The jam was DELICIOUS (and so much fun). There was enough to generously use on 3 slices of toast this morning.
This year we purchased:
Bonne Maman mini-preserves advent calendar
2017 Star Wars Lego Advent Calendar
Tsum Tsum calendar
Giving every mama a break, every day.
Advent Calendars 2017: Day 1
Day 1 of our advent calendars.
The jam was DELICIOUS (and so much fun). There was enough to generously use on 3 slices of toast this morning.
This year we purchased:
Bonne Maman mini-preserves advent calendar
2017 Star Wars Lego Advent Calendar
Tsum Tsum calendar
The jam was DELICIOUS (and so much fun). There was enough to generously use on 3 slices of toast this morning.
This year we purchased:
Bonne Maman mini-preserves advent calendar
2017 Star Wars Lego Advent Calendar
Tsum Tsum calendar
Advent Calendars 2017
As many of you know, we open several Advent calendars each year. As a special preview, this year we will be opening the following advent calendars:
My oldest child chose the Bonne Maman mini-preserves advent calendar. She is 14. How fun will it be to make something with a new preserve flavor each day in December! I am most excited for this one (only because I assume she will share).
My son once again chose the 2017 Star Wars Lego Advent Calendar. I believe we have purchased this one (there is a new one each year) for the past 3-4 years. We did the Lego City one for a few years before that. He loves making all of the new Lego creations!
My youngest chose this Tsum Tsum calendar. This was a surprise because I don't think we own any Tsum Tsums-- at all, so this will be the most interesting because I am not really sure what to expect from it.
Come back on December 1st to see all the goodies that we open!
This post contains affiliate links.
My oldest child chose the Bonne Maman mini-preserves advent calendar. She is 14. How fun will it be to make something with a new preserve flavor each day in December! I am most excited for this one (only because I assume she will share).
My son once again chose the 2017 Star Wars Lego Advent Calendar. I believe we have purchased this one (there is a new one each year) for the past 3-4 years. We did the Lego City one for a few years before that. He loves making all of the new Lego creations!
My youngest chose this Tsum Tsum calendar. This was a surprise because I don't think we own any Tsum Tsums-- at all, so this will be the most interesting because I am not really sure what to expect from it.
Come back on December 1st to see all the goodies that we open!
This post contains affiliate links.
Feeling Fabulous February!
January is done, and it is time to move on to February! Each year, I choose a "word" to focus on throughout the year. It is kind of like a new year's resolution, but instead focuses on an intention. This year, I chose the word "LOVE."
And February is supposed to be all about love, right? But this February, I challenge you ALL to do something a little different. Instead of focusing on loving your family, your partner, or the other people in your life, I challenge you to choose YOU to love! Choose your SELF! It is one of the things I am trying for this year-- loving myself more.
So, all this month, I am going to share in ways I am working on loving myself more! There will be giveaways, recipes, reading ideas, and so much more! I cannot wait to share with you the ways I am working on being better to myself each day!
And February is supposed to be all about love, right? But this February, I challenge you ALL to do something a little different. Instead of focusing on loving your family, your partner, or the other people in your life, I challenge you to choose YOU to love! Choose your SELF! It is one of the things I am trying for this year-- loving myself more.
So, all this month, I am going to share in ways I am working on loving myself more! There will be giveaways, recipes, reading ideas, and so much more! I cannot wait to share with you the ways I am working on being better to myself each day!
New Year, New You: Okra Challenge Final Weight In
Well, today is the final weigh in for my okra challenge, since I weigh in during my mornings. This morning, my weight didn't move at all, and I am at 243.2
I am fairly happy with the okra challenge. It was not pleasant on some days, but once I got down how to make the shake, even my husband and kids wanted some. I will definitely do it again if I ever have a weight stall! All together, I lost 3.6 pounds in just 7 days, so about 0.5 pounds a day which is amazing. I am just doing the challenge for 1 week.
Day 1/ Start weight: 246.8
Day 2: 246
Day 3: 245
Day 4: 245.6
Day 5: 245.2
Day 6: 244.8
Day 7: 243.2
Day 8/ Last Weigh-in of Challenge: 243.2
I am fairly happy with the okra challenge. It was not pleasant on some days, but once I got down how to make the shake, even my husband and kids wanted some. I will definitely do it again if I ever have a weight stall! All together, I lost 3.6 pounds in just 7 days, so about 0.5 pounds a day which is amazing. I am just doing the challenge for 1 week.
Day 1/ Start weight: 246.8
Day 2: 246
Day 3: 245
Day 4: 245.6
Day 5: 245.2
Day 6: 244.8
Day 7: 243.2
Day 8/ Last Weigh-in of Challenge: 243.2
New Year, New You: Okra Day 6/ 7
Day 1/ Start weight: 246.8
Day 2: 246
Day 3: 245
Day 4: 245.6
Day 5: 245.2
Day 6: 244.8
So, I was down below that bubble of 245, so that was exciting! My lowest weight pre-holiday was 244.6 so I was just hoping to make it there by day 7 (I guess I will weigh Day 8 as well since today-- Day 7-- is the last day of having okra).
I have been eating in the Trim Healthy Mama way of life for 8-9 months now. I have lost . . . oh my gosh I can finally say it . . . 33 pounds during that time (I average 1 pound a week). Since the holidays I hit a roadblock. I was not losing weight at all. I would step on the scale AND . . . nothing. Occasionally, the scale would even go up, so I thought I would give the okra challenge a shot.
So, let's look at the Day 7 weight . . . I am SOOOO excited!!!!
Day 1/ Start weight: 246.8
Day 2: 246
Day 3: 245
Day 4: 245.6
Day 5: 245.2
Day 6: 244.8
Day 7: 243.2
I can hardly believe it! I stepped off and back on to the scale a few times this morning just to make sure!!!! That's 3.6 pounds in a WEEK. A WEEK. After having a stall for SOOO long.
So, they gave me a TON of advice, and these are things I did to change the taste (and make the shake not only drinkable but so delicious).
1. Blend the water and okra a TON before adding ingredients.
2. Drink IMMEDIATELY.
My Saturday shake was super frozen, so I actually ate it with a spoon for a while. It was almost like having a frosty. It was really good. It took me a while to eat/ drink the whole thing because it was so cold I was getting a brain freeze. Towards the end (it took me over an hour to finish), it was melted down a lot, and did start to get a little slimy and okra-y (I could taste the okra), so I recommend drinking/ eating your shake within 30 minutes of preparing it.
Someone did ask me if they thought the okra challenge would work WITHOUT being a Trim Healthy Mama. I cannot answer that conclusively, since I only have my experience to go by, but I would think it would still give you the same benefits and would result in weight loss.
Another question was if I ALWAYS eat Trim Healthy Mama. I am almost always eating on plan choices, but I don't know anyone who NEVER eats off plan foods. You simply give yourself grace for those moments, and work on your next great on plan meal. For example, I did have an off plan cookie during my okra challenge.
And one final question/ answer-- No, you absolutely don't need to have your okra in the big boy. There are a ton of okra recipes in the cook book and around the web that are on plan and would work just as well, I have been having some pickled okra here and there, and am adding that to my fruits and vegetables that I eat daily.
Tomorrow will be my last weigh in day, and I am excited to see what my final total is.
This post contains affiliate links.
New Year, New You: Okra Challenge Day 5
Ok, so let's get the weights out of the way.
Day 1/ Start weight: 246.8
Day 2: 246
Day 3: 245
Day 4: 245.6
Day 5: 245.2
So, once again I did lose, but did not rebound below the 245 I had on day 3 (who knows what happened on Day 3). Down a total of 1.6 pounds in 5 days.
And the shake. The worst one yet. This should go into a book called, "When THM goes bad . . ." The taste was horrible. The texture was really, really thick and oh so clumpy. My daughter said it looked like "wet cat food, chicken, and tuna all mixed into one" and it smelled about the same. I mean . . . ugh! I did add peanut powder (thanks for the recommendation)-- the peanut powder DID make it at least someone manageable to gulp down. I did try to blend it really well this time. I also tried to make sure I had no brown parts on my okra. BUT, what I did do this time was set it in the refrigerator after making it for a while because I was running out the door and forgot it in the fridge. It sat in the fridge for about 7 hours, so I think it may have solidified more during that time? So, DON'T LEAVE in the fridge for 7 hours????
To see more posts about the okra challenge, you can follow my journey in the trim healthy mama tab on the blog. Until tomorrow . . .
2 days left. Trying the Zuppa Toscana soup tomorrow from the cookbook.
Day 1/ Start weight: 246.8
Day 2: 246
Day 3: 245
Day 4: 245.6
Day 5: 245.2
So, once again I did lose, but did not rebound below the 245 I had on day 3 (who knows what happened on Day 3). Down a total of 1.6 pounds in 5 days.
And the shake. The worst one yet. This should go into a book called, "When THM goes bad . . ." The taste was horrible. The texture was really, really thick and oh so clumpy. My daughter said it looked like "wet cat food, chicken, and tuna all mixed into one" and it smelled about the same. I mean . . . ugh! I did add peanut powder (thanks for the recommendation)-- the peanut powder DID make it at least someone manageable to gulp down. I did try to blend it really well this time. I also tried to make sure I had no brown parts on my okra. BUT, what I did do this time was set it in the refrigerator after making it for a while because I was running out the door and forgot it in the fridge. It sat in the fridge for about 7 hours, so I think it may have solidified more during that time? So, DON'T LEAVE in the fridge for 7 hours????
To see more posts about the okra challenge, you can follow my journey in the trim healthy mama tab on the blog. Until tomorrow . . .
2 days left. Trying the Zuppa Toscana soup tomorrow from the cookbook.
New Year, New You: Okra Challenge Day #4
I wish I could tell you all that my shake tasted amazing this morning. I wish I could tell you all that I lost another pound and am down to 244! But I am not :( I am at 245.6. GRRR. And what is with the 0.6 endings all the time. So, for those not closely following along, and you want to . . . here is the break down:
Day 1/ Start weight: 246.8
Day 2: 246
Day 3: 245
Day 4: 245.6
So I AM down 1.2 pounds total still, but I am really hoping that scale moves DOWN more and not up by tomorrow morning.
Also, my shake tastes awful right now. Really, truly awful (I mean-- it even looks worse, right???). I am pretty sure I know what okra tastes like now. And it IS a little slimy. The difference? I ran out of okra so I had to purchase a new frozen bag, and they didn't have the same brand as the original. I had green giant originally, so I will definitely going back to that (I have generic this time). It does seem to matter the brand you are buying. I am still getting down my big boy though!
Oh, and I tried these lovely treats last night.
And they pretty much taste like pickles. They were expensive at $8.99 for the jar you see. I wasn't really fond of the texture, but they tasted pretty much like pickles. I am going to be trying to get more of them each day as well.
Until tomorrow . . .
Day 1/ Start weight: 246.8
Day 2: 246
Day 3: 245
Day 4: 245.6
So I AM down 1.2 pounds total still, but I am really hoping that scale moves DOWN more and not up by tomorrow morning.
Also, my shake tastes awful right now. Really, truly awful (I mean-- it even looks worse, right???). I am pretty sure I know what okra tastes like now. And it IS a little slimy. The difference? I ran out of okra so I had to purchase a new frozen bag, and they didn't have the same brand as the original. I had green giant originally, so I will definitely going back to that (I have generic this time). It does seem to matter the brand you are buying. I am still getting down my big boy though!
Oh, and I tried these lovely treats last night.
And they pretty much taste like pickles. They were expensive at $8.99 for the jar you see. I wasn't really fond of the texture, but they tasted pretty much like pickles. I am going to be trying to get more of them each day as well.
Until tomorrow . . .
New Year, New You: Okra Challenge Day #3
Honesty, I thought losing 0.8 pounds by yesterday morning was a fluke. I thought I would wake up this morning and be the same exact weight as yesterday morning. I hope everyone is sitting down for this. I think I need to sit down.
1 MORE POUND DOWN!! Isn't that crazy. And I don't mean now a total of 1 pound, I mean now a total of 1.8 pounds. I stepped off and back on to the scale like 5 times to check to make sure. I am just flabbergasted. I don't even know what to say. Apparently, the okra challenge works???? This is so crazy!
I am doing the chocolate big boy again (I know same old thing). I did pick up some pickled okra so that I have some tomorrow.
To answer a few questions I have been asked:
1. No, I have not changed anything else in my diet. I always eat in the Trim Healthy Mama plan (with a few moments of grace here and there, but nothing too huge). But, I didn't really change anything. I am not drinking more water or anything like that.
2. I am using frozen okra in my recipe. It has never come out slimy that I have noticed, and honestly does taste like a chocolate shake.
3. I do weigh myself at the same time in the same weight in the same location. I always weigh when I come home from dropping off the kids right before I hop in the shower (so clothes are never a factor).
4. Someone asked me if I like okra. I guess I will find out tomorrow? I don't even know what okra tastes like (and I am assuming it is not chocolate milk).
5. I have been on THM for about 8 months and have dropped a total of 32 pounds. I started at 276.5. Lowest was 244.6 which was pre-holidays. I bumped up to 246.8 (I know, I know only 2 pounds which could be caused by almost anything). I just got super frustrated because the scale was not moving from 246.8. And I was 100% back on plan for a few weeks and STILL no movement. So frustrating. For those wondering, I was at 245 even this morning. Which is still mind boggling when I didn't see the scale move AT ALL for 3 weeks straight. I am still just stunned.
6. Oh, someone asked me if I noticed a change. So, these may be unrelated, but I have noticed a few things. I believe I have had more energy (again, this could be just because it is warmer outside instead of days on end below zero). I also noticed yesterday that I am not hungry as often. Yesterday, I made a big mistake and I got so busy I forgot my afternoon snack (I eat at 8:00, 12:00, 3:00, and 7:00). I remember taking out my snack (000 yogurt with chocolate chips--recommended by a THM Facebook member), and when I went to start dinner it was still sitting there. But even at dinner I was not starving. I still ate, because I know not eating is one of my pitfalls, but maybe okra keeps you fuller longer? I don't know. I was drinking my big boy in the morning (before lunch), but today I drank it with lunch.
7. And finally-- someone asked me if it tasted good, truly. I know it doesn't sound like it would, but it really does.
See you all tomorrow when you will find out about pickled okra (I am a little nervous), and let's hope I wake up at 244! Wouldn't that be amazing!!!!
1 MORE POUND DOWN!! Isn't that crazy. And I don't mean now a total of 1 pound, I mean now a total of 1.8 pounds. I stepped off and back on to the scale like 5 times to check to make sure. I am just flabbergasted. I don't even know what to say. Apparently, the okra challenge works???? This is so crazy!
I am doing the chocolate big boy again (I know same old thing). I did pick up some pickled okra so that I have some tomorrow.
To answer a few questions I have been asked:
1. No, I have not changed anything else in my diet. I always eat in the Trim Healthy Mama plan (with a few moments of grace here and there, but nothing too huge). But, I didn't really change anything. I am not drinking more water or anything like that.
2. I am using frozen okra in my recipe. It has never come out slimy that I have noticed, and honestly does taste like a chocolate shake.
3. I do weigh myself at the same time in the same weight in the same location. I always weigh when I come home from dropping off the kids right before I hop in the shower (so clothes are never a factor).
4. Someone asked me if I like okra. I guess I will find out tomorrow? I don't even know what okra tastes like (and I am assuming it is not chocolate milk).
5. I have been on THM for about 8 months and have dropped a total of 32 pounds. I started at 276.5. Lowest was 244.6 which was pre-holidays. I bumped up to 246.8 (I know, I know only 2 pounds which could be caused by almost anything). I just got super frustrated because the scale was not moving from 246.8. And I was 100% back on plan for a few weeks and STILL no movement. So frustrating. For those wondering, I was at 245 even this morning. Which is still mind boggling when I didn't see the scale move AT ALL for 3 weeks straight. I am still just stunned.
6. Oh, someone asked me if I noticed a change. So, these may be unrelated, but I have noticed a few things. I believe I have had more energy (again, this could be just because it is warmer outside instead of days on end below zero). I also noticed yesterday that I am not hungry as often. Yesterday, I made a big mistake and I got so busy I forgot my afternoon snack (I eat at 8:00, 12:00, 3:00, and 7:00). I remember taking out my snack (000 yogurt with chocolate chips--recommended by a THM Facebook member), and when I went to start dinner it was still sitting there. But even at dinner I was not starving. I still ate, because I know not eating is one of my pitfalls, but maybe okra keeps you fuller longer? I don't know. I was drinking my big boy in the morning (before lunch), but today I drank it with lunch.
7. And finally-- someone asked me if it tasted good, truly. I know it doesn't sound like it would, but it really does.
See you all tomorrow when you will find out about pickled okra (I am a little nervous), and let's hope I wake up at 244! Wouldn't that be amazing!!!!
New Year, New You: Okra Challenge Day 2
So far-- down 0.8 pounds. That is CRAZY. My weight was stalled for 3 WEEKS and already almost a pound? So excited to see what tomorrow brings.
This was once again my okra serving in the chocolate big boy. I think I am going to also try the Trimming Taco Soup and pickled okra this week.
I do recommend drinking the Big Boy out of a mason jar like this. It is kind of a gulper kind of drink (think almost like a chocolate shake), and isn't great to drink out of a straw.
I have been doing Trim Healthy Mama for almost 8 months now and have lot a total of 32 pounds (which is about 1 pound per week-- on average). Which is not the FASTEST weight loss, but not the slowest either. I keep reminding myself that I spent over 10 years with no weight loss or weight gain, so this is a great thing! My goal is to lose 135 pounds, which is 1/2 of my beginning weight.
This post contains affiliate links.
This was once again my okra serving in the chocolate big boy. I think I am going to also try the Trimming Taco Soup and pickled okra this week.
I do recommend drinking the Big Boy out of a mason jar like this. It is kind of a gulper kind of drink (think almost like a chocolate shake), and isn't great to drink out of a straw.
I have been doing Trim Healthy Mama for almost 8 months now and have lot a total of 32 pounds (which is about 1 pound per week-- on average). Which is not the FASTEST weight loss, but not the slowest either. I keep reminding myself that I spent over 10 years with no weight loss or weight gain, so this is a great thing! My goal is to lose 135 pounds, which is 1/2 of my beginning weight.
This post contains affiliate links.
New Year, New You: Okra Challenge
So, I have been in a weight loss stall for the past month. The holidays were a mess for staying on a Trim Healthy Mama plan, and I ate many off plan meals and dishes. So, to try to get back on track, I decided to try what many other mamas have been trying-- the okra challenge.
It is pretty simple- have a serving of okra every day for a week. Okra has been shown to have weight loss and blood sugar lowering effects, so I thought I would give it a try!
I am trying the Chocolate Big Boy Smoothie today
It is creamy, delicious, and I have never tasted the okra in it-- unless okra tastes like chocolate milk.
This post contains affiliate links.
It is pretty simple- have a serving of okra every day for a week. Okra has been shown to have weight loss and blood sugar lowering effects, so I thought I would give it a try!
I am trying the Chocolate Big Boy Smoothie today
It is creamy, delicious, and I have never tasted the okra in it-- unless okra tastes like chocolate milk.
This post contains affiliate links.
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