Yesterday was a different kind of day. Skyler and I went to a Bridal Expo. First thing I did wrong: No Breakfast. I didn't know we were going until the night before but there wasn't to much I could do to prepare. I am just chalking it up to a life event. There was vendors of all kinds there. The first one at the door was Chucks Liquors, so I had a sample of wine. :) I have to say I was happy about that! I tried samples here and there but I only took a bite of things and some vendors I just simply refused. I did have some cake samples. I am not beating myself up over any of it. I did cook a healthy dinner when I got home.

Today has started off right. Used my juicer for the first time. It was pretty good, even Skyler drank a glass! Shocker, I know! Today is a big football game, my Broncos are facing the much hated (on my part) Patriots but I am prepared. I am eating lunch ahead of the game and I am making Kale Chips and having carrots for my snack if it gets to intense I have some nuts I can crack! ;)

Recipe for Kale Chips: Preheat oven to 300 degrees, Wash and chop Kale, very lightly toss with olive oil, spinkle with sea salt or any other spices of your choice. Bake for 15-17 minutes.
These are amazing! My son thinks they taste like Lay's Potato Chips. Even my hubby ate them!

Recipe for Juice: 1 bunch Kale, 2 carrots, 2 celery, 2 apples, 1 cucumber, 1/2 lemon, 1/2 tsp ginger paste.
Juice and Enjoy.

Since I finally took it out of the box and used it for the first time I am now very excited to try some new juices! More on this later.....

Also, on a happy note, since starting this on January 1st, I have lost 5 lbs. I don't know how many inches but I'm guessing its pretty good seeing as how my clothes are fitting better. My black jeans I wore yesterday didn't want to roll down at my gut! lol More incentive to keep on keeping on!!!

I don't know where to start...... I am buzzing like a bee! I can feel the energy running through my body. Getting out of bed isn't quit the chore it was a month ago. I am sleeping better. I have more stamina in the gym... and let's face it other places too ;)  I really just want to shout it out to everybody! My clothes are starting to feel better! Wow...just WOW!! I can honestly say that I am not feeling cheated out of anything even though I have cut so many things from my diet. I don't have any cravings so far. Well, maybe one.... I kind of miss wine! But, not so bad that I would trade how I'm feeling right now. This is not to say I will not partake again just not until my 31 day challenge is over! I am thankful that the Super Bowl is in February!

Just to give you an idea here is a sample menu from yesterday:

Protein shake made with 6oz unsweetened vanilla Almond Breeze, 2 Tblsp organic blueberries(prev. frozen) and 1/2 a banana

Protein shake

Spinach only salad with 3oz chicken and 1oz pistachios

Spinach only salad with 3oz ground venison

Baked sweet potato, 3oz venison, 1 cup mix vegetables (some were fresh, some had prev been frozen)

The protein I am currently using is Garden of Life Raw Protein.... it's vegan, no diary, no gluten.

Today I am feeling very positive! This is day 13 on my way to a new me! This past weekend was a lot of football watching and I made it through every game--even watching the Broncos, from the edge of my seat--without beer, wine and snacks! Huge milestone for me. Although the pizza commercials were killing me.
Yesterday I also started setting an alarm so it would remind me to eat a small meal every 3 hours! That was also a success. I made ground venison, baked chicken, and baked salmon, broccoli and green beans to have on hand.

Thursday and Friday I increased my cardio. I am determined to get where I need to be!

One thing I was disappointed in discovering was the fact that Crystal Light packets have aspartame! I had no idea! So I sticking with my distilled water w/lemon. And of course my coffee black.

My husband has slowly taking on some of the things I'm doing, I am very excited about this.

Journeying on......

I started this blog to keep track and share different recipes and kitchen ideas and tips. But, today it is taking a different spin! I have been trying for the last couple of years to be a healthier person, taking charge of the things I eat and trying to learn what is best for my body vs others. I should first go back a couple of years, it was a time in my life where it seemed no matter how hard I tried I could not lose any weight. I was doing Weight Watchers and the only thing I was watching was my friend losing and me struggling! I was distraught! So I did what I was good at....I threw in the towel! Then I got news from the doctor. I had a "fatty" liver, well there's news to me (insert snarky voice) I needed him to tell me I was fat (not) and it was my liver to blame! Blah! So I went to my general practitioner and they put me on some kinda of diet pill. I took this for a couple of months but I did not like how it made me feel.... yes, I did lose a little weight. I still wasn't eating the best, mostly I wasn't eating!  But, a few months later things in my life was really about to change!

October 2011 I went to a parent meeting for Ethan's soccer team, the meeting was to discuss keeping the boys active and providing them with extra training in the off months. Little did I know I was about to embark on a journey that would forever change my life! One of the guest speakers, Derek Long,  was a man who provided personal training and he was the one that the team agreed to use for their extra training. He also said he would take the parents on as a group for a special price providing he could get enough to sign on. I was willing to give it a try! There was 5 of us that would begin working out with him starting in November. This man came to be a huge influence in my life! I realized that the only way I was going to be healthier and happier was to make exercise a huge part of my life..... let me tell you there were times when if I had any energy to spare I would have punched him!! Now though I mostly want to thank him. I would love to say that I didn't quit which is my usual way of doing things, but, I can't- I worked with him for 7 months and I was looking damn fine and feeling amazing! But, I thought I could do it on my own (yea right!) So a midst the hottest summer ever(I'm sure it really wasn't) I strayed! I didn't want to leave the house and I didn't much. I started watching cake boss and baking.... not my brightest moment! I stayed out of the gym the rest of that year.(2102) Talk about bad choices.

Then in 2013 still thinking I was ready to do it on my own I joined Workout Anytime. This was February-ish.  I stuck with it until about March or April and just by chance I ran into Derek. I decided I would give it another whirl. Skyler (my daughter) and I started working with him 3 times a week. I started feeling better and finally feeling like I was seeing some results. By August I was getting frustrated I hit a wall! So to shake things up I decided to quit drinking coke zeroes and not have a cheat day. My daughters best friend was getting married on September 14 and I wanted to look good. I had 4 weeks to really kick things up! Well, that didn't work out so good for me! I was so good....so good I gained weight instead of losing, not gaining muscle either! My stomach, where everything I eat lands was not changing! Then things really took a nose dive after I came back from the wedding weekend. I had 2 events coming up. I was doing a 5K for suicide prevention and then I was doing a 5K to promote healthy living. I did okay at the first event but by the second which was mid-October I was struggling. I was having difficulty even walking let alone trying to run! I managed to complete the walk/run in about 46  minutes. Things were about to get even worse!

But, I am going to save more of that for another day....

Today I restarted my "cleanse". I did it for 2 weeks before Christmas, no sugar, no diary, no bread, no pasta, no alcohol, no sodas, no yeast. I will explain more later on how I came to make this decision.

Today is the beginning of a new year and today I am determined to be healthier. I am going to be more active.
I have ate very good today. I have drank plenty of distilled water w/lemon.
I have exercised... my husband and I went on a hike @ Shanty Hollow Lake.
I am taking my supplements......Let us see where this leads us! I want to lose 30 pounds.
I am challenging myself to a 31 day overhaul! So come February 1st I want to see where I am at!

This blog is going to be about happy bellies, but healthy happy bellies!