Rewards

Like most folks, I've rewarded myself with food and shopping sprees for clothes.  What I've discovered is food shouldn't always be the reward and I've got too many clothes!  I spent a recent Saturday "shopping" in my own closet and was amazed at how much I had to donate because the clothes are too big!  Actually, I felt mixed about it, on the one hand, hooray for the weight loss but on the other, boo for the $ wasted.
I have opted to reward myself with things that will keep me motivated to eat well.  I have a HomeGoods store here where I live.  I like to go there and look at what they have as far as dishes, glasses and pans.  I have found dishes and bowls that are beautiful Italian ceramic that I eat my meals from.  I have also purchased unique and pretty glasses.  I buy only one-not a set, to emphasize that this is for ME.  I really enjoy eating off of beautiful dishes and pretty glasses certainly encourage fluid consumption.
I was also very thrilled to discover glass water bottles at HomeGoods.  I had read about them in magazines but hadn't seen them and just by chance I found them at HomeGoods.  I bought 4 of them and they are pretty-butterfly and flower designs on the glass.
So, when you hit your next milestone, reward yourself with something that encourages you to continue on your healthy path and brings you joy!

Maintaining

So, like Amber (Me and Jorge), I've been on the BFC lifestyle for 6 months and I've lost 16 pounds.  I am pleased with where I am with my weightloss and have maintained this for about 2 months.  Would I like to lose more? Yes.  Have I been following the plan 100% like Amber?  No.
I think my biggest issue when I began BFC was the size of my pants.  I was wearing size 14 and I'd never worn that size before.  I also hated the fact that my boobs were regularly sitting on my belly.  Once I got back into the 150's my pant size went down and once I hit the 140's I was able to buy some new pants....size 8 jeans and size 10 dress pants.  I haven't been regimented in following all of the BFC criteria...I've been mostly following the sugar rule.  I admit that some evenings, my husband and I have date night at the local mexican restaurant on .99 margarita night and I'll have 2 of those.  I also admit to having 2 of McDonald's flavored coffees.  I tried the caramel frappe and last summer I lived off the iced caramel coffee.  I've had 2 iced caramel coffees in the last month.
For those reading this who are currently on the BFC plan, if you haven't gotten the message from others yet, automation of your meals is key.  I've started a new temporary job waiting for my "real" job to start in July (fingers crossed).  For the last year I've only worked part time and now I'm working full time and I am finding it difficult to get going in the mornings.  I've had 2 or 3 days where I actually packed all my food for the day and ate it.  I went so far as to buy a new cooler and I've not used it as well as I'd envisioned.  Bathing suit weather is here and I'm close to getting into one but not just yet.....flab.
Yes, how long have I been mentioning core exercises so I can wear that bathing suit?!  Have I done it? Nope.  Honestly, I'm exhausted from the job and the thought of exercise makes me tired!  However, I know I have at least 15 minutes every morning that I could start doing something to deal with the flab.  Maybe I need to hang my bathing suit in the bathroom where my last good beach picture is and use that as motivation and reminder of the goal.  I would really love to get back to the 130's. 
I guess it is one meal at a time, 15 minutes of core work a day-away.

Earth Hour

On Tuesday of this passing week, my family and I watched this movie.  If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.  I have known for quite some time that processed foods and fertilizers were not good for us or the environment and this past fall I read The Jungle by Upton Sinclair.  It is sad what "the industry" has been able to get away with for so long.
On Wednesday I began reading the first of 3 books by Michael Pollan who is featured in the movie and actually goes into much greater detail of what is happening with food.  I also highly recommend these books.
The image below does not show his book Food Rules and I don't plan to read The Botany of Desire at this time.

For the last 2 years I have been incorporating as much organic food my budget could afford for the family.  I am lucky to have a fantastic Farmers Market that runs from April to Oct/November each year and a local co-op that features healthy products of all kinds.  This year I was able to buy a membership with a local organic CSA (community supported agriculture).  For the fee I am getting 1/2 bushel of fresh organic produce for $18.75/week.  I don't think that is a bad deal at all.  In fact, it is cheaper than what I was paying going to the Farmers Market (tho' I will continue to go for other items).  I have also just recently become aware of another CSA that supports NC farmers in general.  Unfortunately, the farm is not organic tho' the coordinator of this CSA says they do things sustainably and thoughtfully....which leaves me questioning whether to sign up for this or not.  My husband keeps going back and forth which is driving me crazy :-)
Anyway, what does this have to do with the blog?
Well-a lot in my opinion.  BFC is loaded with processed foods and lots of the WRONG kind of fats.  I have mentioned before in other posts that I have taken the sugar information from Jorge and added it to The Flat Belly Diet that I tried and liked 2 years ago.  I really appreciate the work that Amber (meandjorge.com) has put into finding low carb/high fiber food....I really want to get my hands on a package of those GG crispbreads!  Jorge doesn't really explain the science and studies that support the 15/6 ratio.  He gives plenty of video and links to support information about sugar and what it does to us but not so much the carbs and why this 15/6 ratio.  I figured out that it really needs to be about unprocessed high fiber carbs and nothing crazy with the amount.  Honestly, if we eat high fiber the bulk makes us feel full and we stop eating.  I've got the family on quinoa...rice will be the exception...even brown/wild rice.  I haven't had white rice in years.
So for Earth Hour (which here on the East Coast is 830pm) my family is going to sit and chat about Food Inc. by candle light.  I have held off having the discussion so everyone would have enough time to process what they saw and heard.  I need time to process information myself and the timing works out really well.
I am one of a family of four.  Tonight, as a family, we may agree that we are willing and wanting to eat more simply and sustainably which means eating more grains and produce and reducing our meat consumption (we already have meatless Mondays and at least one other night a week without meat).  Once we work through what meat we have in the freezer, I will only purchase organic meat.  We do not eat beef - chicken and pork primarily and some seafood occasionally (that is another discussion in and of itself!).
I encourage you to see the movie-I rented it from Netflix.  Michael Pollan's books I got from Overstock.com and I will be purchasing the movie from them as well.  Please participate in Earth Hour...we go so far as to flip all the breakers for the hour so we are truly "off the grid".

Quick Update

I am trilled to announce that I've lost 3 pounds!  After sitting at a plateau for months, I dropped another 3 and during "that time of the month" no less :-)  If I can drop another 10 pounds, I'll be thrilled.  Needless to say, I am very motivated now.  Spring has come to coastal North Carolina and I love being outside now.  In June, it will be another story but for now, it is great!  So to celebrate, I exfoliated and pulled out the TanTowels and started my tan today :-)  No pasty blue legs for this girl.

I will write more, a few topics to share but just wanted to share this for now!  Good luck :-)

Zevia Give Away @ meandjorge-Amber

Zevia Give Away

Amber of meandjorge has a Zevia give away going on right now.  Zevia is absolutely fantastic!  I've tried all the flavors with the exception of their newest one-Dr. Zevia which is supposed to taste like Dr. Pepper (one of my fave sodas).  I have even used the sodas when making a cocktail...like Zevia cola and vanilla vodka, Twist with citrus vodka, Black Cherry with vanilla vodka...as you can imagine, it could go on and on!

Here is Amber's website to enter-

www.meandjorge.com

Good luck!

Bothered

Hello

Is anyone else getting bombarded with Jorge's latest plan for those of us in our 40s?  I'm still reeling from the $400 price tag of the last "coaching class" that netted a loss of 13 pounds....not the 30 his "hook" claimed I would lose.
Well, first time shame on you, Jorge...this 40 year old isn't falling for another get rich quick scheme for you.

Okay, enough of my time on that.  It has been 3 weeks now since I last posted something.  I've been very busy and was laid off from a job that I loved the kids I worked with but couldn't stand the company.  Fortunately I was able to land a part time gig as a contracted consultant to get a program up and running at another agency.....full time employment may follow.  Then there is the ever present tension, frustration and "ICK" of living with 2 teenagers.

How has the "life style" been?  Well, considering that I've eaten King Cake every week since the last blog entry and I've not gained anything says a lot.  I married into a Cajun family and between the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras, it has been a nonstop party since the playoffs.  Fortunately, the King Cake supplier has ceased making the deliciously divine "crack".
I did neglect to take the probiotics for about 2 weeks and that really threw a wrench into the mix so I ate those pills like candy for a week and now I'm back on track.

The goal is to get automated again.  I've let that go since January and it really lends itself to me over eating at dinner time.  My body has already "changed time" so I am getting sleepy earlier and waking up earlier and that is a definite plus.  I'm not sleeping the morning away and then rushing to work.  I get up and have coffee, get on the computer and then eat something but not enough as I am almost "binge" eating at dinner!  So, again, automating is key.


Nice discovery since I've been gone from the blog....2 more followers, welcome, and I can NOW LEAVE COMMENTS!! Woo Hoo!  Needless to say, Amber (meandjorge) was the first to get a comment :-)


Have a great week!