Fresh Start Wednesdays (Starts this week)

Today is Wednesday. Today is the day. The day I attempt start my semi quasi original foods diet. I got the idea from Mandy over at Biblical Homemaking. I love the concept. I pretty much follow it anyway. But I am officially going to be cutting back on dairy and meat. I'll never give up eggs, I love them too much!

So the plan is 80% vegan and 20% non-vegan or "junk" food. Not that that's an issue. We don't really eat junk. Occasionally I crave a box of cheap pasta salad, only to regret it later. So this is more about the focus on eating a lot of really good quality fruits and vegetables. Plus, if I have to cook a hamburger for Papa Bear, I don't want to feel bad if I decide to eat one. Or if I eat an ice cream cone on Friday with Brother Bear. (It's our Friday treat for having a good week!)

So what can I eat? A lot!

Mandy laid her's out like this.

the original food diet “rules”

I'm creating my own scheme of foods based on what I've studied. I'm calling it the "original food" diet. For 40 days, I’ll be following these guidelines for what I eat! :)

My allowed foods are any naturally occurring plant-based foods:
vegetables
fruit
legumes
whole grains
nuts
seasonings from seed plants

Foods I'll be avoiding: anything artificially or factory-created or any animal meat or animal product.
meats
bread
cookies
cereals
pasta
refined sugars
dairy
eggs
artificial sweeteners {this is huge for me!}

I've tweaked mine just a little bit. I will be avoiding grains. I will eventually eliminate all of them that contain gluten. I'm pretty sure I have a gluten intolerance and rather than spend the money to find out if I'm correct, I''ll just eliminate it. So add gluten to the list of avoiding and put meat and dairy as a "sometimes food" and you've got my list.

So why am I doing all of this?

I'm pretty sure I have a gluten intolerance and a thyroid issue. I'm curious to see if cutting out someone "trigger" foods will help me loose the weight that I'm struggling to shed. I'm currently 5'4 1/2 and weigh in at 215 lbs. I don't look like I weigh that much, but to me, I feel it. All my other stats are normal. Normal heart rate, blood pressure, o2. Everything. So I know that my weight is just a cosmetic issue for me. Not a health issue. I'm not borderline for diabetes, my blood work is perfect. This is simply about the strain my body feels physically and emotionally because of the excess weight I carry around.

I'm not complaining, I'm not moaning. I can do this. This diet is just another step in my journey to make my outside reflect my inside. FOR ME.

Another reason for this overhaul is I'm trying to get closer to God. I want my body to be the Temple he designed it to be. I'm going to feed it things he's put here for me to put in it. Things that I know are designed for me. Designed for my Temple. I know I can do this!

What are you going to do for your "Fresh Start"....I challenge you. :)





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Come on legs.. you can keep up!

If you could see my bucket list you might think I'm a little crazy. There are things on there that sane people wouldn't even dream about and crazy people wouldn't even consider! But somewhere on that list is to run a 5k. Now.. I should be fair and tell you, I'm not in any shape to be running. I'm not a runner. It's never been in my DNA, but I figure when I put my mind to something, no one is going to tell me no.

I have an Android, thank the heavens, otherwise I wouldn't be good at this interval training at all. But I looked and found a C25K program (Couch to 5k) that was 1) free and 2) loud enough that it wouldn't get lost in my music. I also found a program to track my route so I have visual progress of how proud of myself I am. *I'm a show-off by nature and wanted to be able to put the fancy status updates on my Facebook page.*

So I just finished week one of my training. I know longer feel like I"m going to die, but I don't feel like I'm anywhere near a 5k. I am doing 14:30 minute miles, which isn't great, but for a beginner, I'll take that I'm going to cover 4 and some change miles in an hour. I can honestly say that I am feeling stronger, leaner *in a week, I know*, clearer and like I can do this! I can make my goal. So for added motivation I've gathered a group of friends and set the date for the 5k we are going to run and can now not give up. Not that I wanted to. It's my kid and spouse free time. Where my mind can clear itself, my aggressions can be released, and I can prove to myself and my body that I am worthy. It's my type of reflection on my goals in life, for myself, for my family and for my children. It's were I can realize my potential is never ending and not a single person can tell me "no". I won't hear it. I know better.

I may only be one week into 8 weeks of training, but I know this time, I won't be giving up. I won't decide in a week or two that I'm not longer going to reach my goal. And not just because I have a half dozen people there to keep me in check, but because I'm there to keep myself in check. I have made up my mind that I want my children to see what a healthy body looks like. I don't ever want Sister or Brother to have weight issues. I want them to know what to put in there bodies, what to do to take care of their bodies and that if you do what your body desires, you'll never have weight issues. You'll be healthy. I want them to know that healthy isn't a size or a number. We threw our scale out! I joined in with a few moms on one of my favorite pages FitPsychology and Fitnessmom and I'm using the tools and inspiration they provide to keep myself on track, but not to be a size 2 or a certain number, but to be healthy. To never have to count calories again! Freedom! And I love it! I love the mindset I have finally gained and the love I have for myself.. and yes.. my legs can *and will* keep up!

Keep it green!

Hollea