Eureka!

Finally, I may have this new food lifestyle down. For once I was not disappointed when I stepped on the scale this morning. We may have turned a corner. And yes, I did eat ice cream yesterday. We have a houseful of it due to my daughters mouth surgery and generous friends.

So, first was no wheat no sweets. Now it's been portion control. Making better choices has started to become easier and the voice inside my head that says "go ahead, you deserve it" has now started to shut up. Have I had wheat or sweets lately? Yes. Everyday? No. There has to be exceptions or I fear I will not survive. National S'mores Day and surgery were the exceptions. Num!

The other evening I asked my daughter to weigh herself the next morning. I told her I was curious to see if my giving up sweets had affected her at all. She would usually join me in my after dinner treat. So she agreed. Now before you get all upset about my kid being concerned about her weight - don't. She weighs herself because she's curious. She doesn't fret about what the numbers on the scale tell her. It's more like she's watching herself grow up. So, she did weigh herself (I had actually forgotten I asked) and as a result of ME giving up sweets she has lost weight. We thought it was kinda funny.

So, entertaining has also taken a new twist - on Sunday for my S'mores party I wanted to make sure I served food I could actually eat. Veggies and dip, easy. One of my favorite summer apps is cucumber, cream cheese mixed with italian dressing on rye bread. Instead of the rye bread I scooped out a little of the cucumber and put the cream cheese mixture in the cucumber. I didn't even miss the bread. My favorite, though, was the zucchini pizzas. We all have an abundance of zucchinis right now. Either in our own gardens or the neighbors. So I sliced the zucchini, and roasted the slices with garlic grapeseed oil in the oven. I think when I make them again I will fry them in the oil instead so the zucchini stay firmer. I then topped them with cut-up grape tomatoes mixed with wildtree's hearty spaghetti mix (any italian seasoning should work) and fresh basil. Over that, some mozzarella - under the broiler until the cheese melts - delicious!

Easier

Okay,  still working on the whole change in diet/attitude towards food. The good news is I have been giving up bread and sweets for almost 3 weeks now. The better news is I no longer crave either. The best news is the pounds are starting to drop off.

I won't lie - there have been a couple of cheats. But that's okay, because I've jumped right back into choosing no bread/sweets. I'm also wrapping my brain around the idea that this has to be a permanent change.

Now I am starting to challenge myself more at the gym. Lift heavy or go home :) My goal is a 220# deadlift. Only because it scares my students to think I can lift that much. Hey, it's called classroom management.

One thing I discovered - paleo lasagna is delish. Use thin strips of zucchini instead of noodles. You won't miss the noodles at all.

I'm also going to attempt to make my own soap this week. Could be interesting. Wish me luck.

Errgh!

Well, if you're looking for a weight loss update then you're in for a disappointment. Because that's what I get every time I step on the scale. Obviously the scale is not my friend.

So instead I am going to update you on 2 revelations I have had today:

1. Early this morning I watched 2 videos. Colbie Caillat's "Try" and John Legend's "You and Me"

You can watch them here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXoZLPSw8U8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi3bc9lS3rg

Both are videos about women being beautiful no matter what shape, size, color, scar, hairstyle etc.  I thought that maybe it's time women quit being so hard on themselves and I thought about why I was so desperate to lose weight - and it was an easy answer, I would like to fall in love again. I then realized that no one else is going to love me unless I love myself. It's time for me to not worry about the numbers on the scale and worry about how I feel about myself and how I treat the people around me every day.

By the way John Legend - you're video losses some of the effect of your message when you walk off with your supermodel wife from your giant walk in closet at the end. Just Sayin'.

2. This afternoon I realized that it has been a long time since I craved a sweet after dinner. I am notorious for grabbing a handful of whatever after eating. I can't remember the last time I had the need or grabbed the chocolate. And that makes me feel good about the changes I'm trying to make.

So next up - the Today Show has issued a detox challenge for the month of August. I'm trying to figure out what else I can give up. I keep thinking alcohol - but I don't hate myself that much!

So, I've been told to update my blog. I looked and see it's been about a year! I've thought about updating but frankly nothing exciting has been happening around here. BUT, today, my 3 faithful readers, I invite you on my latest journey. This journey is about 35 years overdue. But here we go.

Many people know that I started crossfit about 2 years ago. I like that I feel stronger, my joints are looser and that my newfound strength scares my students a little bit. :) BUT, where's the weight loss? So far I've put on 20 pounds doing crossfit. Because my pants fit the same I know that it's muscle weight - still, I need to see the scale needle go the other way.

So, after countless documentaries, readings, tryings etc... I am going to start changing the way I eat. I watched my latest documentary last night and he said "I used to think that it was 80% exercise and 20% diet. Now I think it's opposite." I think he's right.

So, in this blog I will be keeping you updated on what I learn, how I feel and a little about what I'm eating. To start I will be "giving up" wheat and sugar. I put giving up in quotes because there's always room for a cheat day. I think if I give up what I love completely I'm setting myself up to fail.

If you're interested in seeing where I'm coming from then here is a list of my favorite documentaries, some I have watched more than once:
                                 
                           Hungry For Change
                           Cereal Killers (Ella and I watched this last night)
                           Food INC
                           Food Matters
                           Fat Head

I also watched "Forks Over Knives" and "Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead". They were good but not as life changing, maybe, as the others. If you only watch one I would highly recommend "Hungry for Change" Most of these are available on Netflix.

So far I have given up pop, added protein shakes and chia, and am starting to look for a good source of grass-fed beef.

I have 2 paleo cookbooks on the way from Amazon (not planning on full paleo) and a goal of 50 pounds down. Wish me luck!