3 weeks in!

I'm on day 22.  8 days to go.

I'm sorry I haven't kept up with posting.  It  was Belle's last few weeks of school and I'd forgotten how crazy that time is!  She's now a sophomore in high school.  Please stop the clock.

sigh.

Back to theWhole30.  It's going well!  I have made tons of great new dishes.  And I have modified family favorites.

How am I feeling?  Well, I am sleeping much better.  My skin looks great.  I don't feel bloated after meals.

My hope was to feel less aches and pains.  From years of damage from gluten and pain from Ankylosing Spondylitis - I haven't seen a huge change in that.

Several people have asked if I will go back to eating everything I did before.  No and yes.  The difference I feel after eating is huge.  I'm not waiting to use the restroom, or feeling yucky. I feel like have nourished and fueled my body.  So, that's a big deal.

I still miss things.  The occasional sweets, occasional cheese.  SWEET TEA.

I shared a couple of cookbooks with you.  They are great.  I find myself grabbing the Paleo Comfort Foods book the most.

I also like this one:

Again,  my belief is that preparedness is the key.  It takes some planning to make sure you have all the fresh stuff on hand.

Do I think it was worth it?

Y.E.S.

Do it.  Keep doing it.  You'll feel better!

And.....you'll be able to tell your friends and family you did it.

Hang in there!

Still hanging in there.....

Day 6.  I would love to say that I feel wonderful.

 I feel fine.

I want sweet tea.  I was hoping this would go away.  So far, it hasn't.

Everything tastes good.  My favorite cookbook is the Paleo Comfort Food Book (see my last post).

I just bought The Paleo Slow Cooker Cookbook.  It's going back tomorrow.

There were mistakes in quite a few of the recipes.  For instance, not telling you to add an ingredient that was on the list....there's an index in the back, but unless you know exactly what the author has named a particular dish, it's not helpful.

I WILL say that I don't seem to be as stiff in the mornings, so this is a plus.

I am going to stick with it - I just wish the cravings would go away.  I wanted to eat my arm yesterday.

I DID cheat.  I wasn't supposed to weigh myself until the end, but I needed some inspiration....and I have lost 2 pounds!  :)

It's sunny outside in my neck of the woods and I am thanking God for a great day!

Hang in there!  

Day 2.....and day 1

So, I told you about The Whole 30.

Well, I am almost through day 2 and...so far, so good.

Here's what I've done.

First, let me say, breakfast is hard for me.  I can't eat egg whites, they really mess with my stomach.  And, cooked egg yolks.  GROSS.

So, for breakfast today I had a banana, a handful of pine nuts and 4 oz of turkey.  Not bad.

Lunch was leftover from dinner last night.  I forgot to take a pic, but I made "dirty rice" from page 200 of the Paleo Comfort cookbook.

It was delicious!  My family liked it!  My daughter took the leftovers for lunch today and one of her friends tried it and she liked it as well.

*** Let me say this.  The texture is weird.  You replace the rice with "riced" cauliflower.  (which, by the way, makes a HUGE mess)  I used my food processor to "rice" the cauliflower.  

However, the taste won on this and we all decided we could handle the texture.

I believe the key to success with this will be in the planning.  (and the PRAYER!)

It takes longer to prepare everything fresh.  That being said, it really is very good.

Dinner tonight is baked chicken, half an avocado and cantaloupe.

Here is a pic from dinner Sunday night.  I didn't have a recipe for this, so I just threw all of this in a pan and put it over raw cabbage and added some home made salsa on top.

This is half a diced jicama, 6 stalks of celery, one diced onion, 3 large chicken breasts (already cooked), 2 TBS of ghee (clarified butter) and 2 TBS of chimichurri sauce from the Well Fed cookbook and salt and pepper to taste.  Since the chicken was already cooked, I was just basically re-heating that. I cooked all this for about 8-10 minutes, just long enough for the onions to become soft.

There was nothing left.  My family and I inhaled it.  It was so good.   My daughter (who is 15) LOVED it.

And being real here....I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, WANT A SWEET TEA.  BUT, NOT GONNA DO IT.

We can do this.

Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

And so it begins.

It's 9:53.  I want a sweet tea.  However, I don't have a headache and I am still full from breakfast.  So, I know this is just me and my unhealthy body wanting a sweet tea.

You know what's amazing?  I've already had 3, 16oz glasses of water.  That never happens.  Like, NEVER.

Because I didn't get my grocery shopping done yesterday, here's what I had for breakfast::

Broccoli and Cauliflower with salt and pepper on top.  And a handful of olives.  So, I improvised.

Here are the 2 cookbooks I have:

They both have a photo with every recipe - i think - and all the recipes are doable.  and not gross.

I'm big on them not looking gross.  

You've gotta do some planning, but it's TOTALLY worth it!

Here we go!

p.s.  my scripture for today???

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Fitting, huh?

Wanna go on an adventure?

Before I begin to talk about food, I must say that the events of this week....
BOSTON
WEST, TEXAS
Horrific.

My prayers are with you and I ache for you.  May God comfort and heal.


Monday, April 22nd.  I begin this:

 The Whole 30.
I can do anything for 30 days.  I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.  You want to do it with me?

Did some shopping today with my friend who is making this journey with me.  Y'all should have seen us.  It was hilarious.  Our reading glasses out,  reading everything...... asking the produce guy how the heck you cook Jicama.  Oh my word.

I will try my best to blog about this.  I am so pumped.  Well, not actually PUMPED, but excited to see the results.  In how I feel, look, and view food.

I will need prayer.  My husband will need prayer.  My daughter will need prayer.

I am guessing anyone who comes into contact with me the first week will need protection of some kind.

I like my sweet tea.

I like food.  period.  I like GOOD food.  I am hoping this will re-set my taste buds.

I'll keep you posted!!!!

I have to go.  My sweet tea is melting and I only have a few more days to partake.

Blessings!

Thankfulness

This is a week of Thankfulness for me.  I hope it is for you as well.

I am thankful for grace.

I am counting my blessings and reflecting on all I have.

Blessings to you and yours!

I was looking at this picture I took on the beach this past Summer.  How majestic is God.  So amazing! Let me not forget.

You gotta listen to this girl!

TORI KELLY

This girl is amazing.

I can't stop listening to her!  AND.....her version of this song is clean.  :)