A Healthier Mama

It's probably a good idea to expand this blog a bit. Perhaps you three would be interested in knowing what's going on in Mama's noodle on any given day?

I have been on a journey of discovering new things about me. It began in October, when I  finally had enough of being unhappy with my appearance, and decided losing weight would be a good idea. Little did I know I would be feeling so radiant and so confident three months later. I have struggled my whole life with my weight, especially in the last five years since my job became so sedentary. On October 1st, I was a whopping 178 pounds! 18 of those pounds crept on in just the last two years. I guess I was really enjoying being a newlywed? I began exercising and watching my portions. Mike and I began the Insanity workout program in early November and I really began paying attention to what I was putting in my body. The more I felt my muscles develop, the more I wanted to fuel my body better.

It's January, and for the first time--ever--I am loving, loving, loving working out! I have lost 15 pounds so far and feel strong. I have a long way to go, but I am making strides to live cleaner and healthier, and to lose more weight, and to move more. There is something so liberating about loving exercising! I've always hated it! At 47, I am loving the way my body moves, the way my muscles feel when I move. I love the exhilaration and the exhaustion I feel after a workout. I am starting to like the woman I see in the mirror--for the first time ever!

Working out fuels my passion for eating better. I juice every morning (Thanks for the Juiceman, guys!): 2 carrots, 2 oranges, 2 stalks of celery, and 2 Granny Smith apples. My "orange juice" is incredibly delicious! In the afternoon I green smoothie: a Granny, a banana, a handful of green grapes, some fresh pineapple, blueberries, strawberries, spinach, some avocado...whatever strikes my fancy. I am discovering how wonderfully tasty raw fruits and vegetables are! I am thrilled with how much energy I have. I am delighted at my lack of bloat.

Do me a favor, babies, and watch the movie Hungry for Change. It altered the way I feel about the food I fuel my body with. Let's face it. Our cars would not run if we added sugar-water to the tank. Our cars run on gas. Why should we dump crap into our bodies? They do not run efficiently on crap. Start reading your food labels. Discover how many ingredients are chemicals--unpronounceable. Research some of the ingredients and learn how manufacturers disguise crap as "natural," or make ambiguous or untruthful claims about what our foods are made of. Did you know there are rarely blueberries in cereals or muffins? Really! They are made with artificial colors, hydrogenated oils, and liquid sugars, etc.--the same ingredients derived from petrochemicals! Think about eating more plant-based foods and less grains. I am not saying cut out all the things you love. I am saying make wiser choices. Juice your oranges instead of buying o.j. in a carton. Substitute agave nectar for sugar. Drink almond milk instead of milk. The best advice I can give you is do not eat what you see advertised on television. Eat no more prepackaged foods!



More on exercise and diet later...

Love,
~Mama