Changes in the Air and Giving Thanks for All of It

This month, my birth month, has been INSANE with changes, in a good way! Current job as project manager officially ended today. Go me! I liked all the people I worked with, but the job itself wasn't enough for me. I can certainly be the go-to person to get projects done, but it didn't fill me with the passion I exude when I talk about real food. That's why the past weekend at the Weston A. Price Wise Traditions Conference in Schaumburg, IL, I really felt I was in my element because I was surrounded by people who enjoyed real food as much as I do!

Next week is all about Thanksgiving, family, giving thanks, and, of course, food. Real food! But, mostly, the focus on next week is Gratitude, with a capital G. I am soooooo grateful for everything that has come into my life the past days/weeks/months/years/lifetime:

* I am grateful for a job that supported me the past two years while I was able to figure out "what I wanted to do when I grew up".

* I am so thankful to find a new job that really fits aligned with my passions and my values. New job starts on November 30th. I will be able to help bunches of people lose weight and become healthier, possibly even avoid becoming diabetic or reduce their medications, by educating them on making smarter, real-food choices.

* I am happy that, even though I have had to hear the messages a few times before it all clicked in my head, my awareness about my own health has improved. My drumming teacher exclaimed loudly today, "Is that you??" while looking at a Christmas photo from two years back. I looked at the photo and realized, WOW, I really do look so much healthier now than I had two years ago (and really, even two months ago). My weight hasn't changed much because I still pretty much fit into the same clothes, BUT the puffiness around my face and bloating elsewhere are gone. I don't seem so flabby now, even with the minimal walking/dancing that I do each week. I have been eating real foods now following the 80/20 rule, but it wasn't until I cut out the grains, gluten, and simple sugars completely and starting eating enough high-quality fats that my body started deflating. What a HUGE difference. And, I'm learning to listen to myself and not so much depend on what other people's suggestions on "the ideal diet". I had to figure things out for myself as an individual. I am unique, and so are you!

* I am making new connections with people in my community, some of which will be very helpful in my future real-food promoting endeavors.

* And, I am soooooo grateful for all the people who came before me on this path to promote real food. For all the farmers who decided enough was enough and are providing organic, free-range, grassfed/pastured products - thank you. For all the food activists, like the Weston A. Price Foundation's Sally Fallon Morell, who get up every day to promote wholesome food and dispel incorrect information to the public - thank you. For all the volunteers who helped organize the Wise Traditions conference and the real food bloggers (you know who you are!) so that more people can become aware of how their food gets to their plate - thank you. I am honored to be able to follow your footsteps, and hope to provide a voice to strengthen those already fighting the good food fight!

Now, I can't wait for all the roasting, fermenting, and cooking to begin!!

~Erica

PS - If you are looking for some really awesome real food recipes to try out, check these out from the Wise Traditions' conference. The food there was AMAZING, and I can vouch for the tastiness! Thanks to Amanda Love, the Barefoot Cook, and Sally Fallon Morell (from her Nourishing Traditions cookbook) for providing these recipes.

Goodbye August

I cannot believe I have let the entire month of August go by without one blog entry. OK, I'll fit one in just for today! It has been one crazy month, with my finishing my first full term of my core curriculum just last week. I will be glad for the summer haze to be over soon, even as temperatures still go sky-high at night these days.

Moving on to my weight management class (ugh!) and digestion class (yay!), starting next month. So, two more weeks of vacation before next term starts. I promise to write more once I'm in the groove again (at least within the next few weeks!). I have learned a tremendous amount lately on insulin resistance and systemic hormone imbalances and inflammation.

More later,
Erica

Summer Update - Experiments Galore!

Hi folks,

Long time, no see! Needless to say, things have been busy this summer. I have been to at least 10 big events since July 4th, and I have one more Disney symphony concert to attend next Wednesday before the month is up. I am getting as much studying done as I possibly can, so as you can see I have been slacking from my "one post a week" schedule! Physiology course has been checked done, now on to Community Nutrition.

This is the first somewhat free Saturday I have had in ages. I am experimenting with fake rotisserie chicken in the crockpot. I am re-activating my new water kefir grains I just got as a gift from my fabulous hubby in a sugar-water-apple juice-banana mixture. So, watch out for kefir apple soda in the near future! Bellydance practice and drumming practice may be in store for me as well.. or maybe a nap? Who knows what else will be accomplished in the rest of the day!

I have also been experimenting (life is an experiment, isn't it?) with Fast 5 to see if I lose any stubborn weight. It is similar to the Warrior Diet, where one only eats during a 5-hour window of time. The premise behind this method is to allow your body to rest between heavy digestion and to allow your hormones (specifically insulin and leptin) to balance out. Several weeks into it, I have to say it does seem helpful, but the quality and quantity of one's nutrition certainly still reigns supreme. I must say though that looking at the body holistically still gives the best indicators of good health and well-being. The interaction of hormones is definitely something on my radar for studying.

In terms of eating, I have had a few slip-up days in not following the ideal pro-thyroid diet (according to my enzyme therapist), but I also have had some incredible yummy summer days of good-quality pastured meat/poultry and lots of salads and greens. I really enjoy the hunter-gatherer diet the most - I think it leaves me the most satisfied and emotionally balanced. But, the experimentation continues!