End of Halloween Weekend...time to get back on track!

Sooo Halloween weekend has officially come to an end, at least for my friends and I who aren't planning on going out tonight or on actual Halloween night. 

 It was a really fun weekend filled with parties, drinking and candy. I just couldn't help myself to a few too many Halloween treats and now it's time to get back on track.

This week I'm going to be extra conscious of what I eat. I feel a little low energy so I'm going to try to have a lot of fruits and vegetables and water and just SLEEP! 

Hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween on Monday! 

 

Haaaaapppy Halloween!

Last night was the first night of Halloween for college students LOL. My friends and I decided to dress up and go out! 
 
I knew I'd be having a little to drink so I had a nice dinner. I made 3/4 cup of whole wheat pasta with a few spoonfuls of kidney beans, a side salad and a sweet potato. It was deliciousss. 

Then, we all got ready to go out. Getting ready is such a process, with the hair, makeup, and trying on a million and one outfits but it's always well worth it in the end. 

So I guess I can reveal my costume now! As some may know, I'm obsessed with Lil Wayne. I love rap music and his songs are amazing. The best time I've had was going to his and Nicki Minaj's concert with Michelle in March. Anyway, he has a video for a song called "Mrs. Officer" (one of my favorite songs) and the officer is gorgeously sexy so I got inspiration from her to be my own version of "Mrs. Officer." 

What do you guys think? Too sexy? HAHA 

See the  Mrs. Officer video here! weeee ooohh weee oooh weee, like a cop car ;)

Food as Comfort

So I came home and at around 8 PM I had my cup of tea, Greek Yogurt and an apple to hold me over for the night. I painted my nails then got kinda tired and took a 30 minute power nap. I woke up at around 10:15 PM kind of down because of a boy issue (I know, lame) and immediately headed to the fridge. I didn't do any major damage: I had some veggies with hummus then a small apple, but nonetheless, I ate even though I wasn't hungry.

I'm not upset at myself but I definitely recognize an ongoing issue of mine. When I get upset, I eat. If I feel anxiety or sadness coming on, I notice this habit, but in the moment I give in. I've developed this habit in middle school, coping with bullies. If someone made a mean comment, I would come home and try to forget about it with food. Sadly, it works because food (especially carbs) helps produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter that provides a calming "happy effect" in our brains. Thus, many of us use food as a way to comfort or reward ourselves. 

When do you guys find yourselves using food the most? It could be for celebration (ie- after finishing a tough week of work) or it could be for comfort. Take a minute to reflect and look for patterns between eating and emotional state. After all, recognition is half the battle. 

After recognizing this, it's important to come up with a plan of action to combat the habit. I try to find other things to calm myself, like drinking tea because it's satisfying and I have learned to associate it with relaxation. Also, I blog. It takes my mind off of what's bothering me and it's therapeutic to write down thoughts and feelings, whatever they may be. Happiness, sadness, anxiety, depression, anger, fear, overwhelm, joy,  ANYTHING. Write it down, even if  it's on a napkin! 

Afternoon & Early Dinner

After I got out of class at 3:15 PM, I had an appointment with my academic advisor to confirm my schedule for next semester and basically plan out my future. She told me that I am officially able to graduate a year early! I knew with all of my AP credits that it was something to think about but now that it's possible, I'm really excited. Don't get me wrong, I love school, but I want to get right into the workforce. Work experience has much more of a value to me than anything I can learn in a classroom. Also, I'd be saving over $60,000, which is always nice. I have to discuss it with my parents first but I could be a part of the New York University Class of 2013 (weird!).

I had to work 5-7 PM and instead of running home for 15 minutes and then have to walk to work again, I stayed on campus and went to work. A coworker swiped me for a meal in the dining hall and I made sure to stick to healthy choices. I knew this would be my lunch/dinner combined so I got a spinach salad with tomatoes, red peppers, string beans, broccoli, black beans and chickpeas. I also got a vegetable mix with tofu, squash, garlic cloves and mushrooms. It was soooo good, I can't believe it but I actually miss dining hall food. But I know cooking is better for me because I can choose exactly which ingredients go into my food.

When I get home I'll probably have a little snack (greek yogurt & apple with tea), paint my nails for Halloween and then go to bed early since I didn't sleep very well last night.

Day 9

As you may know, tomorrow is the last day of my 10 day pledge to not eat any processed food. I have succeeded thus far and it definitely wasn't as hard as I imagined it to be. Sure, there was temptation but instead of thinking about the immediate satisfaction of eating a cookie, I thought about the long term and how disappointed I'd be the next morning if I gave in.


I have been thinking about what I am going to do after the 10 days is up and I have decided to make long term changes to my diet as a result. For example, I will permanently cut out artificial sugar from my diet such as Splenda. I don't need it anymore. Also, I will avoid drinking sodas including diet because of the aspartame in it. For the most part, I will try to rely on natural snacks to satisfy my hunger instead of boxed chips or crackers. An apple or some almonds are much more satisfying than 15 crackers (the serving size). Because who really eats ONE serving of anything nowadays?


This isn't to say I will deprive myself though. If I want a piece of Halloween candy, I will limit myself to 1 or 2 every other day. A big part of eating is enjoyment and I don't want to make it a punishment like I have in the past because that just leads to bingeing.


Finally, I'll conclude with some exciting news. Today I stepped on the scale and I am the lowest weight I've been in 5 years. I am 143! I feel amazing and have lost a total of 65 pounds. My ultimate goal is 135 but the number isn't as important to me as how I feel. I love the way my clothes fit and how I look in them. I am definitely more interested in fashion and dressing myself nicely because I finally am taking care of myself. My skin is still clear, I'm more energized, more adventurous and overall I wake up happy in the morning.


My weight and confidence has by far been the biggest struggle of my life and I finally feel like I'm on my way to conquering the struggle.


With that said, I will continue this blog to discuss what I eat on a daily basis, how I am feeling and just anything in my life that I want to share and write down.


Thanks to those who read this and support me, it is with your kind words that I am encouraged to continue this journey to a healthier me.

HALLOWEEN!!

In the past, I have always had a love-hate relationship with Halloween. I loved the candy and treats but I hated the fact that I had to get dressed up. I remember several years in a row coming home weeks after Halloween and eating 20 Reeses and Kit Kats easily (my favorites). No, I'm not joking. I knew my parents would be mad if they found out so sometimes I would hide the wrappers or sneak them into the bathroom, scarfing them down like it was nothing. Never thinking twice about it. Then I would wonder why I couldn't wear the costumes I wanted. 


I remember all of my friends so excited to wear their costumes but I never felt comfortable enough to join them. The costumes I wanted to wear (I am a teenager after all), never looked good on me. I would always throw together an impromptu costume containing the least fun accessories I could find. I would envy the models on the costume bags and how perfect they looked while I felt discouraged, ugly and fat, to be honest.


This year, I walked into Party City a little nervous, because I am not yet at the place where I want to be with my body, but I'm getting there. I'm not going to reveal my costume just yet (don't worry, I'll post pictures on Halloween), but I FINALLY feel sexy! And comfortable. And relieved. And proud of myself. And just overall really emotional about how far I've come. 


This year, I am EXCITED to go out for Halloween in NEW YORK CITY! 

Afternoon Snack

I woke up from my nap really hungry so I had an ounce of almonds. After I finished, I was still hungry but I know that nuts take a while to digest and help you feel full. I was tempted to go into the fridge to get another snack before class but I resisted and had a cup of tea instead. I'm so happy I did that because I'm actually really full in class now. Lesson: give your brain time to realize you are full before eating past satiety! It's well worth it and it saves you the stomach ache (and the guilt).

25 Ridiculously Healthy Foods!

Prevention Magazine just came out with an article called "25 Ridiculously Healthy Foods." I am proud to say that my fridge is currently stocked with 12 out of the 25 foods!

Here is the list: (the ones I have are in BLUE)
1. Eggs
2. Greek Yogurt
3. Fat-free milk
4. Salmon
5. Lean beef
6. Beans
7. Nuts
8. Edamame & Tofu
9. Oatmeal
10. Flaxseed
11. Olive Oil
12. Avocado
13. Broccoli
14. Spinach
15. Tomatoes
16. Sweet Potatoes
17. Garlic
18. Red Peppers
19. Figs
20. Blueberries
21. Asian Pears
22. Lychee
23. Apples
24. Guava
25. Dark Chocolate (yum!)

How many of these foods do YOU eat on a weekly basis?
To learn more about why you should add these foods to your diet,
visit: 25 SuperFoods 

Early Morning Yoga

This morning I had planned to wake up early at 8 AM to practice yoga before I had to be at work at 10 AM. I guess I slept through my alarm because I woke up at 8:30 AM. Instead of forgoing my workout, I decided to head to the gym (conveniently located in my building) and get a 45 minute workout.

I just got this book called "Slim Calm Sexy Yoga" and it gives you different yoga routines for specialized practice. For example they have upper & lower body routines, fat burning poses, as well as routines for strength, flexibility, balance, clear/smooth skin, anxiety release, and relaxation.

After yoga I made a quick breakfast and headed to work. I made egg whites with spinach, broccoli and cheese with a side of hummus and celery sticks, and an orange. I'm so used to eating the same types of fruits (berries and apples) that I decided to add some variety. Plus, it's flu season so I could use the vitamin C.

Fall Treat: Cranberry Apple Butter

My friend Laurena, who is also very into eating healthy and organic foods, just bought Cranberry Apple Butter from Trader Joe's. It sounded delicious but I was a bit skeptical. Looking at the ingredients, there's nothing to worry about here though! It's fat-free, low in carbs/sugar, has 1 gram of fiber and is 20 cals per tablespoon. Also, the ingredients are: cranberries, apples, sugar, cranberry juice, and vitamin C. 

I get bored of putting cinnamon in my Greek yogurt so instead, I used 3/4 tablespoon of Cranberry Apple Butter and I added apple slices. It was sweet and tangy, the perfect fall treat! 

 

Dessert for Dinner?

Ahhh I had the most delicious dinner tonight, I honestly feel like I was "cheating" or indulging because it tasted so yummy! 

I made a spinach leaf salad with celery, carrots, broccoli and a few spoonfuls of leftover quinoa and kidney beans. Last but certainly not least, I decided to try baking a sweet potato in the oven. Good choice, Danielle! have had sweet potatoes probably once before in my life and they obviously didn't make a lasting impression. BUT, tonight, the simple sweet potato blew my mind! It was soooo delicious, it tasted like candy. Some parts were soft and other parts were crunchy and it was just a really amazing experience LOL. The fiber content has kept me full as well. I did some research and in general, sweet potatoes are one of the best veggies to have. They are filled with carotenoids, vitamic C, 470 mg of potassium (for one medium one), 4 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein.  By the way - carotenoids protect your cells from the damaging effects of free radicals, provide a source of vitamin A and antioxidents, and enhance the functioning of your immune and reproductive systems. 

 

I LOVE to shop! (for food)

Call me weird, but I get a sort of "high" when I walk in to Trader Joe's to do some food shopping. Everything is so colorful and healthy, yummy-looking and reasonably priced that I just want to buy the whole store! Obviously, I restrain. Today I went in with a grocery list in order to avoid impulse buying. 

Carrots, Broccoli, Spinach, Sweet Potatoes, Avocados

Sweet Potatoes, Apples, Celery

Kashi Cereal, Egg Whites, Hummus, Greek Yogurt, Almond Milk, Black Beans, Garbanzo Beans, Kidney Beans

Sunday Funday (but not really)

Last night after blogging, I didn't actually fall asleep until 4 AM and I woke up at 9:30 AM for my staff meeting. I then headed to Yoga to the People with Julia for a 90 minute vinyasa session. It was sooo intense, I literally tasted the sweat as it dripped down my forehead all the way past my mouth (I know, TMI). Immediately after I told Julia, "I'm definitely going to be sore tomorrow" and a few hours later, my legs were burning. They're still burning. Although I've only done yoga about 10 or so times, I really like it because it's challenging for me and I can see my improvements each time. It's funny because when I started I didn't think it was too hard but now that I'm doing the positions correctly, I feel the burn! Also, the breathing is really hard for me because when things get difficult, I hold my breathe. I also like how it's 90 minutes of you allowing yourself to get out of your own head and be carefree. The noises I hear in that class (the moans, groans, screams, sighs, cries, and farts LOL) are incredible. I'm not sure what one girl had going on but today she literally cried in class for 2 or 3 minutes -- loud sobs! It was kinda cool to hear that emotional experience.

After yoga I was really hungry and probably dehydrated so I drank two glasses of water and cooked some egg whites (with a side of hummus of course) and an apple. Is eating hummus that regularly normal and even healthy? I don't know but it's good. Also, the picture looks kind of gross but I promise it was delicious!

I then went to study with Laurena at 2:30 PM and got hungry so I snacked on a brown rice cake (35 cals) and a handful of almonds. That kept me full for a few hours. I finished studying at 5:15 PM and decided to nap because I was exhausted from the amount I had slept. Normally, my naps are 30 minute cat naps but I passed out for 1 hour until 6:30 PM, and I woke up refreshed (and hungry!)

For dinner I made veggies, quinoa and kidney beans which was really good. I didn't have time to go food shopping today so I'll go tomorrow and get a greater variety of foods to make, since I get stuck with eating the same few dishes. After dinner, I made some tea and sat down to study, but got consumed in trying to find a Halloween costume online. In NYC, everyone takes Halloween VERY seriously, even having 3 costumes for each night of the weekend. I was never big on dressing up but maybe it's because I never liked how I looked in the costume. This year I want to be something cool though. After researching costume ideas, I got hungry again (go figure) and decided I was probably just bored so I started blogging. Now I know I'm not hungry just yet for dessert, I just wanted a study distraction. In an hour I'll probably have some Greek Yogurt, an apple or some pumpkin with cinnamon. 

Day 5: Halfway There

I am absolutely exhausted but I promised myself that I'd post tonight. It's currently 2:45 AM and I just finished studying with a friend for my midterm on Monday.

 








For lunch today I made whole wheat pasta with a mix of veggies. I was doing homework and probably waited a little too long to eat, so I was hungry while cooking. I ALWAYS get hungry while I cook so I try to make sure I have a healthy snack on hand while the food is preparing. I cut up celery and had a bit of hummus with it. 

I did some more work and then went to the gym and saw a kid in my public speaking class who I am kinda obsessed with (not to sound creepy). He is a senior in Stern, also in Pike, and he always makes conversation and he's really smart, funny, and outgoing. And he likes SPORTS...what are the chances?! After all, it's NYU. 

Alexa & I playing on my iPhone

Anyway, after that I headed to babysitting on the UES. Babysitting is my favorite job in the world. I love the little girl, Alexa, who is a precious 6-year-old princess. She gets sooo excited when I walk in the door, it makes me happy! Besides that, I get to eat amazing food, do my homework AND get paid. 

 

 





For dinner, I made a salad with broccoli, cucumber, snap peas, carrots and Swiss Cheese (which IS allowed). I had a side of honeydew melon. After dinner, I had some coffee (sans Splenda, which I'm getting used to btw) and a few cashews and a pear. 

Tomorrow is going to be another long day. I have a staff meeting from 10-11:30, then midterm studying, food shopping and Yoga to the People (free yoga) from 5-6 PM. The fact that my eyes are closing as I type this is probably an indication that I should go to bed now. Goodnight :)

Shabbat Dinner & Fall Festivities

I went with my friends Laurena and Johnny to Shabbat dinner tonight and had a great time. Looking back, a year ago I'd be the shy girl in the corner too self-conscious to talk to anyone but tonight I had no problem introducing myself to people and making my presence known. I could tell that people were drawn to that, even making eye contact with a few cuties (don't have a heart attack dad, they're obviously Jewish, it was Shabbat dinner LOL). 

As I said earlier, I was a bit nervous about the options they would have for me there but to my surprise, they had good food! I got salad with a ton of veggies and a piece of grilled chicken and quinoa (which was absolutely amazing...better than I make it, for sure). I didn't really like the chicken and I'm not sure why but I haven't been liking chicken lately. I'm basically a vegetarian, except for turkey in my wraps. My dad recommended this awesome documentary called "Forks Over Knives" which I highly encourage everyone to watch. It's about eliminating (or limiting) animal-based food products in our diet. In America, we overestimate the amount of protein we need, especially from meat. In other countries, meat is served as a palm-sized side dish whereas in the US, we eat it as our main course. Lately, I've been relying on other sources of protein such as vegetables, quinoa, brown rice, tofu and BEANS.


Anyway, after Shabbat I headed to my friends apartment because she was having a Fall Festivities party. It was very fun! I got to see so many people I haven't seen in a while and it was nice to meet new people as well. I was again a little shocked at how outgoing I was, especially since I arrived by myself. I felt really comfortable. However, the food part wasn't easy. The party was centered around food and drinks that I could not enjoy. Jen and Sam made "fall treats" such as cake bites, Apple pie (ughh, I'm drooling), and pumpkin cupcakes. Also, they had caramel appletinis, shots (made of apple cider, apple flavored vodka and homemade whipped creamed), as well as many other fall cocktails. I didn't indulge in any of the food but I did have a glass (or two) of red wine, which is permitted. 


 I was kicking myself when I saw everyone indulge, even making a joke, "Guys, I picked the wrong effin 10 days to be doin this shit!" But at the end of the day, laying in my bed as I type this, I am happy I restrained. It's 10 days, I won't die. I can do this!

Thank You Thank You Thank You!!

The support I have been getting from family and friends about this blog is truly incredible. I am so thankful that I have people in my life who genuinely care about me and want to see me succeed. I just wanted to thank everyone for their amazing comments on the blog, emails and Facebook messages. You guys keep me strong! 

I want to share a particularly touching message that my best friend sent me on Facebook. I couldn't help myself from crying when I read this and it just motivates me even more to stay on track:

" I am so proud of you. I read through everything and I was blown away. I've known you since the summer after 7th grade, remember those days? When we got excited over buying fake uggs and you got scared when Alex or Kayla chased you up the stairs? some of my favorite memories have been with you. i remember going to camp shane with you too, i think that sealed the deal of our friendship (being friends with all those crazy dramatic fat girls haha) but anyway, high school was weird for us + i think that once we got to college we got so much closer. i have to say i haven't been more thankful for a relationship like ours. we can go a while without talking + i feel like when i talk to you it's like no time went by at all since the last time we spoke. you completely inspire me Danielle, and i'm not talking out of my ass on that one...you have changed so much in the past year (not in a bad way) and it makes me so happy to see you so completely happy and loving your life. you deserve it. i watched you struggle a lot with bullies, your weight, your parents divorce...but you came out so much stronger and it's amazing to see how strong you are. i've struggled a lot this year, but i think i'm finally on the upswing a bit. and a lot of it has to do with your simple words of wisdom, in complete seriousness. when i visited you in august, you left me with some of the best pieces of advice i had ever gotten. you stood by me through a lot, and i'm so glad you did. your blog is incredible, and it really inspired me to start one...it seems like it's really helping you through the 100 days of unprocessed foods challenge (which i love!). i have it bookmarked + i'm going to read it all the time. i love you so much + i'm so glad that you're doing so well. you deserve it all Danielle, you've grown up so much and you're so happy. i love it and i love you. always remember i'm here for you, i will always listen + never judge. but, i mean we've been friends for 6 years now, you should know that ;)

i love you forever and ever ♥" 

The most incredible compliment you can receive is that you inspire someone. Ultimately, my goal is to make a difference in the lives of people, just as you all have impacted me. I am so glad that I'm inspiring people with this blog. You all inspire me to keep with it. Again, thank you to my friends and family for supporting me and loving me unconditionally, I feel really lucky.

Tonight

Tonight I'm going to a Shabbat dinner with my friends and I'm nervous about the food options that will be available to me. We'll see how it goes!

Last Night & Kim Kardashian (sounds worse than it is lol)

So last night, I was very hungry when I got home after 4 hours of classes and just ready to relax and start the weekend. I had leftover quinoa so I threw together a spinach salad and had some quinoa with black beans. 

I then got in bed and caught up on my guilty pleasure: reality TV. Specifically, the Real Housewives of New Jersey. I get bored easily when I watch TV so I got hungry. I ate some strawberries and Trader Joe's Crunchy Unsalted Peanut Butter. Bad, bad idea! I can never really stick to the serving size and definitely ate way too much. Maybe I just won't buy peanut butter anymore LOL. 

This morning I'm feeling bad about my choice so I decided to blog about it. Next time I feel the urge to eat when I'm not hungry, I'll come here and write instead. Today is a new day filled with healthy decisions. This is also a lesson though: just because I am eating unprocessed, doesn't mean I can go crazy. Moderation (even with "good" foods) is key.
  

  

Lastly, today is my idol, Kim Kardashian's 31st Birthday! HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIMMIE! People know that I'm obsessed with Kim but they don't really understand why. So, I'll explain. For one, Kim is Armenian and although I am Iranian, we share the same family values and many of the traditions are similar. Kim's dad reminds me of my dad, he was very intelligent and supportive of Kim, and clearly played such a central role in her life before he passed away.  Also, she is a family-oriented person like myself. I love getting together on Friday nights to go to Long Island for Shabbat dinner with my family; I wish we did that more often. I love how both of our families are crazy, loud, and dysfunctional. We fight hard (particularly Michelle and I) but we love even harder. At the end of the day, family will always be there when everyone else trickles in and out of your life. I also love how Kim promotes a healthy body image, inspiring me to be comfortable with myself. By no means is she considered skinny and yet, she has one of the most desirable bodies in Hollywood. She proves that you can have curves and be confident too. Lastly, I find a little bit of myself in Kim because of her work ethic. I, like Kim, am extremely driven and work hard to achieve whatever goal I have on my mind. People think Kim's dumb...fine. But she does one hell of a job marketing herself and the Kardashian empire. She works a lot harder than people think, she just loves her job so people don't see it. She's always working and even after marrying, proves that she is an independent woman. I could go on for hours, but I just wanted to say: HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIM KARDASHIAN! ENJOY AND MANY MORE! XX

Bored

I'm in class bored (naturally) brainstorming what I should make for dinner. Hmmmmmm....

Breakfast & Benefits

Although I didn't have class until 2 today (I'm actually in class now...uh oh) I woke up early to go to the gym. Today was a strength training day so I went to the weight room, a scary place dominated by the few "bros" of NYU. On these strength days I'm always sure to get a little more dolled up than I do on a cadio day, and it always pays off when I catch one of the guys looking at me out of the corner of my eye! 


After I left the gym, I was actually filled with energy, something quite rare for me. I proceeded to clean my room, do the dishes and plan out the next few weeks of school work. And then it hit me...could this unprocessed diet be energizing me? Probably. My face is void of any new pimples (knock on wood), my stomach is less bloated, and I wake up NOT completely dead in the morning. I even eliminated my routine coffee run this morning, not because I didn't want it though, because I was late for class. BUT, I'm fully functioning without it. I also noticed that I crave a juicy apple more than cookies and brownies, and anyone who knows me knows that this is not the norm! Our bodies have actually become addicted to these processed foods. Yes, I'm talking about a serious addiction (think drugs!) whereas we crave these foods and once we take the deadly first bite, it's virtually impossible to stop. These foods control us. Eliminating (or limiting) them can help us lessen the addiction.

Anyway, as I packed my snacks and nearly ran out the door for class, I threw together a high-protein breakfast that I would surely need having class from 2-6:10 PM with no break! I created a fun parfait-type meal with Greek Yogurt, sprinkles of cinnamon and an apple. Might not sound good but it tastes great. Salty from the yogurt, natural sweetness from the apple. Must not look too bad because a girl in my class just curiously asked if I was eating ice cream. Sure tastes like it...minus the process.

Doing Dinner & Resisting Temptation

 For dinner, I wasn't too hungry and I was pressed for time since I had a residence hall council meeting at 8 PM, I whipped up a 5 minute meal. I ate egg whites with some veggies. And of course, a side of organic hummus and carrots. I am obsessed with hummus, it's so delicious! When someone hears the word "fried" though, they think of veggies in a pan, drenched in oil. Nope! I used a frying pan to cook my eggs and veggies, but instead of using oil or even Pam (low calorie cooking spray), I used 2 tablespoons of water to cook the veggies! Water serves as the perfect heating agent. Not to mention, it's healthy. The hardest part about dinner was probably not being able to dip my delicious eggs in ketchup, which I love. No high-fructose corn syrup here though, I enjoyed them plain!

At my hall council meetings they always serve dinner but I ate right beforehand so I wouldn't be hungry for whatever they were serving. Last week there was Chinese food and tonight was pizza. My mouth watered when I saw everyone grabbing seconds and thirds of my favorite: the Sicilian slice. Gahhhh 


As part of the programming committee, I signed up with my roommate Katie to table next Thursday from 6-8 PM for Breast Cancer Awareness.

After the meeting, Katie made a quick stop to the vending machines for a snack. I couldn't even process (haha) how much processed food was around me....M&Ms, Snickers, Fritos and Fruit Snacks galore!

Temptation is everywhere, especially living in New York City. Like many other cities, NYC is known for it's amazing multi-cultural food. You will find restaurants, diners, cupcake shops and food stands on almost every street corner. Not to mention, most events are centered around food. Needless to say, it's easy to give in. Blogging to a fan base, which is mostly made up of my family, has kept me on track. Knowing I will be held accountable for my choices at the end of the day, and the fact that people are supporting me in going through with this challenge, means everything. I want to prove to others, but more importantly myself, that I am capable of succeeding. 

Rainy NYC

Rain in NYC is beautiful, except when you're walking home from work!

Be Prepared!

One of the most important lessons I've learned in my journey of living a healthy lifestyle is: PREPARATION IS KEY! I cannot stress this enough. I can't tell you how many times I have vowed to myself to eat healthy all day long, only to run to the fridge and grab whatever I could get my hands on in a starved crazeafter a long day of classes.

Yes, it takes more effort to plan out meals and snacks each day, but the success pays off in the end when you don't let your hunger get the best of you.

Since I can't resort to easy snacks (protein bars, chips, crackers) between classes for an energy boost, I need to prepare myself in order to resist temptation. Today I sliced up an apple before class so I could easily munch on it when given the opportunity.

I knew I'd get hungry before dinner and since I have work from 5-7 PM, I packed a handful of raw almonds in a baggie. The little bit of preparation did well to keep me on track, and satisfied before dinner.

Last Night's Dessert & Public Speech!

Last night, I knew I'd be up pretty late practicing for the public speech I had to give this morning so I had a little brain food for dessert: Fage 0% Greek Yogurt with strawberries. Greek Yogurt has become a staple in my diet because it packs on 23 grams of protein in one serving, low in calorie (130!) and it has very little sugar and carbs (1/3 of those in regular, sweetened yogurt). It kept me full for the rest of the night!


This morning, I had to give my informative speech on "Beauty Rituals Around the World." It is really interesting how seriously we take beauty as a society and the painful lengths we go to attain perfection. Some of the rituals are quite shocking such as: drinking cow urine in India, using nightengale droppings as a facial in Japan, and sending daughters to fattening camps in Africa, where they are force-fed 16,000 calories a day in preparation for their weddings.

At the end of my speech I was quite impressed with myself, almost overwhelmed with emotion about how far I have come as a person. I have always been outgoing, "the loud, obnxious one" around my friends, however, due to insecurities, I become quiet and shy around people I am not familiar with. My speech went very smoothly however, and I was only a little nervous. I am beginning to find comfort with myself as a person, because I deserve to have a voice and to be happy, regardless of my appearance or of what the scale says.

Interesting Link: Fit 2 Fat 2 Fit

Here is a veryyyy interesting link I found tonight on Yahoo! Shine

Personal Trainer's Attempt at Obesity...On Purpose!

This personal trainer is PURPOSELY making himself obese to prove a point: to experience life like a fat person, only to lose it again after 6 months, proving that it is VERY possible to get your life back after letting yourself go.

I personally think his approach is awesome. Yes, it's a bit dangerous but he will be able to better understand and relate to his clients, and offer them inspiration. 

Here is his blog about the journey: Fit 2 Fat 2 Fit

Enjoy! 

Day One

Today was the first day of my 10 day unprocessed food challenge. It wasn't as hard as I expected, but I suppose the longer I resist temptation, the hardest it will become. 

I had to forgo my normal gym routine this morning and go to work before class so for breakfast I packed some Fage 0% Greek Yogurt and sprinkled a bit of cinnamon on it. For lunch I ate a whole wheat wrap sandwich filled with turkey, part-skim mozzarella cheese and spinach leaves. On the side I ate some carrots and organic hummus. 

Drinking coffee was perhaps the hardest part of my day. Coffee is something I usually enjoy 1-2 times a day, preferably French Vanilla flavored sugared with Splenda and fat free skim milk. I had to forgo the Splenda, which made the coffee taste more bitter, and less delicious. However, I definitely appreciate the coffee more, sipping it comfortably instead of gulping it down. As my tastebuds have become accustomed to the sugary taste, I'm sure they will acquire a taste for coffee seasoned with only milk. We'll see...

Before my second class I munched on a Gala apple. I just bought a bag of 12 apples from Trader Joe's because they're having a sale since it's my favorite season: Apple season!

On my walk home for dinner, I noticed a woman on the street eating Haagen Dazs ice cream and a student munching on a bag of Sun Chips. I couldn't help but question whether I had made the right decision in going through with this challenge, but I have made a commitment and decided to stick with it. After all, no one said it would be easy!

For dinner I tried something new, and delicious: Quinoa (a seed grain originated from Peru, high in fiber and protein) with black beans and a side spinach salad with carrots, celery and 2 tablespoons of organic fat-free Balsamic Vinaigrette.

I might do some light exercise now before dessert, such as arm weights and ab work. Later, I'll likely have some almonds, an apple or Greek Yogurt. I bought pumpkin so I can't wait to make something delicious with it this weekend.

Introduction

My quest at becoming healthy started when I was about to enter senior year of high school, about 3 years ago. I was on vacation with my family in Florida and I was living life afraid. I was afraid to speak up, to wear a bathing suit around others, afraid to take care of myself, because I never felt like I had deserved it. Growing up, I had been overweight since age 10. I didn't exercise and I ate whatever I wanted, simple and plain. Food served as a consolation, a celebration, and it began to justify any other emotions I felt. I had finally stepped on the scale in Florida and I was shocked. I was 208 pounds, and a size 16 in pants, heavier than I had ever been. That day, the last day of vacation luckily enough, I made a decision to start controlling my life by learning to live a healthier and more active lifestyle, and make better nutrition choices. For the next year I had managed to lose 38 pounds and keep it off, but I never fully stuck to a new lifestyle. I was always "on a diet" or "off a diet." This February, during my freshman year in college, weighing 175 pounds and down to a size 12, I decided to make a permanent change in the way I ate and exercised. Since, I have lost another 30 pounds, and am currently a size 4. However, after becoming more and more knowledgeable about nutrition and exercise, even admittedly a bit obsessed, I have decided to challenge myself yet again, in hopes of gaining more energy, perhaps losing the stubborn "last 10 pounds," and overall, treating my body with the respect it deserves, by trying to eat fully unprocessed, unrefined foods for the next 10 days. And potentially more. Throughout this presumably difficult process, I will be uninhibitedly blogging about my experience, by posting pictures of what I eat, and jotting down my unrefined/unprocessed (tehe) feelings. I invite you to join me on my journey of eating only real foods... no one said it will be easy, but I am up for the challenge!