Hello!

Yes, I know you all probably don't want to read another stupid post from me ever again, especially since I have been all over the place. :)

It has been a crazy few years for me trying to figure things out.  Still no where close, but feeling better and better.  I haven't really been writing on my other blog, but hope to start up again more consistently.  I just wrote a post about a new thing I am giving a go to try and help me get back to a more healthy size.  I ballooned back up to 180 now for a couple years and have been struggling with what to do about it.  I have been eating well and enjoying food, but really was getting discouraged about my weight.  I am making a little progress now and hope to keep going in a positive way.  You can read about it here.  It seems every year around this time I get the inkling to write something. :)  Hopefully, I can just keep up a little more and get excited about something again!  

Hope you all are having a beautiful St. Patrick's Day and I rather miss this little place from time to time. :)

Looking for feedback...

...I am so sorry to those of you who may still check in from time to time on this blog.  But, I am trying to prepare myself to show my new blog to a bigger audience: Family Forks.  However, I am unsure and I suppose a little insecure about it and would absoluetly appreciate some of my current followers input! :)  You all have been so important to me over the years, the ones who comment and the ones who don't either...  So if you have time, hop on over and give me your advice, opinions, encouragment and/or just plain honest comments of "What the hell are you thinking?!" :)  

Hope you all are doing well and I thank you in advance!

  

Family Forks

Hi, everyone!!!

I am so excited to announce a new blog I am creating at the moment.

I have needed a place to write about some new changes I am trying to implement in our family.  It is not just about weight this time for me.  I will be writing about my experiences, successes and failures of learning to cook food packed with nourishment.  I am also, making all of my own toiletries, cleaning products, makeup...

Eventually, I hope to be at a place where I am gardening, maybe even have chickens, canning, fermenting, dehydrating, etc.  I am enthusiastic about current changes and hopeful I can make real meaningful change in our families health and well being.  Getting back to basics, and finding a joy for the kitchen I never knew I could have (except for the excessive dishes now. :))!

So, if you feel so inclined take a look at my new website and tell me what you think!

I have so enjoyed my time here and will forever hold a special place in my heart for you all!  You guys are some of the most amazing people I have met and I am so grateful for the wonderful friendships I have made through our collective and yet individual journeys.
Hope all are well!

Family Forks

 

To great lengths...

Time flies by so quickly, sometimes I find myself wondering how could I be so busy and yet not get anything done. :)  All is going along pretty well.  I haven't started purposely losing weight yet.  I have lost 4 pounds without trying since I last posted.  Nothing fancy or incredible, but I will take it!  At least it is not in the usual upward motion.  I am quite heavy for what I got used to there for awhile and starting to feel pressure to kick it into high gear.  I don't want to go through another summer like last... feeling terribly uncomfortable and longing to fit into that cute sundress hanging in my closet torturing my soul. :)  I am just going to try and calm down and enjoy feeling a bit better.  I am able to control depression feelings as of late and for me that is just awesome!  I had a setback a couple weeks ago and still having huge energy problems.  I think I really need to get in and have my thyroid and adrenals tested.  I also, may just try the other tips specifically for thyroid in The Diet Cure too.  I just haven't found the motivation.

I took a picture of myself tonight, and I don't know how to feel about these pictures I take of myself sometimes.  I feel like it is just horrible vanity and so ridiculous, and then another part of me absolutely loves to feel good about an image other than a reflection in a mirror that is not so forgiving.  I can crop and edit color to make my image look so much better. :)  So for now I am enjoying this look and check out my hair!!!  This was actually the main purpose of this photo.  I believe this is the longest my hair has ever been in my whole life!  It is pretty healthy too!  At times I just want to chop it all off, but this picture reminds me that I don't really want to... not just yet. :)  

Here's to finding something about yourself that makes you smile.  Today, for me it is my hair... 

Goodnight to you all!

Diet Peace

Supplements, supplements... supplements galore!  When I started reading The Diet Cure, I was a bit concerned about the list of supplements I was forming.  Then I was a became a little more concerned at the checkout counter. :) (So far I have spent $100 on supplements and $10 on the book.  Please note:  the amino acids are not to be taken forever, once one starts eating properly and deficiencies have been repaired their consumption can be ceased (unless stress occurs and a little extra boost is needed).  The basic supplements: good multi, extra Vit C, Magnesium, Calcium, Fish Oil, B Vitamins will be maintained for life, theoretically.)

The process of taking all of the supplements started out difficult.  I now take them without any issues.  I became really sick with a headache and stomachache on the second day.  I had to even cancel my daughter's basketball practice (I am coaching, 2nd and 3rd graders- it is awesome and out of my comfort zone being heavier and such).  Anyway, I determined that I must have taken the supplements incorrectly and decided to write down just what, when and how much I should take.  (Should have done this in the first place. :))

Things started improving except for my energy.  I should have had boundless energy on all of these supplements and changing dietary habits.  I got my Implanon out of my arm two days ago and feel AMAZING!  It is as if a dark cloud has been lifted.  The supplements seem to currently be working.  My body seems to be thanking me for the flood of nutrition and expulsion of continuous hormone holding it back.  I actually want to eat chicken, spinach, broccoli, pork chops with no stealing bites of sugary foods.  I tried to eat an Oatmeal Cream Pie a couple days ago.  I took a bite, and said to myself, "I remember these tasting so good last week."  Took another bite, spit it out and threw the rest away.  I NEVER do this!  Once I start eating something sugary, in the past I usually finish it and perhaps even take another one!  I feel like I can do this now!

I actually have a plan hearkening back to some of my more darker dieting days.  I am going to try out a more rigorous weight loss plan for three weeks using these supplements to help me through.  My sugar/carb cravings are under control now and almost effortlessly, too!  So I think this might work out.  I, then plan on transitioning to a "naturally led" diet looking to The Diet Cure diet outlines, Paleo basics and whatever else may develop from my journey as guides and inspiration.  I don't want to force myself anymore, and beat myself up when I can't sustain the decrees I make to my body.   

So far so good!  The vast world of dieting/health can be daunting and we each have to find our place.  Sometimes that "place" changes many times.  It has for me.  I am just hoping to find a place of peace in this area of my life (ie. no more dieting, wishing I was slimmer and rather focus on overall health).  I however, have full knowledge the work will never be "done" and new obstacles will arise, but achieving a sense of stability and control is my goal!  Can it be obtained?  Is this "it" for me, I sure hope so!  My husband can't take too many more of these "plans." :):) 

Take care, my friends!

And thanks for the continued support!  Here is a reply to your comments in the post below, so you don't have to go back and check:


Thanks LD! Always a delight to see you here and other places too!:)  And CM- I almost gave up, but I am persisting and so far it really seems to be gelling for me?  Time will tell!  Thanks Valerie for commenting!  I know, I used to think HCG was the cure-all, but eventually I found myself having many more problems than just a weight problem.  I will have to check out the website you cited.  Sounds great!  I am completely sold on the whole concept that low calorie diets or counting cals/working-out-til-you-drop is not the way to go (for me at least).  I was trying to go Paleo, but just could not curb my cravings.  I was driving myself crazy trying so desperately, but I think I just depleted myself so far that I couldn't break the cycle with will power alone.  Now I feel as though I might stand a fighting chance. :)

Thanks everyone!  

       

The Diet Cure, crossing fingers!

Hello, hello!

I think it so interesting that we all kind of share a rhythm.  I haven't checked my blog in months, and today I decided to get on and to my surprise some of my old friends have been writing again within the past couple days!  Great to see you ladies!

Anyway, lots of changes are starting to occur for me, and I am quite excited and hopeful!

It has been a hard struggle for me now coming up on 2 years.  I haven't been able to find a solution to not only my fat problem, but my ever-increasing mood and energy problem.  I have gone back to HCG in desperation and failed miserably.  I just can't even get past a week on Protocol anymore.  I cannot even limit certain foods anymore.  I have been in need of help for quite some time and I am determined to find it...  I have been reading books, following blogs and contacting people who follow a seemingly effortless lifestyle of preparing their own foods, fermenting foods, making their own beauty products, raising their own chickens, etc...  I have wanted to make a change for so long now, but haven't found the right stepping stone to get me there.  Perhaps just now I have?

Recently, I ran across a post made on Facebook about an amino acid that could curb your sugar cravings within hours.  I have been killing myself for my lack of "self-discipline," and my seemingly insatiable desire to eat junk and then starve myself out of punishment and disappointment in myself.  I was introduced to a book called, The Diet Cure, by Julia Ross, M.A.

I ordered it for $10 on Amazon.  I am still perusing its pages and formulating my specific plan.  However, I have bought the main amino acids suggested in the book.  L-glutamine (for sugar carvings), L-tryosine (for low-energy), GABA (natural Valium- helps one to relax! Love this supplement so far!), 5-HTP (increases serotonin  helps with depression and even our obsession with dieting!), DLPA (natural painkiller- emotional and physical pain- helps you cope more effectively).  I been taking these along with the basic supplement requirements listed (I will go into more detail later.)  So far, I am so impressed and happy with the results.  If I am having a hankering for some sugar I take L-glutamine and immediately get on with preparing a nutritious meal stocked with high quality vegetables, protein and quality fats.  Before my sugar and carb cravings seemed unable to be controlled by my will and knowledge alone.  I would typically give in and eat something fast, processed and totally void of nutrition to raise my blood sugar levels.  I have also given L-glutamine to my little 2 year old (just crack open a pill and put it in their mouth- tastes good) and to my surprise he didn't whine and beg for the plethora of fruit in our fridge and juice.  He asked for eggs and gobbled down three!!!  This never happens with him, he will maybe eat a couple bites if I force him.  So in his little body that unfortunately, I have made addicted to sugar the results were immediate!

I however, don't want to just paint this as a complete pretty picture with no difficulties.  So far, I am still having extreme energy problems in the evenings and it is relatively complicated to try and figure just what combination you need and just what is unbalanced in your body.  I am trying to sort it out as I go, but first item to address since I am not having great success with some of the amino acids is get my Implanon birth control out of my arm.  I think it may be interfering with my efforts as of late.  Next is to address thyroid and adrenals that have been exhausted and put under extreme stress by my overdieting.

I am so tired of "dieting."  It is just killing me and my self-esteem.  But that is what we do in this country, because we don't know what else to do.  I know I have, and I just have to believe there is a better way.  I am on a mission to turn this treacherous cycle around for me.  Hopefully, I can get myself pretty balanced within the next 3 months and the weight will follow along as I naturally want and desire to eat differently.  I will try to go in further depth at a later date, and just can't wait to see if this will really work long term for me!

Week One Down!

I would have been updating all along this past week, but there has been computer problems going on around here.

So what is the week's result:  Down 7.8 pounds!

I say that is pretty darn good.  I am feeling so good and so very proud of myself.  I haven't been able to stick to anything for quite a long while and I feel like I can sustain this diet to the end.  I didn't experience any of the headaches or feeling poor either of detoxing.  It must have been the really good quality fats I loaded with instead of too much sugar.

The yoga is going wonderfully, and I am so very thankful to my oldest daughter for performing each session with me each night.  She has kept me with it and we have had such a great time together.  I love it so much, I wonder why I ever stopped! :)

I am on my way, and with a little persistence I will be back to my old self in no time.  I am just taking it one day at a time and relaxing into the process.  Enjoying it even!

3 more weeks to go!  And, then on to settling into a doable and sustainable maintenance.

Hope everyone is having a happy fall!  Love fall!