happy new year! + re-starting whole30

Happy New Year, my dear readers!

I love me a new year.  A nice, fresh slate to screw up again.

There's something so exciting about it!

I love how everyone on Instagram is all I don't usually make resolutions, but...

I'm like, just make the frikking resolution.  It's okay.  You can show weakness.  You can show that you have flaws.  That you have goals.  Like it's not cool to make a resolution or something.  Gimme a break.

So, what are my resolutions?

They're kind of personal, don't you think?  They really do show you what someone is thinking way deep down.  They show you that we're all kind of the same.  Us flawed human beings.

As you read a few weeks ago, I started a Whole30.  It lasted seven days exactly.  So yeah, more like a Whole7.  But beside the fact that it only lasted a week, I am beyond excited to say that it did change me forever.  Just one week.  I am a changed woman.  It's the most amazing program everrrr.

What were the best benefits?  That always-feeling-three-months-pregnant bloat?  Gone.  Pulling pants and skirts just over my pouch to cover it?  Gone.  Practically falling asleep at the wheel after work?  Gone.  I felt on top of the world - I could accomplish anything.  I felt happier (and I'm already a pretty happy person), smarter, had better clarity, and everything tasted so good.

What were my biggest challenges?  As a full time working mom, it's a challenge to make typical meals, let alone a meal that has nothing processed, no sugar, no grain, etc.  It was overwhelming.  Even with Jeff by my side doing it too, it still made for 1.) very expensive grocery trips and 2.) extensive planning and preparing.  I was mentally exhausted and couldn't keep up.  Parenting and teaching had me stressed to the max - I couldn't sacrifice my mental sanity for label reading 24/7.

Oh yeah, I also craved a sprinkled donut every waking second.

New Years Resolution:  Put good food into my body.

How will I make it work this time?  Now that I've sort of been there/done that, I feel much less intimidated about it all.  I have a much better grasp of meals that will work for my whole family and not just myself (example:  barbecued chicken, brussel sprouts, rice & applesauce).  I just eat the Whole30 compliant items and the rest of the fam can eat all of them.

And possibly the most important factor that will help me succeed:  Christmas is over.  Cookies, cheesy potatoes and chocolate pie are out of my sight.  (Waaa)

But now, this is in my sight.  :)


~~


A new year rocks.

Hope it's a great one!

halloween & thanksgiving. together as one.

Better late than never?

Since all the trick-or-treating was held the evening of Connor's party, the boys never got to do anything "real."  We dressed them up and took them down to our neighbors' house (fortunately she had some candy!)

Connor is obsessed with puffs.  They kind of make me sick, so I only get them for special occasions...

Happy Halloween, two months late!

As I said in a previous post, I was really excited to host Thanksgiving for my family this year (not).  Even that morning I sent a text to my sister that said something like I don't want to host stupid Thanksgiving.  But much to my delight, it ended up working out great.  My mom, sister and grandma did most of the work - all I had to do was have a clean bathroom and have a table set for nine.

Once again, the TomKat studio came through with free printables which is where I found the banner and the framed picture.  Big Lots for the win on the acorns.

Rosemary-sprig place cards.

They love each other.

Happy Thanksgiving, one month late!

merry christmas!

From mine to yours!

it's happening: Whole30

As I stepped out of the shower and glanced at myself in the mirror that evening, a lightbulb went off.  Eh, more like a skillet over my head.  ::BAM!!!!!::  Then my inner voice...

What is wrong with you, woman?  GET A GRIP!  Just because you have birthed two children doesn't mean you are "allowed" to have a body like this!  Control yourself!  Get some self discipline!  Get that rocking body BACK!  What do you want to weigh?  That's right!  One hundred and SEXY.

The decision was made on a Friday, I prepared on Saturday and Sunday.  I started on Monday.

It's Tuesday.

This is the start of my journey down the path to healthy eating habits, self discipline, and a new perspective on food.

Have you heard of Whole30?  Thirty days of no dairy, no grain, no sugar, no preservatives, and no alcohol.  Sounds pleasant, right?

The "whole" point (haha) is not for weight loss, although people do lose weight (and numerous inches).  It's about giving yourself a nutritional "reset."  After reading through heaps of testimonials, people say it has changed their entire viewpoint on food.  It's changed their relationships.  It's changed their confidence.  It's even rectified issues such as diabetes, depression, anxiety, acne and other skin conditions.  And the people always seem so happy.  

So here's the skinny on my end.

Past challenges:  

• Drive thrus.  Hot chocolates, egg & cheese bagels, frappucinos, nuggets.  You name it, I picked it up (almost daily).
• Stress.  When I'd get to a breaking point with the boys I'd scarf a bowl of cereal and it made me feel better.  Until it didn't.  
• Feeding a family.  I have three other mouths to feed besides my own, so how will I manage self discipline at home?  Although I am a "well behaved" grocery shopper and my family eats fairly well, I refuse to stop giving the boys their few m&m's for dessert, so those items will still be in the cupboard.   

Reasons for implementing this program:  

• I want to feel comfortable in my skin.  
• I want to get back into a bikini.  
• I want to not feel three months preggo all the time.  
• I have terrible eczema on my arms and hands this fall (worst since I was 14!) - I want to see if it will clear up on it's own without medication.

Upsides:

• I got my hubby on board with me!  WOOT WOOT, RAISE THE ROOF, ALLELUIA.  Jeff's doing a "loose" Whole30.  Example:  He's using a low-carb Italian dressing instead of my homemade ones, and I didn't pay attention this morning but he probably put sugar and milk into his coffee...
• My amazing friend (and co-worker) Lori is also doing this with me!  Truly, if it weren't for her to bounce feelings/complaints/fears off of, I don't know that I could do it.  She's a vegetarian so our meal plans are quite a bit different - I actually enjoy our late-night texts about the dinners we made and the reality that she wants to cheat with a cookie and I want to cheat with a glass of wine.  

How did I get started?  

• I read and re-read practically every shopping list, testimonial, rule and recipe on the Whole30 website.  I was immensely excited and even more nervous all at the same time.
• I committed.
• I made a shopping list and a meal plan.  Little Coconutty has a really cute menu planner that I printed out on cardstock.  Trust me, really cute things matter when I'm unable to have pasta primavera.  
• Instagram has an astounding world of support.  My favorites so far are @littlecoconutty, @bitsofbbskitchen, @whole30, and #whole30recipes.  
• I went grocery shopping.  It sucked.  While keeping the boys from jumping out of the cart, I read every single label.  Everything has sugar.  Forget it with the processed salad dressings.  
• I cooked.  Sunday was spent chopping and preparing for the week and it was highly extensive.  Even Jeff commented that I had been in the kitchen for hours.  I made a paleo asparagus & egg strata for the week's breakfast, a homemade balsamic vinaigrette for the week's lunches at work, and put a roast in the crockpot for the week's dinners.  It was exhausting.
• Finally it was time for us to start!

My goal is to update the blog each week on my progress.  I already feel a difference and cannot wait to share!