Figuring Out Positive Psychology for Cateepoo

I recently listened to a podcast on "positive psychology".  This was a new concept to me, but it has been whirling around in my mind and forced me to take a good look at myself....again.

The last three years or so, my mind has felt a little out of whack.  I added to my work schedule and was stressed out for a while, so that seemed an easy answer to the problem. I reduced my stress and reorganized my schedule to fit my needs better, but things still didn't feel completely aligned. My take away from the positive psychology podcast was that I need to look at my past, especially the parts of my past that were successful and build on those times. In doing so, I had two revelations.  One, I have become a podcast addict.  There.  I said it.  It's true. With large amounts of time in the car, I have been filling every minute with constant noise rather than letting my mind have some quiet down time as I did in the past and really need. Two, I have been listening to what these podcast "experts" think I should eat and how I should live my life rather than listening to myself, the true expert on Cateepoo.

After figuring out what has changed for me, I had to ask myself, "Why?".  The majority of the podcasts I listen to are Paleo related. I started the Paleo diet almost four years ago because it fits well with how I feel about food and life in general. It highly recommends buying local, organic, and free range food which I have been doing more of for the last 10-11 years.  The diet/lifestyle promotes eating fresh whole foods - minus grains, legumes, and dairy, putting the focus on meat, vegetables, and fruits. Movement is encouraged, especially lifting weights. Since I tend to want to know all there is about the philosophies I believe in and have tons of time in the car, it makes sense that I started listening to a variety of Paleo podcasts.

I  believe in the philosophy of this lifestyle and hope to continue making it more of a part of my life.  In order to do so, I need to make some changes. To me, the Paleo lifestyle is all about simplifying your life and finding balance. (A little humorous since it seems like I have become less balanced.). So first, I need to reduce the number/amount of time I spend listening to podcasts.  There is an enormous amount of information out there as this movement grows and develops.   There are blogs, books, and podcasts in ever growing numbers.  I sometimes feel my brain is bombarded with information, especially as many people are making this their living and constantly promoting themselves. There is a lot of fantastic information out there, but there comes a point when it is too much to consume.  I realized this while listening to the podcast on positive psychology. I have to go back to the days when I got in my car after work, left the radio off, and just had time to decompress rather than right away taking in more information.

In addition to spending way too much time listening to podcasts,  I have been spending too much time taking the advice of all the Paleo pod-casters I listen to.  Sure, a lot of them have fantastic information, but not when it sacrifices me listening to myself. Calm minded Cateepoo of the past listened to her own advice.  I have been allowing the "experts" to dictate what type of food to eat (I enjoy a little rice a few days a week), sleep to get (I love sleep and get as much as I can, but with crazy schedules, my priority is seeing my family), and exercise to get rather than doing what comes best for me - listening to myself.  An example of this is that I had stopped doing some of my cardio workouts because the host on this same podcast repeats in every podcast that it isn't good for us. "Lift weights and sprint. Avoid cardio."  That is the message heard over and over.  I like lifting weights, but honestly I hate sprinting so I don't do it.  It isn't enjoyable to me and it hurts my knees.  Wanting to go back to what worked in the past,  I found some cardio type workouts similar to what I did in the past and instantly my mind felt clearer.  My energy levels increased.  I look forward to working out. I even look forward to moving more during the day. Research and case studies that are shared on these podcasts are great, but when it comes down to it, I know myself better than anyone else. I am the expert on Cateepoo. This is how I have lived my life as a homeschooling mother and how I have dealt with my rheumatoid arthritis.  It only makes sense to be the expert in all areas of my life.

Once again I want to let my mind have time to rest after work.  I want to take my morning walk without earbuds so that I can listen to the birds, the wind, and other outdoor noises again. I want my mind to be clear so that when my husband or children laugh or want to share something with me, I have the room in my mind to listen.  My mind has felt like it is overflowing with information.  It is time to slow it down and go back to listening to my internal voice rather than the voices of  ten different podcasters that feel they know what is best for me.

I like the idea of positive psychology.  It makes sense to build on what has made me successful.  I know that eating well, reducing my stress, exercising/general movement, quiet time alone and with family are what works for me.  My mind is doing a happy dance as it realizes it is once again listening to the one person who knows what is best for it- me!

The Calm that Comes with the Familiar

There are days that Izzy and I jump in the car and head for a forest preserve to do our daily walk together, but most days, we take advantage of the sidewalks in our own neighborhood.  In fact, I have found that if I take Izzy somewhere new or different, she doesn't seem settled until we have walked around our own neighborhood.  Perhaps for Izzy and me, the familiar brings a certain amount of calm.  For me, I don't have to think too hard on where I am going and can instead let my thoughts flow in and out.  I find that I am constantly learning new things about my neighborhood of close to 500 homes.  Who is moving?  Who has a teenager graduating?  Ooohhh....new outdoor furniture.  Nice.  Lately, I have been focusing on what plants my neighbors are having success with and figuring out what I want for my own yard.  I enjoy seeing friendly faces in the morning that greet me with a smile and I even get a kick out of figuring out ways to avoid those few who don't.  Izzy seems to have her own needs of the familiar. At six years old, she has finally stopped trying to herd every bicyclist in the neighborhood and we both know which dogs are of no interest to her and which ones she would like to tear apart.  Her favorite thing though is peeing in the same spots each day.

Recently, my son couldn't sleep and ended up taking a very early morning walk.  Out of curiosity, I asked which paths he took.  He shared how he left our neighborhood and visited the one next to ours.  He mentioned a path he found that connected our two neighborhoods together.  What?  I have walked this neighborhood daily for the last six years.  How could I miss this path?  Whenever I have decided to extend my walk to the next neighborhood, I have always taken the long way around, thinking there had to be a quicker/easier way.

Yesterday I decided to do a little exploring.  Although I feel like I have walked every street in our neighborhood, I never walk the cul-de-sacs.  This must be where the mystery path was hidden.  The first two did not expose any hidden paths.  Then as I approached the third one I could see a path.  I couldn't see from a distance where it lead, but it was a path.  It was like a shining light came down on this path.  I had found the right place.  I felt relief.  Izzy and I headed down the path and found it lead to a dead end. Disappointed, we headed back to the main path.  The fourth cul-de-sac did not unveil any hidden paths.  On the way home, I felt a conflict in my head going on.  Did I want to continue the search the next day or was I content to continue following the path I have been to the next neighborhood?

My walks with Izzy always provide me with time to think and reflect.  Yesterday's walking experience allowed me to reflect on my health.  Lately I have found myself feeling the need to revamp my overall health plan. Currently, I am following the familiar path of taking medications for my rheumatoid arthritis, but it doesn't always feel right to me. When I chose to go back on medications, it was with the understanding that I would take them as long as I felt comfortable with that decision. I can't say I am completely uncomfortable taking them right now, but definitely starting to think of how to change things up a bit.  Medications are often like my walks through our neighborhood, I don't have to think too hard about what I am doing which does create a certain amount of calm.  It also allows me time to rest my brain from so many years of experimenting with alternative treatments while also looking around at what others are doing to see what fits my lifestyle. This time with the familiar has allowed me to do a little research into some things I would like to try in the future.

The basic belief system I had when I started this blog in 2008 hasn't changed.  I still believe the body wants to heal.  In many ways my body has healed, but not to a point I can easily go off the medications yet.  Like my walk yesterday, I haven't found the path that my body needs to get me to the next place, but this time on medications is allowing me to explore while not feeling pain.  Since my rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis, I have definitely discovered many paths to wellness, but something is still missing.  My body still has lot of room to heal, but I need to keep searching for the path that is perfect for my individual body.  The one thing I have accepted while chasing each of these different paths is that what I am looking for may not come easily or with a lot of guidance.  There will be many dead ends. That is why it is so important to continue to be patient, open minded, and most of all continue to nourish myself both physically and mentally.  With time, the path that is perfect for my body will be discovered.  For now, I will continue to enjoy the calm that comes with the familiar.          

Mindless Eating

Shortly before rheumatoid arthritis became a part of my family's life, I was heading down a path to better nutrition.   A friend of mine had introduced me to Weston A Price and I began making more of my own foods at home and for the most part removed processed foods.  We also started buying all of our meat, eggs, and milk from a farmer that raises animals outside eating grass and getting the sunshine all animals should receive.  We also joined a CSA where the kids and I volunteered.  We are still known by the farmer as his lettuce cleaners.  Making food for my family turned from being a chore to being a small gift that I could give them two to three times a day.  When I eat "clean", I feel good.  I feel connected to the earth and feel that we are making choices that not only nourish us, but also nourish our earth.  This is what I consider mindful eating.

This all sounds wonderful, right?  When you eat "clean" and eat foods which actually come from a place and person you know you feel awesome.  Sitting down to the table knowing where every piece of food came from provides huge rewards.  While eating you think, "I will never stray away from this type of diet."  The problem is that I have a food enemy called gluten free pizza.  We have searched long and hard and finally found two places that serve gluten free pizza that tastes good. When I am eating this pizza, all of life seems perfect.  I love the tastes of pepperoni, sausage and black olives mixed with tomato sauce and cheese. Since I rarely eat grains, I love the texture of the crust.  I eat way more than I ever eat on an average night.  I forget that I will wake up numerous times during the night thirsty, bloated, and overall feeling sick.  I just eat.   This is what I call mindless eating. Mindless eating doesn't agree with me physically or mentally.

Every time I eat pizza I promise myself I won't have it again for a really long time.  We end up spending a lot of money just to feel awful.  The pizza problem occurs when I haven't planned ahead.  I knew yesterday was going to be a long day and we would get home just as everyone was starving.  Plus, I left the house hungry which made things even worse.  I knew I should have prepared the hamburger patties we planned to grill, I knew I should have cut the sweet potatoes we planned to turn into fries, and I knew I should have bought the wood chips needed for the grill before we left the house for many hours.  When I am mindful of our food, I do these things.  When I am not, we eat gluten free pizza and then I suffer.  I am mindless and I suffer the consequences all night and the following day.

Today, I am mindful.  I cooked two eggs in bacon grease for breakfast.  I have wild caught salmon and veggies in the refrigerator for lunch with ingredients to make guacamole if I so desire.   And for dinner, Alexander plans to make Puerto Rican Beef, one of our favorite meals, since I will be out tutoring all afternoon.  Today we will eat mindfully and enjoy the positive consequences.    

Preparing For Work Week

Last week I returned to teaching two ESL (English as a Second, Third, Fourth and sometimes even Fifth Language) classes.  One class is in the morning and the other at night.  Although I LOVE my long breaks from work, it is nice to be back following a regular schedule and seeing the students I love. 

Before heading back on Tuesday night, I decided to spend some time getting things in place for the week.  I cleaned out my two book bags and everything is now organized,  I took a pair of pants in to have the snap replaced, and I replenished my personal hygiene products. 

By replenish I mean I made my own products. You may think making your own personal hygiene products is a time consuming project.  It's not.  The amount of time I spent making these products took less time than I have spent reading the ingredients on the back of the products.  Plus, these ready made products end up costing a lot more than making them.

First I replaced my small Rubbermaid container of coconut oil that I use as a moisturizer and eye make-up remover and then I made my hairspray and deodorant.  What I have found in making a few of my own personal hygiene products is that I feel nourished when making them.  This may sound strange but when I am making them I feel as if I am spending a little quality time on myself and I like that feeling. 
 
Slowing down and finding time to spend on myself has been a slow process but one that I really enjoy.  Just as I have discovered over the years that cooking meals for my family is not a chore but a small gift of myself that I can give to them each day, making my own personal hygiene products is a small gift I can give to myself.  Not only do I feel safe using the products I have made myself because I know what is going into the products, but I also like knowing that I am spending time on something that is just for me.  I feel as if I am pampering myself. 
 
What do you do to prepare for your work week?

115/36/44

This Saturday marks my 44th year of life! Wow! 44 years old. I know most women my age choose not to share their real age, but I am proud to be 44. I am proud to be exactly where I am right now.

When I was 36 years old I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. At 36, my body quickly went from being an active mom with young kids to a woman who physically felt like a 70+ year old woman. I struggled to get out of bed each morning and often required the assistance of my children to help  me undress at night.   

Looking back now I can see where rheumatoid arthritis was slowly showing its face. I remember working out and thinking, “I must not have stretched enough because my knee is really sore.” However, the symptoms that lead me to getting a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis and began the roller coaster of pain and stiffness in my body began with my fingers. I went to bed and woke up several times throughout the night unable to move my fingers. They would swell up. I was confused. I kept trying to think back over my days to see if I could figure out what I had done to make my fingers so sore.

I rarely go to the doctor but something told me my sore fingers weren’t right. My family physician gave me a prescription which I took and within ten days I was back in his office because the prescription wasn’t helping. In fact, I felt worse. He put me on prednisone.  My family physician isn’t one to wait on sending me to a specialist so an appointment with a rheumatologist was scheduled for four months into the future.

What I remember the most about the four months of waiting for my appointment was the quick decline my body went through. Paperwork from the rheumatologist’s office was sent as soon as the appointment was scheduled and I dutifully filled everything out right away. When my appointment time arrived, I reviewed all the symptoms and remember feeling extreme panic at where I now was. The pain and swelling was no longer confined to my fingers but I now could barely walk on my feet because the balls were so swollen. I could no longer skip down the stairs but instead took each one step by step. I found myself in tears each morning when I couldn’t open the coffee canister. I was tired. I was scared.

I have now lived with rheumatoid arthritis for almost eight years. Initially I took the medication route only. When my symptoms continued to worsen, I saw a naturopath and began an elimination diet. Working with a naturopath allowed me to wean off prednisone and cut back on my Methotrexate. I went into remission for a few years. Then I came out of remission in 2008 and went off all medications for two years. The two years I experimented without drugs and focused only on alternative methods were a tough  couple of years. However, I would repeat those years in a heartbeat. They were years that allowed me to really focus on where I want to be with this disease and most importantly to understand and accept that although I do have control over my feelings, the stress in my life, and the way I eat, I don’t have control over the flares that come as they want. August of 2010, I started on Enbrel and also tweaked my diet again by eliminating all grains, not just the gluten free ones. This last year has been amazing for me. Although I definitely still feel signs of RA in my body, I feel that my RA is managed.

I will be 44 years old this Saturday. I want to brag about my age because I went from feeling good as a 36 year old woman to feeling like a 70+ year old woman within months. After that experience, going back to 44 seems like a dream most people would kill for.

This last year has been good to me, but I have also been good to me. I know that the gift of health I have been given again is not something to be taken lightly. I know that it is a gift that can be taken away from me again at any moment and I have to live this life in the moment I have now. I have been eating in a way that not only feeds me but more importantly nourishes me. I eat grass fed cuts of meat, eggs, organic veggies and a few nuts and fruits here and there. I have returned to activities like bike rides with my family and long nature walks with my border collie that provide both fun and calm for me. I have even completed several rounds of P90X with my husband. I have uncluttered my life of many activities and people that bring stress rather than peace of mind. I have taken time to treat myself well and the results are amazing. So, on this World Arthritis Day, I feel proud to be where I am with my rheumatoid arthritis, proud of the accomplishments I have made along this journey, and excited to see where my 44th year of life takes me.

For more information about rheumatoid arthritis, check out RA Guy's 60 Second Guide To RA.

*Numbers from title: 115 = weight at onset of ra, 36 = age at onset of RA, 44 = current age

My "No Poo" Experiment

I remember when I was a little girl my grandma went to the salon every Friday to have her hair washed and set.  I remember being amazed that she could go all week without washing her hair.  I am proud to say that I now know her secret.

I have been on a quest to find a shampoo and conditioner for years that had minimal ingredients and didn’t cost an arm and a leg.  I knew there was something out there that wasn’t full of ingredients that were both harmful to my body and the environment, but I hadn’t found it yet.  Then last year, I began reading about a method known as “no poo”.  The “poo” means shampoo.  Hmmm…..I love self experimentation and had to give this a try.  Here are some blogs that I have found helpful along the way about the “no poo” philosophy.

•  Nature Moms: The No Shampoo Alternative.  This was one of the first sites I found and like how she has a breakdown of worrisome chemicals in shampoo and also directions on how to go “no poo”. 
• Free the Animal: Paleo I Don’t Care: I Like NoSoap; No Shampoo.  I especially loved reading the over 300 comments left about this subject. 
• CaveGirlEats:  No-poo.http://cavegirleats.com/2011/01/14/no-poo/  I love this statement on her post about bodycare, “If you’re serious about improving your health from all angles, take the “I don’t eat crap” mentality one step farther – start getting rid of the crap in your self-care products.

The first step in my own experiment was to see how long I could go without washing my hair.  Nature Moms' post explains the relationship between shampoo and scalp oil in a way that makes sense to me, “It's a supply and demand relationship, much like nursing a baby. The more your baby wants to nurse, the more milk your body produces. If you suddenly stopped nursing your baby there would be a lot of excess milk, engorgement, etc., for a while until your body returned to a state of balance.” 

The results of the first part of this experiment were amazing.  I was able to go about three weeks before I felt that I absolutely had to wash my hair.  Now, before you start thinking I am totally disgusting, let me say this; I did shower every day.  While showering, I would scrub my scalp well with nothing but warm water.  I didn’t want to use any products on my hair during this time period because I wanted a retraining period for my hair.  At first, I got that yucky feeling around the neckline when you feel like you have to shower and my scalp was definitely itchy, but I just kept on going.  Each time I showered and then dried and styled my hair I would ask my biggest hair critic, my teenage daughter, how my hair looked.  She wasn’t aware of my experiment at the time.  Each time she gave me good feedback.   It almost seemed that once I passed the first week, my hair looked better and better.  I will say that I have normal to dry hair and have never had an issue with too much oil.

The second step in the experiment was to wash my hair after I felt it had time to detox from its addiction to shampoo.  For this first try, I used Dr. Bronner’s soap to clean my hair.  I was a little worried because I had always used conditioner on my normal to dry hair and I would not be using any conditioner during this experiment.   The soap worked fine although I did have some fly-aways.  I think since I had developed a bit of an oil base on my scalp, it didn’t require the conditioner as it had in the past. 

With time I noticed something I never expected to happen.  The longer I went without “washing” my hair, the dryer it became.  How could that be?  Isn’t your hair supposed to become more oily?  I decided to change things up a little in this experiment.  Rather than using Dr. Bronner’s soap, I switched to a paste made of baking soda.  I massaged the paste onto my scalp and rinsed with a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water.  The apple cider vinegar helped restore the ph balance and made my hair very soft and shiny. 

I am continuing the “no poo” method today and don’t see myself switching back to regular shampoo anytime soon.  I love that my hair is no longer dependent on shampoo and it makes traveling super easy.  Plus, the cost of baking soda and apple cider vinegar is extremely cheap.  What I have been doing for about four months now is “washing” my hair once a week with the baking soda paste and apple cider vinegar.  (Ha Grandma! I am now a once a weaker too!)   Since my hair tends to be on the dry side, I use apple cider vinegar a few more times a week without the baking soda paste to keep my hair moisturized.  If I use a little too much apple cider vinegar the ends of my hair look oily and I have to run it through warm water again.  So, there is definitely a learning curve with all of this. 

I LOVE discovering new things about my amazing body.  I have been super happy with this experiment.  It has not only satisfied my need to find a shampoo and conditioner that is safe of chemicals (I can eat everything I put on my hair) but I have also eliminated gels that I used before.  I always used a minimal amount of gel, but now that my hair has a bit of an oil base to it, (not to be confused with a dirty, oily head) I don’t need the gels.   Plus, I have once again learned that my body (scalp included) are uniquely different than every other person’s and what it requires is quite different than what other people require.  I love learning new things about myself and my body.

Eating Paleo Away From Home

Yesterday, the following comment was left by Isabelle on my post Diet and Rheumatoid Arthritis in regards to eating away from home.

Comment: I am interested in how to eat paleo away from home. That is a big challenge for me as I understand that sugar and flour are often put in marinades and sauces so we don't even know they are there. I therefore eat at home pretty much always now.

As I started to reply, I realized I had a lot of information to share and decided to turn it into a post.

Reply: Isabelle, I agree that making your own food is the best option. Like you, we don’t eat out often because even when I feel a food is safe, I often don’t “feel” quite as good as when I make the food myself. However, it is nice to enjoy food with others outside of the home or occasionally on the weekend when making a meal just doesn’t fit into the plan.

Most of the time I bring my own food if I am going to be away from home for more than a few hours. My husband bought me a nice thermos for Christmas a few years ago and it is my best friend. It keeps food hot for up to seven hours. I often pack beef based soups, leftovers, or even sausage and eggs in the thermos. I bring it everywhere: homeschooling days twice a week, car trips, and even to work events when lunch will be served since the lunch is generally full of gluten and preservatives. Pulling out my own food was a little awkward at first, but feeling good is too important to me now. Other foods I often pack when outside the house are salads with homemade dressing, Applegate turkey wrapped around veggies and avocado, and deviled eggs.

I always keep beef jerky (check for ingredients as many brands of beef jerky add tons of preservatives and gluten), almonds, coconut flakes, and Larabars in my purse for times that I am unprepared or feel the need to indulge in something I don’t need. Plus, they are all foods my teens enjoy also.

When I go to a friend’s home to eat, I always offer to bring something that I know is safe for me to eat. I have been pleasantly surprised at how many friends and family are more than willing to cater to my eating habits. (I am willing to do the same for them. I have made many meat based meals and then vegetarian/vegan options.)

There are times when I am unsure of what will be served and it is awkward and even rude to bring my own food. In these situations I always make sure I eat a full meal before I leave the house so I am not starving when I arrive and cave in to the delicious looking food. Generally in these situations salad is served which I will happily eat, even without dressing. I have found that as long as I am eating something, it prevents the uncomfortable questions about why I am not eating the food provided.

When I do eat at a restaurant, I will often check out the menu online before we go. If we have input to where we are going, I always choose restaurants that have a gluten free menu. I may not always be able to eat grain free at a restaurant, but the goal is to at least stay gluten free. This is a compromise I made to myself to keep sane. I tried going the route of not eating at a restaurant with family and friends, but I felt this was not a healthy choice. I generally order items like the bowl rather than burrito at Chipotle (double meat, no beans or rice, salsa, veggies, lettuce and guac) steak & veggies, bunless hamburgers with guac & a side of veggies, sausage and eggs with veggies on the side rather than toast and potatoes, or a salad with meat. I don’t hesitate to ask how the meat is prepared and also request olive oil and a lemon for my salad. We do have one restaurant about twenty minutes away that prepares a delicious gluten free pizza and it is my ultimate indulgent food.

Restaurants are becoming more aware of gluten free options and even if the waiter doesn’t know what you are talking about, the cook generally does. (And if he/she doesn’t, I don’t recommend returning to that restaurant.) I once went to an Italian restaurant for a graduation dinner. There was not a gluten free menu but I asked what they had on the menu that was gluten free. The cook came right out and curiously inquired as to why I follow a gluten free diet. We had a nice conversation and then he told me he keeps a supply of gluten free pasta on hand and also had other suggestions. Recently when we were in Wichita we ended up in a restaurant with only one item on the entire menu that was gluten free. The only way I found this out was by asking. It turned out to also be a paleo meal!

For me, eating away from home generally means planning ahead. The night before I make a little extra food for dinner so I have something to eat for lunch or breakfast the next day if I know I will be away from home. Eating well means sharing my views with family and friends on foods that seem to work well with my individual body and it means doing a little research on restaurants before going. I have even emailed restaurants in advance about my dietary restrictions. This may sound like a lot of work, but really it isn’t. To me, waking up and limping the entire day takes more work than doing a little planning ahead. I know when I eat foods not prepared by me that I am always at risk of eating something that will affect me later. But, over time I have decided that I am willing to take that risk on occasion because I love sharing food with others and realized that by never allowing myself this little spice of life, I was actually adding a new stress to my life. I have realized that I can set a few guidelines for myself such as eating gluten free 100% of the time and then occassionally letting the other concerns fall to the side.

When I was gluten free rather than grain free, I felt I had a harder time eating at restaurants. For some reason once I went grain free, it became so much easier. For one thing, I don’t crave grains or sugar like I did when I was gluten free only. In these situations I was always looking for the exact menu item, only gluten free. Now, I am perfectly content without the grain options and find it fun to see what I can create for myself off a menu.

By the way Isabelle, will we ever see a blog from you? I always love your suggestions and would love to learn more about your lifestyle. I feel you have a lot to share.  As always, thanks for commenting.

Paleo Car Trip

We just got back from a car trip to Kansas.  We were in the car for about eleven hours each way.  When we travel to Kansas to visit my family, we pack the car ready to eat yummy foods that will fill us up and keep us away from temptations such as fast food, candy filled with corn syrup, and grains.

The last two car trips we took, Alexander and I made Everyday Paleo's Meatball Soup for our *thermos'.  It is not only filling, but full of good ingredients.  We generally also make deviled eggs.  This is my favorite car trip meal.  This time however, my schedule was super busy the day before with grocery shopping, meat coop pick-up, library, and work.  So, I decided to do super simple.

For breakfast:
We started the morning early.  I woke up, put four sweet potatoes in the toaster oven and walked Izzy while they baked.  In the meantime, the kids started the sausage patties and helped Steve load the car.  Together, the three of us prepared a filling breakfast of sweet potato, coconut oil and cinnamon with a side of sausage from our farmer.  Working together, it didn't take much time to prepare or clean-up. Plus, we knew we were starting our day off with full tummies.

For lunch:
Applegate turkey & roast beef rolls - Smear the meat with avocado, add some broccoli/carrot slaw mix from Trader Joe's, and a piece of lettuce.  Roll and put in baggies.  We use a reusable sandwich bag.
For snacks:
Applegate pepperoni wrapped around carrot sticks.
Jicama dipped in salsa (leftover from dinner the night before). Our dog ate the avocado.  :(
Trader Joe's corn chips and sweet potato chips for the kids. (Not exactly Paleo, but not the worse thing we could have on a car trip.)
Olives
Coconut flakes.
Lara Bars
Apples, oranges and bananas for the kids.
Chocolate covered almonds from Trader Joe's.  (Hey, it is a car trip right?) 
Bottles of water from home.
A few bottles of Trader Joe's sparkling water.

Sometimes we also bring beef jerky, but not this time.

For Izzy: 
She started her morning off with raw meat and veggies before leaving the house.  In the car she enjoyed apple cores and the tiny ends of bananas, plus anything she found laying on the floor of the car or on the ground when we stopped for gas.  :) 

During the trip:
I brought a supply of food plus we are fortunate to have family that is supportive of a gluten free diet and prepared yummy meals for us during the visit.  We did however find ourselves at a restaurant one evening with only one gluten free option on the entire menu.  After going into a slight panic, I accepted the food choice (chicken, spinach, apples and red potatoes) and enjoyed it.  Sophia, however, decided to live dangerously and order a pasta dish.  She has been about 85% grain free for many months now and 100% gluten free.  The morning after her meal, her eyes were super puffy, her bones hurt, and within 48 hours her legs were itching and her eczema had returned.  It was a good reminder of how strongly our bodies fight back after it has been treated with respect.

Traveling is difficult, but with some careful planning and good decision making, you can make choices that keep you feeling happy and full while traveling.  

*Thermos:  Christmas 2009, Steve bought me a thermos for Christmas.  It is by far one of my favorite gifts ever.  I use it at least three times a week.  If I am in a hurry on Tuesday/Thursday mornings, I throw my hot breakfast in the thermos and eat it during break.  When I need to attend a work related lunch meeting, I always bring my own food as I know the food provided will make me sick.  The thermos has been extremely beneficial in me eating well.   At the beginning of this winter we invested in two more thermos' for the kids.  They are about $20-$25 each for a good thermos, but when I thought through how many times we would avoid running by someplace to pick up food when out, it made sense.  They love having hot foods to take with them and of course it makes a momma's heart happy to know they have nutritious food to eat . 

Cold and Flu Season

Now that I am back to taking medications for rheumatoid arthritis, I have wondered how my body would stand up to the cold and flu season.  When the Enbrel nurse was here in July she warned me of being around little kids now that my immune system is suppressed.  Since I am around little kids a lot and many adults who come to school sick, I am at risk.  Also, both of my own kids and my husband have been sick one time each this winter.  While I am not yet in the clear yet, I am happy to report that I have done nicely this cold and flu season.  Several times I thought something was about to attack me and then it quickly disappeared.  Last week I woke up with a little sore throat and thought, "This time I am going to get it."  Steve told me, "Just say 'no' to it."  That made sense so I did and fortunately nothing panned out.  I am in the clear again.  I haven't had a cold or anything all winter.  I don't get flu shots.  The only thing I can think of is that my diet is really clean and it is keeping me strong.   Or, it could be that now that I have mentioned not getting sick, I will be sick tomorrow.  Let's hope not.     

The Foods We Eat DO Make a Difference

"Gorillas Going Green" -  In an effort to help captive gorillas suffering from heart disease, researchers took the gorillas off a processed diet and instead gave them natural foods like romaine lettuce, dandelion greens, endives, alfalfa, green beans, flax seeds, and even tree branches which they strip of bark and leaves.  Not only did the gorillas lose 65 pounds each, it also changed their behaviors.  Hmmm...I wonder what a diet free of processed foods would do for humans? 

My favorite quote from the article is "And, we're just recognizing that surviving on a diet and being healthy on a diet are different. We've raised our standards and are asking, are they in the best condition to not only survive but to thrive?"

I think we can learn much from this video and article.

Speaking of good foods, check out my friend Kate's new blog KateAlice Cookbook.   Kate shares some similiarities with me:  1) We both have autoimmune diseases.  2)  We both believe that diet has a lot to do with the inflammation in our bodies.   3) Although our overall diets are different, we both follow a "grain free" diet and have found wonderful benefits by eliminating this food group.  No matter what your diet choices, I think you will love the photos, writing, and recipe ideas she has to offer.  Since she is new to the blogging community, you might also want to leave a comment and welcome her!

The foods we eat DO make a difference.

Eggs

I buy 14 dozen eggs once a month when I pick up my order from the farmer we have been using for about eight years now.  Pick up is on Monday and we are out of eggs.  I made a quick trip to Whole Foods yesterday to buy a dozen until Monday.  As I looked through the selection of eggs, I noticed the poster above and felt nauseous.  My immediate thoughts were, "How sad that we have to be told that the hens have continuous access to food and water because that means a large number are not.  Also, they 'may' engage in natural behaviors like walking, nesting, and spreading their wings?  That truly makes me sad. What about sunlight?"  I am guessing since it isn't mentioned that they don't have access to sunlight.  I just couldn't purchase the eggs.  I have seen lots of information about how chickens are maintained which is one of the many reasons we purchase from farmers we know and trust, but seeing this notice just left me feeling sad for the animals that "may" not ever experience simple things like walking, nesting or even spreading their wings.  It just isn't right.  I feel like there are a lot of places my money can go, but good quality food is a number one place for me.

P90X, Paleo Diet, and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Yesterday was day 90!  Steve and I completed the full 90 days of the P90X program (minus their diet plan and shakes).  I am SUPER proud of myself.

In October Steve mentioned that he was thinking about trying out the P90X program.  He would soon stop riding his bike to work due to temperatures dropping and felt he needed something different in his workout routine.  I was two and a half months into my use of Enbrel and felt my body needed to get back into a workout routine. After about a two and a half year break from any regular exercise or even much movement in general, my body felt really soft.  I felt like I wanted to work my body hard.

In all honesty, I was still having some flares when we started the P90X program and was also in physical therapy to work on mobility and strength in my fingers, wrists, and shoulder.  When I decided to join Steve in the program, I wasn't sure how much of it I would be able to do and told Steve if it was too much I would stop.  There was only one day in the first month that I wasn't able to workout due to a flare.  I think that is pretty amazing considering this time last year I was struggling to get in and out of the car. 

In the beginning, I did have to make some adjustments.  I started off with extremely low weights or no weights at all and always followed the modified moves.  But, as we continued waking up each and every morning, I felt my body gaining strength.  The pain and stiffness in my shoulder left.  The weakness in my wrists disappeared. After several weeks of doing the program, I was pleasantly surprised to realize I was no longer doing the push-ups on my knees and with time my body told me when it was ready to add more weight.  I am still working on getting those fingers to bend completely, but that will come with time.

This exercise program is the most difficult workout I have ever done on a regular basis. Before this more than two year flare hit me, I worked out regularly, but never like this.  This program changes daily and works every muscle group. Just when you think you can't take it any more there is a yoga day, a rest day, or a stretch day.   I am not sure that my body needs to be worked to this intensity on a daily basis, but it feels wonderful to know that I can do it and I DID DO IT!  

Along with doing P90X, I have continued following The Paleo Diet which I love!  I don't even think of it so much as a diet anymore, but a lifestyle that makes me feel good.  I have followed the no grains, dairy, legumes, and sugar at about 98%.  Instead of consuming these foods, I have been filling my body with tons of veggies, meats (fish, chicken, beef, lamb, and pork) and plenty of good fats.  Yesterday I was at an all day meeting where we were to be fed pizza.  I packed a lunch of meatball soup in a thermos, Applegate pepperoni wrapped around baby carrots, two clementines, a Larabar, water/tea, and beef jerky from Trader Joe's that I didn't need.  In the past I may have felt I was missing out on something while everyone else was eating pizza, but I didn't feel that way yesterday.  I had enough foods that I really enjoy that I felt content and nourished.   Plus, I didn't feel sick afterwards.

I frequently visit Sara Fragoso's site Everyday Paleo for meal ideas. She has recipes that work in portion sizes for a family of four.  Sometimes there are even leftovers for breakfast or lunch. Her meals are amazing and I feel like I am becoming more confident in the kitchen.  Last week I created my own meal idea and it was a huge success.  It is going to become a weekly regular.   Sara has a new book coming out and just started a podcast for Paleo moms.  I also spend many mornings listening to Robb Wolf and Andy Deas at the Paleo Solution as I walk Izzy.  They often answer questions that pertain more to the heavy duty athlete on their podcast  but still focus a lot on how foods affect autoimmune disease that really interests me.  Personally, I need to understand completely why I am making the food choices I do.  These podcasts provide a lot of that information while also being fun to listen to.

I feel like I have become physically active through P90X, walks with Izzy, lots of snow shoveling, and other activities.   I have found a way of eating that fits both my food politics and health beliefs and I have found a nice combination of drugs.  All together, I am happy with how all of these different things have come together so well.  I feel awesome.

Holiday Office Party

A week ago Saturday was Steve’s office party. It was fun. As he introduced me to his colleagues, I felt like each person was a character in a book because I hear so many stories about each of them. Seeing their faces is like going to a movie and being a little surprised that they don’t look as you imagined.

Whenever we eat anywhere except home I worry about consuming foods I have eliminated. I was in luck with this party. Everything was served “family style” so I skipped the pasta and breaded chicken and stuck with the salad, salmon and steak. Yummy.

We ended up not staying for the dance. We have been getting up around 5am to work out and we are both beat by 10pm. But we had fun dressing up, eating good food, drinking free wine, and socializing with Steve’s co-workers. 

When we got home from the party, Sophia asked how it went. Steve replied, “Cathy was the prettiest one there.” Seriously, this man makes me feel like the most beautiful woman alive. In our many years together, it has always been that way.

*Yes, that is me in heels!  I was totally surprised that I could wear them all evening.  I have never been a "heel wearing gal", even pre-RA, so this was a step outside my comfort zone.  Since feeling better, I am trying to move out of my comfort zone more often.  It is fun.

Teen Paleo Solution Challenge Update

Sophia survived her sleepover, had an awesome time with friends at the opening of Harry Potter, and stayed true to eating clean.  I admire the strength and determination of this 12 year old girl like crazy. 

What she learned from the sleepover is that if she wants to eat clean, it is totally up to her.  She has to be educated about the foods she eats and assume everything has gluten in it unless she herself reads the ingredients, which she did.  She also realized that even though you explain that you have eliminated grains, dairy, legumes, and for the most part sugar, that you will have to reexplain it many times. You might turn down a cookie at 7pm and it will be offered again at 9pm. 

She also learned that friends that have eliminated foods for health reasons are very encouraging and she likes to be around them.  They supported her and made sure not to offer her foods she didn't want to consume or make comments like, "Oh yeah, Sophia can't have that."  Trust me, making a point over and over that someone is eating a special way is not wanted. 

Her goal was to bring all of her own snacks for the movie and hanging out.  She was successful in meeting her goal.  She said usually when she goes to a sleepover she feels sick afterwards.  This was the first time she didn't feel that way.

Since starting the Paleo Solution Challenge, Sophia has discovered some nice benefits:

• Her stomachaches have disappeared.
• Her teeth don't get yellow in between brushings.
• The eczema that itches and draws attention in the summer when wearing shorts is improving.
• An overall "good" feeling everyday.     

When my kids went gluten free years ago, several parents expressed a concern that I was not allowing my kids to experience "being a kid".  I think Sophia might have felt some of that at the sleepover.  What I often tell my kids is that their bodies are too awesome to be putting that junk into them.  Yes, it tastes awesome when we are eating it, but afterwards we feel like crap.  And I would be lying if I said we never eat crappy foods, because we do.  However, crap is being thrown at them all the time.  Moms offering candy.  Parties with food that is almost total sugar.  Samples at the store.  It is everywhere and we just don't need it that often.    

And what about Alexander?  He is doing great.  He decided not to eliminate corn as he loves having some popcorn at night.  Last week he and his dad bought some coconut ice cream.  He chose that because it was dairy free (and delicious).  After he started eating it I realized he bought the cookie dough coconut ice cream.  I decided not to say anything at the time and just let him enjoy it.  The next morning I said, "You know the ice cream had gluten in it, right?"  He said he didn't know when he bought it that it did.  He assumed it would be safe.  But, he said he figured it did because after he ate it, his stomach felt sick.  I love that they are both listening to their bodies and really getting to know themselves.   When we eliminate foods from our diet, it gives our body a chance to regain some strength and when we bring offending foods back, our bodies are strong enough to shout out to us that they don't want to go down that road again. 

Paleo Diet is About More Than Just Food

During the last few months I have become a Robb Wolf addict.  I have been listening to all of his podcasts and recently finished his book The Paleo Solution.  Not only do I love his ideas about eating and life, I find his personality fun. 

What I have taken from this recent addiction is the following:

• Avoid grains, legumes and dairy.
• Avoid gluten like the plague.
• Eat plenty of protein sources from free range providers.
• Eat local organic veggies.
• Eat good fats and plenty of them!

Robb Wolf suggests trying this diet for 30 days and if you "look, feel, and perform better" than continue.  If you don't, then move on!  I use a similar saying with my kids, "You know your body best.  How do you feel? "  When I listen to my body, I know this feels right not only physically, but philosophically.

Besides giving great advice on diet, Robb Wolf and other paleo sites I have visited talk about a few other essentials to healing:

• Get LOTS of sleep!
• Things won't make you happy!
• Get out and PLAY!

I listened to Robb Wolf's podcast #52 this afternoon where he talks a little about "burn-out". He shares how he and his wife have found fun things to do together outside of the realm of their business. As I was listening, I thought, "This is why Steve and I are always excited about the weekends. It isn't that we hate our jobs (we both actually like our jobs a lot), but that the weekend generally allows for more playfulness." The two of us have always had a strong need to be playful with each other (I assume every couple does, sometimes they just let the craziness of life take over) and when we don't allow time for it, we can always feel it.

As I continue to grow and learn more about nutrition and health, I learn more about other areas of my life that need a little tweaking.  I have the food part down for the most part and although I have always enjoyed play and sleep, I find that as my schedule gets busier and busier, I have to work hard at making sure these two things happen.  This weekend we don't have much of anything planned.  After a couple of days this week in a flare, I think my body is telling me that it deserves some extra sleep and play.  I can't wait!

I recently started reading a book titled, Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul. So far, I love it and can't wait to share more as I get deeper into the book. It confirms many of the ideas that have become a foundation for my homeschooling philosophy.

Changing, Growing and Always Learning

"We're always perfect, always beautiful, and ever-changing. We're doing the best we can with the understanding, knowledge, and awareness we have. As we grow and change more and more, our 'best' will only get better and better." —Louise L. Hay, from Experience Your Good Now!

I love how life and its lessons keep building on each other allowing us to learn just what we need at the time, and then learning a bit more, until we finally find a place that feels right with who we are.

For the last eight years I have been adapting my diet, trying to get it closer to what works best for my individual body and closer to a philosophy of eating that feels right to me.  Each step along the way has prepared me for the next step of where I need to be.   

Weston A. Price:  I learned about WAP about eight years ago from a friend who purchased the book Nourishing Traditions.  This was my first big change in diet and also the first time I began thinking about my beliefs about food.  I began making my own kefir, soaking grains, and drinking whole raw milk.  A year later I would be diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and stop all use of gluten and dairy.  However, I took some wonderful beliefs with me from WAP like buying grass fed meat and free range eggs from farmers I trust and know. Also, I learned about eating good fats like coconut oil, coconut milk, real butter and fish oil.  It was at this time that I learned about Vitamin D and began questioning the politics and motives of drug companies. 

Elimination Diet:  My diet was completely changed again in November 2004 when I saw my naturopath for the first time and she put me on an elimination diet to see if we could calm the inflammation with changes to my diet.  I cut coffee (the most difficult for me to give up), gluten, dairy, citrus, nightshades, peanuts and sugar.  Within two months of going on the diet my inflammation rates were back within normal and within a year I was in remission.

Gluten/Dairy Free Diet:  Once I was in remission, I stayed on a gluten/dairy free diet but unfortunately added many other things back to my diet. Sugar was the biggest mistake. I began baking a lot of gluten free muffins and cakes.  Although I reduced the sugar content for these baked goods, they were back in my diet along with many new grains.  I know for certain that sugar affects my body and I am pretty sure that even gluten free grains affect my body.

Body Ecology Diet:  In September of 2009 I went on the Body Ecology Diet.  This diet took many of the things I learned about nutrition from WAP and my naturopath, but refined it even more.  My intake of foods prepared outside my home became less and less.  I eliminated many gluten free grains and consumed a lot more veggies than ever in my past.  Although my rheumatoid arthritis inflammation continued to grow, the diet helped other health issues I was experiencing.

Paleo Diet:  About two months ago I started the Paleo Diet.  I have been encouraged by many friends and readers that perhaps my next step in health was to reduce/eliminate my intake of all grains.  I have recently been thinking that the increase in "gluten free" grains and sugar during remission may have been what helped me move out of remission.  Maybe I am just not one that can handle grains. 

This diet philisophy makes sense to me and feels like the next step on my path to health.  I was already eating good fats (coconut oil, coconut milk, nuts, avacodos, etc), I had eliminated "gluten" grains, I had stopped all dairy and even at times eliminated nightshades and sugar. With the Paleo diet I continue to eat the good fats that have become a part of my daily routine as well as lots and lots of organic veggies.  I also continue to eat grassfed meat from farmers I trust.  What I have added to the mix is a total elimination of legumes and grains, gluten or not.  I like this diet.  I find that I am not bloated, and I am rarely hungry because the foods I prepare are filling.

The diet changes I have made in the last eight or so years have been about more than just looking great naked or clothed (although that is definitely a plus, right?), and more about creating healthier foods for my  family and myself.  Of course rheumatoid arthritis has played a HUGE part in my diet decisions.  But, over the years my reasons to choose healthier diets and continue to keep learning has evolved past just having a healthy family.  It feels right to support farmers who are creating a good environment for the food we eat, to support farmers who like me believe that we should eat fruits and veggies that come without pesticides, to teach my children that food can be their friend or enemy, to prevent additional disease for myself and family, to preserve the environment, and much more.  I have also learned that food is very political and what you eat has to match your individual beliefs. 

I have been spending a lot of time listening to podcasts by Robb Wolf of Paleo Solutions.  He talks a lot about autoimmune diseases and the effect food plays on our inflammation.  I don't know if the diet is helping my inflammation since I am now on medications for the inflammation, but if eating a clean diet helps my medications to work better in a clean body, than that is a bonus.  Plus, I just love the food I have been preparing AND eating this way makes maintaining my weight a cinch.  I recently discovered a great blog with recipes that work for real families.  As I play around with new recipes that supply my family with nutrious foods, it feels good. It feels like it matches both my body type and my philosophy of food.  

True To My Nature

My kids have never been interested in competitive sports, however, they have always enjoyed being active.  As soon as the kids were off training wheels we were out bike riding.  Sophia will often take rides alone as well as continues to ride with us as a family and Alexander has become Steve's primary biking buddy.  They both seem to enjoy long walks in nature.  When they were little we went to the playground and played "follow the leader".  One of us was the leader and we did as many different things on the equipment as we could - jumps, leaps, hangs, etc.

In the last two years, Alexander has shown that he really likes to work his body hard.  When we take walks, he is always jumping over benches and large rocks.  He loves a good game of tag where there are at least one or two other players who make him run his fastest.  (Mack, a homeschooling dad in our group makes him run really hard and Alexander loves when he plays.)  At fourteen though, he is finding it harder and harder to engage his friends and sister in a game of tag.  He tried doing some free weights, but it wasn't his thing - too boring.  He loves running and will often go for a three mile run.  He doesn't keep a schedule of running though, he just seems to go when his body tells him he needs to. We have been discussing options for him so he feels challenged, yet honors the type of person he is. 

This morning as I was reading articles on diet and watching videos, I discovered MovNat: Explore Your True Nature.      On Erwan Le Corre's site he shows how he works out using nature as his equipment.  It is truly motivating (and sexy).   It reminds me of when we played "follow the leader" and worked our bodies in a variety of ways.

Check out this video of one of his workouts:



This summer we went to Starved Rock when my sister was visiting.  The kids wanted to climb and jump on everything.  Of course, it scared the pants off me, but I admired that they were using their own personal strength and determination while also taking risks.  I can't imagine that we would ever take this workout as far as Erwan Le Corre, but I do like the idea of incorporating more natural types of exercise into our daily routine.  This workout tells me again how important it is to listen to more of what our children are saying and feeling.  I know I often act out of fear when it comes to my kids and prevent them from trying out things that "might" harm them rather than listening to what feels right to them.  I think it is right to explore our bodies to their limits and kids are constantly trying to do that.....we just get in their way.  This video was a good reminder to stay out of their way and let them work their bodies.

*I completed an entire yoga routine today.  I am back on my supplements and the pain that was trying to make its way back into my life has disappeared again. 

I'm Doing It!

Today I met another one of my goals. My family and I rode a nine mile loop through Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve. It is one of our favorite places to ride. The trail has some steep sections and I handled each and every one of them. Plus, as my husband noticed, I wasn't even limping afterwards. In fact, six hours later, I still feel fine.

I did experience a few problems today -allergies and mosquitoes. But my joints? They did such a wonderful job. I am so proud of them. There was one incline that challenged my leg muscles and my lungs due to little exercise in the last year or more but it felt so wonderful to be challenged.

Bike riding with my family is one of my very favorite activities. Thank you Enbrel. Thank you Methotrexate. Thank you healthy diet. Thank you positive thinking. Thank you joints for sticking with me with through thick and thin. We are doing it!

My Newest Food Addiction

My sister Stacey sent this recipe to me and it has become my newest food addiction. They are easy to make, super moist and full of healthy ingredients.

Carrot Banana Muffins
These are so yummy and can double as a breakfast or dessert. Just bake and then have a grab and go meal for weeks! (Weeks? Not true in my house. They barely last a day)


Ingredients
• 2 cups blanched almond flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon celtic sea salt
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 cup dates, pitted
• 3 ripe bananas
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• ¼ cup coconut oil
• 1 ½ cups carrots, shredded
• ¾ cup walnuts, finely chopped

Instructions
1. In a small bowl, combine almond flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon
2. In a food processor, combine dates, bananas, eggs, vinegar and oil
3. Transfer mixture to a large bowl
4. Blend dry mixture into wet until thoroughly combined
5. Fold in carrots and walnuts
6. Spoon mixture into paper lined muffin tins
7. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes
Makes 18 muffins

Getting Real with Food

I loved what this blogger at Getting Real with Food had to say about Food Inc. If you have time, check her out.