Food Labels & Calorie Counting

Have you ever read a label that said it was low-fat, nonfat, sugar free, etc? Chances are you have if you've been into a grocery store of any kind in the past 10 years or so (at least). What you may not know is that just because something says it's nonfat, sugar free or whatever the case may be, does not mean that it is healthy. Actually, In most cases the product tends to be less "healthy". Generally speaking, when a company puts the words sugar free on their product it means that their is some sort of sugar substitute. One of the most common sugar substitutes used today is called aspartame. If you're not familiar with this, aspartame (aka Nutra Sweet and Equal) is made up of 2 amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine. You'll find this in many foods and beverages, all or most claiming to be "sugar free" or "diet" versions of a product. Aspartame is actually 200 times sweeter than regular sugar thus giving a desired sweetness level if you will, with using much less product and therefore giving an item less calories. Here's where it gets tricky; Most people don't know that food companies are trying to trick you into thinking that their product is healthier so that you will be more likely to buy it (and feel good about it). Diet soda for example says on the label that it has 0g of sugar, and while that may be true it does still contain aspartame, the ingredient that has been shown to have carcinogenic (cancer) causing agents. In my opinion soda simply isn't good for you whether it be diet or otherwise, but that is a topic that will have to have a post all to itself. Today I opened up a container of yogurt that my grandmother bought for me. It was Dannon's Light & Fit 80 calorie, cherry, greek yogurt. Although it was delicious, it said  "fructose, sucralose and acesulfame potassium" right under the large print "NONFAT YOGURT" print. So let me get this straight... Dannon has managed to trick people into thinking that this 80 calorie yogurt is actually good for them? Come on!
Another topic I wanted to touch on was the importance of calorie counting and how, in fact, I think it's a terrible idea. A man named Jason (health and fitness consultant) I met that spoke at a seminar a few months back said that one of his friends was trying to start "dieting" and one day had 200 calories left to spare. Instead of taking an avocado offered by Jason, the man informed him that an avocado has too many calories as he proceeded to scoop out two full cups of the quirky candy hearts you can find around Valentine's Day to finish off his day. Because the avocado may have had more calories (which I can't exactly picture anyways) than the candy hearts, this man felt that the candy was actually a better choice in this scenario! 
Long-story short, if you are constantly counting calories but not actually focusing on what you're putting in your mouth, you'll never reach your goals! I think we can all agree that it would be better for you to have a salad with a homemade or organic dressing as appose to eating a bowl or two of pasta. I'd also like to put a little note out there stating that eating salads online will not make you lose weight. If you're going to have tons of salads (and make them your meals) like I like to, you need to find ways to get protein and carbohydrate into it. For instance you can have a salad with romaine lettuce or mixed greens topped with grilled chicken strips or tuna  and corn, along with any other toppings/veggies/fruits you'd like. For a dressing you can have apple cider vinegar with oil and salt and pepper for nice tangy bite. Instead of having fried chicken with a side of noodles, you can make a salad with you're favorite kind of lettuce, veggies, a few gluten free pasta noodles and baked chicken all topped with your favorite organic dressing. I am going to start giving you some recipes that I've tried and loved!

In the meantime, just remember that because one thing may say it has no sugar/fat and is healthier for you, doesn't mean there's not a better and more fulfilling option out there that won't weigh you down and bloat you.

Until next time
xoxo

Abercrombie RANT & my top clothing store picks!

I remember saying in a previous post that I had heard about the head guy of a store like Hollister saying that he only wants cool, attractive people in the stores clothes. He also said that they don't make plus sizes because plus size=fat="un-cool".

 I finally found the picture & quote from the CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch, Mr. Michael Jeffries (Google him). 

The fact that he can say that Abercrombie and Fitch doesn't carry over a size 10 because anyone over a size 10 doesn't belong in their clothes, is extremely BALLSY! The picture above him is a real picture of him with the quote he said when asked the question. He also has the audacity to say that Abercrombie & Fitch is "exclusionary". As far as I'm concerned they can be as exclusionary as they want... How many stars and celebrities do you see wearing Abercrombie and Fitch? NONE. Looks like they're pretty exclusionary too. Even if I ever was thin enough to fit into these clothes, I wouldn't ever wear them after hearing this reply. I have much more respect for the companies that cater to ALL sizes and making sure that they provide a pretty decent variety of trendy, stylish and flattering clothing for everyone. 

I've done a little research by looking on different websites of common stores and finding out what companies offer plus sizes, even if they have to be ordered online.

THUMBS UP!

American Eagle: I was super surprised about this one but I have to say a good job to American Eagle for this one! Women's shirts go up to a size XXL and pants/shorts go up to a size 18!

Old Navy: I've known about this for quite some time because quite a few of my clothes actually come from here but they have an exclusive "Women's Plus" section on their website that has sizes ranging from 18-30!

Forever 21: Not really a surprise here, this store has been pretty great straight from the get-go as far as sizes & pricing! Online has a special tab for women's plus with shirts up to a size 3X, pants up to a size 20 & even boots (with a wide calf option) up to size 12!

H&M: Not sure about in-stores, but the online site has an H&M Plus section. Not a huge variety as of the moment, but it passes for me still giving options up to size 24. They have great options for business casual tops as well.

Alloy: A completely new find for me, but looks like it's going to turn into a favorite real soon! Great clothes and great size variety - One shirt I looked at went from a size XS to a size XXXL, WOW!

B&Lu.com: Another new find here - seems to have a decent variety of clothing which happens to be stylish and trendy. They cater to sizes anywhere from 12-30! 

Ashley Stewart: Feel like I'm repeating myself.... But here's another new find! Turns out the closest one to me is almost 2 hours away which is probably why I haven't found it yet, but the online store looks like it has super cute and super sassy clothes for any occasion! They have sizes 12-26 and all of their clothes online are modeled on proper plus size models... Love it!

Lane Bryant & Torrid: Not necessarily catering to all sizes but definitely catering to my bigger ladies out there! Two completely different stores with completely different styles. I happen to absolutely LOVE both stores! The prices are not the greatest but your definitely paying for quality either way here! If you haven't already - you've gotta check these out!

THUMBS DOWN!

Wet Seal has a Jr.Plus section to their website which is said to be available in select stores right now... I just don't feel as though it's a great selection. This one's gonna be a thumbs down for me... Although I did get a pair of killer heels there one time!

Hollister didn't make the cut and is currently right up there with Abercrombie & Fitch in my mind.  Hollister only has up to the following sizes for: Women - Shirts: L ; Bras: 36(D) ; Bottoms: 9!

Men - Shirts: XXL and Pants: 36x34

Clearly I'm more impressed with the Men's sizes here, but it doesn't take away from the fact that girls are given an image that they should be looking like the anorexic runway models... Get f****** real here.....

Urban Outfitters: Just another disappointment when it comes to a variety of sizes...

You will get to your goal weight eventually... But as I always say it WILL NOT happen overnight. So while you're transforming definitely check out some of my thumbs up shops!<3

So I hope you enjoyed this & I truly hope it helps you out some, because I know that aside from shoe shopping, clothes shopping is probably my least favorite thing to do!

Let me know how you liked it and also what your opinions on any of these stores are if you've ever been to them! 

If you have any other stores that you like and I haven't listed... Help a girl out & post it in the comments below(:

As always,

xoxo

Let's get real...

One of the biggest obstacles of changing your life, losing weight and getting into shape is learning how to recover when you get off track. I feel that the biggest reason people become unsuccessful at changing their lives for the better is because if they feel as though they've gotten off track with their meal plans, portions, exercise regimens, etc. and they're not quite sure how to get back on track so that's when I find most people simply give up. 
Today is my weigh-in day and I can tell you right now that I'm not looking forward to it because I know I've been off track for about half of the week, but I am looking forward to it because that's my motivation to keep going. It's like my brain telling my mouth that it better cut the BS and get back on track unless I want to keep living the life I am and end up going in full speed reverse. When you get off track, take a few minutes to realize and understand what caused you to get off track in the first place. For me, this week turned out to be extremely stressful and everyday I got home from work I was completely drained with no ambition to really cook anything that I really should have been eating. I ended up eating gluten and felt like I should turn it into an experiment - this way I can always go back and remind myself of the things gluten causes in my body & also to give you some more information. 
I believe it was Thursday at work and I knew I didn't really want what I had at home for food and truthfully just wanted a Jr. cheeseburger from Wendy's. I went out and got myself that cheeseburger and it was SO good... But then I did the same thing again for lunch on Friday. For one lunch at Wendy's I had a whopping 1,070 calories and 55 grams of fat (not to mention all the gluten). Most of the time when I'm craving a cheeseburger I'll have one at home(usually chicken burger) or at my mom's house but occasionally I will go to Wendy's/McDonald's and opt for the worse version. This time I ate way more than I should have and it wasn't satisfying as I sat at work completely bloated for the rest of the day which continued for the rest of the evening. As most of you may already know I am actually gluten sensitive! So on top of adding in these foods that were already horrible for my body, I added in items that medically make me ill. Gluten causes me to have bloating, abdominal cramping/pain, bowel irregularities, worse migraines, lethargic/dragging feeling and more. So as you can imagine I haven't felt good since about Thursday, which is no one's fault but my own. I didn't have a meal already prepared and when I did I simply didn't want what was made. 
Something that most of you are actually very unaware of is that gluten(wheat, rye, barley, oats and malt) can not only cause gastrointestinal troubles, but can also put a huge damper on your weight loss and cause so many other problems without you even realizing it (because you may just be so used to it) which I talk about more in my Gluten blog(CHECK IT OUT!).
What you need to do after you get off track whether it be for one meal or one month is literally just pick up where you left off. However, you may want to try adding in some new flavors or ways of cooking things to help broaden the spectrum of food you'll be eating as not to get bored with your choices. Time to jump back into the swing of things because I promise that you will feel so much better while eating healthier foods... Foods that are natural and not processed, have low carbohydrates and high protein content, etc. Also, don't forget to stay moving.. I know, I know how difficult it can be to get moving for some people, including myself at times. Whether it be walking around your neighborhood or workplace for even a half hour or so, parking in the furthest spot away from the entrance to the store or trying out some sit-ups and push ups while your watching TV at night. 

Today's post is very realistic but you have to know that this is NOT going to be an easy ride and you will have your ups and downs. Just remember that, that's what makes this a journey and a lifestyle change. You'll get there, it just won't happen overnight.

As always,
xoxo

*I am not a doctor, I am just a normal person with opinions based on my body & experiences as well as facts obtained from research. Please remember to consult your physician before starting any type of weight loss regimen.*

Somebody help a B**** out?

GET TO KNOW ME [TAG!] VIDEO(:

Do you know how to hit a home run?

Well hello there gorgeous Lillys!

First off, I have to apologize for my absence. I'm so sorry I haven't posted in almost a week! Sometimes the beautiful thing we all call life gets in the way... Or does it just seem that way? So for the past week I've definitely gone through some stress and disappointment. I noticed it was starting to get me down and certainly wear on me like tires doing burnouts. Over the past few days I've begun to realize something that is so, so important. No matter what life throws at you, you need to put a smile on, pick up your bat at hit it out of the park. Life is not easy but  whether you're religious or not just remember that your dealt your hand of cards for a reason. It's because whoever made your life possible (and I'm not talking about your parents) knew that you were strong enough to keep pushing through the obstacles and make it to the end - successfully! If you let your stress (no matter how drastic) get you down, you're letting your cards decide your destiny, not yourself. YOU have the power to do what you want to do, when you want to do it and however you wish to do it. You can change your life for better or for worse. And most importantly, you have the choice to take an opportunity, grab it by the cojones and run with it... Or you can let an opportunity pass you by and wait around while your hoping for the next one to fall in your lap. You need to choose your destiny. I understand that certain medical conditions cannot be prevented but so many of them can be and you might not even know it. It's proven that avoiding certain foods and/or substances can lead to much less of a risk of getting these conditions. With that said, you are probably here because you need inspiration and you have weight to lose. You may be like me and don't enjoy going to group meetings where someone weighs you and then everyone else talks about how they lost so much weight the past few weeks and you're sitting there silent thinking "yeah, I gained 3 pounds because my life sucks and I'm too busy to diet". Let's see who's done their reading...What did I say about dieting? "Dieting" DOES NOT EXIST - point blank, period. 

***http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diet This is the link for the merriam-webster's dictionary online. I searched the word diet and I found all the things I thought I would. Clink on the link and see what I saw... It will help you understand that "diet" should not be a word in your vocabulary.

***http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/change Now THIS is the link for the merriam-webster's online dictionary and here I searched the word change. Click the link and hopefully you'll understand where I'm coming from when I say this is all about a lifestyle change! The definistion that stuck the most in my opinion was, "to replace with another". PERFECT! Exactly... The goal is to take your current lifestyle and replace it with another one that is much healthier, leading to long-term results and not the dreaded ongoing diet after diet, after diet. Get it?

If I haven't completely lost or bored you by now then WELCOME TO PART 2(: And congratulations... You probably understand where I'm going from and want to change for the better!

On to another dreaded subject in the weight loss world... WEIGH INS! Before we get to far into this I'd like to put it out there that I used to weigh myself EVERY morning while I was wearing my birthday suit before I get in the shower. If you're wondering if I'm that crazy person that has a birthday everyday... DING!! DING!! DING!! DING!! You would be correct AND You've won $5000 Target gift card! Just kidding you're not on Ellen my friend. But a girl can dream, right? Someday.........

Anywhoozer, where were we? Ahh yes... My morning weigh ins. Okay! So, I've decided to only weigh myself once a week to avoid seeing the day to day fluctuation. Instead I will only be weighing myself once a week and I choose FRIDAY! I know, I know, most people choose Sundays, right? No, no. I choose Fridays because if I weigh myself Friday morning then I will know how much I've lost (or gained) in the past week and I've lost weight I can use the weekend to continue motivating myself and planning out my upcoming week. If I've gained weight for whatever reason I can use the weekend to gather my thoughts, maybe go over why I may have gained weight and get my head back in the game to stay focused and still plan for the upcoming week! Another good thing about only weighing myself once a week is that it'll dramatically cut down my morning getting ready time... Why? Because tell me you can put on your birthday suit and NOT have a 17 minute dance party... get real! 

So Fridays are the days that work best for me and my schedule but not everyone has the same schedule and hence why not EVERYTHING that works for one person will work for another. Really take a good look at your schedule and decide which day will be best for you and once you've done that you know that every week on that day you get up, drop off some lemonade babies and Hershey's kids off at the local pool, strip down to your birthday suit, get your activity on with a 17 minute dance party and step on that scale loud and proud. If you haven't done your initial weigh in then it's time... I don't care what day it is but tomorrow morning (or now if you JUST woke up) you my lovely lily are getting on that scale. You may not like what you see but you NEED a baseline and you need to know what your working with. Don't get depressed or discourage either, cause I know that's going to be you're body's natural first instinct! Use your power to change that negative energy into positive and use it to push forward and get your lifestyle change going! 

I will let you all know that with all of the things I've told you so far (that I've been using all on myself) I have lost 51 pounds so far. Started before I started this blog of course but regardless I'm trying to help you with sharing some of my experiences and knowledge with you. I can only hope you will put these things to good use.

Be sure to follow my blog to stay updated with new content, leave me comments and questions below and don't forget to pass it along to other people that you feel might like it or need a little inspiration!

Stay beautiful and as always,

xoxo

Are you ready??

Hey guys!
Happy 4th of July!!<3 And a very special thank you to our troops past and present who fight everyday for our freedom and to keep us safe!

So first things first... I'm super duper excited about my 1st YouTube video based on this blog. The two are going to go hand in hand and be just about linked. When I new video is uploaded I will share it to here so all of you can see and view it easily. This was SO spur the moment! I literally took a shower, got into my pjs(just did my make-up), set a stack of books on my bed and filmed it on YouTube capture with my iPhone! The way I see it is if I didn't get the first one up and out of the way ( no matter how long, boring, low quality or babbly it was... I was never going to. It's like you're first work out might be when starting this new change in your life - you might not give it all you've got and it might seem boring to you.. But once you get into the swing of things nothing will be able to stop you!
Side note: I hope you guys enjoy anyways (: 

Tomorrow I will be getting up bright-eyed and bushy tailed and proceeding to get ready, cash my check, go pick up my friend Lauren from work and go get the bare necessities to REALLY kick off the process. I'll be shopping at whole foods for the best things I can get on a budget. Now going back to the money saving tips - after this I will be spending the rest of my evening writing out meal plans for the next two weeks to help me stay on budget AND on track (both things are super key right now - and always for that matter). Hopefully I will get some of the meal plans/ideas up for you guys in the next few days (after I try them) so you guys can try them too! 
Although I already know I am gluten sensitive, before today I would actually "cheat" at times either because I really wanted something or because there just wasn't anything else. Well, my gluten eating days are officially OVER - FOR GOOD! Gluten already makes me sick but even to people who don't have a sensitivity to wheat it is so damaging to you're body (and mind)! Luckily, I already cut out sodas and carbonated drinks in general because they make me sick. Glad I don't have to worry about that... But you should try cutting sodas out of your diet now (not necessarily all carbonated beverages). COFFEE! COFFEE! COFFEE! Oh, how I used to be addicted to coffee.. But that doesn't make me feel well either so I stopped drinking that. Coffee can cause you to feel "laggy" or fatigued even more than before you drank it and can cause many other health issues. I personally am making the big switch to TEA! 
Another change I will be making has SO much to do with the portions, types of food I'll be consuming and trying new things. I'm going to try spinach again! (YUCK! LOL) I am also going to be opening my mind and trying new textures (which freaks me out tremendously), flavors and foods in general! Making the switch from lactaid milk to almond or coconut milk. Making the official switch from normal oils to coconut oil (EVOO will be okay for certain things). I'm also going to be eating 5-6 times a day as opposed to 3 times a day, or worse...1. Eating the right foods to keep my body going in the right direction with enough energy! I won't be starving myself by any means but instead changing the foods I would normally eat for something way different and honestly more satisfying!

A few new gadgets I will be investing in are:

• A kettle bell
• A stability ball
• A jump rope
• Some 15 or 20 pound weight
• Yoga Mat

These will be for training at home in the morning or early evening (before I  get ready for work or when I get home - or both)

I will be posting workouts and recipes as well as tips, tricks, advice, support, motivation and MORE as we continue(:

As always,

xoxo

SURPRISE! :)

Hey guys! 
SURPRISE! 1st vlog for our YouTube channel! I know it's long and kinda boring - but I'll get better :) Pinky promise!

xoxo

Money Saving Tips!

Hey everyone! =D

It's Day #4 and I am SO super excited about today's post! Who doesn't like saving money or who doesn't need to save money in this world?

Now something you all need to know about changing your lifestyles for the better and living healthy is that there is usually a higher cost. Fresh meats, fruits, vegetables and healthier snack choices over the junky ones. I know for a fact that if you go into a grocery store you an get a box of those Little Debbie Nutter Butter bars or whatever they are for $1.50 or less and there's probably 6 or 8 packages (servings) within that box. A Chobani yogurt cost about the same price but is only for one serving! Let's look at some price comparisons from my local Stop & Shop current circular.

Coca-Cola (12-pack cans) 5/$11.00 - That's 60 cans of soda!

SALE: Poland Spring (24-pack bottles) 3/$11.00 -  72 bottles of water, WOO!

Lay's Potato Chips   ~$3.99 - BOGO

Seedless Watermelon (1) - $4.88

Barilla Pasta (1 lb. box) $0.88

Fresh Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast (1 lb) $1.99

Pizza Rolls (15oz. Box) 4/$5.00

Fresh Strawberries (2 lb. container) $4.99

So this is just based on sale prices and not normal prices some of these items are pretty comparable. This is when it get's tricky - If you can get 4 boxes of Pizza rolls or 1 2 lb. container of strawberries for $5.00… which one will you choose?

Now that we've gone over some pricing… Let's talk about those tips!

I think it's UBER important to make a list before going to the grocery store. Something that’s helped me lately so I don't miss things is to actually use a magnet to hold a piece of paper on the fridge so when you run out of something during the week or think of something you need you can write it down right away. Making a list will help ensure you don't end up buying unnecessary items at the store and you can focus on what you need. Having a meal plan in place for the week will not only help you stay on track with your goals but will also help you make your shopping list much more effective. I can't tell you how many times I've gotten home from the store only to realize I've spent $150.00 and got quite a bit, but as I was putting them away I realized I didn't really have anything to make real "meals" out of… Learn from my mistakes - I have (:

Another tip is to get up early on Sunday morning and go get your local Sunday newspaper with the circular ads in it - or if you always go to the same store just go onto their website and chances are you can view it online.

One good thing about getting up early to get that paper is not only for the circulars but for the COUPONS! Coupons are so popular these days you can even  find them online and print them out at home. Other than the Sunday paper and online you can also sometimes get coupons buy going directly onto the manufacturer's website(although this can be time consuming if searching for many items)!

Try saving money in other areas so you have a little extra cash for groceries. If you use stop and shop you can accumulate points throughout the month on your rewards card and at some gas select gas stations you can get $0.10 off/gallon of gas for every 100 points (you get 1 point for every dollar spent).  If you shop at a Big Y, you can collect the infamous coins and select gas stations will take those for various amounts off of gallons of gas. Most grocery stores with rewards cards with print coupons at the end of your receipt as well so don't forget about them!

I hope these tips help you in some way and if you have any other questions or any other ideas on how to save money at the grocery store while trying to eat healthy please leave them in the comments. Remember to follow my blog to be updated and stay tuned in to my 30-days of blogging challenge and more!

As always,

xoxo

Believe in yourself

Hey guys! I just watched a very inspirational video on YouTube. It was of a girl named Jillian Jenson who was auditioning for the X-Factor.. Their was so many bullies back home for her and she cried through her whole performance. It was an extremely heartfelt performance-she put everything she had into it and it was truly amazing. This has now inspired me even more!

I remember being in school, and every year there was at least one time I was made fun of for being overweight.... Hell it was more than once-more times than I can count actually. To this day I don't forget any words said to me about my weight. So many people who didn't want to associate with me because of my weight and most would just give weird looks as I passed by. I usually never let anyone know how I really felt inside. And to this day I will break down crying at times and wish things would have gone differently.. Maybe I could've been dealt a different hand when I was born. I have more motivation than ever to meet me goals and feel good about myself because of all the bullies.

Remember... You're doing this for you and no one else. You have to want this more than anything! If you want to continue living life the way you are-be my guest because I'm not going to try to change you but I will be here for you when you choose to change. Just think.. When you meet your goals you can show all the people who used to bully you, call you names or would never look at you that you did it! You succeeded! If they were bullying you then they don't want you to have success. 

For all the people who told you you could never do it and to all the people who told you you'd never accomplish anything. If that's what you need on your head to drive you than use it to your advantage! But by all means please, please don't let someone into your life that only chooses they want to be there once you've accomplished your goals. Stay true to YOU and believe in yourself like I believe in you! 

While all the haters are walking around in Hollister and you're walking around in Lane Bryant just know that most of them never had to work their way into those clothes. And I'm not sure which store it was (hollister, American eagle or Aeropostale) that when asked why they didn't have clothes for plus sizes they came back with a comment on the lines of, "we don't have plus size clothes because we like to attract a cool, hip and trendy demographic and if people can't fit into out clothes then our clothes are not for them". For this purpose, I no longer haw respect for any of these stores because they all work the same way and all feel the same about the subject. Some people are overweight by choice and some people are overweight for things completely out of their control. However, even for the people that being overweight is "completely out of their control", can still usually make different choices to help make some changes. Although I will admit I was an excuse maker up until just the other day.

Stop being depressed as you pass by the clothing stores that hold all the clothes you've always wanted to wear! Start changing your life-set goals, make changes, meet goals, wear clothes of your dreams... It's time, so lets do this damn it! Don't let another opportunity pass by because that's called quitting before you even hit the starting line. 

Be sure to follow my blog to stay updated with new content, leave me comments and questions below and don't forget to pass it along to other people that you feel might like it or need a little inspiration!

As always,

xoxo

All about Organic

Hey everyone(: - Day #3

So organic is another topic/lifestyle I said I would cover at another time. That time has come and truthfully I'm "pro-organic", but it's not the easiest thing to describe or  anything like that.  I will give my definition of organic and I will also post the USDA's definition of organic.

Organic to me is food that is food that is grown in different ways by farmers (as oppose to conventional farming). Organic foods are grown/processed using little to no fertilizers, pesticides, etc. You don't want chicken with rat poison in it, do you? Me either! I have to say, although I would like to be eating completely organic, I'm not. And I'm not because the cost of gluten free food is already high and organic food is no exception. You're definitely paying for quality and not quantity with both of these things. 

I try to buy as many things organic as possible, whether it be fruit juice, produce, meat, frozen dinners, and even boxed products. You'll find that these items don’t generally have all the extra preservatives, fillers and unnecessary ingredients that non-organic foods have. When I see the USDA Organic stamp of approval on something I buy it makes me feel damn good about it.

There are tons of great sites on organic products and living so I am going to link them below along with the USDA link. Just for this topic I feel that it would be better for you to get the straight facts from the websites and me just giving my opinion. That way if you really choose to go all or even partially organic - it's you're choice based on reading the most reliable sources possible. This is how I learned! Also, this is the only thing that is very hard for me to explain to someone else. Even though it's just on a computer.

USDA Organic

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=ORGANIC_CERTIFICATIO

 and http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/pubs/ofp/ofp.shtml

Mayo Clinic (Are organic foods safer or more nutritious?)

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/organic-food/NU00255

Organic Facts

http://www.organicfacts.net/

Reader's Digest

http://www.rd.com/slideshows/13-things-you-didnt-know-about-organic-food/

I'm sure some of you will really have to sleep on this topic ;) I for one am SO excited about tomorrow's topic!

xoxo

REALLY Meet Ariel and Inspiration!

Hey guys! I just realized I never formally introduced myself or told you guys anything about who I am! Shame on me... I know!

My name is Ariel Madison and I'm from a relatively small town of Massachusetts(USA) called Southbridge. I'm 21 years old and work full-time in a doctor's office. I love shopping, swimming, bowling, YouTube, music, NCIS, Law & Order, hanging out with friends or family, dancing and well... the list goes on! My favorite colors are pink, purple, yellow and lime green. I've been cutting and coloring my own hair for the past 5 years or so and recently taught myself how to do acrylic and gel nails on myself with cute designs. I love beauty, hair, make-up and fashion and hope to someday soon start a blog about those things too, but right now I need to focus on what's more important to me! I'm the biggest procrastinator you'll ever meet and I swear like a trucker. I've had a rough life so far but each new day I'm starting to see more positives than negatives. I have a huge heart and I'm completely obsessed with Jeeps. BTW - I'm extremely random. ;)

The reason I really decided to post something like this was because I feel like you guys should be able to have a picture in your mind of who's "talking" to you while you're reading my posts. Also, I want you to know that I'm not some skinny mini sitting behind a computer giving advice making it sound a lot easier than it actually is... Nothing irks me more than seeing someone who's never been overweight and has never had a problem with food/weight/health try to tell me what's going to work for me. I don't think so! Haha I'm a real woman with real problems. I currently stand 5 feet and 7 inches tall and weigh 256 pounds. Do I look like it? I think so. Although I have all this knowledge about health and fitness, I've struggled with weight my whole life and I want you to know that I'll be losing weight, changing my lifestyle and living healthy right along side of you. I've already really taken a loving to this new blogging experience... ALL day while I was at work all I could think about was, When can I go home so I can blog? I want to help you and myself in this journey. I can tell you upfront it won't be easy, but I can guarantee you it'll be worth it. Maybe health and fitness will become a career for me when I reach my goal... Maybe I'll write a book based on my blog... Who knows what the future holds! But I do know the future is in MY hands - no one else's. The same goes for you... You're future is in YOUR hands and certainly not the hands of the doctor doing a life changing stomach stapling surgery on you or on a pill that claims to "shed 10 pounds in one week". If you want to lose 10 pounds in one week you better be willing to work damn hard for it! Just know that I'll be here to help and support you the whole way, no matter what life throws at you! I know financial situations aren't easy, I know it's not easy to change your life and I sure as hell know that it's not easy to lose weight! As I said before...our time is now. If you're given the tools, the support and the resources you're left with NO excuses. You're looking for a chance and I'm giving it to you. If you don't take advantage of an opportunity like this because of whatever excuse you're going to come up with then your always going to have an excuse and you're going to have another excuse when your 68 years old on your death bed with heart failure because you decided that "today wasn't a good day". I'm not saying that heart failure and worse things can't happen to people who are healthy but there's certainly much less of a risk. Call me a bitch, call me rude, call me pushy.... I just want to help as many people as I can INCLUDING myself. About 6 years ago I watched my 500 pound grandfather go into the gastric bypass surgery with insulin dependent diabetes and it took him days to walk again after that. Shortly after that surgery my grandfather was maintaining at about 250 pounds with next to no diabetes and no insulin. I was so proud! October 15, 2012 I lost my 68 year old grandfather to heart failure because he didn't care and he waited to long to take action and he put off a valve replacement surgery for years. I don't want you to go through the same. I want you to beat the odds! Hell, I want to beat the odds! The obesity rate in the US(and other parts of the world) is climbing because we're letting companies push their foods on us because they taste so good.. You know what I think will taste good? Pure success and satisfaction knowing that I changed my life for the better and I did it MY way. 

If you have ANY questions feel free to leave them in the comments or if you're not comfortable with that you can e-mail me @ AJMadison10@gmail.com (Put "Healthy" as the subject) and I will get back to you ASAP! (: Let me help you, help me, help you!

As always,

xoxo

Celiac Disease & Gluten Sensitivity

Hey there (: - Day #2

So I did say that I was going to talk more about gluten free lifestyles and the reason is because many people these days have something called Celiac Disease or even a gluten intolerance. I personally am gluten intolerant.  I know that some of you may not know what Celiac Disease is or even what gluten is so let me try and do a few frequently asked Q&A's about the topic!

What is Celiac Disease?

Celiac Disease is a digestive, auto-immune disease that causes damage to the small intestine when gluten is eaten.

What is gluten?

Gluten s are forms of protein found in some grains. Glutens are wheat, rye, barley, malt and oats. People with Celiac Disease must avoid ANY foods/beverages/medications (even make-up… anything) containing these items.

What is the difference between Celiac Disease and gluten intolerance?

Celiac Disease is an allergy - so like other allergies the allergen must be avoided to avoid extreme signs and symptoms. Gluten Intolerance is an intolerance to gluten, which means you don't have to avoid ALL gluten but you should be very careful as to what can trigger your symptoms(which are less severe)  such as in lactose intolerance.

What are some signs and symptoms of Celiac Disease?

Anemia, lactose deficiency, diarrhea, constipation, delayed growth, arthritis, dermatitis,  muscle weakness, fatigue, headaches, nausea, vomiting, bloating, abdominal discomfort and SO much more.

What causes Celiac Disease and what cures it?

Celiac Disease really has an unknown cause but is said to be more common in people who's parents have the disease. As far as what cures it, it breaks my heart to say the answer is that there is no cure. People diagnosed with Celiac Disease are put on strict gluten free diets immediately after diagnosis in order to control their symptoms. However, damage already done to the small intestine can never be reversed.

Those are some pretty frequently asked FAQ's, but if you're looking to know more about the disease than you can check out www.Celiac.com. All of the answers I gave I very simple and to the point…very basic. If I would have given full answers this post could've gone on for DAYS!

Another thing I would like to add (this is my pure OPINION based on research I've done and also opinions from friends and family members who have removed gluten from their diets) is that "wheat or grains" can actually lead to bloating, bowel irregularities, lethargy and many more health issues even if you don't have Celiac Disease or gluten intolerance. Sometimes cutting gluten out of your life can be a good thing! Although I have to be honest - it is not necessarily the most wallet friendly change you could make, but if you still feeling like trying this then in an upcoming post I will be talking about money-saving tips at the grocery store!

xoxo