3.2.1....GO!

After 19 days of wading our way through the world of Paleo as a family, the Whole30 Challenge at the gym begins today!  I am pleased with the strides that we have made and, yes, we have eaten "unclean" during that time, but we have learned from those meals.  Madelyn said that eating bad made her feel "old" and so she didn't want to really do it again. That was the most encouraging conversation I have had in 19 days!  Ultimately I know that Patrick and I can do this, but our kids are a different story.  Teenagers are faced with so many temptations and when they aren't with us it is hard to regulate what they eat.  We hope that they make the right decisions, but we can't guarantee it.  I love that Madelyn has been grilling herself chicken breasts during the week.  Sure, it is an effort greater than throwing turkey between two slices of bread, but she is making great choices!  Even Marin, who is only with us a small portion of the time, has tried to do better. 

A big test for me was going to the movies this weekend with Aimee and our girls.  The popcorn and the candy along with diet coke was not only calling my name, it was SCREAMING my name!  However, it helped to sit farthest away from the sugary goodness.  Dinner was great - a delicious filet with steamed veggies.  It was nice, as I think Aimee mentioned on her blog, to eat dinner with someone doing the same thing.  It is less judgmental, but also creates additional accountability. 

Patrick was gone for the weekend and he did such a good job.  It was hard in his setting because he wasn't always able to dictate where he ate or when so he just made the best of the situation.  I am so proud of him!

Thursday we leave for Vermont where Patrick will compete in the Peak Death Race.  It will be a challenge to eat Paleo the entire trip, especially for him, but we will do all that we can to stick to the plan.