Whole30 Feb ’19 – Day 21

It’s been a while! Like many things, I fell off the wagon of blogging but I’m hoping to write more going forward.

Today is February 21st, which means I’m 21 days into my first(and hopefully last) Whole30. And I have some opinions.

When looking into a way to overhaul and re-examine our eating habits, I had tons of options. Many people I know are on the keto diet, some are vegan or vegetarian, and every health magazine has some kind of different diet that’s “guaranteed to make you lose 2 pants sizes in 2 weeks!!” Uh huh.

But I HATE “diets” in the sense of “do this for 3 months, lose weight, but never think about it again once you’re finished” diets. This is a recipe for disaster, yo-yo weight loss/gain, and just an in-general headache.

I chose Whole30 because it seemed like much more of a learning experience-turning a new corner to be lea don a new path after day 30. We already ate pretty well, but needed to calm my food demons, especially for sugar, and wanted to remove the crutch of carbs from my meals (let’s face it, spaghetti or pizza delivery are the easiest ways to feed yourself on those especially busy nights.)

Days 1-3: I felt pretty good! My body didn’t quite realize what we happening at first, I think.

Days 4-7: I became an insatiable hunger demon from the depth of hell. No matter how much I would eat, I was still hungry. For carbs, no doubt. My fiance asked me to make him a big match of mashed potatoes in hopes of keeping full, and admittedly I was eating more than I should have been.

Days 7-14: These were the easiest day so far. Lots of food prep still lasting, trying new recipes, and having more energy than before. My skin is clearing up and I’m noticing my neck looks slightly slimmer. We went to a Valentine’s party and were so highly tempted by all the candy and sweets, but we drank our La Croix and were okay.

Days 15-21: My motivation has nearly hit zero. We went to both the Renaissance Fair and Universal Studios, and temptation was everywhere! It was making me miserable. I’m tired so I don’t want to prep any more food, and I’m literally dreaming about doughnuts, pizza, and chocolate.
*One positive thing that did happen at Universal is that I fit more comfortably in the ride restraints and had the confidence to wear high-waist athletic pants with a sports bra(Harry Potter print, of course)- so much win! *

Days 21-30: coming soon!

This was not an easy task and I honestly wouldn’t recommend it to many. It took 2 weeks of prepping (buying compliant foods and researching what we can/can’t eat and finding recipes) and additional hours of food and meal prepping along the way. Cutting lettuce, mass batching mashed potatoes(my fiance needed lots of carbs to stay full, he’s a bottomless pit), making almond butter and sriracha, breakfast frittatas, on top of just making dinner each night started to get exhausting around day 16. Because there’s no room for processed food (except marinara sauce and the occasional container of pineapple guacamole) you have to cook and prep a lot. I couldn’t imagine doing this while having a demanding job or with kids!

I also wouldn’t recommend it to many people because it IS so highly restrictive. My poor fiance, he’s been hungry and grumpy nearly every day for 3 weeks. It’s hard for him to stay full even with eating beans and bread, without it I fear he’ll wither away. He’s been eating a big helping of potatoes with both breakfast and lunch and is still seriously hungry for dinner each night. I’ve been faring better, but I definitely spent the first chunk feeling especially ravenous myself (my carb-craving monster eventually settled down).

I highly recommend this program if you are actually looking to make a life change.

Yeah it’s fun to challenge yourself to try new recipes and see if you can go 30 days without sugar, alcohol, grains, and legumes, but if you’re going to fall right back to eating processed foods and drinking soda after day 30, Whole30 won’t do a bit of good for you.

 

The easiest way to summarize my feelings toward Whole30 is that it takes mental toughness. It’s not just about eating healthy food, it’s about consciously making better choices, understanding your cravings, being able to say no, and putting in the work to make it to day 30.

The World is a Mess, it’s Okay to Be Excited About Mundane Things

If you pull up basically any news website, the landing page will likely be covered in doom and gloom: hurricanes, wildfires, corrupt politicians, celebrity gossip. It seems like there’s a never ending stream of awful things happening all around us.

In this world where we’re surrounded by chaos, how do we cope? Do we have to be obsessed with every breaking news story on our Facebook timeline and Twitter feed?

The answer is no!

Self care is incredibly important, now more than ever. Whether you have to unplug your cable box, delete your accounts on social media, or avoid the subject in friendly company, do not for one second feel bad about it.

No matter what’s going on in the world, someone else’s suffering doesn’t negate your own. 

This is one of the most important lessons I’ve been taught throughout my life. When it comes to world affairs, events fall into two basic categories: things you have control over and things you have no control over.

If you have the power to elect someone new to improve the well-being of your town, state, or country, then by all means dive right in and learn as much as you can about the issues and act accordingly (vote, rally, petition, whatever).

If you have no control over the suffering of those effected by a natural disaster or the decisions of a person already in power, it’s perfectly fine to not involve yourself in it at all. There’s no reason you should torture yourself or let your mental health suffer over things that are out of your hands.

And you shouldn’t feel bad about it for one solitary second. 

This is your reminder to take care of yourself. You don’t have to “accept the things you can’t change.” because sometimes those things are extremely unacceptable. Even if some people want to say that posting/sharing information about issues all over social media is “slacktivism,” sometimes it’s all you can manage. But if you personally can’t do any more than that, you still did something. You can only do so much and you shouldn’t stretch your spoons on those things when you have your own life to worry about.

So if you want to drown out all that doom and gloom with a pumpkin spice latte, or a Netflix binge session, or internet memes, by all means do so! It’s 100% okay to like things that are seemingly meaningless– obviously it means something to you. 

The moral of the story is: do what you can. But don’t overextend yourself. Enjoy your pumpkin spiced life.

 

Sustainable Saturday 9-8-18: Up-Cycling

 

This week for Sustainable Saturday, I wanted to focus on some awesome ways to up-cycle different items around your house. We’ve talked about 3 out of 4 R’s so far: Refusing disposables, reducing waste, and reusing items.

I’m going to preface this with the fact that I’m not very crafty or handy. I really try to be, but others are way more imaginative than me. In that spirit, I’d like to make this post somewhat of a gallery of ideas from Pinterest that I really love!

I love these projects because they’re totally do-able, even if you’re not crafty, so it makes them easy for anyone. Another aspect I like is that they’re useful, not just decorative (not that decorative is bad, but I love things that are cute and useful).

First up: A upcycled mint tin.

Thanks to Giggles Galore for this one! Not only can you store your earphones and keep from getting tangled, but I could definitely use this for hair ties/pins, loose change, or a phone charger (sans wall adapter).

There are also a ton of other ways to up-cycle them, both plastic and metal. I’ve seen everything from travel spa kits, mini first aid kits, kids activity boxes, and much more!

Next: rope-wrapped cans/tins

This one comes to us from Artison, and it awesome because it’s so versatile. You could apply this to a coffee can, sauce jar, even a kitty litter container. They can be made into wastebaskets, storage, planters, or even a reusable gift container (or a gift itself!).

You do have to get a bit of rope or twine to make this one, but luckily it’s not too expensive. You could experiment with ribbon, colored or marine rope, or t-shirt yarn(yet another upcycle!).

Also: Planters

This is actually two pins, but the same purpose: plants! Pots can be expensive so these are great options for seed starters and more long-term planters.

Thanks to Thrifty Fun for this adorable kitty planter. These planters are best for larger, more established plants. You could really make them any animal you want. Don’t forget drainage holes at the bottom!

If you’re starting seeds, try this one:

 

Over at Shareably, not only can you find directions on how to turn paper rolls into seed starters, but other cool upcycles as well!

This post is pretty short and sweet, but I hope it gives you some inspiration on how you can re-purpose all kinds of things that would normally end up in the bin!

Got any other great ideas? Post in the comments!

No Spend September 2018

It’s September first! Starbucks has already released it’s Pumpkin Spice Latte, Target and Micheal’s are filling their shelves with Fall and Halloween themed goodies, and we’re only three weeks from the official start of Fall (even though in Florida that doesn’t mean much)!

So there’s no better time for a saving challenge!

I like no-spend September for a lot of reasons, the first being I love alliteration (this could have also been no-spend November, which I’m quite tempted to do). Additionally, it forces me to get crafty and use what I already have around my house to fill my time (including chores and projects I’ve been putting off since we moved into our house).

Here are the rules:

What you can buy:

• Gas
• Groceries
• Bills (obviously)
• Toiletries
• Medical supplies
• Pet supplies
• Work-related expenses

What you CAN’T buy:

• Clothes
• Shoes
• Takeout food
• Drinks from bars/restaurants (work it into your groceries and drink at home- it’s way cheaper!)
• coffee from cafes/restaurants (again, make it at home!)
• Other non-essentials

 

I’m lucky in the sense I don’t have kids, so it makes not spending a lot easier. I do have two dogs though, and I have to resist the urge to buy them anything besides food and medicine, even in a sea of adorable dog Halloween costumes.

I’m also starting the 50-20-30 budget, so I’m really hunkering down on my spending overall.

Share your experience in the comments! Are you participating or have you participated in a no spend month? Do you go by the 50-20-30 budget?

 

The Rise of Minimalism in Response to Consumerism

It’s happened to the best of us: you walk into Target for socks, paper towels, and a few groceries, and walk out with ten other things you had no intention of buying. Maybe it was impulse buys, sales, or clearance/closeout items. Maybe you kept seeing the same ad for the same new kitchen gadget or hair product you just had to try. Consumer culture has been a major part of American life since post-war technological advances led to more mass production of goods. There’s even a conspiracy theory of how consumer culture began.

Capitalism and consumerism go hand-in-hand. In capitalism, a private entity has the ability to start a business in which they can sell goods to turn a profit. This means that a business owner has to convince you to be a consumer of the product they’re selling.  However, this idea can be thrown into overdrive. Whether it’s the enticement of a sale or something new all your friends (or your kid’s friends) are talking about, it can obviously be very tempting to run out and fulfill that instant satisfaction of having something new to show off on your Facebook timeline or instagram feed.

That’s where consumerism comes into play. Many get caught up in the “gotta-have-it” idea or the tingling feeling of bringing home new goodies and always want the newest and best items, regardless of need. Consumerism has even been called a disease and a crisis in America.

For most, this isn’t even a conscious act– companies and advertisements purposely appeal to our intrinsic wants and desires so we feel like we really need their product. However, not a lot of us stop the question this behavior. I see it in my closest friends and family: it’s just another pair of shoes, another another quirky kitchen gadget, another toy. They mean no harm, but do they really need a 30th pair of shoes?

With any major culture movement, there’s bound to be a counter culture. There are people all over America who choose to live with less or do things themselves instead of play into rampant consumerism One of the most well-known ways this push-back manifests is the minimalist movement.

Minimalism is usually a hashtag on posts of a sparsely-furnished room or modern architecture, but the minimalist lifestyle is much more than a style of interior design. It takes many different forms and is often in response to “…the trappings of the consumer culture we’ve built our lives around.”

The simplest form minimalism takes is just changing the way you think about and consume goods (and yes, this means no shopping trips just for fun). This may be accomplished in many ways, including but not limited to:

• Putting an end to fast fashion– You know those pieces from the mall that seem to disintegrate after one run through the wash? That’s what the fashion industry refers to as “fast fashion,” because the clothes are trendy, cheap, and not made to last. While the cost up front for well-made clothes is higher, the pieces last much longer both in wear and in style. Check out your local consignment store for gently used pieces with plenty of life still in them.
• No more impulse buying– When you’re roving the aisles of Target looking for that one thing you need and get distracted by four more, and you’re telling yourself you “really need” that pineapple shaped butter dish, put it back and come back to it later– Not at the end of your shopping trip, but on your next Target run two weeks from now. My money’s on that you completely forgot about whatever it was you were so jazzed up on last time. After all, we love the thrill of the chase.
• Don’t replace something until it’s broken– Whether it’s a pair of shoes or a slap chopper, if the one you have works just fine, you don’t need a new one. Even if it’s on the verge of breaking, you can probably get by a day or two without it until you can get a new one. Alternatively, if you replace something that’s only gently used, donate it so someone else can enjoy it.

If you want to take it a step further, you could create a capsule wardrobe or move into a tiny house.

Now I’ve gotta be real, As a teenager and young adult I owned dozens upon dozens of pairs of shoes and what seemed like a hundred t-shirts all at the same time, on top of dresses and accessories and all kinds of other stuff. Once upon a time I had a kitchen drawer full of squeezers and choppers and stirrers galore. I always liked to organize my things and get rid of some, but I always just scratched surface. However, moving 5 times in 5 years really made me realize how much stuff I was hauling around, and that was the breaking point for me: I had to minimize.

My long-term boyfriend and I recently bought a house, but before moving in I became much more aggressive in my efforts to donate or sell things we didn’t need. I didn’t want to have to squeeze into the space that was officially “ours.” We also made an effort to only buy things that would last so we wouldn’t have to buy and replace things too quickly. It’s an ever changing journey about learning what we need and what we can live without, and finding a healthy balance of letting go and holding on. We have what I feel like is an abundance of things, but it’s an abundance that all has a place and is useful to us in some way (even if that use is just being pretty or making us happy).

But why? Why choose to push back against having stuff and be a minimalist?

I can only speak from personal experience, but minimizing our possessions has been beneficial in multiple ways. A minimal wardrobe has opened up time in my morning routine and opened more space in my closet. It’s also helped me not spend a lot of time shopping– when I need or want to add a piece to my collection, I know exactly what I’m looking for before ever leaving the house. Everything has a place, which helps keep our home de-cluttered and easy to clean. Not worrying about having the latest and greatest items has also saved us money because we go to the thrift or consignment stores for many household or clothing items.

Personally, having less is also mentally freeing. I don’t feel stressed when I’m at home because we have plenty of space to move about and I’m not constantly looking at a bunch of stuff on every surface. I know we have what we need and aren’t burdened by anything else.

 

 

I think it’s important to point out that there are those for whom minimalism isn’t a choice, whether it’s not owning many items, or not being able to let items go because you might need it “just in case.” Minimalism can absolutely be a privilege for some. In regards to this article, those without that choice would likely not be participating in the consumerism as described, so aren’t the subject/audience for this article/pseudo-how-to. My motto for others living their life is do what you can. Even if that just means surviving.