You're Addicted to WHAT?

I know this may sound silly because most people are addicted to things like alcohol or drugs, but it IS totally possible to have a food addiction – trust me, I know!  I got an invitation through email at work to attend a webinar about food addiction at the beginning of this year, and I decided what the heck, I'll listen in on it.  Let me just tell y'all – it was seriously scary!  Not because of the content, but because it made me realize that I used to have a real problem.

I’m about to share some things with y'all that a lot of people don’t know about me.  Don't get too excited, it's nothing crazy!  Drum roll................I used to be a food addict.  My days were focused and planned all around food.  When it was time for my lunch break at work, I would go to a drive through and load up on food.  I’d go to Sonic and get an extra-long chili-cheese coney, an order of cheese sticks, a large cherry vanilla Dr. Pepper, and cheesecake bites with caramel sauce.  Or I would go to Taco Bell, and I would get 6 crunchy tacos, 2 double deckers, 2 orders of nacho cheese, and a large Root Beer.  Or I would go to KFC and get a mashed potato bowl, an order of macaroni and cheese, 2 biscuits, and a large Sweet Tea.  You name it, I went there.  After I had loaded up on my food of choice, I would go find an empty parking lot and park under a tree in a corner so I could hide.  I would stuff my face as fast as possible because I didn't want anyone to see the amount of food I was consuming.  After I was done, I would go to a gas station or the Dollar Store and buy a bag of candy – usually Snickers bites, Reese’s, or Skittles.  I would shove it in my purse so nobody would know that I had secret plans to eat it all afternoon while sitting at my desk.  After getting off work, going home, and putting on my stretchy pants – I would eat supper.  This usually consisted of something quick and easy - pizza, fast food, etc.  Then I would park my rear on the couch and wait.  I would wait for my husband to go to bed so I could grab the can of frosting I had stashed on the top shelf of the refrigerator behind the butter where he couldn't see it.  I would grab a spoon, crack it open, sit on the couch, and eat it.  By the spoonful.  Usually half a can and sometimes even a whole can at a time.  After I had eaten myself into oblivion, I would hide what was left of the frosting back in the fridge so I could have a date with it again the next night.  Sometimes, I’d even have a glass of wine or beer with my late-night food rendezvous.  Then I would go to bed, just so I could wake up and do it all over again the next day.  Hey, don’t judge.

I have no idea why I continued to do that to myself.  I hated who I was, how I looked, how I felt, and what I was doing.  I guess stuffing my feelings down with food was my answer to coping with my problems.  But after I would eat, I would feel guilty and just eat more because it made me feel better.  Turns out, I had all the tell-tale signs of food addiction:

• binge even when you aren't hungry
• eat faster than normal
• eat alone due to shame and embarrassment
• feel guilty due to overeating
• preoccupied with your weight
• suffer from depression and frequent mood swings
• aware that your eating pattern is not normal, but do it anyway
• history of weight fluctuations
• withdrawal from activities due to embarrassment of weight
• history of many unsuccessful diets
• low self-esteem
• urge to eat greater amounts

Yup.  All of the above USED to describe who I was to a T.  But not anymore.  Even though the fluffy girl inside me rears her big ole fat head when sweets, chicken fried steaks, rolls, and nachos appear – I am very proud to say that I am no longer a food addict!  I don’t depend on food to make me happy anymore; I depend on food to fuel my body for the day.  Did I just say that?  Yep, I did.  Totally "that" girl.  

If you suffer from food addiction or binging, go check out my awesome coach/friend/trainer lady’s blog by clicking here.  She knows her stuff and has some great ways to help you think about food in a different way.

Life outside of food addiction is gloooorious!  I have energy, confidence, and the desire to do things and wear things (like yoga pants and leggings, what!) that I used to be afraid of.  Who knew that getting my eating habits under control could make such a difference in my overall happiness?  I feel like a new person, and the burden of food no longer weighs on me.  I choose what I eat now, I don’t let food control me.  No, I'm not on a diet, and I don't restrict myself.  I choose what I put in my face for a reason, not because I "can" or "can't".

If you need help, want to know more, or have questions, please don't hesitate to shoot me a message!  I don't bite, and I won't judge you!  My email is losingfluffwithkelli@gmail.com.  :) 

Stay tuned for my EXCITING news I have to announce next week!!!!!!

Sweet Potato Meat Lover's Pizza

You can eat PIZZA while getting healthy?!  YES!!!!  This pizza is hubby-approved, tastes uhMAZing, and is easy to make!  Here's a step-by-step of how I did it:

First, you need to get your crust ingredients together - oats, medium sweet potato, coconut flour, and egg whites:

Then you need to cook your sweet potato.  Peel it, rinse it off, stab it with a knife a few times (this lets the steam escape so it doesn't blow up all over your microwave), wrap it in a paper towel, and cook it in the microwave for about 7-8 minutes or until soft.  Go ahead and get your oven preheating to 340 degrees also.

While the potato is cooking, get the rest of your crust ingredients together.  Add 1/2 cup oats to your blender, and grind them up into a fine powder.  Then add in 1 tbsp coconut flour and 4 egg whites, and blend together.

Once the potato is done cooking, take it out of the microwave and chop it up so that it can cool quicker.  You don't want to add a super hot potato to your raw egg whites because it will scramble them.

After the potato is cool, add it in to your blender with the rest of your mixture and blend until smooth.  Spread it out as evenly as you can onto a baking sheet.  I used a 15.25 x 10.25 sheet.

Bake in a 340 degree oven for about 25 minutes.  This time will vary depending on your oven.  Just cook it until the tips start to brown a little bit.  While your crust is cooking, get your topping ingredients together.

Next, cook your turkey bacon and your meat.  I used the same skillet and cooked the turkey bacon first, then the meat.  I added some garlic salt, pepper, and parsley to the meat to give it more flavor. 

Once the crust is cooked, add your toppings.  I spread 3/4 cup pizza sauce evenly on the top, then added the beef, and torn up pieces of turkey bacon.  Top it with the cheese to help hold it all together.  Try to get an even amount of toppings all over the pizza.  Spread 1/2 tbsp olive oil around the edges to help the crust get brown and crunchy.

Pop it in the oven, turn it on broil, and let her rip for about 7-10 minutes or until the cheese starts to bubble and the crust starts to brown on the edges.

Cut into 12 pieces, and ENJOY!

Here is a comparison of my version of pizza vs. pizza hut.  Pretty crazy, right?  If you or your kids are craving pizza, I hope you try this recipe next time!  :)  

What Motivates YOU?

A few days ago, I had just finished getting my butt kicked in boot camp.  I was dripping in sweat, feeling like I was about to just keel over at any moment, when one of my friends asked me where I lived.  After I told her, she asked how long it took me to get home from boot camp, and I said about 40-45 minutes.  She then said, “That takes dedication!”  I just smiled.  After getting in my car, eating my banana, spilling my protein shake on myself like I usually do, and texting my hubs to tell him I was on my way home, I started driving.  I thought about what my friend had said the entire way home, and I realized – man, I guess I really am dedicated...maybe with a  little touch of crazy.

I am a very strong-willed person, and once I set my mind to something, it ain’t over till it’s over.  Behind my strong will is a little something called my motivation.  I have spent many of my years trying and failing to lose weight.  I would get started and get going strong then lose steam and quit.  Then I’d get mad at myself, start over again, and quit again.  I have even done that recently – started in February of 2013, quit in August of 2013, and started AGAIN in January of 2014 (yes, I am aware that January was just a month ago).  My journey has in no way been perfect, but through the successes and the struggles – I have realized that things are different now.  I’m no longer doing this for a “quick fix” or “just for a few months” – I am doing this for a lifetime.  There is no date where I plan on stopping, no week where I plan to take a break, and no event that I plan on allowing to hinder me. 

“How do you stay so motivated?” – this is a question I get asked frequently, and my answer is always, “I just do!” ... Well, there is a lot more to it than that.  My motivation has been a long time comin, but it all hit me at once in 2013.  I lost a really good friend, my grandpa, and my grandma.  To this day, I still don’t understand it, but not everything is up to me to understand.  Losing so many loved ones in such a short time frame has forced me to re-evaluate everything in my life.  I started questioning myself about things...Am I doing what I’m supposed to be doing?  Am I truly happy with who I am?  What do I really want?  How would I want to be remembered?  Does this really matter in the big picture?  What’s really important to me?

When I started in February of last year, it was because I was uncomfortable in my own skin.  I wanted to feel better.  I stuck with it until August, and thought I needed a break.  Stress was getting to me, and all I wanted to do was crawl under a rock and hide from the world.  So I did just that.  While hiding under my rock, I proceeded to stuff my face, drink beer, and gain back everything I had worked so hard to lose.  After deciding I was sick of hiding under my rock, I gathered up the courage to start boot camp again in January.  But this time it was different.  I didn’t decide to start again because I felt uncomfortable (yes, it was one of the reasons), but I started over again for a whole new set of reasons:

1.       I had lost my self-esteem and confidence, and I needed to get it back.

2.      I was unhappy with myself.  I knew what I was supposed to be doing to get healthy, and I wasn’t doing it.

3.      I was letting the opinions of others cloud my thoughts and make me think my goals were unattainable and unrealistic.    I needed to prove to myself that I can achieve my goals.

4.      I did not like the fact that I was slipping back into old habits – fast food, pajama pants, and couch time.  I missed my workout clothes and brussels sprouts.

5.      I only get one life.  Why spend it being someone I’m not?

The bottom line is, I have learned that LIFE IS SHORT.  I don’t want to spend it hiding, uncomfortable with myself, and wishing I was different.  I want to be healthy, and I want to be happy with the girl in the mirror. 

Health and fitness is something that I never thought would be a big part of my life.  I used to look at girls and think, “ugh, spandex pants?” – now, I am one of them.  Granted, I may not look as great in my tight pants as some other people but who cares.  That’s beside the point.  :) The point is, having a strong motivation is essential.  If you have motivation - you have determination, and if you have both of those – YOU CAN DO ANYTHING!  If you've never seriously thought that you can be different than you always have been, then you are just holding yourself back.  You are allowed to change, you are allowed to be unique, and you are allowed to fly.

So what motivates you?  Are you still waiting on that perfect moment to get motivated? 

Guess what - the only time you have is right now.  Do you want to look back and wish you had done all those things you’ve always wanted, or do you want to look back and be happy with what you have accomplished?  

Find what motivates you, cling onto it for dear life, and get to work!

Journey to the Land of Green Stuff!

For those of you who know me well, you know that I am a picky eater.  Always have been.  You also know that I am a VERY independent thinker, and I don’t like to try or do new things unless it’s MY idea.  If you ask me to “just try it” – 99.9% of the time, you’re going to get a big fat NO from me.  I have dealt with two things my entire life:  the fact that I am quiet and the fact that I don’t like lots of foods.  People will try to coerce me into talking more and eating new things, but I resist every single time.  If I don’t have anything to talk about, guess what?  I ain’t talkin!  If I think something looks gross and don’t want to eat it, I’m not going to!  Call it stubborn if you want, but that’s just how I operate!

When I started boot camp last year – I was cuhLUEless about how to eat.  I had been on weight watchers a thousand and one times, tried diet pills, tried slimfast shakes, yeah...all that fun stuff.  Well, I remember very clearly the few days leading up to a huge change in my eating habits.  I was attending Eugene’s outdoor camp at the time, and he told me I needed to get a meal plan from Kristina.  My first thought was...a meal plan? ugh! I’m not paying for that crap! The last thing I want is another person trying to tell me how to eat! ... Then after a few more camps I kept hearing Eugene say things like “you can’t outwork a bad diet...nutrition is just as important as working out...make sure you go home and get protein...”- I started to wonder if this eating different stuff was worth it.  So I emailed Kristina.  I almost laughed when she requested that I send a list of food likes/dislikes because my list of dislikes would be a mile long.  A few days later, I received my meal plan.  It had things on it like green beans and broccoli...uhhhh gross!  

So instead of eating them, I substituted with buttered corn (oops).  A couple weeks later, on a cold morning at 5:30am, Eugene asked me how things were going, and I told him I was struggling with the vegetable part because I didn't like any.  I mean, the only way I was eating a veggie is if it was fried okra coated in gravy alongside my chicken fried steak and taters!  He looked me straight in the eye and said, "You are going to have to start eating some greens."  He explained that they had vitamins and minerals in them that I needed.  I was devastated.  I did NOT want to eat any green crap!  He told me to start with baby spinach.  So I did.  I don't like salad dressing, so I figured out that if I coat it all in lime juice, it helps cover the flavor and I can get it down.  Then I started trying steamed broccoli.  Then Kristina told me to try brussels sprouts.  HA!!!  I bought the frozen ones and let me just say, those mushy things smell like feet and are NOT TASTY!  So I did some research and started roasting the fresh ones, way better!  

Once I started eating the green stuff, a few things happened.  My fluff started to melt away, and I had more energy from eating balanced meals.  I also had a lot more gas (sorry if that’s too honest, just keepin it real).  After 27 years of not touching, licking, smelling, or even THINKING about touching green veggies, I have realized that it is essential to eating healthy.  Not only will it help you shed the fat, there are also lots of beneficial reasons to eat veggies, here’s just a few:

-reduces risk for heart disease, obesity and diabetes
-may lower blood pressure and decrease bone loss
-helps reduce cholesterol
-helps keep skin and hair healthy
-aids in tissue growth and repair

I am still learning how to eat veggies, very slowly, and at my own pace.  As of now, the only green veggies I will eat are baby spinach, broccoli, and brussels sprouts.  Eventually I will work my way into more veggies, but I am pretty dang proud of myself for eating the green stuff I eat right now!!!  If you're like me and are a veggie-hater, DON’T GET DISCOURAGED. You just have to think of them as your new friend, introduce yourself slowly, and take your time to get to know them.  Salads are NOT the only option!  You can learn to eat certain green veggies, and you can still make progress towards getting healthy.  Don’t let your lack of love for veggies get in your way of eating healthy.  Trust me y'all, if I can learn to eat veggies, YOU definitely can too!!!

What's Most Important to You?

Crap, I’m running late!  ... I don’t have time to workout ... I forgot my lunch, guess I’ll go find a drive-through! ... I’m too tired to go to the gym ...

Does this sound like you?  If so, you might want to re-evaluate your big rocks.  You know, those priorities you have in life that take up all your time. 

Here’s a little story to explain what I mean:

Everyone has the same 24 hours a day, same 365 days a year, same 12 months.  Imagine your time as a jar.  You fill it with all of your big and tiny rocks every day.  Your big rocks are things that take up most of your time and that are most important to you – like family, spouse, God, friends, work, school, sleep, etc.  Your little rocks are things that make life spicy and fun – like shopping, Facebook, watching tv, eating out, etc. 

Lots of times, we tend to put those tiny rocks in our jar first – and guess what?  Our big rocks won’t fit, and we run out of time for the things that mean the most to us.  Check out the pic below (in this case, the sand represents the tiny rocks):

See how none of the big rocks will fit in there?  This person put all of their tiny rocks in first, and now there’s no time left for the big ones.

Let’s start the day over now.  Instead of getting up and watching a movie, then getting on Facebook for hours, then going shopping, THEN wondering where the time went – put all your big rocks in first, then make time for the tiny rocks along the way.

See the difference?  They all FIT now!  Pretty cool huh?

I have learned that my health and fitness is a big rock in my life now.  If I don’t make it a priority, I don’t make time for it, and I don’t make any progress.  This getting healthy and in shape stuff isn’t just a flighty wish for me anymore, it’s the real deal.  I have passed the point where I sit around and daydream about being that healthy girl (while on the couch stuffing my face with junk food), now I just get up and do what I need to do to get there.  Every single day.  I have a routine, a schedule, a meal plan, a designated food prep time, and a huge thing called DETERMINATION!  I have stopped worrying about pleasing everyone else and putting myself last, and I have started making ME a priority.  When I’m not working on me, I feel really bad about myself, and it affects everything around me – hubby, work, friends, family, etc.  If I’m not happy with me, how can anyone else be happy with me? 

I know that eating healthy and working out can seem overwhelming, difficult, and like a real pain in the butt to those who don’t really want to change – but it IS possible to live a healthy life, get in shape, make time for all of your priorities, AND have fun!  I know because I am doing it! 

If you are reading this, and you really want to make a change in your life – turn it into a big rock and start making time for it.  Don’t let all the little stuff get in your way and waste your time anymore.  Your health and happiness will shine through all areas of your life, and when you make the time to take care of YOU, everything else will fall into place.  

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I Quit My Job Today

...my people pleasing job! :)

Do you ever catch yourself making decisions based off of other people’s happiness instead of your own?  Do you do things that may hinder your journey just to make others happy?  Do you do things because YOU want to or because someone else wants you to?

I seriously struggle with people pleasing, always have.  I care about how people feel, and I never want to upset anyone because I hate confrontation.  I’ve come to realize that when it comes to getting healthy and in shape, it’s kind of hard to be a people pleaser.  I have some serious goals set for myself and for the person I want to be.  This getting healthy and in shape stuff is not always easy, and if you don’t have a strong motivation to hold on to – it makes it even more difficult.  Everyone has an opinion of what they think you should do or not do, and it’s not always going to line up with your goals.  

The first time around that I decided I wanted to get healthy, I did great!  I made tons of progress and conquered many fears.  Yes it was hard, yes I struggled, yes I wanted to quit...and I did.  Looking back, I realize that maybe the reason I quit was because I was doing it for the wrong reason – for everyone else but me.  I wanted to show people that I could do it and wasn’t crazy, I wanted to prove people wrong, I wanted get other people’s approval.   

Well things are different this time.  I’m doing this for ME now.  No more working as a people pleaser for this girl!!!  Now don’t get me wrong, it would be nice if I could still make people happy – but I’m not letting it hinder me or affect my decisions anymore.  When it comes to getting healthy and in shape, I am either all in or all out.  This time – I am all in.  I’m not doing this to please others or get anyone’s approval, I’m doing this because I want to feel better about myself.  I want to be confident, strong, in shape, healthy, and happy.  

I mean think about it...nobody but you is going to know how hard you worked out, how much you didn't want to go but went anyway, how hard that one last rep was, how hard it was to breathe on just one more lap.  YOU are the only one that is going to know how that feels and YOU are the only one who is going to remember that when you are faced with food obstacles.  Since you are the only one who is going to remember all that, other people may not always understand your decisions...and guess what?  IT'S OKAY!!!

Quitting my job as a people pleaser means that taking care of myself is now a priority, and I'm cool with that!  That means saying NO to foods that I don’t need or want.  That means saying NO to activities sometimes that will keep me from working out or prepping meals.   Most of all, that means saying YES to ME.  You only get one life...why spend it trying to please everyone else?  I choose to take care of me, care about my health, to get in shape, and to be an example that it CAN be done. 

Reach your goals for the only opinion that matters...YOURS!!!

The Dreaded Drive Through

As I was out running errands around town today, I passed by lots of my favorite fast food places.  Except things were different this time...my mouth didn’t water, and I didn’t even feel the urge to stop.  It got me thinking, and now I feel like I need to share my thoughts and what I’ve learned about fast food!  To make it short and sweet: STAY AWAY!  If you want to know why, continue on...

I have always had a toxic relationship with fast food.  When I need something to eat and don’t have any food with me, when I need an afternoon pick-me-up, when I’m having a bad day, when I’m bored, when I need an escape...those drive-through windows never fail!  I love me some Sonic cheese sticks, Arby’s curly fries, Taco Bell crunchy tacos, KFC mashed potato bowls – I could go on and on...  

The point is – fast food is HORRIBLE for you!  Yes, it is very convenient and makes eating on the go much easier, but fast food is one of the biggest contributors to me getting fluffy.  At the time it’s so tasty, but afterwards...you feel like crap.  Have you ever noticed that when you eat fast food, you are sluggish, have no energy, and feel a little sad?  That’s because fast food is packed full of preservatives, highly processed, and lacks any real nutritional value.  Here’s a list of reasons you should stay away from those dreaded drive-throughs:

·         Calorie Overload!  Did you know that a Whopper Sandwich Meal from Burger King contains at least 1510 calories?  I mean, that’s almost your whole day of calories in one meal...not good! 

·         Too much FAT!  You know that Whopper Meal...it has 57 grams of fat.  It’s not called a “99 cent heart attack” for no reason.  All that fried junk will clog your arteries.

·        It can make you get Addicted and Depressed!  Seriously yall...according to research, people who eat fast food regularly are 51% more likely to develop depression.

Do yourself a favor - stay away from fast food!!  Your body will thank you, and you will feel much better about yourself for being strong enough to make a better option.  Plan ahead, be prepared, and stay strong!  I hope the next time you see those golden arches you will think twice!

"The food you eat can be either the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison."