I started my journey of truly healthy eating In June 2023 and have lost 20 pounds! I did not use any drops, shots, drugs, weight loss programs, or special diets. I just ate natural food. I gave up processed food (anything from a package) including sugar and diet sodas.
Initially, I thought it would be very difficult. I soon came to realize it opened up a whole new lifestyle that included cooking and finding great recipes. My husband, Doug, was excited about this new lifestyle change as he watched the pounds fall off of me. We shopped at outdoor fresh produce markets on Saturday mornings. He enjoyed the new recipes provided support by cheering me on as I cooked new recipes. He gladly chopped, cleaned, and marveled over the meals I cooked, making the whole lifestyle change a fun experience.
I learned how to cook using herbs, spices, and the right oils. I used olive oil or avocado oil for butter, vegetable oil, or coconut oil. I used a natural sweetener, Stevia instead of sugar. I used maple syrup and honey sparingly to recipes. I replaced diet sodas with water, green tea, and coffee. I cooked multigrains- quinoa and brown rice instead of white rice and pasta. I cooked sweet potatoes and red potatoes instead of white potatoes. I made homemade salad dressing and bread. I ate bread sparingly, but Doug really enjoyed it!
By the end of the summer 2023, I had lost 10 pounds!
At the end of September 2023, we traveled in our Airstream on a cross country trip for 2 months and were enlightened at how much fresh produce was available as we traveled down the California coast. We bought so many different types of fruits and vegetables at the fresh markets and then researched the best way to prepare them. The adventure of cooking enhanced our trip! Snacks on the road included fruit and nuts.
fresh produce market
Mealtime in the Airstream
Exercise included biking the trails on our Pedego bikes that provided assistance on the steep mountains. Maintaining our healthy eating habits and biking while traveling kept the weight falling off.
By Christmas 2023, I had lost 16 pounds!
As winter set in, we began workouts at home, enjoyed spinning on our spin bikes, and continued our healthy eating regimen. Doug prepared amazing breakfasts every morning of fresh fruit and an egg omelet with tons of veggies. His cooking skills improved tremendously also.
We continued on our journey of exploring new recipes and set the table daily with tablecloths and fine china. Mealtimes were celebrated. We cut our meals to eating twice a day (morning and late afternoon).
With the arrival of spring, came fresh strawberries! I created new recipes for desserts that used whole grain flour for pie crusts, fresh fruit filling, and oatmeal crumble for the topping. I used no sugar and no butter. We started enjoying a slice of pie each day and I still continued to lose weight! I used other fresh fruits and combined them to create a wide selection of pies: apple/grape/pear, strawberry/blueberry, and strawberry rhubarb. I am currently looking forward to fresh peaches, blackberries, and cherries!
Some friends gave us unsweetened cocoa disks straight from Mexico. I learned to melt the cocoa disks slowly, mix with a natural sweetener, and pour half in silicone molds. I added a variety of roasted, chopped nuts, seeds, and dried fruits before topping with remaining cocoa to make a heavenly chocolate treat!
Did we ever have sugar or anything considered unhealthy? Absolutely! We enjoyed a slice of cake, ice cream, and sweet potato fries on special occasions. It is all about moderation. Eat to live and not live to eat! Enjoy occasional treats and savor the healthy lifestyle. Every two weeks or so, have a favorite treat, savor it, and go right back to healthy eating. Don't let food control your life. Weigh yourself regularly. Keep yourself accountable on a daily basis.
Doug making tamales for Christmas!
Here we are! One year later--I have lost 20 pounds (from 120 to 100)! I feel so much better and I am enjoying shopping for clothes again! Doug is so proud of my weight loss and our lifestyle changes. He lost some weight and feels better as well!
Make the choice to live a healthy lifestyle! Be excited about it and you will be on the road to being the best version of yourself! After all, don’t you deserve to be fit and wouldn’t your husband appreciate your efforts to be fit?
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