Adrienne Bartee's Asian Pork Tacos

Copied from Facebook with permission:

Asian Pork Tacos - S (I think)
I made these for lunch today, and they were delicious! My son even liked them. I don't have an exact recipe because I tend to just eyeball everything.

First, I cut a boneless pork chop into small cubes and sauteed it in butter and some minced onion, added minced garlic, ginger, and lemon juice. After a few minutes I added some "Miracle Rice" (shirataki) and allowed the flavors to meld. While that was cooking at medium heat, I washed my romaine lettuce leaves and allowed the to drip dry.

Then, I diced a small tomato and part of a cucumber and onion into a bowl and added a splash of apple cider vinegar and a little bit of salt. Let sit for about 5-10 minutes.

By then, the pork mixture was about done, so I rinsed some broccoli sprouts and added to the pan and then turned off the heat. Assembled these "tacos", added some sour cream, and then enjoyed!

I'm new at this, so please let me know if this does not count as an S - Hopefully I'm right!

Laughing Buffalo Dip

Laughing Buffalo Dip THM - S 

This stuff is great with celery! Or chicken!

8 oz cream cheese -softened
8 oz Laughing Cow swiss cheese wedges -softened
2 tbs greek yogurt
1/2 tsp Bragg's amino
2-3 tbs Frank's Buffalo Wing sauce

MIX! Stuff in celery for a snack or top on fresh grilled chicken!

I put mine in multiple containers for my lunch this week! 

"I don't cheat. --Or do I?-- Hmmmm...."

Jennifer Griffin, a THM administrator, put out a 31 day challenge for the month of July to be a month with NO CHEATS.  At first I thought, hmmm, I don't cheat, at least not much, let's try it. So I joined the challenge. I, and most everyone in the challenge, have been a bit surprised.

Day one: THREE "mini" cheats faced and conquered. But I was a bit surprised since I really "don't cheat"! *wink*

Day two: I stopped counting and just began the "I don't cheat" way of thinking and just determined to hurdled those temptations. DID IT!

Day three: I packed VERY WELL for for my 8+ hrs at work today so that I will have no reason to even THINK about cheating! (I even restocked the desk drawer with on plan Quest bars for emergencies.)

What are my "mini cheats"?

Most often they are condiments, Diet Cherry Pepsi or Sugar Free items that contain off plan sweeteners or ingredients. OH! And too much Gwen's Bread! They don't seem like a big deal, but there is a reason they are "off plan".  Either they are not healthy or they will actually spike blood sugar even though there is not really sugar in the item! Yikes! I don't need that! Or the little cheats that  might push me into a crossover which = no fat/carb burn. *sad face*

I don't really WANT that.

One woman said it well this week on FB: "it just hit me today that I don't need to cheat to feel satisfied! There are enough on-plan craves, treats & more that can keep me doing great! "

THAT is it! On this plan there are so many things you can do to work around the temptations that you really don't need to cheat to be satisfied.  NOW, does a sugar free brownie taste like a "normal" brownie? NO! But once you get off sugar, IT'LL taste pretty close! AND it will be guilt free.  I can handle that!

Don't feel sorry for me for going off sugar! I am FINE! I am loving this way of eating! I have aquired a taste for things with no sugar! I still eat BREAD (on plan bread)! I still eat chocolate EVERY DAY! And now I eat healthy too, all the time! And I don't have to fight sugar/carb CRAVINGS ALL DAY like I did BEFORE THM! SEE!?!? Don't feel sorry for me! 

MAYBE after July I can truly say, I don't cheat! 

Thanks for the challenge, Jennifer! 

(I love her.)

End of July update:  It is the 23rd of July and I thought I should update this and share that I quit the challenge a week or so ago.  

Why? 

Well, I just enjoy the flexibility of the plan so much that I don't feel I need to be "100% cheat free" right now.  I am about 15 lbs from an all time low for my adult lifetime.  I am pretty content with my weight right now, but hope to slowly take of these last 15 or more. I guess I am just not motivated to be that strict with the plan right now for me.  I LOVE the plan, every part of it.  I just don't want to be a slave to it, and that is what it was starting to feel like with the commitment to have ZERO cheats.  I don't cheat much anyway. Just an FYI.  I am still on plan for life! 

Missy Griffith's Baked Muffin in a Mug MIM recipe from Facebook

Missy's photo

Baked "Muffin in a Mug" THM S

Because I discovered this week that I really, REALLY like the MIM better baked, I took some time to bake ahead so I could freeze a variety and pull them out when needed (especially those times I am headed out the door and need a quick take-a-long snack/meal). Here's my basic recipe - tweaked because I like a less "eggy" taste - and with some fun variations.

4 heaping T almond flour
2 T coconut flour
2 T oat fiber
2 T ground flax
1 T coconut oil (melted)
1 T xylitol
1 egg
1/2 t baking powder
1/4 t sea salt
3 shakes nustevia
almond milk

Mix all ingredients well in a bowl, stirring in enough of the almond milk to make a thick batter. Spoon into four greased muffin tins and bake at 400 for about 15 minutes

vanilla - omit the flax
Italian cream - add in shredded coconut and chopped pecans
peanut butter - cut coconut flour and flax to 1T each, add 2T defatted peanut flour
pumpkin maple - cut down on the almond milk and add in apx 1/3c pumpkin puree and a dash of maple flavoring
mocha - substitute strong coffee for the almond milk and add 1-2T cocoa powder

And what could be better than some FROSTING - THM legal - to go on them?!
Soften and stir together:
2T cream cheese
1 T butter
a dash of vanilla
homemade Truvia to taste (mine is 1/2 c xylitol and 1/2t nustevia ground together)

strawberry - add in 2-3T chopped frozen strawberries (slightly thawed). Great on the vanilla MIM!
Italian cream - use the basic frosting and top with more chopped pecans and coconut
peanut butter - stir in 1T natural PB to the basic frosting
maple/caramel - to the basic frosting, add a dash of either caramel or maple extract
coffee - to the basic frosting add in a bit of VERY strong coffee or espresso
chocolate - add cocoa powder to the basic frosting depending on how dark you want it

Rich Chocolate Ice Cream THM S

Rich Chocolate Ice Cream (S)

1 cup Ghirardelli cocoa

About 1/3 cup Sweet Blend (go light and add more if needed)

1 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk

3 1/4 cup heavy cream

1 tbs vanilla extract

(Sometimes I add PB protein powder

 or sugar free chocolate)

Mix well. 

 Dump only as much as you want right away into ice cream maker.

(Put the rest in the fridge for tomorrow!)

Turn on the machine and check the clock! 

About 20 minutes later....

Discouraged THM mama?

I have kind of stalled.  I am losing maybe a pound a month the past two months. I am at a great weight, but would like to lose more to get to "dream" weight.  BUT....

I am a glass half-full person to the core. *smile*

So here are my thoughts to encourage the discouraged:

1. Ummm. At least you are not gaining. It is a reality, we are often either gaining or losing! Take a look on a continuum even a visual chart.... see that you are not gaining.  If you are like me if you are not gaining, that is a victory! A chart might even show you that you are fluctuating but actually losing, just slower than you before.

2. You have found freedom. If you are not feeling more free on this plan, then talk to an admin on FB and figure out why. When done right there is amazing freedom in this plan.

3. Scales are only one measure of your success! Take your measurements. How are your clothes fitting? Look for those NSVs (non-scale victories) and celebrate them! Share them! Post it to the main page!

4. Follow the THM facebook page feed and look for ways you could tweak the way you are eating.  I.E. The other day someone mentioned just cutting back on the cheese in her S meals got her losing again. Another idea, I am trying to add more E meals and FP snacks.  I am also trying to change up which style I eat a which meal.

5. Reality.  My 43 yr. old body is not going to look the same at a certain weight as I did younger at the same weight. Seriously? Why do we put that kind of expectation on ourselves? But we do sometimes.

For those glass half EMPTY people:

AND if these thoughts don't encourage you..... rock out to some positive tunes about the power of the Holy Spirit in you!!!

I love this song and video:

A "Drive Thru Sue's" advice on THM - 10 Tips!

I am preaching to myself here y'all: 

1. Don't believe the lie that cooking/making something is going to take SOOO long! Tons of the recipes in the book are super easy and fast! As well as on pinterest.  The sweets on THM seem to really be simple, quick recipes because so many are not things that need to bake!

2. On that same note, resist the urge to skip making a side of veggies.  Your body will thank you. You need those healthy carbs!

3. Prep for breakfast. If you prepare ahead for nothing else, prepare ahead for breakfast. Muffins, overnight oatmeal, or if you do smoothies go ahead and mix the dry/wet ingredients before hand.

4. One thing my husband has been doing is grilling up huge amounts of meats on the grill and throwing it in zip locks in the fridge.  This makes me want to kiss him!!! I have two teen boys.  They eat a lot of meat. And I can take a lean or a fatty meat and make it "my way" for any meal!

6. Don't get too dependent on the pitas and low carb tortillas.  I am experimenting to see if that is why I am slowing down. I found out from an admin on FB that it is recommended to only have one a day.  I was often doing two.  I am surprised how I THINK I need them.  Instead now I just pile up what I would put inside the pita or tortilla on a plate and eat it!

7. I freestyle.  Always. But I do try to watch the scale and see how I am doing and if needed I change up whatever has been my pattern.

8. I am a creature of habit. Plus, I am sometimes the only one eating certain things I have cooked which often leads to me eating the same thing over and over.  This can lead to boredom or stalls.  Be careful it doesn't throw you off track or "off the wagon".

9. Ipad and pinterest.  All my recipes are on my ipad and pinterest.  So quick and easy to grab and cook something. Don't give yourself permission to cheat just because you are in a hurry, tired, super hungry, or it's getting late. Just grab a recipe and go! My 14 yr old will wander around the kitchen looking for something "instant" to eat for the same amount of time it would have taken him to just fix something or ASK me to fix something! Just sayin'.  We are all guilty of this!

10. Don't FEAR the drive thru, but don't overuse it either.  Sure there are ways to make any fast food place work for THM but they are not often all that good for your body and it will show. Even when you think you are "on plan" at a restaurant you really don't always know what is in your food.

finding your goal weight?!?! HINT: It's not a number.

Goal weight.  Funny idea really.  My goal weight has continually changed. In a healthy way.  At first I set a goal that was only about 10-20 lbs from where I started. Whew it felt good to get there!!! REALLY good!

Then I just watched.  My weight just continued to go down on THM and I just watched! I was too surprised to see it working so well to really worry about it.
After 30-35 pounds gone the weight loss has slowed. And I am fine with that.  While I do want to lose more yet, I am fine with my body taking a break or taking it's time.  And I really don't know for sure what is a healthy weight to look toward.

I read this great blog post on finding a healthy goal weight. BUT the calculator it seems to set the goal weight lower than I have weighed in my whole life!! lol! If I was at the suggested weight I figured from the calculator I worry I would be too thin.  Part of me wonders what it would feel like to be that thin.  I will admit there is a vain part of me that would like to try and get there. And with THM I think it might even be possible! (I can't even believe it but it is true!)

(I am planning to do a side by side before/after picture, but just haven't gotten around to it! I will soon, I promise!)

I want a healthy goal weight.  And I am not really even desperate to get there.  (The only incentive really is that it would be fun to get back in my wedding dress on our 20th anniversary in November.  But not sure my chest would fit in it anyway! lol!)

What I am learning through this "goal weight" idea is how different we all are and even if everyone were the same weight that would look SOOOO different on all of us! We are all created special, we are all created to be different sizes.  We are are loved at any size.  We are all meant to do more than obsess about our weight!

We ARE meant to glorify God. I want my body to "just not" get in the way of that goal.  So I will continue with this eating plan as it helps me reach THAT goal. It sounds overly spiritual, but glorifying Him with my weight is something unrelated to a number. It is honoring Him in my food choices and how I take care of the body He has given me. He tells us not to be gluttons. The goal is to have a healthy body that is best able to follow the plan He has for my life and wherever He takes me.

I gotta be prepared for the big stuff! 

I like to dream big! 

And I want my body to be ready! 

THM TIPS List 3

1. This is not like other plans.

Some of the "rules" are critical and some are just general. That is why you need to read and re-read the book. Doing the plan "half way" doesn't usually work, either. Sorry, but you may even gain weight doing that.

2. Know your weight will fluctuate throughout the day, throughout the week and throughout the month!

3.  If you like to weigh in daily or weekly, weigh AS SOON AS YOU get up in the morning. For me anyway, that is when I am the lightest and I get the most consistent reading. I like to "weigh in" a lot, it makes me smile. Some people just throw away the scale and trust the plan. Some will obsess on the numbers so they only weigh once a month.  Do what works for you.

4. The Twogrand app is pretty fun! It is like instagram for food and exercise!

5. Ask questions (the admins/mods on the FB group page are awesome!).  Please, don't just get frustrated and quit. You can also do a search in the files or the feed on the main THM page! There's tons and tons of FAQ type stuff there. If you are asking a question, it is likely with 40,000+ on this plan the question has already been asked and answered in the feed or files. Or on the THM website.

6. Vow to be positive, committed and NOT obsessive.

7. Realize you may have to shift your priorities.  Your health is important. You are important.

8. Don't believe everything you read or hear.

9. Be careful about creating "hang ups"..... like....."Well, I just can't live without "a" or "b"!" or "I don't think it is healthy to "x" or "y"!" OR "But I LOVE "a" or "b".  Stop and ask if that statement is really, REALLY true. Challenge your own thinking and self talk.

10. Sleep.  You need sleep.  I love sleep.

Get some sleep.

My 14 year old is a pro at napping!

Yes, that is colby jack cheese. 

My husband cannot resist messing with him while he naps.

Yes, this one is at church in the back row on a Sunday night.

Sometimes he just cannot control his need for sleep.

(It's not easy being 14 and 6 foot 1)

List of THM Snack Items - ALL HEALTHY & GUILT FREE! Yipee!

PREFACE: YOU WILL LIKELY NOT LIKE OR NOT BE EXCITED about snacks and sweets that are sugar free UNTIL you are OFF sugar for a while.  Your CAN change your palette and learn to like foods on this plan, but you have to want to do it and it takes time. *smile* 

1. 85% (or higher) Chocolate ( I like Lindt in bulk on Amazon). Two square limit. (S)

2. Chocolate chips - Hershey's makes Sugar Free chips found at some Walmarts that are ok but not ideal ingredients.  The better but more pricey choice is Lily's which I buy on Vitacost online. I don't eat these alone but I thought you would want this listed in a snack idea list to be eaten with nuts or to use in recipes for snacks. 

3. Celery with chicken salad or buffalo chicken spread --YUMMM-- or a great natural peanut butter or "on plan" dip! Here is a link to some dips and dressings on my pinterest board.  (S)

4. Today I had the outer part of an apple and 1/2 cup of overnight oatmeal for a snack. (E)

5. There are a million baked muffin recipes or muffin in a mug recipes that are a great snack!

6. String cheese with a few nuts! Pistachios are awesome with cheese! Nice and salty. (S) I also keep a baggie of raw almonds in my purse most of the time so that when I get stuck somewhere between meals I have a snack, but I only eat a few 3-8. I try very hard to eat something every 2 1/2 to 3 hours.

7. Smoothies! This is like my basic one CLICK HERE, but there are a million ways to change it up! Look for more THM drinks and smoothies HERE. You can even mix up the the dry ingredients separately from the wet ahead of time! They can be S, E or FP depending on how you make it.

8. I finally found a way that I like plain greek yogurt; I add Sweet Blend and an extract like orange, cherry, banana, caramel, etc.  YUM! (FP)

9. I love this pudding only I add cocoa as well.  I need it to be chocolate! And sometimes peanut flour for a peanut butter flavor too. (FP) I double it and keep it in jars in the fridge till it's gone!

10. I love the nut slab, the rich fudge and the cream pops recipes from the THM book! (S)

11. I want to try these soon - Salt & Vinegar Chickpeas! (E)

12. Deviled Eggs.  OR even just boiled eggs with pink salt! (S) or just whites for (E).

13. My favorite brownies CLICK HERE - I don't add the applesauce.

14. My favorite chocolate chip cookies CLICK HERE - I like to change it to 1/2 cup coconut flour and 1/2 cup almond flour, to get a shortbread-like taste. (S)

15. Sweet tea (made with sweet juice concentrate), water, sodastream..... I know those are not snacks but sometimes I think I want a snack when I really am just thirsty! I keep cold filtered water in the fridge and it is sometimes the perfect "snack"!

This is just a random list of the stuff I have been eating for snacks.  I am not an admin for THM and I am open to correction if I am listing anything incorrectly! Just let me know! I would also love to hear more suggestions from you!

Thanks y'all!

THM PERKS!

Here's the BRIGHT side of choosing a healthy eating plan like Trim Healthy Mama! 

PERKS:

1. Control.  Are you a bit controlling? I am.  I am obsessive too.  Usually diets bring this out in me in a huge way.  But on this plan I am just not seeing it.  I don't have to stress when I walk in the kitchen to find lunch, snack or supper anymore.  I don't have to loathe figuring out something healthy to eat.  I don't find myself using this as a tool to find "control" in my life either. Creating a meal is just like putting together an tiny puzzle with like 3-6 pieces. Easy. I just have to eat the right things at the right times.   

2. Freedom.  No, not the same thing as not needing to control. There is a different kind of freedom many women have found with this plan.  I am still so new at this I cannot really explain it very well. I guess one way is that there is very little that you cannot eat on this plan.  YES sugar and white/regular wheat bread are off the plan, and potatoes.  But dang, three things? Once I found replacements I like for these, I am "home free".  THAT is why I can see myself staying on this plan forever. I am not feeling deprived of anything I crave, as I have alternative to the few things I cannot have that I might crave. Make sense? It is comfortable already, like flip-flops or sketchers or Merrills oooo, have you tried the new yoga slings from sanuk?, WAY COMFY.*smile*

3. Overall health.  I really doubt there is anyone that goes on this plan that does not see some improvement somewhere to their overall health as well. BP, Cholesterol, weight, mood, sleep, SOMETHING.  For me I have never eaten healthier than this plan provides for me.  My blood sugar level has never been so even (I am not diabetic, just hypoglycemic). The only time I have felt it dip badly was after an "E" meal that I just needed to tweak to adjust to my body's reaction.  

4. Discipline. You may have to learn some discipline to make the plan work, if you are not used to doing this when it comes to eating. Seriously, thought, discipline in eating will teach you discipline!  And discipline can rock your whole life path. Just sayin'.

5. Universal.  Now I said it before and I will say it again, this plan may not be for everyone! I do not judge you if you say its not for you, and you can even call me crazy for giving up sugar. I get it, I would have thought it crazy at one time, too. But now I am three years past 40 and cannot continue to gain weight and eat the way I was eating. I honestly do believe that this plan is pretty universal.  I didn't at first, but man, the more I follow people on the plan the more I see how it works for so many people with so many special conditions and problems physically that can hinder them on other plans.  Just try it. You can borrow my book. *smile* 

6. Influence.  It is contagious. You will rub off on others.  Just wait and see.

7. Fashion. I know, I know this one is kinda vain, but man is it fun getting to buy new clothes! Goodwill is my new hang out. AND there are clothes from the back of my closet I am FINALLY wearing that haven't fit in YEARS AND YEARS! 

Like this shirt!

I know I bought it two or more years ago without trying it on.

It finally fits TWO years later!

WOO -PIG-SOOIE!

8. Support.  I have never seen such a great supportive group as you can find among these peeps. In the blogs, the FB group, youtube, they are everywhere.  This plan is taking off ON ITS OWN.  You won't be seeing it in an infomercial anytime soon.  It is spreading because people LOVE it! When they love it they (me included) want to SHARE it and support those who don't quite "get it" yet! *smile* You know who you are. 

9. Visual.  The food on this plan LOOKS good, LOOKS normal, and has Pinterest and the app twogrand to visually challenge you to ---- stay. on. plan. You won't be staring at a plate of disappointing and sparse food. 

10. Weight.  The success rate on this plan is pretty amazing. The results speak for themselves. But WHAT A PERK! I LOVE BEING THIS SIZE! And I am not even to my goal weight yet, just sayin' - it gets fun. And I am not fearing gaining it back.  This plan works so well for me that even if I mess up I can get back on plan. 

Confession: I am a little scared to eat sugar now.  I "hear" from many people that once you go off sugar and heavy carbs for a while, some people actually feel sick after eating that stuff.  I use that to motivate me not to cheat! I hate a tummy ache! 

THM Beginner tips - List 2

1. You may not feel any different as the pounds come off.  Sure, it feels great to lose weight, but I am generally the same person I was many pounds ago.  I didn't hate myself then, but I disliked how I looked and worried about the struggles of getting bigger. I guess what I am trying to say is, now that I am getting "trim", I AM STILL JUST BETH. I am not suddenly acceptable.  I am not suddenly beautiful, and I am also not suddenly judging everyone heavier than I am.  (Naturally I want to share with others my excitement about this plan, but I don't expect others to follow me! But if you want too...... I will get excited!!!) I am not a better person now.  I am not better than you.  I am not any more valuable than you. 

Don't expect losing weight to fix "everything".  It won't.  Don't set yourself up for a disappointment like that. 

You are valuable because you are you, not because you are successful at weight loss. Find you value in who you are in Christ. NOT your size! (BONUS INFO: And by the way, don't expect your husband, your friends or your job to constantly fill that need to be valued. It is a heart issue between you and God Almighty! He is waiting to fill you! And His filling is perfect and complete.)

2. GWEN! An awesome secondary source for THM info and recipes: a blog called  GWEN'S NEST. At first you may just need to know about her EASY BREAD! If nothing else try this bread! I hesitated as it seems crazy to wait three days for bread to ferments so the carbs are eaten up before you eat it!  BUT it was worth it and you can then eat from this jar of dough for TWO WEEKS and it is SOOOOOOOOO STINKIN' EASY! (WARNING: this is only for "E" meals.  BUT it is great and can be used for TONS of recipes!) 

3. FIND CHOCOLATE.  Find some chocolate and/or "sweets" recipes you like right away! There are people who rave about the skinny chocolate.  I enjoyed it at first, but my tummy didn't like too much coconut oil at once, so I moved on to other rich decadent sweets! Sometime I will do a post all about chocolate - it deserves it's own post -but for now use the book recipes or my pinterest board of THM sweets. THIS PLAN DOES NOT CUT OUT sweets! You just have to acquire a taste for new sweeteners and OFF YOU GO! Sweets galore! 

4. DIET CHERRY PEPSI.  At first there was just no way I was giving up my diet cherry pepsi.  Then came the Sodastream.  I have been able to create plenty of tasty healthy carbonated drinks with the Sodastream I am almost "100% off" regular canned/bottled diet drinks.  (Just when eating out or at a LONG track meet, then it seems totally justified! *Smile*) To the Sodastream water I add root beer extract, caramel extract, sometimes cherry extract, sometimes vanilla stevia or extract, stevia (liquid form), ginger and apple cider vinegar, oh and a little sea salt. With extracts the flavors are limitless. (Yes, there is also Zevia in some stores that is plan approved.) I usually by Watkins brand extracts on the top shelf of the spice aisle at Walmart, but yesterday I ordered some new ones to try from Bakto. 

5. BLENDER.  Yes, you will want a blender.  Yes, you can get one at a garage sale or thrift store, and yes, you will want the nicest blender you can afford. Oh and yes, they best ones cost $300-600, decide on your price range and they find one to fit your budget. 

6. SECRET bread! Ok, it's not really secret, but you may not know about it..... Joseph's Pitas.  They are at most Walmarts in the bakery bread section.  They are "on plan" and you will soon find yourself taking them to restaurants and pizza parties.  Just replace the off plan stuff in front of you with these pitas.  (ALSO I eat low carb tortillas that have "less than 5 net carbs" somewhere on the package but I read the ingredients to be safe.  

7. SNOWBALL EFFECT.  The few times I have decided to go "off plan" for a day or a meal or a weekend..... it has snowballed for me.  Like, one "off plan" brownie turned into half a pan of "off plan" brownies in one day. I like just figuring out how to stay on plan in most situations.  BUT when I have rolled with that snowball, I am reminded that it is only 3 hours till I can back "on plan".  It is NOT the end of the world.  We live REAL LIVES.  Life gets in the way of the best laid plans ALL THE TIME! KNOW yourself.  You may do better at jumping off plan than me. AND remember that our priority is our family and friends and ministry for God.  Please be careful not to be so rigid that you offend someone hosting you for a meal.  One dish "off plan" or one meal "off plan" will not kill you! We are called to LOVE way more than we are called to be disciplined in our eating. 

8. ICE CREAM.  I got an ice cream maker.  LOVE making it.  Don't love it fully frozen when left over. So I make it less. There are a few ice creams on plan.  You can look them up in the FB group in the search box.  There is also a section on the that lists ALL the files from the group! Tons of good info in there. Ice cream is very important, no? 

9. DRIVE THRU SUE.  I am, what the book calls, a Drive-Thru-Sue.  I like meals and snacks to be quick and simple.  Know that about yourself and plan around it.  Sometime I will do a post about just this topic. Lots of the recipes for THM in the book and online are REALLY FAST! I was amazed by this fact.  I just need to memorize them so I don't feel slowed down by always looking at a recipe. I want it fast. 

10. ATTITUDE.  Success on this plan does hinge a lot on your attitude.  If you go in it thinking "this isn't really for me"  or "I know I won't be able to do this" or "these women are nuts" (yes, I am guilty of that one)..... it can potentially ruin or stall your success. Now I am NOT saying that you should believe everything you read in the book or on the FB feed.  NO! You need to do your own research too! But be open minded.  This is a very different way of thinking about food, meals, sweets, etc. Be realistic in your expectations.  And don't expect your spouse or family to "get it".  

OK y'all that's 10 more tips! 

THE SMALL PRINT: Share this with your friends who are on the fence about taking on this plan or are beginners! Lets learn together! *smile*

"Smiling is my favorite!"

 This is "no makeup me" today! 

THM beginners tips- List 1

1. Not all sweeteners are the same. AND not all stevias are the same. The new stevia and Sweet Blend from the THM website are the best! Try them! Give yourself time to like them, while NOT eating sugar.  Of course it is gonna taste bad after eating sugar.  Maybe even wait to try it after been OFF sugar for a while. YOU KNOW you can change your taste for certain things if you give it time. Keep it real, y'all!
Here are what my two favorite sweeteners look like on their website:

2. Don't quit. I have loved this plan from day 1, but there are lots of people tempted to quit very early into this plan as it is hard at first.  Let me encourage you to hang in there. It will be worth it and I really believe the plan will work if you do it as described and you give your body time! The learning curve is steep but shorter than you think.

3. Be patient. Healthy weight loss takes time.  LEARNING this plan takes time. Remember, it's not magic. AND you should know that not following this plan 100% will affect the rate at which you lose weight on the plan in small or large ways depending on the things you let slide.  Some things are not such a big deal and some things are.  You will have to try it to find out! I did not start on the plan 100% and it has worked for me, but I am trying to do things all the time to follow the plan more closely as I see the great results in my body! I started out following it about 75%, now I am at about 90% I would guess. It is okay to start the plan slowly just don't expect the results to be as clear.

4. THM doesn't "cure everything".  While a healthy diet may cure some health problems, even a lot of health problems, don't put huge expectations on the plan that may be unfair. My worst back pain is from scar tissue "post two back surgeries". I don't expect weight loss or healthy eating to fix that.  Does it help? I am sure that the significant amount of weight I have lost takes pressure off my back, but it is not going to fix the core issue. AND this diet is said to help inflammation in the body.  I cannot attest to that at this point.  But I know people often do say it helps once on this plan.  There are TONS of testimonials in the facebook group and on you tube of how this has helped various health problems and challenges for many many health issues. I have personal friends who have done great on this plan. You can listen and judge for yourself!

5. You can eat the same or more than on other plans and you will be less hungry than on other plans.  I like that.  I didn't realize until starting this plan that I was previously going from one sugar craving to another and THINKING I was going from one hungry moment to another.  NOT true. I ALSO don't obsess about food and/or my weight on this plan like I have in the past. It is good for control freaks! I don't walk in the kitchen and go, "ugh, what am I gonna eat that is healthy!?!!?" I walk in excited to see what yummy thing I can make to eat! Food is no longer the enemy!

6. This plan works well for me because my body was over reacting to the carbs in my diet by producing too much insulin. (If you feel cranky or jittery or sleepy after a carby kind of meal, you are possibly having the same reaction, and producing too much insulin which causes your blood sugar to spike and then plummet and cause these reactions.) Now I thought I had this under control because I was eating enough protein with the carbs to prevent the massive low blood sugar crashes from WAY too much insulin,  but I was only minimizing the reaction rather than preventing it.
THM is about not even CREATING these spikes AT ALL in your blood sugar.  This means no lows, and a much healthier way of processing food.  That is why Splenda, honey, and some other sweeteners that may or may not be healthy are not on this plan.  They spike your blood sugar which affects weight and water retention. Did you know that carbs can cause water retention?!

7. You will need to throw out some of the myths you have believed about weight loss, weight management, healthy eating, etc. I have found many things that just were not true or were just not sustainable long term for me.  With this plan I feel I can sustain this way of eating for the rest of my life and be much healthier and at a better weight than ever in my life.

8. This plan may appear to have some CRAZY ingredients required.  First, they are not required but they make the plan easier.  AND they are likely much more natural and healthier alternatives to the stuff you are eating now. And sometimes they are often just "old school" stuff people stopped using when bleached flour came along. I am working to add products to my pinterest boards so you know which website offer which products.  I don't have this done yet.

9. Start reading labels.  Or if you are like me -google some. We know we should think about what is in our food.  But we often avoid looking at it and trust the maker of the foods we buy.  You will be surprised what you see and you will learn what to avoid that could be sabotaging your weight. Yes, at first it looks like a foreign language but you will learn key ingredients to avoid on this plan that are just plane fillers and/or  BAD for you.  Start off just looking for sugar or forms of sugar on labels. CLICK HERE for a list of the various names used but are all best if you avoid them.
Did you know that table salt is full of fillers?! Yep! That is why you are seeing all these sea salts, himalayan salts and others on store shelves.  AND salt is not necessarily bad either! Pure salt has some great benefits to our bodies! WE NEED SALT!

10. Get on pinterest, here is my page:http://www.pinterest.com/digimoma/  Or even you tube and type in THM or Trim Healthy Mama.  
On pinterest you may be like me and want to unfollow any specific boards your friends have on pinterest that are about sweets or food that are not THM versions or close to it (some low carb or paleo boards are worth following and tweaking to fit THM once you get the hang of it).   I love seeing recipes that work, NOT ones that are "off plan" for me.  All you have to do is unfollow that one board, not unfollow that friend completely. Find more THM pinners!

That's 10 for today! Enjoy!

MORE SMALL PRINT: After writing this list, I wondered if the first tip should have been to BUY THE BOOK! That seems obvious to me, but I know some people try to do it without the book.  Think of the cost of the book as one less co-pay to the drs office once you get to a healthier place in your pursuit of health.  I love to rationalize! *wink* Really in the long run $20-35 for the book is sooooooooo worth it. Here is another good rationalization, you will spend less on eating out and other snacks and sweets after you learn the awesome recipes in the book! Really! You buy all kinds of overpriced over processed foods for the ease and speed of grabbing a snack. This book has EASY and QUICK recipes for you! Lots of them.  ok, I am done arguing about you needing to buy the book! *smile* 

This is me smiling at you today:

THM - Trim Healthy Mama = for me =TGTBT (Too Good To Be True)

Out of the blue it seemed, a college friend whom I dearly love and had shared weight struggles with for over 20 years, sent me a message about an eating plan she was enjoying.
It was called - Trim Healthy Mama (Sorry, authors, Pearl and Serene, even the title sounded cheesy to me, probably cause it sounded too good to be true.) But she really seemed to love it, and I KNEW I had to do something to stop the slow steady gain of weight back onto my body. So I figured I could TRY it!

Bought the book.

click here for book

Joined the other 43,000+ women in the Facebook group. CLICK HERE

Skimmed the book just enough to start the plan.....just being honest- I even skipped the chapter on the Biblical perspective of the plan the first time through the book! (Keepin' it real, y'all!)

Here are my initial thoughts:

1. Sugar - giving up sugar seemed like a big deal, I was sure I could NEVER give up sweets. Then in the book I saw that it might actually be easy to exchange the sugar to something else, with the help of these two women and their recipes. I learned that there are some safe alternatives to sugar that can create healthy, wonderful sweets! I thought, "I can handle eating sweets that may not taste as amazing as a sugary version if it helps me lose weight AND it is guilt free! Come to find out, these sweets are so healthy you can eat them for breakfast EVERY DAY! Seriously?!?! And I found some that taste good!

2. Bread- I have always thought there was no way I would ever give up bread. But as my weight slowly grew and grew I knew where I was headed, back to the 200's and mounds of frustration, guilt and unhealthy eating habits I knew were not good for me. Then came this book, these two women, and an awesome FB group, who said there were types of bread that were ok, when eaten correctly and were even healthy! So now I still get BREAD. Just different bread.  (White sliced sandwich bread really has no flavor anyway.) Who doesn't want to eat guilt free homemade bread? pizza without the carbs? soft tacos/wraps every day!? It is doable.

3. Chocolate.  THERE ARE TONS OF WAYS TO EAT CHOCOLATE WITHOUT SUGAR. And it's good! Now you have to experiment, a lot, I mean try a lot of recipes.  And try different sweeteners. You CAN find things that you like! AND IT CAN BE HEALTHY AND EATEN FOR BREAKFAST! You also have to give yourself time to get used to less sugar, and acquire a taste for less sugar. And learn to like the alternatives for sugar. It takes time, but man, is it worth it!

4. Cheese, butter, bacon, red meat, chicken, turkey, pork, bread, pudding, cake, pie, ice cream, AND MORE--- all are things I can eat!!! Kinda makes me think giving up sugar isn't so bad!

5. Veggies- I am learning great ways to eat more veggies! Covered in butter AND cheese! I thought you had to nix the butter and cheese. Nope.

6. CORRECTION- I know what you are thinking, BUTTER, CHEESE and BACON are not healthy.  Actually they are.  Or should I say, they CAN be when eating them in the right setting.  THERE are so many myths we have created in this country about what is healthy and what is not as we add TONS of preservatives and additives and fillers to our very processed food. All to maintain our appetite for fast, easy, instant, SWEET food. (Ok, at least give me this, you KNOW that we have added sugar to almost every food imaginable on store shelves today. Right?)

7. RESULTS.  FACT.  This plan has worked for me.  I committed to giving it 100% and it has worked.  I am now down 36 pounds, and it has been without exercise and I have eaten PLENTY of food.  Honestly, I thought I would have to eat like a bird to lose weight without exercise.  Not true on this plan. Due to my back problems I just cannot do much of anything cardio. I have NEVER been able to lose and keep it off without cardio of some type. Until now.
I have been on this plan for over 6 months and still don't feel deprived. I just know that at my age with my body, eating sugar and all those starches are just not realistic for me. I want to be at healthy weight and take care of my body.

8. FUN and EASY. This plan is so fun and easy - oh, and healthy. They give you guidelines for maintaining the weight loss without getting TOO thin, losing too fast, or getting lost and scrapping the whole thing (and for me that would mean gaining it all back! NOW I WILL SAY, there is a kinda steep learning curve in the beginning.  There is a lot to learn, but once you learn it..... AND you start seeing results..... it is FUN! (Your teen boys will continue to think you are NUTS! The only thing my three "boys" -yep, Daniel too- love about this plan I am doing is that I switched them to whole milk rather than skim or 2%. Otherwise they eat mostly the same stuff they have always eaten. Pinterest is a huge help to learning the plan.  Here is a link to my Pinterest boards: CLICK HERE

9. FAMILY FRIENDLY- Best plan ever that is family friendly, in my opinion.  It is really not hard to feed my boys or eat out at a restaurant or anything and not make my meal fit in "the plan", while they want nothing to do with it.  See, I told you it was TGTBT (too good to be true).

10. MAGIC, IT AIN'T. It isn't magic. It takes planning.  Seriously did you think you could eat healthy and avoid sugar without planning? AND discipline. And cooking. Are there temptations, yes. But I like getting those pounds off more than I like sugar, white potatoes and white bread. And I like knowing they will stay off, if I just stay on plan, a plan that I LOVE! a plan with bacon, butter, and chocolate. Just sayin'. *smile*
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HOW DOES THIS PLAN WORK: Ok, the book is 640 pages.  There is no way to teach it to you here. I cannot even try. PLUS, Pearl and Serene are WAY better at teaching you this plan than I am.  I am STILL learning new things about it every day. They have done their homework. Sure there are basics to getting started, like getting off sugar, but there are WAY MORE THINGS you need to learn to follow the plan besides just getting away from sugar, I told you, it is not magic.  Getting away from sugar was just the BIG one for me!
Why try navigating weight loss on your own and end up feeling deprived, frustrated and discouraged when there is a book that TEACHES you how to do it and not DIE of sugar withdrawal, deprivation or frustration.  *smile*

THE SMALL PRINT: This plan may not be for you.  Especially if you are not committed to it or are just looking for a magic bullet. Healthy weight loss just doesn't work that way. And I am not gonna tell you that you SHOULD lose weight, eat healthy or feel bad about your size! I love you the same ANY size.  I am just sharing this for those who want to know more about the eating plan I am on and want to know how I have lost the weight.  Just sharing my personal experience in hopes of helping others who need to lose for their own personal reasons. There are people that learn this plan to find out how to PUT ON some weight! Others just want to learn to maintain weight they lost by other means! Others have food issues or health issues that demand certain things from their eating habits.  I don't know your situation, I just know what I have experienced. And it has been GREAT! 

Snicker Cake THM

Snickers Cake – FP

1 Tbsp. peanut flour

1 Tbsp. coconut flour
2 Tbsp. truvia (or other approved sweetener)
2 Tbsp. cocoa
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. glucomannan
dash sea salt
1/3 cup egg whites
1 Tablespoon water

1/2 teaspoon caramel extract

Mix and micro for about 1 min.

I added Lily's chocolate chips and Hershey's Sugar Free Syrup! YUM!