Keepin' on....

So this last month has been spent experimenting a bit and continuing on without candies and soda. 

It's been good in some aspects, and not in others. 


I've added back in coffee and creamer.  The victory here is that I haven't gone back to my favored chemical creamer, but a store bought one that is simply milk, cream, vanilla and sugar. 
I tried coconut milk with flavors and different sweeteners, coconut oil and ghee, and other combos I found online.  NOTHING was drinkable for more than a couple of sips. 
So it's a been a bit of  treat a few times a week. 
Tea is still my go to. 


Veggies are still not the favored thing. 
Salads are not doing much better. 


If we had the money, I would eat at Chipotle at least once a day.  It is the most satisfying salad and meal I eat right now.  I do add on a small scoop of pinto beans (not paleo), but the rest is great. 

I've been trying to duplicate it at home, but haven't been able to put it all together. 


Most days I'm not eating cheese or other dairy and I'm avoiding grains as well. 
I have had a full platter of rice, beans and meat a couple of times from my favorite Mexican place, but knowing it can't be a weekly thing. 

I've also had pizza, twice.  It was heavenly and then I felt crappy, so that sucks. 
I also noticed at music this week that my hands were achy this week after eating grains.  So that's something I'm not thrilled about. 

So after another month, I'm only down and addition 3 pounds,  but it's a loss. 

Bring on March!

Still moving along.....

It's been a couple of weeks since my Whole 30 ended and so far the switch to Paleo has been uneventful.
I made sure to be easy on myself last weekend during the home meet at gym.  Working on eating things that were clean, but not being hard on myself for trying the beans, rice and a few chips with amazing homemade salsa.
This past Friday was a bit of a cheat day as well, with a full Mexican lunch plate (minus the shells and no cheese on the taco fixings, but there was some cheese on the beans) and then stopping at Panda for Ty on the way home from gym (steamed veggies and Terriyaki chicken without the extra sauce). 

Yesterday was the first day in a long time that I've felt like I ate too much and was a bit bloaty by the end of the day.

Today is a cleaner day and am already feeling better for it. 

I've also made it through the Valentine's season without devouring bags (yes, plural) of candy hearts.  (Although there has been some lusting over them in the store aisles).
Now to move through the Easter season without jelly beans (not just regular jelly beans, Sweet Tart Jelly Beans).
It's a struggle.
A silly one, but hard when it tries to consume my thoughts.
Oh, and a root beer still sounds like heaven.  (Barq's, from the fountain at Jack in the Box) 

Phew, sugar demons are a bitch!


I still need to improve upon the same things I listed before:
Cook more meals ahead
Eat more veggies.
Make more sauces and dressings to enhance foods
Figure out a coffee creamer recipe that makes me swoon.  
Exercise

Whole 30

Months ago, my good friend Jen started the Whole 30 with success, then moved into a Paleo lifestyle.  She's had wonderful success, has lost weight and has found herself in the middle of an active life change for the good. 

It's inspiring to see something work. 

So at the beginning of January I decided to follow in her footsteps and give it a try. 

I read the book It Starts with Food, multiple times.   
I'm a Monday, start of the month, start of the year type of changer. 
Lots of Mondays past before I could give it a good effort.
As in all the Mondays of October, November & December.

But, I'm glad that I did finally leap.    

I've not had any sugar, grains, legumes (beans), dairy or processed crap for 30 days. 
I didn't go crazy.
I do feel better.
My skin is already looking better.
I've lost 11 lbs.
I feel like doing things and have had fewer TV days. 
Paleo seams like a good life choice. 

Things I've learned....
Cauliflower can make a decent rice and a good pizza crust.
Eggs.  The simple food powerhouse.
Chicken and Apple sausages are my new go to food.
Broccoli gets a bad wrap. 
Cooking full meals, planned ahead, always taste better.
Cherry Pie LaraBars are my new go to treat (dates, cashews and cherries)
Olives make me happy.
Cracklin' Chicken is beyond yummy.  
Roasted garlic solves flavor issues.

It's not without a fight within my own brain.
Daily.

Candy is still very appealing and will always be a struggle.
A soda sounds like heaven in a can.
I still don't really like vegetables.
I miss my morning coffee with chemical creamer, like a lot.
Tacos are sad without cheese. (and yummy corn tortillas)  
Flavored teas sounded like a good idea, but are kinda gross. 

To move forward, I'm looking to follow a Paleo "diet".
(Speaking of diet in the way to describe my daily food, not a temporary change)

I need to embrace the fact that to be successful I have to cook ahead. 
Veggies.  Yep, gonna eat more of the nasty things.  
Bacon will be a happy addition to my life.  Wrap all the things in bacon!
Cheese is missed and will be added again, in small doses, not daily. 
I will probably have a bean or two as well. 
Olive Oil Mayo needs to be made, so that other sauces can be consumed. 
Veggies.


Also on the list is to make myself move more.  Hopefully moving back to a run. 

So I'm going forth, eating lots of good food for a health.  

2014 Goals (Oh boy, that was a fail)

 So the post below was written in January of 2014 and never published.  I went through it today and crossed off the things accomplished.
The 1 thing.
Damn.

I'm thinking I need to try a bit harder this year. 

Written in 2014:
I'm not really sure that this is a resolution type thing, but the beginning of the year always makes you think of things that you want to accomplish in the year to come.

Obvious:

• Lose weight 50+
• Drop pants sizes (4-5 to be exact)
• Be more active
• Replace bread with lettuce
• Run, do a bunch of 5ks to earn those cool shirts 
• Become stronger.  

House

• Re-paint the living room, goodbye to the red!
• Hang more pictures around the house, fill up the frames that are bought and pick a few more
• Re-do entry way
• De-clutter every room and closet, let go of a few things.
• Keep the house cleaner.
• Fix Kitchen Window
• Find new window coverings for sliding door in living room, dining window and kitchen valance.  

Health and Welfare

• Figure out a shampoo that will keep my head from itching after a day.
• Clear face of blemishes (soap or better eating?)
• Pay off some debt
• 52 week savings plan
• Be an awesome president that's loved by all! 

Crafty

• Quilt at least once a week
• Stay on top of the BOM blocks, not paying for any this year and assembling the filler blocks as the year progresses.  
• Finish wall quilts for the living room.
• Sort through and scan the old family pictures.  

Family Fun

• Hike with the boys for fun
• Go on more bike rides
• Paddle the lake
• Enjoy playing games

End of 2014 post.

2015 Additions:

• Give the time needed to be successful with Orchestra.  
• Work on more exciting school days