Don't Settle.

Hi Everyone! Sorry I haven't been posting lately. Life at home has been pretty busy trying to do some early spring cleaning and now the boys are sick with runny noses, and now I have the runny nose. great. So last week I lost 2.4lbs, it was expected because it was that time of the month and of course I bloat like a whale. Tomorrow is my next weigh in, I have a funny feeling that I haven't lost much this week. The last time I was on this diet my weight on the scale would stop for a couple of weeks and I would be losing inches, lets hope this is what is happening. Last week I weighed in at 163lbs this week according to my scale I am 161lbs. If I continue with this 2lbs a week I wont have my weight goal before my birthday.. But thats ok! I will probably be at my goal weight at the end of June or early July. just in time for bikini season! at least its going down and I am looking WAY better then I did last month. It's crazy to think I started the diet a month ago, a month seems so long ago but it hasn't felt like it.

Yesterday I had the weirdest dream that I cheated on the diet and was eating oatmeal cookies.. I probably got the cookies stuck in my head because I made some for Preston, and man did they smell good. It's hard to bake and not be able to taste if it tastes good or not, and it doesn't help that Preston didn't like them but my dad sure did! haha

I'm trying to be a little more active, I take the kids swimming, go to play centres where I climb the padded structures. I would like to go to the gym at least 2 times a week, its hard to carve a time for myself when I have the kids with me. It would be nice if I had a treadmill or something for when the kids are napping then I have the time to do it.

Is it just me or is daylight saving time kicking my butt? ughh! I don't want to wake up in the morning anymore, and I don't want to go to bed at night

So anyways I hope everyone is staying on track! Easter is coming soon, so start planning ahead to be successful in not cheating their diets!

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." - Eleanor Roosevelt

You must be wondering why I chose a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt to be my headline for this post. This post is about the pessimistic people you may have in your life or around you, who can't seem to understand why you feel like you need a lifestyle change.

Pes-si-mis-tic
pessimism
-n

1. the tendency to expect the worst and see the worst in all things
2. the doctrine of the ultimate triumph of evil over good
3. the doctrine that this world is corrupt and that man's sojourn in it is a preparation for some other existence

My need to post about this is because I have just experienced negative feed back about my weight loss so far. Wouldn't you know it " the ghost of a boy (with a 6pack) from a Fat girls past" had to step in for some more emotional torture. did I mention he is now a nutritionist? not that I am claiming to be a doctor or a nutritionist but I don't see any problems with the Ideal Protein Method. If you have been on the diet before you would know all about the science behind the diet from your consultations, if you haven't then let me give you an idea. Ideal Protein is a medically designed weight loss method. Ideal Protein is just simply food, it is safe for everyone I give my little guy the snacks all the time it is way better then giving him cookies or chocolate and he is getting his limit of protein, which is essential seems though everything about the human body is made of protein (hair, nails, organs, skin). All we use it for is a tool for weight loss in order to get our minimum amount of protein your body needs (calculated by your lean body mass) in low calories. On this diet we force our body into a natural state called Ketosis. Ketosis is when the body uses its fat storages for energy. So because we are not eating as many carbohydrates that our body usually burn first, your body will naturally go to your muscle for energy, but because we are eating the minimum amount of protein we need for our lean mass we are protecting the muscle so the body has nothing else but to go to our fat. (which is what we want to lose; fat) muscle is our little engines that help burn fat.

Now that I gave a little info on the diet let me get back to the pessimistic nutritionist. He told me what I am doing is unhealthy. What is so unhealthy about someone eating protein and veggies? how is this different then someone just cutting out carbs and eating protein and veggies? the only difference is that I am able to have 3 out of 4 proteins per day under 100 cal which gives me an upper hand of losing the weight faster. I am not injecting myself with hormones, or popping pills I am simply eating food. He claims that I will gain all of my weight back and more when I am done this diet... true and false... I will gain all my weight back ONLY if I go back to the way I was eating before with McDonalds, Tim Hortons, Chocolate bars, Pop, Chips. not saying that I wont have something once and awhile. but Ideal Protein gives us the tools to be long term successful.. only if we choose to listen and follow the maintenance. The false part how ever; because we are protecting the muscle (unlike other diets) we wont gain the "and some" so quickly if we go back to old habits. remember when I said that muscle is our little engines that help burn fat? well if you made it to your weight loss goal and gave your pancreas enough time to reset and introduce your carbs slowly and in the right food combinations your muscles will help burn any excess insulin your body produces. You don't gain all of your weight back because the diet failed you. You gain it all back because you failed the diet.

A diet is not a Vaccine against Obesity, and I wish that the pessimistic people would do a little research on this diet before shooting out hurtful and negative things when they don't understand the science. So as my good friend Eleanor Roosevelt said "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." I am not going to let anyone come in between me and my success. It is hard enough to stick to a diet while the world around you is in a candy land we don't need any more negative vibes.

Dinner ideas

Hi everyone! So I have lost 5lbs this week! Yup I have lost a total of 14lbs in 2 weeks!! Eeeee!!!! I don't think you can lose it any faster! I am feeling less bloated, my pants are fitting better my shirts are fitting, I feel 100%. 

I wanted to share my dinner the I had tonight 

Homemade chicken soup with cauliflower and chicken! Drool and for yesterday's dinner I had Fries...

Rutabaga fries! They where so good almost like having a sweet potato fry. Mind you it wasn't easy to peel and cut a rutabaga it took maybe a half hour to finish making it. 

After my weigh-in I went to see my mom at work when she asked me what I got for food, I told her my choices for he week.. Cookie dough Bars, salt and vinegar chips, brownies, sour cream and onion puffs I couldn't help but laugh at the fact that it so does not sound like I'm on a diet! And to say I lost a total of 14lbs in 2 weeks puts the cherry on top. 

Today I took out some clothes that I used to fit into and hung it somewhere I can walk by everyday, just a little motivational push to let myself see where all my hard work is headed. 

I hope everyone is having as much success as I am! 

Temptations

Hi everyone I hope you have all been doing well with your weight loss. 

Last night we went to my parents house for dinner they made a turkey breast with mashed turnip, and mashed "potatoes" the reason why I put potatoes in air quotes is because it looked like potatoes and tasted like potatoes but it was in facted mashed cauliflower! It was so delicious! We boiled the cauliflower until it was soft to purée we added garlic salt and pepper and to top it all off... My mom made an Ideal Protein gravy! What?!! That's right gravy! She mixed an Ideal Protein Mash Potatoe with water and added some chicken stock! It was so tasty it fooled my hubby when he had his "mash potatoes and gravy" he thought it was real potatoe! Too funny!

Today I had a weak moment... I almost cheated (but I didn't) my mom made Preston some Banana Bread and made me take some home, so this morning for breakfast I sliced him a peice and buttered it up and of course he only eats less then half so I had a slice of banana bread sitting on a plate on my coffee table almost all day smelling oh soo good. Then I managed to throw it out and not eating it! What I did to ensure I didn't cheat I made my dinner for breakfast, eggs and some veggies it was just as good as banana bread. 

Has anyone tried the new chips?? They are like heaven in my mouth! It's like eating those crispy minis or popcorn triangles and it's like a miss Vickie's chip drool or how about those brownies?? Heat them up in the microwave it's like a fresh brownie from the pan! Who said dieting had to be boring and tasteless? 

Extra Extra Long Weekend

Hi everyone I hope you had a romantic Valentines Day and a Fun Family Fay! 

My grandmother came down on the weekend and my aunt and cousin came down for 3 days during the week. Let's just say being around family and having Valentines Day is a good test of will power! My grandmother bought the kids chocolate and of course Brayden is too young to eat chocolate and Preston is too young too have all of the chocolate so now there are 2 small chocolate bunnies burning a hole in my freezer. (It doesn't help that I know they are there) not only did she bring the chocolate bunnies she brought a homemade red velvet cake with homemade cream cheese icing.. Frig. But not only did I not eat any of it I managed to feed Preston a piece of cake 3 nights in a row. 

For family day my hubby managed to have a day off! So we took Preston to an indoor play park (where they had pizza, local ice cream, pop, chips etc.) let's just call it another will power test. After that we went bowling with my parents, my aunt and cousin. and here we go again... French fries, vending machines etc. etc. then we went out for dinner. The best part about the diet is that you can eat your own protein for dinner and unlimited lettus. We went to East Side Mario's, I ordered their Garden Salad with grilled chicken on top (drool) they make the best Garden Salad and you are allowed the dressing (Thank goodness) just say no when the offer cheese and bread. Another diet friendly meal you can order is Hells Kitchen Chicken, it's an 8oz chicken with a spicy tomato sauce with mushrooms and other mixed veggies with steamed veggies on the side! 

So all in all I managed to stay on track and had a great long weekend. I am down 8.4lbs this week :) and feeling great! 

Day 4

Good afternoon everyone!
I had a very energetic day today, I managed to clean the house for my company who is coming this weekend and next week! I did it all with the kids in the house!

I want to share my most favorite lunch of ALL time! My Pasta Salad using Ideal Protein Rotini.

drool

 This awesome meal helps get in your 2 cups of veggies. With its bright colours, it looks and smells like summer.
What I use is...

• Cucumber
• Coleslaw (pick out the carrots)
• Orange and Yellow Peppers
• a pinch of Club House Pasta Salad Mix
• and equal parts Oil and Vinegar

Now you can measure out your veggies to what you like. I love lots of cucumber, and less peppers.









My issue of today was being aware of a mindless habit. I made my son a Ham, Cheese and Mayo wrap, after I prepared his lunch and handed it to him I did the unthinkable! I licked my fingers... and the knife! I would have never noticed the thoughtless act if there wasn't MAYO on my finger or the knife I used to spread with. ARGHH! that is a little habit that I will have to learn to control. Hopefully this didn't kick me out of Ketosis too bad. I found myself hungry in between lunch and dinner, so I decided to do situps. Every time I think I am hungry I drink 8oz water (I try to in one shot) and if I get that little man dressed in red on my shoulder whispering just eat a piece, or just have it... I treat myself with a set of 20. So instead of snacking while I'm bored, I replace it with a fitness activity.

For dinner I made homemade Meatballs.

raw

 In my meatballs there is...

• Lean Ground Beef
• Lean Ground Pork
• Onions
• and Walden Farms Honey BBQ Sauce

If you are not familiar with Walden Farms, they are a 0 cal, 0 carb, 0 sugar condiment supply. They don't taste as great as regular sauces (due to sugar) but I like to cook with them as a flavor. Walden Farms has a pancake syrup, if you haven't had the Ideal Protein Pancakes because of the no sugar rule try it! It is by far the best tasting item Walden Farms sells! in my humble opinion 
 

cooking

 Too cook my Meatballs I simply threw them on a frying pan and cooked it with the hamburgers natural oils (why add more fat when you don't need to?)










  

done!

and Volia! 
With my side order of Baked Asparagus this meal is complete!




Asparagus: 400° for 20 min with a bit of oil, salt and pepper

Note: The thinner the BETTER! the ends crisp up and mmmmm its like an asparagus french fry!





I hope everyone had a great day today with their fitness goals, and found a fitness muse. For tomorrows homework find a positive distraction, like the one I made to replace my boredom munchies. Perhaps go for a run, or go for a drive, read a book, or blast some music and dance!

The immune system, all of your vital organs, your eyes, your nails, your hair, your skin and your muscles all are made of protein, therefore it is logical to consider the amount and quality of protein you consume each day.

Here we go, Today was my 3rd day on the Ideal Protein diet yess! why do I cheer you ask? Well if you are on protocol or have ever been on the diet, you would understand that the first 3 days are HARD!

note: It takes about 3 days for your body to use up all the carbs for energy before it moves to your muscle then fat. After today I will be in Ketosis

My food selection this week is Oatmeal (yum), Chocolate drink mix (yummier), and Rotini (drool) 
Oatmeal for breakfast and its my restricted. Rotini pasta salad for lunch, and chocolate drink for snack. I like to force myself to have the same foods everyday. I find if I have a big selection, I will pick all my favorites at the beginning of the week and fall off track because I would rather cheat then eat the food that isn't my favorite. So I'm sticking to what I love.. for now.

I am predicting 4 months for total weight loss, I need to lose 60lbs to reach my goal of 120lbs. It is mid February now. that means by my birthday in mid June I will be done my weight loss. that seems do-able.


Before 3 days ago, I tried to go on the diet about 5 times. After many successful 2 days into the diet it was either a huge migraine do to lack of carbs, or kids birthday parties, or some sort of outing I would indulge and cheat. What got me to commit this time was, well, a New Years Resolution and a photograph of myself. 

I saw out a fitness friend/partner. The two fitness people I admire the most is my brother and his girlfriend Vanessa (yes we share the same name) When they met in college my brother changed from the Judo muscled, juggernaut to.. that awful "o" word. College did the same to them as it did to me. But they both did a lifestyle change the hard way, with good ol' fashion diet and exercise. Their transformation and maintenance have been amazing for the past 4 years, so I have attached myself to their success and gave myself a fitness goal. Vanessa and I agreed to do a Mud Hero run together this coming August. If you have never heard of a mud run you must "google" it! it looks like hard work but lots of fun, and to be able to go with my brother and sister-in-law is the best part about it.

So your homework tomorrow is to get a fitness muse. Maybe a personal trainer, or a best friend, your husband or wife, or maybe even your diet coach. Share a fitness goal with someone who is already successful or as determined as you are so you know someone is expecting results from you.

My Weight Loss Experience Starts Today

Hi everyone, my name is Vanessa. I am a 22 year old, stay-at-home mom to two beautiful boys under the age of 2. I am sharing my Ideal Protein weight loss experience with everyone who wishes to read. So here it goes. My obnoxious short story of my weight problems. 

I am dare I say it Morbidly Obese. I am standing 4'11 or 4 foot nothing (as my hubby says) Weighing in at 178.4lbs. My Chest 42inch, Arms 14inch, Waist 39inch, Hips 46inch and Thighs 25.2 sigh so lets just say I am a walking pear. 
Now according to the World Wide Web I should be weighing in at 110-115lbs. So I will make my goal weight 120lbs.

Amazingly I wasn't always obese, never mind morbidly obese. It wasn't until the past 3 years I have been heavy. When I was 9, my older brother and I enrolled in Judo, wanting more then what the club in our small town had to offer we went club hunting for competition level training. Doing Judo 5 days a week looking for the perfect club you can imagine the shape I was in. Finding a club doing 

(that is me in the blue at a tournament)

Judo 3 days a week and tournaments every weekend, I was dedicated to my sport.

I managed to stay in the same weight category for a couple of years due to growing up and weight loss. After having to move up a weight category that is when people started telling me I should "cut" weight. Meaning move back down a weight class to be the best and heaviest in the division. BUT all I heard was you are too heavy for your height (because everyone I fought was a skyscraper and a bean pole next to me) not having only coaches tell me this but also boys in the Judo club, at the age of 14 being told your too heavy by a boy with a 6pack is not what any girl wants. ever. Being so young I took it as being called ... fat. 

After my brother left for college I saw no point for me to follow through with my training. I have already experienced Senior Nationals as a Junior and Junior Nationals and lost the Bronze. 

(my brother and I at his award show)

So when it was my turn for college I ate like all the other college students. Between Tim Horton bagels, Harvey's poutines, and Wednesday dates with friends at Wendy's I become heavy.


 


 My mother is a diet collector. She managed to go on every diet you can name. Because she always struggled with her weight as her mother did, and her mother before her. It is only fitting that I would too. Until my moms diet collecting friend found Ideal Protein, seeing the rapid weight loss we where eager to see if this diet works.

I lost 30lbs in 2 months! amazing right?! 
I was so happy to be back to myself. Except, I found out I was pregnant. Shocked and not ready to be a mom at 20 (I was the baby in the family) I had no idea how this could have happened when I was on the pill for the past 5 years. It wasn't until my mom dug deeper and found out that our "diet coach" neglected to tell us to take extra precautions, because the diet is known to make the pill ineffective due to the rapid fat loss. (Women have came out of menopause because of this diet!)

***To all the ladies who are on Ideal Protein & are NOT looking to be pregnant WRAP IT UP!
put two on just in case!
  

(Preston 5 days old)

10 months later Preston arrived, and I was right back where I started..30lbs over weight.

(Brayden 5 days, Preston 13 m)

 3 months later, I got pregnant again with my second child, Brayden. oh lord! what was I doing to myself?! I was already over weight after Preston gaining a healthy 30lbs. So now that Brayden is here, my weight is floating between 170-180lbs.




 SO that is what brought me to be morbidly obese, my quitting the only exercise I loved, my poor eating habits, and 2 pregnancies (with crazy cravings). 


I am sharing my experience because I want to show how easy it is to achieve your fitness goals. I hope you follow me through my experiences and are able to relate to my struggles and strengths.