Holiday Whole30 Wrap Up

Happy New Year!

The 30 days are in, and I am here with some thoughts on it all. Let’s start with the highlights and lowlights.

Highlights

* Based on the closet situation (things fit that didn’t used to, other things are looser), I estimate losing about 5 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. That is an accomplishment, if you think about it.

* Belly taming. One thing I love about this anti-inflammatory way of eating is that I notice a flatter belly pretty quickly. Since this is always my main goal in any weight loss attempt, I think that is pretty great.

* More answers from acupuncture. I did a full blood panel. My cholesterol is still elevated, but not enough for a prescription to be recommended. According to my acupuncturist, stress is the leading factor. She has prescribed herbs to balance my hormones. Stress leads to elevated cortisol, which puts hormones out of balance, which can contribute to elevated cholesterol. I also look forward to starting two Young Living products: Cortistop and Endogize. When I came in for my appointment, I was under a very heavy weight of stress from an unpleasant situation. It was enough to put me into a temporary state of depression. Physically, my stomach was achy and bloated. It was the perfect time for a treatment. She focused a lot on my stomach. She also prescribed Echinacea to inhibit tumor growth and keep my fibroids under control.

*Aromatherapy. Between my oils and the acupuncture treatment, all was forgotten pretty quickly. My physical and mental health bounced right back. Tangerine oil, surprisingly, is fantastic for anxiety. Aromatherapy has a powerful effect on the emotions because our smell is connected to the emotional center of our brain (limbic region). Favorite oils for balance are Young Living’s Peace and Calming (contains tangerine), Citrus Fresh, Valor (contains frankincense), and Stress Away (contains lime, vanilla, and copaiba).

*Letting go of cravings. When you jump in with both feet, you will see the cravings go away. Sugar, dairy, and wheat rarely tempt me anymore.

*College daughter is also gluten and dairy free. It is nice to have support from the kids. My husband is also completely on board. He hasn’t taken the plunge personally, but he is happy to eat whatever I cook. Even my 14 year old daughter gave me a budget Paleo cookbook for Christmas. I am thoroughly enjoying it.

*Allergy help. Cedar fever hit me hard, as it did most everyone here in South Texas. Interestingly, I was doing fine until my stressful situation hit. Then the allergies were full blown. I’m convinced there is an emotional component to allergies. As my physical and emotional symptoms got under control, my allergies also went away. When I go off the diet, allergies come back. It is safe to say that inflammation leads to allergies.

Lowlights

*Eggnog. If we have it, I will drink it. My paleo verson was a hit. When it runs out, though…

*Other homemade baked goods. The holidays are a balancing act. I was not as strict this this time around. Feasts have a place, and I am going to do a little feasting this time of year. Thankfully I did enough to get back on track and plan to continue a strict paleo diet now that the holidays are over.

*Cooking for 9. I did this for a week. There were 3 meals I cooked for my immediate family plus 2 grandparents. Add number 10 on Christmas day. We had a friend over too. On Christmas , we went all out with London Broil. If I had been trying to be good that day, it would not have been very hard. The other meals I cooked for the crowd were pizza and pasta. Not paleo in the least. That move was partly to save on cost and partly to save on time.

All in all, the Holiday Whole30 was a success. I still have work to do, particularly with allergies and hormone balancing. I also wouldn’t mind fitting into more of my skinny pants. I’m ready for a healthy, Paleo year. Cheers!

Answers from Acupuncture

Today is a good day. I had my first acupuncture appointment ever. I went because I found out our insurance covers it, so why not? I’m a fan of bodywork. My insurance doesn’t cover massage or chiropractic, so acupuncture it is. I don’t know anything about Chinese medicine and very little about yin and yang, etc. It was nice to bounce some of my crazy ideas off a professional. It was even better to find out I am completely on the right track.

It started with a questionnaire. This one was different. The whole approach was looking for patterns and connections, not behaviors and symptoms so much. At the end, I was invited to list my 5 main complaints. These would be the focus for the treatment. My new friend, Jennifer, acupuncturist, took my blood pressure, examined my tongue, and then sat me down to chat about the questionnaire. I told her about the Whole30, my desire to eliminate toxins, essential oils, allergies, and my battle with fibroids. I am here to tell you that acupuncture doesn’t hurt. Mild discomfort, yes, but we did need to release the tension. At the end, she told me that my tongue and symptoms confirm that I have a problem with my “liver qi.” It is connected to digestion. Most likely because of stress, there is an interruption with my digestion, and my body develops excess mucus and cysts. Allergies and fibroids are common manifestations. Excess estrogen also contributes to this problem. I am not taking any estrogen, but my body still over-produces it when under stress or from poor eating and toxin exposure.

I am doing many things well, such as using Young Living products instead of toxic alternatives. The Paleo diet is also exactly right. But I am not doing enough. Jennifer suggested another body cleanse. I am going to start another Whole30 immediately after Thanksgiving and add to it some cleansing supplements per her suggestion. She is not a Young Living user. We have products that I believe would do the exact same thing, but I went ahead with her suggestions for the cleanse so she can monitor everything and properly prescribe.

An important note: a couple of buzzwords I learned from the paleo/gluten free community are “leaky gut” and “autoimmune”. I asked Jennifer if she would use these words to describe my condition. She said no.  I am taking away two things from this: 1. I am pretty healthy all in all, and 2. We need to stop throwing around these words so loosely.

I look forward to seeing some progress. I’ll report back after my appointment next month!

Confession

So… my, uh, eating habits have tanked.  Having started eating paleo in February, I have now attempted my first holiday season.  I’m not proud of the results.  I’m not going to point any fingers.  I mean, I have mentioned my new eating habits to a special relative who went ahead and sent a dozen Wolferman’s English muffins anyway.  And now that I’m working a full time job plus extra doesn’t help.  But no, I’m taking full responsibility here.

It was never about weight.  Ok, I did update my wardrobe and felt great about how I looked.  The killer was when I went out over Christmas break to buy some fat pants only to find that two weeks later, one of them was already too tight.  But still.  It’s not about the weight.

Here’s the reason I want to go back in the cave.  It’s about how I feel.  Physically, my hormones have gone out of balance.  I’ve experienced some cramping and headaches.  My digestive system is suffering, my energy is drained, and  I’ve even had some concerns about my circulation.  And don’t get me started about the allergies! 

I’ve had a few Zyto Scans confirm these physical issues.  If you’re not familiar with zyto technology, it is a biofeedback system similar to a lie detector.  It is an excellent tool to find out what your body needs.  Young Living products can be recommended via the Zyto Scan.

These products have helped, but nothing is as powerful as the food we constantly fill our bodies with.  Food can be medicine or poison.

The other problem I’ve noticed with my decline in eating habits is that my emotions have been heavily affected.  I feel more vulnerable and unable to navigate difficult situations.  Back in March, I was brimming with confidence.  I was happier.

I was perfectly content with my food choices in the cave.  It’s time to go back.  I’m thinking cold turkey will be the best way.  Goodbye grains and sugar and dairy!

Bread Beat

This month I took a detour from the paleo diet to focus my attention on world hunger and the family budget.  (See Book Club.)  I ate a little bit of bread every day for a week.  The rest of my diet was paleo aside from a small amount of sugar and dairy.

I was curious to see what would happen.  While my inflammatory response to corn is immediate, I can tolerate wheat a little better.  Most of the wheat products I ate came from the bakery at the grocery store and contained no preservatives.  But the allergies finally caught up with me.  I’ve had some phlegm.   I also went into quite a tizzy while around cat hair.  After my 30 day cleanse, I was OK around cats, so I know even this allergy has dietary roots.

I resolved not to obsess about the paleo diet for the rest of the month.  But I would rather stay away from wheat and feel better than keep eating it.  I’m still taking a more relaxed approach this month.  I’ve gotten used to very satisfying meals without bread.  Last night’s dinner and today’s lunch is a perfect example-

sweet potatoes fried in safflower oil, French beans sauteed in bacon fat, and chicken thighs.  For the chicken, dip in bacon fat and sprinkle with lemon pepper and herbs de Provence.  Bake at 375 for an hour.

Valor: part 9 of 9

Last but not least, I would like to introduce you to Valor, a blend containing spruce, rosewood, blue tansy, and frankincense in an almond oil base.

When I got my Premium Starter Kit, Valor was the last oil I tried.  I asked a couple of mentors what I should use it for, and they said: spinal alignment and confidence.  I was thinking, how did they know I needed that?  They were speaking my language. At first it seemed odd, but now I see how these issues are connected. Valor balances energy. It supports the endocrine, cardiovascular, and muscular/skeletal systems. It has been referred to as “chiropractor in a bottle.” (Young Living) As the body’s energy is balanced, the spine will follow suit. Spinal health is so important that Valor is the first and last oil applied during a “Raindrop” essential oils treatment (more on that later, but highly recommended for chronic illnesses). Similarly, Valor is recommended to use before and after chiropractic treatments. Apply to the base of the spine.

I have really benefitted from using Valor when feeling nervous or uneasy, for interviews, and when I’m out of my comfort zone. Since I’m pretty much a freeway driving-a-phobe, I keep a bottle in my purse for whenever the need arises. Rubbing on one wrist and then holding the wrists together is balancing. Then I will also inhale the pleasing smell for the aromatic benefits.

Valor may have been the last oil I tried, but it quickly became my favorite and most often used. Here are some other benefits shared by Karen Douglas:
Sleep issues, including snoring and sleep apnea
Bed wetting
Allergies
Increased blood flow
Stiff muscles
May remove viruses from spine
Self esteem and courage
Depression
TMJ
Headaches

Back in the Saddle

Yes, yes I did have a bowl full of cherries for breakfast.  No, this is not a metaphor for my life.  I am an optimist and a person of faith.  Life is messy and sometimes very hard, but God has never let me down.  I like to look for silver linings.  There are always so many.  Always look for hope.  God will provide it.

This summer I’ve been experimenting with non paleo foods to see how my body reacts.  I started out with severe autoimmune issues in the form of allergies.  The 30 day cleanse I did in February cured me of those symptoms, but they are quick to come back when I let back in the grains.

Since we moved to a city, I’ve been shopping at Trader Joe’s.  My understanding is that they do not sell anything genetically modified.  So I’ve been trying some things out.  In the last couple of days I ate Fruity Os, taco shells, and popcorn from TJ’s.  Unfortunately, I’m not ready for that.  Enter phlegm in the back of my throat.   Apparently, it is not just gluten or GMOs that set me off.  My leaky gut is still sensitive to grains and legumes.

I’m back in the saddle.  I trust one day I’ll be healed enough to enjoy these foods.  It will be a while, though.   For the record, I didn’t eat all of those cherries.   I also had a scrambled egg with diced tomatoes cooked in bacon fat and black tea with almond milk.   Lovely!