A long-over due update

It has been a long time since I have written a post, and I didn't really know how to get back into the swing of things. Sadly, the last time I focused on this blog, was during my last Whole30 and gave any concerted effort to my health.

In short, my roommate at the time up and left, without paying rent and causing my lease to be ended prematurely. It was super stressful and I had to pay two months double rent and find a new apartment in 2 weeks. With the rushed circumstances, I moved into a studio with a very small kitchen and barely any room for my belongings! Although it was located in my community, walking-distance from work, and an affordable apartment in downtown Montreal, it was really hard to live there for the 15 months. On top of it all, my building was treated for bed bugs monthly from September to the end of January, which was also incredibly stressful.

Out of necessity, I became accustomed to eating out and stopped meal-planning since it was nearly impossible to make food at home. I think that I pulled out my slow cooker once, and had to balance it on my stove because there was no counter space. I would still try to eat things that were low dairy, low grains because I could feel my stomach get agitated, and feel my joints and muscles getting sore.

This fall, my schedule changed from 5:30am-2pm, to 3pm-11:30pm which feels like moving time-zones. Sometimes, I worked a combination of opens and closes, or worked in other cafes which had their tole on my stress and sleeping schedules. Plus I moved stores twice, adapting to a new team and new leadership. I also moved apartments, though this has been a mostly-positive experience. Not surprisingly, I have been sick three times and I feel pretty low right now. With all of this, I have continued eating out, stress-eating, and not sleeping well. I'm getting pretty fed-up with always feeling exhausted and congested.

So, I have decided to take the first 15 days of December to do a Whole30-AIP blended diet. I will include honey and eggs, but exclude coffee, nuts, and nightshade vegetables (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant).

The Plan:

• Braised spicy-ish chicken and vegetables packed from last night's dinner
• Roasted beef and yams, with fresh celery and cucumber
• Eggs/omelette, mushrooms, and steamed greens Saturday and Sunday brunch
• Breakfast soup to make over the weekend
• Paleo haemul pajeon (chives, green onions, mixed seafood, in caseva-coconut flour batter)
• Green tea for caffeine, kombucha for carbonation, ginger-lemon-honey for health
• Snacks: fruit (1-2/day), dark chocolate(?), fried plantains, vegetable chips, kale chips... herein lies my weakness!

I think that this will carry me to Monday-Tuesday. So I need to make something else tomorrow or Sunday to carry me through until Thursday!

My biggest challenge is finding the energy to make food which will give my energy rather than increase my symptoms. And avoiding all of the coffee/pastries at work!  I have found myself eating banana bread without realizing it because it's so readily available.

The naked truth: Whole30 and my health

I wrote this to a close friend, about a year ago to explain my rationale for Whole30 and the process I'd been on.

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I have been overweight most of my pubescent and adult life. As a little girl, I was small and average never having excess weight or nutritional issues. Once I hit puberty I was packing on the pounds and called "big boned" although I had not changed any of my habits and we were eating healthy at home.

Ever since, I have resented the fact that others can eat anything they want, but I'm the one who has to suffer gaining extra pounds. I have felt defeated and un-beautiful, and unhealthy.

Many times I have gone on fasts or diets and lost some weight, but I was counting down the minutes until I could eat everything I'd cut out. Then all the weight came back, and over the years so much more!

When my healthy, beautiful friend suggested Whole30 to me, I was critical. I needed to know that I didn't need to buy all of my food from the company, or all of their recipes, and that it was actual science that backed up their claims. I had been receiving emails from 'nutritionists' who never say anything concrete until after they've convinced you to buy another thing from them or their affiliates, and I was sick of it!

One day I felt God's nudge to look into Whole30 so I bought the book and read the science and realized for the first time how my hormones and gut were contributing to my poor health. It wasn't the calories or the fat I was ingesting, but the things that turn into fat or cause fat to be stored that were making me unhealthy.

Whole30 cuts out all foods (for a minimum of 30 days) that cause any of the 4 major health issues: addiction, hormonal imbalance, gut permeability, and inflammation. Anything that is processed is eliminated because of it's unnatural addictive qualities, sugar and alcohol are also addictive. But rather than focusing on what you cannot eat, I found oodles of delicious recipes full of protein, fiber, good fats, and carbohydrates. I even made my friend and her family (3 children under 4 and her hubby) her birthday dinner (Whole30 compliant) and they all loved it! She even scooped up the leftovers and had it for lunch the next day!

But one thing that has really changed the game for me is realizing that:

- I am an adult and no one else can make decisions for me

- My life is worth more than not doing this

- I need to take myself seriously, cause God does

- None of the foods I crave actually fix my problems

- Enjoy things  because they are delicious, in an intentional manner 

Since finishing my Whole30, I have realized how much my brain lies to me about food, and how much I idolize it! Now, I am making more conscious decisions about what I eat, and I am really enjoying vegetables for the first time!

Anyways, if you want to talk more about my experience just let me know!

Lots of love and compassion,