For the next 30+ days, I will be eating meat, vegetables, healthy fats, fruits and nuts. I will not be eating processed food, sugar, dairy, grains or legumes, and I won’t be consuming any alcohol.

I’ve done a few Whole30 challenges before, but this time I’m looking for something a little different. I lost touch with my Paleo choices last year and I would like to reconnect with what it means to feel healthy, vibrant, and in tune with my whole self.

If you’re doing a Whole30 or other challenge, if you are living/exploring the Paleo lifestyle, or if you are simply looking for some tasty recipes to add to your repertoire, be sure to leave a comment to let me know you’re out there! I am so glad you stopped by!

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Day 9 is done!

Quote of the Day: Attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure!

Just so you know, I’m not actually choosing these quotes. A friend sent them from a Whole30 Facebook post and I’m simply sharing them in order. So I find it particularly funny when they are as appropriate as this one is.

Yesterday, a friend of mine mentioned that she’d be running her 12 miles at 7 in the morning on her own because the people she usually runs with weren’t available. You might know that I’ve chosen a theme for my year, which is EMBRACE, and that includes things like embracing life and spontaneity and adventure. So when she said she’d love some company, I immediately volunteered to meet up with her and run a couple (maybe 3-4) of her miles so that she’d have a bit of a distraction. When I got there this morning, the ground was snowy, the temperature was 6 degrees but her app said it felt like -2, and I loved every minute of it. Instead of seeing it as cold or early or anything like that, I saw it as an opportunity to have an adventure and connect with a friend. It was definitely a great morning.

I think we can look at our healthy eating habits in much the same way. One of the things that I love about doing a Whole30 is that it can reinvigorate what sometimes becomes boring, frustrating, or just really, really hard. We don’t always want to choose what’s best for our bodies and minds. I get it. I like cocktails and chips and cake as much as the next person. But what I don’t like is what those things do to me. Instead of lamenting that which I’m choosing to avoid right now, though, I am looking at it as an adventure, an opportunity to embrace what’s new. How can I make the week easier? What new recipe can I create? What cookbook looks fun right now and what do I want to make from it? What will taste delicious? Because truthfully, I want my journey to be filled with joy every single day. I also believe that my attitude can make the difference.

Day 9 – The Details

6:00am – Black coffee

6:15am – (pre-workout) 1/2 a banana and 1 Tbsp. almond butter/coconut butter (I remembered at the last minute that I had coconut butter…)

10:30am – (post-workout) 4 1/2 oz. chicken with slaw and other veggies, 1 Tbsp. truffle aioli

1:00pm – Thai beef with green beans, onions, and green bell peppers

3:30pm – 2 handfuls of grapes

6:00pm – 3 meatballs, 1/8 avocado w/ a couple cherry tomatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts

Food: Felt really good today. I still have to tell myself sometimes to go do something else because I’m not hungry but I want to eat. Mostly, though, I am just happy to be feeling like my body is getting nourished the way it should.

Mood: It’s been a good day!

Sleep: 6 1/2 hrs. My plans for an amazing sleep went out the window last night. The football game went late and I stayed up to watch it and then I had to get up earlier than planned to go run. A couple other notes: I had vivid dreams full of cravings which cracked me up. I dreamt of graham crackers covered in peanut butter and melted chocolate. And I woke up with a headache again. Probably from the sugar in my dreams!

Activity: 7 mile run! I was only thinking about doing 3-4 with my friend who was running 12, but we got to talking and it was beautiful out. Such a great way to start the day!

Focus – Meditate Daily: It got pretty late in the evening before I meditated. I am grateful that this is my focus for the week because it helped me make the time to center myself and breathe.