Late Advent/Paleo Wrap Up

Ok friends - I am so sorry that it has taken me so long to update. Paleo was great for advent but the second advent was over I had no process of reintroduction and no self control. I was on vacation and some of my favorite foods that I can only have when in the north east called my name. All in one day I went from strict to no rules. Yes I did eat fried blueberry cheesecake with ice-cream. Yes, I did eat cheesy potatoes. A day or two of that and cue the joint pain. Random joint pain that I always attributed to some other reason made me realize how my body really does feel better cutting out the sugar and the dairy and the breads and everything else.  It may not be all of it helping but I don't know what did help and what didn't. I figured I could figure it out another time, until I got a phone call.

Right around this time however I learned that what I thought was just an experiment for fun was actually God leading me to where I needed to be.  I learned I need to be on a restricted diet, even more restricted than Paleo and then go through reintroduction the proper way. I am not ready to share details just yet friends but please keep me in your prayers. I'm still learning about what is going on and what isn't. It's a change that I'm learning to figure out.  It has not been easy, and I haven't been perfect.

So we come back from vacation, I get started on a better eating plan and then.... I had a birthday. A weekend of blessing and being showered with love and kindness and I ate all the things I'm not supposed to. Oh friends the piece of cake really did call my name and I had to have a cup of coffee...or so I thought.  I thought maybe just the usual joint pain would come back from my choices but no. It was much worse. It almost felt like I ran a marathon and I missed it. My stomach hurt and I realized that my body was reacting to what I was doing. This was no longer a choice, this was needed.

I won't say that I am stuck like this forever. I do believe a proper diet, some medication with other adjustments and I really may be able to occasionally enjoy a coffee or a cake at some point. Right now I don't know what item it is that is setting off all the symptoms so I need to go through this process. I don't know what is working for me and what is hurting me. So I'm back on the journey. I'm learning to be diligent and plan and cook. I even got a lunch box for work to ensure that in the hectic days of my job that now only do I get to eat, but what I eat won't make me sick.

I learned through my advent adventure so much about the body affects the spirit. i learned how important it is to really try and be as healthy as you possibly can, and I learned to offer everything to Him even when what I have isn't health but illness.  I also learned how denying yourself grows virtue. It does get easier as time passes.

Now I'm not doing an experiment, I'm making learning to make choices to help my life. I'm learning to honor God and be as healthy as I can be.

Friends did you make a change during advent? How did that affect you?  I hope God met you an prepared you for the Christmas season. He sure prepared our family.

God bless you friends
Anita