The Pain that Precipitates Change

Really it's only ever pain that gets us to change anything we do in life.  I can not think of a moment I changed my route/mind/attitude/diet, etc. without pain being present.  In our bodies pain is the God-given source that signals to us that change needs to be made.  In our lives, the same is true.

Recently, I attended a women's meeting during which nutrition was the main theme.  Several women brought items I've only thought were crazy...until lately.  Items such as fermented vegetables (eww-- doesn't the word "fermented" just kind of make your skin crawl?) and keifer (again, I don't know why we don't give healthy foods a better name like..."Twinkie 2" ;)  Anyway, our group that day consisted of some mamas who have been on a health-seeking journey for years and some mamas who had never heard of these items and some mamas who had heard of them...but were still skeptical of their application into their life.  The mamas who brought the items to sample and have wholeheartedly embraced the most wholesome eating life-style in our American world made it very clear-- before their pain events, they would have never considered eating this way.  They didn't know about the health benefits and didn't know how "do-able" it really would be to their life.

I have to agree.  I am much further away from where they are in the journey, but I too began seeking out a better way to eat due to pain-- very real pain that was inescapable.  If I wanted relief, my only option was to change my diet significantly.

Perhaps that is where you are today. Or, perhaps you, like so many around me, think they can handle the pain and it'd be a bigger upset to have to change their whole diets.  I'm not here to say it's been easy.  Everyday I find myself at a loss for hours which would aid in more prep for easier meal consumption later on, but it's a fight I have to continue to make.  And I encourage YOU to continue today if you have not already begun a journey to a healthier lifestyle.

Books I Recommend (That I Am Reading On This Journey)
Gut and Psychology Syndrome -- by Dr. Natasha Campbell- McBride (great information on how the digestive track can affect so much of your body's functions/thinking/behavior)
Nourishing Traditions -- by Sally Fallon and Mary Enig (great read on the appropriate place GOOD fats, protein, and carbohydrates need to have in your diet.)
Trim, Healthy, Mama -- by Pearl Barrett and Serene Allison (the current dietary life-style I am using to lose weight and eat in such a healthy way as never before. "Love me some buttah!")


I used to think anyone "natural" (doctors, other health professionals, and everyday people) were crazy and tricksters-- who ever would believe my son's asthma could be healed significantly with food?!  Craziness!  Schmucks!  Turns out...it probably CAN be significantly improved by his diet as well as my children's eczema, my weight issues, irritability...and, of course, stomach pain. And if I can heal from the inside out, starting with good foods, why would I choose another way-- a way filled with medications attempting to do the same thing...only having to overcome an abounding mess of unhealthy diet going in on top of it!? Simply because it's not "easy"?  That's no excuse and I personally am leaving that one behind.  It will continue to be hard...but anything in life worth having IS work-- and good health, as much as it is up to me, is worth having SO THAT I am able to live an energized life IN ORDER to bring glory to God, love to those He places in my path and bring HIS NAME to the nations. 

Weight Update:  199.6!  FINALLY blew that 200 mark! (14 total pounds and counting!)

NOTE:  I DO NOT believe, nor advocate, that food is THE ONLY way to heal anything, including asthma, etc. and I DO NOT believe that regular doctors are "no good".  They are just practicing the medicine they have been taught but many personally living healthy life-styles that they know their patients many times are unwilling to live.  I also DO NOT believe that seeking out a healthy life-style for the sake of a healthy life-style is the end all.  Our health is only to serve us in order that we may best serve Christ and not be burdened with lack of energy, spending time and money in the drs office, unable to be physically fit to do the tasks to which He calls us.

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The Journey Continues...Progress Update

Okay, folks.  Here is my progress report--

In the three weeks since having been eating the "THM way," as many of the people following the plan from the Trim Healthy Mama call it, I have seen several good changes in my body. 

Weight-related:  lost 7.5 lbs (a good, healthy, inspiring amount for 3 weeks' time) and lost 4.5 inches. 

BUT WAIT-- it gets better, as I've just realized going back a bit in my blog.  I started in January at 212.8 and am now at 202.6 so I've actually hit the first nice feeling milestone: 10 pounds.  This is a healthy beginning.  Also, since January I've lost 10.25 inches all around which means that while the scale might not show the most results, all the time my body has been changing shape-- and that, my friends, is what getting healthy is all about.  I tried on a skirt that I couldn't wear in January and it fits now! (Never mind I don't want to wear a double-lined black full-length skirt in May that I would've worn in January, that's not the point!=)

Other Changes--
I've started waking up earlier.  This is weird.  I've never been a morning person and I suddenly find myself waking up and being able to start the day without an alarm (or, let's be honest, my husband saying, "I'm going to work now.") 
I've started falling asleep without any problems.  Also weird because, on average, it took me a good hour of laying down before I'd ever fall asleep.  Now I lay down, at the same time as before, but I fall asleep fast-- without any tossing, turning, huffing-puffing, etc.-- it's great!  I'm pretty sure that's the result of lack of sugar pulsing through my body b/c I'd been off of caffeine for quite some time without any changes in my sleep patterns.
I've made sourdough bread (a supposedly "safe" food for my IBS-- um, not true for me!) and my family likes it!  It's a combo of spelt flour (that I actually ground myself!! Very proud of this!) and oats (that were "properly soaked".)  Now, lest some of you think I've gone off the deep end-- I kind of have!  I'm also in the middle of reading Nourishing Traditions and LOVE the information I'm reading.  It is freeing; uncomplicating (that's not a technical word, I realize) all the health information I've ever read and it's filled with life-giving information!  No wonder so many people eating the typical American diet are so sick, over-weight, and in the doctors office ALL.THE.TIME.  I don't want this to be or my family members, so changes are needed!  And, thankfully, through the pain that forced me into all this research in the first place, change is happening!  I've got a long way to go, but I'm taking the right steps.

Caveat:  My IBS is still flaring up. (Sourdough bread was a complete no-no for me-- said to be easily digestible and good for those suffering with IBS, but it wasn't for me.  I still plan on trying to use it for my family though because it has many health benefits for them.) Sometimes it is a matter of eating a food I know I can't handle -- there are just so many yummy recipes from THM that include yummy berries and cream cheese and cottage cheese-- all of which are horribly bad for me right now.  But more often than not, the worst attacks come from sources I didn't know where going to bother me.  Still learning.  My next stop may be the GAPS diet...so if any of you have any information on how this has worked for you, let me know.  I need my gut to heal and I believe it is possible through the right foods.

What about you?  What changes are you making today that you know you need to make?  I'd love to hear about them!

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THM Recipes, Recipes!

Alright, friends.  Last I left you I had just received my very own copy of Trim Healthy Mama by Serene Allison and Pearl Barrett.  (Have I ever told you I wish I could write a book that would be so much needed and so well received?  Selfish dream...but there, none the less!)  Anyway, I have now spent only 4 days trying to put into practice the words of wisdom in this book and I'm down...2.8 lbs!  I've always known that whatever I eat effects my weight one way or the other, but it truly is an amazing thing to realize that every. single. bit. counts-- and when it counts the RIGHT way, I'll be fast on my way to losing what so desperately needs to be lost-- a massive amount of weight!

So, for today, I just really wanted to share with you two of my favorite recipes I've made thus far. These are two wonderfully tasty recipes that are SUPER low in the glycemic index-- which means no blood sugar spike-- which means no crazy insulin action going on-- which means, proper food digestion and burning of fat that MUST GO!

"Loaded Fotato Soup" 

Ingredients:
Cauliflower (1/2 12 oz bag)
Chicken broth, fat-free (2 cups)
Light Laughing Cow cheese (1 wedge)
Turkey bacon bits (optional-- if you want it "loaded"-- I didn't have any and it was still great)
Glucomannan or xanthan gum (sprinkles of)
Sea Salt, other seasonings as you desire (pepper, garlic, etc.)
Green onion (also optional)

Directions:
1. Tenderize cauliflower in (simmering) chicken broth.  (I did mine in a pan...I'm sure you could use a microwave, but then there are those that are a bit against microwaving so...tenderize however you want!)
2. Scoop out tender cauliflower and place in blender.  (I have used my Ninja more in the last week than I had since I got it at Christmas time!  I never knew you could use blenders to make meals!  I don't get in the kitchen often, obviously.)  Blenderize (I like the sound of that) until desired consistency.  Put back in chicken broth.
3. Add 1 cheese wedge to broth in pan. Disperse it with a spoon, whisk, whatever. 
4. Season with sea salt, pepper, etc.  Serene and Pearl add nutritional yeast for its superfood benefits but I've yet to get mine in the mail=)
5. Add in turkey bits if you like/have.
6. Thicken soup with sprinkles of glucomannan or xanthan gum.  Do so little by little whisking briskly.  Get it to a normal potato soup consistency.  (This week I used xanthan gum while I wait for yes, the package in the mail that also contains my glucomannan.)
7. Garnish with optional green onion.  (Which I did because I can't have white onions while dealing with this IBS business so I love green onions now!)

This made PLENTY for one serving and filled me up!  In fact, it was too much.  I shared the left overs with my daughter who seems to love eating everything.  I even shared a few spoonfuls with my {very picky eater} husband who also enjoyed it.  (Wasn't exactly the same consistency, mind you, but he didn't know WHAT it was until I told him.  He said he "would eat" it again.  Whew!  One recipe down...several more to try to convince him of!)


"Time Healthy Pancakes"
Ingredients:  Old Fashioned Oats, low-fat cottage cheese, egg white, baking powder, sweetener, vanilla

Directions:
1. Put 1 Cup Old Fashioned Oats into...BLENDER...and blenderize (I know that isn't a word, don't you worry.  I just like the sound of it too much...) until it becomes a powder.
2. Add to powdered oats, 1 Cup liquid egg whites.
3. Add 1 Cup cottage cheese.
4. Add 2 tsp. baking powder (they recommend aluminum free, of course), and sweetener (2-3 tsp Truvia), and a dash of vanilla.  (I also added some cinnamon.)
5. Blend all of these ingredients well.  It will become a thick mess-- but all contained in your blender!  (FABulous!)
6. Ladle out onto skillet or pan in desired pancake size. 

These tasted and looked like the "real" thing.  I topped them with some yogurt and raspberries and they were delish!  This recipe should make 9 medium sized and they call a serving 3 of them.  That was plenty for me.  Store extras in the fridge separated by paper towels or they will stick to each other.  Now I have breakfast ready for the week days when time is more of an essential.


Try 'em!  Let me know how it goes...and buy the book!  (Or ask your mom for it for your birthday like I did!;)

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Wednesday Weigh-In, Almost 3 Months Down...

In my ideal world, the one I think I like to live in more than not, I am 195 lbs by now.  In my ACTUAL world, I am down 1.6 lbs from last week-- and a whopping 4.6 since I started in January.  My inconsistencies have wreaked havoc on my "plan" and I'm tempted to give up.  Then I went dress shopping last night...and it all floods back REAL easily as to why this is so important.  Not only to look better, the sagging weight of post birth 4 times over and inconsistent healthy eating habits is abundantly obvious, and the lack of energy has returned.  Though I am exercising more often than Oct-Dec, and kicked my Mt. Dew addiction (once again), I've started to crave salt-- something I've never cared for in my life. 

Now sits in my hands, 4 hours old, a brand new copy of Trim Healthy Mama.  A 607 page book written by two sisters-- two sisters who hold 13 children between them, stay at home, and home school.  These ladies are accessible to me!  The biggest appeal is the great reviews this book has gotten by the way it has helped countless mothers just like me to be naturally and healthfully lose weight and bring light back into their married, motherhood demand-filled lives.  If you look for them on FB you'll see great comments about what the information they've shared is doing in normal people's lives.  I'm not looking for a lucky ticket-- but I am looking for some shoulder to shoulder help inside my kitchen as I navigate the stormy waters called "healthy eating".  Well, I guess I'm also looking for less "storm" in that kitchen of mind-- and more peace in my mental faculties as I work to find food that can nourish and bless my whole family. 

I've been encouraged to just "not eat like my family does, to prep separate foods for myself and by my example they may or may not want to follow"...but that doesn't sit well with my soul.  I know I shouldn't find peace and comfort IN food itself...but being able to prepare meals my whole family can enjoy, talk around, learn from, etc. does something to inspire my soul.  That is the type of home I want to model for my kids-- not always being in angst about what's coming in or going out of the kitchen! (Which is what it has been for the past 2 years.)  I'm anxious to put into practice what I'll be learning and hoping to report back soon about the benefits I'm seeing as a result of what I'm learning.

So, here's to the next THREE months!  May they bring more visible results and energy into my life-- and wherever you are in yours, may the next 3 months bring the same to you!

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Wednesday Weigh-In, Regrouping=)

Well, there's been a bit o time that has past since last we met-- only to be honest, I didn't think I was really meeting anyone so...I sort of didn't keep my appointment!  Then I found out I WAS being met...so, I thought I'd show up today!

Last week I honestly didn't weigh myself.  We had company and my scale was in the other bathroom unavailable for the time being...until I remembered AFTER LUNCH and, at that point, I was NOT going to weigh myself! No, no, no.

Today's weight: 209.6 (hmmm...)
"Ran": 2 miles in 26.30 minutes (my best time yet, but I realize that's not really running for many of you:)

The Journey--
I've found SPELT-- and it loves me and I love it.  Thus far I've made soft pretzels and bread with it for those days when I've needed something to go with my Chicken and broth (lol, no noodles since I haven't made spelt noodles yet!) or a little something more than a chocolate bar - ha. Spelt can be substituted 1 for 1 with flour only if it's a recipe with liquid you'll probably need to slightly lessen liquid or add a little more spelt flour.  That said, unless you intend to grind your own spelt "berries" (yes, they are called berries in whole form) then I suggest only using spelt if you have digestive issues or a very large bank account.  One 5 lb bag cost me $13.99!!!
 
I also love sugar.  Too much sugar.  In fact, without realizing it, the weeks I lost consistently and fairly easily I had no sugar (and, no gluten, of course) and the weeks I haven't lost any weight (i.e. the ENTIRE month of February!) I added that sugar back in (and only small amounts of gluten-- like that show up in spelt bread.)  This, I've realized, is a complete addiction that has got to go for permanent.  Who can live all shot up with sugar?!?  I also gradually went back to my Mt. Dew for 2 weeks and though I almost can hear some of you laughing now, it is my vice.  And I hate it.  I have not had any since Sunday now and am closing in on my constant sugar high.  I WANT to say I will not have any today...but I already had one of my oatmeal yummies and hot chocolate while enjoying a wonderful morning with just my littlest.  I need accountability!  Any takers?!?!

So, there you have it.  It's where I am.  I am always learning lots...but always falling down.  I guess the most encouraging verse for me today is:

 Proverbs 24:16a, "The godly may trip seven times, 

but they will get up again..."

Join the conversation!  Let me know how YOU are doing on your own journey!  (And then I can meet you here again next week!=)

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A Recipe For You; Weigh-in "Wednesday"

Today I wanted to share a baked oatmeal recipe that I found online-- but desperately had to tweak because it was SUPER high in calories!  Original recipe: 462 calories PER serving!  (Too much for my breakfast, folks!)  MY recipe: 216 (according to my "spark" online site calorie calculator) !!!  Now that is a number my body can live with!  Here it is:

3 C oats (I use Old Fashioned...not instant, not steel-cut)
1/2 C brown sugar
1-2 TBSP cinnamon
2 tsp baking powder
    Mix these together in one bowl.
1 egg, whole
1 egg white
1/4 C melted butter
1 1/4 C Almond Milk (I've used both sweetened and unsweetened and I can't tell a difference between the two taste-wise)
    Whisk these together in a separate bowl.  (You CAN mix it all in one bowl, of course, and save yourself a dish BUT I've found that the result is a more "eggy" baked oatmeal at the end...for whatever that's worth=)

Mix the two bowls together and then the mixture put in a 9 x 9 baking dish OR put in cupcake papers and have divided for fun individual servings.  (If you use cupcake papers lessen your cooking time.)  Bake at 350o for 30-40 min. until set.  For variations sprinkle cranberries, blueberries, almonds, or mini-chocolate chips on top!  Serve warm and enjoy!



Weight LAST week: 209.4
THIS week: 208.6
GOALS:  working out more often and decreasing my time to get to 2 miles!  I started on the treadmill again last month and wasn't even able to stay on for 30 minutes!  Now I'm up to 30 minutes and running 2 miles in 27.5 minutes.  I'm aiming for 3 miles in 35 minutes by the end of April so...we'll see how it goes!

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Weigh-In Wednesday; after a month

Weight today: 208.8 -- not a large loss but I consider it a great success because:

1. It wasn't up!
2. We had a crazy weekend that lent itself to all over the board eating due to traveling/late night ER visits, etc. (I still just basically starved myself through those "out to eat" trips, lol-- I think at least SUBWAY should have gluten free bread!)
3. I added two workout days AND got myself BACK TO THE GYM for my early am group workout.
4. I had two people comment to me about how I look "are you losing weight" and "your skin looks good"...and I'll take BOTH of those as complete testimonies to what getting off of gluten is doing for me.

Still struggling to find my low-gluten groove...really still need to be completely gluten-free and then I'm working to discover the other foods that give me problems.  I hope you all are making progress with your own goals this year.  Next time I hope to have time to post some of my favorite new recipes!

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Wednesday Weigh-In

Happy to report: 209 even this am!  That's almost a 2 lbs loss.

Tummy issues:  have all but subsided on this FODMAPS diet-- only thing is I still have pain every morning upon waking-- so if you have any ideas as to what that could be from, I'd be happy to hear from you! =)

I have received two bits of info that I'm currently "chewing" over and I thought I'd share them with you briefly.  The first is over the debate of "To weigh or NOT to weigh".

TO weigh--

• It keeps me motivated and knowing that I'm headed in the right direction when I want more of those blasted WONDERFUL Martha Stewart Chocolate Chip cookies the kids and I made the other day (in lieu of formal "math class").
• It keeps me accountable

NOT to Weigh --

• If you're losing weight you will begin to see it in your clothes/mirror
• Weighing keeps the focus on too much that can occasionally fluctuate the WRONG way and then it can upset you to throwing you off/discouraging you away from your previous goals.
• We are fearfully and wonderfully made-- and focusing on weight can cloud this TRUTH right out! 

I'm currently voting for "weighing" for myself because I know I'm focused on transforming my kitchen into a "Real Foods" kitchen...this IS lifestyle change I'm attempting to do because I WANT to, it's GOD-Honoring to treat my body and train my kids in this eating well way, and my body is depending on it in every daily situation to feel well enough to focus on something other than my tummy pains!  (Pain is ALWAYS the best motivator, right?=)  I also am confident in who God has created me to be.  I look in the mirror and see many good things about myself and praise the Lord for the talents He's given me.  I'm happy to be me (most days anyways, lol) and I'm happy/content with the life He's given me to live.  I feel I am weighing in for good reasons and have the right mind-set not to be dragged down when the scale says someday, as I know it will eventually, that I've gone up .2 pounds.

Second bit of information I'm not "open" enough to sharing, yet at least, but it's been a good book that shares the idea that weak internal muscles can result in IBS-like suffering as well as other symptoms.  I'm working my way through that so, thank you "Reader Friend" for passing that along!

Exercise Goal:  I did NOT complete as much of that as I'd wanted-- but two more days than I had the previous week so I feel good about it.  Next week I'm aiming for two more!

How are YOUR goals coming?  I'd love to hear from you.

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Weigh-In (Wednesday) er...Thursday!

Okay...so I've been gone for awhile...trying to get my life "in order".  I'm sure all of you have, too!  Well, I decided that wasn't going to happen before I ever wrote again (I mean, come on, it's never going to happen anyway, right?!) So, I thought I choose blogging over laundry because this quiet time doesn't come often! (Two boys at b-ball practice, the others on the Wii...yes, my substitute babysitter when I just need a LITTLE quiet=)

I have decided to weigh myself in on Wednesday...and YOU all get to "watch" me. Ha-- i'm glad you really don't but I decided to try this type of accountability.  It's not so much being accountable to you, as it is to me.  To keep this thing going THIS time.  I've never written on weight issues on here, I think some may look down their noses at me for doing so-- and that's okay with me.  In the happen chance that it helps me AND someone else, though, I believe that enough-- even if it just helps me!

For my own "notes" I thought I'd start these posts by remembering from whence I came! (Again, for ME!)

• 2008-- had 4th and final child, topped off at 248 lbs!!!  (I look at those pictures and can.not.believe. what I'd become)
• 2009-- started a series of "Biggest Loser" challenges with some of my absolute bestEST friends!
• 2009-2010 -- dropped 50 lbs with hardly a glance over my shoulder (well, I mean, I worked at it but honestly not that much!)
• 2011-summer 2012 -- bobbled up and down, got used to living in a new location, mostly muscle went to fat and began struggle with constant belly pain =(
• Summer 2012 -- still struggling with lots of belly pain, I started a 60 day Challenge at a local small-town gym.  I worked HARD with at least 60 minutes of intensive workout (Insanity-type program) and ate REALLY well (spinach, kale, low-carb,etc.) and dropped-- NOT A SINGLE pound!  And, before you go on saying, but inches count! You have to know that I didn't even drop a pant size!  I dropped fat around my knees-- yes, my knees!-- and a little around my waist-- 1 inch to be exact!
• Fall 2012-- complete frustration.  LOTS of belly pain, LOTS of tests with drs. shaking their heads in wonder...and I added the old habit of drinking Mountain Dew back in...yeah-- that = LOTS OF INCHES back on...and about 2 more lbs.
• December 2012--  Completed all the tests with the drs. and I'm as healthy as all get out (minus the weight issue) but still have lots of belly pain.  Decide to "self-diagnosis" myself with IBS and check out of the mirey muck of self-pity and DO something, yet again, about this weight!

CURRENT:  Weigh-In Wednesdays!  (I'm only a day late in posting-- I've weighed every Wed. in January!)I'm hoping to weigh in briefly and post it here to HELP MYSELF with motivation.  I'll also track some of my findings about IBS as I'm just learning about what to do/eliminate to start with a clean slate.

GOALS: 
1)  Lose 52 lbs. by December 31, 2013-- TOTALLY doable so long as I keep at it
2)  Figure out how to maintain LOW belly pain, as it seems like something I'll be working on for a long time.

Jan. 2nd Weigh-In:  212.8
Jan. 9th Weigh-In:   211.8
Jan.16th Weigh-In:  210.6

I'm right on track! AND, I've dropped the Mt. Dew again, eating a low FODMAPS diet for elimination purposes (IBS stuff I'll post on later), and began working out this week at home-- aiming for 30 min/day.

What about YOU!?  Do you have any weigh related goals?  Share them with me!

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