Weekly Plan

So I keep saying planning is super important and I am not kidding!  There is going to be a day or a week that you just don't want to think about food, you don't want to decide what to eat, and you certainly don't want to shop and prepare it!  So before my second whole 30 I went through tons of recipes and found several weeks worth of things I wanted to try, I wrote them all out on calendars and I take them out before I plan the week.  It helps take some of the research out of the planning.

Here is a sample of one of the calendars:

Here is what my typical week looks like:

Most days I don't get creative with breakfast: 1. because I don't like to think about it early in the morning, 2. I want something quick and easy with minimal clean up.
Our typical breakfast is scrambled eggs with veggies and sausage and apple/sweet potatoes on the side.
Lunch is either leftovers or some type of meat/potato, veggie hash.  Again this is due to the fact that I need something fast and something I don't have to give too much thought to.
Dinner is always meat and veggies.  I try to get creative with dinner but sometimes I just go for fast and easy :)
Good luck!

Getting Started

So if the past has taught me anything it is that I can not control life (mine or anyone else's!).  We like to think we can control our lives but honestly it just takes one medical issue, one car wreck, one injury to really make you think hard about the actual things you can control!  Food is one thing I can control (along with exercise, sleep, and some stress!).  So today lets talk through some tips and tricks for starting the whole 30.

For those that don't know whole 30 is a program that focuses on high quality, nutritious food.  So you eat meat (organic and grass fed if possible), vegetables, fruit, nuts, and seeds.  You will need to avoid all dairy (butter included), oils, sugar (in ALL it's forms), legumes (peanuts, beans) grains (including corn!).  You need to read every single label because sugar, soy, canola oil, and gluten hide in many common items (spaghetti sauce, tuna, salad dressing, etc).  The catch is you can't cheat, not even once!  If you cheat you must start over.  For more detailed information please check out the book It Starts With Food by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig or head over to their website Whole 9 Life.  You can get the guidelines and information free from their site but I strongly recommend the book so you can understand why you should do this!

So a few tips:

1. Plan, plan plan!  I plan a week at a time.  I use a dry erase board and plan every meal and snack that my family will eat.  I always write down exactly what we are doing each day so I can make sure I have portable food when need be.  A plan allows you to shop smart and it helps you to make better choices when your week gets super busy!

2. Make a grocery list.  Include everything you need for meals and snacks.  You will save money going to the store once a week (though in the beginning you are going to feel like you are spending a fortune!).

3. Read every single label.  Even if you think it will be compliant, read the label any way.  Nothing worse than going to the store, spending money, and then finding out you can eat it :/

4. Pinterest is your friend but remember to double check that recipes are compliant.  I often see things listed as whole 30 but they include cheese or some ingredient that isn't whole 30 approved.

5. Buy produce that is in season.  It is cheaper and has a better flavor.

6. Make your own ghee!  It is super easy and is much cheaper.

7. Be careful with nuts!  They are super easy to over eat and cause some digestive distress.

8. Don't weigh yourself AT ALL!!!!  Seriously, you are going to weigh heavier for a bit because your body is going to detox.  Trust me don't worry about your weight, or bloating or anything else!  The results will come but it takes time.

9. Avoid temptations.  My kids know that during whole 30 I am not going to be making pancakes, we are not having cake or ice cream or anything else that I may want to overeat.  I just don't buy it.  Now I do allow them to have some snacks that I can't eat but usually things they like but I don't (yogurt covered pretzels).

10. Check weekly ads to get the best price on produce.  

11. If you feel tired avoid a heavy work out.  Take a walk outside or do some yoga but don't push yourself.

12. Be kind to yourself!  This is hard, but it isn't impossible and it truly is worth it!  Also you are helping your body so take a break, rest, read, relax!

13. Do not over do any 1 food!  You can develop an allergy to foods if your body is detoxing and you over do a food.  Example: I am now very allergic to coconut because during my first whole 30 I was eating coconut flakes, using coconut oil, and eating coconut butter!  My body decided that was enough and now I can not eat coconut at all!

14. Find products you love and stick with them.  Examples: Lara Bars are great portable snacks (Cherry, Blueberry, Apple Pie, and Banana Bread are my favorites!).  Avocado oil is great for a salad or over a sweet potato.  Sweet potatoes cook super fast and go great with a boiled chicken thigh!  

Lastly, this is going to feel hard at first but I promise it does get easier and you will find new favorites.  You will also find energy you didn't know existed.  So why not give it a try?  You have nothing to lose and everything to gain!  I mean who doesn't want a better understanding of how food affects them?!?!?!  

Whole 30 again

This!  All of this!  Whole 30 is not a fat free, low fat, diet.  It is a way to figure out exactly what different foods are doing to your body.  I don't know if you all know this but you only get one body and one life to live.  We spend a large amount of time eating so it makes sense to know how the food we are consuming is affecting us.  I have done Whole 30 multiple times.  The first time is when I figured out that gluten was the source of my massive weight loss; sugar was the source of my body aches, mood swings, and foggy brain; and dairy was causing bloating and rashes.  I made the changes and felt pretty good for quite a long time.  But like everyone I slipped back into some of the old habits (paleo sweets, gluten free goodies, ice cream, etc).  I woke up one day and realized that I had to get back to basics so I could feel good.  So I started my second whole 30.  During the 2nd one our family experienced stress like we haven't ever felt.  So I didn't complete my 2nd whole 30 but I know that if I hadn't been on whole 30 the stress would have been much worse for my body.  When the dust settled some from the unexpected family crisis, I decided that I owed it to myself and my family to get as healthy as possible because honestly life is unpredictable and while I can't control everything about my health I can do my best to eat better, exercise, limit my stress, and sleep more.  So my 3rd whole 30 started May 25th.  I am happy to say I completed this one and felt amazing!  I remembered how good my body could feel and I was excited.  Then the sugar cravings hit and I ate ice cream.....as I sit here and type I am covered in a rash, bloated, in pain, and exhausted!  All from ice cream (which by the way was sooooooooo not worth it!).  So my 4th whole 30 will start July 1st.  However, this one is going to be a bit different; Ryan is going to join me, and my big sister Brandi is also going to join me!  I am so excited for both of them.  Ryan did the first one with me and felt amazing so I am excited to watch him feel amazing again.  My sister has some health issues and I am so excited for her to feel her very best!  Both are going to have to put in some effort to avoid temptations and junk but I have promised them that it is going to be so very worth it!  If you are reading this and are interested let me know!  I would love to help you feel your best too.  No strings attached, no gimicks, and nothing to buy other than quality food.

Dusting off the blog

So it has been FOREVER since I have blogged.  I tend to use Facebook to talk about my kids, and life is pretty much all about them right now so no need to blog too.  Plus who has the time to devote to keeping up a blog.
However, I am going to be starting my fourth whole 30 and my sister is going to join in on the fun so I would like a place to put down thoughts, recipes, tips, and struggles for anyone wanting to take the leap to better health.  So for the next month I will try my best to blog at least once a week on meal planning, exercise, and just health in general.

The New School Year

It's that time of year again, the new school year.  For us that means evening gymnastics, football, fall baseball, and Battle Club.  It means we keep to a schedule and we are always busy. 

However as a homeschooling family it also means the endless questions of what we do, how we do it, and why we chose this lifestyle.  For years the first week of public school has always brought with it anxiety, anger, and stress for me.  I always cry and feel guilt when I see the first day of school pictures, or see the stories about riding the bus, new teachers, old friends.  I go through this "oh no what have I done" scenario.  I stress, I worry, I feel guilty because what if I am truly hurting my kids in some way by keeping them home with me?!?!?  Are they missing out on some of life's greatest adventures, are they missing out on some "right of passage"?  Every year since we have started homeschooling these questions have hit me with force.

But not this year!  This year I didn't feel any anger, or stress, or anxiety.  I talked to the kids and asked them if they felt like they were missing anything, I asked them if they felt left out, or weird.  Guess what they miss: recess and lockers.  That's it!  I offered to buy Mason a locker which was met with an eye roll and a "that's a waste of money Mom".  Good boy!!!  After talking with them quite a bit about school they did tell me that they get sick of kids thinking they stay in their jammies all day long and watch tv.  Ryley even said a girl asked her where she went to school and when she said she was homeschooled the girl replied "oh so you just sit around your house all day and do nothing?!?!?"  I asked Ryley how she responded and she said she told her "no my Mom makes us do all of our school work every single day!".  I am so glad to hear that at the very least my kids are standing up for themselves about homeschooling.  They try not to brag about all the great things (like getting to sleep in, finishing work early, taking field trips, taking nice days off to just be outside, etc.) but sometimes they use those examples of why they love to homeschool.  It makes me proud to be their mother and their teacher and it makes me feel like we have made the right decision for our family.

It is funny though how the first week of school brings out the most criticism.  I almost dread the question of "where do your kids go to school", because you never know what the reaction is going to be.  Here are some normal ones "Oh I could never do that", "how do they get socialization", "I was going to do that but chose private school instead", "don't you worry about their education", "well you guys aren't weird at all", "do you hate public school", "oh I don't blame you, kids these days...", on and on and on....  I never seem to have a good answer for these statements.  I always smile and just say that I love it most days and it just works great for our family.  Because that is just it, we chose this education path because it just works best for us.  We are not anti-government, anti-public schools, super religious, or crazy over protective (okay so maybe we lean a bit on the over protective side!).  We just decided a long time ago that homeschooling would fit our crazy schedule and allow us to spend more time with our kids.  Most days I do love it and then some days I am ready to put them on the bus and wave goodbye.  I feel like this is my calling in life, this is where God wants me to be right now. 

So this year instead of being upset I am focusing on the awesome things I am blessed to do with my kids each and every day and I have asked my kids to do the same.  Yes, some days we are in our jammies all day long, some days we take off just to enjoy the weather, and some days we sit in our school room and do "boring" school all day long.  But each day is a blessing and one I intend to enjoy.  I am no longer mad at people for assuming my kids are super smart or falling behind.  They are smart in some areas and they are behind in others.  We all are.  I am no longer upset that they might be missing out on things, because I know they are missing out on things, but they are getting to do other things (if they were in school all day they would miss being together, they would miss talking to everyone at Lucky's on grocery day, they would miss helping take care of the animals and the garden).  Instead of becoming defensive when someone ask questions I am going to remind myself how blessed I am that I have the freedom to decide how to school because not everyone has that freedom.  I am going to let the negative slide because the positive is far better! 

So good luck to you all as you start your school year.  May this year be filled with joy, hope, and blessings!

I just wish that every week could be like this one.  The kids were excited to do their school work, everything was planned, the supplies were new, the house was cleaned......now it is Friday and the dishes are piled up, the yard looks like a jungle, and the supplies are a jumbled mess of chaos.  The joys of the first week of school abound.

Whole 30 Wrap Up

Thursday marks 30 days of healthy eating for us and we have learned quite a bit.  So instead of a small Facebook post I have decided to blog about it.
What I have learned:
Sugar addiction is real and very hard to break!
30 days is not long enough for me to cut that addiction (my body hates sugar, but my brain loves it!).
Groceries are expensive when you are eating well, but there are cheaper ways, and I am working at getting our grocery budget back to an acceptable place.
I can't wait to have a large garden.
I enjoy eating vegetables (especially when they are roasted to the point that they are almost burnt!)
Telling people you are doing whole 30 or paleo brings out weird responses, so from now on, we are not paleo we are just eating healthy. 
I need more skillets (one big one and one small one just don't cut it)
I don't miss my toaster
I do miss the convenience of the drive through or microwave meals, or sandwiches. 
I miss my flavored coffee.
I have an amazing amount of energy (even though I am sleepy most days because the girls are not in a good sleeping routine yet.).
My stomach is feeling much better.
I am no longer so bloated that people wonder if I am pregnant.
I have not lost weight but my shape has changed (this was never about losing weight, because I don't want or need to lose any!).
I can't wait to start exercising so I can feel even better.
I still feel guilty telling my kids they can't have treats (I am learning to make healthier treats for them).
I love that my kids think orange peppers and blueberries are treats now.
I need a second fridge for fresh snacks.
I love my new food processor.
I am becoming a better cook (using spices and making meals I have never tried before).
Eating this way is not THAT hard.  It takes preparation, planning, and a bit of practice.
I have found that if I keep ground meat in the freezer I can have a quick meal on the table for those nights that I just don't feel like cooking a big meal or when I forget to thaw out meat :)
I love to cook, but I hate doing the dishes.
I felt like part of my identity died when I gave up my white flour and sugar.  I have always enjoyed baking for my family and others, it has been my passion for a while.  So now I am determined to find alternative ways to bake, better ways to make occasional treats that don't taste like cardboard or Styrofoam.
I was very upset that I had an allergic reaction to coconut!  That was my go to "sweet" and my way to continue baking.  I now think it was actually a great thing because I was trying to replace sweets with coconut, and now I must face the fact that I don't need sweets!
Even though our 30 days are coming to an end, this has been a very successful time and we plan to keep eating healthy and finding a better way to slow down and be a stronger family!  We want to give our kids the best path to healthy living so they can make the best choices in eating and in life.  We are still learning, we are going to make less healthy choices now and then, but we are going to be a bit more conscious on how certain foods affects us and if those affects are worth the treat.  Eventually we are going to try to add in a few things (real butter, real cream, honey, pure maple syrup) just to help offset some of the cost and to give us options, but my theory is if we don't miss a food it isn't coming back.  Thanks to those of you who have offered advice, and help.  Thank you to those of you who didn't role your eyes or give me some crazy lecture, and thank you to my amazing husband who not once balked at this idea!  Ryan I couldn't do anything without you by my side and I feel so super blessed that we get to live this crazy life together!   

Giving up the cape

That's right, I am officially giving up the cape.  I no longer want to be super Mom!  I just want to be good enough.  Super Mom works for awhile and then all the sudden you realize that you are just super tired.  People ask me all the time how I do it with four kids, homeschooling, etc etc.  I just smile and say I don't know how I do it.  So here is the truth: I don't do it: At least not alone.  Ryan is home most evenings to help me, we have a great network of family and friends to help us, and our kids are huge helps.  Plus, no one sees me at home yelling for the kids to clean up, or stop arguing, or to just be quiet and give me a minute.  No one sees me exhausted falling asleep every night at 8:00 before Ryan has even put the kids to bed.  So for now I am going to stop trying to do so much.  I am going to let things go and focus on only the things I feel are important.  I am in the process of restructuring my life so I can spend more time on the things that I want to do and less time on the things I think I "should" do.  Do you know how many times I say "well I should do........"  Tons!  And I bet if you listen to yourself for a day you will hear that same phrase.  Instead of doing things I think I should, I am going to do the things I need to do and the things I want to do.  The things I should do are going to be thoroughly thought through and then done or discarded (without the guilt I usually feel!).  My other goal in giving up the cape is to stop trying to mother the world.  The world can take care of themselves!  I am here to take care of my children, support my husband, and be there for our family/friends.  I am not here to solve every one's problems, listen to every one's complaints, or give everyone I know advice.  I do not need to ride to the rescue every time someone calls me, nor do I need to go overboard in helping others.  I have to learn how to help in a manner that doesn't cause me to be too exhausted for my own little family.  Lastly, I have to learn to accept help.  This is a very tough thing for me to do!  I love to be in control, and manage life so it doesn't get out of control.  I have a hard time asking for help from anyone, and I have an even harder time asking for time by myself.  This must stop and I must have help or I won't be able to give my best everyday.  Someone told me recently that I am like a battery that is dead at the end of the day, I get just enough recharge in the night to get up and drain it again.  Some days I feel like my battery is drained before I even get out of bed.  So here is to learning how to recharge my battery, take care of the things that matter the most to me, and enjoying this crazy life!