This morning I couldn't wait to stand on the scale. I knew I had been so good yesterday, and I expected the numbers to show it. Sure enough, I lost another 1.8 pounds. I am now officially the lightest I've been in at least a year! Although my goal with this journey isn't weight loss, I love that side effect. Like yesterday, it gave me the motivation to keep plugging forward.
I am already starting to get into a bit of a routine. Once the kids are gone to school, I can make my breakfast and plan my next meal. I am amazed at the enthusiasm I feel even though I am cutting so many things out of my life. Yesterday I only felt a little bit sad, and today I haven't felt deprived at all. I am finding an inner strength I didn't know I had, and I am loving it!
As I walked to and from the school today to volunteer in my son's class, I had a few minutes to reflect on the last few days. This definitely will be a physical journey for me, as I make a very direct connection between the foods I put into my body and the results I feel. What I didn't expect is the emotional and spiritual journey this is turning into. I feel more emotionally raw, like I am open and vulnerable to what the world may throw at me. I also feel more grounded.
My walk gave me time to reflect on some of the more tender things in my life. I believe deeply in the power of prayer, and it was nice to feel like that side of me is more open to receiving answers. I am feeling an inner peace that has been missing from my life for quite some time.
As I prepared my food the remainder of the day, I was struck by one thought. Colorful! Have you ever taken the time to appreciate how beautiful all those veggies are? I know I haven't. My taste buds enjoyed the foods I ate while my eyes enjoyed the spread before me. As always, I'm grateful for the beauty this earth provides us. I am grateful for a loving Father in Heaven who chose to provide such a rich visual experience for us on this earth rather than making everything functional. We are truly blessed!
The day is finally nearing an end, and as I wind down, I am grateful to say I made it through day three. My intense sugar cravings come and go, but I am learning to be strong and resist caving into them. I am looking forward to day four!
Here's what I ate for lunch today. The friend who gave me the recipe calls it the seductive pasta, since it was what she would cook for the guys she dated. I tweaked the recipe a bit, adding much more veggies and letting go of the pasta. All in all, this was my favorite meal so far.
Here's the recipe:
red pepper
yellow pepper
carrot
zuchini
yellow squash
tomato
onion
(Really you can put any and all veggies you like. I prefer to chop mine up, but if you grate them you'll end up with a more saucy recipe.)
1 clove garlic
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
1 t. dried basil
1/2 t. dried oregano
1/4 t. dried thyme
1 T. coconut oil or olive oil
After chopping your veggies, combine in a large bowl with all the seasonings. Heat oil in a large skillet. Saute the veggie mix for a few minutes on med - high heat, then turn down to low and simmer for 15 minutes.
This makes a great topping for pasta. In my case, I skipped the pasta and topped it with grilled chicken breast instead. I also added grated parmesan cheese. My adjusted seasoning sizes were perfect for just one serving of food. Delicious!
I was thinking of trying my seductive pasta recipe over spaghetti squash, too. I've only tried GF pasta once, and, well, it wasn't that great.
ReplyDeleteI actually discovered spaghetti squash for the first time last year,and it is awesome! That veggie mixture would be fantastic on top of it. Becca- you are doing great! I am hoping you will continue to feel better and better and enjoy all the great side effects of fueling your body well.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lot of changes! I agree--that would be a very difficult doctor's appointment. I'm so impressed with your yummy meals. Good for you!
ReplyDelete