Preview my Corner Pantry Makeover

If you love before and afters, and love pantry makeovers you definitely want to head over to Kate's blog today to check out my CORNER PANTRY MAKEOVER. 

Kate is on a much needed vacation and asked if we could help out while she is gone, so of course.... why in the world would I pass up an opportunity to be on Chic on a Shoestring Decorating. How exciting. I knew just the project to share. I hope you guys like it :)

Oh and before I I explode, I'm still so happy... let me tell you how much I LOVE Craigslist. 
I have loved Craigslist for many years now, but after SIX long months of searching , and searching for the perfect stovetop, and double ovens...... 
I finally found them. BOTH,,,, yesterday,,,,, in the SAME DAY,,,, and I saved a CRAPLOAD of money. What's a crapload of money you ask?
Well let's just assume I was CRAZY enough to buy these for retail price, (which I'm not),,, but let's just assume I was.... I would have spent just about $10,000 + tax + delivery + warranty, plus delivery, etc. 
I got my induction Wolf stovetop retail price $4,000 ----- for $900................oh yahhh!!!I got my JenAir convection double oven stainless steel Retail $6,000 ----- for $1,200..... BRAND NEW, never been used.... OMG..
So guess who's finally remodeling their kitchen soon?
I am so happy I waited, and waited, and waited. I saved TONS,,, and I couldn't be happier!
Hope you all have a GREAT DAY :) 

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Week THREE 40 Day Challenge - What I Ate

This week started off great, I woke up early, and felt great. I made it to the gym for a couple days, and then the stomach flu hits our home. My youngest got it first, and by Friday my son got sick, and my daughter too. She was the worst of them all, throwing up all weekend long. 

Anyway, here is what I ate this week. Almost half way through.

I am linking this post over to one of my fav food blogs ever. Jen is a rockstar, for bringing all kinds of amazing ladies together, sharing healthy food every week. I am so happy to finally have something to share. Every Wednesday these ladies get together and share an entire day's worth of meals. SO MUCH FUN!! I def ate much more BROWN than GREEN this week, but what the heck. If you look closely you will see some green stuff, lol. Enjoy!!

• Day 15/40
• Up at 5:16 am
• Lemon Water

• Breakfast 5:30am
• Egg, Salmon salad, with olives
• I really love this combination. So satisfying!

• Second Breakfast 10:08am
• Ihop - whole wheat crepe, blueberries, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage
• Took the kiddo to the dentist, and we went to breakfast together before going back to school. Although I still felt like I indulged myself with that crepe, I resisted those pancakes, and I LOVE those pancakes, lol. SO yay for me :)

•  Good morning :)

• Snack 1:03pm

•  Snack 2:21pm

•  Snack 5:20pm

• Dinner 8:21pm
• Chicken chili with buttermilk

• Snack 8:45pm
• Craving something sweet. 

 Day 15 over. I felt pretty good today, despite splurging at Ihop.

• Day 16/40
• Up at 6:20am

• Good Morning :)

•  First time making gluten free pancakes. Pamela's pancake mix. I made 1/2 with flax seed, the ones on the left, and 1/2 with an egg, the ones on the right. I have to say they were both good, but the flax seed ones were better, fluffier, and more hearty. I love flax seed in my pancakes. 

• Breakfast 7:27am
• GF Pancakes, butter, maple syrup, 2 scrambled eggs

• Snack 10:25am
• I was really hungry after breakfast. I could def tell the difference, between eating mainly carbs, and when I eat mainly protein. I feel much fuller longer, when I eat more protein.

• Lunch 12:52pm
• Asian tuna salad. Always enjoy this meal, especially after yoga!

• Second lunch 3:53pm
• Leftover chicken chili, with buttermilk, and onion tomato salad.

• Dinner 8:15pm
• Salmon burger, kale, zucchini, rice, sambar, onion tomato salad.

Day 16 over. I really enjoyed having some pancakes this morning, and my dinner was amazing. I felt hungry after breakfast, but after getting some protein in me, I felt better.

Last night my youngest started throwing up with the stomach flu, so I've been up with him all night.

• Day 17/40
• Up at 7:11am

•  Good morning :) Long night, no sleep. Sick kid, throwing up, changing sheets. No fun. 

• Breakfast 7:42
• Scrambled eggs, zucchini, salmon, garlic. 
• Tried to get a good breakfast in despite my sick child. 

• Snack 9:18am
• Went to get some gatorade, and snacks for my kiddo. I decided to try these GF cookies, I've been eyeballing them, and my son wanted cookies. They were YUMMY!!!!!! Too yummy. 

• Second breakfast 10:34am
• Gluten Free toast, and a slice of ezekial bread too. Also had some more eggs from breakfast.
• I ENJOYED my toast, especially the multigrain Gluten Free toast, with butter. 

•  I enjoyed the last bites of toast with some honey :)

• Lunch 4:18pm
• Spicy tofu, mushrooms, and rice. I didn't eat the rice. The tofu was so good.

• Dinner 7:52pm
• Chicken and veggie soup

Day 17 over. I was craving carbs like CRAZY again today. I guess having them around didn't help right? Those cookies were so tasty, and hit the spot perfectly. I am starting my period soon, so I just want to eat, eat, eat. I always get super hungry, and crave food before I start my period, and the first couple days. Never noticed it quite like this before. I'm so much more aware of my body now. I notice things that I didn't before. It's really interesting.

• Day 18/40
• Up at 7:46am

•  Good Morning :)

• Nothing better than bacon right? No nitrates, uncured, and tasted amazing!

• Breakfast 9:12am
• Bacon, eggs, GF toast, garlic kale

•  Took my other kiddos to the dentist today, and then we went to lunch after. I guess he's feeling much better. Thank goodness he only was sick for one night!!

• Lunch 1:00pm
• I had a big salad, meatballs, lots of veggies, fried zucchini sticks, and some stinkin pasta. Darn it.... I couldn't resist, I gobbled it down so fast, and felt very happy with myself too. I only had one spoon, but it was GOOD! 

• Dinner 6:46pm
• Chik fil a - chicken strips salad, with 1/2 pack of ranch. It tasted good. Very filling. I always have lemonade there, LOVE it, but didn't have any, because of all the sugar. I also should have made a better choice with the dressing, but I just had to have some ranch. 
• Believe it or not, I was SOOOOO bloated after this salad. I have no idea what it was from. 
• Could it have been the fried chicken, raw broccoli, or ranch? I don't know, but I felt horrible.

Day 18 over. Today was a busy day. Kids went to the dentist, and we had swim class later. After having my little one be throwing up all over the place just the day before. Thankful it only lasted one day for him. Who knows, maybe that's why my tummy hurt after dinner? All I know is that I felt COMPLETELY bloated after that darn salad. Not looking forward to eating there again, for a long long time.

• Day 19/40
• Up at 6:45am

• Breakfast 6:59am
• 2 corn tortilla egg and cheese tacos with salsa. YUM!

• Lunch 12:15pm
• Went to Japanese with my mom
• Started off with miso soup.

•  Ginger salad

• Some sushi. I am still new to sushi, so every time I look at the menu I have no idea what to order. This is not what I THOUGHT I ordered, but it was just fine. Light, and refreshing. Couldn't even finish it all. There were 6 pieces left. 

• Dinner 6:04pm
• Ate out again, this time me and the princess. Found a little mexican shop, and PIGGED out on some amazing tacos, with chicken, carne asada, and carnitas. OMG.... lots of guacamole, chips and salsa, and even a BEER. 

• Snack 7:15pm
• I would be lying if I said I didn't gobble those cookies down. I grabbed two just like that, and they were gone before I could stop myself. Darn period!!!

That was the end of day 19. Almost half way done with the challenge. 

Looking back at last week, I was having lots of cravings, especially for carbs. This week just brought on even more cravings for carbs, and cookies, and even a beer, lol. 

I've been reading a lot about wheat addiction, GLUTEN addiction to be specific. I'm telling you, it is true. My body just WANTED carbs, and even though I gave in, more times than I would have liked, I tried not to give into gluten filled carbs. 

Despite the rough week, I felt ok. The only time I really felt BLOATED was after my chick fil a salad. Totally weird. I thought I was making a healthier choice, and that is what made me the sickest. 

I finally got my sweet tooth satisfied with some amazingly yummy GLUTEN FREE snickerdoodle cookies, lol. They were scrumptious, every last bite. 

I'm half way there, and I'm learning every single day more and more about my eating habits. It is super hard to stay on track when temptation is all around me. Everywhere I look I see food that I used to eat, and I never said no to food. I've slowly but surely been making choices every meal, choices that are just a little better. I'm trying, and despite the cravings, I've done pretty good. 

I didn't make it in the gym much this week. I guess you just have to roll with the punches sometimes. I'm not giving up, and that's what matters. 

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Before Pictures - The Naked Truth - 2 weeks into my challenge

Before you continue I have to warn you, if you will be offended by seeing me in my sports bra, and undies, showing my belly fat then please do not continue reading.

This has to be the hardest thing I've done, pretty close to EVER. It's brutally honest, I'm being incredibly vulnerable, and I swear that if anyone even thinks about saying anything negative, SHAME ON YOU! I will not tolerate that kind of thing here, so DO NOT post anything, or say anything that is likely to hurt my feelings. I'm not sharing myself to be ridiculed, I'm sharing myself so that I can inspire someone else who might be struggling like me, and hopefully finally reach my goal as a result. I am scared to death of being laughed at, and to be SEEN like this. It's almost more than I can stand, but somehow I feel like it has to be done. I hope I'm not wrong!

As I look back at my life, I can never recall a time that I ever had the slim six pack. However up until having my first baby, I was always on the slim side. I don't THINK I'm heavy boned, but genetically all the ladies in my family carry all their weight in the middle. Tummy!! Not even hips so much, but literally all in the tummy, and back, as is clear from my pictures.

I wish I could tell you exactly how my body became like this. I mean I've always thought that I eat pretty good, and in terms of healthy organic food we do. We have been for almost 10 years now. I cook a lot, we don't eat much processed food at home, and I kind of tricked myself to believe that we don't really eat out a lot. BUT we do. We used to anyway! I'm trying to change that.

Food, I love food. No doubt about it. I know portion control was never a strong point for me, I would eat what I wanted, and as much as I wanted, and that was that! I've never been on a diet before, yup, NEVER. Most days I would eat 2-3 times a day, and pig out at each meal. Why because I was always hungry, WHY, because I wasn't feeding my body often enough.

I also tricked myself into believing we ate enough fruit and veggies, and the reality is not true. Again, something I'm trying to change. Mostly the veggies.

Also we can't forget about exercise, or my lack of to be exact. Once upon a time back in the day, way back in the day I used to really love working out. Then I had kids. Enough said!

However about 5 years ago I took my first YOGA class, and have been hooked ever since. I simply love everything about it, but even then it's been an on and off practice for me. Hardly practicing everyday which I could easily do even at home if I were serious about it. We have TWO gym memberships, yes TWO - and I have not put either to use for almost a year. Clearly shame on me.

Never enjoyed running, but will try. Never could do many sit ups, or push ups, and am slowly working on getting stronger everyday! I'm seriously sore from trying!

A little over a year ago I started Tae Kwon Do with my youngest, in hopes of getting fit, and eventually  becoming a black belt like my other older two kids. I JUST made it to my 3rd belt, YELLOW a week ago. You know why, because we didn't go much this past year.

Yes, my friends. This past year I have EASILY put on, again I say EASILY....... 15 pounds. Not that I regularly weight myself, so Im not sure, but I HAVE NEVER EVER EVER EVER been more than 180 pounds, and that was when I was going to the hospital 9 months pregnant, getting ready to give birth to a big ol baby!!

The last time I actually remember weighing myself I was around 170 pounds.

Ok, so bottom line is this is what I look like now, and you know what???  It's not much different than what my tummy looked like last year or the year before, or at any other time the past 13 years. Ever since having my firstborn.

I know for a fact simply by trying on clothes, that I've gained a crap load more than I was even after having my second kiddo, my beautiful daughter. I can't even get some jeans up my thighs that I wore 2 months after having her a little over 8 years ago.

I have yet to actually take some proper measurements with a tape measure, maybe I'll get to that this week. I also want to take some pics with the clothes I'd like to eventually fit into again. You know as a huge visual so you can see far I have yet to go.

Again my apologies if you find this post full of my before pics gross. I even made them black and white, because somehow they don't look AS BAD that way.

My number one advice for anyone of you who are trying to get healthier, is to TAKE SOME BEFORE PICS. I know that posting them for everyone to see might not be your thing, and I never thought I'd have the courage to do so myself. AT least without having a good AFTER pic to show along side it. BUT the time has come for me to get REAL here. There is simply no hiding how I look, even if I can somehow make it look less noticeable with my clothes on. You can't EXACTLY see all my rolls, all the fat, all that unhealthiness, but you know it's there. My family sees it, my kids see it, and my gosh, I see it every day!!

Enough is enough!

I need to take responsibility for my own body, for my own health, and if this doesn't get my butt moving, then I don't know what will.

I can't even imagine the feeling of defeat knowing I posted these pictures, and won't work hard enough to show you what one can do if they truly put their mind to it. I don't want to be a failure, not at this. Not anymore.

PLEASE help me, with any encouraging words you can give. PLEASE refrain from sharing any magic diet, or pills, or things like that with me. I'm sorry but I want to do it eating REAL food, and working out. That's it!

Here are the pics, outlined by date, and any other details I jotted down at the time. Nothing magical happening so far, but that's OK. I still have 4 weeks to go, on THIS challenge, and lots to work on still. I've started, and this is my beginning!!

• Wednesday - Day 3/40
• 8:58 am 
• My 3rd day of the challenge, first time at the gym in almost a year, getting ready for my YIN YOGA class, which was fabulous by the way. 

• For the sake of being brutally honest, I'm baring my entire belly for you all to see. Usually I pull my pants over my tummy, so it kind of smushes it in, you know what I'm talking about, right? However that would not be really how I look. So all pics will be taken with the full tummy out, as unpleasant as it is for me. 

•  About fainted when I saw the numbers on the scale. It was SCARY to say the least!

• Then I went to get some other measurements on my body fat and bmi. Again, all signs lead to OBESE.... yup. I'm literally in the obese category now. Pretty much depressing, if I were to let it get me down. Instead I'm choosing to DEAL with it, and work hard to get healthy. Much better if I do say so myself :)

• Here I am in the changing stall, getting ready to bare it all. 
• I've just finished my yoga class. 
• 11:35 am

•  I'm so nervous!!

•  Good GOD, please help me. This is my body now, and I know I need to love it, but I don't. I simply don't. I do know that I MUST cherish it though, it is the only one I will ever have, and if I don't start treating it better, it can't take care of me. 

•  I need to appreciate that I am "healthy" and strong. I am CAPABLE of doing so much more, and I must do it. Stop taking this great gift for granted. I know there are so many who would give anything to HAVE a body full of potential. 

•  A body, that although has been neglected, is just WAITING for another opportunity to shine. 

• This is my BACK.... I really hate that I have rolls even on my back. Just another thing I really need to work on. I'm hopeful that one day it will be gone!

• My weight after yoga class, wearing a bathing suit, holding my cell. 
• After going to the spa, steam room, and sauna. 
• 12:15 pm

• Just to prove a point. I want you to see why I don't recommend using the scale as your only measurement of progress. Within a couple hours, I literally LOST 2 pounds. Amazing right?
• This weight was taken only in my undies a couple minutes after the one above. You see, just that bathing suit was weighing me down a whole pound :)

• Friday - Day 5/40
• 10:34 am
• Bathing suit and cell phone
• After Slow Burn Yoga
• Before Sauna

• With clothes on :) Pretty deceptive. Gotta love those tight workout clothes, but you know what? I don't want to LOOK less fat because of what I'm wearing, or putting on a some spanx. I want to look less fat because I truly am less fat, you know what I'm saying!!!
• This was taken right after my SLOW BURN yoga class, and yeah it was hard. 
• 11:20 am

• Barely any visible difference in two days. 

•  Or is there? I think that MAYBE there is a little less bloating? What do you think?

•  Getting ready to go detox in the sauna, and hot tub, and steam room - my favorite.

• After the detox steam rooms, and after peeing, and after drinking LOTS of water, this was my weight. Obviously it's water weight, I'm sweating like crazy in there, but it's really good. All those toxins are just coming out through the sweat. Just make sure to stay hydrated. I drink LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of water. :)
• Undies and cell phone only

• Monday - Day 8/40
• 11:32 am
• With clothes on after yoga
• HELLO,,,, can you guys see this. WOW,,, what happened. Seriously 4 pounds in 2 days?
• Weekends have been challenging for me. 
• With everyone home, I've been having a hard time staying on SCHEDULE. 
• No gym, no yoga, no schedule. 
• Eating with the family, especially the hubby, does not help. 
• Plus I didn't drink any green tea over the weekend. 
• Plus I didn't eat early, within 30 minutes, and often enough. 
• So many things went wrong this weekend, and LOOK what happened. 

•  After sauna, undies and cell phone only.
• 11:52 am

• Wednesday - Day 10/40
• 9:55 am
• I got to the gym a couple minutes late today, and my yoga class was FULL. I couldn't go in. 
• I came unprepared to do anything else, I was only wearing my flip flops. Bo hoo.

•  Before sauna, undies and cell only.

•  So since I missed my workout, and was already at the gym, I decided to have a day of pampering. Most definitely not planned, but very much needed. It was GREAT!
• This was me before my facial :)

• After my facial :)
• I had a nice full body massage after this. 
• Then I went and got a mani/pedi. 
• A lovely day indeed!

• Thursday - Day 11/40
• 1:55 pm
• After HOT YOGA and sauna, undies and cell only.

• Friday - yesterday - Day 12/40
• I didn't weigh myself. I was in a rush after my yoga class to get to my hair appointment. 
• Got my bangs cut again, what do you think?
• Then I came home to some BEAUTIFUL flowers by the front door. 
• It was a LOVELY surprise from my hubby!

• Here are some final thoughts:
• Remember friends life is full of ups and downs, just like my weight has been.
• I know this past week hasn't gone as well as I had planned. 
• I know I need to do better, because I know I can.
• I still feel better, I still am proud of myself for trying. 
• I still have a LONG way to go. 
• I don't know if my tummy will ever be flat, even if I really HOPE it can be. 
• I Desperately want my back fat to disappear, but know it can't happen overnight. I accept that!
• As long as I keep at it, results will come. They have to!
• Life is beautiful, and I have so much to be thankful for. 
• If you made it to the end, WOW... I hope you've gotten a small peak into my life. 
• My struggles, my insecurities, and if they are your's too, then know you are not alone.
• I HOPE more than anything to reach my goal. 
• If I can inspire any of you to work towards your goals, then all this was worth it.

• Remember if you don't have anything NICE to say, PLEASE don't say anything at all. 
• If you want to leave me some words of ENCOURAGEMENT, thank you!!
• I truly hope you all have a wonderful day!
• Enjoy every last drop of it, for every moment is precious. 
• If you have been waiting to get healthy, I HOPE I've inspired you to do it NOW!

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