Since going Paleo my family has fallen even more in love with our grill. Paleo and grilling just work well together. The past couple of years I've even been stepping outside my grilling comfort zone more and more. Grilling things I'd never thought to have grilled before and trying new flavor combinations. I have to say I'm pretty thrilled with the results of most of my flavor experiments. In the past I'd never have thought to grill fruit, but it's amazing. Grilling fruit and adding it to traditionally savory dishes? Brilliant. Oh yes, and? New rule: every burger recipe for the rest of forever must contain grilled pineapple. OK, maybe more of a guideline. It's a seriously delicious combination though. This Smoky Grilled Pineapple Burger is always a crowd-pleaser at my house. It's not only Paleo, but Whole30, glutenfree, lower carb, and clean eating friendly. I promise you won't miss the bun! paleo, grilled pineapple burger, smoky
- My Energy. I know this shouldn't be a surprise, but I have experienced that afternoon slump and that feeling tired all the time for SO long it really is surprising how great I feel now! Previously coffee or a Diet Rockstar were a must in the afternoon. DAILY. Now it is an extremely rare indulgence. I know everyone always says how much more energy you'll have, how great you'll feel, blah, blah, blah, but know what? They're right. Who knew?
- My Family. I started this whole pursuit as a rather selfish endeavor. I am shocked at how much my weight loss, healthier choices, and new focus on a fit lifestyle affect my husband and kids. They are always watching! My kids now assume working out is just something everyone does, like eating. My 4 year old will say, "OK, mom now you are going to do my workout". Then he'll take me through a series of 'moves' he makes up and I have to repeat what he does. It's awesomely hilarious. My 6 year old will run around the yard a few times and say, "Whew, that was a great workout". My teen knows that working out is just part of the school day. Yet he's found ways to make it fun too. He gets on the exercise bike and plays Wii Sports at the same time. I'll have to yell at him that time is up. I have more energy and ability to play with my kids now. We play tag now, we go for walks. We find active ways to have fun and spend time together. The other day I went to the track to run and they all came with me. I ran and the kids, ran, walked, raced. It was so much fun. Hubby wasn't quite digging it until I gave him my Blackberry and he played with all the fun GPS features. It was an awesome, fun way to spend a Sunday! My kids will tell me things like, that snack is just sugar and won't fill my tummy. They've heard me tell them this and are choosing better things for themselves because how they feel from making better choices. (granted, this is sometimes, other times they just want that sugar treat, it's all balance) The main point is they are learning to make better choices by how foods fuel their bodies, how foods make them feel, not just what tastes good. I am amazed at how my example rubs off! My kids will be healthier adults because I choose to make better choices now.
- My Friendships. This one is interesting. I have made new friends and strengthened relationships with some existing friends. And, sadly, some friendships just haven't lasted or aren't as prominent in my life anymore because I refuse to focus on crappy food and negativity. I also refuse to feel I have to bring myself down, or talk down myself and my efforts because they are jealous. I have had too many of those friends that want to push me down for whatever reason. I think we can only do our best to encourage and inspire, but when we see that the relationship is only dragging us down and not lifting them up sometimes we have to limit or even sever that relationship. The friends I feel closer to now are the ones up for that 5k race on the weekend, the ones who are interested in that healthy new recipe, the ones who I can openly talk to about the struggles of these changes in my life and come away feeling better. This has all been tough, but so freeing and refreshing.
- My Goals. This one is so far reaching it's hard to explain. My entire focus has shifted. My outlook and desires are different. Not only do I make goals now to run marathons and shave time off my 5k, but my goals and dreams overall have changed. I want to help, encourage, and inspire others to make their lives better too. This encompasses everything from my daily goals, to my goals for my writing in the bigger picture. I am excited and look forward to what this change will bring.
- My Wedding Ring. Yes, silly. (and possibly I just needed a #5 to make it a nice list-type number) But apparently I lose weight in my fingers fastest. My wedding ring is huge. I was brushing crumbs off my son's jeans and it went flying across the kitchen the other day. Obviously I need to have it re-sized, but do I wait until I'm done losing weight? How much change will I really have in my fingers? Should I wear it on a necklace? Would love to know what others think!
I marvel everyday at this new me, this new life I am building. I am ever thankful that I took that first step, that second step, and then kept going. I am not at my goal weight, but I have made lasting changes that are more far reaching than I'd have ever expected. I fall, I mess up, but success is in the choices. In choosing to get back up and keep trying!
I'm doing the same thing with my wedding ring. I got a smaller newer engagement ring to wear on top of it to keep it in place. Once that gets too big, it'll be a necklace till I'm done shrinking!
ReplyDeleteHere's a change that I never even thought of when I started this weight loss journey. I knew my clothes would change, but I had no idea my socks would fall down! I'd stretched out the elastic in them, and now that I'm smaller the silly things won't stay up!
I love how your kids are getting so involved with working out and healthy choices. That's great! I was amazed that I could actually remove my engagement ring recently when I splurged and got a manicure. I haven't been able to do that in several years.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! So inspiring. As I am just moving into the taking action phase with the new tools from dealing with the emotional, this is a GREAT thing to read. A fear/excuse is the end of the journey. This post helps me feel excited about these kinds of changes!
ReplyDeleteThank You
My engagement/wedding ring is getting too big for me as well. They have ring guards that help to prevent losing a ring. Here's a website I found:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ringguardsplus.com/Metal_Ring_Guard_Set_of_4_p/419.htm
I love how your kids are so involved in your fit play. It sounds like a lot of fun. I think a necklace would be great. Do that. :)
ReplyDeleteThose are great! I too noticed that some friends didn't stick around and it made me sad at first but I realized I needed support.
ReplyDeleteAnd you can get a ring guard until you are ready to resize. Resizing too much damages the metal.
Change is good, huh?! Congrats on all the successes you're seeing!
ReplyDeleteI think it's great that you're celebrating with your family and you can see your kids make good choices because of your influence. I think part of the reason my mom had so many issues when I was extremely obese was because she thought she had failed as a mother since I was making poor choices.
ReplyDeleteHooray for energy. It's weird. I can't sleep super late or super long any more and I'm usually energized even if I don't get a full 8 hours. It's awesome.
I love this post. It's funny how you go into trying to lose weight for health (or vanity) but it affects so many areas of your life. I love the little story about your kid "You are going to do my workout". Hilarious!
ReplyDeleteVery insightful post! It is great how the ripple effect happens as we lose weight. I had my ring resized because I was afraid I'd lose it.
ReplyDeleteIt's so fun to watch and see the changes right before your eyes. The two aspects that you posted that I can most relate to is the energy (quite frankly, I can't remember what it was like to not have much energy) and my wedding ring is huge too. I have to keep a constant eye on it to make sure that it doesn't fall off!
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work, lady!
Hope
GIRL it is a choice huh? for me, many days, a moment by moment thing to be healthy still.
ReplyDeletelove the post as when I began this journey I was young :) and kinda though I was living in a vacuum.
I never considered the impact my choices would have on friends and family and, well, I didnt have a wedding ring back then :)
Miz.
I love that your kids on in on the action. I watch kids in soccer and playing ball around here and I think that its going to be so much better to stay in shape than to get in shape. But that's just my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI'm amazed at how my changes are affecting my family. It's all about the little things and our time together is more about quality and not food now.
I love your lists... my sister is pregnant and wears her wedding ring on a necklace, works really well for her.
I love your list. I've been finding that I have lots of energy as well and my ring did the same things a few weeks ago. I bought a plain costume band to replace it until I get it resized when I'm down to my goal weight.
ReplyDeleteAfternoon slump? Are you a morning person? I definitely have a morning slump. (slump is a funny word btw). I can barely function in the morning. Sure in the afternoon, I'm bored at work, but im not physically tired like I am in the morning. Just mentally unchallenged. That’s awesome how you got your family involved in being healthier! I wish my parents and siblings would be a lil healthier..
ReplyDeleteyay for all the great changes tho!