help keep me accountable

Here is the link to the blog containing all the gory details of how I am surviving this crazy diet!

The Maker's Diet: A Food Diary

i'm starting again

The Maker's Diet, that is.

It's time. The first time I did it was in June 2010, so my goal of every 6 months was shot, but that's ok. I have gotten out of control on portion sizes and sweets and carbs...all things bad for a girl with insulin resistance. I just realized today that my 40 days on Maker's Diet coincides perfectly with Lent! I don't know how you feel about Lent, we observed it at the church I grew up in and now we really don't. I think it is a good time to focus on what Christ did for us on the cross, and I always focus better when I give up things that tend to consume my life.

I'll link up the blog I will be using to track my eating so you can laugh make fun of encourage me through this process!

And yes, Honduras posts are coming.

day 40

Well folks, I did it!!!

I completed the Maker's Diet 40 day health experience officially today.

I am so excited to say that I do fell an overall increase in my health. I have more energy, less headaches, and a smaller appetite. I learned portion control. I learned fruit can be a fantastic dessert because it tastes sweeter when you cut out sugar. I lost almost 10 lbs and have maintained that loss. My pants are pretty loose and I fit into some that I haven't worn in years. My weight is consistent in the mornings, instead of fluctuating by a couple pounds. I believe that if I were to repeat the gluten tolerance test that I did back in February, my results would different...good different.

It is unrealistic of me to think that I can follow TMD guidelines to the tee however. My dear husband loves cheese more than he loves life, and I can't deprive him of that! I can't live without milk (I buy whole organic) and flour tortillas are used in our household for everything from burritos to turkey wraps.

I plan on following a modified version of TMD though. I have learned a lot and I really like the results. I will incorporate a LOT more fresh fruit and veggies in our meals. Snacks will be healthier, portions will be smaller and processed foods will be nonexistent close to nonexistent!

If any of you out there are thinking about a radical diet change, I would highly recommend The Maker's Diet!

great grub 27

Today is day 31 on The Maker's Diet! I am sticking to the plan really well for the most part. I've lost a lot of weight, and maintained that loss even through vacation. I thought I would share with you one on my favorite recipes that sticks to TMD standards. I have used this one a lot! It is super simple (as is all the food I eat lately) and definitely yummy.

Baked Asian Salmon

Ingredients:
- two 6 oz. salmon fillets (skin on or off)
- 2 tsp. sesame seed oil
- 2 tbsp. Bragg Liquid Aminos
- 1 tsp. honey
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- salt
- pepper

Directions:
Whisk the oil, Bragg's, garlic honey, salt, and pepper together until combined. Put the salmon fillets into tin foil pouches. Distribute the marinade evenly over the fish and put in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
Preheat oven to 425°.
Place the salmon pouches on a pan and bake for 7-10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish. We like ours with lemony brown rice and sauteed spinach!
(You can also marinate this salmon and then grill it, it is great that way too!)

Enjoy!

the maker's diet - halfway

That's right, I have made it 20 days today!
You can check out my progress and what I have (and have not) eaten here!

great grub 26

Since I am still on The Maker's Diet I thought it would be appropriate to showcase a recipe that follows those guidelines. My mom actually made this one up for me while we were hanging out by the pool one day and I was complaining that I couldn't drink anything but water. (I love juice, milk, and coke a lot!) It was hot, we were thirsty and thus was born:

Frozen Lemonade
(following the maker's diet guidelines)

Ingredients:
- juice of 4 or 5 lemons
- 2 cups water
- 2 tbsp raw honey
- ice cubes
- sprig of mint

Directions:
Add all the ingredients except for the mint into the blender. Blend until the mixture is combined and frothy. Pour it into chilled glasses and add the mint on top. (I like to push mine down and get a hint of mint in every sip!)

Enjoy poolside!

oh my, here we go!

The Maker's Diet, starting today.
My beautiful friends and accountability partners Kim and Hali are going to do this with me.
Find out if we cheat here!

june 200 challenge

Well I am officially off the shopping-at-the-15th-of-the-month cycle. That's right, I stretched our groceries a whole 2 weeks longer! We went 1.5 months without a shopping trip...and I was out of everything! So I went a little over this month, but not too bad considering this is the first time I have gone over my allotted $200 since we started this little 200 challenge party.

I have also started a new adventure. I am the newest member of the CVS Extra Care Card club. My friend Taylor (shout out) got me hooked. I had to make the initial investment, but after my first purchase of $21.37 (which got me 2 bottles of shampoo, 2 of Eric's deodorant, and 2 body washes) I had $10 worth extra care bucks! That's $10 free money to spend anywhere in the store. AWESOME!

I went to Aldi first, of course. I got a lot there and did pretty well. I got LOTS of fresh fruits and veggies! I spent $69.12. Then on to Wal-Mart. I needed a lot of things, plus I am doing The Maker's Diet soon, which requires some expensive ingredients. I already know I will have to go back, which makes me sad but I can justify it because it is for my health. I spent $120.40 there.

So my total (including CVS, Wal-Mart, and Aldi) comes to $210.89. (If you count that I have $10 waiting to be spent then I really have only gone over by $0.89!)

I am short on time now, so I will post meals later!
Good luck to you all in June!

the maker's diet

I have been wanting to do The Maker's Diet for a while now. I just haven't had the guts...or the accountability! Well I now have a new partner in crime and we will be starting this diet/cleanse/detox/fast in the very near future. As soon as said friend returns from vacation actually.

It is 40 days of a very strict meal plan based on biblical principles. I want to do this diet for several reason all stated in the book:

- to boost my immune system
- maintain my ideal weight
- have abundant energy
- improve my physical appearance
- reduce stress
- improve digestion

The main reason I want to to this diet is because Eric and I are going to Costa Rica for missions in August. I want to be in the right shape spiritually, emotionally, physically, and mentally for the trip. I believe The Maker's Diet will help me do just that.

The other very important reason for doing this diet is to get my insulin under control. I have been diagnosed with insulin resistance, which is basically pre-diabetes. It runs in my family. I want it under control now so that I don't have to pay the consequences later in life. And yes, it is part of the reason we struggle with infertility.

I will update on my progress at some point during my journey and again at the end. I am not good with diets at all and I hate not eating what I want, so this is going to be a challenge. Keep me in your prayers!