Dinner

I made a Blueberry protein smoothie for dinner
3 ice cubes
1 scoop vanilla protein powder
3 tbsps oats
1 tbsp almond butter
1/4 cup blueberries
1 cup milk or nondairy beverage

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Also i drank about 18 oz of water.

food and exercise

I woke up this afternoon and my mom wanted to take me shopping and go out for lunch at a Thai restaurant. I ordered the special orange chicken that came with white rice and a fresh side salad and 18 oz water.

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I did lots of walking around town stopping at a soda fountain and there I had a strawberry diet coke phosphate and a pinapple sprite phosphate.

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Then I did some grocery shopping and went to my mother's house to get spices and pick plums and grapes from her garden. I ate probably 3 or 4 plums, a bunch of grapes and 1/2 lb of queso fresco. And now I am drinking about 18 oz of water.

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Thursday Cheat Day!

I decided to make Thursday my official cheat and relax day.

For breakfast I had 2 cups of coffee with cream and real sugar.
and the left over vegan casserole.

For lunch I had a hamburger
1 bun
mayo
tomato
pickles

for a snack I had a tomato and pickle sandwich
bread
mayo
tomato
pickle

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For dinner I went to McDonald's and got
2 cheesburgers
1 McChicken
1 large fry
and 1 large sweet tea

I drank probably about 36 oz of water today

Work Out plus Lunch

I had 2 cups of coffee with cream and splenda at the gym today

and probably about 18 oz of water or more

then I started my work out

1 minute pounding on the eliptical max force

lat pull 10 reps 85 lbs

tricep pull down 10 reps 65 lbs

shoulder warm ups 5 lbs 10 reps

bench
first set 115 lbs 10 reps
second set 125 lbs 10 reps
third set 130 lbs 10 reps 

hammer rows
first set 115 lbs 10 reps
second set  125 lbs 10 reps
third set 135 lbs 10 reps

ball squats 30 reps

For lunch I am eating left over vegan casserole and a bowl of 1 can tuna with a couple tsps of mayonnaise, pepper and a few drops of liquid smoke.

Breakfast

18 oz water

2 cups coffee with cream and stevia

Steak and Potato Hash with and Egg
1 cube steak
1 small onion
3 cloves garlic
1 small bell pepper
2 small potatoes
Cajun seasoning
pepper
garlic powder
chili flakes
1 egg

Exercise + Food + Mental Health

Yesterday morning I walked for about 2 hours to the store and back to go shopping.

At group we started a new topic about identifying a relapse in illness and how to stop it.

The foods I ate yesterday were

18 oz. water

Hamburger
1 bun
mayo
pickles

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apple and peanut butter

tomato and pickle sandwich
2 slices bread
mayo
1 tomato
pickles

(given to me at group)
a small handful of ranch corn nuts
and 2 squares of hersheys cookies and cream bar

Lunch

18 oz unsweetened grape juice

2 cups unsweetened green tea

 18 oz. water

Vegan potato, black bean, and quinoa manwich casserole
3 medium red potatoes
1 medium zucchini or yellow squash
1 medium onion
1 small bell pepper
2 cloves garlic
1 can low sodium black beans
1 can manwich sauce
cumin
garlic powder
red pepper flakes
sea salt
pepper
3 tbsp coconut oil
1/4 cup dry quinoa
top with hemp seeds and rolled oats or barely flakes
drizzle with your favorite vegan steak sauce

Note: If you are a meat eater and trying to up your protein try adding either ground browned 1 lb. of turkey or beef to the casserole.

Probiotics and Natto

I have been wanting to experiment making my own probiotics due to the rising cost of store bought probiotic foods and my probiotic pickles went so well I want to try making other probiotic foods. I am investing in a yogurt machine next month.

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I just stumbled on this video that tells you how to make natto. I think I also want to try to make natto by cooking the soybeans in my pressure cooker and then using the yogurt machine to culture the beans. I need to find some natto to inoculate the beans with which means I will probably have to wait until the next time I can make it to the Asian import store in Medford being that there are no local Asian import stores.

Daily Calorie Range

Just calculated my daily calorie range using this calorie calculator. At my current fitness level as long as I stay 3,000 calories a day or less I should lose weight.

Brunch

2 cups  coffee with cream and stevia

Burger with Pickles
1 frozen beef patty cooked with garlic powder, ginger powder, sea salt and pepper
1 hamburger bun
mayonaise
probiotic pickles

Midnight Munchies

I got the late night munchies and decided to doctor up a pizza I had in the freezer for a tasty meal.

Steak Flat Bread Pizza

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1 flat bread pizza
1 small green bell pepper
1/2 a medium red onion
1 tomato
1 beef cube steak
sea salt
garlic powder
Italian herb seasoning

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18 oz 100% pure unsweetened grape juice

Work out + Snacks

After dinner I had two pieces of whole wheat bread with margarine and pickles and about 2 tbsp. pickled ginger and a few cherry tomatoes.

Then I did some heavy lifting for about 20 minutes, carrying the fall and winter clothes up stairs and taking out the garbage to the dumpster across the street.

Now I am unwinding with 18 oz. of Stash Christmas Eve tea sweetened with stevia.

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Dinner And Snacks

I had a yummy BBQ for dinner tonight!

Dijon Grilled Salmon and Veggies Foil Pack
Salmon Steak
1 large yellow squash
1 medium red onion
fresh green beans
4 cloves garlic
4 tbsp dijon mustard
2 tbsp chopped parsley
4 tsps lime juice
3 tbsp butter or heart healthy margarine
sea salt and pepper

Grilled Corn on the Cob
 2 tbsp butter or heart healthy margarine
 sea salt and pepper

For snacks I had another cheat from my neighbor who always tempts me with sweets. I had a chocolate frosted brownie.

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I also drank 18 oz of grape juice and 18 oz of water.

Breakfast + Work Out + Snacks

Pickle and Tomato Sandwich
2 slices whole wheat bread
1 tomato
bread and butter pickles
mayonaise

2 cups coffee with cream

2 servings tortilla chips with pico de gallo

30 minutes lifting, hauling and organizing heavy sterilite tubs and vacuum seal bags full of fall and winter clothes and shoes. 

Lunch plus 10 minute ab work out

For lunch I had another tomato and pickle sandwich on whole wheat bread with mayonnaise and 18 oz of pacific vanilla rice milk.

after lunch I did this awesome and fun 10 minute ab work out

Breakfast/Dinner Meal IDK plus snacks

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1 cup unsweetened yogi green tea

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1 cup unsweetened Tazo green tea

A tomato and pickle sandwich
2 slices whole wheat bread
mayonaise
1 tomato
bread and butter pickles


 16 oz 100% unsweetened concord grape juice

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1 pluot

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1 small cucumber with celtic sea salt

Snacks, Work Out and Lunch

I snacked on about 3 servings of Triscuits with Salsa Verde.

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And cheated with one frosted sugar cookie the neighbor gave me and a cup of coffee with cream and stevia. 

I went for about 45 minute walk on a nature trail and then fell asleep.

When I woke up I ate a bowl full of the left over vegan curry and drank two cups of coffee with cream.

Breakfast Log

1 cup of coffee with cream and stevia

Tomato Sandwich
2 slices whole wheat bread
mayonnaise
1 tomato

16 oz 100% concord grape juice

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Fun Fact! For people on a Mediterranean diet that can not consume alcohol just sip a glass of concord grape juice, it has the same heart health benefits. Just make sure it is 100 % pure unsweetened juice.

Lunch, Snacks, And Dinner

1 chocolate peanut butter protein bar

a bowl of macaroni salad

1 slice of whole wheat toast with heart healthy margarine

2 cups coffee with creamer

3 salmon tacos with pico de gallo and salsa verde

1 small plate of probiotic pickles

4 lbs of cucumbers
2 red onions
6 cloves of garlic
1 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp celery seeds
3 tbsp tumeric powder
3 tbsp celtic sea salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
about 32 oz. apple cider vinegar

Breakfast, Snacks, And Beverages. Oh My!

a small plate of probiotic pickles

1 bowl of left over curry noodles

18 oz roasted green tea

1 cup coffee with cream and stevia

2 eggs with Cajun seasoning cooked in heart healthy margarine
2 slices whole wheat toast buttered with heart healthy margarine
a small bunch of green grapes

 

Work Out + Snacks

So before my work out i ended up drinking the last cup of coffee in the pot with cream and splenda and one cup of black tea with cream and splenda. I went to the gym again which is about a 45 minute walk all together and then I took the same Aqua Fitness water aerobic class again for 45 minutes once more. After class the instructor gave me 2 more cucumbers. For my post work out snack I am eating a bowl of the left over macaroni salad and an apple with 18 oz of water. The work out was great today I am already feeling like my old self in the water again, can't wait until i feel like my old self upstairs with the iron.

Breakfast + Snacks Log

I slept in majorly last night because i had to take benadryl for an allergic reaction to something on my skin. The benadryl made the rash go away but now it is back. I don't know what it is. The only thing I can think it would be is the Dawn dish soap that soaked through my pants or the fabric softener the pants were washed with.

I had the last few slices of cheese bread last night as a snack with a handful of green grapes. This morning I had 2 bowls full of that yummy curry i made last night and now I am drinking a delicious cup of brown sugar donut coffee with cream and stevia. When I get to the gym i might have one to two more cups of coffee with cream and splenda.

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Work Out

I did this 30 minute yoga exercise video for strength and flexibility. it was fun but a little challenging. and the dog in the video is super cute. now i am cooling down with some 18 oz of water.

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Dinner + Snack + Mental Health

Every Tuesday I go to a peer support group that teaches you how to live with mental illness and it is also a great social get together. Today we were learning about different types of commonly prescribed medications to treat mental illness. At the meeting I drank 2 cups of unsweetened green tea.

After the meeting I decided to taste test my fermenting pickles, and yep they are definitely getting cultured. They should be done on Thursday and be ready to go in the fridge and give to family. This is what they look like so far.

For dinner tonight I decided to go vegan and made a vegan spicy noodle curry  and I drank 2 cups 100% unsweetened concord grape juice.

1 cup mushrooms
1 zucchini
1 ear corn
2 medium carrots
1 small onion
3 cloves garlic
2 tbsp coconut oil
1/4 cup curry powder
Indian Black Salt
1 can fire roasted tomatoes
2 cups vegetable broth
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 package brown rice noodles
garnish with garlic chili sauce and nuts

Night Time + Morning Log

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last night i had 2 cups of bigelow decaffeinated green tea. I also decided to start fermenting my pickles so they would have probiotics in them. this morning i am trying to wake up with some left over macaroni salad and 2 cups of coffee with stevia and cream.

Dinner Log

Oven Fries
1 large russet potato
1 tbsp coconut oil
celtic sea salt
garlic powder
pepper
paprika

Mushroom Gravy
3 cups mushrooms
2 tbsps butter
2 tbsps coconut oil
1/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour
2 cups vegetable broth
celtic sea salt
pepper
garlic powder
paprika
and a pinch of nutmeg

Steak
1 serving sirloin steak
beef bullion
garlic powder
pepper

Work Out Fun + Snacks!

I just love that post work out glow. for my work out today i walked to the gym for about 25 ish minutes and then did a 45 minute water aerobic class called aqua fitness. The instructor gave me some cucumbers from her garden that i am going to make more pickles with. On the way home i found a beautiful bird feather, maybe peacock?

once i got home I had a yummy little post work out snack.

Post Work Out Snack
6 triscuits
High Protein Macaroni Salad
18 oz. Water

Lunch Log

High Protein Macaroni Salad
1 cup dry whole wheat macaroni
1 cup shredded chicken breast
Optional: eggs and beans left over from breakfast tacos
1 can kidney beans
1 can green beans
1 jar pearl onions
2 cups mushrooms sauteed in butter with celtic sea salt
2 tbsp mayonnaise
1 tbsp grey poupon
1 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp tarragon
1/2 tsp white pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
garnish with paprika

Drinks 
18 oz. 100% unsweetend concord grape juice

Notes: 
The salad is perfect for a pre work out meal or serve on whole grain crackers for a post work out snack.

Breakfast Log + Important Notes

Egg and Bean Tacos
2 tsp heart healthy margarine
3 tortillas
2 eggs
Taco seasoning
1/2 can pork and beans
pico de gallo
salsa verde

Drinks
2 cups coffee with sugar free creamer
2 cups unsweetened green tea

Notes:
Find the ingredients for the pico de gallo and salsa verde here at last night's dinner log.
If you would like cooking instructions ask. I do not post them on the log in an effort to keep my blogs more clean and less boring.

Night Time log

I had a productive day today cleaning my closet and kitchen. I made lots of healthy meals and some tasty refrigerator pickles. Now it is time to relax with some decaf green tea, a heated massage pad, Pinterest and my Amazon fire tablet. Tomorrow i will be taking many bags of clothes to a consignment shop for in-store credit and cleaning.... The.... Kitchen.... AGAIN. 😭

Dinner Log

Salmon Tacos
2 tbsp grape seed oil
3 corn tortillas
1 can of salmon
low sodium taco seasoning

Mango and Nectarine Pico De Gallo
1 mango
1 nectarine
1 lb tomatoes
1 medium red onion
half a bulb of garlic
1 bunch cilantro
Himalayan pink sea salt
chili powder
cumin powder
coriander powder
garlic powder
red pepper flakes
oregano
black pepper
lime juice
chamoy sauce

Salsa Verde
2 lbs tomatillos
1 large yellow onion
1/2 bulb garlic
3 poblano peppers with seeds
cumin powder
coriander powder
garlic powder
oregano
black pepper
white pepper
hickory salt
2 tsps sugar
lime juice
red wine vinegar
a few drops of green food coloring
4 tbsp fresh chopped cilantro

Water
18 oz.

Lunch Log

Tuna Sandwich
2 slices whole wheat bread
1 can of tuna
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp pepper
2 tsp. mayonaise
1 roma tomato
basil leaves
red pepper flakes

Blueberry Protein Smoothie
3 ice cubes
1 tbsp chia seeds
1 scoop protein powder
1/4 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup milk or nondairy beverage

Water
18 oz.

Today's Work Out

I walked to the gym this afternoon with the intention of doing about 45 minutes of water aerobics. BUT the gym was closed when i got there because of the county fair so i have to wait until next week to use the gym. I did get a 45 minute long exhausting sweaty walk in the heat to the gym and back anyway.

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Breakfast and Morning Snacks Log

High Protein English Breakfast
2 slices of whole wheat toast buttered with canola harvest margarine
2 eggs fried in a tbsp of butter and seasoned with cajun seasoning
1/2 a can of pork and beans
1 roma tomato
1/2 a lb. of mushrooms sauteed in 1 tbsp butter with celtic sea salt.

Snacks
1 slice of cheese bread
1 cup of green grapes

Drinks
2 cups green tea unsweetened
2 cups coffee with cream and stevia

Introduction

Hello and welcome to my blog! I am a 5’9” Strong women on a mission to stay fit and healthy as much as possible. I like to powerlift, swim, hike, play basketball, beach volley ball, and tennis, off road biking, belly dancing, yoga and do intense aerobic exercise. I also have a culinary degree and would love to someday be a dietitian.

Besides my fit aspirations I am an artist, makeup artist, clothing and accessory designer, and gardener. I run a youtube channel in my free time.  And I love animals and wild life.

 

I have always been a healthy and active person until I was diagnosed with bipolar type 1 in 2009. I was in a hospital for a short time in which I gained 80 lbs. 

But after years of determination I managed to lose most of the fat and became the smallest dress size I have ever been in my adult life, a size 14. So from 2010 to 2016 I went from a size 28 all the way down to a size 14 a total loss of 7 dress sizes.

 Unfortunately in 2016 I got sick again and was put on a new medication that has made me gain over 70 lbs. since December 2016. Fortunately I am only a size 24 right now but I am at my heaviest I have ever been, 320 + lbs., and struggling to lose the weight again and battling high cholesterol and triglycerides. 

 I started a Mediterranean flexitarian diet at the beginning of 2018 in an effort to shed some weight and I plan to switch to a medication that does not cause weight gain in September so that I won’t gain any more weight. 

I want to be an inspiration to people again and help other people be healthy and happy; hopefully my blog can help inspire others on their fitness journey. Also I hope I can offer some good advice and diet tips for people finding their way to fitness. Please join me on my journey.