weight loss

Are you not losing weight? Here are 5 reasons why!

Nothing pulls on your panic button quite like gaining weight, especially when you’re on a weight loss program. Unfortunately, it’s an inevitable fact of life. Luckily, you’ve got me here to tell you that, as long as you’re following a solid program, results will come. It’s a physiological certainty (unless you have an underlying issue, like hypothyroidism).

I realize this might take further convincing, considering our instant-gratification society. But this isn’t my first weight loss rodeo. I’ve seen almost every scenario you can dream up, most of which were solved by patience. That said, there are some strategies you can use to ensure you’re getting the most out of both your diet and exercise program. Let’s tackle five of the most common weight loss conundrums.

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  1. I’m following the program perfectly. Why isn’t it working?!
    Cortisol is a word you should become familiar with, as it’s a key factor here. What is cortisol? It’s actually a performance-enhancing stress hormone that serves an important function in survival situations. Unfortunately, when we force too much daily stress on our bodies, we shift into a state of chronic cortisol release.
     
    The beginning of a diet and/or exercise program, however, is a survival situation. In a very simplistic sense, your body releases cortisol, which, in turn, causes excess water retention to help you rebuild broken down muscle tissue. While this is cortisol functioning properly, it does lead to a period of water weight gain as you adjust to a new program. It’s nothing to worry about. By following a solid plan, your body will adapt by repairing this muscle tissue. This results in an increase in your metabolism and leads to weight loss if that’s your goal.

    The trick is that there is no hard line on how long this adaptation takes. It’s based on your individual parameters. Just rest easy in the fact that it will happen, unless you force it not to, leading us to . . .

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  2. I’m barely eating.
    Severe under eating causes cortisol release, as it’s the definition of a bodily emergency. A short period of strategic under eating with proper hydration will help your body dispense of unneeded food (especially for those who are chronically overeat) and regulate bodily functions. Go too long, however, and chronic cortisol release is the result.

    This is a tough situation because our natural reaction to weight gain is to eat less. When you’re exercising, it’s important to keep your eye on workout performance, as opposed to how much weight you’re losing. You should be eating enough so that your daily workouts improve over time. As long as that’s happening, your body is adapting, your metabolism is increasing, and you will lose weight provided you also don’t overeat.

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  3. I’ve been doing hard workouts for weeks.
    You need to continually improve, which is why workouts get harder as you move through any workout program. It’s also why we add resistance (via added weight or gravity, as is the case with jumping) to workouts. If you’re doing the same workouts at the same intensity constantly, you are not forcing adaptations that lead to changes in your metabolism. This is called a plateau.

    A plateau, technically, isn’t gaining weight—it’s remaining the same—but a proper diet and exercise program should continually force improvements (in the form of adaptations). Otherwise, your metabolism won’t continue to increase, which is the goal of most weight loss programs.

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  4. My friend and I are doing the exact same thing and she’s losing.
    We all react differently. The only absolute is that our bodies will change over time with a healthy program. A fitness rule called the Specificity of Adaptation states that it takes the body between 3 and 12 weeks to adapt to new stimuli, which is a very broad range. This is why it’s vital that you stick to your program and not change it repeatedly based on your daily results!

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  5. I lost weight for a while but now it’s stopped.
    Things are going great, but suddenly you plateau—or start gaining. Odds are, your metabolism has slowed down in order to deal with decreased calories. You’re starving your now fit body, so it’s doing what it needs to do to survive. The answer to this problem is pretty simple: eat more.

    If you have been eating the same amount of food for weeks, even months, you will have to start adjusting your intake amount. Do not fear eating more as long as it is healthy and whole clean food. Once you start adding more calories to your diet, you should see that weight start melting off!

There are no magic shortcuts. Body transformation is based on making consistent, healthy lifestyle changes. Do that and you’ll never need to ask yourself why you’re gaining weight again.

clean eating, weight loss

5 Reasons Why You Are Gaining Weight

You are doing “everything right”. Yet, you are still not losing weight and maybe you are GAINING weight! Rest assured, you are not alone! Yes, losing weight can be a struggle and often times it can be down right frustrating. But even the smallest tweak in your routine can help you reach your weight loss goals faster than ever!

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1. Your portion sizes are out of control.

This is a huge reason people struggle with their weight loss journey. Most of the time it isn’t WHAT you are eating, but rather HOW MUCH you are eating. Portion sizes have been growing and growing over the years which has made us un-aware of how much we really should be eating at one time. Take a week and measure out your food based on your caloric needs. You may be surprised by the results!

2. That so called “health food” is NOT healthy.

You had good intentions this week. You went to the grocery store and bought some granola, gluten free snacks and organic breakfast bars. You have been eating these “healthy foods” week after week… so what gives?!
Let me tell you a little secret – you still have to read those ingredients and nutrition facts! Snacks are snacks, no matter how healthy they seem to be! And if you are choosing these so called “healthy snacks” over REAL food (like fresh fruit or veggies) then you are sabotaging your weight loss. Feel free to keep these in the pantry but only use them in emergency situations. And yes, I love granola… a little too much. But granola is very calorie dense… and who really eats 1/4 cup of granola anyway?! Not me!

3. You are not getting ENOUGH calories.

I am not sure who came up with the magical number of 1200 calories a day to lose weight. But based on my research, my own clients progress, and my own progress, eating 1200 or LESS will turn your metabolism upside down and makes it EXTREMELY difficult to lose weight. Your body starts to go into starvation mode and will store fat. Your daily activities and workout level plays a huge part in this as well, but I always suggest anywhere between 1400 – 1600 calories per day.

4. You are drinking your calories

Drinks have calories and we often forget this. A soda, fruit juice (whether it’s pure juice or not), lattes/mochas/foo-foo drinks and alcohol needs to be taken into consideration each day. Just because you are not physically eating it, you could consume an EXTRA 500 calories OR MORE if not careful!

5. You may have a medical condition

If you know you are doing EVERYTHING right – exercising, eating the right foods and portion sizes, tracking your meals/calories – I highly suggest seeing a medical doctor. Before you start going on a juice cleanse or starting the next fad diet, get some routine blood work done and see if there is anything going on that you may not know about. Your health is EVERYTHING!

Embarking on a healthy lifestyle is not always easy. There will be easy days and hard days. Guess what? We are only human! It’s ok! Just remember to stay consistent and show up each and every day! You can do this – I promise!

Are you new to Clean Eating or need a detailed guide on how you can start living a healthier life? Check out my Clean Eating 101 Guide book!

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weight loss, workout

It’s May! Are you ready for summer?

Well most of us are officially experiencing summer weather! Seattle has been GORGEOUS the past few days and I have been loving the heat and sun! I HATE being so cold all the time!

I know there are some that may not be liking the heat because it means you have to wear lighter, shorter clothes. If you still feel a little uncomfortable coming out of winter and spring, I found a month long plan that you can follow to tone up those problem areas!

Remember: if you don’t want to do all of the reps at once, split them up! Do some during the day and finish strong!

fitness for may

Save and print this out so you can see it everyday!

XxOo Tasha

clean eating, life, raw, weight loss

Eating to live again

I’m not sure what is going on in Seattle lately.

We have been hit by big ol gray clouds filled with big, soggy drops of rain. But you know what?… I love it.

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I enjoy my morning coffee on my balcony looking at the vibrant green foliage in the courtyard. Even tough I currently live in a condo community, you virtually cannot see any other buildings due to the high trees. It’s beautiful and makes me forget I live in the Seattle area.

Oh and the rain… yes. I really do love the rain. In fact, I prefer cloudy days over bright sunny days. I feel calm, relaxed, at peace… I also cannot stand the heat. Although Seattle doesn’t get as much rain as people often say, we do still get our fair share. I guess I was destined to live here.

All day yesterday I was thinking about one thing – my health and my personal commitment to my body.

As I mentioned previously, I have been having a struggling time with food. Between stress of life and work, I was becoming less aware of the foods I was eating. In-turn, reaching for comfort foods. Processed, loaded with sugar and opposite of what my meals normally consisted of. I was also getting in the bad habit of eating more and more dairy. Yogurt, cheese, ice cream, bites of Bub’s mac n cheese… And along with very minimal exercise I noticed my clothes feeling a bit tight and I felt heavy and uncomfortable.

I decided to do one thing yesterday that I have not done in about a year: I weighed myself.

And while I am not going to reveal what it is… because it’s really not what I want to focus on… let’s just say I was not surprised. I can feel it. Every extra bit. And it’s more than just a few extra pounds. I have been breaking out, which I never do, and my mind is foggy. I feel like I am failing on myself. And failing with all of you.

It’s time for a change. A change of mind. A reboot. A new beginning… or whatever you want to call it. I’m calling it my 80/20 plan.

From here on out I will be making a conscience effort to eat 80% raw, 20% cooked… and 100% vegan. I am getting rid of the processed foods, extra sugars, gluten, limiting salt and consuming more tea/water. I am also going to be blending and juicing a lot more. I feel energized when I drink my nutrients and I can tell my digestive system likes the much needed break.

I have been diligently reading recipes, research papers, watching videos, etc. All to feel prepared and to excite me once again. I am VERY excited. I will also be sharing my eats with all of you on my blog. I feel documenting is an important tool to help monitor eating. Plus, I want my journey to be a learning tool for those that want to start eating more raw but have a hard time understanding what they should be eating. My first words of encouragement: take it step by step.

Breakfast

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An apple + dates + almond butter for me and an apple + almond butter for Bubs. I am going to incorporate the same eating with Jordan, too. He already loves smoothies, juice and raw fruit. But when he sees me eat certain foods he is much more inclined to try them.

Lunch

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Raw Kale Salad and a glass of fresh juice.

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1 orange + 4 carrots + 1 apple + 1/3 of softball size beet + 1 lemon (peeled)

Snacks

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cucumber + hummus + cayenne pepper

tea

Tea

rawballs2 I also made a batch raw chocolate balls. I knew I needed something sweet and chocolaty to munch on. Depriving myself of chocolate is a bad thing.

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There were also some random bites of cantaloupe and cauliflower. I wasn’t too hungry for dinner tonight.

So there you have it. A confession that I am rather embarrassed about but something that I wanted to share with all of you. Because every one goes through rough times. Everyone feels venerable. And even the healthiest people do make decisions that may not be so healthy.

It happens to everyone.

To leave a comment or question, click on the title above and scroll down to find the comment box.

tasha

clean eating, health, weight loss

Be in charge!

Gaining control of your weight loss- conquering the obstacles that can sabotage your goals

imageWhen we start a new adventure or journey, the level of excitement can often fade. Those feelings can be replaced by levels of stress, shock, loneliness or simply just being overwhelmed. It’s up to you to gain that control back and help yourself back on your feet.

Don’t ever feel like you are alone – Because you’re not! Often times we don’t succeed on our weight loss journey because there is not enough support to help us through the tough and difficult times. Join support groups in your area, get involved on online weight loss forums and participate in beginner classes at your local gym or recreation center. Take the initiative to approach someone that you have been eyeing, seeing if they would like a work out partner. Chances are they have been thinking the same thing but too shy to approach anyone!

Keep a food and mood journal – Track your way to better health, one piece of food at a time. This is important for two reasons: The first reason helps to channel weak spots in your diet. Do you notice that you HAVE to have something sweet during stressful times or during the last 2 hours before you go home for the day? Learn to avoid these weak spots before they even start and plan more effectively. Instead of a candy bar have a few pieces of dark chocolate and a juicy piece of fruit.
imageThe second reason is for you to be able to listen to your inner voice. Feel guilty about writing down those cookies you ate? Write your emotion down! Journaling your mood is just as important. Looking back and reviewing how you felt before and after you ate something can be a wonderful learning lesson and help you look at the positive rather than the negative.
Tip – Don’t feel like you can “write” a journal? Use blogs instead! Carry your camera around and quickly snap pictures of your food. Free online blogging sites make it easy for you to upload photos and quickly write some text. You can share your blog site with friends and family, too. Gain instant support and connect with other like minded individuals!

Learn to cook all over again – See a recipe in a magazine but not sure if you can re-create it? Or worse yet, will it even taste good? We all get comfortable in the kitchen cooking the same meals over and over. This is failure waiting to happen because our taste buds quickly become bored. Cooking with others is a wonderful way to learn new techniques and ingredients. Get a group of friends together and take cooking lessons from each other, featuring healthy meals. If you want to splurge a bit you can also look for event centers offering cooking nights for a fee. Learn from skilled chefs, take notes, ask questions and have fun!

Eat seasonally and locally – Nothing is worse than sitting down to a healthy salad and not imagebeing able to taste it. Or looking forward to a juicy apple for it to be mealy. It really can dampen an appetite in a hurry. Store bought produce has been sitting in a cold storage, for who knows how long, before it reaches your kitchen. Buying local produce from a stand or farmers market helps eliminate the middle man, leaving you with delicious and edible fruits and vegetables that you can actually look forward to enjoying! Straight from the fields to you is a healthy way to embrace Mother Earth and it’s offerings. It’s also one of the greenest ways to shop as there is less of an impact on our environment.

Take control of your dreams today. You have the tools to help get over the slumps and humps, bringing you right back to your feet. Keep walking forward and don’t ever look back!

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2012 goals, clean eating, health, weight loss

Be food smart!

Now that 2012 is upon us, “diets” and “weight loss” are the number one Googled item – no surprise there! Instead of going on a strict diet try eating cleaner and smarter.
This is why “diets” do not work. It is all about lifestyle changes – changes for life! I wanted to share some of my go-to ways to think healthy and eat healthy, and to cut out unwanted calories and change unhealthy techniques. These techniques are for everyone – meat eaters, vegetarians and vegans. 
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1. Eat your protein during breakfast. Eggs, Greek style yogurt, tofu or beans will help your energy level and reduce your cravings during the day.
2. Changing the way you cook. Instead of sautéing or frying, try poaching, steaming or roasting.
3. Substitutions are a great alternative to cooking. Use plain Greek style yogurt instead of sour cream, mustard or hummus instead of mayo, and lean ham or turkey bacon instead of pork bacon.
4. Think before you drink. You can easily drink more calories than you know. Drink seltzer water with citrus (orange, lemon, lime), use non-fat milk in your coffee and lattes, STOP the soda, and if you must drink juice, make it be 100% juice with no added sugar.
5. Check your portion size!  Eat on smaller plates to help cut down on over plating and portion out your plate with this ratio: 1/4 meat/protein 1/4 carb 1/2 vegetable. Also visualize your helpings: protein should be a deck of cards, starch should be a tennis ball and eat as much veggies/fruit as you like.
6. Measure your olive oil instead of “winging it”. You don’t need as much as you may think.
7. Reduce over all meat consumption by subbing with beans or tofu. Although you can buy lean meat, subbing 1-2 nights a week can help get more variety in your everyday diet.
8. Think ordering a salad is a “safe” choice? Salads can easily be just as unhealthy as a burger with fries! Order salads with dressing on the side, cut down on croutons and cheese. Use baby spinach instead of lettuce and add raw nuts for texture and healthy fat.
9. Add fat free flavor. Using a lot of herbs when cooking cuts down on the use of oils and sauces. Experiment by using basil, rosemary, thyme, parsley, red pepper flakes or anything that catches your eye.
10. Fill up on fiber. Eat plenty of beans, legumes and whole grains throughout the day to maintain your energy levels and helps keep you full longer.
11. Snack a better snack. Avoid cookies and chips and replace them with carrot sticks with hummus, fruit, nuts and low fat cheese.
12. Smarten up your soup. Broth soups are generally lower in calories and a good choice when you are craving comfort food. Steer clear of the cream based soups as they are loaded with calories and fat.
13. Take time to eat. It can take up to 30 minutes before you realize your are getting full. Sit, relax and enjoy your meal for once.
14. Don’t ever deny yourself. If you want dessert, enjoy! Just keep your portion size in check. Try enjoying a few pieces of dark chocolate with fruit for a great ending to any meal.

Losing weight can be a struggle but the more tools you have, the easier it will be. Good luck and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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i've lost it, weight loss

I’VE LOST IT! – Brianna Westhaver

Brianna is no stranger to the spotlight. She has a very popular and influential weight loss blog titled, My Commitment to Me, and she has been showcased on her local news station as well as being interviewed for other weight loss web sites. She truly is an inspiration to herself and to others. She has worked her butt off and it definitely shows! Just watch her in action!

Here is what she has to say: {from her fitbottomedgirls.com article}

Weight has always been an issue in my life, ever since I was a young child. I can’t remember a time when I felt comfortable in my body.Lose_weight_quickly113

By my 24th birthday, I was well over 300 pounds, but when I looked at myself in the mirror, I didn’t think I was that big. Looking back, I compare it to an anorexic person who doesn’t think they are thin. In December 2007 at a work Christmas party, a picture was taken that gave me some big perspective. Looking at this photo, I realized I had to do something about my weight. People had told me over the years how to lose weight; they told me that I had to do it. But I’m the type of person that does not respond well to people telling me how to live my life—I had to make the decision for myself.

I have tried every fad diet known to man, DIETS DO NOT WORK. When someone asks me what diet I’m on my response is "I don’t diet" and that’s true, I don’t. I eat clean, I eat small portions and I am aware of what I put into my body. I work out 5-6 days per week and choose active options instead of sedentary. I don’t count calories and I drink lots of water. I fuel my body for energy and not for emotions. So doesn’t that sound simple? Sure it’s super simple and it works. It’s SIMPLE but not EASY – I know that I’ve been there and I still get into those situations. It’s about having the tools and knowledge of self to know what to do and be prepared.

How or when did you start to notice your weight and unhealthy lifestyle?

After high school is when I realized how unhealthy I was living but I didn’t have the knowledge on how to change my life. I just thought that if I didn’t eat much then the weight would come off, but knowing what I know now that is not the case. I wanted to change, but I just didn’t know how. I just figured I was one of those people who was “big boned” or genetically predisposed to being heavy. Now I know that is not the case, a rare percentage of people in the world have a very hard time losing weight due to genetics but for the most part anyone can make the change they just must be willing to commit.

What was your turning point to change your life?

I always knew that I had a weight problem, but I never realized that I had gotten so big until I saw a picture of myself at a Christmas party in 2007. Seeing it on film I realized I needed to make a change, even if it just meant not getting bigger. On January 1, 2008, I made a new years resolution that has changed my life for the better.

Give a sample of the foods you consume:

I eat 5-6 small meals per day. In general for breakfast I will have fat free greek yogurt & berries or sometimes I will make protein pancakes. My second meal of the day is a salad with grilled chicken or ground turkey. My lunch is normally steamed veggies and chicken. My fourth meal is fruit with cottage cheese. My dinner will be sometimes a protein shake or another salad with cottage cheese as the dressing

Weight loss is difficult. What has been your greatest tool to help you achieve your goals?

My support system is the #1 tool that has kept me going through this process. If I was doing this alone I know I wouldn’t have stuck to it this long. I have a great group of friends who are supportive of my goals. I have developed lasting friendships in my workout buddies. Surrounding myself by people who enjoy the same things that I do has kept me going.

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AFTER

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 Don’t be shy: I would love to feature you! If you or someone you know lost weight and is now living a healthy lifestyle please email me: thecleaneatingmama @ gmail.com

tashasig

i've lost it, weight loss

I’VE LOST IT! – Steph Norton

After my first I’VE LOST IT! post, I started receiving emails from others who had lost weight and wanted to share their experience. I am completely moved and proud of ALL OF YOU! I read each and every story, and by the end I am crying yet smiling at the same time. You are all heroes! You are heroes to yourself, your family and to others struggling with the same issues. Remember: YOU ARE NEVER ALONE!

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Meet Steph.

Steph, like so many of us, started comparing herself to others in High School. The spiral effect this had on her life was something she was not prepared for. Fortunately, she found help at the right time in her life and made a drastic change that saved her life. 

How or when did you start to notice your weight and unhealthy lifestyle?

I have always never been the skinny one throughout my life I wish I could’ve been.. I remember when I was in 8th grade and Britney Spears first came out and I thought why can’t I look like her, and from that day on I was on a "diet" to try and achieve that. I Never really struggled working out cause I was a dancer and played volleyball, basketball and was in track. This thinking of achieving this look continued into College where everyday I would try but somehow always fail at the diet part. I felt extremely lost and alone in college so to fill the void I would eat what I thought was healthy but was really not. My workouts went to zilch and I slowly was gaining when I was hoping I was losing. After the first semester I was so lonely and "depressed" I left school. When I was at home is when all the destructive behaviors started, I was never officially diagnosed with an Eating Disorder but had a lot of tendencies. I would starve myself to achieve that "look" I would see how little I could consume calorie wise and from there everything continued to slowly go down hill. When I hit 21 I started to drink everyday all day. Then when the cutting started. As you can tell my life was a complete mess and with all I was doing I just continued to put weight on and I sunk farther into depression.

What was your turning point to change your life?

My turning point came when my mom and I were living with a girl who was a single mom with some destructive behaviors of her own. We were out at a bar one night and I was completely wasted when I felt I could trust to talk to her and not say anything to my mom about any of this. Little did I know she went behind my back the next morning and talked to my mom about everything I told her. That day my Mom came home from work and told me I needed to get help. We then went to the doctor and I was put on meds for depression and anxiety. I was starting to feel ok after the meds started to work but was still unhappy with my weight. So I kept it to myself and continued to drink and balloon up. It all came at me when I was at my heaviest in my Sister’s wedding. I was her maid of honor and felt so uncomfortable next to my rail thin sister. Finally at the age of 24 my Mom had said she had enough of her weight and we vowed to join Weight Watchers together. So with my meals starting to come together with that program I wanted to try running as a workout since I was an athlete in high school I thought no big deal. I then got the race bug itch once I ran on and off for the exercise. Since then I haven’t looked back on running. I have completed two 5ks and 4 half marathons since. With running I picked up weight training. Since May of 2009 I have lost 60 total lbs and kept it off. My destructive behaviors were finally in control after I picked up the running even though they will never be completely gone I have kept the under control. I also have stayed on the meds which have helped.

Give a sample of the foods you consume:

Even though what I consume on a daily basis this is what a typical day may look like.. Breakfast is 2 slices of Eziekel Bread, 2 tbsp of a nut butter and a banana. Lunch is a salad and veggies of some sort ( I love spinach/spring mix salads, carrots, celery, cucumbers and on and on) Dinner is usually a protein smoothie, sandwiches or wraps, sometimes sweet potatoes. Snacks are usually Larabars and fruits and veggies. Like I said when I first started with the weight loss journey I followed Weight Watchers, then I switched to Weight Watchers/ Clean Eating and now I am a Vegetarian who tried to Eat Clean and sticks to all healthy option 80% of the time!

Weight loss is difficult. What has been your greatest tool to help you achieve your goals?

The greatest tool to get me to my goals is running and weight lifting. I constantly try and challenge myself all the time. People ask me how I keep the motivation to run as much as I do and I say One it brings me joy and is like my therapy and two I sign up for races, knowing I have a race coming makes me push so I am not "lazy". But I do have one rest day a week they are important for weight loss! I also stay on track with the loss with only consuming water throughout the day. It’s very important key in losing weight!

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Don’t be shy: I would love to feature you! If you or someone you know lost weight and is now living a healthy lifestyle please email me: thecleaneatingmama @ gmail.com

tashasig

i've lost it, weight loss

I’VE LOST IT! – Stephanie Badger

While at the gym a few weeks back, I couldn’t help to notice this one particular member. He wasn’t the typical gym type: he was older, probably in his 60’s, and severely overweight. Chances of him having diabetes or some kind of heart problem seemed very likely. However, he was the hardest working person there. I stepped on to the stair stepping machine next to him and in my head I was praising him, being his own cheering crowd. I was so proud of him! He was sweating, huffing and puffing, but he was not giving up. He was my inspiration for that evening, and will continue to be my inspiration. I would have loved to get to know him, to hear how he had gotten to that low point in his health and to learn about his turn around experience. I hope I continue to see him at the gym. Maybe one of these times I will approach him and to learn about what inspires him to keep moving.

Because of this I wanted to showcase ALL of the hardworking individuals who have reached their lowest point and decided to turn a negative into a positive by eating cleaner and started living a healthier life. These hard working individuals need their own spot light. Their own recognition. The chance to share their accomplishments.

I am starting a blog series called “I’VE LOST IT!”. I am planning to feature individuals who have lost weight, established healthy habits and want to inspire others. Losing weight is one of the most difficult, challenging and emotional rollercoaster’s an individual can face. I know because I’ve been there. It is important that we must not give up on ourselves and to know that no one is ever alone. I hope these stories help motivate you to keep working at your own personal goals or to help you start. You have the power!

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Don’t be shy: I would love to feature you! If you or someone you know lost weight and is now living a healthy lifestyle please email me: thecleaneatingmama @ gmail.com

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Please meet Stephanie: she has lost an incredible amount of weight and started developing healthy habits for life! She is such an inspiration – thank you so much for sharing your story!

How or when did you start to notice your weight and unhealthy lifestyle?

I actually gained the bulk of my excess weight pregnant with my second child. It totaled 87 pounds. That seems astounding but my 6’ frame carried it pretty well.

The big problem came when I kept eating the same way after he was born. I’ve always been a stress eater too. He was born with a cleft palate which meant that the normal things that are done with a baby could not be done quite as successfully with him. Breast feeding was not an option, special bottles had to be bought, he could barely drink or eat anything without it coming out of his nose. Also, at 9 months old he had to go in for surgery to repair the cleft. That was stressful. I put on an extra 25 pounds on my own in the 4 years following. I found there were only 2 stores in my city where I could clothes shop and I was still wearing my maternity clothes and they were snug.

What was your turning point to change your life?

I had been out applying for jobs, getting interviews and never hearing anything back. There is only so many times that can happen before you start asking yourself what you are doing wrong. After doing some fake interviews with some people I know and them telling me I did great, I went to my mom for some advice. I know it was hard for her to say but she simply stated “I don’t want to upset you, but do you maybe think its because they may assume that you are pregnant?”

That did me in. I sobbed. I got off the phone and looked in the mirror, like really looked. I realized that I was doing a dis-service to myself, to my kids and to my husband. Not 6 years before he had met a confident, attractive, active woman who had tuned into a lazy, un-kept, fat person. I had enough

Give a sample of the foods you consume:

On an average day this is what I eat (keeping in mind that it does change):

Breakfast:

2 eggs, 1 slice of diet bread, water, fruit

Or

fruit smoothie made with protein shot instead of yogurt

Lunch:

Generally a salad of some sort. I prefer something other than regular lettuce. Spinach salad with mushrooms, peppers, dried cranberries and a grilled chicken breast is my favourite.

Dinner: This one changes often as I have 3 other mouths to feed

A protein of some kind. Could be chicken, steak, pork

Veggies: whatever is in my fridge (its always stocked). My most common is a grilled veggie medley. Chop it all up, throw it in a Pyrex backing dish with a little EVOO and spices and bake.

Often a starch of some sort is added such as wild rice, whole wheat pasta, baked potatoes.

I eat a lot of fruit throughout the day as well. Anytime I am feeling hungry, that’s when I eat fruit.

The biggest tip I can give anyone trying to lose weight is to drink water. We are fortunate to have some of the best water in the world where I am from, so drinking it unfiltered from the tap is no problem for me. But, if you don’t, get a filter. Caffeine free tea’s are also a great thing. Make a whole jug or a fruit tea and throw it in the fridge for a hot day. Make popsicles out of it, drink it hot. It’s a tummy way to get that water into your system.

Weight loss is difficult. What has been your greatest tool to help you achieve your goals?

My greatest motivation has been success. I lost 10 and couldn’t wait for the next 10, then the next 20. Hitting that 50 pound mark was astounding! Having to buy 4 new wardrobes in 1 year was amazing… expensive, but amazing. I also loved the reactions that people were giving me. Some people would freak out if they hadn’t seen me in 3 months. In the first 3 months I started, I lost 45 pounds. That made a pretty big difference.

I think the biggest thing that people should know is that they need to do it cause they want to, not because they want to conform to how “society” thinks they should look. I didn’t feel good. I felt older than my years, sluggish and not only like I was just observing others living life, but that I was taking life away from my kids.

I remember one night in particular. I had lost about 50 pounds by this point. My husband walked into the kitchen where I was cleaning up after dinner, gave me a big hug and looked me in the eye and said “I hope you are not doing this for me cause you know I love you for you and don’t care what you look like right?” I was amazed but responded with “nope, no worries, I am being totally selfish on this one.” He just laughed and said “good”.

I have heard people say so many times, you cannot make someone else happy if you are not happy, you cannot love someone else if you don’t love yourself. I now know that is true. As a result, my kids aren’t eating crappy pre-packaged convenience food anymore, we are eating more organic or locally grown produce and less of the chemical filled, color enhanced, hormone induced foods that I think were causing them to be lethargic and moody. All 4 of us seem to have benefited from this change I decided to make.

before and after tashasig

health, weight loss

Lighten up and be food smart for 2010

Now that summer is upon us, “diets” and “weight loss” are the number one Googled item – no surprise.Instead of going on a strict diet, try eating cleaner and smarter.
This is why “diets” do not work. It is all about lifestyle changes – changes for life! I wanted to share some of my go-to ways to think healthy and eat healthy, and to cut out unwanted calories and change unhealthy techniques. These techniques are for everyone – meat eaters, vegetarians and vegans. 
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1. Eat your protein during breakfast. Eggs, Greek style yogurt, tofu or beans will help your energy level and reduce your cravings during the day.
2. Changing the way you cook. Instead of sautéing or frying, try poaching, steaming or roasting.
3. Substitutions are a great alternative to cooking. Use plain Greek style yogurt instead of sour cream, mustard or hummus instead of mayo, and lean ham or turkey bacon instead of pork bacon.
4. Think before you drink; you can easily drink more calories than you know. Drink seltzer water with citrus (orange, lemon, lime), use non-fat milk in your coffee and lattes, STOP the soda, and if you must drink juice, make it be 100% juice with no added sugar.
5. Check your portion size!  Eat on smaller plates to help cut down on over plating and portion out your plate with this ratio: 1/4 meat/protein 1/4 carb 1/2 vegetable. Also visualize your helpings: protein should be a deck of cards, starch should be a tennis ball and eat as much veggies/fruit as you like.
6. Measure your olive oil instead of “winging it”. You don’t need as much as you may think.
7. Reduce over all meat consumption by subbing with beans or tofu. Although you can buy lean meat, subbing 1-2 nights a week can help get more variety in your everyday diet.
8. Think ordering a salad is a “safe” choice? Salads can easily be just as unhealthy as a burger with fries! Order salads with dressing on the side, cut down on croutons and cheese. Use baby spinach instead of lettuce and add raw nuts for texture and healthy fat.
9. Add fat free flavor. Using a lot of herbs when cooking cuts down on the use of oils and sauces. Experiment by using basil, rosemary, thyme, parsley, red pepper flakes or anything that catches your eye.
10. Fill up on fiber. Eat plenty of beans, legumes and whole grains throughout the day to maintain your energy levels and helps keep you full longer.
11. Snack a better snack. Avoid cookies and chips and replace them with carrot sticks with hummus, fruit, nuts and low fat cheese.
12. Smarten up your soup. Brothy soups are generally lower in calories and a good choice when you are craving comfort food. Steer clear of the cream based soups as they are loaded with calories and fat.
13. Take time to eat. It can take up to 30 minutes before you realize your are getting full. Sit, relax and enjoy your meal for once.
14. Don’t ever deny yourself. If you want dessert, enjoy! Just keep your portion size in check. Try enjoying a few pieces of dark chocolate with fruit for a great ending to any meal.
Losing weight can be a struggle but the more tools you have, the easier it will be. Good luck and enjoy the sun! 

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A healthy lifestyle with a clean, healthy diet helps to improve and maintain your Body Mass Index (BMI). You can calculate your body mass index using this nifty calculator found on the official BMI private healthcare birmingham site.

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