I'm Finally Famous!!

Hi, everyone!! My husband and I were gone for the day today. When we came back home, our 14-year-old Darling Rose had put this little magazine cover together for me using the computer.

She had been working on another magazine cover for a school project, but decided to take a break and surprise me with this.

What do you think?

I love it!!!

Maybe we should start a magazine together, I'll be the writer and she can design the layout.

Wait, that's what a blog is for. Ha, Ha!

Oh, it's March folks! Happy March Monday!!!

Spring IS coming!!

Easy Pizza With Home Style Seasoned Turkey

Hi y'all! I was busy in the kitchen again today.

This time I took five pounds of ground turkey and proceeded to make a meatball mix from a recipe that I found on Bodybuilding.com. Then, I used half of the mix for meat balls which I froze to use later in the week for spaghetti and meatballs, and the other half for a very tasty turkey mix on our pizza tonight.

The recipe is as follows:
1 ounce of fresh chopped parsley (didn't have that on hand, so skipped that one)
1 tsp of granulated garlic (I just used garlic powder)
3 whole eggs
3 ounces of grated Romano cheese (skipped that, didn't have that)
3 oz of seasoned bread crumbs (I used Ceasar seasoned croutons instead)
2 slices of whole wheat bread soft
4 oz of fat free milk
36 ounces of 96/4 ground sirloin (I used 5 lbs of ground turkey and adjusted my ingredients accordingly)

*Soak two pieces of bread in milk
*While soaking, prep and place rest in bowl
*squeeze milk from bread, mash bread through with your hands and into meat. Dump remaining milk and mix up with your hands until all the ingredients are well incorporated.

*(I had to add a little extra milk and then soaked the croutons and mashed them down until they were soft, the same way I did the bread)

*Then, make into 2 oz balls and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. (I made way smaller balls and cooked the meat balls in the skillet. I also cooked half of the mix like I would ground beef to prepare it for the pizza. Here are the meatballs in the skillet.

I had one, they tasted awesome.

Here's how it looked all ground up.

For baking the pizza, I took a whole wheat flour ready made thin pizza and then just plopped on the ground turkey mix that I had made earlier that day and then added the cheese.

Then, you just cook until the cheese is melty and everything is heated through.

Of course you can add your own toppings, but for a first time sometimes simple is better.

Everyone loved it including Daddy Rainmaker and all the kids. Darling Rose was the only one who thought the crust tasted "different". Eventually, I would like to make my own pizza crust.

For breakfast this morning, I whipped up chocolate oatmeal high protein waffles like I made last weekend.

Then, this evening, I made some more banana muffins, and high protein cookies with honey, walnuts, raisins, and vanilla protein powder. I also made a high protein cheesecake, but didn't take a picture of that.

So, it was a busy cooking day, but I find that I am really enjoying trying out new recipes and making healthy food for our family. All of these recipes do not contain any white flour or sugar.
Just that fact alone means that our family will be ingesting food that their body can really use for their body's functions instead of empty white sugar or white flour calories that do not provide proper nourishment.

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Other than that, Sunshine Mama has been doing well. I love being pregnant. I went to the gym and did a double work-out because I couldn't get one in yesterday. That was exhausting.

The interesting thing about knowing that I'm pregnant is that I begin to question things like, "Am I tired from the double work-out? Or from being pregnant? Do I eat two pounds of strawberries because I'm pregnant or because it's just me wanting it? (yes, I ate two pounds of strawberries recently).

I think I decided that I would be tired, pregnant or not, with a double work-out.
Also, I've noticed that since I know I'm pregnant, I'm much chattier with everyone at the gym. I'm not in such a "go-get'im" mood when I'm there. I'm having conversations with everyone, relaxing, working out but, not really rushing anything.

It's been fun.

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Oh, for Sherah's question, I think I will do a post soon on my pregnancy fitness goals. My weight in the last several days went up 1.5 pounds and then in the last two days, it all dropped back down. So, I see that as meaning my body is just fluctuating. I have added some calories to my diet through all this baking and eating healthy cookies and healthy waffles, but I WILL NOT eat sugar or white flour. And I am trying to keep my calories at "maintenance level" if not slightly under, 1,600-1,900 calories. I am also maintaining a high intake of protein at 135 grams. In fact, I eat the same diet as when I first started my "new diet plan", but have just added some more whole foods calories.

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And, to Dawn, sorry to remind you of being a catholic priest with all of my confessions. Twas not my intention...and not to worry, I don't have any more confessions up my sleeve. And, if I do, I'll just call them something else. Ha, ha.

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Most of you picked blue. I think I'm going with blue for the posing suit. Now to just decide which kind of blue.

Well, I hope your weekend is going well. February is almost a memory.

Confession #3: I'm Still Getting The Figure Suit

Happy Friday everyone!!

It's a beautiful day here in God's country! In case you haven't heard, Sunshine Mama is pregnant and very happy to be so.

Thank you all for you wonderful words of congratulations and excitement for our family for this very wonderful news. We are so excited to have baby #6 on the way.

New babies and pregnancies are a blessing but can definitely throw a wrench in say....plans to be in a figure competition.

We didn't find out we were pregnant until five days ago. So, up until that point plans had been made to have a figure suit specially designed by a professional suit designer just for me. In fact, a sizeable little "non-refundable" deposit had been put down to have this suit made. I think I have up a year to have it made.

But yesterday, guess what came in the mail? These fabric swatches from which to choose the colors and fabric for my suit. I told the gal that I wanted the suit to be black but mentioned that I thought I also might look good in red or blue. I also want the suit to be in velvet. So, now all I have to do is to pick the fabric of my choice and let her know, and then keep her updated on my dimensions. I'll also let her know how I want the cut and style of the suit to look. There's also a little final "phone fitting" to make sure it's just the way I want it.

I don't know about you, but suddenly the red and blue look really appealing. In fact, I think I just might change my mind about the black and get it in blue velvet. What color do you guys like?

When I first found out I was pregnant, I felt like getting the suit made for me now probably wouldn't happen. I mean by the time it's made, I may be showing a little bump. But, then I started thinking about it. What if I was a swimsuit model...(bear with me, I know... big what-if) Those gals model swimsuits for a living. What, do they stop modeling swimsuits the second they find out that they're pregnant? NO, they keep modeling swimsuits until....I'm totally speculating here....but until, they can't anymore.

And not that I would do this, but how many pregnant women have you seen walking around in a bikini with a little baby bump? I mean pregnant women do go swimming.

My husband told me he totally thought I should just get the suit made anyway since it's already half way paid for. And the more I think about it, the more I really like the idea. I also want to get the five inch clear high heels that go with the outfit.

Yes, you read correctly. These figure competitors get to (have to) wear minimum five inch heels on stage. The higher heal is suppose to accentuate the calf muscles. And I have to admit something, I love high heels. Now, five inchers might be something I need to get used to. But, honestly I'm kind of pumped (ok, pun intended) at the idea of getting a snazzy little suit made up for me and then prancing around in high heels.

Every girls' dream right?

At the very least, I can get pictures taken and maybe even use the suit next year when I get back in shape enough to be in another figure competition.

So, that's my confession. I'm going to have this figure suit made for me despite being pregnant. I hope all these confessions aren't rocking your world too much. I suppose the next big confession would be that I'm actually still going to be in a figure competition. Wouldn't that be interesting? A pregnant figure competitor.

Hmmm...I just wonder. My body fat is already pretty low. And you do have to suck in your abs on stage anyway...

An Easy Chicken Noodle Soup Recipe:

In the meantime, I thought I'd post this chicken noodle soup recipe that I cooked up last night for the family. I'm trying to stay away from white flour, sugar and processed foods. I think I stayed away from everything processed except for perhaps the chicken bouillon.

What I did was to take a family favorite chicken noodles soup recipe and just modified it with healthier ingredients. Everyone absolutely loved it. There was a lot of butter in it, so I would just hold back on the butter or substitute it with Smart Balance light, if you wanted to cut down on the total calories.

Comforting chicken noodle soup:

2 quarts of water

eight chicken bouillon cubes

4 1/2 uncooked wide egg noodles (I used whole wheat fettuccine noodles)

3 cups of cooked chicken (I used chicken that we had de-boned from those 10 pound packages of chicken quarters that you can get at the store for really cheap. We cooked it up all day in the crockpot so that the meat was really tender)

2 --10 3/4 oz cans of condensed cream of chicken soup (I made up my own cream using whole wheat flour. )

To make the equivalent of about 22 ounces of cream of chicken soup you do as follows: on medium heat in pan heat six table spoons of butter, with 3/4 teaspoon of salt, and pepper to taste. Once the butter is melted, you add six table spoons of whole wheat flour, three cups of milk and stir frequently on medium heat until thickened and bubbly, at which point you cook a few minutes more.

I swear, cream is the easiest thing to make on the planet. And depending on the different spices you have in your cupboard, you can make all different flavors of creams for all of your vegetable or meat dishes.

As you can see in this picture, I was cooking the cream while I was waiting for the noodles to boil. This is what you do with the rest of the soup.

In large saucepan, bring water and bouillon to a boil. Add noodles and cook uncovered until tender ( about ten minutes). Do not drain. Add soup (the cream you made), and heat through. Remove from heat and stir in one cup of sour cream.

I did not have enough sour cream to add to this soup, but it still tasted very creamy and delicious anyway.

I had enough chicken to make a batch and a half, and now the family will be eating soup (and quite happily I might add) for the next two days.

Well, I think that's it for today; I hope you all have a great day and a nice weekend!

Sincerely,

Sunshine Mama

P.S. To those who asked, I'd love to post some monthly pregnancy pictures.

I Have Something Else To Confess...

So, by now you all know that we have five children. Pictured to the right are our four younger ones.

When I first started this blog over eight months ago, I wanted to prove to myself and everyone else that a mother could have five kids and still look spectacular.

When I began, I wanted to show you all how to lose 20 pounds in 10 weeks. I knew I could do it because I had done it before. I wanted to share with you all how I went about doing it. I will admit that I was getting a little nervous towards the end. It got down to the wire, and I didn't lose that 20th pound until the day before my ten week deadline.

Along the way I made friends with and became encouraged by and inspired by many wonderful bloggers. I didn't realize how much I would enjoy having a diet blog where I could post all my fitness, and food related diet stuff. I didn't realize how much it would speak to my personality to be able to share like that. I didn't realize how much it would motivate me to press beyond the boundaries that I had set for myself, and achieve more than I thought was possible.

In this latest goal, I am even more surprised and awed at myself. I didn't realize that dropping out all the processed foods, sugar and white flour would have that kind of an effect on my body. I also didn't realize the insane grip that processed foods have on my body, and how eating it strips me of my self control and makes me want more of it.

Through this journey, I have learned that I shouldn't set limits on myself just because I've never done it before.

I've learned that our bodies are like vehicles. If you want to "drive" like a Porsche, you need to put in the premium fuel that a sports car like that needs.

I want to thank you for all of your excitement and encouraging words about yesterday's post. It IS pretty exciting to be training for a figure competition. It IS exciting to watch my body transform before my very eyes as more body fat drops away to reveal hard, toned muscles.

In fact, any day now the gal who is designing my suit said my fabric samples should arrive in the mail to begin the process of tailoring a suit just for me.

But through this whole process, there is something else that has happened. I feel like I'm more "on top" of things at home and in the world around me. Maybe because I have more energy and because I'm eating healthier and carrying less weight around.

But, the other confession is this... Even while I am dropping this weight and beginning to look like a million bucks, even while I am making plans to race 5Ks in the summer, even while I am making plans to compete in a body building show with my husband in October, even while I am enjoying my new slender wardrobe and my board flat belly...

Even while all that is going on...I feel a little sad.

Because I have been struggling with wanting to have more children versus dealing with the challenge of the children that we already have. My mind says...five is hard enough...keep this beautiful body you've worked so hard to get...but my heart wants more children and doesn't care about how my body looks.

Well......

I'm here to confess, that my heart won out.

We are so, so happy to share with you all that we are expecting baby number six.

*big smile*

So, yes, Sunshine Mama is officially pregnant. This picture was taken in the lobby of the hospital where I took the kids with me to await the results of the pregnancy test.

I'm five weeks along with no signs of morning sickness, but with a real or perhaps imagined slight pregnancy bump. The baby is due during the last week of October.

I guess the only question now is, do you all still want those bikini pictures? Ha, ha!!

We'll see.

Thanks for stopping by to visit. I hope your week is going well.

Sincerely,
Sunshine Mama

"I Have Something To Confess": Part 1

I'm dividing these "confessionals" up into a couple parts.

How IS everyone today?

I'm doing well, but there is something that I wanted to share with you all. I've been wanting to tell you for awhile, but I just didn't feel it was the time.

But there is another reason that I have been able to stick to my new diet plan. It hasn't just been my determination that has carried me through this new diet. And it wasn't only my wonderful resolve that helped me to get back on track after I'd fallen off the wagon a few weeks ago.

Remember the post when I said that I will often use fitness goals to help me achieve my weight loss goals? In this post, I said that weight loss isn't a big enough reason to keep us motivated to lose weight and stay in the gym. We need goals that we can utilize to help steer us toward our ultimate weight loss and body image goals.

I will also use smaller goals along the way to keep me focused. One example of this is the 100 push-up challenge or a 5K race. I will stack goals one upon another so that there is always another goal waiting in the wings to be met after a goal has been achieved. This ensures that my mind and body are constantly striving and working toward a physical achievement of some sort.

I would have never been able to drop those last fourteen pounds unless I had begun embarking on my most recent goal. I would never have had my eyes opened to the powerful effects of clean, wholesome eating unless I had begun chasing after this most recent goal.

The reason I hadn't shared this most recent goal with you is because I wasn't sure if I could do it. I wasn't sure if I could stick to the diet plan...I wasn't sure if the diet plan would work. I had no idea what would happen if I tried it.

But, now I know that it does work.

Some of you may suspect what my next goal has been because of the extensive amount of weight lifting that I have been doing. In fact, this goal has been in the back of my mind for a year and a half.

My most recent goal hasn't been to train for just a few 5K races, it has been to train to compete on stage in a two piece bikini in a figure competition, where body fat is lowered to exhibit your God-given physic and symmetry.

I have been tracking my body fat through fat caliper analysis. I had measurements taken before I began the new diet plan and three weeks into the new diet plan. In three weeks time, my body fat dropped four percent.

My next measurement has yet to be taken.

But, that's my first confession. See, it wasn't a bad confession. In fact, it's something very exciting for all of you to hear about. And this is why... Look at what I have recently achieved because of a fitness related goal. Look at how my perspective on food has changed because I stepped outside the box and started training for something that I had never done before.

Do you realize I've had five kids? Silly question, of course you do. I didn't think my belly would "look right" enough for a show after all that. But, you know what I discovered? You drop enough body fat, and things start to even out a little. I can walk around in a sports bra and shorts and not be ashamed. In fact, I look darn good if I don't say so myself.

So, that's the first confession.

In the mean time, here are some chocolate, protein oatmeal cookies that I cooked today. Remember yesterday's post where I said the oatmeal cookies I made tasted bland?

Well, these are better. Here they are again with a few different ingredients added:

1 cup of oatmeal (300 calories)

2 scoops of chocolate whey protein powder (220 calories)

4 egg whites (51 calories)

1 1/2 tsp of baking powder

1/4 cup of raisins (130 calories)

1/4 cup of crushed walnuts (180)

cinnamon to taste (oops, I forgot that today)

1/4 cup of sugar free syrup (15 calories)

cook at 350 degrees for several minutes

This batch made about 14 cookies which averaged out to 64 calories a cookie. If you took out the raisins and walnuts, the calories are only 41 calories a cookie.

I liked the crunchy texture. I did not use old fashioned oats, just quick oats. I think old fashioned oats would definitely add to the crunchy texture. I could taste the maple syrup flavor. I noticed that it was definitely a sweeter cookie than yesterday's version. Next time I might try it without the syrup and instead just try sweetner to see how that tastes.

What's great about these cookies is that you're getting over 3 grams of protein per cookie, and a healthy sources of fat (if you put in walnuts) and fiber. You also don't have to worry about the fat retaining effects of white flour and sugar because these cookies do not contain any. In fact, my dad who does not eat sugar, and must limit his salt intake could eat these. Maybe I'll make him some too.

And seriously, they take me a whole 20 minutes to whip up.

Push-Up Challenge Update

Oh, and on a little side note, last night I was able to complete the last day of week 6 in the push-up challenge. That means I completed nine sets of 26, 26, 33, 33, 26, 26, 22, 22, 60 for a total of 274 push-ups.

My husband is working on week 5 of the push-up challenge and recently completed eight sets of

20, 20, 24, 24, 20, 20, 22, 48 for 198 total.

We will continue are push-up training and aim to complete 101 push-ups on March 7, 2010, our 101st month wedding anniversary.

Hope your week is going well! And thank you again for all of your kind words and for taking the time to visit this blog.

Sincerely,

Sunshine Mama

Sunshine Mama's In The Kitchen...

Hi everyone! Happy Monday!

I went to write a post last night, and just decided I didn't have enough emotional energy to do it because I had, had a VERY, VERY productive whole foods baking and whole foods shopping day.
Last night my husband and I went to the grocery store and I picked up some ingredients to make foods that are sugar free, white flour free and processed food free for our family. It may take a few weeks to get out all of that stuff from our diet, but this week we will be one step closer to doing it.

Some of you commented on my husband's comment about the waffles yesterday. He said, "They aren't great." What you didn't hear in his comment was that his voice was also saying, "They aren't bad either." I should have clarified that. And it is true, Darling Rose was not a complete fan of the waffles either. But, I do have another waffles recipe that I want to try out (on them) this weekend.

But, in the mean time, on Sunday, I cooked up an awesome oatmeal breakfast that was a hit with everyone except the two year-old. But we can work on him.

I found this recipe when I was visiting a blog, and they had video of Kath making it. I didn't have all the ingredients she asked for, but enough to make it very tasty. If you like oatmeal, you should visit her blog because she has 50 different ways to make it.

The version I made here is her whipped banana cream classic.

To serve two people, you put one cup of oatmeal in the pan with one cup of water and one cup of skim milk. (I just used the 1% I had). Then you cut up 1 1/2 bananas into slices and stir it in the oatmeal, the same time you pour in the first ingredients. You have the stove on one point past medium.

The reason you put the bananas in first, is so that the cooking process melts them down into the oatmeal mixture. At about 3 1/2 minutes in, you may want to start stirring, though, you don't have to. You lower the heat down when it gets bubbly which, for Kath, takes five minutes. She also likes to top the oatmeal with toasted walnuts. I only had sliced almonds on hand, so I used that (about one ounce per person). You can toast nuts by putting them in the microwave for 1 1/2 minutes.

After the oatmeal has bubbled, you stir in two teaspoons of brown sugar and cinnamon to taste. She adds two teaspoons of ground flax seed, which I didn't have. For my own oatmeal, I just added sweet-n-low sweetner instead of brown sugar.

Also, a little bit into the cooking process I added some salt to the water because I notice a difference in taste when I don't add salt.

Other than that, everyone loved it. Our seven-year-old Dandy Lion had a big helping of seconds. It was also very filling.

Doesn't that look good?

Next I made real easy high protein oatmeal cookies.
I cup of old fashioned oats (I just had quick oats so I used those)
2 scoops of vanilla whey protein powder
4 egg whites
1 1/2 tsp of baking powder
cinnamon to taste
1/4 cup of raisins ( didn't have the raisins)
I plopped them on the pan and they cooked up in about 11 minutes.

I thought they tasted bland, but every single kid, including Darling Rose loved them.
I might add some sugar free syrup or some sweetner next time.
But I can eat these and I feel good about the kids eating them as well.

Finally, I made some banana oatmeal muffins which was ALSO a hit with everyone including my husband.
4 cups of oatmeal
1 cup of applesauce
(I didn't have that, so I used what I had on hand, one cup of organic coconut milk)
8 egg whites
6 mashed ripe bananas
1 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
2 tsp of baking soda
2 tsp of ground cinnamon
10 tsp of milk
1 tsp of butter
(I forgot the butter, but I figured the oil in the coconut milk made up for it)
cook at 350 for 20 minutes. (my muffins needed more like 25 minutes. The first batch I coated the pan with butter and the second batch with non-stick spray, which actually worked better)

The muffins come out looking dark. My husband wasn't sure. He's like,
"There's no raisins?"
"nope."
"There's no nuts?"
"nope."
Then, he disappears somewhere with his muffin and milk. Later I find him and I'm like,
"Well?"
He smiles and says, "They're actually pretty good."
I think he was surprised.
And the kids can't get enough of them. I give them the muffins for snacks, and it feels good to know that they are eating food that really feeds their body instead of white flour which has no nutritional value in it.
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Well, I hope you all aren't completely bored with these new recipe posts, but I have to tell you that I am just so excited to be making all this healthy food.

I feel like it gives me hope that I can maintain a healthy weight when I prepare foods that my body needs.

So, what's on the menu this week?
Onion rings,
Cheesecake
baked bread
More different kinds of oatmeal cookies
And maybe home made noodles if I feel up to it.

Other than that, Sunshine Mama is doing great!
I hope you all are too!

Chocolate Oatmeal Protein Waffles...

I made these for the family this morning.

First, you start out making the oatmeal.
For just me it was 1/2 cup of oatmeal and one cup of water.

Then I mixed in four egg whites.

Then I mixed in two scoops of chocolate protein powder.

Stirred it up.

Remember to heat up the waffle iron and spray some Pam on it before spreading it on.

This was my first attempt.

After opening it too early a few times, I figured out that I just needed to let it cook for a good five minutes. At that point, it had a nice crispy outer edge.

Like this!

Then, it pulls off like a regular waffle.

I topped it with blueberries and sugar free syrup.

Doesn't that look good?

I thought it was great!! Our kids loved it with the exception of 14-year-old Darling Rose, who wasn't sure.

Unfortunately my husband doesn't like chocolate.

So, I made him a vanilla waffle.

I used two scoops of vanilla protein powder.

with a 1/2 cup of oatmeal, (and then cooked up) and four egg whites.

His came out looking perfect.

He topped his with butter and real maple syrup served with eggs and summer sausage.

His analysis: "It didn't taste great."

Hmm.... maybe I'll have to try the "other waffle recipe" that I've found for next weekend.

I ended up cooking a bunch of the waffles and freezing them. Two of our kids wanted more waffles for lunch.

For the recipe that I gave you I was able to cook up three waffles, when I duplicated it for my husband I cooked up four... probably because the egg whites were bigger. But for three waffles, each one was 150 calories with 20 grams of protein per waffle. There is no sugar, and no white flour in these waffles and so this will absolutely fit into my plan to put our family on a whole foods diet.

What's really nice about freezing these waffles, is that they are a great post work-out meal because of the high protein content and whole grain carbohydrates. They're easy to have ready, just pull one out of the freezer and toast it.

I have another recipe and special treat that I will be cooking up tomorrow.

Hope your having a great weekend!

I'm Staying On Track...

Happy Friday folks!!

Thanks for stopping by and for all of your encouraging comments about my post yesterday with the transition from my old scale to my new scale.

I really do like this scale. Since I've been using it...I've lost 1.2 pounds. I really like that even when I step on it twice in a row...I get the same weight.

I have been staying on my diet perfectly since Wednesday. That means three days of clean, controlled eating. It feels great to be back into the groove again, and back in the driver's seat.

I really feel like my mind has been opened as far as how I view the affect that processed foods and sugar have on my body and destroy my ability to stop eating the crap once I start. Now, when I look at my son eating his graham cracker, and it looks good, I just think to myself of how even a bite will start my cravings.

I mentioned before in my previous post, that I will be investigating ways to incorporate whole foods into my snacks that I would like to eat on the weekend.

Tomorrow I will be attempting to make a new whole foods recipe...an oatmeal waffle. This will be something that I can eat on my current diet, so I am excited to see how it turns out and how it tastes.

I'm still interested in also making an additional whole foods snack that won't send my body into bad cravings for processed foods. My idea is to make a little fruit dish topped with some heavy whipping cream. Heavy whipping cream is actually a "good" fat and something your body needs and can use. And obviously fruit is good for you.

Lately my head has been spinning with different ideas for switching the whole family onto a whole foods diet. I already feed our children oatmeal every morning, and use a whole wheat bread that has no preservatives and additives which gives it a short shelf life. So ,until you are ready to use it, you actually have to freeze it.

But, I would like to begin making meals that do not contain processed white flour and sugar. I would like to grind my own my own wheat and bake my own bread. My mom and dad have an actual grinder that they use to grind their own wheat by hand. I suppose I could use an electric grinder, but a hand grinder seems so much more fun...kind of like my old scale. Ha, Ha, just kidding.

Well, I hope you all have a great weekend!

I Gained Five Pounds!!!

Hi, everyone! Please forgive my shameless attempt at sensationalism...but I was trying to get your attention.

Umm....well, did it work?

Because according to the new scale that I just bought, I have gained five pounds...at least.

I'm pretty sure the new scale isn't off. It was the old scale that was off. Some of you new bloggers won't know much about my old scale. But I have a little picture here to show you how cheap of a scale it is. And dirty and gross looking...that too.

The picture that you see here of the old scale is a "close-up". And even if you look really, really close...it's hard to tell what actual number the little needle is on, unless of course it's on a say...20, 30, or 40. And the problem with the old scale, is that once I stand on the scale, I am further away from the numbers...which makes them look even tinier.

Now if my two- year old here could read, this little scale would be perfect for him, because he's closer to the numbers. And, also, let's face it, his feet look way cuter on this scale than my feet do. He's such a good model.

The other problem with the old scale, is that I had to "zero" it out by physically adjusting a little lever underneath it every time I stepped on it...in fact, I usually just ended up taking the average of several readings to get a true weight.

And it still wasn't a true weight.

But, who was I kidding? I knew the scale was weighing me on the lighter side. Yes, folks, that's right. For the past 32 weeks, I have been living in delusion. Unwilling to face my true weight.

And, oddly enough, despite all that, I've lost 35 pounds...I think. Ha, ha. Ok, admit it, that was funny.

But, how does someone as dedicated to losing weight, eating right and staying fit...live in delusion for so long? Why couldn't I just break the bank a little and go get a new scale? I mean this new one I bought at Wal Mart only cost $18.

Well, I think a part of me wanted to believe the lower weight. It made me feel like I wasn't as far gone as I really was. It gave me the hope that I was closer to the goal than I really was.

Have you ever heard of the story of the boy who was given a sword? His friends, as part of playing a practical joke on him told him it was magic, and he could never lose a battle with it. Of course it wasn't true, but he believed it and he went on to win every battle he entered. When his friends finally told him the truth, he never picked up that sword again.

Was this old scale my magic sword? I think so. I felt like it gave me the edge. I felt like I had some wiggle room with the "zero-ing" in lever.

But I have finally faced the truth. I actually faced it a few days ago. It was a little tough at first. I didn't want to step on the scale. But after I did, it explained a lot.

It explained why several pounds ago, my jeans didn't fit the way they should have at that weight.

But, unlike that kid with the sword...I did step on my new scale again. And again. And again.

In fact, I now feel empowered knowing my true weight. I don't need magic any more. I know I can lose this weight without a magic scale. After 32 weeks I feel like I've figured some things out and I can face the truth. I've realized that all this time, it was really "me" losing the weight and not the scale after all.

So, even though I'm technically three pounds off my goal weight. I feel as though I've made it there.

Because now when I step on the scale, I'm not afraid of the number I see.

And isn't that what we're all striving for?

Well, it's Friday folks! Hope you're all having a good one!!

A Slope Too Slippery...

When I ate that chocolate covered cream filled bismark, I honestly did not realize the potential ramifications of my decision.

I thought that I could eat it, and then resume my previously perfect diet plan.

I was wrong.

I guess I was wrong partly because I underestimated how sugar laden processed foods affect our bodies. I've come to the conclusion that my craving for "more of the same" has a lot less to do with my emotions and more to do with a physical response from my body.

Believe me... I believed I was done after that bismark. Why then did I want more? The urge for wanting more was so strong that I felt like it was ripping down my carefully constructed rationale with a ten foot sledgehammer.

One of my newest blogger friends said this is the new lunar year of the tiger. I felt like eating that bismark had let out the tiger. Have you ever tried putting a tiger back in its cage after it's been let out?

So, when I wrote a few days ago, about how I had eaten another half of a doughnut...the damage did not stop there.

The next day...I continued to crave more processed foods. I ate a ginger cookie that my daughter had made a few days ago. It tasted so good. Then throughout the day I had my son's graham crackers. I even started topping them with peanut butter.

Everything tasted so good. It felt like I couldn't get enough. The harder I tried to stop myself...the more excruciating the attempt to stop felt like to me.

Things came to an emotional head this morning.

I realized that I could no longer have a weekly sugary snack because of what it was doing to me.
The whole situation with saying "no" to this food felt heart wrenching to me.

You guessed it. Sunshine Mama had another few crying spells this morning trying to get through this.

I just don't get it. Saying no to a certain food just shouldn't be this emotional.

It's not right.

I mean... do I get this emotional saying no to an orange? Think about it people...do you? How come these processed, sugary foods have the ability to reduce me to tears when I try to break away from them?

I don't know about you, but I think it's a conspiracy. God never intended food to have this kind of a hold on us. I'm beginning to think that the modern methods of cooking and creating foods have perverted their natural flavor and have created something that is very addictive.

Would I cry over not being able to eat an apple...a baked potato? or how about wanting to snack on carrot sticks or celery throughout the day?

Why is it just the processed crap that reels me in and makes me feel like I can't even control what goes into my mouth?

How does a perfectly normal person, who is in full possession of their wits...suddenly lose it with the introduction of a doughnut?

So, guess what? I will be searching for a whole foods snack to indulge in on the weekends. I will be searching out foods that won't render me incapable of controlling myself. I will search for a better kind of snack that will nourish me and leave me feeling in control of myself.

I don't ever again...want to cry like a baby... because some stupid, processed food decided to throw me into a choke hold and make me its slave!

I will find a way to eat the foods...that create freedom in my life, not misery.

Well...other than that, I hope you're all doing great.

Happy Birthday SunshineMeg!!!!

Hey....

Psssttt....everybody!

SunshineMeg's birthday is on Wednesday, February 17th!!

She'll be 25 years old. She doesn't check my blog until 5:00 a.m., so if you read this tonight, go and surprise her with some happy birthday wishes.

Devoting this entire post to SunshineMeg-dom will probably be my easiest and funn-est post to write all year.

Let me tell you a little about SunshineMeg.

I first found her when I went and visited someone else's blog. I noticed the name Sunshine and immediately went to her sight. After her name drew me in, it was her funny, quirky, off-the-wall topics that she blogged about that kept me coming back.

SunshineMeg is like her name. She's a burst of sunshine that brightens up your day. She always posts these funny blooper videos that totally get me laughing. When I'm watching one of her videos and the kids are around, they will all crowd around the computer to laugh with me. She always comes up with the craziest, funny pictures too.

Before I started this diet blog, Sunshine Meg followed our family blog. When I mentioned that I wanted to start a diet blog, she supported the idea and began following this diet blog too. So, even though she's busy with a new husband, and a new, challenging job, and over 300 followers, she still finds time to check up on both my blogs.

Sunshinemeg loves to encourage and lift you up. Her comments are always positive, not to mention funny.

Once when I ran a half-marathon last year, she drew up a little "Good Luck" sign to wish me well in my race.

So, for her birthday, I rounded up the kids and had them make her some birthday cards. Our oldest son, 7-year-old, Dandy Lion, took the bull by the horns and immediately set to work making his special card for SunshineMeg. When the other kids saw what their older brother was doing, they followed suit and were soon busy coloring and writing away to make cards for SunshineMeg too.

So, here's a little virtual Happy Birthday, SunshineMeg, to kick off your 25th year. I hope this post brightens your day...the same way you brighten all of ours!!

If you would like to see more of our children's drawings for SunshineMeg, stop in to visit our family blog at http://www.ourdarlingkids.com/.

SunshineMeg is located at http://www.sunshinemeg.blogspot.com/.

Thanks for stopping by everyone, hope you're all having a good week!

A Sunshine Slip-up

Who was it that mentioned in one of my comments...something about

a slippery slope that eating sweets can be if you haven't done it in awhile.

Hmm...yes, Lindsey, it was you. You see, Lindsey is trying to keep away from M&Ms...so she has experience with this.

I guess what I'm trying to say here is that after I ate that chocolate covered cream filled bismark yesterday...something happened.

Mentally.

Like... my iron-clad, death grip guard that I've had up for the past four weeks...experienced a little shake-up...if you will. A little chink in the armour.

Apparently resisting all those bites... all those four weeks, was a wise choice in slamming the door shut at the possibility of not being able to stop once I re-introduced my mouth to sweets.

Ok...I'll tell it.

I ate the equivalent of a half of a chocolate covered, pink and white sprinkled Valentine doughnut, that was left over from the big trip to the bakery yesterday. I even ate about 1/2 a sheet of my son's graham crackers.

It could be my imagination...but my stomach feels pooch-i-er. Really it does!

I noticed that even though the doughnut was a little dry...because it was day old. In fact, it was a little crunchy...it still tasted wonderful. My ultra-sensitive taste buds were picking up on the flaky, fried crust thing going on meshed with the softer doughnut inside. The chocolate frosting and sprinkles were sooo flavorful.

Then, unfortunately, I noticed that my salad was not as tasty and enjoyable. I noticed that I felt very strong cravings for that half of a doughnut. At first, I cut off a sliver... then, I just brushed up the sprinkles...then I put the doughnut box up high. My usual fail-safe tactic.

Nope. Didn't work...An hour later I pulled it down, and began to savor each an every bite.

Yes, Lord help me!

This is a picture of what is on the menu for next Sunday's treat. But after today...I mean, I haven't really eaten clean all week to deserve it.

One of the reason's this diet of mine is working so well, is that I am eating no sugar and no white flour. Those two ingredients combined...inhibit fat loss. So...even though, this technically is not a lot of calories...it's what it's doing to my body that is the bad thing.

Our bodies are soo sensitive that when I stopped eating white flour and sugar, I dropped four pounds in three days.

Hmmm...yes, I know what you're thinking..."what should I do?"

Well, while I'm figuring that one out, the above candy comes from a local store that makes their own chocolates and ice cream. This is a picture of a chocolate covered, pecan turtle, and an oreo cookie dipped in chocolate. This stuff IS delicious. I've never had the chocolate dipped oreo, but I have had the pecan turtle.

--------------------------------

Well, other than that, Sunshine Mama had a good day! I think once the last of the doughnuts are eaten, my resistance will increase.

I'm still working on figuring out how to get this two minute video clip of me eating the chocolate covered cream filled bismark uploaded for your viewing pleasure.

Well, I hope everyone's Monday is going well.

Welcome To My Favorite Bakery...

This is where the best doughnuts in town can be found.

Allow me to lead you to the doughnut case.

Can you spy where my chocolate covered cream filled bismark is waiting for me?

Hmmm....I think this one may be the biggest.

Ahhh...I can not wait!

Let's also get some Valentine sprinkled long johns for our younger crew of kids.

And some glazed ones for my husband, Daddy Rainmaker, and our 14-year-old daughter, Darling Rose.

Mission accomplished!

Doesn't that chocolate one look pretty sitting inbetween pink?

I let our kids eat their doughnuts in the morning.

This is just a little break from the broccoli and cucumbers they get every day.

I waited until my 3:00 mid-morning snack time to eat my doughnut.

Our two-year-old decided to brush his teeth...

Take a bite...

Then, brush his teeth again.

But, back to my bismark.

It weighed in at 6 1/2 ounces.

Does that mean that's how much weight I'll gain if I eat the whole thing?

The secret of the inside...revealed to you finally.

So, when I finally did eat this doughnut, It tasted wonderful. I did eat the whole thing. I noticed that I felt a little jittery from all the sugar which isn't surprising when you consider that I have not had any sugar in my diet in the last four weeks.

I also wanted to add that I did end up losing that 15th pound this morning. So, in my mind, I have met my goal weight for eating this doughnut. I would have eaten the doughnut even if I had not dropped that last pound, but it definitely felt good to have it happen today.

Oh, thought you'd also enjoy a little theatrical presentation of Sunshine Mama sick to her stomach after eating all that sugar, white flour and grease.

I take my acting tips from our 14-year-old daughter.

"Lord help me!"

Did you laugh? Good.

So, that's about it for now...

Oh. You want to see the video of me eating it?!?

Now for the VERY UNFORTUNATE PART

The reason this hasn't posted until now is because I have been waiting....and waiting...and retrying and retrying and waiting...all night and morning to up load this two minute video clip of me eating this wonderful bismark.

But it won't upload.

I can't even begin to express my perturb-dom.

So, I did take video. I was happy with it, but I can't get it to upload right now. Maybe someone who uploads long-ish (over a few minutes long) video does something that they can share with me. SunshineMeg, your videos are long-ish. How long do you have to wait for them to upload?

I swear...I have to normally wait an hour per one minute of video. So, I apologize profusely. If I can ever get this thing uploaded...believe me, you all will be the first to see it.

Maybe I just need to re-eat my bismark next Sunday!

I'm not sure.

I already have another treat in mind for what I want to eat next Sunday.

Every week I would like to give myself a treat to eat. I'll eat perfect all week long and then reward myself on Sunday.

Well, I hope you all had a good weekend. Eating this doughnut was just as good as I remember it. Now it's back to the daily grind of getting up early and sticking to my whole foods, high protein diet.

Again, I apologize there is no video right now.

But thanks for taking the time to stop by.

Have a good Monday!