Day 29 updates for Whole 30 looking at Reintroduction

I'm on day 29... the magical number of 30 is reached tomorrow and I have shopping for the transition into reintroduction.

Some thoughts as I head into this phase. I am going to attempt to still ward off sugar, but I might loosen up on not making food paleo-approved. That is on the program you are supposed to try to stay away from modified foods that you might crave when allowed to eat whatever you want. For me one thing that I was tempted to make dealt with breakfast. So on day 31, I currently plan on having banana pancakes with coconut whipped cream and fruit.... and since it is dairy reintroduction half and half in my coffee. Then 2 days back to whole 30 then onto gluten grains and so forth.

I have my gluten grain day planned out. Still figuring out details for legumes and non gluten grains, but you know there's time to plan.

It will be interesting to see how this phase takes place and see how foods are affecting my body after the detox.

Up to Day 16...

Week 2:

Day 8:
Breakfast: Eggs & Asparagus
Lunch: Panera Asian Sesame Chicken Salad modified
Dinner: Eggs, Asparagus & Sweet Potato
Extras: Coffee and Larabar

Today was a good day. The biggest highlight was probably going with Hannah to Pet Smart and picking up the newest addition to the house I live in, Avery. She is a chocolate lab and is very loving and affectionate.

Today food-wise- Had eggs a lot more than usual today, so I'm looking forward to more variety... have to plan to do so... the next few days. Also I picked up coffee beans today and was undercharged for them, so I need to go back to the store to pay the difference. Speaking of coffee I made my second batch of coconut creamer today... it already looks like more of a success than last week. Time will tell!

Day 9/10

Less about food and more about how I felt. So Day 9 I woke up not feeling the greatest- had a sore throat, slight headache (possible fever), and my digestion was off. I called to talk with my Mom and she was good to keep on track with Whole 30... when I really just wanted to get some processed medication that I was certain would magically fix everything. She also recommended less coconut... which means that after the coffee I had morning of day 9 I haven't had coffee and until I feel completely on the mend won't have coffee. I made soup and actually will probably make soup more often to use what vegetables are left at the end of each week.

Day 10, woke up feeling slightly better. Got some tea- made breakfast... went to school where I did have some ibuprofen. I probably will before I sleep as well. Tonight I did make some zucchini with beef and cauliflower filling that was tasty and I look forward to having again. Also there is talk of snow in the area so I may have a day this week, or at the least some extra time, to recuperate and get over this cold/flu/feeling awfulness that I've had. But hey, here's to sticking with it when all I want is chicken noodle soup, ginger ale, and still teaching (when I would just like to stay at home).

On a happy note/challenging note: I've been invited to go to NYC on Saturday. I am super excited, but that may mean that, snow dependent, I might need to ask for a substitute, and I will have to be creative in meals for 24+ hours and will have multiple temptations *ahem Starbucks* at every corner. On a positive note it's Wicked so I'm extra motivated to make it happen!

Days 11-16... School Days, NYC, etc

I am still Whole 30 Compliant... I managed to get Whole 30 approved meals in the city, and finished up planned meals from the week.

To be honest- right now I am exhausted... partly due to the fact that I was a bit stressed about trying to figure out where to go with lessons today, partly the trip is catching up. The show was great, but the weather was not the greatest and although I sleep alright on the bus I'm finding I could use better sleep in my own bed. I'll get there!

Whole 30- Week 1 Reflections...

Day 1:

Breakfast- Asparagus Frittata

Lunch- Spaghetti Squash, Tomatoes, Chicken

Dinner- Coconut Strawberry Smoothie

Snack- Cinnamon Pears

Extras: 2 cups of coffee... one hot, one iced- both with homemade coconut creamer

I woke up not feeling the best. A little stuffed up and had issues getting to bed the night before... and thus began Whole 30. I was not the most enthusiastic to have breakfast to make, but after seeing my housemate had put up my name to cross off and I got some coffee in my system I was ready to go.

Before today, I had planned breakfast and lunch. Later after checking out a house to rent, then going to church *Yup on a Saturday, I accompany at a church on Sundays*, I finally planned meals this week and had a plan to shop. I should be set until I begin week 2. 

Having a smoothie, albeit more tricky than usual (I made the coconut milk in the recipe), always lifts my mood and gave me the final amount of energy to close the day. At this moment, right before bed, I am de-stressing from talking about renting next year and trying to wrap my head around my budget. I don't know that I will be able to see all the factors, so I just need to do what I can each day and let God orchestrate situations that would work for me and allow me to see them as good options. 

Day 2:
Breakfast: Hot Pumpkin Cereal
Lunch: Slow Cooker Pork Roast, Sweet Potatoes, Steamed Broccoli Was taken out to lunch :) Got Lemon Pepper Tilapia, Shrimp, and Salad
Dinner: Spaghetti Squash, Tomatoes, Chicken Completed Pork Roast that I had planned for lunch
Snack- Cinnamon Pears/ Coconut Cream Pie Larabar/ Handful of Almonds
Extras: 1 cup of coffee w/ coconut creamer and found myself drinking more water today

This morning I woke up ready to try Hot Pumpkin Cereal. It's one of the recipes this week that I wasn't sure what to expect... and it took my tastebuds and some more shredded coconut to get going. What a boost in energy! The one thing I discovered about that meal is that it's really filling and for someone who has eaten light in the mornings I might need a smaller serving. Other reactions to food throughout the day weren't too drastic. I realized at one point, looking over the meal template, that there wasn't a spot for snacks that I had automatically placed in- oops. I don't feel too bad though because my body is adjusting to healthier changes 24/7 for the next 30 days so if my snack is a healthier option, at least for this week, I'm not going to be too hard on myself.

Mainly today was my Sunday routine. Drink coffee, eat breakfast, do devotionals and then usually listen to hymns on youtube, that I'll be playing in church that day, to double check tempi while checking emails and facebook... Goal for next week read... knit... anything other than obsessively check those places.
Triumph: Hannah asked if I had a headache and I honestly said no and once I said that it seemed like my body decided that's what it wanted to do, but after drinking some water no more issues.
Foe: Boiling/Peeling Eggs... The pot did not want to boil and once I got to peeling the eggs I destroyed many of them which will make it interesting when trying to use them for salads.

Final thought- between a lack of sleep or the change of nutrition I am ready to sleep at a more appropriate time. Hopefully I have a restful sleep for what promises to be a fun day after having Tuesday-Friday as snow days for the students and me (except Friday- "optional" work day that I worked... I was going a little stir crazy).

Day 4:
Breakfast: Frittata
Lunch: Spinach Salad w/ Raisins, Almonds, Strawberries, and Pork Roast Meat
Dinner: Pork Roast, Sweet Potato, and Broccoli
Extras: Coffee, and 2 Larabars- one after lunch and one after dinner

Today was a rough start. Once I got coffee in my system and started moving things got better, but I could definitely sense the change of energy stores. I had energy throughout most of the day, but noticed that it was more subdued than usual.

I got to choir rehearsal and reached the point where I was tired. I got back home and should have gone to bed, but instead stayed up a bit which led to it taking longer for me to get to sleep. Particularly with my habit of reading before bed, which at the moment is finishing It Starts With Food and as always the Bible.

Day 5:
Breakfast: Frittata
Lunch: Spaghetti Squash w/ Tomatoes and Chicken
Dinner: Strawberry Coconut Smoothie
Extras: Coffee, 2 Larabars, Nuts, and Hard boiled egg*

Today I felt at points that I was in a fog. After I finished teaching my last class of the day I was just ready to breathe, relax, and regroup, but I had car duty- which I managed to do with a cheerful attitude. Today I was a little more strict with kids, which I felt bad about, but got some amazing pictures and an apology note from the one class that was having a lot of issues listening.

Once I got to the faculty meeting I was ready for some time to breathe and saw the grab what you want candy dish, which wasn't too tempting since I wasn't facing towards it, but there was the realization that if I were staring at it throughout the meeting that it would've been so easy to give in and resulted in extra extras*. Mainly today and yesterday I'm realizing a loss of a source of energy and at this point I'm thinking it's from the sugar intake I normally have. I'm hoping that the transition to a healthier source happens soon because I am beat. I also hope that I continue to sleep well and on that note I'm ending notes for today since I'm starting to yawn... about an hour earlier that where I would reach this exhaustion before whole 30. I truly feel that this whole sleeping longer is for the best.

Day 6 and Day 7...

Didn't keep up with documenting so well... but I completed the first week. I find I'm sleeping better and have only looked at banana pancakes as something to make that I probably shouldn't since it's a food I wanted before.

Also- just out of interest I weighed myself (on day 8... more in the next post) to see what this week meant weight-wise and I'm down 2 lbs. 4.5 lbs more than I was when I graduated high school and the food is tasty, I'll take it. 

Whole 30 begins... and life continues...

In February I begin to undertake Whole 30. To clarify, Whole 30 is a "nutritional eating challenge (created by Whole9 in 2009) that focuses on eating a paleo based diet"*. It's based on a diet, but from what I've read, and from discussions with my roommate (who just completed Whole30 in January), it's more about detoxing your body from all of the processed materials in food and focusing on getting the nutrition you need.

Further note: At this point (I weighed myself this morning) I am 6.5 lbs heavier than I was when I graduated high school, which I consider to be a healthy weight. This is not for losing weight, although that is a possibility- I'll include that in reflecting on the process. 

I look forward to this focused month+ (February's short) of eating healthy and am excited to see what new recipes I enjoy. It will also be a interesting challenge with all of the Valentine's Day goodies that will be around this month. Today on day 1, I am finding an alternative to coffee creamer (you're not supposed to go with substitutions, but this might have to be my exception) with coconut milk, eggs, and coconut oil. Granted I started this yesterday, because I had ran out of coffee creamer, but I find today that I am accepting the taste of it and there's no sugar in it! For me that's a big deal- I like my coffee sweetened.

Beyond the food, I am hoping to make this a month of detoxing other areas of my life, as well as enhancing my life. I'm hoping to have more reading (really want to make sure I'm track with my group to read the bible in a year), knitting, and exercise this month, and less tv, facebook, online games, etc.  Furthermore with extra income, that is not taking my piano lesson money to get special treats for myself such as coffee, fast food, etc, I'll be more focused on getting a nice camera- I'm hoping I'll be able to get it by my birthday this summer (maybe sooner, if I get a job I'm hoping to get this summer- prayer about that would be great and I have the information that I'm in the final stages of the interview process and it would be amazing- would be a great opportunity to take tons of pictures).

That's life right now and I hope to keep everyone more updated with the challenges and insight gained this month.

*from thenakedplate.org

Being filled with joy, thankful, patience... well-known verse making a new impact this week!

"We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,[c] 12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light."

Colossians 1:10-12

This morning I read these verses and as I read them I felt the power of prayer through them. I have used these verses to encourage others and I have always felt prayerful for other people through them. Today, I felt that they encouraged me personally in my own walk like never before. 

It's amazing how verses that you have grown up reading can have a powerful impact from a change of perspective. 

Without complaining and grumbling

"Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless."

Philippians 2:14-16

Lately that verse has been really convicting and I have had it weigh on my spirit. This is my 2014 New Years Resolution/Challenge. I have found that in recent years my go to when the going gets tough is to complain and argue that situation. I have looked/still look to blame rather than find a solution to difficulties. I have found that from this complaining attitude it has further turned into discontentment and bitterness. I have found that complaining quickly can turn into gossip to take attention away from myself. 

I've been seeking to have more thankfulness, contentment (which I have found that circumstantially I've gained more of), and gratitude in the little things while ignoring the source that feeds into everything else. I'm seeking to look at challenging situations with an honest perspective that I may grow instead of skewing difficulties to protect my pride.

My complaints have obscured my view of the good that God is doing in my life. My complaints have led to a more pessimistic outlook on life.

My complaints have hindered me. 

This will probably be one of my most challenging resolutions that I've posted... and in many ways I feel the rewards of holding to it will outweigh the gains of previous years. 

For those following along: please keep me accountable... check in on me... keep me from ingratitude and gossip. 

Growing Endurance...

Yesterday, I officially registered for a half-marathon. Today I went to the pool to get some cross training in. I noticed today that the swim was easier than it has been since I began going to the pool in the area. I got in and swam 500 yards. I was so comfortable with my breathing and had gained strength in my ability to endure. The final 50 yards I sprinted.

I began to reflect on this and realized as I have grown in my endurance in the swimming pool, and running, the past few weeks I have grown in my endurance at challenges that life has thrown at me. Last week I had a day that right from the beginning seemed to be full of challenges: my alarm didn't go off, had a wardrobe malfunction in my first class (fixed it before it got awkward), did not have a substitute accept the job for the afternoon I was out for a teacher workshop, figuring out substitute/class details for that afternoon made me late for aforementioned workshop... and made me miss lunch. At one point while I was in the midst of everything appearing to fail that day I had a moment where I realized years, months, maybe even days prior, I may have easily cried and really stressed out from it all, but I didn't. I knew that there was no point and I continued on with my day.

The past few years have not been easy. In many ways I had a plan and vision of what my life would be... and that's what it was. I felt that there were blessings in the steps I took to follow my plan and that God had planted that plan. After completing my Masters I was searching for what's next and did not have any insight into any details. I applied to so many different jobs, many of them jobs that made sense and were easy to imagine what life would be like. I knew what churches would be possibilities... I knew housing arrangements... I knew I would continue to grow in friendships...

God redirected my plan and before I reached the job and place I live now there were many trials that I had to endure. I had to grow through the endurance to persevere instead of let it devastate me. Trials exchanged optimism and hope with doubt, insecurity, and despair. Trials took me to the darkest places I had yet faced.

Without those trials I don't know that I would have moved to NC. The way that God orchestrated the move had me less involved in planning and details than usual... he orchestrated them. I learning more and more to do my part but to count on his strength. At this point I am discovering God's vision for my life and am so busy in that discovery that I have not created any personal life goals or plans. I am being drawn back to seeking God for those answers and growing in the process.

I am reorienting my conviction that God has the best for me and that all the doors closed in the past few years had a purpose. In the past few years the message "I have not brought you thus far to be kept on a shelf" has been spoken to me in two separate prophetic words. I am learning to continued to expect God to provide for my needs and provide opportunities to bless others. Instead of creating my own plan I am pursuing what God's plan is for my life. God has not left me to collect dust and I am excited to see his plan for me in NC.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4