Jumping Out of a Perfectly Good Airplane!

Yesterday was a big day for me! I finally did it. I jumped out of a perfectly good airplane in my first tandem skydive. My husband gave me this adventure as a 16th wedding anniversary present. I joke that he was not jumping with me. Was he ready to be rid of me? I can joke about it because I know better than that. We are like all other couples and life is not perfect, we have our moments that don't feel so good, but we also have our great moments and we have the most important ones; those moments when we know that we are both in it for the long haul wading through whatever the world has to give to us.

Skydiving is one of those things that has come up at family dinners on many occasions in the past. John and his brother went years before I met them. John's dad and sister-in-law Angelica went for Phil's 60th birthday. Everyone said it was really cool, but no one was in a hurry to go again. Each time, the conversation came up, I would say I really want to do that someday. The Chicagoland Skydive Center moved out to Rochelle and a friend of mine went skydiving and was telling us about how great it was. Ruth Ann, who also went skydiving yesterday had this on her bucket list. she was the medical advocate and close friend to Marilyn (John's mom.) Phil decided that this would be a great way to say think you for all of her help through Marilyn's illness and a great 70th birthday present to boot.

There is not much time once you are at the Skydive facility to really think about what you are committing to.

You do have to sign and initial away any possible consideration of you or your heirs suing the company, but really when you decide to do this, you know the risks, it is probably part of why you are there in the first place.

This is on the cover of the forms that you sign.

Ruth Ann and Me

 I was really excited and surprisingly not scared.

 The moment between being on the plane looking out and the moment when there is no longer anything solid beneath your feet, was that one second of "What the hell was I thinking?" and then you were just going. No point is asking why, just time to enjoy or be totally afraid. I chose enjoyment.

 Three miles of falling bliss.

 Spinning around above the earth.

 Once the parachute is open, the world is quiet, you are floating and souring above the earth slowly coming back to land. If you look straight down, you can see your feet and the earth way, way below. For me this was a moment of exhilaration. I laughed out loud at this wondrous feeling.

 Floating in the atmosphere, looking around, excitement and peace merged into joy.

 Back to land. Adrenalin still pumping. Out of body experience with the earth jolting you back to reality.

Another thing off my bucket list as they say. My bucket list of sorts is constantly being replenished. There are a few things that have been there for a while and there are new things being added as I see what others experience in life. On occasion, something goes in moments before I take it out and just do it. Why wait? When the timing is right, you should go for it. You never know if or when the timing will be right again.

If you would like to see the video of my first jump, Click Here. Yes, I say first jump. I would do it again. . . when the timing is right.

Fear of Change

Fear is like a brick wall and only the way to deal with it is to knock it down and move forward through the face of it. I played games with my diet for a long time. I was "gluten free" and would only occasionally eat a Chicago style pizza. I found a recipe for bread that had about 20 ingredients including multiple types of non-wheat flours. I was in a lot of pain. It hurt when my husband would lean over me to kiss me good night because any pressure on my hip caused my to cringe in pain. I was so afraid of giving up bread and tasty treats. How could I survive without that wonderful smell. The crunch of a loaf of french bread, the donut with a cup of coffee, or pie and cake for celebrations are anchors from my past life.

I don't know what exactly made me finally change my diet. I have read lots of books and tried lots of things so why would Robb Wolf's The Paleo Solution be different? The answer is that I was ready and the book came along at the right time. I was tired of the pain, I was moving into a big new project at work, and I was really tired of seeing the way I looked in the mirror.

Last week, I said that I have been stuck and I was more tired than usual. I decided to increase my vitamin D3 and K2 to see if things changed. I am feeling better. I am still more tired than usual, but It has been almost two years since I took a real vacation. 

We (John and I) noticed that swimming, bike riding, and even a glass of wine have the ability to let me release some stress. A year ago, I really couldn't do anything physical. At least, I believed that I couldn't. On our mini-vacation to Kohler, Wisconsin, I had the chance to swim in the pool. The chlorine was tough on my body and my chronic cough was not helped by it, but swimming felt so good. Just swimming one length was tough and I pushed myself to swim 20 laps. Now, I am swimming a mile or more with faster laps and less struggles with breathing and while the chronic cough seems to be more prevalent in the winter, the chlorine/bromine at the local pools does not seem to impact my day any more. 

At work our double flight of stairs would leave me breathing hard on most days and even harder in the humidity. Now, I take the stairs as if it's a walk down a hallway. I never think twice about trips up and down the stairs and actually like the opportunity for some exercise.

Getting to the pool was tough this weekend so I headed to the basement and road my exercise bicycle. I have had it for years and it goes through the phases of collecting dust and clothing, but now, it is a quick link to a cardio workout and stress relief.

I have found some recipes that allow me the special treats without the flour, sugar and highly processed additives from store bought food. These recipes let me have a treat without the guilt and fear. They are homemade, delicious and while not 100% healthy, they allow me to feel like the world of food is limitless even without grains, dairy and legumes.

Paleo Blueberry Muffins

1 very ripe banana cut into pieces

2 eggs

1/8 C, Water

1/8 Cup Almond Oil

1/4 C. Maple Syrup

1/2 tsp Vanilla

1/2 orange squeezed (optional)

2 1/4 C Almond Meal

1 tsp Baking Soda

1/3 C. Egg White Powder (You can increase to 4 eggs and an extra 1/2 C Almond meal to replace powder) I get it from Fruitful Yield, Now brand unflavored) I buy it for summer smoothies so it comes in handy year round.

grated orange peel

1 Bag Blueberries

1 large handful chopped pecans

Mix Wet ingredients with an immersion blender to turn the banana into liquid. Mix dry ingredients. Then mix together. Fold in blueberries and pecans. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, Use muffin papers.

Also tasty, 1 1/4 cup chopped cranberries with pecans or hazelnuts and some clove or allspice. I am going to try chopped raspberries, hazelnuts, and grated lemon peel and maybe increase the vanilla.

Makes 15 muffins.

The Paleo Journey Continues

I started on my Paleo Journey February 26, 2012. Here it is, January 6, 2013 and I have said little about the journey. At first I was waiting to see if I would lose more than 20 pounds as that was where I had got stuck when I changed my diet in the past. After that I was busy with construction and not in the mood to spend time at my computer after a long day at work. I have lost 39 pounds and have some more to go, but I feel like these eating changes have really stuck and I want to move forward with even better habits rather than go back to the old style of eating.

It takes a lot of effort and fortunately, I love to cook and because this is really about taking the time to make it fresh and make it healthy. I love to figure out new recipes and try new things. All those episodes of  Chopped and The Next Food Network Star stirred my cooking passion and has helped to make me more creative in the kitchen. The Paleo Cookbooks have given me ideas and clues for creating lots of healthy fun foods. I have gotten smart and make extra so I have food for my lunches and often make large pots of soup that I freeze in single serving containers. This really helps to make eating healthy easy even on hectic days.

I have started swimming on a pretty regular basis and now swim at least a mile each time I am in the pool. Fitting the pool schedule into my life and work schedule is the hardest part. It has become enough of a habit, that it makes me crabby when I don't get to swim. My husband must have noticed as he suggested that I go to the pool on Christmas Eve so I could get some exercise and a little me time. Those thirty-six laps were wonderful.

I am feeling a bit stuck. I have more wight to lose, but more importantly, I feel more tired lately.  Maybe it is just winter with the longer nights and shorter days, the grayer skies and cold. Maybe I do need to hibernate a little bit after a long hard summer filled with activity and stress. Maybe I need to cut back on the recipe I have posted below. I could be addicted. I do keep it as an evening treat for that special feeling that tells my brain I have not given up all the foods I used to eat. The truth is that I don't feel like I have given up anything. I am happy to not eat all that processed food. When I make poor choices these days, I feel it. My body aches more and it takes 2 -3 days to recover. Fortunately exercise, water, and eating right bring me back into balance pretty quickly. 

E = mc2 -r Effectiveness=Motivation x Confidence x Concentration - Resistance. This is the Huna method. Usually I forget to subtract the resistance. I wonder if having so much going on in my life this summer forced me to be so focused and confident that I never had a chance to resist, thus I was very effective. Now, there is more time to just think and sit. How do I keep let down the resistance without adding in stress and havoc? Something to ponder while I swim or ride my bicycle.

Here is one of John's and my favorite recipes. I don't recommend it for people who are starting on Paleo as getting off sugar is really important and this is a treat not an excuse. However, if you are about to cheat with a cookie or other confection, this is the better way to go.

Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies/Bars

In one bowl:

3 Cups Almond Meal (I buy from Trader Joe's)

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

Mix dry ingredients

In second bowl:

2 eggs (mixed)

1/2 C. Maple Syrup

1/2 C. Almond Oil

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix wet ingredients

Pour wet ingredients over dry and mix together. Fold in 3/4 of a Bag. Dairy Free Chocolate Chips I use Enjoy Life or Sunspire http://www.sunspire.com/products/organic-fair-trade-65-cacao-bittersweet-baking-chips brands. Enjoy Life http://www.enjoylifefoods.com/chocolate-for-baking/mega-chunks/ is dairy free).

Oven 375 degrees, Bake cookies for 12 minutes (large tablespoon) Bake on parchment paper for easy non-stick cookies and easy clean up. For a Bar, bake at 375 degrees, pour batter into a 9 x 13 baking pan that has parchment in the bottom. Bake for 20 -25 minutes until toothpick comes out clean. The bars are so easy, just one batch and you are done. Cookies make about 3 dozen.

For fun, fold in any variety of ingredients. We like to add dried cranberries (a large handful), 1/2 tsp. clove, and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, and large handful of chopped pecans. This week I added orange zest, dried blueberries, pecans, and  hazelnuts. The orange flavor was so bright an cheery. Felt like we were eating a whole new cookie. If you don't like chocolate, you don't need to add chocolate. The basic recipe is so versatile, you can make them any flavor you want.

I have served them to all types of people, and everyone likes or loves them. Even my Mother-in-Law who has a sweet tooth to rival all sweet toothed people thought they were delicious.

A great Day that Ended in Darkness

Yesterday was such a nice day. It was not the weather, though it did finally warm up a bit. It was a day spent with my husband and dogs doing simple things. After running several errands, John and I went swimming at the Gable Hall swimming pool at NIU. John's favorite thing is not swimming, but he knows how much I love it, and he went with me to give me a chance to see if the pool chemicals bother my senses too much.

Earlier in the day, John found a recipe for a Paleo Pizza. We stopped at the store and gathered up the ingredients that we needed and after my 1/2 mile of swimming, I made our first,and certainly not our last, Paleo Pizza.

Paleo Pizza Crust

The crust is the key:
1 3/4 C. Almond Meal
1/4 C. whole ground fax seed
2 tbsp Olive Oil
2 eggs
1 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp thyme, 1/4 tsp ancho chili powder
Mix together and spread on greased (olive oil) pizza pan (I use a stone)
Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

I used the crust recipe from the Everyday Paleo blog with a slight variation of seasonings.

Take out of oven and put on toppings. We used Muir Glen marinara sauce, sliced grape tomatoes, Jones Turkey Sausage  sliced up and browned, some garlic, and Daiya Mozzarella Cheese. (It is non-dairy, but not totally Paleo as is has canola and safflower oils, and pea protein in it.)

The pizza going in the oven

Slide it back in the oven and bake for an additional 20 minutes.

Out of the oven, ready to eat.

It was really good! I was amazed at how tasty the crust was. It was better than any gluten-free crust I have ever tasted. We had a spinach salad to go with our pizza. (Spinach from the garden which John went out and picked, then washed and dried and turned into salad.)

After dinner, in the middle of watching a movie, it was time for Earth Hour 2012. We shut down the TV, all computers, the lights, and lit some candles and played scrabble by candlelight.

Photo taken at 9:45 after the end of Earth Hour

It was a very close game and if not for the triple letter score z that I got, John would have creamed me. He is more clever with his words and a  much better strategizer than I am. We played by candlelight for just under 2 hours. Then we blew out the candles, turned on the lights to find our way to bed, and shut off the lights again for the night.

Going Paleo

It has been a month since I went on a Paleo Diet. I hate calling it a diet because it is now the way I eat. Meat (beef, chicken, fish, pork, and eggs) proteins, fruits and vegetables and healthy fats. I have given up all grains, legumes, most sugar, and dairy.

While it has been a stressful month (the stress was not from the change in diet), but from work and some family health issues, I have lost 1.25 inches around my bust, waist and hips, lost 8 pounds, and my chronic cough is almost completely gone. The amazing thing about the cough is that spring and pollen used to exacerbate the cough and even after working in the garden for several hours, I did not have a horrible reaction.

I expect that if I can get in some more exercise and get better sleep that I would see changes in my body even more quickly.

I discovered a great recipe for a Strawberry Pie that is easy tasty and healthy. Here is the link for the wonderful pie.

Made for Pi Day Pie Contest (won 3rd place)

I also started making a new recipe I call Rainbow Chicken Salad. Here is the recipe:
Cook a chicken breast, cut into bite size pieces. (I usually boil it in water, with seasonings). You could grill it first. Add to bowl.
Cut up carrots, cauliflower, grape tomatoes, chives and 1/2 of an Avocado, some dried or fresh blueberries, (orange, red, green, blueindigoviolet)
Add some pistachios, walnuts or pecans
Add some of your favorite herbs (I use an Italian mixture, some turmeric, and garlic powder), drizzle Walnut oil over the mixture, squeeze a 1/4 of a lemon (yellow), and gently mix together. Let sit in refrigerator of several hours before eating. Very tasty and filling. Great to take for lunch.

Rainbow Chicken Salad

I start my day with a Green Smoothie. Doesn't look very good, but it is healthy and I find it very tasty, filling, and creamy even thought there is no milk in it.
My Smoothie
In a really good blender:
Large handful of spinach
grape tomatoes, cauliflower, cucumber, cabbage, carrots (whatever I have on hand and am in the mood for)
1/4 tsp. turmeric and 1/4 tsp ginger
1-1/2 scoops of Egg White Protein Powder (I get plain unflavored powder at Fruitful Yield)
A few walnuts
About 1 cup total frozen raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries.
12 ounces of water
Blend until smooth. The add 1/2 avocado and blend again.

Makes two smoothies. One for today and one for tomorrow.

To go with my smoothie, I have either some turkey bacon or some turkey sausage. (Sometime I have real nitrate free bacon.)

Since I went strictly Paleo, John and I are eating more fish than ever before. Swordfish, Mahi Mahi, crab, all wild caught, you name it. We eat tons of fruits and vegetables and have some type of protein with every meal.

Each day, I have a choice of how I will eat for the day. I choose between wanting to feel good or not feel good. All I have to do to stick to this way of eating is remind myself about the chronic cough, the achy body and the extra pounds.

December 26: Inspire Peace

John called me on Friday and suggested that we make our extra bedroom into a healing room. John's mom was coming for Christmas. She is currently being treated for cancer. Friday evening we hung photographs and arranged flowers so that the room would be inviting and calming.

The next morning, the sun was shining and we went into to check on the room.

For Christmas, we gave John's mom a couple of hats to keep her head warm. We hope they will also inspire laughter.

White is the color of purity. Simple white roses and tulips were my favorite bouquet.

December 7: Inspire Peace

So much going on. Meetings, training new staff, getting ready for the board meeting. Downstairs, a group for kids and teens were making gingerbread houses. A break. An excuse to get away from the computer. And this is what we saw. . .

Concentration

Creativity

Happy Smiling Faces

And incredible Gingerbread Houses.

The room was think with the sweet smells of the candy and frosty. It was rich with concentration and creativity. The room was so full of life and wonder.

What a fun and creative time. And a wonderful break to inspire me.