Blog to Book: Musings from My Weight Loss Journey [Kindle Edition]

 I SO should be sleeping but I couldn’t go to bed with out posting really quick! 

Tomorrow I’m heading to Toronto for TBEX, a conference specifically for travel bloggers. I wouldn’t categorize myself quite as a travel blogger YET, but it’s something I want to learn more about in hopes of growing TheUnworldlyTravelers into a thriving blog giving me more opportunities and reasons to travel.

If you remember, all of this was something I put on my birthday bucket list last year and as you are well aware, I’m not getting any younger. The time to DO is now. :)

My plan tomorrow morning is to go to the 6 a.m. CrossFit class (because I’m obsessed,) run my mile, and head to the airport. It’s going to be quite a challenge considering I’m not completely packed and it’s 11:30 p.m. but you’ll have this. I’ll sleep on the plane.

Anyway, the real reason I’m here is announce my Blog To Book called From Fat to Skinny to Healthy: Musings From My Weight-Loss Journey. I worked with the editors at Hyperlink.com to package some of my archives in book form for the Kindle. The idea is to have a collection of posts that give my story and thoughts on weight loss in a easy-to-access format.

At first I wasn’t sold on the idea considering my archives are all available here and I don’t actually own a Kindle, but then I realized others may find it helpful.

So there you have it, a new book, a trip to Toronto, oh! And I had fun with a new breakfast idea on GreenLiteBites using chia seeds!

I was on a roll today even though I had to put out a few FitBloggin‘ fires and I took the kids to the pool.

I think I thrive off busy. :)

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Raw carrot cake POWERBALLS! (guest post)

Hi everyone!

My name is Kasey & I blog over at Powercakes about healthy eating, gluten free recipes, fitness, & my day to day life!

I am so excited to be guest posting on Carla’s blog.

She is one of the first blogs I ever started reading & she motivates me every day to follow my dream.

I am currently starting my own business with some products launching this year – super excited! I can’t believe it’s only been about 2 years since I started blogging. It has truly changed my life for the better.

I have to say, over the last 10 years I have struggled with digestive issues that have led me to cutting out gluten, some dairy, & other foods that were causing some skin irritants. Figuring out the best options for my digestion has been a long road.

Recently I have reduced animal protein consumption and I have never felt better. My energy is way up, my digestion is on point, & most of my TMI symptoms are no longer an issue.

I’ve learned to embrace the whole plant based foods such as fruits, veggies, legumes, healthy fats, clean carbohydrates, & many super foods!

I truly believe in my motto “Be True To You” because everyone is so different. Not one person’s digestive system is alike. Instead of judging others based on food choices, I love to embrace the difference and become inspired by their choices!

Today I am sharing a Raw recipe with you that is one of my favorites snack any time of the day and can be enjoyed by all. It’s raw Carrot Cake Power Balls with a simply date syrup!

Ingredients:

1 cup Soaked Dates Soak dates in about 2 cups of water over night in the fridge & then removed pits.1/4 Cup Unsweetened Coconut Flakes3 Peeled Carrot Sticks (chopped)1/2 Cup Soaked Nuts I used Brazil Nuts but any soaked nut would work. (Soak overnight in a covered container in the fridge with enough water to cover all nuts in the fridge. Nuts are easier to digest when you soak them & they blend easier for the recipe.)2 tsp of Cinnamon1 tsp pure vanilla extract1 tsp Nutmeg½ tsp Ginger½ tsp Cloves

Blend all ingredients in a food processer until combined If the raw dough is too dry, add a splash of water or syrup (recipe below) from your Soaked Dates until the dough sticks together.

Form your sticky dough into POWERBALLS with your hands. Roll the balls into some more coconut & let chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. Store in the fridge for a delicious snack any time!

Extra Bonus? The liquid left over from your soaked dates can also be used as a simple syrup!

Soaked Date Simple Syrup:

Soak 1 cup of dates in about 2-2.5 cups of water. Once you drain the dates, you’re left with a simple syrup! This is a great natural sweetener for drinks or other recipes! If you need more liquid in the recipe, you can add back in some of this syrup recipe to make it stick together more.
ENJOY!

You can also find me on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and on my POWERCAKES blog.

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OMGeeeee. Raw Honey!

Unheated. Unfiltered. Nothing removed. You must get your claws on some raw honey.

You won’t find this stuff in the regular grocery store. I got mine at the Amish farmer’s market.

But do not fret! You can haz yours, too. I stumbled upon the Honey Locator website (run by the National Honey Board). The site helps you locate not only raw honey in your surrounding area, but also the suppliers that have specialty honeys, like whipped, organic, kosher, and even honey combs.

As for raw honey, the texture is grainy, but melts down nice and smooth, and blends well. Raw honey is especially delicious in a hot cup of tea.

Cinnamon & Honey Natural Remedy: I recently became very interested in the benefits of cinnamon and honey together. Every now and then, I take 1 teaspoon of raw honey and sprinkle with a generous amount of cinnamon. Then I devour it. NOM! Not only is it tasty, but it does the body good. There’s also some talk that the cinnamon & honey combo has weight loss benefits, but the jury is still out on that one.

I will bet you a gazillion-billion dollars (because I’m rich, beyotch) that if you try raw honey you will never want that golden stuff they sell in the plastic bear at the grocery story. Keep your eyeballs peeled back and on the lookout for raw honey. M’kay?

Ps. I confess, dammit! I’m not really rich. Somebody give me a loan so I can buy me some desserts. Anyone? … anyone?

((All I hear is crickets.))

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No electronics at the pool!

For us American-types it’s memorial day. For many of us it’s nearing summertime. I had no plans to rereun this post until a friend shared a near-miss with her daughter yesterday. She said to me pretty much what I share below regarding how THANKFUL she was she never, ever, ever uses her smartphone near a pool.

Note how this photo was NOT taken at the pool.

First, HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY to us American types.

Id imagine, even more than weekends, today is the day where blog posts go to wither & die.

The thing is, more than any other day, Id like to imagine my post today is *highly* applicable to today.

(does that even make any sense? is it like “allow myself to introduce myself” phrasing? sadly it all makes sense to me.)

I have a story to share.

A fleeting, frightening moment which made this highly plugged-in Mama grateful for the fact she UNPLUGS when the child arrives home.

It was a lovely, scorching HOT afternoon in the ATX & friend invited us over to swim.

I eagerly accepted. Part for the water-play & a lot for the friendship-time.

Life is too, too busy & Id not seen my friend in ages.

Life is too, too busy and, despite my best laid plans, the Tornado hadn’t been in a pool in ages.

I clearly remember plopping my smart phone on the passenger seat after I parked (ahhh the safety of the suburbs. some days I miss ye!).

I recall thinking: I dont need this by my side since the Tornado is here.

(Im crazy obsessed with the phone when she’s at school. It’s always with me. Im convinced the moment it’s NOT/the battery dies the school will immediately need to reach me STAT.)

Off we went.

Sunscreen slathered. Kids a’frolicking.  And I happily basked in the grown-up talk-time I craved.

My friend and I were chatting away when out of the corner of my eye I saw the Tornado begin to struggle.

She panicked, and even though there was a ‘noodle’ within her reach, she slid under gulping water as she went.

Within seconds I leaped fully clothed into the pool & dragged her to the side. Thankfully, outside of being terrified, she was entirely ok.

After a few hugs and a popsicle she returned to the water (& hasnt mentioned the experience again).

 Ive thought about it over and over and OVER since the day it happened.

More than anything I keep returning to the fact I left my smart-phone in the car and how thankful I am I did.

When I have my phone with me Im always slightly distracted.

When I have my phone with me it’s always buzzing, vibrating, ringing or lighting up and, no matter how PRESENT I strive to be, I tend to check it.

I like to think I check *quickly* but we all know how easily it is to get sucked into social media distractions.

Again and again and AGAIN Ive thought about how, had I been focusing on the smart phone, I might have missed the Tornado going under water.

Again and again and AGAIN Im grateful Ive made it a policy NEVER to bring my smart-phone to the pool.

I know I could miss a call. I know I could miss a text. Im certain Im missing emails, tweets, DMs & status updates.

Ive made it a policy to NEVER bring my smart-phone to the pool.

Join me?

I promise not to mind if you email, text, call, DM, tweet or status update another time.

PINKY SWEAR.

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Wednesday Weigh In!

I’m here! SO sorry for the late weigh-in post. Things are crazy with the conference and end of the school year. I’m trying to get as much done before heading to the school this afternoon to volunteer for the end-of-year party.

Anyway, I DID NOT GET ON THE SCALE this morning, and you know what, it was easy. I didn’t even think about it! I was too distracted by the kids, making breakfast, packing lunches, getting ready for the gym, etc., etc., etc.

It’s amazing how habits are started and broken. All it took was a few days of consciously not getting on the scale — almost forcing myself not to — and now I just forgot.  Just a few weeks ago I was thinking about weigh-in day for, well, days! Now the scale is the farthest thing from my mind.

Maybe it’s just because I’m busy but that’s OK. There really is a freedom that comes from NOT being distracted by the number. At this point I’m just going to take it week by week.

How was your week? Scale or no scale reading — we want to know! 

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I never felt stoppable.

I felt UNSTOPPABLE both ways.

When I launched MizFit it was “enough” to have a passion for healthy living.

It was 2006.

I was just back from Guatemala. Gnarls Barkley was popular. Skinny jeans were only starting to emerge on the Austin hipster scene.

And The Biggest Loser television show was born.

People heard what I had to say—-but my message was diminished because I was a long-term loser. No big numbers–merely consistency.

I challenged myself as to whether I “fit” as a fitness blogger.

Could I motivate if Id only lost forty pounds? Could I relate to greater struggles?

I answered the same way I did when I owned my training studio. I returned something Id learned in my counseling masters program:

Human struggle is universal. We may struggle differently —but the experience of facing challenges & persevering is universal.

It’s in that same way Ive dedicated myself to helping girls navigate frenemies and tween’dom.

Long before the Tornado (when I wrote mainly fiction) I led mother/daughter book groups at Barnes & Noble stores.

Ostensibly we met to discuss novels, but what transpired was sharing & paralleling the character’s lives to the girls’ own challenges.

Normalizing the struggles of the group’s members and reminding them they weren’t alone.

Since the Tornado burst on the scene Ive focused mainly on *her.*

I’ve worked to send *her* the message she’s ENOUGH just as she is today and remind her shes powerful and strong (& strong is NOT the new sexy).

she loves her some her.

Helping her to learn she wil sometimes fall short of goals—we all do—but as long as she learns & grows from the experience there’s no such thing as failure.

the ability to laugh at yourself helps!

She’s older now and I’ve learned the best way to help her is to practice what I LONG to preach (and say not a word).

I’m sharing my message of GIRL POWER! through teaching yoga to kids.

I’ve started mother/daughter book clubs in my new OAKtown ‘hood.

This post is NOT sponsored by DOVE’s GIRLS UNSTOPPABLE campaign—-but the crusade has snagged my attention.

Especially the statistic of six out of ten girls stop doing what they love because they feel insecure about their looks.

That’s a whole lot of our next generation derailed from their dreams.

Girls who could change the world. Girls who could change lives. Girls who need US WOMEN to step up, stand up and lend a hand during this time which can feel daunting and Sisyphean.

I’ve lead a blessed life.

I never recall feeling stoppable even when my outsides didn’t match my insides.

I never equated my beer, pizza, and junk-food bod with diminished self-worth.

I still believed I rocked.

I’ve spent time trying to discern why I’ve always felt UNSTOPPABLE in an effort to pass it on to my daughter and others.

My confidence at many points was misplaced—but it worked for me. I unknowingly faked it till I made it (and I still do many days.).

I work to impart to my daughter these 3 concepts:

Compliment yourself! As 7 she adores compliments. Heck at 44 I do, too. The difference is, at my age, I realize telling myself YOU ROCK! feels just as good as hearing it from others. It took me years to get here–I’m trying to help her find her way more rapidly.Know where you’re headed. As women we may have a mission statement. With girls it can be a mantra or personal catch phrase. We need to help our girls have a general sense of where they’re headed or they’re certain not to get there. Plans can be fluid (the Tornado is convinced she’ll be a special ed teacher. this may change) but having a destination helps girls believe they’re unstoppable.

Join me? Six out of ten girls are waiting for you.

As the amazing Jess Weiner says:

Girls have the ingredients for self-worth, but sometimes need the recipe.

Be a mentor. Role model for your child. Lend a boosting hand to a woman-friend or YOURSELF.

How will you be UNSTOPPABLE today?
How will you show girls/women in your life there’s room enough for us ALL to rock?

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FITBLOGGGGGGGGGIN! (ticket giveaway)*

Please amble with me down memory lane.

I know it’s an indication of aging when every single occurrence has to have a story attached, but Im embracing that notion and dragging you down the proverbial lane with me.

One upon a time there was a blogger trip.

It was the very first blogger all! expenses! paid! trip and, to put it mildly, all of the invitee’s minds were blown out (as the child sadly no longer says).

Emails flew (“is this really all expenses paid!?”) as this was early 2008 & we couldnt believe a brand would *pay* to bring us together.

All of us who had wanted to meet for s-o v-e-r-r-r-y long.

All of us who had kinda STALKED RONI NOONE and longed to meet her in person. (<—–yes. indeed. that all of us was ME.)

The trip was amazing.  I flashed the Windy City with my NEKIDness. And a friendship was born.

Ambling a head a few months—-Roni and I connected at BlogHer.

ahhh youthful bloggers…

We took the opportunity to plop in a hallway & gossip about our lives chat in a very serious away about blog conferences and Roni mentioned the idea of launching FITBLOGGIN.

A conference not unlike BlogHer but where it would only be us crazy healthy living types doing what we do & having fun the way WE like to have FUN.

And, because she’s RONI, a few month later the first Fitbloggin was born.

our tribe

Four years later my life feels crazier than it’s ever been.

I find I say NO far more than YES when it comes to trips & opportunities.

I receive invitations to events and ask myself:

Is XYZ really worth the “cost” of leaving my family (I like my family!) and missing time with the Tornado?

Quite frankly—reason #78347 why Ill happily never be big! and famous!—the answer is usually NO.

Fitbloggin, however, is my exception.

It’s like a blogger family reunion (even if we’ve never met!) which feels my soul and has me return to my family energize not depleted.

This woman is freakin amazing.

I was so happy to finally meet TJ!

Dont make me pick JUST 1 reason I love him…

New friends who feel like old!

First meetings make me smile.

Im not sharing about this friendship. <3.

I love this guy!

MATCHING hoodies? Yes, please!!

Check out my balls!

In all honesty each year I think:

Can I afford to go to FITBLOGGIN?

And each year my answer is the same:

Can I afford not to?

A few days with people who get me, get healthy living & GET MY IRREVERENT SENSE OF HUMOR?

Im a

child!

How on EARTH could I not go?

To that end I have a ticket to the conference to GIVE AWAY & you can be entered for the LOW LOW cost of a comment below.

If you were to attend fitbloggin whats the VERY FIRST THING you’d do?

*because I am a child I cannot stop singing the word FITBLOGGIN to Jim Gaffigan’s hot pocket.

random number generated winner announced June 10th.

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