Welp, I'm on day 19 of my Whole30. But really, I'm on day One. Because yesterday, I ate like a king. A poor king with little time, but a king.
Here is the story.
I. Was. Exhausted. I know it's no excuse, but I was soooo tired! After getting the kids home after Mass, cleaning up dishes from the night before, and preparing their lunch, I was HUNGRY, and TIRED, Y'ALL!
For the last two+ weeks I have been making myself a modified, if not completely different, meal than my kids. My husband, too, you say? No, not my husband. Because he has not been here. In a week. I have only seen him late at night, and in the morning he is gone before I awake. And yesterday, he got called in to work before Mass. He came with us, but then I had to zip him home to get his truck, then zip back to the church to finish out my Sunday School class.
This single mom of toddlers thing ain't for wussies. Even when you get to stay at home.
Soooo, wah, wah, wah, I ate a half a quesadilla for lunch. Which, really, is quite good, considering I usually could scarf an entire one, no problem.
For dinner, Husband was actually home at a reasonable hour and, to treat me to not having to cook or wash dishes, and to get me out of the house (I have been cooped up with not an ounce of adult conversation all week), he took us out to eat. And eat, I did. I ate a sushi roll, rice and all, dipped in soy sauce. And I don't regret it one bit.
I needed to get out of the house as much as I wanted that sushi roll. It was delicious.
Repercussions? Today my gut was LIVID! I woke up with heartburn and, um, other issues. I messed up my day 18, but today I've been on point. In fact, eating a bit rotten yesterday (not rotten considering my old standards, just not clean like I have been) gave me the urge to work it off, so I even exercised! I threw in a P90X Cardio DVD that I mysteriously had (I seriously have no idea where it came from. If it is yours, I will mail it to you), and completed it.
I almost threw up toward the end, and for about an hour and a half afterward, and I was unable to eat lunch. I also found myself halfway through asking my 4 year-old son if he knows what to do if Momma passes out and doesn't wake up. Scary? Yeah, imagine how I felt. I told him to just call Daddy if I'm out.
So, back on track. Day 19. Or one, depending on how you look at it. I think I'll just go with day 19, and do 31 days. It completely defeats the point of the Whole30 (which is to completely clean out the system), but I still feel good about it.
And that is my confession. Now, to sit with my children and hug them.
Live well, eat well.
J
Monday, January 27, 2014
Twenty-One and Done: Twenty-One Steps to Your Better Home!
TWENTY-ONE
and DONE:
twenty-one steps to your better home!
twenty-one steps to your better home!
a cleaning and organizing challenge
Welcome to
the challenge! First things first, these are separated into TASKS, not DAYS.
Why? Because we all have different schedules, house sizes, and dependents. Lots
of little boys in the house? Might take you a couple days to accomplish some of
these. Toddlers? Same thing. Your work load intense? Might have to do one every
other day or so. Big house? Might take longer. Clean freak? Some of these will just be touch-ups for you.
Whatever your situation, do them as you can, but make sure you do some of one task
every single day, or set aside a chunk of time on a down day or a Saturday! If
you start one, finish it. Even if it takes you a week. Don’t move on to the
next until the one you started is done! And, most importantly, don’t neglect
your other responsibilities (husband, children, work, daily tasks like cooking,
dishes, laundry, etc.).
Next, don’t
let this task list freak you out. Don’t read it all at once. Just take it one
task at a time. It’s totally do-able.
IMPORTANT: Sing, whistle, or blare music while
you are cleaning. Every time.
YOU CAN DO
IT! THIS is NOT hard, and there is NO TIME LIMIT. Just devote a little time, maybe 30 minutes or an hour a
day… or a few hours on Saturday. Why wait until Spring Cleaning to get all of
it done? Just do a little here and there, and you’ll never have to spend days
and days trying to shove it all in. Get it done before Spring Break and just
ENJOY your break!
Tasks are
labeled by intensity on a level of 1 – 5.
If it is labeled (1), it should only take about an hour or so (without interruptions). The higher the number, the bigger the task. Skip around the task list if
necessary. Just make sure you see whatever task you’re on to completion before
starting the next! (That way you don’t go scattered like I do, and end up never
finishing ANY of them!) Ones that are labeled with a hyphen (2-4) depend on
house size, household size, number of rooms, etc. Bigger house or more people,
expect it to be on the higher end of the scale.
Before you start, you will need:
an old toothbrush,
glass cleaner (I suggest the foaming one in the white can with the little blue maid on it),
wood soap (like Murphy’s Oil Soap or another gentle wood cleanser),
a strong cleaner (I use Pine Sol and bleach. If you don’t like chemicals, get a natural cleaner but make sure it is good!),
Lysol spray,
carpet cleaner (409 or SpotShot or something of the sort. You can also just use vinegar and water!),
ten little plastic baskets from Dollar Tree for organizing drawers or cabinets (can get varied sizes, shapes, colors. How exciting!).
an old toothbrush,
glass cleaner (I suggest the foaming one in the white can with the little blue maid on it),
wood soap (like Murphy’s Oil Soap or another gentle wood cleanser),
a strong cleaner (I use Pine Sol and bleach. If you don’t like chemicals, get a natural cleaner but make sure it is good!),
Lysol spray,
carpet cleaner (409 or SpotShot or something of the sort. You can also just use vinegar and water!),
ten little plastic baskets from Dollar Tree for organizing drawers or cabinets (can get varied sizes, shapes, colors. How exciting!).
Note: Vinegar and water makes an EXCELLENT cleaning agent
for almost anything. It just stinks. But don’t worry, the smell will go away.
IMPORTANT: Do ONE task at a time, until completion! If you notice something that needs to be done along the way, make a list for yourself! Or, after you finish the task you're on, insert your new task, finish it, then get back to the list! (But the task you're on might be on the list already, so make sure you mark it off if you do it!)
Heeeere weeeee gooooo!
Task One (1): Clean all
the doorknobs in the house. Clean around them. If the doors need a good scrub,
might as well do that while you’re there. Spray them with Lysol as you finish cleaning each one.
Task Two (1): Clean all
the trash cans. Scrub the outside of them, and let some PineSol or Bleach or
whatever cleaner you use sit in the bottom of them before rinsing them out,
drying them off, and putting them back where they belong and putting a bag in!
(No letting them sit outside until tomorrow!) Wash the walls and floor around the kitchen trash, especially. You know it gets gross.
Task Three (1): Dining
room chairs. If you have small children, this may require you to use a
toothpick or toothbrush to scrub a little. Remember to clean each crevice, and the
seats. Use soap that will not damage the wood or metal!
Task Four (1): Kitchen
cabinet doors. Again, a toothpick or toothbrush might be in order. Use wood
soap so you don’t damage them!
Task Five (3): Those spots
on the carpet? Scrub them out. Step on them with a dry towel until they are
dry! (Otherwise they’ll come back!)
Task Six (3): Bathroom drawers.
Organize them! Wipe them down, inside and out. (This one might have to be split
into two days, depending on how many bathrooms, and people, you have in your
house!)
Task Seven (3): Bathroom
cabinets. Organize them! Get RID of the trash and loose items. Put all the
gross, tattered towels into a special drawer for rags (laundry room, under the
kitchen sink…. if you don’t already have a “rag” drawer, make one. Ain’t nobody
got space for those embarrassing towels to be in the bathroom.)
Task Eight (5): Laundry
Room. Enough said. Don’t cut corners, and make. it. perfect. (Again, two or
three days might be in order. This task requires that all laundry be cleaned,
folded, hung up, and distributed. This task includes organizing laundry room
drawers and cabinets. Might actually be an all-week task if your laundry room
is a “catch all.”)
Task Nine (2): Kitchen
counters. Get all the crap that accumulates on the counters, and put it in its place.
It doesn’t have a place? Make one, or THROW IT AWAY! If you need to get a
couple small plastic baskets from Dollar Tree, and put your chapstick and odds
n ends in one, your medicine in another, pens and pencils in another. These baskets
can go in your cabinet, or in a drawer. All that paper? Put it in manila folders
or your filing cabinet, display it on the fridge, or THROW IT AWAY!
Task Ten (2-3): Kitchen
cabinets (inside). Organize them. Clean them. Wipe down shelves inside (the
outsides are already clean from task four! Score!). Get rid of expired
food/cans/pasta noodles.
Task Eleven (3): Entertainment
center. Inside and out. Clean, dust, organize. Put movies in their correct
case. Get rid of the uber-scratched ones.
Task Twelve (1-2): Junk
drawers! Time to go through and organize and throw away! Only one junk drawer?
Good for you. This will be easy. More than one? Get after it. (Again, those
little baskets from Dollar Tree are a cheap and exceptional organizing tool!)
Task Thirteen (2-4):
Kitchen baseboards, and under cabinets. Pull out the fridge and stove, if
applicable. Hands. Knees. Toothbrush. Cleaner in a bowl. Scrub all around the
bottom of those cabinets. And under the fridge and stove? Yes. You will be glad
you did.
Task Fourteen (?): THAT
place. Choose that place in your house that is constantly the catch-all for
bills, schoolwork, paperwork. (Bookshelf, table, desk, etc.). Organize it. Dust
it/Clean it.
Task Fifteen (2-4): Vents
and fans. Dust all the vents, and wipe down the blades on all fans in the
house. Standing, box, ceiling, you name it.
Task Sixteen (3): Light
fixtures. Take off the cover on all your ceiling or standing light fixtures.
Wash them. Put them back on! (Please be careful to not electrocute yourself.)
Task Seventeen (2-5):
Baseboards. This will count as your workout for the day. Hands and knees,
vacuum cleaner, rag and bowl ‘o’ soap. Tackle the baseboards. For the ENTIRE
HOUSE.
Task Eighteen (2-5): Windows
and mirrors! All of them. Yes, you heard me. Inside, and out! You can do it! (You KNOW it needs to be done!) Open the windows and vacuum. (If you live in West Texas, this might up this one's intensity to a five!) Clean the inside and outside of the windows. (Again, if you live in West Texas, DO NOT do this on a windy day.)
Task Nineteen (1): Blinds.
Dust them. If you need to wipe them, do it. (Like, for instance, if they have
fly or moth guts all over them from this summer.) If you want to intensify this
one (2-4), take down really dirty blinds and soak them in the tub with a little
bleach for a couple hours. Clean blinds make more of a difference than you
realize!
Task Twenty (2): Couch.
Take off cushions and wash them if this is an option and if it is necessary. If
not, spot clean seats and arm rests (make sure you have the right cleaner. Or
just use a little vinegar and water.). Vacuum under the cushions!
Task Twenty-One (3): Clean
your washer and dryer. Wash the lint trap (make sure it’s dry before you put it
back), wipe them down, inside and out. Pull them out and sweep/mop under them.
Congratulations! You’re done! Enjoy
your super clean and organized house!
Or, if you feel the need, start over. Happy housekeeping!
Or, if you feel the need, start over. Happy housekeeping!
USE THIS SPACE!
List other things that need attention that you notice along the way! Need to clean out your closet or bedroom drawers? Kids’ closets and drawers? Shoes? Jewelry box? Toy chest? Storage room? Write it down, and when these 21 are done, DO IT!
List other things that need attention that you notice along the way! Need to clean out your closet or bedroom drawers? Kids’ closets and drawers? Shoes? Jewelry box? Toy chest? Storage room? Write it down, and when these 21 are done, DO IT!
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
TWO WEEKS.
And still going strong. Yesterday I almost thought, "meh, I made it halfway, that's pretty good. Might as well have juuuuuust oooooone biiiiite of pepperoni pizza."
And yet, aside from that ham, and a couple bites of my pulp bread yesterday (that one very honestly was to test it. I was sooo curious about if it was worth the time and energy it took, and whether I could give away one of the loaves!), I've stayed the course.
The thing I find at this point is that I don't know that I've been eating enough. Weird. I am trying to up my intake a bit, because I can feel it in my back, and I feel a bit weak. But though I feel weak, my energy levels are through the roof at some points!
Last night at ten o'clock, after I took a toothpick and washcloth to the grout on my tile countertops, I was on my knees scrubbing the kitchen cabinets and scraping the grooves with a toothpick. Jeff asked me if I was on drugs. I told him I was high on life. And I am. :)
But MAN, this girl needs to eat! I don't know what to do with myself, to hear my stomach growl and wonder if I ate lunch. I eat two eggs every morning, religiously. Sometimes I add mushrooms and spinach, or chives or green onion, or red pepper. Occasionally I'll add a half grapefruit or orange/apple. So I know I am getting that in every day. But there have been a couple days that it is dinner time and I realize I've missed lunch. (Don't worry. This has really only happened like two days.)
I assure you it is unintentional. And, for the first time in a very long time, I am having to intentionally eat because I am actually NOT starving. all. day. long. I have to intentionally eat a salad for lunch (which I did today, topped with steak and red wine vinegar), and make a good dinner. And that feels pretty good. To eat to live, rather than live to eat.
I have made a discovery that ails me, so. I HATE microwave/reheated chicken. It is revolting! It tastes likeI HAD SOMETHING GROSS WRITTEN HERE BUT DELETED IT TO SPARE YOU or something. So, now I have to start making my chicken one piece at a time and no leftovers, which is really annoying. Alas, I will do it. I'm already making myself a different meal than the rest of my family for the most part, anyway.
Last night I passed on Domino's pizza. It was my errand day, and took longer than expected, so I picked up a pizza on the way home. It smelled so amazing. I ate leftover ratatouille. I think. I don't really remember what I ate, so I guess the meal wasn't to die for.
But tonight, I created something amazing. Will share.
1 chicken breast, cooked in pan with a little coconut oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder. Cut up into tiny pieces when done.
Add 1 avocado, 1 roasted red bell pepper, diced (I roasted in the broiler on 400 for about 10 minutes), a little salt and pepper, and a small scoop of homemade mayo that I learned how to make on YouTube and have been gathering ingredients for, little by little, for the last week.
Result: DELICIOUS. Even my little 2 year old liked it. Win!
(I uploaded a picture but it looked disgusting in the photo. Just imagine the green and red all pretty with the chicken. Mmmmm.)
I decided, against my better judgement, to do a 2 week weigh since I'd weighed at one week.
It tells me, tonight, that I have lost 12 pounds. I know it could just be redistribution of water weight, or the fact that I missed lunch yesterday. And that all this stuff not about weight. But still, it feels great to have myself under control and see my weight reflect the changes I'm feeling in my body. Even my face seems to be clearing up with all that water and lack of preservatives in me'body.
All for now. I look forward to the next two weeks being over so I can start blogging about other stuff again. :)
Eat well, live well,
Gordita Blanca.
And yet, aside from that ham, and a couple bites of my pulp bread yesterday (that one very honestly was to test it. I was sooo curious about if it was worth the time and energy it took, and whether I could give away one of the loaves!), I've stayed the course.
The thing I find at this point is that I don't know that I've been eating enough. Weird. I am trying to up my intake a bit, because I can feel it in my back, and I feel a bit weak. But though I feel weak, my energy levels are through the roof at some points!
Last night at ten o'clock, after I took a toothpick and washcloth to the grout on my tile countertops, I was on my knees scrubbing the kitchen cabinets and scraping the grooves with a toothpick. Jeff asked me if I was on drugs. I told him I was high on life. And I am. :)
But MAN, this girl needs to eat! I don't know what to do with myself, to hear my stomach growl and wonder if I ate lunch. I eat two eggs every morning, religiously. Sometimes I add mushrooms and spinach, or chives or green onion, or red pepper. Occasionally I'll add a half grapefruit or orange/apple. So I know I am getting that in every day. But there have been a couple days that it is dinner time and I realize I've missed lunch. (Don't worry. This has really only happened like two days.)
I assure you it is unintentional. And, for the first time in a very long time, I am having to intentionally eat because I am actually NOT starving. all. day. long. I have to intentionally eat a salad for lunch (which I did today, topped with steak and red wine vinegar), and make a good dinner. And that feels pretty good. To eat to live, rather than live to eat.
I have made a discovery that ails me, so. I HATE microwave/reheated chicken. It is revolting! It tastes like
Last night I passed on Domino's pizza. It was my errand day, and took longer than expected, so I picked up a pizza on the way home. It smelled so amazing. I ate leftover ratatouille. I think. I don't really remember what I ate, so I guess the meal wasn't to die for.
But tonight, I created something amazing. Will share.
1 chicken breast, cooked in pan with a little coconut oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder. Cut up into tiny pieces when done.
Add 1 avocado, 1 roasted red bell pepper, diced (I roasted in the broiler on 400 for about 10 minutes), a little salt and pepper, and a small scoop of homemade mayo that I learned how to make on YouTube and have been gathering ingredients for, little by little, for the last week.
Result: DELICIOUS. Even my little 2 year old liked it. Win!
(I uploaded a picture but it looked disgusting in the photo. Just imagine the green and red all pretty with the chicken. Mmmmm.)
I decided, against my better judgement, to do a 2 week weigh since I'd weighed at one week.
It tells me, tonight, that I have lost 12 pounds. I know it could just be redistribution of water weight, or the fact that I missed lunch yesterday. And that all this stuff not about weight. But still, it feels great to have myself under control and see my weight reflect the changes I'm feeling in my body. Even my face seems to be clearing up with all that water and lack of preservatives in me'body.
All for now. I look forward to the next two weeks being over so I can start blogging about other stuff again. :)
Eat well, live well,
Gordita Blanca.
Monday, January 20, 2014
12 of 30
Today marks day 12 of my Whole30 journey, and I'm not doing so hot.
I do have to give myself MAD props for my weekend. Reject, reject, reject. That is what I did. All weekend. Without one. single. slip.
Meeting all day on Saturday, table covered with sweet treats, and I didn't have anything but oranges. Lunch was served - tacos, and, though I shouldn't have eaten the meat (I needed the protein), I just put it atop some lettuce and ate it with salsa.
Saturday night, another test. It was the party of some dear friends (dad was turning 50 and daughter, our friend and sitter, was turning 16!). I rejected a chocolate fountain with all kinds of dippin's, all kinds of good food, and opted for the salad I brought. I did have a little brisket that night, and it was delicious. But not knowing marinade means I probably did have a little sugar intake. It is NOTHING compared to what I would have normally chosen, food-wise, however. No birthday cake, no chocolate chip cookies with bacon. (I made them for the birthday girl, and my house smelled amazing. Didn't take one. single. bite.) I cannot BELIEVE I didn't have one cheat bite of anything. I honestly cannot believe it.
I also passed up firepit-roasted marshmallows later that night, even after a friend tried to make me eat them over and over, on accident. HAHAH! She forgot I'm off sugar and kept trying to offer me these amazing, burnt, drippy marshmallows... yuuuuum. Just. said. no.
Sunday morning my coffee was black, and I passed up on the donut table. I ate a salad for lunch (but ate a burger patty... not the best choice on my plan, but I needed the protein!). And Sunday night was a birthday party for my niece and nephew, and I just said no to chocolate cake with strawberries in it, and ice cream.
Though I feel like I made huge life-changing strides this weekend, I still suffer today. I ate several bites of ham last night - which was amazing, and put some of the roast on my salad. The ham definitely had sugar in it, I mean, it was sweet ham. And today... something is wrong.
I have a pounding, blasting headache. I'm going to blame it on my hormones and, um, women time stuff, but I think it is a mixture of woman time stuff, lack of sleep, and the food I ate yesterday. It's just too obvious. No headaches for a week, eat a little processed ham (that is the only thing I can think would be the culprit), and BAM! Like a wrecking ball! (Which happens to be one of my 4 year-old son's favorite songs right now. Weird and terrible, I know.)
So, today I'm all in it again, no ham, no brisket, just the same things I was eating before my weekend-o-parties. I got a TON of fruits and veggies from Bountiful Baskets over the weekend, and I'm really looking forward to figuring out what juices and meals to make. Yay! I love all the colors. Love to cook!
Overall, I still feel good. I look back and try to engrain into my memory/mind that my days and nights were no better off - or worse off - for not eating anything I might have craved. Nothing changed. The only thing that would have changed had I eaten those things, is that I'd feel bad today.
First time I've left a part of delicious sweet tasty treats.... and had NO regretful eating to get over. Win!
Eat well, live well,
J
I do have to give myself MAD props for my weekend. Reject, reject, reject. That is what I did. All weekend. Without one. single. slip.
Meeting all day on Saturday, table covered with sweet treats, and I didn't have anything but oranges. Lunch was served - tacos, and, though I shouldn't have eaten the meat (I needed the protein), I just put it atop some lettuce and ate it with salsa.
Saturday night, another test. It was the party of some dear friends (dad was turning 50 and daughter, our friend and sitter, was turning 16!). I rejected a chocolate fountain with all kinds of dippin's, all kinds of good food, and opted for the salad I brought. I did have a little brisket that night, and it was delicious. But not knowing marinade means I probably did have a little sugar intake. It is NOTHING compared to what I would have normally chosen, food-wise, however. No birthday cake, no chocolate chip cookies with bacon. (I made them for the birthday girl, and my house smelled amazing. Didn't take one. single. bite.) I cannot BELIEVE I didn't have one cheat bite of anything. I honestly cannot believe it.
I also passed up firepit-roasted marshmallows later that night, even after a friend tried to make me eat them over and over, on accident. HAHAH! She forgot I'm off sugar and kept trying to offer me these amazing, burnt, drippy marshmallows... yuuuuum. Just. said. no.
Sunday morning my coffee was black, and I passed up on the donut table. I ate a salad for lunch (but ate a burger patty... not the best choice on my plan, but I needed the protein!). And Sunday night was a birthday party for my niece and nephew, and I just said no to chocolate cake with strawberries in it, and ice cream.
Though I feel like I made huge life-changing strides this weekend, I still suffer today. I ate several bites of ham last night - which was amazing, and put some of the roast on my salad. The ham definitely had sugar in it, I mean, it was sweet ham. And today... something is wrong.
I have a pounding, blasting headache. I'm going to blame it on my hormones and, um, women time stuff, but I think it is a mixture of woman time stuff, lack of sleep, and the food I ate yesterday. It's just too obvious. No headaches for a week, eat a little processed ham (that is the only thing I can think would be the culprit), and BAM! Like a wrecking ball! (Which happens to be one of my 4 year-old son's favorite songs right now. Weird and terrible, I know.)
So, today I'm all in it again, no ham, no brisket, just the same things I was eating before my weekend-o-parties. I got a TON of fruits and veggies from Bountiful Baskets over the weekend, and I'm really looking forward to figuring out what juices and meals to make. Yay! I love all the colors. Love to cook!
Overall, I still feel good. I look back and try to engrain into my memory/mind that my days and nights were no better off - or worse off - for not eating anything I might have craved. Nothing changed. The only thing that would have changed had I eaten those things, is that I'd feel bad today.
First time I've left a part of delicious sweet tasty treats.... and had NO regretful eating to get over. Win!
Eat well, live well,
J
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Observations. (A Whole30 post)
I already posted today, but as I sit down tonight, at the end of a very long day, I realize a couple things I need to document for myself.
1. Not so hard in the big picture. This last week has not been near the struggle I thought it would be. Yes, at moments it has been so hard I thought about throwing myself in front of a bus. But 1. there are no buses in this town, and 2. they were only moments. Fleeting moments. When I look at the whole, most of it has not been near as hard as I expected.
2. Discipline. I cannot believe the amount of discipline I feel in my bones at this moment. It is exhilarating. And it's gone beyond food. I have not bit my nails all week. (This is huge!) I have been more diligent about scheduled bed time, prayer with kids, and reading with/to them. My temper has been more controlled and my attitude is improving (though at moments I'm a raving lunatic. I blame this on sugar withdrawal. Poor kids.) Even improved massively on a couple other behavorial bad habits that I have struggled with breaking for years.
3. Satiation. I... am... FULL! I ate three meals today, relatively small, and with each, I did not feel the need to have seconds! WHAT?! I had a handful of almonds and felt full. Dinner was so good that I considered having another helping, but then I just pushed my bowl away and went on, and even forgot that I considered it. How empowered this girl feels! I have NEVER been able to do that, and I cannot remember the last day I felt full.
4. Aches and pains. My back is killing me. I feel kind of weak. I want to exercise, and will start small tomorrow. But my back, and my weakness. My mind feels clear and energetic, but my back is in poor condition. I attribute this to 1. sitting at the computer too much (so I'm getting off and staying off tomorrow. Been on extra the last few days working on a talk, handout, and slide show for a talk I'm presenting this weekend for a retreat in February), and 2. not eating enough. Whenever I'm not eating enough, my back usually is the first to feel it. It is certainly not intentional, but, see number three, I am full! Going to be more mindful of being active, staying away from the computer now that the talk and such are (mostly) done, and eating. Never, ever thought I'd say that.
5. Attitude is everything. And mine has improved, like, whoa, compared to last month. It is bizarre. My poor family. Bi-polar MUCH?! At least at this point it's just an occasional snap because I haven't had a drop of sugar in a week. :)
How is this possible? Mind over matter? Mind over food. Who knew that changing my eating habits would change so many other things? If I feel this at only day 7, I am curious and excited about the next few weeks. I cannot imagine these results are typical for day 7, but my mind was long past ready for this change. I hope they continue and I don't crash and burn! If so, I will eat my words (without sugar, of course).
Dinner tonight: Threw some cut up chicken into a pot with crushed tomatoes and coconut milk. Added some sea salt, onion, fresh minced garlic, green onion, chopped up some weird squash I bought last week (green, bottom looks like a belly button, shaped like a pear), and some minced jalapeno. Let it simmer, and it was delicious! Spicy, but in a perfect way. Score. Getting creative here, and it's good. Having fun in the kitchen without getting fat is always good.
1. Not so hard in the big picture. This last week has not been near the struggle I thought it would be. Yes, at moments it has been so hard I thought about throwing myself in front of a bus. But 1. there are no buses in this town, and 2. they were only moments. Fleeting moments. When I look at the whole, most of it has not been near as hard as I expected.
2. Discipline. I cannot believe the amount of discipline I feel in my bones at this moment. It is exhilarating. And it's gone beyond food. I have not bit my nails all week. (This is huge!) I have been more diligent about scheduled bed time, prayer with kids, and reading with/to them. My temper has been more controlled and my attitude is improving (though at moments I'm a raving lunatic. I blame this on sugar withdrawal. Poor kids.) Even improved massively on a couple other behavorial bad habits that I have struggled with breaking for years.
3. Satiation. I... am... FULL! I ate three meals today, relatively small, and with each, I did not feel the need to have seconds! WHAT?! I had a handful of almonds and felt full. Dinner was so good that I considered having another helping, but then I just pushed my bowl away and went on, and even forgot that I considered it. How empowered this girl feels! I have NEVER been able to do that, and I cannot remember the last day I felt full.
4. Aches and pains. My back is killing me. I feel kind of weak. I want to exercise, and will start small tomorrow. But my back, and my weakness. My mind feels clear and energetic, but my back is in poor condition. I attribute this to 1. sitting at the computer too much (so I'm getting off and staying off tomorrow. Been on extra the last few days working on a talk, handout, and slide show for a talk I'm presenting this weekend for a retreat in February), and 2. not eating enough. Whenever I'm not eating enough, my back usually is the first to feel it. It is certainly not intentional, but, see number three, I am full! Going to be more mindful of being active, staying away from the computer now that the talk and such are (mostly) done, and eating. Never, ever thought I'd say that.
5. Attitude is everything. And mine has improved, like, whoa, compared to last month. It is bizarre. My poor family. Bi-polar MUCH?! At least at this point it's just an occasional snap because I haven't had a drop of sugar in a week. :)
How is this possible? Mind over matter? Mind over food. Who knew that changing my eating habits would change so many other things? If I feel this at only day 7, I am curious and excited about the next few weeks. I cannot imagine these results are typical for day 7, but my mind was long past ready for this change. I hope they continue and I don't crash and burn! If so, I will eat my words (without sugar, of course).
Dinner tonight: Threw some cut up chicken into a pot with crushed tomatoes and coconut milk. Added some sea salt, onion, fresh minced garlic, green onion, chopped up some weird squash I bought last week (green, bottom looks like a belly button, shaped like a pear), and some minced jalapeno. Let it simmer, and it was delicious! Spicy, but in a perfect way. Score. Getting creative here, and it's good. Having fun in the kitchen without getting fat is always good.
One Week Down
And one week isn't the only thing down!
My goal in this Whole30 thing was not to lose weight. It it is rid my body of the bad stuff so I can be more mindful of how food affects me. It is to gain energy and better eating and sleeping habits. I know that some weight loss will probably occur, but I decided not to weigh myself.
I weighed at the beginning.
But today, at day 7, after a week, I couldn't help it and stepped on the scale.
I know that this number will continue to fluctuate, and that water weight will change it, along with other factors, and blah blah blah... but I do have to say, that seeing an
EIGHT POUND LOSS in seven days is a bit of motivation to keep this going.
That is all. Good day!
J
My goal in this Whole30 thing was not to lose weight. It it is rid my body of the bad stuff so I can be more mindful of how food affects me. It is to gain energy and better eating and sleeping habits. I know that some weight loss will probably occur, but I decided not to weigh myself.
I weighed at the beginning.
But today, at day 7, after a week, I couldn't help it and stepped on the scale.
I know that this number will continue to fluctuate, and that water weight will change it, along with other factors, and blah blah blah... but I do have to say, that seeing an
EIGHT POUND LOSS in seven days is a bit of motivation to keep this going.
 |
| Image |
That is all. Good day!
J
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Whole30: Day SIX
I cannot believe I'm saying this, but I've made it to day six without one single fail.
This is a big. deal.
I am a cheater. Every time I've ever been on the "eat right" plan, I cheat. A handful of M&Ms here, or the classic "one cheat meal" a week.
But by the grace of God, I've made it to day six without a single fail.
Keep in mind that I have fought temptation, in the last six days, against the following food items.
Keep in mind that toddlers eat like toddlers. Mine eat kid food. Good kid food, because I make sure they eat right for the most part, but kid food, nonetheless.
I also have a husband who is HUNGRY when he gets home from his 12-14 hour shifts every day. And I have to have food in the house that will sustain him through that shift without access to a refrigerator or microwave.
Below is a list of food that I have had in my hands or sitting in my kitchen in the last week.
Items to which I have just said "NO":
Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwich with a side of Xtreme Cheese Goldfish. (I LOVE this food. I'm a kid, I know. I did get to eat the side of cut up oranges.)
An entire big tin of Puppy Chow (Not even ONE BITE. If you know me, you know that this is HUGE! Huger than my bottom! I mean, not even one teensy little lick of powdered sugar. Yes, this is my crowing achievement at this point.)
King's Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
Chicken/bacon/ranch wraps
Steak & Cheese Quesadillas with bacon pieces (I wanted one bite of these SO BAD I COULD HARDLY STAAAAND IT!!!!)
Pepsi. Sitting on my counter.
Puppy Chow. Did I already say that? (They snacked on it while we watched Despicable Me 2 with my parents. I snacked on grapes. GO ME!)
Then, my loving and supportive husband made brownies. With chocolate chips and marshmallows. Th smell of brownies drifted about the house like a sweet dream... I didn't even eat a crumb.
In addition, I went out to eat at an authentic Mexican restaurant. Fresh chips and salsa. Fresh, homemade tortillas. And I did not eat one! I ordered beef strips cooled with tomatoes, onions, and red bell peppers, and I slapped the rice and beans in a tortilla and gave it to my kids.
Basically, I've been good. Very good. The only even slight waver was when I had to take a bite of that chicken/bacon/ranch concoction after I microwaved leftovers for the kids, to make sure it was heated through. There is really no other way to test that. But that's all I took. One tiny bite of a little cube of chicken. And, lo and behold, I burped. All night! WHAT?!
Food choices have been getting creative, and I've eaten more eggs than a person should in a week. But I'm inches away from the one week mark, and I'm very, very proud of myself. Because this is not easy!
Yesterday (Day 5) I was a loopy MESS! My body was feeling SERIOUS withdrawal after five days without a single drop of sugar, and it messed with my limbs and mind. I was fatigued, a bit dizzy, and possibly even hallucinated at some points. I needed to just lay my head down and sleep, but life didn't allow. I pushed through, and came out today feeling good.
Today... today has been good. My body is a bit weak, and I only exercised on day 1. But I hope that by tomorrow I'll have the energy I feel is coming, and I will drive myself to exercise. I need to. Bad! But you know, this eating thing is a pretty good step one.
Thinking about it, I haven't even felt very hungry today. I didn't snack between meals. Doing good. Thinking I might actually make it all thirty days. But right now, 24 days seems very, very far away.
Negative side effects at this point... my patience is a bit thin today. The last several days I've felt good, but with body aches today, and being very, very tired from not sleeping a wink last night (because my 2 year-old screamed all night. Other than that, I've been sleeping GREAT!), I've yelled more than I probably should.
Dinner tonight: chicken in homemade spaghetti sauce, over zucchini noodles with grated fresh jalapeno and crushed red pepper. I ruined it because I put too much Italian seasoning in the sauce, but I ate it anyway. It would be really, really good if I don't do that the next time I make it.
 |
| Zucchini Chicken "Pasta" Bake (Missing cheese, which would have made a HUGE difference! It would have tasted just like lasagne with a little feta or cottage cheese or mozzarella. Alas, cheese is not the bees knees...) |
Feeling good.
Feeling good.
Can do this.
Peace,
J
Friday, January 10, 2014
Feelin' Groovy
I feel great. Already.
Day 2 of my Whole30 plan, and I feel great.
Yesterday was eeeeasy. I love eating clean. I don't know why I don't do it allll the time.
Today has been easy, too. Made spinach, egg, onion, Hatch frittata for breakfast, and am munching on zucchini, chicken, broccoli slaw, onion, water chestnut, bean sprout stir fry with an egg over easy on top. I am struggling a bit with not being able to use soy sauce or Sriracha. Those are kind of staples for me, but I can do it for 30 days. :)
I've discovered that lesson one is "Stay Away from the Store as MUCH as You Can!"
Family Dollar about killed me as I passed the junk aisle. I don't want it ALL the time, but I do want to be able to buy it on a whim if I please. THIS IS A PROBLEM. Not only am I at the store a couple times a week for various things (or as an excuse to get out of the house - mainly this one), but I buy junk "on a whim" every. time. I'm. there. GROSS! So glad I came to this realization, and was able to say "No, body. No, you really do NOT want those Cheetos."
Even the grocery store isn't safe. A cold soda beckoned me (and I don't even drink soda that often), along with, again, the junk aisles and the cleverly-placed CRAP near the register. Avoid. At all costs.
I exercised yesterday, beyond all odds (see previous posts about trying to exercise with toddlers around), to several YouTube Zumba/HipHop videos (and discovered that I love the music of a Christian rapper or two. Haha!).
I did this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQoiaEPNgaI
And this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8PF_3fvZ1Q (LOVE THIS ONE!)
They're both from Flame, this Christian rapper. Word up.
I even hit the weight bench for a couple reps. I could have/should have done more, but I need help.
I realized that I need to print out photo diagrams of weight bench exercises, in addition to a list of the reps I want/need to do each day. When I'm on my own lifting weights, I turn into a spaz and don't know what to do. I know HOW to do all the exercises. I've taken a couple weight training courses and worked with a trainer or two in my time... but I just flit all over the place and end up not REALLY working any muscle group.
I also need this in order to use my Body Ball. Because I'm a scatterbrain spaz when it comes to solo-training.
Though I only spent less than an hour on cardio and weights combined, I'm mucho sore today. That is a good sign!
I feel great. High energy, slept well last night, have been drinking lots of water, my hunger isn't even bad. In fact, I had to force myself to eat dinner last night because I wasn't hungry at all, but I know that once a meal is missed, body hits starvation mode, and starts storing fat and burning muscle. NOT what I want to happen.
I feel great about hitting the next couple weeks hard, but not going crazy with it. I want to get in shape IN TIME. I'm not trying to kill myself into shape like I did last time. This is not a 90 day challenge (though if I could join one, that might be more motivation). This is a LIFE challenge. I'm over being fat and unhealthy, and I want my kids to see how to live well.
I will exercise. I will eat right. I will sleep well and drink water. And, the weight will come off, and the headaches will dissipate.
I imagine a crash is coming in the next week or so, but today... today I feel so good, and wish I would have been doing this all along.
Eat well, live well.
J
Day 2 of my Whole30 plan, and I feel great.
Yesterday was eeeeasy. I love eating clean. I don't know why I don't do it allll the time.
Today has been easy, too. Made spinach, egg, onion, Hatch frittata for breakfast, and am munching on zucchini, chicken, broccoli slaw, onion, water chestnut, bean sprout stir fry with an egg over easy on top. I am struggling a bit with not being able to use soy sauce or Sriracha. Those are kind of staples for me, but I can do it for 30 days. :)
I've discovered that lesson one is "Stay Away from the Store as MUCH as You Can!"
Family Dollar about killed me as I passed the junk aisle. I don't want it ALL the time, but I do want to be able to buy it on a whim if I please. THIS IS A PROBLEM. Not only am I at the store a couple times a week for various things (or as an excuse to get out of the house - mainly this one), but I buy junk "on a whim" every. time. I'm. there. GROSS! So glad I came to this realization, and was able to say "No, body. No, you really do NOT want those Cheetos."
Even the grocery store isn't safe. A cold soda beckoned me (and I don't even drink soda that often), along with, again, the junk aisles and the cleverly-placed CRAP near the register. Avoid. At all costs.
I exercised yesterday, beyond all odds (see previous posts about trying to exercise with toddlers around), to several YouTube Zumba/HipHop videos (and discovered that I love the music of a Christian rapper or two. Haha!).
I did this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQoiaEPNgaI
And this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8PF_3fvZ1Q (LOVE THIS ONE!)
They're both from Flame, this Christian rapper. Word up.
I even hit the weight bench for a couple reps. I could have/should have done more, but I need help.
I realized that I need to print out photo diagrams of weight bench exercises, in addition to a list of the reps I want/need to do each day. When I'm on my own lifting weights, I turn into a spaz and don't know what to do. I know HOW to do all the exercises. I've taken a couple weight training courses and worked with a trainer or two in my time... but I just flit all over the place and end up not REALLY working any muscle group.
I also need this in order to use my Body Ball. Because I'm a scatterbrain spaz when it comes to solo-training.
 |
| Image |
I feel great. High energy, slept well last night, have been drinking lots of water, my hunger isn't even bad. In fact, I had to force myself to eat dinner last night because I wasn't hungry at all, but I know that once a meal is missed, body hits starvation mode, and starts storing fat and burning muscle. NOT what I want to happen.
 |
| Steak on a bed of greens, with avocado, tomato, pomegranate. Sprinkled with Pomegranate infused Red Wine Vinegar. YUM! |
I feel great about hitting the next couple weeks hard, but not going crazy with it. I want to get in shape IN TIME. I'm not trying to kill myself into shape like I did last time. This is not a 90 day challenge (though if I could join one, that might be more motivation). This is a LIFE challenge. I'm over being fat and unhealthy, and I want my kids to see how to live well.
I will exercise. I will eat right. I will sleep well and drink water. And, the weight will come off, and the headaches will dissipate.
I imagine a crash is coming in the next week or so, but today... today I feel so good, and wish I would have been doing this all along.
Eat well, live well.
J
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Insert Clever Blog Title Here. WHOLE30
Welcome 2014!
I can't believe how bad of a blogger I've been.
Bad blogger. Bad.
Now that all that self-hatred is out of the way, I can move on to the real reason I'm back. Health. Or, lack thereof.
This is not a new year resolution blog. This is not a "I will lose XX pounds in 2014" statement. This is a "I'm so sick of living like this, and I can't do it anymore!" post. Because I am! And I can't!
Sidenote to self: this serves as your reminder, self, to write about our lovely Christmas and New Year celebrations at some point. They were wonderful. Blog them.
Other sidenote to self: do not ever eat like you have over the last couple months, ever again.
It seems like just last month I was unpacking boxes in our new home in our new town. I looked up, and realized it's been SIX MONTHS! Where has it gone? As time seems to grow thinner and thinner, however, I find myself expanding with a vengeance.
If you kept up with my blog months ago, I was on a journey to regain a healthy lifestyle. I tried, (and here is a little proof)... and, I failed. Miserably! (I believe the failing started with documentation here and just continued, then picked up like CRAZY over the holidays!)
Between something being jacked up with my hormones, general laziness, and a hint (or brick) of depression in there somewhere, I ballooned up a few sizes in jeans and I'm higher than the weight I was when I began my weight loss journey two years ago around this time.
Two years ago I joined a gym, lost a good amount of weight - over 25 pounds of fat in less than 4 months. My BMI and body fat % both dropped to healthy levels, I gained muscle, was toned and... well, I was happy. I felt healthy! My mind and spirit were healthy, too. I was sleeping well, joyful, conquering obstacles in life with strength and grace.
I felt powerful.
My mind and spirit followed suit.
Now? Erase it all. Add weight. Add muscles that had been worked and toned, then neglected, and have come back with a flabbiness and cellulite-packed punch that this body has never seen!
It was hard to get on track before. Even with a gym with childcare for my baby and toddler. Even with a group of close friends who encouraged me. Even with group classes that held me accountable and were FUN!
Erase all of that. It is going to be hard... VERY hard, now.
Which is why I've decided to go cold turkey and just jump in.
The "why"s.
I don't sleep anymore. Partly because I'm the mother to children who don't sleep, but mostly because I'm up with indigestion or acid reflux, or my brain just won't turn off.
I don't feel good. Ever.
I don't fit into any of my clothes. None of them. Except one pair of jeans, and even those are pushing it. I do NOT want to buy a "fat-girl" wardrobe, and I couldn't afford it if I DID want to.
I don't play anymore. I sit. My kids play, and I watch. Just writing that makes me want to cry.
I don't blog anymore. Because I'm depressed and have nothing good to say.
I'm depressed. :*( Boo. And lonely. Which has been a bit of a Catch22 with this whole unhealthy life thing. I'm lonely and depressed because I'm unhealthy. I'm unhealthy because I'm lonely and depressed. How do I get over that one? :/
I don't write anymore.
I don't like to meet people, because I'm uncomfortable in my skin.
I don't like my reflection. And I don't want that to translate to my daughter.
I have children to love! And a husband that needs me to feel good and JUMP OUT OF THIS FUNK!!!
So, then, what's next?
I don't have anyone to hold me accountable here. However, I have met a couple ladies who I think will be good to have as accountability partners over the next couple months, and maybe longer, so I do look forward to that! Looking up!
And Geoff has, after many, many, many tears and "I JUST CAN'T DO THIS ALONE"s on my part, expressed that maybe we could start doing a video in the morning before he goes to work (he leaves at 6:30 a.m., so you do that math). P90X, I believe we'll see you soon.
And so, here I start. All in.
I start in the morning, January 9, 2014, with Whole30, where I will only eat whole foods, and stick to a pretty specific food regimin for 30 days. I'm going to start with just thirty days. I can do this. Thirty days at a time.
And I plan to chronicle bits and pieces of my journey. I'm excited to see where this goes.
I just want to be happy again! And I know that the key to happiness is health in body, mind, and spirit. I'm working on the latter two, but with the way I work, the body is the first temple and if it's not working right, nothing else will. (Believe me. My spirit and mind have been most powerful and healthy when my body is healthy. It is bizarre how much physical health plays into mental and spiritual health! With my body feeling like this, it will be impossible to convince my mind and spirit to do what is necessary for them to regain full operations.)
I will post photos (before/after) each 30 days. Let's see if I can actually morph my very soul and inner being into doing this by myself, with no gym, with no childcare, with no accountability... I know I can. I've conquered more difficult tasks than this, right? Meh, I'm not so sure!
Here's to hope and God's favor! <3
J
I can't believe how bad of a blogger I've been.
Bad blogger. Bad.
 |
| Image |
Now that all that self-hatred is out of the way, I can move on to the real reason I'm back. Health. Or, lack thereof.
This is not a new year resolution blog. This is not a "I will lose XX pounds in 2014" statement. This is a "I'm so sick of living like this, and I can't do it anymore!" post. Because I am! And I can't!
Sidenote to self: this serves as your reminder, self, to write about our lovely Christmas and New Year celebrations at some point. They were wonderful. Blog them.
Other sidenote to self: do not ever eat like you have over the last couple months, ever again.
It seems like just last month I was unpacking boxes in our new home in our new town. I looked up, and realized it's been SIX MONTHS! Where has it gone? As time seems to grow thinner and thinner, however, I find myself expanding with a vengeance.
If you kept up with my blog months ago, I was on a journey to regain a healthy lifestyle. I tried, (and here is a little proof)... and, I failed. Miserably! (I believe the failing started with documentation here and just continued, then picked up like CRAZY over the holidays!)
Between something being jacked up with my hormones, general laziness, and a hint (or brick) of depression in there somewhere, I ballooned up a few sizes in jeans and I'm higher than the weight I was when I began my weight loss journey two years ago around this time.
Two years ago I joined a gym, lost a good amount of weight - over 25 pounds of fat in less than 4 months. My BMI and body fat % both dropped to healthy levels, I gained muscle, was toned and... well, I was happy. I felt healthy! My mind and spirit were healthy, too. I was sleeping well, joyful, conquering obstacles in life with strength and grace.
I felt powerful.
My mind and spirit followed suit.
Now? Erase it all. Add weight. Add muscles that had been worked and toned, then neglected, and have come back with a flabbiness and cellulite-packed punch that this body has never seen!
It was hard to get on track before. Even with a gym with childcare for my baby and toddler. Even with a group of close friends who encouraged me. Even with group classes that held me accountable and were FUN!
Erase all of that. It is going to be hard... VERY hard, now.
Which is why I've decided to go cold turkey and just jump in.
The "why"s.
I don't sleep anymore. Partly because I'm the mother to children who don't sleep, but mostly because I'm up with indigestion or acid reflux, or my brain just won't turn off.
I don't feel good. Ever.
I don't fit into any of my clothes. None of them. Except one pair of jeans, and even those are pushing it. I do NOT want to buy a "fat-girl" wardrobe, and I couldn't afford it if I DID want to.
I don't play anymore. I sit. My kids play, and I watch. Just writing that makes me want to cry.
I don't blog anymore. Because I'm depressed and have nothing good to say.
I'm depressed. :*( Boo. And lonely. Which has been a bit of a Catch22 with this whole unhealthy life thing. I'm lonely and depressed because I'm unhealthy. I'm unhealthy because I'm lonely and depressed. How do I get over that one? :/
I don't write anymore.
I don't like to meet people, because I'm uncomfortable in my skin.
I don't like my reflection. And I don't want that to translate to my daughter.
I have children to love! And a husband that needs me to feel good and JUMP OUT OF THIS FUNK!!!
So, then, what's next?
I don't have anyone to hold me accountable here. However, I have met a couple ladies who I think will be good to have as accountability partners over the next couple months, and maybe longer, so I do look forward to that! Looking up!
And Geoff has, after many, many, many tears and "I JUST CAN'T DO THIS ALONE"s on my part, expressed that maybe we could start doing a video in the morning before he goes to work (he leaves at 6:30 a.m., so you do that math). P90X, I believe we'll see you soon.
| Image |
And so, here I start. All in.
I start in the morning, January 9, 2014, with Whole30, where I will only eat whole foods, and stick to a pretty specific food regimin for 30 days. I'm going to start with just thirty days. I can do this. Thirty days at a time.
 |
| Whole30 Site |
And I plan to chronicle bits and pieces of my journey. I'm excited to see where this goes.
I just want to be happy again! And I know that the key to happiness is health in body, mind, and spirit. I'm working on the latter two, but with the way I work, the body is the first temple and if it's not working right, nothing else will. (Believe me. My spirit and mind have been most powerful and healthy when my body is healthy. It is bizarre how much physical health plays into mental and spiritual health! With my body feeling like this, it will be impossible to convince my mind and spirit to do what is necessary for them to regain full operations.)
I will post photos (before/after) each 30 days. Let's see if I can actually morph my very soul and inner being into doing this by myself, with no gym, with no childcare, with no accountability... I know I can. I've conquered more difficult tasks than this, right? Meh, I'm not so sure!
Here's to hope and God's favor! <3
J
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