For your viewing pleasure.

It's been a while since I've told you about the movies we've watched. 

We've seen several indie films recently and so why don't I just tell ya bout em'?

Last  night we watched this:

Awesome! 

It's just so refreshing to see real lives of real, good people. 

It drew out all those feelings I had as a 10 yr old who just knew that horses would be my best friend and I would be able to connect with them on deep levels. 

(I'm not the only one who went through a beloved horse phase, am I?)

In all honesty, I'm terrified of horses and that is because I've never really spent much time around them.

Another film we watched this last week was this:

It was surprisingly sweet. 

I was skeptic at first as there was an over abundance of "teenage boyhood" jokes. (please read between the lines here - this boy is literally out of control)

But there is hope and the movie takes a turn for the good just in time. 

"Ralph" (lead character) is actually quite a charming character and is easy to love. 

My husband (former collegiate track star) will tell you that it's radical and impossible for a boy who's 14 to run like "Ralph" does, but it makes the movie fun! I mean, the entire theme is about a miracle!

I didn't want to watch this movie. 

But after months and months of Netflix promising that we would like it I caved. 

 Clair Danes is awesome. 

This movie was delightful! I never in my wildest dreams thought I would enjoy watching a movie about a girl who loves cattle. But it was fascinating and I sure hope the world is listening to what she has to say. (Temple Grandin is a real person who is still advocating kind care of cattle and is a great beacon for those who have autism.)

And lastly:

Henry has been sick for several days this week and Little Bear is almost as soothing as chicken noodle soup. 

Definitely a family favorite. 

nothing to talk about

Guys. 

I have nothing fun to talk about...let alone blog about. 

Blech. 

What I can tell you is that I have now been 98% Paleo for 10 days. 

(I say 98% because I still eat too much fruit. Can't get over my sweet tooth and I talk myself into it by telling me how far I've come and how it's so much better to eat an apple with peanut butter than a cookie)

I will be 100% Paleo at some point. I say that because it is working. 

I feel so great! I can't believe it. 

I've never even had the gumption to stick to any kind of diet, but I always feel completely satisfied and hardly feel hungry! I still daydream about cookies and chocolate, but I think that will disappear soon.
The plan is this will be my life forever. 

I can feel it healing me and my seriously messed up digestive track. It seems conflicting because we've been taught for decades that meat and fat are the bad guys.
What I love about Robb Wolf's book is how he goes into very detailed science of why grains, legumes, and dairy are so hard on the digestive system and in response your entire body.
Sometimes it made my brain hurt, but it was a good pain.

I would love to have a Paleo friend. :)

Anyone wanna jump on the bandwagon with me?

I'll even let you borrow my book. 

You didn't sign up for this.

I never had any intentions for this blog to turn into a food and health sight. 

I didn't realize how often I blog about nutrition and health until my husband said,

"All you blog about anymore is healthy food. You should go back to school and become a Nutritionist". 

It took me back a little. I hadn't even realized I had become so obsessed with researching. 

But I have. 

Yesterday I got this book in the mail:

I can't wait to delve into it. 

Several months ago I read this book:

Pretty much the exact opposite of "The Paleo Solution".


On another slightly related subject:

My husband signed up to run a marathon in June, in Utah. He also has recruited half of his family and many friends from around the states (people he worked with on his deployment to Guantanamo Bay) will be flying in to run it with him. 

In an effort to NOT look like the fat, sick, lazy wife I really want to be able to get a hold of my food choices and possibly run the half marathon. 

The world seems to think RA victims who are on immune suppressents can't run half marathons. 

They are probably right. 

But as of this week, I'm ready to prove them wrong. 

First 3 workouts, done! 

Just in case you want to run along with me, here is the book I'm using as my guide and workout plan:

Sugar Attack

My body is under attack. 

I really feel this to be true, and, sadly it is currently losing.

You all know I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis about one year ago. 

5 weeks ago I started taking a prescription called methotrexate. 

I have to give this drug 6 months before I call it quits, because the rumor is that it will get better. 

But right now, it seems that the side effects of this pill are out weighing the benefits. 

3 weeks ago I was also diagnosed with PCOS. 

Another pill. 

Metformin. 

Last week I got a stomach bug that lingered for 10 days or so. 

My daughter also got the bug, but was only effected for about 36 hours. 

Now I have another internal infection that is making me want to pull my hair out. 

This all sounds so depressing. 

It is!

But I have an idea of where I need to begin to get the healing process of my body jump started:

I am declaring war on 

SUGAR. 

I have had a love affair with sugar all my life. 

I've known for a while that sugar is slowly killing me.

It truly is poison!

I've never had the determination or the gumption to take major effort to quit sugar until now. 

I'm convinced it's ruining my life.

You'd have to be an ostrich with your head in the ground, or in complete denial (where I've been for the last few years) to deny the horrible effects of sugar. It seems to be the root of all things physically negative. It's been strongly linked to:

depression

heart disease

diabetes (obviously)

PCOS

autoimmune disorders

weight gain (obviously)

and more! 

I've read this book and really like her ideas:

{Click HERE for link}

I am certain that I will have to slow the process down for my personal success. I am just SO addicted. 

For instance, I've been trying to go just 24 hours without a treat and I just can't make it without shoving a handful of peanut butter m&m's down my throat. The 3 o'clock hour and stressful moments are my weakest points. 

I've been using the calorie counter/food diary at Lance Armstrong's websight to help. 

It's awesome! It has every food in their system and breaks down ALL the nutritional values for you. 

Even when I thought those m&m's were the only sugar I was eating I was shocked to see that I had downed over 150 grams of sugar in a day!

**********************************

Eventually I would like to be living the Paleo Diet. 

Some people will call me crazy, but I just have to go with my gut on this one (pun intended). 

Cutting out grains completely will be a major accomplishment. Especially with a husband and kids who are not so convinced. That's okay for now. For now, I'm just starting with sugar and myself. Maybe next year I'll tackle all packaged foods. Then move onto grains. 

 2012 = Chablis' war on sugar