The no-wheat, no-dairy, no-egg, no-legume, no-nightshade, no-honey, no-coconut, no-beef, no-turkey diet

So how are we doing on the new extremely restricted diet? Okay. Still learning! All of us are trying new foods and adjusting our lifestyle.

Maddie is feeling better! YAY! She has detoxed and her body is adjusting. She has lost a few pounds that she didn't need to lose, but she isn't hurting as badly and that is the most important part of the equation.

Here we are on Easter morning.

We have a tradition at our church of eating breakfast together on Easter morning. Yeah. Well, that was a little tough for Maddie, but I bought her some "waffles" and she ate those. Yes, I put quotes around it, because it's hard to describe any baked good/pastry as such when it doesn't include any wheat, egg, dairy, soy, or potato in any form!

Through all of this Doug has been expanding his culinary skills. Who would have thought a few years ago when he took an interest in cooking that now it would be so important! And I'm learning to bake without the traditional baking ingredients.

Some things haven't been that great. But we are learning. Like who knew that ground flax meal could replace an egg!! Weird.

Here are some pictures of the meals.

I LOVED the spagehetti squash with no-tomato marinara sauce!

Here are my banana muffins. (they were okay..)

And my pancakes. They were pretty good. I've got to get a sifter. No-wheat "flour" is sticky and really needs to be sifted!

And this is what the inside of my fridge looks like. Thankfully we started eating way healthier a couple of years ago and then I went with the Eat to Live lifestyle last year, so we had been transitioning.. just not the girls.  Now we are all transitioning. like.it.or.not.

I'm hoping that these nutritional changes might make things easier and better for Maddie. I've been gathering stuff for taxes and when you see our life in the form of medical bills. oh.my. Maddie had 37 doctor/medical tests/therapy visits last year in addition to the run of the mill stuff like dental visits and such. And she is a full-time honor roll student who is very involved in extra-curricular activities. I can't imagine what she could accomplish if she was well!

Nutritional Healing. Our hope for Maddie

Take a minute to think about you eat on a daily basis. This is not meant as a guilt thing.. just think about your favorite meals. your go to, every day staple meals. 

Now consider what you would do if you were told that the very things you were eating every. single. day. were making you sick.

Yeah.

This is what Maddie faced this week.

If you have been around here for anytime, you know that my Maddie girl has health issues. She is a fighter and has been for 16 years. We see more specialists than well, I don't know, but a lot.  And NOTHING works.

Maddie has been poked, prodded, pulled, pushed and pinched more times than we can count. Every time we feel like maybe, just maybe we can figure out SOMETHING! And pretty much every. single. time. we are given a no. I'm not saying I want a yes to some horrible disease. No thank you. But I invite you into the world of watching your child live with chronic disease and pain for 16 years and not be just a little bitter.

So let me get you up to speed. Maddie has pretty much been sick since August 25th... the first week of this school year. She has gotten almost well and then has gotten sick. I would say she has been functioning at 60% to 75% of her best for at least the last 6 months. During this time she has seen her pediatrician a few times, her asthma/immunologist a few times, her rheumatologist, the cardiologist and her nephrologist. She has also had numerous blood tests, an echocardiogram, and a contrast mri. Yeah. welcome to our world. My girl has real health needs. This isn't a case of momma just taking my kid to the doctor for a cold. I wish. To top it off, we live 2 hours away from her specialists. fun times.

Okay, I'll move on. Sorry, it's been a hard week.

Anyway, on Wednesday, Maddie saw the Immunologist and Nephrologist and then we went to a new place. We went to the Nutritional Healing Center. It was eye opening. This center I would say is on the fringe of "conventional" medicine, but given that Maddie lives in chronic pain and is constantly sick, I am desperate.

So. We saw Mary and had Nutrition Response Testing done.

And we learned that Maddie has a high amount of formaldehyde and radiation in her body. We learned that she is very low in zinc and vitamin c. We learned about the foods that Maddie's body really doesn't like. It's not an allergy, but it's about how her body processes food and stimuli.

And it totally made sense given how Maddie feels. But man.

Here is her list of foods to AVOID...

milk, wheat, beans (this includes all legumes like black beans and kidney beans, but also peas, green beans and soybeans!), honey, coconut, nightshades (white potatoes, tomatoes, peppers), eggs, turkey, pork, lamb and beef.

So what is left? 

NOT MUCH.

Chicken. Rice. Sweet potatoes and some vegetables.

It's really interesting to me as Maddie has been tested for so many similar yet different things. Before she was 2 years old we knew she couldn't have any milk products. She even had a stomach biopsy and was tested for celiac probably 7 years ago. The gastroenterologist was surprised that the result was negative. In fact, she really thought Maddie had Cystic Fibrosis. As does the immunologist. (two negative tests on that. The immunologist finally years ago said that the test only screens for the 30 most common strains of CF and that within those parameters Maddie doesn't have it. .. but he thought she did.)

Sorry, that's beside the point.

So Maddie is eating chicken and rice. That is not much fun. And to make matters worse (or better) her body is detoxing.  So she feels like she has the flu. My prayer is that very soon she starts feeling better and that the benefits of eating foods her body likes will be evident.

In the meantime, she is taking big doses of Vitamin C and Zinc.

And she is doing what she does. FIGHTING.

Cause in the middle of all of this, she had a winterguard performance on Thursday night and Championships on Saturday. She was BEAUTIFUL.

and they won the GOLD!!

It was so exciting!

She was so tired and hurting, but no one would have known.

And how are we doing with this new twist? We are doing what we do. Researching, learning and living. Doug is doing his best to fix this current mess by learning to cook some new and modified dishes so that it's not just chicken.

Tonight we had salmon patties made with salmon mouse and quinoa as the binder topped with avocado and jicama relish and brown rice/quinoa and asparagus. It was delish.

Up next, marinara sauce without tomatoes or peppers. Good luck Doug.

And if any of you out there know of any great recipes that don't use traditional ingredients, Maddie would sure love to have pizza. Well, you know, pizza without wheat flour or tomatoes or cheese or meats. Yeah.

Where do we go from here? I don't know. But we have hope.

And if you would like to walk down the road with us for a little while, we are looking for partners in the Kidney Walk. This year's kidney walk is on April 10th in Fort Worth. Maddie has never been able to do the full 3 miles. We are hoping that maybe this will be the year. 

It doesn't cost anything to join the team, but the goal is to get donations. All donations go to the National Kidney Foundation towards researching a cure for this disease. Even a $5 or $10 donation is welcome. And we need team members. 

Click on this link to join our team! 

Thanks.

I stepped on the scale with WET HAIR. What was I thinking?

I stepped on the scale with WET HAIR!!

Anyone who has obsessed over their weight knows that WET HAIR increases the scale by at least a 1/2 pound (especially if you have lots of thick hair like I do!). 

And that 1/2 pound can be the difference in a good day and a bad day.

But I stepped on the scale with wet hair after a swim workout.. which meant no sweat pounds lost (another no-no for scale crazed peeps) and I had LOST a 1/2 pound. 

And  that's when it hit me. I've changed. Yes, I've lost a lot of weight over the last few years. But my mind and my metabolism have finally changed.

Every single day, I feel stronger and better than I have ever felt. Okay, maybe not ever felt, but at least have felt in the last 25 years.

Why? Because I am eating.

I am eating real food. Often.

When I feel hunger, I eat. Which means, I'm not hangry.

I'm taking a ton of vitamins and am eating superfoods.

I feel great and I'm still losing inches and pounds.

Yeah. I'm still shaking my head.

It's hard to break a cycle that was created in early teen years. As a sophomore in high school, I would make a slimfast shake and make it last for two meals by drinking 1/2 for breakfast and freezing the rest and eating it super slow for lunch. Then I would do a two hour workout after school and then be lightheaded and dizzy for dinner. No wonder.

I had major body image problems.

This food deprivation killed my metabolism and wrecked my psyche.  This cycle of deprivation and binge eating went on for years and years. 

But today, I feel like I am finally finding out who I am meant to be and just how strong and fit I can be as well.

I think part of this transformation of my mind comes in the form of peanut butter. :) 

Really. 

Cause for the first time in my adult life, peanut butter isn't taboo. 

My go to morning breakfast after a workout is a Isagenix Creamy Dutch Chocolate Shake with a scoop of Isagenix Greens (powdered superfood), a banana and a scoop of peanut butter. It's amazing.

Here is a picture of the ingredients, along with my morning vitamin pack and my morning drink of Ionix Supreme.

Look at this. That is one thick and rich this shake!

And there isn't any reason to make this last all day. I drink it first thing and then even have a mid-morning snack, lunch and an afternoon snack! 

Yep, that's crazy talk. Eating regularly scheduled meals without guilt.

I also really love that Isagenix makes chocolate candy! Let's be honest, I'm going to eat candy anyway. And candy is becoming less of a crave because it's not off limits anymore.

And even when I eat candy from the convenience store, donuts for breakfast or any number of non-healthy choices, I'm not beating myself up about it anymore.

I feel a freedom and peace of mind that I don't remember ever having with or about food.

And that is priceless.

I so desperately want my friends to experience this freedom. But it's not cheap. And their journey is not my journey.

So, I'm just going to say this.

I'm here. I'd love to answer your questions.

The products are guaranteed. There is no commitment. 

If you are interested, check out my website.  

http://emilymclemore.isagenix.com/ 

If you aren't interested, I promise to not become that person you avoid in person or block on facebook.

Isagenix products have taken over my kitchen counter, have become a regular part of my lifestyle and I wouldn't have it any other way!

My 30 day Isagenix report.. a successful start!

In the midst of the chaos of January/February, I decided to finally try Isagenix. I blogged about my decision to make the commitment to myself a few weeks ago.

Anyway. In the last 30 days, here are a few of the tidbits I have learned.

1. Cellular cleansing: I am way more self controlled and diligent on cleanse days.  How can I have more energy and feel awesome only drinking Cleanse for Life and water and eating a few wafers? I don't know. But I do. I can feel the toxins leaving my body. it. is. crazy.  I do this once a week and I don't need to cheat or add extras to my plan. I even work out on these days. I am still shocked each week when it works.

2. The products work: The success of the plan is not dependent on my ability to be hard core. I know. That doesn't make sense either, but I have yet to make it on a "shake day" without eating something that is not plan friendly. Like my glass of wine. Or a bite size chocolate. Or lets be honest.... over the last 30 days, I have had a number of fast food meals and donuts.

3. I feel too good to stop. I'm so going to do another 30 day challenge. Maybe this month I can be a little more focused.. there is no telling what I can do if I am diligent!

So all that to say, how did I do?

Well... see below!

Here I am this morning in my classroom. 

You know, I'm starting to like the way I look in pictures. And that is huge. My waist is noticeably trimmer, my clothes are comfortable or even loose and I feel good.

Interested?

Send me a message at emilymclemore@yahoo.com or check out my website at http://emilymclemore.isagenix.com/ and then send me a message. There is a lot to take in and I'd love to tell you about it.

These products work.

Life

We all have crazy seasons in life. And not every day can be overwhelming. I've been trying to remind myself of these facts.

Life can NOT be just one insane moment and I need to stop and enjoy each day and be present within each moment.

It's easier to do this and remember this when I'm not under a ton of deadlines and stress. January and the first week of February are not those times.

But, in the midst of the chaos of life, I am making healthy choices and taking time to play (a little).

To recap the last month..

January has been a month of sickness in our house. All the girls have been sick. Lots of days of missed school and lots of doctor appointments. Even last night, Super Bowl Sunday, Maddie had a contrast MRI done at the hospital an hour a way from our house. What was supposed to take about two hours took FOUR! We are hoping that we get some answers for her constant pain. A relatively "simple" procedure for the rest of us is scary and unsettling for someone with kidney disease and severe allergies.

Professionally for me, January to early February is a tough time. So many deadlines! Results come in from the huge national contest as well as two major state contests are the same week. It's always a relief when these contests are completed.

In the midst of this, my diploma came in the mail!

That was a nice pick me up!

To keep sane in these weeks, I have really ramped up my activities. I know, it would be easier to just let it go and get more sleep, but then the stress would push me over the edge I am afraid!

So the little girls and I have been swimming a couple of times. I really want to improve my tri time and Lexi wants to join the swim team. So we are braving the cold indoor pool. It may be "heated" but it isn't warm!

We also went hiking one Saturday at Mineral Wells State Park and loved it! Lexi wants to learn how to rappel and we want to foster all outside activities! (I had some great pictures, but I got a new phone and even though we synced and all that jazz, I still lost a ton. ugh!)

Thankfully Doug got a picture of Kylie and me!

Between running, cycling, strength training, and swimming as well as a few random other things like hiking and rowing, I logged 35 activities in the month of January. And all but about 4 or 5 of those were logged at 5am!

So that wraps up my January. Tomorrow wraps up my 30 day Isagenix challenge. I can't wait to tell you about that!