Whole30 Recommit...I'm back at it. Join me.

so remember this post when I told yall about my venture into eating Paleo and doing the Whole30 challenge?
I have been nothing but impressed with the way it has changed my life...

including the biggest thing it did for me:

break my sugar addiction.

(read more about all that here)

WELP.

While I have eaten Paleo/Whole30 SOME, It hasn't been as big of a dedication as I'd like it to be.

And this time around it is not as much about losing the weight

(though I have put on a few El Bees in the last 2 months)...

this time its more about just feeling healthy again, and getting off of the "highs" that processed sugar gives me...

and instead keeping the healthy natural energy all day long that is available to me if I just eat the right things.

It may seem hard, but I'm telling y'all, it really is simple.

no joke, trust me.

If I can do it, anyone can.

so, on to the confessionals:

here's what has happened in the last two months that got me a little off track:

remember my trip to Lake Placid? we basically ate straight off a Pinterest board.

and then Halloween: a recovering sugar addict's nightmare.

then, just Fall. :)

and then... (dun dun dun)...

Thanksgiving.

we all know what happens at Thanksgiving.

and the day after too, let's be honest people, thanksgiving leftovers are yum.

So here's my report, since I have been vulnerable with y'all about this since the beginning:

In the last 2 months I have gained about 6 lbs back, which is nothing I am crying about.

I am basically in the vicinity of what I'd like to remain weight-wise.

While I'd still like to lose a little more of my "mommy belly" 

(you mommies know what Im talking about)...

it's more just that I don't feel as healthy when I am eating more processed foods and junk.

You know?

SO.

back to the basics.

Back to healthy fats, proteins, veggies, and fruits.

the real-deal God-made foods. :)

I made that up but it sounds good, right? hehe

{{below I'll list some great websites for y'all to learn more about all this}}

Our good friend Jason always cracks me up when he makes something healthier and just says he is eating "health". :) (love you Jason!)

so I headed to the grocery store yesterday and stocked up on some "health". 

It always amazes me at the vibrance of my shopping cart when I am shopping with the intention of cooking healthier, versus a shopping cart full of boxes and processed things.

It actually really excites me! 

I meal planned for the next 2 weeks,

and my hubby and I committed to do this together as best as we can.

(it helps to have a partner in this, so convince your spouse if you want to do it...it actually can become a fun thing between yall, to cook healthy and learn tricks and tips of changing your lives!)

several of you jumped on board the first time I posted about this, and I've got to say it has been SO encouraging to get the emails I have gotten, with people sharing their stories and how doing Whole 30 has changed them.

I'm not gonna go into all the how-to details again, but please please go read more!

but basically...

it's lots of healthy fats and proteins, veggies, fruits, nuts and seeds.

its gluten-free, dairy-free, and processed-sugar-free.

it's pretty much amazing.

and I promise it's more doable than you might think.

click on this button over on my sidebar to keep up with my journey:

I'll also be posting more recipes weekly!

and check out these links:

PaleOMG

Whole 9 Life

Mark's Daily Apple

Nom Nom Paleo

Everyday Paleo

I'm starting this over again.
I'm determined to continue a lifestyle of being healthy.
Eating this way already broke my sugar addiction, but I know there's still more for me to gain from it.

Who's with me?!
you CAN and should do this.


Click on this to learn all about Whole30...



I seriously don't mean to sound like a fad diet commercial, but like I've said before,
it's just something I can't NOT tell people about now, you know?

I turn 30 tomorrow (yikes), so it's kind of fitting...

I'm taking on the Whole30 challenge starting today.
Join me, make a commitment to start in the next week,
and let me know how I can encourage you!
I don't have all the answers by any means, but I am just in this with you!!

lets do this.
It's worth it.

sweet potato brownies, oh yes.

this is a DELISH paleo-friendly (and great Fall) dessert you will make like all. the. time.

trust me, it's good. :)



SWEET POTATO BROWNIES

what you need:

1 sweet potato (baked)

3 eggs, whisked

1/4 cup Coconut Oil, melted

1/3 cup raw honey

1/2 cup Chocolate Chips (Enjoy Life brand is best, but I used Nestle Dark Chocolate)

3 TBSP Coconut flour

2 TBSP unsweetened Cocoa powder

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 tsp cinnamon

Bake your sweet potato. I bake mine on a cookie sheet for about 1 hour at 425 degrees.

Poking some holes in the potato will help in bake...and also make your little one feel like she's helping. :)

After potato is baked, peel off the skin (it should slip off pretty easily), and mash it up in a large bowl.

(now you can turn oven down to 350 degrees.)

whisk your eggs, and melt the coconut oil.

add all the wet ingredients (coconut oil, eggs, honey, and vanilla) to the mashed up potato.

mix well.

add in all the dry ingredients (coconut flour, baking powder, cocoa powder, and cinnamon)

mix well.

now stir in those chocolate chips. yumm.

Pour it all in an 8x8 baking dish, and bake for 30-35 minutes on 350.

And get ready for your kitchen to smell like heaven.

let them cool just a bit...and ENJOY this delish dessert.

oh, and feel great about yourself that you are enjoying (aka, eating a whole pan of) this yummy, processed-sugar-free, gluten-free, paleo dessert.

you really might eat the whole dish, no lie. :)


{I found this incredible recipe on my favorite Paleo site, PaleOMG. 
She has GREAT recipes that I use ALL the time...check it out!!}

Cucumber Parsley Salad

Hope y'all have had a great weekend!

Ours was great, and included "Daddy's scrambled eggs" 

(we enjoy our non-rushed breakfasts together on the weekends), 

a trip to the pumpkin patch, a visit to the local museum that Abigail loves, 

some college football (Whoop Aggies!), 

dinner at the newly opened Chuy's Mexican restaurant.

(if you are from Dallas or Austin, you KNOW how excited we are to have Chuy's here in OK now!)

and some family worship time.

I'm feeling very blessed!

It has been a little bit since I shared some Whole30 or Paleo stuff so I thought I'd share with y'all
a super simple veggie snack (or side dish) that we have made a lot at our house...

Cucumber Parsley Salad

What you need:

2 cucumbers

8 TBSP Apple Cider Vinegar

garlic salt

onion powder

pepper

parsley

2 packs sweet n low 

*I realize you are not supposed to have this on Paleo, but sometimes we just gotta. :) 

But I'm sure this would still taste good if you did not use it!

**you could just use 1 cucumber for a single serving*

peel and slice your cucumbers,

add the apple cider vinegar

coat well 

Add all the spices.

I honestly just add them to taste, I don't measure (sorry!)

so just some shakes of garlic salt, onion powder, pepper, the sweet n low,

and then add a BUNCH of parsley...prob like 3 TBSPs ish.

mix it all together!

serve cold and enjoy.

that's it folks!

This is such a refreshing and healthy veggie snack!

I feel like I am always hunting for more ways to get in my veggies without just eating carrot sticks or counting on the veggies cooked into a meal...so we love this easy dish!

Have a great Sunday evening!

#sarahswhole30 - some more Whole30 recipes and meal ideas!

If you follow my Instagram or Twitter,

you may know that I try and post lots of pics about my Whole30/Paleo meals.

But if you don't follow those, or if you want more info..

I thought I'd share some of that with you...some little meal ideas and a few recipes.

and remember...that button above is over on my sidebar too.

Just click on it at any time to see all the posts about Whole30 stuff!

ok here goes. Hopefully this will help give a few ideas for eating during the week.

I've been SO encouraged by so many of y'all who have started eating this way!

So exciting to do this together!

Simple dinner: burger, broccoli and fruit salad

grilled burgers (I love to grill!), with sugar free ketchup.

steamed broccoli and a simple fruit salad

(I just cut up grapes and strawberries,

but you could use anything.

And I love to let fruit sit together in the fridge for a bit bc the flavors seep together and make it a little syrupy.) :)

sweet potato with a little cinnamon on top...

a great small lunch or afternoon snack!

You can get the microwaveable ones that steam themselves in the plastic wrap in like 7 minutes, if you dont want to bake them forever in the oven.

banana and sunbutter "pudding"

This little tasty treat was SO yummy and satisfied a peanut butter craving. :)

nomnomnom.

*confession: the hubby added a tiny squirt of sugar free syrup to this*

#blameitonthehubbs

I used a frozen banana and about 2 spoonfuls of sunbutter,

blend together in food processor!

Would be great with slivered almonds or cashews on top, but I didnt have any.

this was YUM!

crockpot Mexican shredded beef and steak

(aka: use meat i needed to get out of the freezer.)

I literally just threw in two large chickeen breasts and two steaks that I had frozen in the freezer.

Added some diced tomatoes, a can of tomato sauce, and about 1/2 cup of salsa (sugar free)

Add cumin, paprika, garlic salt, salt and pepper, and whatever other spicy spices you want!

this was great, and Abigail even loved it in a quesadilla!

zucchini spagetti

love this. And if you do not own a a Mandolin, get one now!!

it is the most amazing. slicer. ever.

After slicing, I "cook" it in a skillet with a little olive oil, salt, pepper, and parsley

until it is tender.

Mom's spagetti and zucchini noodles

I'm putting this recipe up on my blog soon!

But if you have a good spaghetti sauce recipe you can just adapt it to Whole 30 guidelines and throw it on some zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash noodles!

Sausage Hash (recipe here), and green beans

Pumpkin Seeds

a great Whole30 snack. I keep a bag in my car.

and great for this time of year!

I buy them bagged at Walmart, and add a little seasoned salt!

simple lunch:

salad with vinigerette, sweet potato with cinnamon, natural applesauce

a great easy meal to throw together in minutes!

Beer Mug Shrimp Cocktail

*this won me some major point with the hubbs*

use Pre-cooked Shrimp (i had some frozen),

Then mix tomato paste, chopped celery, horseradish, salt and pepper, a little lemon juice.

I mixed the shrimp in it, then put it all in a frozen cold beer mug,

and placed a few shrimp around the top to look cool. :)

Sweet Potato Chili Fries

Ill also be posting this recipe soon, or you can find it here if you just can't wait.

one of my FAVS!!!!

simple breakfast:

scrambled eggs, sausage patty, strawberries, and a little sugar free syrup

This is a typical breakfast at our house!

Hope those gave y'all a few easy ideas!

Those of you who have started it...How are yall doing with it??

I am LOVING all the response and encouragement and questions, etc.

(and I'm still trying to respond to everyone, sorry!)

Here's my personal update, just while we are sharing here:

I am about 2 weeks in to doing Whole 30 for my second time, and I am loving it even better this time. I've already reached my goal weight, and so have added back in a few healthy carbs and such. I am doing a triathlon this coming weekend, so have been training heavy for that the last few weeks...so with that I have been having some more carby stuff too,

but nothing overboard.

Plus during the race on Sunday, I will def be using some GU and some electrolyte, sugar-filled energy booters. But I'm totally okay with that, if it helps me finish!! :)

(ahem, pray for me on Sunday, okay? Im ready, but def nervous!)

Lastly, here's some more resources for Whole30 and Paleo stuff...

lots of y'all have asked!

paleOMG

100 days of real food

whole life eating

whole 9 life

the clothes make the girl

everyday paleo

foodee

paleo comfort foods

ok hope all this helps!

I'd seriously love to hear how everyone's journeys with this are going!

LOVE YALL.

some more Paleo testimony, and a yummy Whole30 recipe!

Hey so yall know how I've been talking about Paleo and Whole30 lately

and about how incredible it is?

(read those posts here and here)

Well, I'm back to share some more!

But first, I have to applaud so many of you who have started eating this way since I shared my personal story...I have been so blessed and pumped by all the emails and messages I have gotten about several of yall who have already started into this journey!!

(I am still getting back to everyone so if I owe you a response, it is coming!)

I have another awwwwesome Whole30 recipe to share with yall!

But to kick it off today,

I am so excited to share my sister Danielle's "testimonial" about how eating Paleo and Whole30 has changed her life!

Danielle is the main reason and encouragement for us to start all this...

Thanks Danielle, I owe you so much!!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Hi! I’m Sarah’s younger sister, Danielle. I first started the transition to paleo in February 2011 with 100%

commitment in January 2012. Yes, it actually did take 11 months for me to realize that I wanted this not

just for my life-right-now but for my whole life.

(helping Danielle get ready for her wedding last August!)

My initial dabbing into paleo consisted of meals of steamed broccoli and baked chicken, green beans

and pork chops, or salad with vinegar and oil. Not very satisfying and probably why I had a hard time

committing at first. It was boring and I still wanted my Firehouse Subs or Which Wich. Once I took the

time to really understand what all I could eat – and partly let go of conventional ideas of what “healthy”

was I learned just how versatile paleo could be. It wasn’t nearly as restrictive as I thought. In fact, there

are so many methods of cooking and ingredients to use that I never even considered!

(Danielle back squatting 135# at Crossfit!!)

I learned that I can regularly sauté my veggies and meat in yummy bacon grease, indulge in fatty

avocados, sweet potatoes, delicious sweet seasonal fruit, a plethora of nuts, and hearty grass-fed butter.

Yes, I said butter! By the way, if you’ve never had it tastes a hundred times better than that overly-

processed, butter-like-substance, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter.

I spent time looking through hundreds of recipes and figuring out what worked best for me and my

family. These days dinner consists usually of some kind of meat, one or two sides of veggies, and

occasionally a starch – sweet potato or plantains. Since the hubs and I both work the 9-to-5 grind, lunch

is almost always left-overs. When I buy chicken, we eat the skin. Grass-fed steaks – get them full of

delicious fat. And since we don’t spend money on cereal, bread, candy, Little Debbie treats, we use that

money to treat ourselves weekly to racks of ribs or roasts or brisket.

I know it sounds ludicrous, but I’ll tell you – both my husband and I are healthier than we’ve ever been.

As Sarah mentioned in a previous post, my husband lost 30 pounds in 30 days during our first Whole30 in

April 2012. And he did it by eating meat, veggies, fruit, and healthy fats.

A few other changes that a paleo lifestyle has brought about:

I no longer have break-outs

I wake up in the morning completely rested and full of energy

My body uses fat for energy and not sugar, so if I miss a meal I do not go starving. For this reason

I also don’t snack anymore.

I have not been sick in over a year – not a cold, not allergies, no aches, pains, or migraines.

And the number one benefit I have experienced? Inadvertently helping people.

Now I don’t walk around saying, “Look how healthy my lunch is!” But when people see what I order at

a restaurant (spaghetti and meatballs, hold the spaghetti), or pass-on at the family dinners (no bun for my

burger, please), people tend to ask. And I love to share because I am true believer in this lifestyle.

Now, I don’t want you to think I’m perfect. We are not even close paleo-perfect. I truly believe that is

not the point to this. In fact, the hubs and I went and had frozen custard just last night – hot fudge and

all. But to me, that’s the main difference between a diet and a lifestyle. With a diet, I’d probably consider

the day ruined and grab some donuts on the way to work the next day. But because this is our lifestyle, I

allow myself the occasional indulgence, thoroughly enjoy my favorite custard shop, and wake up the next

morning to a breakfast of pastured eggs, nitrate-free bacon and homemade fermented sauerkraut.

(Danielle and her hubbs Ryan after a hard workout!)

If you are at all curious about this lifestyle, I encourage you do try the Whole30. But please don’t do it for

weight loss. Do it for your health. Do it to test your willpower and to be a positive testament to all those

around you that no, it’s really not that hard to pass on the dinner rolls. I promise you – as in most things in

life – the benefits will highly outweigh the sacrifice.

THANKS Danielle!!!!!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Here comes a fantastic recipe that has become a fav around our house...

Sausage Apple Hash!

(adapted from the Whole 30 Success Guide)

What you need:

Sausage link (beef, turkey or chicken - i use beef)

olive oil

sweet potato

red apple (Braeburn is good)

thyme

basil

*recipe also calls to add onion and green peppers but we don't like those!

Peel and Dice the sweet potato.

(it take some muscle!)

Heat up the olive oil in a skillet,

then cook the potatoes long enough until you can barely pierce with a fork.

(about 10-12 min).

Dice the apple.

Dice the sausage.

If you have not cooked it yet, then brown it in a skillet while the potatoes are cooking.

(I bought pre-cooked.)

Add the sausage and apple into the skillet with potatoes.

Toss together and cook until the apple and potatoes are tender.

Add your thyme and basil.

Serve warm and enjoy this DELISH Whole30 meal!!!!

Be blessed today friends.

and don't forget - this button is over on my sidebar, you can click on it to scroll through all my posts and recipes about all this!!