Tonight I was just looking through some Paleo Challenge sites and came across this site: Whole9Life. It explains Paleo very blatantly, but it's very good.
Then I cruised over to this one: TheClothesMake the Girl. She is awesome and she has a FREE sample download of her latest book Well Fed. I quickly downloaded my copy and I already want to try several things.
Happy Eating!
December 29, 2011
December 28, 2011
A New and Fabulous Journey
Like many people we know, John and I have struggled with finding a healthy and easy way to lose weight and keep it off. We have tried some crazy things: the cabbage soup diet when we were first married, the salad only diet, the starvation diet(ugh) and recently we even did the hCg diet. The hCg diet was very difficult. The calories were a mere 500 and the restrictions on the foods you could eat was crazy...don't mix veggies, don't use oils, don't do this don't do that...it was enough to make you go bonkers. But, the results were there, I lost over 24 lbs in 24 days. If you ignored the lack of energy and irritability is caused then it really wasn't so bad...right? The problem was, once I was off the diet, I didn't know what I should or shouldn't eat. I was so hungry by then that I ate more than I probably should have and put the starches and rices back into my diet.
At my best, in a matter of six months I had lost a little more than 30 lbs. I was pretty happy. I could fit into my super skinny jeans-which I had never, ever worn and I like the way I looked. The problem, my husband lost his job and with the circumstances surrounding it, I because something I thought I wasn't ....a stress-eater.
Let's not forget that during all this time, I was mom to four awesome kiddos, housekeeper and a full-time college student...just to name a few. By the end of the summer and nearly eight months from the time the hubby had lost his job, I was back up 35+ lbs. I couldn't even get my skinny jeans past my thighs at that point. It was sickening.
Let me just add in one more minor detail: during those eight months, my husband got a temporary job at a tire shop, he lost 30 lbs in the first month alone...I wanted to strangle him for a)being a man who could lost weight by skipping out on dessert once a week and b)having a job that demanded him to "come running" 12 hours a day for his customers.
In the middle of all of this mayhem, we had fallen off our gluten-free wagon and I was noticing some major changes in our oldest son's health. He complained of headaches and body/bone aches almost daily, he was doing sub par in school and he whined constantly-he is almost 8 years old.
I started doing research and decided, after realizing this was my fault and sobbing for an hour, that is was time to eliminate the gluten from the kids diet.
Two weeks into our return to a GF house, and my son is staring at my husband's large hunk of sourdough bread and butter at the dinner table and declares, "It's not really fair that you and mom get to eat that wheat bread in front of us all the time." Crap.
He was totally right. How fair was it that we could wave our crusty, buttery bread in front of their faces every meal? I felt horrible. John and I talked to our son and then talked later and ultimately decided he was right. Besides, what would it hurt for us to go GF too? It could only help us feel better too, right?
Well, that was only the beginning of things. I sent out a Facebook request to all my GF friends for some ideas for some new recipes I could try.
The response was awesome. I started looking into them and one friend had sent me a link to Everyday Paleo, by Sarah Fragoso. The first thing I thought was, holy cow, that woman is obsessed with herself, she is totally ripped! I ignored the details and moved on.
But for about two weeks after that the word Paleo kept popping in my brain. I wanted to know what this Paleo was...how did it work? Did it work? So I read a lot of blogs and information over the next few weeks. Then I decided, ok, I need to hear from a real person if this is really going to work. So, once again, I put it out there on Facebook.
I was amazed! There were people I knew who had all positive things to say about it. Then I got connected with an amazing woman, Bethany, who shared her story with me. I was blown away with how at peace I was about this potential change.
I shared my findings with John and we prayed about what we should do. I know that may sound crazy to some people, but God is the only way we do things around here. He makes all things possible, so if we were going to be successful at this, it was going to be because it was His will for us.
Ultimately, John and I decided that we needed to at least try this Paleo thing for ourselves. I got some very good starting pointers and encouragement from Bethany and we were off!
The first thing I did was pray over my kitchen and then clean out anything and everything that was not on the list of Paleo-approved foods. This was one of the scariest things I have ever done. We are not in a great place financially right now, it has been very uncomfortable lately, but God has continued to provide. I took three large boxes of pantry foods down to the church that day and gave them to the homeless ministry.
When I came home I opened the cupboard and wanted to cry. There were a couple of cans of organic tomatoes and some dried fruit and nuts....that's it. Then I opened my refrigerator, there were a few apples, oranges and some pickles...maybe a condiment or two. I looked at John and we nervously laughed about our cupboards being bare, but inside I wanted to bawl my eyes out. We hadn't even really started and I was already scared to death!
I sucked it up and looked for a list of groceries on the Paleo Diet Lifestyle site and we went to the store together. Once all the fresh fruit and veggies were in the fridge and the nuts and few canned things were on the shelves I felt better. Now to cook...what to cook?
I used the same website for some meal ideas as well as PaleoParents for more good ideas(this one is great for ideas for the kids too). The first week was difficult, but once we got past our cravings for wheat and dairy, ect, we were fine. Plus, the end of the first week I got a phone call from our son's teacher praising him and how well he had done learning a new math concept in class that day. I was so excited, but I found myself thinking-could this be a coincidence? John was claiming it a victory and so I decided to as well...God is the miracle worker, right?!!
By the second week I was wearing jeans I hadn't worn in months, sleeping better than I had in months and just feeling better all around. Our youngest daughter has always had dark circles under her eyes and they had begun to fade too. We have all been doing so well and I attribute it to God's wisdom and leading us to Paleo!
I am looking forward to sharing more and more about this journey. I am not going to make a new blog right now for it. I think I will share our journey through the holidays and Paleo next...it can be done people!
At my best, in a matter of six months I had lost a little more than 30 lbs. I was pretty happy. I could fit into my super skinny jeans-which I had never, ever worn and I like the way I looked. The problem, my husband lost his job and with the circumstances surrounding it, I because something I thought I wasn't ....a stress-eater.
Let's not forget that during all this time, I was mom to four awesome kiddos, housekeeper and a full-time college student...just to name a few. By the end of the summer and nearly eight months from the time the hubby had lost his job, I was back up 35+ lbs. I couldn't even get my skinny jeans past my thighs at that point. It was sickening.
Let me just add in one more minor detail: during those eight months, my husband got a temporary job at a tire shop, he lost 30 lbs in the first month alone...I wanted to strangle him for a)being a man who could lost weight by skipping out on dessert once a week and b)having a job that demanded him to "come running" 12 hours a day for his customers.
In the middle of all of this mayhem, we had fallen off our gluten-free wagon and I was noticing some major changes in our oldest son's health. He complained of headaches and body/bone aches almost daily, he was doing sub par in school and he whined constantly-he is almost 8 years old.
I started doing research and decided, after realizing this was my fault and sobbing for an hour, that is was time to eliminate the gluten from the kids diet.
Two weeks into our return to a GF house, and my son is staring at my husband's large hunk of sourdough bread and butter at the dinner table and declares, "It's not really fair that you and mom get to eat that wheat bread in front of us all the time." Crap.
He was totally right. How fair was it that we could wave our crusty, buttery bread in front of their faces every meal? I felt horrible. John and I talked to our son and then talked later and ultimately decided he was right. Besides, what would it hurt for us to go GF too? It could only help us feel better too, right?
Well, that was only the beginning of things. I sent out a Facebook request to all my GF friends for some ideas for some new recipes I could try.
The response was awesome. I started looking into them and one friend had sent me a link to Everyday Paleo, by Sarah Fragoso. The first thing I thought was, holy cow, that woman is obsessed with herself, she is totally ripped! I ignored the details and moved on.
But for about two weeks after that the word Paleo kept popping in my brain. I wanted to know what this Paleo was...how did it work? Did it work? So I read a lot of blogs and information over the next few weeks. Then I decided, ok, I need to hear from a real person if this is really going to work. So, once again, I put it out there on Facebook.
I was amazed! There were people I knew who had all positive things to say about it. Then I got connected with an amazing woman, Bethany, who shared her story with me. I was blown away with how at peace I was about this potential change.
I shared my findings with John and we prayed about what we should do. I know that may sound crazy to some people, but God is the only way we do things around here. He makes all things possible, so if we were going to be successful at this, it was going to be because it was His will for us.
Ultimately, John and I decided that we needed to at least try this Paleo thing for ourselves. I got some very good starting pointers and encouragement from Bethany and we were off!
The first thing I did was pray over my kitchen and then clean out anything and everything that was not on the list of Paleo-approved foods. This was one of the scariest things I have ever done. We are not in a great place financially right now, it has been very uncomfortable lately, but God has continued to provide. I took three large boxes of pantry foods down to the church that day and gave them to the homeless ministry.
When I came home I opened the cupboard and wanted to cry. There were a couple of cans of organic tomatoes and some dried fruit and nuts....that's it. Then I opened my refrigerator, there were a few apples, oranges and some pickles...maybe a condiment or two. I looked at John and we nervously laughed about our cupboards being bare, but inside I wanted to bawl my eyes out. We hadn't even really started and I was already scared to death!
I sucked it up and looked for a list of groceries on the Paleo Diet Lifestyle site and we went to the store together. Once all the fresh fruit and veggies were in the fridge and the nuts and few canned things were on the shelves I felt better. Now to cook...what to cook?
I used the same website for some meal ideas as well as PaleoParents for more good ideas(this one is great for ideas for the kids too). The first week was difficult, but once we got past our cravings for wheat and dairy, ect, we were fine. Plus, the end of the first week I got a phone call from our son's teacher praising him and how well he had done learning a new math concept in class that day. I was so excited, but I found myself thinking-could this be a coincidence? John was claiming it a victory and so I decided to as well...God is the miracle worker, right?!!
By the second week I was wearing jeans I hadn't worn in months, sleeping better than I had in months and just feeling better all around. Our youngest daughter has always had dark circles under her eyes and they had begun to fade too. We have all been doing so well and I attribute it to God's wisdom and leading us to Paleo!
I am looking forward to sharing more and more about this journey. I am not going to make a new blog right now for it. I think I will share our journey through the holidays and Paleo next...it can be done people!
December 6, 2011
My hero
If anyone knows my husband, they know that he is one of the nicest, kindest, gracious men on the planet. I am amazed daily with his commitment to God, family and friends. He is always takes the extra step to do what is right, honest and good. I am so proud to live my life with him, raising our children and being the each other's best friend. I love you John and I am so glad you chose me to be with you forever. XOXOXO
September 28, 2011
Our madness continues...we are still here, still going to school, still playing, still laughing, still loving our wonderful life! The kids are experiencing all that is new and wonderful about school and new friends. I am drowning in homework and the first week of classes isn't even over yet. But in all of this I know one clear, perfect, amazing thing....God knows. He loves. He lives. He is our rock every second. So we keep moving forward....and thanking Him every second of the way.
September 3, 2011
It's the first day!
Jeremiah and Alison started school on Monday. They are both attending Helix Grade School. Jeremiah is in Mrs. Curtiss' second grade class and Alison is in Mrs. Hansell's Kindergarten class(all day). They were both very excited and have had a great week! Alison had to miss class on Wednesday because she developed an ear infection, but she is doing great now. 
August 21, 2011
Staycations, hardwork and honor...
It has been a busy summer! Although we haven't gone on any "vacations" we have enjoyed being home this summer. John and I are the first to admit that summer is our least favorite season and we can hardly wait for it to be over. Fall is right around the corner....yay!
John continues to work hard at LS, but it is certainly been difficult for him to continue to go to a job that his heart in not in. He injured himself at work shortly after starting there and now is waiting to have surgery. He has been working on getting all the worker's comp stuff figured out which has added to the stress of everything. Along with the current situation, he is still trying to be patient while we continue to wait for an answer to his appeal with the tribe. I don't think either of us thought fighting for he integrity and character would be this hard, long and trying. God is so good and has continued to carry us through these times! We appreciate the continued prayers through both of these processes.
On to the the great news....after 11 years (since my first attempt) and many hours of study, I officially passed my National Registry for Emergency Medical Technician! I am an EMT-Basic :) If that wasn't hard enough, I have already registered for another full-time schedule at BMCC this fall. I will be switching from pre-nursing prerequisites to EMS Certificate focus. I have several EMS classes and in the winter term I will be taking the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician course...just so I can one-up what I just did! LOL God is faithful and so far I have received a full ride thanks to the Federal Pell Grant. It's so awesome!
The kids are excited for school as well...although I think John and I are more excited for them to go to school! Jeremiah will be in Second grade and Alison will be in all day Kindergarten - both at Helix. Hosanna is going to do another year at Three R's School in Pendleton. It's a great Christian-based school that focuses on the Montessori style teaching. Alison and Hosanna both did amazing last year and Alison was reading by January...so I am hoping Hosanna will shine this year. Judah will be going to daycare just a few hours a week when I have class...we are praying for the right person and a good price!
September is coming and that means two things...it's going to be a year to remember those who lost their lives on 9/11....which also happens to be my birthday! It is a bittersweet day for me. I am so proud to have been serving in our local fire department that day and having a day that is usually so joyful for me be so reverent. God definitely has plans for each of us and I am so thankful for that! I am looking forward to focusing the attention on Him that day as well as remembering and honoring all the men and women who lost and gave their lives that day. It will be a 30th birthday to remember for sure!
John continues to work hard at LS, but it is certainly been difficult for him to continue to go to a job that his heart in not in. He injured himself at work shortly after starting there and now is waiting to have surgery. He has been working on getting all the worker's comp stuff figured out which has added to the stress of everything. Along with the current situation, he is still trying to be patient while we continue to wait for an answer to his appeal with the tribe. I don't think either of us thought fighting for he integrity and character would be this hard, long and trying. God is so good and has continued to carry us through these times! We appreciate the continued prayers through both of these processes.
On to the the great news....after 11 years (since my first attempt) and many hours of study, I officially passed my National Registry for Emergency Medical Technician! I am an EMT-Basic :) If that wasn't hard enough, I have already registered for another full-time schedule at BMCC this fall. I will be switching from pre-nursing prerequisites to EMS Certificate focus. I have several EMS classes and in the winter term I will be taking the Advanced Emergency Medical Technician course...just so I can one-up what I just did! LOL God is faithful and so far I have received a full ride thanks to the Federal Pell Grant. It's so awesome!
The kids are excited for school as well...although I think John and I are more excited for them to go to school! Jeremiah will be in Second grade and Alison will be in all day Kindergarten - both at Helix. Hosanna is going to do another year at Three R's School in Pendleton. It's a great Christian-based school that focuses on the Montessori style teaching. Alison and Hosanna both did amazing last year and Alison was reading by January...so I am hoping Hosanna will shine this year. Judah will be going to daycare just a few hours a week when I have class...we are praying for the right person and a good price!
September is coming and that means two things...it's going to be a year to remember those who lost their lives on 9/11....which also happens to be my birthday! It is a bittersweet day for me. I am so proud to have been serving in our local fire department that day and having a day that is usually so joyful for me be so reverent. God definitely has plans for each of us and I am so thankful for that! I am looking forward to focusing the attention on Him that day as well as remembering and honoring all the men and women who lost and gave their lives that day. It will be a 30th birthday to remember for sure!
July 14, 2011
Sweet little angels
So this weekend we had an opportunity to visit with all of John's family at the farm in Acme, WA. We hadn't seen his brother Josh and his wife Meghan (and kids) for two years as they have been in Spain. While they were gone, they got pregnant with their third baby and sweet Gabrielle turned 1 only weeks after they were in the States. Not only that but John's other brother, Dan and his wife Elizabeth had their second baby in March and we had not met sweet Shelby yet either. I was very anxious to meet my nieces...as we all know I get a little baby crazy! lol The weekend did not disappoint, I had my fill of baby goodness!
The kids had so much fun running and playing with all the cousins...there are 13 in total. Jeremiah and his cousin Zach(Josh and Meg's) were practically inseparable. Alison and Hosanna were in heaven with all their older girl cousins as well. All of us agreed that it was one of the most memorable and fun family weekends we have ever had!
John's parents will be heading over to Spain shortly after Josh and Meghan return and most likely be making it a long-term situation. So having this family time before everyone heads out was very important.
We are so blessed to have such a wonderful family that loves the Lord!
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