Things I Have Learned About Myself Thanks to the Whole Living 28-Day Action Plan

Alternatively titled: How I’d Cut a Bitch for My Afternoon Cup of Coffee

So I am trying the Whole Living 28-Day Action Plan. It addresses eating whole foods, exercising, and mental well-being.

I shopped for Week 1. It took me over 2 ½ hours. At two different stores. But because I am not easily deterred, so I persisted.

I made three meals on Sunday to kick off the week. My kitchen looked like this:

Yikes, right?

Guess what?  All those pots and pans needed to be washed, too.
Aside: Does that new stove look sharp or what?!

It does not look tasty, and I didn't clean up the bowl
before I took the picture.  But this Amond Chicken
Soup was awesome!  And everyone liked it.

Again, I am not quitter. I drank that hot lemon water. Twice. Like it was my job.

Monday, I drank only one cup of coffee in the morning. I was eating the little meals all day. I drank herbal tea when I wanted my afternoon coffee or a glass of wine at night. I ate The Millet Bowl. I even ate millet with honey and sunflower seeds for breakfast today.

And then it happened.

The shakes.

The cold sweats.

The dizziness.

I couldn’t do it. I had to break down and eat something. For real. And for real, I mean protein.

So I broke the rules and had a piece of toast (all allergens were off the list, like wheat, dairy, eggs, peanuts, and soy) with the suggested almond butter. But instead of water, I had the forbidden juice. That’s right; I washed my indulgence down with five ounces of sugar water, otherwise known as orange juice.


Don't even get me started on how I failed big time on the media fast either.  (I justified this since I neglected reading my favorite blogs and writing on my own for the last month).


So here’s what I learned about myself and my family:

- I need protein.
- I do not like millet. In fact, no one in this family likes millet.
- Thomas will eat oranges.
- Marie like sunflower seeds, but not pomegranate seeds.
- Cutting my semi-regular afternoon cup of coffee is not worth it to me at this time.
- Harrington does have my back, seeing that he ate the millet with me. (Although I am sure he snacked it up at work).
- I think if I exercise 3-5 days a week, that’s not so bad. (The plan suggests a little every day).

So effective today, I have modified this action plan so I can effectively parent my children and not become a floppy pancake that needs to be scooped up off the floor. Although Marie does know how to dial 911, I do not think I want to see if she could do it in a real emergency.

And how embarrassing would it be to explain to the EMS that I passed out because I chose to eat disgusting millet instead of peanut butter toast for breakfast.

And that afternoon cup of coffee? It’s not like I am freebasing crack or drinking my lunch out of a bottle. Not to mention, I can’t go around wanting to cut people because I want a cup of coffee. That would not be a good example for The Babes, now would it?

So I will continue to try new foods and exercise and take some time to recharge since those are in line with my goals for 2011. But so is happiness. And this? Not making me happy. In fact, the lack of protein was making me so lethargic, I thought maybe I was depressed.

And that is the opposite of happy.

A few years back, I would think that I was a quitter. But since this is about Whole Living, I think it’s better to look at the whole picture (who is going to take care of The Babes when their mother is zoned out due to low blood sugar?) (meal times are crazy enough without making two dinners) (personal happiness)

And I can’t go around acting like this, right?



Hope your 2011 is getting off to a good start!