Healthy Snacks

Ok, Here it is! I am just soooo excited about the new USANA foods that I want YOU to have an opportunity to try them for yourself!! If you would like to try some of the new Low-Glycemic, High Protein, No Gluten, No GMO, Super Healthy Snacks that wont add pounds, Email me your address to rachelpresley@usana.com and I will send you a few snacks to try and a BONUS surprise! No strings attached! I promise!

Many Apologies

Good evening blog friends. I know I promised on Sunday a new post about "Cooking to Lose Weight" and I assure you this will be a good one. I made an amazingly simple and very delicious Eggplant Parmesan and I can't wait to share it with you! Unfortunately, I am battling an extreme migraine tonight and just looking at the computer is being very uncomfortable. I hope to have the recipe, pictures, and an alternative to sugary, unhealthy energy drinks posted by this time tomorrow evening. Until then, I hope you all have a wonderful evening. Be happy, Be Healthy! My icepack and I are going to bed.

Love Rachel

PS - Thank you for your continued dedication, I have reached 700 page views in under two months! My truest desire is to bring awareness about Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, and Weight Loss to the masses by showing that it doesn't not have to be a distant memory to actually be in less pain and functional nor does weight loss have to be a dream for the future. I only hope to inspire others to achieve their goals and to offer my loving support and encouragement along the way!

Thank you www.vampirestat.com for the link to my page, you have brought so many people to my blog and I am grateful for the share.

Support Group Strength

What an amazingly beautiful day in Texas for the middle of August! Usually it is so hot and humid this time of year that the A/C runs non-stop and you avoid the great outdoors like the plague. But today, it is an amazing 79˚F at 1014 and I am enjoying my morning coffee on the porch.

Yesterday I had an interesting adventure and went to visit a local Fibromyalgia Support Group meeting for the first time. As I listened to the stories of the individuals around me, I realized more and more how blessed my life is. Yes I have terrible fibro, and yes I have suffered and many times I have flat out wanted to give up – but I have one thing that many of the people there come just to find – a support group.

With chronic illness we all experience moments (some longer than others) of feeling isolated especially when we are dealing with invisible diseases that even medical professionals argue over the validity of. Having a support group, either like mine comprised of family and friends, or an external group like the meeting I attended yesterday, can be hugely beneficial to making it through the tough moments in our lives that often arise from difficulties from our illnesses. If you choose to join support group meetings, I encourage you to find one that promotes improving your life, progression and coping mechanisms, rather than focusing on the negatives of the disease as this will do more harm than good. You want your support group to help build you up not tear you down further.

Now, I want to introduce you to my support group and hopefully you will be able to see that there are people like this in your life that perhaps you hadn’t noticed before!

My Daughter!

My baby is not only my biggest fan and my constant driving force to improve and keep going but she reminds me on a daily basis to be excited about the simple things life has to offer – a ladybug, a balloon, a walk in the park, or a bird flying by. Seeing the world through the eyes of a child is such a blessing and reminds me that yes there are many hardships that we face daily, but there are also so many beautiful little things to celebrate too.

My Mother!

My mom has to be the STRONGEST person I have ever met and if I can be half the mom she was to me for my daughter I will consider myself a success. Raising 7 children, working, and going to school full time this beautiful soul was diagnosed with MS about 10 years ago and even though I see her struggle with being in a wheelchair and losing her freedom, she has never failed to be the encouragement I need as a mom, a student, and coping with my Fibro. I know that I am truly blessed to have a family that understands invisible diseases and continues to support the three of us who have them but my mom has always been the backbone of our little tribe. I love you Mom!

My best friend!

Yes we fight, we get mad at each other, and we have misunderstandings but my BFF Iwona has stuck with me through some of the most heinous and horrendous times of my life. We met when we were in Pharmacy School in the Army back in 2005 and have been pretty much inseparable ever since. Even when she was deployed in Iraq she would call me to see how I was doing! Now we hang out all the time, she is always reminding me to stop stressing about things I can’t change, we laugh about the most ridiculous things, and I know that she will always be there for me and I do my best to be there for her too.

The Hilliards!

I just love these two with all my heart and soul. SFC Hilliard was my NCO when I was still on active duty and I always had so much respect for him as a leader and professional – this man knew his job and was damn good at it. Over the years I have come to know him and his exquisitely beautiful wife on a deeper level as they not only introduced me to the USANA products as a solution to my weight loss and health needs but now as my friends and mentors as I strive to grow my own business and be the blessing to others that they have been to me. I can say this with the utmost sincerity – these two continued to believe in me even after I stopped believing in myself. A more beautiful couple, inside and out, you will never find, and I am so lucky to call them friend.

My Trainer!

BOOM! Dustin is such an amazing personal trainer and he literally eats and breaths fitness. With his help and encouragement I have gained back a lot of the physical strength that I had lost during my years of being sedentary after I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. With the physical strength, the weight loss, and his constant encouragement to push the boundaries I created for myself in my head I have also gained back my self-confidence! Sure, he makes fun of me (good naturedly) but it also reminds me to laugh at myself (which is hard to do when you are having a fibro flare and a bout of depression). I used to hate it but now I realize that he does it not to belittle me but as a way of getting me to not let myself stop my progress. Look at him train! Yep he pushes himself harder than he pushes me – and is still such an amazing inspiration! I can’t wait to see him in the Octagon! MMA baby!

Whether your support group is comprised of family and friends or of a group of individuals who share the same difficulties you do, make sure that they are a positive influence in your life. Negativity only brings us down when we are already struggling. It may be hard but sometimes it is necessary to cut negative people from your life – if they cannot stand with you and build you up, then you don’t need them. Being healthy is more than physical, it is mental and emotional too. Thank those who stand with you for their understanding and support, and always remember that that support is a two way street – sometimes, you need to be there for them too.

Have a great week! Find your support group and remember, I am here for you too! Check back on Tuesday for some more easy recipes for eating healthy! Be Happy, Be Healthy!

<3 Rachel

Cooking to Lose Weight

I love to cook! Cooking to me is relaxing and fun. Unfortunately, since I love making baked goods like breads, pies, and cookies…it doesn’t really fit in with my desire to eat healthy and lose weight. So I have started looking at my everyday meals and my favorite dishes to determine what I can do to them to make them healthier. Since I like easy and don’t want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen when I have school, many of my recipes require very little prep time and these two easy recipes work really well on a hot summer afternoon!

I personally love Mexican food – all the spices and the tortillas and the cheese – yum! But traditional Mexican food can be very high in fats and carbs and neither are particularly high on my list of Healthy Foods. The first of my recipes is for a

Carb-Free Taco Salad.

1 lbs. of Extra Lean Ground Beef (or Venison)
1 small Zucchini (diced)
1 small Yellow Squash (diced)
1 medium Onion (chopped)
2 medium Roma Tomatoes (diced)
Romaine Lettuce
Sharp Cheddar – Shredded
Salt
Cumin
Chili Powder
Garlic Powder
                (OR 1 pkg of Taco Seasoning)
Salsa or Fat Free Catalina Dressing

 Brown meat in medium sauce pan until it is mostly cooked and then throw in the vegetables and sauté until the onions are clear and the squash is soft. Drain any grease that remains after everything is cooked. Season the mixture to taste with salt, cumin, chili powder, and garlic powder or substitute for one packet of Taco Seasoning. While the meat and squash is cooking make medium beds of romaine lettuce (I like romaine because it has more vitamins and fiber than iceberg and it is more filling). Add some of the diced tomatoes and sprinkle with a little cheese. Scoop about 1/3 cup of the meat mixture onto the lettuce and use either salsa or Fat Free Catalina for a dressing. Adding avocados adds flavor and provides healthy fats called omga-3s. Even though there are no beans or tortillas, this is a fun and filling salad to serve on a hot summer afternoon!  Serves 4.

Of course when it is a 105 degrees outside, nothing is more refreshing than a cold ice-cream and I have always been a huge fan of Frostys! I love chocolate (it cures everything I swear) but since I have made a concerted effort to replace unhealthy foods for healthy alternatives, I knew I was going to have to replace my ice-cream too. This simple frozen treat isn’t exactly like a Frosty but it’s really close and doesn’t come with a side order of Guilt.

 

Dutch Chocolate Nutrimeal Frosty

¾ Cup Almond Milk

1 tsp Vanilla Extract
½ of a frozen Banana (sliced)
2 Scoops of Dutch Chocolate Nutrimeal
2 tsp of Truvia
2 cups of crushed Ice

Combine all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth. Serve immediately. Serves 2.

 

Leading a healthy lifestyle can and should allow you to enjoy foods that you love otherwise you will get deflated and feel guilty when you go back to those flavors that have always made you happy. Food should feed the senses as well as the belly. Serve foods seasoned with herbs and spices – these not only create enticing aromas but the smells will tickle the part of the brain that releases the endorphins that make you ENJOY foods! Healthy doesn’t have to mean bland, cardboard flavored, or boring. Just find healthy ways to replace the unhealthy aspects and remember to treat yourself once in a while just to keep yourself heading in the right direction to a Happy Healthy Lifestyle!

Happy Cooking!

 Rachel

Stress and My Fibro

Oh boy! Between the muscle spasms in my legs and hips, the intense feeling of broken bones in my face, and the undeniable brain fog – there is no doubt I am fighting a significant Fibro Flare.

By why? I am still taking my amazing USANA supplements that provide my body the nutrients it needs, I still maintain a clean, healthy diet, and I still exercise every day. What is the one thing over the past week that has changed and dumped my progress on its butt and slowed me down? One word – STRESS!

While ‘stress’ has a negative connotation, stress can be both good AND bad – its all in how we let it get to us that really matters. Stress is typically defined as a body’s response to the environments demands or pressures and can be physical or mental, actual or perceived. With the increase of Cortisol (the stress hormone) our bodies can begin to feel a variety of different symptoms including helplessness or hopelessness, fear or anger, or even cynicism and distrust of those whom you would normally be comfortable around. These symptoms are more associated with bad stress. Good stress is when our bodies receive that burst of energy that gives us clarity of mind and the ability to achieve an everyday task or goal. Working out at the gym is a good stress – as long as you don’t overdue it. This moderate stress on the body allows for the release of endorphins (Happy Hormones) which actually work to eliminate Cortisol from our bodies – lowering the bad stress!

Ok, so why am I stressed? You know, I am the WORST about creating mountains out of mole-hills! I can take something that is really quite simple, or ridiculously stupid, and make it into the biggest scariest under-the-bed monster on the planet! Unfortunately, this time, I don’t think that’s the problem.

I am also a full time student to accompany being a mom, an office manager/bookkeeper, a fibromite, and whatever other hats my life requires me to wear from time to time. I love school and would be a full time student for the rest of my life if I could get paid to that – but school adds a different kind of stress to my already busy life. While it is not physically demanding, sometimes I find the mental demands very hard to deal with. There were even times when I have taken Leave of Absence from my studies BECAUSE my fibromyalgia was so out of control I could not form a coherent thought, much less use my spasmming and painful hands to write a paper. Even though I am so ready to graduate (March isn’t coming fast enough) I know that to increase my schedule from one class at a time to two would be professional suicide – especially since I demand a certain level of excellence from myself. In the past year I have done better about expecting perfect grades from myself because I began to realize that I was doing my body and my daughter a severe injustice by expecting myself to make a perfect grade on every paper – I still strive do my best, but I no longer demand a 100% on every assignment (85% or higher though – what I still have goals?!)

But I finished class on Monday so why am I still feeling the stress? Because there are still stresses at work and in my personal life, and because I allowed my system to get run down at the beginning of the week by mentally fatiguing myself over my school, I am now PHYSICALLY struggling to keep up with the demands that come with being an administrator.

So what do I do for my stress? I cry. Ok, not usually, but sometimes it just happens. Actually, I have been working to turn my bad stress into positive results by taking that pent up energy (and often anger) to the gym. I let my body work it out and sweat it out. The mental clarity that comes from pumping out the bad energy and breathing in the positive usually helps me to make it through the evening whether I am watching a movie, playing a game, or reading a book.

Finding something that you ENJOY doing can make a big difference in your stress levels because when you can focus on something enjoyable, the little things don’t seem quite so big. Plus, when you take a few minutes to focus on something OTHER than whatever it was that is causing the stress – you can usually find a better way of approaching the situation and its not longer “stressful”. This time, my de-stressor, was writing this blog! Now that I have done something I enjoyed and ‘vented’ about what was agitating me, I am confident that I can go back to my work and get it handled efficiently and correctly!

Live Stress Free!  (don’t be hating on my goals)

Rachel P.

                               (Yoga is actually one of my FAVORITE de-stressors and is an excellent way to exercise!)

Fibro, Weight loss, and FOOD!

Welcome to the most exciting time of the month where I get to recap my weight loss activities and post my progress!

This month, from July 2 – Aug 2, I lost an incredible 10lbs and 3.25inches over all! I am so excited! I wanted to break that 190 mark but really, who is going to complain about losing 10lbs! That brings my total weight loss to a total of 43lbs and I am not stopping there! And even better was that I maintained my weight loss through a vacation and an extremely stressful move to a new home. How? By not allowing the stress to throw me off, using my USANA Nutrimeal Shakes to give me the nutrients I needed to function, taking my USANA HealthPak to provide the energy and healing qualities, and continuing to exercise (stretching is exercise) even when I was in pain and tired.

One of the common things that I hear Fibromyalgia sufferers complain about is how hard it is to lose weight. I used to say the same thing because I would allow my pain to keep me immobile without realizing that this did more harm than good. Now, I exercise every day, eat a clean, healthy diet, and have bounced back from the pain and stress of moving in only two days. A year ago, it took me almost two weeks for the excruciating pain to subside after a move. I am not ready to run a 5K yet, but I imagine with gentle workouts (going to do some biking today) and plenty of stretching, I will be back at Body Pump on Saturday.

And did you know that eating out can be part of a clean diet? Sure! I still enjoy a weekly trip to a restaurant with my best friend where we often have a drink and just sit and recap the ups and downs of the past week. This trip is good for both of us because we focus very hard on our studies, jobs, and diets during the week and it’s nice to have one meal where we just enjoy the foods we always enjoyed. The key – moderation!

Crap Friday, as we call it, is the one day a week were we kick back just a little and enjoy a Bacon Ranch Quesadilla and guacamole, or a creamy pasta dish at Olive Garden. These little splurges serve several purposes for us.

** First – When you feel like you have to give up everything you enjoy to lose weight, you have already set yourself up for failure. Planning my meals ahead of time, including our weekly trip out, allows me to lose the weight and still enjoy going to restaurants and not have to order a heaping side of Guilt. Only allowing myself a single drink when we go out has also helped with my alcohol problems (but that’s a story for a later date) and sometimes I don’t even have a drink. I just enjoy my meal and the conversation knowing that I will still be able to reach my goals.

** Secondly – When you follow a strict diet for any length of time your body will acclimate to it and then you will experience a plateau in your weight loss. This plateau is what often drives people to give up on their goals. Our “Crap Friday” meals, which are moderate portions of our favorite foods, give our metabolism a boost which in turn keeps our weight dropping week after week.

** Third – Stress is a significant player in weight gain and when your Cortisol (a stress hormone) levels remain high in the body, weight loss cannot occur (or at least as much as you want). By getting together every week, my best friend and I are able to laugh and discuss the things that caused us stresses throughout the week and talk about ways that we will focus on improving the next week. Having friends that share your goals, or at the very least respect them, will make obtaining your ambitions not only a possibility, but a reality!

Weight loss with Fibromyalgia is possible and it is also possible to be free from the nagging pain and fatigue that accompanies it. Don’t wait to lose the weight. Send me an email at rachelpresley@usana.com and we will take this trip together. Going alone makes for a very long road trip but friends and companions make it enjoyable and productive!

A Healthy Home is a Happy Home!

Rachel P.

In Pain but Happy

Happy Sunday Friends!!

I am sorry that I have been away for a few days, but I have been moving into my new apartment so that my daughter is ready for the new school year. And it has been a real trip. I am soooo grateful for the friends that I have who came and helped me to load everything into my little truck, moving boxes, furniture, and appliances up and down stairs, strapping things to the roof of the truck to make fewer trips and then helping me to arrange and clean everything afterwards. It is so liberating to have my own place again where I am free to have my friends over, my daughter has her own room, and I have a wonderful couch I can sit and do homework and write in my blog!

After three days of moving and cleaning while still going to the gym for my workout and going to work, I have discovered that my Fibromyalgia still has the power to knock me on my butt. Today I can’t walk and my hands feel like they are on fire. What do you do when your hands hurt? I mean we have to have them do almost everything! I am also having an IBS flare-up which has been pleasantly absent in the past few months since I have changed my diet and improved my health overall. I have made sure that I increased my Proflavenol C to boost my immune system and Procosa for my joints so that this pain does not keep me down for long. Being inactive is the worst thing that a Fibromite can do when they are in pain. Right now I get around very slowly with my cane and leg brace, but I am happy to be mobile!

Its days like today when I am in such a terrible pain and fighting to get my body to function just enough to take care of my child, that I am so grateful for people and products who have helped me to improve my life so that I am no longer like this on a continual daily basis. I sat here, tearing up because of the bone crushing pain, and realized how much better my life has been since I have found a method for minimizing the pain associated with Fibromyalgia and it’s not so pleasant side effects. I took one Vicodin tablet to ease the pain (since that’s all it ever did – ease it) but I also made sure to keep my diet clean and take my USANA supplements that help my body to function naturally. I love that I am no longer reliant on prescription drugs and chemicals to mediate my pain. It’s a truly liberating feeling!

I have a good friend from the gym who is has a friend with Fibromyalgia and wants to come talk to me about how she can free herself from the exhausting and crippling pain of Fibro. I am so excited! I truly hope that I am able to help her find a way to become Happier and Healthier too! If you would like to share what you do to minimize your Fibro pain, please feel free! Knowledge is empowering!

I hope you all have a wonderful day, I am so blessed to have you all in my life!

Rachel P.