You "HAVE" to!

I just had an experience we have every day. My daughter made an amazing bruschetta and brought some to my hubby. Beautiful, perfect...... sweet cherry tomatoes, olive oil and MY BASIL! I had been smelling it all day. Alas, I knew it wasn't for me, because I have a goal.......
My sweet husband said; "Honey, you have to taste this".
We hear this all the time, the "have to". Bottom line......... we don't! I actually said "no I don't". This is true, we can make our individual choices. It is okay to say "no thank you" if you don't feel comfortable, or you don't want to do, taste, whatever.

(by the time I realized I wanted to take a picture, this is all that was left)

My daughter was not offended, she knows EXACTLY what I'm doing. She will make it again, and I can have some. I will choose to; and be ready!

Define NORMAL

Today has been defining.................
My daughter has been spending much of her "extra" time the last couple of days helping me perfect my business stuff. I'm now ON FACEBOOK as Simply Total Health!

I've been talking to some wonderful people all around the country! I get to share my passion, loves; and I'm getting thanks from coast to coast!
I am humbled with the experiences I am having.....
I saw this at the grocery story when I was mailing some HCG and my "miracle supplement" to a new friend in New York! The other day it was Florida.....
But I couldn't resist the saying and had to snap the pic with my camera!
What is normal, what level of crazy do we allow in our lives before we decide it is "abnormal"? I love crazy, crazy is MY NORMAL and I wouldn't have it any other way.
I am passionate about sharing health and wellness information! I'm "crazy" excited about all of this.
On this note.......
Let's hear it for the exciting times we live in, and to the joys of "normal", but who needs to pretend anyway!

Look good~ Feel good~ Inside out

The "Why"... to run and not be weary, walk and not faint.......

I'm sitting waiting for a new tire! My darn car EATS tread. I'll get it all figured out, but we need to be safe in our drive to Portland and Pasco this weekend! I probably could have made it, but the tread is almost gone! (The steel belts really are steel colored!)
Details matter, safety matters......... HEALTHY matters!
I've talked about my "journey" and my reasons; but as I was running up my stairs the other day I realized I couldn't do that a few months ago! (Yes, these are MY stairs!) I rarely walk up them anymore.
I don't like altitude. I'm VERY sensitive to the high altitude here in Utah and it has been easy to blame any breathlessness or lethargy on that lack of OXYGEN!
I now have the ability to run up my stairs, walk all over in my Sketchers Shape Ups, and not feel winded!
Run and not be weary, Walk and NOT faint
I love the energy I have. This feels as good as fitting into my clothes again; this is the BEST! This is the reason I wanted to get rid of the 50 lbs.

Energy! It is what powers the universe! We use it, we need it........ we complain when we don't have it! I love this picture of the water, he force, the intensity! That is how I feel when I wake up in the morning....... Joy in the new day. (I don't always sleep well, but that is another entry!)

This journey is for ME , I am selfish.......... (I tell my hubby that ALL the time!) I want the energy to be there for children, care for grandchildren........ make bread to give away; to love, be loved.
I will share my discovery with anyone who asks me. I've been truly blessed to "meet" many new "friends" near and far.
I love life, love the energy!
Ah yes......... look good~feel good~inside out
Don't limit yourself!

Principles and Possibilities........ A to Zzzzz

I got to pick up my favorite "southern belle of a niece" Amanda from the airport the other night, well morning......... her plane got in about midnight! I didn't sleep well; I think I was just overtired! I made it through several great hours WALKING ALL OVER the Brigham Young University campus! (Amanda had come out to see BYU!) It was so much fun, and I was able to really give my Sketchers Shape Ups a good test run, test walk!
Oh yes.......... I could tell I was wilting!



I knew I was in trouble when I broke out in a hive-like rash after consuming sugar to keep me going through my afternoon! I just wanted a bit of "energy", but I was surprised about the effect on me! Fixed a nice family dinner, cleaned up....... and hoped to go to bed early! Of all the nights, lots of company.... That didn't work, and I was awake around 5am unable to sleep!

I woke up with a stomach ache, a headache, and overall sick feeling. I was so bloated I was afraid to step on the scale! Oh my gosh........ my weight was within my "guidelines", at the highest, but still! I had to look twice to be sure.








Today I followed my protocol, feel so much better! I was able to enjoy a full day of "shopping with the teenager" and we had a blast!
I know what to do, I have the principles to guide me......... I know the scale will show better numbers tomorrow, and the most important thing; I AM IN CONTROL! I did eat the sugar, regretted it, but it didn't blow my new "lifestyle" out of the water! When I did Atkins for years I would not even eat ONE m&m! I am enjoying the possibilities!
I've had quality Amanda time, I will get extra sleep this weekend...Zzzzz, and I'm succeeding!
This is day by day, with knowledge, tools, and the wonderful opportunity to share; the great and the not so great!
I don't have to stop eating the chocolate, but I know what puts my body over the edge!

* I'm not eating carbs after 4pm That REALLY helps
* I will get more sleep! Sometimes staying in bed for a bit longer can "untip" the scale
* I try to be done eating by 6pm
* Maybe blogging when exhausted is not the best, but reality matters!
* I will continue to share this, my flab to fit...........

Apples to m&m's

The apples turned out well this time.......... it is very easy to over-dry! These honestly were the ONLY thing I cheated on when I was doing my amazing protocol! I actually started having days where I ate "apples" all day, and I'd eat dried apples. That actually helped me NOT cheat, because I got the apples out of my system!











Every morning I make a "pot" or pan of Yerba Mate. I really enjoy it, but it isn't the cheapest herb tea. I have paid $12.00 for a bag of loose stuff. I found this bag at Sunflower Market. It was a KILO for $8 something! I'm thrilled. What a great price. I boil it in a pan (usually 2 heaping tablespoons for 3+ cups of water), and sprinkle loose cinnamon in it. Costco has great cinnamon, and so cheap! When it almost boils I turn it off and do something else for a little while. The ultimate in multi-tasking. I strain it through coffee filters because nothing else will sort out the teeny particles. Sweetened with chocolate Sweet Leaf Stevia drops, a bit of the peppermint as well, and it is one of my morning favorites!






Yesterday I opened a couple "packages" of treats I had gotten. Well, I was going to use them for "loading", but I can have "some" of many things right now!
The white chocolate was very good, but then I OPENED THE m&m's! OH MY GOSH........ as my daughter put it, we now know why the green m&m on those commercials looks so sexy! Wow, they are really amazing! Remember my post about peanut m&m's? Well, these definitely raise the m&m bar!
I've worn my Sketchers Shape Ups all day!
(My weight was great this morning, so I was totally fine....)

Love this program! Having my cake, (m&m's) and size 8's too!
This is about balance, learning, health.... and finding programs we can LIVE with! I have m&m breath right now, but I no longer feel the need to eat the entire bag!

Look Good~Feel Good~Inside Out

Some of my FAVORITE Things

I started a journey 5 months ago and it has gotten me where I am now! It really started before but 5 months ago was when things started to be even more amazing, and I realized I'd better hang on!
I have gone from "the run in my stretch jeans" to giving all my pants away that I've worn the last few years. Alas, there were even some size 12's I'd never taken the tags off of!
I have to admit that having to dry size 8 jeans in the dryer is better than favorite pants........ sacrifices!
I decided to document some of my favorite "food' things. Years ago #1 and #2 would have been peanut m&m's and mini peanut butter cups! (Washed down with Diet Mt Dew!)

Wow have times changed! Now....... I don't want to be without my flavored stevia drops (Sweetleaf brand ONLY), Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar, Franks Red Hot sauce,Blue Cheese, and don't forget the Almond Milk!!!

Don't forget DRIED APPLES

Then my APPLES...... I love apples, and searched high and low for good ones here in Utah. We have a wonderful tree in our back yard but we didn't do the best job preserving them! (I did make lots of applesauce, pie filling, etc.)
I found Fuji, paying TOO MUCH sometimes... A farm market a few blocks away had Seconds for only $6.00 a box. I got almost 3 bushels of apples for $30.00. WE have been eating them, and I've been drying them. Theresa's boys call the dried apples "apple candy"! I will admit that dried apples are the ONLY thing I cheated on while on my "life changing" protocol! (I will NEVER call it a diet! It is too fantastic!)
So here I share..........