The truth is out there

There are good truths and not so good truths. My bad truths is my health but the good truth is that I can change that.   I can choose a new truth and make it mine and that is the beauty of it all.  KISS = Keep it simple silly:  Eat real food, move around, lift heavy things, and get a good night sleep. 

Here is another of my truths

It's not a pretty truth but it is my reality for right in this moment in time.  I know this can change but I've gotten close before and I now I can do this again.  Eat real food, move around, lift heavy and get a good night sleep.  This is my mantra, my chant, my new truth.

Here are my stats currently:

Height: 5'8 1/2

Current Weight: 260lbs

Shorts size pictured: 20

Tank top size: Old Navy XXL ( got to love their vanity sizing)

October 14th I'll be posting up another set up pictures and we'll see if my new truth is working.

Much love & bacon

Battling Gluten, NAFLD & Bacon Jam

Today was pretty productive though this past week was less so.  But I'm relaxing and enjoying the weekend while processing information from the specialist I saw yesterday regarding my liver.

I had found out a few months ago that I had Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Most likely from years of being obese and yo-yo dieting. The doctor said I'm on the cusp of having major damage and while it wouldn't necessary ruin my chances for weight loss surgery he wants to see some improvement before he is giving his blessing.  So my goal for the next six months is to lose at less 10% of my body weight so roughly 26lbs.  Its now not a matter of trying but now to actually do it.

I had five great gluten free days and then I gave in.  Tomorrow is Sunday so I'm making it a new start and kicking the gluten habit once and for all.  I also am trying to go low fructose to help my liver.


This morning my husband drove me and my nephew to this local place called The Enjoy Centre.

This place is massive with a Organic health food store, greenhouse, gift shops and bakery/cafe. I was pretty much able to find most everything on my grocery list including coconut aminos, maple sugar, veggies, and gluten free pies!!   I think this will be my new go to store instead of trekking southside to Planet Organic.

I then picked up happy eggs from my egg guy and some frozen grass fed ground beef from my new favourite butcher that is only three blocks from where I live.  No fresh grass fed beef but I was advised its coming so I'll be getting short ribs, a roast and bone broth bones.

Later this afternoon look at what I made 

This is bacon jam that I made from this cookbook

This was very easy to make though I recommend at least doubling up on the recipe.  I was able to get about 500ML of jam out of the posted recipe.   I'll be using the jam on eggs, burgers, etc.  I'll be making a lot for holiday gifts this winter too :) 

Much love & Bacon

Making Pancakes

I LOVE pancakes!! Unfortunately conventional pancakes are very hard on my stomach and while the gluten free mixes are tolerable they are quite dry.

Today on Facebook The Civilized Caveman posted a grain free, VERY simple pancake and I'm please to say they are super tasty and even my dh loved them.

Without further ado              

Paleo Pancakes

3 bananas

3 eggs

1/2 cup of Nut Butter ( I used Maranatha Roasted Almond Butter)

2 teaspoons Cinnamon

1. Preheat a skillet to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
2. Combine all of your ingredients in your blender or food processor and mix well until you have a batter
3. Grease your skillet with coconut oil and pour your batter making 3-4 inch pancakes
4. Cook 2-3 minutes per side and then flip for 2-3 minutes
5. Serve topped with some grass-fed butter or topping of your choice
6. Enjoy

 I have enough leftover for tomorrows breakfast and I bet this would be outstanding with breakfast sausage or bacon too. 

 Props out to the Civilized Caveman for making it easier to have pancakes now with the rest of the house!!!  

Also, this morning we visited a small manmade lake in Edmonton.  I saw LOTS of ducks too :) 

The baby ducks were the cutest too!!   Afterward we came home and I prepped my meals for next week.  I hard boiled free range eggs, made four Scotch Eggs and sauteed these flat beans in my favorite butter.

I'll have the beans this week with leftover Butter Chicken, DELISH!!!

Much Love & Happiness!!

Do Over

Hurrah!!

My blog has gone through the final stage of re-vamp and I'm happy to Announce the new name and url address

Finding your Primal Bliss!!!

There has been a 180 shift of my way of thinking and with my gluten sensitivities ( which I found out is a family issue)  I've been look more and more toward a primal/paleo life shift.

Right now I'm reading

Because I'm more of a Fantasy reader I've made myself a deal.  Two chapters of The Primal Blueprint and then two chapters of whatever I want to read.  So far it's a pretty good read and I'm learning a lot about fat and its role.

I also have these books on my kindle that are well worth the read in my opinion

I really recommend It Starts with food. I think its a very great starting point for anyone in this eating shift.

Right now I'm not 100% gluten free but I'm getting better and being more aware of what and how much I'm consuming.  Right now I'm hovering around 80% gluten free.  This has also made it easier to pinpoint when I feel lousy and hour or so after eating and ugh! that gluten bloat.

I'm eating more vegetables and lots and lots of lovely eggs.  I don't have to shy away from bacon and I find the taste of grassfed meats and full fat butter divine :) Right now as I am unable to buy butter from grassfed cows here in Canada I'm able to find a 83% fat butter imported from Poland at our local Italian grocery.


Today I'm doing 6 10 minute walk/jogs on the treadmill.  I find myself getting bored quickly on when I walk indoors so I think breaking it up during the day will be easier.  I have my podcasts and currently I'm listing to this one

While Paleo view is more parent oriented I really enjoy it.

Much Love & Happiness :)

What I've been up to lately

I've been busy with work and dealing with dh's health issues and now in the beginning stages of the house we live in being renovated.  I'm also planning a trip to Portland, Oregon in October to see family which while is a good thing is lots of planning in a short period of time.

I was also accepted into our areas weight management program called Weight Wise. I had decided to become more pro-active and asked my GP to send in a referral.   I had my first appointment on July 29th after  five months wait.

So far I've seen an RN, Dietician and Psychologist.  Monday I see a internist and later I have a appointment with a sleep doctor for my sleep apnea. 

And yes, I decided to have weight loss surgery.   Now I know it seems like a cop out but trust me it's not. I've never had surgery in my life and I'm deathly afraid but here are my reasons for my decision:

• I've been obese for over 23 years 
• I recently found out a cousin who was three years younger than me passed away for weight related issues. I have some of those same issues
• My dh has serious health issues and if they get worse I'll be his primary caregive and I want to be in the best possible health I can be
• I want to run and run  without my belly flapping like a penguin clapping.   I'm sure I'm the only one that hears it but still Bah!

It will take up to two years before I'd have the surgery due to wait times but in the meantime I need to lose at least 10% of my body weight so approximately 27lbs.

I have my weight loss binder done up with all my paperwork and whatnot and on payday I'm once again taking body shots to keep track and I'll chart my measurements also.

I continue to try and be gluten free and I'm striving for a Primal/Paleo lifestyle.  I want to try CrossFit, run more, go back to yoga class and be the inner me that wants out so badly.

And look at this :)

This is me today on the almost TARDIS blue track.  I'm going again tomorrow and I plan to go every weekend that I'm able too.

I got this!!!

Long Weekends are for what?

     I have a four day weekend and while part of it will be enjoying outdoors, take a yoga close and trying to clear my body of a bad case of bronchitis, a big chunk will be choosing a domain and host for this blog and exporting it all to a wordpress blog.
   
     So here is my weekend "battleplan"

     Friday:

• Have breakfast with the other half 
• Buy humane mousetraps (my cats are pretty lazy)
• Take my nephew to the movies
• Think of a awesome domain name that sums up the direction the blog is going
• Shop for dinner and get ready for the Farmers Market tomorrow (make a shopping list)

Saturday:

• AM Yoga  - Consisting of 6 reps of sun salutations and 10 minutes of meditation
• Farmers Market
•  Nap
• Clearing up my hard drive and finding a host for the blog
• Lunch
• 10 minutes of quiet reflection/meditation
• Getting my bike out of the garage and prepping it for the summer and to sell.  

Sunday:

• Light breakast
• Yoga at 11:30
• Work on the blog
• Nap ( I do love my naps)

Monday I'm undecided but I know it will consist of doing some AM yoga, working on poses and finding a good restorative sequence to do before bed.


Namaste

For Realz

I've not been doing to bad. I haven't blogged lately though as my husband had to have surgery twice for having carpal tunnel in both wrist.  Since my last post and now I've found out some things about myself and I have decided to start blogging again in earnest.

First discovery:  My body can be pushed beyond certain limits and survive, even thrive.  I've starting going to a personal trainer once a week and he has made me realize that I am more capable to doing more than I had allowed myself. 

Second discovery: Yoga isn't just some excuse to prance around in lululemon all the time.  I've only gone twice but I'm seriously hooked.  I practice asana's almost everyday at home and I've found that even five minutes of meditation a day is helping me immensely. 

Third discovery: Gluten hates me.   I've still been eating things with gluten but I've become more aware of how much I'm eating and try and eat less.   I'm still having digestive issues but I am hoping eventually I'll be mostly gluten free.  I'm not celiac but there is a suspect that I may have a intolerance there.



Much Love & Namaste