SAD --> WOW

Isn't is SAD how the Standard American Diet is so unbalanced? Most eat a great deal of processed foods, meat, sugars (in all its forms) and inflammatory foods. It leaves much less room for a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains. It's how I've eaten for quite some time. SAD.



With my new health issues (and some I've dealt with for a long time but didn't have a diagnosis)...Occipital Neuralgia, Alopecia Areata (or severe malnourishment due to side effects from my last MS med) and Fibromyalgia all on top of my other diseases have compounded to make me reach out for even more answers.

I tried some nutritionists (one wasn't great but helped me get the LEAP testing to figure out my most intolerant foods and the other helped me with anti-inflammatory diet and nutritional counseling---she was amazing). But, in the end, I've been quite limited because of my declining health. I can't cook and prep foods very often. So, as I've declined, I've turned more and more to processed foods. SAD.

(http://theconsciouslife.com/top-10-inflammatory-foods-to-avoid.htm)

With blessings and my desperation for almost 18 years, I have decided to jump ALL the way into the Word Of Wisdom Way! I've tried the world's way (all kinds of diets, protein every 3 hours, supplements, shakes, etc, etc, etc) and I just get worse and worse. I felt somewhat better when I increased my fruits, vegetables and grains and decreased my processed and sugary foods for those 12 weeks (July-Sept). Not great, but better. But, I didn't fully jump into the WORD OF WISDOM.

(https://www.lds.org/topics/word-of-wisdom?lang=eng)


So, I'm doing it. January 1st and I started a private (closed) group on Facebook for support and recipe sharing. I'm not going extreme (some Plant Based, WHOLE foods eaters don't eat ANY meat, eggs, oils, refined grains, transfats, or dairy but I think it is a personal decision and I'm not there yet). I'm simply cutting back on processed foods, sugars and transfats and instead filling my body with fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains as close to God's creations as possible. (Less man-made and unnatural additions). It is such a personal thing how you interpret "meat sparingly," but I can say I don't think eating animal protein every 3 hours is sparingly. I've tried the world's way and am gonna give it a shot God's way (especially shared for the latter-days).


Here is what I did this year to help me make SMALL changes for long-lasting (ish) results:

1. Cut out my biggest inflammatory and addictive (whether it's psychological or physical, I didn't care) offender---sugar. Not ALL sugar, but sugar as in no candy, cakes, ice cream, chocolate, etc for 12 weeks. I also attended a few sessions of an addiction class. I was nervous people would think I was uber lame for coming for a sugar addiction, but everyone was cool. People were there for ALL KINDS of things and it helped me have a group to account to and share with so I stayed on track.
2. July- cut out sugar 
3. August- increased vegetable daily intake to 3 different vegetables in season 
4. September -3 dinners a week without meat (which helped me increase different grains and vegetables I hadn't used before or very often)

Here is what I will be doing to make it easier and long-lasting: (with my cute hubby's help because I can't cook or prep much)

1. 
   Once a week a week I will cook all of my grains, lentils, rice, beans, and squash with my hubby (1.5 hrs on Saturday)
   1. Squash – 45 min – 1 hr cooking in the oven.
   2. Wheat Berries- 1 ½ hour
   3. Barley pearls simmering on stove- 1 hr.
   4. Brown Rice in rice cooker
   5. Soak & rinse quinoa, cook in rice cooker when rice is done.
   6. Lentils-10 min
   7. Chop veggies and fruits
   8. Beans from cans- rinse and put ALL of above in various air tight containers.
   
   
   2. Meal plan
   -This past year our meal plan was typically on a plan for dinners
   M-Leftovers
   T-Mexican/Italian
   W-Soup/Salad
   Th-Microwave Meals
   F-Date Night (once a month or every other month) or Microwave
   Sa-Vegetarian
   Su-Crockpot
   
   THIS year I'm going to start with a foundation of grains and add in fruits, vegetables, and legumes, as well as plan out my breakfasts and lunches. I will blog about all of this aspect later on.
   
   3. Support from friends and family
   -Our private Facebook group begins January 1st and we may even get together as a group here in town if I'm up to it. Sharing recipes, foods, and laughing about mishaps and pinterest fails.
   
   
   Even if it ONLY helps a LITTLE, I'm down with it. Almost 18 years ago I gained 90 pounds in less than a year and thought I was going blind and deaf. It was frightening and I felt out of control. Since then I've gained more weight, more diseases and my body has controlled everything. In 2015 I lost 20 pounds (more than I've EVER been able to lose with all of my health problems). And that was just sort of following the word of wisdom (even when I brought back sugar Oct-Dec). IF I lose some more weight in the process...cool. But it isn't my focus. My focus is controlling my body (as much as possible) instead of letting it control me. HEALTH.
   
   It's an experiment of some sort. I've been a guinea pig for several doctors and decided to let God take the wheel. Who knows...maybe I'll get somewhere instead of running around in circles. 
   
   

12 Days of 2015

I have sent out family Christmas letters twice in my life. This year I didn't want to because 1) It sucked. 2) It's expensive and I'd rather spend my $mulla$ on visiting my family for the holidays.

But, I decided to do this year's E Family Christmas letter for 2015 via the www. (Because of privacy, I won't post pix of my little one---sorry, but if we're friends on fb, you've seen enough =)).

My first draft of our 2015 summary, in the note of "12 days of Christmas," went something like this...

1- 1 ambulance ride
2- 2 mini strokes, 2 furloughs, 2 moves
3- 3 new health issues for me (Occipital Neuralgia, Alopecia Areata, and Melasma)
4- 4 robberies in a little over a year
5- 5 months with little to NO work
6- 6 months of daily intense stabbing eye pain and 6 months before the state of KS finally decided on our application for assistance (they said it isn't typical wait time; we were just one of the unlucky ones with system crashes, changes, miscommunication on their part, etc). When we desperately needed help, I reached out to several sources and was turned away.
7- 7 times when I thought we wouldn't make it
8- 8 different specialists in various medical fields
9- 9 diseases in my one body (not including issues like melasma, insulin resistance and dystmetabolic syndrome which are just moderately annoying)
10- 10 different medical bills stacking up
11- 11 months of losing my hair and growing bald spots
12- 12 angels on earth who helped us financially with generously giving money (one anonymous).

I thought back on how much we survived when we wondered how we possibly could. There were scary moments, depressing moments, isolation, fear, frustration, and pain. I thought of how much my vision had opened figuratively and closed physically as I learned what it meant to really struggle to provide for basics and accomplish the mundane. My hubby and I had to have hard conversations about which utilities to pay, who would take care of our daughter if my husband died, and if we had to break our lease, move in with the in-laws and which items we would sell first if we lost everything. (Thankfully we got close to all happening, but didn't end up needing to deal with any of these possible, but hypothetical situations). I remembered how isolated I felt as my health declined, more friends talked about us than to us and judged us without knowing even half of our story, and the limitations we had with bad health, bad finances and a broken car. But, I also thought back to how much closer I felt to God and Jesus. How some friends reached out with a helping hand, listening ear and a call, text, or message. Some literally saved us from losing everything and fed & clothed us. How family members were our saving grace as they were inspired to offer assistance before we asked and even after we had asked more than once before. I am amazed at the heart and generosity of so many who were inspired at just the right moment when they knew little to nothing of the magnitude of our situation. While I knew it could always be worse, I learned to stop saying it!

This past month or two things have finally turned around for good I think (it's truthfully been difficult for a year and a half). Each time I was on the verge of hopelessness, some angel on earth would feel inspired to reach out to us. Every time I thought God wasn't there, He was right there and surprised me over and over. While it has been a tough year, it has also been a BLESSED year. I revised my "12 moments/memories of 2015," and came up with this instead...

12- Angels on Earth who saved us financially, physically and emotionally by giving
11- Babysitters for K bug who helped me immensely
10- Times this year I was able to get out and about ON MY OWN (not for a doctor's appointment or church).
9- Date nights I got with my hot hubby, many times with a free babysitter!!!
8- Family outings (day trips, drives, and even celebrating a few friend's birthdays)
7- Times I was amazed that we survived! I was amazed by God's tender mercies, miraculous assistance and renewed hope I felt.
6- Medical specialists who helped me in big and small ways.
5-$5/week grocery budget worked some weeks and we managed well (not always, but thank you cc companies, friends, and family).
4- Months of PERMANENT work at the same job! (We did have 1.5 months that we could have kept, but instead came back for the railroad which ended up giving us 0 more days of work).
3- Celebrated 3 years of marriage to my phenomenal best friend and 3 years of being mom to an incredible daughter.
2- Times I get to see my family this year!!!
1- Working, safe, reliable car.

Our family has gained a greater appreciation for our innumerable blessings, God's miraculous work, the generosity, love, and support of many wonderful friends and family, and a closer connection to our maker and our Savior. Our struggles pale in comparison to many others, but for us it was a struggle where we learned much through it all. Thank you to those of you, especially our angels on earth! Thank you to those who gave food, clothes, free babysitting, a call, text, message, card, and money. I am grateful that in the second half of this year we have been able to help others in need in small ways, as well. We are doing MUCH better now and I have tremendous hope for 2016. I am overcome with gratitude, peace and HOPE!

We hope that your 2016 is also incredible! May you see God's hand and feel the Savior's love in many ways.

Love,
US