I start out most days with a kefir smoothie and alternate with Juice Plus Smoothies on the other.  You may ask, What is Kefir?  If you will click on the link in blue it will take you to a great site that can explain in it in great detail.  Youtube is also a great resource when it comes to learning more about Kefir and how to process it as well as some awesome smoothie recipes.  Kefir is chocked full of probiotics that we all need and is readily available in the dairy section of your grocery store or you can obtain kefir grains and process your own at home which is what I do.  I don’t claim to be the authority on kefir information so please do some research and see what it can do for you.  I do however, recommend if you buy kefir from the grocery store get the plain version and add fruit to sweeten.  The flavored versions are usually loaded with sugar.  When you blend your own just add a little stevia or monk fruit if you need a little more sweetness.

The benefits of Kefir seem limitless and I just can’t say enough about this amazingly yogurty drink!  Kefir will drive out the bad bacteria in your gut and decrease bloating and can also aid in better bowel habits.  As I’ve gotten older that seems to be more important to me. (lol)  I’ve read other research where it’s actually helped with chronic ear infections in children and has slowed down cancer in some.  It’s also great for those pesky yeast infections ladies get after taking antibiotics.  All you do is continue to drink it and it battles the yeast for you without having to take another medication.

So in conclusion I wanted to share my daily experience with kefir and what goes into my smoothie.

-24 hrs prior, pour 2% milk over Kefir Grains and allow to sit on the counter in glass jar   that is covered with a breathable material such as cheese cloth or coffee filter as the grains are living organisms and must be able to breath. (Sounds gross but it’s actually awesome)

-Place strainer over a bowl and pour contents of jar in strainer.  Once all the liquid has gone through place bowl to the side while you rinse off the grains and put them back in the jar and cover them with milk to start the process over for the next day.

-Pour 1 cup of Kefir from bowl in blender and add stevia to taste as kefir is a bit tart. Add organic coconut, fresh or frozen peaches, bananas or pineapples and blend into a most tasty drink.  You can also add spinach for even more nutrition and you can’t even taste it.

So here’s to opening your eyes to something new and hoping you’ll dive in like I did and do something awesome for your health!  Your body will thank you! 😉

So it’s been quite a while since I’ve posted.  I’ve been a very busy lady to say the least.  After renting for six years I am happy to say that we are now home owners.  Yayyy!!!  What an ordeal that was getting all the paperwork together, not to mention proving to the bank where every penny we made came from.  Stressful doesn’t even come close to describing this ordeal.  I definitely devoted all my time to that process then upon closing on the loan the moving process started.  We’ve been there a month now and are starting to get settled in so hopefully my mind can focus on the blog again.

I am so very thankful for those who have asked about the blog and missed following my journey!  Knowing someone is being inspired by it encourages me!  As for my weight loss, it’s been a while since I’ve weighed so I’m not sure of the exact number at this point.  I will estimate 85 to 90 pounds down.  I’ve never been one to weigh everyday as our weight can fluctuate from day to day depending on water retention, what time of the day we weigh and so on….  I mostly use my clothes as a guide as to whether I am making progress and find that I usually only weigh at doctors appointments, which turns out to be every few months.  But then that’s just me!  I say, do what works for you.  If weighing daily keeps you accountable then more power to you. lol  I just tend to get discouraged by watching the number on the scale too closely.

So in conclusion, life gets complicated sometimes and we all have our way of coping with it, but don’t let food be your coping mechanism.  I found during the home buying and moving process I handled it well.  I can truly say that the new way I eat has become a lifestyle change and is just how I eat and no longer consider it a diet.  It just goes to show that we can adopt a better, more healthy way of eating and carry on with life and the weight will slowly melt away.  Remember, getting healthy shouldn’t be a quick, fly by night program you get on and abandon when you don’t see immediate results.  Make the changes and stick with them an you WILL see the results!!!