Back to Primal

My biggest regret of my pregnancy was how quickly and easily I abandoned my primal eating habits.  (Check out Mark's Daily Apple for more information about a primal lifestyle).  It was a slippery downward slide.  During my first trimester, I didn't gain any weight and easily fell into the "I'm pregnant, so I can eat whatever I want!" mindset.  I never had morning sickness or any real food aversions, and I gave into those sugar cravings.  Those around me kept on commenting on my tiny size, and I constantly heard about how pregnancy was the time in my life to embrace eating whatever I wanted to.  I lost a lot of will power, and I gave in.  Big mistake.  And the holiday season has only exacerbated the problem.

While I realize my eating habits are probably healthier than most, I miss primal eating.  I'm currently struggling through another cold and have had my fair share of GI problems since slipping on my primal principles.  I should iterate here, that while eating primal last year, I never really got sick and I was able to ditch my Allegra and survive the spring allergy season much easier than in the past.  I'm convinced that clean eating boosts our immune system and I'm certain that CrossFitting and healthy eating habits allowed me to easily get pregnant.

So now, it's time for me to get back to it, stop making excuses, and take back control of all my dietary choices.  It will only be harder to stay on track once the baby's here, so there's no time like the present, right?
To get back on track, I'm doing the following:
1. Cleaning out our pantry and ditching toxic foods.
2. Throwing out all the Christmas cookies we were given as gifts.
3. Enlisting my husband's support to hold me accountable.
4. Making primal meals and freezing them for when the baby comes (more on this later).
5.  Creating food menus of primal foods that I love, and buying in season foods, which just taste better.
6.  Focusing on being healthy for labor and delivery.  This is a huge motivating factor to help me get back on track.  And I hope that primal eating and continuing with some exercise will help me bounce back from labor even faster.

I wouldn't necessarily call this my "New Year's Resolution," since I don't really believe in those, but it's a pretty convenient time to make some positive changes.  Any positive changes that you are committed to making in 2012?

A step back

My ankle is coming along, although it still has a ways to go.  I decided to see my general practitioner on Friday to seek her counsel on my ankle.  She told me I could ditch the crutches, encouraged me to walk on it, but also said I needed to keep it elevated with ice at night and the air cast while I sleep.  It's been immensely liberating being off crutches, and I'm grateful to keep on healing.  Hopefully the soreness will fade soon, and I'll be back to my old self.
It's been quite an experience to have an injury in my third trimester.  While I miss my energy and my "go-go-go" ability, there is something slightly liberating about being forced to be on the couch with my feet up.  At night, I get to stare at our Christmas tree, listen to Christmas music or watch some television, and just be at peace, enjoying the calm and quiet.  I've also taken baths instead of showers lately, and there's nothing quite like soaking in warm water with lavender bath salts and sometimes getting the treat of seeing my lil' peanut wiggle and squirm.  At such a busy time of year, I've been able to find a sense of calm.  With just over four weeks until I'm full term and a little more than seven weeks to go, I'll embrace slowing down, centering myself, and getting ready for this one to make her entrance into the world.  With that said, I do hope to get back to some very modified workouts next week.  But for now, I'll take a good book, my cats, and a quiet evening.