Plexus Train!

So, I was given Plexus to take home & try and ended up liking it. I've had some amazing things happening in my body lately and I'm telling you all about it.

So a couple weeks ago we started a "Family Weightloss Contest" it's fun and it's nice to have family members on board with you.

I of course have been counting my calories, drinking 99.99999999999999999% water and then I started taking Plexus everyday. The first week I lost 13lbs. This week has been a big fat FAIL!!! I'm not sure why either. I'm hoping it's one of those I lost so much last week that my body just stopped doing anything because it's in shock, I hope. It's frustrating to go from 2lbs a day lost to 0 or to gain when you are still in your calories, nothing really changed.

However, I was diagnosed with PCOS a few years back and (guys close your eyes) I had a period 24/7 for over 3 years. So yeah, hormonally I was a trainwreck. The last 2 weeks, it all straightened out and my moods escalated to happy, I've had so much energy and I can't believe the difference I feel, I can only assume it's the Plexus because the food & water was already in affect and not doing much.

I feel great!!! I went out with friends last night and we acted crazy & took pics and posed and I can look at those pics and think WOW, I look as happy as I feel. I'm telling you after years of feeling like I was dragging myself through life I feel so happy. So, I know I don't write often but I try to write as things change so I can see what I changed and when.

So I'm officially for now on the Plexus Train

Later.

Bad Weeks...

So OK, this has been a week from HELL!!! If it can go wrong it did x10. I am so very thankful to God for being there for me. I know the old Taniss that was doing it all on her own would have fallen down and stuffed her face with every once of cheese & soda she could find. New Taniss that is learning God is with me, said I'm not going to let some hard times sabotage my weightloss and as I wrote yesterday it is easier than I imagined it would be. I know it's God helping me because I've just decided to lean on Him and just rest, I was killing myself the other way.

I drink more water than I ever thought I would be able to force into my body. This water hater/Coke addict LOVES water now, I crave water. I still don't think it tastes great but I fill my cup with ice & then water and keep refilling the water until the ice is gone and then I fill it with ice and start over. I use a large 16oz double insulated glass with a lid and straw. That way it doesn't sweat alot and I literally carry it EVERYWHERE!!! It even goes in my purse and to church. LOL.

The last few months have been hard financially because of me quitting my job & taking a major cut in pay because of that. God is good though!!! I have already received a pay increase which took me closer to my old pay. :-) I was a out to eat 3x a day single person (duh, I am overweight) I now take my lunch in a insulated bag. If I have a few extra bucks I might drop in somewhere instead and get a tostado or taco, chicken sandwich, something NON COMBO and small.

I have been asked what I have for breakfast & lunch. Well first off I use a app on my phone & online called MyFitnessPal. I log what I eat all day and it counts my steps. I log my weight every day or two, so I can see the ups and downs. They say that is bad but it keeps me on my toes to see a ounce up or down. For breakfast I have like a bagel with some cream cheese, something not too major unless I take Dad to dialysis and then we stop for breakfast and get a breakfast burrito. If I do that I only eat 1 other meal that day or 2 very small meals. A normal lunch is a sandwich and I don't go all nasty tasting diet sandwich, I go small and make a very tasty sandwich. It's worth it to me to have great flavor and small sandwich, it's filling. So I buy the "Everything French Bread" at Walmart and I slice it about 4" and then slice it sub style I buy thin sliced or shaved Mesquite or Hickory smoked turkey, use 2-3 slices, a slice of thin sliced Cheddar/Jack or Colby Jack cheese, shredded lettuce, then less than a Tablespoon of real bacon bits and that is it. I feel like I'm eating bad, yet I am within my calories because I balance by size of sandwich. Then I eat some popcorn (light butter or air popped with powdered salt), or a serving or less of potato chips and a little salsa or queso dip. I'm very very careful on any dips or chips because it would be so easy to fall back into eating a big portion of the bag or jar. LOL. So if I feel weak I don't have any. Soda is the same way I still like soda so if I feel like I'm doing good that day on my water I'll have a soda. Some days I have none.

That's all for today!!!

It's Too Easy???

So, LOL, I'm losing weight and it seems to easy. Yes, I did ask God to help me and I have to believe he is. I'm down over 20lbs and basically off sodas. I'm not on a "diet" I've just started drinking as much water as I can each day. I'm not drinking as much as I probably should yet but I'm drinking as much as I can. LOL.

I still eat things I enjoy but I just eat smaller portions & I am making BETTER choices. Instead of a mountain of cheese I may eat a intentionally measured out 1 serving. I eat lettuce on everything. I've become very creative in eating my veggies. It's a challenge to cook veggies that taste good when you don't like them. LOL

Water, water, water and if I am desperate I may splurge on 1-2 glasses of soda in a entire day. My job is very physical now, I am constantly on the move bending & stooping. So all in all it's adding up. I'm stoked!!! Small portions of the stuff I like.

I found I feel HORRIBLE the day or 2 after eating pizza. The Gluten is what I've decided causes that. I have found homemade pizzas I can really enjoy and not feel so yucky afterwards.

Spaghetti squash is a new favorite of mine and I LOVE fried squash & zucchini. So I found I could quickly dip the slices in a egg mixture, and then coat them with corn meal, salt, pepper & a little garlic and BAKE them in the oven until they are crispy and they are just as tasty as the fried and a small fraction of the calories.

Oh, my cousin gave me Plexus Slim to try. Since I've been very successful with my weightloss this year I decided to give it a try. I measured myself all over and I was down inches all over so I shall see if the miracle Plexus works for me. LOL. I have lowered my BP by changing my eating habits and drinking water. It now runs very low. Can't wait to go back to the doctor!!! LOL.

Better Late Than Never...

So I've decided to begin to journal my health & changes I'm making so that I can see the changes in myself.

I've made one HUGE change and that is water, water, water, water & more water!!! I'm drinking so much water I feel like a swimming pool. HAHA. Seriously though, I had a major problem this morning at church, I wore flats to praise team practice and when it was time to hit the platform for service I got my heels out and slipped them on and almost fell over. They were suddenly too big. WHAT???!?? You heard me correctly my 3" heels were flopping on my feet. It came the day after I was telling someone I had never seen veins in my feet. Alot of peoples feet the veins stick up a little and the "bump" is seen through the skin, well my feet have NEVER had that view and yet this week I noticed that. I said hmmm, never dawned on me my feet would "shrink". LOL.

The other thing is my weight. I haven't been taking anything to enhance my weightloss, I changed jobs, went from sitting all day to standing and bending all the time. I'm always on the move now days and it's made a difference. On January 10th of this year I went to the doctor for my quarterly visit so that I could get my BP prescriptions refilled. My doctor looked at me and said "Taniss, you weigh more than you've ever weighed in my office. I didn't have the heart to tell him I was down a few pounds. Stress and the hectic life I live was literally killing me. I tend to lose a little weight and then bounce around a day or 2 and then suddenly I drop a couple more pounds, etc. So I went onto MyFitnessPal to log my weight three days ago and yikes, I was down but still 1lb above my last logged weigh-in. This morning I was a 1.4lbs under!!!! I added it up and I'm 17lbs down from my doctors appointment weight!!! I felt like I could conquer the world in that moment I realized that. Go Me!!!

I'm doing oil pulling, I'm noticing some gum growth on my lower teeth where some of my gums were receding. My teeth feel so smooth & clean and everyone says they are sparkling clean, LOL. I think they say that to make me quit talking about it. There are so many other great things they say oil pulling does I'm excited to see how much of it really works.

Black Strap Molasses seems to truly give natural energy!!! I've got Teresa trying all of this now.

My biggest hurtle has been water. I can only drink large amounts with water if I have it on Sonic ice. LOL. For real but hey, it's working!!! Been awhile since I've felt this good!!!

Which some of that can probably go to the Lord and the touch and revelation I received last weekend.

Until next time....

Wish me luck and any good healthy & TASTY recipes can be shared my way. I just discovered I LOVE Spaghetti Squash, like SERIOUSLY love the stuff!!! So we are trying to change some eating habits, eat better, eat less! LOL. Then most importantly I've begun a journey in learning to trust in God!!! That right there is more important to me than any of the weight issues, health issues, just to lean on Him and let Him lead & guide me and He has it all under control and does a much better job. My problem is I'm always having to ask God to forgive my unbelief because I keep trying to pick up my worries... sigh... Trust, learning to trust!!!

Changes Are Required!!!

No details but I made a boatload of changes in my life end of 2013. By boatload, I mean, BOATLOAD!!! LOL. However, crazy they all seemed to be to everyone, including myself sometimes they were all necessary!!! Today only 17 days into 2014 I'm down 6lbs. I went to the doctor 15 days ago at my highest weight ever and I had been making much better choices but stress was killing me. I reduced stress in my life in several areas and in 15 days I'm down 6lbs. I'm so happy!!!

Yes, God is helping me!!! Yes, my eating is better!!! Yes, I'm much more active because I'm constantly moving around the house!!! YES, my BP is down, actually running low alot of the time!!! I feel like I'm gaining a closer relationship with God!!! Do I regret any of my decisions??? NOPE!!!

I don't know what the future will throw at me but for today I'm healthier and feel better than I have in months, maybe years. LOL. I'm happy, smiling, my family says my whole personality has changed!!! We shall see what tomorrow holds.

Until then...

Shades of Hope - Filling The Void

So after watching a episode of Extreme Weightloss where they sent the girl to Shades of Hope. I went to Shades of Hope website to see what it was and it's a Addiction Recovery Center. The book ad on the right caught my eye because it said Shades of Hope: How To Treat Your Addiction To Food. Lately I've been really trying to get real with myself and with God because I can "fool" others and I can convince myself I'm OK and not doing anything wrong. Yet I'm not fooling God, He sees this little sin I deal with daily. So I purchased the book. Now time to read it. When food is your drug it controls you. I don't eat to live I eat because someone hurt my feelings, I eat because I can't deal with the stress in my life. You get the drift. So if you dare join me on my journey of breaking this control over my life. (With God's help)/

Here are a few things that jumped out at me in the 1st chapter, Filling The Void

People with food addiction.

• They hide out of shame, believing that if they were to shine the light on their own truths, they wouldn't be able to bear it. They think the pain would kill them, so they eat the pain away instead. They are unable to see that they were born absolutely perfect, and deserving of all the love and care the world has to offer.

Oh how I know this. I know what the shame of being overweight will do to you. It leads you to believe people are judging you and looking down on you if you are overweight and eat because that is what you believe of condemn yourself with so you hide. You don't eat in front of others because "they will think you are a big fat cow, you take your food somewhere, you can hide and no one can see or judge yet that creates stress and you will overeat because the food is your "medication".

Some of the things people have said to me concerning my weight that have cut so deep. "You would have such a pretty face if you would just lose the weight." So my face isn't pretty because it's not skinny. "It's just food" Wrong!!! To me it's a way to dull the pain inside of me. People don't realize those well intentioned comments just make a bad problem worse. I already medicated & drug myself with my food, the reaction to those comments are.... more food. The vicious cycle.

• But it wasn't "just food". It's never just food. Food filled me from the deepest part of my soul, allowing me the peace and serenity I assumed other lived in effortlessly.
• Food addicts are often also codependents, having perfected the act of pretending that there is nothing wrong. They're all smiles working out of their most passive characteristics, always asking, "Can I help you, please? What can I do for you?"

Here are a few questions I must ask myself

• Do you consider yourself valuable? Do you value yourself less than or more than other people? Describe you self-esteem and how you exhibit self-love.  I do not see myself as valuable I've learned in my life I'm disposable. People will make promises to you and never fulfill them. They will leave  you high and dry and never look back. I have almost NO self-esteem and to show myself I love ME, I eat, I give myself treats to make up for my pain.
• Are you vulnerable - either too much or not enough? Do you have issues protecting yourself, and do you become resentful at others' behaviors?  Yes! & Double Yes!! LOL. When people begin to verbally hurt me or "attack" me I don't have the power inside to stand up against it.
• Have you been known for being "bad" or rebellious, or have you been committed to becoming perfect, the good girl or boy in your family or life? How are these behaviors related to and reflected in your spirituality? Does your faith correspond or conflict with them?  I have never been a rebellious person, even in my teens. I've always been the one that didn't push the limits and the rules. I was always the "Goody Two Shoes". Even in relation to God whatever leaders told me the rules are for God and church, I tried to obey them. I don't want to let other down with my stupidity.
• Are you too dependent on other people or are you too independent? Do you fear you are dependent on other things - substances like food, alcohol, drugs or nicotine? Do you use shopping/spending or relationships to shape your identity?  I am probably trying to be too overly independent on some areas and extremely dependent in others. I do you things to shape my identity. I am pretty sure I'm dependent on food & caffiene. LOL.
• Do  you consider yourself mature or have you struggled with the idea that you are immature? Do you self-punish over loss of control, believing that by managing your life you prove your maturity  Do you have issues with moderation or intimacy - unsure of how to create whole and healthy boundaries in your life?  I do struggle with feeling like I never really grew up, like everyone still controls me and tells me what to do. I feel like others can tell and judge me being immature. I feel like I have no control in my life except in the food area and I emotionally and mentally punish myself over it. I feel like if I gained control in EVERY area maybe then I would be mature and "grown up". Moderation is hard for me, very few areas to I have that conquered. I'm also reading Bounderies so I'm learning to set boundaries for myself hopefully.

Lights Coming On

So I struggle with food and my weight. Kinda sad when you can do or not do everything/anything you want and something like food can control every part of you. Since I'm not a super human that can be perfect (how nice would that be?) I'm still struggling. Gotta get me a new scale, someone gave me a "used one" Looks quite old but it never changes. LOL. I have a doctors appointment on Thursday so I will know then where I am weight wise. I'm going to be so discouraged if it says I've gained weight, I've been doing pretty good on my eating & calories and exercising so crossing my fingers it translates into positive, I'm sorta used to it thought being bad, work hard at it and gain weight or barely lose.

I've been watching Extreme Weight Loss online (hulu.com) and Chris Powell intrigues me and his wife for that matter. They work people hard but it works, I did some research on them and discovered they encourage "CarbCycling" So I read several different places & then bought his 1st book. I'm starting that now and I'm struck by how he writes, hilarious because his writing is like you watch him. Funny.

So I had never heard of carb cycling, I am about to take a stab at it. Low Carbs one day and High Carbs the next tricks your body. The eating 5 times a day may trip me up a little. Heidi says you can't decide what you will eat every 3 hours (who has time for that?). So let's see what happens. LOL. I'm sure I will let you know shortly. HAHA