The F Word (five of them to be exact)

As I continue to be ever so conscious of a healthy food and exercise lifestyle, I have been asked on many occasions if I have any helpful tips to maintain control against [food] temptation and stay motivated. 

When you have acquired a bad habit over the years, you will not be successful by simply quitting that habit (because it will always come back) but instead, you must replace it with a good habit.  I have learned that the empowerment you feel when you replace that temptation with a positive alternative, will gradually become more addicting than the former negative pattern. 

I have been living by these five F words for many years and it has helped me get through some tough spells. 

Rachel's Five “F” Words

(when it comes to resisting food temptations):

·         Flush or Fling it. Just toss it in the dumpster, grind it up in the disposal, chuck it over the back fence or throw it in the toilet and thrust that handle with ferver!!  Do it without hesitation or thinking twice.  Odds are ever in your favor that you will not mourn for more than 2.5 seconds.  Trust me.  It’s incredibly liberating!!

·         Freeze it.  Maybe for a “cheat day” or future special occasion; at least something to look forward to.  Once it has been wrapped up and tucked away, it becomes quite the event to get it back out.  Frozen usually lacks excitement.  It also usually gets forgotten. 

·         Farm it out.  Give it to a neighbor or your kids.  If I hear that last day-old brownie calling my name, I find the most deserving child and cram it down his/her throat.  Once it’s gone, it’s gone.  No take backs!!

·         Fill up.  Drink water immediately to ease the desire to indulge.  Most of the time, your “desire” to cheat is based solely on the fact that you are dehydrated.  Try a huge glass of water and you will most likely be way too full to let anything else pass by your lips. 

·         Forsee a day.  Pull out the calendar and choose a specific day when you will allow yourself to indulge. Then enjoy that day when it comes. Don't make excuses until then.  When you look forward to one special occasion, it can keep your entire week in check but allow you to enjoy the foods you have learned to find pleasure in.  I don’t know about you but it’s kind of exciting to spend the whole week seeking out the most decadent recipes and deciding on the treats that you yearn for.  But as always…moderation in all things…blah blah blah!!  :)

Trust the power of liberation!

My Journey to destroy my unhappiness...

People.  It's been a long &*$% journey!!  To make a loooooong story very short because, frankly, I don't even know where to begin, I will let the pictures do most of the talking.  

In 2007, I found myself in a very unhappy place.  3 babies under the age of 3, living in a small apartment in the heat and humidity of Texas and grossly overweight.  

I had no idea what I was capable of back then but I set out to find what makes me deep down happy. 

I began walking, cutting back on carbs and sugars and with very little knowledge, I lost 30 pounds.  I moved to Seattle with my family of 5 and continued to gain an education on how to lose weight in a healthy way.  I worked out every day at the gym, trained and ran/jogged a half marathon, lost another 30 pounds and then...got pregnant.  And I was told to turn around and head down the proverbial weight-loss mountain.  I was not happy about that and promptly gained 40 back.  

Then, I tried again, with 4 babies in tow.  Worked hard again, counted calories, started weight-lifting, gained an education on nutrition and lost that 40.  

Then I got pregnant AGAIN! 

This time I was SHOVED down that mountain and I died a little inside. 

I was &**$@ furious!!!

It took me a looooong time to get past that one.  But I did.  And I am insanely stronger for it.

But that is where this part of the story begins...

Baby #5 was 7  months old and I thought it was time to strap on my hiking boots.  I had tried many times after her birth but 5 kids just kept kicking me down.

December 27, 2012 I finally said enough is enough.

And I began again.

I was determined to conquer this mountain one last time and scream obscenities from the top.  

I am so so sick of climbing that mountain!!

December 27, 2012 - October 29, 2012 (58.6 lbs down)

My goal was to lose 50 and I exceeded that.  I had plenty of help along the way with a few dear friends, friendly competitions, my own stubborn will, plenty of 5k's, generous compliments, my dear supportive husband, insanely brilliant trainers at Ronin and of course my Heavenly Father.  Thank you to all those who gave me courage to keep going.

I began in December and worked hard until May.  Took the summer off to maintain and then started a friendly competition September 3rd to kick the last 20.  Today was our final weigh-in day and I killed it.  I lost 24 more pounds in 8 weeks and am now at a place I have never been before.

The same shirt I wore 7 years ago.  It has been my favorite but now it serves as only a reminder of 7 years of extremely hard work.

       December                 March                    September                October                       Today

 As insanely hard as it is to be this vulnerable and share with you some of the most painful parts of my personal life, I am the strong-willed amazing person I am today because of it.  I know how to eat right, push myself when I exercise, live a healthy lifestyle and in turn it creates health in all areas of my life.  Although it will be a journey that never ends, I am so GRATEFUL to be here.  At this place of contentment and hope for a better future.  I feel on top of the world even if it is just my little mountain!!

Since I started in 2007, I have lost over 80 pounds.  This is a place that suits me.

My girls doin' funny things

Shoving it through the nostrils enables quicker consumption.

4 of us got haircuts before the back to school rush began with our favorite hair stylist 

Could these two be better friends?  Holding hands, giggling in the car warranted a "pull to the side of the road" snapshot.  

 I honestly don't know where she got that lipstick.  I have never worn that shade.

Caught, red-shirted, climbing on the car.  She's lucky she didn't bust my window wiper or I would have busted that grin right off her face with my karate moves.

First & Last (2012-2013 school year)

It seems fitting, and about the right time, since school will be starting up again in 3 weeks, that I post last years 1st day of school/last day of school pictures.

I like to keep you hanging all summer like that!!

Biggest changes...Olivia's emotional state, Eden's hair color/length and the new backdrop. (Our house) 

You can really get a sense for how much her hair color changed when we dyed it.  It got slightly more unkempt as the year went on though.  That girl won't wear a hair tie to save her life.   

My boy doesn't seem to change much. 

 She is quite lovely when she smiles.

Move over Kirkland...Justin is in the house

Once upon a time, I couldn't live without Kirkland Signature Peanut Butter.  But the powers that be, took it away because of an e.coli scare.  

Then, I lost all hope for a happy life.

I was just about to commit a grievous sin and pick up a jar of Skippy when what did my eyes behold on the Costco shelf but my precious KS peanut butter returning to it's former bright spot in my life.

But it did not return, like I had imagined, in its former glory.  It was......

gasp!  

Not organic but "natural".

They thought we wouldn't notice.

At the time, I didn't notice, nor did I care.

But oh my blessed soul does it matter!!

Like Miracle Whip on a BLT, it matters!!

At first bite my love began to wain.   It lacked the right balance of salt, nuttiness and the zest of Adam Levine's smolder.  I grew restless with every spoonful until I was left empty and lost only half way through the jar. 

When your pet goldfish, Bubbles dies, you lose that same part of your heart.  

Until, a miracle.

One day, an accidental walk down the health food isle at Fred Meyer resulted in an epic mistake that has forever changed my life.  

20% off was what the yellow tag screamed but "Maple" had me intrigued.  It was the story on the side of the label that sold me and the $8 jar of almond butter reluctantly landed in my cart.

I have to admit, I didn't trust Justin fully with my heart until after several lunch dates.  At first I was reluctant to let my first love go but the more I hung out with Justin and his Maple Almond Butter, the more I couldn't stand to be away from it.

I am pretty sure J slipped a pill in my butter because I am head over heels for this stuff.

It's a tiny bit rough around the nutty edges and every bit powerful like the Serengeti.  It's hypnotic mostly and worth a wild ride on the tongue for a good 23 seconds.


Honestly, I don't like to share my time with my almond butter so I rarely go on double dates.  But when I do, I don't monkey around and I choose a banana.  Every time.  It's the only combo that works well enough to boast about.  Trust me on this one, it's down right immoral.  You oscillate between ripe and rough, smooth and salty, chewy and charming.

But if you want the true, wicked awesome, straight up gangsta facts...go naked.  

Right out of the fridge, right off the spoon, savoring every last pasty smear is by far, my pairing of choice.  

This is where my life is today. 

 I am in a low-down dirty place filled with cuss words and salty tears.  

Don't ever let yourself go to rock bottom and keep a big enough stash of Justin's Almond Butter in your fridge to last you into the millennium.