Your Top Questions About Cooking, Weight Loss & Fitness Answered!

Hey everyone! Since today is my one-year “bloggerversary” I’ve decided to feature a unique post, answering the most common questions I’ve received about cooking, weight loss, fitness, and everything in-between! If you’ve contacted me before, you know that I love hearing from you. If you haven’t, don’t be a stranger – I love hearing from you guys!

Question #1:

How did you learn how to make comfort food healthy?

After reaching 251 pounds, I realized I had to make a huge lifestyle change. I knew that I would NEVER be the girl who loved eating the stereotypical “health” foods, so I knew to be successful in my weight loss, I had to find a way to healthify all of my unhealthy favorites: Trial and error is my best friend! At first, I started with simple substitutions (Egg Beaters® instead of regular eggs, Splenda® instead of Sugar, etc.) but once I got comfortable with the idea of cooking, I got a bit more adventurous! The most important advice I can give is to not be afraid of food/ingredient combinations – once you give in to the idea of being open, everything else is easy-peasy!

Question #2:

Do you still struggle with your weight?

Every single day! Sure, there are days where I’d love to hit up every fast food restaurant I drive by, but I don’t; and not because the food isn’t tasty, but because it really doesn’t do much for me. For example, I could go to Taco Bell and scarf down 1500 calories, but I’d be hungry again in a few hours, and I’d feel miserable. Instead, I’ll whip up an awesome Taco casserole that I’ve healthified, and feel full all night for a fraction of the calories! I may even have room for dessert ;)

Question #3:

What advice would you give to someone who is just starting their weight loss journey?

Take it slow. This isn’t a race, this is your life. Whether you’re a size 12 or a size 20, you’re not going to reach your goal weight by the end of the week – or even the end of the month! So, why kill yourself at the gym or deprive yourself in the kitchen? All you’ll do is get burnt out and revert back to your old ways. Here’s what you need to do: make a plan (a realistic plan) and stick with it! I love 10-day goals. Here’s an example: In the next 10 days, I’ll work out 5 times, have no more than 3 cheat meals, and try 2 new recipes. Give that a shot, and you’re much more likely to succeed!

Question #4:

What’s the best substitute for heavy cream?

Greek yogurt and seasonings! I’d be lying if I said that plain Greek yogurt was delicious – it’s not. When I’m making Alfredo sauce or any other cream based dish, I always turn to Greek yogurt, but I add my own signature mixture of spices to give it awesome flavor.

Question #5:

I do fine with meals, but I snack all day – how do I get that under control?

Who said snacking was a problem?! It isn’t! Eating the right snacks does great things for your body, including giving you a metabolism boost. I’m not saying you should much on Cheetos and Twinkies all day, but keeping a stash of almonds, fruit, or raw veggies around will only help you on your weight loss journey. Keep that in mind the next time you shame yourself for snacking!

Question #6:

Where do you find cooking inspiration?

99.9% of my recipes come from Pinterest! What can I say, I’m pin-happy. In addition to recipes, I also find workouts and fitness tips on there too. If you haven’t started following me yet, you’re missing out!

Question #7:

I know I should eat healthy, but what about beverages? I get tired of drinking water with everything.

I do too! I drink apple flavored green tea almost every morning, and I love it. Plus, it’s a natural antioxidant and energy booster! Try it!

Many Thanks

It’s been a year, and I’ve fallen in love with blogging. I love the support that I’ve gotten from my family, friends, and followers. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all so much!

Healthy Snacking: 101

Everyday, I get several emails from readers asking me about the specific types of snacks I ate while I was losing weight. I always reply with the same types of answers, but since this is such a hot topic for my fans, I figured I'd take it one step further, by providing you with a crash course in snacking. Welcome to Healthy Snacking: 101!

Get Real About Snacking
Like I always tell people, I didn't get to be 100 pounds overweight because I hate food... I got that way because food rocks! I love to eat, and I'm not shy about it. I've seen those sites that tell you to spend your days snacking on things like homemade oatmeal balls or lemon water, and I just don't find that to be realistic. Every snack featured on my list is simple to get your hands on, totally delicious, and designed to curb your cravings!

The Top 25

1. Blueberries with a Dollop of Fat Free/Sugar Free Cool Whip
2. Dark Chocolate
3. Almonds
4. Special K Cereal Bars
5. Low Fat String Cheese
6. A Bowl of Cereal – Sorry, but Sugary Cereals Don’t Count! Think Crispix or Corn Flakes!
7. Hard boiled eggs
8. Sliced Tomatoes with Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper
9. Cranberry Juice
10. Laughing Cow Cheese Wedges with Cucumbers
11. Pretzel Sticks with Peanut Butter
12. Heavenly & Healthy Everything Dip
13. Sugar Free Jell-O
14. Watermelon
15. Animal Crackers
16. Yogurt Coated Pretzels
17. Yogurt Parfaits
18. Low Fat Graham Crackers
19. Fig Newtons
20. Whole Wheat Toast with Sugar Free Jam
21. Sugar Free Popsicles
22. Blue Bunny Sweet Freedom Double Strawberry Ice Cream
23. Fresh Fruit Sorbet
24. Low Sodium Beef Jerky
25. Sugar Free Lifesavers

By combining these snacks with a healthy workout routine and balanced meals, you'll be able to take your health to a whole new level! Happy Snacking! :)
 

A New Way to Inspire

As if sharing my weight loss journey with you all wasn't rewarding enough, the amazing people at Transformationpics.com, got in touch with me asking if they could share my story with their readers as an inspiration to reach their health goals. Of course, I was honored to do so. Check out the page that they dedicated just to me :)

While you're there be sure to browse through the other inspirational people who have lost an amazing amount of weight! They are truly an inspiration, and I feel so humbled to even share the same title as them. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all for your support, kind words, and encouragement.

Bye-Bye Flab, Hello Fab!

As most of my readers know, I have lost 100 pounds as the result of a complete lifestyle change, and I’m feeling great, healthy, and happy! However, this past weekend I slipped my new body into a swim suit (a bikini even, yikes!) for the first time in a very, very long time, and I must say, I wasn’t nearly as comfortable as I hoped I would be.

Sure, I am exactly where I want to be size and weight wise, but my body is in definite need of some toning. I don’t know about you guys, but I have some serious arm and thigh flab to address. Maybe I’m totally nuts, but something tells me that arm fat shouldn’t flap in the breeze. Am I right?! 

I'd Really like to go from This....

To This. Think I can do it?!

Well, to send my arm flab packing, I’ve decided that instead of placing my main focus only on weight loss and healthy eating, I’m going to extend my focus to include something totally new: toning exercises.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I am a complete weakling; thank goodness I have a strong boyfriend to carry heavy things for me, or I would be in a world of trouble. I’ve done some researching, and I think I’ve found the perfect resource to get my flabby butt into a tightly toned physique: Beachbody Workouts.

If you’re thinking to yourself, “Whoa, Kate! Take it easy! Beachbody is the makers of those super hardcore P90X2 and Insanity workout programs.” Well, you’re exactly right! If I’m going to get toned up, I’m not going to mess around; which is precisely why I am opting for Beachbody workouts; I only want the best. 

Allow Me To Introduce You To My New Best Friend, Beachbody!

I’ve never tried Beachbody's ever so popular P90X2 or Insanity workout programs, but I have always wanted to. And not just because everyone I talk to who completes these programs undergo a total body transformation, but because these programs actually make sense! 

Unlike other fitness plans, they don't make false promises; they tell you straight up that these programs are not the work of magic, and that they take nothing less than everything you’ve got. Since I am the type of person who gets a personal high out of challenging myself, I am confident that these programs will work wonders for my body.

Yes, I know how scary they look...Bring it on!

The best part? Beachbody has tapped into my iPhone addiction and created a P90X iPhone app that will allow me to track my reps and weight usage, view my very own customized progress reports, keep a detailed log of my nutrition, and share my results with others!

My plan is to combine P90X2 workouts with the Insanity workouts so that I’ll get maximum results. I’ll keep you informed as I begin the program, and I’ll post weekly pictures and measurements as I go through the process.

I am absolutely thrilled to start this journey, but I’m even more excited to share it with my readers. Once I complete the Insanity and P90X2 workout programs, who knows what kind of fitness goals I’ll be able to achieve? But, I can’t wait to find out!

The 5 Day Turkey, Berry & Yogurt Diet

If you’re like me, and every other woman on the face of this earth, you get a bit squeamish as swim suit season approaches. I don’t know about you guys, but, for me, trying on swim suits is one of the most horrifying experiences, ever!

Well, I certainly don’t have all the answers to make swim suit season more enjoyable, but I definitely have a way to help you shed a few pounds while promoting healthier eating habits for the future: The 5 Day Turkey, Berry & Yogurt Diet.

Sounds delicious right?! Yeah, it actually is! I mean, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t ready to head to the nearest forest to punch every turkey square in the face around day 3, but it worked like a charm, and the results are long lasting.

The Rules

Here’s what you do: for five days, all you’re eating is turkey, berries and yogurt. Now, there are some modifications allowed. For example, I added low fat, organic granola to my yogurt, and added spinach leaves and sun dried tomatoes to my turkey. This just made it less blah and made me feel like I was actually eating normal meals.

There are requirements about the turkey that MUST be followed in order for this to work. Your turkey has to be low fat (the lowest possible) and very low sodium. I’d highly recommend getting turkey that is cut fresh at the deli, rather than pre-packaged turkey in the lunch meat section; you’re going to have a lot more to choose from the deli, and they allow you to sample before you buy :)

As far as the berries go, there are no rules. Go crazy here! I used blackberries, but I think the next time I do it, I’ll add a medley of blueberries, blackberries and raspberries. For the yogurt, I used Yoplait LightVanilla Yogurt. As an added treat, I decided to combine the yogurt, berries and granola and eat them together as a parfait.

 How it Works

You’re probably wondering how this works, right? Well, all three of these ingredients provide your body with everything it needs, and nothing it doesn’t. Basically, you’re living on basic essentials, thus ridding your body of built up junk. Be sure to drink lots of water during this diet, as it will assist you in releasing toxins.

Also, I didn’t mention this earlier, but water is all you’re allowed to drink. No coffee, no diet soda and no juice… I know, I know… the thought of going without coffee is enough to drive me crazy too. But, just keep in mind the end results, and I promise, it’ll be totally worth it.

The Results

During this five day diet, I lost five pounds; which was so great, but that’s not even close to being the best part! The best part about this diet is the lasting results. By tricking your body into surviving on only the essentials for five days, you’re shrinking your stomach. This makes you feel fuller, quicker and puts a stop to overeating and binges.

Before starting this diet, I was eating around 1700 calories a day in order to feel full and satisfied. Since finishing the diet, I feel full after consuming only 1300 calories per day; that’s 400 calories a day, people!

I did this diet a couple weeks ago, and was waiting to blog about it so that I could get a real feel for the long term results. I can safely say that I am amazed by the results of this diet; it’s so great! I plan to do this diet once every 6-8 weeks to keep my body healthy, cleansed and satisfied.

Happy Swim Suit Season!

A Journey, Indeed

A Constant Struggle

I’ll never forget the day I started my first diet. I was nine years old, and weighing in at a plump 126 pounds. As I stepped on the scale at my pediatrician’s office and watched the scale reveal those horrifying numbers, I quietly dabbed my tears on the sleeve of my Tweety Bird sweatshirt. If someone would have told me then that I would struggle with my weight for the rest of my life, I wouldn’t have believed them.

Nonetheless, my weight struggles and body image issues followed me around my entire life. After several months of dieting and strict limitations by my parents, I lost a measly 11 pounds and reached 115 pounds; a size nearly 40 pounds heavier than all of my friends.

It was then that I realized that I would forever be different. Now, let’s not forget that I’m 5’9” (this, of course, was always my favorite excuse for why I weighed so much), so I'll always weigh more than those cute little petite girls that I’ve always wanted to look like.

As I entered middle school, I was still a bigger girl, but not nearly as big as the “fat” girls in my school. These poor girls were much bigger than I, and had serious self-esteem issues. I wonder if they knew that someone half their size was going through the same torment as they were? Probably not.

Even in my early years of high school, I was bigger, but still a cute girl. I wore about a size 13 and “large” shirt size, so I could still squeeze my way into the trendy junior fashions.

Losing Control

It wasn’t until the summer between my junior and senior year of high school that things took a turn for the worse. During that summer, I gained about 30 pounds, putting me at 210 pounds. Think that’s bad? Just wait, it gets worse. As my senior year continued, I packed on an unsettling amount of weight.

At my high school graduation ceremony, I crossed the stage at 251 pounds, and honestly believed that I looked good. It wasn’t until a month and a half later that I woke up and faced reality.

One afternoon, I was walking to my bedroom at my parent’s house, and caught a glimpse of my body in the bathroom mirror. It was then that I finally saw myself, or whoever that giant girl was. I was shocked. I locked myself in my bedroom, and cried myself to sleep at 5:30 p.m.

The next day, I decided it was time to transform myself. I started an intense diet and exercise program that would yield me unbelievable results. In only 45 short days, I dropped 40 pounds, and started my first day of college at 211 pounds.

Throughout college, I gained and lost steadily; my weight ranged anywhere from 211 pounds to 175 pounds. Upon graduating from college, I was 195 pounds and ranging between a size 14 and 16. 

Where I'm at Now

Now, nearly three years later, I am 100 pounds lighter and wearing a size 6, but still not satisfied with my body image. I know what you’re thinking, what more do I want, right? Yeah, I often think the same thing. I wish it was that easy to see the progress I’ve made, but I suffer from a psychological condition called Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).

This condition is very prominent among those with eating disorders, as well as young people whose bodies undergo a total transformation. With this condition, you only see the way you really look, sometimes. Other times, I look in the mirror and see that sweaty, 18 year old, 251 pound girl.

However, with regular reassurance exercises, I’ve managed to live a healthy, normal life with this condition. Although BDD sometimes gets the best of me, I usually feel back to normal the next day. In a way, I hate BDD, but in another way, I love it; it’s almost like a really annoying trophy of the success I’ve made.

Now What?

Now that I’ve gotten my weight to a healthy place, I’ve been focusing heavily on exercise and nutrition. I work out about 4 times per week, and cook healthy recipes that I spend hours searching for on Pintrest, and pin to my Nutrish & Delish board. You can view all of my favorite recipes and workouts that actually work right here on my blog!

My goal for you, and myself, is to live each day to the fullest. By getting your mind and body in the right place, you can do just that.