So a few weeks ago I decided to start eating just real food. I know that sounds silly because all food is “real” but here is my definition: unprocessed food with one exception: if the food is processed it has to have less than five ingredients and the ingredients are whole foods with no preservatives, additives, artificial anything. My desire to do this stems from trying to find out what I can tolerate with this new disease I’ve got (need to think of some crazy nickname for this weird illness!).
For several years I’ve tried all kinds of diets in the hopes of feeling better: gluten free; lactose free; vegan; no sugar; no red meat. The list goes on and on. And no matter what I tried I didn’t feel better. Well I now know why! My MCAS (the abbreviation for Mast Cell Activation Syndrome) and Fibro (Fibromyalgia) can be triggered by anything and everything. So the first thing I decided to look at was what I was eating.
I started thinking about how people ate before processed food burst onto the scene. They had gardens. Fresh meat. Fresh grain. Nothing was processed. These people were relatively healthy and usually sickness came in the form of accidents, infections, etc. Not what we see today where most of our diseases and illnesses can be attributed to our crazy food culture of fast, processed food. But how was I to begin? I am already eating such a restricted diet due to potential MCAS triggers but their were a few “processed” items I was tolerating ok or so I thought.
So about 3 weeks ago I decided to eat “Real” food. And this is my basic definition: a food that is whole with no preservatives, additives, chemicals, colorants – nothing artificial. Also if I purchase a processed food, the ingredient list must but no more than 5 ingredients and meet the previous stated criteria. One website that helped me bunches is www.100daysofrealfood.com. Please check it out – it is wonderful and the advice is spot on!
My real food journey has been fun so far. I’m learning so much, trying new recipes and needless to say cooking up a storm. I am finding some pre-made food with that adhere to my 5 ingredient rule but it is rare right now. So I have invested in some kitchen tools, storage containers (glass so no leaching of plastic into the food) and scouring the internet and cookbooks for healthy recipes. I’m still limited on food selection due to my food reactions (no dairy, corn, soy, red meat, eggs for sure!) but slowly I’m building a list of different real foods/recipes that I can eat safely. As far as how I’m feeling – I can tell a difference especially in my skin. Is it huge? Not yet but then I’m dealing with a chronic illness and it is slow process. I’ve talked to other “Real Food” foodies who see a difference in how they look and feel in as little as 7 days! But I’m so excited to know that I’m not adding chemicals and artificial junk to my body. Yeah me!
If you are interested in a Real Food eating plan (don’t use the “diet” word anymore), check out www.100daysofrealfood.com. Lisa Leake and her family made a pledge to eat nothing but real food for 100 days! Her story is interesting and inspiring. And if you do jump on the Real Food train, let me know in the comments. We can encourage each other!
I hear some freeze dried cantaloupe calling my name (this stuff is good!)!
This blog began as an outlet for me to discuss fashion and beauty. I have loved clothes and makeup since I was 12. I would get all the fashion magazines and devour them cover to cover, sew my own clothes and try out the newest makeup look. And to this day that love continues. But over the years I have also developed other interests that I would like to share but was afraid to include them all in one blog. So I tried to write 4 different ones! What a mess it has been! And talk about stress? Ugh! So I have decided to consolidate them and I really think this will be a good thing.
I will still be talking about fashion and beauty. But now I will include decorating, crafts, DIY projects, Pinterest Challenges, going green, upcycling, and health issues. This last item – health – is really important to me because I have recently been diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and severe Fibromyalgia. Over the last 20 years or so, I was diagnosed with 8 different disorders but just this past January, my new doctor was able to reduce that list down to just 2. Of course it was a relief because I finally knew I wasn’t going crazy but the flip side is that there is no cure and treatment is a very slow process.
So I have decided to be proactive about my health care – becoming a health junkie. I’m trying different things and I’m going to take you on my journey. Who knows – maybe something I share will enable you to help someone you love or yourself! But part of being a health junkie is finding your passions and doing them – this releases stress and helps the body heal. That’s why I want to talk about all my interests (my above list) and not just narrow this blog down to just one or two things.
I hope you will join me and if you read something that might help someone else, please share my blog with others. And if you have any suggestions or comments, please let me know. You might help me discover something new!
Big Hugs To All and Here We Go!
Miki
PS – Also want to let you know that one things I’m really into right now is learning about creating blogs and websites. so you may see this blog change in its look at anytime. Leave a comment and let me know what you think! I love learning this stuff!
Me and my lovely daughter Holly on her Wedding Day this past Saturday!
Not writing a full post today because I want to share a blog post from another website. It is from www.successify.net and is titled “22 Things Happy People Do Differently” by Chiara Fucarino. It is a great article and the advice is wonderful! Here is the link:
To start off with I have to give an update from my last post about my “PJ Weekend”. It was GREAT! I really just stayed in pajamas from Friday night till Monday morning and gave myself permission to relax, read, watch TV, etc. And since it was such a success, I have determined that one weekend a month should be a nothing but pjs and relaxation. I’m going to do my best to make this so!
My big news right now is planning my daughter’s wedding. This has been going on for a while now but with the wedding just 7 weeks away, planning the final details is in full swing. It is so exciting but stressful too. One of the biggest hurdles for her wedding is her strict budget. She/we are determined to have a beautiful and meaningful wedding for less than $1,000.00. Right now, she is on target to come out below her budget. So, how is she doing it? Watch for future posts as I reveal details but here is tip #1: Make your own wedding invitations. That is what we did today and hopefully will finish tomorrow. We saved LOADS of $ on this one step! If you have a good graphics program, you can put together a beautiful invitation. Mix it with some embellishments (we are using stamps) and you have a meaningful and memorable card.
So now for some relaxation! Hope you have a wonderful day!
So you may ask – “What is a PJ Vacation Weekend???” It is a little idea I came up with to show myself some great self care.
I have decided to spend the weekend in my pajamas while relaxing, watching TV, reading some books and magazines, etc. Just taking a couple days off. But the trick for me is to stay in my PJs. And here is the reason why.
My personality is Type A to some extent. If something needs to be done, I just go ahead and do it. This causes problems for me because I really don’t know when to quit sometimes and leads to exhaustion. Well since receiving my diagnosis of a rare illness in which my doctors are saying “Rest” is part of the medical protocol, I have got to change my thinking about my self care. So I decided this weekend to just take off – take a “Stay At Home” weekend vacation but do this while staying in my PJs. My goal for staying in my pajamas is to help me think more about resting, relaxing and taking care of myself.
So I will keep you updated on how I do this weekend. Have my food, books, magazines, blankets, pillows, my puppy Emma to snuggle with and of course – my PJs!
Sending Big Hugs To All!
Miki
I Love, Love, Love these pajamas! I got these as a Christmas gift and all I can say is – COMFY!!! Check out www.pajamagram.com
My new pharmacy – Whole Foods!
