Like an onion

I have stared to look at my body as an onion... with MANY layers. Each layer represent an issue and not until the first layer/issue has been resolved can we work on the second layer and so forth. Each issue is not equal to a specific symptom; which is something that is easily forgotten - as we are normally treated for symptoms and not the underlying issue. A series of symptoms can come from the same issue and the tricky part is to figure out the REAL underlying issue.

Each body is unique. We all have our own little list...
Our issues may be related to hormone imbalance, poor digestion, diet, family history, allergies, poor nutrition absorption, or whatever else our body can think of... the only issue is that our symptoms may not lead us to the real cause. Poor digestion my look like acne on the surface... just to give you a crazy example...

So after using myself as a guinea pig for over a year now I have decided to get some help. I have decided to try nutrition response testing, something I should have been doing a long time ago - but there is no time like the present right? I have my first appointment on Saturday and I am both scared and excited to hear what is going on. (For those of you who don't know I am still struggling very hard with my weight, something I NEVER had an issue with before, and I have bad acne on my face). It may sound like small issues, but after a year those extra pounds (20lbs to be exact) is no small issue anymore.

I have completely changed up on my diet - from being on a low carb diet for as much as I have been able to handle, to getting into what is called the Blood Type Diet. A diet based on your blood type. I am still not convinced it is the best way, but I am willing to give it a try, mostly because it is so different from what I have been eating (I am a type A and have been eating more like a type O).

So, ok ok.. I am still trying.. can't give up on HOPE right?!
Anyway... I just wanted to say hi, share some thoughts, and also see if there are any one of you who have tried the Nutrition Response Testing and the blood type diet who would be willing to share?

First thing in life...

My blog title says "You" ... but is it really?
I mean; it should be but sometimes we forget how to take care of our selves. Yet, we all know that we can care for others much better when we are healthy and happy.

I am still struggling, as you all already know and am really looking forward to when I go back and have my nutrition response testing in January (I am now in Sweden for the holiday with my family). And along with it, I am going to start "eating right for my type" which is a diet based on what blood type you have. This is a completely new chapter in my life and I am hopeful and scared. Hopeful that I will finally get well but scared that I will fail on myself.

I don't know enough to say that the NRT and the blood type diet works, even though I have heard many people swear by it. I can only hope that it will work for me. It for sure is going to be an interesting learning experience and journey that I am looking forward to.

"Live Your Dream"

That is the text on a new ring I bought for myself. I have always wanted to have something that can remind me of how important my health is to me. First I was thinking of a wrist band, but they always get in the way when I sit on the computer at work all day long so this ring works perfect! I have stepped beyond the need to become skinny again, I just want to get well! And that is my new years resolution to myself, what is yours?

If you want to get a ring just like this, or pick from other wonderful rings that can give you some hope, joy, or comfort click SANCTUARY ~ GIFTS THAT INSPIRE ~ MARTHA'S VINEYARD

Happy Anniversary Honey

Today is the day... 2 years ago... Mmmmmm.... I want that moment back so bad. It was so much fun and so romantic.

I was thinking that I should try on my dress just for fun, but have decided against it - It will not fit even a little bit! And it will not be a motivator at this point, I am just too far away from getting into it again. I know I will one day but not yet. So today I am just going to enjoy watching the pictures of our wedding from two years ago.

Love you my dearest!

Random things

This is a summary of what is going on in my mind these days... It has been a lot and it does not slow down. I like it that way, but I tend to overdo things when I get started on something new.

So, since the reprogramming of my brain over the first weekend in June I am starting to grasp what is going on. We are about to start our next step in our journey and tonight is the first online session of a course called Rich Investor. It will basically help us build our Power Team - the people we need around us to succeed fast, safe, and legal. And tomorrow we are meeting with a CPA to set up our business.

Next we need to find an Attorney, then a Real Estate Agent, Mortgage Broker, Community Bank... and the list goes on. We are also looking for Rehabbers in the Philadelphia area, or someone that wants to buy a 'handy man' house.

On the baby clothing part of my life, a life that is getting drastically smaller, I finally got a hold of a baby girl to do some pictures with. I will post some of the items soon on my Etsy shop.

My weight loss is slow but I am still working out 5 days a week and have finally reached 60 minutes on the elliptical. 60 minutes feels like an eternity but lots of calories are burnt and I feel great! I keep my LCHF up and have become a little stricter with what I eat during the weekdays.

I also experienced some horrible bloating and cramps - not sure if they were feminine related or not so I decided to do a colon cleanse and it seems like it is going just great...

That was my random things for today... I just wanted to give you an update. I didn't want you to think that I had given up on things.. I am just busy trying to do everything I need to get done.

New Beginnings

My husband and I have had a life changing weekend. This wasn't a 'light bulb' moment but rather a million of spotlights... I feel so overwhelmed but so excited.

Things really have a strange way of finding ways to get your attention. What is happening now is all because of that flight back home from Florida being late a month ago... I have a hard time explaining what is going on mostly because my mind is still smoking from the deep fried I experienced over the weekend. It was system overload! My little brain had to be re-programed into something new. Something that can see opportunities in what is going on in this economy... It has opened my eyes to a whole new world - A world I knew existed but never knew how to get my hands on... now I am beginning to know.

If you have to read only one book in your life, you have to read 'Rich Dad Poor Dad' by Robert Kiyosaki. It won't make you an expert of any sort but it gives you an idea of what you are missing... then the choice is up to you on how to move on from there. I have chosen, and I have chosen to become the person of my dreams!  

Ahhh

I feel like a balloon! I had pasta on Tuesday night and I still feel like shit from it. On Wednesday when I woke up I was up to 172 lbs (higher than when I started my diet). I feel like a failure right now... It is horrible.

I am not giving up, not at all - I am just learning my lesson all over again - NO WHEAT for me!!! Not even my favorite kind of wheat. I love pasta and I try not to eat it too often but sometimes I just have to have it... well maybe next time I will think more than once before going for it.

So the battle continues...

I am trying to drink more water then I normally do in hope of my extra weight is water weight and drinking more might help my body not retain so much of it. I don't know.

My lower back has also been bothering me horrible. Waking up, sitting, walking, working out on the elliptical... yesterday I finally went to my chiropractor, or NUCCA specialist at Bucks County Spinal Care and he made the pain go away with his magic. I am not kidding I step in there and explained where it was bothering me, he did his thing and as I was laying there I could feel my spine slowly adjusting to something new. When he was done he asked me to move around to feel it... I started by bending over to reach the floor with my hands touching the floor.. As I was going down the first time I still could feel the pain a little bit but I was able to reach much further than I have been in weeks... and then I did it again and I could not believe what I was feeling - NOTHING! The pain was gone, really gone!

Later the same night, by the time Flyers was playing the muscles in the area was getting a litte sore from the adjustment and today I can feel it too.. But being sore from that is much better than being in pain! Now I only have to wait until it settles down and enjoy exercising again.

I do not want to feel like a balloon much longer! As a matter of fact I don't want to feel it at all...

Memorial Day Weekend

Ohh... I think that we all can agree on that ONE single day extra off is amazing and does so much for your soul. I spent most of my Saturday to clean up the week-mess that I always have. Clothes are all over the place and dirty laundry is taking up the whole basket, the refrigerator is empty... you know, all boring things. But then I was free... Sunday and Monday the bikini did it's premier in day light. It is strange but I really don't like showing myself in that bikini at this point. I hate my body! I know I am basically showing my body to the whole world by having it on my blog, but it is not the same. You guys know I am trying to lose weight and the pictures actually shows my progress and/or set backs. It is an inspiration to both you and me... But having people stand there and look at me, who knows what they are thinking... "she really shouldn't wear that bikini" "did she look herself in the mirror"... and all those nasty things people can think or say to each other.

I know I am not pretty, I know I am not the size I want to be, I know all that, I really do. But I have the right to relax by the pool while I am working at it without people judging me. Or maybe the only person judging me is me???

Anyway I enjoyed the long weekend and I hope to be able to spend many days by a poolside this summer. And every time I should be a little bit slimmer.

Overcome - don't give up!

After my almost two weeks into my new life I have noticed a few things:
Sugar/Carb cravings are not as hard as you think to overcome, I haven't felt it at all, except for at one point when I drove by a Dairy queen and said 'ohh a Blizzard would be nice' and then I remembered that I don't eat that anymore...

Second thing is that you can see improvements so fast! I teach dance and on Thursday I have an adult class that I dance with, not only teach. Yesterday I noticed that I didn't get as tired as I normally get. I think I have the elliptical to thank for that (or myself for using it, haha).

But I have also noticed that new things can hurt you a little. Yesterday I started to feel that my lower back and buttocks were getting tighter and very sore, today they are even worse. So this morning I dedicated on some well needed stretching and self massage. I have a feeling I am going to need more.

So what I really want to say with this is that unexpected things can happen and it is important to take them as challenges and try to overcome them rather than give up. You still have to focus on your goal, it might slow you down a little bit, but don't let it stop you!! You will grow even stronger by stepping over some hurdles you didn't count on.

Be strong and focus!

Happy 2010

It's been a while; Christmas has passed with all the crazy shopping, stress and decoration. Champagne was consumed along with getting a new years kiss...

I spent my holiday in Sweden with my friends and family - I ate everything I wanted, I drank everything I wanted, and I basically did whatever I wanted... It was a great time but always too short...

Me eating and drinking whatever I wanted resulted in me being back to square one when it comes to my weight... but I am for the first time not freaking out about it; I know I will succeed this time! My husband after seeing my friends and how they have changed based on eating according to LCHF is now following my lead. He is off course still picky but is cooperating. Doing this together is going to make it much easier I think. And as long as I can keep bringing lunch with me to work I will never get the cravings of having to go out and buy something that is on the "don't eat" list. And that will make a big difference both in weight loss and in energy.

Since I am still half living in central European time and half eastern US time I even wake up to have breakfast before going to work. That is also something that makes everything much easier and nicer. I think I will have to make it into a habit and not just luck.

For now it has been different versions of two eggs in the morning and for lunch I have had my favorite Greek yogurt: Fage (the original, not any low-or non-fat versions). Fage contains: 20g fat; 6g carbs; 14g protein so it really fills you up! I mix in 4C/Crystal light (half a pack) for flavor even if I am not totally satisfied with the long list of chemicals it is in each dose, and I crush some almonds too and mix it in. For a snack I usually eat some cheese and nuts, and sometimes I have a diet coke as well. For dinner I make something warm for both my husband and I - I think I will start to post some recipes and pictures of it and hope that I can inspire some of you.

Every year I make a new years resolution, most of the time it is just because you "should" but this year I feel different about things.
I want to make LCHF a way of life and not a diet
I want to start selling my baby clothes that I have been designing behind closed doors
I want to start and maybe even finish my book about the perfect woman
I want to finish what I start

But most of all I want to be an inspiration to all of you out there that anything is possible.

Humm... I just noticed a big misstake in what I just wrote... what the heck do "I want" mean??? Do I think this will be handed to me without me putting an effort to it??? I must change it to:

I will make LCHF a way of life and not a diet
I will start selling my baby clothes (do you have an idea of where I should do this?)
I will start my book about the Perfect Woman (and maybe even finish it this year)
I will finish what I start

But I do wish that all that can result in me being a good inspiration for you out there. But if you didn't like me before you probably won't like me in the future either, and that is OK.

Happy New Year from me and my husband!