Dearest Coffee, I Fear I Must Say Farewell...

Dear Coffee,

For the next 70 pounds (however long THAT takes to lose), I fear you are ruined for me!

Oh... Did I forget to mention that I recently started the Ideal Protein diet? Yes, that's right, I am in the first week of what I am envisioning to be my final, permanent weight loss! And as exciting as it may be, there are a few tragic casualties, i.e. my relationship with you, coffee.

On this diet, we are allowed a relationship... I can have you plain, OR... I can add 1 oz. skim (FAT FREE) milk (BLECH) and sugar free sweetener, Stevia, for instance.

So, as you know, I tried black for the first sip, then the next few days with milk (BLECH) and Xylitol. Gag me. Then I tried Walden Farms Caramel and milk today, which a friend said was "yummy," like having one of her "mochas." Yeah right. That sounds like the statement of a desperate dieter. Which I totally understand, but unfortunately, I cannot live a lie. I even tried adding coffee to the Ideal Protein Cappuccino drink.... Yeah. No.

So, I know there are some other "tricks" I can try, but I may just have to graciously hang up my coffee drinking hat for now. This pains me, as I am an addict from way back, and I like it sweet, I like it creamy, and I like it all day long. Just hook me up to an IV and let me about my day.

BUT, I cannot degrade our relationship by pouring FAT FREE milk and some creepy sweetener, or flavored drops or any other sad excuse for what SHOULD be in coffee. I cannot, I WILL not.

But, in retrospect, the diet is going great so far and I've lost 6 pounds. So... coffee... Weight loss... I think you can see where I am going with this.

Sincerely,

Your best friend

P.S. We WILL be together again someday... Yes, someday.

Happy Losing!

Ideal Protien

What's Your Fight?

Biggest Loser kick off today!

Are you all SO excited to get started? Are you just chomping at the bit to start making healthier choices and kicking those stubborn pounds in the butt once and for all? Are you ready to just get absolutely ruthless and take no prisoners? Are you bursting at the seams to be the BIGGEST LOSER???


Okay, now let's get REAL. How many of you got up this morning and had to FORCE yourselves to be excited about this next twelve weeks? How many of you went through a million and one excuses you could use to back out? How many of you are thinking to yourselves, I don't think I can/ want to do this?.....


Well, trust me, you're not alone. I definitely battled ALL of those things this weekend. Being a new mommy has me tired, stressed, feeling short on time and the last thing on my mind has been getting into shape. BUT, I remind myself how unhappy I am with the way I feel and I make myself believe that I will accomplish this.


I have mush more than just baby weight to lose. I have the weight that has literally BEEN a weight to me for my whole adult life. But, just like the long fight it took to bring that baby into this world, I will fight to be the woman I am meant to be, body, spirit and mind. I am making a promise today, to fight and not give up. I WILL be a loser!


What's your fight?

I'm not off the wagon, I'm UNDER it! Here are some quick fixes:

It starts with the little things.


RATIONALIZATION:


1. That one unhealthy item that turns into about twenty.

2. Running out of your healthy ingredient (i.e. Xylitol) and substituting an unhealthy ingredient, but because it is such a small amount, you figure it doesn't count.

3. One slip up with that special dessert your friend brought won't hurt you, right?

***QUICK FIXES***

1. Pre-pack smaller, healthy items, portions, etc.

2. Always keep fruits and vegetables, and lean proteins on hand at all times.

3. Always keep a bag/ container of the necessary daily ingredients you need to adhere to your diet, in both your home and workplace. Even your purse, if necessary.

4. At the end of the week, verify that you have everything in stock for the upcoming week and if you don't, make sure you do a little shopping over the weekend.

5. When it comes to desserts and special treats from friends or co-workers, take a small portion and cut it in half. Eat a healthy snack first and then when you eat your treat, make sure you eat slowly, savoring every bite, and wash it down with plenty of water.


LAZINESS:


1. Too tired to cook a healthy meal, so you eat a quick fix meal (which is usually over processed, unhealthy and full of empty calories).

2. Too many items to bring to the office to make healthy lunch and snacks.

***QUICK FIXES***

1. On weekends, spend time making healthy dishes that can be frozen and used on those nights you feel too rushed or tired to cook.

2. Pre-make lunches the night before.

3. Invest in some good tupperware. You can have everything pre-made, measured and stored the night before and grab it on the way out the door in the morning.


DENIAL:


1. "Oh, I'll just have ONE more."

2. "One extra cup of coffee this week won't kill me"

3. "I'm hormonal!"

***QUICK FIXES***

1. Again, pre-make everything! Put an appropriate portion size of whatever snack or meal you are having, into a small container or baggie and once it's gone, it's gone. If you are still hungry, go for the fruits, veggies and proteins with plenty of water.

2. Only make/ bring enough coffee (or drink, other than water) for one serving.

3. If you are feeling hormonal, sometimes a nice walk can help. If you must have something, have something, but always eat the healthy protein or fruit/ veggie first. It will help you to eat less of the mood food. If you deprive yourself too much and for too long, you will risk a serious relapse and end up UNDER that wagon with me!

Okay, now that you are back up in the driver's seat, just keep on that road as long as you can. If you hit another bump, just pick yourself back up and TAKE CONTROL!

YOU CAN DO THIS!

Happy driving!

Breaking up with a hair product is hard to do! (Especially when it smells so darn good!)

I had a love in my life.

I had a soul mate.

Moroccan Oil.



We've been the best of friends for about a year now and my hair has never felt (and smelled) better. But, a dark blanket has been cast over our relationship and I am sad to say we may be ending our friendship forever.

See, I have been battling BAD acne the past few months, for virtually the first time in my life (I know, I know, smack me). I've had mild acne a few times in my mid twenties, but at that time I was treated with a harsh, burning cream and antibiotics, which did clear things up quickly. But I have never had anything this bad, or for this long. What have I done to bring this on?

Well, I've never had the best diet and every once in a while I get a nice smack upside the head and realize maybe it's time to get serious again and eat the way I know I should. So, in celebration of this latest smack, I have tried every acne product I can think of, including Proactiv, Differin, Burt's Bees acne formula, Cetaphil, etc. Right now I am using BeautiControl.

As for my diet, I have cut out sugar, gluten and coffee (to name a few). I have gone to my Naturopath and had all my hormones, insulin levels, and every other thing tested, including my digestive system, which all came up negative for any issues.

I have looked up virtually every product I use, food or beverage I consume, and any other stray thing I can think of, to see if anything in my daily routine is linked in any way to acne. Well, guess what? I have found some information about my so called 'friend,' Moroccan Oil and I am sad to say, not only is the product not what I thought it was, but it HAS been said to cause acne or make existing acne worse. Which makes sense to anyone with half a brain (not me), as it is an OIL that is soaking into your scalp, and hair which lives right next door to, and in some cases, ON your face! Apparently, OIL + OIL = NOT GOOD. Imagine that!

One blog I found,Pink Sith, reviewing our friend, Moroccan Oil, talks all about it's poopie origins (no, I am not kidding... Goat poop, to be exact.) It is truly ewie. Another site I found, talked about how putting an oil all over you might not be the best thing ever for your skin. Yes, real rocket science stuff here.

Also, supporting what I have already known for many years, but was trying hard to be in denial about, I found this great website, Dherbs.com, which discusses natural acne prevention. I have read many, MANY articles on natural acne prevention and this is the best one I have come across so far.



So, if you've had or are having the same issues I am, well I hope you find your solution and I would love to hear how you kicked it! I am still searching, but in the meantime, Moroccan Oil and I are like Ross & Rachel... "On a BREAK!" (as well as most other things I enjoy in this life!)

Getting a facial today and I'm hoping, at the very least, that I will feel a little bit human again.

Happy Eating (and clear skinning) to you all!

Confessions of a Junk Food Junkie on Facebook

I get gluten free with a little help from my friends!

Some great gluten free info. and resources!



Kitchen Daily

Happy gluten free eating!
Confessions of a Junkfood Junkie Facebook

Thanks a Maté!

My new obsession:

I'm revisiting an old friend. Aviva Yerba Maté



Before I started getting acne, I was enjoying "Shaman Tea" quite regularly, from College Coffee House which is the Aviva Yerba Maté tea, with white chocolate. I stopped drinking them, thinking the white chocolate was contributing to my recent acne breakout (if you can even call it that, more like the "peperoni special" on my face).

Well, I knew the tea itself is good for me, and much better for me than coffee, but I never knew just how good it really is. And besides, I was convinced I wouldn't like the flavor as much without the white chocolate. But, I have tried it with my cream and Xylitol and find that I hardly miss the offensive white chocolate!

I usually brew the tea right through my coffeemaker, using a regular coffee filter. You can also use a coffee press or a tea strainer (but I find the tea is a little too fine and much of it will seep out of the strainer.

Here is some info about the product and the benefits, that I found online.

Happy drinking!


My Mate World

Aviva Yerba Maté Benefits

Sweet Easy Tip of the Day!

When I'm craving something sweet in the afternoon this is a quick, easy snack I like to make:

1 cup fat free Fage yogurt (from the organic food section)
5 or more strawberries, sliced
Granular Xylitol to desired sweetness (available in most health food stores) Now Foods

Mix above ingredients to desired taste. You can also make a nice fruit salad with Fage yogurt. I like to add red grapes, bananas, blueberries, apples and a pinch of cinnamon.