Its great to have a support group!

These women are the reason I get up and work out every day!
This is only about 1/3 of the strollerfit women in the group!
I love everyone of these girls and their kiddos.. We all help each other workout, diet and just with life!
I have never been a part of a group this wonderful!
If you struggle with working out, I would suggest joining a group like Strollerfit!
It changed my life!

www.strollerfit.com

There are a few more pics of the group on my blog...
My Splatter Painted Life

Almost done with Phase 1!

Today was a great day!
I hit 10.5 lbs lost... YAY!
and fit really well in my "never thought I could wear" jeans!
I have to buy all new workout clothes because even my sports bras are to big now!
I am so excited!

Weekend update

I went to a Halloween party and did not drink...
Holy cow I am dedicated!
GO ME!
After accomplishing last night I realized that anything is possible!
I was more proud of myself for not giving into temptation last night then I have been during this whole process!

Checkin' In!

Today is day 8 of my South Beach Phase 1
Even though I hate not being able to eat what I would like ALL THE TIME, I have come to a point in this diet that I really have to force myself to eat. I do not crave anything but Diet Dr. Pepper and I can have 2 a day :-)
I have become one with celery and anything that you can put on it from hummus, tuna, peanut butter, ect...
I have never been a huge meat eater but last night we have Salmon with a lemon and Dill rub on it and it was pretty tasty!
Gotta give it to my hubby he is an amazing griller!
I do catch myself having a drop in blood sugar about 3-4 in the afternoon and that is when I have a 1/2 spoon full of PB and it helps a TON!
I signed up on the South Beach website and it has a ton of recipes and tips that help my indecisive mind pick something to eat!
I would suggest it to anyone doing this diet... (Steph, heheheee)

I have to give a HUGE shout of the my blogging bud Stephanie.. She has started South Beach and has had great results also! YAY STEPH!
Go check her out... A Little Bit of Sugar & a Whole Lotta Spice!

I am down 9.5lbs in 8 days... thats amazing!
I also can see a huge difference in my tummy area!
I am so proud of myself!

Sb... 1 week down 1 week to go on Phase 1

Since my nutritionist wanted me to stay on the South Beach phase 1 .. I have and done pretty well at it!
I have a new favorite food that I could eat at every meal and I wanted to share it!

~Take a can (or 2) or Tuna or Chicken in a can. I have done both!
~Mix it with light or fat free mayo or miracle whip to your liking...(I use about 1Tbsp for 1 can)
~Mix in about a teaspoon or 2 of feta cheese... regular or flavored!
~Add spices to taste... My buddy Greg made me some homemade spices he calls Vampire Killer... I put that in there, it has like 3 different peppers, garlic, and thats about it! It is a little spicy but I like it!
~Then cut up some celery sticks into dipping size and dig in!
It is wonderful!
I was actually eating some as I typed this post :0)

A hint about celery that I learned from my BF... Keep in in water and it will double its lifetime!
Maybe it was a known fact, but I had no clue LOL!

BTW, I am down 8lbs! YAY!

My new info

I went to the nutritionist the morning and learned a ton of awesome things....
First of all I have never been to anyone that has the knowledge of the correct ways to eat, so this man was incredibly interesting to me!
We went over my health and blood issues and then he pulled out a list of papers and explained a ton of things to me... He taught me the "right" way to read labels for the amount of fat... taught me all about dietary fibers, the unhealthy, neutral and healthy proteins, and all about GOOD fats!

I am going to share a bit of what I learned with you guys!

How to read a label... to find out if there is too much fat in the item you are eating.

It is called the Fat Test and this is what you do:

Total Fat... on the label it is the first thing under the calories.
this label has 2g of Fat /serving

Multiply that number by 30
this answer =60

The answer you get (60) should be equal to or less than the calories...
This item has 110 calories so we can for sure eat this product! because 60 is less than 110... make sense? If oyu want to know more about this... email me!

Dietary Fibers:

Soluble Fibers are the best ones for me and my issues! They help normalize your blood and lwer cholesterol.

They include : apples, apricots, black & blu berries, kiwi, nectarines, oranges, pears, raspberries, strawberries, oat bran, oatmeal, all bran, dried apricots, prunes, figs, beans or peas, brown rice, winter squash and yams. then these are 4 veggies that have low calories and some fiber: brocoli, carrots, spinach and brussel sprouts.

Here is a link to read about Fibers... Fiber 101 Soluble & Insoluble


Proteins:

He taught me that meat should not be considered "good" and "bad" that it really needs to be placed in 3 categories... dangerous, neutral and healthy.

~Dangerous proteins include: Filet's, high fat cut meats, and all fried items
~Neutral proteins include: chicken, turkey, pork, lean ground beef, (all without skin)
~Healthy proteins include: fish, shell fish, all nutt butters, and soy products.

He focused a ton on fish products...
Fish is high in omega 3 fatty acids and are awesome for a well balanced diet!

There is though a risk of getting to much mercury when eating a lot of fish so he did give me a list :
Let me share it with you!

Best choices for fish:
anchovies, mackerels (excet King), oysters (fully cooked), Salmon (farmed or wild), sardines, striped bass (farmed), sturgeon (farmed), shrimp, trout (rainbow, farmed) tuna (canned, light, yellow) and caviar.

Fish to eat 1 time a week:
herring, mahi-mahi, tuna(canned, white), crab, lobster(rock, spiny), cod (Atlantic)

Fish to eat 1 time a month:
Halibut (pacific, atlantic), pollack, bluefish, sea bass (wild), tuna (steaks), lobster (maine, northern, american), grouper, marlin, orange roughy, snapper(red)

Fish to be avoided:
Mackerel (king), sharks, swordfish, titlefish, bluefin tuna

And this is a list of alternative Omega 3 Fatty acid foods:
Egglands Best & Pilgram Pride eggs ( you can eat the yolk)
Milled Flax Seeds

Good Fats:

The good fats provide valuable vitamins and minerals!
here is a list:
almonds( 6), avocado (2 Tbsp), cashews (6 nuts) , flaxseed ( 2Tbsp milled), olives (8-10), peanuts (10 nuts), pumpkin seeds (1Tbsp), sesame seeds(1Tbsp), sunflower seeds (1Tbsp) and walnuts (4 halves)

Oils:
~Healhty Oils: Canola, Olive, Peanut, Anova

~Condiments: Smart Balance (do the fat test!)

~Oils to AVOID!
Anything starting with Palm..., coconut, cotton seed, and of course hydrogenated

~Neutral Oils: Soy, rapeseed, sunflower seed ect...


So My homework was to go through this list and clean out my cabinets of food that does not fit the fat test or apply to the other lists! Then shop to fill the cabinets back up with the good stuff!
I will see him again in 2 weeks to work on the amount of food intake!

I am so optimistic right now and excited to fix my blood :)

I hope this info helped some of you guys! Thanks for the support and love!
Please email if you want to know more or have any questions!
xoxox
Lindsay

Sb... days 2 & 3

Well this diet is going way better then I thought it would!
I have lost a total of 5.5 lbs in 2 1/2 days!!! YAH!
I have found some super yummy things to eat....
My new fav is a Greek Salad!
Romaine lettuce, feta cheese (fat free), cherry tomatoes, red onions, grilled chicken, olives if you like them.. I don't really.
It is totally Sb friendly and so yummy!

I am still battling the carb withdraw, but everyday is better then the one before!
I am seeing a dietitian on Monday at 9am...
I will be posting the info I get from them! I am so excited!

Let me know about ya'lls diets! Any motivating stories!
Thanks for your support!
HUGS

SB weight loss report

I LOST 2 LBS MY FIRST NIGHT!!!!


WOOOHOOOOO

Day 1 of SB

IKKY, I hate this diet!
Well, I don't HATE it but I am hating the carb withdrawals I am going through!

Today was rough.... Rougher then I thought it would be!

I was not prepared for breakfast... I had no clue what to eat!
So I stuck with yogurt.... not the best compared to what I ate yesterday morning...
Yummy Waffles with Travie!

Lunch was easier, My sweet Momma had made me some SB friendly Veggie soup.
YUMSVILLE!
And some kick-ass homemade green beans!
The best ever!

Then this afternoon one of my most favorite friends brought me some Homemade Tomato soup and celery!
I tell yah what this girl... she is amazing!
She is taking on the SB challenge with me, helping me with food, brought me YUMMY soup and is just amazing!

Man, do I have some GREAT buddies!

Phase 1

This is my diet for the next 2 weeks....

Foods to Enjoy PROTEIN MILK/DAIRY BEANS/LEGUMES VEGETABLES NUTS AND SEEDS FATS/OILS SEASONINGS AND CONDIMENTS SWEET TREATS SUGAR SUBSTITUTES BEVERAGES PROTEIN BEEF Lean* cuts, such as: Bottom Round Eye of Round Flank Steak Ground beef: Extra Lean (96/4) Lean (92/8) Sirloin (90/10) London Broil Pastrami, lean Sirloin Steak T-bone Tenderloin Top Loin Top Round * Lean meat has, per 100 gram portion, 10 grams or less of total fat and 4.5 grams or less of saturated fat. POULTRY (SKINLESS) Cornish hen Low-fat turkey sausage (3-6 grams of fat per 60 gram serving) can be eaten as an occasional treat (approximately once/week) Turkey bacon (2 slices per day) Turkey and chicken breast SEAFOOD All types of fish and shellfish Water-packed tuna and other canned fish Salmon roe Sashimi PORK Boiled ham Canadian bacon Loin Tenderloin VEAL Chop Cutlet, leg Top round LAMB (Remove all visible fat) Center Cut Chop Loin LUNCHMEAT Fat-free or low-fat only Boiled ham Deli sliced turkey breast Steamship roast beef Smoked ham MEAT SUBSTITUTES (SOY BASED) Unless otherwise stated, look for products that have 6 grams of fat or less per 2-3 ounce serving Bacon - Limit to 2 slices per day Burger Chicken, unbreaded Hot Dogs Sausage Patties and Links - Limit 1 patty or 2 links per day Seiten Soy Crumbles - 1/4 cup (2 oz) suggested serving Soy Nuts - 1/4 cup for a protein snack is suggested serving Tempeh 1/4 cup suggested serving Tofu All varieties, 1/2 cup suggested serving Yuba (Bean Curd or Sheet) CHEESE (FAT-FREE OR LOW-FAT) Look for varieties that have 6 grams of fat or less/ounce American Cheddar Cottage cheese, 1-2% or fat-free Cream cheese substitute, dairy-free Feta Mozzarella Parmesan Part-skim Ricotta Part-skim String Provolone Swiss EGGS The use of whole eggs is not limited unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Use egg whites and egg substitute as desired. MILK/DAIRY MILK/DAIRY (2 cups allowed daily, including low-fat or nonfat plain yogurt) Low-fat milk (fat-free and 1%) Fat-free 1/2 & 1/2 (less than 2 tablespoons) Low-fat plain, vanilla, or sucralose-containing soy milk (4 grams of fat or less per 8 ounce serving). Be sure the product does not contain high fructose corn syrup 1% or fat-free buttermilk Low-fat or nonfat plain yogurt BEANS/LEGUMES BEANS/LEGUMES (Start with 1/3 - 1/2 cup serving) Adzuki Beans Black Beans Black-eyed peas Broad Beans Butter Beans Cannellini Beans Chickpeas or Garbanzo Edamame Great Northern Beans Italian Beans Kidney Beans Lentils Lima Beans Mung Beans Navy Beans Pigeon Peas Pinto Beans Soy Beans Split Peas White Beans VEGETABLES VEGETABLE CHOICES (May use fresh, frozen or canned without added sugar) Artichokes Arugula Asparagus Broccoli Bok Choy Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Capers Cauliflower Celery Chayote Chicory Collard Greens Cucumbers Eggplant Endive Fennel Garlic Green Beans Hearts of palm Jicama Kale Leeks Lettuce (All varieties) Mushrooms (All varieties) Mustard Greens Nopales Okra Onions Parsley Peppers (All varieties) Pickles - Dill or artificially sweetened Radicchio Radishes (All varieties) Rhubarb Sauerkraut Scallions Sea Vegetables Snap Peas Snow peas Spinach Sprouts Squash, Spaghetti Squash, Summer Yellow Zucchini Swiss Chard Tomato Tomato Juice Turnip Greens Vegetable Juice Cocktail Water Chestnuts Watercress Wax Beans Zucchini NUTS AND SEEDS NUTS AND SEEDS (Limit to one serving per day as specified. Dry roasted recommended.) Almonds - 15 Brazil Nuts - 4 Cashews - 15 Filberts - 25 Flax Seed - 3 TBS (1 oz) Hazelnuts - 25 Macadamia - 8 Peanut Butter, Natural, and other nut butters - 2 TBS Peanuts, 20 small (May use dry roasted or boiled) Pecans - 15 Pine Nuts (Pignolia) - 1 ounce Pistachios - 30 Pumpkin Seeds - 3 TBS (1 oz) Sesame Seeds - 3 TBS (1 oz) Soy Nuts - 1/4 cup Sunflower Seeds - 3 TBS (1 oz) Walnuts - 15 FATS/OILS FATS/OILS The following monounsaturated oils are recommended to be consumed daily: Oil, canola Oil, olive Other Oil Choices that may be chosen (Polyunsaturated or a blend of Monounsaturated): Corn Enova Flax Grapeseed Peanut Safflower Sesame Soybean Sunflower Other Fat Choices: Avocado - 1/3 whole = 1 TBS oil Guacamole - 1/2 cup = 1 TBS oil Margarine - Chose those that do not contain Trans Fatty Acids such as Fleishmann's Premium Olive Oil or Smart Balance Mayonnaise - Regular - 1 TBS Mayonnaise - Low Fat - 2 TBS (avoid varieties made with high fructose corn syrup) Olives (Green or Ripe) 15 = 1/2 TBS oil Salad Dressing - 2 TBS. Use those that contain 3 grams of sugar or less per 2 TBS. Best choices contain canola or olive oil. Low carb salad dressings may also be used if they meet these guidelines. SEASONINGS AND CONDIMENTS SEASONINGS AND CONDIMENTS All spices that contain no added sugar Broth Espresso powder Extracts (almond, vanilla, or others) Horseradish sauce I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! Spray Lemon Juice Lime Juice Pepper (black, cayenne, red, white) Salsa (check labels for added sugar) Use the following toppings and sauces sparingly (check labels for added sugar and MSG) Cream Cheese, fat-free or light - 2 TBS Hot Sauce Low carb condiments, as long as they meet South Beach guidelines (have no added fat and are sugar-free/contain no added sugar) Miso - 1/2 TBS Shoyu - 1/2 TBS Sour Cream, light and reduced-fat - 2 TBS Soy Sauce - 1/2 TBS Steak Sauce - 1/2 TBS Tamari Worcestershire Sauce - 1 TBS Whipped Topping, Light or Fat-Free - 2 TBS More on South Beach condiments SWEET TREATS SWEET TREATS (Limit to 75-100 calories per day) Sweet treats are items that contain sugar alcohols, such as: Candies, hard, sugar-free Chocolate powder, no-added-sugar Cocoa powder, baking type Fudgsicles, no sugar added Gelatin, sugar-free Gum, sugar-free Jams and jellies, sugar-free Popsicles, sugar-free Syrups, sugar-free Some Sugar Free Products may be made with sugar alcohols (isomalt, lactitol, mannitol, sorbitol or xylitol) and are permitted on the SBD. They may have associated side effects of GI distress (abdominal pain, diarrhea & gas) if consumed in excessive amounts. SUGAR SUBSTITUTES SUGAR SUBSTITUTES Acesulfame K Fructose (needs to be counted as Sweet Treats, Caloric Limit) Nutrasweet (Equal) Saccharin (Sweet & Low) Sucralose (Splenda) BEVERAGES BEVERAGES Decaf Coffee and Tea Diet, decaffeinated, sugar-free sodas and drinks Herbal teas (peppermint, chamomile, etc.) Milk (1% or fat-free) and soymilk (low-fat plain). See MILK/DAIRY. Sugar-free powdered drink mixes Vegetable Juice Note: caffeinated coffee or diet sodas with caffeine added are allowed, but limited to 1 - 2 servings per day. Foods to Avoid BEEF Brisket Jerky, unless homemade without sugar Liver Other fatty cuts Prime Rib Rib steaks POULTRY Chicken, wings and legs Duck Goose Poultry products, processed Turkey, dark meat (including wings and thighs) PORK Honey-baked ham Pork rinds VEAL Breast CHEESE Brie Edam Nonreduced fat VEGETABLES Beets Carrots Corn Green peas Potatoes, white Potatoes, sweet Pumpkin Turnips (root) Winter squash Yams FRUIT Avoid all fruits and fruit juices in Phase 1, including: Apples Apricots Berries Cantaloupe Grapefruit Peaches Pears STARCHES AND CARBS Avoid all starchy food in Phase 1, including: Bread, all types Cereal Croutons, all types Matzo Oatmeal Rice, all types Pasta, all types Pastry and baked goods, all types MILK/DAIRY Ice cream Milk, whole MISCELLANEOUS No regular ketchup or cocktail sauce No pork rinds - too high in saturated fat No jerky - too high in sugar content BEVERAGES Alcohol of any kind, including beer and wine Back to Top

Bad Blood...

Today I got some ikky information about myself that I did not want to hear...
For the last few years I have been struggling with issues with my cholesterol. I know it is hereditary and that I got my dads bad blood, but I have always felt to young to be dealing with these issues. I was diagnosed with hight triglycerides when I was 24 and controlled them threw my diet and activity levels. Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood. They are a major source of energy and the most common type of fat in your body. Right before I found out I was pregnant I got my blood tested again and they were elevated but before I got the info on medication I could take I found out I was pregnant so I could only control them with diet and exercise. Of course when you are pregnant and in your first trimester you do not feel like working out or eating anything at all. Or at least those were my issues!!! After I had Travis and got my blood tested they were still elevated and the doctor wanted me to try and control them myself before getting on a life long medication. Fun stuff, huh?! When we both decided that this was more hereditary then a life style change I got put on the medication. The medication I take now is called Lovaza, it is 4 horse pills that you have to take daily... full of omega -3 acids and whatever else to lower your bad cholesterol and raise the good. It has been about 5-6 months since I have been on this medicine and I have gotten blood work done 2 times since then. The first time showed great results with my numbers almost back to the perfect range and this second time they have gone up a little but not much. This was concerning to my doctor and that is why I got the call today. After all of my gallbladder junk and getting on weight watchers, I have been controlling my fat intake and have lost weight (YAY!) but ww is a very lenient diet. You can pretty much eat whatever you want within the numbers you are given. I guess that is to lenient for me because it was not helping my blood, just my weight. The nurse pretty much read me my rights today... She reminded me that heart disease is a major risk in living life with high triglycerides. She told me that it does not matter if you are 25 or 85 your risk does not increase or decrease. I was like a deer in head lights... I know I have read all of this but I guess deep down I thought I was safe because I was young. I should have been hit in the head with this years ago considering my grandfather on my dads side died of a heart attack and had bad heart disease and that my father has had heart issues as well. Now I feel like I have dug a hole that I am going to have to struggle to get out of! I mean I do work out 5-7 times a week, i thought I was doing great on my diet but now I am re-considering everything I had thought I was doing right. The doc wants me to go on a solid South Beach diet. Have you tried the South Beach diet? I have and it is torturous! The phases do get easier but the first phase is a beating! Click this link to read about it... South Beach Diet Info.. The problem with this diet is that there is a ton of planning involved! I unfortunately and not a planner, not with food at least. Never have been and don't know if I can be. Can you teach a old dog new tricks? HA! My hubby found out that our insurance will cover a dietitian/nutritionist and so that is my next step. I just need a kick in the right direction! I wonder if they would cover a personal chef also? Do you find it unfair that the super wealthy can hire someone to feed them the correct things and they do not have to even think about it. I hate those people! I am now feeling pretty angry at myself. I mean I have a child that needs me for the rest of his life and I am at a high risk for heart disease... What the hell am I thinking? I should have nipped this a long time ago. Now it seems so hard to do. Being a mom it has become harder to think about myself, i focus mainly on the health and well-being of my son and have let myself get lost in the mix. Please pray for me... I need all the help I can get!