So DH and I were talking yesterday and the subject of the future came up as it tends to do. The question of ultimately what are we working towards being the number one thing. When we were young and stupid (oh wait I did say young) we wanted to be millionaires by the time we were 30. We're in our 30s are dirt poor so that goal changed along the way. We wanted a huge family. We only have one kid and it seems at this rate if we are lucky enough to have another one we'll be doing good. So where are we and were are we going?
The other day I heard "I want to be rich" by Calloway and the thought came to me that I don't want to be rich. Honestly, Biggie had it right, Mo' Money Mo' Problems! I just want to be even. I want enough money to pay our bills. I don't need anything fancy. I don't care if I never have a new car. I don't need a house with a white picket fence. Heck, I'm okay if I never get an iPad (and yes I do want an iPad, I have a birthday coming up if you want to give me your old used one :)). I just want to be able to pay our bills every month and be able to have a little bit on hand in case of an emergency. I just want to be even.
Right now we are far from even. Now that I'm not working, we struggling. It's okay. I don't like this position but I know God is working on me. I know that I'm learning a lot about what is really important in life. While I've never been a super materialist person, I did become change. I developed a taste for electronics and sushi. I'm getting better. My life right now isn't perfect but I'm happier now than I have been in a while. I'm feeling at peace. So maybe I'm poor but God has got this.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Friday, April 13, 2012
Wheat/Gluten-free fad (My wheat-free life for real, yo!)
So apparently it's going around that going gluten-free is a good way to lose weight. I'll be the first to to tell you that I lost weight going wheat-free. In fact for the first 3 months of going strictly wheat-free I was losing weight so fast it was a bit scary and I was worried about my health. All together I would say I've lost about 30 lbs to the wheat-free diet I know live.
So that sounds great right!? No, wheat but I lose tons of weight. That sounds fantastic where do I sign up? While now that I've been wheat-free for over 2 years, I have to tell you, I'm not strict. Once I backed off the strictness of my wheat-freeness, the weight lose stopped. I've maintained but the losing has stopped. Not a problem for me. I'm happy. I didn't go wheat-free to try to meet Oprah or Miley. My DH was diagnosed with a wheat allergy in 2003. My DD was born with a wheat allergy. I have no issue with wheat except that it causes my family pain.
I've talked about my journey to wheat-freeness before but today's pain is, wheat-free shouldn't be a fad. I really struggled with going wheat-free. I cried. I prayed. I cursed. I wanted a quick fix. I've accepted my life as a wheat-free person. Wheat will never be in my life like it was before Ravebaby was born. Wheat-free is the way I eat.
So back to the weight loss thing. Yes you will lose weight. You would be surprised at the number of things that have wheat. If you go wheat-free, you need to be strict. Once you go strict you realize that unless this is a life/health thing, it ain't fun and you go back to wheat.
Here is the number one reason I say don't go wheat-free unless you have to: It Takes Work! Much like any diet, you have to plan. I have to plan all of my meals. I can't just go out and pick up a burger. No just heating up a Hot Pocket for lunch. No bucket of chicken for dinner. Being wheat-free is inconvenient. Being wheat-free and going out to eat requires you to speak up; you have to pester/educate the waitstaff. You have to plan.
What I miss most of my wheat filled day? Convenience. Seriously, the days of going to McDonald's for nuggets are missed only for the convenience it held. I don't miss the food with wheat anymore. I've found replacements for all of my favorites. I've found food that I prefer wheat-free, like Udi's Chocolate Muffins, OMG! Really, I miss paying $1 for a loaf bread instead of going to the specialty health-food store and paying $5 for a loaf that is smaller.
I have to think out going out to eat; this is especially a problem when I'm going out with others. How about pizza? Sorry, can't Martha doesn't eat wheat. Burgers? Well I can just get it bunless. (Sad looks all around.) Even sushi is a problem. Notice I said I'm not strict anymore. Sushi is why. I never have my wheat-free soy sauce. I have cut back on my soy sauce usage. I try to avoid eel sauce. I love sushi. DD doesn't react so I allow myself to use regular soy sauce.
Like I've said, I would go wheat-free for my family again without hesitation. No hamburger is worth my DD screaming in pain. No fried pie is worth my child being sick. You want to go wheat-free to lose weight, go for it but don't say I didn't warn you.
So that sounds great right!? No, wheat but I lose tons of weight. That sounds fantastic where do I sign up? While now that I've been wheat-free for over 2 years, I have to tell you, I'm not strict. Once I backed off the strictness of my wheat-freeness, the weight lose stopped. I've maintained but the losing has stopped. Not a problem for me. I'm happy. I didn't go wheat-free to try to meet Oprah or Miley. My DH was diagnosed with a wheat allergy in 2003. My DD was born with a wheat allergy. I have no issue with wheat except that it causes my family pain.
I've talked about my journey to wheat-freeness before but today's pain is, wheat-free shouldn't be a fad. I really struggled with going wheat-free. I cried. I prayed. I cursed. I wanted a quick fix. I've accepted my life as a wheat-free person. Wheat will never be in my life like it was before Ravebaby was born. Wheat-free is the way I eat.
So back to the weight loss thing. Yes you will lose weight. You would be surprised at the number of things that have wheat. If you go wheat-free, you need to be strict. Once you go strict you realize that unless this is a life/health thing, it ain't fun and you go back to wheat.
Here is the number one reason I say don't go wheat-free unless you have to: It Takes Work! Much like any diet, you have to plan. I have to plan all of my meals. I can't just go out and pick up a burger. No just heating up a Hot Pocket for lunch. No bucket of chicken for dinner. Being wheat-free is inconvenient. Being wheat-free and going out to eat requires you to speak up; you have to pester/educate the waitstaff. You have to plan.
What I miss most of my wheat filled day? Convenience. Seriously, the days of going to McDonald's for nuggets are missed only for the convenience it held. I don't miss the food with wheat anymore. I've found replacements for all of my favorites. I've found food that I prefer wheat-free, like Udi's Chocolate Muffins, OMG! Really, I miss paying $1 for a loaf bread instead of going to the specialty health-food store and paying $5 for a loaf that is smaller.
I have to think out going out to eat; this is especially a problem when I'm going out with others. How about pizza? Sorry, can't Martha doesn't eat wheat. Burgers? Well I can just get it bunless. (Sad looks all around.) Even sushi is a problem. Notice I said I'm not strict anymore. Sushi is why. I never have my wheat-free soy sauce. I have cut back on my soy sauce usage. I try to avoid eel sauce. I love sushi. DD doesn't react so I allow myself to use regular soy sauce.
Like I've said, I would go wheat-free for my family again without hesitation. No hamburger is worth my DD screaming in pain. No fried pie is worth my child being sick. You want to go wheat-free to lose weight, go for it but don't say I didn't warn you.
 |
| Before going wheat-free, circa 2007 |
 |
| Post-30 lb weigh loss |
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Potty Learning
Ravebaby is 28 months old. I want her to learn to use the potty. I have to be honest, I've pushed her. I've tried and tried to get her to use the potty. About a month ago she started wanting to use the potty. The catalyst? The Potty Dance from Pull-ups. Ravebaby sings it all of the time but if it helps motivate her then I'll be singing it.
I want this girl using the potty. I don't want to buy any more diapers or trainers. I also don't want to have a 3 year old that isn't using the potty at least trying to use the potty.
I like the term potty learning. I saw another blogger using the term and I really like it. It sounds like a more gentle approach. I don't want to push her beyond her limits. I want her to feel like she is making the decisions because she's making the decisions. I want her to feel empowered.
So how am I doing this? It ain't easy. I'm giving her naked time. She enjoys the freedom of naked time and asks for it. She gets more naked time after using the potty or if she's just wet a diaper then I give her naked time. I don't want her to have accidents so I try to set her up for success. I try to encourage her to sit on the potty. She doesn't always use it but even just playing the area is a success I think.
Is it working? Well today I get a poop and a pee in the potty. She started with naked time first thing this morning. It was a risk but I have to let her try. She did start to poop on the quilt but I stopped her and she finished on the potty! Success. I can wash the quilt. She was so proud of herself. Later on she was still enjoying naked time and and started a pee. I caught her and ran her to the potty and she finished there. Success. I want to her learn the feeling of her needs to poop and pee. Maybe I'm taking the long way there but I think she's learning. We'll see.
I want this girl using the potty. I don't want to buy any more diapers or trainers. I also don't want to have a 3 year old that isn't using the potty at least trying to use the potty.
I like the term potty learning. I saw another blogger using the term and I really like it. It sounds like a more gentle approach. I don't want to push her beyond her limits. I want her to feel like she is making the decisions because she's making the decisions. I want her to feel empowered.
So how am I doing this? It ain't easy. I'm giving her naked time. She enjoys the freedom of naked time and asks for it. She gets more naked time after using the potty or if she's just wet a diaper then I give her naked time. I don't want her to have accidents so I try to set her up for success. I try to encourage her to sit on the potty. She doesn't always use it but even just playing the area is a success I think.
Is it working? Well today I get a poop and a pee in the potty. She started with naked time first thing this morning. It was a risk but I have to let her try. She did start to poop on the quilt but I stopped her and she finished on the potty! Success. I can wash the quilt. She was so proud of herself. Later on she was still enjoying naked time and and started a pee. I caught her and ran her to the potty and she finished there. Success. I want to her learn the feeling of her needs to poop and pee. Maybe I'm taking the long way there but I think she's learning. We'll see.
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