First day....done

Good Tuesday morning....here is the update since my last post.  This weekend I enjoyed sort of going "all out" to get ready for my adventure that started yesterday.  Sunday I enjoyed one of my all time favorites - chicken BBQ pizza that will not be on the menu anytime soon (although one of my goals is to find a good gluten free pizza crust and attempt to make something similar!!).  But, all in all - nothing too crazy!!

So, what is this 30 day challenge??  Eating clean - eliminating processed foods, gluten, dairy, sugar and caffeine.  What CAN I eat you ask??  Food the way God made it, not how we have made it.  I'm super excited about getting rid of the sugar.  If you've ever done it - you KNOW that the cravings REALLY do go away.  If you start eating it again - they come right back.  This is part of what makes this a lifestyle change - not a quick fix and it's so time for me to be back to a place where I don't want the sugar.  In the next few days - I'll try to post some articles on what sugar does to our bodies but suffice it to say that it's not pretty and it's NOT just about how much weight we have around the middle and that frustrating muffin top we all hate!!!

So, I will fess up and tell you that last night I stopped at Starbucks and got a cup of coffee and I'm drinking a cup as I type this....so NOT what I should be doing BUT - just as I decided to start this challenge the weather turned cool (downright chilly this morning) and there is nothing better to me that a warm cup of coffee on a cool morning or evening.  Even though you CAN go totally cold turkey on ALL of it (I've done it before), I've decided to give myself this week to enjoy coffee as my treat this week while I stick to the rest of the plan.  I do have coconut creamer so I'm still good on the no dairy part......

Breakfast - Arbonne vegan vanilla protein shake with fruit.  I added our fiber boost and digestion plus.  Today I'm making a trip to Trader Joes and will have some spinach to add for later this week.

Lunch - Earth Fare bar.  Not sure all this fit - I did have some wild rice that may have had gluten and an amazing warm tomato caprice salad that definitely included cheese but I did only have a few bites and an AMAZING cabbage roll that I need to find a way to duplicate....and a salad.  Tip on the dressing:  use lemon squeezed on the salad with salt and pepper.  Yummy- you can really taste the veggies and it fits the challenge perfectly!!!

Dinner last night - venison roast (no hormones there since my husband dragged it out of the woods last year!!!) and sautéed cabbage which I've never done before but was super yummy.  I just "winged it" after a conversation with a friend at lunch yesterday but it was awesome and I'd make it for sure again!!!

One head of cabbage - thinly sliced or chopped (I chopped mine)
One large onion (more or less depending on taste) - sliced or chopped
Grape seed oil for sautéing (olive oil can turn rancid at high heat so I only use grape seed or coconut oil for frying or sautéing)
organic free range chicken stock (you could use veggie stock, too)
Salt and pepper to taste

Sautee the onion in grape seed oil for about 3 minutes, add cabbage, salt and pepper and about 1/2 cup stock.  Cover and cook for 30-45 minutes letting the cabbage and onion caramelize

That's it - super simple!!

I'm off to make another protein shake creation - more to come on that later this week!!!

The final days of freedom

You all know exactly what I mean.  We've ALL done it....we think "I'll start that weight loss plan on Monday, so I have three more days to do and eat whatever I want".  Well, for me it's not about weight loss but being HEALTHY.  Many of you reading this have come to me for advice and have even participated in the 30 days to feeling fit challenge.  But....it's been a while and if you are like me you've fallen off the wagon just a bit.

Life gets in the way - for me it goes back almost a year.  The birth of a grandchild, graduation of the "baby" in the family, college planning, vacations, parties, family get togethers and the list goes on an on and one.  We all have "life" to live and my hope is that through this initial 30 days and beyond, I can give you some inspiration, laughs and ideas for a lifestyle of being HEALTHY.  Not losing weight for a time but truly learning how to make difference choices for a lifetime.  No gimmicks - just honest truth, awesome products (I'll tell you about my shopping trips and where to find the good stuff)

For the first 30 days - you are going to hear about the good, bad and the ugly.  I've let myself become a lover of coffee (again) and know that I need to eliminate that.  Sugar....I don't even know where to begin but the detox process MUST happen and it all begins Monday.  For those of you that know me - no gluten and no dairy.  What will I eat???  Food the way God intended - whole, real and wonderful!!

So, I invite you to follow me on my journey back to feeling energetic, healthy and challenged!!!  I'm going to post personal thoughts, recipes, pictures (I hope), funny stories and my challenges.  But I also get to tell you about my victories and the change in how I feel - I CAN'T WAIT!!!  YOU get to be my accountability as I walk the journey with you.

In the meantime, pizza and brownies it is (just kidding....kind of)