Growing with Gina

When you start a weight loss program and change your mindset, what’s 1 thing that can throw you off?
For me…
Captain Crunch Cereal. 🙄

This family will be one larger soon. ❤️

In 5 days I will be a grandma ❤️🥲
There is something special about this feeling.
It’s a little like being a child on Christmas Eve. I’m giddy constantly.
How did you feel on the threshold of your grandma-hood??

Last night. 😳 I need to go to the grocery.
Found 2 chicken breasts, the last of the broccoli and some cojita cheese. After cooking the chicken and broccoli I chopped them and added butter and the cheese. So good. Hit the spot and filled me up. Finished the night with a yummy glass of Fiberwise. Mmmm! 😋 living the R3 life. Reset week 1. ❤️ Was so happy to eat, I took the pic half way through. 😆😂

This is a lovely snack or appetizer. Zucchini Fries. When I tried these for the first time I shared them with a friend. ❤️
R3 week one approved. Reset. Mmm 😋

Started R3 this week. Here is a recipe for the first week. One I have had many times 😋❤️ Burger in a Bowl. Salad 🥗

Last year was a tough one. My husband of 11.5 years passed away. I was his Full-Time caregiver for his last 4 years. I love him, and am honored to be one who took care of him.

Being a care giver leaves a person to feel stressed, eat poorly, no real clear thought of health. I found myself medicating with ice cream.

After taking a rough look at myself and how I was feeling I began researching Metabolic Syndrome. (listed as one of the top 10 causes of death in the USA)

It appeared there are a few numbers we should all be AWARE of.

#1 CIRCUMFRENCE @ Belly Button
#2 Fasting Blood Sugar greater than
#3 Triglycerides higher than 150
#4 Blood Pressure Higher than 135/80
#5 Good Cholesterol HDL >40 in Men and 40 in Women

Know your numbers. Take charge of your course. Don’t wait for your doctor to tell you, know yourself. Living with 1 of these indicators is bad, more are WORSE.

Living with Metabolic Syndrome looks like a general lack of energy, sweet cravings, feeling sleepy after meals, feeling “foggy”, lack of ability for focus and no desire to exercise.

This week me and a team of friends are tackling the bad numbers in our lives.

If you are ready to do the same, tell me why? We would love to have more friends on this journey.

This is for YOU❤️

Did you know that World Water Day is March 22?

This is when the responsible use of water and access of clean water to all is promoted.

My thought is we should celebrate water every day.

First, celebrate YOU by hydrating well on a daily basis.

The celebrate everyone by using water in and around your home responsibly. BTW: Hydrating counts a using H2O responsibly.

Other ways to use water responsibly: turn it on for what you need only. When you are brushing your teeth, shut the water off instead of letting it run.

When watering gardens and lawns, use a timer if you set a sprinkler. ESPECIALLY if you are going inside and it is not an automatic system. (There have been times I have seen neighbors watering 1 part of the lawn for what seems like days.)

Drip systems are a great way to manage in the garden. Or you can create a makeshift olla in my garden beds with plastic juice containers. (FREE)

Check for leaks around the house...sink faucets and the swamp cooler come to mind.

Re-use water. I have seen people set up systems to water parts of the garden with the gray water from washing machine and the shower.

I have not done that, but I have saved the water I cook veggies in and used it to water plants in the garden. It's nutrient rich water and will be very beneficial to the plants.

So, DRINK! Drink that cool clear water! Everday we should be consuming between 12-15 8-ounce cups of water.

Don't wait a minute longer, Get started hydrating.

Today begins the second week of the Reintroduce phase of the R3 plan. This is when we choose 3 items from the No list and add them in during the week.

Last week, we ate sweet potato fries, bun-less hamburgers, turkey meatballs, stuffed mushrooms, mini meatloaves, Cauliflower "Mac" N Cheese, chia pudding and some N'ice Cream.

Being a caregiver, I have created a PD Caregiver Group and we meet 1 time a month on Wednesday. We call it Waffle Love Wednesday and meet at a local Waffle Love. My favorite there is the Nutella Love...See pic below.

All in all, a good week. Still feeling great. However, I am craving more movement. So I will be sharing the simple movements I add to my week so you can follow along.

Every time you stand up today, sit down again.

Tomorrow, sit down again 2 times.

Thursday, sit down again 3 times.

When you get out of bed, get up from the table, stand from your desk, from the potty...wherever you sit.

You will begin to feel stronger in your core. You will be able to do it more easily.

Life gets better when we do the work to make it better.

Just add Sit to Stands.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/776479027214667

Today is the day to weigh in and begin the next step in the R3 Plan.
I am happy to announce I am down 5lbs and 4".

Feeling better! Can stand up much more easily, sometimes with no hands, clothing is not rolling and is more comfortable, more energy and it was not that difficult.

In the next 2 weeks, I will pick things from the No list to add back in.

That is 3 items each week. I will be adding sweet potatoes, fruit and whole grain bread will be in my plan.

The R3 way of eating has given me a huge appreciation for the good foods out there.

Join me!

The Show up challenge begins on June 5, 2023. You can register below.

R3WithMe_Show Up 2023 R3 Weight Loss Plan

For the past almost 2 weeks I have focused on the "Reset" portion of the R3 program.

This is when you reset your hunger patterns, eliminate unhealthy food addictions and cravings.

My Favorite part of the R3 Plan is there is a Yes List and a No List. that takes the guessing out of things.

The rules say "Stay away from the No List 80% of the time".

Very simple.

Start with a protein within 60 minutes of waking up. Eat from the Yes List according to your hunger, every 2-3 hours.

On Monday, I will be posting my Statistics. Weight and measurements.

I can't wait.

During this time, we have been cooking from the R3 cookbook. Not 1 meal that we haven't liked.

Monday begins the Reintroduce portion of the R3 Plan. this is where we add in 3 planned servings of items from the No List.

My goal by July 17th is to lose 30 lbs. from my starting weight.

On June 5, there is an R3 challenge with Major Prizes for changing the way you feel about yourself. it is the Show up 2023 Challenge.

Register to start the challenge on June 5.

It will cost $12.51 to register and get the guide. Then you will have access to the FB Show Up 2023.

You will then be able to participate in all the challenge has to offer.

Planning sessions, exercise sessions not to mention the support and recipes you will have access to.

Register here... Let's get healthy together.

https://www.whatginarecommends.com/showup2023

Growing daily and in many ways is a goal set at the beginning of the year.
So far it’s been so much fun!

I grew the “January Peas” LOL 😂

The December Tomatoes 🍅🤣 Transplanted last week.

The April Cucumbers 🥒 Right on time for those.

Oh! The Zucchini that almost never was….planted then we froze. They are survivors. 😅

Peppers my Best Friend raised in her greenhouse, transplanted last week.

My sister stepped up in a big way to help in our home. 🧍‍♀️❤️😘

It almost feels like I have cloned myself 🤣 Except she picks the recipes and I prepare them.

Big win for all of us.

Then cutting sugar 🍪🍩🍭🧁for the BIG GROWTH!

Feeling Fabulous.

Join me…Share with me what you are doing.

Thanks Friend ❤️

Gina

Sunday. Day 6 w/o Sugar.

Weighed myself yesterday because it felt like there was less of me!

There was! It gave me such a good feeling. That is not all that I am feeling good about...

Getting off chairs has become easier, going up and down stairs is not such a pain, and my hands feel more flexible.

The "Yes" List and the "No" List in the R3 program are invaluable. they have made following the plan as simple as possible.

Today I prepped more of the yummy protein balls I use for the "snackies" or for when I need a quick bite usually paired with carrots and celery.

One of the R3 Rules I like is that you should not go hungry, eat.

The Other Rule I like so much is the 80/20 Rule. That is... When in a place you are not putting in the ingredients in the food...Eat 80% on Plan and allow 20% off Plan.

Feeling fine today. Happy Sunday

Day 3 No Sugar.

It was a good day. Made Creamy Taco Soup for dinner. Mmm! 🤤

Don’t miss the sugar until it’s late, I’m in the kitchen and nobody is watching. 😳🤣
It’s so the truth. 😩

This looks yummy. I posted to share and save so I can make them. :)

I would love to hear if you try this recipe.

Chocolate Chickpea Cookies (Vegan & Gluten-Free) - My Quiet Kitchen Chickpea cookies are moist and fudgy, like a healthy brownie in cookie form! Vegan, gluten-free, and made without oil or refined sugar.

Day 2: No Sugar

I woke up and it was a bad day. That is a bad mental health day. No problem with needing sugar or craving sugar. When I came home, my sister stepped in and saved me.

At the gym, I shared my no sugar goal with one of my PD fighters. He has lived with no sugar for years and claims he is much healthier for it.

I have been inspired listening about his journey to feeling better by eliminating sugar.

Today after class he sent me this…Enjoy!

We will call this, my new anthem. Time 🤘🎸

The Guess Who - No Sugar Tonight / New Mother Nature (Audio) Music video by The Guess Who performing No Sugar Tonight / New Mother Nature (Audio). (C) 2017 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainmenthttp://vevo...

Hello Friends!

It has occurred to me that as I age, I am learning that we do not all feel the way we did when we were invincible (100 years ago).

This January, on my 53rd birthday, I took a fall. When exiting my home, I stepped too far forward and missed most of the step. I tumbled down, rolled through many piles of dog p**p and was able to…stand right up! (Well after I did a system check to be sure I was OK)

Every time I thought about that day since, I laughed my butt off! It felt AMAZING that I didn’t get hurt.

To be honest, I have been thinking about how things fall apart into your 40’s for a while now. I am not ready to throw in the towel, I want more time to move! (not just to the potty)

For the past 5 years I have seen that movement is magic. Watching the PD Warriors I coach is INSPIRING!

Growing old and being a caregiver is a mess some days. Somedays the depression overtakes you.

When feeling bad, I consume massive amounts ice cream. I mean massive! I saved the containers this winter to use with gardening…I consumed so much ice cream the clerks at the store would have It ready when I walked through the door.

I have suffered with pain in my knees and shoulders, a hard time standing up and going up and downstairs, sluggishness, and inability to wear some of my clothes.

Time to turnover a new leaf! Today I began a program for my health. It is a 6-week program, and I will be sharing my journey with you.

The first 2 weeks of the program, I will be eliminating sugar. I look forward to sharing and hearing from you.

Thank you.