About Me & My Desire to Feel Better

"You are only as old as you feel."

I'm 98.  Okay, not really, but my body thinks so.

A little bit of history: 
When I was 12 or 13, I started having problems. (What awkward pubescent girl doesn't?) My problems began by having hair thinning, weight gain, painful cramps and heavy PMS flow (sorry guys haha). I even had a hymanectomy at age 18 to see if that would help.  (It didn't.) I also started having pain in my joint areas and numbness in my left leg and arm.  I remember being in gym class and not being able to do a simple push-up without my wrists hurting.  I also couldn't eat a lot of heavy foods, or really it seemed like "anything," because my stomach would be upset.  It was so frustrating because all the doctors I went to over the years either gave me no answers, or answers that were incorrect, or simply told me it was in all in my head.  But, it can be difficult to diagnose something I guess. 

My family consists of my supportive husband, (Even if he is not a fan of a lot of the "green stuff."), my daughter "V" and myself.  We live on an acre property in the country and are fortunate enough to have poultry to lay us delicious, mostly free-range (due to predators), beautiful fresh eggs!  I haven't been able to butcher any yet...but that is something I hope to do down the road...  Then that would be at least some food items I could control. :)  I am all about self-sufficiency too.  I want to grow veggies, fruits, root plants, I want to hunt, and also proccess my own Tilapia, chicken, and goats or miniature cattle for meat one day.  (I think my next step would be goats; for their cheese, butter, milk, soap, meat...really a lot of benefits to goats!)  But this is a dream far in the future right now.  For now, I'm happy with my laying hen "girls."  :)

© EBouley Photography 2012

Recently, a friend of mine, Briony, suggested that I do some "Clean Eating" and see if that would help with my issues. She has her own blog "Freeze Your Way Fit" and has posted a lot of recipes and tips for eating and utilizing your freezer. :)

So I am starting this journey... I will be posting mainly recipes, but I will tell you how my journey is going.

As of right now, I am 32, mother of 1, married, 190 pounds, and unhappy with the discomfort I am dealing with on a daily basis. My goals? To no longer be in pain, to lose 20 pounds, and to set an example of a better lifestyle for my daughter. I do not wish what I, and her father, have gone through on her. I truly believe it starts at home. I want her to get excited about food! But I want her to be excited about HEALTHY food!

Today-July 2012:

So let's set a plan:

1. By one month, August 23rd, I want to be consistently eating clean.  Meaning - No fast food, no processed items, and as much fresh food as I can!  Also, because the temptation is there to fall off the wagon and get lazy, I will allow for this one month to "eat bad" once a week.  BABY STEPS!
2. Every month after the first month, I will be trying to lower that "once a week" to once every other week, then once a month.  I feel you can eat poorly every now and again, but to really limit it!
3. PORTION SIZES!!!  I will snack and eat portion sizes only!  I will not binge, I will not skip meals, I will not stuff myself!
4. After 6 months, I will do a weigh-in.  This may not be very significant in the numbers so I am ready for that.  (I won't be adding an exercise regimen, per se, other than some light exercises for my joints occasionally.)  After all, this is a lifestyle change that isn't a "diet fad," it is simply replacing processed, chemical-filled, highly sugared, unknown-named ingredient foods into food that you can read and know that if you could get it a thousand years ago, or it wasn't made in a lab, it is okay for you!  It is replacing the processed with the pure, the natural, the items your body can better digest.
5. At the 6 month mark, I will re-assess where I stand.  Have I been eating right?  Do I have any concerns?  Should I add a consistent exercise routine?  Things like that.

This is a lot to take into consideration.  I am sure there will be days that I will forget, or be lazy, or un-motivated, but it is these days that I must be strong.  I will look for your support!  So, starting tomorrow, I am going to start a daily food journal and I hope that everything goes well!

ADVENTURE!!!
~Ella~