Where has time gone?

Who would have thought, one Facebook post from a friend would lead me to a life changing plan?  April 1st, 2013 I began a journey to lose some weight.  I really did not think I would be so successful.  I really thought, “Girl, your about to spend 40 dollars a month on WW, so why not try this first.. if it works than great… if not get ready to spend money each month.”  

So the journey began!

I purchased my Trim Healthy Mama book in March… began reading it  March 25th… my first THM shopping trip March 29th… then began this amazing journey to FOOD FREEDOM on April 1st, 2013… at a whopping 260 pounds!   I know, I know… I can’t believe I am stating that number!   I knew I needed to do something when my body ached just getting out of bed!   I’m not even 40 yet, but my life two years ago was vastly different than it is now.   I don’t want to remember the depressed person I was back then.  I had so many aches and pains that I just  could hardly do anything.  I would be worn out from just a shopping trip to Wal-Mart or a walk around the block.   I also was showing some early signs of diabetes.  You see both my parents are diabetics, and I knew that if I didn’t do something.. I would become one too.   I set a goal that I really thought was unattainable… to lose 80 lbs.

(Me in January of 2013)

 

The beginning of  Journey:

 

The first week was the hardest for me.  Really I was addicted to sugar, so  going cold turkey with no sugar was the hardest.  To top it off, that first week also held my Dad’s retirement party… as in lots of off plan foods!  But I made it… did not even have one off plan food there.  Some of the food I made, I thought.. well this is not what I expected…  (meaning its not that sweet or its bitter tasting.. ha-ha)  As time went on, I began to realize  that my taste buds were changing.  Things began to taste wonderful;  ( them THM sweets were getting good!) my weight was dropping and most importantly… I DID NOT FEEL LIKE I WAS ON A DIET!  

 

(November 2013 with a 52 lb. loss)

 

During the Journey:

 

I was dropping weight and have a blast.. by November 2103 I had lost 52 lbs.!   Looking back at my little notes in the back of my THM book, I can see a steady loss until the stall hit!  Yap I stalled out after my loss of them 52 lbs.  I was bummed but with the holidays fast approaching I figured it would be ok.. just stick to the plan and it will start up again…  WHAT I DIDN’T REALIZE WAS THE CHANGES HAPPENING TO MY BODY!   Well, what I thought was a stall really wasn’t… I was shrinking… LOL… My body was shifting and doing some major “ rearranging”.   At the beginning of 2014 I decided to do a Fuel cycle to see if I couldn’t speed things up a little.  Well, I learned a ton for that FC and for a month or so the scale moved downward only to repeat the cycle again…. stalling, shrinking,  dropping, stalling, shrinking,  dropping….

 

(Sometime in January of 2014)

 

(one Year Trimaversary  2014)

 

Goal Weight!  

 

In September of 2014 I hit goal weight… with a loss of a whopping 84 lbs.  (you can see my story here)

 

(goal weight September 2014)

 

The Journey is still going….

Its two years later and I have lost a total of 92 lbs.. yes even after I was at what I wanted to be at.. I still have lost more pounds.  Why?  Well, I found myself at a new point of my journey.. I had to learn how to maintain and incorporate Crossover meals into my diet.   I have maintained at 92 lbs. lost for  a few months now… my Trim Healthy Mama journey will never end!  It has been so wonderful to be able to have the energy I have.. feel the way I feel..  I can keep up with a class room full of 3 year olds everyday..(its amazing)   I am a THM for life!  The Facebook community has become a big part of my life over the last two years. The new friendships I have made have blessed me abundantly. 

My Husband and I about a month ago!

 

My Tips:

Don’t look at THM as just another diet… IT’S A LIFESTYLE CHANGE!

Take lots of pictures during your journey!

Remember that each person is different, your skinny will not be the same as your friends.

Have fun! 

And remember:  Slow and steady wins the race!

 

Enjoy your Journey!

 

Shelby

J-E- L-L-O ( Sugar Free, THM FP)

Who doesn’t love Jell-O?   I know our family does!

I love this recipe I came up with for an easy snack that uses healthy ingredients.

If your  a Trim Healthy Mama, this is a great FP recipe for  your Fuel Cycle.

I do have a Lemon version at the bottom that is DEEP S Friendly!

I love Deep S foods!

Strawberry Jell-O

1 cup of frozen strawberries ( any frozen berry)

3 cups cold water

1 ½ cup boiling water

3 TBS gelatin

2 TBS THM sweet blend

or 1/4 homemade sweet blend

In a blender, blend strawberries with 2 cups of cold water

( run through the mesh strainer for the seeds… if you feel the need )

In boiling water, dissolve gelatin and sweet blend… add it to  your blended strawberries and rest of  your water…

Pour into an 8x8 pan.

Place in fridge to set.

Lemon Jell-O

3 cups cold water

1/2 cup lemon Juice

1 cup boiling water

3 TBS gelatin

1/4 cup THM sweet blend 

or 1/2 cup homemade sweet blend

a dash of Turmeric powder (optional.. more for the coloring)

In boiling water, dissolve gelatin and sweet blend.

Add it to your water and lemon juice and turmeric powder if desired.

taste, add a little more lemon juice if you love a very lemony Jell-O.  

Pour into  your 8x8 pan…

Place in fridge until firm.

Enjoy Ladies!

The best easy Pizza Crust EVER!

 

I have a confession……..

I love pizza, but I have not had any “real” pizza in a very long time.

I tried Gwen’s sour dough  a time or two… but I would forget about it in the fridge and it wasted..

yes…. I am very bad…

but when a  I seen  One Degree had sprouted Wheat flour and Sprouted Spelt flour

I knew I needed to try it…

Wow!  I love this stuff!  Best of all,  my tummy seems to be able  to handle this very well.

I am trilled!

 

My picky eater has approved this as REAL PIZZA…. it’s a win in my book!

This Pizza Crust is an E for all my THM’s.

 

I make a crossover meat lover pizza with it…

 

Pizza Crust

(makes two 12 inch crust)

 

1 pkg yeast ( fast rising or regular)

1 1/2 cups of  sprouted spelt flour

1 1/2 cup of sprouted whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 cup warm water

2 tablespoons of melted coconut oil

 

Warm water in a sauce pan or microwave until its very warm but not too hot to touch.  Combine 1 cup flour (either one) and your yeast into a bowl.  Combine your water and oil to your yeast and flour… mix well with a hand mixer or with a spoon.

Continue to add  enough of the remaining flours to make a firm dough.  Knead  on a floured surface until its smooth and elastic…. adding more flour it needed. 

 

Let the dough rest 15 to 20 mins.  Divide into 2 parts.  Roll dough out into a round  circle, place on parchment paper (on a cookie sheet).  

Pre Bake at  400 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges of the crust are lightly brown.

Remove and  add your desired sauce, cheeses, and meat.

 

* For an E Pizza~ use fat free cheese and Turkey bacon or low fat meats. *

 

Place back in oven and bake an additional 15 minutes.

 

 

 

Deep S Gumbo

If you are a Southern Gal from Louisiana, you are going to love this recipe.   Feel free to make your Gumbo but please use my Roux recipe to keep it deep S.  

Deep S Gumbo

2 onions

1 bell pepper

3 celery stalks ( form the heart.. leaves and all )

4 Chicken breast and 5 chicken thighs

1 sausage links cut into slices

* Southern Ladies if you like… or non Southerns… boiled eggs slice.. as many as you need   I use 6..)

Chicken broth

Water

(or you can boil a whole chicken with 8 to 12 cups of water and use the broth)

Salt

Tony’s Cajun Seasoning (to taste) or around 2 tablespoons .. adding one at a time until you like the flavor.

1 Tablespoon Gumbo File’

 

Roux: ½ cup of oat fiber

2 teaspoons gluccie

½ cup coconut oil

Mix oat fiber with gluccie. Melt coconut oil in cast iron skillet. Add flour mixture. Cook roux  on lower temp. until its copper penny brown. Stirring so as it does not burn.

 

Meanwhile, in a blender and 2 cups of water, puree veggies …

In a big 10 to 12 quart soup pot.. add veggies and chicken cooked roux . Add chicken broth and water to cover.. add salt and Tony’s .

Simmer and cook for 1 ½ to 2 hours. Adding sausage an hour into cooking.

Before serving add file’ to gumbo and boiled sliced in half eggs.  (if you so wish to… )

Add more if needed.

Serve over Cauli rice and with Fotato salad…

 

Enjoy!

Fuel Pull Pancakes

Here is a quick and easy recipe for my fellow Fuel Cyclers… FP Pancakes!  This recipe makes 3 nice size pancakes that are sure to fill you up.  Top them off with FP Slim Belly Jelly for a wonderful breakfast, lunch, or snack. 

 

Pancakes ~  Low carb, low fat… (FP for the THM’s)

1/4 cup Baking Blend

2 tablespoons oat fiber

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon coconut oil

1/4 cup egg whites

2 teaspoon sweet blend

(I used my homemade one.  If using THM’s sweet blend, one might be enough.)

1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon unsweetened of almond milk

 

Mix well, add any spices or flavors you like… cook in a hot skillet sprayed with coconut oil spray.

My Favorite Recipes of 2014

 

 

2014 has come and gone.  It has been one wild ride for this family.   Our family loves homemade meals.  Below are some of the family’s favorite THM recipes.   If you have not tried any of these.. YOU MUST… you don’t know what your missing!

 

 

Breakfast

 

Honey Bun for One

 

Breakfast Blackberry  Cobbler

 

“Buttermilk” E Waffles

 

THM Pancakes

 

King Cake in a Mug

 

 

Lunch or Dinner

 

Joseph’s Pita Pizza ( S or FP version)

Chicken Lettuce Wraps

MY orange Chicken

Faker-tot Casserole

Un-stuffed Peppers

Bacon Wrapped Chicken

Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas

Coney Island Casserole

Meat Chunks and gravy

 

 

Side Dishes

 

Zucchini and Broccoli Casserole

Cauliflower & Broccoli Au Gratin

 

 

Desserts

 

Any of these lovely FP Cakes

Butterfinger bars

Cheesecake from the THM book

Healthy Peach Cobbler

Moose Tracks  Ice Cream

( Really any of Brianna Thomas’s ice cream recipes)

 

 

 

 

Gearing up for a Fuel Cycle

As the New Year approaches, many ladies are gearing up for the New Year’s Fuel Cycle.   The Fuel Cycle ladies are my buddies.  We love to share our menus and meal ideas with our fellow FCer’s.  One tip I share with other ladies is that planning is the key to a successful Fuel Cycle.   I love List!  Yes, I can be a little OCD with them.. but they have kept me sane during busy times.   When I plan a menu, I don’t have to worry what I am going to cook after a busy day.  Here is my menu for the first week of my Fuel Cycle. You can find most of these recipes in the Trim Healthy Mama book.  Some are my own. 

 Fuel Cycle Menu

 

Days	Menu
Deep S January 2 Fri	Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, bacon cooked with butter Lunch: Deep S salad with vinegar dressing Dinner: Beef broccoli stir fry, with zucchini noodles Snacks: Cake in a mug, gluccie pudding, skinny chocolate
Deep S January 3 Sat	Breakfast: Fried Eggs with oat fiber bread and bacon Lunch: Mexican Cabbage Dinner: Baked Chicken, salad, green beans Snacks: Cake in a mug, gluccie pudding, skinny chocolate
Deep S January 4 Sun	Breakfast: Deep S breakfast skillet dish Lunch: Deep S salad with homemade dressing Dinner: Chicken salad over spinach Snacks: Cake in a mug, gluccie pudding, skinny chocolate
FP January 5 Mon	Breakfast: Berry overnight oats with added Protein powder Lunch: Pita sandwich with laughing cow cheese, and FP tomato soup Dinner: orange Chicken over zucchini noodles Snacks: Cottage berry whip, Fat Stripping Frappe, lemon mousse
FP January 6 Tues	Breakfast: Chia Seed Pudding Lunch: Pita sandwich with laughing cow cheese and FP tomato soup Dinner: grilled chicken with creamless creamy veggies ( zucchini) Snacks: lemon mousse , FP cakes, FSF
E meal January 7 Wed	Breakfast: oatmeal Lunch: baked sweet potato with grilled chicken Dinner: Quinoa bake with chicken breast Snacks: FP cakes, chia seed pudding, gluccie pudding
E meal January 8 Thurs	Breakfast: Berry oatmeal Lunch: left overs from dinner last night Dinner: Sweet Potato and black bean soup Snacks: : FP cakes, chia seed pudding, gluccie pudding