food cold (so convenient since I'm always in a rush, forget to pack ice packs and a cooler, and need to commute back home during peak traffic hours).
I can't wait for their new store to open in Kailua, O'ahu, Hawaii! They are also talking about opening another one either in Mililani or Kapolei, Oahu, Hawaii.
Saturday, November 19, 2011
My Journey with Tony Horton, the P90X Sensei
First off, forgive me if I have a few grammatical or punctuation errors. It's been a pretty rough week at work for our department, and I'm still trying to recover from it. But, I felt the urge to blog despite all that, so bear with me.
Today marks Day 16 of my journey with Tony Horton, the all-knowing P90X Sensei. I call him sensei because I don't relate to the word "guru" LOL.
Anyways, this workout, this commitment of 90 days is really a total body, mind, soul and sanity workout. I've tried doing P90x before, twice I believe, and never ever gone this far without throwing in the towel. My husband is also doing the workout with me for 90 days...I am in it to do two rounds (a total of 180 days of P90X). I've seen people do P90x and shed so much fat....not weight, though...their weights did not reduce drastically like other people doing other workouts and healthy lifestyles because they became stronger and leaner, and muscle weighs more than fat (note: I no longer use the word "diet" because its spelled with the letters D-I-E or T-I-E-D, probably suggesting that its better to "tie" a rope around your neck so that you "die" than ever making a permanent change in the way you live <----do not mind the random comment...its the post traumatic recover stage from P90X talking, not me LOL).
I am doing the Lean workouts of P90X which include 4 days of cardio, and 2 days resistance training. It includes the following workouts for the first three weeks: Core Synergistics, Cardio X, Yoga X, Shoulders/Back, Legs/Shoulders, Ab Ripper X (these are the worst for me!), Kenpo X and X Stretch. My favorite workouts are Core Synergistics and Cardio X because they are total body workouts. I really do like Yoga X as well because you burn so much calories, work on stretching tight muscles, circulating oxygen to all parts of the body and really clearing your mind. The workouts I do not like but have to do are Kenpo X and Ab Ripper X (this is done twice a week). Kenpo X involves a lot of coordination and control, two things I need to work on. And Ab Ripper X is the toughest for me because I have a really weak core.
I am really determine to complete two rounds of P90X. I cannot tell you enough in detail how hard it is, however. Just imagine doing all this, eating clean, avoiding friends and family who eat whatever they want, and feeling at times hopeless. I would often have break downs! My husband even had to hide our scale because I would go on it 10 times a day and beat myself about gaining even half a pound! It was not until my husband showed me a video on one of the Beach Body Coach's website that for the first 30 days of P90X, it is normal to stay the same weight or even gain a little weight because your muscles are becoming bigger and stronger, and more fat loss will come later on during the 90 days (P90X is part of Beach Body). I love my husband so much...I love it when he can put things in perspective for me, even if it means admitting that he is right....this time around!
Even though the scale is gone, I can tell I am losing fat (not weight, but fat). My pants are looser and fit differently (yes, my butt is lifted higher, yay! and my calves are tighter, so they are positioned, so to speak, higher). My clothes fit better overally, and all my fat, especially around my belly feels looser. My entire body just feels harder! I'm always hot like an oven, even when people around me are feeling cool. My OB/GYN is happy with my results, and I am getting closer and closer to my goal of having a healthy pregnancy. My husband is also doing P90X, but he is doing the Classic workouts. They are a bit more difficult because it involves 3 days resistance and 3 days cardio. I can tell he has lost fat (again not weight, but fat) especially around his belly and arms.
Okay, my brain and body is telling me enough with the blogging for tonight. This is a highlight of my P90X journey...stay tuned for more highlights. Thanks for reading!
Oh, I forgot the "lessons learned" part of this blog...Don't give up, even though it seems hopeless. Your efforts to impove yourself do not go unnoticed...you just have to see yourself in a light different from how others see you and how you see yourself. In the words of Sensei Tony Horton, "Try your best, and forget the rest!"
Bonus Note: Foodland Ewa Beach, Hawaii has a great selection of organic, natural, gluten-free and local foods! Some items that are new (to us, anyways) are Hawaii Ranchers Grass-Fed Lean Ground Beef, Larabar made with only fruit and nuts, and organic chicken! Check it out when you can! They offer competative prices compared to the big companies here selling health food.
I will be trying some new recipes soon (even though I say that all the time and never do it)...Stay Tuned!
Today marks Day 16 of my journey with Tony Horton, the all-knowing P90X Sensei. I call him sensei because I don't relate to the word "guru" LOL.
Anyways, this workout, this commitment of 90 days is really a total body, mind, soul and sanity workout. I've tried doing P90x before, twice I believe, and never ever gone this far without throwing in the towel. My husband is also doing the workout with me for 90 days...I am in it to do two rounds (a total of 180 days of P90X). I've seen people do P90x and shed so much fat....not weight, though...their weights did not reduce drastically like other people doing other workouts and healthy lifestyles because they became stronger and leaner, and muscle weighs more than fat (note: I no longer use the word "diet" because its spelled with the letters D-I-E or T-I-E-D, probably suggesting that its better to "tie" a rope around your neck so that you "die" than ever making a permanent change in the way you live <----do not mind the random comment...its the post traumatic recover stage from P90X talking, not me LOL).
I am doing the Lean workouts of P90X which include 4 days of cardio, and 2 days resistance training. It includes the following workouts for the first three weeks: Core Synergistics, Cardio X, Yoga X, Shoulders/Back, Legs/Shoulders, Ab Ripper X (these are the worst for me!), Kenpo X and X Stretch. My favorite workouts are Core Synergistics and Cardio X because they are total body workouts. I really do like Yoga X as well because you burn so much calories, work on stretching tight muscles, circulating oxygen to all parts of the body and really clearing your mind. The workouts I do not like but have to do are Kenpo X and Ab Ripper X (this is done twice a week). Kenpo X involves a lot of coordination and control, two things I need to work on. And Ab Ripper X is the toughest for me because I have a really weak core.
I am really determine to complete two rounds of P90X. I cannot tell you enough in detail how hard it is, however. Just imagine doing all this, eating clean, avoiding friends and family who eat whatever they want, and feeling at times hopeless. I would often have break downs! My husband even had to hide our scale because I would go on it 10 times a day and beat myself about gaining even half a pound! It was not until my husband showed me a video on one of the Beach Body Coach's website that for the first 30 days of P90X, it is normal to stay the same weight or even gain a little weight because your muscles are becoming bigger and stronger, and more fat loss will come later on during the 90 days (P90X is part of Beach Body). I love my husband so much...I love it when he can put things in perspective for me, even if it means admitting that he is right....this time around!
Even though the scale is gone, I can tell I am losing fat (not weight, but fat). My pants are looser and fit differently (yes, my butt is lifted higher, yay! and my calves are tighter, so they are positioned, so to speak, higher). My clothes fit better overally, and all my fat, especially around my belly feels looser. My entire body just feels harder! I'm always hot like an oven, even when people around me are feeling cool. My OB/GYN is happy with my results, and I am getting closer and closer to my goal of having a healthy pregnancy. My husband is also doing P90X, but he is doing the Classic workouts. They are a bit more difficult because it involves 3 days resistance and 3 days cardio. I can tell he has lost fat (again not weight, but fat) especially around his belly and arms.
Okay, my brain and body is telling me enough with the blogging for tonight. This is a highlight of my P90X journey...stay tuned for more highlights. Thanks for reading!
Oh, I forgot the "lessons learned" part of this blog...Don't give up, even though it seems hopeless. Your efforts to impove yourself do not go unnoticed...you just have to see yourself in a light different from how others see you and how you see yourself. In the words of Sensei Tony Horton, "Try your best, and forget the rest!"
Bonus Note: Foodland Ewa Beach, Hawaii has a great selection of organic, natural, gluten-free and local foods! Some items that are new (to us, anyways) are Hawaii Ranchers Grass-Fed Lean Ground Beef, Larabar made with only fruit and nuts, and organic chicken! Check it out when you can! They offer competative prices compared to the big companies here selling health food.
I will be trying some new recipes soon (even though I say that all the time and never do it)...Stay Tuned!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Where's The Willpower?!
So it's been over a week since my last post, and I think all of you can relate to my current situation.
Last night after doing my P90x Day 6 routine (Kenpo X), my husband and I were talking story. I do not recall what we talked about, which does not really matter in today's post. While my husband was talking (hunny, if you are reading this, please forgive me LOL), my mind drifted into what seemed like a rabbit hole, and then BOOM! It hit me. I stopped my husband from talking about his recent hike up Wai'ahila Ridge, and said to him, "Angry Whopper." Yes, ladies and gentlemen. Even though you eat clean, change your lifestyle, exercise, etc...YOU CANNOT HIDE FROM THE GOOD STUFF! Mind you, we do not have cable, only internet, so there were no signs of an Angry Whopper in my house...it was all in my head!
So, where's the willpower? After I blurted out "Angry Whopper," my husband told me, "No! Don't think about it!" We went on our conversation with how well we've been doing on our new healthy living. But it really is hard. Like today, I asked my co-worker if she had some hard candy. She willingly gave me her stash to look through. I did, and then immediately closed up the box and say "never mind!" She laughed at me, naturally.
This new healthy way of living is not going to be easy, but I know it is well worth it. My journey started a very long time ago, but only seen changes in myself since August 2011. I lost a total of 14lbs after changing the way I eat, and continue to lose weight even more because of P90x. I gotta remember to tell myself, "is that Angry Whopper really worth all the hard work I did today?" On some days, especially before, I would tell myself, "hell yeah!" and enjoy my food. But not this time around. I have 82 days left for eating clean, despite the holiday season coming up. I have 82 days to bring it!
My other incentive to not eat bad is definitely my health. I never want to have abnormal lab test results. I am only 28 years old and I have at least 70 years worth of chances to stay healthy. I want to be able to have kids without worrying about theirs or my health. I want to be able to live with my husband for as long as God wants me to. I want to be able to run after my kids and play with them without getting tired....Thank God my labs no longer come back abnormal.
Advice on Willpower?
You have to surround yourself with people that are going to support you in your quest for healthy living, and keep a far distance from those who do not.
For me, that is hard because it's only my husband and I who eat organic food, with appropriate carbohydrate-protein-fat combination for our metabolism types. And whenever we bring up to our family and friends how we eat, they say "huh?" and think we are crazy to give up those types of foods.
It's really hard to turn down good food, and even worse, turn down great friends and family. But, if you stick to your guns and be consistent, your friends and family will respect what you are trying to do for yourself, and won't press the issue of why you are not eating the food they've made. And eventually, that aunt that insists that you try her cooking will respect your decision to not eat her food. Eventually, right?
How did you change your lifestyle?
My husband showed me this video about The Diet Solution Program (DSP) over a year ago. I was skeptical about the whole thing and decided to just count calories and do Zumba. Then, after my old health plan fell through the cracks and I had gained back all the weight I lost, I found the DSP again and decided to try it. It was the best decision I've made for myself! It gave me the tools I needed to help me get healthier, and it helped me realize what foods are not good for my body (gluten, lactose, medium and high glucose foods). No more counting calories or points! The only thing I do is weigh my food and portion all of my meals. If you want to learn more about the DSP, here's their website:
http://www.thedietsolutionprogram.com/
Another great resource for healthy, gluten-free recipes is Whole Lifestyle Nutrition. You can find them on Facebook and at their website at http://www.wholelifestylenutrition.com/ . I have yet to try out their recipes, but they sound so delicious and nutritious! They do, however include dairy products, so take caution. They suggest swapping milk with coconut or almond milk, but to be honest, I hate those milks. And soy is not good for you at all, since it messes up your thyroid function, so soy milk is out too.
I'm going to post some recipes here on my blog for people who want to cut out gluten and lactose out of their diet. This weekend since its getting colder, I'm going to attempt to make an organic, gluten-free version of my mom's Arroz Caldo (similar to Jook, it's traditionally made with shredded stewing chicken, mochi rice, chicken stock, garlic, green onion, ginger, salt, black pepper and canola oil).
Thanks for reading!
Last night after doing my P90x Day 6 routine (Kenpo X), my husband and I were talking story. I do not recall what we talked about, which does not really matter in today's post. While my husband was talking (hunny, if you are reading this, please forgive me LOL), my mind drifted into what seemed like a rabbit hole, and then BOOM! It hit me. I stopped my husband from talking about his recent hike up Wai'ahila Ridge, and said to him, "Angry Whopper." Yes, ladies and gentlemen. Even though you eat clean, change your lifestyle, exercise, etc...YOU CANNOT HIDE FROM THE GOOD STUFF! Mind you, we do not have cable, only internet, so there were no signs of an Angry Whopper in my house...it was all in my head!
So, where's the willpower? After I blurted out "Angry Whopper," my husband told me, "No! Don't think about it!" We went on our conversation with how well we've been doing on our new healthy living. But it really is hard. Like today, I asked my co-worker if she had some hard candy. She willingly gave me her stash to look through. I did, and then immediately closed up the box and say "never mind!" She laughed at me, naturally.
This new healthy way of living is not going to be easy, but I know it is well worth it. My journey started a very long time ago, but only seen changes in myself since August 2011. I lost a total of 14lbs after changing the way I eat, and continue to lose weight even more because of P90x. I gotta remember to tell myself, "is that Angry Whopper really worth all the hard work I did today?" On some days, especially before, I would tell myself, "hell yeah!" and enjoy my food. But not this time around. I have 82 days left for eating clean, despite the holiday season coming up. I have 82 days to bring it!
My other incentive to not eat bad is definitely my health. I never want to have abnormal lab test results. I am only 28 years old and I have at least 70 years worth of chances to stay healthy. I want to be able to have kids without worrying about theirs or my health. I want to be able to live with my husband for as long as God wants me to. I want to be able to run after my kids and play with them without getting tired....Thank God my labs no longer come back abnormal.
Advice on Willpower?
You have to surround yourself with people that are going to support you in your quest for healthy living, and keep a far distance from those who do not.
For me, that is hard because it's only my husband and I who eat organic food, with appropriate carbohydrate-protein-fat combination for our metabolism types. And whenever we bring up to our family and friends how we eat, they say "huh?" and think we are crazy to give up those types of foods.
It's really hard to turn down good food, and even worse, turn down great friends and family. But, if you stick to your guns and be consistent, your friends and family will respect what you are trying to do for yourself, and won't press the issue of why you are not eating the food they've made. And eventually, that aunt that insists that you try her cooking will respect your decision to not eat her food. Eventually, right?
How did you change your lifestyle?
My husband showed me this video about The Diet Solution Program (DSP) over a year ago. I was skeptical about the whole thing and decided to just count calories and do Zumba. Then, after my old health plan fell through the cracks and I had gained back all the weight I lost, I found the DSP again and decided to try it. It was the best decision I've made for myself! It gave me the tools I needed to help me get healthier, and it helped me realize what foods are not good for my body (gluten, lactose, medium and high glucose foods). No more counting calories or points! The only thing I do is weigh my food and portion all of my meals. If you want to learn more about the DSP, here's their website:
http://www.thedietsolutionprogram.com/
Another great resource for healthy, gluten-free recipes is Whole Lifestyle Nutrition. You can find them on Facebook and at their website at http://www.wholelifestylenutrition.com/ . I have yet to try out their recipes, but they sound so delicious and nutritious! They do, however include dairy products, so take caution. They suggest swapping milk with coconut or almond milk, but to be honest, I hate those milks. And soy is not good for you at all, since it messes up your thyroid function, so soy milk is out too.
I'm going to post some recipes here on my blog for people who want to cut out gluten and lactose out of their diet. This weekend since its getting colder, I'm going to attempt to make an organic, gluten-free version of my mom's Arroz Caldo (similar to Jook, it's traditionally made with shredded stewing chicken, mochi rice, chicken stock, garlic, green onion, ginger, salt, black pepper and canola oil).
Thanks for reading!
Monday, October 31, 2011
Happy Halloween! The last day for "Getting Off the Health Wagon"
If any of you are like me, you are one of those people who say you are going to commit to your lifestyle change (by the way, I don't believe in diets...they are only a temporary fix for until you can fit in those size X jeans, only to go back to the sugar/fat binge and gain back twice the weight), and then after only a month, you are back to where you started...the story of my life, until tomorrow, November 1st, 2011, All Saints Day.
My co-worker one day asked me if I wanted to do a sort of "Biggest Loser" for the office. I was totally game because the incentive is a better me AND money! We got more people in the office to do it, and looks like the prize will be $100 in 6 months (3 categories to win in: Weight (lbs), Weight (%), and Inches Lost). $30/person and we got about 10 people in it. I am so excited! I'm already on that journey, but to keep me more motivated and focus, I got more people to support me and do this along with me! We even set up weekly Group Walks every Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. This is great because I already know what my body can and cannot have as far as food. This quest for the Biggest Loser prize starts 11/1/11 for 6 months. Now if only I can convince myself to give all that "bad food" up so that my body does not feel like $h!+....which brings me to my next topic: Gluten Intolerance/Celiac Disease
What is Gluten Intolerance/Celiac Disease
Well, I could give you a Wikipedia definition, but instead I will give you a definition based on what I understand from it because there is too much medical jargon in the definitions to go through and I am in no position to summarize it! (LOL).
So, gluten is a protein found in processed foods made from wheat and most grains. Gluten helps bread rise, make the dough elastic and gives bread its chewy texture, just to sum it up. People who are gluten-intolerant have difficulty digesting this protein and have symptoms such as bloating, gas, indigestion, headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, vitamin and mineral deficiency, and infertility, to name a few...kind of like an allergy (I'm not surprised..I am or was allergic to shellfish, certain types of weed, mesquite/kiawe wood, smoke, dust, dust mites, and certain types of pet dander...I'm glad I'm not allergic to my pet kitten Oreo). I mention only these symptoms because those are my symptoms.
After going on this new lifestyle change (I'll mention it later what that specific lifestyle change is), I've really discovered what my body can and cannot handle. I have to cut out all wheat-based food, including pasta!!!! And of all foods I love, pasta and pizza are my most favorite of foods. I had really severe symptoms (see above list). To top it all off, those who are gluten intolerant are also lactose-intolerant. So once I cut all the gluten and lactose-containing foods out of my life, I was fine! TMI, but I was never gassy, no headache, etc (I was always really gassy before until this change). What an eye-opener!
But alas, life, friends and family come in the picture, asking you, "Why aren't you eating?!," as if you've committed the ultimate sin. I have to admit, this past weekend was the worst. There were two Halloween parties and a birthday party this past weekend. The first party had pasta as their main course, with the garlic bread, and all kinds of baked goods. The second party was a Pirate-themed party (loved it, BTW), involving lots of food and alcohol (yes, alcohol has gluten too...sigh). Yesterday's party wasn't so bad, but because I had given in to temptation, I chose to eat the bad foods....I've never felt so sick in my life! I loved the food, but man oh man, talk about non-stop headaches that won't go away, bloating, constipation, etc. all of the above for 3 days! I don't know why I do that to myself. On top of it all, I gained weight :(
Enough with all this crap, right? I gotta stop before I get more sick!
The holidays are hear, and my goal to achieve optimal health is going to be hard to accomplish for the next few months. But I am willing to decline all those foods so that I don't feel like how I'm feeling now. I'll just save those foods for everybody else.
Okay, so what is Celiac Disease? Again, I'm not a medical guru, so I will just put it like this: you can have severe symptoms like I listed above, where you can also have a coma or die (yes I'm being blunt) if you ingest or come near gluten. On the not-so severe end of the spectrum, you can become malnourished when ingesting gluten because your small intestines cannot absorb gluten, and will keep you from absorbing other nutrients.
I don't have Celiac Disease, but I am told that anyone with gluten intolerance should be tested for this disease...it's on my To Do List.
Moving Forward
I may not be perfect, and may even get off the Health Wagon a few times along the way, but I pledge to myself that I will try my best to stay committed to my new life. I will learn to embrace my short-comings because it lets me know that I am only human, and I will learn from my mistakes. Don't let anyone put you down for your short-comings.
I will continue to practice a healthy lifestyle so I can enjoy my life...note that I said PRACTICE! Happy Halloween Everyone! No recipe today. But I'm thinking up a few things to make for this holiday season. I wanna try and make gluten-free pumpkin pies, pecan pies, etc. Should be interesting.
My co-worker one day asked me if I wanted to do a sort of "Biggest Loser" for the office. I was totally game because the incentive is a better me AND money! We got more people in the office to do it, and looks like the prize will be $100 in 6 months (3 categories to win in: Weight (lbs), Weight (%), and Inches Lost). $30/person and we got about 10 people in it. I am so excited! I'm already on that journey, but to keep me more motivated and focus, I got more people to support me and do this along with me! We even set up weekly Group Walks every Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. This is great because I already know what my body can and cannot have as far as food. This quest for the Biggest Loser prize starts 11/1/11 for 6 months. Now if only I can convince myself to give all that "bad food" up so that my body does not feel like $h!+....which brings me to my next topic: Gluten Intolerance/Celiac Disease
What is Gluten Intolerance/Celiac Disease
Well, I could give you a Wikipedia definition, but instead I will give you a definition based on what I understand from it because there is too much medical jargon in the definitions to go through and I am in no position to summarize it! (LOL).
So, gluten is a protein found in processed foods made from wheat and most grains. Gluten helps bread rise, make the dough elastic and gives bread its chewy texture, just to sum it up. People who are gluten-intolerant have difficulty digesting this protein and have symptoms such as bloating, gas, indigestion, headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, vitamin and mineral deficiency, and infertility, to name a few...kind of like an allergy (I'm not surprised..I am or was allergic to shellfish, certain types of weed, mesquite/kiawe wood, smoke, dust, dust mites, and certain types of pet dander...I'm glad I'm not allergic to my pet kitten Oreo). I mention only these symptoms because those are my symptoms.
After going on this new lifestyle change (I'll mention it later what that specific lifestyle change is), I've really discovered what my body can and cannot handle. I have to cut out all wheat-based food, including pasta!!!! And of all foods I love, pasta and pizza are my most favorite of foods. I had really severe symptoms (see above list). To top it all off, those who are gluten intolerant are also lactose-intolerant. So once I cut all the gluten and lactose-containing foods out of my life, I was fine! TMI, but I was never gassy, no headache, etc (I was always really gassy before until this change). What an eye-opener!
But alas, life, friends and family come in the picture, asking you, "Why aren't you eating?!," as if you've committed the ultimate sin. I have to admit, this past weekend was the worst. There were two Halloween parties and a birthday party this past weekend. The first party had pasta as their main course, with the garlic bread, and all kinds of baked goods. The second party was a Pirate-themed party (loved it, BTW), involving lots of food and alcohol (yes, alcohol has gluten too...sigh). Yesterday's party wasn't so bad, but because I had given in to temptation, I chose to eat the bad foods....I've never felt so sick in my life! I loved the food, but man oh man, talk about non-stop headaches that won't go away, bloating, constipation, etc. all of the above for 3 days! I don't know why I do that to myself. On top of it all, I gained weight :(
Enough with all this crap, right? I gotta stop before I get more sick!
The holidays are hear, and my goal to achieve optimal health is going to be hard to accomplish for the next few months. But I am willing to decline all those foods so that I don't feel like how I'm feeling now. I'll just save those foods for everybody else.
Okay, so what is Celiac Disease? Again, I'm not a medical guru, so I will just put it like this: you can have severe symptoms like I listed above, where you can also have a coma or die (yes I'm being blunt) if you ingest or come near gluten. On the not-so severe end of the spectrum, you can become malnourished when ingesting gluten because your small intestines cannot absorb gluten, and will keep you from absorbing other nutrients.
I don't have Celiac Disease, but I am told that anyone with gluten intolerance should be tested for this disease...it's on my To Do List.
Moving Forward
I may not be perfect, and may even get off the Health Wagon a few times along the way, but I pledge to myself that I will try my best to stay committed to my new life. I will learn to embrace my short-comings because it lets me know that I am only human, and I will learn from my mistakes. Don't let anyone put you down for your short-comings.
I will continue to practice a healthy lifestyle so I can enjoy my life...note that I said PRACTICE! Happy Halloween Everyone! No recipe today. But I'm thinking up a few things to make for this holiday season. I wanna try and make gluten-free pumpkin pies, pecan pies, etc. Should be interesting.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
First Blog...More About Me and a recipe for Stuffed Baked Chicken!
I started this blog because my friend keeps telling me I should make one since I write so much on my social network about eating healthy, being active and living better. So here I am, trying this out. So forgive me...I am a Virgin Blogger.
More About Me...
I will mostly blog about my quest to healthier living. I'm a 4'11" married woman with an 8a-4p work week, mostly sitting at a desk, and occasionally visiting my clients in their homes. I was always on the bigger side (runs in the family) since puberty, and always struggled with image problems. You know, the typical middle and high school drama. Been there. Done that. And moved on. Still on the big side post-high school, but during college I got really active (my college gym was free and next to my dorm, so there were no excuses) and was very fit. Then my doc accidentally found out that I was born with a hole in my diaphragm (morgagni hernia), so basically my stomach was next to my heart. I was fine after the surgery, but my core muscles that I spent a long time building became weak, and still weak today because, to make a long story short, I had my gallbladder removed (I strongly feel that it was because of this bcp that I was on at the time, which also made me anemic). During all this time, I had also developed severe food allergies, asthma and my liver became fatty, causing elevated liver enzymes. At one point, I also had elevated blood sugar levels (close to having diabetes). Not to mention gaining more weight.
I think a lot of it had to do with when I started my first full-time job as a Case Manager, having to work 60 hours a week, but only getting paid for 40 of them, overly stressed and over-worked, and only having time to sleep and eat dinner after work. Luckily I was smart to quit that slave-driving job a week before our wedding (you can say Bridezilla), because at least I was able to relax and take care of me....I worked at that place for nearly 4 years.
Going to present day, I am happy and healthy. I changed the way I ate, I am more active, and I have a job that I love that won't kill me (same pay, same job as the last, but manageable stress and no 60-hour work week!). I am losing weight, and my labs have been normal for almost a year!...
I'm tired now, after writing this ha ha, so I will save the "More About Me" for later blogs. But here's about today. For breakfast, my husband made me a mostly-organic breakfast: 2-egg mushroom and onion omelet with turkey bacon, and if I'm still hungry, a Fuji Apple (my favorite apple!). Mostly organic, because some of these ingredients are either not available or too expensive for us just yet. And for dinner last night, I made this:
Stuffed Baked Chicken (yields about 4-6 servings):
4- 4 to 6oz Boneless/Skinless Chicken Breast (I used Kirkland brand from Costco, but it should be organic)
2c Organic Spinach
6-8 tablespoons Organic EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
Garlic Salt and Cracked Black Pepper (to taste)
8 slices of Turkey Bacon (I used Oscar Meyer brand from Costco)
8 oz. Organic Raw Sharp Cheddar Cheese (optional)
Dried Parsley (optional)
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with heavy duty foil (or double it with the foil you have on hand so that you avoid making a mess of your baking sheet). Butterfly the chicken breast equally in half. Make sure its defrosted completely and patted dry. Stuff the chicken with as much spinach as you like (I just gave approximate measurements under the list of ingredients). Add 1-2 oz. of sharp cheddar cheese (or any cheese you like. I think pretty much any cheese works. I just used what we had). Lightly sprinkle garlic salt and crack black pepper on the still-open chicken breast, then close it. Wrap 2 slices of turkey horizontally so to secure the chicken breast, end side down on baking sheet. Crack more black pepper on top of the chicken breast. Lightly drizzle EVOO on the chicken breast, sprinkle the parley on top and bake for 30 minutes (depending on the size of your chicken).
No need to salt the outside of the chicken breast, because the turkey bacon has enough salt. Lightly drizzling EVOO on the chicken will keep your chicken breast and turkey bacon from burning since it has very little fat.
I made the chicken with and without cheese, since I found out I am lactose and gluten intolerant (found out after making this lifestyle change). I buy all the breads and dairy for my husband. I also made roasted potatoes and roasted butternut squash to last us the rest of this week.
Before battling the notorious Oahu rush hour traffic from town to the west side and baking this yummy, healthy dinner, I walked around Diamond Head Crater. Who knew it was long (lol)! Took me about an hour and a half to walk it, but I did it and loved the view. Cheers to my first blog! I hope you've enjoyed it :)
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