I'm ARMED and READY...

Hello blogging readers!

The news reporter mentioned that it's been 4 years since Toronto had a white Christmas. Booo! There's something magical about a white Christmas, isn't there? Although it came late, the snow has arrived and it's beautiful. This is when I wish I had an old fashioned fire place, with real wood and a real fire. I guess my Vanilla Orchid oolong tea & electrical fireplace, will do for now. :)

My last blog mentioned how determined I am to meet my weight loss goals. The wedding is a huge motivator, but deep down, I've wanted to meet this goal for as long as I can remember. I remember always being uncomfortable in my own skin, never wearing tight clothing or fitted clothes for fear of showing off the dreaded back rolls and muffin tops. In high school, trying to lose weight and joining various gyms or jumping on different weight loss bandwagons, was how I spent my time. What a waste!

So, today, I'm armed and ready....

The one program that I find fantastic is Weight Watchers. I have joined Weight Watchers in the past and it has always worked for me! Weight Watchers is a program that allows you to eat anything as long as you stay within a daily budget of points for the day. Every food has a points value and you simply deduct the food points from your daily total. In addition to your daily points, you also have a bundle of FUN points to play with a week (think Wine!). In addition to the bonus points, you also have activity points that allow you to enjoy more food (or more wine!). If you work out, you get to eat more - bonus! I love the program! It allows me to enjoy all the foods that I love without feeling guilty.

The hardest part about Weight Watchers is joining. Yes, that horrible feeling that you have as you enter the building and walk through the doors. I felt embarrassed, uneasy, and really nervous. I felt like a failure. I had many thoughts running through my mind like 'Why can't I do this on my own? Why do I have to pay to lose weight? I deserve to be fat'. It's a real mind game but I have never looked back. I stepped on that scale, swallowed the grand total, and moved forward....I knew I was taking the right step, in the right direction.

You see, people like me NEED the support of other people. I've finally embraced this about myself. I can't do this alone. It hasn't worked for 32 years, why now?  There's an online version of WW where people follow the program on their own using online tools. I'm sure some people find this effective, however, I know I am not one of them. I need to know that someone will be weighing me each week. I need someone to hold me accountable.  (Do you know how embarrassing it is to step on the scale and see a gain? Yikes) I need to see people, hear their stories, and celebrate successes with them. (Yes, we do announce when we've lost weight and people do clap for us - those rumours are true!) It really is a community!

It also helps attending weekly, with a buddy. A bestie of mine convinced me to rejoin (back in September). She is pounds away from her lifetime goal and I could not be happier for her! She's a trooper and so inspiring! She keeps me motivating knowing that she weighs in Saturday mornings with me, and will always ask 'Well, how'd you do?'. Usually I mumble profanities....but, I can't wait until I tell her 'I reached my goal!'.

Since September, my weight loss has been slow and steady. It's time that I step up to the plate to REALLY play the game. It's my time to be up to bat and I'm ready to hit that HOME RUN! Better yet, Grand Slam home run!


xo

A New Year! A New Me?

With 2012 closing and a new year approaching, I celebrate all the wonderful blessings that 2012 has offered me. For starters, being engaged to the love of my life (after thinking for many years that I would never find the 'right one'), wedding planning, starting a new teaching gig at a new school, continuing teaching yoga part time, my sister finishing teacher's college and starting her professional life (yay! So happy for her), my future hubby starting at a new school as a full-time VP (So proud of him!), our first vacation together, my dad being on the mend from knee surgery, a new addition to the house (a deck!), finding a Catholic church to call 'ours', attending Catholic classes with an amazing priest who I feel very comfortable with, and to the many blessings of health and happiness to all my friends and family.  Oh, and I should add surviving the Mayan apocalypse that *sometimes* snuck into my mind. It's been a wonderful year!



 

So, 2013, I can't wait to meet you! I am devoting 2013 to health and wellness. I've said it before, but this time is different. I want to finally meet my fitness goals/weight loss goals, not only to rock my wedding dress, but to enter marriage healthy and vibrant. I want to start a life with my man on a high note - one full of healthy eating, green smoothies, at a healthy weight, & maintaining spinach in my teeth habits! I have 7.5 months to be that woman...

This blog is going to help me get there! I will be posting recipes that I've tried, struggles and successes of my weight loss journey, and documenting my journey to Lalita Wellness. I hope that this new twist on this blog will be two-fold. I hope that you find my posts informative and inspiring, but I'm also looking for support from you. I know I'm going to have many rough days ahead and I look forward to your words of wisdom and inspiration.

So, to recap...

I welcome 2013 with an open heart and open arms! I'm ready to embrace the NEW ME: A newer, healthier, more vibrant ME! I can see that woman walking down the aisle glowing from the inside out....... now I just have to meet her!

What's your New Year's Resolution? It's a great time to set an intention for the new year!

Vita, what?

Welcome Back, Health lovers!

I guess I should be welcoming myself back, eh? Yes, once again life got busy! With wedding planning, Catholic classes, teaching yoga, and teaching grade 8,  life's been on the active side lately. Add Christmas into the mix, and you've got one tired chicky who has little time to blog. With the holidays in full bloom, I've found some downtime to reconnect with myself and do a little blogging.  Yay!

So, please excuse the bragging, but I got the most amazing gift for Christmas from my future hubby. For years, I have been dreaming of this toy....hinting to my fiancee for this toy....and *may* have just bookmarked certain links on his computer and changed his screensaver a couple times....but, being annoying paid off! I opened up a VITAMIX for Christmas! Insert the angelic sound 'Ahhhhh' right here!

Yes, I'm a proud mama of a new Vitamix blender. This is 'THE' ultimate kitchen appliance. No more food processors, no more blenders, & no more immersion blenders. This baby can handle it all! So, what's the big deal? Check this out...

- very powerful motor - commercial quality! Think Booster Juice!
- speed ranges from 17.7 km/hr to 386.2 km/hr
- blends wet and dry ingredients in seconds!
- makes smoothies SMOOTH - no lumps at all! Kicks ice's butt!
- whole veggie juices - add the entire vegetable into the unit and voila you've got some amazingly, healthy juice!
- dairy free milks! Rice, almond, cocounut & soy!
- makes nut butters - so easy!
- dips and spreads
- soups - this bad boy will heat up your soup while it mashes it to pieces! FOR REAL - steam vents included!
- frozen desserts - think sorbets and ice creams!
- use as a chopper (no more onion tears)
- batters - muffins, pancakes, cookies
- flours - kneads bread!
- purees - pasta sauce, pesto, etc.
- & much more!

This new BFF of mine comes with a 7 year warranty and a ton of amazing reviews online! Today, I have made hummus, garden vegetable soup, peanut butter, almond butter, tomato vegetable juice, and bread! I was a bread making virgin, until the Vitamix came into my life. I've revolutionized my kitchen and myself. I'm a different girl now!

In addition to the convenience, I'm positive I will be saving money! For example, I usually pay at least $10 for almond butter. Today, I made a huge bunch for $7.00 and better yet, I know exactly what is in it. The whole wheat bread loaf I made, cost about $1.75 to make!

Now, I must admit....this powerful guy comes with a hefty price tag. For a basic package which comes with 1 container costs about $500. If you want to do nut butters and the fancier stuff, you're looking at $650 onwards. So, there's the potential deal breaker....it's an investment!

I'd love to hear from you! Do you own a Vitamix? What's your favourite recipe?

Vegetable Whole Foods Soup

Hummus - All natural