I definitely see my treats remaining Paleo with few exceptions. I already count that cashew/almond butter as a major treat! I'd like to try some sweet potato brownies and cookies as well!

Day 31

My kids don't remember when their mom was fat. They don't remember the mom who sat on the couch all evening watching re-runs and eating hot dogs cooked in the toaster oven. They don't remember the mom - red-faced and out of breath from a simple preschool game of "duck duck goose" during a classroom visit. They don't remember the mom who, at 226 pounds and sized 22, got sick and tired of being fat. Not thick. Not plump. Not a little overweight. Obese.

I thank God every day that they no longer have that mom. Now they have a mom who spends her TV watching time preparing healthy meals. They have a mom who run's and jumps and cycles and lifts heavy things then sets them back down again, repeatedly. They have a mom who is active with them and who turned in those size 22 fat pants for skinny jeans & running shoes. I've had my ups and downs along the way, but I've finally gotten to the point where I can say I am healthy. I'm a healthy mom. I'm a healthy me.

The latest part of this journey was making the switch to the Paleo lifestyle of eating. The first thirty days of this process, The Whole30, has been life changing. "It Starts With Food" written by Dallas & Melissa Hartwig lays out in plain English the "why's" of Paleo eating, not just the "how." I already knew the how but until I fully understood the why, I was never interested in giving it a try. Why should I give up sugar? Why are grains affecting my digestive health? Why does chewing sugarless gum make me hungrier than if I'd never chewed the first piece? ISWF answered all these questions and more.

I started my own Whole30 on April 1st and found great humor that it was April Fools Day. Many of my friends thought I was a fool for doing this. I was already a pretty good eater according to a lot of those on the standard American diet. Problem is, it’s the standard American diet that’s so foolish. Added sugars and sugar substitutes fill our bellies instead of real, whole, nutritious foods. I found, after making the switch to Paleo & The Whole30 that I was relying heavily on processed and enriched frankenfoods.

By Day 15, I had lost 4.4 pounds, was down one dress size and soon to be in the next size smaller. You're not *supposed* to weigh yourself during the 30 days but I just couldn't help myself. After being a daily weigher for so many years, breaking free from the scale has been one of the harder parts of the Whole30. For the record, the scale is currently leaning against the wall in my closet behind some clothing.

It's now Day 31. The Whole30 is over. My official results? On March 31st I weighed 151.8 pounds. Today I weigh 142.9 for a total loss of 8.9 pounds. I could kick myself for not taking measurements to compare inches lost, but I have gone from a size 12 to a size 8 since the beginning of March. I will add that I started getting serious about cleaning up my diet further then so just for reporting sake, my weight on March 1st was 165. Have you done the math already in your head? That's 22.1 pounds lost in the last 61 days, an average of 2.5 per week.

Now what? Where do I go from here? I keep going forward with Paleo. I continue to prepare real food for myself and my family. My children were not as gung-ho about ditching sugar and grains but they're slowly coming around to the fact that there are healthier options available to them (especially when Mom refuses to buy the junk food and bring it into the house). They both want to make smarter choices with their food but in large part because of what I've previously allowed them to eat and from the choices available to them when they are not at home, it's a harder transition for them. But I won't give up. We'll continue to cook up real, whole foods and learn along the way a ton of new foods and repeat favorites (hello, almond/cashew butter!).

Do I still want sugar? Not as bad. Will I eat the occasional cupcake or drink a latte every now and then? Sure. It'll probably make me feel like crap, but I'm also taking full responsibility for ALL the food choices I make.

At the end of the day I love the way I'm eating. And I love that I'm not that fat mom anymore.

I ate the cupcake. And my stomach is TORE UP. Blergh...

It was super yum, but after the fact I admitted to myself I could have totally settled for one bite from my son's cupcake instead of devouring an entire one on my own. I had stomach cramps for three hours! Not worth it...

Lesson learned!!