Rockstar LISTENS!

     Rockstar LISTENS!  Tonight he decided he didn't want fish and rice and veggies so I sent him to go get groceries without explanation or lists... He came home with all gluten-free, MSG free, and high fructose corn syrup free products.  We had a Mexican fiesta... YUM.  Here are pictures of the products, I actually called the 1-800 number just to make sure too!  He fell asleep when I was filling his ears about all the new information I have been learning... so you can understand my surprise when he showed his support like this... Laugh out LOUD!

         Its hard to see the pictures so Ill list them from top to bottom. Mission Yellow Corn Tortillas; Kroger's Private Selection Zesty Cilantro; and the best Tostino's Scoops!

    

      I also ran 3.4 miles in 36.22 minutes on my first time running the whole thing.  Its been a good day!  I went to google and googled running maps in my area to map out a route around my house... its easy to do and you know exactly how far you are going. 

      The coolest part is that we are all ready seeing results!  Both boys have been so much calmer.  Today when I rewarded them with o-so gluten-free butterfingers they went a little berserk from the refined sugar, but they deserved it!  The lack of high fructose corn syrup is making a difference.

     For me, these last few days have been like withdrawal.  I  have had dull headaches and weird bowel movements, I know TMI!  Let me tell you though, I feel so energetic, so happy, and my headaches are much better than they were.  So we will keep on this!  Stay tuned tomorrow, I've dubbed it Beauty Blog day... where I will share all the beauty products that I use that work WONDERS.  I have been asked by many women how I keep my hair so healthy, so stay tuned!

    

    

Don't Give Up!

      Today I wanted to quit, but the thought of this little one being sick, or unhealthy because of what I was feeding him was too much to bare, especially after reading this article: http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Complementary-Medicine/MSG-and-its-other-names-and-affects-on-the-body/show/930124 

This is why I am so scared of MSG and other additives.

The fact that the FDA will actually go to lengths to cover this up is why we have to be aware.  My pantry was full of high fructose corn syrup and MSG!  So bad for you!

      So I kept it up, even though this cake wasn't gluten-free... because his birthday was a few weeks ago, Ill make sure that the next one is at least free of preservatives and additives by making it at home.  Obviously I won't be completely cutting out gluten when It comes to birthdays, but when we eat everyday I can surely keep it as low as possible by eating whole foods.  Today we tried gluten free rice pasta... sooo good!

      On a lighter note, do you all remember Denise Austin??  I broke out the ole Aerobics videos... had to dust them off, but man nobody can boogy like Denise Austin!  My heart rate was up to 180 and I was sweating buckets after just 30 minutes.  LOVE IT, try it... so much easier than going to the gym and you can get it done while the kids are watching their favorite show!

    Another tip:  I get dinner all ready to throw on the oven... packages open, water in a pot to boil pasta, veggies ready to steam or roast, then I pop in the tape and do thirty minutes of cardio, or sixty if its p90x, when I'm done I'm revved up to get dinner on the table.  Works like a charm!

Rockstars Little Fans

                                                            
          This picture reminded me of Rockstar.  You see when he records a new song, he brings it into the house to listen to it on our home entertainment system.  Of course he is standing there watching my face and the boys are standing around him dancing and singing along to their daddies music!  Sooo sweet!  They are standing there like these little penguins.

Day One... Epic Failure...

         These are the mother's day flowers my brother and his wife gave me, they were drooping and about to die this morning and I managed to bring them back to life.  I am no failure.

          However, when it comes to cutting out gluten, MSG, and high fructose corn syrup, it seems to be that I failed today.  The GLUTEN, believe it or not, was the easy part.  I ate Yo plait Yo plus yogurt, which is free of gluten and high fructose corn syrup, and a banana for breakfast with skim milk; at lunch I had grilled chicken, brown rice, and green beans; dinner was Progresso Vegetable Lintel Soup, which was gluten free, free of MSG, and free of all preservatives and additives.  Once I got used to the texture it was edible, but my oldest Gage quoted "Ewwww its soup with poop in it!"  For snacks I tried the Enjoy Life soft baked chewy chocolate chip cookies, these were not very good last night when I tried them, but today I found myself enjoying each and every bite.  Ill keep eating these.  I also had peanut butter, natural, which is naturally gluten free, YUM.  Then lastly today I tried Kettle cooked Jalapeno potato chips.  These were AMAZING, but you see they are where I failed.  There is MSG in these chips!!  I will probably wake up with a headache, but they tricked me by saying it was maltodextrin, which folks, is basically the same thing, and for people who are sensitive, this won't work.
     So I didn't fail too badly, even when my little boys were begging for oatmeal cream pies and soda, I kept my footing.  They are in bed before midnight, which in a Rockstars house is a record time!  They will thank me for feeding them as healthily as I can one day when they live to be 100!  Lets hope!  Tomorrow I am going to try the gluten free Cinnamon Chex cereal, I'm so excited that I'm heading to bed now.  Oh and in case you were wondering, I ran two miles today before it started to pour.  So here is to tomorrow!

Gluten-Free, Why Me?

Who:  Me and the little ones
What:  We will be cutting out gluten, high fructose corn syrup, MSG, and caffeine.
When:  I was going to do this for a week to see how we did, but after some extensive research I discovered that is takes at least 3 weeks to notice a difference in behaviour and in the way we feel.  So we will start today and go until June 7th.  If it has made a difference, we will continue on with this good nutrition.
Where:  This means that we will be eating all of our meals at home.  I am not going to chance going to restaurants and not knowing the ingredients. 
Why:  For the past few years I have noticed that my oldest son has had behavioral issues, such as hyperactivity, adhd like symptoms, constant tummy trouble, and sometimes he lashes out at us out of nowhere.  I however would like to do this because I have struggled with depression, lethargy, migraines, IBS, muscle twitches, and unexplained bruising.  My little one is going to go along for the ride, well, because it is healthier, and he deserves it.  The Rockstar however will continue eating wheat products and drinking caffeine.
How:  Let me share with you a few websites that have helped to change my life.  First of all where I found most of the side affects of gluten, high fructose corn syrup, and other additives http://www.healthyeatingadvisor.com/food-labels.html
next since I do all of my shopping at Kroger, I found these helpful pdf.s that will make it easier and cheaper to eat healthy and gluten-free!!
http://www.kroger.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/healthyliving/Naturally%20Gluten%20Free%20Products.pdf
http://www.kroger.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/pharmacy/GlutenList.pdf
and thirdly, here are a couple of blogs that have come in handy to find family friendly recipes and support
http://nancysplace.wordpress.com/2007/06/22/thirteen-things-i-hate-about-being-gluten-free/
http://glutenfreegirl.blogspot.com
So tonight when I post the blog about how the day went... Ill let you know the products I used and what were the tastiest!!  Wish me luck!

Sunday Tip of the Week

Stop and smell the Chrysanthemums.
If the dishes need to be done, let them go
If the laundry needs folded, let it go
If there is dust on the mantle, let it sit
Every one with a 9-5 gets a break... why shouldn't the stay at home parents, or even the parents that work all week long and then work more when they get home.
Life is going to go on, so take a deep breath and relax, if only for a few hours.
I'm gonna take a nap with my little one, and have a piece of apple pie, I deserve it!
So do you.

Hectic Day.... How do I do It?

       Meet Gage.  Gage is hyperactive.  I have my hands full today with Gage.  I also have a rockstar husband who works today from noon to 8:30pm.  I have a dinner party to prepare for and I don't have a vehicle today.  I also have to get in my exercise somehow without leaving the house.  How do I prepare for a 5k inside the house you ask?  Ever heard of Leslie Sansone Walk Away the Pounds?  Well, she has a 3 mile and a 4 mile routine that I do on the days I cannot go outside and since I don't own a treadmill, I jog in place instead of walk, along to her routine.  It works!

      Now, meet Raine.  Raine is Gage's younger brother, and they like to play all day and not take naps when they are together.  How am I going to manage getting the dinner ready you ask?  Well, its a wonderful invention called a Crock Pot.  No one can beat a roast, red potatoes, baby carrots and an onion, all stuffed into a crock pot.  It took me literally ten minutes this morning before rockstar headed off to work.  All I have to do now is put some music on for the boys to boogie down to.... pop in my 4 mile Leslie Sansone walk.... clean the bathroom while I'm giving them a bath.... and later when they are tuckered enough to watch a movie... I slip in the movie UP and get cleaned up, and WALLAH, dinner party is done!  I'm good!  Now see how excited our guests are!  Stay tuned Monday... my new Gluten-free diet plan!                                                                                                                                                                          

A look at my Men...

This is the Rockstar... He works a LOT... went away for a week last year to record his second album with producer Eric Greedy, and I stayed at home with my two toddlers.  As you can see by the pictures, I have my hands full.  I love every minute of my hectic life.  Currently the toddlers are jumping on their new twin size beds and screaming for dear life.  Ooh the joys of motherhood.  The rockstar however is hard at work, he works in the morning, then comes home for an hour and leaves again to teach guitar lessons, and then sometimes he has to leave again after 9pm to head out to a gig.  So I would say that the precious little time I have to focus on fitness is sometimes hard to get motivated for.  I manage to do it though, and I know if you struggle with this, you can to.  For one hour a day, if you can, put yourself first.  For the other 23 hours, well, let them have them.  You know they love you for it!

Finished p90x first 90 days lean... here are the results...

24 pounds ago!  This is where it all started folks.... literally.  I was 189 pounds after the birth of my second son... here I am 154 pounds and that is when I started p90x!  I was a couch potato extraordinaire!  I ate and ate and slept and sat, and I needed a new hobby terribly bad.  So I started the p90x lean program and instead of taking 90 days it took me 160 days to complete because I did it every other day.  Let me tell you, for beginners, even this seemed impossible at times.  I felt like I had been beat with a meat cleaver most days and left for death!

      So after accomplishing this... now 130 pounds and counting I decided to start training for a 5k in June, and decided to let the world join me in my journey there.  So far I have very sore calves and shinsplints that have been taped for two days.  I have been able to reach 2.5 miles in 24 minutes but cannot seem to tack on that extra mile before I give up.  Starting tomorrow I am doing it come rain, tornados, or carb cravings.  Even if my husband is away at a gig, or my two toddler boys won't take a nap... I will succeed!  Stay tuned... much more to tell you!