I expect my posts will be short and sweet for the next little while, as we have a very busy few weeks coming up. Company coming for supper tomorrow, a belated Christmas with Francis' side of the family on Saturday, and then I'll be in full-on panic mode to get ready for Princess' birthday party near the end of the month.
She has invited 14 or 15 girls (so far 3 are coming for sure), and wants a girly, My Little Pony, pink, purple, sparkly party. I'm tired just thinking about it! I just finished drawing a giant pony on bristol board for a game of pin the horn on the unicorn, and now it just needs some colour added and some horns made up. I'm generally not a big fan of standard birthday party loot bags, so I've decided instead that the bags and their contents will be primarily homemade. Pony-printed draw-string bags will be filled with things they use/make/win at the party. The plan is to decorate cookies, so the girls will each need an apron (those are already cut out, ready to be stitched)- those will then go in their bags, along with their cookies. Oh, and Princess wants everyone to be "fancy", so a decorated hair band will be given at the door, and added to the bag before they head home. (Thankfully I can reuse a lot of the decorations from her fourth birthday party!)
All that sewing/crafting, not to mention the food planning and preparation will keep me plenty busy! But, truthfully, I'm excited about it. I love having a project to work on, and since the sewing is really just three things mass-produced, it's just a lot of busy work and not too much thinking for my over-tired brain.
Breakfast - Eggs (two whole eggs plus two whites left from last night's salad dressing) scrambled with sauteed onion, cherry tomatoes, and two slices of bacon crumbled on top. Licorice tea.
Lunch - A handful of macadamia nuts and a bowl of sliced cucumber and cherry tomatoes. (This was just the result of poor planning + zero motivation.) A cup of tea - with a cheat! Almost a tablespoon of milk. Just needed a little caffeine after a TERRIBLE night, and I didn't want to risk re-addicting myself to coffee.
Supper - A leftover chicken thigh with about 2 Tbsp of guacamole and some sauteed baby bok choy.
Snacks - Mid-afternoon my non-lunch caught up with me and I had a can of tuna mixed with a little mustard and a little mayo. Post-supper I made a new banana bread recipe, and I'm just munching on my second slice as I type. (Two modifications to the recipe - I used green-tipped bananas as per the regulations, and I subbed coconut oil for the butter.)
Exercise - Jillian Michaels' Yoga Meltdown. First time with this one - tougher than I'd expected! Can't believe how weak I am after not working out for so long. I've got my work cut out for me.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Five Days (and Two Pounds) Down
I weighed myself this morning, and after my first four days I've lost two pounds, and I can fit into an older pair of jeans again. This tells me that the two pounds were probably a significant amount of water retention and inflammation, and that I was bloated. (Ick.)
I know I shouldn't have bothered weighing myself, but a few hours later I was glad I did. You see, yesterday I made a small batch of flourless peanut butter cookies for the kids. (None for Francis. He's not doing the 21DSD, but he has given up all non-Paleo junk food for the 21 days.) Today, as I walked through the kitchen mid-morning, I saw those cookies sitting there and I literally began to salivate. I knew exactly what they tasted like, and I wanted one SO BADLY. For a few minutes, I sat and contemplated having one. Just one, then right back on track. I debated myself back and forth, until the wiser half of me pointed out that I'm doing this for good reasons, and the two pounds were proof that I was doing something my body liked. Eating that cookie (or, more likely, THOSE cookieS) would be a terrible idea. So I grabbed a handful of cherry tomatoes and walked past the cookies.
*phew*
Breakfast - Banana Nut Porridge
Lunch - The rest of last night's coconut curry
Supper - Taco chicken thighs with guacamole dip, Caesar salad (with bacon!) using a slightly modified version of this dressing recipe, and some raw veggies. I'd intended to saute some baby bok choy but by the time 5:30 rolled around, my feet and ankles were too sore from standing in the kitchen for so long!
Snacks - The aforementioned cherry tomatoes, three pecans and five macadamia nuts.
Tonight the older two kids and I had a "sleep over". For them a sleep over means staying up a little later, watching a video while eating dessert, and having Mommy crash on their floor while they fall asleep. They're so cute!
I know I shouldn't have bothered weighing myself, but a few hours later I was glad I did. You see, yesterday I made a small batch of flourless peanut butter cookies for the kids. (None for Francis. He's not doing the 21DSD, but he has given up all non-Paleo junk food for the 21 days.) Today, as I walked through the kitchen mid-morning, I saw those cookies sitting there and I literally began to salivate. I knew exactly what they tasted like, and I wanted one SO BADLY. For a few minutes, I sat and contemplated having one. Just one, then right back on track. I debated myself back and forth, until the wiser half of me pointed out that I'm doing this for good reasons, and the two pounds were proof that I was doing something my body liked. Eating that cookie (or, more likely, THOSE cookieS) would be a terrible idea. So I grabbed a handful of cherry tomatoes and walked past the cookies.
*phew*
Breakfast - Banana Nut Porridge
Lunch - The rest of last night's coconut curry
Supper - Taco chicken thighs with guacamole dip, Caesar salad (with bacon!) using a slightly modified version of this dressing recipe, and some raw veggies. I'd intended to saute some baby bok choy but by the time 5:30 rolled around, my feet and ankles were too sore from standing in the kitchen for so long!
Snacks - The aforementioned cherry tomatoes, three pecans and five macadamia nuts.
Tonight the older two kids and I had a "sleep over". For them a sleep over means staying up a little later, watching a video while eating dessert, and having Mommy crash on their floor while they fall asleep. They're so cute!
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Just the Food - Day 4
Headache came back today, but thankfully didn't last as long.
I ate supper in my bedroom tonight, because Francis and the kids were eating pizza. It was torture enough to make them, and I just couldn't sit there and watch them eat them.
Breakfast - Two fried eggs and three slices of bacon. Licorice tea.
Lunch - More leftover spaghetti squash with tomato and meat sauce.
Supper - A generous bowl of coconut curry stir-fry with chicken thighs, red pepper, celery, carrots, onions, sugar snap peas and green beans.
Snack - A banana and some pecans.
I ate supper in my bedroom tonight, because Francis and the kids were eating pizza. It was torture enough to make them, and I just couldn't sit there and watch them eat them.
Breakfast - Two fried eggs and three slices of bacon. Licorice tea.
Lunch - More leftover spaghetti squash with tomato and meat sauce.
Supper - A generous bowl of coconut curry stir-fry with chicken thighs, red pepper, celery, carrots, onions, sugar snap peas and green beans.
Snack - A banana and some pecans.
Monday, January 7, 2013
It's Day 3
Day 1 and day 2 brought with them two nasty headaches. Today I'm feeling fine, so I'm hoping I got over the hump quickly.
I realized there's one more awesome reason to love the 21DSD over the Whole30 (for me). Whole30 has a rule about not Paleo-fying junk foods. Even though I think there's a lot of grey area in that rule (fried chicken is still allowed?), I just don't like it. I get why they have that rule, I just think it's not as entirely necessary as people think.
In any case, I like that on the 21DSD I'm free to enjoy some coconut flour buns without guilt. It makes meals a little easier and certainly provides more variety - which is key for me to succeed. But the restriction on fruit makes it safer for me in the SWYPO department, because I'm not making banana-sweetened muffins or applesauce-sweetened breakfast cake.
Yesterday's eats:
Breakfast - Two eggs scrambled with sauteed onions, diced Italian sausage and cherry tomatoes.
Lunch - Two turkey sandwiches on the aforementioned buns with mustard and mayo. I filled my plate with cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber and raw sugar snap peas.
Supper - Plans fell by the wayside, and I ended up having one more turkey sandwich.
Snacks - A banana and some pecans.
Today's eats:
Breakfast - Two eggs scrambled with sauteed onions, diced Italian sausage and cherry tomatoes. A cup of licorice root tea.
Lunch - Spaghetti squash with tomato & meat sauce. (That's what was supposed to be for supper last night.)
Supper - Fried chicken, roasted carrots and steamed green beans with ghee and salt. (Music Man was in a foul mood, so he only ate what was required of him. The two girls, however, both asked for seconds of chicken and beans!)
Snacks - A banana and a few macadamia nuts, then some pecans and a handful of cherry tomatoes.
I've been about 50% awesome (and 50% pitiful) at remembering to take all my supplements. Getting better! :)
I realized there's one more awesome reason to love the 21DSD over the Whole30 (for me). Whole30 has a rule about not Paleo-fying junk foods. Even though I think there's a lot of grey area in that rule (fried chicken is still allowed?), I just don't like it. I get why they have that rule, I just think it's not as entirely necessary as people think.
In any case, I like that on the 21DSD I'm free to enjoy some coconut flour buns without guilt. It makes meals a little easier and certainly provides more variety - which is key for me to succeed. But the restriction on fruit makes it safer for me in the SWYPO department, because I'm not making banana-sweetened muffins or applesauce-sweetened breakfast cake.
Yesterday's eats:
Breakfast - Two eggs scrambled with sauteed onions, diced Italian sausage and cherry tomatoes.
Lunch - Two turkey sandwiches on the aforementioned buns with mustard and mayo. I filled my plate with cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber and raw sugar snap peas.
Supper - Plans fell by the wayside, and I ended up having one more turkey sandwich.
Snacks - A banana and some pecans.
Today's eats:
Breakfast - Two eggs scrambled with sauteed onions, diced Italian sausage and cherry tomatoes. A cup of licorice root tea.
Lunch - Spaghetti squash with tomato & meat sauce. (That's what was supposed to be for supper last night.)
Supper - Fried chicken, roasted carrots and steamed green beans with ghee and salt. (Music Man was in a foul mood, so he only ate what was required of him. The two girls, however, both asked for seconds of chicken and beans!)
Snacks - A banana and a few macadamia nuts, then some pecans and a handful of cherry tomatoes.
I've been about 50% awesome (and 50% pitiful) at remembering to take all my supplements. Getting better! :)
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Why the Detox?
I've done the Whole30. Twice. The second time, I made it 38 days before indulging at a dear friend's wedding (at the insistence of the mother of the bride). So why not tackle it again?
Too much room for me to continue my old bad habits but with healthier foods. Sure, that's an improvement. But what I'd really like to do is actually deal with my old bad habits.
The last time I did a Whole30, I ate so. many. dates. I stuffed them with shredded coconut and macadamia nuts, I blended them with cinnamon and walnuts - I ate them straight up when I needed a sugar fix in a big hurry. The 21 Day Sugar Detox (at level three) is pretty much like the Whole30, but with a big restriction on fruit. At most I can have one green apple or one green-tipped banana per day. This really makes me face my cravings. I wander into the kitchen, just in the mood to eat. I reach for something, realize I can't have it, reach for something else, realize I can't have that either. Then I stare at the baby carrots or the walnuts, and decide if I'm actually hungry for one of those things, or just eating out of habit/boredom/whatever.
I'm really determined to make it (at least) 21 days this time, and not flake out (and dive face-first into a pan of homemade granola bars) like I did last time.
Breakfast - Banana nut porridge and licorice tea.
Lunch - Two eggs scrambled with sauteed onion and diced Italian sausage with a big handful of cherry tomatoes.
Supper - Pad Thai.
Snacks - A green-tipped banana and a small handful of hazelnuts.
Too much room for me to continue my old bad habits but with healthier foods. Sure, that's an improvement. But what I'd really like to do is actually deal with my old bad habits.
The last time I did a Whole30, I ate so. many. dates. I stuffed them with shredded coconut and macadamia nuts, I blended them with cinnamon and walnuts - I ate them straight up when I needed a sugar fix in a big hurry. The 21 Day Sugar Detox (at level three) is pretty much like the Whole30, but with a big restriction on fruit. At most I can have one green apple or one green-tipped banana per day. This really makes me face my cravings. I wander into the kitchen, just in the mood to eat. I reach for something, realize I can't have it, reach for something else, realize I can't have that either. Then I stare at the baby carrots or the walnuts, and decide if I'm actually hungry for one of those things, or just eating out of habit/boredom/whatever.
I'm really determined to make it (at least) 21 days this time, and not flake out (and dive face-first into a pan of homemade granola bars) like I did last time.
Breakfast - Banana nut porridge and licorice tea.
Lunch - Two eggs scrambled with sauteed onion and diced Italian sausage with a big handful of cherry tomatoes.
Supper - Pad Thai.
Snacks - A green-tipped banana and a small handful of hazelnuts.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Retail Therapy
Normally when people talk about retail therapy, they mean the very act of shopping and buying things makes them happy. For me, that usually only works when I'm shopping in a thrift store - the thrill of the hunt is so much more gratifying there than in Old Navy.
The day after I miscarried, I went to get dressed and realized that with the exception of some stretchy skirts, the only things I owned that would fit my lower half were maternity clothes. I just couldn't bring myself to wear those stretchy, up-to-my-armpit pants as a reminder that I was no longer pregnant. I just couldn't do it. I figured I'd just wear my skirts for a few weeks until things start to fit again.
But my husband, amazing man that he is, insisted on taking me out and buying me some new jeans that fit properly. Amazing what a difference some jeans can make! I get to wear a belt again. I don't have to deal with a reminder of the lost baby every time I get dressed. Totally therapeutic.
Now here's the second part of this story - the jeans I bought are two sizes bigger than the last pair I bought in the summer. I was buying size two before, these ones are a six. I realize that's totally not a big deal, but it is a reflection of how much my body has changed in the past several months. I wish I could chalk all of it up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, but the reality is that I'd gained weight and stopped working out long before conceiving.
I want to be kind to myself - body and soul - so I'm not on any crazy quest to beat my body back to a certain size in an insane amount of time. But I know that eating really well and doing a moderate amount of exercise got me to that place once, and I'm hopeful that doing the same thing again will yield the same results. But if it doesn't work out, and my size 2s never fit again, I'll still keep eating really well and exercising*, because I deserve that.
*We just bought Just Dance 3 for the Wii, and I've never had so much fun working up a sweat! Plus it's something Francis and I can do together, and it makes us LAUGH. Two enthusiastic thumbs up.
The day after I miscarried, I went to get dressed and realized that with the exception of some stretchy skirts, the only things I owned that would fit my lower half were maternity clothes. I just couldn't bring myself to wear those stretchy, up-to-my-armpit pants as a reminder that I was no longer pregnant. I just couldn't do it. I figured I'd just wear my skirts for a few weeks until things start to fit again.
But my husband, amazing man that he is, insisted on taking me out and buying me some new jeans that fit properly. Amazing what a difference some jeans can make! I get to wear a belt again. I don't have to deal with a reminder of the lost baby every time I get dressed. Totally therapeutic.
Now here's the second part of this story - the jeans I bought are two sizes bigger than the last pair I bought in the summer. I was buying size two before, these ones are a six. I realize that's totally not a big deal, but it is a reflection of how much my body has changed in the past several months. I wish I could chalk all of it up to 12 weeks of pregnancy, but the reality is that I'd gained weight and stopped working out long before conceiving.
I want to be kind to myself - body and soul - so I'm not on any crazy quest to beat my body back to a certain size in an insane amount of time. But I know that eating really well and doing a moderate amount of exercise got me to that place once, and I'm hopeful that doing the same thing again will yield the same results. But if it doesn't work out, and my size 2s never fit again, I'll still keep eating really well and exercising*, because I deserve that.
*We just bought Just Dance 3 for the Wii, and I've never had so much fun working up a sweat! Plus it's something Francis and I can do together, and it makes us LAUGH. Two enthusiastic thumbs up.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Twelve and Thirteen
Some things about 2012, in no particular order:
2012 was a hard year. I'm not particularly sad to see it go.
My oldest child started school, which ushered in a new era for our family. It has changed the dynamic of our home - for better and for worse.
I lost most of my hair over a very short period of time. That experience changed me dramatically. I learned a lot about myself and a lot about my extraordinary friends. I shaved my head and learned that I think I looked pretty cool bald, and I really like having short hair for the first time.
I did two Whole30s. Actually, one of them lasted 38 days, and I just fell short of my goal of 40 days.
I attempted a 21 Day Sugar Detox. I didn't come close to finishing it.
I hit an all-time new low weight of 121 lbs, just shy of my goal of 118 lbs.
I went a year of being about 98% gluten-free.
I lost my grandmother, a woman who has always been a huge part of my life. Grieving her loss was a really difficult time for me this past summer.
We decided to have another baby. I got pregnant. 12 weeks into the pregnancy (just four days ago) I had a miscarriage, and we're in the midst of mourning that loss.
I turned 33 and had a mini freak-out. It occurred to me I was the same age Jesus was when he died.
Some goals, hopes, plans and ideas for 2013:
Get back to 121 lbs-ish. I don't have a functioning scale right now, and I don't think I'll replace it. I'll know when I'm back around that weight when certain clothes start to fit properly (or at all!) again.
Get strong. I have a series of exercise videos that I really enjoy, and I'm looking forward to getting back to them.
Start and finish a Sugar Detox. I'm starting on January 5th after my parents leave.
Recommit to taking my supplements for adrenal support.
Spend more time getting Music Man ready for school.
Potty train Baby Belle.
Continue to eat 80% Primal/Paleo, and thoroughly enjoy my indulgences.
Get my body, mind and spirit to a place where I could consider another pregnancy.
Get out on more dates with my ridiculously good-looking husband.
Organize, clean and de-clutter my house! (That's a BIG one.)
Do NOT freak out about turning 34.
Blog more.
Sew more.
Read more.
Facebook less.
I think that about sums it up. Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy 2013.
2012 was a hard year. I'm not particularly sad to see it go.
My oldest child started school, which ushered in a new era for our family. It has changed the dynamic of our home - for better and for worse.
I lost most of my hair over a very short period of time. That experience changed me dramatically. I learned a lot about myself and a lot about my extraordinary friends. I shaved my head and learned that I think I looked pretty cool bald, and I really like having short hair for the first time.
 |
| The pictures on the right were taken about 2.5 weeks after the ones on the left. I lost 75% of my hair in less than 3 months. |
I attempted a 21 Day Sugar Detox. I didn't come close to finishing it.
I hit an all-time new low weight of 121 lbs, just shy of my goal of 118 lbs.
I went a year of being about 98% gluten-free.
I lost my grandmother, a woman who has always been a huge part of my life. Grieving her loss was a really difficult time for me this past summer.
We decided to have another baby. I got pregnant. 12 weeks into the pregnancy (just four days ago) I had a miscarriage, and we're in the midst of mourning that loss.
I turned 33 and had a mini freak-out. It occurred to me I was the same age Jesus was when he died.
Some goals, hopes, plans and ideas for 2013:
Get back to 121 lbs-ish. I don't have a functioning scale right now, and I don't think I'll replace it. I'll know when I'm back around that weight when certain clothes start to fit properly (or at all!) again.
Get strong. I have a series of exercise videos that I really enjoy, and I'm looking forward to getting back to them.
Start and finish a Sugar Detox. I'm starting on January 5th after my parents leave.
Recommit to taking my supplements for adrenal support.
Spend more time getting Music Man ready for school.
Potty train Baby Belle.
Continue to eat 80% Primal/Paleo, and thoroughly enjoy my indulgences.
Get my body, mind and spirit to a place where I could consider another pregnancy.
Get out on more dates with my ridiculously good-looking husband.
Organize, clean and de-clutter my house! (That's a BIG one.)
Do NOT freak out about turning 34.
Blog more.
Sew more.
Read more.
Facebook less.
I think that about sums it up. Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy 2013.
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