What I'm Doing

This is not a phase.  I have made a lifestyle change.  I feel so much better and I didn't realize how bad I felt.  I decided to make this change for me and only me.  Not to fit in an outfit or to please anyone else.  I have read many blogs and generally they all have that Aha Moment.  Mostly it's seeing a picture.  That was what my Aha Moment was.  I of course delete that particular picture.  I still have other pictures from that day,

 This was me at my highest weight...183.6 lbs.  That's a scary number, especially since I never weighed that during my 3 pregnancies!  I decided that I couldn't keep on going.  I had other health issues too.  I went to the internet and starting do some research and came up with a cross between the Paleo Diet and Clean Eating.  I also chose to cut out gluten.  I read several books as well.  I have listed some of them below.

Paleo Beginners Ultimate Survival Guide
Clean Eating Cookbook
Clean Food Diet

Another good source for recipes and meal ideas for me was Pinterest.  I also try and take recipes that I already used and apply the clean eating principles to them.  I keep the gluten to a minimum.  I eat breakfast, lunch and dinner and at least one snack a day.  The most important thing that I do is drink water.  No, sweet tea does not count.  Most people drink over half their daily calories.  These calories are very empty and leave you feeling hungry.  So water is very important.

I lost my first first 18.7 lbs with my diet alone.  I have started walking on the treadmill 5 times a week for a minimum of 3 miles.  I plan on adding weight lifting to my routine.  I don't just go at things blindly so I'm reading a book and doing online research before I start.  I have to know more about what I'm doing for several reasons, 1.) I don't know anything about weight lifting 2.) I don't want to hurt myself and 3.) I don't want to look stupid in the gym...lol  Here is the book that I am reading.

New Rules of Lifting For Women: Lift Like a Man, Look Like a Goddess


I hope that I have answered some of your questions.  I plan on doing another post that has what I eat all next week.