Yup, We Willingly Chose This Way of Eating

Good afternoon!

I hope you enjoyed my first blog.  The kind words were so encouraging, made me want to get back on here and share some more with you!  478 views to the blog!!!  Wow!  God is soo good.  I give HIM all the glory for revealing the truth to me and setting me free from dieting and giving me knowledge to give health to my entire family and to share with YOU! (I am working on my complete story in the About Me section, soon :-)
 Tom (my hubby) and I often get excited for the health of our kids and what their future will look like starting them with this lifestyle so early on.  Already Jon is off all asthma inhalers.  He hasn't used them since starting this lifestyle and breezed through upper respiratory influenza without the use of steroids and inhalers.  Samuel's skin is clear of all eczema and constipation is gone.  It's now a daily ritual of rejoicing over the size of his poops.  Hey I have boys.  That is exciting to them.  Any of you who have kids that suffer from constipation know how hard it is for your little ones to have chronic unexplained tummy aches and straining to go to the bathroom.  It can be heartbreaking for them. Everyone in my family is as regular as can be.  It's another great "side effect" of living this life.  Isaac had a severe rash on his face that we visited the dermatologist for and of course no good answers but just a prescription for some cream.  Easier to treat than figure out the problem (the motto of modern medicine).  Well I'm happy to say that Isaac's rash has been gone since start of this as well. 

I realize that many of you are taking this journey alone.  I too started alone.  The first 4 months was an individual journey but the more I read and learned and experience first hand the benefits I was getting I had to share with my close family. I then discovered the book Wheat Belly, it explained the science behind what I was already doing.  I had started cuz I needed to lose weight and the inflammation in my hip was horrible.  I had to do something before my hip replacement. I was amazed at what I learned.  Tom picked up the Wheat Belly book and after just a few chapters he was on board.  My family didn't go cold turkey, I gave them a couple weeks warning.  I started cooking for them and having them join me in the kitchen.  I strongly suggest that if you have children you bring them into the kitchen to cook with you.  It's a bonding experience and I've heard from more that one friend following this, that their children have embraced the cooking but even more the love going on in the kitchen.  It's getting back to the basics of spending time together and giving them a gift of nutrition they will take with them for life.  I know your schedule is busy but taking 2-3 hours on a Sunday afternoon and spending time preparing for the week is fun.  Really! I won't lie that I have a deep satisfaction watching my children eat the food I prepared for them.  It's a gift of love and commitment to them.  A gift of health. Why would I not choose to give my kids all the health benefits that come and will come from eating this way for life?  My kids have fully embraced this lifestyle.  Jon for one, knows he feels better eating this way.  I am not a nazi to my kids and I do let them indulge in sugar once in awhile.  I don't want to create resentment or food issues for them.  I pack Jon's school lunch every day (always the night before, cuz we have crazy mornings) I also sent to school a bag of snacks for him if bday treats get brought in that have wheat in them. It's ultimately our children's choice what they do when we aren't watching. Thus educating them on nutrition and why we are eating this way empowers their decision making skills.  Valentine's Day I will let them have some candy.  The great thing is, they have a new appreciation for dark chocolate.  When you cut the crap out your taste buds change.  All of a sudden very dark chocolate tastes sweet.  Making cookies one day, the kids wanted to try the chocolate chips I was putting in.  I kind of froze and wanted to say "no", afraid of the rejection.  Much to my surprise I got little hands reaching in for more.  Like I said it's been amazing to see the transformations in my kids.  Every one's moods and attention spans are better.  Jon's teacher has noticed marked improvements.  Yay! I hope that if you lead your family on this journey you will share with me every one's improvements. Every persons is unique.  It's truly crazy that one product can wreak such havoc on our bodies in so many different ways.   A list of ailments that go along with consuming wheat are these:

Hypertension

High cholesterol
obesity
allergies/asthma/chronic sinus infections
arthritis/achy joints
acid reflux
irritable bowel syndrome
fibromyalgia
migraine headaches
depression/anxiety
inattention and behavioral outbursts in children with ADD, ADHD and autism
diabetes
various forms of neurological impairment and on and on

I'm so excited to share with you first hand testimonies of friends and family members that have been living this lifestyle (future blog).  You will be amazed.  I haven't met anyone who said, "this doesn't work" and went back to eating the crap.  I just ask people to give it 30 days and no cheating.  You won't see success doing this 80%.  It can take 10 days to detox from wheat exposure.  Do you want to know the best part?  You are no longer thinking about food! I know right now you may say there is no way a person can live without it.  I get it, I thought it too. It's cuz you are addicted.  There is so much truth in the fact that there is an addictive opiate in wheat (read about this further in Wheat Belly by Dr. Davis).  I was never one to be able to just walk by a pan of bars, if I did walk by I would still be thinking about them 5 minutes later.  I feel just delivered from food obsession.  I am so happy that I never have to diet again or count another calorie.  Oh and I love that fat is now my friend and I can use it for energy.  I love butter!!!  It's taken time to change my mind set and go against everything this diet world has told me, fat free, reduced fat, calories in, calories out, eat healthy whole grains etc.. 

I will continue to share my personal passion and all of the things I have experienced with the lifestyle in future blogs.  I could write sooo much more.  But really quick...my anxiety disorder is gone.  No meds!  Woohoo! 

I am going to post some info that my mentor Maria Emmerich posted yesterday that is awesome and is the truth.  Below that you will find a great recipe for some Valentine's brownies and an awesome lasagna.  If you have a homemade ice cream maker why not whip up some vanilla to go with the brownies.  Recipe below as well.
Blessings!
Joy

Maria Emmerich:

The love-hate relationship with food typically starts with innocent dieting and calorie counting, followed by out of control binging that causes dangerous extremes, such as skipping meals, obsessive-compulsive exercise, and purging. It is n...o wonder that food becomes the enemy; which is an unhappy state to be in. I help clients discover the beauty that nutrition can give us a life free from cravings and weight gain if we choose the right items.
Before my revelation of the biochemistry of food and our weight, I was so proud of my “perfect” diet of whole grains, fruits, and fat-free desserts, but I was still puzzled as to why I had uncontrollable cravings around food. By finding the correct supplements to change my biochemical imbalances, I started a high healthy-fat, grain-free, no starch diet; I finally found peace in my body. I didn’t feel deprived or compelled to overeat.

The ‘secret’ is to control leptin and insulin hormones. Any diet that stops blood sugar and insulin spikes also allows the cells to regain sensitivity to the noteworthy anti-aging, weight and hunger-regulating hormone called leptin. The hardest part is to get my clients to not be afraid of fat because it is almost impossible to obtain this effect without significant amounts of fat in the diet. High protein alone doesn’t work because excess protein will also turn to sugar. Low fat, high protein diets will fail to keep your blood sugar from spiking, and will not allow your leptin hormone to increase. Ron Rosedale, MD, author of The Rosedale Diet and a pioneering scientist on the hormone leptin, states, “If you don’t get enough fat, you will likely eat too much protein, which then turns to sugar.”
I am writing this book to everyone who has been frustrated with the way they feel, kids that don’t sleep, children with ADHD, athletes, teenagers struggling with acne and parents who just want to start feeding their family real food again. Nutrition is a huge part of how we feel and operate every day. I love feeling energetic and confident and I want you to also. I was miserable when I constantly deprived myself and felt guilty when I ate. I want you to also find peace and enjoyment with real food; which can turn into holistic peace in your everyday life.

To read more, check out my cookbook: The Art of Eating Healthy, Savory: http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-Healthy-Eating-Savory/dp/B009ZKHATA

It isn't just a cookbook, it is also filled with information like this:) To fill your brain and your body right!



HOMEADE VANILLA ICE CREAM
 1 cup whole milk, well chilled
3/4 cup sugar substitue (Swerve works amazing)
2 cups heavy cream, well chilled
1-2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, to taste

In a medium bowl, use a hand mixer or whisk to combine the milk and sugar substitute until the sugar sub is dissolved.  1-2 mins on low speed.
Stir in the heavy cream and vanilla to taste.  Turn machine on and pour mixute in.


 

My favorite brownie recipe so far: Recipe by TheWannabechef.com

http://www.thewannabechef.net/2011/08/18/almond-flour-brownies/

Almond Flour Brownies

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
Ingredients(Makes 1 8 x 8 pan):

• 3/4 cup almond flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon instant coffee granules(optional)
• 1/2 cup butter
• 7oz semisweet or bittersweet baking chocolate, divided OR 3/4 cup chocolate chips

Method:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. Mix together the almond flour, salt, cocoa powder, and baking powder and set aside.
3. In a separate bowl, melt together 4 ounces of chocolate or a scant 1/2 cup chocolate chips with the butter.
4. While the chocolate is melting, beat together the eggs, sugar, vanilla and coffee granules if using.
5. Slowly pour the melted chocolate and butter into the egg/sugar mixture while whisking until fully incorporated. Don’t go too fast so that the raw eggs don’t cook upon contact.
6. Add the chocolate mixture in with the dry ingredients and mix completely.
7. Pour the batter in an 8 x 8 pan.
8. Sprinkle the top with the remaining chocolate and gently press it into the batter.
9. Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick poked into the center comes out clean. Let these cool completely before cutting in.