25-pounds lost with HCG!

Hello everyone!  As you can see I have not posted in a bit; I've been pretty busy the last month.  First I've been working more on my other blog, catered more for entrepreneurs.  And second (and most importantly) I lost 25 pounds!  Yes, you read right, 25 pounds in 30 days!  Well, 33 days to be exact ;)

How did I do it?  Well it all started when my friend told me about her success with a very strict, doctor supervised diet she was doing, which involved taking medication.  She had mentioned a few aspects I found curious, such as avoiding oils, lotions, and most make-up.  She did not know it was called the "hcg diet", but upon research I found that's what it was.  I went down a rabbit hole of information.  I won't bombard you with too much info in this post, but I will be sharing in upcoming posts some tips and tricks I learned along the way for anyone interested in the HCG diet.  The most important things to keep in mind for the HCG diet are 1) it can be done with the HCG drops, or via injections (both are taken daily; I did it through injections), and 2) the hormone is paired with a very low calorie diet (VLCD).  If you are taking the right dosage, you will notice your appetite will be suppressed, allowing you to follow the caloric restrictions with ease.

Significant loss of inches, especially around my back and stomach

Anyway, I was having a very hard time losing weight prior to HCG, even while eating healthy.  I also found that I was essentially caught in a catch-22. I wanted to lose weight; I had been feeling so "heavy", and with such low energy, I even had a hard time breathing. I mentioned to you before the state of my energy and how I felt there was something up with my hormones/thyroid, but my blood work came back normal. I still felt there was something wrong. I had no energy to work out, to lose weight. Instead I opted to get back to eating healthy again. My energy level did increase, but not enough to exercise like I wanted to. I started doing yoga to get in some physical activity. I was maintaining my weight; not gaining or losing. I needed to find a happy medium between food and exercise, but without the energy to do it, I could only focus on eating healthy and therefore weight loss would be that much harder. I felt so discouraged.  I got to the end of my rope in late August. I never, ever wanted to undergo weight loss surgery; I just feel it's not for me, but I had to find an effective solution, otherwise I would have to force myself to go under the knife. I just felt I need a substantial amount of help.

I could no longer fight this battle on my own.  

I found an affordable doctor in San Diego who offered HCG injections.  I decided to try it, all or nothing.  Thankfully the doctor made the process seem more manageable.  He provided me with information, tips, and of course taught me how to inject myself with the HCG.  By the way I am not squeamish with needles, and the injection is a tiny, insulin needle, which I would quickly prick into my stomach.  The whole process takes about 15 seconds.  It didn't hurt at all, sometimes I would feel a little pinch, but it would be so quick that it didn't even matter.

My injections; I would prepare the shots a week at a time

If you're considering the HCG diet, definitely consider following the protocol with a doctor.  I would not recommend doing it alone your first time.  Also, there is a debate on HCG injections vs. HCG drops.  I am going to share my friend's story (in a later post), since she followed the diet with drops, while I did with injections.  I've read many articles about injections being more concentrated than drops, which is why I did not mind injections at all.  I really wanted to make sure I had something potent to work with, for maximum success.

Another thing I want to point out is that results vary for everyone!  On average, you lose about 1 pound per day, however sometimes when you're changing foods, or if you come in contact with some fats (like oils in lotions), or if you cheat, then your weight loss will vary greatly.  I also experienced stalls during ovulation and then pre-menstruation, so it's important to share those things with your doctor.

In later posts I am going to share what I ate and tips, but for now just wanted to give you some basic info on what I did, and why I did it.  Again, do your research; if you've been having a really hard time to lose weight and are at the end of your rope, this may be a solution for you.  I don't have the patience to lose weight slowly, at least not before because I had so much to lose it would've taken me forever!  Now I feel like I have a great head start, especially since my energy is so high, that I can lose weight in a "normal" way through diet and exercise.

P.S: I actually just finished what's called "phase 2" of the diet, which is the very low-calorie portion. Now I finished the injections and am moving on to a low-carb, high protein diet; kind of a mix between Paleo and Atkins.  Do what works for you!  After the weight loss from that phase, you have to keep the weight off, and of course keep losing until you meet your goal.

Thanks for stopping by, and be on the lookout for future HCG posts! =)

Happy 1 year blogversary + GIVEAWAY!

Hi all!  So I totally dropped the ball on my blog's birthday.  FatFabFit turned 1 year old on 7/26/14. I thought I started this blog in August of 2013, but nope it was in July 2013.  My first post was dedicated to discussing my food cravings and emotional eating, which pretty summed up my relationship with food.

I first started this blog with the purpose of promoting my business when I was a Beachbody coach, but then I kept at it because I noticed how healing it was to share my experience and journey with weight loss.  I am no longer a BB coach but I still love to share what I've learned because I hope it'll be of some use to you!  I don't know what the future holds with this blog, but I am still looking to lose weight and drastically improve my health, so there is still plenty for me to share.

I am so thankful for you and all of my readers; without you I would not have been as invested to keep writing and sharing.  In honor of my first year with this blog I am hosting a giveaway!

I am giving away a "Shaun T weight loss" set.  These are some items I've purchased and used myself, or have been given within the last year. I have no more use for them but am sure if you're interested in any or all of these items, you will find them useful.  My favorite item is the Focus T25 set; the workouts are quick and definitely get you sweating.  Please note these items are all used and in great condition.  You'll get all of the "Hip-Hop Abs" DVD's, as well as the "Focus T25" DVD's.  I am also including a book and the recipe/starter guides included with the Focus T25 set. This giveaway is worth over (approx.) $180.  This giveaway is only open within the United States and ends Monday September 15th at midnight Pacific time.  If you're interested in entering the giveaway follow the instructions below.  Please make sure to use a valid email address; I will be contacting you within 48 hours of closing the giveaway for shipping information.  Good luck!

By the way, have you checked out my FREE E-BOOK? It's called "Greens on the Side" and will help you get started with your weight loss goals in just 5 easy steps. Check it out =)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Struggling with Weight Loss

In my previous post I mentioned how I was doing on the Virgin Diet.  I went away to NYC last weekend and just received my blood test results.  So thankfully I do not have hypothyroidism but I have anemia.  This explains why my energy has been so low.  I also have a gut feeling that there's something else going on.  Everything else came back normal thank goodness, but I just know there has to be more to this story.  I haven't lost weight and have been gaining weight.  This plus my low energy is causing me problems.  I really don't know what to do.  I feel totally lost.  I don't have great medical coverage so I'm gonna have to figure something out on my own.

I am going to continue with eliminating allergens from my diet but now I have to add extra things and I don't know what those could be.  My next step is going to be doing some research on anemia and possibly on some functional medicine doctors here in San Diego.  Maybe merging traditional medicine with functional/holistic medicine can help me find a solution to my struggle with losing weight.

I know this was a super short post but I just wanted to update you all on my situation.  I've been stressed about my weight gain despite my attempts at changing my eating habits. Right now I am focusing on getting as much information as possible to help me.

By the way, have you checked out my FREE E-BOOK? It's called "Greens on the Side" and will help you get started with your weight loss goals in just 5 easy steps.  Check it out!

Weight Loss - one step at a time (3 simple steps to start)

Hello all!  In this post I am sharing what my current status and goals are, and a little further down 3 simple steps to get you started with your weight loss goals.

So I have a goal to lose 50 pounds by July 1st, 2014; that's about 10 pounds per month.  My eating habits have improved greatly since the holidays and now I am getting back to incorporating exercise.
First off I am searching for food options I don't have to cook or prep.  Right now I prep about 75% of my meals and I would like to bring the number down to at least 50%.  I currently prep about 3 times per week because unfortunately I share a fridge with 2 other people so as you can imagine, it gets pretty crowded in there.  Food prep takes time for me, and it's time away from working out.  I'm looking into some healthy, low-calorie frozen options which I can just nuke in the microwave, and of course keep some live food options (raw fruits/veggies) for snacks and weekends.

I'm not a fan of working out.  I would prefer to lose weight by taking naps if I could (hehehe) but that's not gonna work, at least not for my goals.  So I'm taking it back to when I first moved out here.  Back in December 2012 when I first moved to San Diego I walked A LOT.  I wanted to learn the lay of the land so walking helped me discover some "go-to" places.  I walked up and down the city of San Diego and lost 10 pounds in about 3 months, just from walking and cutting soda, and juice out (without changing my eating habits).  I figured if I could lose 10 pounds just from that, imagine how much more I could lose if I ate better and exercised more.  So I joined Beachbody and lost another 12 pounds in about 2 months (22 pounds lost as of July 2013).  My weight fluctuated since the holidays but I'm aiming to get back on track. I have been walking 2 nights per week for 20-30 minutes, and 2 other times per week doing Focus T25.  In a previous post I mentioned which were my favorite workouts from T25 (you get a bunch of different DVD's with the program), so I alternate those.  In addition, I recently purchased a sauna suit to help me sweat more when I'm "working out".  I wear it when I walk and when I'm doing T25.  I've been doing this for about a week and already noticed my belly feels a lot less bloated.  Here is the suit I purchased:

Just an FYI, I read in the reviews the suits run a little small, so get a bigger size.  I am between a 2x and 3x, and bought a 4x.  It fits me big but not uncomfortably so.

So if you're looking to lose weight but don't know where to start, start one step at a time:

Master Weight Loss Cleanse/Detox with Detox Lounge San Diego

Since coming back from my holiday vacation I've been wanting to do a detox to reboot my system. I was going through a few emotional and financial situations which really sucked the motivation to detox right out of me. It wasn't until the start of this month where I felt like 'it's time". Last week, after much research, I decided to try the "master weight loss cleanse" by Detox Lounge in San Diego (please note I paid for this myself; this is not a sponsored post)

I chose this detox because I wanted something I wasn't gonna have to prep myself. You can make your own juices and drinks to detox but I felt I would be more successful if everything was taken care of for me. So Detox Lounge prepares everything for you. All I had to do was pick-up my cleanse (you have to pre-order because they prepare everything fresh) and drink it. This cleanse is unlike the "master cleanse" in that it has way more nutritional value.

I purchased the 3-day cleanse. The 3-day cleanse includes 18 bottles of different concoctions (6 bottles per day, 1 bottle every 2 hours). Along with the cleanse you have to drink a lot of water.
Because Monday the 17th was a holiday I decided to do my detox from the 15th-17th (Saturday, Sunday, Monday). I wanted to take full advantage of the day off. It's unrealistic for me to detox while at work. I didn't know what the effects would be, and you should know that everyone's body reacts differently. I share my experience to give you some perspective but if you decide to do a food detox, try it first on a day when you can stay home.

I modified the detox to work for me. I changed the drinking times and also incorporated some food. I chose to start later in the day (10am) and had my last bottle at 8pm (they suggest from 8am-6pm).  I did this because I like to stay up late. I would drink every bottle within 1 hour, and then drink about 8-10 ounces of "flavored" water in the next hour (to prep for the next bottle). I am not a big water drinker so flavored water helps me drink more.  I usually add lemon juice to make it more "fun" to drink.  Also I incorporated light meals.  I knew not eating was not an option for me. I do not like to starve myself.  When I was hungry I ate light.  My detox meals were: garden salad (lettuce, tomatoes, onions, lemon juice, olive oil, a little sea salt), vegetable soup (veggie broth, onions, garlic, and tons of vegetables), and peanut butter on whole wheat bread.  I also had apples and oranges for snacks.

Juice flavors:
*Please visit the Detox Lounge site for list of ingredients*

Tropical Heat - For the "master weight loss cleanse" you have to drink 2 bottles of this. It is VERY spicy. If you do not like spicy foods at all, I would not recommend this cleanse. Cayenne pepper is included as an ingredient for this flavor. I could barely handle it and I like spicy foods. I felt the "heat" as it went down my throat. Thankfully the tingling does subside, and since I was drinking it little by little I adjusted right away. It tastes sweet but the pepper makes it less appealing. I liked this flavor the least.  I couldn't even finish the last bottle by the 3rd day; I was done.

Vitality Splash - Is refreshing, especially after the tropical heat.  It is a light and sweet drink.

Blue-Green goddess - It is very minty.  I knew the drinks weren't going to taste amazing, and I could handle drinking this but after a while it was like drinking mouthwash.  

Bloom Berry - Another light drink; I found it less sweet than vitality splash.

Chai Coconut Bliss - The most pleasant of all the drinks, and saved for last.  My only qualm is that I like my chai warm so it was a little weird drinking it cold.  But overall my favorite of the cleanse.

I realized a few things during the cleanse.  I am not as "unhealthy" as I thought I was.  In other words, I didn't really need a detox after all.  I already incorporate a lot of healthy foods in my diet. My body didn't react at all differently from the cleanse.  I did however feel much more energized. I could see myself doing a 1-day cleanse possibly once every 2 months, but I would not do the 3-day again.  I wouldn't recommend this cleanse if you haven't done one before.  This one is at an "intermediate" level.  Or if you've never cleansed before, try it for 1 day to see how you feel and then move up to 3 days.

By the way, have you checked out my FREE E-BOOK? It's called "Greens on the Side" and will help you get started with your weight loss goals in just 5 easy steps.  Check it out!

Why Wishful Thinking doesn't work

Genie will make my dreams come true!

I had to write; had to get these feelings out. It irks me so much when people tell me they wish they could do something. I even slip-up sometimes and then try to change my words (it takes practice!). Wishing for something means you are expecting "it" to fall on your lap with no work on your part. "It" will just happen, "it" will just appear. Making a wish is as effective as sitting and waiting. When you wish for more money, for example, what you're actually telling yourself (and whoever you believe is listening to you, like God) is that you want money to fall on your lap. You want to receive the money with no extra effort on your part. 

I'm sure God used to laugh at me when I would wish for more money. I picture God like my mother giving me "the look". Imagine asking your mom for a million dollars...exactly. I feel we're so used to wishing for things to happen that in essence we train ourselves to just wish and wait, and then we wonder why things haven't happened.

I'm not perfect. That person used to be me; wishing on the first star I saw at night, wishing on a fallen eyelash, wishing so many things would happen, and then I would be so disappointed when they didn't come true. Then I would wish just for the hell of it and then it became a normal part of my sentence. Someone would invite me to go on vacation with them, "Oh I wish I could...". Wishing has no purpose other than to comfort us into believing something will actually fall on our laps. I'm only sharing my thoughts with you because I've been down that road. While I can say that (thankfully) I have no regrets at this point in my life, that wasn't always the case. I would read prior passages from my journals and noticed the same pattern of being stuck. The main reason I was stuck was because I allowed myself to stay stuck. I wished and hoped, and dreamed, and nothing changed and then looking back at years prior I would feel regret for not taking action.

Wishing doesn't work, but you know what does? Intentions. Setting an intention means you're actually intending to do something. Intentions = Actions. Instead of wishful thinking try positive thinking and intentions. Combining an intention with a positive attitude and positive thoughts can be very powerful. If you really want something and are wishing for it, set it as an intention. You'll notice over time what you really desire. You're only gonna work towards something you really want. Instead of wishing to receive something, try this affirmation: I intend to receive _____.

I'll give you another example; a very personal one. I've wished to lose weight for many years. It's actually a little crazy to me, looking back, on how much I would wish to look different but did nothing about it. I clearly didn't really want to lose weight. Why do I say that? Because I never put any real effort into losing weight. Losing weight, back then, was about others; it was about how others saw me. It was never a process about me. This is why I don't regret not losing weight before because it would've been for the wrong reasons. It was not a true desire of mine, until now. Now the desire to lose weight is my own and I have set the intention to do so for my reasons.

So folks, the moral of the story is please assess your words and thoughts. When you are wishing for something, what are you really saying? If you want this year to be "THE YEAR", how do you intend to make it so?

By the way, have you checked out my FREE E-BOOK? It's called "Greens on the Side" and will help you get started with your weight loss goals in just 5 easy steps.  Check it out!

2013 wrap-up

Hello all!  We are 46 days away from the New Year!  2013 was filled with many blessings and transformations.  I share in a previous post how I took a leap of faith and turned my life right-side up.  16 days from today will mark my 1 year anniversary since changing my life and moving here to San Diego.  I don't know yet how I'm going to celebrate but I will keep you posted!

Once November started I felt my energy shifting into "hibernation" mode.  I was feeling kind of stuck and indecisive.  Once the time changed, it just felt like the darkness was lingering longer and I am such a sun worshiper that it makes me a little sad.  It's so easy to put yourself into a pit of fear and despair; so easy for me to do to myself.  But thankfully I have some great resources to help me stay focused on my goals.  I always turn back to my Magical Manifestor notes and training for guidance.  I am also working with Laura Yamin of Joyful Shimmy on a 21-day "fear detox".  She's such an inspiration, overall great listener and extremely supportive.  I highly recommend working with her.  I recently also began following one of the people from my MM class, Martine Holston, who wrote this powerful post on taking action when it seems like you have no control over a situation.  It really hit home because sometimes it's so hard for me to make a decision, especially when it's something that worries me.

My job responsibilities will be winding down soon, so I'll have more ME time to focus on my goals.  I am 100% focused and dedicated to "getting it done" as Shaun T would say!

Re-cap on my status:

Happy October! Week 9 T25 + Vegan Update!

Hellooo everyone!  I'm super happy it's October!  I love October, mainly for Halloween (best day ever!).  I have tons of juicy updates for you! I've been so busy with LIFE!  I started a new job and just recently interviewed for another position, so it seems like a lot of opportunities are coming my way.  I've been playing catch-up with everything, including my posts, but am glad to finally have a little break to let you know everything that's been happening.

It's the Fall now and I definitely felt the shift right before it happened.  I felt the days growing a little darker sooner, I felt more tired, have been feeling more drained than ever.  Also on the emotional front I've been feeling a little restless and like I'm "almost there"; like on the cusp of something (not sure yet what that is). I just entered on Monday, my 9th week of Focus T25.  I can't believe it's been 9 weeks already!  Actually it's been 10 since I began but I wasn't feeling so great one week, so I decided to do that corresponding week over.  The workout itself is my favorite so far.  There are so many days when I get home from work exhausted and decide to take it easy and rest.  I figure I should give myself a break from a hard day.  Then there's this tiny voice that says "cmon, you should really work out", and then I respond "but I'm SO TIRED", then the voice goes "It's only 25 minutes, just try your best", and that usually does the trick for me.  I play the DVD's on my laptop, so what I do is place a piece of paper over the screen to cover the timer.  I don't like watching the countdown because it feels like time moves slower then.  When I don't look at the time, the workout flies by and I feel amazing when I finish. Some days I am so tired that I only do about 15 minutes, but I don't feel bad because I figure something is better than nothing. My favorite Focus T25 DVD's (all included) are: Alpha stage: Cardio, Speed 1.0, Stretch Beta stage: Core Cardio, Speed 2.0 (MY FAV!), Upper Focus, and Core Speed.  They each have a lot of modifications if you're just starting out, and the best part is when you're consistent with the workouts you'll eventually find that some things which were hard at first become progressively easier.

I haven't weighed or measured myself. I actually decided last month to take a break from doing that. It may work for some people but it doesn't for me. I hate feeling like a slave to the numbers when it's really about the feeling for me. I don't want to let the numbers on a scale or measuring tape define me or my body. I am much more than a body. I feel myself losing weight; my clothes fit much looser, I have an easier time doing things like running after my bus when I'm late, and having more stamina to do things. I tried measuring myself week to week and weighing myself, but realized the numbers were controlling me. I discuss my "ego trip" and negative thought patterns and behaviors in my last post "I forgive myself for being fat". Whenever I weighed myself it was like opening a door I did not want to deal with. If the numbers were higher than the last time, my self-esteem would be momentarily destroyed. If the numbers were lower than before, they weren't low enough. I just thought it was too much to deal with, so I choose to focus on how I feel rather than how much I weigh or how much weight I'm losing.

Actually I will be honest with you and say that I've been looking at myself naked more often and....

yea...

I made this pic collage of my week 1 and week 9, and also the fact that I can actually fit in the door frame comfortably, whereas with week 1 I wasn't able to.  I still have a hard time seeing the physical changes in these pictures, but oh well, here you go!

As for Veganism, if you're just tuning in to my randomness now, I previously discussed taking a Vegan approach to my weight loss (check "Going Vegan") and needless to say I fucked up, and that's OK.  I'm not meant to be a Vegan, at least not at the moment.  I'm not a big meat eater and thankfully dairy is no longer a vice, but you have to have a lot of patience to be a Vegan.  You gotta be religiously aware of what you're consuming and the best option is to prepare your own meals.  As I've stated before, I am not a fan of cooking and I just don't care to cook.  I usually prepare 3 meals per 7-days, in large quantities to last me for a couple of days for lunch and dinner. But after a while I just get bored of the same thing, and I'm just lazy.  I'd rather buy frozen foods and just heat them up.  I know it's great to cook your own meals but I commute about 3 hours total, per day, by the time I get home I barely have the energy to keep up with life, let alone working out.  I think my next endeavor with consumption will be juicing.  I really like Shakeology and would love to do a juicing detox soon, before the new year.

Speaking of which, we are less than 3 months away from 2014!  I've come so far and have accomplished so much; I'm at the home stretch and want to really focus my energy on the last few 2013 goals, which are:

1) Get my driver's license

2) Blast the belly bulge (would love to reduce it by half before the new year)

3) Finalize some short-term career goals, which include solidifying a position with a great salary

4) Create a plan of action for my writing goals

5) Would love to be in a solid relationship, at least starting out

I'm thankful I have my Magical Manifesters lesson plans to guide me through the last bit of 2013.

Whew!  I know that was a lot to take in, but hopefully you laughed, you cried, and you'll be back for more!  Till next time!

P.S: Check me out on Joyful Shimmy!  I was interviewed by my great friend and sister, Laura Yamin, on my journey from East to West (almost 1 year ago!).  Check it out and let me know what you think!


By the way, have you checked out my FREE E-BOOK? It's called "Greens on the Side" and will help you get started with your weight loss goals in just 5 easy steps.  Check it out!

I forgive myself for being fat

I follow a great deal of amazing teachers and healers, including Deepak Chopra, Sonia Choquette,

Mike Dooley, among others.  I receive daily messages of inspiration and compassion to help me on my journey, and I recently noticed within the last two months I've been receiving a lot of messages about forgiveness.  I read them but the messages didn't connected with me, so they get deleted.  I always thought, well I don't have anyone to forgive.  I thought of forgiveness as something you did when someone hurt you, when you want to release that toxic energy.  I never quite clicked with forgiveness, until now.

To back track a little bit, I noticed within the last 2-3 months, since I've been more serious about improving my health, my ego has been so negative and draining.  I find myself fighting constantly to remain positive, optimistic; to guide myself gently.  But the voice has become louder, more aggressive, berating; all around just putting me down and making me feel so low.  I get so low sometimes I don't even know how to continue.  Thankfully I've learned to just let things be and take a break when things get overwhelming.  I stop what I'm doing and enjoy stillness.  I'll take a walk or just lie down, to calm the voice in my head.  The more I try to fight, the worse it gets so I just let it be.  I let my Ego have a tantrum moment and then eventually it's over (at least momentarily).  I figure my ego is scared and feeling doubtful of progress.  She's so used to feeling like a failure that it's a natural tendency to prepare and plan to fail. 

So as I read one of the most recent posts about forgiveness it dawned on me so suddenly that the first person I need to forgive is myself.  I need to forgive myself for the negative thoughts, actions, and emotions that I've pretty much given to myself.  The first forgiveness action, which I think will help me with my weight loss, is to forgive myself for being fat.  I forgive myself for being hard on myself, for criticizing myself, for giving up on me, for seeing and treating myself like shit, for feeling guilty when I eat or even think of eating, for overeating, for craving junk foods, and the list goes on and on...I think what I'll do is write out a list of all the things in the "fat" category I need to release myself from and forgive myself for.  I think I'll create some kind of forgiveness ritual, maybe burning the paper I write on, and creating beautiful reminders to stay on the forgiveness train.

Let me know, what are some things you can forgive yourself for?

By the way, have you checked out my FREE E-BOOK? It's called "Greens on the Side" and will help you get started with your weight loss goals in just 5 easy steps.  Check it out!

What a difference a year makes!

I'm wishing myself a very HAPPY ANNIVERSARY this month.  I'll share with you in a later post more about my story but just to give you a taste; last year I was unemployed, broke(n), depressed, and pretty much living in a pit of sorrow and self-pity.  The photo grid above shows pictures of me last summer (top row) and this summer (bottom two most recent).  Was my change drastic?  YES!  Maybe not drastic with the weight loss but definitely drastic with my LIFE!  I did a total bullshit makeover.  I got up, moved across the country and told myself I'M GONNA MAKE THIS WORK!

And guess what?  It did!  I might have gone through hell to get here but it's all worth it because now all I taste is victory juice from my P.I.M.P cup! So I'm raising my glass high because it's champagne and caviar dreams for me baby!

I just completed my first 5 weeks of Focus T25! I only have 5 more weeks to go and then I'm done!  I can't believe I'm already half way through.  Feeling so motivated and overall just excited about the great things to come.  Goals start out like that, a step at a time and then before you know it...complete.


By the way, have you checked out my FREE E-BOOK? It's called "Greens on the Side" and will help you get started with your weight loss goals in just 5 easy steps.  Check it out!

Meat Epiphany

So I went out to dinner with some friends on Thursday, and chose to use that as one of my "sinner" days (you can check out my "Saint/Sinner" tactic HERE).  I couldn't resist the smell of burgers in the air (I love me some burgers), so I ordered a "mushroom burger" with fries.  It had beef, swiss cheese, grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, and raw red onions.  It was so good but because I've become a little bit more aware of what I eat and how I eat, I realized I was more about the cheese, onions, and mushrooms than I was about the actual meat.  And now that I think about it, I've always picked off "excess" meat off of my sandwiches; I'm just not a big meat eater.  You know when you get a sandwich from a deli, they'll put 5 layers of meat and 1 layer of cheese?  Well I hate that and I would always tell them to put a little meat and more of other things.  Or when you eat a Philly Cheesesteak it has loads of steak and a trickle of onions, etc...I prefer all the other stuff over the actual meat. 

So right as I was about to take another bite of my burger I realized, this meal would actually taste the same even if I removed the beef.  Why?  Beacuse for me I like the taste of the char and juice of the meat on the bun, then enhanced by the flavors of the other grilled elements (onions, mushrooms, cheese).  I removed the remaining bit of patty (I had already eaten 75% of it) and yea I can deal with a burger (hold the patty) from now on.  This is great because even though it's not fully vegan/vegetarian, I can atleast have a meatless option when I go out with friends, instead of getting stuck with ordering a salad.

Also just to let you know, about an hour after I ate the burger my stomach took a turn for the worst.  I haven't had meat in 6 days prior to having the burger and I paid for that dearly.  I think it was a combination of the meat and the grease, and the french fries.  It was too much for me all at once.  I had some tea that evening to soothe my stomach and thankfully was able to make it to work the next day. 

I think this is a great way to start towards a vegan/vegetarian diet if you're used to eating meat. You can start by first eating less meat, then eventually remove meat all together. So, lesson learned, and now I am glad I have another tactic to use while I navigate towards a healthier me. 

By the way, have you checked out my FREE E-BOOK? It's called "Greens on the Side" and will help you get started with your weight loss goals in just 5 easy steps.  Check it out!

Vegan Challenge - the first 5 days

So I started my vegan challenge on 8/15, taking baby steps to ween off of certain things like dairy (yogurt and cheese) and meat.  I've already been living a semi-vegetarian lifestyle, only eating meat once in a while, so the transition for the vegan challenge hasn't been that extreme.  One thing I did notice was that I am definitely more aware of what I put in my body and what I'm buying.  I find myself checking ingredients, to make sure they are up to the vegan standards, as much as possible.  It really makes you stop and think about what you're consuming, and how much more careful you have to be when you're on stricter dietary regimes (whether for health or religious purposes).   However, being that I am just starting out I give myself some leeway to stray once in a while, but above all sticking with healthy options.  I really want to make this work.

So Thursday I started out good with some oatmeal and soy milk, as well as a granola bar.  For lunch I did have a vegetable panini but it did have cheese.  I had a plumb and nuts for snacks, and then Japanese fried rice from Trader Joe's for dinner (so good!).  After dinner I had a tall glass of Vanilla Shakeology.  Friday I had the same breakfast.  For lunch I had some Ezekial bread with peanut butter and a plumb.  I usually keep an extra granola bar with me in case I get hungry on the way home after work.  Dinner was left over fried rice and Shakeo, I also had some grapes.  Saturday I had some granola with soy milk, then I had an Indian meatless dish with naan bread for lunch (so good!). It was a frozen dinner from Trader Joe's, but it was not vegan (contained butter).   I had an apple, some coffee, and grapes throughout the day, and then for dinner I had my Shakeo.  I found myself not as hungry on Saturday.  Sunday was a different story.  I started out good with breakfast (granola cereal with soy milk), lunch I had another Indian dish (this time vegan). A little later throughout the day I was watching "Pulp Fiction" for the first time.  When Sam Jackson took a bite of that cheeseburger, my mouth watered.  I was dying for a cheeseburger; nice and juicy.  And since I live close to a Jack in the Box I could have made it happen...but I didn't!  I was tempted but I didn't give in.

I was super proud of myself!  I'm not gonna lie, I still dream about that cheeseburger, but like I said I'm more determined than ever to get to where I want with my health.  Monday started out with granola cereal with soy, I then went on a whirlwind of errands so when I came back I quickly fried up some vegetable potstickers.  I was starving, I don't even know if they were vegan or not put they were delicious!  I then had a cup of coffee.  I snacked on some pita chips and grapes.  For dinner had some Jap fried rice and fried up 2 eggs (not vegan I know, but I didn't want to eat the rice plain).

I definitely need to learn about more fast vegan options to heat up/fry up, whatever, because cooking is not really my thing.  I'd rather have something easily accessible.  Pretty much I have to treat my new way of living similarly to how I was eating before, in the sense that it has to be easy, quick, satisfying, and accessible.  The minute things get too overwhelming or hard, I would quit it.  So as long as I keep finding more vegan options for frozen foods/snacks, I'll be good. I'll do more research!

I don't see myself being full vegan long-term, but I can see myself leading a semi-vegan lifestyle.  I will keep you posted!

By the way, for you vegans out there, what are some good "fast food"/prepared/frozen options?  I usually shop at local supermarkets, Trader Joe's, and Wholefoods.  I'm in San Diego by the way, in case you have specific locations to recommend.  Let me know, and thanks!

By the way, have you checked out my FREE E-BOOK? It's called "Greens on the Side" and will help you get started with your weight loss goals in just 5 easy steps.  Check it out!

Going Vegan

Hola everyone!  I've been going back and forth for a while about Veganism.  I can give up meat, no problem (I'm not a big meat eater anyway), I don't drink milk (only soy/nut based), cheese is a bit of a problem for me; I don't have it often but I love pizza.  I also love Greek yogurt and Kefir.  I think I can work myself up to 90% Vegan only because I use honey to sweeten (I rarely use sugar and I'm not a big fan of how Agave nectar tastes) and don't see myself giving that up, or giving up yogurt.

About 3 years ago I was seeing a holistic nutritionist on a regular basis, and together we discovered some things which had adverse effects on my body and were sabotaging my weight loss.  Some were the "usual suspects" such as processed foods, white sugar, white bread and pastas, and the biggest of all MILK!  I was such a "dairy queen" back in the day! My eating habits were also having a negative impact on my body and spirit.  My biggest go-to foods were: pizza, cheeseburger deluxe, bacon egg and cheese sandwich on a roll, and a big bowl of cereal with 1% milk (sometimes 2%).  I drank soda with everything, put extra sugar and salt on everything, and ate a ton of candy.  Not only was I gaining weight, but I had a hard time having sustained energy and often felt dead inside.  What is it like to feel dead inside?  It feels like you're stuck in a deep pit of sorrow with no hope of getting out.  My brother (who eats wayy better than me) once told me "You feel dead inside because you eat dead foods.  Once you start eating whole, live foods you'll be more connected with nature and feel more alive again".  Isn't that deep?  I never thought about it that way, and I guess that's the biggest problem when it comes to your relationship with food; sometimes you just don't think about what you're putting inside your body!  I know I wasn't.  I wasn't making informed decisions about the type of energy I was putting into my body.  That's what food is at the end of the day; energy!

So while I've come a LOOONG way with my eating habits and intake, I still have more to go.  I still get bad cravings, I still binge, and most importantly I'm not losing weight like I want to be.  I am working hard and eating as best as I can most of the time, but the weight just isn't coming up.  I can be very hard with myself, but I believe, at least for me, food is my biggest obstacle on this weight loss journey.  Exercise is about 30% of what will help me lose weight, the other 70% will be from what I eat and how I eat.  So that is why I am taking my relationship with food up another notch and aiming to go Vegan.  I am going to slowly ween myself off of non-vegan foods such as meat and dairy, and slowly adopt the lifestyle.  I will keep you posted!  Here is a picture of my Trader Joe's haul:

I got some soy milk, Ezekial bread (which I've been told is awesome, so I'm excited to try), frozen dinners (Indian and Japanese), oatmeal, peanut butter, fruits, pita chips, and cereal bars, among other things.

I cook occasionally, mostly I buy frozen foods.  I LOVE most of the selections at Trader Joe's.  However I'll try to prepare more foods according to a Vegan meal plan.  I found some great ones on Oprah.com (a Vegan starter kit) and on Peeta.org. 

Do you guys have any tips for going Vegan?

By the way, have you checked out my FREE E-BOOK? It's called "Greens on the Side" and will help you get started with your weight loss goals in just 5 easy steps.  Check it out!

People on the bus think I'm pregnant

I've known this for a long time and it's semi-hilarious.
My belly jelly is bigger than my breasts, so depending on the clothes I'm wearing it can stick out a lot more than usual, creating the illusion of a pregnant belly.  I avoid all empire waists because of this.
So without fail, people on the bus (and trains back home) feel bad for me when they see me standing up and offer me their seat.  Maybe you'd be offended and ashamed by this, and while I'm not happy about my belly being so big, I choose to see the silver lining; I always have a seat on the bus! And I'll even admit sometimes I stick out my belly a little bit more if I'm really tired after a long day at work and want a seat.  It works for me.  I never confirm I'm preggo and no one asks.  If they did ask I would tell them the truth; I'm just fat.

I've come to rely on my belly for so many things.  I can push things out the way with it, I can use it to hold things up; I've learned so many little tricks to adapt to my situation.  I don't know when it became so "comfortable" to deal with it, until it became extremely uncomfortable, especially moving around in the summer.  It didn't really bother me that people would give up their seats and when I realized why they were doing it, I chose to see the positive rather than freak out about it.  At least they have nice intentions.  But it's also another reality check.  I don't want to go through life as a fake pregnant lady.

I've started to slowly let go of my "baby" and visualize myself without it.  I honestly don't even know what it'll feel or be like for me but I most likely won't be getting offered any more seats on the bus...and that's OK.

By the way, have you checked out my FREE E-BOOK? It's called "Greens on the Side" and will help you get started with your weight loss goals in just 5 easy steps.  Check it out!

Fat shaming and other NO-NO's

I just wanted to put this out there to clarify on where I stand regarding health, fitness, and nutrition.  I believe that everyone has their own path to take when it comes to their health.  I believe your relationship with food and your body is like religion in the sense that everyone finds what works for them and what doesn't, and people can get very defensive (or offensive) when their stance on food and diet is scrutinized.  What may work for me may not work for you, and I acknowledge and accept that.

I am on a path towards better health for me, for many reasons.  First I don't like the way my body feels.  I feel heavy; I feel every pound weighing down on me  The weight was taking a toll on my knees and I needed to do something about it.  I also didn't like the way I felt emotionally.  I've struggled with low self-esteem and at the end of the day I want to be comfortable with my body.  Don't get me wrong I love myself and I love my body, but I know I can look and feel better about myself.  If society has labeled you fat but you love the way you look and you feel great, more power to you. I am not a fat-shamer in any way and I will never try to impose my beliefs and my path on anyone.  If you ask me about what I'm doing and want to learn more, I'll gladly tell you what you want, otherwise I won't ever be giving out unwarranted "advice".

One thing I can't stand is people giving you their opinion and/or unsolicited "advice" about your weight and health just because they feel they are helping you.  I can't stand it because it's happened many times in my life and I consider this to be a form of bullying.  I didn't ask for your advice or judgement.  Just because I may be eating healthier doesn't mean I won't ever eat junk food again; it's a process and that will take time.  You can see my struggle with emotional eating and food addiction in my previous posts.  Also just because I may be eating healthier doesn't mean I'll judge you if we go out to eat and you order a pizza instead of a salad; to each their own!  My life is my own and I'll do with it as I see fit, and the same goes for everyone else.

My purpose with this blog is to chronicle my journey with weight loss and better health.  I find it therapeutic to share my struggles, fears, worries, doubts and also triumphs.  I want to be able to one day look back and see how far I've come.  My words are for those who may be dealing with the same issues and need some guidance, or just want a bit of a laugh (let's face it I'm really funny).  I hope it can serve to help you on your journey!

What forms of "fat-shaming" and/or bullying have you experienced because of your weight?

By the way, have you checked out my FREE E-BOOK? It's called "Greens on the Side" and will help you get started with your weight loss goals in just 5 easy steps.  Check it out!

Gluttony in the Workplace

What's wrong with this picture?  The fruits look great, I got some brown rice and mixed vegetables in the tupperware...could it be the sneaky croissant in the back?  DING, DING, DING!

So there you are, feeling awesome for eating healthy.  You've been sticking to eating clean for a few days and you're on cloud 9.  Then, BOOM...office party!  Or there's catering for breakfast, Or a co-worker brings in some goodies (which usually are evil little sweets which taste so good!)....the list goes on and on. What is it with junk food at work?  I've worked in so many different places (I'm a hardcore temp) and it never fails; always some sweet (or savory) temptations to knock you off your routine.

The food's not always "junk" but they always manage to sneak junky stuff in the mix.  For example, the picture above depicts the selection from my office's catered breakfast; fruits and pastries (muffins, danishes, cinnamon buns, you name it).  It's so hard for me to pass up FREE FOOD!  I was raised in a family which never wasted and it was ingrained in us to eat everything on our plates, take extras for leftovers the next day, and never, ever, ever pass up free food.  And then, there's always that one person at the office who sees you trying to avoid the fatty stuff, or knows you're trying to eat healthier and tries to thwart your routine.  They're like "no diet today" or "it's ok to take just one little bite"...evil!  They dangle the chocolate chip cooking you've been eyeing, or they eat that slice of pizza with the cheese dripping off, right in front of you (evil co-worker picture to the right).  You're trying to be good but then your stomach betrays you with a loud rumble.

I did good today because even though I had the croissant, it was only the croissant (and fruits of course, woohoo).  I'm not gonna preach to you on how to avoid junk food in the workplace.  There are tons of great advice out there on how you should take plenty of snacks and healthy treats with you to avoid temptation. Doesn't work for me!  I'm not gonna lie and say I'll pass...maybe one day if I'm truly not tempted to, but usually I take something.  The piece of advice I can give is to just take 1 "bad" thing if you absolutely must take something.  If I'm gonna take something "junky" I'm gonna take the best and enjoy it like the indulgence it is. I'll take my time eating it and enjoy every bite.  Also I've worked in places that had office parties every other day.  While yes it is awesome that they treat the employees to food, I aim not to partake in the festivities too often, only because I don't want to get caught up eating junk frequently.  I value that I've been able to ween off of junk food (for the most part) and I don't want to backtrack.  

Next time you're at an office function debating whether or not to have that piece of cake (or whatever), first get away from your evil coworker who wants to throw you off track, and then spot that one thing that you can't live without (at least for the work day), and enjoy it!  Once I come up with a better system I'll share it with you.

By the way, how do you handle the "goodies" at work?  And what does your evil co-worker say or do to try to throw you off track?

By the way, have you checked out my FREE E-BOOK? It's called "Greens on the Side" and will help you get started with your weight loss goals in just 5 easy steps.  Check it out!

Back to work post-detox

It's Monday morning and I'm feeling calm.  I had an interesting night with a ton of dreams; I slept good but not as good as other times.  Still, I didn't get up loathing Monday as most people do.  As usual I had oatmeal for breakfast accompanied by a small cup of OJ.

By the time I get to work (about 2 hours later) I have my instant coffee fix and a blueberry cereal bar (I got this one at a local discount store; not all-natural but better than let's say pancakes for breakfast).  My mid-morning snack was a nice, juicy peach which I've been dreaming about devouring since yesterday.  I take my time eating it; about 30 minutes between answering the phone and such.

So far so good; no low blood sugar or heavy cravings.  For lunch I have my leftovers from yesterday (brown rice with black beans, and a tomato and corn ceviche).  I follow that up with some black tea about an hour later, followed by my late-afternoon snack of a Red Delicious apple.

I eat another cereal bar on my commute back home but thankfully I'm not dying of hunger.

But then...

Attack of the Food Gremlins!!

There I was, getting off the bus to walk home when all of a sudden a wave of emotion takes over me.  I'm tired, I don't feel like working out, then I feel like a failure for having those feelings, guilt, and then I start to feel an anxiety attack build up.  I know it's cliche to blame these feelings on my period, and I know for a fact that's not the root of the problem, but it does make me feel more sensitive and vulnerable.  I feel less in control and let my emotions get the best of me when I have my period.  I know it's no excuse, but THIS is an every day battle.  That's what having an addiction is all about; you gotta face it every day until it becomes less and less powerful, but it never really goes away.

So anyway, I gave in and got a small bacon cheeseburger and large fries from Jack-in-the-Box which is right near my house (FAIL).  I was debating whether to post this or not, but decided to do so in case some of you out there are experiencing the same thing.  I want to be as honest as possible because at the end of the day this is my journey.  This blog is a chronicle of my journey because I know I will succeed, and I want to be able to look back at how far I've come.

I did manage to get a workout in; I didn't finish it but did something.  I gotta give myself some credit.  I decided to incorporate more snacks to take to work, so that when I feel hungry on my way home I have more options.  I learned to keep reading into my emotions and what's going on around me to spot the triggers, and to be gentle with myself above all else!  There was definitely a negative Nancy inside my head during my "anxiety attack".  I'm now sitting here typing this post, listening to some soothing meditation music, drinking my Shakeology, and being grateful for another day.  Right now just trying to release the negative, toxic energy and surrender to "the process".

By the way, have you checked out my FREE E-BOOK? It's called "Greens on the Side" and will help you get started with your weight loss goals in just 5 easy steps.  Check it out!

2-day Detox - Day 2

Ok so Day 2 (Sunday) was another success!  I was feeling a little chocolate craving towards the middle of the day, but I don't have chocolate at home to give in to =)  

And the craving wasn't so bad; it went away pretty quickly.  So I started my day with a packet of Oatmeal. I currently use Better Oatmeal's "Oat Revolution" in Strawberries and Cream.  I like this instant oatmeal, even though it's not all-natural it's a better choice than the Quaker Oats instant, in my opinion.  It has flax and Omega-3, less sugar; it comes in a pre-measured packet and tastes so good.  Best part was I got a box of 5 packets for only $1 at Albertsons!  Can't pass a good deal!  I also had a cup of Trader Joe's Instant Coffee with non-dairy creamer and honey.

As a snack I had a peach, some grapes, and a cup of OJ.  For late lunch I had my version of a Chipotle "Burrito Bowl".  Everything made from scratch by yours truly; brown rice, black beans, and a tomato/corn ceviche.  I had left-over rice and beans from yesterday.  I tend to cook in bulk so I won't have to cook everyday.  I will be eating the same thing tomorrow for lunch (for work) and dinner.

For dinner I had Vanilla Shakeology with soy milk, peanut butter, a splash of OJ, and Kefir.  Then I had some light popcorn while I prepared my work outfit for Monday.

I feel absolutely great!  I feel proud of myself for sticking with my detox.  I think I will try to keep doing it this week, but incorporating a little more food because I get hungry at work.  I feel like I have more energy, I've been sleeping better, and best of all no headache or stomachache.  I can tell I've come a long, long way from last year where I would've quit a few hours in. 

Katherine- 1, Food Gremlins- 0

By the way, have you checked out my FREE E-BOOK? It's called "Greens on the Side" and will help you get started with your weight loss goals in just 5 easy steps.  Check it out!

2-day Detox - Day 1

I did so good yesterday (Saturday)!  I've detoxed before, unsuccessfully.  The hunger pangs would be too much for me and the cravings would get the best of me.  BUT today was awesome!

I had oatmeal for breakfast (around noon when I got up), and drank water throughout the day.

I kept myself busy by doing laundry and cleaning.  I then had a nice, juicy "Red Delicious" apple about 2 hours after breakfast. 

For a late lunch (around 4pm) I made some brown rice with black beans, steamed vegetables and Tilapia.  It was so good! I made sure to take my time chewing, to help me feel more satisfied.  I also drank a small cup of OJ.

Around 7pm I had a small cup of coffee with a bit of non-dairy creamer and honey (I love having coffee after eating).  I caught up on some emails and then around 9pm had a nice, tall glass of Shakeology.  I placed it in my blender with ice, 2 small cups of Soy milk, and a tablespoon of Peanut Butter.

I feel great, no more "food hangover", and best of all I didn't feel anxious/nervous about not "eating enough". One thing I struggle with is always thinking about food; when is my next meal and what am I going to eat? While it's great to plan ahead, sometimes I find my thoughts consumed with the thought of food, and it sucks. I'm slowly learning to let go and be present.  What does that mean?  Well for me it means to think about what to buy to have to eat for the week.  I like to be prepared so I won't be caught off guard and have to resort to spending money on prepared food (or even worse, fast food).  But once I buy what I need, I plan for the day and then try not to think/worry so much about what's gonna happen tomorrow.  I focus on TODAY and tomorrow will be for tomorrow.  Being more present takes away some of the stress and anxiety of planning.  I know some of you reading this can relate.

Anyway I will keep you posted on day 2 of my mini-detox (tomorrow's post). Stay tuned!

By the way, have you checked out my FREE E-BOOK? It's called "Greens on the Side" and will help you get started with your weight loss goals in just 5 easy steps.  Check it out!

2-day Detox: Food Rehab

Due to my recent binge I decided to do a quick detox.  The word "detox" makes me think of rehab, and in a sense it is like a mini food rehab.  Food can be just as addicting and damaging as drugs and alcohol.
Anyway I was feeling kind of down about my binge, like I am self-sabotaging my progress.  PLUS since I've been incorporating more healthy foods into my life, when I eat "junk" in larger quantities than usual it has a really bad effect on my body.  My stomach hurts, my head hurts; it really does feel like a hangover.

Not to mention the emotional distress I feel about not eating healthy.
So my binge lasted about 3 days total, the worst being on Thursday this week.  I pretty much just ate all of the junk foods I could find at home (I live with roommates), such as oatmeal cream pies, pizza, chips.  In all fairness, any binge I go through nowadays is nothing compared to the ones I had back in the day.  What's worse is that back then I wasn't even eating as good as I am now; I was a complete junk food addict.

So I would like to treat my body this weekend to some much needed TLC.  I am doing a quick detox Saturday and Sunday to remove as much toxins as possible.  Aside from the physical benefits of going through a detox, I also want to detox the negative emotional energy I am feeling.  I want to release it and start fresh for Monday, to get back on track with my routine (I'll share what that looks like later on).

There are a ton of ways to detox. I prefer to eat only fruits and vegetables, drink water, coffee, and teas.  I'll eat one healthy meal as a lunch (I'm thinking brown rice with steamed vegetables), and for dinner I'll have a nice tall glass of Shakeology (I have the Vanilla flavor).

So yes I go through the occasional withdrawals and setbacks, but you know what I learn, I grow, and move forward.

Wish me luck!  Hopefully I don't kill anyone out of a crazy hunger rage...

By the way, have you checked out my FREE E-BOOK? It's called "Greens on the Side" and will help you get started with your weight loss goals in just 5 easy steps.  Check it out!