The End of My #Whole30 Journey...

So today would've been day 32, but I didn't even make it to day 30. I did make it to day 26, and for me that's pretty good. That is almost 30 days of committed meal planning and experimenting that I wouldn't have done if I didn't think I needed it. I will post a few pictures of some meals I added to my diet since the last blog, if you haven't read it then go ahead and read that here. 

This journey I went on was truly to cleanse out my body and to see if I can lose some weight and I was successful. I was able to get back down to the weight I was when I first moved back to Oregon, and I gained a clean gut. "Gut" is a term nutritionists use to discuss what's going on in your stomach. We always think that what we eat eventually comes out sooner or later when in reality, that's a lie. A lot of what we ate last month could still be in our stomachs and this can cause all kinds of issues. So please do your research on what you eat and why you should or shouldn't be digesting it. 

Alright, so let's get to business. Why didn't I go through to day 30? 

Simple answer- I didn't think another 4 days would've made a huge difference in the way I felt or in my weight loss. The truth is, I was feeling horrible the last few days. My energy was at an all time low and I was very moody. This reaction is almost backwards from the average person who, would feel this way in the beginning of a diet change not toward the end. For this reason, I had to quit. 

Egg, Cheese and salsa burrito and a Medium Iced Chai Tea from Dutch Bros.

What I ate on day 26 (4 days away from the finish line!)

So let me just inform you, even though I quit the journey it totally helped me to figure out what foods I am intolerant to. I noticed right away after eating and drinking this that dairy is not my friend. I became stuffy almost instantly. if you aren't familiar with diagnosing food allergies; do you get a runny nose, stuffy nose, itchy mouth or sneeze right after eating something? Your probably allergic to it or something on it. Just something to look into. 

I have included some non-Whole30 compliant ingredients back into my diet like flour, some sugar and more potatoes but I am definitely sticking to a strict eating lifestyle. Here are a few different meals I had after breaking my Whole30 regimen. 

Gluten Free Turkey Breast Wrap

Tofu "Steak", Mashed Potatoes and Asparagus

If you go to my Pinterest you can see all of the meals I've prepared or eaten on my journey, that is continuing still. I truly encourage everyone to do this challenge AT LEAST once a year. This challenge resets your body and helps you to really be conscience of what you are actually eating. Also, helps you to get more creative and out of that rut of the same 3 meals each day. Again, do your research, find out what works best for you and stick with whatever you decide to do. I am here for you and hope for the best in your journey. 

Share with me some of your food journeys or health journeys, I'd love to read about them and know your struggles too.

I appreciate all of your support and don't forget to check out my Pinterest for more pictures and meal ideas.  

Want more nutritional information about food and you, check out my Aunts blog and Facebook page (she's a nutritionist) here:

What's Eating Me Blog

What's Eating Me FB

The Whole30 Program - The Journey in Progress...

Welcome to my journey through The Whole30 Program...

I am half way through my journey of The Whole30 program and I must say, I'm very proud of myself. If you're on this journey also, you should be proud of yourself too. I believe this is the most disciplined I've been with myself since I was still in dance class a few years back. 

I'm the type of person (and maybe you are too) that can go for about a week, maybe 10days strong on whatever project, mission or "diet" I'm on and then give in or up and move on back to what I was doing before. 

I have received a lot of support and encouragement for doing this lifestyles change and I hope that this can encourage you too, even if your not doing The Whole30 Program, to stick with whatever your goals are. 

When I started this we had just come back from 10 days in Florida with my grandma and I ate the most sugar and what I felt like was junk that I've had in a long time. So when I got home I decided something has to change and not just because of the trip but because I was never happy with how I looked. I still am not to where I can say I am completely satisfied with how my body is, and to be honest I don't know if I ever will but I am willing to try my hardest to change the things I know I can and pray for the things I know I can't do on my own. 

3 Egg Omelette with Spinach, Mushroom and Tomato

Side of Kiwi (Homemade)

Instead of doing a whole bunch of pictures I am just going to link you to my Pinterest board that has every days meals posted and a little description saying what it was, that way it's more fun.

If you are not familiar with what exactly The Whole30 Program is, click the link and you can read all about it but also here is some of the things that are Restricted: 

Sugar

Grains

Legumes

Dairy

Carrageenan

Peanuts & some other nuts

Seeds

Did I mention Sugar!! 

This pretty much just means no processed anything, which seems ridiculously hard but in reality it's not that bad. 

Lime Shrimp over Corn and Romaine Lettuce Leaves 

With a Pineapple Vinaigrette (Homemade)

Before we all started making food in packages we ate Whole foods, hence the name Whole30. This program is to last 30 days with none of these items in your diet and for good cause. It's kind of like a detox and I'm glad I have jumped in and committed to doing so. I learned to create new dishes so I don't get bored eating the same meat or veggie 3 days in a row. 

The main things that are easy to remember that you Can have: 

Fruits

Vegetables

Meats

Now this is eating Whole. You know exactly whats being made and how. I know another thing that after about 1 week I was struggling with, was the idea of never going out to eat ever again. Have no fear, there are many places you can go out to eat, as long as you do your research and don't mind being "that person" with the picky order. 

Thai Food - Ground Chicken Lettuce Wraps 

(Restaurant)

I have included a few pictures of what I've made and also when I ate out and I hope this can encourage you to really research what food does to your body when it goes into your body. Some of the things I've learned going on this new journey is not only does my body process food differently but also the way it is prepared is processed differently in the body. I've also learned that the Carmel Machiatto I want from Starbucks that I can try to recreate at home being Whole30 compliant, isn't because I really need or want the taste of coffee but more so because I really want that sugary goodness plus the coffee. I can't have my cake and eat it too, this program doesn't work that way but that doesn't mean we can't have anything sweet enough to fulfill those sweet-tooth cravings, there are plenty of options out there. I am finding new ones every single day and thank goodness because it makes it easier to transition my daughter to eat the same way. 

Again I hope you are encouraged not only to learn more about the food you eat, how it's processed in the body, why you want to eat it but also just to stick to your goals and finish them. I only have 15 more days to go on this journey but I honestly don't know if I will go back after the 30 days is over. If you want to know if I stick with The Whole30 or go back to an average persons diet make sure to subscribe to find out. 

Have a blessed day. 

Here is a documentary that for sure will help you view the way we eat differently: Fed Up

Faking Fuller Lashes...

Do you have thin lashes? Do like the look of false lashes but don't have to time or desire to wear them everyday? Well welcome to my world.. I have been doing this little trick for years and it's still successful to get the look I desire. 

What I wished my lashes looked like:

What my lashes really look like: 

All these mascara ads make us feel like "If you use this mascara your lashes will look full and voluminous like these!" But, in reality most if not all mascara ads have the girls wearing false lashes.. Now there are some mascaras that really do lengthen and volumize your lashes BUT there is usually a primer or fiber that does the work. 

Now what I am promoting is not a mascara at all, it's actually in your makeup essentials right now!

Black Eyeliner

Now I bet you never thought to line your top water line, also know as "Tight-lining." 

Ok maybe you have but if you haven't here's what I do and it's my go to trick to make people think I have thick and full lashes. 

I recommend trying this at least once and seeing if this works for you the way it does for me. If you wear contacts, I recommend using the end of a makeup brush to help you hold eyelid up like I do in my video.

Check that out here: http://youtu.be/qea3rpIrqdw

Thank you all for reading I hope you try this out and that it works for you. Don't forget to check me out all over social media so you can keep up with me throughout the week. 

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/14TPqlp

Twitter: http://bit.ly/1z9iVME

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Your friend - Desireestyles4u

*Disclaimer: Images provided by Google search

Life is short...

So today we woke up and did our regular morning routine as always, but something was different we just didn't know it yet. About an hour after we woke, my mother came in our room and told us one of her co workers passed away. Now I didn't know her personally but I knew that she worked for the same company I once worked for and also that my mom knew her pretty well, so this was a shock to me. For the sake of privacy I'm not going to use her name or give much detail about what happened but wanted to share how it's affected me, and I'm just a by-stander.

So she was only 26 years young and for me I guess it affected me more than I thought because I'm only going to be 31 this year and that's not far from her age. I know that last year she got pretty ill and I was around to hear about how bad it got and actually saw her after she was a little better but still wasn't 100% well. Throughout the year 2014 there have been a few incidents where she had to be rushed to the hospital and over time she was in a position where she wasn't even aloud to drive. I can't imagine being 26, single, no kids, working, and so sick that I can't even drive and sometimes have to stay home from work. I would want to do anything in my power to find out what was wrong and do whatever I can to get better. I thank God I know Him and have a personal relationship with Jesus, because even though going through what she did was probably hard, there would be some comfort in knowing that if I were to go at such a young age I would be going to the most peaceful place; Heaven. I don't know if she had that, I don't know if she had that comfort. I do know that her family was in another state and that her coworkers were like her family away from her own. I wish I would've known her better so maybe she would've been more intentional about seeing the Dr. or even just being truthful about what was really going on with her. I guess we will never know....

Why am I writing this if I didn't even know her, she wasn't my friend, she wasn't even a relative, so why? Well I went to the store tonight, it's only 8:30pm but for me that's late since I don't usually leave the house after 6pm. As I went to the store, I was watching people come in and out, go through the aisles, chat with their friends and go on about their business. No one knew that someone died today, or that it could have been their neighbor or that it was someone I knew, NO ONE KNEW. That's what really made me think about life and how short it really is. We don't realize that when we get in the car next to go to the store, that could be the last time or when we go to sleep tonight that could be it; it was for her. We just never know when it's our time and we never will.

God has control over our lives, and that's scary to a lot of people and that's the reason people don't follow Jesus or even claim to believe in Him because they want to control their own lives. For me, life is too complicated to not have the help of someone greater than me, and why not have it be the One who created life. I don't know who or what you believe in, but I believe in God, the One and Only savior of this world and I pray that at least one of you are touched by this and stop to think about your life today. Don't do it for me because I made you feel sad, or compassionate, but because you care about your life and you care about your family and friends and want to live a life to the fullest. We can all take that statement "live your life to the fullest" in so many ways, but for me it means to live it in a way pleasing to God. I'm alive for a reason and I pray I can fulfill that purpose until that day I am suppose to go and be with my heavenly Father, I hope you all do the same.

Jesus loves you all and so do I.. Thank you for reading.

"My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if I keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to die." Galatians 2:20-21