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 19 is done!

Quote of the Day: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

This reminds me that it can be really helpful when working towards a goal to think for a while about why you want to achieve that particular thing. Knowing our “why” can help sustain us through times when we have cravings or don’t feel as strong in our desire to make the hard choices. It can also help to broaden the why to include benefits to others, not just a personal benefit.

For example, you might want to lose weight to fit into your jeans better, but if you can dig a little deeper and find a reason that also touches others – perhaps you feel better in your jeans which gives you more confidence and you start a regular evening out with friends. Or something along the lines of improving your health so that you can be more active and spend more time playing (or living) with your kids. It seems that these goals that reach a little beyond ourselves, can help strengthen our resolve.

Either way, knowing deeply why you want to eat this way can make the process easier. Write it down, too! The act of writing, and even putting it somewhere as a reminder, keeps your goals top of mind.

It’s important to make the initial period as easy as possible, requiring less thought rather than more, so your brain can get on board and start coasting. If your brain doesn’t have to make as many difficult decisions about what to eat, and instead can go on auto-pilot, then you’re in the process of forming a good solid habit.

Day 19 – The Details

4:30am – Black coffee

6:15am – 2 eggs, kale and mushrooms, 1/2 tsp. coconut oil, 1/4 avocado, sauerkraut, a little bit of celery/chicken salad

1:00pm – 1 1/2 c. Turnip soup, burger patty with 1/4 avocado, carrots, small handful of macadamia nuts

5:15pm – Grilled pork tenderloin, spiced sweet potatoes, pineapple

Food: Food was okay today. I am not sure why this Whole30 is so difficult for me to figure out how much I should be eating. I think it is in part because my schedule has been so erratic that I just can’t find a normal rhythm. Lunch was late and I was hungry. I ate more than I probably needed and then didn’t feel great. It’s not terrible, just not feeling quite right.

Mood: My mood was pretty high today. Energy was great and I was able to get a lot accomplished rather efficiently. That’s important to me right now.

Sleep: 7 hours. Good sleep.

Activity: Yoga. I am really missing my other workouts. This part of my life is suffering right now, but I also know that in February, it should settle down so I’m just doing the best I can.

Focus – Meditate Daily: Just before bed tonight. I was thinking that it wasn’t may favorite time, but actually, it was perfect.