Back in the Saddle!

Flashback almost 2 years ago when I began my healthy living journey! I started the end of May 2013.

Ending weight: 146.8lb 135lbs 132.6 129.4
Smallest part of waist: 29" 27.5" 27.5" 27" (total of 2")

Belly button: 36.5" 35" 34" 32.75" (total of 3.75")

2" below belly button: 37.5" 36" 35.5" 34.75" (total of 2.75")

Thigh: 25" 24" 23.5" 23" (total of 4")

Butt: 41" 39.5" 39" 38.5" (total of 2.5")

Chest: 34" 33" 33" 32.5 (total of 1.5")

Total weight loss to date: 17.4"

Total inches lost to date: 16"

My results were something to be proud of and I kept the weight off for over a year. Then I got comfortable and allowed little by little the bad food to creep back into my life. I began to forget what it felt like to be healthy, to have the crazy energy that I felt in 2013. I allowed the the little cheats here and there to turn into days of eating everything and anything that came into sight. I didn't feel good. I have learned over the last year to embrace who I am and to not be critical of the way I looked and I still live by the philosophy. But...I got tired of not feeling good. I got tired of my joints hurting, my neck feeling like a jumbled neck. I was tired of not having energy to play with my kids. I was just plain out TIRED!

So, we're back and better than ever because I have now seen first hand both sides of what eating healthy can do for you! So join my on my re-birth of health! This time around I am incorporating running, lifting, yoga, and quite possibly pole fitness! You'll never know what decides to pop up on these posts but I look forward to having you join me back on my journey TO HEALTH!

Weight: 146.8lb 142
Smallest part of waist: 29" 28"

Belly button: 36.5" 35

2" below belly button: 37.5" 36.25" 

Thigh: 25" 24.5"

Butt: 41" 41"

Chest: 34"36

Why Gluten free?

When asked about the meal plan we promote, the easy answer is we are similar to the paleo diet. So what is that you ask?

The Paleo diet is the diet of our ancestors. The Paleolithic era occurred during the period spanning from 10,000 to 2.5 million years ago. During that time we were hunter-gathers. Then things changed with the advent of the agricultural revolution.

Around 10,000 years ago grains were introduced into our diet. This has been a radical dietary shift for mankind. For 99% of our existence man has lived on a grain free diet. Therefore, grains are a “new food.” I believe that certain people, including myself are ill adapted to digest grains and that the consumption of grains can cause chronic “untreatable” health conditions.

Why? Grains contain certain antinutrients which prevent their absorption in the gut. The antinutrients in grains serve as an evolutionary strategy to protect the integrity of the grain so that it can survive. This same protection creates harm in the body of people such as myself. 

This is why I personally promote a gluten free diet. There is a majority of us that are gluten intolerant; however, we do not take the time to find this out for ourselves. When you remove this from your diet during the detox and reintroduce it, you will learn very quickly if you have an intolerance just like me! Fuel your body with what makes you feel good!!

Wheat is my trigger!

Many of the common foods we eat have negative effects on our body and we chalk it up as "normal." We get used to the reactions that our body may have to these certain foods and learn to deal with it. Did you know that foods you eat can cause drainage, stuffy nose, allergies, bloating, gas?

During the 28 day cleanse, you eliminate the top allergen foods as you're cleaning out your system. After the 28 days, you begin reintroducing the foods back into your diet and you will realize what foods your body doesn't like. Since my detox, I have re-introduced the foods back into my diet. Most I don't have an issue with but I have learned that I am one of the estimated 50% of the population that has some sort of intolerance to gluten! The following pictures were taken one day from each other, both in the evening:

Hmmm...can you guess which day I ate wheat?? I assure you, the above pictures are in no way altered; this is for real. Will I eliminate wheat completely? Probably not, but I will definitely minimize how much I eat it and will remember this when I have that next hot date!!