sprouted pumpkin seed salad with curry balsamic dressing + hemp-y “orange julius”

{This post is part of a new series, Fit Fridays, where I share my journey in shedding the 50 pounds extra weight I gained from my last pregnancy.}

I haven’t exercised much this week.

It was partly due to a car accident on Wednesday, nothing major (just got rear ended–so dealing with a little whiplash) & it’s just been an overall busy week for both me & Joseph.

Despite only exercising a few times this past week, I still lost 2.8 pounds.

Which further underscores the fact that weight loss is so much more about what you eat, than how much you exercise. Don’t get me wrong, exercise is important for so many reasons, but it’s not the number one factor for weight loss.

Beginning weight, 1/16/2014: 204 lbs.

2 weeks ago, at 188 lbs. 

Current weight, 3/7/2014: 183 lbs. 

I’ve lost 6 inches at the waist, and 2 at the hips & thighs.

I’ve said this before, but I’m sheepish about posting pictures of myself. Mostly because I don’t want people to get the wrong idea.

Getting to a healthy weight is not about achieving a certain size, or looking a certain way. I think those are fringe benefits, but it’s about being healthy, of not having to carry around extra weight which can weigh you down, and put you at risk for a multitude of potential health risks now & later on.

I post these pictures to illustrate that I am, in fact, losing weight. And it’s exciting. I feel great. I always love it when I’m in weight loss mode because for the most part, I have increased energy, don’t have to sleep as much, and with each pound lost, I feel lighter & more like my old self.

I’ve been doing my fitness plan (I outline what I’m doing in detail in my Fit, Strong, Lean: The Fitness Plan ebook, which I hope to launch soon!), but more importantly, at least when it comes to losing excess weight, is eating, and eating the right kinds of foods (all the details in my Fit, Strong, Lean: The Diet ebook).

Yesterday I went shopping at Costco.

It had been two months, so we were low on everything except dried beans and oatmeal. You should have seen the looks I got–me pushing around a cart filled to the brim. In fact, in the end, I filled two carts and spent $900 (but saved nearly $100 with coupons!). Joseph & I have come to terms with the fact that with our growing family of seven, we’re just going to have to spend more money on groceries each month.

As always, Costco dazzled me with a few new items that I just couldn’t resist.

Two in particular:

I had never tried either and my brain was swimming with the possibilities.

I decided I would first try it in a salad, so this was my lunch today, with a hempy “orange julius” (you know, the yummy, overpriced shakes that they sell at the mall that are not dairy-free?) for dessert.

The avocado oil has a delicious, warm, and neutral taste, and the sprouted pumpkin seeds add such great texture to the salad.

These are the kinds of foods that make me happy, are awesome for weight loss (because they fill you up on fewer calories and deliver a ton of needed nutrients).

I added a little hemp protein powder (it’s my fave protein powder, thanks to the recommendation of one of my favorite bloggers & friend, Gena) to the smoothie which gives it a little protein boost.

Filling, light, colorful, & delicious.

For more recipes great for weight loss, and all the details on how I’m losing weight, check out my new ebook: Fit, Lean, Strong: The Diet.

Happy weekend, ya’ll!