The First Fifteen

15lbs!!! I can't believe it! I know they say the first 10lbs is water weight, but either way it's motivational. I can tell a difference in my body though, even if it's a small change. My clothes are getting looser, I can't keep my pants up! Also, I noticed my arms are looking smaller this morning and I am not just walking on the treadmill anymore. I am RUNNING, I repeat, RUNNING! Something I used to see as impossible.
It is my husband's birthday today and we have been celebrating all weekend. So I have cheated a little when it came time to cake and ice cream. The one thing I can say is the portion size I took was about a quarter of what I used to take. I am very proud of that. We also went to Applebees on Friday night. My husband loves their Wonton Tacos. I caved, I had two and I paid for it the rest of the night! It was such and eye opener about processed foods. My esophagus was burning and I felt like I was going to throw up. NEVER AGAIN. Clean eating feels so much better!
Last August, my boss purposed as a bonding experience, we all do a Moonlight Half Marathon. It was a fun run and I was in no shape to run it, but I was like 'what the heck, I'll walk it.' OH BOY. I have never hurt so much in my life! I hobbled around for the next week like an elderly person. One of my coworkers is a marathon runner and luckily he gave me some recovery advice. There was a lot of Ibuprofen and cold showers for me. I have been thinking about how out of shape I was and this may sound crazy but I want to do it again, but with preparation this time. It was such an amazing feeling to finish and I see why people do it. The sense of accomplishment was like an amazing high feeling. The whole goal was to get across the finish line closest to midnight and timing devices were not allowed. I started around 8:00pm and crossed at 12:00:33s. I have been looking at some half marathons in my area I want to do this summer, but I also want to start small some I going to do some 5Ks to start and make my end goals The American Fork Canyon Half in June. What I love about the American Fork Half is that all the proceeds go to cancer patients to help pay for their treatments. I lost my Aunt in January 2012 to Breast cancer and my mom has been recovering the last 3 years from Appendix cancer. Needless to say this one means a lot to me. The Moonlight Half is
in August so I have some time to prepare. I know myself and with goals like this I will do everything I can to do better!

http://afhalfmarathon.com/

https://www.facebook.com/moonlighthalf

Avocado Lemon Chicken and Apple Crisp, OH MY!

It was a pretty productive Saturday. I got my workout in, cleaned the house, and my husband and I even went to the movies. (something we never do!) I concocted a couple of yummy paleo recipes I just had to share.

This first dish is AMAZING! A coworker of mine told me that her family loved avocados and they made their own simple guacamole. Where they just mashed up the avocado and sprinkle salt and pepper and lemon juice on it. I have been living on lemon chicken and I love avocados. why not mix them?!

Avocado Lemon Chicken

 -1 Chicken breast grilled in coconut oil.
 -1 Avocado diced in skin.
 - Salt and Pepper
 - lemon juice


Squeeze the avocado out on top of the chicken breast. Then squeeze lemon juice over avocados and chicken to your liking and salt and pepper. Voilà! The most delicious paleo dish!

The second is a dessert. I was having a sweet craving last night and instead of baking a batch of cookies or brownies, like I used to, I made a paleo apple crisp.
 Apple Crisp
(instructions go by picture)
- 2 Med Granny Smith Apples, sliced and lay in bread pan.
- 1/2 C. Mixed cashews and almonds, ground up.
- 2 Tb Stevia mixed in with nut grounds.
- 1 Tb Coconut oil, mixed into Stevia and nuts. (I used my hands to mix)    
-Sprinkle crumble mixture over sliced apples and bake @ 375 degrees for 20min.

Enjoy!

Path To Paleo

I was talking with my sister about weight loss (she has lost 70+ lbs before) and I was explaining what I can and cannot eat. When I told her I couldn't eat grains she said "Oh I can't do that. If I don't allow myself a little bit, I'll go crazy." I got to thinking about this and I understand everyone is different, I don't feel like I am going crazy. I also know my self very well and if I was to allow those things into my diet I would have no portion control. So it is safer and easier for me just to say NO to it all. It's said it takes 21 days to create a habit. Well, I am on day 20 and I do feel like I already have new habits.

My husband is not wanting to be Paleo, which is fine. I just buy different groceries for him. I first this was hard. As I walked through the grocery store I would see all the food I loved to eat. He would cook a frozen pizza and I really wanted some but I never cracked. Now, those things don't even sound appealing. I want fresh meat and veggies or a fruit smoothie. Also, as I watch the numbers on the scale drop, I can't help but get more motivation because obviously I am doing something right if I am losing weight like I am. I think I have said this before in my first blog post, but I can't tell you much better my body feels. I used to get heartburn and headaches on a daily basis. I would either being popping a Tums in my mouth or taking Ibuprofen and Tylenol. I can honestly say, I haven't done either those in the last twenty days. I feel energetic and clear headed. I am never going back to that miserable state.

(Woohoo I am in the 230's! I have a deal with myself. I CANNOT color my hair until I reach 230lbs.)

Sugaraholics Anonymous

My name is Hayley and I am a sugar addict... All jokes aside, I really do love my sweets and when I started this whole life change, I had some reservations for this very reason. I can't have cake? Tiramisu? ugh and what about bread pudding? So, I had to get creative. I have found a few things that helped kill my sweet tooth cravings without going crazy and sabotaging everything I have been working toward. 

The first dessert is very simple. It satisfies my sweet tooth without having to worry about how many calories I just consumed, or how I just messed up my diet so I might as well just give up. (yes, I have done that!)

Strawberries & Stevia

-10 Medium Strawberries cut into 1/4 (4 calories a strawberry)

-2 tsp Stevia 

Then mix it up until the Stevia turns into somewhat of a glaze. If you have ever had strawberries and sugar, that is what I was try to copycat here. Also, I am not counting calories at all. But for those people who do, I added in the calories as a FYI. So, this is a very filling, very satisfying 40 calorie dessert.



The second dessert is higher in calories but also just
as satisfying. I love Red Mango and I am in love with their coconut Greek yogurt. So when I saw that Chobani made a coconut flavor I knew I had to try it and let me tell you, OMG this stuff is delicious!

Coconut Yogurt Dessert
-1 cup Chobani Coconut Greek Yogurt (150 cal.)
-10 Raspberries (10 cal.)
-1 square of Intense Dark 86% Cacao Midnight Reverie Bar (60 cal.)

Stir the yogurt until it's smooth. Place the raspberries on top of the yogurt or stir them in! In a glass bowl melt the Ghirardelli square. ( about 60 sec. in the microwave.) Then drizzle the liquid chocolate over the raspberries. The chocolate then hardens almost like magic shell ice cream topping. I know that chocolate isn't exactly Paleo but I did go with a higher percentage of cacao. Which I have heard is better for you. 

I will continue to find sweet-tooth-killing-concoctions and share them. Hope you enjoy!

New Year, New Me!

I have been overweight all my life.Yes, I have had my ups and downs. Some years, I would drop 30 lbs randomly and then the next year gain 40. I have tried different crazy diets but they never worked or I didn't stick with them. It wasn't until about two years ago, I went to my doctor and told him my frustrations with weight loss (It had been a 40lbs weight gain year.)  Have you ever seen the V8 commercial where the person is gets bonked in the head and they say "You should have had a V8"? No, my doctor did not do this to me but in my mind it was very similar.

He told me about The Paleo Diet. It has all kinds of names- Caveman/Paleolithic/Primal diet. Whatever you want to call it, they all have the same philosophy. I like to go by the rule, I can eat whatever a caveman could have gotten his hands on, except Greek yogurt. That is one thing I will NOT give up. The way he explained it to me is that genetically our bodies are not used to eating breads and processed sugar. So it makes sense to me, we should eat foods our bodies are used to. THE REAL STUFF!

I have been on this diet now for 14 days. I cannot begin to tell you how much better I feel. I don't come home from work with head aches anymore, I never get heartburn ( I used to get it daily) and I have lost 9lbs! Oh! Another big plus I have noticed, I don't feel as sluggish anymore. So I am more determined now, than ever! I used my Christmas money to buy a pretty nice treadmill from Walmart. $377-http://www.walmart.com/ip/Gold-s-Gym-Trainer-420-Treadmill/27407264 LOVE IT!!! I have stocked my kitchen with all kind of fruits, veggies, meats, eggs (raw and hard-boiled). I am going to get to my goal weight by November 2014. I have given myself 11 months to loose 80-90lbs. I am starting this blog because I wanted a way to track my progress. I am so excited to post about what is working for me and I am hoping to connect with other bloggers for advice and tips while I'm on this Journey.