Day 3 of the 21DSD

So today is day 3 of the detox.   I should say I am doing Level 3 which is the strictest level.  It is not hard for me to not eat dairy because I really don't like milk or cheese (weird I know).
 I did notice that my headache was gone but I am bloated for some reason today.  I have also noticed that I am not concentrating very well.  My thoughts are all over the place like ADD or something.
 My grown son is doing the detox with me (he is level 1, first timer) and he is having a harder time.  He is soo tired.
Luckily, I cooked a lot of food yesterday so we are having leftovers for dinner.  That is key for me, either cook a lot at one time or use the crock-pot.

I did go for a nice walk today but that is all the exercise I did today.

Here were my meals today:

Breakfast
buffalo chicken muffins, slaw, 1/2 avocado and bulletproof coffee (coffee blended with ghee and coconut oil)

Lunch
meatloaf, brussels sprouts, slaw

Dinner
leftover steak with peppers and onions over brussels sprouts topped with avocado/pepper spread

Snack
Banana with almond butter, coconut and cacao nibs
8 oz of kombucha

Day 2 of the 21DSD

So, today was day 2 of the 21-Day Sugar Detox and I have to say, I feel better today than yesterday.  I still have a nagging headache but it is not that bad.  I know from previous experience that days 5-7 are the worst for me.  I am taking L-glutamine and it seems to be helping with the cravings.  I am also drinking a lot of green tea.  Here is what my food looked like today:

Breakfast
Pumpkin Pancakes with sunbutter and bacon, chicken broth

Lunch
meatloaf and green beans, one slice of non-sweetened banana bread, green tea

Dinner
Steak, paleo detox salad, balsamic winter squash, green tea

Snacks-8 ounces of kombucha

Day 1 of the 21DSD

So, today was day 1 of my 21 Day Sugar Detox.  I am using the new book (it is fabulous) as my guide and meal ideas.  A few weeks ago, I was planning to start the detox on November 4th to help support some friends and followers on my Facebook page.  Then Halloween hit.  I thought I could just have a little sugar and then I would be fine.  WRONG!!!   A little sugar led to 4 DAYS of sugar.  Ugh, that is right, I am a sugar addict.  I always think I can have a little bit of sugar but I am always wrong!

So, I am starting today and I know it is going to be rough the first week.  Lots of sugar to get out of my system.

I shopped yesterday and planned out all my meals for the week.  I was excited and could not wait for today to come!

My meals were a little weird today because I am already feeling sick.  Headache, tired and upset stomach so my meals were a little off.  Here is what I ate today:

Breakfast-omlete stuffed with leftover brisket, tomato with balsamic vinegar and homemade chicken broth (I was feeling really good in the morning)

Lunch-orange creamsicle from the 21DSD book and buffalo egg muffins (also from the book)

Dinner- bone broth

I made meatloaf and green beans for dinner but when I came home from taekwondo class, I was not feeling well so I just had a mug of broth.

I am also testing out l-glutamine to see if it helps with my sugar cravings.

So, Day 1 is finished.  Not a great day but not horrible.

My Henna Hair Color Experience

I have been coloring and highlighting my hair for probably about the last 10 years.  I started doing it just to change up my color because I have naturally really dark hair.  In the later years,  it has helped cover my gray hairs.

After changing to the Paleo lifestyle, I started questioning all the chemicals I was using.  Not to mention that because I have very long hair, my salon appointment was around $200!  I started going less and less until I was really only going twice a year.

I did see quite a few people talk about henna and some loved it and some didn't.
Here are a few of the negatives that I heard from other people:

No color choices-either red or black
Too hard to apply
Really messy
Almost impossible to rinse out
Didn't last long
Could damage your hair if you didn't find pure henna

So, I started researching and I found Morrocco Method.  Morrocco Method has a great website with lots of information.  They have tons of videos to watch and learn about how to apply, what color to choose and what to expect.  

I watched ALL the videos!

I was nervous but I decided to give it a try.  The price was reasonable and I figured if I didn't like it, the color wouldn't last forever right?

When I received my order, I read all the directions (which are great by the way!) and planned my day to apply.

Doing your own henna application does take some planning.  The henna needs to be mixed with tea (what kind depending on the color you choose) and then sit for 6-10 hours.  
I mixed my henna and let it sit all day.  Finally, time to apply.  I will be honest, the color scared me a little.  It was a green-ish brown.  It also has an earthy smell (it is a plant that came from the ground!)

  I have never colored my own hair so I was worried that I wouldn't get it right.  The application went much better than I expected and I really had no problems getting my whole head covered.  Then, you have to cover your head and wait some more.  When it came time to rinse, again it wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be.  I did buy the scalp massager and I think that helped a lot.

By the time I was done with the whole process, I was tired so I just went to bed with wet hair not really knowing how it turned out.  In the morning, I checked it out and loved it!  My hair was darker and richer with a nice red tint.  It also felt really soft and thicker too.

So, yes I love my henna transformation and I plan to do this from now on.  Even if I did an application every month (which I don't need to), it would still be way cheaper and so much healthier than the salon!

I am planning on mixing more colors next time and see how that turns out.  I think it is kind of fun to be able to mix colors together and try out different shades.

Morroco Method also carries great natural chemical-free shampoos, conditioners and more if henna is not your thing.

Here is what I bought from Morroco Method

Light brown henna-I used 1/2 of one tub the first time.
Euro natural oil conditioner
scalp massager

You will also need:
gloves
plastic wrap or shower cap
tea (what kind depends on the color you choose)
lemon or unfiltered apple cider vinegar

Is Thinning Hair Normal When We Get Older?

For as long as I can remember, my hair has been very thick with lots of body.  Both my parents have thick hair and I was blessed to have nice hair too.  

Fast forward into my 40's, I noticed that my ponytail holder was smaller when I put my hair up.  I also noticed that when I wore my hair down, I would have a lot of stray hairs on my shirt at the end of the day.  I really didn't think much about it at the time.

One day, when I was getting a hair cut,  my stylist recommended a different shampoo...one for THINNING hair!  What?  I was offended!  Yes, I did notice more hair loss but thin hair?  I was devastated.  As soon as I got home, I started researching thinning hair.  The only thing I could find was that when a women gets older, her hair thins.  It was just another bad thing that happens when you get older.  

Not long after that I discovered the Paleo lifestyle.  I wasn't really thinking about my thinning hair when I started eating real food.  I was just focused on losing weight.  Fast forward one year and I noticed something.  My hair seemed thicker when I put it up in a ponytail.  I did not have all the loose hairs on my shirt anymore.  So, I started paying attention and did notice that my hair was thicker than before.

What caused my hair to stop falling out?  I am not sure.  It could be lots of things or maybe everything combined.

A real nutrient dense diet with lots of veggies, fats and grass-fed meats.  I also drink homemade bone broth almost daily.  I started taking Green Pastures fermented cod liver oil/butter oil blend too (I use cinnamon tingle gel.)

So, will this work for everyone?  I don't know.  

What I do know now is just because people say things get worse as you age doesn't mean you can't change the outcome.

Stayed tuned for my next blog where I talk about giving up chemical hair dyes in exchange for Henna!

The 21-Day Sugar Detox Book Review

Way back in 2011, I was searching for something to lose weight.  I stumbled onto the 21-DSD online and bought the program.  I finished my 21 days and could not believe the difference in how I felt.  I may have lost a little weight but the way I felt was a drastic change!  No more bloating, the brain fog lifted and I was happy.  Since that day, I have done the detox several times.  It is a great thing for me when I get off track and need to dump the sugar again.  Of course, my too much sugar now is usually dried mango, 85% dark chocolate and paleo treats.

Fast forward 2 years and now there is the 21-Day Sugar Detox book!  I was lucky enough to receive a preview copy and now get to share my findings.

First, the book is a great size.  If you have Diane's other book Practical Paleo you know what a great and big book it is.  This book is smaller and perfect to carry around (I have been taking mine everywhere.)  

Coco-Monkey Smoothie

Apple Streusel Egg Muffins

Second, the book goes into much more depth in the program.  The first part has a questionnaire to see if the detox is right for you and what level to try.  Sugar is explained in depth on why it is toxic to our system.  There are questions and answers, a section on dining out, what oils are good, sneaky places sugar can be and a preparation list on what to do 7 days before you start, 5 days, 3 days and 1 day before starting.  There is also a daily success log that you can copy or print out to keep track of meals, sleep, mood etc.

Zesty Creamsicle Smoothie

One of my favorite things about the book is that it has a what to expect, day by day.  So each day from 0-22 it says what you may be experiencing and what to do about it.  The 3 different levels have been expanded (with some new things added!) and now each level also has a 21 day meal plan to follow.  The yes/no lists are still there so you can choose if you want to follow the meals on the meal plan or make your own meals using the yes/no list.

Cinnilla Nut Mix

Now to the recipes!  Diane really out did herself here (well the whole book really.)  I have been making the meals all week and have loved all of them.  There are over 90 recipes in the new book.  Yes, some are from the e-book but most are new.   I have made a few main meals, snacks and not-sweet treats.  All of them were fabulous!

Parsnip and Bacon Stuffed Chicken Roll-Ups

Balsamic-Braised Beef

If you have issues with sugar or carbs, this book is for you!

Should you buy the book if you already have the e-book?  Yes!   The book is much more in depth, new information and the recipes alone are worth buying the book

Plus, you don't want to miss Hangry monster!

Herb Crackers with Herb Almond "Cheese" Spread

Clean Eating while on Vacation

Last week, I went on vacation to Chicago.  While I was excited to go, my first thought was what am I going to eat?  I have a pretty strong reaction to gluten so I need to stay 100% gluten free all the time.  My family on the other hand, doesn't really follow my Paleo lifestyle (shocking I know!).  They were talking about Chicago pizza, Chicago hot dogs and basically just eating what ever they wanted.

So, I started dehydrating some fruit and veggies, bought some Steve's Paleo kits, bought some Epic bars, kale chips ect.  I was prepared for only eating the food I brought if needed.

What happened was we found some really good restaurants and I really did not use much of my own food.   We had a big breakfast every morning and then a nice dinner at night.   I basically just snacked on my dried fruits and veggies during the day.

Yolk

Weber Grill

.

The Purple Pig

Shaw's

Here is what I have learned from eating out-

1.  Always ask if they have a gluten-free menu.  That puts them on alert even if they don't have one.
2.  Tell your waiter that you are gluten-free.  Don't assume that something is gluten-free,  ask questions.
3.  Sometimes if the waiter does not seem sure, I ask for them to please ask the chef.  There have been a few times when the waiter has said "I don't think that has gluten"  only to find out from the chef that it does.

The Purple Pig

4.  More and more restaurants are becoming gluten-free aware.  I have found chains and nicer restaurants usually have a gluten-free menu or are more knowledgeable about it.

Here were a few of my favorite restaurants in Chicago.  They all either had a gluten free menu or the staff was very knowledgeable.

Yolk
The Purple Pig
Bandera
Weber Grill
Shaw's Crab House

I had a great time in Chicago!  It was a beautiful city, I had wonderful food, felt great the whole time and did not gain any vacation weight!

Bandera