OBESITY IS THE SOLUTION, NOT THE PROBLEM

                         OBESITY IS THE SOLUTION, NOT THE PROBLEM

I know, I know you think I’m crazy but just hear me out for a couple of seconds. I use to weigh over 350 lbs and with the help of Turbofire and Shakeology, plus hard work, I lost >150 lbs. Life was great! I was able to be active with my kids, I could workout, I ran a 5K, people were telling me how good I looked-what could be better?

Then I tore a tendon in my hip and wasn’t able to workout, so some of the weight started coming back on. And that made me depressed, which lead to more eating…then I had a hysterectomy, was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, my father became ill and died…blah, blah…life happened and I gained 75 lbs back. The gym had always been my sanctuary, the place I went to workout my problems and clear my head and now I couldn’t do that, all I could do was sit at home and think.

The problem wasn’t that I couldn’t lose weight, because I had done that numerous times throughout my life. What the pros call a Yo-Yo dieter where you lose weight then gain it back, usually even more, then lose it again. So, what the hell is the problem?! That answer was hidden under many layers of fat, because for 8% of obese people “Obesity is the solution, not the problem” according to a study done by the CDC. It’s the solution because it hides all the pain, it hides you, the person so others don’t see you they only see fat and they won’t want to touch you, abuse you, hurt you the way you were hurt as a child. Traumatic childhood events (usually sexual abuse) leads to adult obesity, that 8% that I’m a member of.

One unknown person was quoted as saying, “Overweight is overlooked and that’s the way I need to be”. Holy Hell! That made it all click for me, because maybe consciously I loved the praise I was getting when I lost the weight, but somewhere in the back of my mind there was this little worrier saying “you’re to thin it’s going to happen again”. Now I know what the true problem is and it has caused me to be an addict, yes I said addict because that is what I am a Food Addict, so it is time to let it go.

The best way to get rid of the problem is to write it on a piece of paper and say out loud what the problem is that is holding you back and tell it that it doesn’t have any hold over you anymore. Then burn it or tear it up, flush it down the toilet whatever just get rid of it once and for all. Go forward from this day on knowing that obesity is no longer the solution for you, that you are healed. Your past is not your future. Go forth knowing you are whole, you are at peace, you are never alone and you are loved.

LEAN MEATLOAF 21DFX

    I love, love, love meat loaf, but traditional meatloaf and be high in calories, so I was very happy to find this recipe from the 21DFX for Lean Meatloaf.  It makes 8 generous servings, it's easy to throw together, and the kids loved it too! Win! Win! According to the book you're suppose to have enough leftover that you can freeze some for meals later in the week, but did I mention-the kids LIKED IT. No leftovers which makes it a definite keeper.

                                                     LEAN MEATLOAFwww.coachdannon.com

                             (Okay, once again it's suppose to be ground Turkey, but-YUKE!)
                              Makes 8 servings 1/8 meatloaf each

Ingredients:

2 lbs raw 93% lean ground beef(Laura's lean ground beef)
1 cup all-natural mild salsa (don't be a sissy at least use medium)
1 cup cooked quinoa, cooled
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 gloves garlic, finely chopped (or 1 Tbsp minced from a jar)
1 tsp sea salt or Himalayan salt (Mineralize)
1 tsp Ground black pepper (to taste; optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degree

Combine beef, salsa, quinoa, eggs, garlic, salt, and pepper in a large bowl;
mix well by hand or with a rubber spatula, but where's the fun in that.

Shape mixture into shape of a loaf and place on ungreased 13 X 9-inch baking pan or in a loaf pan.

Bake for 60 to 70 minutes, or until center is no longer pink and meat is cooked through.

Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

1-Red 1/2-Purple 1/2-Yellow

FOR 21DFXers this is where your food journey ends, but for those who are not as concerned about calories then you may add the topping.

Topping for Meatloaf

2/3 ketchup
2 Tbsp mustard
4 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp Adobe sauce or a couple splashes of hot sauce
Mix all ingredients together with a whisk! BAM!

Take meatloaf out at the 50 minute mark and put the topping on and place it back in the oven and bake for the remaining time. UMMM, GOOD!

21 Day Fix Friendly Chicken Marsala

                                                             21 Day Fix Friendly
                                                               Chicken Marsala

 I'm always on the lookout for new recipes that are 21 Day Fix friendly, easy to make, and can be thrown together in a crockpot or one-an-done. This Paleo inspired meal is the Triple Crown with it's basic ingredients of chicken and vegetables, marinating in a baggy, then cooking it all in 1 pot for only 30 minutes- AND IT'S LOW CAL CHICKEN MARSALA FOR THE WIN!

WHAT YOU NEED:

• One 3 to 6 quart dutch oven.
• One large ziplock bag for marinating.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 to 2 pounds of boneless/skinless chicken breast.
• 1/2 cup of Tomato Balsamic dressing.
• 1 small package (2 to 3 cups) of sliced bella mushrooms.
• 1 medium white or vidalia onion, cut in half and sliced into medium strips.
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups of fresh chopped tomato or tomato sauce.
• 1 tbsp of Extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil.
• 2 cloves of garlic, smashed and minced.
• salt & pepper to taste.

THROWING IT TOGETHER:

1. Before cooking, place chicken thighs in your ziplock bag with 1/2 cup of the tomato balsamic dressing. Marinate for at least 1 hour.
2. Place your dutch oven on a stovetop burner, set to medium heat, and also turn your oven on to 350°F.
3. Add your oil and garlic to your dutch oven, stir and raise heat to medium-high.
4. Season your chicken thighs with salt and pepper, and add to your dutch oven (with any remaining dressing from the bag) to brown, about 1 to 2 minutes on each side.
5. Once browned, remove your dutch oven from the hot burner. Add your tomatoes.
6. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to stir the tomatoes and scrape the bottom of your dutch oven. That is where the flavor lies.
7. Add your onions and mushrooms to the top of your chicken and tomatoes, no need to stir in.
8. Cover and put into your 350°F oven for 25 to 30 minutes.
9. Remove from oven and serve! It goes great with a spinach salad. Enjoy!

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21 Day Fix Extreme

After 3 rounds of the 21 Day Fix and >30 lbs gone I'm ready to cross that finish line and hit my goal weight by going EXTREME, 21 Day Fix Extreme! On 2/16/15 my 21 Day Fix Support Group will be blasting off!!! You can go low key (with the original 21 Day Fix) or FULL THROTTLE (21 Day Fix Extreme) just let me know which 1 you want to do. Can't decide, drop me a message below or on fb and I'll be glad to help you pick what's best for you to get you to your fitness goal.

Oh, did I mention both programs are on sale and you can check them out on my LIKE pg www.fb.com/LorimuddWTF3, if you know what you want when you're there then hit the "shop now" button at the top of the pg and you can go straight to my site and purchase your  program. 

**FYI YOU MIGHT WANT TO HURRY AND ORDER SOON, BECAUSE LAST YEAR WHEN THE 21 DAY FIX WAS LAUNCHED IT SOLD OUT WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS**

(then it was on back order for months and I'd hate for you to miss out on this fabulous deal and program, just sayin...)

One more thing before I go if you've struggled to have success with your weight loss goals in the past and you've never tried a program with a coach then I ask that you give this, me a try. As your coach I'll help you get started, stay motivated, and get results! Together we'll succeed in crushing our goals! 

Weight Loss Surgery-Friend or Foe?

           WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY-FRIEND OR FOE

I'm writing this blog in the hopes that maybe just one person will read it and believe me, because all of my friends, family members, co-workers, the majority of them never did. Unfortunately, they had to find out the hard way for themselves, so here goes. Weight loss surgery is not an "easy, quick" way out of a fat situation.

I had gastric by-pass surgery in 2008 and my sister had the gastric band. At the time I weighed 352 lbs and 50 lbs did come off rather quickly, but that was it and I still had 150 lbs to go. My sister had similar results and she weighed about the same maybe a little less. I was not about to give up after all I had gone through, so I buckled down and started working out everyday and eating a healthy diet. Eventually I reached my goal weight of 178 lbs!! People had noticed my transformation, people who also needed or wanted to lose weight and I was happy to share my secrets with them. I told them it was diet and exercise, but of course, they were aware I had had the surgery and if they weren't as soon as they heard about the surgery they stopped listening to anything else I had to say. They just believed that the surgery was the answer and not the diet and exercise.

After my sister and I had the weight loss procedures and had success at least 12 more people at work went and had the surgery. What type of success did they have? Only 1 woman reached her goal weight and she had the band and never once went and had fluid put in it. She changed her diet and I mean she changed her diet! She became vegan and she is very serious about it too. A 2nd lady had great success, even though she didn't reach her goal weight, she looks fantastic (she did have complication from the band, it eroded through her stomach, she got peritonitis, and she was in the hospital for months). The rest lost little to none, because they didn't believe they needed to change their diet and they didn't need to exercise.

The moral of the story is don't place your hopes, dreams on a magic band, surgery, pill, because it doesn't exist! I'm not telling you not to have weight loss surgery it is absolutely necessary for some people, but you need to see it for what it is-a TOOL to help you reach your goal. You don't assemble a cabinet with just a hammer, you need a screw driver, and a saw to cut the wood. It's the same with losing weight there are many tools that work together to build your success, your healthy life.

 I greatly encourage you if you are over weight, especially if you are >50 lbs over weight, to find a plan to get on to help you lose the weight. I wasted so many years being obese, so much time not getting to do things because I was to big to fit in the rides, or to heavy to ride the horse or to zipline, etc... Or just to feel good and you don't realize how bad you feel, until you feel REALLY good. And with every pound that comes off you'll feel better and better I promise you that. Good luck.

21 Day Fix Friendly Taco Soup

                          21 DAY FIX FRIENDLY Taco Soup
                                                                                 TACO SOUP
This recipe is quick and makes a fair amount, so you can divide it into several servings and freeze it for another day.

INGREDIENTS: 

1 lb Laura's lean ground beef
1 can black beans ( rinsed)
1 can fat free pinto beans
1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
1 pkt ranch drsg
1 pkt taco seasoning
1 medium onion diced
1 can corn
COOKING:

Brown ground beef season with salt and pepper, break into pieces while cooking, add onion. Cook until onions are translucent and meat is brown.
Mean while add all other ingredients to a large pot & heat on medium. When meat and onions are done add them to the pot. Stir well. If watching calories serve as is, if not serve with Mexican cheese and tortilla chips. 
 1-cup is a serving size
1 yellow
1 red

If your struggling to lose weight or to just get healthy, then send me a IM or friend request on Facebook I'd love to talk to you and share my secrets to success. Not ready to talk yet then check out my like pg @ Lori's losing It www.facebook.com/LorimuddWTF3 for tips on dieting, healthy eating, recipes, support, motivation, and more. 

IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD

             IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD

I almost missed, once again, a party of a life time because I let my self doubt take over. I use to weigh 352 lbs & I never believed that I could lose the weight. I tried every diet, every pill, every fast, even surgery and nothing worked, until one day I got it. The problem was me! That Fat person was all in my head and I couldn't lose her. Yes, there was physically fat on my body, but the real problem was in my head. I didn't believe I could lose the weight. I couldn't picture myself thinner. I had always been extremely shy as a child and missed out on a lot of fun, because I was afraid to try things or talk to people. What if they didn't like me? What if I failed? I made myself be more outgoing as an adult, because I got tired of missing out. But when I gained weight I started hiding behind it just like I did my shyness as a child. 

I drove 6 hours to meet my upline coach and I was so excited the whole drive up, then when she text that she was in the lobby guess who came to visit? Yep, F*** and I was paralyzed thank God my son was with me, because I probably would have never left the room. I would have missed an outrageous party, seeing the CEO of our company up close, and meet the inspirational women on our team.

My only regret from last night is I did let that person in my head win a battle. You see I lost 173 lbs and then tore a tendon in my hip an gained 75 lbs back. I realized I never really learned to eat right I just exercised like crazy, so when I couldn't do that the weight started to come back on. The 21 Day Fix and Autumn Calabrese have been a life saver for me. By teaching me how to eat right I've now lost 35 of those pounds. And I would have loved to have told her and to have taken a picture with her and I could have because I notice her standing by the door before anyone else. She was alone, but the FAT person in my head won and told me, "I was still fat, look at all the skinny people in the room, really you're going to go up to her?" Damn It! The point is it is all in your head too.

 I want you to know that you can lose the weight and know it won't be easy and there will be ups and downs, but you can do it. Tell the person in your head to SHOUT THE HELL UP! Because you are not wasting 1 more day being trapped in a body you don't want. God bless.

EASY, QUICK, LOW CAL SNACK-KALE CHIPS

QUICK, EASY, & LOW CAL SNACK

                     (Don't tell the kids but it's good for you too!)

Are you trying to get healthy and eat better for the New Year, but finding it hard to give up all the "good stuff"? Old habits are hard to break and it takes about 21 days to form new ones.  If you're like me and you love chips with your sandwich here is a healthy alternative to the high fat, high calorie, 0 nutrition potato chip. It is the KALE CHIP! Packed with nutrition, easy to make, cheap to buy, and best of all delicious. Here's to a healthy new you.

Recipe 
preheat oven to 350 degrees
INGREDIENTS
* 2 cups fresh kale leaves (if you really buy the fresh stuff on the stems make sure you wash it really, really well and then remove the leaves from the stem and dry the kale off. I'm lazy and buy the bagged stuff that is pre washed and cut, just sayin...)
* 1 Tbsp Olive oil or coconut oil
*olive oil spray
*Dash salt (sea salt or kosher salt works best)
If you want spicy a dash of paprika and/or chili powder
Cut the kale up into bite size pieces, toss kale and olive/coconut oil together using your fingers. Lay the kale out on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with the olive oil spray and make sure the kale leaves lie as flat as possible. Bake for 10-15 minutes (until the edges get brown, not burnt). Once you remove them from the oven sprinkle them with the salt,paprika, or any other calorie free flavoring that you might like-Enjoy!!
Breakdown:
64 calories per serving(2 cups of kale), 1 g fat, 212 mg sodium, 13 g carbs, 2.5 g fiber, 0 g sugars, 4.25 g protein
1-green container

FROM FAT TO FIERCE (Nope it's not all about losing weight).

           FROM FAT TO FIERCE (NOPE IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT LOSING WEIGHT).

As a coach your mentors tell you to find your "why" your reason for wanting to be a coach and that it needs to be so strong and personal that it would make you cry to think about it. They also tell you to develop your story, so you can share it with other people and connect with them on a deeper level. I have to be honest I thought, "What the crap! I don't have a profound, touching story that will make people connect to me." I'm just me, someone who was 352 lbs and finally got their act together and lost 178 lbs- that's it! Just a fat girl, or as my friend use to call me "Big Girl", who with diet and exercise took off the pounds and put on a healthier life.

But then I took the time to really think about the weight loss and why did the diet and exercise work this time. Because I've been over weight for many years now, since the birth of my second son, and I've tried numerous diets, exercise programs, weight loss programs, you name it. Some with success and others not so much, so why this time was I successful at reaching my goal? The answer was found in what the mentoring coaches were telling me to do "find your why". I didn't realize it at the time back when I made the decision to go on this final diet/life style change, but that was what I had done and that was what made the difference.

Usually I would go on a diet wanting to lose weight with the superficial  idea of looking good, and there is nothing wrong with that I still want to be "sexy", but that wasn't a deep enough reason to keep me committed to the chore of losing 173 lbs. It took me almost 2 yrs to reach my goal, so it didn't happen over night. It was small changes that were done consistently day in and day out, until I had success.

So, I did some soul searching and went over my life ,yes my childhood, and events that lead me to do what I'd been doing all these years, covering my pain with food, and I had to deal with them. Those issues were a type of cancer that kept eating at me, which drove me to eat so I could hide behind the FAT (fear, anger, tears). But once I dealt with those issue, treated that cancer and made the decision to be FIERCE (focused, in touch, energized, relentless, calm, enduring) nothing could stop me from losing the weight or reaching any goal that I set for myself.

The point of this blog is to let you know when your coach or me talk to you about finding your "why"  don't just blow it off like I did, because it really is important. Deep down there are reasons behind the things we do, whether we want to believe it or not. A lot of times we think we've dealt with things, but we've only pushed them aside and they will show up in ways that we don't want them to. Remember you are FIERCE!

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21 DAY FIX APPROVED BASIC VEGETABLE SOUP-ONLY 45 CALORIES PER BOWL

BASIC  LOW CALORIE VEGETABLE SOUP
I hate vegetables, especially raw veggies, so this recipe has been a life saver, well a diet saver for me. With only 45 calories a cup it helps me to stay on track with my weight loss goals. When I make it I cut the recipe in half, because it makes so much and even then I still have plenty leftover to freeze. Plus, it works great with the 21 Day Fix and helps you to get your green containers in for the day.  There are all kinds of ways to change up the flavor of the soup by adding some calorie free spices, so you don't get bored with eating the same thing everyday. But for now enjoy this Basic Diet Vegetable Soup Recipe:

            INGREDIENTS

To order the 21 Day Fix or the 3 Day Refresh

• 1 can (28 oz.)  whole tomatoes in juice
• 1/2 sm. head cabbage (1 lb) thinly sliced (6 c) or 1 small bag of slaw mix  
• 1 small bag (14-16 oz) frozen green beans
• 1 box (32 oz. ) Low Na+ Fat Free chicken broth
• 3 cup(s) water
• 1 teaspoon(s) salt
• 1/4 teaspoon(s) ground black pepper
• 1/2 lb. carrots, sliced
• 1 lg onion chopped or 1 small bag (16 oz. ) frozen chopped onions
• 2 lg stalks celery, sliced
• 2 lg cloves garlic, crushed with press or  1 Tbsp minced garlic in olive oil
• 1 bag ( 6 oz. each) baby spinach leaves

1. Coat 12 quart stockpot (or 2 large saucepans) with nonstick cooking spray. Over medium-high heat, add carrots, onions, celery, and garlic; cook 8 minutes or until vegetables soften, stirring occasionally.

2. Add tomatoes with their liquid, breaking up tomatoes with side of spoon. Add cabbage, green beans, broth, water, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper; heat to boiling over high heat, stirring occasionally.

3. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Increase heat to high; stir in spinach and heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 minutes or until all vegetables are tender. 

Each cup: About 45 calories, 2 g protein, 9 g carbohydrate, 1 g total fat (0 saturated), 4 g fiber, 0 mg cholesterol, 410 mg sodium

1 serving=1 green container (21DayFix)

MAKES ENOUGH FOR ALL WEEK AND THEN SOME.

WHAT YOU DO AND DON'T NEED FOR YOUR FITNESS JOURNEY

WHAT YOU DO AND DON’T NEED ON YOUR

FITNESS JOURNEY

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the excitement of starting something new that we run out and buy a bunch of stuff we don’t really need.  Commercials have us thinking we need all this fancy equipment and slick new gear in order to get a great workout.  WRONG! Losing weight and keeping fit does not always mean you have to be decked out in brand new shoes, pants, headbands, etc.  It’s not a bad thing to want to look nice, but seriously….you are going to sweat! Think functionality when it comes to your workout clothes, because the only thing that should make you uncomfortable is the workout.

Next it’s good to know what you need and what you can pass up when it comes to equipment and gear. Here are some quick tips on what you need and what you don’t to get the best workout in!

WHAT YOU NEED

   First a designated space in your home to workout or a good gym( that is close, if you have to travel far, after a while you’ll get tired of it and stop going) or both!

GYMS: A good gym does not always mean expensive. There are many local gyms that are offering reasonable rates and are conveniently located near your place of work or your home. In fact, most gyms without all the fancy-smancy stuff tend to be less expensive and more workout focused. Steam rooms, juice bars, etc...might be enticing but you’re there to workout and those things add on to the price of the gym. Things to look for when you’re looking for a gym:

1. Is the equipment well maintained
2. Do they have enough of certain machines you like? Nothing stinks more than having to wait for a piece of equipment Because there aren’t enough.
3. Check out the clientele there. Do you feel comfortable? If you’re a woman in your 50’s with 60+ lbs to lose do you really want to join a gym with all young body builders and skinny little half naked girls & have them watch you workout? Probably not.

HOME:Clear out the basement space, a living room square or if you have a room to designate as a gym. You can keep free weights and all your equipment in the garage or in a coat closet to keep it out of view from visitors and little ones.

1. Make sure you have a TV setup where it’s comfortable for viewing if you’re using DVD workouts and having a gym mat or something that helps with impact on a hard surface is always good.
2. Comfortable workout clothes that don’t constrict you or cause chafing or blisters. There are many affordable brands that have dri weave that keeps you dry and cool, so look for that when shopping. Most importantly have proper footwear, so get a good pair of shoes. They support your entire body!
3. Good Nutrition-What you put into your body impacts your workout goals significantly, nutrition is 80% of the battle. Poor eating habits (nutrition) can undo a good workout! Your body needs certain things to fuel it to get  optimal performance. If you have any questions about that? I can help! Shoot me an email here!
4. Keep a Fitness Journal -Writing down your thoughts, your reflections, your struggles, your successes can help you focus on your program. Writing down everything including what you eat for every meal of every day will help you get into a flow of foods you like, don’t like and need to try. You can also keep track of how you feel before, during, and after your workout.
5. WATER-Drink! Drink! Drink! Lots of water everyday and don’t wait to be thirsty. Take your weight and divide it by 2 and that is how many ounces of water you need to drink per day. Make sure to hydrate well before working out and take regular water breaks to prevent dehydration.

WHAT YOU DON’T NEED

---

Unless you’ve been working out for a long time most of these things you won’t need:

1. You don’t need a gym membership
2. You don’t need a huge assortment of supplements. If you want you can start with a few that enhance your workout and overall health.
3. You don’t need gloves. If you’re worried about your hands getting eaten up while lifting free weights and you plan on doing those a lot, then yes, get gloves.
4. A personal trainer-They can be expensive. That’s why I offer FREE coaching to my groups! If you’re interested in joining one of my challenge groups, I’d love to chat with you about your fitness goals.

THINGS YOU DON’T NEED OR LIKE

---

A Sales Pitch! You won’t get that from me…I want you to achieve your goals and join me on this fitness journey. If you’re ready to start your fitness journey, but you’re unsure of the path to take send me a message on Facebook

@ www.facebook.lori.mudd.92 or send me an email to muddlori@gmail.com and I’ll be glad to help.