Hitting the wall

So many times I diet and do well for a week or two or even three......I thought if I went Gluten Free this would surely help me to lose some weight a bit faster without the wheat.  Obviously this is not true.   I am stalled...I don't like it and I need to figure out what I can do to get the scale moving back in a downward trend.   I need to stop the picking here and there....I know that the fact that brownies are made gluten free doesn't mean they are healthy for me.   I sometimes hate that I LOVE FOOD!!   I love the way it tastes (if it's good), I love the way it feels in my mouth, and the tastes of things coming together to form and explosion of flavor that satisfies me to the tips of my sparkly painted toes!!    UGH....frustrating to say the least.   It's time to knuckle down and figure it out once and for all....I can't keep doing this to myself.   Time to cut everything I make in half and live through the hunger.   Water, water, water.....need to drink my water as well.  

Okay enough of my whining....time to pull up the bootstraps and move forward like I tell everyone else.   No more messing around.  I have fought counting calories for a long time and I have been on so many eating plans that it would make your head spin.   I think I am taking bits and pieces from every one of those and mixing them together into what I am doing now and it just isn't working!!!    

I can't wait to get moved and get settled in, I feel like life is just in limbo right now and it is causing me some stress and anxiety which I am trying to hide from everyone else around me.   Trying to brush it off and let it go as I wade through a sea of boxes in every freaking room I enter in this place.   Then there is trying to cook, clean and raise my family among the chaos that has become our home.   It makes me want to just scream at times!!!  
I just feel like these next 2 weeks are going to go by so slowly.   I know the day will be here before we know it but it's just been so long since we looked at the house and decided to buy it.  We got so much done in those first 2 weeks than has gone on in several weeks.   Sometimes I feel like we should have not given the sellers so much time to get out of there since it has added to my stress and anxiety.   But that is selfish isn't it?   Okay...taking a deep breath in and out and moving on with my day.


I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Down 5 lbs just eating Vegan/GF :)

I completed the 7 day Vegan/GF challenge with what I count as 100% success.  Not only did I not use pre-packaged foods that were challenge safe, but I cooked and created several very tasty dishes that I would definitely make again.   I have really been slacking on blogging lately and I am kicking myself for that.  I know it could be very beneficial to me later on down the road as my journey to "health and weight loss" progresses.   


With packing up to move in the next few weeks there just always seems to be so much to do and not enough time, energy or boxes to get it done.   All the while still trying to keep up with regular tasks like the dreaded laundry and dishes that a family of 5 produces on a daily basis.   I swear our dirty clothes actually are pro-creating in the basement!!!   It's just nuts I tell you!  


My hope and goal is that once we are settled in to the new house and I can get things in more of a routine I plan to take a little time to just tap out a few lines in my blog.    Even just a couple of times a week would suffice for me at this point.   


My weight loss as of today is stalled.  I lost 10 lbs and that was it.  I am eating way too much despite making healthier choices.   Healthy is good but massive quantities negate the outcome I am in search of.   LOL


So new goals this week will be to drink smoothies for breakfast, or snacks and really be more diligent about writing down feelings before and after eating, both physical and emotional.   It seemed to help somewhat when I was doing the challenge and even though I am not "turning them in" to someone to read, perhaps just the act of doing it will help.   
Just had a quick thought that maybe my husband will take on a challenge and read them for me daily and maybe discussing things with him will help to change my point of view and keep me focused if I have to be that accountable.   :)    Can't hurt to ask...LOL 


Well, dinner must be cooked early this evening as we have "family counseling" in a couple of hours.  It's been a busy day.   We took Elizabeth to her new school today for a tour and to meet the principal.   It went well and she is even more excited about moving and changing schools now.   I just know it is going to be an extremely positive move from everyone's perspective. 



I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Quick Vegan/GF pasta sauce

I really want pasta w/ tomato sauce.  You know the yummy kind with basil, garlic and onion.  Since I have some brown rice pasta which is Gluten Free!!   
So I checked my cupboards and came up with a couple of cans of diced tomatoes, some garlic, onion and I even bought some fresh basil this past week...BONUS!!

Ingredients:
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 med onion chopped
3 cloves garlic minced
approx 6 big leaves of fresh basil  (you can use dry as well just cook it a bit longer)
2 tbsp olive oil 


I started out with some olive oil in a skillet and cooked the chopped onions till softened, added the garlic and tomatoes and let it simmer covered for about 10 minutes.   Then I took a potato masher and mashed up the tomatoes.  Then I added some fresh chopped basil and mixed that all in and let it simmer uncovered on low for about 5-10 more minutes till it thickened up a bit.  And there you have it....Pasta sauce!!   Vegan and Gluten Free!!!  


Now to cook up the pasta and toss in the sauce....VOILA!!   Dinner is served!!   

This was AMAZING!!   :)  Will definitely do this again!!! 




I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Gluten Free Tortillas

This is an awesome recipe for Gluten Free Flour Tortillas....so easy to make and Delicious!!  


Gluten Free Flour Tortillas

Here is a picture of how mine came out. 

I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Thai Red Curry & Coconut milk Vegan soup

Today's lunch was something I just kind of threw together.  Being chilly outside and hungry for something quick yet satisfying that is also Vegan and Gluten Free I decided to throw together a quick soup. 

  


Ingredients
1 box of Vegetable broth
1/2 bag of stir fry veggies (I had a half of a bag you can use more if you like)
2 handfuls of frozen edamame
2 Tbsp Thai Red Curry paste
1 can lite coconut milk
1 pkg Bean Threads


Garnish w/ sliced green onion, chopped flat leaf parsley & lime wedges.  (optional) 


Soak bean threads for 10-15 minutes (follow your pkg directions)
Heat broth, veggies, edamame, thai curry paste & coconut milk together.  
Drop in bean threads and simmer for a few minutes and serve!! 
Garnish is optional but really enhances the flavor in my opinion.  :) 


This was filling and made a good sized pot of soup.   I would say it would serve 4 people who are hungry quite easily.   





I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Where have I been you ask????

Well I haven't blogged like I have wanted to.  Seems like I just never have enough hours in the day to get everything done that I want to.   
So I will update since the last time I posted. 


I joined a Vegan/Gluten free Challenge and I am on day 4 and have lost 4 lbs!!  I feel much better (other than an ear infection I was diagnosed with last Monday  :(  )     
I haven't been formally diagnosed with Gluten sensitivity but I have noticed in the past couple of weeks that giving up "Wheat" gluten I feel so much better.  The bloat is gone, the uncomfortable gas is gone.  And I am losing weight.   Before I started the challenge I had lost 6 lbs in about 10 days.   My clothes are fitting better, heck even my shoes feel better.  Is that crazy or what??   
My whole family is eating better.  Lots of fruits and veggies available for snacks and no junk in the house makes for healthier choices for sure.   


I am going to be posting some of the recipes I have been making (just being creative w/ things we have in the house that we know are vegan and gluten free has been a blast)!!


My husband J.R. is even doing this with me as well.  He also has lost 10 lbs and feels much better too.   So whatever combination we happen to be doing is helping us to feel better and shed some long unwanted extra pounds.   Which will only help us to be more active and enjoy our wonderful lives together!!  


So that is what I have been up to.   I am making a list of the recipes I want to share and I have even been trying to take pics of things I have made recently that I will post as soon as I can.   Since we bought a house and will probably be moving here at some point before the end of this month, I have lots to do by way of packing and preparing for that.  


Thanks for popping in....Have a blessed day!!  





I Corinthians 13:4-7 4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. 5 It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.