Back to Basics with Eating

I wanted a "fancy" drink tonight, but alcohol does not make me feel good. Even after just one drink I will have a terrible headache the next day. I didn't drink alcohol for nearly 14 years. Anyway, I made me a fancy drink with things I had at the house:) and it is delicious!!!

The food is air fried chicken with katsu sauce and macaroni salad. This is out of Danielle Walker's Against All Grain cookbook Make It Easy. Both are gluten and dairy free in the cookbook, however, I added cheese to the macaroni salad. She didn't air fry the chicken, but I decided too :)

It's been almost 1 month since I took a GLP-1 shot.

My weight is holding steady and Im okay with that.

I am still doing Intermittent Fasting, but I know my body is healing from me putting chemicals and drugs in my body.

Many don't lose weight in their first 28 days of Intermittent Fasting, I keep reminding myself of that.

I am keeping a 4-5 hour eating window during the week. The weekends might be a little longer, especially when my husband is home.

I am beginning to crave vegetables.

I am not craving sweets or fried foods.

These are things I consider wins, along with no weight gain and my portion sizes are still relatively small.

What is stopping you from doing Intermittent Fasting?

It's not a diet.

It's a lifestyle.

I saw this on Holly Thompson's page and loved it!

Quick quote: Believe in yourself… Take small steps… and don’t you give up! ….You got this!

This is such a great quote for anything in life.

If you are trying to start living a healthier lifestyle though:

- BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

- TAKE SMALL STEPS

- DON'T GIVE UP

- YOU GOT THIS

Send a message to learn more

Happy Spring!!!

My goal over the next few months is to use this page more and more. I am back on my weight loss journey and am feeling good about it.

In October, I was a minion for Halloween...and finding overalls to fit me was a lot harder than I expected. I hated the way I was feeling. I had stopped going to the gym (I hadn't been seeing any results). I was trying to reign in my portion sizes and food choices - but that food noise is SO LOUD.

A friend came to visit me at work. She looked amazing. I had seen her struggle with her weight. She told me she had been doing the GLP-1 shots.

Another friend made a post that she had decided to take GLP-1's when she suddenly was gaining weight and even though she is a fitness trainer, she couldn't get the weight off.

A new clinic opened (Better You Weight Loss & Wellness ) in town and advertise the lowest prices for GLP-1's.

I felt like I was getting all of these little signs.

I finally decided to go to the clinic and check it out.

When I first went I was over 200lbs (not ready to give my actual weight :)) I started on Tirzepatide. I had friends I saw weekly that also started around the same time and on the same GLP-1. Within the first month, I might have lost 5lbs - they lost 10-15. By the end of the second month (between Christmas and New Years), I was still at 5ish and they were over 20lbs lost.

I felt defeated. This was supposed to the be one that worked. I went back for my refills and decided to switch to Semaglutide. Because we started on the lowest dose, I was expecting to lose nothing. When I went back for my refill, I went up in dosage. I lost 5-7 lbs in the first 3 months.

This last month - I finally hit 20lbs LOST and then some :) I feel amazing.

Sometime over the last few weeks, I decided to go back to intermittent fasting. I knew my tops were getting smaller anyway. I was eating when I was hungry - but I would drink water with flavorings in it. All I had to do was switch to plain water. I did start off with a 16 hour fast and an 8 hour eating window. I quickly moved to a 19 hour fast and a 5 hour window.

I still have a long way to go, but I measure myself the 1st of each month. I weigh myself almost daily - only because I like to see where I'm at. The numbers don't bother me as far as "diet brain" and having to change things. I can see the trends. If my weight goes up or stays the same, I think about what I ate in the last 24-48 hours and where I'm at with my cycle.

Yesterday, I felt like my sweatshirt was big ALL DAY LONG. When I got home I decided to try on a smaller t-shirt. I put on a couple different larges... yes large tshirts (for the past year I have been all the way to a 2XL)... I even put on LARGE leggings today.

While the GLP-1 is helping with the weight loss, the intermittent fasting is helping with the inflammation and the body recomposition.

I have hope again that I can be where I was just a few short years ago. I'm ready to do this - are you?

If you want to talk about GLP-1's or Intermittent Fasting, please reach out to me. I am not a licensed physician, but maybe I can help by supporting you in your journey.

I'm so thankful I have found this chicken broth! No crazy ingredients!

Today I made Trim Healthy Mama chicken and dumplings and Instant Pot sweet potato and black bean chili. I was already fasting again by the time both were finished, but I can't wait to eat some tomorrow

If you've followed me any amount of time, you know I'm a huge fan of Danielle Walker's and her amazing recipes! In February I pre-ordered her newest cookbook , it arrived in September and I finally had a chance to try one of the recipes!!! I even had enough to freeze and for lunch this week!

If you have celiac, are gluten and/or dairy sensitive, I HIGHLY recommend her cookbooks!

I found dairy free/gluten free gnocchi at TJ Maxx... it's delicious!

I realized last night I have a couple of things coming up in the next 6 months - I don't want to feel and look like I do for these events.

The first event is my 25th High School Class Reunion - which is just over a month ago... I definitely won't be where I want to be, but I can at least feel better in my body by the time it comes around.

Another is Thanksgiving - can I just say one word - PICTURES. I used to love being in front of the camera, now I hate it....

Another is April 2025 for a reunion of sorts. By the time it rolls around, I'm hoping to be down in weight and especially clothes sizes.

So last night I reached out to a friend (hopefully I'll get to see her in April) to help hold me accountable. This morning, I still had 3 hours until I opened my eating window when I sent her a text and she told me to distract myself with a task. I attempted to get busy at work - my mind going a million different directions, but I drank plain water and now I've made it to my window.... :)

Seriously find your friends who understand what you're going through and will hold you accountable.

Send a message to learn more

Have you heard of these acai bowls?

A few weeks ago I was having breakfast with a couple of friends at a local coffee shop. I had realized earlier that week, that I really needed to stay away from dairy and gluten. So I searched the menu ahead of time, researched what acai was and what would be in a bowl.

When I arrived at the coffee shop, I asked again what was in the acai bowls (you can't be too careful). I truly was expecting yogurt of some kind - but there isn't. I did swap out the nutella for peanut butter. It was delicious!!!

I decided to make my own at home. They sell these acai berry packets in the frozen section at the store. Then I also purchased a package of frozen strawberries and bananas, fresh blueberries, strawberries, bananas, and granola - that was gluten free :)

I had almond milk, honey, and almond butter at home already.

I made one batch of foundation of acai berry puree and split it into two bowls. I went ahead that night and made one bowl for myself. I added the fresh blueberries, strawberries, banana, honey and granola on top - DELICIOUS!!!

I used the second bowl this morning - I had left it in the freezer. Last night I added the almond butter in a layer on top of the acai berry puree and put it back in the freezer. This morning I added the blueberries and strawberries on top and brought it to work and put it in the fridge - I needed it to partially thaw so I could eat it. When I was ready I added the banana, granola and honey!

Seriously, if you're looking for a healthy snack/breakfast/ or even lunch - try making these on your own. Obviously there is some prep work involved, but it's not terrible and it will make life easier.

I posted some pictures with this post - and honestly, I got most of my groceries at Publix using their BOGO, but only purchasing one of the item - the granola was one of those items.