30 Day Paleo Challenge. Day 2

Day 2:

I'm tired today. I'm hungry. SO hungry. Haha this goes to show I was eating way more than I should, and my body got used to it...

Breakfast:
Had the usual ;) - 2 eggs scrambled, 2 pieces of bacon, and half of an avocado

Lunch: 
Left over steak and bell peppers from last nights dinner. This seemed to hold me over for a lot longer than the other meals I've been eating

Dinner: 
Cauliflower hashbrowns and two eggs. Basically, grate the cauliflower, and cook in a skillet with the same seasonings and such that you would normally cook your potatoes in the morning. You can tell it's not potatoes, but t was close enough to satisfy that craving right then.

Today, I struggled more. I don't have much energy, and I'm ready to have that back. Couple more days till I get it... hopefully.

30 Day Paleo Challenge. Day 1

As Cassie gets bigger, I MUST get smaller! ;)
Day 1:
Now - this is HUGE for me. I'm not one to even take 'before' photos, let alone share them with the world. I'm super nervous about posting though - and even more embarrassed than that. I HATE the way that my body looks, especially after the changes that were made during pregnancy. I am now covered in stretch marks that didn't used to be there, and I'm still learning to adjust to them being there. I have extra skin that I didn't have, and love handles that weren't there before either. But, like I said in a previous post, it's all about accountability, right? So, here are my 'Before' photos, and stats that follow as well:
Shirt size: large
Pant size: 30R
Bra size: 36K
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 173 lbs

 

 


Breakfast:
Following along the blog in the previous post - Breakfast was two eggs scrambled, two pieces of turkey bacon, and half of an avocado.

Lunch:
A whole avocado mixed with one 5oz can of tuna. By the time lunch time came, I was STARVING. Hope this goes away

Snack:
I didn't make it to dinner without an apple, and two more scrambled eggs.

Dinner: 
The recipe below - without the brown sugar. I'm not a fan of sweet things in my food, so that had to go.
http://www.tablespoon.com/recipes/balsamic-glazed-steak-rolls/c723300c-8122-462d-b8ff-2c85ecd7325d/?nicam4=SocialMedia&nichn4=Pinterest&niseg4=Tablespoon&nicreatID4=Post&crlt.pid=camp.AxUc7qiDDaLm

End of Day Review:
I did not exercise today. I have to find special ab exercises to do, since my abs have not reformed yet. I also found myself hungry all day. And I mean ALL day. I think this amount of food may not be enough because of the nursing - so I'll have to adjust for tomorrow.

30 Day Paleo Challenge

30 Day Paleo Challenge. Challenge accepted.
So I was just wandering around Pinterest looking at recipes, and stumbled upon this blog that was posted detailing out a 30 day Paleo challenge. After reading through day 1, I got really excited about the thought of doing this challenge. I'm not huge on milk and that sort of thing - but the reason I can't keep my weight where I want it - potatoes. Carbs.
I don't plan to be living only a paleo lifestyle. I want to give myself the freedom to eat the things I want - I just really need to learn that portion control, and making the protein and veggies more important than the other sides. That's why I am doing this challenge - to kick start some weight loss, restrict myself from all those carbs I love so much, and learn some damn self control!

So here is my story:

In 2013, I was in the best health I have been. I was eating a great diet with Herbalife, going to the gym everyday, and staying active. I was watching the pounds come off - and then I lost my mother. She passed at the age of 47 - extremely unexpectedly - a few short hours after she left the gym, after working out with my me and my sister.

 

My mom was my other half, and after she passed, I didn't have the appetite to eat anything, I didn't have the motivation to get out of bed - let alone go to the gym and worry about my health. I lost all momentum, as well as some extra pounds from starvation.
Three weeks after the loss of my Momma, I found out I was pregnant with my first child. We had been trying for about three months, but obviously that also stopped after I lost my mom. When I found out I was pregnant, I knew it wasn't about me anymore. I had to stop being selfish, allowing myself to wither away with grief, and start eating again - for the baby's sake. I mustered up the strength to start eating, very slowly, and when the morning sickness hit - it took everything I had just to hold down water.
I ended up gaining a total of 25 pounds during my pregnancy (as I don't really count the anorexia weight loss - we all know that jumps back on when you put a single slice of an apple in your mouth) putting me at a whopping 180 pounds. (I know you must be thinking, how could 155 be her healthiest? I'll tell ya, I have a ton of muscle on my body - I was just built dense. That's why I look at the scale, but I don't let that number control me - that's what the mirror is for.). Our sweet little Jacqueline (rightfully named after my Momma) was born in September, just in time for all of the sugary, SO unhealthy for you, holiday food to be devoured. And I did.

 The little love of my life is now 5 months old. Time flies! Even now, I'll find comfort in food or drink to distract my mind from my Mom. But I look in the mirror - and I'm sick of seeing a body I can't appreciate. It's not about seeing a tiny number on the scale, or trying to impress my husband (though that's a plus, right?), it's about looking in the mirror and feeling beautiful. It's about knowing that I am living the healthiest life I can, to stick around for my babies as long as I possibly can.
I don't normally blog - and I don't normally tell people when I'm trying a "diet" - so I'm doing things different this time, and blogging everyday about my challenges, sharing photos of my progress, and letting out frustrations and triumphs I have along the way. Why? Accountability. If I do this every night, I must think back on my day, and hold myself accountable for my diet and exercise.

Ready!? The link below is the blog that walks you through the day-by-day meals and plan. This is what I am going to follow - with my own substitutions. I am nursing my little angel, so I have to be a little selective with what I eat, and I have to eat more calories than the average 'dieter' to ensure I have enough to supply to my mini-me.

http://robinssweetconfessions.com/wp/category/paleo-challenge/

Onto better days!

Okay well here goes! I'm now pregnant just a few months after Lynee has had her beautiful baby Jay!! I am so excited that our kids will be growing up together! 

He thought his expression was hilarious! ;) really he is ecstatic! 

I have been told a lot about being pregnant but you never really understand until it happens to you! One thing is for sure that it is definitely hard to stay on track with your weight loss, or healthy eating goals!

Being pregnant has made me very picky about my meals and very nauseous. You know how hard it is to eat toast or crackers when u have the flu? Well think of it like that but I've been dealing with it for two months now. Yup I'm 8 weeks pregnant!! 

The only thing I can eat is usually junk food which makes you more sick, I've been trying to stick to healthy snacks and it is definitely making a big difference! So we will see what happens. Starting weight for me is 164 lbs and I now weigh 162-163 so haven't gained anything but I hear it is normal to lose a little weight at the beginning. 

My goal is to gain the right amount of weight, which for me is about 30-35 lbs throughout my pregnancy! I hope to only gain the 4-5 lbs in the first trimester and seems how I'm 2/3rds of the way through it, shouldn't be a problem!! 

Here is a photo of me starting out so excited!! I'll post more as the pregnancy progresses and keep posting about my diet and excercise! As of now short walks and working has been my excercise. Maybe I will be able to do more once the nausea goes away! Happy baby!! We couldn't be more happier!! 

Also went to our first doctors visit yesterday and it was so cool! We were able to hear the heartbeat and see the baby!! This is now confirmed to be real and not just in my head! I feel so much better!! 

One more thing that has helped me through this pregnancy is taking my prenatal vitamins and drinking my zeal! Sometimes all you need is a little bit of vitamins to help you stay healthy and energetic for the days! My vitamins are the gummies because I hate swallowing pills and I love sugar.. One of my weaknesses.. But they seem to do the trick!! 

The zeal is a whole foods supplement drink that gives you all the nutrients we should be getting everyday in our whole foods, but are being robbed of in this day. Foods are not as healthy as they once were.. The zeal also has folic acid one of the main things to help baby's development! I don't have a picture of my zeal but it is a very important part of my pregnancy diet as well as everyday after baby will be born!

One last thing I want to talk about is flax/fiber!! 

When you start taking your prenatals and all the vitamins, you can get backed up! This has helped me be able to have a regular bowl movement.. Part of the aches and pains in your tummy come from being constipated and I know it's embarrassing to talk about, but this is the hardest thing I've had to deal with being pregnant so far! Usually I am very regular and it is important to me to keep eating fiber and add flax to whatever I can so that I don't have to take Imodium or other over the counter drugs. I am sort of the anti-drug person and hate taking things unless I have to. This is why it is important to eat plenty of fiber or flax to help both with the constipation and gas in your tummy! 

That is all I have for now, hope this was helpful and that you enjoyed it! :) until next time! 

Cassie 

-Proud baby mamma! 

Welcome to the Third Trimester!

WOOO!!!! The third trimester is here - meaning there are only 12 more weeks until baby girl Jay arrives!

It's funny how much the size of the 'bump' changes depending on clothing, and angles... This photo was taken at 26 weeks, in a full body mirror - not totally a side shot, but angled to show a little more in the front.

This photo was taken at 28 weeks + 2 days (today). I tried to get a direct side shot... but I have short arms. LOL

Anyway - we are in the third trimester now! Soon I'll be looking for a photographer for maternity photos, we'll be trying to finish putting together the nursery, and I'll be still trying to finish all the baby projects I started. Lots to do! 

At the beginning of this pregnancy, I had pretty bad morning sickness to the point where I had to force myself just to drink a sip of water. The only thing that I could bring myself to 'eat' (because I didn't have to chew it) were Herbalife shakes. The sickness started going away around 14 weeks, and was completely gone by 20 weeks - the halfway point. Now, as I sit in the last three months of pregnancy, I am still asking, 'Have you had your shake today?'

Herbalife shakes are so packed with natural ingredients and optimal nutrition, that I know it's perfect to keep me and baby girl Jay healthy throughout this pregnancy. By sticking with my Herbalife routine, I'm giving me, and baby the best nutrition I can. Though I'll be 100% honest, I can't wait for this little girl to arrive so I can back into the full swing of my herba-lifestyle and gym time. Don't worry - I promise to post my stats, measurements, and photos to mark the new 'beginning' of my weight loss and healthy lifestyle journey.

Just a side note - make sure you are staying hydrated! The photo below was taken on Easter - me giving a hug to my nephew. As you can see, there is a water bottle glued to my hand. This thing literally goes everywhere with me. If I leave a room, my water bottle is in hand. In my car, it's right next to me. Stay hydrated, and keep up on the water intake! Not only is it great for weight loss, but it's also amazing for your skin.

Herbalife Product Overview

I've been asked a lot of questions about what some of the specific Herbalife products actually do, so I thought I'd post some of them. For any more information on Herbalife, you can contact me directly at lynee.ritchie@gmail.com, or visit www.goherbalife.com/lritchie.

• Core Products: Herbalife's core products consists of the three items listed below. Whatever items you think about for starting the Herbalife the lifestyle - these products are the most important for beginners - though I wouldn't necessarily stop there. When I first started Herbalife, this is the set of products I purchased, and quickly picked up more of the items listed in the sections below. These three however, really are your kick-start
• Formula 1: This is your meal replacement shake. Formula 1 (in it's various flavors) contains 9 grams of healthy protein, 20 vitamins, and 10 essential minerals. As the meal replacement, you are reducing your caloric intake with Formula 1, while increasing the amount of nutrients you are supplying your body. When I make my meal replacement shakes, I usually add fruit and additional protein powder to add calories and protein for my work outs. 
• Formula 2 Mulivitamin Complex: This is a daily multivitamin in tablet form with over 20 essential nutrients and antioxidants, including folic acid, calcium and iron. It supplies vitamins and minerals, plus select herbs. As well, it supports healthy weight management, overall good health and vitality, and promotes bones and immune-system health.
• Formula 3 Cell Activator: This is designed to support the body’s absorption of micronutrients and promotes cellular energy production. Formula 3 Cell Activator contains aloe, which may help support the body's absorption of micronutrients. It supports cellular energy production and contains select botanicals, nutrients and powerful antioxidants to support healthy aging.
• Herbal Tea Concentrate: This is not technically considered one of Herbalife's core products - but I definitely rank it in that category. This tea is simply amazing! It boosts your metabolism, provides antioxidant and thermogenic benefits of green tea and botanicals, and burns 100 calories!

• Some of my favorite additional products: While the core program will give you an amazing start, some of the products that I quickly started using shortly after - really helped pushed that difference in weight loss for me.
•  Cell-U-Loss: This is one of my favorite enhancers. It removes excess water - which also gets rid of bloat. Seriously, you may think that it's just losing excess water - but it could make the difference between inches on your body by losing it.
• Supports the appearance of healthy skin.
• Supports your body’s natural detoxification through the kidneys, and healthy activity of the urinary tract.
• Supports healthy elimination of water.
• Helps maintain electrolyte balance and a healthy pH level.
• Thermo-Bond: This is another one of the products that helps me feel better about my 'cheat meals'. Thermo-Bond is a high fiber tablet designed to help speed the passage of food through the digestive system, this supplement allows your body to absorb less fat.
• Total Control: The sad thing about being pregnant, I don't get to use this product anymore :( . Total Control tablets contain a blend of herbs and nutrients that help boost metabolism and build energy and alertness. Total Control is made with high-quality tea extracts – including green, black and oolong teas – and calming, soothing ginger to ease the digestive discomfort that can sometimes accompany weight loss.

I hope this helps with understanding some of the awesome products that helped me lose 20 pounds in a matter of 3 months! I can't wait until by baby arrives, so I can start using the Tea and Total Control again!

Let me know if you have any questions!

Lynee

My Dirty Little Secret

I haven't posted much here on my weight loss and progress because, well, I'm not making any progress. This isn't for lack of trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but because I'm just going to continue to get bigger... I've been keeping a little secret - The husband and I are expecting the arrival of our first baby on August 23rd!

Today, I am 15 weeks pregnant (haven't taken my photo yet) - and really looking forward to that halfway mark at 20 weeks. We haven't purchased many baby things yet, or even started on the nursery, because we are waiting until March 26th to find out the sex of our baby.

I started my weight loss journey with Herbalife in October. I am 5'4", and had a starting weight of a whopping 170 pounds. My body fat percentage was 31%, and I had a hip/pant size of 31 inches. Because I wasn't happy with my body at all, I kind of refused to take 'before' photos, though I may have some lying around from a couple weeks into the journey. Below, is a photo that I find embarrassing, and was before I started my journey. You can see the 'tire' around my hips/waist, and the thickness in my arms.

This next photo, I was a week or two into my journey, but gives more of a side view of my body shape - I'm the one in green.

Currently, even 15 weeks pregnant, I weigh 150 pounds! My goal weight was 140, plus building and toning muscle. I didn't get to reach that weight, but I did lose three inches on my waist, and dropped to a pant size of 29 inches. I'm still wearing my 29 pants now. Even in my 14 week photo above, I can see my progress. My arms are smaller, the top of my waist is my smaller, even though I'm growing quite the bump.

Aside from the morning sickness, I've felt like a better me. I've been feeling healthier with the 20 pounds that I have lost, and I have continued to use Herbalife throughout my pregnancy. Because of how nutrition packed Herbalife is, I am so excited that it is providing so much for me and my baby. I will attempt to continue eating healthier throughout this pregnancy, and hopefully find it not too difficult to continue this weight loss journey (with all new stats of course) after birth.