Spring is HERE!!!

Finally!!! The rain is NOT a constant thing anymore, but happens when it needs to! What beautiful days we've been having and it's WONDERFUL so we can go outside and enjoy the fresh air and get our movement on!!

It's been a crazy couple of months since I last wrote... I GOT ENGAGED!!!! WHAT??? That's right... he FINALLY put a ring on it! :) . So... I'm doing a marathon in December and getting married a few months after that!!!

So what does this all mean??? It means I HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO!!! It seems that I've been going up on the scale - my mind has NOT been focused - my exercise has been random at best - and I have noticed that I am tired way too often.  A couple of weeks ago, I did a 10K - Shamrockin' - and I came in DEAD LAST! I walked pretty much most of it. My body hurt. My feet were on fire. My body was telling me to GET THIS WEIGHT OFF SO I CAN BREATHE and FUNCTION...

I've been playing around with being plant-based, but not really taking it seriously. Well, I have to now. There is no other way really for me to get this weight off, fuel my body correctly, and be energized.  I did join Planet Fitness, which the plan is to go every day after I drop my son off at school and work out for at least an hour. On Mondays, I have Weight Watchers, then go work out. Thursdays - Aqua Zumba, then go work out. I have to take this to the point mentally, that if I DON'T eat this way, I will die.

In so many ways, I will. Or at least I'm slowly dying or killing myself with the choices that I'm making.

How can I support you in your journey, as I go on mine?

Leave a comment - let me know you're out there - let me know how I can support you.

End of the month....

I wrote at the beginning of the month as I started my plant based eating...

Well... I have done fairly well with the plant based eating... even though I had an out of state guest for almost 2 weeks wasn't helpful, but it wasn't as bad as it could have been.

I weigh in tomorrow morning and I'm looking forward to seeing how I've been doing... at last glance at the scale, I lost 2 pounds in one week and the other weeks, I was going by how my body was feeling. 

I have come across some amazing recipes that I was VERY surprised that were so delicious, I couldn't believe that they were vegan and tasted like meat products... WITHOUT the guilt of eating meat! WOW!!!

I encourage that each of you try to eat vegan for ONE WEEK...just ONE WEEK and see how your body responds.

For more resources on vegan eating or plant based eating... visit: www.forksoverknives.com or there are support groups on Facebook for vegan/plant based eating... check them out... get some recipes...take the first step and try for one week...

Let me know how that week goes for you... I'm curious!

Love and health...

Traycee

Plant Based Eating....

As I sit here at 2:15AM coughing up a lung, I am thinking about these past few days of me eating plant based foods. Do I see a difference? Do I FEEL a difference? Could this be something that I can actually follow through on and continue?  I don't see a significant difference - YET! I do FEEL a difference though... not so puffy or bloated in the morning, chronic lower back pain is easing up a little, my migraines are starting to ease up, just a little (I suffer from Complicated Complex Migraines and have them EVERY DAY), energy level is slightly improving, and I can see where eating this way is teaching me to prep and meal plan for the week.  This, I think, will be the hardest thing for me to do. I know I can do it, just getting in the habit of doing it and being committed to the process...

I made a black bean burger with romaine lettuce, vegan cheddar cheese (delish by the way), avocado spread on sprouted grain bread (toasted). Can I just say that IT WAS GOOOOOOOD!!! It was also very filling where I couldn't finish all of it! That's amazing to me!!!

So... here is my before picture as I start this journey...

I will try to update pictures every week, but maybe every 2 weeks to be able to see the transformation occur.

Please let me know how I can support YOU in YOUR journey to a healthier life - not just physically, but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. These aspects are just as important as the physical. 

Catching Up...

YES! It has been some time since I last posted! Funny how life tends to get in the way and sometimes things get re-prioritized.

As I close this year out, I look at the progress, lessons, and successes that have gone on this past year. I have lost 47 pounds, 30 inches, seeing my health change in the right direction, and learning how emotionally strong I am. See, this summer my family found out that my younger brother was diagnosed with large B cell lymphnoma. It had spread very quickly and was very aggressive. Through 6 round of chemo (5 days at 24/day, every 3 weeks), we are now going through the bone marrow transplant process - emotionally draining and praying heavily for a clean bill of health - SOON! 

With that, my father is progressing in the stages of Alzheimer's and seeing him struggle with confusion, forgetfulness, and feelings of despair breaks my heart.

As life throws curve balls your way, and it will, we all must remain focused on our goals. Mine is to get myself in the best physical health possible. I'm changing things up with the diet - I'm still doing Weight Watchers, but doing ALL PLANT BASED eating. So, pretty much going vegan. From the documentaries that I've been watching, testimonials, and data, I can't help but wonder if my health, sleep, energy improve going this route. I will be posting WEEKLY of recipes that I have tried and found great (I have an 8 year old boy to help be my taste tester), easy, and inexpensive to make. I will also post my progress with photos, measurements, and stats on energy and sleep changes.

ALSO,  I will be competing in my VERY FIRST MARATHON Dec. 8, 2019!!! That's right, CIM (California International Marathon) in Sacramento... I'm coming for YOU!!!

I would love to hear from you and if there is ANYTHING that I can do or post to help you in your journey, PLEASE TELL ME! I would love to go alongside you in your journey to better health!

Efforts paying off....

It just astonishes me to see efforts are FINALLY starting to pay off!!! It seems like it has taken FOREVER to see what -43 pounds and 30 inches looks like OFF my body...

No one said that it would be easy, but slowly and surely it does work. Of course I'm like everyone else that would love to see the results much FASTER and have the pounds come melting off my body! But, I do know that is not the safest or the healthiest way to go about it. But it sure does help when stepping on the scale to see the numbers drop to give that encouragement that we need to keep going and to keep pushing forward...

I am starting to feel better... did bloodwork again with my endocrinologist and ….. NO ADRENAL FATIGUE!!! WHOOT WHOOT!!!! YES!!! Efforts are paying off and seeing my health come back! This is the year of taking my life back, for the rest of my life! :)

What are some of the victories that you have seen that may have taken you awhile to get to?  Share with me...

Update....since it's been awhile

Hello my people!

Yes, it has been a little over a month since I last wrote. LIFE has been a little busy!

My son has had numerous sports camps to attend, I'm working out at a Fit Body Bootcamp gym along with a personal trainer, and just found out last month my younger brother has lymphnoma. He was diagnosed the day after my family went to visit for a week. My parents will be going back in a week to help take care of his kids while he goes through chemo.

My health journey is getting back on track. With Weight Watchers, I've lost 15 pounds since Feb. 12th, but overall,  I've lost 37.2 and 28 inches. It's coming, but of course, I don't feel it's coming off fast enough. I do have to remind myself that I have to have patience and to trust the process.... I was just hoping that the process would have dropped a good amount of weight by now. UGH! The frustration of it all.  But I know that it will come and to keep going.

I have also decided to become a pescatarian. It's a vegetarian, but not getting rid of fish/seafood. I CANNOT give up my seafood - NOPE! Not gonna do it! LOL

I'll let y'all know how that goes in my next post...

Leave a comment to let me know you are reading and what you feel/think of the content...

Progress....

Well, since my last post, I have hired a personal trainer. It has been great, as she is helping me work on TOTAL body muscle groups and building strength in my core, arms, and legs. I have also noticed that I have better balance, since starting in mid-May.

I'm getting a better handle on my nutrition, as I was VERY off last week. This week is much better and I hope to see a loss at the scale on Tues.

I'm seeing that my clothes are fitting a little better, a little bit saggy skin (I know, I have a lot left to go and lose), but that will come.

What we do today will affect how we feel and be tomorrow.  What I'm doing today will carry me into my future... more healthy, clear thinking, more energy, more confidence, and most of all... LIFE with my son.

Take notice of how you are doing - take measurements, notice how your clothes fit, how people respond to you as you get healthy, take notice of how you start feeling about yourself, and how you see yourself.

Progress...Not perfection.