I am constantly learning and evolving into the strongest version of myself. I am reading articles, testing my diet, and figuring out what my body needs for optimum health. I am working out and trying to follow a plan to keep active and to workout 4 to 5 times a week. My muscles are definitely growing along with my strength. I am moving to the next size down in jeans. And even though my weight is shifting back and forth between having lost some and haven't lost any...I am feeling better than ever, most days.
There are those days, or those weekends, where I am just in a funk. This last weekend I sat around and watched television all day long; something I haven't done in a very long time. I didn't feel mentally well. I felt depressed. It didn't help that there for a few days, we ate out for convenience. Then, this morning I happened upon a post in a Facebook group I belong to. It's a pretty great group of ladies supporting one another through their healthier life goals. You get the occasional person just whining for attention, but overall it's a great group and they often present new ideas that you may not have thought of.
So far on this journey, since going Paleo in March, I have discovered that I am so sensitive to many things. I have become allergic to gluten. I have the same food allergy reaction that I've always had to paprika, have had with crab, and sometimes with ham (I figure it's something in the glaze.). I do not tolerate dairy very well, but I've been able to slowly add in unsalted, grass fed butter into my diet and it doesn't bother me that bad. Which, I'm thankful for. My Julia Child turkey will need butter come Thanksgiving. I am beyond sensitive to sugar. I already knew this from being hypoglycemic, but now I can't stand anything with processed sugar in it. I have used coconut sugar in a few recipes and it seems to do much better. I am quite possibly allergic or sensitive to coffee. I originally thought it was the caffeine, but I even tried decaf and still had the same reaction. I was more tired than ever and started to get headaches and sore throats from it.
I set a goal a while back and I am unsure if I am able to make it because of this last hiccup. However, my goal is to get down into the 260s by the end of November when my husband has his LEO Awards ceremony. So I have a goal. Goals work well for me. I have a set time frame and a to-do list really. With Sodas, it has been rather easy. Until January 7th of next year, I will in no way have soda of any kind, for any reason. Trust me, if I can deal with a tornado destroying my house, homelessness with two of my children, adoption of my middle son, starting a house and maintaining my sanity and keeping away from soda...Anyone can! Although I suspect, if I were to have a soda after that, I would only want a Barq's Rootbeer if I ever splurged and ate a pizza. But, not until my committed goal of a year without soda is complete.
I have done with having this goal. So, I want to commit to another goal. I want to commit to five weeks until the awards to be completely paleo. Most people are fine (as am I) with the 80/20 rule. We probably only eat out 2 to 4 times a month and I try my best to minimize gluten, dairy, sugar, and I just plain refrain from coffee. I want to commit to 100% paleo, 100% of the time.
In order to do this, I will have to prepare for those days I dread cooking. I am going to have to find a way to get my husband to jump in on cooking those days. I have to include snacks in our days so that I'm less likely to be so hungry that by the time Nick gets home, and I don't feel like cooking, we're all starving, and I feel like poo, so Nick runs to get whatever.
I have to be able to tell Nick no. Which is hard. I love my dear husband so much and he is not on the paleo band wagon. It doesn't bother him at all to eat whatever. When he comes home from work, doing the line of work he does, I simply want him to be happy. So if he has a bad day and wants to pick up some take-out, I usually let him. I need to return to not giving in myself.
It's a big puzzle piece but I think if I have this goal in mind. If I prepare ahead with meals during my planning I can be more successful, and more easily get passed "those days." 37 days of 100% paleo. I encourage you that if you're feeling a little stuck like I have, feel free to comment what you're goal is below! Start one! Stick to it! Make a decision and cut off all other possibility. You will be successful.
I wish you all good luck with whatever your goals may be.
And in case you've missed it on www.facebook.com/journeyonthefinalcountdown ....
So that's it my friends! I hope you are all doing well out there. Feel free to check me out on Facebook where I update more often and talk more about the working out and eating part. I have a new blog and Facebook for all of my recipes! I actually write for the local paper! ^__^ For volunteer, but hey! I'm a published writer now! <3 www.facebook.com/commonsensecook
Sending y'all lots of peace and love.
