An ice cold (healthy) summer treat! And... confessions.

When I decided to eat better, I was a little ticked off with myself. Why ever would I do this right when summer hit?!? What about all those camping treats around the firepit or worse... the ice-cream runs?!?

I felt sorry for myself until I started to notice how much better I felt. And then I started to fiddle around with healthy foods, attempting to create interesting takes on things I knew were good for me.

So when a hot summer day hit, I  thought of the 'you know what'. Instead, I head for the fridge with a brainstorm. I wanted an ice cold something so I invented my:

Fresh blueberry yogurt popsicle

You'll need: something to put the popsicles in. 

I found a popsicle container with no handles, so I used plastic forks. 

Ingredients - low whatever you wish vanilla yogurt, fresh blueberries

1. In a blender: add some yogurt and some blueberries. Blend leaving berries really chunky.

3. Layer:

Just blueberries first.

Vanilla yogurt.

Whipped blueberry yogurt.

Stick in fork and freeze.


4. When frozen, run hot water on container until popsicle loosens.

YUM!

I ate this thing while I was sitting on the lounger in our pool. And I forgot to feel sorry for myself. :)

And did you know, if you cut up chunks of banana, they are delicious frozen? Apparently if you whip up the frozen chunks, they taste like ice-cream because of a banana's creamy texture.

Have any frozen healthy treat ideas you like?

Confession Time

Well, the honeymoon period is officially over. What was a gung ho decision for many not long ago has now turned into effort. 

But I'm proud of the support group that's formed for Junk Loser (facebook). We've been working really hard and some have even blogged about their experiences thus far.

So far, I feel much more alert, stronger and have even dropped a size! So just know, your diligence will eventually pay off if you don't give up.

Anyone have any posts to share?

Comments on your progress?

Confessions to make?

Link up below!

Need some daily motivation? Join in!

Need healthy recipe ideas? Click HERE.

All JUNK LOSER posts to date are HERE.

Junk Loser - Jennifer's story on eating 'real'

Hello there Junk Losers!

How's everyone doing?

I'm personally keeping that 6 lb off just by eating right. And feeling alot better for it. Naps are history! I felt tired yesterday after a trip to the dentist, which made me realize, wow, I use to feel this bad all the time. So glad those days are over!

Starting the Junk Loser Facebook page has proven to be a good idea. We're able to support each other daily in our quest to reach our goals. Come on in and share your own questions and advice!

Next week

Next week we'll have a linkup so any of you wishing to share your own stories can do so. Tell us why you're fed up with your old lifestyle and share your goals with us. Or fill us in on your success to date. We'd love to support you. :)

Today I have a special treat. 

I'd like to introduce Jennifer, from Bella Grace Home, an incredibly talented FJI follower. When she saw this new group form, she was interested in sharing her own success to better health story.

There's a BIG difference from dieting just to lose weight and eating real, healthy foods geared for the long haul. It's my hope that Jennifer's take will help inspire you to move to real food yourself.

Welcome Jennifer!

After reading Donna's Up and Down Story and her desire to make healthy changes in her life, while encouraging us all to do the same, I thought I would jump in the discussion. I'm grateful for this opportunity to share my own journey with you today so that you will find encouragement for wholeness and health from the inside-out for yourself.

 Just as Donna is encouraging us to become "junk losers," my hope is that we will also realize that we may have more "junk in the trunk" than we realized. That is, the foods we eat, even the seemingly "healthy" foods (i.e. low-fat dairy, breads and processed diet snacks) are feeding our bodies true junk, rather than fueling our bodies with whole, natural food.

The Beginning

Growing up I was always a little more, shall we say plump than the other kids...not fat, just plump. To top things off I hit my full height of 5' 8.5" by the seventh grade. Can you imagine being that tall amongst all those girls and boys yet to hit their growth spurts? It was tough! But I was taught to stand tall, anyway, and not slump my shoulders (thanks to the occasional $20 bribe my great-grandparents gave me while visiting them a few times a year). I'm so, so grateful for them teaching me to stand up straight, even if it meant I couldn't see "eye to eye" with everyone.

When I hit middle school both my parents worked outside the home, which meant that after school snacks were for my choosing. And boy did I choose horribly! Nearly every afternoon I'd wolf down a bowl of queso and chips, along with a bowl of Blue Bell Ice Cream (where my dad was and still is employed...always a stocked freezer!). Needless to say, my jean size was anything but petite. I believe I got up to a size 13 by the eighth grade.

The Journey to Skinny

I moved to a new city and started fresh at a new school for ninth grade. That year I was determined to lose weight and be skinny. I worked hard for it, too! I walked for at least 60 minutes a day, marched in the band and did the occasional workout video to top things off. I put a lot of pressure on myself to eat low-fat, limit my calorie intake and exercise, exercise, exercise. By the end of the year I was down to a size 10 and happy as a lark.

However, after that first year the scale would easily budge up and down if I missed my walking routine for long. Oh, and it also could've had something to do with my passion for all things Doritos. Doritos. Doritos. Those things had a hold on me for years...like through college and the early part of my marriage.

vichie81 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Skinny Doesn't Always Mean Healthy

By the time I got married I was about a size 8, which is slender, but despite my "healthy habits" of low-fat dairy, nearly non-existent meat intake, high fruit and veggie intake, along with regular 5 days-a-week exercise, it was a struggle to simply be healthy. I constantly battled allergies, which would turn into sinus infections and sore throats, as well as suffered from lethargy, mind-fogginess, headaches, etc. Outwardly I may have seemed like I was in decent shape, but inwardly my body was saying something entirely different.

It was SCREAMING stop doing this stuff to your body! Stop putting this fake food into your body. You are hurting yourself! But it was hard for me to listen because everything in the media and with modern medicine said, "Eat low-fat. Eat less meat. It's okay to eat processed food...all that matters is the total number of calories in and the number burned." And yet following that advice left me weak and ill most of the year (with those stinkin' allergies!).

Clare Bloomfield / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Saying Hello to Real Food and Good Health

(2008) My journey to being fit and healthy from the inside-out was just that...a journey. One author that inspired me was Michael Pollan. His book, "In Defense of Food" caught my attention because he stated simply that we are consuming “edible foodlike substances.” Foodlike substances...hmm...that was the perfect way, in my eyes, to describe our love for foods in a box, can, shaped like a fish, topped with sugar and surely containing corn syrup. Remembering to eat real food found in nature, not in a science lab began improving my health slowly, but surely. But I still had more changes to make.

(2009) My mom, who has been a huge proponent of natural, organic living for years, always taught me that it was healthier to eat whole organic yogurt (plain...less sugars) and drink whole milk, as well as choose real butter and olive oil over the sprays and margarine. I ignored her until that year. And after going "whole" I couldn't go back to the low-fat version. And you know what? I didn't gain any weight from it, either!

That same year two of my brothers began doing the paleo diet found in The Primal Blueprint, concentrating on protein and good fats, veggies and berries. They got fit fast and had more energy, too! I decided to try eating more meat at this point because I was still dragging around. The protein in my diet helped me tremendously. My muscles also went from flab to fab, easily! Like, no weight-training (although I do recommend it, I just haven't needed to do it as much for the shape...it's simply there now...yay!!!).

anankkml / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

(2010) While I had made all of those changes, I was still holding onto hidden sugars and artificial "stuff" found in breads, Cool Whip (okay, those aren't so "hidden") diet sodas, granola bars, etc. And I still had my allergies. Yuck! Then I remembered something my mom had told me about garlic: it was a natural antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and anti-parasitic herb. I found this recipe online for a homemade garlic/olive oil remedy to rub on my feet at night. After only a few days my energy level was up and my allergies had subsided.

As my ailments disappeared (including rough feet) I researched more about this little herb and discovered that often times a lot of health issues can be linked to an issue called Candida, and that there were natural ways of ridding your body of it, hallelujah! So, I stopped drinking sodas immediately, which was easier than I expected, and switched out my sugar/Splenda for Truvia, which is derived from the Stevia plant and is a natural, healthy sweetener. I also cut wayyyy back on my carbs (although I still eat fruit/veggies) and added more protein and real fat.

Since making these changes I have not suffered from allergies any more...and that's including the winter season, which in the past would hit me the hardest. I have more energy, the color in my face is healthier, my muscles are stronger, I'm still a size 6!!! and I'm feeding my body real food. I enjoy walking and zumba-ing several times a week, but don't let it stress me out like before.

Don't get me wrong, I do still enjoy my tortilla chips and salsa on occasion, I just make sure I balance out those carbs with the other natural foods I eat. I am grateful to have discovered the beauty in finding healing through healthy living, and I hope that my story will do the same for you!

Your body is a precious gift and I want to challenge you to consider the ways you may be putting junk in your trunk, even in an effort to be skinny. As you research the links that I've shared and examine your health, from the inside-out, please know that Donna and I are here to support you, offer encouragement and go on this journey together. One.day.at.a.time.

Wow. Now that was inspiring!

I totally agree with Jennifer's take on real foods. Leaving the boxed and canned processed food behind that our bodies really weren't meant to eat in the first place WILL heal you. The move will help you regain your health, possibly get you off meds, and you'll drop those unwanted pounds. This deal is way WAY more than counting calories, points, or watching carb intake.

Choose real and you'll be real.

And for you healthy eaters, this weekend on SNS will be all about healthy recipes. So get those photo shoots ready and be prepared to share your favs with MANY categories to link to.

What's your own take on eating processed foods?

All Junk Loser posts to date are HERE

Today's the last day...

Win a free 1 year subscription to the new FOLK magazine!

Click HERE to enter.

Junk Loser #2 - what's your plan?

Hello there Junk Losers!

First off, your interest in the intro post FLOORED me. I'm thrilled that so many of you are wishing to take an active step in bettering your health!  

It's for this reason I've started a Junk Loser Facebook page so we can support each other daily/hourly/whatever you need or desire. Come on in!

First of all, a big humongous CONGRATS on wanting some better changes in your life!

Secondly, now what?

Whenever I get a big brainstorm DIY wise, I go through a bunch of steps. I figure out what I want to make, gather up my supplies and implement it full blast.

So why in the dickens is it so hard to come up with a decent plan for improving our heath? And sticking to it?

I have a secret to share.

Planning for things 

is actually MUCH worse than 

just doing it.

But, planning IS necessary for this one. You need to arm yourself with the right supplies to make your project a success.

So where to begin?

1. Health first.

We ALL want to lose weight. But if that's our main motivation, you know what happens. We're all gung ho for the first bit, then the desire fizzles.

I'm going to ask you to take a slightly different approach. I want you to think of better health for the long run first. Train your body to do good things and eat good things and good things WILL come your way.

Look at it this way.

You diet, you get hungry, you cave.

or...

You get healthy, you feel better, you'll have more stamina to be and STAY successful.

Choose health over just weigh loss and plan to stay healthy for the rest of your life.

2. MOVE

Scenario #1 - you watch what you eat and lose weight. Lovely! Now you get to watch it forever because that's the only way you'll keep the weight off. A lifetime of starvation! When do we begin?

Scenario #2 - you adapt to a healthy 'real foods' diet, and you move to increase your metabolism and build muscle which will burn fat.

Walking is something nearly anyone can do and will trigger your sleepy metabolism. Plus you'll just FEEL a heckuva lot better.

Building muscle mass will speed up fat burn, because muscle continues to burn fat well after you stop moving.

So... get out those athletic shoes daily and start somewhere! Baby steps. Whatever you can do. And gradually build up where you'd like to be.

Me - Walking does an amazing number on me. I feel younger, much stronger and am just flat out motivated to move. I love to push weights to tone and build muscle mass as well but I'm not quite there yet. Baby steps here. :)

3. Choose an inspiration source

If everyone could do this alone, we'd all be thin already.

And that's why I have my handy dandy Curves book by my side. It's the little voice that will encourage me to stay on the right track when I get weak at the knees with it all.

If you're at a loss on what to get or try, I do encourage the Curves book. It's an easy read, full of inspiring stories, easy non fussy meal planning, grocery lists already written for you and simple new recipes to try out.

4. Pick a plan that JIVES with you

There are 101 plans to try. Ultimately, you need to pick one you believe in and that will ultimately cater to your goal of staying fit for life. I don't know all of them but the ones I do know of are:

Sure Slim is an excellent (although expensive) plan some of my own family members are on and they swear by it. You eat healthy real foods for your blood type and they've all dropped to their goal weight. It's fairly restrictive but is  healthy and it works.  I was debating it for a short time myself. The price stopped me, but the heath benefits still tempt me. It's a doctor regulated program.

Weight Watchers is wildly popular and is about meal planning by calculating given points to each food item. You monitor your success by not exceeding a certain range of points. High cal foods have more points therefore you must eat less if you cheat.  I've never been on the plan myself.

Curves is an exercise program AND food planner. Building up muscle mass is dictated as important as eating right so you don't have to stay on a restricted diet long term. They divide the diet in 3 phases to help you lose, maintain and also help you through the plateau stage. I've been a member in the past and worked out as well as followed their diet plan from the book myself and was very successful.

 5. Consult your doctor

When I hit the Curves plan, I paid a visit to my doctor. She liked what she heard and endorsed it. I also visited her when I had lost weight. She commented that I had a very 'young' body. :)

Only you and your doctor knows of your present health condition. Please PLEASE don't mess with this. If you change something up in diet or exercise, make the appointment and see what your doc has to say first.

7. Stock the right stuff

It's time to go shopping! Once you decide on your plan, it'll be easier to know what to pick up.

But if you really don't know how to proceed from the get go, it will not hurt you to stop eating processed foods. This means most anything canned, frozen, boxed or baked.

Pick up fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs,  lean fresh protein, organic raw nuts, top up your water jug and you'll be doing it before you know it.

Me - I'm personally not a fancy eater nor an amazing chef. I prefer to pull something out of the fridge raw and just eat it. No fuss no muss.

One of my very fav lunches is using a lettuce leaf instead of a wrap. Spread a veggie cream cheese on the lettuce leaf, load with chicken and your fav veggies, wrap it and enjoy. It's delicious!

Buy things you actually like, then get a little creative. You can top your salads with chicken, taco seasoned beef, chili, nuts, raisins, eggs, hamburger crumblings from the BBQ... the sky's the limit. A salad really can be a fun, healthy and filling meal.

8. It gets easier

Deciding was the hardest part. Doing it proved that it wasn't that big of a deal. Now that you're doing it, you will miss some things about your old diet. BUT... not for long. It does get easier. Especially when you start to feel better!

But do expect a few hiccups on the way to progress.

Me - I got headaches the 2nd day from carb withdrawal but for only 1 day. A friend that went off sugars had a week long withdrawal process.  So go into this knowing you could be hit with a few rough spots.

But hang tough. It gets better! I had 2 chocolate chips last night and couldn't believe I actually loved them a week ago! They tasted like sugary wax yesterday. Yech. What am I missing out on again?

Aches and pains. Feeling sleepy. Weight gain. Illnesses.

No thanks.

This week's homework

Time to come up with a plan that works for you. Then go shopping! Just remember, you can't eat it if you don't buy it.

Not sure what to get? Pick up fresh fruits and vegetables, eggs,  lean fresh protein, organic raw nuts, top up your water jug, slap on your walking shoes and...

Just do it. Today.

Coming soon: recipe swap area, testimonials, and a place to share your own successes. Watch JL Facebook for updates!

Let's hear your plans! 

What are you going to try?

All Junk Loser posts to date are HERE.

I'm a Junk Loser! Wanna play too?

I have a little story to tell.

I've made some changes in my life recently and by sharing, my hope is that someone out there may be influenced in a GOOD way.

Warning: my little story is rather wordy... aren't they all? :)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

My up-down story

A few years back, I was coursing through a really difficult time in my life. Attempting to hold a failing marriage together was beginning to take it's toll.

I hadn't really paid attention and taken care of myself because we were plunged into survival mode.  My thoughts were on my son and our uncertain future. It was only when I ended up glancing at myself in a department store full length mirror one day, I gasped!

You see, the house I lived in at the time must have been built by a giant. All the mirrors reflected someone around 5'6" tall from the chin up. Crazy! I lived a long time without a mirror showing off what I really looked like.

But the department store mirror didn't lie. I had put on weight and a lot of it! It was then that I resolved to stop the fiasco of over indulging for comfort and get things back on track.

I joined a local Curves gym and immediately fell in love! It was such an encouragement to walk into a place with other non perfect women just like myself. What I loved about Curves was the fact that the workout program was built as a circuit. The machines were on self adjusting hydraulics so you really couldn't 'do it wrong.' With the machines set out in a circle, you were to run in the same spot until you heard a ding, then you'd move to the next machine. Ding and you'd run, etc. The machines were geared to help you build muscle which is the best fat burner there is. For only 30 minutes 3x a week!

After joining for awhile, I first noticed returning strength which felt empowering. So I decided to ramp things up and look into their eating plan with some hesitation.

You see, I don't like unnatural things to do. I didn't want to cook special foods leading me to cook two meals at home,. I didn't want to have to keep track of an entire list of foods, points and such. And I didn't want to have to give up 'fun' food long term.  I just wanted something relatively easy to just 'do.'

The program looked encouraging so instead of plunking down more money, I purchased their book instead. And did it on my own.

After a few weeks, I finally landed a full length mirror and hung it in the house so I could at least see what I looked like when I got dressed. I'll never forget that first glance. My jaw hit the floor.  I didn't recognize that thin person in the mirror!

Not only was I successful at the weight loss thing, I surpassed my own expectations. By the time my marriage was a done deal and the moving truck dropped us off at our new location, I had dropped 25 lb which was below my goal weight. And the weight was still rolling off on it's own. I actually started eating burgers to slow down the loss!

I stopped going to Curves when I became a single parent because they didn't allow children in the waiting area. So I resolved to do the best I could at home on my own with  LOTS and LOTS of power walking. It worked for awhile, until the rain started pounding down. I lost motivation without the workout and started getting sloppy with my eating habits again.

And then I started sitting blogging. :)

Today? I've gained back 15 of those 25 lb and haven't been very happy with myself lately. I've had a taste of what it felt like to be fit and trim and desire that back.

Not long ago I decided to find my Curves book and start reading again. I couldn't find the book so I started snooping in thrift stores and found another for a whoppin' dollar.

But I didn't read it right away. Reading it meant that I was committed to a 'plan.' I really didn't want to follow anything! So I held tough for abit longer.

A week ago my frustration hit an all time high. Our weather turned HOT overnight and right on cue, my summer clothes didn't fit. I went for a walk at a snail's pace and felt hot, fat and out of shape with the waistline of my pants cutting into me. I decided that day it was dumb to buy larger clothes and smarter to fit into the ones I had.

So I decided to bypass crappy carbs and just eat protein and salads. I didn't really think much further ahead than that one day. I just wanted to ride out the day to see how I felt about it all. The day went by pretty painlessly, so I extended it for two days. No commitment, remember? :)

After the 2nd day, I stood on my scale out of curiosity. And I was down 5 whoppin' pounds!

Honestly, all I did was stop eating crap. Went off breads, flours, starches, sugar and ate protein and fresh veggies. THAT'S IT.

I've since picked up the Curves book for inspiration and found I was on the right track. Following a few simple rules was all this was going to take.

Why share this here?

I shared my two day experience on Facebook HERE and know what happened? The comment line BLEW UP.   There was kudos, chit chat about what diet plan worked for others and lots of talk about healthy eating and tips galore. I was pretty stunned!

But much more transpired than the quick scale loss. Today, after one week:

- the desire for constant naps have vanished!

- clearer and sharper thinking

- better memory

- more energy

- more patience

- happier!

These improvements after one short week encouraged me to take that ginormous step and make an official commitment to improve my health and hopefully lose a few in the process.

Because, trust me on this one, if your health goes, a lot of your life as you know it follows.  (more on that one another time)

So, are YOU in?

Have you been desiring a fresh start to better eating and feeling better yourself? If so, this may be the group for you. :)

So here's what I propose. I'll come on board on occasion and together we'll share tips and advice on better health, eating and encouragement for each other. Perhaps I can even feature the odd guest that's doing really well. Or we can have health related giveaways or challenges on health goals.... whaddaya think?!? Care to brainstorm with me on what we can do?

 It doesn't matter what plan you follow.  The posts will be geared in such a way that no matter what you personally chose, you will benefit.

Never in a million years did I think I'd be inclined to post on a topic like this. And maybe you're a little stunned yourself. So I'm going to gauge this series by comment interest. If you like what you hear, I hope you'll join in, because I'm gonna take quiet as it's time to eat that chocolate cake once again, alright?!? :)



And the support won't stop here. Join us over at FJI Facebook for ongoing conversations, tips and suggestions anytime!

So, as I sit by the computer tonite typing this up while gnawing on a few fresh veggies, let's do a trial run...



<center><a href="http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="I’m a Funky Junk Junk Loser!" src="http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b243/signmakergirl/Screenshot2011-07-08at121146AMpng-1-1.jpg"/></a></center>

Tell me why YOU wanna be a Junk Loser. :)