Surgery Day!!!

I'm 6 days post op but I want to write about the day of surgery before it all becomes a blur.  I want something to remember and maybe encourage others.

Tim and I had to be at the hospital by 6am.  I was the first on the schedule! That was a huge answer to prayer! My surgery was scheduled for 7:15am.  I was checked in on the 7th floor, rushed to the back, changed into my gown and there was a lot of hustle and bustle. IV inserted, blood thinner given, nurse giving me the upcoming events.  Meet with the surgeon.  He prepares me for what is next and what he expects.  He was in a great mood and that helped relieve my anxiety some.  Anesthesiologist met with me.  Tim came back for a few minutes before I was rushed off to the OR.  Tim kissed me and before I knew it I was in the OR.

It was cold and there were people everywhere! I was moved to operating table and lots of warm blankets were put on me.  They immediately put a mask on me that was filling my lungs with oxygen. There was one nurse who was so sweet and awesome.  She grabbed my hand and said "Ok so what are we going to dream about?  Should we go somewhere tropical" it made me smile real big.  She held my hand and kept talking to me as they administered the first drug that would relax me and make me sleepy.  I closed my eyes and I was out....

The next thing I remember is waking up in recovery.  I had extreme pain right in the middle of my upper abdomen.  I mean constant throbbing pain.  I remember saying to the nurse who was trying to get me to wake up that I needed meds.  She had a morphine pump and she would push the meds for me.  I remember saying it a few times that I was in pain.  Once the pain meds kicked in I was extremely nauseous and she started giving me meds immediately.  Once I was more comfortable they got me up and put me in a chair.  I was so exhausted.  It took everything in me to open my eyes.  I remember them saying my husband was waiting to see me that he was really anxious which was not Tim at all.  That was when I asked if they had done the surgery laparoscopic or open.  The nurse kinda laughed and said "Oh honey it was laparoscopic" I smiled real big! another answer to prayer! I remember Tim came back and held my hand.  Asked me how I was doing and it was so tired I could barely answer him! I remember the nurse came back and said that they had a room for me so they needed me to walk the hall and then I could sit down in the wheel chair.  I was so nauseous when I opened my eyes or stood up.  So I walked and then sat down and they wheeled me to my room.  Once I was in my bed (which felt like heaven) and comfy I slept....

The nurses would come in and check on me and I would try to wake up as much as possible but I was just so tired.  My parents came around 2:30 and my mom really made me feel so good.  She reassured me that I really looked good.  I struggled to keep my eyes open while they were there but they were understanding.  I just listened to the conversation as my eyes were closed.

My monitor kept going off.  Apparently I wasn't taking deep enough breaths.  It was going off so much I asked the nurse to turn the sound down since I couldn't sleep lol.  In all reality it was good that it was waking me up because then I would start breathing deeper lol. The anesthesia really did a number on me.  My parents left an hour later and then my Mother in Law who works right down the street came to visit after she got off work.  I still could barely keep my eyes open but I was glad she came to visit.

I slept the rest of the afternoon on and off and it wasn't until about 9pm that I finally felt more like myself.  Around 10pm I was getting sleepy and asked Tim if he was ready to head to his parents house for the night.  Poor guy had been up with me and had cat napped through out the day.

I just have to stop right here and praise the Lord for giving me such an amazing husband.  He literally hasn't complained one bit about helping me this past week.  He was there every time I needed help getting up and or adjusting in bed.  He would randomly grab my hand and tell me he loved me.  He's just the most loving man I could ask for.  Thank you Tim for being true to the vows we made 14 years ago.  I love you!

Tim headed home and though my first night alone in the hospital wasn't horrible it was pretty tough at times.  losing your call button when you gotta go potty is not a good thing lol.  By the next morning once I was rested I felt soooo much better!

A friend of ours, Stacy, came to visit. She had the sleeve 2 years ago and she looks amazing! She also works at the hospital that I had the surgery.  So she came and chatted with me until I headed to have the swallow test done.  Let me just say, it was not nearly as bad as I had read about but it wasn't pleasant either lol.  The gas you experience after this surgery is just so painful.  You are trying to move and get it it out and it just seems to not want to budge.  I burped and burped and burped and burped and I would feel a little better and then there would be more pain.  So when I had my swallow test I had passed the first part of the test no problem.  I then waited 30 minutes so they could make sure the lower connection to the bowels was not leaking.  They couldn't see after 30 minutes so she said I needed to walk for another 30 minutes to try and move the gas around.  So that is exactly what I did....I walked for 40 minutes and then took another picture.  I passed my swallow test and was finally sent back upstairs to my room.

It was lunch time at this point and Tim went down to grab so lunch while I waited for my nurse to bring me my first cup of water! I was so excited to start my water challenge.  Oh my goodness....to drink water...my mouth was so dry! I had been sucking on ice chips but you could only have so much lol.  So she brought in my first big cup of water and said I had 6 hours to finish one liter of water.  I was game.  I started sipping like crazy.  I'd get up and walk and walk and walk and then go back to my room and sip and sip and sip.  I'd walk and walk and walk and sip and sip and sip.  I was burping up a storm but I didn't care.  I was getting this water in! I finished my cup by 4pm.  I was so excited.  Until the nurse came in and gave me another big cup half filled and said "I know you thought you were done but this last cup will equal a liter" oh kill me now lol.  So I got up and walked and walked and walk and sipped and sipped and sipped.  I was so tired and just wanted to sleep.  I had hit my pain button a couple of times just because the pain from the gas was so bad.  Well the pain meds would make me so tired! By 7pm I finished my water challenge and was finally told I would be discharged!

It took another 3 hours for that to happen due to issues and orders and what ever. I was finally home and in my bed by midnight :)

I would say my surgery went perfectly.  My stay at the hospital was great and I have the greatest husband in the world.

I blog more on the last week tomorrow. I'm tired and need to go nap lol

What an experience....

Love,
Ann Marie

The easy way out...

In my previous post I talked about how I got to where I am today.  Where am I? 10 days away from having gastric bypass surgery.
I went through this entire process in 2008 and when my information was submitted to my insurance, the insurance found a "flaw" and would not allow us to correct it so I would have started my whole process over.  I was so heartbroken and devastated but I understand today that it was best that I waited until this time in my life to have this surgery.
Today I am much more prepared for this life changing surgery.  I have a lot more knowledge of how my body works and how food affects me.  I feel I make much better food choices and I am much more active.
I know there are some who consider this type of surgery "the easy way out".  I guess in a way for a long time I kinda felt that if I went through with this surgery I would be giving up on myself.  Both of my parents have had this surgery and many friends who have had this.  Some have been extremely successful and I have watched others put the weight back on.  I see both sides of this and I have to tell you, it is far from the easy way out.
I am still pre-op so I don't have the "actual" experience" but let me share with you why this is not in any way the easy way out...
For the rest of my life, I will be limited to how much food I can consume at one time.
 I will most likely have certain foods I may never be able to eat again.
 I also will experience "dumping syndrome" which is very unpleasant.
I will have to take vitamins/calcium/iron for the rest of my life.
I cannot simply just go to a restaurant and order anything from the menu.
My stomach at first will be the size of a thumb.  Once it heals and the swelling goes down it will hold maybe 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food at a time.
My taste for food will constantly change.
Most people who have this surgery are unable to eat leftovers.
If I do go out I'll probably be sharing with someone lol
Our society of fellowship and hanging out is centered around food....so my life will be so different at these moments.  I have read people who are asked several times at restaurants if the food was ok because they could only eat a couple of bites.  I have also read of people who ate out and ended up in the bathroom having a "dumping" moment.
If the Lord allows me to become pregnant I will have to be closely monitored and have bloodwork done often to make sure the baby is receiving the appropriate amount of nutrition.
I will deal with lose skin....not just normal flabby skin but pounds of lose skin that I will most likely have to pay out of pocket to have removed.
I may lose a bunch of hair (not that I have a lot to lose :( ) in the first year.

I know this may not sound much of a problem but when you consider that I have to literally change the last 35 years of how I thought of food its going to be quite the journey!

As much as I am nervous and even scared of how this will affect me, I am looking forward to it all at the same time!
There will be something freeing about being able to kneel down on the ground, or squat down to reach something.  To not struggle to put a seat belt on or have to shop in special stores for clothes.  To not think twice about booking a flight on an airplane or even going for a hike and not having to worry about if I can make it.  I have many, many things on my "when I'm skinnier" list.  Some things most people take for granted, others are things I've dreamed of doing.

I know it will be a long and at times tough journey but so has living the life I have.  I think for me the hardest part has been dealing with people who judge me because of my size.  Even in the church.  I have had people watch what I eat and make comments to others about me.  If I have learned anything over the last few years its....Just because you may be skinny doesn't mean you are healthy.
On Tuesday I sat in my pre op appointment and the doctor said to me "So you have no issues other than PCOS, no high blood pressure, no diabetes, no high cholesterol,..." and my response was "I'm the Healthiest fat person you will find!"
The more I research, the more I change my diet the more I see changes.  This surgery is a tool.  Tim and I were talking about this on our way home from vacation and he made a really good point.  He said "People who have cancer go and have radiation or chemo.  People who have diabetes take insulin, people who have any type of issue go to a doctor and are prescribed medicine or therapy of some sort.  You have PCOS and weight is your problem so this surgery is just like those other things." That gave me so much more peace.  I don't care what others think of what choices I am making.  They have not lived a day in my life so they cannot make any type call of what I should or should not be doing.
I sat in the office of my surgeon and had to get him to understand that my weight is a reflection of PCOS not because I indulge in food.  Every other doctor I have been too has agreed with me and though my surgeon has not had to deal with many people with pcos he cannot group me in the same category.  I still chose him because he's one of the best.
My goal with this blog is to help others who have PCOS to have a voice.  There are many with PCOS who do not have the weight as a symptom but that doesn't mean they don't suffer.
I'm beyond thankful for the many who have encouraged me along the way.  In 10 days my life will be so different.  I'm looking forward to getting healthy and living.

Until next time...

Ann Marie

The Journey of a lifetime...Under Construction

In September of last year my husband and I had a conversation concerning my health.  As many of you know I have struggled with Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome since puberty.  They didn't have a name for it back when I was 11 but as the years have gone by and more and more research is done they are starting to narrow down the cause of this.  A lot of it has to do with the types of food we eat.  As food evolves and becomes more and more genetically modified the more we, the people, will suffer with many new illnesses but that is for another post at another time...back to why I'm writing this.
I was a pretty healthy kid.  As a baby my mom found that I was lactose intolerant and allergic to chocolate (yes please feel sorry for me.  Go head...take a moment....just know I still eat it but I suffer with a burning throat and have to drink a ton of fluids to make it feel better lol) and in my early twenties I found out I also am allergic to latex! Explains why I had such sore and swollen gums for a week or two after every single dentist visit! Other than those moments I was pretty healthy.  Once puberty hit I began experiencing new things that were painful and would make me extremely anemic and tired all the time.
Nothing against my family, but we just don't talk.  I mean, we do now but growing up we just never really talked about how things change as you become older and what you will experience.  I did go to public school until 9th grade so I had the "sex education" classes and anatomy classes and such so I learned about a little about what girls will experience as they become a teen and such.  I also never really talked about that kind of stuff with my friends.  Really, I only had a couple of close friends growing up and we were boy crazy and into movies and being...well kids. So with all that said it wasn't until I was 13 or 14 that my mom realized I was having some serious issues.
After several doctor appointments and testing the end result was "well if your daughter would lose the weight then she would not have these problems."  Let me just say....teenagers are already going through one of the most difficult times in their life and when a doctor throws in there that they are fat and need to lose weight, any ounce of "self worth" is squashed.  It still brings me to tears when I think of those moments.  Moving on... what they didn't know at the time was my increasing weight gain was a symptom of something seriously wrong.  Due to female issues my doctor decided at the age of 14 that I should be put on birth control.  So here I am about 50 pounds over weight at 14 and my doctor puts me on a pill that will "help" with one area but will make me gain even more weight. The cycle just gets worse from there.
Here I am 21 years later and this past Wednesday I was approved for Gastric bypass RNY by my insurance. When we started this process I was determined not to share that we were going through this.  I have had many who have loved me no matter my size but I have had a lot who have judged me because of my size.  Of course I am guilty of the same thing and I always try to remember that people just are not educated.  Our society is all about looks and of course when they say a heavy person they automatically assume they are binge eaters and lazy.  Food is why I am heavy but not because I am a binge eater....
When one is extremely anemic, passing out and having to go in and out of the hospital it is extremely difficult to cook, clean and exercise as well as hold down a 40 hour job.  I remember in the very beginning of my marriage I would work, and sleep.  Literally. I was so exhausted I could barely move.  Tim and I struggled so much and in the end we just really had no idea what was wrong with me and the stress of bills, newly married and life almost ended us.
There was one doctor in Michigan who invested time in me and my situation.  I remember after several appointments he told me my husband needed to come.  He sat my husband down and explained that if we don't get control of this situation he would lose his young bride,  It was then Tim realized that things were really bad.
So here I am with 24 days before my surgery and I am having all kinds of mixed emotions.  This would explain my first post concerning this surgery being pretty scattered.
I want to start blogging so I can share my journey with those who may come before me.  I want to talk about some of the things I was scare of.  How I sorted things out in my head.  How it took me 7 years to finally make this decision.  As my new journey to a new me begins I want to be able to put into words what I go through, how I deal with those who are uneducated and how I overcome what some have called the impossible.
My goal is to blog at least once a week on a specific topic.  My next blog will be about how having this surgery is NOT the easy way out!
I'm looking forward to this journey....please pray for me, my family and my surgeon....God is so good to me!
With Love
Ann Marie

Just being real...

I'm just going to be real here...I mean...really...real....

When I started whole30 on May 5 I weighed in at 414 pounds....

There I said it...and it breaks my heart.....

A person who weighs that amount is limited by many things.  I knew I had limits but I guess I just wasn't willing to accept them...to be real with myself.  I wasn't willing because I knew if I was real I would most likely give up.  I remember at one point this past winter thinking "if I fall and break something (we had a lot of ice this winter) I am going to end up in a wheel chair..." I knew that couldn't happen but I had no idea how that was going to change...

I haven't worked in about 3 years.  Once we left Maryland and headed to Michigan for school I didn't really need to look for work because the church we were attending was in need of a full time secretary.  As my weight grew finding a job out in the secular world was going to be more difficult.  One, people judge you immediately by your weight. They think you are lazy, that you can finish a large pizza on your own and that you have some kind of food obsession.  There are people out there...I've met them...but I am not that person.  As the weight grew it became harder for me to do everyday things.  I struggle with other health issues so that would rob me of any ounce of energy I would come up with.  If I did the dishes I would be exhausted.  If I went up or down the stairs I was out of breath.  If i stood for a long period of time my back would be on fire and my feet would hurt.  These were all things I just...lived with....and then the most dreadful thing of all...going into a building and having to take a "seat" in a chair with arms...

I would get so nervous.  A lot of times I wouldn't even go places because I knew they wouldn't have seating for me and I was too embarrassed to ask for different seating.  Tim, being the most amazing husband there is, would go into a room ahead of me and look to make sure there was seating available for me.  That thought brings tears to my eyes.  My husband has given up so much so that I could be comfortable.  He really did mean "in sickness"...Thank you Tim.  Anyway, I would be terrified of going to an interview and not being able to sit in a normal office chair.  This is me being honest people... don't feel for me....just know the next time you want to make fun of a "larger" person...that they already struggle with insecurity...don't make it worse.

When I started whole30 I was desperate.  I needed something...anything to help me.  I wanted to live again.
So in the last almost 4 months I have enjoyed MANY non scale victories.  Clothes fitting, clothes becoming too big, going up the stairs with speed and not being out of breath, walking 5 miles without an ounce of pain, being able to put a seat belt on and have room to move. I mean the list goes on...

Today I had another non scale victory.  We went into a doctors office today and as I walked in I saw they only had chairs with arms.  Tim kinda looked at me and I just smiled.  I just decided I would sit on the end of I had too.  We walk over and Tim sits down...and then I sit down....like down...in the chair...like a normal person.  I look at Tim, he looks at me and we just smile.  It took everything in me not to show tears.

I am down 59 pounds.  I can fit in a chair.  Every single day the Lord shows me something else.  My life has been a whirlwind since the middle of July.  I haven't had a chance to breath, or focus fully on my health.  I have been doing the best I can to make wise choices but I will admit I have not been 100% whole30.  I plan to get back on the wagon come 9/1.

I don't share my weight with you because I want you to be shocked, or feel sorry for me, or be...whatever it is you might thing....I share it with you because there is someone out there who is struggling just like I have struggled....they need to know that if you put your mind to it, if you just start with something small, taking an extra trip through the house, parking a little further from the store, choosing fruit instead of candy, eating two helpings of veggies before having more protein.  If you just start with little changes and work your way up, you really can do anything...

Today I fit in a chair...that less than 4 months ago...wasn't an option....that is a victory for this girl....

Its not falling that determines you...its if you get back up or not....

Love always...
The Shrinking girl....

Every Step Forward is a Good Thing!

The picture above has been a HUGE encouragement to me of lately! 

Being a "heavy" person is not easy.  Even when you lose 56 pounds, pictures tend to bring into perspective the truth of the matter.....but the above picture reminds me that I've done something amazing in 12 weeks! I have changed my life! I am alive! 

Here are some pictures through my journey....some are painful reminders of who I was...and some are still painful reminders of how far I have to go...but that is ok! I'm making progress!

 

This is one is hard for me to look at.  Though I know I have lost weight and inches I'm still heavy...I can't wait until next year and see the progress I have made! 100 Pound weight loss here I come! <3 p="">

Here is the Lee clan! all 26 of us! 

This is picture is from Tim's graduation.  May of 2011.  It's probably when I felt the worse in my life.  I was completely stressed out.  My body hurt no matter what I did.  I have no idea what I weighed here but I know it was A LOT! I'm thankful that three years later I am almost pain free...losing weight and dress sizes!

This is Easter 2014...just a couple of weeks before starting my Whole30 Journey.  I am beyond thankful that God answered my prayers....

This is from the Lee Family Vacation! This is probably one of my favorite ones...as I can see the weight loss! But, it still reminds me how far I have to go! This day we did a hike....I wasn't able to go down to the swallow falls (to be honest I didn't try since I had hurt my knee on the stairs going down) but I kept walking on the trail and came to this pool and small waterfall.  My Sister in Law Kim took the picture and I'm glad she did....That shirt is a size smaller than what I had been wearing and I haven't worn those pants in years....My tummy is my biggest problem area but it is slowly melting away! 

I have had amazing support as I go through this journey! I will be making some changes in the near future but It will be whole30....just my protein will be a little different ;) 

Thank you to all of those who have been encouraging to me one way or another! I can't tell you how much your constant comments, private messages, text and phone calls mean to me!

I am blessed beyond measure!

With Much Love,

Ann Marie

Tears of Joy...

This picture, right up there, gives me pure tears of joy! Today I went and walked a path I have walked a few times this year.  Generally it included a lot of stopping to stretch my screaming back and a very slow pace and most of the time around a mile.

After yesterdays adventure I thought...I should go try this route and see how I do, maybe I can even complete the whole thing.  And that's just what I did! I walked the entire route today!

Normally I would give excuses for the "short distance" or the "slow time" but today...I will shout it from the mountains (cause I live around them lol) that I walked the whole way!!!! That is such an answer to prayer.  Such a relief.  No back pain.  I mean none, at all!

As I thought about yesterday and today, I realize just how much I have been missing out on life.  There is so much I want to do in life and I thought it would all just be a dream....today I know those things will happen! I know I have such a long way to go but I have started! I'm 20 days into my clean and healthy whole30 eating and I am inspired and as my husband has put it, stubborn enough, to keep going!

Once again, another non scale victory for this girl! <3 p="">
Here are the meals so far today! I know it shows a lot of fruit but I feel I need the nutrients from it.  It could be hormonal lol....just saying...

This is Red, Yellow and Orange Bell peppers and onions sauteed in coconut oil.  Scrambled eggs poured on top and bacon chopped.  Cook with a lid on for a few minutes until eggs are done.  Also a very small serving of fresh pineapple and walnuts

Lunch consisted of leftover roasted chicken, cucumbers and a small fruit salad of mango, strawberries, peaches, apricots, and fresh pineapple.  Very refreshing :)

Hope you are having a fabulous day! <3 p="">
Ann Marie

Confessions...

19 days ago...I made a choice that would change my life....and its only been 19 days...

You can read more about my life change here.

Today I've been a little extra emotional.  It could be some hormonal but I'm chalking it up to some new revelations about.....me.

Since the age of 13 (this is when I really remember my weight gain) I have struggled to be active.  I played sports in high school and actually was a somewhat of an active person.  As the weight piled on, being active, let alone, doing just normal day to day things became more and more difficult.  You never really realize how much you give up in your life until you start to gain your life back. Today I was on instagram I was looking for some inspiration and came across one of the ladies I have just recently started following.  Rya, you can find her instagram here, made a statement after completing 38 days on her whole30 journey that she feels ALIVE.  I started crying when I read that...that one word...ALIVE is how I feel!

Alive....thats a great word! As a Christian I know my Savior is ALIVE and that I am thankful for.  As a heavy person who has struggled with weight gain because of hormone imbalances no one really understands the struggle unless they have been there.  I have dieted several times in my 34 years of life and not one time have I felt this good! I either felt limited, starving, or still in great pain.....

And then there was today....

Please understand, I have had several non scale victories in just 19 days.  But this one....this one....has been a long time coming! This morning my puppy (13 year old lab) wanted to go outside so I went out and sat down while he sniffed and laid around.  It was such a beautiful day! Warm, sunny and with an amazing breeze.  I had decided I wanted to go to one of the state parks and go for a hike.  So I got on the internet and found Cunningham Falls State Park.  It has the largest waterfall in the state :) bonus...hike and your reward is a fall, I'm game! Of course I needed Tim to go with me for support.  So we ate lunch, and headed out to the park.  When we arrived there were two different paths to chose.  One to the left and the more difficult way and to the right...the "easier" one.  Well I saw a mom and her little toddler go the easy way so I knew if the kid could do it, I could! so we headed up.  There were some big inclines and it was a half a mile to the falls.  Other than being out of breath (yes I know its because of my weight but I'd like to feel part of it was because of my head cold as well lol) I did not have any back pain! I could not believe it! I kept walking expecting my lower back to start hurting! I was in tears by the time we got back to our car.  Happy, joyful tears! No back pain!

The falls were beautiful and nice to see.  I was glad I did it.  I was glad my husband who was tired went with me.  I am glad I captured some of the moments so that one day, when I look back, I will remember just how hard I fought to be healthy! One mile down....many....many more to go!

TruLee Amazed,

Ann Marie

Whole30 How its changing my life... (week one)

Well, as I type this I realize I am on day 8 of the Whole30 challenge.  I have had several people ask for the recipes for the foods I have been making and so I thought I’d put it together like this.  It all started because I found someone on instagram who had such an inspirational story.  She weight 350+ pounds and had lost 40+ pounds in a few months by doing the whole30 challenge.  So, I rolled my eyes, thinking this would be another one of those “you have to buy our pills, food and whatever else to do it” thing but went and looked anyway.  I am so thankful I did.  On the website www.whole30.com they give you everything you need to start the challenge.  The list of foods you can eat, some recipes and so on.  They share with you their experience and talk of a book they had written “It starts with Food”.  You don’t HAVE to buy the book…but it was VERY informative. I highly recommend it. 

So first I want to start with the “why did I do this”.  I have known for a few years now that the only way I was going to be able to take control of my hormones (I suffer with PCOS) was I needed to go the whole, natural way.  I needed to change my diet and start putting good things in and leaving bad things out.  Well it sounds easy….but it’s the hardest thing I think an American can do.  To not eat any dairy, sugar, gluten, fast food, processed food and so on you have to 1) be rich and 2) have self control.  I can assure you I am far from rich and self control was just a saying….

I have changed some of things I have been eating or where I get my food for a few years.  This year I had started substituting things in and making very slow changes not to interrupt my “brain” from thinking I was trying to take away its favorites.  Then I came across whole30.  At the time I was desperate.  I was bloated, my stomach, back, knees and every other part of my body hurt.  I was tired. All. The. Time.  I was out of breath going up 5 steps on our porch.  April was also a very busy month with several things planned and I was exhausted wondering where the energy was going to come from to finish the many projects I had.  Whole30 seemed like the answer.

So I set a date after all the big events (that always include the most amazing and unhealthy food) would be finished and shared with my husband what we would be doing.  Yes, I am making him do it.  I know, I’m a bad wife but its not because I think he needs to be healthy, its because I need him to be healthy with me, so that I can stay strong.  My husband about died when I said no dairy no sugar…of any kind…other than fruit.  He loves a little coffee with his sugar and cream. He whined, and cried and boohooed…but in the end he got back up off the floor and said he would do it.  And I have to say he is my hero! He has been strong, and trying to come up with different ways to sweeten his coffee….ummm he’s still working on that lol…

So day one came along and we jumped right in….the following will be the first 7 days of our journey.  Keep it simple, don’t over complicate and know that it is A LOT of work to eat whole but it is so WORTH it. 

Day 1:

            Breakfast: over med-low heat Saute Kale and onions with some Coconut oil, crack eggs in and scramble until done.  Small serving of Pineapple and banana

            Lunch: Romaine Lettuce, Onion, Tomatoes, Peppers, ham, pepperoni, red wine vinegar and balsamic vinegar.

            Dinner:  Seasoned Chicken Thighs (Old Bay, Pepper and parsley) cooked at 350 for 1 hour.  Cut sweet potatoes to ½ thickness. Spread oil on both sides season with salt and pepper and cook at 350 for 30 minutes turning halfway through.  I used a papered chef stone and it does amazing things to sweet potatoes.  :)

Day 2: 

Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, Sweet Potato Hash browns (chop sweet potatoes up into small cubes, and saute in coconut oil (or bacon grease) until done) and a small serving of Pineapple

            Lunch: Leftover chicken thighs from the night before, celery, tomatoes seasoned with old bay (it’s a Maryland thing) and a small serving of pineapple

            Dinner: Meatballs (ground beef, egg, salt, pepper, parsley.  Roll into small balls and cook on cookie sheet (or pampered chef stone) at 350 for 20-25 minutes),  salad with Romaine Lettuce, onion, tomatoes, pepperoni and balsamic red wine vinegar.

Day 3:

            Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs with coconut oil, Sauteed sweet potatoes with onions, and chopped apple (I used one apple for the three of us).

            Lunch: Applegate Fireroasted sausage, fried in a skillet, on top of a salad of romaine lettuce, onion, tomatoes, steamed broccoli and topped with balsamic red wine vinegar dressing.

            Dinner: Roast from the crockpot (I just used the ribeye roasts (or really whatever is on sale) and season it with salt and pepper (I use sea salt and coarse pepper) and then add some onions and let the bad boy cook all. Day. Long. And tempt you because it smells so stinkin good.) steamed broccoli and steamed green beans topped with homemade ghee (ghee is butter without the dairy lol.  You just heat two stick over med to low heat and let it cook until all the dairy sinks to the bottom.  There are several videos on youtube that shows you what to do.  You do not want to burn it! But the end result if done correctly is this yummy nutty flavored goodness! That taste like butter…mostly)

Day 4:

            Breakfast: Scrambled eggs with coconut oil, sweet potatoes and some apple.

            Lunch: Leftover roast warmed and put on a bed of curly green leaf lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and some pepperoni with balsamic  red wine vinegar.

            Dinner: Caribbean seasoned Pork Tenderloin (used a seasoning I found at Mom’s organic grocery store, cooked it at 350 for 45 minutes) ontop of curly green leaf salad with steamed broccoli, onions, peppers, and balsamic red wine vinegar.

Day 5:

            Breakfast: Medium fried eggs with coconut oil, bacon and sweet potatoes fried in bacon grease (I’m not going to lie, it’s a whole new world when using bacon grease and sweet potatoes…amazing stuff)

            Lunch: Salad from the night before. 

            Dinner: Chipolte.  We got double meat (chicken) with onions and peppers, salasa and lettuce.  It was delicious!

Day 6:

            Breakfast: Scrambled eggs with coconut oil and bacon

            Lunch: Albacore tuna with some mustard and I put that ontop of cucumber slices and cherry tomatoes and dipped them in balsamic vinegar

            Dinner: Chicken in the crockpot (seriously I have been making chicken in the crockpot for YEARS but this recipe I found a year or so ago is AMAZING! Just put your whole chicken in the crockpot, season with whatever you like.  I used old bay (it’s a Maryland thing but you can find it in the seasoning aisle) coarse black pepper, and parsley. Add veggies if you’d like and cook on high for 4 hours it comes out perfect!), cooked green beans with ghee and a few chunks of pineapple.

Day 7:

            Breakfast: Scrambled eggs with coconut oil, cucumber slices and pineapple

            Lunch: Bone Broth (just take the bones from the chicken the night before (and skin and cartilage and so on) add veggies of your choice, I did carrots, onions and celery fill the crockpot to the top with water and cook on low for 12-24 hours (I just do it the night I made the chicken and let it cook until the next day) and you have yummy healthy bone broth) with chicken left over from the night before, kale and some mushrooms seasoned with salt and pepper.

            Dinner: Seared Steak seasoned with salt and pepper.  I sautéed mushrooms and onions in ghee.  Leftover greenbeans from the night before and sweet potato fries (Just cut the sweet potatoes into strips toss them in some melted bacon grease, season with salt and pepper, cook them at 375 for 30 minutes turning once or twice).

Here are some things I have learned or tips that may help:

-         * Organic is best but if you can’t afford all organic try and buy what you can organic mainly meat and veggies and fruits that do not have a peel.

-          *When you first start this, if you have not lived a “healthy” lifestyle, listen to your body.  You will be hungry more often, eat, don’t starve yourself.  There will come a time when you will start to feel full with less food and that is good. 

-          *Don’t eat just to eat.  Only eat if you are hungry.  You should try your best to give your body time to digest each meal.  I try not to snack between meals but at the beginning I was very hungry every 2 hours.

-          *We try to eat on salad plates.  One you eat less and two it looks like you are eating more

-          *Remember this is not a weight loss program.  You are trying to reset your body to do what its supposed to do and in the end you may lose some weight but right now I feel amazing and I’ll take that any day!

-          *Drink a lot of water.  If you are not a water drinker it may be tough at first but in the end it is worth it.  I have been able to work my way up to a gallon to gallon in a half of water a day.  I don’t force it in anymore.  I just am constantly drinking water.  Before I serve breakfast I have already had 40-60 oz of water! I try and stop myself early in the evening so I’m not up all night!

-         * Don’t just jump in starting this program.  Work your way into it.  Get a meal plan together for the first week.  Buy your food.  Prep it. Start making some changes a week or so ahead of time.  Get rid of the temptations.  This is not a diet it is a life style change.

 Hope this is helpful! I have a long way to go but I know if I keep making these changes it will be better in the long run :) 

8 Day Detox?

In December of 2011 I read of a "friend" who had tried this new product.  Of course the first thing I did was roll my eyes.  No lie....

She mentioned it several times on Facebook and I felt as if she was just trying to sell something new.  In March of 2012 I saw a before and after picture of her. My jaw hit the ground.  She. Looked. Amazing.

So I started reading up on it and asked how much it was.  You see, I'm a Pastors Wife and our income was very, very limited.  Like after the bills were paid at the end of the months we had about $100 for gas and groceries.  That is no exaggeration.  So my heart was sad that after seeing the price I knew there was no way that would happen.  By June I hit one of the lowest points of my life.  As the months went by I just kept sinking deeper and deeper.  My husband being one of the most patient and loving men in the world would encourage me, love on me and just be there when I just needed him there.  Most days I stayed in my bed because I just didn't have the energy to do anything.  A lot of times I slept 14-15 hours out of the day and I would just beg the Lord for something, anything.  I should go back...

Here I am in 5th Grade.  I was already being teased at this point in my life for being "fat". 

At the age of 11 I hit puberty.  The crazy hormonal attitude was blamed on my teenage years and the fact that my family is not one to "talk" about anything really personal I had no idea something wasn't right.  It wasn't until my grandparents came to visit us that my Nannie knew something wasn't right.  My parents took me to the doctors, I met with children's specialist and had series after series of test.  Their response in the end (after I gained over 100 pounds in just a couple of years) was I had a hormonal imbalance and if I lost the weight it would take care of it.  So they put me on birth control at the age of 14 and sent me on my way.  Let me just put a side note in here.  I am all about doctors.  I have family members and friends who are doctors or in the  medical field.  As I look back it would be the doctors words of how I was morbidly obese and that I needed to lose this weight that sent me into my years of depression.  Please, if you are going to give advice to a young, hormonal, emotional and sensitive teenager, make sure you know what  you are talking about.  Ok...off that soap box and back to the story.  I can look back and remember being so tired alllllllll the time.  I slept when I could and every time i went to the kitchen I was being questioned by my parents as to what I was putting in my mouth.  People (even my own family) got on the bandwagon informing of my weight and how "fat" I was.  It was almost as if I didn't know or see it.  I DID! 

Here I am in Highschool with some friends.  At this point I weighed in at about 250 Pounds

I never really let how I felt on the inside about all the teasing and hurtful words show.  I just put up wall after wall to try and hide the hurt.  In 1998 I graduated and left for college.  It was a small college so everyone knew everyone and that is where I met my husband.  I remember learning about his previous girlfriends and they were all skinny and pretty and I remember one time he said to me "I never dated someone like you".  He wasn't referring to my awesome personality (though I know he thinks I had one *grin*) or my independence   He was referring to my size.  He fell in love with me because of who I was not and not what I looked like.  I told him before we married that I may never be able to have children.  He still married me :)

On our Wedding day in 2001.  I was close to 300 pounds here.

Within the first year of our marriage I suffered two miscarriages.  The first one was twins the second triplets. I was not healthy enough to carry them.  Our marriage would not have survived having 5 babies and the Lord knew this.  I dream of those babies today but I am thankful I will one day see them again.  For the next 11 years my husband and I would grow closer, our love became stronger and my health would become worse.  Doctor after doctors, diet after diet, and moment by moment I felt as if my life was slipping away.  That brings me back to this past week.....

We did not have the money for this new "hope".  My husband, determined more than ever to help me took a couple of part time jobs and said "order it Ann".  So I did.  I ordered the product on a Monday, it shipped on Tuesday and it arrived on Thursday.  Thursday I was having such a bad day.  I spent most of the day in bed.  Tired, had a headache and wishing my life would change.  My husband walked into the bedroom and said "I have a surprise for you" and handed me my package.  It was instant joy.  I opened it up, read every bottle, paper and got my list together.  Headed to the store bought my protein.  Friday morning I started my 8 day detox.  By mid morning I was feeling so good.  Had some energy, cleaned up, did the laundry and was very motivated.  I went to sleep that night and slept so sound.  I woke up on day two feeling really good! The energy I had was amazing.  My husband could not get over how well I was doing.  Day three came along and though I was struggling slightly with some cravings I felt really good.  That was the only day I took a nap :) day four came along and i was feeling so good.  My stomach was bothering me some and after talking with Nickole we had determined I may just be sensitive to one of the supplements on an empty stomach.  After talking to her and Adelle I had decided I wanted to take a picture to see if there was a difference.  At this point I was down 13.5 pounds and 30 inches.  Something had to look different right?  

The left is from the night before I started the 8 day detox.  The picture on the right is the morning of the 5th day.

I was in complete shock.  I mean, seriously !?!?! Thats me?!?!?! Talk about a huge motivator!!! I shared this with my support group and they were just as shocked.  I shared my testimony that night at a group (thank you technology!) meeting in troy Michigan through facetime.  I enjoyed listening to the testimony's and being able to share mine.  

As I type this, I am on day 7.  I have lost a total of 20.5 pounds and 35.5 inches.  I'm amazed at the energy I have. I feel amazing and my husband is just as amazed at how I am doing.  Thankful for this moment.  Praising the Lord for the opportunity and excited for my future! 

My ultimate goal is to be healthy.  We would love to start a family.  

If you have any questions please feel free to ask! email me at annmarielee at gmail dot com

Onto the new me! 

Day Two....

Still going strong...

Went to bed around 10:30 last night and woke up at 6:45....

I was supposed to get 200 oz's of water in me...I only got 128....thats a lot of water right? Yeah well I woke up with a charlie horse!!! they weren't lying when they said you needed to drink half your body weight in ozs! lol

Today, I will get my water down! onto good news....

I lost 8.4 lbs and a total of 16 inches (4 from my waist!).  I am more than excited!

Because I have not had any carbs (well other than what I get from the shake provided on the system) and no sugar I feel amazing! My gut does not feel bloated or in a lot of pain.  They say between today (day two) and tomorrow I may struggle some with cravings....speaking of cravings....

You have no idea the habits you have! As I was prepping food yesterday I kept trying to put food in my mouth! I put a piece of chicken in and immediately spit it back out! lol I was like "Ann what in the world!!!" Last night we went to visit one of our dear ladies who just had back surgery a month ago and is having difficulties.  After Tim and I left all i could think about was "I want to eat!" not because I was hungry....but because I just wanted to snack! I am not your typical heavy person.  I don't over indulge (ok wait...if you give me a bag of reese cups then I will eat them...ALL! lol but that's about it! oh and maybe peanut butter m&m's) but I do snack when I'm bored! lol Soooooo I just have to retrain my body! Its good to be hungry, just not starving! I wanna burn that fat!!!

Ok, so now I just need to go get ready for the day....I'll let you know how today went in  my update tomorrow! though tomorrow is church so I may be a little late in posting! lol

The time has come...

I'm 32 and struggling....my weight NEEDS to go....I'm determined more than ever to do this...

Today is day one of my new me.

I weighed, measured and prayed....

Yesterday, I was tired, my stomach was hurting, I wanted to just lay in my bed and never get up.  I was struggling with my female issue (that I have been struggling with since June!) and life as I knew it was just overwhelming...

Today I woke up and knew that life would change!

I took my pill this morning, drank my shake, 2 hours later I ate my protein, two hours later I drank my shake, took some more pills, 2 1/2 hours later ate more protein, and while all this is happening I have downed 128 oz of water.

So its 5pm, how do I feel?

This morning I felt really good...worked on food prep most of the morning, about 4 hours worth! I cleaned the kitchen, folded and put away laundry and watched a show or two.

I feel like I've spent most of my afternoon in the bathroom.

I have the beginnings of a headache right now but I'm still feeling pretty good.  a little hungry...trying to hold out until 6 before taking my last and final shake of the day :)

Hoping to see some great results tomorrow....can't wait :)

Update Number One...2010

Today is the first day that I am officially starting my life changing moment!

I am going to do my best to be rid of the many things that are harming my body by the end of this month! but my realistic goal is by March :)

Today for Breakfast I had
glass of OJ (Tropicana with lots of pulp)
Banana
Vitamins (Multi Vitamin for women, Iron, Calcium, and B12)
Snack
Tangelo
Lunch
Bowl of mixed veggies

So far so good...we shall see how I do around 4pm! that's one of the hardest parts of the day for me! Must stay busy!!!

I will be going to the gym tonight to walk on the treadmill :)

Tomorrow is the day....for real!

Tomorrow is the day….

The day that I officially go full force in changing my life…with God’s help of course…and my husbands…and my family’s….and my friends…and YOUR help as well!!!

As a young teenager trying to understand the emotional roller coaster, trying to do right, doing all that I could (well maybe not all but mostly all that I could) to lose weight…it was no where in sight. I know you have heard my story more than once. If not, just scroll back a few blog entries and you’ll see it for yourself. It’s something I couldn’t come to grips with. Doctors telling me if I would lose the weight I wouldn’t have this problem or that problem. And yet, it wasn’t me losing the weight that was the issue. This year I will turn 30. 30 does not scare me. I take it on like I would any other birthday. What frightens me, is never conceiving. I mean, if God never wanted us to have a family, then that’s fine, it would be tough, but He knows what is best for us. I know as a Christian I should do all that I can to stay healthy and do right. As I researched this PCOS that a friend told me about I remember tears pooling in my eyes. My heart beating faster, my fingers searching the screen, and the moment I KNEW this is what I’ve been struggling with. PCOS to some is just a name that is used when they have no explanation of what it could be. This term was tossed around in my teen years, and even my young married years. No one told me anymore about it other than I was “insulin resistant” and needed to get onto some exercise regiment. Well dear dr, who has spent years upon years, in and out of college, how does one do this when they have no energy? How does one do this when their iron levels are in the single digits and the simplest chore such as folding clothes makes you want to go and lay down and take a 3-4 hour nap? Oh Iron you say? I should pump myself full of iron…..

So that is what I felt for over 17 years. I had no control over my moods, emotions, feelings, strength, and pretty much my life! I had no answers, no explanation other than I was fat and needed to be on a “diet”. July of this year I started my new way of “dieting”. I had found this blog and from this blog, I was introduced to a new world of eating. Mckmama, as she refers to herself, made me feel “normal”. She would love for her family to eat nothing but wholesome, fresh, no preservatives, natural food but well then life happens, and she has a bunch of little ones that keep her pretty busy. So eating healthy, natural, and not fully of preservatives, is not possible all the time, but she has so much great information on her blog! And then I found this blog. She refers to herself as the Spunky Coconut. Boy does she have quite the challenge. She HAS to eat healthy or her family will suffer as they all have allergies to certain foods. So I look at these two families, and though they are at opposite ends of the spectrum, I know that if they can do it…I can too! I don’t even have children so it should be easier right??? Lol

So today…Sunday, January 3, 2010 I state that I am going to do all that I can to eat “right”. I am on day 21 of no soda! The craving is not as “strong” as it once was but it’s still there….

I had already planned on starting January 5, 2010 to start my healthy way of eating. I will be taking the unhealthy items out of my daily diet and replacing them with the healthier way. I know what some of you may be thinking but in July and August of 2009 I got a small taste of what it’s like to eat organic, raw, whole foods and I felt sooooo much better! I’m not going to go too crazy and become a tree hugger or anything. Though you may find me hugging a coconut tree cause of all the goodness it holds for you and all but other than that I’m just trying to get rid of what is harming me. I will enjoy life, I will find a new love for food. Trust me, I’m not going vegetarian or anything…not that, that is bad or anything, just not me! I actually have to learn to love veggies. I like them but I have to learn to want them. Tonight, my goal is to sit down and make a “what Ann can eat” and my menu for this week. My goal this week is to walk one mile 3 times a week. From there I will up the amount and the times. Sooo…if you are on board and want to be part of my cheering squad…please check up on me. Please pray for me…please ask me whats new…and if I haven’t blogged in a while…tell me I need too. I may not like you at first (big grin) but I will always be thankful….

So its to a new me….

9 days *sigh*

Ok, so 9 days ago I last posted...how sad! lol

Well, I finally was able to have a "true" aunt Flow visit...Bonus...and blah! lol

I haven't been 100% gluten free, dairy free, or sugar free (sad face here)

I have found some HELPFUL websites that have encouraged me to go back to the gluten free, sugar free and dairy free moments of life!

I have a new outlook on eating processed food...ok its not so new but it sure does make you feel horrible!

I have lost most of the water weight I gained while aunt flow was visiting....

My favorite beverage is Ice Cold Water! I'm serious...it feels so good to drink a ton of water and not even realize it!

I start working out at the gym next week...just gotta figure out a good schedule...early mornings? Lunch Time? Evening? We shall see...its a 24 hour gym!

Praying God help's me to stay faithful!

Working on a budget and need to stick to it!

Slept from 7pm to 9am....was I tired? Or just my body reacting to the no good food I have been eating lately!

I must detox again from the gluten, sugar and dairy!

Onto the rest of my very busy day!

Thanks for checking in!!

14 days ago?!?!?!....

Wow thats the last time I blogged?!?!?!

Well I promise that if I really had the time I would have! I wanted to but I was so exhausted!

Well, We left Monday July 27th at 4 am and from that point on, that whole, eating healthy, making right choices, doing whats good for my body, losing a few more pounds...yep it didn't happened....it flew out the window with sleep and sanity!

I did eat a salad here and there, TRIED to make a few good choices, but when you get up at the last minute, run out the door, work at the conference, listen to 4 hours of preaching, have time to grab something to eat, work more booth, and get home by 12pm eat bad bad bad food and go to bed, then start all over...yup that was my week...pitiful!

Yes, I gained weight, am retaining water and get to start that whole "detoxing" myself from sugar, refined foods and such. I'm excited though! I joined the Gym yesterday so heres to tons of cardio! YAY!

32 pounds later!!!!

Oh my! I got on the scale last night....well I'll be honest....I bought a new scale (its a weight watcher scale its originally 35 and I got it for 19 lol) and had to try it out! So anyway, I got on it and have dropped another 2 pounds!!!! I can't believe it! I'm not always "good" but I try my hardest.

God really has given me such great encouraging friends. The students at the dorm (for those of you who don't know, my husband and I are dorm parents at our college) even say "don't eat that your cheating" lol. Nothing like having such good friends who want me to succeed!

Last night I grilled a steak. It was soooooooooo stinkin good! I marinated in a olive oil, walnut oil, tamari, garlic, spike seasoning, mrs dash and black pepper! Oh man it was so yummy luscious!

Today i had another one of those yummy smoothies for breakfast with three hardboiled eggs...for lunch I"m having left over steak with salad, and for dinner I'll be having turkey burgers.....

So there ya have it....updated....not so shabby!

Busy Busy Busy!

Wow, Last week we sooo busy! This week will be even busier and Next week, well I believe it'll be so busy that in a blink of an eye it will be Monday AUGUST 3rd! wowzers!

So, I have a new smoothie I absolutely love! Its Cherries, Blue Berries, Strawberries, Necturine, grapes and some purified water (all fruit, of course, is organic!)....oh its the best smoothie ever!

I have some exciting news, well to most women it wouldn't be exciting, but for me it is exciting, I am in the process of "starting" my period without medicine! that means I"m doing something right! They said the first signs that your body is adjusting and detoxing....this is a HUGE step for me! (sorry to all the men who may ever read this lol) Now, to see how this goes monthly and see if I ever ovulate!

I've been doing well....we have had some partys here and there that are hard to eat "healthy" and "Organic" but hey, you gotta go with, what life deals ya! I can't be perfect ALL the time!

Tim is gone for another week and will be home saturday. We leave Monday to head out to North Carolina for the Sword Conference! I can't wait, busy busy busy!

I don't know how much I've lost as I haven't weighed myself lately...maybe, if I remember I'll do that tonight :)

Tonight I'm having Marinated steak with fresh zucchini and probably a salad...oh it sounds so yummy!

Insert Something Clever here....

So I'm not very motivated to be creative lol...

I made almond milk this morning...very interesting....it will be great for when I need some "milk". It kinda taste like....soy milk...but not really....I'm sure I'll try different things to see if I can improve the "taste". We shall see...

I'm on an endless hunt for recipes that go along with the "diet" I am on. I say diet because its easier to say than to explain that I'm on a No sugar, No flour, No dairy, No refined, No processed food way of eating....lol so for now on its my "diet".

I've been super excited to find new ways of introducing healthyness to my lifestyle! I think its kind of like an addiction....I have a few addictions right now...

Hard boiled eggs with mustard

Smoothies

Salads

Turkey Burgers

Bison Burgers

Marinated Steaks

Fresh Fruit

Those are just a few to name....

Oh I forgot to mention in my last blog I'm down 30 pounds! What in the World! I had the worst week of my life last week and I still managed to drop 5 pounds...its still amazing!

Almond Crusted Halibut, Homemade smoothies and a relaxing night...

So as promised...I said I'd let ya know how it went last night!

Halibut was good....I think next time I'm going to have to season it a little more. It's very fishy smelling but not very fishy tasting (if that makes sense). My oven does not have very good tempeture control so I'll have to remember that next time....

The smooties I made last night were AMAZING! Well except for when Sarah made me try the smoothie she created...note to self, do not add kiwi, lime, black berries and orange juice. It becomes very very bitter! Then to try and "sweeten it" I added banana, a Necturine and some stevia but in the end, sarah did not drink the to bitter overly processed smootie, but leave it to one of the college guys Albert to finish it off for her!

I had a smootie for breakfast...so tasty good....

a Handful of frozen strawberry pieces (I bought them a while ago and cut them and put them in the freezer just for this reason!)

A handful of frozen blue berries

A splace of Orange Juice (must be nothing but orance juice not from concentrate)

Half a necturine and 4 1 inch slices of banana

grind away and what do you get???

A SUPER YUMMY BREAKFAST!

ITS HERE ITS HERE!!!!

YAY!!! My Blender finally arrived! I'll be testing it out tonight! Of course the first thing on the agenda to make is a smootie! ohhh it sounds so good!

Some of the other things I will be making....

Almond Milk

Omega 3 rich Mayonaise

chopping veggies

chopping garlic (Oh man this is the best part, I love cutting veggies and fruit but garlic is so hard!)

making homade salsa

marinades

bbq sauce

and the list goes on!

I have honestly been feeling GREAT. I did pretty bad last week due to not making a menue and going grocery shopping but I promised myself that I wouldn't let that happen again...so Saturday I went to the Whole Foods Store and spent a little over two hours checking out every isle and finding nifty things and I was able to find all the spices I had been missing...I had no idea Tamaria was a soy sauce! lol I'm glad for the friendly help from the workers there. They are very knowledgeable.

I, for the first time, bought halibut and am excited to make Almond Crusted Halibut for dinner tonight. As much as i'm sad that my hubby is gone for the week, I am glad to be able to cook things I know I'd like. He's not a big fish fan, but if I can get him to like a few different kinds maybe I can make it more often for the both of us!

Though Tim is not 100% doing this diet with me, he is very supportive, only eating junk food while he's at work and does not bring it in the house. What a man! He's been making better choices in food, when he know he's going to be driving all day and is forced to stop at McDonalds, he is reminded how horrible that food makes him feel!

Last night I made a ton, I mean 2 pounds of turkey burgers. Oh they were so good! (I only had one!) I froze 4 of them and fed three of them to two of the students who had cut grass all afternoon.

I took a break from Bananas and am now regretting it. I will be picking up some of those tonight on the way home.

I can't tell you how good I feel. I am more mobile, in that I mean my joints dont hurt and I don't think "It's gonna hurt to get up!" I just do it. I keep myself busy around the house, though I have no children I tend to be cleaning up like crazy, doing laundry, and constantly loading and unloading the dishwasher (when you cook with whole foods, fresh and are constantly prepping you have a ton of dishes!). I am thankful for this new way of life.

I still struggle with being tired but I have learned that it is worse when I am not moving...so I try to stay busy....

Well...I will try and make sure to let you guys know how the halibut turned out :)

Until next time....