24 Day Challenge...Day 11

Well, today was the first day of the Max Phase and I would say I did pretty good.  Like I said yesterday, during the Max phase there are no real restrictions on foods (aside from just not being a heifer and over indulging ; ).  I did go back to strictly using the my fitness pal app on my phone to track my calorie intake, if you bite it write it kind of thing.  I am also going to continue to try to stay away as much as possible from too much processed, fried, salty, or sugary stuff.  I have discovered I really like Stevia in the Raw and that will be my choice for sweetener rather than the Sweet and Low I have used in the past.  I did indulge my craving for cheese today by having a grilled cheese (don't worry, I used the weight watchers cheese and 45 calorie a slice whole grain bread) and it was yummy.
I was surprised to notice that I was a little more hungry today, and it donned on me that until tonight I hadn't had any protein since my meal replacement shake this morning.  It is crazy how much fuller you feel when you eat protein!  That is something I am going to try to do better on tomorrow.  I also learned a lesson about the meal replacement shakes.  I had my first one this morning, and after taking forever to stir it by hand and try to get the lumps out, I finally threw it in the blender.  I thought it would be good really cold so I threw quite a bit of ice in with it.   I was disappointed to find out that I think I added too much ice because it tasted like I had really watered it down.  To help add some more flavor I threw in half a banana.  To not make that mistake again, I decided to go ahead and make tomorrow's shake tonight and just leave it in the fridge so it is nice and chilled.  Hoping for better results tomorrow.
One of my weaknesses in the past has been every time that Miss Thang would want a snack (which is non-stop right now) I would snack with her.  I did it without even thinking about it.  I have really tried to rein that in, and since I couldn't eat what she was snacking on during the cleanse, I have kind of broken that habit.  I don't feel quite as tempted to steal a fruit snack or chip every time she eats one.
I did try a new recipe tonight and it wasn't too bad, although I would have liked for it to be a little spicier.  I got the idea from something a friend in my Bible study group had cooked one night.  I didn't have the recipe so I just made it up as I went to try and be as close as possible.  It was a potato dish with  jalapenos and onions (see below for recipe).  We also had some hot dogs (I splurged for Hebrew National) and corn.
Tomorrow is the halfway point of my challenge, I haven't been weighing yet just so that I am not bogged down by little fluctuations every single day.  I will probably weigh in after I do the Max Phase for a couple of days (Remember, the Cleanse Phase is not necessarily designed for weight loss, it is just to help get your body ready for the Max Phase).  I have been feeling good though, and can tell a difference in my energy level from the Spark drink.

Jalapeno and Onion Potatoes

8-10 potatoes (I used red)
1 medium onion
3-4 jalapenos
4 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper to taste (I used my lite salt)

Slice up potatoes, jalapenos (with or without seeds depending on how spicy you want it), and onion and layer in an 9x13 baking pan.  Pour olive oil on top and season.  Bake at 400 for about an hour.

24 Day Challenge...Day 10

Final day of the cleanse phase!!!!  Made it through my first 10 days and aside from a few blips (especially on my weekend of travel), I have managed to stay on track.  I am excited to move into the Max Phase and have a little more freedom in the food department...especially cheese, I miss cheese ; ).  I didn't have any issues throughout my cleanse, gentle and uneventful just like they say.  Over the last 10 days I haven't been worrying too much about tracking foods on my phone app.  However, now that I am able to have a little more flexibility, I know that I must keep myself accountable.   This is a lifestyle change...not just a fad diet.
I have definitely learned quite a bit about the quality of calories I have been eating.  I feel so much fuller for longer eating a bowl of fruit or some almonds than I would eating a 100 calorie pack of some processed thing.  I have also learned that it is important to eat a good variety of foods (proteins, fruits, veggies, and some complex carbs).  I know that is probably pretty basic info, but I always struggle in the veggie department.  I love fruit and all carbs (even bad ones unfortunately)  and grew up on a cattle ranch so definitely don't have problems getting protein, but I could take or leave vegetables.  That has been one of my big goals each day is to get plenty of veggies.  I have tried to get creative with those and make myself eat all of those on my plate (kinda like when mom won't let you leave the table until you finish your brocolli).
"Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7 NIV.  It is amazing how no matter what temptations you face in your life, this verse always applies.  Many people know the last part of that verse (the part with resist the devil), however they skip over the first sentence. We must be submitted first completely to God in order to truly be able to resist the devil.  We cannot expect to be able to resist the every temptation that comes our way under only our own power.  We must put our trust in and depend on God to give us strength when it just doesn't seem to be there.  I have really made a point to pray every step on this journey, even before starting the 24 day challenge.  As weird as it may seem for someone to pray through a weight loss journey, I feel it is essential.  Really, there are not any situations in my life that I do not pray about.  It goes back to one of the first things I had written about with our body being a temple.  In ancient times, temples were very precious and considered holy places.  The fact that that terminology is used tells me that it is important how we treat and take care of our physical bodies.
Tomorrow I will start taking my MNS Max C (Multi-nutrient supplement with Maximum appetite control).  Looking forward to this next phase of my challenge.  Before starting the challenge I had been stuck at a plateau for about 2 months.  As of day 5, I was down 3.2 lbs which is definitely a breakthrough for me.  I am really hoping that breaking that plateau will help propel me to lose the last 15-20 lbs that I need to lose to get back where I was in college!

24 Day Challenge...Day 9

After having a weekend away from home, I was back in my controlled environment again today.  It definitely made it much easier to stay within the challenge guidelines ; ).  I did really good all day, and have actually found that I am less hungry lately.  I think that is due in part to the supplements I take in the challenge (fiber drink, omega-plex, spark, probiotic restore, and catalyst) , and part to the fact I am eating less empty calories so I stay full longer.  Amazing how that works out ; ).
I love the radio ministry of Dr. Randy Carlson called Intentional Living.  His ministry is focused around living an intentional life and doing things on purpose.  He talks about everything from money management to marriage and even weight loss and health.  I was listening to a program online today about money management (click here to listen for yourself).  He was talking about the ways we use money and how everything we own comes from God.  He mentioned the verse that talks about the borrower being slave to the lender ("The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender." Proverbs 22:7 NIV).  It donned on me that this applies not only to finances but also to some of the weight issues so many of us deal with.  If you don't make and stick to commitments in weight loss, you will forever be a slave to that extra 20 pounds.
 I made some baked sweet potato fries at lunch and they turned out good.  I sliced up a sweet potato, threw it in a bag with a little olive oil and seasoning, and baked them in the oven.  I have become a big time sweet potato fan, all I ever use to know about sweet potatoes was the nasty canned ones that we would have at Thanksgiving.  For supper I cooked up a little lean steak, steamed mixed veggies, and Baked Herb and Parmesan Potatoes (see below for the recipe).  I think the hubby has been impressed with several of the recipes I have tried so far, there weren't any leftovers to speak of anyways ; ).
Tomorrow is officially the last day of the cleanse phase (that means only one more fiber drink...yay!).  I am looking forward to starting the next phase and really getting the weight loss ball rolling!

Baked Herb and Parmesan Potatoes

4 red potatoes

1/4 tsp of each garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, dried thyme, pepper, and dried rosemary

2 tbsp olive oil

grated parmesan cheese

Slice potatoes really thin. In a ziploc bag mix all seasonings, olive oil and potatoes.  Lay evenly on baking sheet and sprinkle with grated parmesan to taste.  Bake at 375 for about 30 minutes.

We enjoyed this recipe, however, I think when I make it again I will add sliced onions and maybe leave out the rosemary (I'm not a big fan of the taste of rosemary)

24 Day Challenge - Days 5, 6, 7, and 8

It has been a few days since I last had a chance to update my blog, so I guess I will play a little bit of catch-up on my progress.  When I started this challenge I decided I would not weigh myself every day because I would go nuts if I did that, so I decided I would only weigh every 5 days.  July 4th was day 5 of my challenge so I weighed first thing in the morning and got a pretty pleasant surprise.  The first 10 days of the challenge are not necessarily designed for weight loss, although many people do lose weight.  It is designed to get the "junk" out of your system to get you ready for the Max Phase which is the next 14 days (where the weight loss is suppose to really kick in).  However, after just 4 whole days on the challenge, I was down a surprising 3.2 pounds!!!  That was huge for me because the last 2 months I have been stuck at right around the same weight.  I am super excited!
Now the last several days have been a little more challenging because of the holiday weekend.  On the 4th we went to a BBQ and I was able to stick to the guidelines pretty good (I think the big loss at my morning weigh in really helped me say no to the cookies).  However, the next couple of days were a little more difficult.  I had a bridal shower at my parents' house, which is about 6 hours from where I live, which meant we would be traveling and not as much in control of my food options.  I found myself using my smartphone to research menu options for the different restaurants we wound up eating at, I also brought several snacks with me to curb the temptations.  I did pretty well for the most part (even resisted the urge to indulge in cake at the shower).  I definitely ate a few things that were not necessarily the best options (such as the half a hot dog I had Saturday night ; ) but for the most part I was able to pass on the chocolates, chips, and cokes.
Aside from the few little blips on the food radar over the weekend, I did well and had a lot of fun.  And Miss Thang absolutely loved the fireworks on the 4th ; ) I hope everyone had a fun and safe holiday weekend!!

24 Day Challenge...Day 4

When I started this challenge I really thought that I would have to eat cardboard every single day and I would just be waiting for it to be over.  However, I have been pretty surprised at the variety of foods that I have found.  I have also been surprised to find out the massive amount of sodium in many of the "convenience" foods many people consume every single day (especially me when I am in a rush during the school year).  It is small wonder that we blow up like balloons with the amount of salt in our foods.

I messed up a little bit today at lunch by cooking and eating something before really reading the label.  I had picked up a package of frozen brown rice with some vegetables.  It was one of those packages that you just throw in the microwave and it steams in the bag.  I had thought that it would be a good meal for the cleanse since both brown rice as well as veggies are allowed.  As I was eating it during lunch, I thought to myself that it really seemed to be strongly seasoned, so I looked a little closer at the label and was bummed to see it had added sugar and the sodium content was super high.  Oh well, I had already eaten most of it so rather than beat myself up I just made the decision to double check labels a little closer, even if it appears to be healthy.  Other than that little blip on the radar, I did pretty good.  

I shook it up today and tried something that I had never tried before....I made some taco soup tonight with ground venison rather than ground beef and it turned out pretty good.  Believe it or not, it was even venison from a deer that I had shot while hunting with the hubby.   I was a pioneer woman tonight ; ).  I typically make the soup from canned vegetables and beans but tonight I made it a little different to cut down on the extra sodium.  I found something pretty handy in the freezer section when I was grocery shopping the other day.  Birds eye makes packages called "Recipe Ready" that are simply pre-sliced veggies in different varieties.  I got the one called "Southwest Blend" and it has corn, black beans, peppers, and onions.  Rather than using the canned stuff I used this and it actually turned out great.  It was probably even quicker than using cans because I only had to open one package rather than 5 or six cans ; ).  I did add one can of Rotel, but would have used fresh tomatoes and green chilies if I would have thought about it when I was grocery shopping.  Along with the soup I took some of my whole grain tortillas, cut them into strips, and baked them at 350 for about 15 minutes to use as tortilla chips (see picture above).
If nothing else, because of my resolve to really do good on this challenge, I am learning a ton about the foods I cook.  I wish there was more of a push in education to teach students these things.  I learned next to nothing about nutrition when I was in school, there wasn't even a home economics class offered in my high school.  Don't get me wrong, I don't blame teachers or schools for the obesity of America (I am a teacher after all).  What I do believe is that sometimes we miss out on valuable life long lessons in the race to beat every other country in the world on our test scores.  Ok, I will get off my soapbox for the night, If you are interested I have put my recipe below.  Have a blessed Independence Day tomorrow!!! Stay safe!

Taco Soup

1 lb lean ground meat, browned (I used venison but beef or turkey would work also)
1 Package Birds Eye Recipe Ready Southwest Blend (In the freezer section)
2-3 cups of water (more if you want it soupy, less if you want it like a chili)
1 can Rotel
1/2 package low sodium taco seasoning

Bring water, Rotel, seasoning, and vegetables to a boil.  Add browned meat and return to a boil.  Enjoy!

24 Day Challenge...Day 3

Well 3 days have gone by and doing pretty good so far.  I am definitely learning to shift my outlook when it comes to the foods I prepare and eat.  It is really nice that I am on summer break as I do this challenge, as I am home all day and able to think ahead for meals.  The only bad part about it is, that as soon as I start cooking, Miss MacKenzi all the sudden thinks that she cannot be happy if I am not holding her.  I guess I am getting an arm workout in ; ).
Before supper tonight I took Miss Thang for a walk to the church (about a mile from our house) so she could swing, and on the way home I passed the school sign.  I have read it a million times on my walks and it hasn't changed since the start of summer but what it said hit me a little different today.  It says "Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is looking".  I love that definition and have used it a ton when talking to my students throughout the year.  Usually when I am talking about it we are talking about not cheating on a test, not stealing from a convenience store, or something like that.  However, today as I read that I felt the Lord convicting me about weight loss.  And yes, believe it or not, God can and will even use something from a public school to teach a lesson ; ).  I know many people, especially me, are way more apt to cheat on a diet when no one else is around.  For example, confession time, I know that if I was to make a plate of brownies and I am home alone with them, I will totally eat half the pan!  However, If I make a plate of brownies for company, I will have one small piece.  Come on now, I know I am not alone in this.  We are way better dieters when we are being watched.   Here is a news flash though....CALORIES STILL COUNT EVEN IF NO ONE SEES YOU STICK IT IN YOUR FACE!!!!  I know it isn't surprising, but I think it is a truth I needed to face today.
Making it through the 3rd day of the cleanse phase means that I get a break from the fiber drink for the next couple of days, which is nice.  Like I said in a previous post, it is manageable, but definitely not something I would order in a restaurant.  I still enjoy the energy drink and definitely feel an increased amount of energy after drinking it (and not one of those coffee jitters).  I opened up a cantalope today and it was really good, I love all different kinds of melons this time of year they are always delicious.  I also tried a couple of new recipes that weren't too bad (see below if you are interested).  I am very thankful for the internet and Pinterest during this challenge as I have been able to find some recipes to try.  I also discovered Mrs. Dash seasonings which are salt-free and pretty good.  I never realized until starting this how much of a salt addict I am, hopefully this process will help wean me off of some of the salt.  Hoping to do well on the upcoming holiday (4th of July) and not give in to the tempting desserts and greasy junk!

Garlic-Herb Chicken (super easy)

3 Tablespoons Olive oil
4-5 Boneless, skinless chicken tenderloins
Mrs. Dash Garlic-Herb Seasoning

Preheat skillet with olive oil. Add chicken and season both sides with Mrs. Dash.  Cook until Browned on both sides

Green Beans with Garlic and Onion

1 clove garlic (minced)
1/2 onion (chopped)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 to 1 lb fresh green beans
3 tablespoons chicken broth

Preheat oil in pan. Add garlic, onion, and beans and cook about 10 minutes on medium heat.  Reduce heat to simmer for 5-10 minutes or until desired tenderness.   The original recipe called for 3-5 garlic cloves but it was pretty strong with only 1, depending on how much you like garlic ; )

Enjoy!!!

24 Day Challenge...Day 2

I went grocery shopping today to stock up on a few things to use in some of the recipes I have found and got very frustrated as I searched nutrition labels to make better decisions.  I have figured out why we as a nation are overweight!  You ready for this....the culprit is located inside the grocery store.  And no, I don't blame the owners of the store, or even the manufacturers of the food, I blame the shoppers in the store.  This includes me (oh yeah I am definitely part of the problem).  We live in such a fast paced society that we demand fast and easy when it comes to our food items.  In order to be fast and easy, most food is processed and things like salt, sugar, and preservatives are added to it to help enhance flavor and extend shelf life.  Even the stuff labeled "fat-free" is often chocked full of sugar.  We as a society buy it by the ton, myself included.
When I get home from work during the school year I don't have long to cook supper before it is time to put MacKenzi in the bath and then bed.  I often turn to frozen pre-made items, boxed meals that I need only add meat, or pasta since it is fast.  Those things are full of sodium and other junk that is awful for you.  Now, I am not saying that those things don't have their place.  I just don't think that place is probably on our dinner table night after night.  Just like pizza or greasy fast food burgers shouldn't be an every night thing.  I am really hoping that this whole experience will give me some new tools to use when I go grocery shopping to make better, more informed choices.
So, my second day has gone pretty good.  The fiber drink went down a little harder just because I am not a huge fan of peach flavored drinks, fortunately I only have tomorrow then I get a break from it for a couple of days.  I had some eggs and watermelon (it is really in season right now...mmmm) for breakfast, raw almonds and frozen grapes for a snack, leftover chicken fajitas from last night for lunch, and found a recipe for sweet potato chips (which were delicious by the way) and made some T-Bone (only ate a little of it) and steamed peas to go with it.  I have been so glad that I haven't felt deprived at all (drinking tons of water all day helps with feeling full too).  
Every time I want to cheat the thought alway crosses my mind that I invested money to do this and I am not going to throw that out the window just for some momentary satisfaction.  I heard a good quote a while back and I am not sure who said it or exactly how it went, but it was something to the extent of "If you really want to take an interest it always helps to have a horse in the race." (I know I am a redneck at heart).  The lay man's translation would be if you really want to have some motivation it doesn't hurt if you have money invested, and for me so far that has seemed to help ; ).