Tag: health

Sugar Free? How about, Fun Free?

…and my pants shouldn’t be this tight.

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I’ve been asked by many how I’m going through this transition of eating whatever TF I want, to actually being fairly disciplined in watching what I am eating. (Fairly is the key word in this)

Well, friends, it’s no easy task. Anyone can just log onto Instagram, Facebook, Twitter..and find a diet that is way too difficult, too unobtainable– and then give up after posting 3 pictures of themselves at Whole Foods Gluten Free aisle. Let me tell ya: Gluten Free ain’t something to do unless you have an issue: then by all means, be gluten-free.

I’ve met with dietitians that measured me, weighed me, and given me diets: and I really am happy to say that it actually worked. To get a plan was expensive but worth it. To have someone rooting in your corner was expensive and nagging…but WORTH.IT. I’ve since moved to a different state, lost a couple of years– but now, I’m back on track. (BTW pah-leeze don’t get mad at me because you think I’m wrong) BUT I am able to say: Sugar free, for me, works da best.

For three-five whole days I thought about decapitating everyone around me. I thought about food constantly, and only wanted just about everything that you walked past or saw on my Instagram feed. I did the opposite of exposure therapy.  I brought my own lunch to work, didn’t leave the office to walk past the various places with treats, and did not eat out for the first week. I needed a full on detox, from temptation and food. I made sure to drink water, not deprive myself of meals, and not load up on a ton of fruit. (You’ll just want something sweet)

Going grocery shopping when you’re deprived of something that seemed like my whole body was made of was the worst day of my life. I looked up recipes before I went and jotted down what I needed. My dietitian said to read every single label– read everything before you put it in your body– and obey the serving size. LOL have you seen how much cereal you should be eating? Jokes. Did you know cereal isn’t allowed on my diet? Lol. Jokes again. I went through aisle after aisle in my grocery store picking up things I thought looked “heathly” and putting them back down after seeing 12 grams of sugar in one serving. By the time I got home, I was crying because I came home with chicken, peppers, cauliflower, and quinoa. My dad actually made fun of me because I was crying about food. Which, in hindsight, it’s terribly funny because I was crying about food. After a week of dieting and taking pictures of every single portion I ate, I met with my good ole friend, Maria. She combed through my camera roll and gave me props or feedback about each plate.

“What kind of sauce is that?”

“Yea, your grains should never be so much that they are falling off the plate.”

“Are you sure that’s all you ate?”

She never made me feel bad about my image.  Everything she said was for me to get healthier. It was never about those measurements. After three weeks, I told her I could actually wake up with my alarm. I saw a difference in how my legs and knees felt. Yes, I had lost some inches around my waist- but I initially went to her because I felt sick, and at 24, I didn’t think I should feel so tired I could hibernate through the winter.

Fast forward to this year. I woke up the week of January 17th and felt sick. My baby was whining in the next room to get picked up and start the day- and I just couldn’t do it. I got up, sluggishly walked into his room, could barely pick him up, and unhappily started my day…at 8:30am. I knew I needed to change myself. If not for me, but for MP3. My whole life I wanted to be a young mom, because I felt like I would be able to chase my kids around and be the best mom possible…at 27, I shouldn’t be this slow. My knees shouldn’t hurt his bad..and my pants shouldn’t be this tight. (So much drama)

I knew what I had to do. After MP3’s breakfast, I made myself an Eggo waffle with Nutella and had my last meal. I packed my lunch (LOL if you know me), dropped the baby off at his grandmom’s, and pranced off to work feelin’ like a million bucks. I later got a granola bar that had 10 grams of sugar in it and said, “OK, now this is my last meal.” And, I meant it. I’m older, wiser, and have much more willpower than I used to. It’s because I know what didn’t work the last time. The last time around, I just said “just a taste” to everything after 6 months, and then it became…”well okay.”

This time, I came armed with a nagging husband, mom, and boss who all throw curveballs my way and then praise me with how well I’m doing. I’m doin’ this for me, but also for my instagram feed. (Just kidding)

If you want a friend to watch food with, or diet with–LMK. I’m not a professional, but I’m a friend!

 

Love you, mean it.

K

 

 

Disclaimer: Like honestly, go to a dietition or something if you need a food plan and don’t take my word as bible… because mine was designed around me…and they know some shit and went to school for this. This is for motivating the crap out of you.

 

 

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5 Go-To Recipes Under $20

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Just like Taylor, I’m back.

Needed a bit of space– blank space if you will.

So, what have I been doing? Well, I’ve been:

Trying to make sure my kid stops being so mobile, haven’t put on make up in like a month, starting lusting over the color mustard, and making my lunches at home.

Yea, that’s right. It only took me about 3 years working in the same damn mall to realize that the food is actually shit there, and maybe it’s the reason I can’t seem to lose any weight. Bitter? Yes. Truthful? Yes.

Let’s just start with the choices that the state of Pennsylvania gives you as a whole: Applebees, Longhorn, Chickies (it’s good I get it, but like..not every Friday), Grand Lux, etc. The list of chains is endless. I guess being from New York makes me spoiled– but I’ll say it again. There’s literally nothing worth writing home about in this part of PA. Sorry, boo…but when you can’t find good Italian food 10 miles in any direction from your house, you start to get a bit irritated.

So, my lovely cook husband has started to whip up some awesome “take to work friendly” lunches and dinners. My problem with making lunches at home is that my hands are so full from my purse and my coffee that I usually don’t have a free hand to carry Tupperware in and out of work. I like easy, and simple, and lazy. Here’s a list of my favs and links to their recipes:

  1. Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad
  2. Paprika Parmesan Chicken
  3. Avocado Caprese Chicken Quesadilla
  4. Coconut Chicken Strips
  5. Avocado Egg Salad

If you wanted me to give you the recipes, you really are just reaching for me to do more work. In case you were wondering, this isn’t a cooking blog. But, alas– all 5 of these have something in common: They are so easy you won’t even feel like you’re really cooking– and with a 10 month old, I don’t really have enough time to cook a 5 course meal. Mostly because I’m too busy watching him crawl into my dog’s crate and try to eat one of Marlow’s 10 thousand tennis balls. Motherhood looks good on me, right?

Pro tip: Want to use Avocado in your lunch? It’s actually a freaking process– being that avocados oxidize like, super quick. You could put lemon juice on them or just leave the pit in to try to prevent oxidation. BUT I usually just wait to cut my avocados until lunch time–which is extra, and the ladies at the food court think I’m crazy when I ask them to cut an entire avocado open…but I do what I have to, amirite?

Want another pro tip? Make sure to remember to bring your containers out of your car. I know people probably adult much better than me, and that seems like a no-brainer, but just take the piece of advice and file it under your “Alright, I’m def more sane than Kate” tab. You may need it someday when your car smells.

 

Anyway, check back later this week (if I remember) to check out some new posts!

 

Love you, mean it.

K

 

A PSA On Mental Health

I changed my thinking. It was certainly not overnight, but it came.

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Wrote this when I was having a fit…you know, just a regular day in the neighborhood

I don’t think I can call myself an expert in mental health; but I will tell you I do have my fair share of experience. After being diagnosed as situational bipolar as well as clinically depressed, I have found that for every supporter of great mental health, comes 5 skeptics. Many skeptics believe that depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder (just to name a few) is something a weak person claims in order to be accepted and not shunned for their odd behaviors and antisocial tendencies. Through my ups and downs, I am led to believe that being mentally healthy is probably the most important aspect of a person’s life. It is a necessity.

One would think that with the amount of people who suffer from mental health issues, more people would be sympathetic towards symptoms and treatments. This isn’t the case. Along with others, I have fallen victim to shaming and the occasional eye roll. I have gotten the old, “just don’t be depressed” statements, and the “so, do you take like happy pills?”

When I was first diagnosed, I found it so hard to get out of bed. One day, I came up with a phrase: “Only 12 more hours until I get to go home and go to sleep.” I lived off of that. Everyday, I knew that I had to leave my house, and be active. I would count down the hours until I was able to escape again. After living that way for almost two years, I started hearing myself say, “Only 10 more hours until I get to wake up.” I changed my thinking. It was certainly not overnight, but it came.

I cried, every day. Having mental illness is a silent battle. Not because people don’t know you have it, but, because people don’t know how to “cure” it. This frustrates people. There is no comparison to help those who question what mental illness is. Let me explain it: Imagine having any kind of personal issue, one that eats you alive. You cannot go to sleep at night, and you can’t stand to face the problem. It is almost too big for you to handle. To somebody with mental illness, that “big” problem is their entire life. There is no positive, and there is no end in sight.

In my own experience, a person will never know the true battle that a person goes through until it is witnessed first hand. After being diagnosed, I was faced with the issues of my own family not understanding what was going on. I couldn’t help my problems, and my family didn’t know how to help either. There were fights, nasty looks, and frustrating WEEKS. My siblings were angry with me for the way I spoke to my parents, but I couldn’t control my anger. After going through therapy, and still being in it, my attitude has become more bearable. I am able to express my emotion with appropriate words, and not break down in tears.

I have chosen to write this PSA, if you will, to explain the right way (in other words, least offensive) to love, make conversation with, and help those who suffer from mental illness.

1) Stop Generalizing

This is probably the most crucial piece of advice. Every single person’s issues are different. No two people have the same experiences or the same triggers. People connect through their various coping methods. A “depressed” person isn’t always the sad girl in the corner of a party. The party girl or the outgoing guy in class can suffer just as much as the quiet ones. Everyone has their own way of coping, and in some cases, people can overcompensate by being outgoing. By generalizing, you may be seen as non-compassionate.

2) Stop the Cookie-Cutter Phrases

This can be the phrase, “if you don’t think about sad things, you won’t be sad!” Yes, because if I also think I going to be a blonde, that will happen too! Being depressed is an actual sickness. Being anxious is an actual problem. Believe it or not, long term sufferers are working their HARDEST to overcome these problems. Try to say things like: “do you want to take a walk?” Or “hold my hand, tell me what you’re thinking.” Offer a piece of gum and keep your breathing level normal. Don’t write it off as “oh, Kate’s having issues again…” And walk away. It won’t help anyone. Before you say something, try to compare it to a problem you’ve had, and then magnify it times 20.

3) Try to Compare it to a Physical Illness

Most mental health issues can come through as a somatic problem. Meaning: when a person is anxious, their heart beats faster, their palms are sweaty, and they have actual problems breathing. Make sure you know the signs of when a person is having an anxiety attack. Even though it varies from person to person, look at his or her eyes. You should see panic. Sit with them, ask if you can talk. If he or she wants silence, do it. Don’t try to prove your knowledge. The fact that you know to be supportive is knowledge enough.

4) Don’t Treat Us Differently

Just like a person with a physical illness, people who suffer from mental illness don’t want to be stared at, gawked at, or left out. There is a difference between being supportive and giving us special treatment. Life can be hard enough when you think that no one understands your issues. It’s hard enough when you are secretly having a panic attack and don’t want others to roll their eyes and say, “oh, she’s having issues today.” My advice? Laugh, talk, and spend time with those people. It’s not going to be an easy battle.

The first step in becoming an alliance with those who are ill is to understand