Transformation Tuesday

I get asked a lot how did I lose so much weight?  The answer that I give is always the same.  Diet change and I added exercise.  Different types of exercise too.  I found that changing my body was much more monumental in my life that I could have ever imagined,  It took me not only on a new physical journey, but it took my on a journey to gaining confidence and a strong spiritual life as well.  Change is hard, with change your not comfortable, your always uncomfortable.  However; it's well worth it.  We only have one body, one mind one spirit, and we need to take care of all three equally.

 As a parent I want more than anything to teach my kids that they are worth taking care of.  That they shouldn't put themselves on the back burner. I want to teach them that in order to take care of others well they need to care for themselves first.  Physically, emotionally and spiritually .

You are worth it. Take care of you.  If your still here on this earth still breathing you are needed for something.


Happy Tuesday!

75 lbs down and counting! 

Transformation Tuesday

The one question that I get asked frequently about my weight loss journey is how did I change my snacking habits?  I was a horrible snacker before…our kitchen counter was littered with sweet goodies.  I would take, a bite here, take a bite there and it would add up quickly.  I loved chips, salsa, nachos, cakes, cookies, lots of sweets you name it! If it was terrible I was most likely eating it.  But what I discovered through my weight loss journey was that if I didn't kick that habit I was just going to the gym for no apparent reason and just eating my calories back in seconds….literally in seconds.  

 So, needless to say I changed my snacking habits drastically.  What I hear from so many people is that it’s the food…and I agree! the food is absolutely the most challenging part for all of us.  I know that if someone told me that If I had to spend 4 hours a day at the gym but I could eat whatever I wanted I would have no problem with that….The discipline is in the kitchen….

With that said I changed my habits…my snacks are typically around 120 calories or less and I’m a portion person…I think for everyone it’s different.  I like to have a lot of something so what I did was try to find things that were low in calories and that I could have a lot of.  Pretty much, I live off of olives, hot and sweet peppers, and spicy vegetables for an “anytime snack” If I want a little nibble this is what I go to because it’s quick and it’s satisfying to me.

These are exactly what I snack on a daily basis...

The Sweet Peppers are fairly large and you can have 3 pieces for 15 calories!

The Giardiniera which is my favorite (the spicy vegetables) you can have 5 pieces for 5 calories and for the Olives you can have 24 of these for 18 calories!

Like I said I am a portion person...If I see that I can have a plate of of all that for under  38 calories I then add a protein which is 2 laughing cow cheese wedges for 35 calories each  which means that I have a nice little platter that would be only 108 calories and it's super satisfying and delicious! 

64lbs down and counting! 

I am not a dietitian, I am only telling you what has worked for me.   Always consult with your doctor before changing your diet. 

For the Love of Discipline.

May 2013, I went to my primary care doctor for a well check up.  I had just given birth 9 months prior to this and I will tell you I was not happy about this visit, but it was necessary.  I placed my feet upon the scale (which I never did at home) and the digital numbers went from 150-175-195-200..and stopped at 250 pounds. I cried when I saw that number. I looked at the nurse with tears in my eyes and she said  "come with me!".  I walked down that long hall to wait in another room to see the doctor. The doctor came in and did the usual small talk with me you know the "hi' "How are you?" and then she looked at my weight and she said to me "Niccole, you have got to lose some weight otherwise you will not be here for very long to see your kids grow up." and at that moment I was scared. I was scared for my life.

 I went home that day and I was looking for any quick fix that I could find. Diet pills, drinks, special foods. You name it if it said "quick" I was reading about it.    But, as I was looking for a "quick fix" I was thinking about how I really felt.  I said to myself "how could I do this to my body?"  "How could I be so negligent?"  and then it hit me.  I really didn't like who I was. I didn't like anything about me for that matter.  I was punishing myself for being me. I didn't want to accept who I was.  I couldn't' accept who God created me to be. I felt out of my element. I felt out of control of my life. But then it hit me, it wasn't my life, it was the life that I was given, because my life it is not my own, it is the Lords.

Later on that week as I was praying and seeking God for answers I read this scripture that helped me "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them" Ephasians 2:10.  This verse really gave me the hope that I needed.  That very instance I made a choice. I chose to love the person that God has made.  I may have veered off his path and went my own way for a while, but the wonderful thing about God is that he is merciful. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy" Matthew 5:7.  

The following week I asked God"how I should go about this weight loss journey?"  he said to me "with endurance, self- discipline and perseverance"  and that was the day that I joined the gym. I walked in that gym and I was lucky that could walk 1/2 mile going at a snails pace but I did it...and those weeks I proved myself wrong everyday of what I was capable of doing. Those weeks  to follow my body ached in places I didn't even know could ache! But to my surprise I began to love exercising, this is where I found peace with myself, it helped me feel less stressed too!  The months to follow I proceeded to discipline myself in the hardest area and that was my eating.  "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it"  Matthew 12:11.  

But, the most amazing thing about God is that he will use something that we think is irrelevant to him to be used for his glory.  Because of this weight loss journey I have learned so many things about myself.  I learned that God wanted to teach me discipline, not only in losing weight but in all aspects of life.  I was really undisciplined in all areas of my life and for this reason I felt that my life was spinning out of control. Most importantly; my spiritual life was out of control.  I was very up and down with my prayer life and reading the word.  The weight loss taught me the value of having discipline in all areas of my life. Spiritually, physically, emotionally and even in relationships and finances.  The key is to trust God! with all that he has given us. Furthermore, he wants us to take care of what he has bestowed upon us.  "But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." 1 Corinthians 9:27

I am a firm believer that God will use any opportunity to teach us. God has taught me the value of discipline, patience, perseverance , self reflection and self improvement not because he didn't like who I was, but because he loves me and he knows what I am capable of.   It may sound unorthodox that a weight loss journey could be so profound in ones life, but God allowed it to transform me to become the person that he has called me to be.  Not the person that I wanted to be.  Also God gave me this opportunity to improve my physical body since I need it to serve him. With his help I was able to lose 59 pounds and counting.  The weight loss of course is a tremendous part of his success for me, but what can't be seen with the human eye is the real testimony.  I know that I will stumble upon another season of life where the Lord has to teach me a lesson because he's not done with me yet.  God has a work to do within each and everyone one of us, and let us surrender our lives to him so that we can be used for his glory. "For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body" 1Cornithians 6:20