Back in Action!

I'm back with a vengeance! ...meaning I've rededicated myself to the blog! Good news for you, yeah? 

So, About the Diet...

I've been pretty much rocking it! I love natural foods now and cringe at the idea of processed and chemical filled food at most every pass. I had a half a glass of dr pepper last week at a birthday party...it was gross and I dumped it. Greek yogurt with a half handful of raw unsalted almonds and some chia remains a mainstay for a sweet tooth, as well as coconut granola chia cereal by open nature with unsweetened almond milk and 70%+ dark chocolate, (with no corn syrup). 

I've implemented iced decaf green tea as a drink during the day but I do indulge with coffee creamer still.  Fruit and veg are a GIANT part of every meal, in a lot of ways my meals are now made around them vs starches and proteins. I recently returned to Arkansas and I've been spoiled by my mother in law and family with some delicious home grown veg! 

All around food is amazing, I'd never expect you to not be in love with food because as a human you are programmed to be in love with food. It's in our DNA. It's extremely important, I mean imperative, that you find food that are clean and lightly processed that you LOVE. There's so much out there, so many choices! I also spend a lot of time in the produce section, and suggest local stands all the way. I try and buy new stuff frequently. So what if I've never heard of it, I take the name down, google it and find a recipe with lots of high reviews...not too complicated and keeps it lively! (I have okra for the first time in my fridge now! (Thanks Juanita if you're reading this!). 

Exercise for Life!

I hate the couch now. I mean, love hate I guess. After a long day on the run its nice but I really try to stay off it and I keep the tv off now. I found I used to leave it on for background noise and that sucked me onto those cushions! I turn off the tv now, like maybe get two hours a day, which is amazing considering I stay at home 24/7 with kids and no car right now! I ride my bike with the girls now. Bee just picked up pedaling and can ride along and Cupcake has a seat on the back. Or I put them into their Power Wheel Jeep and follow them back and forth on our street. I've walked three and a half miles to and from the store in the last week but it's super humid and hot here and I don't see that happening again for a while. Bee also loves the game Just Dance so when I haven't gotten cardio in its been a perfect alternative! Strength is still the same routine for me but I did figure out a new secret! When I'm sitting on the couch at night watching something and workoutable background music starts I lay down and bust out some crunched to it! That forces me to push further than a set number that could limit my progress. Last night I did 150, the night before was just 50 so it mixes it up as well. 

I FEEL GREAT!

I'll save the specific number of my weight now for later, like normal, but I will say this, I'm OFFICIALLY 60 lbs DOWN and it's been a year and a month since cupcakes birth and because I had a c section I count my weight loss ability to about then for surgery recovery time. 

How I Look

My clothes fit me! Prepregnancy jeans back on this tush! My skin is super clear! I'm not bloated or sluggish! I take pride in how I look again and in turn I'm more confident and happy all around and everyone benefits from that. 

Well that's it for this week! See you next Sunday! Download the My Fitness Pal app and add me, karenlobato, and the pedometer sister app is amazing! MFP is an amazing tool that will get you up and loosing in a healthy way with the quickness. Till next week! 

Weight 190

Down 60 from baby 30 since clean eating 

Here I am! Swear it.

I officially met my 'set weight' meaningI'm  back to my pre pregnancy (Jaysine) weight, which means a leveling out of the amount of weight loss and I'm seeing, around a pound or two a week. I've decided to let a little more time pass between entries to keep things interesting. In the meantime I'll start posting some other things, stuff you should know. 

As a stay at home mom I have the ability to spend a fair amount of time researching health, fitness and nutrition. If you've followed my journey you've witnessed, in a sense, the removal of most destructive behaviors health wise, experimentation in the kitchen and grocery. I've learned so so much and I'd love to share it. 

I'm going to start having themed weeks and week number one will be human nutrition. Do you know how many grams of protein, fiber, fat, etc. you're supposed to have each day? Me either so here's your homework, download My Fitness Pal on your smart phone. This free and amazing app shows you the equivalent to a nutrition label for your body. You add your food consumption and workout in and it does all the math for you! I love this thing and highly recommend using it if you're serious about realizing your body's full potential. 

Proper nutrition, water intake and fitness are key to a happy healthy body. Your skin will glow, you'll have more energy than ever before, and really just feel ready to take on the world, dare I say feel like a teen again?! 

So that's this weeks topic, feel free to keep up on my Facebook group, The Human Diet and learn more daily! Thanks for reading! 

Proportioned meals: fist size chicken breast with homemade BBQ sauce, medium diced red potato cooked in pesto, a green leafy salad with organic Balsamic (a tbsp only), a handful of blueberries, for good measure, and a tall glass of cold water. Easy, quick, delicious. 

Weeks Seven.....and Eight....

Well! Here it is! The whole part of this that's supposed to separate it from every other weight loss or diet blog, REALITY!!! The last two weeks were a ton of fun for my gluttonous side but not so great for my mission! Graduation season hit and, boy, was it a doozie! This weeks goal, back on track, for REAL! 

So I'll start with the good stuff for week seven, weighed in Sunday at 202. That's a total loss of one whole pound all week despite the clean diet and active days, this was a tad bit discouraging after I had exercised a vast amount of control in a boss kind of way at my little brothers high school grad party....munched on veggies and cast out ideas of ruffles and other chemical filled crap. I did, however, indulge in a piece of cake and a few drinks which I'm sure didn't help my fat busting body do its thang. Sad thing is I stood on the scale Sunday and it just destroyed my willpower for the week...never should have stood on that DAMN SCALE! In the wee hours of the morning, after a very tiny amount of sleep following those festivities, we headed to Oregon for my cousins high school grad. 

Pitfall número UNO: BK on the way 

So lack of planning combined with poor packing lead to little to no option as far as eating went for me on the road trip. Pretty much it went like this: 

grandma: you need to eat 

me: I don't eat processed crap 

grandma: well, you won't have another chance till at least four

....crap. 

Hello Whopper! And four fries...no chemical sludge though, go me!

Anyhow, wish that was my only confession but the rest of the week, to Saturday, was pretty much a free for all but still controlled in amounts.

I did strength training today but did not during most the mishap week though we were pretty active and were very much out and about, so to say. 

Tomorrow: back to no processed food! Back to cardio and strength! 

I looked at my progress charts on My Fitness Pal (great app, totally recommend this!!! And my user name is karenlobato) and I found I've only lost five pounds all month so it's time to hit it! 

So that explains where I've been. At first I was a little ashamed and afraid to post because I have people watching and following along but then I realized, hey, this is what it's all about! This is my journey! And I'll be damned if I let one whopper and a week of chips and ice cream keep me fat and unhappy for life! Here's to breaking 200 this week! Celebration to come!!!

Weigh in Sunday: 201

Down a pound!

The Human Diet

It just occurred to me that I've never fully explained why I call this The Human Diet or laid out what I do. So here it goes! 

I call this The Human Diet and the reason I do is its based 100% on nutrition and the natural way to be healthy and fit. No gimmicks, no punch line, no fancy stuff. I eat whole clean foods, meaning a vast majority of my diet is unprocessed and what is is lightly and still food as it was meant to be. If you can find it in nature or close to it, like bread, cheese, yogurt, then I don't eat it. I eat about 250-300 calories per meal and shoot for 150-250 for snack, however I am nursing so my calorie allotment is a little higher than average. I drink water and still allow myself two cups of coffee a day. My sweetener of choice is stevia or pure local honey. I buy organic, shop, for the most part, local, which is cheaper for me. I try to limit carbs but don't cut anything out nutrition wise. I don't not eat white sugar and I'm about to cut regular white flour. My diet is largely based on fruit and veg in raw form but I do that because I prefer it that way and I actually enjoy it so its not hard for me. I eat what I'm meant to eat as a human, hence the name. 

I workout daily. It's rarely the same workout with the exception of strength and core building which I routinely follow but regularly add to and bulk up:

Lower body-

50 Squats (since the squat challenge)

20 lunges each side

Core and abs-

Working crunch month challenge see below

And I've added side crunches to this to make it more of a challenge

20 pelvic leg lifts

20 scissor kicks

20 sit ups

20 flutter kicks

60-90 plank depending on how I feel

Arm strength-

2lb arm lifts and curls every way I can think, 20 reps a piece 

10 push-ups

20 'girly' push-ups 

10 reverse push-ups 

Cardio wise I mix it up! If it's outside and active I'm up for it! If I can't squeeze something new in my fall backs are running and long walks with the kiddos I the park. 

Well, there it is! It's not rocket science! Everything in moderation, eat what was naturally put here for you to consume and get off the couch!!! 

I also take a vitamin supplement everyday and drink enough water. If you have any questions drop by the Human Diet on Facebook add and ask away! 

Week Six!

Hey there! Sorry I'm a little behind this week again...it seems the more we get into summer the less down time I have, which is fantastic for my blog but bad for my writing time. Lots to share about this week and particularly the weekend! 

Exercise, who knew it could be so much fun!

I have yet to note an important fact, while getting out and moving I believe I've upped my parenting game like 30% or so in the sense that my kids get out just about everyday to do something fun and stimulating. This week we went on a three mile walk to a new park, unfortunately the sun didnt cooperate and I had to summon a ride home, (thanks little brother Dan!) and I'm in love with this park! It has plastic tube tunnels the baby can crawl through which is a huge plus for her plus the change in scenery for our walk is welcome for all of us. Chasing my toddler around the play structure has never been so easy or FUN! I am officially of the opinion there should be adult size parks, who says we get too old to play?! 

My brother Dan and I also went on a 2 mile run this week...never run with an 18 year old boy in peak condition unless you want to feel old and slow haha. It was really nice to have a running buddy though, he pushed me to run more than average just on a competitive level. 

Memorial Day weekend was extremely eventful for my little family. We went camping and spent the weekend on the water where I got some knee boarding in, man three days later I was still feeling that in the arms, back and glutes! Monday Mother Nature decided some rain was in store so my family packed up camp and we joined some more family for a foothill hike in around some old coal mining towns. Four miles later up and down and up and down some extreme inclines my body was done and I can say I worked like a boss this weekend. 

My ab challenge got put off for the week but I started it back up this morning (Wednesday) and I'm on a mission for that!

Food Time!

I learned this week that eating a clean whole food diet is not only doable in every situation but easy as well! We ate clean all weekend even with all the junk food junkies around, chips here, candy there, BBQs and s'mores galore! The only thing I did cheat a little with is beer...I am a beer girl and it's ok in moderation. I've been experimenting with quinoa and Greek yogurt pancakes, (see my Facebook page the Human Diet for recipes) and came up with a new delicious salad. 

Dirty little habits? What habits?

Six weeks tobacco free this week! And still sticking with coconut cream and stevia for my coffee. Now for cheating, I had A small slice of chocolate cake this week...oh well. 

How I feel

This week was a little tough. I was struggling with progress and it's funny now that I think about it. I've lost 17 lbs in 6 weeks, defiantly nothing to snub my nose at. I have to look at it as a whole and remember that I have no deadline! It will happen in it's own time I have a renewed attitude about it and I'm more excited and determined than ever!

How I look

Still sliming down! I cut all my 'fat jeans' into shorts this week! The issue was the legs, they were too baggy and I like tight skinny jeans and a little more room in shorts legs so it's a perfect transition. Emptied about a quarter of my shirts from my wardrobe as they are way too big now! So so SO ready to be rid of this baby belly! It's really bugging me now. This week I also saw a picture of myself that someone else took, I didn't know they were and it was the first time I thought, damn, I look good. 

So excited for my future, I feel so much more confident already!

Well that sums it up for now! Stay tuned and check in on the Facebook page (the Human Diet) for recipes, exercise ideas and more! Have a great week!

Weigh in May 28th 

203 lbs

Down 17! Four more to 199!!!!

I'll be taking measurements next week to let a little time pass for real results. From today forward they will be biweekly. 

Progress Five Weeks

Week Five Stayin Alive!!!

Officially over a month and still going strong!! This week I finished my squat challenge, reveal this months challenge and try out some new super foods!!

Exercise...love it! Live it! It's part of my life!

I've discovered I love to run!! I picked up some hand and ankle weights and I've been going father and longer each time. It's such a great escape! Walking is great with the kids but having this time for myself is fantastic! Only downfall is my shins! They kill! But here's to waiting out being fit enough for that to not happen anymore...I've completed the squat challenge! One month of kicking my own butt! The results are astounding! My thighs are super tight and have hardly any softness left to them, my butt is nice and lifted and firm and my legs are super strong! This months challenge is for the abs! Starting at 20 adding 5 everyday of crunches, bicycle and crunches to each side. Here's to a tight core! I find working out is so much fun for me now! I feel like I'm shaping my body, molding it into what I want it to be and flexing what I've worked for thus far...it's almost like working out is really playing with my new shiny toy of a healthy body!   

This Week's Ingestibles 

I've discovered that Raleys  is a fantastic grocer who carries a vast selection of health foods, which is a super plus for anyone working to learn to eat clean! I'm on a Greek yogurt kick, have one everyday with chia seed. Chia is super high in nutritional value and way easy to add to all sorts of things but the best thing is it's a fantastic natural detox aid and will clean you out super quick! I feel amazing! Still living on my green leaf salads and eggs on the regular. Food is great but organic clean food is devine! 

No More Dirty Little Habits!

I'm five weeks tobacco free this week! And as for my coffee I still enjoy two cups a day, which is ok by my standard, and I found out So Coconut products makes hazelnut creamer! When I can't find the flavored I go with plain and use a packet of stevia and it satisfies me. 

How I Feel

I'm pretty sure it's obvious, as I notice all the exclamation points above, but I am so happy with life right now! My body feels and looks amazing! I have tons of energy, I'm eager to get ready in the morning. Everyone around me is starting to notice a change on their own and I love that! 

How I Look

My clothes fit so much better and are even getting a little big! My stomach is weeks away from being flat, I just know it, and that's been years! I have a skin condition called milia, my pores are so tight they don't release sebum (oil) and so it turns into a hard granule, almost like sand, and gets stuck there. These are coming to the surface and being extracted on the regular for the last few days, a first since I learned of the issue in 2005.  

I am hooked. I'm becoming passionate about where my food comes from and not just for taste but because it what I use to fuel my body (shameless plug: March Against Monsanto May 25th, google it for location and if you don't know what Monsanto is please take the time to do some research, this company along with a few others are

Poisoning our food, ground and water, control the FDA and even have legislation passed where it's illegal to stop them even if it's found they are hurting people or the environment). I love my new lifestyle and it's paying off for myself and my children! 

Weigh in May 19th

204

Down 16 pounds!

May 10

Chest 44

Waist 39

Hips 44

Left Leg 24

Left Arm 14

May 22

Chest 44

Waist 39

Hips 44

Left leg 23.5

Left arm 13.5