Sunday Funday (29)

Before I get started I wanted to share with you guys a couple of head bands I found that I really like. I got them on clearance for $2.72 at CVS the other day.  I was really excited.  These are great because they cover the spots in the front of my head well without exposing the large spot that takes up most of the back of the left side of my head.

Today was a busy day, the kids are extremely excited that it is spring break so we started it off right.  First in the early afternoon my youngest had a play date and in the early evening my nieces came over for a sleep over.  There is just something about having the kids together that just makes my heart swell.

It is also a lot of people! So we ordered a sheet pizza for everyone.  I was initially a little tempted to partake in the pizza party but I felt a little off and decided to forgo it and have a roasted chicken breast instead.  I had a bit of a funky stomach so I decided not to tempt fate and to stick with something easy on my stomach.   Awhile later I felt sort of like I would like a slice but decided to just munch on a few pieces of pepperoni instead.  At that point I figured I had already had dinner so that would be a healthier choice.

I had an interesting sense of accomplishment knowing I treated myself but didn't go over board.  Besides Easter is coming and for that day I am giving myself no rules.  I think everyone needs a break once in awhile and that will be my little break.

I have been trying to come up with fun activities for the kids to do on break.  I am thinking I will take them bowling and possibly to check out Sky Zone.  It is so hard to find things to do that they will all enjoy when they are all different age ranges.  My son keeps joking that I should take my girls to a movie and him to the Bahamas.  Living in New York this time of year I have to say his idea sounds amazing!

Home Made Applesauce (26,27,28)

I am sorry for the time away.  Things got very busy for a few days.  I try to post everyday but I have to be realistic that sometimes it might be every couple days or even every three days like now.  

I am doing really well.  I have really transitioned into this healthy eating lifestyle quite nicely.  Although I have to admit my sweet tooth has been making me feel a little antsy lately and I really wanted to do something to curb the wanting a little bit.  I decided I would look up how to make applesauce on my own,  As I looked, I decided I would kind of throw things together and use what I read as a very basic guideline.  So this is my very simple recipe for making homemade applesauce that I came up with.  

Ingredients:

Apples (3lbs)

Nutmeg (1/4 tsp)

Cinnamon (1 tbsp)

Apple Pie Spice (1tsp)

Peel or don't peel your apple to start (I didn't)

Core and slice each apple into 8 pieces

Put apples in crockpot

sprinkle seasonings on top

Cover and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours (I did 3 hours and 45 min)

I used an immersion blender to blend my applesauce 

This one

You could also use a blender but be careful not to over do it

This was my final product and I loved it!

I had a ton of fun with this recipe and I know now that I figured out how to do it, and how easy it is, that I will be doing it all the time,.It is so much cheaper than buying the jar stuff from the store and I know exactly what is going into it. I also read it stays good for up to 3 days...but I don't think mine will last that long!!

This is the back of a jar that I have in my fridge that the kids have been eating...I am going to try so hard to switch them over, There really is a bunch of junk in there!

A little note on the immersion blender, this was my first time using it.  I think it is amazing.  I love having all these new tools to make cooking new recipes more fun.  It is great.

I have also been working on my couponing.  I spent Thursday cutting out inserts and internet prints and getting them all into my binder for the first time in months.  It is a very tedious job but really helps me to save so much money.  I am hoping starting in April that I can continue blogging this way but also add in deals as well.

It has occurred to me that since I started this blog that I have been living less inside my head and more in the actual real world.  It is helping me get back to a normal life and I find myself not secluding myself as much.  Thanks for taking the time to read and comment.  It really means a lot to me.  I can't believe it has been almost a month since I started this whole journey. 

I hope you guys are having a great weekend!

I 

Day 25 When Life Gives You Lemons

Today was one of those days that you can't believe you were ever in a funk in the first place.  I was in the groove and I truly felt like I was making lemonade out of my bitter situation.  I had to go get blood work done in the morning.  It was fasting so I didn't get my cup of coffee or my lemon water.  I had a plan though, I was going to bring my coffee in a travel mug for once my blood work was finished.  You know what they say about the best laid schemes of mice and men....wouldn't you know I get half way there and realize I left my travel mug on the counter.

I decided to not let that influence my attitude of the day.  I walked into the lab with a smile on my face and I meant it.  Blood work doesn't really bother me, I have been poked and hooked up to IV bags so many times in my lifetime that a pin prick to get some blood seems like a bit of a joke to me.  The thing I generally don't like about it is that I have always had terrible veins.  When ever I go to get blood drawn or have needed an IV in the past they have had a terrible time finding my vein which leads me to have giant bruises all over my arm or sometimes arms depending if the tech gives up and decides to start on another arm.  I am used to it though it has always sort of come with the territory.  Until now! Today the girl found my vein instantaneously, I didn't even feel it when she put the needle in.  I will not have giant bruises this time.  I told her she was amazing, that she was the best tech ever!  

As I was driving away, I started wondering about what was different.  I have a few different conclusions, one was that my diet is better and the other is that I consuming a ton of water these days.  I think that has made all the difference for me I would often get the IV bags due to dehydration so apparently guzzling water is having a positive impact on by body.

I have also been trying to get back into couponing a little bit.  Yesterday I had a pretty good deal at CVS.  I was happy, I am feeling less like hiding in my house and feeling more like I want to get out and experience new things.  As I try these new foods and have these new experiences I keep thinking there is so much out there I am not experiencing in life.

I have decided to try not only to rid my life of fear when trying new foods.  I have decided to embrace life and try new things in general.  So tonight after watching on Facebook for a few weeks...actually six, I have been watching this group for six weeks!!  I decided to stop thinking about going and actually go.

  I went to the World Peace Meditation Circle up in Brockport.  This week the focus was on Overtone Chanting which I was a little nervous to experience because it was outside my realm of comfort.  I almost let they be an excuse to wait until next week.  The old me would have done just that and I am so glad I didn't.  I really enjoyed getting out and being around new and different people.  I loved that there was a woman there who shared her time, energy, and knowledge with a group free of charge.  I found the chanting to be calming and also exhilarating which sounds contradictory but I don't know how else to explain it.  I loved feeling the vibrations and hearing all the different tones around me.

What types of activities have you gone out and done that were outside your realm of comfort that you ended up enjoying?  I would love to hear about them in your comments for new ideas!

As for my nutrition today, it was spot on.  I didn't have any cheats.  I am feeling so amazing. I find as I fill my head with different experiences and new ideas I am focusing less on my outside appearance.  I feel for the first time in years I am growing and I love it.

Day 24 Having a plan

I have taken a great liking to left overs.  For some people that is no big deal, but I used to pretty much throw everything out.  I'm not proud of how wasteful we were as a family, but the truth is even when I packed it up with the intention of reheating it, a week later I would be tossing the food in the garbage and scrubbing a ton of Tupperware.  

These days I save everything I can.  I find that having an already prepared meal to use makes things a lot simpler and than I am only focusing my energy to come up with one unique idea a day.  The nice part is sometimes I over cook so I can have a few different selections to choose from.

Today I had left over turkey and vegetables.  I  liked my vegetables so well that I ended up saving more of that turkey for another day.  I find it is helpful to have a good lunch.  I used to eat not very scheduled meals and found myself snacking a ton through out the day.  It was always terrible snacks as well, think m&ms, chips, or any other terrible snack you can think of.  This helps me to not want to snack so badly and if I do I will grab a handful of raisins or cashews.  In the evenings I will often have popcorn for a snack but I am truly feeling a little tired of it so I am going to try something new.  either Kale Chips or Carrot Chips.  I will let you know how they turn out!

I find having a plan to try new things keeps me focused on something other than my issues.  

Progress:  Feeling better going strong

Notes: find more snack ideas

Day 23 Riding out the storm

“It is life, I think, to watch the water. A man can learn so many things.” 
― Nicholas Sparks, The Notebook

I am learning for the first time to flow with the emotion of the day, to let it wash over you, to except where you are until you are capable of moving forth from that emotion.  I have spent so many times alone in a room when I was hurting instead of embracing that grief and sadness are just as much a part of me as laughter and happiness.  It isn't something that is meant to be experienced alone.  I don't think any of life is. Our Lady Peace has this song Are You Sad, "Are you sad? Are you locked in your room? Are you holding yourself? You shouldn't be."  I have loved that song since the first time I heard it, but have just recently started to understand that no one should be broken and alone.

In the past when I have gone through hard times I have completely drawn into myself.  It is refreshing to see that when you put yourself out there that people truly can be good and kind.  I have had some different suggestions I have found very helpful.  Thank you all for being there the way you have,

Monday I didn't wake up in the perfect place but by time I had went to bed I had laughed until I cried so it felt like a pretty good day.  I have a bunch of amazing friends and family who check in on me.  They send me things that know will make me laugh and smile.  It truly is helpful.

It was super easy for me to stay on track with eating healthy because I was super busy.  My husband and kids went back to school and work so I was able to catch up on all the house work.  I also had some light grocery shopping and went to see my gram at the home.

I made a roast turkey breast and vegetables for dinner.  I had so many vegetables that I was full most of the night.    I love that I am starting to enjoy all of things I make,  I also love that people are sharing recipes and ideas with me.  I am going to try next week to make cauliflower pizza crust, and a chocolate mousse out of avocado. In fact in my head I have already altered the recipe for the avocado mousse to freeze it in ice cube trays and turn it into ice cream.

After dinner I made brownies with my son, he wanted to practice baking, he is going to be baking a cake at school.  The best part about this was that I wasn't even tempted to have any.  I had treats days earlier but I still wasn't feeling deprived in any way.  Those of you who told me to let myself indulge every once in a while were definitely on the right track!

Progress: Going strong and my mood has lifted

21, 22 Better late than never

I needed a few mental health days.  I have been in a serious funk. Here are some flowers in case you are in a mood too!

Maybe it is the fact that this winter just won't freaking end or maybe this hair issue is the straw that has broken the camel's back (that camel being me). It is sometimes damn near impossible to keep my head up.  I haven't written because I like to keep this blog on a somewhat happy note and I am not feeling that at all.  I am feeling like 20 years of various illnesses and health issues that are rare, unheard of, or impossible to cure is just about more than I can take.  To put it mildly, I am so sick of it.

That being said, I gave myself some time to wallow in my own self pity, and now I am moving on from it.  Even if I did have a couple of moments this weekend when I sincerely considered Brittany Spears-ing my hair.  I figured if I shaved it all off perhaps the growing bald spots would all just blend together.  Unfortunately due to having the shots it would be all full of divots. So then I would be bald and misshaped and I just can't see myself pulling that off.  So instead I ask for you guys, if you feel inclined to post your favorite headband and hat ideas in your comments.

As for my journey in the world of healthier eating  this weekend was a bit interesting for me.

 Saturday throughout the day I was able to keep my healthy eating on track for most of the day.  I wasn't feeling well Saturday and I ended up having a slice of pizza and a couple of boneless wings that my hubby had picked up for dinner because I wasn't going to cook.  I thought it would taste so amazing which it did for the first couple of bites but then it mostly tasted greasy.  I think that will help with me wanting pizza anytime soon.  I think I prefer my treats to be in the sweet instead of the greasy.

I woke up Sunday feeling so sad.  It started after I took my shower and realized that soon I won't be able to cover up my spots without a hat or some really crafty headband.  It really made me feel upset.  I couldn't stop crying.  It is making me feel sad even typing about it.  I don't really consider myself a vain person but the idea of someone seeing my spots makes me feel sick to my stomach.

The good news is that I made it back on track with the healthy eating.  It is becoming routine enough that I don't really feel bothered by it so much anymore.  I have also found if I allow myself indulgences now and then it tends to make me stop thinking about that bad food so much.   I also like using all my left over veggies for lunch the next day.   

I am sorry this isn't more upbeat, hopefully Monday's recap will be more my normal / positive self.

Progress: Getting closer to a month long journey and I feel some things are becoming habits.
Notes:  Research kick ass Hats and Headbands

19 & 20 I scream, You Scream.....

I am combining two days into one because my hubby and kids have been home so I have been focusing on the family. I have done pretty well for the most part but today I did cheat and have half a cup of ice cream.  Real wonderful creamy ice cream.  This came after the failed attempt of using non sweetened Greek yogurt in my Dessert Bullet the night before.

It was pretty pathetic.  Thursday I bought non sweetened Greek Oikos yogurt.  I separated it into ice cube trays and put it in the freezer.  I was really excited to try making my fake ice cream.  So when it was time I ground up my cashews in the Nutri Bullet and chopped up my square of dark chocolate.  Unfortunately when I ran the ingredients they came out less than stellar.  I should have added the banana with the yogurt, split it fifty fifty.  But I didn't and the result was awful.  I was pretty devastated.

Fast forward to tonight and let's just say I was a little on the tired side of things not tasting as I had expected.  I guess I have decided that once every now and then a cheat will be required for the simple reason of I just can't handle it anymore.  I made sure to choose an ice cream with as little ingredients as possible.

I thought I might feel upset with myself but I didn't.  This wasn't an emotional treat for me, unless I consider exhausting all substitutions as emotional in which case I guess it was.  It really came down to the fact that I wanted ice cream and that nothing I had tried was helping ease that craving.  Now that I have satisfied it, I don't think I will be struggling as much.

I hope you all are enjoying your weekend.

Progress:  Still doing well with avoiding grain but sugar won this round 

Notes: Research something that is actually palatable to replace ice cream

Day 18 Craving Conquered

It was strange, I had hoped that I would wake up after the terrible cravings and feel better.  This blog is about being honest for me and the truth is, I wasn't.  I stuck to my morning routine but still just wanted something sweet.  I specifically spent the day wanted ice cream.  I couldn't stop thinking about it.  It made me feel crazy and I was not going to be content with a fruit sorbet the way I had last week.

I decided to make up my own recipe for the dessert bullet.  Some healthy alternative to the Hagen Daz I was craving like a crazy person.  I used 1 banana, ground up cashew, and a square of dark chocolate, and vanilla.

I used a square of this.  I am not a huge banana fan so I knew this would be a little tough on me.  I could absolutely taste the banana but I could also get the richness from the chocolate and the cashews.  It was actually really tasty but the banana was a bit over powering.  I think in the future I might use a few ice cube tray squares of frozen plain greek yogurt and half of banana.  The amazing part was that I could not even finish it, nor did I need to.  It was amazing, a small treat and my craving was gone.  I don't even feel the least bit guilty.  

I am curious to your favorite guilt free desserts.  

Progress: feeling good

Notes: find other treat ideas that are actually good for me

Day 17 "Secret Sauce"

I am writing this the morning after the 17th day.  I had a bit of rough night last night.  Which isn't too big of a surprise for me because it was....you guessed it, pasta night.  I have pinpointed that that particular meal must be the one I miss the most because I am having the hardest time dealing with it.

I thought I would be a lot better off this time because I had a plan.  I decided I would skip trying any fake pasta vegetable dishes and that I would make a chicken and turn it into chicken parm.  I had already brainstormed the way that I would deal with the fact I couldn't have breading.  I decided I would try to use almond flour and freshly milled almonds and eggs to try to make a crust.  It worked out okay but to be honest it was really dense.  I have some ideas on how I would do it differently next time to make it so it wasn't so heavy and had a bit more flavor.  I am not sure what I was thinking but I didn't even add Italian seasonings to the fake breading I was making so I am not sure what I was expecting.  My sauce tasted delicious to me as always.

After dinner it hit me, of course my sauce tasted delicious like always, I used the same jar sauce I always used, last time I had used sauce from Wegmans that was ingredient friendly..this was not that sauce.  I decided not to be too hard on myself, it was a slip and I am fully aware that as you try to make changes in your lifestyle that mistakes are going to happen.

What I was unprepared for were the cravings that would be sparked.  This was spaghetti sauce I had ingested not a Snickers bar.  With the intense cravings, I decided to do a comparison of Rinaldi sauce and a Snickers bar.  There are 8g of sugar in the sauce and 11g in the candy.  I don't know about you but I am pretty disgusted thinking about it.
It is no wonder  I started thinking of every terrible food that I used to love and couldn't eat.  In my head I contemplated throwing it all away, eating a ton of crap food but I thought of the hair that had began growing on its own and stayed strong. I had some grapes, NOT THE SAME THING!!!

It was also an aha moment for me.  I realized just how absolutely addictive sugar is. I have read a ton of articles about it, but to experience it that way was a real eye opener for me.  I am going to try to stick with my natural sugars that come from fruit and honey.

So I revised my plan for the next time I make sauce to include being careful of the kind of sauce I use.  This is all just a work in progress but I know I can do it.

Progress: Dust yourself off and get up again. back on track
Notes: Sauce is full of sugar dummy (specifically Rinaldi)

Days 16 Hellraiser has nothing on me

Old Train Tracks by my house

Okay the title is a bit over dramatic but I did have needles shoved in my head today so I am allowed to draw comparisons to late 80's horror flicks!  In spite of that I had a pretty good day.  My Dr. said that it was promising that I have spots that lose hair and then start growing hair again on their own.  On the other hand there were several new spots she had to shove needles into that were not growing hair but I am still hopeful.

Today was pretty awesome because my husband had off of work and we were able to go for a walk and he was there to support me at my appointment because he is amazing like that!  We also went shopping together and he helped me to pick out awesome vegetables to roast for dinner.

This is what we ended up with.  It is mushrooms, green beans, sugar snap peas, and asparagus.  I had raw sugar snap peas at lunch and decided they weren't exactly my favorite....but roasted this way with Worcester sauce....AMAZING.  I also have found that I love asparagus.  Today was my first time trying it and it is delicious.  My uncle has told me for years how wonderful it is and I really wish I had listened to him.  I suppose I will find this to be the case with a lot more foods before this is all said and done.  Today was a new milestone for me, I liked my side dish of vegetables more than any other part of dinner.

My question is, which foods do you find best raw and which are best cooked?  I know it is really all just opinion but I am curious!  

Progress: Eating well and some of my hair is coming back on it's own

Notes:  I guess I don't have any except maybe buy more asparagus!

Day 15 Goals

"Strength does not come from physical capacity.  It comes from an indomitable will."

Mahatma Gandhi

Sundays seem to be a bit on the lazy side for me.  I did however go to the store to pick up some snacks for the kid's lunches. While I was there I found myself loading the cart with things for myself.  As I looked down at the various greens and other vegetables I had purchased I felt a sense of accomplishment.  If someone had told me a month ago that I would be successfully navigating this journey I would have told them they were crazy.

It is amazing what can be accomplished when you set your mind to it.  I am the type of person who can easily do what I set my mind to, for a time.  Staying consistent has always been the struggle for me.  Those of you who really know me, know that while I was a smoker I quit cold turkey several times.  I quit for each of my 3 pregnancies, I quit for months at a time because I would wake up and just feel like it.  My problem was with staying quit.

There are a couple things that have helped me stay quit this time, one is that the people around me are no longer smoking so it is much easier not to pick the habit back up on a "bad" day.  Also this time  I actually won't call myself a non smoker yet.  I told myself that I would not give myself that title until I made it to 1 year successfully, because I have never done that.  I also have smaller goals and celebrate in my head a little on the 30th of each month.

In a way this blog is about mini goals for me.  Each day I successfully or unsuccessfully make it through I tell you guys about it.  My more long term goal is to make it 1 month without cheating by eating crazy processed food.  I am not sure I will make it there but I hope I will. For me each day is another step closer.  For me that is enough.

 Tomorrow I go for my next round of injections.  It has me a little frustrated that there are so many new spots popping up and that the one on the top of my head is a spot that gets a little more challenging to cover each day but I know this tool will pass.  I also know if it doesn't pass that my physical appearance does not define me.  I know that I am strong enough to push through anything that comes my way.

Progress:  Feeling great!
Notes: Set short term goal for new recipes
Find a long term fitness goal and work towards it.

Week 2 Putting Fear In My Rearview

When  I got up and weighed myself this morning I was pleasantly surprised to find that 6 pounds has disappeared from my waistline.  What an awesome added side effect to eating healthy.  What is nice about it is that I am eating whenever I feel like it so it is pretty exciting to see weight loss.

Today was a fun day, I took my girls to get haircuts.  For my youngest it was her first time.  The fact she made it to 6 convincing me to allow her not to get a haircut is a testament to how strong willed she is.  It was definitely bittersweet to watch my baby girl become a little kid right before my very eyes. What was pretty comical was after the first snip of scissors she completely relaxed. I guess she realized that the idea she had built up in her head did not match up with the actuality.

 It got me to thinking about how from even a young age we let fear control us.  I have been a victim of one fear or another all my life.   Starting from little fears of the unknown and some fears that have grown until they are lying on my chest like a thousand pound boulder.  In some aspects my fear of the unknown probably grew into my fear of trying foods.

I could relate to my little one's fear of going to get a haircut because for months I have been struggling with the same fear.  I made her and I put that fear to bed at the same time because I don't think we should let the unknown stop us from great experiences.  I let the fear of being judged stop me from going in for a haircut. I went in today stronger, I believe because of this blog, and I enjoyed getting my haircut with my girls.  It was so much simpler than I anticipated, I just sat down in the chair and told the girl, "I have Alopecia Areata so don't be surprised when you stumble across bald spots or spots where hair is just starting to grow."  I am finding that I can help ease my fears when I take control of the situations that feel overwhelming to me.

The rest of the day was spent watching t.v. and munching on popcorn with the family.  I had a great Saturday!

Progress: 14 days down
Notes: Stare fear in the face!

Day 13 on the 13th

My grain free pizza dough

Who knew that I could make something this delicious? Tonight I overcame what has previously always been a huge hurdle for me when trying to eat healthier.  I ordered pizza for the family but I didn't eat it.  Instead I made this wonderful dough for myself.  I used tapioca starch and almond flour as well as a ton of wonderful spices.  I added some sauce and cheese to it.  It was wonderful.  It was very dense so I was only able to eat 1 and 1/2 pieces.  Unfortunately I topped with cheese and ended up with an upset stomach so if I was to make it again I would instead make a garlic topping and skip the cheese all together.  

I was telling my husband that as much as I enjoyed eating this, that if I was going to feel this terrible after I would really not have a problem cutting these things out all together.  I have walked around for years feeling many different symptoms and not really putting together that it had something to do with my diet.  Feeling this way tonight is a reminder of why I am doing this for myself.  

I have been researching recipes like crazy and found interesting variations on food I like to eat.  So I guess my question to you all is what is your favorite recipe adaptation?

I can't believe tomorrow will be 2 weeks since I started this whole thing.  I have to say week two was definitely easier to overcome than week 1.  I decided tomorrow I will weigh in and see what eating this way has done to my waistline, while that is in no reason why I started this, as my clothes hang looser I am curious to where I am at this point.

Progress: Still going strong
Notes:  Keeping track of the things that make me feel ill so I can better tailor my diet to sensitivities.

Day 12 Swapping Bad For Good

I have found that as each day passes I am having an easier time making choices that fit this new and improved lifestyle I am trying to live.  One of the major changes I have made is that I eat breakfast each and every morning.  Probably most of you do this but skipping breakfast has become one of the most unhealthy habits I have adopted in my adult life.

Somewhere in my early 20's I swapped out breakfast for coffee.  That was the way I started my morning and often I would not eat anything until noon.  Since I have been drinking my breakfast for the better part of 15 years I have started this transition by having a smoothie every morning.  I am accustomed to drinking my breakfast so while I am ingesting something different the routine stays somewhat the same.  On days that are really busy I am sure to add a handful of raw almonds for the energy boost.

I have also changed a common side when I am eating lunch.  Many times I would have chips or pretzels with which ever sandwich I was eating.  I have now substituted  bread for romaine on my sandwich and red peppers have taken the place of the junk food I would have on the side.  If I am in the mood for something sweet I will have an apple or a handful of grapes too.  

I stumbled across a new change tonight after my oldest daughter's concert.  While watching the concert I kept thinking about how my grandma and mom used to take me out for ice cream after my concerts as a kid.  The first thought I had was some ice cream would be nice, followed by I haven't had ice cream in quite some time, the last thought that kept nagging me was I REALLY WANT SOME FREAKING ICE CREAM!!  Even after I had the kiddos in bed that want was still nagging at me.  Then inspiration hit!

Last summer I had purchased the Dessert Bullet and it was still in the box downstairs.  So I got it out, assembled it and used a handful of frozen fruit to make this version of ice cream.  That is what is in the picture at the top of the blog.  The only ingredients I used were lemon, blueberries and strawberries.  I enjoyed it so much.  I also was able to rid myself of the craving with none of the guilt.  

Progress: Still going strong and it gets easier every day

Notes: Swapping bad for good gets easier for me when I have the right tools to use.

Day 11 Getting Out Of My Comfort Zone

I figure there is no better way to feel better about your eating the day before than to start the day with a green smoothie.  It is loaded with a ton of vitamins and while I wouldn't be caught dead eating salad in the morning...this is a way for me to do just that.  It tastes freaking delicious. 

Today I made it my mission to get back to trying new foods.  If you have noticed in this blog I keep mentioning that I should have picked up a sweet potato, or it would have been better if I ate a  sweet potato.  The truth is that I have never tried a sweet potato until today.  This is one of those foods I have been reading rave reviews about.  How they are so delicious no matter how you fix them and on and on.  I have to tell you I wish somewhere in there someone would have mentioned that sweet REALLY means sweet.  The one I made I seasoned with a little bit of butter and cinnamon.  It was a popular combination I had come across all over the internet.  I was not impressed.  I made sure to eat at least a quarter of it, to say I truly gave it a good taste, but to me it tasted too sweet.  It was like when I used to come across a wine that was entirely too sweet for my taste.  I preferred it dry like the Sahara Desert.  So my question to all you is what are your recipes that cut down on the sweet taste.

I also tried sugar snap peas with my son after dinner, they are one of his favorites, and I see why.  I am sure you all are starting to see a theme here...I have not tried a TON of foods that are everyday staples for most people.  I think that is one of things I am finding most exciting about all of this, I am stepping outside of my comfort zone in so many ways.  

My phobia of trying new foods has always been something I felt embarrassed and ashamed about.   Putting it all out here for you guys to read is really helping me to not feel that way anymore, and the more food I try the less I am afraid to try the next thing.  It is also exciting because while I am not loving everything I try, I am finding new foods that I think are AMAZING.  I think my favorite so far is Red Peppers,  I had them before in sauces but I had never had them raw and now that is my favorite snack!

I am also trying new recipes and exploring new ways to do things which is really exciting to me.  It may sound silly but before yesterday I didn't know that you could make vegetables in the steaming basket of the rice maker at the same time as making rice.  I was talking with my brother, about vegetables and learned that, which is something I never would have known before.  

While I am having my ups and downs going through this like James Taylor says in Secret O' Life "it's just a lovely ride."

Progress: Back on track and feeling good

Notes: Research different seasonings for the sweet potato

Day 10 my first cheat and what led me there

Today I think I want to talk about how stress can affect eating habits.  I wasn't sure whether or not  to talk about this.  Then I figured that there isn't much point in doing this blog if I am not going to be honest about the mistakes, slip ups, and missteps I have and then for me to take the time to pinpoint what happened.

Some mornings are harder than others to get ready.  When I get out of the shower I often wait as long as possible to go to the mirror to do my hair.  I can be in the best mood ever and moments later be moved to tears trying to cover the increasingly large bald patch in the front of my head.  I am still amazed after dealing with this for months on end how devastating it can feel.

If I have a bad morning this is definitely something that causes stress for me. Today was a bad morning for me.  I got up and stuck to the routine I have had going.  All the while in a pretty damn good mood.  The warm weather makes me truly giddy.  After I got out of the shower I avoided the mirror and continued doing all the things I needed to do.  Eventually there was no more waiting I had to get ready to go see my grandma. I needed to get my hair in place.

It was bad, no matter which way I tried to part my hair a bald spot was showing. Unfortunately I have two very larger spots and then tons of dime to quarter size patches...as I got increasingly aggravated I thought about chucking the brush at the mirror, a common thought on mornings like these, but as usual I didn't. Eventually I  got the spots all covered.  Not all mornings are that bad...sometimes it just falls perfect in a matter of seconds and I don't get worked up at all.  If there is an upside to dealing with this all these months it is that the impact in the morning doesn't last nearly as long as it used to. I was pretty frustrated but a minute later I had put it out of my head and got on with my day.  Even chatted on the phone while I finished getting ready.

I went to see my grandma at the home and then stopped at the store to pick up a chicken and some odds and ends.  While there, the hubby and I were talking about what a nice day it was and how we could use the grill and cook burgers.  So we planned that, and I bought potatoes to make fries.  I was at the store and should have bought a sweet potato for myself while I was there but I didn't.  I was thinking I could come up with something at home.  Looking back at the moment though I can't help but think that my tumultuous morning routine may have been a factor.

When I got back home I still kept with my normal routine, making choices to eat healthy.  I ate my ham and a ton of red peppers at lunch.  I also was able to go outside for a nice brisk walk!!

 When my son got home, I chose a healthy snack for myself while getting him his.  In my mind I was still having an internal struggle.  As my other two came home from school I was met with a stressful phone call.  One of those calls that brings a situation where you can't reason with a person and there is truly nothing you can do to put a positive spin on it.  I think this was the tipping point for me.

  I took the time to peel the potatoes and cut them myself all the while thinking you shouldn't be having this.  As I put them into the fryer while my husband was outside cooking I still continued to tell myself I didn't need them, I wasn't going to have them.  Even as we sat down to dinner, I was trying to  tell myself I wasn't going to eat them.

As I looked at my dinner, my burger with no bun I then justified it to myself, you know how we do that..."I am not having a bun, I am being good about that so I can have fries."   I did not go crazy, I did not eat very many but I was surprised to find that they didn't taste very good and they definitely didn't set well in my stomach.  I felt a mixture of guilt and just plain nausea from eating the greasy food.

I keep wishing I had baked the fries.  If I had baked them I would not have felt bad about it at all.  It was the fact that I fried them and that after all my reading I think I am gleaning understanding about what that fried food does to your body.

I realize that was a bit in depth to go about a handful of fries, but I really want this blog to be about the journey I am on and I feel like this was the most honest way to go about it.

Progress: Feel more motivated than ever after my first nasty slip up
Also I was proud of my exercise portion of the day
Notes: No more deep frying oven fries only! Also get myself some sweet potatoes already.

Day 9 I love the sun!

Boy, I don't know about the rest of you but Daylight Savings didn't hit me on Sunday but it sure did a number on me yesterday morning.  I was trying so hard to get motivated but I was dragging.  I had my normal lemon water..and then 2 count them 2 cups of coffee.  I don't love using coffee as a crutch but some mornings there is just no other option.

The sun was out though.  It was a beautiful day, the most beautiful day we have had around here in quite some time.  That had me motivated even if I was dragging a little.  By ten I had done two loads of laundry, all the dishes and cleaned the kitchen.  Then I made crockpot Pasta E Fagioli Soup.  I just didn't add the pasta to mine.  Next time I make it I am not going to used the canned kidney beans I am going to try the bag kind I figure there will be less preservatives that way.  I also edited out the V-8 juice because I was out of it but to be honest I couldn't notice so I will probably edit that out permanently.

 I could not stand to be stuck inside on such a beautiful day.  I went out to the stores and  picked up the kitchen sheers I wanted.  I also stopped at  Aldis to get some fruit.  I was pleasantly surprised at the price.  It was so much cheaper than what I have been playing.  It looks really good too, I will have to keep that in mind when I am in town.

I had mentioned that I wanted to start reading hard copies of books. When I got home I had won a Goodreads Firstread.  It is a book called Never Smile at Strangers by Jennifer Jaynes.  So far it is decent although I notice she does a ridiculous amount of describing people smoking, which I find irritating as a former smoker.

I have been using my Fitbit to keep track of my walking, I was a bit lazy last week due to adjusting to all of this.  I was happy by the end of the day that I had gone over my goal and done over 5 miles.  I am hoping as the weather changes I can keep adding to my goal.

Progress:  Still going strong
Notes: Look into preparing beans from a can so I am not using canned goods, on that note look into canning tomatoes.

Day 8 Lazy Sunday

I am happy to report that today was a non-event kind of day.  I spent time visiting my grandma in the home and then hit the store.  When I came home I tried some new recipes and was happy to see how much less stressful they were when I wasn't making them starving to death.   They were both very tasty and I also learned a little bit from each of them, this type of cooking is different for me so there is a bit of a learning curve.    I did teach myself how to debone a chicken thigh and I felt like I did a pretty good job for never doing it before.  It did make me decide that I need to get a good pair of kitchen shears though.

I am excited to get through this change of daylight savings and have longer daylight in the evenings.  It means spring is coming and I am hoping I can get outside and soak up some sun.  I also plan to have the family walking together after dinner to get us all moving.  

I am really excited because I have a couple tools coming that I think will help make my meal discoveries more exciting.  I purchased the Ninja Kitchen System 1100 from Kohls which was a great deal because I also used the code SHOWERS30 to get 30 % off. I can't wait to see what it can do.  I have never used a food processor, it should be an adventure in itself.

 I also purchased a food scale because I have been noticing a lot of the baking recipes with almond flour and tapioca starch are more precise than simply using cup measurements.  I figure the better tools I have to help me be successful on this journey the better chance I have of sticking with it.

I think tomorrow I am going to try a carrot chip recipe a friend sent to me.  I need something to snack on, I would love to hear your favorite healthy snack!

Progress: Still going strong
Notes: Don't forget the Kitchen Shears!

Day 7 the completion of week 1

I was a little nervous about getting through the day if I am honest.  We had a surprise birthday party for a wonderful friend of ours to attend yesterday.  Birthdays are a cause for celebration but this was my first party to attend since trying to make these changes in my diet so I had a bit of anxiety.  I didn't know what kind of food to expect there so I had made up in my mind that if need be to go ahead and cheat.

I was sure to stick with the way I have been eating here at the house before we went. We arrived at the party and to my relief there were great proteins for me to eat.  I filled up on those and had a couple of salt potatoes.  I was so happy that I was able to say after I left the party that I had made it through my first week. 

 I had not had prepackaged food, with the exception of seasonings.  I avoided sugar successfully and drastically cut down on my coffee intake.  I tried a bunch of new foods, some I hated and some I absolutely loved.  I did not eat any M&Ms.  I helped my family make healthier choices with some of their meals.  All and all not bad for the first week.

That being said, I thought I might do a little recap of the changes I have been noticing so far.  My hair is still falling out at basically the same rate, so no change on that end but I do still have a lot of new growth and for that I am grateful and hopeful.  I went through a few rough patches but overall I think I am adjusting okay.  I LOVE LEMON WATER!  okay I know I have said that so many times but it is so good and gives me such a refreshed feeling each morning.  I have found that I am sleeping best when I am exercise, this weekend I didn't get as much in as I would have liked and I am have had a harder time sleeping.  I have also find that the more time I spend exploring new recipes the more I feel like I want to try new things.  I think I am overcoming my phobia which is an unexpected plus to this whole journey.

Another great unexpected change is that I am gaining confidence in myself that I haven't had in a long time.  I have also noticed that I seem to be thinking clearer here at the end of the week than I was when I started this whole thing.  I thank you guys for the positive comments and suggestions on facebook they have really been inspiring and helped me stay the course.  

Progress: Week one in the rear view mirror.

Notes:  I am having such a good time researching recipes that I think maybe after I get the hang of this I might want to try figuring out some of my own.

Day 6 Keep it simple stupid

Sometimes I over think things and over complicate them.  I am all for trying new recipes but maybe I shouldn't have tried them at dinner time.  Perhaps after one failed and I was already frustrated beyond belief, I should have given it a rest for the night.  Try, try again.  A friend suggested I try the recipes in the day when the kids are at school and the hubby is at work. I think that might be my best bet, no pressure.

That being said I did learn some valuable lessons from my catastrophic meal on Thursday.  After talking with people who have substituted veggies for pasta I learned that I should have let the zucchini cook longer and that it is almost translucent when it is ready to eat.  I also found out zucchini is not my only option, spaghetti squash is also an option.  Even though I had such a bad experience I am all for trying it again to see if I had it right and just don't like the flavor or if it was that the zucchini didn't have time to absorb the flavors I was cooking with.  I also am going to give the spaghetti squash to see if I like it better.    

Today I kept it simple.  Started with my Lemon water because I LOVE IT!!  I had myself a smoothie for breakfast.  Later in the morning I had a cup of coffee.  I brought myself a simple snack when I went to see Jane fore lunch.  Made myself a filling easy lunch using left overs from a dinner earlier in the week.  Dinner was garlic herb chicken, which was great because I used fresh herbs for the first time.  I also made baked potato and mixed vegetables.  I should have made a sweet potato but I needed to feel normal for a day which I did, I felt completely normal and I stuck to my plan.

Tomorrow if I make it through, will be a week since I have had any processed food.  This is foreign to me but I am proud of myself.  I am taking steps to be a healthier person that a year ago I would not have imagined myself capable.

Progress: Made it through day 6!
Notes:  Remember to keep it simple stupid :)

Day 5 One Step Forward Two Steps Back

It started off a decent enough day.  My husband was off from work so we had time to hang out together in the morning, he went with me on a hunt for ingredients for some meals I wanted to try.  If there is an upside to this day it is that I have an extremely supported husband.  

We had lunch together which was awesome. I even ate mushrooms which is another new thing for me! Then we just spent some time hanging out, it was a nice afternoon.  It was around 3:30 when everything started to fall apart.  

The first thing that happened was that I noticed that I bought cucumbers instead of zucchini for my fake vegetable spaghetti.  I didn't make a big deal about  it, I hopped in the car and ran to the store. I wound up grabbing some more peppers, green beans, and more cashews.  I wish I had used my brain and found something easy in case this great plan of mine did not turn out.

When I got home I got the family's version of what I was having ready because I wanted to have fun with what I my recipe.  (Man was I in for a let down.)  Once they were fed I started in on mine.  I used the slicer and my vegetable pasta came out amazing.  The picture above shows how it came out.  This tool works amazing, which is the only good thing I have to say about my dinner experience tonight.  

After I had my veggies ready to go I sauteed them in the pan with some olive oil and garlic, when they felt tender I added my sauce to it.  My guess is, I didn't cook this right, but the other problem I had with it was the flavor.  

Now let me be really real with you guys here, my entire life I have struggled with trying new things and have never been a big vegetable eater, but I have grown mountains in the last couple of years. That being said, this was a harder experience then I anticipated.  

How bad can this be I thought....I took a bite, it was disgusting to my pallet, I did not like the texture or the flavor.  I think that I didn't let the "pasta" cook long enough and maybe I didn't let the flavors combine enough, because it tasted like three separate ingredients that didn't belong together.

So my dinner was awful and repulsive enough to me that I could not finish it, although I did try 4 different bites hoping for a different experience.  (Should have stopped at one)

Now for those of you keeping track, I have now prepared and cooked 2 meals and still have not had a meal.  I was getting really grumpy about it so I made a couple slices of bacon, had a handful of nuts and some raisins.  Not really my idea of a dinner but I had not prepared a  back up plan.  I knew I was making something that I might not enjoy and had nothing easy just in case...this was a bad move.

A bit later when I was still hungry and still frustrated I told my husband I was going to attempt to make a recipe for 3 ingredient naan bread I had seen. I had purchased the Tapioca starch, Almond flour, and coconut milk earlier in the day so why not.  Probably my next bad move as I was already in a less then stellar mood.

 I started and knew I was in trouble the second I opened up the coconut milk, the smell reminded me of my mom's suntan oil growing up.  I feared it would be like the coconut rum back in college, something I would not be able to stomach.  I continued on, and when I got frustrated my husband took over flipping these breads as they are like making pancakes and I stink at flipping pancakes on a good day.  After that we popped them in the oven, when it was done I took a bite and sure enough I felt like I was eating suntan oil.  It did not stop me from eating a piece anyhow because I was just so freaking hungry.

My frustration peaked at that point and I sat on the couch sort of miserable.  My wonderful husband offered to make me popcorn in our air popper.  I ate it like it was my job, it was filling and at that point I was ready for bed.

I am typing this in the morning again.  It seems I can't bring myself to recap on the terrible days.  The good news is I woke up with an idea to substitute almond milk for the coconut milk.  Which seems like a pretty simple idea now that I am not over tired, angry, and hungry.

Progress:  I made it through this day by the skin of my teeth

Notes: Always have a back up plan when trying new recipes!

Day 4...a bright day after that

For those of you who don't know, I am a crazy Tupac fan.  All day I have been hearing him in my head, saying in Me Against The World, "I know it seems hard sometimes but remember one thing, through every dark night there's a bright day after that, so keep your head up and handle it."

That line has helped me get through some of the most awful battles in my life, so it was nice that this morning I felt more focused on actually experiencing that brighter day.   

Yesterday was indeed my dark night, but today certainly is brighter.  I didn't even end up needing that cup of coffee I was sure I would be having.  The lemon water is changing my life! I think I have decided that I will drink coffee when I feel like it but try not to have it be an everyday thing.

On to other things, I am super excited to share with you guys what I got in the mail today.    

This is my Paderno World Cuisine Vegetable slicer!  I can't wait to see all the different things I will be able to do with my vegetables with this handy tool.  The first thing I am going to use it for is making noodles out of cucumbers to have while the kids have pasta!  I am so excited!!  I am hoping having fun experimenting with different  recipes will make this whole thing a little more fun and a little less stressful.

I have been finding little tricks to make things a little easier on myself.  (You know like never ever going shopping on an empty stomach.)  I find if I have a plan as to what I to eat the following day that I don't feel nearly as nervous about breaking down and having a crazy M&M eating spree.  I also like to have fresh fruits and vegetables ready to go.  Currently I have celery, carrots, apples, grapes, blueberries, cashews, almonds, and pistachios ready to go when I feel like snacking. 

Tonight I made marinated flank steaks wrapped around green beans and green and red bell peppers.  This was a lot of fun for me and I just love how colorful they are.  I was so surprised to taste how sweet the peppers tasted to me.  They tasted like candy which helped oodles with the chocolate craving I was having.  

What was an extremely pleasant surprise to me was how much my oldest liked these!  She actually said to me, "Thank You so much for encouraging me to eat healthier and try new foods I really liked this."   

When I get well versed with my vegetable slicer I am hoping to come  up with some fun side dishes so I don't feel left out when they are eating rice. Or any other sides I am trying to avoid.

I can't believe how amazing I feel today.  I am really hoping I feel this good again tomorrow.

Progress: I made it through another day and am helping my family make changes in there diet too!

Notes: Look in to good seasoned vegetable sides (feel free to leave recipes in my comments here or on facebook)

Hope you are all having a great day!

Day 3 ...could also be titled what was I thinking!?!

Photo by Shane Ford
Shane Ford Photography

I am writing this Wednesday morning because let me be honest with you here, yesterday was a hard day.   I normally like to recap my day that night and then edit in the morning and post, I was not getting this blog down last night.

I stuck to my plan, but yesterday I didn't want to.  I was in a terrible mood and had a rotten headache the whole day.  I think I may have felt worse yesterday then I did on my 3rd day of quitting smoking.  

I drank my water and exercised quite a bit but honestly it didn't do much to curb what I was feeling. If it had a major effect and I was unaware I can't imagine what I would have looked like without them.

I will say that this morning I feel a small sense of accomplishment having made it through it.  But honestly yesterday was terrible.  I am trying so hard to make these changes but I can see clearly now that it won't be with out struggles and I feel fairly certain at some point I will slip up.

I stuck with lemon water in the morning and skipped my cup of coffee. Clearly I have gone absolutely insane to attempt that right along side everything else I am doing but those of you who know me, know that anything I do I do BIG! That being said I don't really have the stones to do caffeine and sugar at the same time, so this morning I am having my  3 quarters to a cup of black coffee.  It is one of the few things that makes me feel normal.  Besides  a half to one cup of black coffee is not the worst thing in the world.

I can tell you one thing that is close to one of the worst things in the world.  I made the mistake of going grocery shopping without a list while hungry!  Not a good idea, I was roaming  those isles almost in a trance.  It seemed truly impossible to pick foods that had not been prepackaged.  It was so bad that I did not in anyway complete my shopping.  I found a quick meal for George and the kids and decided on reheated soup for myself I grabbed some cashews and was on my way! I will be back there again today, this time with list in hand and right after my breakfast!

I have been sticking to the exercise, but may need to spend a little more time with my calm app. given my mood yesterday.  I am truly hoping today is a better day.

Progress: Made it, stumbling the whole way, through another day without processed food.
Notes: learned a valuable lesson about shopping during the early phases of cutting something out of your diet

Day 2

A lot of people resist transition and therefore never allow themselves to enjoy who they are.  Embrace the change, no matter what it is; once you do you can learn about the new world your in and take advantage of it.

Nikki Giovann

I did some research about the herb garden and it seems the best way is to cut from a portion of a plant that is in the ground.  Seeing as how we are in New York where there is 2 foot of snow everywhere it looks like I am waiting until spring to start one outside and then transition it indoors in the fall.  

When I woke up this morning I had a headache still and wanted to call it quits already.  But I didn't, instead of pouring a huge cup of coffee for myself the way I wanted to, I made myself a big glass of lemon water.  I drank that and then waited 20 minutes,  I still wanted my coffee so I had a half of a cup.

 I chose my breakfast to be liquid form this morning because after I got my little one ready I was headed off to go visit my grandma in the home and to see my husband's grandma as well.   So I made myself a spinach smoothie with some strawberries, blueberries, and almonds and was on my way.  Speaking of smoothies, I would love to hear your favorite smoothie recipes so feel free to share in the comments!

I feel like I am actually starting to adjust to this a little bit.  Having a little more energy, and feeling a lot less grumpy.  Although for most of the day the kids were at school and the hubby was at work so I didn't have to watch everyone eating things I couldn't have.  At dinner I was completely satisfied because I made an amazing homemade chicken soup and it was so good I am using it for lunch tomorrow!

Progress:
Day two NO Processed foods!!
Notes: On to researching planting an herb garden!

Day 1

There is a beginning for everything, Semi Sonic says " Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."  I'm sure they didn't come up with that saying but that is the song that is ringing in my ears.  Starting a journey off any course you have ever imagined yourself on can make you a little nervous.  I am a little excited too!

Today marks the end of me eating crazy processed foods.  I keep telling myself that I quit smoking back in August so this should be a breeze.  Something tells me that breaking this habit isn't going to be that easy.  I am afraid that my vices I have let go of already like alcohol and nicotine are nothing in comparison to my addiction to refined sugar that I have been cultivating since I was a child.  I love it in all it's terrible forms.

Today is my first day of trying to eat cleaner and so far what I have noticed is that having a glass of Lemon water in the morning did help me to cut way back on my coffee consumption.  I only had 3/4 of a cup this morning.  I was in a pretty good mood most of the day.  During the  late afternoon I felt pretty grumpy. I took time to go be on my own for a little while and use the free Calm app I down loaded.  It seemed to help!
 This evening my moodiness has been coupled with a pretty nasty headache so I have been drinking water to try to help get rid of it.  I also am noticing a little bit of break out on my face.  I suspect toxins leaving but not sure.



 Progress:
I made it through without eating anything prepackaged.  With the exception of seasonings I used at dinner.  I LOVE LEMON WATER!!!

Notes:
I would like to even begin to make my foods with fresh seasoning...I think I will look into indoor herb gardens !

I hope to update again with more experiences tomorrow.

(I am writing at days end and posting the following morning)

Change is in the air

This blog is probably going to go through a bit of a change in the upcoming weeks.  I will still post deals as I see fit but honestly my focus has changed.

 As I am sure most of you have noticed I have gone on a bit of a hiatus.  I have been going through some personal struggles that have kind of taken the wind out of my sails.  I was recently diagnosed with an autoimmune disease.  I have Alopecia Areata, Most simply put it is thought to be an autoimmune disease that makes my immune system think my hair follicle is something bad so it attacks it.  The only symptoms the hair loss and sometimes it itches a little bit.

When it started it was merely a dime sized patch on the back of my head, The spot has grown into something between the size of an orange and a grapefruit.  There are other spots all over my head from the size of a dime to the size of a quarter or bigger.  As you can imagine it has been a bit upsetting.  My morning ritual can be a bit time consuming trying to make sure all the bald spots are covered by the hair I do have...think Christian Bale at the beginning of American Hustle.  It's okay laugh it was meant to be funny.  I have gone through some stages of pretty nasty depression trying to deal all the while continuing to do all the things I have to do.

 I am seeing a dermatologist and I have gone through the joy of having needles injecting steroids into the spots in hopes of hair regrowth.  The great thing is that I am seeing some results.  I will continue to see my Dr.  but in truth I just don't feel like it is enough and my hair may be regrowing but it is still falling out at an alarming rate as well.

One of the first steps I am taking is to change my diet.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I have always had a pretty awful diet.  I have been known to eat more pizza in a week than any person should admit to, and in my life I have consumed enough chocolate to lay m&ms from New York to California several times.  I knew it would catch up with me.  I had hoped it wouldn't but I knew it would. I think I just thought it would hurt me in an ever expanding waistline and clogged arteries when I became elderly.  I didn't think I would see health ramifications when I was this young.  Which lets face it I am not as young as I used to be.

I have read that there have been people who have had success going gluten free, I am at this point willing to try anything, And I get it, it seems to be a buzz word everywhere these days, but I am seriously willing to try ANYTHING to help this to stop.  I don't know exactly what I am doing or where this will lead but I thought I would write about my observations of how this changes me.

I am also going to try meditating and increasing my exercise.  I am going to limit my social media use and focus on my family.  I am going to go back to reading books in the solid form.  I am hoping that just by living a whole life I will start to get better, and if not at least have a whole bunch of new healthy habits to keep me busy.

I am starting these changes today..so I will have my first post to share my experiences tomorrow.