Looking behind...
28 days ago, I started a journey with my husband, to get healthy, hopefully lose a few pounds, and start a healthier relationship with food, and my husband to break his sugar addiction...
I planned recipes...
I shopped at several stores every week...
We haven't had cheese in 28 days... ...
I worked very hard at being prepared for each day, so that we could cope with such a strenuous diet!
And there were failures...
I didn't always make what I planned to...some recipes weren't as good as others...we got REALLY tired of soups/stews...as delicious as our "egg bakes" are, we really want something ELSE for breakfast...
And successes...
We eat our meals at home now - usually at the dinner table too....I'm planning ahead for our meals, so I'm not so stressed out cooking each day...I'm in a much better "life routine" of doing the dishes each night - which in turn, prompts me to keep up with laundry (washing and drying...folding and putting away is still a struggle with a nursing newborn and a toddler that is overly "helpful"...) I have a routine...sorta...and that is helpful...I learned to get used to food without that starch/grain component that so many meals depend on...I got used to no more desserts...no more emergency breakfasts at Starbucks or Chick-fil-a....my husband doesn't immediately go out for a soda when running errands...he drinks water, tea, and coffee- all unsweetened and from home, generally...Samuel has been eating all this food - vegetables, meats, everything! And mostly loving it! He still eats "regular" food too, but I'm so happy to see him eating meals not dependent on grains/sugars for his nutrition! We eat better, feel better, live better.
Living this way is harder - going to a restaurant isn't so easy - most of the food there is "non-compliant"...even the salad I wanted at Outback had a soy dressing, and I'm sure sugar also. A normal part of our week used to be going to Chipotle on Thursday night. After a grueling Wednesday at work, not making dinner on Thursday is wonderful....but I found, with the right pressure and determination, I apparently have no problem rising to the occasion and making dinner Thursdays...yes, I was tired...but I was usually ok, and we all ate a healthy, homemade meal.
Ahhhh pb&j - how I miss thee...We both really really REALLY miss cheese! (#Whole30 peeps, please make pecorino romano "compliant"...it'd be a game changer for this family to be able to eat that...) I honestly miss my protein shakes in the morning....it was SO convenient to just chug my breakfast every morning, and not worry about warming up and chewing my food....I know, a pain, right?!
I don't think most the off limits foods are inherently bad. I think we eat far too much grains/sugars in American lifestyle choices. I think that beans are great, and dairy is also great (when sourced well). So somethings need to be in moderation, and something are simply eliminated for the end goal of less starches/inflammatory foods for a therapeutic purpose. Once that time is over, we will definitely be adding dairy and beans back in for our norms, and limited grains/sugars. I think soy is inherently bad, though - I only think that traditionally fermented organic soy products should be used(soy sauce, miso, natto, etc.). Unfortunately, soy lecithin is in SO many products and many restaurants fry their foods in soy oil...so it is unavoidable, to an extent.
Honestly, I'm torn....living this way is clearly better for us...but it is a lot more work, it's tiring sometimes...and not having cheese is basically killing our souls (sensing a theme yet?!)...
So going onward...I'm striving to make healthier, better changes...be more determined to be the one cooking...I started this journey with an 8 week old baby, a high maintenance 3 year old, and a sugar addicted husband...We can do better...we know better...we can most definitely do better. So after a splurge meal or two, we will likely remain on the basis of Whole30 and paleo principles, but add in dairy(specifically cultured dairy - sour cream, cheese, cream cheese - minimal milk and ice cream), and moderate/no grains. I will make our chicken verde - but I'll probably make coconut tortillas and drizzle sour cream and shredded cheese on it. We will have our stew we love so much, but probably with a little mac and cheese or a roll (not both!) One of our favorite meals thus far - has been a winner as far as value- very cheap to make - and tastes great - and EASY - the egg roll in a bowl. I use ground beef - because we're a beefy family. And I will not use liquid aminos as recommended - either traditional soy sauce, tamari, or coconut aminos. And I might serve it on some rice noodles or a little jasmine rice in the future. But eating it as is, has been great, on multiple occasions. Our pork roast that I blogged about last week is also a winner with all of us - in fact, it is our dinner on Saturday this week.
By the numbers:
Daniel has lost 20 pounds...I have lost 15. Daniel has chipped off 1/3rd of the weight he wanted to lose this year - by just eating better! He hasn't cheated even once on this diet! Neither of us have exercised. I fit into my size six jeans that I haven't worn since early 2015!! what a rush - slipping those jeans on easily!
Some parts were incredibly hard, some were extremely easy. If you are trying to jump start your health, I highly recommend this route! Onward to a healthier 2017!
I get cheese in two days...
Cheese....two.more.days.
In health and wellness,
Becca H.
P.S. links to all my other weeks - week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4.
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