Before & Afters: Weight Loss

One of my favorite things in the whole world has always been Before & Afters. I love a good makeover, on me or anyone else. I love to see drastic weight loss or haircuts or Plain Janes transform into Glamor Girls.

When I entered into the retail market many, many years ago as a means to support myself as an actress, I sought out cosmetic stores so I could get paid to do makeovers and make people look their best. I loved it…well, the makeover part at least. The selling, restocking, cleaning, etc…I could have done without.

I also ventured into wedding makeup, turning my husband’s future step-mother, in addition to a good friend of ours, into blushing brides with flawless makeup.

But mostly, I just like to make myself over. I love to play with makeup, different colors, different looks. I don’t have as much time to do that these days, but it’s always fun when I do. And when I go to get my hair cut, I always take before and after photos, sometimes stopping off at Sephora to make the transformation even more dramatic…

 

See? The uglier the before, the better, right??

But the biggest transformations I’ve undergone in my life have always been in the field of weight loss. I’ve yo-yo’d since I was a young girl, the fat girl in me always fighting the healthy, fit girl in me. Then I got pregnant and gained 35lbs, lost the 35, gained 15 back, and now I’ve lost 12 of that. So I’m *almost* back to where I started. Though I still have another 10-15 I’d like to lose, I’m really happy where I am, but most of all, I’m happy with the major overhaul my diet has undergone. No more processed foods in this house! We eat gluten free most of the time, mostly organic and local (when we can), and we strive to fill our bodies with good, wholesome foods. That’s probably been the biggest challenge this time around. In the past, I’ve lost weight by switching to diet soda, splenda, eating 100 Calorie Snack Packs, and other “diet” foods. But learning to eat REAL foods has been eye opening! Not to mention, I’m the healthiest I’ve ever been in my life! No headaches, no blood sugar crashes, no anxiety or depression (yes, diet plays a HUGE role in those things!)

And I have to give a big shout out to the makers of MyFitnessPal, without which, I wouldn’t know how much of the real foods I could eat! Ha! So, without further ado, here I am…in my swimsuits…before (February) and after (April)…

And yes, I’ve had to cut out those giant, fruity island drinks to achieve the look on the right. But I still enjoy wine and beer here and there (clearly, I didn’t cut out ALL booze! lol), and I almost always leave room for something sweet, like dark chocolate or a few bites of cheesecake.

How about you? Do you love makeovers like I do? Have you undergone any major transformations in your own life? I’d love to hear about it!

FREE Chick Lit Novel by Katya Starkey!

I’m so excited to welcome Katya Starkey to my blog today! I’ll admit, I haven’t read her book yet, but I absolutely can’t wait! This sounds so fun and it’s right up my alley. The title alone tells me I’ll relate well to this character Plus the fact that the setting is Worcestershire, England makes it even better. I love my British Chick Lit!

More about the book and how you can get it for FREE!…

Katya Starkey’s romantic comedy novel My Big Fat Low-Fat Wedding is FREE on all global Amazon websites from Friday May 10th through Tuesday May 14th. Kat’s book is a Chick Lit novel that stars Emily Gillam; a curvy bride-to-be who can’t stop dieting and/or over-eating from one day to the next. Will Emily feel she’s at the right dress size to walk down the aisle on her wedding day? Download the FREE eBook today to read on and find out!

 

 

 

About the Author

Katya Starkey is the pen name of writer Suzanne Korb who is originally from the USA. She’s been living in England for over ten years now and Worcestershire county also serves as the settings for her novels. If you’d like to get in touch with her you can email her or visit and comment on her blog any time. She’s also on twitter and facebook: @StarkeyKat and http://www.facebook.com/starkeykat

 

Global Amazon links to My Big Fat Low-Fat Wedding

Amazon UK

Amazon USA

Amazon.de

Amazon.fr

Amazon.es

Amazon.it

Amazon.jp

Amazon.ca

Amazon.br

Regency Quiz and Giveaway!

Okay, everybody! It’s quiz time again! Test your  knowledge of Regency propriety with this awesome quiz my superstar assistant came up with. Answer all the questions — right or wrong — and you’ll be entered to win one of my amazing Wetherby Brides Tote Bags PLUS a signed copy of The Robber Bride!

 

 

Please be sure to leave your email address in case you win!

 

All the questions below have to do with propriety during the Regency era. Why? Because my most recent heroines in the Daring Debutantes series are anything BUT proper. They go against everything they’ve been taught in order to seek out a better life for themselves and for others….

1)     During the Regency Era, what was the most important thing in determining a lady’s social status?
a)     Her family’s background/worth
b)     What part of town she was from
c)     Her reputation
d)     Her education history

2)     What was the proper way believed for women to sit or stand during the Regency Era?
a)     Leaning
b)     Slouching
c)     Straight; Upright with Poise and Dignity
d)     With your skirt or pants showing your bloomers

3)     In what conditions could a young, unwed lady walk alone?
a)     In a dark garden during a ball
b)     In the early morning for a walk in the park
c)     Walk to church
d)     Both B & C
e)     None of the Above

4)     What were acceptable dining manners at the dinner table during the Regency Era?
a)    Reaching across the table for dishes out of reach
b)    Allow a manservant to fetch a dish
c)    Eating very quickly
d)    Asking a neighbor to pass a dish

5)     During the Regency Era, what was considered to be proper conversation topics?
a)  Town Gossip
b)  Complimenting of one’s attire
c)  Bodily Function or Sexual related subjects
d)  The weather or new hairstyles

6)     As we know, all touching between members of the opposite sex were to be kept to a minimum EXCEPT when a woman:
a)     Was at formal event
b)     Shook the hand of the gentleman she desired
c)     Was with her Father
d)     None of these

7)      At a public ball, who was the one who introduced the gentlemen and ladies?
a)     Master of Ceremonies
b)     Leader of Courts
c)     Jester of Ceremonial Duty
d)     King of Courtship

8)     How many dances was a lady allowed to dance uninterrupted with one man without any speculation of improper conduct?
a)     As many as she wanted
b)     Whatever her parents thought was best
c)     No more than 2 pairs of dances
d)     4 dances

Remember: Leave your answers in the comments along with your email address! Thanks for playing!

 

New Audiobook: More than a Governess

The Wetherby Brides, Book 2, is now available in audiobook!

Becky Thorn has been keeping a secret for more than seven years. A secret that, if found out, could destroy her. So before she gets too ensconced in London society, she accepts a position as a governess for a reclusive Viscount and his wife, far away from the town.

Stephen Hastings, the third Viscount Hastings, is nothing short of perturbed when the tart Miss Thorn shows up on his doorstep. He is a man with little time and even less patience, who feels his pushover housekeeper is doing a fine job keeping his wards out of his hair. But Miss Thorn thinks differently and needles her way into becoming his governess, and eventually, the object of his affection.

Audible ~ Amazon ~ iTunes

Heat Ratings: Wetherby Brides vs. Daring Debutantes

In light of a recent unfavorable review, I’m adding Heat Ratings to my book descriptions, so you’ll know exactly what you’re getting. These ratings will be based on All About Romance‘s scale from Kisses to Burning. I’m also putting a number in there to give a little more preciseness, as my Wetherby Brides tend to fall somewhere between Warm and Hot, and my Daring Debutantes between Kisses and Subtle.

Needless to say, if you pick up a Wetherby Bride, you’re getting romantic love-making. If you pick up a Daring Debutante, you won’t get much more than kissing and maybe a glimpse of decolletage.

In that vein, while the Wetherby Brides novels are firmly planted in the adult category, the Daring Debutantes is a great series for younger readers! Low sensuality ratings paired with gutsy heroines will make a clean but enticing read for high schoolers, especially if you want to spark their interest in history while cultivating a love for reading.

I hope this new knowledge will help my fans/future fans navigate my novels a little easier

As always, Happy Reading!

My First Reading!

I was so excited to visit Raleigh, NC this past week to join my writing sisters in a reading at Lady Jane’s Salon RDU! Catherine Gayle, Ava Stone and myself all read excerpts from our stories that are in the anthology, A Season to Remember. It was great fun and I’m so glad I had the chance to spend a couple days with my writing besties

Follow the link to the YouTube video…I haven’t figured out how to embed in WordPress yet!

Jerrica’s Reading

 

NEW RELEASE! The Stage Bride (Daring Debutantes, Book 3)

The Stage Bride, 3rd and final book in the Daring Debutantes series,  is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords! (Coming soon at other ebook outlets and in paperback!)

Thomas Barclay has had a rough year, to say the least. After being jilted by the only woman he ever loved, he’s sworn off love for good, along with any semblance of respectability, by attempting to drink away his sorrows. However, when his meddling sister sends him off to the country to pull himself together once and for all, he finds himself trapped with the most vexing and obstinate creature he’s ever been forced to encounter.

Amelia Harding has more than overstayed her welcome at Ms. Denby’s School for Girls. At the ripe age of eighteen, she’s finally being forced to enter the marriage mart, which also means returning to her father–a prospect she refuses to even entertain. So she decides to run away to London to pursue a life on the stage. Unfortunately, her plans go awry and she finds herself in a carriage bound for the country in the company of a drunkard. A handsome drunkard, but a drunkard nonetheless.

Now they both must decide if they will continue to let their pasts define them, or if they will start anew in each others arms.

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Timeless Quills: Timeless Collection

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Smashwords

I’m so excited to announce my latest project with the lovely ladies of Timeless Quills!
Presenting 6 full-length novels in one collection for only $0.99!

Her Reluctant Groom by Rose Gordon
To Walk in the Sun by Jane Charles
A Scandalous Pursuit by Ava Stone
More than a Governess by Jerrica Knight-Catania
The Devil’s Daughter by Suzie Grant
The Healing Tree by Amy De Trempe

HER RELUCTANT GROOM ~ Marcus Sinclair, sixteenth Earl of Sinclair, has lived the last thirteen years as a recluse following an accident that left him heavily scarred. Though a recluse, Marcus has still managed to fall in love. The problem? The woman he’s taken with is none other than the sister of the lady he was once betrothed to!

~*~*~*~

TO WALK IN THE SUN ~ Hiding from a dangerous man, Tess Crawford thought The Wiggons’ School for Elegant Young Ladies would be the perfect place to disappear. Vincent Latimer, Viscount Atwood, is not a vampire and He wishes the book, Wake Not the Dead, had never been written. When a storm thrusts Tess into Vincent’s path and destroys the school, both of their pasts collide.

~*~*~*~

A SCANDALOUS PURSUIT ~ A very proper English lady has all her plans for the future disrupted when she innocently stumbles headfirst into a compromising situation with a very improper English duke.

~*~*~*~

MORE THAN A GOVERNESS ~ Becky Thorn has been keeping a secret for more than seven years. A secret that could destroy her. So before she gets too ensconced in London society, she accepts a position as a governess for a reclusive Viscount, far away from the ton.

~*~*~*~

THE DEVIL’S DAUGHTER ~ A bounty hunter facing his past, Gade Ryder returns to Eden, Texas, after twelve years to investigate a gang of rustlers on the family ranch. Had he accepted the job out of misplaced family loyalty or was it the compelling mystery of the devil’s daughter keeping him in the one place he didn’t want to be? Confronted by the memory of his mother’s suicide and the father he blames for her death, Gade finds himself seeking comfort from the one woman he couldn’t trust.

~*~*~*~

THE HEALING TREE – Lady Lilian Bliant is determined to thwart her manipulative father’s plan to shackle her to a weak-willed man of the ton. Lord Maxwell Warrick is anything but weak-willed, yet Lily wreaks havoc on his heart. Will their differences be put aside and will Lily one day accept his faith as her own and Max as her husband.

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Smashwords

The Healthy Writer: Snack Recipes

Okay, they’re not recipes, per se, but I thought I’d share with you some of my favorite lo-cal, REAL FOOD snacks.

Snacks have always been my downfall. It’s easy to unzip my daughter’s backpack when I pick her up from school and shove a handful of cheddar bunnies into my face. They’re organic, so they’re good for me, right?!? Well, they aren’t bad for me — they’re at least made with all natural ingredients that my body recognizes. Unfortunately, they’re not made without calories. And while they may not have a lot of calories, they add up! Oh, and look she didn’t eat the rest of her all natural, organic Animal Crackers. Ooh! Or her organic version of Lucky Charms! Score for my mouth! But not for my waist

MyFitnessPal to the rescue!

Recording every little thing I put in my mouth has made me realize there’s no room in my diet for my daughter’s leftovers (BOO!!!) And yesterday I touched on the fact that some really good-for-you grown-up snacks, like Kind Bars, are filled with more calories than I’d like to eat some afternoons. So I’ve begun the search for high quality, low cal foods that will not only tide me over until my next meal, but that won’t break the proverbial calorie bank.

So what are some of my favorites? Let’s start with my highest calorie snack first…

Greek Yogurt (200 calories)

This snack really packs a punch, so I have this when I know it’s going to be a while before my next meal and I can afford the 200 calories. I start with a 1/2 cup of plain, non-fat Greek yogurt, then I top it with a handful of frozen blueberries, a couple teaspoons of sliced almonds, 1/4 teaspoon sunflower seeds, and finally, a drizzle of local honey.

The good news is, you can tailor Greek yogurt however you want to raise or lower the calorie count. Leave off the almonds, add more fruit, use agave instead of honey. The world is your oyster!

Hummus (130 calories)

I’ve recently discovered the joys of Chia Seeds. If you’re not familiar, these little miracle seeds are an ancient Aztec superfood. They are full of protein AND fiber, so they fill you up and give you tons of energy. Not to mention, they have no taste, so you can add them to just about anything (including Greek yogurt!)

I like to add them to my hummus, so that it packs a little extra punch. So, for a low cal, satisfying and savory snack: 2 tablespoons garlic hummus, 1 teaspoon Chia seeds, 8 brown rice snaps (cheddar flavor) Of course, carrots, celery and cucumber slices are great accompaniments to hummus too!

 

But sometimes, I don’t have time to throw these elaborate snacks together — I need something on the go — and my new favorite bar (which is also my daughter’s new favorite. Grrr!) is…

Flavor & Fiber Blondie Bars (140 calories)

This one little bar has a whopping 12g of fiber — almost half the recommended daily intake for women — and only 4g of fat. So if you’re on the run and need something to tide you over, grab one of these yummy bars from Gnu Foods.

So there you have it. My three favorite go-to snacks. I’m sure I’ll discover more as I go along — I always do — but for now, these are fitting the bill. What are your favorite lo-cal, REAL FOOD snacks to get you through the morning or afternoon??

 

The Healthy Writer

I’m sure I’ve covered this subject before, or if not, many, many other authors have definitely covered it. But I still think it bears repeating, especially since I tend to fall back into unhealthy habits sometimes. I’m sure we all do, but here’s a little bit about my journey recently. Because, oddly enough, I didn’t fall into any unhealthy habits! Rather, I fell into very healthy ones. Unfortunately, “healthy” rarely means “low calorie.”

Smoothies/Juices:

I LOVE my green drinks! Smoothies with kale, spinach and a little fruit? YUM! Green juices that taste a little like dirt? Bring it on! Not only do I love the taste, but they’re a shot of life, I tell you! After a green juice, I can feel the blood coursing through my veins. My eyes dilate and feel so big and round, like I’m a vampire with super vision. All my sense are heightened, it’s almost like a drug. But a drug that’s good for me! A drug that, when taken, repairs the cells in my body and brings me closer to my natural state. How could I NOT love these miracle drinks?

However, there’s a downside here. Green drinks/smoothies still have calories. And sugar. Though naturally occurring sugar, it’s still sugar. And if you’re trying to lose weight, you need to be very aware of this. I’m almost always trying to lose weight, and I went a couple months drinking my fill of smoothies/juices, trying to figure out why I wasn’t losing. In fact, I was gaining!

Enter MyFitnessPal.com…

You’re telling me that my 24oz green drink with spinach, carrots, ginger and apples is 150 calories? It may not seem like a lot, but when you’re supposed to be on a net-1200 calorie diet, it is. That counts for a hearty snack just on its own. But it’s not always filling, so I was having other snacks alongside it. Which leads me to the next section…

Snacks:

Now, we, as a family, have cut out almost all processed foods. We eat mostly organic and/or local when we can get it. So the days of the Nabisco 100 Calorie snack packs are long gone. No more chemicals, fillers, GMOs, etc… for us. No way! We’re too educated about food now to want to put that stuff into our bodies.

So we turned to things like nuts, seeds, or a combination of both in the form of Kind Bars. All natural, gluten free, made of nuts, seeds, dried fruits and cane sugar, they are a delicious afternoon snack.

But here we go again…obviously, these little snack bars are going to be loaded with calories! 180, to be exact (although the chocolate ones are a little more) And it’s easy to say, “Oh, I had a juice and a bar for my snacks today, so I can go a little hog wild at dinner!”, and before you know it, you’ve blown so far past your calorie count, you can’t even SEE that net-1200 mark anymore.

Enter exercise…

I find it incredibly strange that as soon as we moved to Florida, I decided to stop working out. I don’t know what my problem was. But ask my hubby–he could NOT get me to the gym. I mean, maybe once a week, and for this chick who used to workout at least 3-4 times a week consistently for years, that was heinous. Oh, and that one workout usually consisted of a leisurely walk on the treadmill and maybe a few bicep reps. Not nearly enough to burn off all those extra juice and Kind Bar calories.

 

So this is really how MyFitnessPal.com has changed my life…

 

Last week, after a short trip up north, I returned to Florida with a new mission. It was time to get serious. No more messing around. Eric suggested I take a look at MyFitnessPal, as it integrated with my FitBit and my FitBit scale. I took a look and realized it was basically Weight Watchers but FREE! What?!?! I can track every calorie in (they have a HUGE database of food) and every calorie out (my FitBit automatically reports my activity to the iPhone app!!!)

 

I’m so much more aware of what I’m eating now, though I’m not depriving myself in anyway. I eat real food, and when it looks like I’m going to go over for the day, I get off the couch and do a workout video or go for a walk to gain more points.

 

Tomorrow I’ll share some of my favorite lo-cal, real food, snacks and meals with you, but for now, here’s the before and the after. And this is just after one week! I’m down 3.6lbs, which might not sound like a lot, but considering all the fitness I’ve added in, I know I’m also gaining muscle and toning down…

 

Before…

 

 

 

After…

 

Check back tomorrow for some of my tasty recipes!