My New (gotta love bacon) Diet

A while ago my brother in law called up Ben and told him about a diet that he and their sister had started. Ben didn't tell me anything about it for a little while until he seemed more interested in it, then he divulged. It's called the Carb Night Solution.
Frankly, I have tried a couple diets when I was younger but I just don't like them. I even went vegan for a while last year to see if that would help me drop weight, but it didn't. All diets seem to have some people saying they're great, but then those people end up gaining it all back very quickly and overall I just feel like it's fad after fad. Atkins, Paleo, South Beach, etc.

When Ben showed me pictures of his brother and sister after they had done their diet for I think about 1 1/2 months I was pretty stunned. Neither of them were fat by any means, but I noticed the difference immediately, and when his sister sent a picture of her in her prom gown we both said, "She might be getting too skinny." So right off I realized that it was something that worked and worked quickly. When their family came into town I asked Ben's sister more about it and she told me that her brother had read the book, but that she hadn't yet. She got the rules and basics from him and just started the diet. They had also told their other brother in San Diego about it, who is a Navy Doctor, and he said it was sound and also started the diet with his wife. That was a pretty big endorsement to Ben's sister, and me as well.

I was very interested at this point, but I was still nursing (and keeping my milk is extremely difficult for me) so I didn't want to do anything to jeopardize that. I waited until later to get started. In the meantime Ben started the diet. I noticed his change very quickly. Of course the first week is mostly water-weight that drops, but even after that I noticed areas where fat would normally store beginning to shrink.
Now, at this point I still hadn't read the books, but I knew the rules.

To put it simply it's a ultra-low carb diet (30 carb grams or less/day), high in fat and high in protein. Plus, throw in a carb night (carb binge) about once a week. That's basically the gist of it.

What I didn't like before I started it was seeing how much meat they all were eating! I told Ben I didn't think I could do it because I'm not a big meat lover. Occasionally, sure, but I don't prefer steak (in fact I've never even made one before), chicken is okay, but I wouldn't want it everyday. Ben was making chicken almost every day. Chicken fajitas, fried chicken (made with a pork rind batter - low carb), marinated chicken, and occasionally steak, and then bacon and eggs pretty much every morning.

BUT then I got on Pinterest to look up low-carb, no-carb, recipes and found tons of stuff and it looked pretty delicious.

So, when I had to stop nursing I got on the Carb Night diet.
Here's the thing. Before I got pregnant with Cora I was fitting into about size 12 jeans....not super comfortably. One thing I like about my body is that it hides weight well. About half way through the pregnancy I gave in. I was stressed and in pain and I would eat lots. Double my portions, and eat lots and lots of treats....especially baked goods. They are my temptation. Before I had kids I would eat pretty little, and what I ate usually had sugar in it. My body handled it fine. Now, that's not an option. I say to all those teen girls and under 25 year olds, cherish your body! Appreciate how easily it loves you back, because that won't last! And be prepared for the time when everything about your body will change, so be good to it.
So, after the pregnancy I was pretty big. I had huge love-handles, huge butt, huge thighs, and even back fat which I had never really had before.
But I have never been the kind of person to dwell so much on my body or let it rule my confidence so I just ignored it. More like, I didn't see it for what it was. I knew I had put on fat and I knew I didn't look like what I wanted, but because I was still attractive to my husband I didn't worry about it too much, and I still had my confidence.

Because there is a trip coming up in the very near future I felt like I should get my swim-suit body ready. But I didn't think too much about it...until I got my new swimsuit in the mail. When I tried it on I knew I would not be too happy wearing it in public. Also, I was getting really frustrated that I had a very limited amount of clothes I could wear because few of my old clothes fit me. I figured I better get on the diet and try it out.

The day after I started I decided I should take some "before" pictures. What I saw STUNNED me! I looked like I have never looked before. I had never been that big and I was just saddened. I had no idea that's what I really looked like! Especially the back picture because I never look at my back before. That was BIG TIME motivation. I wanted to look like I had before when I was younger; I wanted to fit into my clothes again; and I wanted to look good for my husband too.

And so it began.
I ate a lot of eggs that first day.

Here's how it goes:

• 30 carbs or less/day, high fat and high protein.
• After 10 days you start your first carb night after 4pm. Binge on carbs! Yay!
• After that you can have one carb night a week, but not closer than 5 days from the last one. 
• Don't go longer than 6 months (I'm not sure anyone would ever need to).
• If you indulge in an extra carb day, or go off the diet, then start the 10 day routine again.

Here are the results that I am loving:

Since I can't have regular sugar I use splenda, or diet stuff that has sulacrose in it and I HATE that flavor. So it's actually making me not want sugar so much because my mind is associating it with that splenda flavor that I don't like. I'm sure that all those ladies that love that "diet soda flavor" will love doing this diet." 

I love that this diet makes your body target it's fat stores. All those pesky places that I don't like, like tummy, love handles, thighs, butt, etc. that's where my fat stores are and they are depleting. 

It hasn't been hard to stay on the diet because I see actual results quickly! The food isn't bad and I CAN have carbs, just not everyday. I CAN HAVE CAKE! Next Tuesday :) 

I like that I can use sugar substitute to curb my sugar cravings, even though it's that nasty splenda stuff it still kicks the sugar need. 

Now: I am wearing my old jeans again. I know that before I didn't even fit into an old pair that was 14/15 (holy cow, I know!) Now i just put on a pair that is size 10! They're a bit snug, but I got them on and that's exciting for me! Because sizes vary so much I'm conservatively saying I've lost 3 pant sizes. And that still sounds great! 

I should mention that while I have been on the diet I have also been helping to remodel my parent's kitchen so that has been more of a workout than I expected (which I'm grateful for). Laying tile, grouting, helping to build and move cabinets. So you could say I threw some exercise in there. ;) 

As for what I have been eating: 

• Diet A&W Root Beer with heavy cream in it. Tastes just like a root beer float!
• Eggs: boiled, scrambled, fried. Cooked with chorizo, or topped with salsa, or topped with cheese.
• Bacon. (I like it very, very crunchy)
• Breakfast burritos made with low-carb tortillas. Filled with eggs, bits of sausage, cheese, sour cream and salsa picante. Oh yum!
• Grilled chicken salad
• Stewed ranch mushrooms
• Caprisi salad
• Hamburgers (without the bun) {this week I'm going to try them with oopsie bread}
• Cucumbers with lime (an old favorite snack)
• Italian chicken
• Califlower with alfredo sauce
• Cheese chips dipped in sour cream
• Whipped cream (actual heavy cream that's been whipped in my kitchen aid) mixed with sugar free jello packet (strawberry and orange so far, both yummy)
• And grilled chicken nuggets from chik-fil-a with avocado lime ranch dressing (only 7 carbs total)

And I can't remember the rest, but if anyone is interested you can check out my ):diet:( board on pinterest to see more recipes I found there, there's even cheesecake. The Carb Night Solution book I think also has some recipes. 

I was so excited just to fit into my size 10 jeans, then when I told Ben he mentioned imagining myself in a size 7 or smaller. (Note: Ben has never said anything about my needing to lose weight nor has he ever, ever made any reference to my being big. He simply encourages me by telling me of the progress I've already made. I'm so grateful that he's always made me feel beautiful no matter what my size or what I look like.)

But to imagine getting down to a 7 again is just awesome! I haven't been that size since probably my sophomore year in high school. I haven't kept track of how many pounds have gone up or down. First because it was just after we moved that I started the diet and I had no idea where our scale was, and second I would have only checked out of curiosity because I really don't (nor have I ever) cared about a number. Who cares how much pressure I'm applying to the earth's surface? I care about what I look like and how I feel about myself. If I look in the mirror and think I look so great, but I have a high number then what's the point? A number is a number, and I don't like math. I will just say that out of curiosity I weighed myself when I did find our scale and I remember it was a little higher than I would have guessed, but I simply don't care. Nor should anyone. I've actually been building lots of muscle lately, especially working remodeling that kitchen, so I guess I should have expected to weight more since I've developed muscle and it's much heavier than fat. And I fit into my jeans! So even if I weighted 200 lbs and fit into my old clothes I feel good in, then I wouldn't care much anyway. Yada yada yada, sorry for going on and on.

If anyone wants more into on the diet feel free to ask me (I might have to ask Ben though, lol). Or I just looked up their website. You can find it here: Carb Night Solution.

I think at the end of the month I'll post a before and after picture :)

Cheers,

~Crystal

Summer is coming to a close

Rain is renewing.
A hardship we pleasantly bear.
It washes down and paces us.
Sunlight gives to life,
and life gives to action.
Fall bearing we pause.
Without knowing we praise Summer's end.
Yearning souls wish for the rain and cold.
A trial to ground and renew.
Refresh the roots.
Too much sun makes for aching souls.

G

Chimneys are scary. Santa is scary. That is all.

-Emma Alvarez

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Thanks to my second guest poster, Emma! Also my niece. She has pretty eyes, and a cute smile, and she loves to tell jokes. Thanks Emma!

~Crystal

family

Our family is too awesome.We play a lot, I mean a lot. We make a bunch of recipes. We have a bunch of cooks in are family.....well we think they are cooks.

My family goes to Texas a lot and we go to Arizona. We love to travel. We also go around Utah a lot. My family loves each other! :)


-Rebecca Alvarez

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Thanks to my guest poster! My niece Rebecca was sweet enough to do a guest post. I love her insight and humor. She has a great smile too.

~Crystal Schultz



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------WE WILL HELP PEOPLE ALWAYS!

-Rebecca Alvarez

Who is praying for you?

Who is praying for you?

When I've been in difficult situations in my life I have felt the prayers and good thoughts of people I know who are hoping the best for me, who are praying for me, who want me to get through my hard times.

I was thinking of someone close to me yesterday, and I wondered if that person had any idea how many people are praying for them; how many people want this person to succeed in their life and challenges.

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS/Mormon) we have a wonderful built in community.

Those that are called as leadership in our church are constantly praying for those that they watch over in their calling's responsibility. Everyone in a ward is prayed for by a Bishop, and his counselors. If you're a woman you're especially prayed for by the Relief Society President and her counselors. Men have their Quorum's leadership. Those that are teens are prayed for by their leadership (Young Women/Young Men Presidents and counselors). And the little ones are prayed for by the Primary Presidency. And they all might pray for all the others, or the whole ward too! And each ward is in it's own Stake, so then the Stake leadership is also praying for each Ward as well.

Then there's also the temple. Temple goers have the opportunity to place names of people in need of extra blessings/comfort/spiritual help on a Temple Prayer Roll. Then that name might be prayed for by dozens to hundreds of people.

If you are a child, you're parents will pray for you. I know that my parents are constantly praying for their children, just as I am for mine. As well as their grand-children, and of course extended family. I like to include all of my in-laws, and my close, and extended family in mine. And though it sounds kinda silly, I actually do pray for everyone in the world sometimes. We are all brothers and sisters. We all branch from the same tree, and I do sincerely wish that all our lives are blessed and happy and selfless.

I know that the First Presidency and those serving with them pray for everyone in the whole church as well.

Friends pray for friends. On Facebook I see people that are praying for many strangers they don't even know. 

Do not our thoughts have power? Don't our prayers have increased power? I know they do. I have experienced it for myself. The forces for good want us to succeed! One of my favorite parts of the Book of Mormon is after Christ is resurrected and He comes to the Americas, and when seeing how much the people don't want him to go He is filled with compassion, and He stops and prays for them. I love that so much!

And those that don't have a church community, or family, or friends, you may not know who is praying for you, or wishing you the best. Could be a co-worker, could be a friend of a friend. Sometimes I see people in the store and think that they look like they could use some happiness and I wish them goodness, I pray for them. 

No matter how alone you feel, know that there is someone somewhere that is sending you love and praying for you. :)

Sending love, hugs, best wishes, and prayers,

~Crystal

A posture fix for CHEAP

I've been trying to have better posture, but it's really hard. I was thinking about buying one of those back sling things to help improve posture, but I'm too cheap to buy one. And then my classmate Michael (he's a professional dancer) told us this awesome [CHEAP] trick.

Put on a kinda tight tank top over whatever you're going to wear, then take the front and lift it over the back of your head so the tank becomes like a shoulder holster. Then wear it around the house.

I only started doing it yesterday and I can tell there's been a huge improvement!
I have lots of back problems. The muscles in my back are not well trained to good posture anymore.
I had an accident when I was seventeen, and I fractured multiple vertebrae in my back and since then I have had lots back issues, then after two pregnancies...well, my back hates me, we'll put it that way. The muscles are constantly tired. I don't just have bad posture, I shlump like no one's business, especially when I'm at home or alone. Then on Sundays when I try to sit up for church my back is just screaming because it's not used to good posture anymore and those muscles are lazy now.
I've gone to physical therapists, and they help a lot! But doing the exercises at home...with kids...well, it's really hard to get motivation to do. It's so much easier when I have a physical therapist (personal trainer really) with a timer telling me what to do, and I just have to do it. Buuut, I don't have one anymore. Anyhoo, so I can tell you from lots of experience that this little trick is helpful. :)

I noticed that when I'm not wearing the tank (keep in mind I've only been using it for one day, and a morning) that subconsciously I stand up straighter, like I would with the tank on. Also, it helps do a little of the work of keeping my back straight because it's pulling around my shoulders. Basically it's taking a little weight off my muscles so they have an easier time getting whipped back into shape. I took off the 'tank shoulder holster' and sat on the bed at my computer and my back started aching so much I put the tank back on, and it was much easier to sit straight up. Of course it's not a miracle maker, I have to put work into it and consciously be straitening my back all day. But it's a huge, cheap!, help.

I just thought I'd share since most of us (especially if we sit at the computer much) are getting horrible posture which not only looks bad, but it can even lead to internal problems, and create headaches, and all sorts of nasty stuff.
So, try it out!
Tell me what you think? Is it helpful to you? Not that much? Have you tried something else that works better or just as good?

~Crystal

"Find your humanity!"

You can hear her voice in your head? Can't you? Hahaha. My guess is that if you're like me you'll see it about twice and then hurry and scroll down so you can't see it anymore. So you don't get annoyed to death. ;)

Here's something I was thinking about. Rowan was on a "Tangled" kick for a while, so I heard this movie, and this line, over and over...and over, and over, and over.

And it struck me. When she says "humanity" what she's really implying is "divinity."

A 'humane' thing to do means the compassionate thing; the kind and loving thing to do. Of course the derivative is 'human'.

Human definition:

of, relating to, or characteristic of humans

2

: consisting of humans

3

a : having human form or attributes

b : susceptible to or representative of the sympathies and frailties of human nature 

'Human Nature' vs 'Divine Nature' to me is a very distinct thing. As a member of the LDS Church we are taught about the 'natural man' that is the part of us that wants to give in to temptation, the part that desires to do the lazy or wrong thing. 'Natural man' is also known in the scriptures at the 'carnal man', he wants his carnal desires...things opposite to Godly and divine desires. The 'carnal nature of the flesh' is saying that we are giving in to the wants of our flesh (human nature) instead of our Godly desire, like doing good and avoiding evil and temptation.

'Divine nature' is the part of us (the soul in us) that is divine; that is a part of our Father in Heaven, the part of us that wishes to do the kind, compassionate, and loving thing. Because after all, God is LOVE. We, as His children, are also divine in spirit. Part of Him dwells in us, in our souls and hearts. Do you not feel that special thing in your heart that reaches out to give a kind word to a broken heart, or to comfort those that mourn, that feeling that we are all connected together. Everyone in this whole world, and that ever was, or will ever be. We are Divine, sons and daughters of God, and therefore divine brothers and sisters in spirit. We are Divine. Isn't that just an incredible thought?
So today especially, after the horrible events (http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/12/live-updates-newtown-ct-school-shooting/), the killings of those poor people and children let us remember our divinity and do something good in this world for someone else. I will be praying and sending good thoughts and love to those families of which their lives will never be the same. May they find peace and comfort. I know there will be 'helpers' there for them, shining examples of love, kindness, and their own divinity.

~Crystal
“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” To this day, especially in times of “disaster,” I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.” - Mr. Rogers