Chickpea Goji Berry Salad

After posting a pic of this salad in Instagram, I had a request for the recipe. A little too long for IG so I thought I'd post it here. 2/3 c. Slivered almonds (I chopped mine) 1 (19 oz) can chickpeas (rinsed and drained) 1 (10 oz) mandarin oranges (drained) 2/3 c dried goji berries (I used cranberries) 1/2 c diced red onion 1 clove garlic, diced 1 inch piece of Ginger, diced 1 jalapeño, seeded and diced 1 c parsley, chopped 4 oz feta cheese, cubed 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil Fresh ground black pepper, to taste In small skillet, over medium heat, toast almonds until golden brown. Combined all ingredients in a large bowl. Store in refrigerator for several hours before serving. Warning: it's REALLY good!!!!!!!!! :)

May 2013-17 weeks

17 weeks into this journey, I am sitting at a loss of 33 pounds, which brings me to 209lbs. I have really struggled for most of the month of April, and therefore my loss became a 4 pound gain that took me this long to buckle down again, lose those pounds and continue on my way. I am so close to that first major goal of 200, I hate that I am jeopordizing myself this way. But I WILL NOT give up!

31lbs lost in 11 weeks

Slow but sure...

Well, it has been 10 weeks today since I started this journey. I have been strong for the most part but definitely ups and downs. Gains at times, nice losses, plateaus, but I am definitely seeing changes, feeling changes and so happily push on. At today's weigh in I am at a 27.5 loss. In ten weeks? Yea baby!!! Lol. I started the 30 day shred today and had to really modify some of it but in time I hope I can be strong enough to do it right. In nicer weather lots of walking!!! Can't wait! Carla is hoping to post some things this week for us so here's to all you ladies keep it up! I am determined to never go back! Started at 241.6lbs, something I am so ashamed to say I even allowed to happen(highest weight ever was 246lbs) 215lbs this morning. First major goal is 200 and I am sooooo close!!!

That was then this is now

Ok so here is a picture of me at my top weight and where I am now. I hit my top weight when my daddy passed away. This picture in the blue sweatshirt was taken about 1 year ago at the hospice. Since then i have lost 40lbs!! I must say i do look so much better now and am continuing on in the journey of being healthy and feeling good. Like my mentor Sister King i have plateaued and am kicking up the exercise! We can do it! As my mother in law said "it took a while to pack on and it will take a while to come off"

Galations 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not!!

Five weeks

23.1 pounds lost.

February update

Well....I was on a big losing streak and now it has grinding to an absolute stop!

I am still eliminating wheat and dairy (except for Non Fat Greek Yogurt) from my diet.  I have added spelt and rye flour occasionally.

I also am not eating potatoes or sugar.  White is gone!

Not sure why the standstill...hoping it ends soon!

I have lost 8 lbs since Jan 1st.  10 lbs since Nov 2012.  I was really hoping to lose another 7 by March 15th.  Not sure that will be happening at this rate.

One thing is I know I have eaten too few calories.  I know that is bad and I really need to add more in.

I also know I need to put exercise with the program as well.  I did walk 5.33 miles today.  Just need to do more on a consistent basis.

How is it going for the rest of you?  Shoot out a post and let us hear about your frustrations or your victories.

New Year Ramblings!

It is now the first of the year and, yes, you guessed it, Judy is back on and at it again!

Looking over past post on the blog I rejoiced at the triumph of Carla, my cousin!  She looks amazing!  And the beauty of it is that she is a normal person like us all that has tried and tried for years to triumph and kept falling off and failing.

Then boom, she hit a plan that worked for her and she worked it!  Amazing Carla,  I am so proud of you and your continued success.  You have been an inspiration in the frozen north!!!

Then I felt like crying when I saw Mrs. Wizzle's name.  Her final triumph came through death.  I can't believe she has been gone almost a year now.  I miss her so much!

Mrs. Wizzle, we are going to keep trying!!!

This year, I decided to for health reasons and curiosity sake, to try to eliminate as much wheat, dairy and sugar as possible.  No because I am a convert of the Wheat Belly Book but because I know there are so many calories in all those foods!

I have Non Fat Greek Yogurt in my shake but have eliminated eating cheese and from putting milk in my tea.  I haven't had bread or any wheat products.  Also, the only sweetener has been from eating fruit and Stevia.

I will let you know if I see any big difference in how I feel.

I do know the weight is coming off fast the first week....but it always does for me in the first week.  Let's see how the next week goes.

I had lost 5 lbs after I returned from Italy in October.  However, I put back 3 over the holidays.  Now since October I  am a total of 6.1 down.

My goal is too lose as much as possible by March 15th.  That is the day we leave for our Israel/Jordan Trip.

Blogs like this help you stay accountable to one another.

Also, join MyFitnessPal.com  There is an iPad and iPhone app as well.  It has a great database for tracking your calories....along with a bar scan on the iPhone.  Love that!

Okay...let's hear from you....what are you doing?

Another 2-1/2...

Woa! I didn't see this coming. 😳 Went to camp meeting last week...weighed in today and to my surprise, I have lost another 2-1/2 lbs!!! My new weight loss total? Add the 2-1/2 to the total from the last post! I will be working more on stabilization this week. I'm not trying to lose anymore. Why, oh why couldn't I have reached my goal as easy as the last 5 lbs have come off???! 😌

Well, I just thought I was through losing! Dropped another lb this week = 130 total now! Wow! That amazes even me... :)

These pics are for Judy. They are not the same ones as my IG profile pic, but taken on the same day...same outfit. By the way, I have taken frontal, side, and rear pics from the beginning to the end of my weight loss journey, and it is an unbelievable change to go back and look through all of them! :)