i changed my stars

Written by Julia Sanders

Looking in the mirror one day when I was a teenager I cringed, "I can't believe I'm that girl."  There I stood, 215 lbs and counting.

When I was in sixth grade I weighed about 120 lbs and my dad told me, "If you just maintain that weight, that would be perfectly healthy."  That was the last time I remembered looking at a scale and seeing any number in the 120's.

I don't recall when I started gaining weight.  Puberty probably had something to do with it, but there I was in high school over 200 lbs.  I was "that girl."

Throughout my teens and early twenties I tried everything.  I walked in the mornings with my dad.  I did Atkins diet.  I even did this absurd "diet" where I just wouldn't eat anything until I lost 5 lbs in the week and then I'd just maintain that (That ended abruptly when a friend of my sister's found out and swiftly and painfully punched me in the arm and told me that if she found out I was keeping that up she would be SO mad at me.  I didn't realize at the time that that was pretty much anorexia).  Nothing worked and nothing lasted.

Then one day, when I was 23 I was in the shower and I realized my life was never going to change.  With the way I was, my life was as good as it was going to get, and I just wept.

One day at my parent's, my mom was reading an article on Gastric Band surgery.  She had me read the article and told me, "If this is something you are interest in, we will help you pay for it!"

I was interested.

I researched it for a year before deciding to do it.  I knew everything there was to know.  I also knew it was possible to cheat it and that terrified me.

The night before my surgery I was so scared that this would be just one more thing that I failed at, but this time it was going to cost my parents and me a LOT of money.

My goal for the surgery wasn't to get skinny.  In fact I didn't expect that I would.  My goal was to get skinnier and better yet, healthier.  My goal weight was 173 lbs.  That was the lowest weight I had gotten to when I did Atkins in 2003 (I had gotten back up to 225 prior to the surgery in 2007).  My research showed that the average person would lose up to 50% of their excess body weight.  I had 80 lbs. of excess body weight, so losing over 50 lbs. was exceeding that average.

I asked one of the nurses if it was possible to lose all of my excess body weight, she told me it was.  I had a new goal.

The thing with this surgery is, the band is a tool.  If used properly you can be successful, but as previously mentioned it can be cheated.  It is a forced portion control, but you decide what those portions are, and some items won't be affected by the band at all.  Liquid calories and such.

I had surgery on June 18, 2007.  I used this band as a tool.  In the first six months I lost 42 lbs.  I am a person that is motivated by results, the more weight I lost the more I could physically do.  The more I could do the more I would do and the more weight I would lose.  By June 18, 2008 I had lost all 80 lbs of my excess body weight.

October 2008 I ran my first 5k.  November my second.  July 2009 I hiked Mt. Timpanogos.  October 2011 I ran my first half marathon, April 2012 my second and September 2013 my third.  In July 2012 I completed my first triathlon and July 2013 my second.  I have competed in 13 different races.  They say that after about three years of having the band most people will start to gain the weight again.  In 2012, my fifth year after surgery, I lost my hundredth pound.  As of the end of November 2013 and six and a half year in, I was 2 lbs lower than that.

The difference this time?  I wasn't expecting or hoping for a quick fix.  I was ready to make a life change.  Prior to surgery I ate crap all the time and I lived a sedentary life.  Now I am very cautious of what I eat.  My habits have changed.  I learned how to eat and found foods that I like that are actually good for me.  Nutrition is THE BIGGEST  part of losing weight.  If you don't understand that, you can't make lasting changes.

There is no such thing as a diet.  You have to be ready to make changes for the rest of your life or I guarantee it won't last.  No matter how much weight you lose on a crash diet, if you don't keep it up forever or make the necessary permanent changes, it can't last.

I sometimes struggle with the thought that I didn't do it on my own.  I struggle knowing that I needed to have surgery to get to this point.  But  the fact of the matter is, I did.  I needed something to be the catalyst to my weight loss.  I needed a jump start.  But once I got it, I literally hit the ground running and never looked back.  I know that I never would have gotten to where I'm at without that jump start, but I also did the work to come as far as I have.  The surgery could only take me so far.

My life is completely different than it was when I was that girl crying in the shower.  Since I had surgery I have been bunging jumping, sky diving, scuba diving, water skiing, rock climbing, wake boarding, snow boarding, parasailing and zip-lining.  I've done 5k's, 10k's, half marathons and triathlons.  I went from a size 18 to a size 4.  My life has so much more potential now.  I don't think I will ever stop being amazed that I did it.  Sometimes I can't believe that I was ever that girl, but even more I can't believe that I'm not anymore.  I feel so grateful to have seen both ends of the spectrum, but I also take credit for the work I had to do to get to where I am.

To quote a Knight's Tale, "I changed my stars."

Namaste
Julia

About Julia:
I am a recovering food-a-holic.  I am a singer, wannabe athlete, wannabe outdoor enthusiast (I'm working on the wannabe's), romantic and believer in miracles. The girl I am today is constantly trying to outdo myself.  I'm always reaching for the next goal and challenge.  This hasn't always been the case.  I used to be confined to a body that was capable of so little.  Since losing weight I can't seem to test my body enough.

My main goal and ambition is to be a motivation to those who are trying to lose weight and who don't believe it's possible anymore.  I am proof that it is!  One thing that helps me the most in my change is seeing others who have been down a similar path.  I want to now be that person for others.  My message is one that I got from the movie "A Knight's Tale."  It is possible to change your stars.

NOTE: If you would like to enjoy more of Julia's stories, life experiences and sense of humor, here is a link to her blog.

confessions of a health nerd

Written by Bliss Stinson

My name is Bliss and I am a health nerd.  It's true, I get high off of buying healthy foods from the store.  I know, NERDY!  I have a wonderful husband and a sweet little two year old girl.  We are a plant-based wholefood eating family and have been living this lifestyle for a year and a half.  We mainly consume whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes and nuts; AVOIDING dairy, meat, eggs, processed foods and things made with GMOs...and we love it!

Even though I just told you a summary of what we eat...  you're probably still thinking, "So... what DO you eat?"  Milk, cheese, eggs, modified cornstarch and high fructose corn syrup are in everything that is packaged, right?!  It's nearly true!  To combat this, we cook basically everything from scratch and do a lot of yummy substituting.  For instance, we make stuff like tofu- spinach- quinoa lasagna, vegan cashew cheesecake (amazing!) and veggie bean enchiladas.  Because our society has it so backwards, it has taken a lot of hard work, research and effort to learn how to cook and eat this way.  But I'm here to vouch that it CAN be done!  Not only is it possible but it is so doable (even with young kids around) and worth it!!!

How we came to eat this way
What finally led us to this lifestyle was the documentary "Forks Over Knives."  It gave us a deep look into how dairy, meat and processed foods affect our body.  We bought the Forks Over Knives cookbook and lived a strict vegan diet for three months.  Within those three months, my husband lost 35 lbs, without exercising at all!  His transformation was amazing.  Although I was already in shape, I shed 10 lbs as well.  Eating this way truly did make us lean, but more importantly it gave our body the fresh nutrients it was looking for without the added crap.

After a few months we created a custom diet that felt balanced for our family.  We started incorporating a few fish, egg and dairy products here and there: eggs for cornbread and pancakes once in a while, cheese for homemade pizza, etc.  We call ourselves plant-based eaters instead of "vegan" because for us it's not about NOT eating certain foods necessarily, but more about making room for veggies and whole foods in our diet.

We've been careful about what we feed our little girl.  She's grown up on this lifestyle which has been so nice for me to have her used to eating healthy from the get go.  She's obsessed with eating granola for breakfast and eats spinach salad like it's no big deal (so proud that my two year old eats salad!).  Kids don't come into this world programmed for chicken nuggets and fruit snacks.  You program them by what you give them.  They can be programmed at any time as long as you stick with it.  It's never too late!

Common Concerns about plant-based eating

• But eating healthy is so EXPENSIVE!  ...and so is healthcare. "Let food be thy medicine."  ...if you do more, you save more.  ...you can't buy all the crap AND healthy food and stay in your budget.  You have to cut the crap out.  We have an $80 weekly food budget for a family of three that we are able to maintain with our plant-based lifestyle.  The way we are able to do this is because we don't buy expensive items like cheese, meats, treats, etc.
• What if my family doesn't like it?  If your family is used to fatty, sugary, addictive foods, expect complaints.  It's going to be a big transition.  It can still be an enjoyable one if you make it a family endeavor, instead of you forcing them.  Have your kids assist you in picking meals, shop and cook together.  Make it fun and move slowly.
• A plant strong diet does not appeal to me because I don't like salad.  Plant based foods can include breakfasts, salads, soups, stews and chilies, wraps, pasta dishes, stir-fry, grilled and hashed vegetable dishes, stuffed and baked veggies, beans, grains, casseroles and desserts.  It's not just salad!
• What about vitamins, potassium or calcium? What about calorie counts and carbohydrates, fat and protein?  Adopt an overall healthful dietary pattern: a low-fat, plant based diet composed of wholefoods.  Don't worry about eating particular foods in order to get enough of certain nutrients.  Focus instead on eating (and enjoying!) the wide variety of fruits, vegetables, beans and legumes, whole grains and other ingredients available over the course of each day, each week, each month and each year.  These foods combined will naturally steer you on your way toward optimal health." ~Del Sproufe

Principles to follow                                                                                                         
Following these principles really helped my family transition slowly but consistently into a healthy lifestyle, not a diet.

• Shop by the label.  Don't worry about how much fat or sugar is in an item, etc., worry about what you are actually in-taking.  Look at the ingredients first.  Is there a paragraph of ingredients listed?  (Yes? That's bad.)  Can you pronounce them? (No? That's bad.)  Do you even know what they are?  (No? That's bad too!)  These are signs that your food is overly processed.  Buy packaged items that only have 3-5 ingredients in them.  Pay attention to what the first three ingredients are because they are the most potent in the food.
• Avoid GMO's and other ingredients.  While you are shopping by the label, be sure to avoid modified starch, hydrogenated oils, sugar and high fructose corn syrup.  Modified cornstarch is in almost everything processed (canned, packaged, frozen meals, sauces, etc.).  There are many different names for it too. Do your research!
• Pick one item at a time that you will either stop buying, replace or substitute.  First we decided to stop buying jam and use honey instead.  Second we then started buying natural peanut butter instead of Jif's.  Third we began substituting agave nectar, maple syrup, honey or molasses in any recipe that calls for sugar.  These little steps can make a huge difference in your health, taste buds, etc.  Just take it one stage at a time.
• Plan your meals out a week at a time.  There are lots of wholefood/vegan bloggers out there.  My current favorite is goinghometoroost.com. When you plan it is easier to stay on top of what you eat.
• Cooking healthy meals will take more time than popping something into the microwave.  If you really care about your health, sacrifice and prioritize to make time for food preparation.  As you learn to cook this way and become familiar with all the different ingredients it won't take you as long.

Tips for getting your kid to eat better

• Add pureed fruit, vegetables or beans to any meal. Such as pastas, casseroles, muffins, pies or desserts. 
• Green smoothies are a great way to incorporate leafy greens.
• Add 2-3 variety of vegetables to your dinner table.  Let your kids choose what they like.

Mottos we live by

• Food is fuel.
• I focus on what I do eat, not what I don't.
• I have the freedom to eat whatever I want.  I have a choice.
• I do not have a diet, I maintain a lifestyle.
• Progress is progress.
• The more you do yourself the more save (financially and on your waistline).
• Eat to live, don't live to eat.
• If it's not nutritious don't eat it.

Eating this way has seriously blessed my family's life.  I hope that you feel motivated to really take a hold of your life and give your body the nutrition it deserves.  You can still enjoy the holidays while finding a healthy balance.  I know it's possible, because I am doing it!

Namaste
Bliss

About Bliss:
Bliss is passionate about leading a healthy and balanced life.  Here is a link to her blog.

my balance and what works for me

Written by Kilene McFadden

I am grateful that I am able to lead a healthy life.  I have learned through trial and error what works for my healthy development and what has not.

I was diagnosed with depression and Obssesive Compulsive Disorder when I was thirteen years old.  My doctors put me on Zoloft and I took it without question until twenty-six years of age.  I know that it numbed my issues.  I also had what was always assumed to be Psoriasis, an uncomfortable dry, itchy and flaky skin disease.

When I was twenty-six, I was seeing a counselor, who suggested I see a Naturopathic physician.  I had never been to a natural doctor before and went without hesitation.  What a gigantic fundamental step to a healthy progression for me!!!  He did some blood work and found my thyroid was not functioning properly.  Before college I was a fairly petite girl and during college I put on some freshman weight, and more.  After finding out that I had hypothyroidism, it became very clear as to why I was having depressive symptoms and a challenging time losing weight.  I was frequently at the gym and watching my diet.   My wonderful doctor prescribed me Naturthyroid.  Within two weeks of taking it I lost ten pounds.

Last year I found out that I am allergic to wheat and dairy.  This change in my eating habits has blessed me so much!  I feel an increased vitality and my emotional state has truly changed for the better.  I continue to exercise to keep my mind and body rejuvenated and strong.  I deserve the balance and energy so I can take care of my two beautiful children.

What I have learned about nutrition and well being has come over many years of experimentation.  I work hard to eat clean, exercise daily, drink adequate amounts of water and get enough sleep.  I am not perfect and will always be a work in progress.  Just this year I have changed more physically and emotionally then I have before because I make an effort everyday and then make adjustments as I see fit.  This has made a difference in my confidence and my desire to be a happier and healthier me!

Namaste
Kilene


About Kilene:
Kilene was born 1979, in Texas.  The majority of her life she was raised in North Dakota.  She was privileged to live in Belgium for four years as a little girl.  She feels so blessed and happy to share some of the lessons she learned over the years.

She is married to an incredible man and together they have to gorgeous little blessings.  She is mostly a busy mom.  In her free time she does massage, works as a health coach for Beach Body and makes the most out of each day.

happy "healthy" holidays

It always seems that when the holidays come around every year I often hear friends complain about all the sweets, worrying about weight gain and being unhealthy.  This year I decided to focus on the positive and create a healthy holiday season.  For the months of November and December I am focusing my blog on being physically, emotionally and spiritually balanced and healthy.

I am asking a few friends who inspire me to be guest contributors and share their experience in creating a healthy life.  There will be a post every Wednesday to inspire having a healthy holiday season.

First post will be Wednesday November 6.

Namaste