Serial Optimist

op·ti·mist

ˈäptəməst/

noun

1. 1. 

   a person who tends to be hopeful and confident about the future or the success of something.

   "only an eternal optimist could expect success"
2. 2. 

   PHILOSOPHY

   a person who believes that this world is the best of all possible worlds or that good must ultimately prevail over evil.

I am a serial optimist. I can't help myself. Like the little dog who gets kicked and keeps coming back for more, I will always expect the best, no matter how many times I'm burned. I have to. It's ingrained in every fiber of my being.

Once, after a particularly hurtful disappointment, a very close friend asked me, "Why?" She explained that she prefers to always expect the worst so that she will be pleasantly surprised sometimes. People intentionally try not to get their hopes up. But I see it differently.

I would much rather live expecting the best out of people and situations and be let down from time to time than live in a constant state of disappointment waiting for someone or something to show me some good in the world. And, it's good for your health! Don't believe me? Just google "Health Benefits of Optimism" and take a look for yourself. Every heard of visualizing your goal? People who envision a positive outcome are more likely to achieve a positive outcome. That's optimism!

So today, even in the uncertainty and extreme posts my far left and far right friends are posting on social media, I chose to be optimistic. Regardless of my (or your) attitude today, the United States will have a new President this morning. Doomsday posts and comments about how embarrassed you are to be an American will not change that. What will these posts accomplish? Encouraging others to be pessimistic? Attempting to knock someone down who is being optimistic?

Instead, I encourage you to do something kind today. Do it for someone you know, or a total stranger. Do it to set an example for the younger generation or just to make yourself feel better. It doesn't matter how or why, but if we all place the energy caused by our pent up emotions, insecurities, and uncertainties into something positive, today will be a good day.

And, say a prayer. Pray for the new administration: for wisdom and guidance. Pray for the thousands protesting this weekend: that there would be no violence, that everyone would be safe and respectful. Pray for the relationships in our country that have been fractured by this election year: for restoration, forgiveness, and love. Pray for yourself: that you would not fall victim to negativity and that you would be the change you wish to see. Pray for optimism in America.

Whole 30 Take 2, Days 3-5

Five days in and going strong! If you've been worried that I gave up and fell face first into a bowl of M&M's, fear not! I will not quit. I finish what I start, and I WILL finish this.

The last few days have been very busy at work, so I haven't felt much like writing when I got home. Jerry made an amazing pot roast the on Tuesday night and awesome veggie soup last night. I really am blessed to have such a great chef at home! Without him, working late nights and staying on plan would be very difficult.

On Tuesday, a coworker called to tell me that she brought some sweets into the office to share and I should help myself. My first instinct was to explain to her that I couldn't have anything that she was offering because it didn't fall into the Whole 30. Then I would have to explain what Whole 30 is and why I'm doing it, answer a bunch of questions, yada yada yada. I wasn't really in the mood for that conversation, and I decided that saying those things would just insult the coworker and her kind offer. So, instead, I just said, "Thank you! That was so nice of you!" And then I stayed out of the kitchen. And you know what? It felt good!

As I mentioned on Day 1, there are many people doing this plan with me in January. As we have all talked and one or the other of us has said "I can't have" this or that, I've tried to correct the thinking into "I'm choosing not to have" so that we feel less controlled and more IN control. But this one act of self control, a simple, "Thank You! instead of a long drawn out explaination was so empowering.

As grown, free, independent human beings, we do not owe anyone an excuse for not eating something we do not wish to eat. Just as we tell our children to say no to alcohol and drugs, we can say no, too! Or, we can just say thank you and not partake. To many of you reading this, that may seem like a no brainer. You may have known this all along. I'm happy for you. I, on the other hand, must be a slow learner.

I have never viewed food as a drug, even though sugar is more addictive than cocaine (don't believe me? Watch the documentary Fed Up on Netflix). When someone offers me something sweet, even if I don't want it, I usually accept. I accept because they are being nice and I like it when people are nice to be. I accept it because sugar is a drug and I am an addict. Do you? What do you accept, just to spare someone's feelings, when you don't even want it? Do you realize that you are putting their feelings in front of your own health? When I think of it that way, exercising self control is way easier.

Here's to another great day tomorrow!

Whole 30 take 2, Day 2

As an accountant, I have gotten really used to missing out on holiday breaks because they fall during the first week of the month. New Year's is especially hard when it falls in the middle of the week because everyone else gets out early on NYE to start celebrating and many of you also take off on the second. Meanwhile, I'm working late on the 31st and on more than one occasion have had to work on New Year's Day. This year was the BEST! When a holiday falls on a Sunday, Monday is a bank holiday. So, after a long walk with Jerry and Lucy, we spent today relaxing on the couch. I cannot think of a better way to start the year!

Usually a day at home means a day filled with junk food. Not on the Whole 30! We had an errand to run this morning, so we ate a light breakfast on the go of bananas and almonds. For lunch, we ate leftover chili with avocado slices. Dinner was the best part. Jerry cooked almond crusted chicken tenders with homemade barbecue sauce, roasted potato wedges, and a huge salad full of fresh veggies. If you're doing a Whole 30, check out the new creamy ranch dressing from Tessamae. YUM. We found it at Mariano's.

When I did this two years ago, I snacked a lot. This time, I've read information that says I am not supposed to snack much. It's so hard not to! I did have some cashews and an apple during the day and berries for dessert after dinner. It's a lot less snacking than I normally would have done and way healthier, too. So, that's something.

I feel like I was less irritable today than yesterday, although, sitting on the couch watching TV is not at all stressful. I did not have nearly as much of a sugar hangover as I was expecting. I'm sure that is still to come. Tomorrow will be a different challenge. I will be busy at work, and distraction is good. There are bound to be treats in the office. But, I am prepared. I will walk into the office armed with cut bell peppers and jicama and I've already prepared chicken and salad for lunch.

If you're doing a Whole 30, too, reach out and let me know how it's going! I think it is so awesome that there are many of us doing this together. Let's encourage one another!

Here we go again... Whole 30, Take 2, Day 1

I hear so many Americans talking about how awful 2016 was. We lost a lot of great people. The election was not to our satisfaction, in one way or another. Terror Attacks. Zika. Brexit. Syria. The list goes on and on. These things are bad, but arguably there have been worse years in history. Good things happened in 2016, too. I mean for one, THE CUBS WON THE WORLD SERIES! 

I traveled a lot in 2016: Colorado (three times!), Minnesota, Texas, and Florida. I ran my third half marathon and achieved a personal best. Jerry golfed more this year than ever before. We celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary and Jeremy's 21st birthday. Caroline won the Intermediate Illinois twirling pageant and her division Solo and Super-X Strut. Those are just the highlights. But, as I look back on the year, it's a blur. 

Truth be told, I stumbled through much of the year in a sugar-induced fog. 2016 was a year of overconsumption that left me looking at a number on the scale that I never wanted to see again. I joke that I'm the only person I know who can gain weight while training for a half marathon, but it isn't funny. I wish I could say it wasn't easy, but it was way too easy. So easy it's scary. My family genetics are riddled with heart disease, diabetes, tooth decay, inflammatory diseases, cancer, and a whole host of other scary diagnoses. I want to break the cycle. I just hope it's not too late. 

I'm kicking off 2017 with another Whole 30. And this time, I'm not alone. I'm in good company! My husband (Jerry), my best friend (Althea) and her husband (Brian), and another good friend (Mike) are doing it, too! And, with the growing popularity of the plan, I'm sure we are joined by thousands of others. 

In case you're not familiar with Whole 30, here's the basics: No grains, no dairy, no alcohol, no legumes, and most importantly NO SUGAR for 30 days straight. Sounds impossible, it isn't. But our instant gratification society does make it rather difficult. But, in my experience, anything worth doing is hard.

Today was Day 1 for Jerry and I. Our friends are starting tomorrow. We attended a New Year's Day party and managed to stay on plan. We brought our own salads and green tea and stayed strong. Day 1 is probably the easiest. Today we feel invincible. I do have a sugar headache and we are both low energy and very tired. Our bodies and brains are angry with us today for depriving them of quick energy bursts and sugar induced highs. We know that in time, we will adjust and we will feel better than ever. Hoping this is the kick start we need to make this our healthiest year yet.

New Year, New You... right? Let's hope so.

Well, this is it! Whole 30! Day 30!

As I sit down to type this, I am eating lunch on my very last day of Whole 30! A chicken breast, a sweet potato, some bell pepper slices, and grapes. 

The last 30 days have been amazing. Yes, I've struggled. Yes, I've wanted to quit. No, I didn't always want to follow the rules. Yes, I'm sick of salad. But, I made a goal, and I stuck with it to the end in an area of life that I've never felt in complete control of.  And of that I'm proud. My energy levels are soaring, I'm fitting into pants I haven't worn in a long time, my skin is clear, my head is clear, working out is easier, workout recovery is faster, and I feel healthier in general. Twice in the last two weeks I've been called a health nut, and I liked it!

I have such a confused head and heart about what tomorrow and the days after hold. I want all the things I haven't been eating for the last 30 days. But, I am terrified of them at the same time! I'm scared I'll fall right back into bad patterns (and fat pants). I'm scared eating them will make me feel sick. I'm scared of losing control. But, I do not want to stay this crazy strict, either. Must. Find. Balance. 

Tomorrow will go something like this:

  1.  Weigh myself!

  2.  Drink coffee with cream and sugar!!

  3.  I'm not sure about lunch... I need to think about that

  4.  Lou Malnati's pizza for dinner with a brownie for dessert!

I'm sure I'll regret it all. But, it's just one day. 

Whole 30! Day 21!

This has been quite a week. But, it has flown by and been relatively easy to stick with the Whole 30 plan. I do have to give my sweet husband most of the credit, though. He cooked up some yummy dinners last week!

Lately, I have been craving sweets something fierce! I wanted apple cider chocolate glazed donuts SO badly on Sunday. I wouldn't normally have those, so I'm not quite sure where that craving came from. I had a dream Sunday night that I ate a turtle. Not like a swims-in-a-pond-lives-in-a-shell kind of turtle, a chocolate pecan caramel cluster kind of turtle. In my dream, someone told me the turtle was Whole30 compliant. And I ate it. And I enjoyed every bite. As soon as it was gone, it occured to me that there is absolutely NO WAY to make caramel and chocolate without sugar! Which meant that there was NO WAY that candy was compliant. Whoever it was that told me it was compliant was laughing at me. I was MAD. And disappointed in myself. It was so real that it took me a few minutes to realize it hadn't really happened when I woke up. Phew! I'm so glad that was a dream!

Yesterday I had a killer headache all day. It was just like the headache I had the first couple of days with no sugar. It almost makes me wonder if I was "dosed" with some sugar on Sunday. But, I've run through everything I ate on Sunday and couldn't come up with anything. So, I think I must have been dehydrated.

Positive changes I have noticed in the last week: my joints don't hurt, I don't get tired as early, and I can run faster. I ran 6.5 miles on Saturday (by myself because my normal running partners were both out of town) at an average pace of 12 minutes per mile! (Did I mention I was by myself? I'm pretty proud of that becaues I only ever do long runs with friends!) I had an active afternoon and was able to stay up until midnight without feeling exhausted! Normally I turn into a pumpkin at 11:00. And, on Sunday I wasn't the slightest bit sore. I ran again today (only 3.5 miles) and my average pace was 11:15 per mile! And again, I'm not sore! 

As this 30 day challenge comes to an end, I need to put some serious thought into how I will change my life going forward. What foods will I allow back in and what will I keep out?

  1.   Based on the decreased inflamation in my joints, I think I've decided to cut out legumes. I never ate a ton of beans to begin with. But, I love peanut butter. I think I can replace it with almond butter without missing it too much. I'll probably still have the occasional PB&J, but no more pre-run peanut butter toast fueling.

  2.   I will most definitely continue to read food labels. Yesterday, I ran to the grocery store to pick up some salad things for lunch. I needed a protein for my salad, so I decided on lunch meat turkey. I picked up the Applegate Farms roasted turkey because I know that brand has a good reputation. Read the label and, perfect! Turkey and water. I decided to check out the label on the Sara Lee turkey and I swear, the ingredients list was a paragraph, and hardly anything in the list sounded like food! What's the purpose? Food should be food. End of story. (unless it's candy. Then it should be sugar and a conscious decision is made to eat sugar. And sometimes, that will be ok.)

  3.   Protein! The other day I made zucchini noodles with red sauce. I also made meatballs, but they were disgusting. I could not make myself eat them. So, I ate the "zoodles" and sauce. The whole time I was eating, I thought, "There's no protein in this! I'm going to be hungry in an hour!" Funny thing is that three weeks ago, I would have gladly eaten noodles and sauce with a side of garlic bread (who are we kidding, 3 sides of garlic bread. That stuff is good!) without even considering meatballs. I have definitely realized how filling protein is.

Stay tuned for more "life change" decisions!

Recipes to try this week: 

Chicken Divan: http://popularpaleo.com/2013/07/14/skillet-chicken-divan-dairy-free/

Stuffed Pepper Cassarole: http://www.plaidandpaleo.com/2014/05/stuffed-pepper-casserole.html

Tonight, Jerry made awesome chili. Have I mentioned how much I love that man? Because I do. A whole lot. 

When I started this post I thought I had nothing to say today. That's silly. I ALWAYS have something to say, apparently. :-)

Whole 30 Hump Day!

It's all downhill from here, folks! I've made it through the halfway point!

The last couple of days have ben challenging to say the least. Yesterday began with an alarming message that my brother was undergoing emergency surgery for a perforated ulcer. A serious condition and scary surgery. I spent the day in the hospital. First waiting for him to go into surgery. Then waiting for news about the surgery. Then waiting for him to wake up. Then waiting for him to be brought to a room in the ICU where he will be watched closely for the next couple of days. After that, he will be moved to a less critical ward of the hospital for further recovery. 

When I left for the hospital in the morning, I joked with my husband that for sure there would be healthy food for me at the hospital, right? Not necessarily. Lunch consisted of a salad from the salad bar, a sub-par grilled chicken breast sandwich, sans bun, and NO salad dressing. I choked it down, but it was not very enjoyable. I waited until I got home last night to eat dinner and settled on leftover almond chicken tenders and potatoes from the night before. What I really wanted was a large glass of wine and something chocolatey. Hello, my name is Dana and I am a stress eater. 

At the hospital, I stoppd by the vending machine out of curiosity. There was not a single thing in there I could eat. If this situation had happened last month, I would hav gladly accepted the excuse for my go-to stress indulgence: a snickers bar, a bag of cheddar and sour cream Ruffles, and a Mountain Dew.  I would have had horrible digestive issues to go along with the already stressful day and I would have been completely miserable. Instead, I laughed at the stupid choices in the machine and ate the apple and nuts I brought for a snack.

A coworker has been taking a cake decorating class and brought in her most recent masterpiece to share with the office today. It was pretty and it looked beautiful. But, I politely declined a piece and went about my business. I will admit, not snatching up a piece of that cake was one of the hardest things I've ever done. It was torture knowing that homemade sweet goodness and fresh frosting were sitting right outside my office. All. Day. Long. 

At Bible Study tonight I giggled to myself as a huge bag of Peanut M&M's was passed around the group. M&M's are my favorite candy. And peanuts only make them better. In fact, I woke yesterday morning from a nightmare where I ate an entire large bag of Peanut M&M's myself and had to deal with the post splurge guilt. It seemed so real! It took me a few minutes to realize that it was only a dream. Boy was I happy once I figured that out!

Here's my exciting realization for the day: My hair isn't falling out anymore!!! For the last few months, I was noticing that every time I style my hair, I would end up with hair all over my shirt. When running my fingers through my hair, 5 or so pieces would come out. Now, NOTHING!!! This is huge for me. I felt like I was going bald! I wish I could step on the scale to check my weight loss progress. But no scales is part of the plan. We tie too much of our success and failures to a number on the scale that they say stepping on the scale can derail progress. So, little things like "my hair doesn't fall out anymore" will have to be my guide for now.