Whew...it has been a BUSY day. I finally got my cleaning on, for real... Nothing seemed to be safe from mama's cleaning madness! The living room (think toy store exploded there), pantry drawers (think grocery store exploded there), and many things in between including taking down Christmas decorations. ALL of the above were much to the dismay of the 2 year old. Sad news is, that we are not done. Today was operation de-clutter, tomorrow is operation deep clean! Whatever, I am just relived that it finally happened, before hubby returns to work Wednesday!
So, about that Paleo thing...haha...just kidding, it has been fine. Today is an "easy" day.
I was feeling a little burnt out on eggs and bacon for breakfast today, so I decided to go with the bowl of Paleo Krunch Cereal and fruit on top and coconut milk. Once again, it was super yummy and filling. I didn't have one hunger pang and hubby asked finally if he could heat up the chili and franks for lunch. So, another score for the Paleo Krunch.
I had planned leftover chili dogs for lunch, remember? And I must say that the garlic beef franks from US Wellness Meats were great! Every ingredient on the label, I could ACTUALLY pronounce! Check the label of your standard hot dog wieners next time. It may scare you into putting them back. I had mine with chili and a dollop of my Paleo sour cream, diced red onions and avocado. It was totally yum. Not a bit deprived! It is a 2 hours until supper and I am still not feeling hungry. I am having a slightly strange concoction of Bragg's Organic Apple Cider Vinegar and raw honey. It has this sweet and sour taste and it is supposed to be super healthy and cleansing. It is warm and it curbs my appetite. WARNING...it does not taste the same with your cheap run of the mill apple cider vinegar, it is curl your toes tart and unappealing...ask me how I know ;-)
Tonight we will be doing a basic meal of hamburgers with quality beef. I will go bun-less while the family goes traditional. With it we are having fresh baked sweet potato fries. We love these. Hubby makes his with cumin on them and they are devine. I need to whip up some Paleo ketchup for my burger and fries, which I will do shortly.
So, summary of plan to day 6. It is fine. I feel good, have more energy, I feel clear headed and I am not having any ill side effects. I'd say so far, it is a success and I am pleased. The hardest part is planning and preparing in advance. But when you are a planner like I am, it is a perfect fit!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Tanya: I can do anything, as long as I have a plan...
Well, tomorrow brings New Year's Eve and then the celebratory New Year's Day meal and on Friday I return to work. So, this Cajun girl gets over her fears by planning.
So, I jumped out of bed this morning and I created a spreadsheet for the week. (Complete with each meal and a shopping list.) Cool right????
I decided that I was going to come up with my meal plan strategically. Cook enough for leftovers some days, so that we can have an easy meal the next day, use up previously made condiments that do not have long shelf lives, etc. I planned meals that my family and I could both eat...and enjoy...over the next week. So, you may ask, how did it turn out???
Good, I think. I am cooking chili now, with plans for leftover chili dogs tomorrow. I will have a chili dog without the bun and the family will use a bun tomorrow for lunch. And there is probably still going to be leftovers. So, I will package any of those up and pop in the freezer for a workday lunch in the coming weeks! For New Year's Eve we will have a fun meal of hamburgers and I will do mine without the bun, and baked sweet potato fries. This is a meal my family LOVES! I'm thinking deviled eggs and maybe something sweet for fun finger foods while we wait to ring in the New Year.
I am particularly excited about New Years Day. I bought a beautiful pork shoulder roast from US Wellness Meats and we will stuff this with garlic and onions and bake it. I LOVE cabbage and have some super yummy cabbage recipes pinned to Pinterest that I plan to try! Mark and the kids will have black-eyed peas and who knows what else may make an appearance. But it is going to be good and it is going to be lunch and dinner, and if I am OH-SO-LUCKY....I will have LEFTOVERS! (Can you tell I am a HUGE fan of leftovers!)
That is all for now, I will save the rest for later. My purpose for this entry is to highlight the importance of planning. Let's face facts, buying organic is not cheap (they don't call it Whole Paycheck for nothing). I know there are lots of arguments about the food versus the medicine, but all that aside, I can't afford to waste this food. I don't want to waste by letting it spoil, by my family not liking it, by not taking the time to cook it. I also do not want to fail at this challenge. The keys to both of those things require me to plan. My ex found all my planning less than cool, my current husband tolerates it and sometimes is known to be a pretty killer planner himself. I think it is a great trait to have, but hey I am biased right?
So, I jumped out of bed this morning and I created a spreadsheet for the week. (Complete with each meal and a shopping list.) Cool right????
I decided that I was going to come up with my meal plan strategically. Cook enough for leftovers some days, so that we can have an easy meal the next day, use up previously made condiments that do not have long shelf lives, etc. I planned meals that my family and I could both eat...and enjoy...over the next week. So, you may ask, how did it turn out???
Good, I think. I am cooking chili now, with plans for leftover chili dogs tomorrow. I will have a chili dog without the bun and the family will use a bun tomorrow for lunch. And there is probably still going to be leftovers. So, I will package any of those up and pop in the freezer for a workday lunch in the coming weeks! For New Year's Eve we will have a fun meal of hamburgers and I will do mine without the bun, and baked sweet potato fries. This is a meal my family LOVES! I'm thinking deviled eggs and maybe something sweet for fun finger foods while we wait to ring in the New Year.
I am particularly excited about New Years Day. I bought a beautiful pork shoulder roast from US Wellness Meats and we will stuff this with garlic and onions and bake it. I LOVE cabbage and have some super yummy cabbage recipes pinned to Pinterest that I plan to try! Mark and the kids will have black-eyed peas and who knows what else may make an appearance. But it is going to be good and it is going to be lunch and dinner, and if I am OH-SO-LUCKY....I will have LEFTOVERS! (Can you tell I am a HUGE fan of leftovers!)
That is all for now, I will save the rest for later. My purpose for this entry is to highlight the importance of planning. Let's face facts, buying organic is not cheap (they don't call it Whole Paycheck for nothing). I know there are lots of arguments about the food versus the medicine, but all that aside, I can't afford to waste this food. I don't want to waste by letting it spoil, by my family not liking it, by not taking the time to cook it. I also do not want to fail at this challenge. The keys to both of those things require me to plan. My ex found all my planning less than cool, my current husband tolerates it and sometimes is known to be a pretty killer planner himself. I think it is a great trait to have, but hey I am biased right?
Stepping Stones to Lifestyle Improvements & Spiritual Growth...Not Resolutions!
Do you even remember your resolutions from last year? I have no idea about mine, but I'm going to say it had something to do with losing weight. Our "resolutions" are mostly large dreams with no plan on how to achieve them. Sure you plan to exercise and eat less, but that is too big of a goal as well. Even worse, you do everything you are suppose to and nothing happens! This is the reason most of us abandon their "resolutions" before the month of January even comes to an end. While I do not like resolutions, I do believe we all need small stepping stones to help guide our path.
My family sat down (with our bacon and eggs breakfast) this morning, prayed over our needs/family, thanked God for our many blessings, and discussed a few stepping stones to make our path a little more steady.
STEPPING STONE #1
"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." JOSHUA 24:15 KJV
Life has a way of pulling you in many different directions, thus taking your focus off of what is most important. It is our desire to spend more time learning God's Word, serving His people, and being even more planted in our church. We love what God has done for our family and the peace He has provided in our home. In fact, we love it so much, that we just want more of what only He can provide. We are letting God lead us in the right direction. So, in a nut shell, we are increasing our time together as a family to serve others, pray, study and learn God's word, and spread our joy and peace that He provides with others.
STEPPING STONE #2
Eat the foods that God gave us! Why is it that we (humans) think we need to improve God's gifts. Man is taking the foods that God has given us and injecting chemicals and hormones, in order to grow MORE and SAVE longer. This is done, not to feed the hungry, but to make a profit!! So, as hard as it may be, we are going to try to eliminate the majority of processed foods. Of course, this is way easier for me than the two men in my life. They are processed food junkies!! So we are starting with two healthy/whole meals a day! They refuse to let go of their processed breakfast foods during the week! This is a very small stepping stone for them, but a stepping stone none the less!!!
STEPPING STONE #3
Increase physical activity is our next stepping stone to health! Our goal is to find a Crossfit box that all of us can enjoy AND that we can afford. This will allow bonding time as a family, as we get fit together. As soon as we are trained in the proper instruction and techique, we would love to convert our garage into our own Crossfit Box! ATTENTION ALL MY CROSSFIT PEEPS OUT THERE: I WILL NEED YOUR HELP AND GUIDANCE!!
We are also going to increase our activity with our pets, bike riding, golf, and all the other things we enjoy!
Three stones may not seem to be a lot, but it will get us further down the path that God has placed us on. We may not always step in the right direction, but these stones will help to give us some balance.
My family sat down (with our bacon and eggs breakfast) this morning, prayed over our needs/family, thanked God for our many blessings, and discussed a few stepping stones to make our path a little more steady.
STEPPING STONE #1
"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." JOSHUA 24:15 KJV
Life has a way of pulling you in many different directions, thus taking your focus off of what is most important. It is our desire to spend more time learning God's Word, serving His people, and being even more planted in our church. We love what God has done for our family and the peace He has provided in our home. In fact, we love it so much, that we just want more of what only He can provide. We are letting God lead us in the right direction. So, in a nut shell, we are increasing our time together as a family to serve others, pray, study and learn God's word, and spread our joy and peace that He provides with others.
STEPPING STONE #2
Eat the foods that God gave us! Why is it that we (humans) think we need to improve God's gifts. Man is taking the foods that God has given us and injecting chemicals and hormones, in order to grow MORE and SAVE longer. This is done, not to feed the hungry, but to make a profit!! So, as hard as it may be, we are going to try to eliminate the majority of processed foods. Of course, this is way easier for me than the two men in my life. They are processed food junkies!! So we are starting with two healthy/whole meals a day! They refuse to let go of their processed breakfast foods during the week! This is a very small stepping stone for them, but a stepping stone none the less!!!
STEPPING STONE #3
Increase physical activity is our next stepping stone to health! Our goal is to find a Crossfit box that all of us can enjoy AND that we can afford. This will allow bonding time as a family, as we get fit together. As soon as we are trained in the proper instruction and techique, we would love to convert our garage into our own Crossfit Box! ATTENTION ALL MY CROSSFIT PEEPS OUT THERE: I WILL NEED YOUR HELP AND GUIDANCE!!
We are also going to increase our activity with our pets, bike riding, golf, and all the other things we enjoy!
Three stones may not seem to be a lot, but it will get us further down the path that God has placed us on. We may not always step in the right direction, but these stones will help to give us some balance.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Tanya: My First Paleo"Test"
We are off for a day of fun in the Big Easy for a family outing!!!! We loaded up and headed out to see the Roosevelt Hotel lobby in it's holiday grandeur. We are also making a trip to the Aquarium with our half off tickets we scored earlier this year. Anyone who knows Mark and I know we love New Orleans and we love food! So this is a test for me. Not just that, but we rushed out of the house early without a lot of time for meal prep. So... What's the plan?
Snacks in a Ziploc bag for the road. This is where Steve's Paleo Stix and Paleo Krunch Grain-less granola bars come in super handy, as well as a portable fruit and a Baggie of nuts. The plan for lunch is a grilled chicken salad with a vinaigrette dressing minus all the no no's. While it may not be "perfect" it is a realistic issue that we must all overcome when we choose alternative eating styles. So, I will keep you posted on my success!
Well! I managed my outing in NOLA with relative ease! I think the key was that I was prepared, and I had a plan. An important part of this, is that I made my needs clear to my family for what I could have for lunch, and we worked around it. I only felt a teeny bit jealous when the hubs dug into the hot baked bread and butter (which smelled A-mazing)! But, we shared one of our favorite appetizers, raw oysters (minus the crackers I usually eat). But guess what? I didn't miss those crackers! For the main meal I had a shrimp salad without cheese or croutons and opted for oil and vinegar dressing, as all of the choices in the restaurant included dairy of some type. (Now Sherri tells me she knows the chef at Superior Seafood on St. Charles, and he is all about pleasing us Paleo peeps! ...who knew???)
So, I had a great family lunch and I am full, satisfied and proud of myself! How great is that?!? Score one for me.
Tonight I will have leftover Salmon Cakes and Paleo tarter sauce and veggies. I am feeling good, no crashes and no headaches! Double Score!
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| My On-The-Go Goody Bag |
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| One of our all-time-favorite appetizers! And it was legal! |
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| Grilled shrimp salad minus cheese, croutons and a side of oil and vinegar for dressing. |
So, I had a great family lunch and I am full, satisfied and proud of myself! How great is that?!? Score one for me.
Tonight I will have leftover Salmon Cakes and Paleo tarter sauce and veggies. I am feeling good, no crashes and no headaches! Double Score!
Friday, December 28, 2012
Let's Start a Fire!!
Tanya and I may be cajun gals, but we do love the modern girly lifestyle. The only hunting you will see us doing is for a deal at the mall! There will be no stick rubbing to start fires and no reinvention of the wheel. Fires will be in the BBQ pit and the wheels will be rolling on our cars. We love electricity (thank God for the A/C), hot water, and indoor plumbing, etc. As much as we LOVE the modern world, our bodies are not enjoying the processed foods and chemicals we are putting in it. So, we are going back to basics and eating the way God intended us to eat. We are going to make Paleo work for us.
Paleo is short for Paleolithic. I'm sure you have heard it referred to as "Primal" or "Caveman Diet". Whatever you wish to call it, it is a basic and simple way of living. Paleo can be broken down into three simple principles.
Paleo is short for Paleolithic. I'm sure you have heard it referred to as "Primal" or "Caveman Diet". Whatever you wish to call it, it is a basic and simple way of living. Paleo can be broken down into three simple principles.- Eat WHOLE foods - I truely believe that God gave us everything we need to live a healthy life and keep our bodies strong. I really don't think He intended for us to eat chemicals from a box! ;)
- Avoid processed food
- Find the foods that you digest well/improve your digestion and eat to heal your body.
Tanya: Where I Have Come From
Anyone who knows me knows that I am the basic metabolic nightmare... Seems like you name it, I have or have had problems with it!
Way back when, before I ever even got pregnant with my son who is now 10 years old, I was diagnosed by my doctor with PCOS and insulin resistance. Luckily, these did not keep me from conceiving.
Pregnancy was another difficult time. I had full blown gestational diabetes for both pregnancies. Both times required insulin injections. The first pregnancy I was diagnosed at the standard 29 weeks, and the second I was diagnosed by week 16. They were long and uncomfortable pregnancies. I worked full time, gave myself shots 3 times a day, took my blood sugars constantly. It was not fun.
After my first pregnancy, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. I had nodules on my thyroid and I was hypothyroid and on medication to keep my levels even. But the lumps continued to multiply and it was recommended by my surgeon to remove my diseased thyroid and begin supplementation of the hormones. This made perfect sense to me, so I scheduled the surgery. Post op the surgeon assured me the lumps were most surely not cancerous, but they were going to be biopsied just in case. Well, I showed up at my follow up appointment ready to discuss scar management, and he comes in, sits down, and delivers the news that I did indeed have cancer in the thyroid tissue. This was followed by a regimine of iodine radiation treatment that required me to stay in the hospital for a few days to kill any leftover, potentially cancerous tissue.
As you can imagine, this combination of no thyroid and insulin resistance has caused me to struggle constantly with my weight and health. I have yo-yo'ed up and down most of my life. I was at my heaviest on my wedding day Nov 1, 2008. Luckily, I am married to the most amazing man in the world, so he loved me at my biggest, and I am thankful every day for that.
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| November 1, 2008 |
Soon after our return from our honeymoon and the holidays, I was ready to tackle losing all the weight that had creeped on since my thyroid surgery. I began a weight loss program that was hospital based, and extremely intense. It was based around unlimited fruits and veggies, shakes, and pre-packaged foods and MEGA exercise. It was VERY expensive, but I lost a lot of weight and learned a lot.
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| Dec 24, 2008 and June 28, 2009 |
I got pregnant soon after that photo was taken and then did that same program again and lost more weight. In the summer of 2011 I was exercising, and looking better than I had in a long time.
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| Summer 2011 |
Then, the year 2012 rolls around and I decided to try direct sales, which I LOVE, and it has taught me a lot of new things about myself. In many ways it has improved my confidence, stretched my skills and broadened my horizons. However, on top of a family, a full time job and all the health issues I have, it pushed out of the way many healthy habits mainly, exercise, eating optimally, and adequate rest. So, here I am creeping back up in weight, my thyroid levels have been out of control, I've experienced severe fatigue, memory deficits and some unexplained joint pain. I have found myself going through the motions just to make it through each day. I have decided that I am going to take control again. And this is the way I have chosen to try to get there. Uh oh, Tanya's gone Paleo!
I have no answers yet, as to the level of success this journey will bring to me. Things were just not really feeling like they have been working for me, so I have made some rather big changes in my life. I have accepted a part time job in the town where I live, cutting out an hour and a half commute and trading it for a 15 minute commute. This is going to allow my son to ride the bus to and from school, and my daughter to stay home with me 2 days a week before she starts school in a couple of years. It will allow me more time to focus on quality time with them, quality time with myself and my husband, and focus on optimal eating/health/wellness.
I am extremely happy to report that I am six years cancer free! I just had my last scan this summer and it was clear, and my doctor declares me healthy and past the thyroid cancer. However, I must admit, I am nervous, because leaving a job that I have been at for almost 10 years, and the best friends I have ever had since college. But it feels right, it feels like the time, and it is up to me to grab and take control of my life, my family and my health again!
And so, here we are. Let's see where this takes me.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Tanya Day #1
Day # 1:
So, I had tea with a tablespoon of honey to kick me out of bed this morning, since I am not sure that I am ready to drink coffee black, and I don't think coconut milk in my coffee is going to cut it for me. Anyway, I just went in another direction with the morning wake up call. It worked.
Meal #1:
So this morning I got up and prepared the family, organic cage free scrambled eggs and nitrate free bacon for breakfast! I must say, it was delicious. I had this exact same meal 2 days ago at my grandmothers and it was not nearly as tasty, her regular bacon was so salty, and the eggs didn't have nearly as good flavor as what I noted today. This definitely supports the fact that high quality ingredients do make a difference! Now I am off to plan the meals for the remainder of the day. I am optimistic!
Snack #1:
I went shopping at SAM's for some salad greens, fruit and nuts. On my way out I realized I was getting really hungry, so I grabbed a Honey-crisp apple, to hold me over until lunch. (It worked!)
Meal #2:
OK, so lunch. I prepared a chicken breast salad. I marinated the chicken breasts in a little lemon juice, garlic, black pepper and OEVOO, then pan sauteed them in the marinade. Removed chicken, sliced and served over a bed of salad greens with sliced avocado, sliced almonds and tomatoes. I made an orange vinaigrette modified from the Make It Paleo cookbook. It was great! Hubby even ate the same salad, but since he is not so Paleo (yet) he chose a different dressing. But he didn't complain. And that is part of the journey when eating so dramatically differently from what you are used to....getting the family on-board. I don't expect them to jump in with me right away, but a little at a time for them is fine by me.
While I was prepping lunch, I also juiced some limes for the marinade for steak fajitas tomorrow night. I will have a steak fajita salad, while the rest of the family will likely do the traditional preparation with the flour tortillas. I need to get back to the store to pick up some of my spices. My pal Sherri already gave me the tip to go ahead and marinate and grill two flank steaks when preparing this meal and have enough for leftovers. So, I shall do that! I have a feeling advance preparation is going to be the key to this. That and save everything leftover for use in another meal.
So, I had tea with a tablespoon of honey to kick me out of bed this morning, since I am not sure that I am ready to drink coffee black, and I don't think coconut milk in my coffee is going to cut it for me. Anyway, I just went in another direction with the morning wake up call. It worked.
Meal #1:
So this morning I got up and prepared the family, organic cage free scrambled eggs and nitrate free bacon for breakfast! I must say, it was delicious. I had this exact same meal 2 days ago at my grandmothers and it was not nearly as tasty, her regular bacon was so salty, and the eggs didn't have nearly as good flavor as what I noted today. This definitely supports the fact that high quality ingredients do make a difference! Now I am off to plan the meals for the remainder of the day. I am optimistic!
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| Organic Nitrate Free Bacon = Yummy! |
I went shopping at SAM's for some salad greens, fruit and nuts. On my way out I realized I was getting really hungry, so I grabbed a Honey-crisp apple, to hold me over until lunch. (It worked!)
Meal #2:
OK, so lunch. I prepared a chicken breast salad. I marinated the chicken breasts in a little lemon juice, garlic, black pepper and OEVOO, then pan sauteed them in the marinade. Removed chicken, sliced and served over a bed of salad greens with sliced avocado, sliced almonds and tomatoes. I made an orange vinaigrette modified from the Make It Paleo cookbook. It was great! Hubby even ate the same salad, but since he is not so Paleo (yet) he chose a different dressing. But he didn't complain. And that is part of the journey when eating so dramatically differently from what you are used to....getting the family on-board. I don't expect them to jump in with me right away, but a little at a time for them is fine by me.
While I was prepping lunch, I also juiced some limes for the marinade for steak fajitas tomorrow night. I will have a steak fajita salad, while the rest of the family will likely do the traditional preparation with the flour tortillas. I need to get back to the store to pick up some of my spices. My pal Sherri already gave me the tip to go ahead and marinate and grill two flank steaks when preparing this meal and have enough for leftovers. So, I shall do that! I have a feeling advance preparation is going to be the key to this. That and save everything leftover for use in another meal.
Tanya Day #2
Wow, yesterday wasn't so bad!
I survived. I ate a leftover grilled chicken on a salad for supper with some awesome Steve's Maple Mustard dressing last night! It was satisfying and I didn't feel bloated and funky afterwards. I did plan my meals for today, and I made my Paleo mayo from the Make It Paleo cookbook. I also wrapped in foil several sweet potatoes to cook tomorrow. I am trying to get in the habit of advanced prep.
A little background housekeeping to get started:
I am going to try to reprogram myself and not weigh for the duration of my first month. But I did need to get a starting weight just to have a baseline. So I did that this morning. Drum-roll please ...not...
167.5 lbs. Just for reference I am a not so tall 5 ft 1 in. So this is a lot of weight for me to carry. I feel the rolls creeping back into my neck, mid-section and I am having intermittent plantar fascitis and joint pain. These were all symptoms that I had noted the last time I had significant weight gain, all of which disappeared magically when I lost the extra weight.
Meal #1:
My very sweet and thoughtful hubby made me a cup of coffee with the "old" creamer in it, and unfortunately I had to politely turn it down and remake it with coconut milk and honey. This was unfortunately not my favorite, so I don't know that I will continue with coffee and I may make a permanent substitution of herbal tea for my morning wake up call.
So for the food... Steve's Paleo Krunch Cranberry "cereal" with a sliced banana and a handful of blueberries and unsweetened coconut milk. Man, it was really good and filling. I truly did not feel deprived at all and it didn't take long to prep. Before I left for a 9 am dentist appointment, I threw the sweet potatoes in the oven to slow bake and put some eggs on to boil for my lunch later. When I got home the potatoes were baked, and hubby had taken my eggs off the burner to cool. They will be ready when I go to mix up my Paleo deviled eggs with my mayo I prepped last night and the sweet potato. Unconventional lunch, but it works and I will be happy.
Later today I will make some guacamole and salsa, Paleo approved for my steak fajita salad this evening.
Meal #2:
First let me say, I was not that hungry before lunch and did not need a snack after my breakfast this morning. So that is a score for the Paleo Crunch Cereal from Steve's.
What about that lunch? I boiled 3 cage free eggs this morning and let them cool. I then halved and removed yolks and mashed them in a small bowl with a tablespoon of my Paleo mayo, a tiny squirt of yellow mustard and some dill for flavor and then put them back into the egg whites for a traditional deviled egg (which is one of my all time favorite treats!) I had all of them, all to myself and I enjoyed every bite. Were they a little different from what I am used to? Uh, yeah, a little, I love the tart taste of the sweet pickles, but hey, this wasn't a bad substitute by any means. Let's say I can live with it. I also ate a plain baked sweet potato. I love these too, I am known to even eat the skin when they are slow baked and fresh from the ground like we are lucky enough to get in the fall here in South Louisiana. The ones I am cooked today aren't that fresh, and not quite as tasty, but it is yummy nonetheless, and I am satisfied and full. I am looking forward to the fajita's that have been marinating all night for my steak fajita salad this evening. Believe it or not I LOVE salads and always have, so this fits me well!
I survived. I ate a leftover grilled chicken on a salad for supper with some awesome Steve's Maple Mustard dressing last night! It was satisfying and I didn't feel bloated and funky afterwards. I did plan my meals for today, and I made my Paleo mayo from the Make It Paleo cookbook. I also wrapped in foil several sweet potatoes to cook tomorrow. I am trying to get in the habit of advanced prep.
A little background housekeeping to get started:
I am going to try to reprogram myself and not weigh for the duration of my first month. But I did need to get a starting weight just to have a baseline. So I did that this morning. Drum-roll please ...not...
167.5 lbs. Just for reference I am a not so tall 5 ft 1 in. So this is a lot of weight for me to carry. I feel the rolls creeping back into my neck, mid-section and I am having intermittent plantar fascitis and joint pain. These were all symptoms that I had noted the last time I had significant weight gain, all of which disappeared magically when I lost the extra weight.
Meal #1:
My very sweet and thoughtful hubby made me a cup of coffee with the "old" creamer in it, and unfortunately I had to politely turn it down and remake it with coconut milk and honey. This was unfortunately not my favorite, so I don't know that I will continue with coffee and I may make a permanent substitution of herbal tea for my morning wake up call.
So for the food... Steve's Paleo Krunch Cranberry "cereal" with a sliced banana and a handful of blueberries and unsweetened coconut milk. Man, it was really good and filling. I truly did not feel deprived at all and it didn't take long to prep. Before I left for a 9 am dentist appointment, I threw the sweet potatoes in the oven to slow bake and put some eggs on to boil for my lunch later. When I got home the potatoes were baked, and hubby had taken my eggs off the burner to cool. They will be ready when I go to mix up my Paleo deviled eggs with my mayo I prepped last night and the sweet potato. Unconventional lunch, but it works and I will be happy.
Later today I will make some guacamole and salsa, Paleo approved for my steak fajita salad this evening.
Meal #2:
First let me say, I was not that hungry before lunch and did not need a snack after my breakfast this morning. So that is a score for the Paleo Crunch Cereal from Steve's.
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| Paleo Mayo, Organic Cage Free Eggs |
What about that lunch? I boiled 3 cage free eggs this morning and let them cool. I then halved and removed yolks and mashed them in a small bowl with a tablespoon of my Paleo mayo, a tiny squirt of yellow mustard and some dill for flavor and then put them back into the egg whites for a traditional deviled egg (which is one of my all time favorite treats!) I had all of them, all to myself and I enjoyed every bite. Were they a little different from what I am used to? Uh, yeah, a little, I love the tart taste of the sweet pickles, but hey, this wasn't a bad substitute by any means. Let's say I can live with it. I also ate a plain baked sweet potato. I love these too, I am known to even eat the skin when they are slow baked and fresh from the ground like we are lucky enough to get in the fall here in South Louisiana. The ones I am cooked today aren't that fresh, and not quite as tasty, but it is yummy nonetheless, and I am satisfied and full. I am looking forward to the fajita's that have been marinating all night for my steak fajita salad this evening. Believe it or not I LOVE salads and always have, so this fits me well!
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| One of my all time favorites, deviled eggs! |
A Few Steps Down the Path...
Christmas 2012
Thanksgiving 2012
October/Halloween Party 2012
Ewok/Yoda
These pictures were taken after about a 43 lbs. loss. I try only to weight myself every two weeks. Note that I was a crazy scale jumping person before this and would let the scale dictate my mood that day. I'm excited about the weight loss, but my improved health has me loving life again. I took note on how I felt and how my health was improving. I had a lot more energy!!! I also noticed the fluid was decreasing from my neck and "cankles"! My stomach/"leaky gut" symptoms began to lessen and the joint pain in my hands and ankles disappeared! My mood swings, my pulse rate, and my blood sugar all decreased.
All I can say is,
"HEALTHY FEELS GREAT!"
Eating the way God intended us to eat sure makes you feel good!!
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Painful Before Pictures
Hi, I'm Sherri. We are just beginning this journal, but I have been on this wellness journey since the Wednesday before Easter. I have had thyroid issues for years (all but one lobe removed) and I have A TON of fluid in my feet, ankles, and neck. I have been dairy free for years and gluten free off and on for a very long time. Very little difference in health even with those major changes. Finally, my natural doc informed me that I have "Leaky Gut" and that is what sparked my fire! I went Paleo that day and have not looked back. The detox was hard! My stomach BURNED and trips to the restroom were often. My body was really working hard to rid itself of the toxic trash I was putting in it. This took two entire weeks! After about a month, the fluid began to disappear; I could see ankle bones for the first time in years!! The pounds are coming off slowly but surely. I am down about 43 lbs. now. I cannot express in words how much better I feel. The difference is amazing!! It is funny b/c the weight loss, which was once my only goal, is just like a side effect of my lifestyle now. My true GOAL is to improve overall health, heal my stomach, get my thyroid/lymphatic system back on track, and to have a glow of happiness and health from within that flows out to others around me!
Since we are just beginning this blog now, I will have to recap my journey little by little. Well, I may as well start with the painful before pics!! Believe it or not, the biggest part of me was hidden in the chair! Oh, that is my sister's dog that I'm using to hide some of my fat--LOL! Note the fluid filled neck and ankles. There were many days that I felt like I would "pop" if someone poked me with a pin. At this point, that little smile in the photo was as about as happy and excited as I got. I felt so bad, for so long, that I had forgotten what feeling good really felt like. If you have thyroid issues or a different type of autoimmune issue, I'm sure you will understand what that is like. The picture above was me a few pounds less than my max weight, 217 lbs.
My swollen neck, feet and ankles, along with cold hands and feet(your hubby can tell you this for sure-LOL), dry/cracked heels, brain fog, fatigue even when rested are all signs of my thyroid. 7 or 8 years ago they found a mass on my thyroid and removed it with over half of my thyroid gland. Thank God that it was not cancer. After I was VERY tired and my symptoms were horrible, but every endocrine I went to pretty much told me that I did not need meds, but needed to back up from the table. This made me feel HORRIBLE, since I was hardly eating anything as it was and gaining weight like crazy. I just felt like a fat failure! Finally I found my current doctor that will always treat me naturally first. He explained why I got the mass in the first place, what would happen if I didn't take additional thyroid (armour), and told me this was NOT MY FAULT. He treated the person in front of him and not the blood test numbers (which by the way were in the "normal" range). I felt better and started losing weight. I went back resently with more problems b/c of the "leaky gut". I was having so many allergic reactions that they allergy tested me for everything, but the leaky gut was causing the problems. I will say that eating Paleo has been the BEST thing for the swelling. Being off of all the processed foods, glutens, and grains have allow my body to absorb and use the Armour thyroid. Fluid is going down and my stomach is healing itself slowly but surely.
My swollen neck, feet and ankles, along with cold hands and feet(your hubby can tell you this for sure-LOL), dry/cracked heels, brain fog, fatigue even when rested are all signs of my thyroid. 7 or 8 years ago they found a mass on my thyroid and removed it with over half of my thyroid gland. Thank God that it was not cancer. After I was VERY tired and my symptoms were horrible, but every endocrine I went to pretty much told me that I did not need meds, but needed to back up from the table. This made me feel HORRIBLE, since I was hardly eating anything as it was and gaining weight like crazy. I just felt like a fat failure! Finally I found my current doctor that will always treat me naturally first. He explained why I got the mass in the first place, what would happen if I didn't take additional thyroid (armour), and told me this was NOT MY FAULT. He treated the person in front of him and not the blood test numbers (which by the way were in the "normal" range). I felt better and started losing weight. I went back resently with more problems b/c of the "leaky gut". I was having so many allergic reactions that they allergy tested me for everything, but the leaky gut was causing the problems. I will say that eating Paleo has been the BEST thing for the swelling. Being off of all the processed foods, glutens, and grains have allow my body to absorb and use the Armour thyroid. Fluid is going down and my stomach is healing itself slowly but surely.
I have been dairy free and off and on gluten free for years. In fact, I went vegan for almost 6 months, but my skin was horrible, my hair was falling out, digestion was HORRIBLE, and I had no energy. I was just diagnosed with "leaky gut" the Wednesday before Easter and I really think being vegan lead to the "leaky gut". I went diary free and gluten free (I did have gluten free processed items)for about 6 more months, but my system was still out of sorts really bad. Once diagnosed, I went strict Paleo and have not looked back. I just consider it my new lifestyle and don't really feel like I have to "cheat" (if that makes any sense). I just know that I have been fighting this for years now and this simple change has made me feel SOOOO MUCH BETTER that the grains are just not worth feeling horrible again. With all that I have given up in the past, I just didn't feel the difference. In fact, I felt useless since no matter what I did just didn't work. It was not until I was off ALL GRAINS that I felt this amazing difference in my body. The fluid loss alone was awesome, but the inches and weight loss, more energy, better digestion, glowing skin, improved mood (happier), and overall improved health makes it a winner for me.
In the days and weeks to come, I will be posting about my thyroid/autoimmue issues, recipes/cooking adventures, books/info. that I can not live without, how I shop and stock my panty to make my life easier, eating out tips, items I love/hate, and how I changed my lifestyle. I'm blogging in hopes of being a source and support to others who may be in my situation. I prayed for God to place me on the right path to healing and this is where He placed me. I hope to spread some of the light that God has given to me! Stay tuned for the rest of the story...
Oh, the fluid filled neck!! Sometimes I felt like my neck was going to swallow my head!
More neck rolls!
Poor Santa!! Yes, I felt like a hot air balloon!!
You know, I never realized I had a gut!! Neck is very fluid filled!
Monday, December 17, 2012
Preparing for My New Way of Eating With A Little (OK A LOT OF) HelpFrom My Friend!
So after consulting with my Paleo peep/coach-through-this-unknown-territory/Sherri, I have become mostly prepared to start the day after Christmas! A couple of online grocery purchases later from US Wellness Meats and Steve's Paleo Kits, and after frantic texts from the aisles of Whole Foods that eventually turned into a full fledged walk-me-through-what-to-buy, I think that I am SET, with the exception of the fresh fruits/veggies that cannot be done a week ahead of time! Believe it or not, I am kinda excited! I think I can do this, and it won't be so awful!
Sunday, December 16, 2012
What In The World Are You Doing Now?
Yep, that is the question most often asked when my friends see that I am up to something else new and sometimes crazy! (Many opportunities for more posts about that later!) But for today, I have been inspired to start this blog to follow my upcoming journey towards taking my health back. And I am not doing it alone. I have recruited an amazing friend, Sherri, who has happily found her way down the path using the Paleo method of eating! She has lost weight, gained confidence, become calm and balance in a very noticeable way over the last year. That is what I aim to do in 2013! So, starting on Dec 26, after I return from the holidays, I am going to begin a stretch of almost 30 days of Paleo eating. No grains, dairy, legumes, sugar or (OMG) alcohol. I know I can do anything for 30 days, but I am a little worried about leaving out my nightly glass of wine...but I figure if I did it for nine months when I was preggo, I can do it now! I am just as worth it as my unborn child was, right???? I am not sure where this will take me or if it will get ugly, but jump on board and let's see what happens!
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