I was on a roll with my weight loss when I learned that I was pregnant with my first child. Though totally unexpected, I was also thrilled to know that I would have the opportunity to become a mother. However, soon after my nerves got the best of me and I began to think that maybe I was too overweight to have a child. I began to fear that my weight would ruin my ability to carry a child and have a healthy pregnancy and delivery. These fears only grew stronger every week that went by.
When I met with my OB for the first time she listened to my fears and then began to share how many overweight women are able to have healthy babies. She encouraged me to continue with my Weight Watchers program, and walk daily like I had been doing for months. So that's exactly what I did. And 6 1/2 months later baby and I are doing great.
I was on a vegan kick before I got pregnant but my cravings for meat and and dairy got the best of me, and throughout my pregnancy I have strayed away from my vegan ways. When I do eat meat and dairy though I really try to limit my intake and eat grass fed products.
I have been craving lasagna for some time but I didn't want to eat a high carbohydrate traditional lasagna, so I got creative and whipped up a No-Noodle turkey lasagna. The results was divine. A pan filled with endless amounts of veggies, lean ground turkey, and tasty tomato sauce. An entire portion of the lasagna is only 8 smart points.
I know really do see that even while pregnant you can maintain your WW lifestyle. There are so many healthy alternatives out there which allows one to eat like a queen all the while managing points wisely. Pregnancy tastes so good! :)
My relationship with food has really changed since switching to a plant based/vegan lifestyle. I continue to feel like my cravings for sweets, and processed foods are going away day by day. I have a huge amount of energy, my mind feels clearer, and I continue to sleep so incredibly well. I still go to Weight Watchers, and am using the meetings as an additional layer of support during my weight loss journey.
I recently read Dr. John McDougall book, "Starch Solution." This is a great place to begin when exploring a plant based diet. The book is informative, easy to read, and has some delicious recipes.
As I continue to lose weight I am exploring different ways to cook my veggies. Yesterday I was at my mom's house and she had baked some organic pumpkins. I took a few home and made a vegan soup filled with all sorts of veggies. I decided to use the baked pumpkin as my bowl when serving the soup. So amazing!
When I have a sweet tooth I look to fresh local produce as my sweet treat. With the summer fruits slowly exiting from the store I look forward to incorporating new fall fruits. These organic figs are not just beautiful to look at but they also taste so good.
My Mexican inspired bowls continue to play a large part in my weekly meals. They are easy to make, and so very satisfying. Brown rice as your base, add whatever veggies you like and a splash of Sarrachi or BBQ sauce. This bowl is a meal I never seem to be getting sick of.
Give this lifestyle a try. These meals are so delicious, healthy, and leave you feeling satisfied for hours. A plant based lifestyle is the way to go!
I love creating new vegan ideas. I had some eggplants that I needed to use before they went bad. I decided to take my eggplants, coat them with a bit of balsamic vinegar and grill them up on my George Foreman.
Once my eggplant was done I simply filled my whole whole tortilla with eggplant, shredded cabbage, carrot, red onion, and a drizzle of tahini. The hearty lunch wrap is only 5 WW points-DELISH!
I did my weigh in this morning at Weight Watchers, another week down and another 4.0 pounds lost! I have really been impressed with the amount of weight that I have been losing while following a plant based/vegan diet. I use Weight Watchers as my weekly accountability in order to weigh in and get ongoing support from the meetings. It has been helpful to have this tool.
Eating plant based/vegan has allowed me to eat fantastic meals day after day. I am eating fresh, local produce which has allowed me to not only eat amazing meals but also filling meals.
If you are thinking about changing something to your diet in order to feel healthier and lose weight, try a plant based diet. Look at what I eat...you can do this too!
Tags: Wellness
Eating vegan has allowed for me to feel fuller longer. The foods I find I am eating are high in fiber and low in salt, or any other additive. I enjoy eating plant based for so many different reasons. I feel healthier, stronger, more alert, and have less digestive issues. I wanted to share what a typical day in meals looks like for me.
I started today off with a smoothie I like to call Hawaiian Dreamsicle. In this smoothie, I have 1 frozen banana, 1 cup frozen mango, 1 cup pineapple, and 1 cup almond milk and a few ice cups. This smoothie is so sweet, and tasty. For only 2 WW points it's a great way to start the day.
I like to cut up a ton of fruit and have it on hand in the fridge in case I get hungry between meals. Even though fruit is zero points on WW, if I have a large portion of fruit (about 2 cups of fruit) I tend to give it 3 points. I want to make sure that I don't over eat anything so this way of tracking help me with that.
For lunch I made myself a Mexican inspired lunch bowl. On the bottom I have 1 cup of brown rice, and then on top I have black beans, corn, tomatoes, onions, avocado, green salsa, and lime. This entire HUGE meal is 10 points. There have been many times I have only ate half and felt incredibly satisfied.
Lastly, for dinner I wanted something light. My lunch was incredibly filling so I went for a salad for dinner. For this salad I used spinach, red pepper, cauliflower, green onions, and tomatoes. I drizzled it with a bit of balsamic vinegar and cracked pepper. This dinner was 0 points.
As you can see eating plant based/vegan does not mean you have to eat boring food. I like the way this food looks, tastes, and the positive effect it has on my body. If you are hesitant to eat vegan at least incorporate 1-2 plant based meals into your day. You will quickly see the benefits yourself!
Tags: Recipes, Wellness
Here I am 9 weeks into my weight loss journey and it happened...I had a gain today at my Weight Watchers meeting. When I stepped onto the scale I had a feeling that it wasn't going to be a good week, but when they told me I had gained 2 pounds my tummy did a little flip flop and I felt disappointed. During the meeting I sat and reflected on all the things that were off for me during the week. One, I re-injured my knee on a Tuesday. Which meant I have been swollen and pretty limited to what I can do. For the most part I have been simply icing and resting with the hope I would have a speedy recovery. But here it is Sunday and I am still having a hard time getting around. This has been hard for me.
Without my activity I noticed that I also started to eat some junk food. Even though I am following a vegan/plant based diet, there are still things you can eat that are both vegan and unhealthy. I overdid it with some tortilla chips one night, and started to cook with more salt than I normally do. After I left the meeting though I decided to turn all of my negative thoughts into positive ones. First off, overall I am eating far more healthier food that I ever have in the past. Secondly, I have been more active as of late, and this injury is only a minor set back. I focused on the progress that I have made, and stopped thinking about the gain.
I am committed to this journey, and will do whatever what I need to in order to be successful. We all have setbacks, the true test is how you recover from them. I am not going to throw in the towel, instead I will stay determined and look for the bright future ahead of me.
Tags: Wellness
I continue on my track to become a vegan. Like I have mentioned before I am note sure if this is a forever thing, or just something I will be doing for a bit. I have to admit though I am feeling better than I have in years. Not only do I feel better, but I also look better. My skin is radiating and totally cleared up. I really do think that eliminating dairy and focusing on a plant based diet is allowing me to look and feel healthier.
I still am attending my Weight Watcher meetings, and every week that goes by I am having a loss. I continue to watch my daily point allowance, and with eating more plant based I stay fuller longer without using a great deal of points.
I started today off with my green smoothie. In this one I mixed 1 cup of almond milk, a handful of organic kale, 1 frozen banana, a few ice cubes, and 2 dates. All blended together this creates a creamy, sweet, morning cup of delciousness!
Since trying to incorporate my lifestyle toward a vegan diet, I have had to find substitutes to some of my favorite things. Daiya is a nice dairy free substitute for cheese. I like to use this on burritos, and even salads at times. Ezekiel makes a fantastic tortilla. These are hearty, and healthy and are only 4 WW points.
I love taking these tortilla wraps and simply adding smashed kidney and garbanzo beans. I then top it all off with diced veggies. I am telling you, MAKE THIS! It will leave you filled, satisfied, and for only 5 WW points it is a great meal to incorporate into your weekly diet :)
Tags: Recipes
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