FitMeg08’s BodyBlog

Well, it’s almost that time of year and I have so much to be thankful for this. I am so happy that this year was much better than last year!

First of, I am thankful for my son- he has made so much progress in the last year- not needing hearing aids anymore, not needing albuterol 2x a day, walking, talking. And his last hospital admission was in February. I cannot believe we have almost made it an entire year without a hospital admission! That is so exciting!!!

I am thankful for my fiance he works so hard for our family. I am thankful that he makes enough money for me to stay at home with our son and so that I can finish school. I am thankful for the support he gives me through out everything I do and every new idea I have. He supports me through the good and the bad and many women are not as lucky as me when it comes to the support as a father- he is the best role model for our son.

I am thankful for my family. It’s been hard this year with my sister and brother-in-law living in California. I miss them more and more each day. But I am thankful for my parents- they are always there for me and are constantly pushing me forward and never giving up.

I am thankful for our troops. So many men and women have given their lives for our freedom. I am thankful for those serving here and for those serving over seas. I know this time of year as to be so difficult with them being away from their families. I am so thankful that they do are doing this for us- risking their lives everyday to protect us.

I am thankful for my health. I have been healthy this year and that is thanks to all of my hard work. I am thankful that I have the mental strength and physical strength for this journey.

I hope that the next year can be just as great if not better than this year. I have so many things to thankful for.

I see quite a few posts of people wondering about clean eating and how to eat clean. So I thought I would just share some tips from my favorite Eat Clean book by Tosca Reno.

Foods that are considered clean:

The basics:

Pam, Herbs (rosemary, basil, oregano, dill, mint, thyme, etc) Spices red pepper flakes,cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, etc) Sea Salt, Black pepper, peppercorn, Balsamic vinegar, rice vinegar, low sodium veggie or chicken broth, garlic powder, onion powder, lemon or lime juice, apple cider vinegar.

*These can be used to add flavor to your favorite foods without the add calories. Limit your salt use, too much sodium can cause you to retain water. It is recommended to keep your sodium under 2300mg.  

Whole Grains:

Brown rice, flaxseed, wheat germ, oatmeal (plain), cream of wheat, quinoa, bulgur, millet.

*Avoid oatmeals with added sugar. Just get plain Quaker oatmeal and use cinnamon to spice it up or you can use your favorite fruits. Whole grains are a good way to get in the fiber that you need to keep "regular". I put wheat germ in my yogurt, it add a little crunch to the oatmeal and the fiber!

Nuts/Seeds:

UNSALTED- Almonds, cashews, sunflower seeds, all-natural nut butters.

*Beware! Nuts and seeds can be very addicting! Pay attention to the serving size… usually the serving size for almonds is 1oz. That’s not much! Nuts and seeds can also be high in fat!

Cereals:

Muesli, Weetabix, Kashi Cereals, Shredded Wheat, Ancient grains, All-Bran

*I don’t even know what some of that stuff is! Again, pay attention to the serving size- usually 1/2 cup.

Dried Fruit:

Apricots, Raisins, Dried apples, Prunes, Cranberries, Cherries, Figs Dates

* Watch for the dried fruit you find on the shelves. Make sure that it doesn’t include hydrogenated vegetable oil or high fructose corn syrup- that’s not in the clean eating diet!

Condiments:

Mustard, Salsa

*Yeah, yeah I know- no mayo or cream toppings. Don’t worry eventually that stuff will nasty to you!

Oils:

Extra virgin olive oil, Safflower oil, Pumpkin oil

*These oils can be expensive if you’re on a budget. But it is a good investment. You use them sparingly so they last for a while.

Pantry:

Yams, sweet potatoes, Potatoes, Onions, Garlic, Squash, Turnip

*If your local super market has microwavable sweet potatoes, stock up! They are so quick to make and just as yummy! They come in a plastic wrap and you microwave them for just a few minutes!

Dry Goods:

Baking Soda, Whole-wheat flour, Baking Powder, Vanilla (best quality), sea salt

Supplements:

Bee Pollen, Whey protein powder, Protein Barsa, Vitamins B, C, E, Magnesium, Calcium, Omega-3 fatty acids, Creatime, MSM, Daily Multivitamin, Alfalfa, Wheatgrass, CoQ10

Pantry:

White Beans, Unsweetened applesauce, chickpeas, lentils, kidney beans, bottled water, canned tomatoes, tuna- water packed, Salmon- water packed, tomato paste.

Freezer/Refrigertor:

Salmon, Fish, Red Meat, Frozen berries, frozen veggies, chicken breats, eggs, soy milk, skim milk, fresh fruits, fresh veggies.

*Red meat isn’t in the book. But not everyone can give that up. (especially me) Use red meat in moderation- keep your serving size low. Make sure your beef is of good quality- I normally eat 97/3- it’s more expensive but it’s worth it!

Eating clean can be difficult to adjust to. When you first go to the super market, you’ll spend a lot of time reading labels and ingredients. But you will adjust! A good tip is to stay on the outside aisles of the grocery store and stick to your list!

Hopefully this helped someone out there!

Ok, I am back. I regrouped. I figured out what’s important. I originally signed up for bodyspace for motivation and advice. And some how, it turned into a popularity contest and sexy pictures that I never imagined taking! I even once wrote a blog on my old page about some of the pictures people take on here and then I went and started doing the same thing.

That’s not like me at all. I love some of the pictures people take on here to show off their hard work but really there’s not a point to just showing off your ass to get more hits on a page. I realize that now. I am back for the right reasons. I am excited to meet my goals!