Whole 30…0r 5… or 86…Day 0

Starting the whole 30 again….just looking for some health answers for my hubby and I. I’m not sure if we’ll make it…but we’ll try. Nothing will happen if we don’t make it…Trying to go into this with no judgement or expectation…just the want to feel better. Also aiming to incorporate the things I’ve learned from Lisa Carpenter (my nutrition coach) these past few months. I think we’ll try just planning the night before for 5 minutes…and weekly dinner planning. Should be good!

Remember no dairy, grains, legumes, or sugar. Just lots of meat, veggies and good fats! We will be snacking because I know my body does better eating small meals throughout the day.  The kids will not be joining us this time, but they will be cutting out junk food and refined grains.

Day one plan…

Breakfast: Two eggs, Sweet potato

Snack: Ham and Celery Sticks

Lunch: Chicken Stew (homemade)

Snack: Almond butter and Apple

Supper: Chicken Salad with Nuts

I need to pick up some almond butter tomorrow, but I have everything else on hand. Will check in tomorrow.

Seeking to be uncomfortable…

I have spent the last 8 months trying to find balance…a balance between selfishness and selflessness. Looking for self-care…free of guilt. It’s not so easy for this girl that’s been raised in the church; mistakenly thinking that to take care of myself is too selfish. To say no; to take time to myself to do what makes me feel good; well that’s just the opposite of what Jesus did. Or is it?

So I’ve searched; I’ve studied; I’ve reflected;I’ve fought; I’ve listened;I’ve ignored; I’ve learned… and I probably will continue to do so. What I’m sure of is that the only thing that is sure is in this moment…and that in the next moment you have power to choose. It is one of the gifts God’s given us. We can hate or love; our choice. We can eat or not; our choice. We can watch or look away; our choice. We can be still or we can act; our choice.

I think it often feels as thought we have no choice because we have ceased to listen to ourselves. When our bodies and souls say, ” Stop eating.” or ” Get moving” or ” Breathe deeply” we have forgotten how to listen. We instead strive to reach that deceitful comfort level that boasts of safety and security…forgetting that once we are in that place we usually feel awful and are missing much more important things.

For instance, when my inner voice tells me that it is only safe to stay home and eat comfort junk food and watch TV all day, I am denying myself time with my friends and family; I am denying myself the energy that comes with eating healthily; I am denying myself communion with the only unconditional love in my life; and in the end I feel guilty, sad, lonely and sloth like. This is not abundant… it is not what I want in my life.

But it is comfortable…can I be brave enough to be uncomfortable?