Give Yourself the Gift of Health

I would like to help you give yourself the gift of health this year.  I'm offering a $50 discount to anyone that makes the decision to get healthy by the end of December.  Plan now to start the New Year off on your journey to Optimal Health. 

This program has changed my life in so many ways, and is still continuing to help shape me into the person I want to become, the person I need to become in order to live a long healthy life.  It has helped me to build the confidence and independence I have never had.  If I can help just one person then I have succeeded. 

I hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving.  I enjoyed mine in Nebraska with my sister's family this year.  The first time I have ever been anywhere other then home.  It was fun, but I am glad to be home.  My son did not like being away from home, he is a homebody just like his dad. 

Be on the lookout for some tips to get us through the rest of the holiday season.  Here is my contact information should you be interested in taking advantage of my offer.

lisahall.tsfl.com/explore
lisarayeh@gmail.com

Happy Halloween!!

I will be staying away from Candy this year. My health is far to important. Take a minute to consider your options, and make the best choice possible. #StopChallengeChoose this Halloween and tomorrow you'll find you haven't completely derailed yourself.

October has been the most challenging month so far.  I have not really lost any weight, which I am super bummed about because I added in exercise which I have done religiously three times a week for the entire month.  I am happy to say I have maintained my 45lb weight loss, but I have made too many poor choices, picking on something here and there, deciding to go off plan for a week, a girls weekend and the list could go on and on.  I have stressed way to much about these challenges as well and I know that is not going to solve anything either.  I have taken some time to reflect and commited to make sure I am "All In" again.  Time to Stop, Challenge, Choose, and make good choices because I can do this, I have already proven to myself that my ultimate goal can be a reality.  So bring on November, and all the goodies that come along with it. 

Yes, I'm Still Here :)

No, I have not fallen off the face of the earth, just been super busy with life, and trying to find the time to get everything done.  Unfortunately, with a full time job, a two hour commute, and a family, I have to prioritize and my blog has fallen down on the priority list.

I am still making progress with my weight loss.  To date I have lost 42lbs.  For the past three weeks, I have been on and off plan, so I have just maintained my loss.  I have found it very difficult to get my head back in the game.  I am not sure why, but I am working on ways to cope and regain the motivation I need to achieve my goal. 

Here are my photos showing what losing 35lbs looks like!!

The dates are not correct, so please ignore those, I am just too lazy to go back and change them at the moment. 

I am happy to report I had a client meet their weight loss goal and successfully transition off plan.  She told me last week that she is still losing even while on maintenance.  I absolutely love this program and the positive affect it has on so many people's lives.  I had a new client start this week and we also started a new challenge.  Just more motivation and reasons for me to keep chugging along. 

I will try to be better at updating and posting more.  I will leave you with a quote I have been having to repeat to myself a lot lately.  As always, I am here to support anybody who reads this blog and needs support.  Just reach out to me!!

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

I wanted to share with you my all time favorite Lean and Green recipe, Cauliflower Crust Pizza.  I never realized how versatile cauliflower was until I started my journey with Take Shape for Life.  My mom and I usually make a date to make this recipe and enjoy it together.  I cannot express how yummy it is. My two year old son also loves it. 

Makes 1 10″ pizza (serves 2)

INGREDIENTS

For the crust:
1 medium head of cauliflower (about 2 1/2 cups once riced)
1 egg
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella
1/4 cup grated parmesan
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
1 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
2 garlic cloves, minced

For the toppings: Whatever you wish. I usually add a little low carb tomato sauce, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, any veggies I have on hand, and turkey pepperoni or chicken.

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.  Cut cauliflower into florets and discard the stems. Rice your cauliflower using a blender or food processor.  Note:  If you use a blender, you have to rice it a little bit at a time. Microwave the riced cauliflower covered for 4 - 6 minutes so it is slightly cooked. Let it cool a little, then transfer your riced cauliflower to a clean tea towel and ring out as much moister as possible. Give it a good squeeze. Transfer dry riced cauliflower to a medium-sized bowl and mix in egg, cheeses, salt, oregano, basil and garlic. I mix it all up with my hands (clean of course.) Spread onto a piece of parchment paper sprayed with cooking spray and pat into a 10-inch round. Place crust with parchment paper on baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes. Sometimes longer, just make sure it is nice and golden brown before you put your toppings on.

Top with sauce, cheese, meat, etc, and bake for another 10 minutes. When you take it out, let it cool for 5 - 10 minutes, it is very hard to wait, and then slice.  It holds together more like a pizza slice after it has cooled a bit. 

And here is a picture of the final product...

You can Google cauliflower crust pizza for more photos of the process if you would like.  Now go give it a try and enjoy. 

It's Been Awhile....Nashville trip and so much more!

Where to start....Nashville was amazing, inspiring, emotional and educational.  It was like nothing I had ever experienced.  There were 3000 people, who have been or are currently on their journey to optimal health, all in one of the most beautiful hotels I have ever seen.  I was inspired to continue to succeed on my journey to optimal health, and to help others succeed on their journeys as well.  I met my beautiful coach and several of the other coaches on my team, went to the Grand Ole Opry, and took my certification course to become a Certified Health Coach.  So without further adieu, it's time for a picture overload!

 

With co-founder Dr. Anderson

Fellow Montana Coaches Chris & Jama Mauldin

 

 

With My Coach Carlene Lundy

 

 

Angie Johnson who was on The Voice performed at the opening and closing of the convention!

 

The hotel, Gaylord Opry Land & Convention Center was amazing

 

I received my Health Coach Certification from Villanova University

 

 

Truly a once in a lifetime experience

 

 

Ollin - To move and act with all your heart.  It means to follow your path in life wholeheartedly.  To experience Ollin, we have to get "All In."

 

I'm Ollin.  The "O" in Discovery, which was on stage during the convention, represented this.  You have to be "All In" when you choose to embark on your path to Optimal Health.  Everyone at the convention was given an opportunity to autograph the "O." And just so you all know that I am "All In" here is a photo showing what I weighed as of Sunday, August 4th.

I have lost 30lbs or 10% of my body fat.  I'm pretty excited about this.  I still have a long way to go, but I will get there.  I went off plan this last weekend as we celebrated my sisters marriage, and boy did I realize I really do not like the way I feel when I am not eating healthy or drinking enough water.  I was happy to experience this as it just helped to solidify why I decided to start this journey back in May. 

I am eager to help others on their journey. Upon my return from Nashville,  I had an opportunity to share information with interested individuals during our local town celebration, Daly Days! I set up a fun display table and offered a couple of giveaways!  I pray that those who are ready will find me somehow.  It has been such a life changing opportunity for me, and I would love for others to experience the joy, happiness, health and confidence offered through Take Shape For Life.

I will end here for the day.  Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read my blog.  Whether we have met or not, your support means a lot to me and is helping me more than you know.

 

 

 

Nashville Here I Come!!

I am heading to Nashville, TN today to attend the Take Shape For Life National Convention.  We have so many fun things scheduled and we are going to be learning from Dr. Anderson and his very talented colleagues.  I also get to meet my health coach and my business coach.  I know I will be making many memories which will last a lifetime!! 

Here is a photo of my progress as of June 27th.  I have lost an additional 7lbs since then. 

 

 

I am going to miss my baby terribly, but he is in good hands with my mom and my husband. I had two new clients start last week and they have already had great progress.  I love this program and all the support that comes with it.  We are staying at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Convention Center.  I hear it is huge and beautiful.  I will be sure to share lots of pictures when I return.

 

Don't forget, I am here if you are ready to start your path to optimal health!!  Also, please help Get America Healthy by sharing my information and blog.   

Inspirational Quotes

Recently I have come across a lot of inspirational quotes so I wanted to write a post with a bunch of these compiled so I can come back to them when I am needing motivation or a little extra support! Here are some of my favorites...

"Your pain is assuaged by overeating for only a very short period of time, after which it comes back exponentially. This course does not ask you to be free of compulsion, but it does ask that you try to be more honest with yourself. Be honest enough to know that while good food might seem boring right now, unhealthy or excess food is not your friend." ~Marianne Williamson

 

 

"You cannot evolve unless you are willing to change.  You will never better yourself if you always cling to what was."  Leon Brown

 

 "Every bite I take is a decision. Will my next bite take me closer or further away from my goal? With every bite, choose." Unknown

The list really could go on.  It is amazing the encouragement you can find when you really take the time to look and seek out support.  So many exciting things are happening in July.  I cannot wait to share them with you.  Stay Tuned!!

So Many Good Things Are Happening!!!!

OMG, the last couple of weeks have been amazing!!!!!!!!!! So many good things are starting to take shape. God is good and does hear our prayers.  He never gives us more than we can handle, even though we may sometimes feel like he does.

As of today I have lost 20lbs.  I just completed by seventh week on the program.  It is definitely getting easier, and becoming my new way of life.  People are starting to notice and are offering compliments left and right.  I fully believe in this program and the many benefits it provides to its users.  I am learning more than how to lose weight and keep it off. I am learning to believe in myself, to believe that I am worth fighting for, regardless of what anybody else may say. I am learning where to focus my energy, and it is not on things or people who are going to try to bring me down. 

My coach approached me with the opportunity to become a health coach myself.  She offered me the awesome opportunity to help spread the word about this program and be a part of working toward getting America healthy.  Well, I took the leap of faith, and am on my way to becoming a fully integrate health coach.  So many people believe in me, so much so that they are helping me get to the Take Shape for Life National Convention in Nashville, Tennessee in July.  Holy Cow, I cannot believe it!!  I am going to get to meet all the wonderful people who are helping me to succeed on this journey.  I am excited to learn from one of the creators of this program, and to be surrounded by so many who have succeeded and are helping others to succeed. 

Lots of exciting things are coming my way, and I say bring it on.  I am ready.  If you would like more information on Take Shape For Life or help on your journey to health, please let me know.  I would love to support you, as so many have done for me.

Stress, Stress & More Stress

So without going into the long gory details, the last two weeks have been nothing but stress for me. Marriage is hard, sometimes it doesn't always end up the way we had expected.  Working full time and trying to be a good mom, while also spending ten hours a week on the road to get to and from work, really gets to me sometimes. Having a family member whose days here on earth are numbered, and the impact it has on a family is part of life, but extremely hard and emotional.  Combine all three of these things at one time, along with trying to diet, and they really don't mesh very well for me.

I am definitely an emotional eater and I have turned to this to ease my pain and stress these last couple of weeks too many times, and then I feel guilty.  In addition, stress and dieting do not go well together in general.  Your body emits a hormone during times of high stress which make it almost impossible to lose weight or burn fat.  I have had to learn to rely heavily on my support group during these tough days and I am thankful for each and every one of you.  I have to constantly remind myself that no matter what is going on, the end goal is far too important to forget, and will make me much happier and healthier than any food ever could. 

I am just fascinated by how powerful our brain and minds really are.  My brain is slowly reprogramming itself with new information on alternative methods of coping with stress.  It really is becoming easier and easier every day to stay on the program and say "No" to stuff that is really bad for my body.  I can feel the difference and I feel better when I am on plan.  I have a lot of things to be thankful for, and I need to try harder to remember these things when life is just plain tough. 

As of today I have lost 15lbs.  This is my sixth week on plan.  Trust me when I say if you follow the plan as instructed you will lose more. I would have lost more if it weren't for all the times I have given into temptations.  My mom started the program on Monday, she is on day three and she has already lost 6lbs.  She is doing awesome, but I expected this as she is going to have a harder time remember to eat all of the meals, versus feeling hungry like many other experience in the first week or two.  I am so pleased with this program, it has made this journey so easy and is helping me to make a long term change with my eating habits.  I expect this journey to take a year or more, but I am ok with this.  The longer I do this the easier it becomes for it to be the norm.  I am happy with where I am and am so looking forward to where I am going!!

A long overdue update

I am now a little over three weeks into the program and I have lost 12lbs.  I am happy with this, however, when I read how much others have lost in a month I tend to get discouraged.  Some have lost over twenty pounds.  I have to remind myself I have cheated here and there which ultimately has resulted in falling out of fat burn and not losing as much weight as I would have if I would have stayed on plan. This quote that popped up on Facebook today could not have come at a better time.

I believe God has lined everything up perfectly for me to succeed on this journey.  I have received so much support.  I am part of an awesome Facebook support group, I have a coach who calls me several times a week, my aunt, who cooks most of our dinners, is always making sure she is making something I can eat, my mom has just recently decided to start the program, she starts on Monday, my coworkers are extremely supportive and the list just goes on. It all comes down to ME and the fact that I am my own worst enemy.  I have to quit saying to myself it is ok to have a little of this and a little of that and stick to the plan.  The time will come when I can enjoy those things again, but for now, I need to learn to refrain. 

I am also focusing on all the positive changes that have already occurred in the past three weeks.  I already feel so much better physically and mentally.  I have succeeded in ensuring I drink plenty of water, oh boy does this make a world of difference.  I was literally dehydrating myself every day before I started this journey, all because I was too lazy to get up and get the water, and did not want to have to go to the bathroom every five seconds.  I can't believe how embarrassing it is to admit this and how much better I feel just by drinking more water.  I have not been to a fast food restaurant in weeks, where as I used to go to one almost every day.  I have more energy.  This new way of life is becoming my new habit, and it is just as easy to stay on plan as it was to eat crappy.  This week I have found I am not as hungry as the previous weeks.  To the point where I have to force myself to get up and eat a meal.  This is super encouraging to me as I finally feel my stomach is shrinking.  This plan works, it is all up to me.  So if anybody reads this blog, and has any advice on how to beat the mental demons I have been battling, please share.  I could really use some help in this area.

I am not being realistic

I have had a couple of tough days mentally this week.  I had the Stomach Flu on Sunday, so I ate nothing.  Then when I finally did eat, I gained two pounds.  What???  I was devastated, but after talking with my coach, I realize this is the bodies natural reaction after you go an entire day without eating.  I need to remember to be realistic.  I need to be patient, and realize this transformation is not going to happen overnight.  I need to realize I am going to have bad days, I am going to give into temptation on occasion, but if I do, I must pick up where I left off and continue to work toward my ultimate goal of becoming healthy again.

I have also found that my stomach is somewhat sensitive to all of the soy in the products.  I also have an acid reflux issue which I have had for a long time.  The small amount of food is not enough to absorb all this acid, so I have been constantly left with a nagging hunger feeling.  I am now taking Prilosec and Lactaid to aid with these issues, and felt improvement today.  I cannot stand the hunger feeling, I know it is more mental than anything and realize it is going to take sometime to adjust the way my brain thinks.  I am currently reading the book The Hunger Fix by Pam Peeke and it offers a lot of good insight into how the brain works when is comes to overeating and food addiction.  It is going to take at least three weeks maybe longer for my brain to learn my new routine.  I just have to be patient. 

It took a long time for my body to get this way, so ultimately it is going to take a while to get it off, and to adjust my life and thinking processes about food in general.  I can't say enough positive things about the support I have been getting.  I appreciate all of you. 

With that being said, I leave you all with this. Words I need to learn to live by.

Week One Recap

Well, I have successfully completed week one on the Medifast plan.  It was not easy, but the results have been extremely motivating.  I lost 9.4lbs Whoot Whoot!!!!  Every day I watched the scale creep down a little more.  It was so exciting. 

I have so many people supporting me, it is amazing.  Because of my work schedule and my long commute, my Aunt cooks dinner for us most nights   She has been so kind to make sure there is always something I can eat and I am very thankful for this.  My coach followed up with me every day and my mom, who I am with almost every day, talked me through many cravings and temptations.  Thank you all so much for your support.

The first day on the plan was a breeze, but by day three, I was starving.  By day five I was in fat burn, and I am loving the renewed energy I have been feeling.  I like most of the food I have tried, but a lot of it needs some doctoring to help with the flavor.  Thankfully, there is a lot of information that can be found on ways to improve the flavor on the internet.  I especially love the bars and the shakes.  The brownies are awesome with a little bit of Almond Milk.  The eggs must be cooked on the stove, they are not good when made in the microwave.  The honey mustard pretzels and parmesan cheese puffs were also good, but I did not like the chili cheese puffs.  I also was not very fond of the oatmeal, it has a weird texture.  I found that adding a few sautéed veggies to the soups is the way to go and make sure to add your hot water a couple of hours before you are going to eat it so the dehydrated vegetables have time to soften up.

I am excited to see what week two will bring. 

Here it is Folks.....

Well, I have officially started my Medifast/Take Shape for Life journey.  I am excited and nervous, but looking forward to making a change for the better.  I BELIEVE I can do this and I have an awesome support group to help me along the way. 

Ok, now to record my weight and before photos. Yes folks, you are going to get to see my double chin!!!

Weight: 289.8
Height: 5' 5"
BMI: 46

So far today I tried the Strawberry Lemonade Calorie Burn Infuser and the Southwest Scrambled Eggs.  I really enjoyed the infuser and it helped me get down 20 ounces of water already.  The scrambled eggs were a bit bland, so I am going to ask around to see if there is a way to spice them up a bit.  I had my usual cup of coffee, but this time used one Splenda packet and 1/4 cup up Almond Milk, and it was ok.  I don't like my coffee too sweet anyway, so I think this will work for me.  I am going to try a shake in a bit and have the chili for lunch.  I will post my thoughts on what I have for the remainder of the day tomorrow. I am on my way to a new me!!! 

Out for Delivery

My food from Medifast will be delivered today!!!!!!!!!!!!  I will be starting the plan on Sunday.  I am even going to post my weight and before photos on the world wide web for the world to see.  Very scary and brave in my book.  More to come.

Medifast & Take Shape for Life

The plan I am following to help me lose weight is Medifast.  I have actually ordered the product through the Take Shape for Life Program which provides me additional support and tools to help me develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle. 

How the Program Works

Through the Take Shape for Life Program I have been given a weight loss coach to support me along this journey.  I have also been connected with an awesome support group through Facebook.  The Take Shape for Life Program is fueled by Medifast.  With the Medifast plan you choose 5 Medifast Meals and make 1 Lean and Green Meal each day.  This program has been around for almost thirty years and was at one time  exclusively sold to physicians for their patients.  There are so many food choices to choose from and from the research I have conducted they have spent a lot of time improving the taste of their products. An example of some of the products I ordered are pancakes, brownies, shakes, bars, soups, oatmeals, puddings, pretzels, eggs, chili, and soft serve ice cream.  I have found many of these items can be spiced up a bit with your daily allowed condiments and healthy fats to make some pretty tasty meals.  The Lean and Green Meal consists of 5 - 7 ounces of lean protein (Beef, Fish, Eggs, Chicken, Cheese, Pork, etc) and three full servings of vegetables.  I have found several helpful charts and recipes that I will share as I go.   

Here are some of the charts I have printed off to keep close by, especially during the first few weeks on the program:

Lean Meal Options
Green Options
Condiments & Healthy Fats

If you have days where just cannot seem to beat the hunger cravings, you can also choose a snack from their snack options.

Snacks

You also have to make sure you are drinking plenty of water.  At least 64 ounces per day.  My coach has said that many people who say they are not losing much weight are often not drinking enough water.  I am going to have a very hard time with this.  I tend to drink my coffee in the morning, my diet soda with lunch and then maybe 16 ounces of water the rest of the day while at work.  By the evening I am dehydrated and my body demands water, so I drink a lot in the evening, but still not enough.  Honestly, part of the reason I know I do not drink enough water is because I am lazy and do not want to have to stop what I am doing to go to the bathroom all of the time.  I am realizing very quickly lately,  I am very lazy person, and really need to find a way to break this habit. 

The Take Shape for Life Program offers weekly conference calls which provide all sorts of information you use to stay successful on the program.  You can attend the live conference call or listen to the recorded version later. Funny this weeks topic was on water consumption. 

If you are interested in this program you can view their website Take Shape for Life or get in touch with me and I will connect you with a great coach. 

So, I am starting my program on Monday. My food is supposed to arrive on Friday.  I have also ordered some condiments recommended on Sandy's Kitchen.  Seriously, if you are going to do this program, you must bookmark her webpage.  She has so many recipes and recommendations.  I will post about the foods I like and dislike as I try them.  I am excited and nervous to get the food.  This program is fairly expensive, so I am really hoping I like the food and it works.  Please note, many people receive free items from Medifast to blog about their products.  I am not affiliated with Medifast or Take Shape for life, although I wouldn't mind getting free product, I have created this blog as a way to document my journey, and maybe even inspire others along the way.

Four more days of crapping eating and then my journey begins.  Pray for me, send positive vibes my way, I CAN do this, but a little reassurance along the way will certainly help.

Expectations and Goals

I know it is important I set realistic goals as well as have realistic expectations during my transformation.  Many times in my schooling and career I have been taught to use the SMART acronym as guideline when setting goals.  When trying to lose weight I have also been taught to start with a first goal weight that is a percentage of the entire weight you hope to lose. 

If you have not heard about the SMART theory of goal setting,  they have a good explanation on  Wikipedia which is comparable to any text book explanation I have ever read.  These guidelines are good to use when setting any goal, personal or professional.

With this in mind, here are my goals for my journey

• Lose 90 pounds in one year.
• The initial weight I hope to lose is 40 pounds so I weigh what I weighed when I got pregnant almost three years ago.  I WILL reach this weight loss total within six months of starting the program.
• Retrain my brain and body to seek healthy food alternatives instead of the fast food or processed food I eat and crave now.
• Exercise at least three days a week for a minimum of thirty minutes each time.
• Continue to educate myself in order to facilitate the maintenance of my lifestyle change.
• Continue to grow my support group and ultimately become an inspiration to many others seeking to achieve a healthy lifestyle as well.
• Overcome my emotional eating tendency by finding other ways to cope when times are tough.

I expect challenges along the way.  I expect to give into temptation on occasion.  I expect this to be one of the most difficult things I have ever done.  I expect others will not believe I can do this.  I expect there will be times when I believe I cannot do this.  Above all, I expect I CAN change my life, I have too, or I can expect to live a life with health issues and sadness. 

My Story

I am 29 years old and have struggled with my weight my entire life.  I come from an obese family where there were never really any boundaries as to the quantity or quality of food we consumed.  I work full time and spend ten hours a week commuting to work.  I have a two year old son who is my world.  I am married, but we have currently had our fair share of struggles, most of which are centered around my weight.  I want to lose weight, I need to lose weight, I know how to lose weight yet this is a goal I have never been able to achieve. 

Last week I had a breakdown.  My husband was home, (he works on the road) and I desired intimacy.  Problem being, he is not attracted to what I have let myself become.  I was no means small when we met, but I have let myself balloon by 80 pounds and my food addiction consume me.  I know my husband loves me, I know he wants me to be healthy, but can you imagine the feeling of being denied by your spouse. It is horrible, bringing me to tears as I write this.  This is not the first time this has happened, but this time the denial was calm, and we communicated with each other how we feel about the situation we are in. 

My health has started to decline because of my weight, and has become noticeable daily.  I have prehypertension, my body aches all the time, I am constantly tired and get short of breath just walking up the stairs, or carrying my son from the car to the house.  I am not happy.  I am not happy with my body and what I have let it become.  I am an emotional eater, I am addicted to food to help me feel happy, yet the more I eat the more unhappy I become.  I have fought depression and anxiety since I was young.  I take medication to help this, but have recently found my depression is getting worse. I don't want to take more medicine, I want to take back control of my life. I need to be here to raise my son, I need to be able to keep up with him and my husband during outings, I need to lose weight to be healthy and happy.  I need to do this for myself.

So here I am, I have joined a program to help me meet this goal.  I have sought out the support from my family and friends.  I am going to get healthy.  I am going to be happy again.  This is my life!