christmas confessions and happy new year!

I have a lot to tell you...well, I have a lot to confess to you really. This past Christmas holiday took me for a spin down an endless food frenzy. I went off plan for about nine days and while it was fun for the time being, I hated the way I woke up the next morning and how I felt all day...it was like a sugar hangover. However, I still found myself going back to eating off plan by the end of the day...I was back to my old way of thinking and eating. I am sure I would have been back at my starting weight in a matter of weeks if I kept up this lifestyle.

BUT...thankfully I was able to turn it around. My mom (my main supporter in my house) instructed me to step on the scale and face the damage. It was the only way to really move forward. So, I stepped on the scale and cringed at the number staring back at me...I gained 12 pounds in only a matter of days. So that was it. No more...it just wasn't worth it. And you know, to tell you the truth, I missed being on the program. I missed the food and the structure of it. I felt kind of lost with my meals and snacks during those nine days.

With that said, I am looking forward and not behind at my mistakes. I won't lie...I was pretty hard on myself and kept playing the "what if" game in my mind...but what is done is done. There is no turning back...only moving forward...one step at a time.

So...who is ready for a New Year!? I know I am! It's a fresh start. A blank canvas. All those things that happened in 2013 (both good and bad) are gone. Those days are never coming back. So let's put those mistakes behind us and move forward...welcoming 2014 with open arms.

"Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead" (Philippians 3:13). 

xoxo,

Toni 

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, - See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Moving-Forward#sthash.UoFJ5IsP.dpuf

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, - See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Moving-Forward#sthash.UoFJ5IsP.dpuf

day sixty-one...seven days 'till Christmas

Let the countdown begin!

I am a huge Christmas fan. I love everything about it...everything. I feel as if people are simply more cheerful and happy as they go about their day around this time of year...or at least I am.

So as of now I am as happy as can be and cannot wait for the family to come together and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Breakfast
Back to the daily work routine this morning. I made myself a dark chocolate shake and went on my merry way.

Morning Snack
I can't tell you enough how much I like these calorie burn cappuccinos. They are so perfect on wintery days. Definitely ranking as my favorite Medifast meal as of late.

Lunch
Back to the salad today. I really like the pizza burger and parmesan salad combo. All I do is chop up some lettuce, heat up a pizza burger and sprinkle some shredded parmesan cheese and dressing and I am done! Quick and delicious!

Afternoon Snack
I was fairly full when it was time to eat my next snack, but I still munched on some cheese pizza bites. I mean...who am I to say no to a snack time? I am also almost done with these...I didn't order anymore on this last order.

Dinner
I am house sitting tonight, so I had a cinnamon roll crunch bar when I got to the house after work. I then got started working on some new recipes!

Dessert
One of the recipes I created was a vanilla pudding cake. Let's just say that if you are in need of a treat, you must make this. :) I will post the recipe soon!

Also...in case you didn't see it earlier, I posted a recipe for a pumpkin pie custard. Check it out here.

Hope your day is a blessed one!

xoxo,
Toni

day fifty-one...how I survived two Christmas parties

Yep...you read that right...I had not one, but two Christmas parties today. And guess what? I stayed on plan! My timing was off a bit, but I definitely stuck to my Medifast snacks and a proper lean and green meal (which I divided into two meals).

Breakfast
I woke up this morning and started getting ready for my first Christmas party. I made a quick French vanilla shake and drank it while curling my hair. Too bad I don't have a picture of that...would have been a funny sight I'm sure.

Morning Snack
Right before I left for the staff Christmas party, I heated up a blueberry soft bake. It looks terrible, but it did the job and held me over until lunch was served.

Lunch
This is where I ate half of my lean and green meal. It is seriously funny how easy it was to say no to the bread basket going around the table and even dessert! Dessert is a huge one for me. I love all things sugar. I have a giant sweet tooth. But anyways, I ended up just eating a salad and the broccoli. Easily passed over the chicken parmesan and pasta. Funny story...my dad actually ate most of the food on his plate and then we switched plates so it looked like I ate some of it. ;) tricky, tricky, but it works!

Here is apicture of me and my brother at the CCCM Staff Christmas party. Isn't he handsome?

Afternoon Snack
Once I got home from party number one, I broke open a pack of mixed berry cereal crunch. I eat it alongside a cup of coffee and relaxed for a few minutes...then it was time to start getting ready for party number two...which was a formal one. :)

Dinner
So dinner at my second party was a bit tough. They basically had salad and pasta. Oh and bread...all catered by Maggianos. So, for the second half of my lean and green meal I ate some salad (picked out the dried cranberries) and then took some chicken from one of the pastas. It was on the top, so there was no sauce on it! Yay! The Lord is so good and is always looking out for me.

Dessert #1
They had a coffee bar so what I did was I brought a chai latte packet with me and poured it in one of the cups and filled it with some coffee and hot water. Perfection in a cup!

Dessert #2
I had my final meal of the day as soon as I got home around 11:45pm. I broke open an oatmeal raisin crunch bar and ate it while starting to write this post.

And...here is a picture of me and my best friend, Kiera at the second party of the night. It was with my college Bible study group. So much fun! Love my friends...they are the best. I mean, you know you have good friends when they bring you up and encourage you rather than tear you down.

So...there it is—my day in a nutshell. Just be encouraged and know that you can get through a Christmas party this month and still stay on plan. Don't be shy to bring your own snacks!

It felt good at the end of the day knowing that I stuck to the plan even though I attended two parties filled with food. But it can be done! I promise you, you will not regret saying no to that tempting food and staying on plan. Plus, it doesn't hurt when you are getting a ton of compliments all night about how great you look...just a little motivation for you right there.

Oh and tell people about the program or diet you are on! It helps you not only to stay on track but then you will also have a ton of people keeping you accountable. Accountability is key.

xoxo,
Toni

day fifty...in order to grow you must let go

          my friend Kiera and me                                                        my adorable mom and her friend

  
I heard a great quote at the Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa Women's Christmas Coffee this morning. The speaker told us that "In order to grow, you must let go". That spoke wonders to me.

Without me even knowing it, I have been growing lately. I been letting go of my fleshly nature to eat and overeat and have been growing spiritually by that. For you, it may be letting go of a grudge or an addiction. Let. it. go. It is only then that you can grow. If something is holding you down, how can you continue to grow higher. Once those hindrances are cut and torn down, it is then that you can grow and reach that goal.

And as of this afternoon I have also let go of something else...10 inches of my hair! They do say that when you cut your hair, it grows faster and healthy. So letting go and cutting my hair will only make it grow! I will show you some before and after pictures at the end of the post as well as update you all on my weight...today was a weigh in day!

Breakfast
I ate a little earlier this morning so I could eat my morning snack before the Christmas coffee. It worked out very well. I am getting the timing down...sort of. ;) So this morning, I made an egg nog vanilla shake...which is basically a french vanilla shake with capella egg nog drops in it. This is by far my most favorite shake.

Morning Snack
So on our way out the door to the event I made myself a brownie soft bake (in a cup) to eat on the way. Now...I don't usually have desserts in the morning, but I just decided it would be okay this one time.

Lunch
I was having dinner with a dear friend, so I saved my lean and green meal until then. Therefore, for lunch I made myself a calorie burn cappuccino. I was going to have it at 3pm, but that is when I got my haircut...no bueno having to go to the bathroom in the middle of a haircut.

Afternoon Snack
Right before I headed out to the salon, I ate one of my favorites...the brown sugar cinnamon cereal crunch. Some people don't like it, but I love it! Smells like french toast as well, which doesn't hurt.

Dinner
For dinner, I went to greenleaf chopshop and had flat iron steak with sides of green beans and a tuscan kale salad.

Dessert
I ate my last meal of the day right before church...I actually ate it really fast. I felt kinda sick eating it so fast, but oh well...won't do that again. I had a smores crunch bar.

Okay...you ready for my revealing? Here is a before and after...

What do you think? Yay or nay? I think I like it...it will definitely take time getting used to, but such is life. :)

As far as my weight goes, I weighed in this morning at 142.6! I can't believe I just typed that, but I did!!! As of today, I have lost a total of 23.6 pounds. Woohoo!!!

It's late and I am off to bed. Night!

xoxo,
Toni

pumpkin apple bread

Sweet treats are everywhere this time of year, and it's hard to keep saying no to your favorite foods. So if you are looking for a special treat during the holiday season but want to stay on plan, look no further. This pumpkin apple bread is just for you. It is simple, quick, and sure to satisfy those holiday cravings.

Step One:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Gather your ingredients. You will need:

1 packet of medifast apple cinnamon oatmeal (or any instant oatmeal packet)
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp Capella Pumpkin flavor drops
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/4 cup of cold water

Step Two
Mix the all the ingredients together, adding the water last. Gently form dough using your fingers.

Step Three
Now, I don't have a mini loaf pan, so I made my own using foil. You can do the same or just use a mini loaf pan. Once you have decided on which on to use, spray your mini loaf pan or handmade one with non-stick cooking spray.

Step Four
And just to be extra safe, go ahead and add a piece of parchment paper. Once you have done that, add the thick dough and form into the mini loaf pan.

Step Five
Bake for about 10-12 minutes. After 10 minutes stick a toothpick in the center and if it comes out clean, it is ready to eat!

Hope you stay strong during the holiday season and pray that you have a very merry and blessed Christmas!

xoxo,
Toni