Friday, June 21, 2013

I'm Back!!!










So... I've been avoiding writing this post like the plague...like seriously dreading it...because I feel like a failure.  But for the good of some readers that may be helped by my situation & the gory truth of it, I will share with all the honesty I can muster.

I have been battling depression...post-partum? regular? Who knows... maybe some of both.  The depression led to overeating (not of good foods either, think like, a 3 month Mini Egg Bender)...which led to weight gain & more depression...which then fueled more overeating & so on & so on...VICIOUS cycle...Brutal.  I've gained 20 lbs since my last post. Ugh.

So what changed? Well... I realized something just wasn't right. I sought help. That was a very humbling experience, let me tell you... I also realized I couldn't keep living the way I was... I was miserable...in every sense of the word. Physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, as a mother, as a wife, as a co-worker... I just couldn't do it anymore.

So with help from my amazing husband & his amazing cousin Ashley - who runs a very helpful blog over here, my doctor, a wonderful counselor, amazingly patient co-workers, loving friends & from Heavenly Father ... I've slowly been climbing my way out of what I would easily classify as a pit of despair (no Princess Bride humor intended ~ well, maybe a little bit).  I've been getting back on track...have been eating healthier, have begun working out again & have even lost a couple of pounds (YAY!) ... So stay tuned...I will be posting some of the yummy things I've been eating lately & how my progress is coming along.

"Every journey begins with a single step...but you have to keep going in the right direction if you want to end up at your desired destination"

Thursday, January 24, 2013

21 Day Sugar Detox...Done & Done!



Okay!  So after a mostly Paleo Christmas, I wanted to get back on the 100% Paleo wagon.  Most of my meals were Paleo, but I was allowing myself some treats, etc.  I heard about the 21 Day Sugar Detox when I was listening to a Balanced Bites podcast & was on board.  I bought the guide & went for it.  I lost 6.5 lbs the first week & lost a total of 8.2 lbs.

It's not meant to be for weight loss...it's supposed to be about resetting your interpretation of what sweet tastes like & as such you needed to cut out all sweeteners, calorie laden & calorie free.  I definitely found it to be worthwhile.  It was challenging at times, but now I better appreciate making choices about the intake of  Paleo & non-Paleo sweeteners.

Before, I felt like I needed to have something sweet at least every day...sometimes with both lunch and dinner.  But now, even after it's been over for a few days, I'm finding that I'm still acting like I'm on the detox & won't have any kind of sweeteners.  And when I do want to have something sweet, I a) don't worry about doing it & b) am satisfied with less than I would've been previously.  I feel like my calibration of the desire for sweet things has been "re-set".

So all in all, very happy with the results & I'll do it again for sure!  Thanks Balanced Bites!