Weight Loss, New Habits, and Loving this Temple (and some favorite snacks)

 

Hello Friends! 

I thought I'd take a minute and share some of my weight loss journey and share some real and honest insights. I think weight loss is something most of us work on in mid-life. When I was much younger, I was blessed to not have to worry about weight much. I was naturally smaller and was always active. But most of my adult life I've been overweight...even though by American standards I'm considered "average sized". When I went through the worst time of my life (when I discovered my ex's affair and we were trying to work on things) - I think I lost close to 40 lbs. However, in the years since then I gained a good majority of that back. 

When I was younger I used to focus on losing weight as dieting. And wanting to get down to a certain size and mainly focusing on the way I looked. My views have changed so much now that I'm older.  

I think of my body, like a Temple, ...as something sacred. It was made by the Creator in His image and worthy of being treated sacredly. Not something to be judged at in the mirror. But, instead, something to be grateful for and all that it does for me in each and every day. 

I like this imagery too 💗

When I went through the herniated disc saga a few years ago...it changed my perspective on how I wanted to get stronger. To focus on health even more than a number on a scale or how my clothes fit. I had to take it easy for a year. I couldn't really work out. I went through different meds and P.T. and it was such a trying time. But it changed my focus - so I started working on myself, physically once I was given the green light it was safe to do so. I started working on strengthening and toning more than I ever had before.  I'm far from a hard body - Lol But I'm so much stronger than I was and that's why I was able to walk 7 miles on just one of our European excursions! Let alone all the miles we put on there in total over the week of walking excursions. However, my weight hadn't changed a great deal. And I could tell how it's still too much weight on my back and my joints when I like being so active. 

So late April/early May is when I first decided I wanted to change my lifestyle and habits and to work slowly and steadily losing weight. Matt has been a wonderful supporter, even though he tells me I'm gorgeous to him in every way. But he cares about his health too and lost close to 90 lbs about 3-4 years ago doing keto. He has gained some back - but is still in great health.  Ways he supports me is by being more active with me and changing some things in our daily diet and meals. He likes to fast and does it often. I think it's so much easier to be on a journey like this when your partner lives the same lifestyle with you. 😊

Since i began this journey I have hit 22 lbs down. My goal is to lose at least 50 lbs ultimately. But I'm determined to do it right -  slow and steady so I can maintain that goal and lifestyle for good. Back in early June I was at the MD office with my weight already down a bit and they suggested semi glutide meds to help me further "faster". I did it for about a month. I didn't mind the injections and it helped me lose more weight, but I didn't like the way it made me feel (belly aches and my blood sugar would drop and I'd feel faint). So I stopped that and have continued on my journey and have been losing weight naturally.  Here are some things I have changed and do now:

*increase my daily water intake

*focus on protein a lot more

*drink sugar-free coffee in the AM with protein creamer

*as a rule I fast from 8PM at night until lunchtime the next day (I use an app to track)

*workout almost daily or do some form of exercise (Matt and I go on walks, play pickleball, go golfing etc)

*cut out a lot of the potato and starchy parts of our diet and our dinners now mainly include a protein and vegetables (we do still eat potatoes, bread sometimes ...just not as much and/or try do low carb versions)

*cut down sugars (everything in balance, because I still love to bake!)

*I don't count calories but I limit my dinner portions compared to what I used to eat

I thought I'd share some of my favorite snacks and things that help me stay on track. I love premier protein - especially the cafe latte ones. But the vanilla and strawberry are so good too! I love sugar-free salted caramel syrup pumps in my coffee each AM (or vanilla) along with a splash of one of those protein drinks. 

I enjoy a "treat" every night to end my night but I try to have it before 8PM. And then I fast until lunch the next day (try to do a minimum of 13 hours fasting - it's often more)

I LOVE the flavors of all the light & fit greek yogurts by Dannon - so I eat them like I would ice cream. They're only 80 calories and 12 grams of protein! Some of my fave flavors besides this one are: banana cream pie, cherry pie something?, vanilla, and key lime pie. I scoop it into a bowl and top it with with fruit or a drizzle of chocolate syrup & some nuts or granola - and sometimes all of the above. Lol I just monitor the amounts so it really doesn't add too much to my calories (try not to exceed much above 100 cals)

Another favorite sweet treat is to take medjool dates and cut them in half, scoop out the pit and fill with some natural peanut butter (or can make a pb fit protein powder into peanut butter). Only put about a tbsp in and add a couple of peanunts. Top them with a little bit of melted chocolate and some sea salt and chill. Keep them in the fridge. It tastes like a snickers bar- truly not an exaggeration! But the date is filled with vitamins and fiber and the naughty bits are kept to a minimum - so each one is probably only about 120 calories and I usually have 2. And they're surprisingly filling! I will also sometimes just take some strawberries or mandarin orange segments and cover them in a little but of chocolate like this with sea salt on top and chill and they're also such a yummy treat also filled with vitamins and fiber! And they're even less calories a piece.

And I'm such a salty munchie girl. So I like using rice cakes that I'll put some natural pb on. Or apple slices or celery with natural pb or pb fit protein pb. Or I love when Matt mixes cottage cheese in the blender with ranch seasoning and a tiny bit of milk or lite sour cream to make a dip that we have with these chips we get at Costco. There are different flavors of these chips but I love that they're zippy, salty, crispy and a texture like a chip but they're pure protein that we then dunk in basically pure protein dip (cottage cheese is so full of protein). Truly a favorite snack for me!! 😋 We will also dunk veggies too. Using greek yogurt or cottage cheese in place of things like sour cream etc can make a big difference for health and calories. 

If you're focusing on your health, weight loss, or any part of a journey where you're trying to improve your health and change your habits - I see you and please know I cheer you on! 

It's not easy teaching an old dog new tricks. Lol (speaking for myself) and I know I'm forever going to love to bake and I'm going to eat gluten and sugar, because I live in reality. But I can change habits and limit it so I don't feel deprived, but can stay on a healthier path with more balance. And I love that I'm sleeping better with less back pain already and don't "pay for it"  when I am active. That I continue to see the scale go down each week. That I'm looking towards the next size down in clothing right now, and know that I will reach that big goal ultimately. And when I do, I will work to maintain a healthy lifestyle that keeps it off. I plan to be a very active granny one day 😉  and I will continue to love this vessel God gifted me with and treat her the best I'm able. 🙏🏻

Thanks for being here Friends and always being such wonderful supportive blogging Besties! I appreciate you beyond measure. 

Blessings. 

💗💗💗