OH MY.... Buying a ...SWIMSUIT!!

"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do." - Eleanor Roosevelt

Oh my, Oh My! What a day I had today. Talking about putting on a brave face! I will explain... Today I had a phone call from my work... and tomorrow I have to take my clients swimming. Which is really wonderful for my clients, they LOVE to swim... However me... NOT SO MUCH. It's not even the swimming that I'm worried about. It's that I haven't bought a swimsuit in over 4 years and now, at my glorious highest weight ever, definitely did not want to! So I of course tried weaseling my way out of it, with no success! So to the store I went...

I took my little cousin (who is up visiting with my grandparents. She's a great kid. She and I roamed the shopping mall looking for what would of course be my glorious new swimsuit! It of course had to be somewhat stylish! lol.. Good Luck right! I ended up getting a wonderful vintage/halter style one ... very Marilyn Esq... too bad I'm not the right shape! But soon will be! I am telling you now my little round body is not ready for display at the local pool... but here I go! lol Jumping in head first... which seems to be my new style! lol

Emotions = Terrified!!!!!
Nerves = Completely Shot! lol
Confidence = 0

Am I scared... Hell Yeah! Am I a bit excited... actually I kind of am? How sick and twisted does that make me? lol...



Anyways here is my meal plan today:

Breakfast:

1 cup Oatmeal
1/2 cup mixed berries

Snack: No Snack... too full from breakfast! lol

Lunch:

Veggie Wrap in whole wheat flax wrap with vegan honey mustard dressing
Side Salad

Snack:

10 Almonds
2 Baby Zucchini

Dinner:

Going out for Italian... I will let you know how it goes tomorrow! lol...

Anyways wish me luck on my swim! lol.. and I will emerge from the dark side a new woman! ....lol... Until then my friends!

Luv Anne... <3

Ps... How is everyone else doing?

Life Interrupted! Being Prepared when it matters Most!

"Life belongs to the living, and he who lives must be prepared for changes!" - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Hi Ladies!

Sorry I have been away from the computer for a few days! Work has been getting in the way! I've been having to work a couple of double shifts! So it's been NUTS and I'm a bit exhausted!

My diet has kind of followed my work schedule... a little crazy and all over the place and only consistent because I had made my meals in advance! I can tell you this:
Breakfast has consisted of Granola and fruit and soy yogurt.

Lunch mainly salad with beans and nuts

Dinner was pretty much the same... salad and veggies and lots of grilled sweet potatoes and mushrooms...

Snacks were almonds and fruit or veggies!

Not at all exciting! But I've been running around like a mad woman so it's nice to finally have a minute to myself. You see here's another thing about me that you should know... I am totally a creature of habit, so I can literally eat the same thing every day and be ok with it! I know, not appealing to most! lol But in a rush I never have to worry about what to eat! lol... Another thing that's saved me this week has been pre-making EVERYTHING. I literally have a fridge full of cut up veggies and fruit, prepared salad and even containers full of pre-counted almonds and other nut mixes as well as pre-measured beans (for the salads). It's a LIFE SAVER! No joke! I swear it's what has kept my behind on track this week! lol

Although Ice cream is still calling my name... I have not yet broken down, and don't plan to. However (I cheated and bought some soy ice cream...just in case!) I do have relatives coming tonight (grandparents) so if I'm not blogging this next week regularly everyday that is why, and I am apologizing a head of time! Although I'll try to get on here asap!

So my life lesson for the week... you guessed it... being prepared ahead of time! For all of you that might find it had and easy to give in in a moment of weakness, I highly suggest preparing a few days in advance at a time. Plan out your meals and have everything ready so if life gets in the way, there is no room to say "I accidentally slipped" or "I just didn't have time"... If you make the time, it seems it's not as easy to fall off the wagon! :)

Food Food and more... food :)

"If we're not willing to settle for junk living, we certainly shouldn't settle for junk food" - Sally Edwards



Yummy Indian food! LOVE IT! This was actually brought up with one of my followers (shout out to Gloria for the amazing idea). She was telling me what she had had for lunch and it was..you guessed it... Indian food! Which happens to be one of my FAVORITES! So My hubby and I went out and grabbed some wonderful dinner (the picture above is not what we had but it looked pretty similar, i really have to get my camera out! I know), and although I abstained from the Heaven in your mouth that is known as Butter Chicken... I did have some GREAT eats:

Appetizers:

We ordered Assorted Mini Samosas for appies, I had the veggies ones with Hot sauce for dipping... SOOOOOOOO GOOD!

Main Course:

Chana Masala (Spicy Chickpeas)
Baigan Ka Bharta (Eggplant Curry)

Dessert:

Too Full! lol.. Which was probably a good thing because I'm still detoxing from sugar and probably would have eaten the menu if the food wasn't so good! lol ;)

It was like heaven in my mouth and I think I might just be saying that because I was flipping out from detox and it settled some inner part of me that was screaming "FEED ME!!!!" lol, but it was good and much needed! If you like Indian food, I highly suggest having some tonight! ;)


Before that though...

Breakfast:
3/4 cup "Crocodile Granola"
1 cup mixed Fruit

Snack:

Assorted veggies
Hummus for dipping

Lunch:

1 cup butternut squash soup
Large Green Salad
topped with lentils and roasted red pepper dressing
(the only reason I had no grains is because I knew I was having a massive dinner! sorry girls! It's still a work in progress! lol)

Remember most things I eat are organic (Everything at home) the only things that are not are the food when I go out, and only if the restaurant doesn't serve organic, but even then we try to find restaurants that do, but it sometimes proves to be very difficult! :)

Anyways, until tomorrow!
Much Love, Anne <3 ... xoxo

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde ...

"I have the choice of being constantly active and happy or introspectively passive and sad. Or I can go mad by ricocheting in between." — Sylvia Plath

That quote above describes EXACTLY how I have been feeling this week after starting my "Kind Diet." In the book Alicia describes the first week as being pretty much a free for all with your emotions as your body detoxes... and she was RIGHT!!!! I have to say I have never been so up and so down and so suspended in between all at the same time (or so it seems)! lol

I have to tell you... My name is Anne, and I am a sugar addict! lol.. and apparently my body is not as happy with my life change as I would like it to be! Even my brain today was like "HAVE THAT DAMN ICE CREAM BEFORE I JUMP OUT OF YOUR HEAD AND EAT IT MYSELF!!!" lol...

So please, if any of you have been going through or have gone through this, please let me know! lol... because I pretty much feel like I'm normal 80% of the time and on my way to a straight jacket the other 20% lol ...

So anyways, other than that I'm feeling pretty good. My body anyways. Alicia is right in the book... this diet gets your bowels on track! And the rest of your body kind of follows suit. It's all been great, besides my mood swings, so hopefully that will be over with soon... it says 10 days for sugar detox right?... Here's to hoping!

Luv Anne... <3

Food for Thought

"Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking, if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity." -Voltaire


So I realised that I forgot to post yesterdays meal plan, so I will start with today's and then list yesterdays :)

Today:
Breakfast:

Strawberry Smoothie made with tofu and almond milk

Snack:

10 Almonds
1 Pear

Lunch:

1/2 Roasted Sweet Potato
Small Mixed Green salad with sun dried tomato vinaigrette

Snack:

Pumpkin Seeds , small handful

Dinner:

Veggie Stir fry



Yesterday:
Breakfast:

Mixed Berries and granola

Lunch:

Spinach Salad

Snack:

1/2 cup granola

Dinner:

1/2 Roasted Sweet Potato
1 Cup Kale&Bok Choy Sauteed with Cashews, EVOO and Garlic

So there you have it. Tomorrow I am going to try out the super hero plan and see how it works for me. I don't really eat that much processed foods right now, so it should be ok... we will see how it goes! lol...

Just a quick question, eating on the super hero plan, can you still have salad dressing if it is organic? I am either blind or I missed that part in "The Kind Diet" so if any of you know and could let me know it would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks Girls!

Anne ... xoxo

Support Systems

“A friend is the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out.” - Grace Pulpit

I must touch on a subject that, for the most part, I think most of us struggle with. Support for our lifestyle from the people around us. I have been blessed with a wonderful and understanding husband. He supports me in anything I do, whether I succeed or fail. And, if I do happen to fail, he picks me up, dusts me off, and gives me a hug and lets me know that everything is going to be OK. I consider myself lucky in that regard as I have my best friend in my husband and am 100% supported in everything I do.

However, what I have noticed is this, the world is not only not supportive in our lifestyle, but not very accommodating as well. Do you find your friends or family (in my case my extended family) telling you that "You're Crazy" or "What the hell is the point in that?" You see I come from a meat and potatoes kind of family. The kind of family that drinks milk with dinner, and dinner consists of a big slab of meat and a few veggies on the side... usually potatoes or corn or carrots or peas! lol

My family and I are close. I went grocery shopping with my mom the other day. The entire time we went shopping she criticized pretty much everything I bought. Please don't get me wrong. My mother is a wonderful, beautiful person! She just doesn't seem to understand 1: Eating Organic or 2: The Vegan Lifestyle! Everything I picked up at the market she was like, "Well, you should just buy this one it's cheaper, don't worry about it being organic..." or "I just don't understand, you should be eating meat, you can't live off veggies and nuts forever, and it's way more expensive to be buying all those veggies!"

After we were done shopping we went out for a coffee (yes I still drink coffee! lol). I sat there and I tried explaining to her about this book and about the lifestyle. I told her my reasons why I wanted to be vegan. Not only the weight loss but the moral integrity of the lifestyle. I talked to her about how I already feel better and how my body is already changing (bowels and digestion mainly). But she just didn't get and she chalked it up to "Another fad diet." So to say the least I'm giving up my battle with my family over my decision. I have raised the white flag and now I am just agreeing to disagree on the topic. Sad right?

It's OK. I have found that not everyone is going to agree. Not everyone understands. This is, however, the first time in my life where my eating habits have been met with resistance from my family and friends. It is the strangest thing!

I guess it's NOT that we, as vegans or maybe even vegetarians, are not prepared for the world and all its challenges, but perhaps the world is not quite prepared for us. So to all my vegan/vegetarian friends out there know this, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Although our journeys or goals may be different, the overall message remains the same. And know that I am here, and there are others out there that will be your leaning post, your virtual shoulder to cry on, and your ear to listen. I know some of us aren't as blessed in even having one person who supports what we are going through and others have all the support in the world. To those who don't have support know we are here and to those who have the added support maybe you could be that shoulder for somebody who needs it...

I'm here and I'm not going anywhere :)

Luv Always, Anne <3 xoxo

Spring Cleaning!

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" - Robin Williams

Today was the day that I began my dreaded spring cleaning! Unlike the quote above, I did not feel at all like partying! lol... However the weather was the only one who seemed to have a sense of humor today, and it began to snow... ALL DAY!

It was very interesting day today! And to be honest I'm not in my usual chipper mood! lol.. Probably all the organizing and cleaning, it's thrown me for a loop! lol ;) (We'll just say that, it sounds better than saying I'm just being moody!lol)

So here was my meal plan today:

Breakfast:

10 Almonds
1 cup Strawberries
1 Kiwi

Lunch:

Large Mixed green salad and pine nut mixture with veggies and Roasted Red Pepper Dressing

Dinner:

Sweet Potato & Cauliflower Mash
Sauteed Mushrooms and Tofu
Small Green Salad


I know I'm bad... no snacks today! I'm lucky I remembered to eat in general! lol... my head is somewhere else entirely! So I am apologizing ahead of time!

Anyways hopefully I'll be back in a better mood tomorrow! So here's to tomorrow! lol ...and now I'm off for my hike with Zoe!

Talk soon Ladies!
Love Anne .... xoxo

Truth .... Let us Grin and Bare it!

“Do not suppress it-that would hurt you inside. Do not express it-this would not only hurt you inside, it would cause ripples in your surroundings. What you do is transform it.” - Peace Pilgrim quotes

I must say, this journey called life is a grand one! All these twists and turns! Sometimes it seems like you are climbing a mountain and other times it's like you are in a kayak going 100miles per hour down some crazy waterfall or river! It's great! :) It's exciting to say the least!

So you all probably think I'm crazy for my little rants by now but it's true. I'm trying to spin some positive energy into everything I do now. No matter how big the challenge or goal or even how small some little detours are along the road, I'm trying to see everything in a more positive light. And I don't really see any harm in that, right?

So in that light, here are my measurements in inches:

Chest:49
Waist (smallest area): 42.5
Stomach (around belly button): 54.5
Hips: 53
Arms (largest part): 16.5
Thigh: 28.5
Calf:17.5

Basically I'm a big, upside down red delicious apple! lol... but oh well, soon my curves will be more Marilyn esq... ;) ... Right! lol

So I've decided to keep myself accountable by everyday posting what I've had to eat, so here is goes:

Breakfast:

1 Organic strawberry&banana smoothie
(Recipe posted on yesterdays blogs comments, it's very basic but still yummy)

Snack:

5 Organic Raw Almonds
1 Baby Zucchini

Lunch:

Fairly Large Organic Green Salad with peppers, tomatoes, spinach, romaine lettuce, pine nut blend and a Vegan Sun dried Tomato & Basil Vinaigrette (which was WONDERFUL!!!)

Snack:

3 Carrots
1 Baby Zucchini
Handful of Snap Peas
all organic, all fresh from the market :)

Dinner:

Small Mixed Green Salad
Grilled Portobello Mushrooms (a little e.v.o.o and minced garlic on the BBQ)
Side of Butternut Squash...
It was verrrrrrrrrrrrry goooooood!

So I might save myself a little time and say this... Everything I eat is certified organic as well... I am on a budget but I'm trying to prioritize better and organic has become priority to me, since being vegan is mainly veggies and nuts and so on, I'm trying to prevent any added chemicals as much as I can. As well as eliminating prossessed foods :)

So there you have it ladies! A day in the life of Anne so far! I took Zoe for a 2 hour walk today after I got back from my First Aide training (8 hours in an office! BLAH) ... And so far life is good. A little sore, I'm not going to lie! lol But attitude = very happy and positive!

So I will be talking to you tomorrow!
Anne <3

Oh an ps -> My supervisor called me today an apologized for freaking out! :) She realized that she over reacted and that it wasn't any ones fault! So yay for me today! lol

Work Schmerk! (More of a rant than anything else) ;)

"The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled. For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers." - M. Scott Peck

So last night I was at work... and my schedule said I was to be there from 12 - 10:30pm... So to my excitement...lol... when I ended up getting to my workplace, it was written down that I was to only be there until 6pm! So of course being that in my line of work (I work casual hours) I had it set up so that I had my 80 hours for the 2 week pay period! Well... I asked the girl I was working with if I could stay until 8... so that I had at least 8 hours of work that day and since she works there full time, she said it shouldn't be a problem! Problem solved...Right?... WRONG... This morning I had a lovely blast on the phone about staying late! I felt soo bad! But I tried explaining to the supervisor (of the group home that I work at) that she had told me to stay until 10:30 when we put together my schedule and that I had talked to my co-worker about it and she had never mentioned that we needed to call our supervisor to discuss it! I just started this job a little less than a month ago! So, to say the least, it was a very blah morning. I should have known better, but when the "rules" aren't explained to you then you are kind of left to play your own game, and by talking to my co-worker (who has been there a long time) and she agreed to it, I thought that it would be fine! YIKES! lol...

So I got a bit of a kick in my behind this morning but other than that life is great. Vegan living seems to be working wonders on my energy levels already. I wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated! You have to love that!

I'm making today's post a little shorter than I like because I'm off to a different city to do some shopping and to have a "date" with my hubby! YAY ME! lol.. So I'm sorry that there is not a lot to today, but I promise weight and the rest of the stats tomorrow... and hopefully pictures soon!!!

Cheers Girls! Anne <3 xoxo

Easter.... Apparently a Celebration of Too Much Food!

“This is my life. It is my one time to be me. I want to experience every good thing.” - Maya Angelou

So I picked a funny day to start my new "Kind Life," didn't I? I work at group homes for the mentally challenged (or disabled). I love my job, absolutely LOVE it. However, having to cook a full on turkey dinner for my clients was my first challenge I have had to face. Considering that I have just yesterday decided to give up meat, the smell of the turkey cooking, (and I'm not going to lie about it), was somewhat tempting. I happen to be a pretty good cook, obviously or how else would I get to 250 pounds right! lol But I do actually love to cook. I enjoy watching other people enjoy the food I have made for them. Last night when I was at work and we were all sitting around the dinner table and I was eating this rather large plate of Kale salad I had made and my clients were all enjoying the turkey dinner I had a few questions to answer... Mainly, "Why aren't you eating?" And I said, "I am eating, just not what you're eating. And what I'm eating taste really good too!" My client looked at my plate, gave me a disgusted look and then went back to eating her turkey dinner! lol

So yes, being that I am human and that I just gave up meat yesterday, last night was a bit of a struggle. But deep inside I found some inner strength to pull my head out and realize that this is bigger than I am. If I want to stand for something I have to stand for it. I call myself an animal activist, but I never truly walked the walk, just mainly did a lot of talking with a huge side dish of hypocrisy... Never mind the health benefits to myself that I have been missing out on!

I am going to tell you I have a few goals set out for this month. I have started my first goal of living a "Vegan Lifestyle," however there are a few more goals that come with this as well. Every day I am going to walk my dog on the hiking trail behind my house, besides the days when it rains.
1- Yes, I have a hiking trail behind my house! It just happens to be one that I have only been on once or twice... :) lol
2- Right now it may not seem like a lot for exercise, but a good hour and a half walk with my Zoe seems like a good starting point. I'll add more and change it up when I'm ready :)

I'm trying to be realistic in my approach. After all, I don't want to be that person that bites off more than they can chew, and then ends up giving up. It may sound like a small goal, and in truth, it is, but for now I would rather succeed at a small goal than lose at a big one. I am trying to build up my inner strength as well as my outer, so I don't want to mislead you by saying... "I'm going to run a half marathon in 2 months!" because realistically, I'm not. What I can tell you is this, one day I would love to run a half Marathon. If by my weight loss anniversary next year (April 4th 2011), I am fit enough, maybe then, but if not than it can wait until I'm ready. Like I said, succeed one step at a time rather than fail altogether, right?

As for pictures, I will try and get some up a.s.a.p! And I will also post my measurements tomorrow. If there are any other things that you would like to know stats wise, so you can see the before and after results, let me know! Like I said I would love your input!

Luv and Stuff, Anne K

Being the Change, No More Excuses

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi

I saw that quote today and I thought it was perfect, because to me I am stereotypically what is wrong with society today (mainly North American society). I am overweight, I was unmotivated, and I was content to sit and watch as life passed me by. But not anymore, thanks to Alicia Silverstone and her book and the site www.TheKindLife.com , I feel like I've finally had not only a mental but a spiritual awakening. I can be in charge of my own destiny. Not that it won't be a struggle at times but I am in my own drivers seat heading down a new road made especially for me...

So here it goes, my first true confession for the day. I am feeling very optimistic with a little bit of fear and anxiety. To see me you would think "She's so happy," but the truth is I had lost all hope until I read Alicia's book "The Kind Diet." You see, I am only 24 but I am obese. I stand 5 feet 4 and a half inches and I weigh 250 pounds. Scary, I know. Believe me it's harder to write it down... I guess because it's no longer the number that I have floating around inside of my head anymore...it's out there for the world to see. I have always been a fan of the vegetarian diet. I have an intense passion for animals (which I'm sure some of you do), I also have an intense love for the earth. The problem is that I never really knew what to do with all of this passion. But today is, what I like to call, the first day of the rest of my life. I am starting today as a vegan, hopefully by the end of the month I will have superhero status ;) (In the Book)...

As I blog I will keep posting how I'm feeling. How Much (weight) I've lost. The Ups...the downs... The things I can't live with and the things I can't live without.... I will post recipes I liked and generally things that have helped me along the way... I hope that someone will find this useful, but my goal is to just put this out into the universe so that I can hold myself accountable and more or less my own personal tool for success...

So here's to a new kind life. I will keep updates on my journey to a new, happier me... and until then... you be the change that you want to see in the world... Much Love, Anne