Category Archives: weight loss

Keeping Up with Your Fitness Goals in a Fast-Paced World!

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Hello Y’all! I hope you are doing well in your corner of the world. Spring Break is finally here, and I am officially over the cold weather. Spring cleaning has begun, and I have spent my weekend decluttering, cleaning and organizing. I must say that I am satisfied with the progress made so far. It is almost that time when we swap out our winter gear for lighter layers. Yesterday was my first time going hiking in a long time – prior to this, the weather has either been too cold or too windy. Being stuck at home or on the road makes it harder to keep up with any kind of fitness regimen. But at the end of the day, the scale does not lie and in order to stay healthy, one of the best ways to do that is to keep one’s weight down…as naturally as possible.

Be Active Any Chance I Get. Take the stairs. Have a workout app on your phone. When traveling, map your stay in areas that give you access to a gym. Always pack a pair of trainers. Walk as much as I can especially when in big cities. Swim. Zumba. Dance. Move.

Always have healthy snack options available. Whether it’s packing my lunch, baking healthy, low-calorie snacks or having fruits and veggies, I’m able to make better decisions about food because when I’m hungry, I tend to reach for high-volume, high calorie or filler foods that obliterate my diet.

Vitamin Supplements Do Help. Living in somewhat of a fast-paced lifestyle, it’s very easy to be low on some vitamins or minerals. In this post covid world we live in, keeping our bodies in tip top condition is the better option. When you have family and dependents, being sick is a luxury you cannot always afford.

Intermittent Fasting Works. Sometimes I feel like an overstuffed turkey because everything revolves around food. Slowly incorporating intermittent fasting into my daily routine helps my metabolism burn off excess calories but also allows my system to rest from trying to process something every other hour of my waking day.

Smoothies Are King! When done right, smoothies can be a great source of nutrients, antioxidants and fiber. The fewer the ingredients, the lower the calories the better. Trust me when I say that I would rather eat a full meal than make a 10-ingredient smoothie. They do exist.

Protein Powders are Great. When used as meal replacers, protein powders are a great way to augment my diet especially when I’m on the go. I try to find shakes that taste great, dissolve well and those I can drink alone or add to other foods and drinks. Finding the right one for you needs some research of the ingredients and buyer reviews. It will save you time.

Don’t Stop Snacking – Just Make Healthier Choices. Being a natural born snacker -if that is even a real thing – depriving myself does not work long term. I get on a strict regimen that lasts for a couple of months and then I just give in and eat everything I’ve craved for the past months. I learned that this part of me will probably never change… EVER so I’ve swapped my unhealthy choices for healthier options like homemade popcorn, low calorie frozen desserts, dehydrated fruit, nuts and home baked low-calorie treats.

Folks, we’re still in the first quarter so don’t give up yet. The gyms are still packed but I can see the numbers dwindling down because life gets in the way. I’ve learned that anything I don’t make time for or prioritize will soon be relegated to the background. Feel free to like, follow and share your tips and tricks on how you stay committed to your fitness goals with other readers. The more motivated we are together, the better we become. Until I come your way again, be positive, dream big and stay on the wagon!!!

Periwinkle Starr

P.S.: All photos are culled from Freepik.

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A Look Back at 2022 – An Epiphany of Sorts.

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Happy Holidays and a belated Merry Christmas to all! I hope you are doing amazingly well in your corner of the world. 2022 is at its end and I am resting my way into 2023 but also taking the time to look back over the last 362 days. Taking time off to rest every now and again is so vital to being fit and healthy. Sometimes we don’t even know how exhausted we are until our body breaks down and we’re bedridden and forced to rest. Anyway, I’m warm and cozy, have my hair in a bun, my snacks nearby and I’m ready to dive into today’s post.

I Had An Epiphany….

I realized that ‘Everything matters’…We are very fond of separating our lives into compartments like work life, relationships, religion, health & fitness, friendships, hobbies etc. But in actual fact, these pieces make up who we are and are intertwined or bleed into every other area no matter how hard we may try to compartmentalize. One area that’s not doing so well affects every other area. ‘Yeah…yeah, we know that already’, I imagine some reader say but take a minute to think it through.

Every step counts. I mean this literally. It’s hard to keep up with a fitness regimen. All the determination in the world will get you nowhere if your body is tired. On days where I can’t drive my tired body to the gym, I can walk through the house, go up and down the stair’s multiple times, do online Zumba, stretch or exercise in place. You’ll still burn calories which is better than not exercising at all.

Hydration is huge part of weight loss. I didn’t know this until a friend of mine who is a fitness buff and competitive lifter shared this with me. Being hydrated with WATER removes toxins from your system, aids digestion, reduces constipation, and improves your skin, brain function and overall health. When I hear medical professionals tell the public to drink 8 glasses of water a day, I roll my eyes because no one and I mean NO ONE is drinking that much water…its soo boring especially when you have zero calorie diet drinks and everything else out there. I know I wasn’t. But to get there, start by buying a half gallon water bottle. It doesn’t feel like that many glasses but trust me that I exceed this quantity in water intake these days. This water bottle changed my life and I know it can change yours.

Sleep is important. If you’re always on the go during a typical work week, take one day on the weekend to sleep, rest, relax and let your body recharge. When you rest, your cortisol levels come down, this signals to your body that you can relax; stress reduces and the craving for salty and sweet snacks go down. Its literally a domino effect. If you have a bad or poor sleep routine, it’s only a matter of time before it begins to take its toll on your life.

Procrastination has an effect on weight loss. Quit telling yourself that you will start tomorrow. You would start walking, start dieting, sign up for a gym membership, join a fitness group, sign up for a personal trainer…..you get the gist. START NOW! Use the stairs instead of the elevator. Opt for a low calorie dressing on your salad instead a high carb option. Opt for a healthy midnight snack or pass on a second serving at meals. What really matters are the baby steps.

You can’t do it alone. There is that 1% of individuals who lose ALL their weight in their basement while livestreaming on YouTube. Well, I hate to break it to you, but those individuals are far and in between. The rest of us who are the 99% need to have a support system, people with similar goals, text groups and accountability partners to motivate us on our down and lazy days. Now, if you aren’t sure where to find ‘those’ people, start with your circle. Find out from friends, neighbors and ask if they’re interested in starting for example a mall walking group, joining a class etc. If that isn’t successful, you can find fitness groups online via social media. There are no excuses. There is a group for everyone out there.

Little Habits = Big Results. Friends, if you’ve been with me on this journey for a couple of years now, you’d notice that I’m very skeptical about instant results especially when it comes to diet, health and weight loss. Not only does it take a toll on your body, but your brain hasn’t had enough time to master or take on new habits. Anything too fast or hastily done in my opinion isn’t sustainable. Start by tweaking the little things and slowly override the old you with who you want to become by imbibing new habits and better lifestyle choices.

2022 has been a good year. Life is seemingly back to ‘normal’. To all the readers of Periwinkle Starr, thank you for being a part of my journey. Thank you for the likes, comments and follows. The new year will be even better. Until I come your way again, be safe, upbeat and have a Happy and Amazing New Year!

Periwinkle Starr

(P.S. All photos are culled from the internet).

Meal Planning During the Ember Months!

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Hello Y’all! I hope you are doing well in your corner of the world. It’s been a minute since my last post, and it’s been very busy but also very good. It’s beginning to feel a lot like Christm ahem…Fall and I’ve officially switched out my Summer garb for Fall. One of the things I love to do each year is go through the house and gather all the items I have but don’t use – and I know deep down that I may never ever use – and donate them to the community thrift store to help families in need especially at this time of the year. It’s awesome because I not only get to declutter, but I narrow my chances of ever becoming a hoarder in the future. It’s a win- win for both parties!…atleast I think so.

Anyways, as the year begins to wind down and the festivities kick in especially with parties, dinners, sweet treats and tons of sugar, I feel like the only way to balance it out can be achieved by planning my meals so that I’m nourished and not starving myself; but also controlling my portions so when I’m out and about, I can enjoy myself without feeling any guilt.

Culled from Freepik.com

When it comes with meal prepping, you first of all have to have a goal and know how you’re going to execute it. You have to prepare for shopping for foods YOU like to eat but are also healthy for you. Please don’t just follow all those YouTube videos prepping foods off someone else’s menu. This is one of the reasons why meal plans very often fail within the first few weeks.

A Few Things To Consider When Meal Planning

Pick a day to go shopping for ‘small’ food storage containers, cooking utensils, groceries and condiments. Block out a time for meal prepping.

Only make meals for a couple of days at a time. I usually prep for a five-day work week or four days; and I give myself a cheat day – this is when I get tired of eating my own food and just want to switch it up.

Create some variety. Having overnight oats with berries or an oatmeal muffin or a slice of banana bread,….there shouldn’t be too many options so you’re not wasting food. Choose recipes that are super easy to make, easy to portion out and store in the fridge for a few days.

Make it a balanced diet. If you’re having a lot of carbs, starches or heavy recipes, portion control is important. You can balance that out with steamed veggies, lean protein or a green smoothie. There are a plethora of food options that make quick meals, are great, and gluten free. Some of my favorites include Cauliflower Rice, Millet, Quinoa, Bell peppers, Chicken, Eggs, Oats etc.

Limit eating between meals because if you meal plan, and snack throughout the day and constantly eat out…it pretty much defeats the purpose.

Benefits!!

By eating nutritious and homemade food, you cut back on unhealthy sugars, additives, calories and cravings. Weight loss. You save money – you get more bang for your buck. Above all, your body will thank you for it.

Folks, the holidays are here, and most diets go out the window before it even begins. One way of not losing all the progress you’ve made is to find some balance where you can enjoy it all without the guilt. Until I come your way again, I hope you enjoy the weather, attempt to meal plan and see how it goes. Be safe and have a fun month!

Periwinkle Starr

Getting Out of My Own Way!

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Hello Y’all! I hope you are doing well in your corner of the globe. We are in the Ember month already and slowly winding down to the end of another great year. In the last month, I have embarked on a journey of changing up what I’d call my norm. I started out small with changing up my routes to work every week and then trying out new foods when grocery shopping. I tend to head straight to the produce I like to eat and skirt past anything that looks odd, has a weird name or looks like it would be too much of a hassle to prepare. But I’m getting out of my own way. I didn’t know I would be sharing my journey on here, so a majority of the photos are from the net. But I discovered some pretty amazing things. I would purchase something randomly, google and ask questions about it then I’d try it. These are my findings:

Jicama – Looks like a root but full of fiber and reportedly great for digestion, heart disease, fights cancer, boosts brain function, a substitute for high carb foods and getting rid of bad cholesterol amongst other things. Not sure it’s going to be my favorite staple going forward but I tried. It has an earthy but mildly sweet taste when eaten raw. I boiled it then placed it on a baking sheet and baked it.

Culled from the Internet

Dragon Fruit – So far, this was my favorite option. This is a really delicious fruit that’s even sweeter when ripe. It’s great for digestion and gut health, weight loss, hair health, improving skin radiance, helps improve asthma conditions.

Culled from the internet

Kiwano Melon – Also known as a horned melon is a beautiful fruit; something I would rather place on my shelf for decorative purposes than eat. When cut open, it looks like a cross between a cucumber and a kiwi. It has a salty taste to it and a little tang; and has so many nutritional benefits such as antioxidants, weight loss, lowering blood sugar levels, helps red blood cell reproduction, improves mood, and much more. It’s a little on the pricy side depending on where you are but worth trying.

Barley Tea – An east Asian drink made from roasted barley and reportedly aids in weight loss, blood sugar regulation, aids digestion, and may improve male fertility problems. Well, I tried it. Its tasteless and usually drank unsweetened. It has a mild hint of bitterness to it as well. More benefits include sleep regulation, curing the common cold, blood thinner, lowering bad cholesterol and improving weight loss. However, this drink isn’t the best for gluten sensitive individuals or those with celiac disease.

Culled from the internet

Sesame Seeds (White) – This an awesome addition to smoothies. It is tasteless with a hint of grain. It’s a great source of fiber, lowers bad cholesterol, very good plant protein source if you are vegan, reportedly lowers high blood pressure especially systolic numbers, supports healthy bones, reduces inflammation in the body, a great source of B vitamins, helps stabilize blood sugar, helps blood formation, rich in antioxidants, hormone regulation, bone and immune support.

Periwinkle Starr

Folks, I have spent the last month getting out of my normal routine and expanding my experiences in my little corner in North Texas – and it’s been refreshing if I must say, and I would like to keep at it going forward. I remember a saying by Hippocrates ‘Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food’. My only way of finding out is to try. Until I come your way again, don’t just skirt by those unknown produce in the grocery store or farmers market, be curious, ask questions or better still – try it!

Periwinkle Starr

Summertime Shenanigans: GF Baking with a Twist!

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Hello Y’all! Thank you for stopping by. I hope you are doing well in your part of the world. It’s been a whirlwind of sorts lately but well worth it. We’re officially in three-digit temperatures and it’s getting unbearable by the day, but this is Texas, and the desert heat does not play….at all. Summer is the best time for the outdoors. It’s a great time to hike, swim, attend crawfish boil parties, go salsa/bachata dancing, go to the beach, outdoor concerts, do touristy things in your city like checking out local restaurants in your area, visit historic sights, and have fun in the sun – while wearing floral prints and enjoying every minute of it.

It’s the weekend and one of my favorite times to try out new recipes but also doing my best to incorporate healthy ingredients when I can. Today I am trying out a GF Yellow Cake Mix but adding my own twist to it. Being one to skip breakfast on a regular basis, having a healthy-er snack late in the morning will tide me over until lunchtime. Instead of reaching for a sugar filled, calorie dense treat, I feel like this recipe is a much better option.

Update on Health Goals

Culled from my food diary

I’m still on track with eating healthy but also staying fit by being active every other day. One of the things I’ve done recently is trying out new and unknown veggies when I go to the shops. For some, this is the norm but those of us who have that ‘stick to what you know’ mindset, it’s a big step…in the right direction. Bok Choy has been my latest addition and I find it to be an interesting option but also very filling. I’m looking forward to what my next experiment will be. Now let’s get back to baking, shall we?

Typical Cake Mix Ingredients: 3/4 Cup of Water, 1/2 Stick of Butter, 2 tsp GF Vanilla and 2 Eggs. My Added Ingredients: 1/2 Cup of Roasted Salted Almonds, 1/2 Cup of GF Oats, 2 Scoops of Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, Monk Fruit GF Sweetener, 2-3 Scoops of GF Baking Flour. Utensils: Mixing bowl, measuring cups and spoons, 2 Baking Pans – To get flat square feel, and a spatula.

Let’s Go! Combine the cake mix ingredients together in a bowl. Add oats and mix. Add GF Flour. Keep mixing and set aside. In a small bowl, mix the cocoa powder and sweetener and set aside. Chop the almonds and place to the side. Grease both pans and add a dash of GF flour. Pour in the batter into the pans and spread around. Sprinkle in the almonds and lightly mix without letting the spoon go all the way down to the bottom of the pan. Using a spoon drizzle 3 tablespoons or more per pan of the cocoa mix on top and with a plastic knife or chopstick, run through the batter to get that lush chocolate swirl design. Bake at 350F with constant checks until the cake separates from the edges of the pan and the top is golden. Toothpick checks every 15 minutes is great.

Tips: This turned out great, but it had a slight hint of dryness. I would add an extra tablespoon of butter to the batter in my next attempt. Folks I missed writing, but I sure am glad to be back. Feel free to share any healthy twists you are incorporating into your favorite recipes. Until I come your way again, I hope like me, you keep enjoying life and working on your health goals. Please like, comment and follow http://www.myeamba.com for more!! I remain,

Periwinkle Starr

Summer Vacation Aftermath!

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Hello Y’all! It sure feels great to be back with another post. I hope you are doing well in your corner of the globe. I just got back from a much needed and well-deserved vacation, and I made a vow to myself to not ever go for long periods without actually taking the time to pack my bags and go SOMEWHERE, because stay-cations don’t cut it anymore. I turned off my phone and didn’t give a thought to work all the while I was gone. I did glance at my emails every now and then to make sure no one was harming themselves or getting into any crazy mischief while I was gone…Ha ha! Buy yes, its so nice to come to you with another post. Its amazing how getting time off to rest does wonders for every part of my being.

Vacations for me mean that ALL diets are off or in some way reduced to the barest medium. One thing I did as soon as I returned was to take a dose of a gentle laxative to clear my gut of any and all the junk I ingested,….in many ways, giving my digestion somewhat of a fresh start. Also drinking a lot of fresh clean water to rehydrate my body is something I’m incorporating.

Staying Focused and Loving Every Moment of It.

Culled from the internet

Some of the things I am incorporating post vacation have been helpful to me and my hope is that it helps someone else enjoy their time off without guilt but also get back in the saddle when they return home.

Big Volume, Low Carb Foods. The list is long and instead of just listing the foods on here, I’m including links to some of the youtubers that have been tremendously helpful in steering me in the right direction. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIOk6o5_xS8; and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvaJfRtrJxg

Walk at least 10,000 steps a day. You can build up your resistance to do more. In my case, doing one loop around my favorite trail gets me 5000 steps so my goal is to do two loops and try to build my stamina as I go. It’s so hot in North Texas this period, my plan is to walk indoors…..instead of burning in the heat.

Don’t Deprive Yourself. Find healthy alternatives for the treats you love. I recently found a GF chocolate cookie mix and I’m going to try it out.

Try Dry Packaged Soup Mixes. These are not only healthy for you, but they are easy to make and keep you full for longer while supporting your weight loss goals.

Never Compromise on Sleep. People gain weight when they are stressed. Cortisol levels rise and the body goes into hibernation mode. This stems from the early man having to weather all kinds of hardships to survive – like harsh winters, famine and only God knows what…maybe fighting off dinosaurs? LOL! At least 7 to 8 hours will do great for your body, your mind and your emotions. If you can’t afford to sleep that long, consider taking short 30 minute to an hour-long nap during the day. That will help tremendously.

Get Your Fiber Intake Up. A diet rich in fiber helps with weight loss and an overall balanced diet. The times I’ve seen myself pack on the pounds was when I was eating a lot of high carbs, starchy and sweet foods. Fiber helps speed up your weight loss.

Stay Positive. You are what you think and if you believe you can, you will. Real and healthy weight loss takes time and is not a quick fix. It slowly gives your body time to adjust instead of the shock the body receives when you cut corners. Unless its life threatening, I’m really concerned about surgeries, or those trips people make to developing countries to get all kinds of procedures done.

Having Courage to Deal with Emotional Baggage. Sometimes, weight gain may be due to natural causes – a slow metabolism, thyroid issues or more. Other times, it could be due to an unresolved issue that triggers incessant snacking, binge eating or not eating at all. Doing the best to face up to any emotional issues clears me of any reasons I have to not lose weight or maintain a healthy body and instead focus my attention on resolving any medical issues or underlying conditions.

Folks, it’s so nice to be back home and writing again. Please like, comment and follow. Until I come your merry way again, I remain

Periwinkle Starr

Getting Back on the Wagon!

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Hello Y’all! I hope you are doing great in your corner of the world! Its Mother’s Day in the States so I am wishing a happy celebration to all the Mums out there …most especially mine. The good Lord knows that many of us would not be alive today without our mums and it’s something we ought to be grateful for. It’s been a busy time but I’m glad to be back and writing again. We are in the month of May and it’s time to check in on my weight management plan.

Drum Roll!!! Drum Roll!!! Drum Roll!!!!

Let me just say that the scale was not very friendly to me when I stepped on it. I fell off the wagon with my diet even though I remained gluten free…. like that helps any. It started off slowly, skipping workouts, snacking a little later each night, not tracking my meals, not moving, not swimming…NOTHING! All I could do was scream…..NOOOOO!!!

Not today…..!

It’s funny that I didn’t notice the symptoms of weight gain…. Well, I take that back. I thought I could cheat, and my body would do what it has always done and bounce back from all those calories and bad habits, but this was not the case. This makes me think of all those people who get on those extreme diets and loose the weight but somehow the old habits slowly creep in and before you realize, it’s a downward spiral all the way down to the bottom and they are in some cases heavier than when they started off. Well, I felt exactly the same way. I knowingly did it to myself. These were some of my habits:

  • Excessive snacking – buying salty and sweet ‘gluten free’ snacks when busy, working or traveling. Come to think of it, gluten free snacks actually have more calories than a lot of regular snacks. I think this happens because manufacturers have to add ingredients that hold the condiment together which ends up with more calories in what appears to be the same quantity of food.
  • Heading to the couch and grabbing the remote after getting home – instead of heading out to the gym – even if for just an hour of cardio, Zumba or a couple of laps in the pool.
  • Late night meals, snacks, sweet treats. Guilty as charged.
  • Not being active…. ENOUGH!
  • Not getting enough sleep.
  • Poor stress management.

Getting Back on the Wagon Again!

Not a real wagon..lol!

Just like everything in life, when you get into a funk, its ok to be down, feel down and to just soak in it for a bit. The end goal is to not stay there forever. Get back up and get back into the fight to be and stay (in my case) healthy and at a healthy weight. Life happens folks and every now and again it’s easy to get out of sync when we are balancing so many spinning plates. But checking in on myself every now and again was very helpful. I find that there will always be something going on somewhere and our control as human beings is very limited. So, I had to re-strategize. Here’s what I came up with.

  • Take stock of where I’m at. How I arrived here. What I did right or didn’t do enough of; and how I prioritized my time on a daily basis.
  • Admitted failure especially in areas that need improvement. Admitting wrong is the first step of growth. Denial keeps us stuck.
  • Came up with a healthy plan – a positive and sustainable way forward.
  • Sticking to it – No more excuses.

I know this looks easier than it actually is but less is more. I’m off to the gym to do a couple of laps in the pool and get my body back in shape again. Until I come your way again, no matter where you’re at in your life or how long you’ve fallen or neglected vital components of your life, you can always make a determination to get back on the wagon again. Rome wasn’t built in a day and anything that is rushed is very rarely sustainable. Be happy, stay safe and healthy. I’ll be back before you know it. Please like, follow and comment.

Periwinkle Starr

Frozen Desserts That Don’t Expand Your Waistline!

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Hello Y’all! I hope you are doing well in your part of the world. My heart goes out to the readers in the Ukraine. I hope you and your family members are safe and you make it out in good shape. Folks, it appears as if the world is going to hell in a hand basket. But we cannot lose hope because evil never triumphs over good…long term. Let’s stay positive, keep our hope up and pray for an end to the chaos; the pandemic was bad enough.

The temperature is warming up one Fahrenheit at a time and it’s been a huge relief. We’ve had more sunshine over the last couple of days so it’s time to get the plants out of the house, repotted with healthy soil and unto the deck. As the weather warms up, cold desserts are definitely a necessity. Being a sweet tooth, it’s so hard to not indulge especially when you have options…lots of them. Being conscious about fueling my body instead of just filling it with dead calories, my goal is to consciously invest in items that enhance my diet and overall health while sharing my findings with y’all. So, it had been a couple months and I had been scouring the internet for a healthy, homemade and affordable alternative to soft serve ice cream which has been a lifetime favorite of mine. A couple months back, I found a device that matched my criteria of being affordable, easy to use and with great results. I was skeptical at first and decided to research a bit more into it.

Its A Yonana!!!

It sounds like ‘Yo Mama’ only with an ‘n’ but that’s the name of the device. I looked up the reviews and they were all good. Besides, if it didn’t perform as expected, I could always send it back. There was nothing to lose. I was pleasantly surprised because it delivered the same day of my order. It was also very easy to assembly and safe. There weren’t any visible sharp edges especially for child safety; and it is compact and would fit nicely on any counter. It also came with a dessert book…with lots of options including recipes for cookies and cream, splits, cannoli fillings, sorbets, mojitos, liqueur etc.

Ingredients: Frozen Fruits Ex. Bananas, Berries, Pineapple, Mango etc. Natural or Sugar Free Sweeteners (if you’d like). Toppings (nuts, chocolate, crumble, cake). A serving bowl or waffle cones will do. And an ice cream spoon. Thats all she wrote! It’s ready to serve.

As the weather warms up, my Yonana will come in handy with keeping up with my health goals and not feeling like it’s a chore to get those nutrients in. If you’d like to look it up. You can find it on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Yonanas-902-Original-Delicious-Alternatives/dp/B005083ECS/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=yonana&qid=1646160681&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyM1FXQlpGQ0NDN05KJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNzcxMTQ2OE9MT1c1UjFDNzY3JmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAwOTkyNzgyNDFETVM5WTkyWkYxJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==). Until I come your way again, stay healthy, upbeat and positive. The best is yet to come! I remain

Periwinkle Starrđź’•

Chocolate Brownies…The Other Way!

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Hello Y’all! I hope you are doing well in your part of the world? Boy, I’m I glad that this month is over. It was A-L-O-T but here I am in zen mode watching reality TV and getting this post completed. It’s beginning to look more like Fall in North Texas…Thank God! But I still haven’t gotten around to changing out my closet yet…ha ha! I’m a fan of the 90 Day FiancĂ© franchise on TLC and recently, they branched out into 90 Day FiancĂ©e – The Other Way. Its literally the same show but now the partners go over to foreign countries to meet and marry their significant others within 90 days. Well this post is about making brownies but not the way you’ve always known. This post is about making brownies the other way, the gluten free way. Enjoy!

Ever since I began this journey, I have been on this path searching for food substitutes that I can enjoy eating…It has been a challenge! I would find items that were gluten free but had high sugar contents and vice versa. I don’t how people who have adopted this lifestyle have survived for years because ‘difficult’ is an understatement when trying to find foods that are as close to normal everyday items; items that are gluten free with low to no sugars – and still taste like food. Its like searching for a needle in a haystack…..with so much hay (literally lol). But not to whine too much, there are pluses of going gluten free.

These Are Some of Them.

I’m a better planner…when it comes to food. Before now, I just ate whatever was readily available and easy to get my hands on.

Clearer skin. I have a better understanding now that all skin issues aren’t necessarily hormonal although hormones play a huge part in it.

Being able to burn stubborn fatty areas and loose weight without doing anything different from what I have always done prior.

I stumbled on a website!!! My search led me to this brand named Lakanto (www.lakanto.com). They have a variety of sugar free and gluten free items which range from snacks, spreads, baking mixes, powdered drinks…need I say more. I was so excited, I decided to try their brownie mix which is keto friendly, sugar free and gluten free amongst other plus points. I didn’t know what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised… given the fact that I thought I was going to eat bland foods moving forward.

Ingredients: Brownie Mix, 2/3 melted coconut oil and 2 eggs. I added almonds and chopped walnuts to the mix to give it some texture. How to bake: Turn your oven on to 325F. Pour the mix into a bowl, add the melted butter, eggs and mix. Fold in the almonds and walnuts. Grease your pan and pour in the mix. Bake for 20-25 minutes with constant toothpick checks.

It came out really good although being without gluten, it didn’t really rise as it baked. But it was good. I plan on continuing my search for brands that cater to those of us on this path. Until I come your way again, Happy New Month!!! I remain

Periwinkle Starr

Healing Your Body…Post Pandemic!

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Hello Y’all! I hope you are fine and doing great in your part of the globe. Its been a minute since my last posts and it’s been fun but also very intense. The weather is soooo nice in North Texas. I almost don’t want to say it before we wake up one morning and it’s literally back to hell again. LOL. From what I heard, we should be gearing up for another very cold winter and I just cannot wait to layer on. There’s literally a countdown to swapping out my summer wardrobe for Fall but I’m not quite there yet.

We made it to the ember months and it’s something to be thankful for. With the pandemic, the craziness of life and all the other things in between, if you’re reading this post, you’re here and that matters. Looking back at the past months, I would say that 2021 has been a year of getting healthy-er and doing right health wise. I began by making minimal changes. These changes were difficult and still are but the longer I stick to it, I must say that it gets better. Just because it looks like the world is ripping to shreds doesn’t mean we take our focus off living life and doing the things we must to remain in tip top condition all around.

It’s almost baking season! I’m not sure if there’s any such thing as healthy baked goods but I’m going to try. And if you happen to have discovered a way to enjoy baked good that don’t make your body pack on the pounds, please send them my way.

Still staying safe despite the pandemic. Folks, it’s not over and staying in good health, taking your vitamins and being physically active is the way to go.

Get out more…in open spaces. Go hiking, work out in the park, go golfing. Being out in nature exposes you to negative ions that are good for your body and overall well being. Have you met anyone that went to the beach or a waterfall or lived out in the country that didn’t feel at ease or calm-er than us city people? Trust me, it wasn’t the farm animals LOL. Don’t just take my word on it, look it up for yourself.

Get back into your hobbies. Doing things that you really love. Getting back into reading, baking, kayaking, taking dance classes, learning to cook, visiting coffee shops with outdoor seating if you’re not comfortable being indoors. A friend of mine told me about couple who haven’t been seen in over a year. I kid you not. They both work from home, have everything delivered and use facetime for E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G. No judgement here. I can understand the fear but if the world was ending, it would have ended a long time ago. We truly live when we do the things that we love, so take baby steps if you must but you’ve got to keep on living life…or a semblance of it as you once knew.

Take a deep breath. A lot of times people think that once you’re healthy you’re good but being healthy is a broad term that encompasses every aspect of life. Rome wasn’t built in a day and no one wakes up in tip top health just because they made a decision the day before to take action. Folks, it takes baby steps, little tweaks, cheat days until you no longer feel the need to do so (hehe…myself included). So until I come your way again be safe, have fun because the festivities are just around the corner!! And…it will only be a little while before its another Christmas. Smile…because you’re still here!!!

Please like, comment and follow for more. I remain

Periwinkle Starr