Week and 3 days

It's been a week and 3 days without sugar and I gotta say its not easy! I did have 1 cookie twice this week but that's an accomplishment of its own (usually I have 3 or 4) 

I need to get more creative with my cooking! Prepare food I'm excited to eat! 

My latest is watermelon with feta cheese and spearmint- it's so damn weird it's yummy!

Any hoots I'd love tips from my lovely friends!!!

Since I've started this I have gotten out to run/brisk walk 3x as well (in addition to basketball)  I'm starting to feel old cuz my feet hurt so bad! I think it's that time in my life to either visit a pediatrist and get some inserts or go to a running store to get really fitted for sneakers! Any thoughts my friends? 

Have a wonderful Memorial Day!!

Sugar free journey

Day 2 and going strong. Friday was great I stayed away from sugar, had a juice of kale and citrus and went for a jog/run/brisk walk. Today went well as well... Even took a nice walk (to visit with my sis!! Added bonus) I find eating protein helps with cravings but I know time will truly fix it all! All tips are appreciated! 

30 for 30

So I decided to push off my 30th birthday to next year. No its not a vanity thing...ok ok maybe a little...
You see, its just not convenient this year because of my crazy schedule.
An extra year gives me plenty of time to get some things accomplished. 30 things...I am sure I can add to the list...but I will leave it at 30 for now...
I figure I will shoot for the stars and if I miss at least I will be in the sky!
These are not listed in the order of importance or significance...

1. Lose 30lbs...or at least make some good headway with my weight.
2. Work out 3x a week for 10 weeks straight
3. Go 30 days without sugar
4. Run 1k without turning it into a brisk walk or jog
5. Swim laps whenever I can
6. Drink more water then coffee or diet soda
7. Make my own pickles
8. Take a vacation with my hubby
9. Take a vacation with my hubby and kids
10. Visit my parents
11. Visit my siblings
12. Graduate Nursing school
13. Pass my nclex
14 Get a job as a nurse
15 Put up the rest of the pictures around the house
16 paint my bedroom
17 paint rachelle (my daughters) room
18 paint the kitchen
19 organize the basement
20 get rid of the piles in the living room
21 Spend special time with each of my children individually
22 Go on a nice long bike ride
23 Go to hot yoga once a week
24 hang out with friends
25 Visit grandparents in Arizona
26 Visit step grandmother in Manhattan
27 Visit with my closest friends
28 Call people!!
29
30
I have so much to be grateful for! Today is my 29th birthday (hebrew) for the
2nd time and I am peaking into my life and all I can think of is damn I am lucky!! I have an amazing family, supportive, loving, kind, generous, understanding I am married to a superhero, my kids are insanely fabulous, I have so many incredible friends, I have a healthy body a quasi healthy mind I can go on and on I am just so grateful for all I have.
They say on your birthday you have the power to bless so I want to take this opportunity to bless you all with happiness, health, wealth and just the most open and revealed good!

I havnt disappeared

A couple of my loyal readers asked me if I disappeared. School has kept me quite busy and unfortunately I've been neglecting (albite not completely) my fitness and nourishment health. I havnt had sugar since I said goodbye and I'm glad to say I havnt had a migraine since!!! I've been thinking of what I can do to further my health journey without making it impossible for me. I know protein fruits and veggies keep me fuller for longer, I know cooking vegetarian isn't realistic I simply don't have time and I like an occasional steak! I know pasta and rice dont work for me- I eat to much when I start. I'm going to focus eating full meals including protein and veggies, Snacks will be fruits and proteins And I'm not going to shy away from healthy fats. Ill continue my basketball twice a week and hopefully work out in front of my tv at least twice a week. With that I packed my lunch for tomorrow. Broccoli omelet, cut up celery and carrots! Snack almonds and natural applesauce.

A different view

So recently I have been thinking about the 3-4 years of my life that I maintained a healthy weight. How did I get there? How did I stay there? What diet was I on? How much was I exercising? And I realized the most amazing thing...I wasn't! Damn it! The only time in my life that I wasn't on a diet I wasn't obsessing about my self image, my weight, my blub....was that time period.
So....then the question comes how the heck did I do it?!?!! And that my friends is an awesome thing, I was happy. I was so dang content. Life was good! Not to say I am not happy now...thank god I really am...but those years I was relatively stress free. I worked 3 jobs that I loved, lived at home with my loving parents, had lots of friends to drink with to hang out with to shmooze with, nephews and nieces to play with and then return, a workout routine that made me feel good and generally no worries in my foreseeable future.
Now the question is would I trade places no....Hell NO! I am lucky to be married to a terrific guy, I have 3 fabulous children, I finally figured out what I want to be when I grew up, Ive made more friends over the years, and when I want to pull out the grown up card I can, cuz gosh dang it I am almost 30!
I wouldnt mind not having tests in nursing school, my bills being paid without having to worry about it, my husband having his dream job, a nice vacation, my mental sanity etc etc etc...but thats life and there is no way to get to the good stuff if we don't go through the tough stuff. As far as tough stuff goes I'm glad I have my load and not someone elses!
Back to the magic of being my ideal weight...happiness! I need to find peace within myself. I need to believe that I am not better if I'm thinner, I'm just thinner if I'm thinner.
With this bit of schizo talk I will leave you cuz I need to get my hiney to bed.
Good Night World! I look forward to reading everyones comments in the morning.

Sugar free=Migraine free

Self control is an amazing thing. Once I saw the results of not eating sugar...its not hard! It took a few days of headaches during the beginning of my not eating sugar-perhaps withdrawal, but since I stopped I havnt had a migraine...a headache yes but a migraine-no,THANK GOD!!!! I am able to eat fruit and carbs but no processed sugar. I am not taking this to an extreme Ill have some bbq sauce or ketchup...but in general I check ingredients before I eat the food-Great thing to do regardless! Its kept me from eating a lot of things!
The amazing thing about this all is it teaches me...more like reinforces the idea of self control. I eat kosher-I never think to eat something thats not kosher, and now I dont eat sugar and it hasnt been that hard to avoid. Im almost up to a month sugarfree...when I am Id like to work on my snacking. I noticed on days when I dont pack a real lunch its been a bad decline...even if I pick up a yogurt and fruit for lunch I end up snacking the rest of the day.
Onto other news....this friday is my last test for this semester!!!! I could use some prayers to pass! Nursing school is a new set of challenges...unlike most things...if you study really hard in nursing school it doesnt mean you will do well...Im learning that. Honestly Im not used to that....in High School I was a lousy student but that was by choice, when I went to college I did well...because I tried...now....argh! I try sooo damn hard and at least Im passing but I wish my marks/grades showed my effort.
Im off to clinicals...Its been nice chatting...lol
Have a great day!

Allergy? Addiction? Or annoyance?

Maybe it's all three! I'm talking about sugar. It gives me migraines but I seem to still eat it and crave it. Yesterday I had an awful migraine today I feel the aftermath which feels like a hangover... So today I stayed away from sugar with no problems but what will tomorrow bring? I choose to focus on today I plan just for today to stay away from my devil in disguise. Do you have a food that's hard to stay away from but causes havoc? What do you do? I know once I stay away for a while it gets easier but I need to get there.