Sorry I've been Quiet!

I haven't posted much lately because, in late July I found out I'm PREGNANT!
SO EXCITED!

I started this journey to health mainly for this reason. My weight loss is taking a break, as I nourish and feed this baby. The first couple of months were a little rough with morning sickness. Now I'm feeling great and am getting really excited!

3 Years ago I was borderline diabetic and turned it around thru diet and weight loss, so it was no surprise that I have been diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes. The diet they have me on is one that I consider carb heavy, but when I eat low carb my blood sugar gets too high! I seem to be doing a great job of managing my blood sugar with this diet they have me on so far!


I'm due in March, will post more updates!

5k!

Ok I did it!
The weather was nice and chilly, even misty from time to time. I love when the weather is nice and cool for these things. Heat can turn a good time into a bad time pretty quickly!
Next year I MUST get better shoes and maybe wear two pairs of socks. After the first half or so I took off y shoe to find that I had two holes in my sock and was very quickly forming blisters. Shortly after the back of the same shoe started rubbing up against my ankle, rubbing off the skin. Well I kept going, just moved a little slower. Made it to the finish line, took me 59 minutes this year....after the pain started I really stopped trying to run/jog and ended up walking most of it.
Like I said before, I don't do this to be the fastest or to beat some magical time, I do this to DO this and to have fun! The time doesn't matter to me. What matters to me is that I got off my butt and did something active on a day that most people use as an excuse to sit around and be extra lazy!
Hope you all have a happy and safe 4th of July!

HELLO!

How are you all doing?
Well, it's that time again!
July 4th! Every year I run/jog/walk the 5k in downtown Huntington Beach. It's not about how fast I run, how good my time is or if I beat anybody. It's about having fun and being active!
I seriously was thinking about not doing it this year. I'm working 3 jobs and frankly, the thought of getting up at 530am on my day isn't very appealing. But, I was thinking, it would make a great new video for my new YouTube page! So I'm gonna do it for you all! Hopefully I'll even get a chance to post the video before tomorrow is over!

It's almost 9pm, so I'll be heading to bed soon. Wish me luck!

YouTube Introduction

Ok I've started my YouTube healthy cooking blog! You'll see videos along with recipes in various places through out the site as time goes on! 

First up, my introduction video!

Facebook and Youtube with Matt

Want to get connected with real people who have a passion for gardening? Want tips, hints and advice?

You can get connected with some like minded people on Facebook or Youtube.
on Facebook check out the group called: Home Farm Ideas hosted by Matt D.

Or check out Matt's video blogs on youtube! Also titled Home Farm Ideas!

These are completely free of course! Join in and join us as we learn together about Organic Gardening!

What is Organic?

Do you buy Organic crops? Yes they cost a bit more, but are worth it. Try growing some of your own!

Organic:
Organic foods are foods that are produced using methods that do not involve modern synthetic inputs such as synthetic pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Organic Foods also do not contain genetically modified organisms, and are not processed using irradiation, industrial solvents, or chemical food additives.^[1]

What are GMO's?

Is this the first time you've heard of GMO? For some people it's a completely new concept. But trust me, this is something you want to know about and be aware of. Right now in the USA it's virtually impossible to avoid GMO's unless you grow all your own food, and never eat anything processed and never eat out at a restaurant.
So what are these GMO's? AKA: The Terminator Seed
Here is the definition from Wikipedia:
A genetically modified organism (GMO) or genetically engineered organism (GEO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. These techniques, generally known as recombinant DNA technology, use DNA molecules from different sources, which are combined into one molecule to create a new set of genes. This DNA is then transferred into an organism, giving it modified or novel genes. Transgenic organisms, a subset of GMOs, are organisms that have inserted DNA from a different species. GMOs are the constituents of genetically modified foods.



Monsanto Monsanto Monsanto, another one you want to remember. Monsanto is responsible for GMO's. They are the makers of Round up and Round up ready products. In my honest opinion we should avoid buying things from this company.

Monsanto is engineering seeds by splicing in DNA from bee's, insects etc into our food. The most commonly genetically modified foods are soy, corn and canola. They are doing this to make the crops resistant to bugs, so that they can grow more, but over time it stops working and they need to modify it even more. Do you think we were meant to have DNA from insects in our food? Do you think we should be "playing God" like that? I think when we mess with our food, we mess with our lives. Anyone else think there could be a connection between GMO's and Cancer? Or between GMO's and Obesity?

These seeds are strong and overpowering, they are slowly diminishing our natural seeds. GMO's are taking over.
However, many countries have OUTLAWED GMO's! Why hasn't America followed suit? Obviously there's a reason they are getting outlawed elsewhere.
I'd have to write a book to inform you on all the negatives of GMO's, and frankly I'm not going to do that. There are enough books and documentaries out there already. 

I suggest you check out some documentaries, many of them are available on Netflix.
The Bad Seed
King Corn

Additional information

Braggs

Organic Gardening

Yet another step in reaching ultimate health! 

Do you buy all of your own produce or grow your own?

I highly suggest you grow as much as you can! 

I live in a small apartment with about 2X10 feet of soil, but I do what I can! If I can do it, so can you! Many things can be grown in pots as well!

In my garden I have all organic non GMO crops. 

(What are GMO's? Look for future post)

I have two Strawberry plants in pots.

5 Green bell pepper plants (2 of which are in pots)

1 Cherry tomato 

1 Early girl tomato

Dill

Green onion

Mint

Sage

Rosemary

Lettuce

Cayenne peppers

Scale Stuck?

Plateau Tips

For those on 5&1

For most people, achieving success on this great program is simple and doesn’t require any counting of calories or carbohydrates. Here are a few tips that can help if you are experiencing slower weight loss or if you reach a weight-loss plateau at some point in your program.

• If you haven’t started exercising yet, now may be the time. Start slowly, and gradually increase time and intensity as your body allows. Remember, listen to your body! If you are already exercising, try picking up the intensity or frequency of your workouts.
• If you are exercising intensely, you may be pushing too hard- try to avoid exessive "huffing and puffing" while exercising.  Your body will store fat if you are overworking!
• In general, be aware of your total carbohydrate intake. If you are experiencing slower weight loss or hit a plateau, we recommend staying between 80-85 grams of carbs per day.
  • Try eating more "liquid" products for a few days, which are generally the lowest in carb content (aka Have a shake day!)
  • Choose meats from the leanest category and veggies from the lowest carb category for a week.
• Avoid eating a MF snack product and a green wrapper bar in the same day if you are experiencing slower weight loss or a weight-loss plateau.
  • Maintenance Bars (in the green wrapper) are higher in carbs than other Meals. 
  • MF Snacks are higher in carbs than most non-MF snacks
• If you like eating both snacks and bars, try to alternate days that you eat a MF snack with days that you eat a green wrapper Maintenance Bar. Refer to the list of non-MF snacks in your Quick Start Guide for more options.
• Ask your health coach about a support website to log your meals and be sure you are eating the lean meat and green veggie meal as it is recommended.  Get the link from your health coach.
• Make sure you are drinking half your body weight in ounces each day.  At least 64 ounces, but preferrably 100 ounces or more is best for getting off a plateau!
• Talk to your health coach about special products to add to your program that will help you burn more calories and increase your metabolism. 
• Make sure you are eating within a half hour of waking up, and never going longer than 3 hours between meals.

If you’ve tried these tips and are not getting the results you expected, contact your health coach for more ideas.


Credited to the website found here.

How Healthy are you? Take the Quiz!

Take the Health Quiz here!

What the 5&1 plan has done for me!

I owe a lot to the 5&1 plan! It has really really changed my life! After losing 20 pounds on my own, I was stuck for over a year, unable to lose weight no matter what I did, or how much I exercised. Then I found Take Shape for life and the 5&1 plan and got a free health coach. Oh my! The weight started falling off! I lost 50 pounds in about 3 months! Thrilled with the results I signed up to coach others on the plan. I'm thrilled to see others lose weight, get healthier and change their lives too!
Something I thought would be another diet failure, has turned into a miracle! Many of my old habits have been broken for good, and many habits are still changing.
Do you want to get off the diet roller coaster and find something that actually works?
Do you want a FREE yes FREE health coach to help you along the way? Do you want to eat yummy food, with lots of variety and still lose up to 2-5 pounds per day? If so, email me today! LoriVolzer37@gmail.com for more info!

Zucchini Chips

I recently tried and fell in love with Zucchini Chips! I've made them for people who told me that they liked them better then potato chips! Zucchini is very healthy and cheap, so why not try them out today! The bigger the Zucchini the better, they tend to shrink when cooking. I like to buy zucchini from small farms or grow my own, the ones traditionally in the grocery store aren't big enough.

Ingredients:

1-2 Large zucchini's sliced very thin

Olive Oil

Salt

Garlic powder (optional)

Place thin sliced zucchini on a cookie sheet, Do not let slices overlap. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with Salt and garlic. Stick in an oven preheated to 250 degrees. Let it cook for about an hour, then check on it. Flip the chips over, brush with oil and sprinkle with salt again and cook for another 30  minutes or so. Start checking them towards the end so they don't burn. Make large batches for parties, or snacks!

Zucchini chips fit into the 5&1 plan! Measure your serving and count your oil towards your healthy fats!

5k

Getting ready once again for the annual 4th of July 5k! I love these traditions! 

Do you have any HEALTHY holiday traditions in your family?

Guacamole

3 ripe avocados

1 jalaepno diced

1/2 medium onion diced

handful of cilantro chopped

1 roma tomato diced

2 tbsp lemon juice

salt 

garlic powder

Mash avocados, add veggies, and juice, then add salt and garlic to taste. Enjoy with carrot or celery sticks for a healthy snack!

Caffeine Free

Hello!

So the day after Easter I gave up Soda, Coffee and all forms of Caffeine for at least 90 days! The first week was miserable. And though I crave it often, I'm finally starting to feel like I've got my natural energy back. I'm really hoping to free myself completely of the "need" for caffeine! Wish me luck!

FACEBOOK

Thanks for visiting my page! Are you following my progress and getting my tips and hints on Facebook? If not, find it here.... Lose it With Lori

Looking forward to seeing you over there!

AMAZINGLY Wonderful Coffee Drink

1 MF Dark Chocolate Antioxidant Shake

1 cup  prepared coffee or espresso

2 pumps Sugar free Dark Cherry Syrup

In a blender add coffee, shake mix and syrup with 4 ice cubes. Blend til smooth. 

You'll never miss those fancy Coffee stores when you can enjoy this guilt free every day!

Quonia Mix Up

Cook your Quonia up a head of time following package directions.

1 cup quonia

1 small onion diced

1 bell pepper diced

2 handfuls of spinach

1/2 cube of Firm Tofu diced

1/2 cup fresh salsa

1 Avocado (garnish)

1 cup pinto beans

Add vegetables and tofu to a skillet, use oil if permitted. Cook until veggies are tender. Add pre cooked Quonia, beans and salsa. Heat til warm. Serve in bowls and top with 1/4 avocado.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter everyone!
I hope you had a good and healthy holiday with your loved ones!
It's definitely Spring, very warm here today!
Can't wait to see how my life has change by next Easter!

Avocado Black Bean Dressing

This dressing was pretty amazing! We had it served over a Turkey Fajita salad. DELISH!

1 small avocado

2 cloves of garlic

1 Serrano pepper

4 tbsp black beans

5-6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

2 tbs apple cider vinegar

1/2 cup walnuts

Put it all in the blender and blend til desired consistency. 

ENJOY!

Cilantro Pesto

When I lived in Las Vegas there was a restaurant chain there called Zaba's! Similar to Chiptole, but with more choices. They had a cilantro pesto that was just amazing! So I've been looking around for recipes, and grabbed my ideas to come up with my own concoction.

1 cup Cilantro
1 cup walnuts
3 cloves of garlic
1 Serrano pepper
6 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive oil
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar


Tasty and healthy!

New Progress picture!

This new progress picture was taken in December 2011!

Happy New Year!

May this year be the year of Health and Happiness for you all!

I am officially down 95 pounds! Hoping to reach 100 this month!
Then I'm getting professional pictures taken with Hubby!
The only professional pictures we have together are from our wedding and those pics were just so-so!

Let's do this!