Miracle Mascara for a buck!!!

I am ALWAYS searching for a good mascara but at the same time I don't like just buying a bunch of different ones to try cuz mascara can be kinda pricey, especially the good ones.  So i was at the dollar store the other day and came across a mascara made by Loreal which is made by the same company that makes Lancome, the expensive department store brand, so I decided to try it (it was only $1).  Hands down it is the most faboulous mascara I have ever EVER used! I seriously looked like i was wearing fake lashes and for the first time ever my mascara didn't flake into my eyes throughout the day.  Its called Loreal Paris Bare Naturale Luminous Lengthening Mascara and the color I got is 805 Blackest Black. The best part is its all natural, paraban free and actually nourishes your lashes while its making them look fantastic. (Its also safe for allergy sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers).  I went back to the store the next day and bought several more for when I run out!!

Hawaiian Tropic Island Radiance -Creme Lotion- Self Tanner

Dun Da Da Daaaah!!! My first featured product is self tanner, huge surprise I'm sure.  I looooove to be tan but started to feel really guilty about going to the tanning bed so I started using self tanner.  I've tried at least ten different versions of self tan and this one is by far the most natural and easy to apply...and it cost less than $10.  To get it even cheaper I usually wait until i have a $5 off coupon at Ulta but you can also find it at Walmart or drugstores.  This one doesn't have instant bronzer so the upside to that is its not gonna rub off on your clothes or bedsheets (a problem I've definitely had in the past).  Also, a tip to keep it from streaking is to apply in a quick circular motion, not long strokes.  In short, if I was trapped on a desert island with only one beauty product, this would be it...not including lip gloss of course because its not a beauty product, its a life saver!

Startin Fresh

I'm really excited to be taking my blog in a new direction! I hope you will all stay with me.  I'm constantly trying out new products of every kind and I'm always looking for a great deal (ask anyone, I define bargain shopping)!  So I thought it'd be rewarding for me and and everyone to share what I find!  Whether its the latest greatest or its been around for years, I'm sure I've purchased it in some form. So why waste money on things you aren't sure about, let me do it for you! Anytime I find an amazing product at a great buy, I'm gonna celebrate by sharing my absolute honest opinion with you! Stay tuned because I will be posting my first product tonight!!! See ya soon!

Guilt-Free Apple Cobbler (really!!)

So the other night it was really cold in my house and I really wanted to make something dessert that would warm me up.  I've baked apples before and its alright but I was thinking how good apple cobbler sounded so I got in the kitchen and whipped up this Guilt-Free Apple Cobbler.  It was so easy and so good it's hard to believe its also completely healthy!  Now if you aren't on phase two of the HCG diet you can add homemade whipped cream-not the fake stuff- or some vanilla frozen yogurt on top and I can only imagine how tasty that would be (I'll be trying that in about a week :)!

Christy's Guilt-Free Apple Cobbler

1 apple - chopped

1 Grissani bread stick

1 tsp cinnamon

1 packet Truvia (or any brand of stevia or xylitol)

2 T extra virgin coconut oil

In a individual sized baking cup, fill with the chopped apple.  Crush the Grissani bread stick and sprinkle it on top.  In another bowl melt the coconut oil just until it turns to liquid, then add the cinnamon and stevia, stir well.  Pour the coconut oil mixture on top of the apple and bread stick then bake in the oven until a fork can be easily inserted in a piece of the apple (probably about 20 minutes).  Remove from the oven and enjoy immediately!

PS-If you are wondering if the bread stick stays crispy, it does, it actually gets crispier and kinda makes the dish taste like it has nuts sprinkled on top...absolutely delicious!

Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil should be used every single day!  If you have done the HCG diet before, you know that it is not on the original protocol for Phase 2 but I have done quite a bit of research on it and coconut oil isn't stored as fat like other oils.  This miracle oil is turned into energy in your body and actually promotes weight loss rather than deferring it among sooo many other health benefits!  I will say though if you are on phase 2 of the diet I would limit it to about 5 - 6 Tbs a day. You don't need to count the calories in coconut oil as again it is used for energy in our bodies and not stored as fat.  There are so many uses for this delicious oil.  Instead of using butter in your recipes and cooking, replace it with extra virgin coconut oil.  Use it to grease your pans for baking.  Since it is solid unless warm, you can even use it as a super emollient moisturizer on your skin!  I put it in almost every recipe I make and it hasn't affected my weight loss negatively at all!  I'll be posting lots of recipes coming up that all contain coconut oil and I'd love to hear your ideas! 

Chicken Soup

This recipe is sooo simple and delicious, if you are on the HCG diet like me it accounts for 1 meat and 1 vegetable and if you arent it is just a wonderful treat on a cold night.  To make my week much easier I always cook a big batch of chicken over the weekend and this week I shredded it and it has turned out to be very versitile.  If you aren't on the diet like me you can always add more veggies and ingredients to your liking.

Chicken Soup
-3.5 ounces of shredded or chopped cooked chicken
-1/2 cup chopped celery
-1 cup of water
-1 T Braggs Amino Acids (it tastes kinda like soy sauce)
-1 T Coconut Oil
-Seasoning Salt
-Pepper
-Garlic Powder
-Onion Powder

Combine all of the ingredients in a small pot and turn the stove on medium heat until boiling.  Reduce the heat and let simmer until the celery is tender.  Pour in a bowl and serve!  It tastes just like chicken noodle soup except no noodles...I didn't even miss em!

Sorry the picture is a little blurry, bunny thought it smelled really good and was jumping on my lap while i was trying to take it!

I'm Back!!

Hey Everyone, its been a long time since I've posted but now I'm back!  I moved to Arizona a few months ago and since then life has been a bit hectic.  But after moving to a several different places here we've finally settled into a beautiful house with a kitchen I'm willing to cook in again!  I'll admit,  I fell off the bandwagon while in housing limbo and gained some weight back that I'm none too proud of but the HCG diet has come to the rescue once again!  This time around I've been coming up with some excellent recipes that have made it smooth sailing!  I'm still on phase 2 of the diet so the foods I can have are pretty limited but I think my recipes can be easily adjusted for everyone to enjoy.  My favorite has definitely become the apple meatloaf.  I try to think of things I'd like to eat and use my diet foods to recreate them.  I'll try to post a picture soon but its just so good I usually eat it as soon as it comes out of the oven!

Apple Meatloaf
-3.5 g lean ground beef
-1 small apple
-1/4 cup onion
-1/2 tsp Rosemary
-salt, pepper and other seasonings to taste
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Add all ingredients to a food processor and make sure everything is evenly combined and chopped.  Move mixture to an individual sized baking pan (I found a cute little mini-baking pan that is about 2 inches x 4 inches) and bake for about 45 minutes.  Enjoy immediately!  This recipe is for one serving but you can multiply it if you're cooking for more than just yourself!

More recipes and tips coming soon so stay tuned!

Soft-Serve Fruit Shake

There are very few healthy things my husband will eat but the one he loves (and can't believe there isn't any sugar in it) is bananas and milk blended up in the blender. It makes a wonderfully creamy almost ice cream like treat.  Well I've taken it just a little further and decided to try some other fruits and they have turned out sooo good, better than ice cream! Yesterday I tried raspberries and today I tried peaches and they are both equally delicious.  If you use whole milk like I do you also get the added benefits of more protein.  There isn't any need for sugar in this recipe and I really don't think you'll miss it because fruit is already so sweet but if you must you can add a tablespoon of Xylitol or Stevia.  It comes out so thick you can eat it with a spoon and since there is no ice, you won't get those pesky chunks of ice in the bottom.

Soft-Serve Fruit Shake

1 cup frozen fruit (if its pre-packaged make sure its just fruit, no sugar)

1/2 cup whole milk

1/4 cup heavy cream

1 T extra virgin coconut oil

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend well.  Serve Immediately.

The great thing about this recipe is you can experiment with lots of different things and it all tastes great so try it and let me know how it turns out!

Protein Packed Pasta Salad

I have found that protein is key in maintaining muscle and a lean healthy body.  My friend Inga introduced me to Quinoa (the perfect protein) and I love using quinoa flour in everything I can!  The other day I was shopping at my local health food store and I came across quinoa pasta (very exciting)!  I'm always trying to think of convienient things to pack for lunch so I came up with this easy, filling and protein packed pasta salad made with quinoa pasta.

Ingredients:

- 1 box quinoa pasta (weight: 8oz dry)

- 2 cans water packed tuna

- 1/4 cup Lemonaise (or no sugar added mayo)

- 1 cup fresh or frozen chopped mixed veggies of your choice

- dash of salt and pepper

Cook pasta, drain and mix in the rest of the ingredients.  Refrigerate.  The great thing about pasta salad is you can add whatever you like, this is just what I had on hand.  When I make something like this I usually split it up into single servings before I put it in the fridge so I can just grab it and go.

Delicious and Nutritious Waffles!

You always hear that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Well its not just a saying, its totally right on point!  When you eat a healthy filling breakfast, you set yourself up to make great eating choices all day long, and you will be less hungry!  Think of it like this: Eat like a queen for breakfast, a princess for lunch and a pauper for dinner and a small snack in between if you're still hungry.  I personally eat a huge breakfast and I'm not even hungry again until early afternoon!  I don't usually have time to make waffles before work but they are my weekend breakfast staple and the recipe I've created below is my absolute favorite.  You might notice in my recipes I never use low fat or fat free products (unless they are naturally low fat or fat-free).  It is better to have the nutrients that occur naturally in full fat foods than have the depleted and chemically enhanced "diet" foods! I could go on and on about that but I'll save it for another day ;)
Quinoa Waffles
1/2 cup quinoa flour (or whole wheat flour)
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1 tsp baking powder
1 T butter
1/4 cup coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla

Mix all of the ingredients together with a hand mixer and cook in a waffle iron until done.  Optional: Top with 2 tablespoons of neufchatel cheese, berries and agave syrup. 

Seaweed?? Who knew

For those of you who know me pretty well, know that I have an obsession with magazines (we'll call it research), and the other day I was reading Women's Health when I came across a little tidbit about seaweed; I was very intrigued and I've included it below...
"Alginate is a dietary fiber found in seaweed that could someday be used to make reduced-fat foods.  In experiments, it reduced fat absorption in the digestive system by as much as 75% percent."
Now you don't have to be a mathematician to know that 75% is a ton! If this is true then seaweed definitely needs to be a staple in any and every diet.  I did a little research of my own on the subject come to find out, seaweed is so nutrient rich, less than one gram a day can make a huge difference in lowering cholesterol, balancing thyroid problems and lowering your body's fat!!  Almost every skinny person I know absolutely loves sushi (which is wrapped in seaweed) and now I'm thinking that it's no coincidence! Here is my dilemma, I hate sushi, the thought of raw fish and the way you have to put the whole thing in your mouth at once makes me cringe....and its the only thing I know of that uses seaweed.  Now that I know this information about seaweed I simply must include it in my daily routine.  Aside from eating sushi paper (no thanks!), does anyone have any suggestions or recipes to share to make this diet miracle more palletable??  I'm going to continue my research on the subject and will keep you updated with my findings too!

You Feel Great...Why Not Look Great

Hopefully now you're eating well and feeling great on the inside and outside...but if your outside needs a boost, check out my handmade and self designed figure flattering aprons.  With all this cooking, you gotta wear an apron and why not one that makes you look great! These are only 2 of the many styles I make and if you're interested in having one for yourself I'd be happy to make that happen!

*The full sized aprons are $15 and the smaller half sized aprons are $10.
*To order or ask about about custom orders email me at christyclt@hotmail.com.

Detox Bath

I talk a lot about eating organic and natural food but since its not always available its good to cleanse your body of toxins it can store over time from additives and chemicals in the food we eat and the products we use on our skin (yes it soaks in).  A great way to cleanse and detox is a Detox Bath.  It is very simple and inexpensive, but very effective.  I always lose at least 1 lb every time and there is nothing harmful in the bath so you may do it a couple times a week if you like!  All you need is 2 cups of Epsom salt and 1 box of baking soda.  Pour both into a hot bath (as hot as you can stand) and soak for at least 20 minutes.  Don't shower off until the next day.  The combination of Epsom salt and baking soda work by drawing out toxins, replenishing nutrients and increasing circulation.  Its kind of like exercise for your insides!  You can also add a handful of dead sea salts to feed and improve the health and appearance of your skin.  This bath completely relaxes you (and may improve insomnia) so I always do it before I go to bed and I fall right to sleep! 

The Big Question - Organic vs. Non-Organic

The big debate has been for a while now...is it really that important to eat organic and what is the difference between Organic and non-organic foods.  Well hopefully I can clear that up for you.  Organic refers to the way the crops are grown and handled before they get to you.  For example, conventional farmers apply chemical fertilizers to promote plant growth, spray insecticides to reduce pests and disease and use chemical herbicides to manage weeds.  On the other hand, Organic farmers apply natural fertilizers such as manure or compost, use beneficial insects and birds to reduce pests and disease and rotate crops, till, hand weed or mulch to manage weeds.  Conventionally grown crops are stored in warehouses and artificially ripened with gases while Organic grown crops are delivered fresh daily.  The problem with conventionally grown foods is that all of the harmful things they use in the growth of their produce cannot just be washed off, it is in the soil, soaked up through the roots and implanted directly into the food you are eating.  While it isn't financially possible for most of us to eat everything organic, because yes it does cost more, I did some research on the subject and came up with a list of the conventionally grown produce that is most contaminated with chemical pesticides and should be eaten organic if at all possible.

Nectarines - 97% sampled contained chemical pesticides

Celery - 95% sampled contained chemical pesticides

Pears - 94% sampled contained chemical pesticides

Peaches - 94% sampled contained chemical pesticides

Apples - 91% sampled contained chemical pesticides

Cherries - 91% sampled contained chemical pesticides

Strawberries - 90% sampled contained chemical pesticides

Imported Grapes - 86% sampled contained chemical pesticides

Spinach - 83% sampled contained chemical pesticides

Potatoes - 79% sampled contained chemical pesticides

Bell Peppers - 68% sampled contained chemical pesticides

Red Raspberries - 59% sampled contained pesticides

There is some good news though, I found that the following produce was said to have had the least amount chemical pesticides when it was tested so should be pretty safe to buy conventionally...

Asparagus, Avocados, Bananas, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Corn, Kiwi, Mangoes, Onions, Papaya, Pineapples and Sweet Peas.

I know this is a lot to take in but I think it is always best to know what you're putting into your body.  Would you drink a glass of chemical pesticides or rub it on your body...I didn't think so, and while you aren't getting it that concentrated as actually drinking it, it is building up in your body over time and will lead to sickness, disease and deterioration.

So bottom line, in my opinion Organic is better and I try to buy as much organic as possible.  I think if you are going to buy packaged food, it is always best to buy organic because they put so many ingredients and preservatives in the regular ones. If buying organic packaged food isn't possible or isn't available to you, look for items that contain less than 10 ingredients and make sure you can pronounce all of them and you should be pretty safe.

How Convenient Is It?

How convenient are convenience foods? I'm talking about frozen entrees, canned foods, premade pasta, packaged desserts, etc. I read an article the other day that said on average it takes just under an hour to prepare a meal, regardless of whether convenience foods made up less than 20 percent or at least 50 percent of the meal. Long story short, its not any faster to use all that unhealthy prepackaged stuff that has goodness knows how many additives in it. So remember, a dinner made out of fresh foods may reach the table just as fast, has more nutrients in it and is better for the environment since there isn't all that packaging!

Be Careful With Nuts

So yesterday I ate a lot of almonds. Almonds are fine on my diet but I've always noticed my stomach doesn't feel very good when I eat them. For some reason I went overboard yesterday and had breakfast made with almond flour, unsweetened carob covered almonds for my morning snack and roasted almonds for my afternoon snack. Besides gaining 2 lbs this morning (!!!), probably due to the almonds since I didn't eat a whole lot else, I was laying in bed last night and had a horrible allergic reaction. I was itching so bad I was crying and ended up falling asleep cuddling ice packs. Needless to say, I woke up this morning and threw all of my almonds and things containing almonds in the trash, I will miss my almond butter the most :( I guess the moral of this story is to listen to what your body is telling you...I've always felt kinda weird when I ate almonds so I should have known better than to consume large quantities of them. Its the same thing with appetite...listen to your body, it knows when you are full! If you are eating something just because it tastes good, not because you are still hungry, put it in the fridge and save it for later, it will still be there in a few hours or the next day and your body will be able to use it for energy rather than packing it away as fat because you've already had your fill!

More Cookies....Surprise Surprise

You may have noticed, but I have a major sweet tooth! I'm always experimenting in the kitchen to make healthy foods taste like the unhealthy stuff I love so much. I'm pretty sure this is my best recipe yet...even my husband liked it [that says a lot!]. This recipe can easily be cut in half.

I call them....

'Mock'olate Chip Cookies

-1 cup coconut flour

-1/2 cup melted butter

-2 T Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

-1 cup Xylitol (granulated sweetener: it tastes exactly like sugar with no aftertaste like Stevia)

-4 eggs

-1/2 tsp vanilla

-sprinkle of salt

-3/4 cup unsweetened carob chips

Mix together butter, coconut oil, Xylitol, eggs, vanilla and salt. Stir in coconut flour, then carob chips. Roll dough into 1-1/2" balls then flatten [they don't really change shape when you cook them so i would flatten them to the size you want them]. Place flattened balls on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 375F for about 15 minutes. Cool and Eat!

note: my recipe is sugar-free but keep in mind if you use chocolate chips instead of unsweetened carob then the recipe will no longer be sugar free.

Dinner at Home

Yesterday was my 3 year wedding anniversary...YaY! Our usual tradition is to go to a ridiculously nice restaurant but since I am still on Phase 3 of the HCG diet (no sugar, no starch), I decided to cook steak & enchiladas and key lime pie at home this year. You never know what restaurants are putting on your food (example: sugar, msg, etc...) so this way I had control over what I ate. Now my husband isn't a huge fan of most of my healthy creations so I did half of the enchiladas with regular flour tortillas for him. I don't think he was a big fan of my crust-less key lime pie (I made up the recipe when I realized my strawberries had gone bad that I was going to use in my original dessert) but I thought it was amazing! I decorated my dining room like a romantic restaurant and I barely missed going out! Here are my recipes if you'd like to give them a try...


Easy Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas
-1 8oz package cream cheese. softened
-1 small container of sour cream
-1 large jar of salsa
-4 cooked and shredded chicken breasts
-10 tortillas (I used Ezekiel Sprouted Tortillas. no starch)
-shredded cheese
While chicken breast is still warm, stir cream cheese in with it then add 1/2 of the jar of salsa. Add a heaping spoonfull of chicken mix to tortilla and roll up placing the seam side down in a greased 9x13 pan. After all the chicken mix is used. Mix sour cream and the rest of the salsa together in a bowl then spread over the enchiladas. Cover with cheese and bake til cheese is melted and golden brown.

Crustless Key Lime Pie
-1 cup heavy whipping cream
-10 drops of Stevia
-1 tsp vanilla extract
-8oz cream cheese
-1/4 cup softened butter
-Juice of 1 lime
-1 tsp lime zest
-lime slices and grated unsweetened coconut (optional: for garnish)
Combine cream, stevia and vanilla, whip until stiff peaks form. Set aside. Mix cream cheese, butter, lime juice and lime zest until mixture is smooth. Gently combine both mixtures and spoon into serving cups. Top with coconut and chill for a couple hours. Add lime slice and serve.

Decisions Decisions

When you're on vacation or away from your healthy stocked fridge, there are a lot of decisions to make about whether to stay on track and make healthy food choices or just say to heck with it, i'll get back on track when I get home. Well I've worked really hard to change my eating habits and one little memorial day camping trip isn't going to ruin it all! Although it was especially hard when my husbands friends showed up with brownies, chips and cookies...ugh! Nevertheless if you come prepared like i did, hopefully you can just say no! I packed some nuts and fruit to snack on and for dinner I put some chicken and veggies, wrapped in tin foil, in the hot coals under our fire and made a delicious little dinner that me and my husband both enjoyed. For breakfast I know a really easy omelet trick, perfect for camping, but you can do it anywhere you have a boiling pot of water. Before you leave, put eggs, tomatoes, cheese, spices, peppers and whatever else you like in a little sandwich sized ziploc bag (make sure its a strong bag like Hefty or Ziploc because the cheapo ones might break open). Bring a pot of water to a boil over a camp stove or your fire and drop the baggy in. About 30 minutes later you have a beautiful omelet! Enjoy!

Easy Easy Easy Peanut Butter Cookies

I think I've mentioned it before, but...I LOVE PEANUT BUTTER! I also love cookies but they are usually complicated recipes and include ingredients that are totally off limits for me. However, these peanut butter cookies are a little piece of heaven because they not only taste just like the real thing, they are super simple to make.

As I pictured above, there are only 3 ingredients...yeah you read that right, 3! I told you this would be easy!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup all natural granulated sweetener (I used Stevia, but some people don't like the taste)

1 cup Fresh Ground Peanut Butter

1 egg

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together. Form into 12 small balls and press them flat on a cookie sheet with a fork (that way you get the little crisscross design on top). Bake for about 15 minutes. Cool. Eat!

Before & After

After ^

Before^

Ok I said I'd show you my before diet and after diet pictures so i got brave and here they are! The top picture is me now (today actually) feeling healthy and confident!

Carob Fudge

I want to share one of my favorite recipes in the whole world...Carob Fudge...it is awesome.

Carob Fudge
3-4 tsp warm water
2/3 c. carob powder, sifted
1/3 c. agave syrup
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/3 c. dry milk powder
3/4 c. peanuts or pecans

Combine the ingredients in the order listed (add a little more water if too dry). Line the bottom of a small loaf pan with plastic wrap and spoon in the fudge. Pat the top so it is flat. Chill in fridge or freezer. Enjoy ya'll!!

read: the agave syrup can be exchanged for unsweetened applesauce.

Real Food

The hcg diet I'm doing has 4 phases...I'm currently on phase 3. Phase 3 of the diet states you can eat whatever you like as long as it has absolutely no sugar or starch. I have to be pretty creative with my cooking and make most everything from scratch but I've found some premade items that make my life much easier. From the top: Row 1--TRUVIA all natural sweetener made from the stevia plant with 0 calories, it comes in little packets and can even be used in baking. FITNUTZ peanut butter powder, love love love and less than half the calories and fat than even my favorite fresh ground peanut butter, when water is added it looks and taste just like the real stuff. CAROB POWDER has been a childhood favorite of mine, its like chocolate but doesn't need sugar to make it sweet and since i couldn't have chocolate growing up, it was the next best thing. Row 2--PEANUT BUTTER, I'm a peanut butter freak and this stuff is fresh ground at my local grocery store...yum :). EXTRA VIRGIN COCONUT OIL replaces butter in almost everything and has healthy fats needed in your daily diet, and I love the subtle coconut taste, i even use it as a luxurious skin moisturizer. LEMONAISE is made with lemons and is a substitute for mayonaise and taste exactly like it, it was the only one in the entire health food store that didn't contain sugar! FLAXSEED MEAL, i use it as a replacement for flour (i can't have starch) and sometimes i mix it with organic coconut flour for more desert-like things. It has tons of fiber but it is super absorbent so i have to double my liquids in recipes. Row 3--TURKEY PEPPERONI is sooo good and an excellent little snack with much less fat and no additives of regular pepperoni. SPROUTED TORTILLAS have saved me and are sooo versatile; great for mini pizzas, burritos, enchiladas, wraps and they can even be sliced up and baked like tortilla chips. They are made from sprouts so they are not starchy! CHEDDAR CHEESE is an awesome little snack and they come in these great little 3/4 oz packages so i don't eat too much of it...because i love cheese and i would totally overdue it.
So these are my favorites, if you have any great products that you love, let me know! I'm always searching for more ideas!

I guess i haven't mentioned it before, but I just finished doing phase 2 of the HCG diet...for those of you out there who haven't heard of it...you can read the entire original manuscript describing every detail on my page to the right titled "HCG - Pounds & Inches". I've also added some pages titled Phase 2, Phase 3, & Phase 4 describing each phase of the diet in detail. But I'll tell you this, it changes your life (for the better if you're committed to it). I wasn't seriously overweight but I just didn't feel healthy and needed something drastic to makeover the way I think about food and health. Its funny how easy it is to get out of the habit of taking care of yourself. Growing up in the south, surrounded by fried everything, bbq and decadent deserts, my mom made sure we had none of it. That means no butter, sugar, fast food, beef, pork...the list goes on. I don't think I tasted steak or chocolate til i was 17! Which is right around the time everything I had instilled in my brain about living a healthy life when out the door. I moved out of my parents house, and away from their watchful eye, to go to college in utah. Living on your own as a college student doesn't exactly promote health! Staying up late and living on juice and candy packed on my freshman 15 in a hurry. 7 years later, and many diets later, have landed me here, embarking on my journey to total health happiness inside and out.

My next post I am going to show some of the food that makes my life easier, it can all be purchased at your local health food store.
Also I am going to post some before and after pictures of myself so tune in for that!!

Cookies :(

Ok, this is the temptation I have to deal with at work! Look at all those cookies!

My Fabulous Healthy Life

My mom has always told me "Eat to live, don't live to eat". After all this time, I think i'm getting it.