Fantastic Five on Friday!

Happy Halloween to all my fellow "losers". A day made for getting and giving candy! I was a good girl and only had 3 points+ worth of candy corn M&M's today!  I even took my own snack truck or treating, an apple! 

I thought that today I would share my top 5 positives from this week!!!

1. I worked out everyday but one (stupid migraine). I cannot tell you how much better I feel physically and mentally when I get my exercise in. It is the best medication out there!

2. I went back to Weight Watchers. Even though I knew there would be a gain, I went back anyway. Feels good to get a fresh start!

3. I decided to try the Plexus products to help with all of my health issues. I am so excited that I received part of my order today. I am really praying that I get the relief others have had from these products. 

4. I went the WHOLE week using the simply filling program from Weight a Watchers and I loved it. It is so much easier and it really lends itself to eating "real" food, but leaving in the room for a couple indulgences through the week. 

5. Today was an AWESOME health day. I felt the best today than I have felt in months. My doctor did give me some new medicine and I don't know if that is why, but it felt so nice to have very little, but tolerable pain and to actually have energy. 

And here was my Halloween workout:

I also got a short walk in when I walked from my friend's house up to the school and back to take my son a hat and blanket. It was FREEZING and I am not ready for this winter weather. 

Well, I'm gonna go for now. Sending you all love and healthy wishes. Tomorrow will be my two year fit-a-versary. So look for a reflection post. 

Keep Losing,

Kari

Thursday Weigh In Results

Well, I did it. I sucked it up and finally after 10 missed weeks I returned to Weight Watchers and faced the scale. I knew I would be up some and I was prepared for it. I wasn't able to stay for the meeting today due to a doctor's appointment for my ever aching back. BUT here it is for the world to see:

I was up 11.6 pounds. I am actually down 0.2 from the last time I weighed in at the gym a few weeks ago so it's not all bad. 

Best of all is I am SO EXCITED to get back to Weight Watchers and being accountable every week!!! I know the number will go down and my confidence will up!

Thank you all for sticking with me the past year. I have definitely learned a lot!

Sending you all love and healthy wishes!

Keep Losing,

Kari

A New Chapter

Okay family and friends, after hearing many testimonies of how Plexus has worked to help people with migraines, fibromyalgia, and many other health issues, I have decided to give it a try. I'm not really looking for a "weight loss" boost, but I'm so tired of being sick and tired. I will be posting results once the product arrives and I start using them. NO JUDGEMENT or negative comments please. This is something I have spent some time praying about and I feel like it is worth a try to get my life back.

I know I will lose some "likes" and some support, but I have always promised to be 100% honest about my journey and it would not be right to not share this with all of you.  I PROMISE to give you the honest results from these products and also PROMISE to not be a "pushy" sales lady just trying to sell a product.  If I believe in it after trying it, I will let you know if not I will also let you know!

If you would like to look at any of the products, feel free to visit this site:

http://karigoodman.myplexusproducts.com/

As I learn and have more experience I will be sharing it here!

Thanks for everyone who is continuing to support me!  Tomorrow I am going back to Weight Watchers and facing the scale.  Ready for a fresh start and a new chapter! Tune in for results tomorrow!

Sending you all love and healthy wishes!

Keep Losing,
Kari

A Sad Transformation Tuesday, a surprise gift and a recipe

Today is a sad Transformation Tuesday as I have no new stories to share with you!

So I need your help! Send me your transformation stories!

If you would like a chance to tell your story, click here to fill out the form or email your story to klgoodman1976@gmail,com. I LOVE seeing all of the inspiration and we have to lift each other up! We are all in this together!

In happier news, remember back in June when I went to Savannah for Fitbloggin 14? Well one of the awesome sponsors there was Ninja.  They were kind enough to send me a NutriNinja for FREE!  I received it just a few days ago and used it today for the first time and I AM IN LOVE!  Click here to check out their site!

I used it today with new new protein powder I bought at the gym yesterday.  I just put in one scoop of powder, 8 oz of water and some ice.  

Blended up beautifully!  One of my goals with my trainer the next two weeks is to have a protein drink every time I do resistance training so I am giving it a shot!

 

Got a great workout in this morning by doing 25 minutes on the stationary bike and then Les Mills Pump and Burn!

AND, I am so excited to tell you what I made up today for our breakfasts for the rest of the week: TURKEY SAUSAGE! Because I am trying the simply filling technique for Weight Watchers, I wanted to make up my own sausage that would fall into that program and plus it doesn't have all the preservatives of already made sausage!  I went ahead an cooked them ahead of time so we can just reheat and eat for breakfast.  The boys are so excited!

Simply Filling Turkey Sausage

1 lb lean ground turkey

1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp sage

1 tsp thyme

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp nutmeg

Mix all together in a bowl (I used my hands to get it all mixed together).  From here you can do whatever you want with it, fry it up in a skillet in patties, brown it, make meatballs! BUT ENJOY!

That is it for today! I gotta go, got some homemade spaghetti sauce simmering and I gotta finish up dinner before hubby gets home!

Sending you all love and healthy wishes!

Keep Losing,

Kari

Monday Menu Share and A Tough Diagnosis

Health problems have seem to be increasing for me over the years.  Seems like I just deal with something and then something else hits me.  FEELS OVERWHELMING!  Even harder is that I have no visible, outside disability and feel like a hypochondriac at times with all my aches, pains and emotions.

 After many, many tests, x-rays, CT Scans, MRI's, Spinal Taps, Ultrasounds, Sleep Studies, etc I finally have an answer (maybe), but one with not much of a treatment.  My doctors have diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia.  Now there is  A LOT  of controversy over this condition.  Some people even believe it is just an excuse for being lazy, but I am a living example of someone who is suffering from a very invisible disease that affects every aspect of every day of your life.

From WEBMD:

What Are the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?

Symptoms of fibromyalgia include:
Chronic muscle pain, muscle spasms, or tightness
Moderate or severe fatigue and decreased energy
Insomnia or waking up feeling just as tired as when you went to sleep
Stiffness upon waking or after staying in one position for too long
Difficulty remembering, concentrating, and performing simple mental tasks ("fibro fog")
Abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and constipation alternating with diarrhea (irritable bowel syndrome)
Tension or migraine headaches
Jaw and facial tenderness
Sensitivity to one or more of the following: odors, noise, bright lights, medications, certain foods, and cold
Feeling anxious or depressed
Numbness or tingling in the face, arms, hands, legs, or feet
Increase in urinary urgency or frequency (irritable bladder)
Reduced tolerance for exercise and muscle pain after exercise
A feeling of swelling (without actual swelling) in the hands and feet

Fibromyalgia symptoms may intensify depending on the time of day -- morning, late afternoon, and evening tend to be the worst times. Symptoms may also get worse with fatigue, tension, inactivity, changes in the weather, cold or drafty conditions, overexertion, hormonal fluctuations.

I can honestly say that I feel EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE SYMPTOMS and is it overwhelming just to get out of bed some days. 

I am trying a few medical prescription treatments and a few natural treatments to help my symptoms even though there is no cure for the actual disease.  I will be sharing more as I learn more and have some results to share.  I am just really learning more about this even though I was diagnosed almost a year ago I refused to believe that I HAD THIS, but after a year of suffering it is obvious that there is something wrong with my body.

I don't want anyone to feel pity for me or to feel sorry for me.  I am not the only one suffering from this crippling disease.  But, I do ask for your understanding.  If I am not a good friend, a good mom, a good wife, a good sister, a good daughter, If I seem to ignore you or seem standoffish, please give me a break and maybe even some encouragement.  

I LOVE YOU AND APPRECIATE YOU ALL and I feel like this is an additional link in my journey that may help others out there dealing with the same things.

AND, I am also announcing today that I have finally decided that I am going to continue with Weight Watchers.  I have had so much success on the program and it is very adaptable to the types of foods I want to nourish my body with.  I am going to play around with the simply filling technique this week and I will let you know how it goes.  I plan on returning to meetings this week (even though I KNOW the scale will be up about 20 pounds), I have to start again sometime right?

And now for the return of my Monday Menu Share!

On the menu for dinner this week:

Monday: grilled burgers, sweet potato fries, green beans

Tuesday: spaghetti and salad

Wednesday: baked pork chops, oven roasted potatoes, steamed veggies

Thursday: cinnamon-saffron chicken with couscous, steamed broccoli

Friday: Halloween and Football night - will probably eat Subway

Saturday: chili

Sunday: baked ham, mashed potatoes, green beans

And last, but not least here is today's workout:

And my boys and I got out and took a walk on this beautiful 80 degree day in November! Not many more of these days left this year!

That is it for today friends!

Sending you all love and healthy wishes!

Keep Losing,

Kari

Share something your family will enjoy for dinner this week!

Tuesday Randomness

Happy Transformation Tuesday! I hope you all have had a fabulous day! Here is my latest transformation pic:

I was SO HAPPY to finally get back to the gym and my training sessions today. My trainer was AWESOME and planned my workout around my sore back. 

As usual, I headed over to Jay-c for my salad and fruit. I found these Larabars while I was there and I bought two flavors. I had this pecan pie flavor for my post-workout snack. I really liked it and what I liked even better that it only had three ingredients and I knew what all three were!

For dinner tonight we went to our local Mexican restaurant and I had my Naked Burrito. YUM😍!

Then hubby, the boys and I headed to the theater to see Left Behind. I was a good girl and had NO popcorn or M&M's. 

And I don't usually worry about my Facebook page numbers very often as they go up and down a lot, but I was so excited tonight to see I had reached 3,000 likes!!! Thank you all for your support along my journey to become happier and healthier. 

Until next time, sending you all love and healthy wishes. 

Keep Losing,

Kari

Monday Photo Dump

Hi everyone! I know I have been quiet on here the past few weeks. I have really been dealing with some physical health issues and I just took a break from here. I will be sharing some more about my recent medical issues this week sometime but until then I am doing a photo dump today to catch up on the past few days. 

Thursday hubby and I went to French Lick for a date day and night to celebrate his birthday. We started off with lunch at the French Lick Winery. 

Yummy!

Spinach artichoke ravioli with Alfredo sauce. I paid for this later in the evening. 

Then we checked in for our free night at the hotel! Beautiful room! Hubby got a free night, free gift, and a free dinner for his birthday so we had a nice cheap mini vacay!

He also got to enter a slot tourney and won $100. We are not real big gamblers but we still enjoyed it. 

He stayed at the casino awhile and I was not feeling well from the wine and very rich food. I headed back to the room with a nice hot cup of peppermint tea. My tummy is not used to that kind of food anymore!

Friday night was our oldest son's last marching band performance. We enjoyed snuggling up at the game. 

Saturday was spent cleaning house and a visit with my parents. 

Sunday we went to Louisville with my parents to Bass Pro and Cabelas. We did some other shopping too and had a great day. 

Today was an okay day. My gym session got cancelled and I battled a migraine all day. I did go to the chiropractor for some therapy on my back. 

But the nightlight of my day was this evening's workout. My ENTIRE family joined me. This very rarely happens and I was so happy. Made my whole week!

And that is it folks! Sending you all love and healthy wishes!

Keep Losing,

Kari