Update: Sarah

Sorry that it has been FOREVER! It's not that I don't ever read or want to post. I don't have internet yet and have to make trips to the library....sometimes hard to sit and do stuff while Caleb is ready to go home already. So, I thought I would take this chance to post. I have been thinking a lot about eating healthier too. I have been trying to make most of the foods we eat. I was looking at this book called "cook this, not that" similar to the books "Eat this, Not That". It compares home-made meals with restaurant meals. GROSS! They give recipe's as well and encourage you to explore...that recipe's aren't set-in-stone, you can sub things, you can entirely leave something out if you don't have it (okay, but be smart....you can't just leave yeast out of bread) but, you can leave celery out of fried rice or replace with...I used cabbage. ANYWAY'S, every single meal was under HALF if not more the amount of calories at restaurants!!! Seriously, eating out (ALL THE TIME) is a waste of money and can have serious effects over a period of time. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy a meal out here and there, just be careful! You would have to do a lot more to burn those cals, then from a home cooked meal of the exact same thing (basically). I just have to mention one more thing before I stop. My opinion and what I have learned with Organic foods...If you are set on eating only organic than go for it. Just make sure you read the labels and find out what is REALLY organic and not. Just because the labels say it does not mean that it's true. Compare an organic food label of something to the same non-organic version. A lot of organic claims are really just 'give me more money' claims. Pesticides for fruits and veggie's really is not dangerous because of the SMALL amount that is actually on them. Just clean'em before you eat'em. Okay, enough of that.
I have been getting out of bed earlier (meaning 8-9...don't judge) and exercising 4-5 times a week now and feel so much better when I do. Thanks for all the encouragement to eat healthy, it really is an important part of...being healthy. OH! Fruits and veggie's are expensive, yes, but....Leo and I spent A LOT less of what we would have spent by price matching at Wal-mart. So, we get adds in the paper for all these food stores (or you can go online and look at the prices), then we plan our menu according to whats on-sale or a steal. You can match prices from any store with Wal-mart AND (at least in Utah county..just ask next time you're at wal-mart about your area) they have double coupon Tuesday's. Meaning if I have a coupon for a dollar off, I can get it for $2 off....you can use coupons from other stores too I THINK, but if you find a coupon for something you need, then price match with another store that may have a good deal on it at the time, then go on a Tuesday....yeah.
     

In Defence of Food: A Book Review

Image Source: MichaelPollan.com

My latest read was this incredible book by Michael Pollan.  I really enjoyed his take on food and how it should and shouldn't be eaten. I especially loved the way it was presented. It was clear and to the point, and also very scientific...in an unbiased kind of way.  He basically points out that much of what we are eating is not really "food" in the traditional sense. It is instead a "food-like substance" something we eat that is kind of like food, but not really FOOD.  His main mantra is "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." It's a great thing to keep in mind. Make sure what you are eating is real food. Not stuff that is made by scientists. And keep it simple. The closer to the ground the better. :)

Image Source: Degreesearch.org

Another great point he makes is to eat food from your culture...like traditional food. Instead of eating the American or western way. You know, the cold cereal, the fries, the junk. Stuff that isn't easily made in your own kitchen. Unfortunately, many people have not learned to cook real food. 

Image Source: Degreesearch.org

And a great point: Seriously! If it doesn't go bad sitting on the counter for a few days, it's not a good idea to eat it.

Image Source: Degreesearch.org

Anyway, it's a great book. You should read it! It is very enlightening, and has given me a great appreciation for home-cooking and eating whole foods.

I'm Running for Ice Cream. Wanna Join?

 I have a thing for ice cream. I think you guys know that. Like, I have a big thing for ice cream. But lately I have tried cutting it (and any other processed sugar food) out of my life. It went really well for about 2.5 weeks. Then I crashed...Daniel left for 4 days and I ate a 1/2 gallon all by myself. Lest you think ill of me, NO! It was not in one sitting! (There, I do have some redemption.) So I tried to make myself limit it again. And again! I was stressed out and tired and PMSing, and I bought ice cream when I wasn't "supposed" to, and we ate another 1/2 gallon over the course of 3 days. So I thought to myself, I seem to have a problem with limiting my ice cream. Maybe if I run a certain number of miles, I could reward myself with ice cream (only one bowl)! So I made this little chart to see if it will work. And I think it will. It's totally attainable.

There are 20 spaces. 1 box will equal 1 mile or 30 minutes of any other exercise. This is attainable because I generally try to run 3 miles about every other day. I am trying to work up to 4 or 5. I also try to work out for at least 30 mins or an hour on my off running days. (Especially since I am trying to be awesome like Sarah and do the dragonfly pose in yoga...eventually...I kind of have to make up lost ground for a little while. Why did I ever stop doing yoga regularly?) I am also counting walks to the park (our closest park is 1/2 mile away and the next closest is 1 mile), which we do quite frequently. SO. If I REALLY wanted ice cream, I could make it happen in a week. If I just do my normal thing, I can get ice cream in 1 1/2 weeks. No problem.

I hope this works. I've been at a plateau in my weight loss for about a month now, and I can feel myself starting to get a little depressed. Which leads to not caring anymore, which leads to weight gain. I guess I shouldn't be so hard on myself since Daniel has been gone 3 times, we had family in town for a week, and we are about to go out of town...I've had a lot going on. AND, I have lost 8 lbs since I started this whole thing! I guess that counts for something!

Also, If you would like a copy, either download the png from here, or I can email you the pdf. Love you!




  PS. Am I the only one that uses this blog anymore? Remember it doesn't have to be about weight loss, health, or goals even. You could share a quote or movie you really liked, a book review, a new recipe, or even a photo of what you've been doing recently. :) I'm just into clean eating and health right now. I am sure it will change soon. :)

Clean Eating

So...Daniel and I have completely revamped the way we eat since I last posted. It started out as an experiment to see what might be causing Daniel's tummy trouble, but we really like it, and are planning on making it a lifetime commitment. Let me explain what got us excited about it....For a long time I have been concerned with the way we eat. I felt like it was fairly healthy (especially compared with the average American diet), and I tried to follow the word of wisdom, but I still felt like our diet was not quite right. Wondering what to do, and how to break the cycle, and concerned about Daniel's GI episodes, I started to do some research.

I found a diet I was interested in starting called "The Virgin Diet." It was basically an experiment to take certain foods out of your diet completely, and then add them back in again slowly, taking special note of what happened to your body. Those foods are Dairy, Soy, Corn, Eggs, Sugar (or subs), Peanuts, and Gluten.  We actually started doing that and did really great for 2 weeks, and then "summer" hit and we realized we were going to have to change our plans. Daniel has a conference this weekend that will feed him several times, and with the current American diet vs. the Virgin diet, we doubted Daniel would be able to eat anything at all. Because gluten, soy, and corn are in almost EVERYTHING! Not to mention scout camps (2) and weekend vacations. So the testing is put on hold until the fall when trips/vacations end and real life starts again.  However, that doesn't mean we are going back to the way things were. We now feel very strongly about this whole thing, and do not plan to go back.

During this time of research, I was talking to a friend about changing the way we eat and in particular about Daniel's episodes, he mentioned this documentary. Well, this is a trailer for it, but we watched the whole thing.

Although we are sure there are hidden agendas with them (as well as with any other movie or organization), we feel that it really can't hurt to eat this way. I mean, who is going to die from eating more vegetables and fruits? No one. There are many instances in this documentary and I have also heard from others who have switched to whole foods, raw, paleo, green smoothie, etc. diets, of amazing turn arounds in health. AMAZING. My thoughts? Well, I'm not expecting amazing experiences or stories from changing the way I eat, like those people, but I am only hoping it makes me more healthy than I have ever been in the past. NOW is the time to change. NOW while I am still young, and can easily change my habits.

So we've been eating "clean" (no processed foods, grass-fed beef and free-range chicken, and LOTS of vegetables and fruits) for a couple weeks now. We have already seen amazing results. We have both lost 5 lbs (or more...we weigh in on Mondays), I am fitting into my clothes better, and we have experienced WAY less cravings. (Although the first weeks was amazingly rough as far as cravings go.)  As far as non-measurable things go, we both feel that we have more energy (again, except that first week), I have been able to run when I never had been able to before, and we both feel great!

So, I would encourage all of you to re-think the way you eat, and be willing to make some changes for your health. 'Cause seriously, who's not gonna benefit from eating more veggies?

Maybe we should all try this!

I saw this and...I thought of Grandma, then I thought that it might be good if we all try this.  It might help us talk to one another with more love.  ;)  Iay ovelay ouyay!


    

Just felt impressed to share this!

There's a place for everyone!  I love all of ya'll, and everyone needs some kind of smile enhancer sometimes! :)
ENJOY!!! Love, Johannah

Hello Hello!

First of all, Happy Belated Mothers day to all you Mothers, it is so awesome that Mom and you guys chose to do the right things and you never know how many people you will and do impact in a good way.

So, with my goals, I did really good on making my bed before i get ready for seminary and it has actually helped me feel better, cleaner and more ready and organized for the day.

2.Do all school per day as needed and try to maintain a good average. I did okay with this one, a couple days after i posted my goals we left for Utah for two weeks and then we got back and i had a hard time getting into the schoolinessness excitement or whatever you call it. I still took some tests but haven't done that great in the last two i have recently taken but today i looked over my test and did a couple rounds of a card review for it so i feel  a little more comfortable about taking it.

3. Exercise for at least 45 mins. a day. This was kind of a one week i did super great and the next i barely even did anything to exercise, i will try harder this time and keep on my goals. I love to exercise i just need to do it!

4. Practice the music i need to so i can play for choir etc...good. I think i did pretty good on this but i could have practiced more...know what i mean? one of the choir songs is an organ for the accompaniment (?) and so i have been practicing the organ for it. No one else knows how to play the organ except me and the  pianist and both of us are just trying to figure it out.  (i hope we don't break it :/ )

5. Eat less sugar and junk food and  try to put more whole wheat into the things i cook.   Weeeeeellllll.....i could have done a lot better on this one than i did.

6. Get to sleep every night at 9:30 except Sun, Tue, Fri, and maybe Saturday.  Honestly this was a good goal to set but that is only like two nights that i almost could go to bed at 9:30 so i think i will change it to go to bed at 9:30 whenever i can.  

7. Have a positive attitude and outreach to others and try to finish PP before the year is over, so i can work on my third time through.  I think i have a positive attitude most of the time and i try every day to reach out to others as good as i can and i need to work on Personal progress more. I finally got my medallion 2 sundays ago and i have finished two things i think so far starting over.

8. this is another goal. Print off my goals and put them where i will see every day and so i can remember what they are.

Sorry for the long post again.  Hope you all have a good day! Love you guys! :)