Whole30 and me!

So I've decided to do the Whole30 thing. If you haven't heard of Whole30 before, here's the skinny: dairy is out, grains are out, legumes are out, sugar is out, highly processed food is out. Time to reset your body and your mindset toward food. Eat plenty of good-quality proteins, veggies, fruits, and fats. Don't weigh yourself, because it's not a weight-loss program...it's about changing the way you look at food and the relationship you have with food. They have you ask yourself a series of questions, which I'll post and answer now.

1. When I'm bored, over-tired, frustrated or angry, I find myself craving salty things, granola bars, cereal.

2. Sometimes I think I'm hungry, but I'm just bored or thirsty.

3. When I'm craving sugar, I used to eat the kids' fruit snacks, cookies, or cereal, but during my Whole30 I'm going to reach for nuts, olives, protein instead.

4. Planning ahead is going to be the key to me staying on track.

The rest of the questions are for after you've already started. So today I stocked up on fresh fruits and veggies, mostly organic, nuts, olives, coconut, and good protein sources. I have purposed to buy less, eat everything that I buy, not to waste, and buy as sustainably as possible. I joined a CSA, Farmer and the Dale. I chose this particular CSA because the majority of what they have is organic, you get to choose what comes in your box, and they deliver to your doorstep. That's easier than fast food, so I have NO excuse!

I'm not forcing Trav or the boys to do it because I've already gotten resistance...better to ease them in. Deklan would go his entire life without eating a fruit or vegetable (well, maybe bananas...but that's about it) if I let him. Gavin is a little garbage disposal, so I'm not worried about him. Trav just isn't convinced that he wants to give all of that up, even though he'd still be able to eat a plethora of other yummy stuff! So I'm going to prepare food for myself, let them finish off the stuff in the cabinets gradually, and gradually replace all of that with good stuff. Deklan is going to be my hardest.

So here sit I, having my nightly tea without cream or sugar...only coconut milk. And you know what? It's darn good. I have to say that I don't really miss either. I'm going to start exercising again...nothing radical, but just get moving and be active 2-3 days per week to start. I think it would really help my energy levels, my sleep, and my aches and pains. I'm REALLY looking forward to this next month!

Connor rolled over today for the first time! (and the second and the third...) Now that he's got it down, he's unstoppable! Go baby, go!

I have a friend who recently gave birth to her third baby. Every birth is very special in its own right, but this one holds a special place in my heart. I met this friend when I was pregnant with Gavin and she was pregnant with her first...my bloggings at that time are the very first posts on this blog. I wasn't all crazy birth hippie or anything, but I was learning about natural birth and LOVING what I was learning. I didn't shout it from the rooftop, but when topics came up I gently gave my two cents. Anyway, my friend ended up having a c-section. It was totally avoidable, but the doctors made it sound like she had no other option and she agreed. When I read her birth story, my heart broke a little for her...not only for the birth experience lost, but also the fact that it was just so normal to have a c-section. Fast forward a couple of years...she's pregnant again. This pregnancy ended with surgery as well, another avoidable one (had her doctors listened to her). I started finding that as we discussed our kids, she started to become open to my crazy birth hippie ways. Hahaha! And again, long story short, she became pregnant again at the same time I was pregnant with Connor. This time would be different, she vowed. This time she was pushing her baby out. And push her baby out she did! After fiasco upon fiasco, switching of midwifery practices, stopping concurrent care with an OB, and numerous other speed bumps, she had her baby in the water at home unassisted, a VBA2C. Her midwives arrived a few minutes after the baby was born. She did it! Not only did she push her baby out, but she did it without cords and wires and tubing, continuous monitoring, vaginal exams, or pain medication. She not drugged up, bonded with her baby right away, established breastfeeding, and had energy to spare. And my heart was and is so full of love and pride and respect and joy for her that it nearly bursts every time I think of her lovely birth! Congrats, my dear friend. I always knew you could do it.

Still considering minimalist living...Trav is on board, we just have to start. The task seems SO DAUNTING. And I am struggling just to keep my head above water in school and keeping the laundry from piling up too high. I need a clone.