Weekly Health Check-In

It's that time of week again! This post is going to be short and sweet, because there is another post on the schedule for today. We have been having so much fun here in the Caranci household that I'm having to double up on some postings to get it all in! 

Here are the details, short and to the point:

1. I lost another 1.1 lbs this week.

2. Bible study is going great, I am about 35 days into the 60 day study. 

3. Exercise has been up this week! Been working on some house projects (will share soon!) that have me lunging, crouching, squatting, reaching, lifting and burning lots more calories than normal. 

4. Verse for the week: gonna stick with Psalm 145:18 since I got a late start last week and really want to savor the verses I memorize. 

This week is the last week for our friendly family competition, and I think it's down to me and my sister-in-law, Sarah. Look out, Sarah! I'm out to win! :) 

That's it for this week - see ya next Monday for the last check-in of the year! :)

Weekly Health Check-In

Hello all! I'm sorry I've been a little spotty on the blog, but that's how it goes as the holidays get closer. Things are in full swing here at the Caranci house and there is a ton of stuff going on. I'm hoping to keep everyone updated as we go but no doubt things will be posted a little late. 

This week's first post is for my health stuff. Things are still going great. I am eating less, exercising more, and depending on God through it all. Last week my loss was 3.7 lbs (however, keep in mind I was up a couple pounds after Thanksgiving, so I really look at it like I lost another pound and a half this week after getting back where I was before). 

My exercise continues to mostly consist of walking, although now I am doing a lot of out-of-the-ordinary household things that I definitely count towards burning extra calories (i.e., painting, deep cleaning, etc.). My back is doing okay, nothing horrible but nothing great either. I'm back to seeing my chiropractor regularly and that helps a lot. 

I'm still eating a gluten-free diet and I'm looking forward to trying to alter some of our family holiday recipes to see if I can make them edible without white flour. 

My verse for this week is Psalm 145:18: "The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth."

Be watching for more posts this week, including recaps of a trip to Charlotte, Eden's birthday, the Nutcracker, and a bunch of pics of our house decorated for Christmas. :) 

Multi-tasking: Health Check-In, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Tree Hunting

This post is going to be one conglomeration! First up, my weekly health check in. I made it through the holidays without overindulging, although I certainly ate some very rich, sugary foods that I wouldn't normally! I was up two pounds at my weigh in, but I am not discouraged. I am pleased with how I ate, especially with so many temptations lurking. Exercise has been on somewhat of a standstill because my back is really having fits. I would appreciate prayer, if you think of it. My verse for this week is Galatians 5:16: "So I say, live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."

We did have a wonderful Thanksgiving day, consisting of cooking, the Macy's Day Parade, lunch with family, naps, and lots of family time. We always drive up to the mountains on the Friday after Thanksgiving to get a Christmas tree, so all of the pics in this post are from that day (I forgot to take any pictures at our family meal on Thursday!). 

Eden couldn't wait to pick out a tree - here she is waiting on the rest of us to get ready:

Still waiting, outside this time:

The place that we go to is called McInnis Farms and they have a hayride down to the tree fields. This is one of my absolute favorite pictures of Jason, he is making an expression exactly like his dad:

(they always have hot apple cider to take with you on the hayride)

Eden was hanging out with Grammy and Grumps on our ride:

Harry spent most of his time hunting for sticks and rocks, but he loved being outside and roaming the hills:

Our tree!

One of the best shots of the day:

We claimed that baby!

The G's:

Family shot:

Love this one too:

Sara and Kellan (who had to play Harry herders all afternoon):

Harry loved riding on the hayride:

And last, I had to share this series of shots. We were trying to get one with all of the kids and Harry just was not interested in helping. Poor Kellan, he didn't stand a chance! 

~Heehee~

Weekly Health Check-In

I'm getting to the point of habit in my eating and exercising. It is a strange place to be! I have done lots of things in the past to try and lose weight but this has been so different. The focus is not on food - how much, what kind, when, etc. - the focus is on filling myself with God and His word. And although I am not being perfect of course, there is definitely a pattern of habitual victory. 

This week's weight loss was only 0.3 lbs, but strangely I am not that upset. I think it is because I know I am being obedient to what Christ wants me to do and that weight loss will be a natural product of that. How much I lose each week can be altered by so many different factors and one low week is not going to throw me off. 

My verse for this week is Psalm 25:15: "My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only He will release my feet from the snare." How fitting! This verse clearly states how I feel about my sin of overeating. Food can be a trap for me and the Lord is the ONLY hope I have of overcoming it. If I try to do it any other way, using a substitute for Him, I will not have lasting victory. Keeping my focus in this is sometimes a struggle, especially when I have been doing well. I start to get lazy and distracted and forget that it isn't just a turning away from food, but a turning to the Lord. This verse was specifically chosen to keep my focus on the right thing. 

With Thanksgiving coming up it is very easy to get distracted by food. Although there is definitely some prep that has to go into a meal with 16 people attending, it has been much easier for me to look forward to simply being together more than what we are going to eat. It hasn't been a conscious decision, my mind is just not as interested as it used to be on food. I am grateful for many things this year, but one of the things that sticks out is that God is working with me and changing this area of my life. I am thankful that His grace is so abundant! Hoping that you and yours have a wonderful holiday week, staying focused on praising our Lord for all of His rich blessings. 

Weekly Health Check-In

These check-ins seem to come so quickly each week! Not a ton to report this Monday, but things are still going very well. I had a couple of times that I ate more than I needed to, but overall I am maintaining healthy eating habits. 

The gluten free foods are paying off - I think. I always hate to say something is absolutely working when it could just be that I am having a run of good days with my pain level. I do seem to see a difference in my back though, so I'm encouraged. For now, I am going to stick with gluten free since it isn't that much of an effort and see if more time helps even more. I will have some recipes/foods this week on the blog that have been gluten free experiments. 

Haven't walked quite as much this week but I have still been active, through a lot of housework, chasing the kids, etc. We still enjoy our walks on most days of the week and I'm hoping we can continue even when it gets cold. 

Verse for this week is 1 Corinthians 10:13: "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful, He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

Oh, and I lost 3.6 lbs over the last two weeks (no weigh-in last week since I was out of town). That brings my total to 11 pounds so far since starting the Setting Captives Free study, and 37 lbs from my highest weight ever. About 50 more to go! :) 

Weekly Health Check-In

Besides the fact that I spent my weekend here:

I still managed to do pretty well maintaining restraint while eating this week. I definitely ate more than I needed, but I didn't binge or stuff myself while hanging out with some of my favorite girls for a few days at the beach. The time away was much needed and I feel re-charged! 

One of the things I have been implementing in my eating changes is trying to stick to gluten free foods. This is not in order to help me lose more weight, but an effort to make a difference in my pain level with my back. I am about 10 days into it and don't see much change yet, but I'm hopeful. I might experiment with cutting out sugar as well, since both gluten and sugar are foods that cause inflammation (which is the cause of most of the pain in my back). 

To be clear, this is not because I feel God telling me I need to give up these foods, and it is not because I think it will help me lose more weight or lose it faster. This is strictly experimental to see if changing my diet can change my daily pain levels. I am simply trying to find an alternate way to help without going on medication or having ongoing treatments. My chiro has indicated that she believes I have fibromyalgia (and she does not diagnose things lightly), and since I have thought the same thing for a while, I decided to play around with the foods I eat to see if it made a difference. Time will tell. :) 

I have still  been enjoying and learning from The Lord's Table study through SCF and been corresponding with all of my accountability peeps daily. Walking has been consistent except for the very worst pain days. 

I feel that I am settling into a steady pattern - dare I say, habitual victory rather than habitual sin? I realize that my eating will never be perfect, but the goal is to mostly do well rather than mostly eat poorly. Even over the weekend, a trip when I normally would have been consumed with what and when I could eat, I was able to keep things in check better than ever before. Still not perfect, but better. It is encouraging to me because I feel that this is a true change, not a fleeting goal. 

My verses to memorize this week are 1 Corinthians 15:57-58: "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."

Health Check In

Time for another check in! Things have been good this week. I exercised regularly, memorized my verse, and did fairly well on my eating. God is really changing my perspective on food and I'm so grateful to be gaining some victory. One of the major realizations I made this week is that Christ already defeated my sin on the cross - so the struggle I have with overeating is my own making. The victory is already there, I simply have to tap into it. 

The other simple truth that has changed my eating habits is that I concentrate on food too much. Even if it is to determine what God would have me eat, or how much or when, I am still focusing on FOOD. When I give it no thought, or immediately shift my focus when I do, this whole process becomes a lot easier. It becomes unimportant in my everyday life - secondary to everything else, including my time with God, my husband, the kids, things that need to be done in the house, etc. Sometimes not thinking about food does cause me to suddenly be very hungry, but instead of flipping out and eating everything in sight I make myself prepare something very calmly and eat slowly, so I don't overeat in my hunger. I didn't consciously know it before, but being hungry used to really worry me. Why? I am not really sure. It isn't like I don't have food at my disposal at almost all times and I certainly am not going to wither away. Either way, I am trying to change that feeling of panic to a realization that hunger is a good thing - it means I haven't been focusing on food. 

The verse for this week is Philippians 3:18-19: "For as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things."

I lost 1.2 pounds this last week and I praise God for the victory!

Health & Lifestyle

Time for my weekly check in! We're going to do this list style this week:

1. The Word: my verse for this week is going to be 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: "...do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body." Still loving my Setting Captives Free study and actually have a new, additional accountability partner who just signed up to do the study too! She is one of my closest, dearest friends and I'm thrilled to add yet another layer to my accountability and support.  

My main goal is to immerse myself in the Word, seeking the Lord, to know Him. I know this is the way to overcome my sin of overeating. There are still days that I am not successful, but I will not be deterred. I am learning the hardest times for me are social settings. I want to participate when everyone else is chowing down but I have to learn self control. I have to keep things in perspective and not be overtaken by temptation. And God will always give me the strength to walk away, if I am truly seeking to honor Him. 

2. Exercise: praise the Lord, I have been somewhat consistent! Now please understand that I am not a hard-core, sweat-dripping-down-my-face, workout til I wanna die kinda girl. I have never been able to workout on this level, given my pain issues. However, low-impact, daily exercise like walking, stretching, swimming, etc. is my normal. I have been taking the kids on walks almost every day and I LOVE it. I can't believe it, but I actually look forward to exercising every day with them. It can't really be called "working out" - it just simply isn't that intense - but I am getting consistent movement regularly. Woohoo!

(by the way, these are the BEST walking/running shoes I have ever owned! They are Skechers GoWalk and are super light-weight, super comfortable and help keep my back from hurting; I don't get any perks from this ad, but just wanted to tell about an awesome product I love!)

3. Eating: I have come to some conclusions about my eating. I have been praying and asking God to give me clear direction on the food I should/shouldn't eat. However, everything I read or studied kept bringing me back to the fact the God does not regiment what we eat. My issue is not with food, it is with overindulgence. With that said, I am going to change the way I eat. My chiro has given suggestions on my diet to help with pain management and I am going to make those changes in an effort to take care of my body the best that I can, and hopefully resolve some of my medical issues without medication. This has nothing to do with my weight loss journey, because I know the only way to have victory in my overeating is to become full on Christ. It is not about what I eat but about keeping things in moderation and looking to God to fill the space I used to use food to fill. I am not going to label this food plan with paleo, gluten-free, etc., but just make some generic changes with a personalized diet plan that will help me personally feel better. Hope that makes sense! :) 

In an effort to be totally transparent, I am up two pounds this week. I hated to record it on my spreadsheet, but I know this is just part of it. There will be great weeks and not-so-great weeks and I have to take the bad with the good. I am content knowing that God is still working with me. 

See ya next week!

Living and Active Final Check-In

I can't believe it, but the 5 weeks of the living and active challenge from Peak313 are over! I have had such a good time reading all of the encouraging posts from Clare's website and participating in her 5 week challenge. I have been able to memorize a verse for each week and exercise at least 4 days a week for the entire 5 weeks! I am excited about keeping it up even though the official challenge is over. I will continue to log my memorization and exercise here on my blog every Monday. 

This week's verse was 1 Thessalonians 5:23: "May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body remain blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 

My exercise this week was all walking, as normal. My back is in it's normal state of disarray, so walking is still all I can manage regularly. Oh, and stretching if you count that as exercise. I really love the way it helps my body feel better to do a good stretch, several times a day. Here is a link to the one I do, with a few extras of my own added in: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iY5V0xiiKw.  I was also able to work at a consignment sale at our church for 3 hours, all on my feet. This may not sound like much, but for someone who has a hard time doing anything (sitting, standing, etc.) for more than 10-15 minutes, I was ecstatic! 

My report for eating? Well...not as good as past weeks. I don't know why, but for some reason I was going bonkers this week and wanting to eat more than I needed. I had a really hard time fighting cravings and snack attacks and wasn't as successful as I had hoped. It showed in my weigh in too - I didn't lose anything this week. I know the problem though - I have slacked on my time in the Word and focusing on Christ above all else. I have let old patterns and habits creep in instead of staying alert to defeat them. Here is a good statement from my Setting Captives Free study that sums it up: 

"To truly stop overeating habits, ongoing intimacy with God is required...don't focus as much on overcoming slavery to food as [you] do on abiding, or dwelling, in Jesus Christ."

 Couldn't have said it better myself! I am dedicated to staying this course and keeping God as my main goal in overcoming bad eating habits. 

As a side note in closing, my chiropractor has suggested making some diet changes to help alleviate some of the inflammation issues I am having. I haven't decided on my exact steps of action, but will be spending a lot of time in prayer seeking God's direction. I will post an update on these changes next Monday at my check-in!

Living and Active Week 4 CheckPoint

Time for my weekly check in! I got in my 5 times of exercise this week, 25 minutes or more. Every time was walking this week as my back has NOT been cooperating. But still, I was very glad to have gotten in what I needed to in order to hit the goal. 

Eating is going well too, although I definitely struggled a bit this week. One of the things I have learned is that feeling hungry is not a bad thing. Before, I would get all anxious if I felt a little weak or nauseous from not eating. The study I am doing has helped me realize that I am not going to have any major problems just from a little hunger. I am not going to pass out, I might just feel a little weak. This may seem like a silly truth, but it has made a difference! It used to be that when I was hungry I would go crazy and eat everything in sight. Now if I get hungry I step back and think that it is a good thing, it means I have not overeaten and I can eat something if I want to. Sometimes it is all about perspective, and keeping calm when things have a tendency to be blown out of proportion. 

I am loving my Bible study, Setting Captives Free. It has been eye-opening. I have a great mentor who responds to my questions and answers daily. She really is amazing - I can't believe the dedication she has to helping me, especially because she didn't know me until I signed up! She has been a great encouragement and almost all of her words of wisdom are straight from God's word - if I ask her something or express concern, she will give me a verse in answer. It is always spot on. 

I have found that having a mentor and my accountability group through Sarah and Melissa makes all the difference. They keep me on the straight and narrow. I have also learned that it isn't enough to simply turn away from food - I have to turn TO something. And that something is God - He is the only thing that will fill this void I am trying so hard to use food to fill. His Word always gives me what I need to overcome my habitual sin. He is the only answer to this problem in my life. 

I am trying to keep an attitude of humility as I continue on this exciting journey. God is working in my life in many areas, and I am so blessed that He hasn't given up on me! 

This week's weight loss was 1.4 lbs. :) 

See ya next week for my last check point in the Living and Active Challenge from Peak313 Fitness! I will continue to blog about my weekly weigh-ins and Bible study topics. 

Living and Active Wk 3 CheckPoint

Time for my weekly check in! Things are still going really well, and through God's grace I have been able to stay consistent. 

I got in my 4 days of exercise to complete my challenge from Peak313, although I had personally wanted to aim for at least five. That is the goal again this week, is to hit 5 days. Walking is still my go-to, but I also throw in some circuit training here and there. I have been doing a lot more things here at home, like sit ups and push ups, jumping jacks, jogging in place, etc. The kids think it is fun so we all do it together!

Eating is going well too - I have been self-controlled and not overeaten. I ate out for the first time this week since starting and was able to eat until satisfied and not have that horrible stuffed feeling walking out of the restaurant! I was a little hungry later that night, so I just ate some more but still didn't stuff. It is a totally different feeling to have the freedom to eat when I need to and not worry about how many calories are in a certain dish or how much of it I can eat. I simply eat until I feel satisfied and then stop. 

I have been keeping up with my Setting Captives Free bible study, memorized my verse with the Peak313 crowd, and have been studying Job on the side as well. It is helping to read his story again, especially on days where I am struggling. The memory verse this week was 1 John 2:16: "For everything in the world, the cravings of sinful man, the lust of the eyes, the boasting of what he has and does, comes not from the Father but from the world."

Overall I am feeling very calm and peaceful about this journey. Like I said, there are definitely days that are harder than others, but God has given me such strength and is helping me overcome this habitual sin in my life. I am so grateful that He is working and hasn't given up on me! I am determined to replace food with His word and focus on the one thing that can change my pattern - Christ!

P.S. - sorry for the lack of posts last week, this week I will catch you up on the kids, house stuff, and recipes!

Living&Active Week 2

Peak313

This is my second check point! Last week I got in the four required workouts and memorized our verse: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. " Matthew 6:34 I also kept up with my Setting Captives Free study every day and am loving it. 

My workouts consisted mostly of walking just because that is the easiest thing for me to do with the kids, plus it is supposed to be good for my back. I did play soccer with the kids one afternoon in the backyard, and also made up my own circuit workout of exercises like push ups, sit ups, jumping jacks, etc. It was KILLER. I am also trying to stretch for 5-10 minutes before and after each workout as well as the days I do not exercise. 

As far as my eating, I am still waiting for hunger and full cues, which seems to be working. There is also a TON of prayer and study involved, helping me to keep my focus on Christ rather than food. I won't say I didn't mess up at all, because there were definitely some rough days. But God is still working and I'm excited about the changes He is helping me to make. My accountability partners have been awesome too, and I am still really enjoying their camaraderie. 

Oh, and I lost 2.8 lbs this week. :D

Living&Active Checkpoint #1

Here it is, my first check in for my health goals! I think the easiest way to do this is in bullet form:

1. Physical: I did my four days of exercise for the living and active challenge through Peak313Fitness. This mostly consisted of walking, but I also threw in some fun stuff like dancing with the kids (holy cow, that is exhausting for a full 25 minutes!). This week I am hoping to get at least 5 days in!

2.  Spiritual: I memorized the verse for Peak313 and also did the Setting Captives Free (SCF) Bible study every day - this is a big one for me! To have a solid week of study everyday is a big accomplishment - I started a habit of doing it first thing when the kids take a nap so I am almost guaranteed enough time to finish before they wake up. I have had to let some other things go (napping and sometimes even showering!), but it has been worth it. This study has been incredible. 

3. Eating: this has taken a major change this week. I have realized through my Bible study that overeating is a sin and the only way I can overcome that is to call on the Lord. It is not just about what I eat, not even mostly about what I eat - it is about being submitted to God and His leading. I am sure some people think I am making a bigger deal out of this than is necessary, but I know for me, this is bigger than simply what I eat. The SCF study has encouraged not participating in a specific "diet" but rather being aware of hunger/full cues  that our bodies naturally give us. I know this seems really logical and obvious, but it has finally clicked in my brain. I have been in constant flux, thinking I should do weight watchers, then paleo, then gluten-free, and the list goes on. But I have realized this week that I want to be free from a diet-ruled lifestyle. God does not restrict the things we can eat but we must eat in a balanced, self-controlled way. Although weight watchers does teach that, I was getting way too caught up in the rules and limitations. I was placing too much focus on every little thing rather than just being led by the Spirit.  

I hope that makes sense - like I said, it is something that I'm sure some people will look at as silly. But this has been a major breakthrough for me. I am more satisfied, eating less, relying on God's direction, and more concerned about Him than food. That is an upgrade. :) I will share more about the eating changes I have made as time goes on. Here is a post I put in our FB accountability page that may explain a little better:

 I've had a major breakthrough! As I was doing my SCF study last night, I realized something - I am still trying to do this myself and I am totally discounting God's power. I kept thinking "I have weight watchers to follow and fall back on" or "I need to do paleo"...I have realized that it isn't about what I eat as much as about what God directs me to do. Now this is totally scary for me - not to have a step by step approach to what I can/can't eat, but I'm convinced that is exactly what God wants from me - total dependence. To trust Him fully and to be seeking to hear the Spirit's voice with such fervor that I trust even as He leads me in what I should eat. I am listening to my body's signals for hunger/fullness. Although I feel very vulnerable without a specific plan, I feel at such amazing peace and freedom too! Please pray that I will stay focused as I listen closely for God's leading.

4. The accountability through our FB page with Sarah and Melissa has been amazing. The support they have offered has been priceless to me!

So there's my update - some great things are going on, and although I am feeling a bit vulnerable with not having a specific eating plan, I am feeling WAY more peaceful about it!

Living and Active Day 1

Today is the launch day in with the Living and Active Challenge by Peak313! Obviously, there isn't much to report since today is day one, but I still wanted to get things kicked off properly. :) 

There are several facets that I am tying into my current fitness/diet goals, so I thought a post spelling it all out would be helpful for you and me! Here we go:

1. I am doing the Living and Active 5 week challenge through Peak313Fitness. This involves an exercise goal of at least 25 minutes a day, at least 4 days a week. It also has a spiritual goal of memorizing one verse a week. 

2. I am following a 60 day Bible study called Setting Captives Free. This is another spiritual goal, to spend time studying the specific topic of overeating and how to overcome it with the Word. 

3. I am still doing weight watchers and am considering doing another whole30 (paleo). I am trying to ease myself into eating mostly paleo-approved foods anyway, but would like to do another whole30 (30 days of strict paleo eating) just as another level to my diet.  I will keep you updated if/when I decide to start that. 

4. I am keeping accountable in two ways: first, a competition with some of my family members to see who can lose the most weight between now and Christmas. We have all put $20 into a pot and whoever wins gets all the money ($120 total). This is great because not only are we all trying to change our lifestyles, but there is good incentive to keep it up. I am also part of a three girl accountability group made up of my SIL and her best friend from high school (my SIL introduced us and we have been friends for a while now too :)). I am SO excited about this! We have created a facebook page just for us and we post daily about what we are eating, how we are exercising, our struggles, etc. All three of us are doing the Living and Active Challenge together. I'm hoping that we will continue to share each other's journey even after the 5 weeks of that is finished!

5. My plan is to devote one blog post a week (probably on Mondays) that recaps all of my exercise and food for the previous week. This is more for another level of accountability for me rather than a stimulating read for all of you (sorry!). It helps to see in writing what I have eaten and done physically one week at a time. 

So there you have it - my first checkpoint will be next Monday, so check back to see my progress! 

5 Wk Challenge

Hello all! Sorry for the lapse in posts, we have been out of town and had company. I should be back to my regular schedule now. :) 

This post is just a catch-you-up post, the good ones (with pictures!) will come soon. But for now I just wanted to give an update on a new exercise challenge. Since I had to give up my mini triathlon goal due to financial and physical issues, I decided I needed another goal. Enter my sister-in-law, Sarah (check out her blog, here).  She found a blog holding a link up party for a 5 week challenge to get "living and active." The great thing about this challenge is that not only is it physical but spiritual. There is a verse to memorize every week as well as a devotional. The physical challenge is to do at least 25 minutes of exercise 4 or more days a week for 5 weeks. There will be exercise routines posted everyday for those who want to use them, or you can come up with your own. 

I am excited to have another goal! This one doesn't seem quite as glamorous as the triathlon, but it still gives me something to work towards. I will be documenting my progress here, once a week, with my exercise and probably food logs. 

Thanks for helping me stay accountable!

For those interested in the program or wanting to link up with us, go to Peak313's website here.

Health and Fitness

I wanted to do an update for my weight loss. Basically, I haven't lost anything. Kinda went off track for a (long) while, but now things are back in motion. Here is my plan of attack:

Sticking with weight watchers for the diet side. At least for now. It is still the easiest way for me to conveniently stick to something, because I can still eat what I normally would. My brother is trying to lose some weight too, so we are keeping each other accountable and helping each other out a bit. It helps we are both putting some moolah in a pot and having a little competition between now and Christmas too. :)  So I am counting my points and focusing on eating lots of fresh fruits and veggies, drinking lots of water, and exercising. 

Which leads to the next part: fitness.  I am super excited about a new goal I have set! It sounds crazy and lofty, but I am entering a mini triathlon. I realize that my fitness level is very low, but that is the great thing about this particular race - it is "mini." Although there are still three events, they are all condensed from a regular triathlon race. The layout is a 250 yard swim, 9 mile bike ride, and 2 mile walk/run. The first time I did the swimming I finished in 10 minutes which I thought was really good til I googled how long it should take an average person and it said 30-60 seconds, haha. Haven't started bike training yet, and the 2 mile walk/run (which I will definitely be walking) is old hat. 

I know doing all 3 things back to back will be a challenge, but the individual events are not intimidating on their own. I think the time I spend training will easily prepare me to finish without pushing my back and knees too far. And my goal is simply that - to finish. I am not concerned with how long it takes me, just finishing. I am the world's slowest swimmer (so it would seem), don't even have my own bike (am borrowing one from a friend), and walk like a granny. But I don't care! I am not going to worry about all of the major athletic people who will be there probably wondering why someone like me is doing it, I am simply going to focus on meeting a fitness goal I think is reachable with consistent preparation. 

The name of the race is Ramblin' Rose and is held in Charlotte. I am planning to go down the night before with a friend and after the race reward myself with some IKEA shopping. :) 

I am so excited to be doing a real race like this, I have only ever done a 5k. Jason has been really supportive too. My back has given me a bit of a slow start, but my chiropractor has given me the go ahead to start slow. 

Please feel free to ask about how I am doing with these goals! One of the reasons I am blogging about it is so people will ask and keep me accountable. I appreciate each of you being supportive! :) 

Diet Update

After finishing paleo, I knew I would go back to weight watchers. As I have been getting back into the routine of counting points, I have also been contemplating what adjustments to make to the kind of food I am eating. While on paleo, I had a significant reduction in my pain level (joints, muscle, etc.) and I want to find out what it is that I eat that impacts that. I have decided that my first trial will be with gluten. Weight watchers will still be my weight loss factor, but I will adjust the foods I decide to eat based on the way they impact how my body feels. Gluten free is my first experiment.

The way I am approaching this is to eat foods I know are paleo-approved, and when I want to add something else in, I make sure it does not have gluten. For example, I wanted popcorn the other night but it is not paleo-approved - so I checked the ingredient list to make sure there was no gluten and once confirmed I went ahead and ate some. All of this is still within the limits of my daily points allowance to make sure I am still losing weight while experimenting. Although paleo was a good cleanse, it was hard for me to monitor how much food I should be eating (regardless of how healthy it all was for me, I could still potentially over eat).

I am also trying to apply other basic rules, like only eating when I am hungry, drinking mostly water, eating more produce, being careful about sugar intake, etc. I am still not super excited about the idea of giving up diet soda, but I have a feeling it will be one of my experiments. I know it is not a healthy drink but there is something to be said for having a little bit of unhealthy stuff just for the feel good aspect it brings, haha. With that said, I would have to be much more limited with it than I currently am in order to qualify under "a little bit."

So there you have it - my update for what I am currently doing. I have lost 5 pounds since starting weight watchers two weeks ago and my main goal is to stick within my daily points. The side experiments are just that - on the side. I am hoping to accomplish my weight loss goals as well as discover what foods negatively impact my body, specifically in the area of pain management.

As Time Goes By

It has been very interesting to see how my body has reacted to eating non-paleo foods. I can see SO many more differences now than before. I didn't notice the changes while on the whole25 but now that I'm done they are much more evident. Here's the list:

1. My fingers feel swollen now - as well as maybe my ankles. There isn't a big enough difference to change my ring size or anything, but they just feel thick.

2. I can feel a difference in my body as a whole - not more or less pain, but I am much more stiff now than when eating paleo. I feel like I need to stretch all the time! And I am really stiff when I get up from sitting down.

3. I am having some balance issues - I think it is a blood sugar regulation thing, but I feel dizzy when I stand up or bend over and then straighten up again.

4. I definitely feel more bloated - not sure if that is the right word, but my whole body just feels thick...when eating paleo, I never felt that over-stuffed feeling. My stomach always felt flat (or maybe a better way to put it is not sticking out, haha), even after eating. Now, that is most definitely not the case.

5. I am definitely more hungry now. While on the whole25, I hardly ever felt hungry except in the mornings. Now I am hungry much more often, and throughout the day.

6. Two things that I expected to change that have not, is that my digestive track feels more in line now than when I was eating paleo, and my sleeping is much better than when I was eating paleo. Also, my restless leg syndrome is better now that I am eating non-paleo foods. I'm not sure what any of those mean, if anything.

So after having several days being off paleo, I certainly miss some of these things. I haven't decided yet how to proceed...I have considered switching to paleo full time, doing a whole30 every few months, having a flexible paleo-style diet, etc. I need to think through it some more and make a decision soon - I want to get moving on whatever plan I decide to stick with!

Hungry Hungry Hiccups!

There are a few little things I have noticed since starting to eat non-paleo food...first, I am most definitely more hungry. I think it was Jennie that was telling me that it is because certain kinds of foods (i.e., gluten, grains, carbs, sugar, etc.) have a non-filling, addictive quality to them. When you eat them you initially do feel full, but it doesn't last and it leaves you craving more of those kinds of foods rather than more whole foods (veggies, fruit, protein, etc.).

Secondly, and it could be totally non-related, but I have had the hiccups...A LOT! Kinda weird, but it started the day I started eating non-paleo foods. :)

One of the things I thought I might be seeing as a result of being on paleo was that my fingers didn't seem as swollen. I didn't really know they were swollen to begin with, but once I started I could almost promise that my fingers seemed less thick. I think that must have been true now, because they feel thicker again now that I am eating non-paleo foods.

So there you have it, my reactions so far to being off of the strict whole30. Not too bad - nothing major like more joint/body pain or bad digestive reactions. So far so good!

The kiddos are feeling much better too. I snapped a couple of pics of them today, and they are so cute! Harry is chillin' out in some new jeans (oh my word, he is so adorable) and Eden has been wearing her coat since she woke up, hoping that we will get to go outside today. She says the funniest things - I will have to do a whole blog post dedicated to Eden-isms. :D

Happy weekend!