Katie Update

I am doing well :) My goal date came and went. I was 5 lbs off, but pleased with my loss, 60 lbs!!!

I wasn't trying as hard, or sticking to my tasks while I was in Utah for winter break. But in the process, I've learned that I do have control over my body and the things I eat. I like the new way I eat, and I can maintain my weight the way I eat, while enjoying a day here and there of not sticking to my "diet". I am currently 169, so 9 lbs to my goal of being 160 by next pregnancy. It may be an unreachable goal, but I am still trying!!!

I have been about 70-80% raw/living foods for a few months now. I have enjoyed learning about the health value of raw eating and learning my body's needs. God is brillant! He created our bodies just right, down to what we eat and how our body digest food. I still enjoy breads, and pastas, and rice, and grains of all kind! Those are hard to give up, but I have been eating whole wheat bread, and pasta, brown rice, and whole grains. Such as quinoa, my new favorite! It is great added to your rice, or used as rice. Yummy on top of salads, made in a soup, by its self. It is good!!! I've learned to cut more sodium out of my diet and get more healthy fats. Fats are important! but, healthy ones! I don't know how to explain or teach others why I eat the way I do. I just know what I have read and have been told this that and the other, took it all into consideration, pondered and prayed on it, put it to practice and I now know what the Lord wants of me. It started out as a weight loss journey, but it has ended in a healthy journey. Something I can keep learning and pass on to my kids!

I've joked about being in the school of google. I've been considering doing more research beyond what I have done so as to be able to write up a "book" report on the things I have learned. To be able to clearly say why I don't eat meat or dairy. Why I choose to avoid sugar, soy, high fructose corn syrup, among many others. I don't mind people asking "why", or giving me a weird look, or concerned about my health because I've cut meat(protein) and dairy(calcium) out of my diet, but I want to be able to tell them exactaclly why and how I get my protein and calcium from other food sources, fruit and vegetables, FOOD OF THE LAND, as the Lord intended. No, my diet isn't for everyone, no, my diet isn't easy, no, I won't always follow my diet, but yes, I know what I am doing is right for me, yes, I will make sure that I get the nutrients both me and my future children that I carry with in me needs, and finally yes, I want this more for my health then my weight and looking good, that is just a bonus :)

With learning that I can maintain, I've also learned that I have to have some kind of reward system for losing. So, with the consent of my darling, sweet, supportive, loving, husband, I have come up with a plan, Feb 2010-Feb 2011. Each Sunday I will re-evaluate my needs. I will come up with 15 tasks that I HAVE to do each day. If I follow through on all 15 tasks I get $15 for the day. If I miss even one, then I start at $10 and lose a $1 for every task I don't accomplish. We are going to set up my own savings account to which we will transfer my "earnings" to each week. This account will be called "Katie's WANTS" heehee. I have many wants, but not technically needs. Some only cost $10 so I get them, others cost $2500 so I don't, but WANT TO WANT TO! I can spend the money when ever I want, how ever much I want, but only the amount in my account and if we are not in any desperate need of cash at the time of spending.  I really feel this will benefit me and keep me on task. Choosing a new way of life, specifically diet, isn't easy to always stick to, sometimes you get board or tired so you just want a break. Because I had no reward system over winter break that is what happened to me, causing me to gain back 3 lbs and having no weight loss in 6 weeks, where as I had loss 60 in 7 months!  This will also be good for when I do get pregnant so as to keep me and baby healthy, but not have a huge weight gain. I read on a poster at WIC today, "the more healthy(food choices) weight you gain in pregnancy the easier to lose it after." I like to believe that. So as to have more then my self and hubby to report to, I will be posting each week how I did, what I earned, what my tasks are, my strenghth and weakness and so forth.  :)

Here's a few photos of my current wants :)
http://www.myhealthmaster.com/
I am exited for this blender!!! It will blend better then the cheapo one I have! It will also blend up your fruit and veggies into a juice leaving all the fruit so as to get all the fiber and nutrients you need, that often times gets spit away when juiced through a juicer. I have been working towards this one for some time. I am up to $201 in my account so this will be first on my shopping list :)

http://www.24hourfitness.com/training/bodybugg/ This is what they use on biggest loser. It tracks how many calories you have taken in and burned. How cool is that!!!

http://www.treadclimber.com/trc_microsite/productinformation/tc3000/prdcdovr~100121/Bowflex+TreadClimber+TC3000.jsp
This is a treadmill, elliptical, and stair climber in one! All you have to do is walk!! But the one I am looking at  cost $2100.00! Although the latest and greatest cost $3300.00 That one has an electronic device of some sort that has a coach on it. It allows up to 4 users in which it keeps memory of your work outs and goals and what you need to work on. Which I think is way cool, and want it even more!! .

$2100

$3300