The Power of Priorities

My husband really struggles with perspective. When things are crazy at work, he is like a charging bull-

he puts his head down and charges through until the task is complete-
It is actually a quality that I admire and truly believe it is one of his greatest strengths- charging bulls do NOT get distracted by their environment. They see that bright red tease of the conquistador and that is ALL that they can see!
It is also one of his biggest weaknesses. This incredible focus and determination also prevents him from seeing a beautiful sunset or a fleeting rainbow,

dancing in the rain,

A sudden & massive downpour- gone in 5 minutes!

or sensing the needs of a struggling child!

Smiling but having a REALLY hard day :'(

Because of a recent life changing event in his life, he has the blessing and opportunity to re-invent himself a little. He has been more responsive than he has ever been before to my way of thinking (we definitely have a yin/yang relationship) and we have spent a lot of time talking about growth, perspective and priorities! On Thursday, we had the opportunity to talk about ways to set his priorities in order. Taking from Steven R. Covey's teachings and principles of balance, I suggested that hubby dear write his number one priorities. Those priorities will go FIRST into his calendar and 'to do' lists! After they have been accounted for, he can add in other tasks and chores!

As a result of our little chat, I felt the need to take a quick check into my own life balance as well. Though I study this topic thoroughly, counsel and advise others frequently, and practice all the techniques I know for physical and mental balance; it is important to check in with yourself once in awhile. It is far too easy to get distracted and have balance disturbed.

As I pondered my own life balance and priorities this past week, I noticed one thing that created within me a wake up call to awareness of my own goals and dreams. I have this dream, it's been with me for as long as I can remember- but I've always just kept it on the back burner as a "one day" type of dream! As I studied and had to report frequently on Time Management for a class I was taking last semester, I realized that not only is a 'dream unwritten merely a wish', but I also realized that by burying this dream in the context of secret life's desires, I had inadvertently tucked it a way, committing to myself that it would never manifest in my reality!!!

OOOOOOOHHHHHH! I did not like this idea at all, but I KNEW it was true! In order for anything to come into reality, it must be lived, talked about and acted upon as if it IS a reality! The problem that arises is that because dreams are often so ambiguous, it is hard to commit to them when the bills need to be paid, a child forgets their homework, or you see a spec of dirt on the floor (I'm an OCD housewife, by the way).

So acting on the advice I gave him, I sat down to pinpoint my priorities. I made a list of things that are MOST important to me. These things almost ALWAYS fall to the bottom of my lists (or worse yet, to 'tomorrows' list, which is where tasks go to die in my world)! When one of these things does make it into my day, there is a good chance that I DO NOT enjoy it as much as I should because of guilt for what I am NOT doing or fear that I will neglect something more important and let someone down!

*** Just a quick word of advice- if you hear in your mind or feel in your heart words like "fear", "shame", "guilt", or "regret" KNOW that these words do NOT exist in the current moment!! These are words that indicate you are living in the past or the future- both of which don't really exist- so do NOT let these feelings stick around. (more on this topic another day)

Because I think holistically- body, mind, and spirit- my list is separated this way as well. But here it is:

My Top 3 Personal Interests

1. Exercise

2. Study

3. Writing

My Top 3 Family Joys

1. Travel

2. Play

3. Food

and My Top 3 Spiritual Desires

1. Study

2. Worship

3. Family History (both for my posterity and my ancestors)

Eat, Sleep, Teach, Repeat

Please notice that clean floors, perfectly kept bedrooms and sparkling windows are NOT on these lists. Though a clean and orderly house is very important to me (did I say I suffer from OCD housewife syndrome?), it is NOT what is going to get me into Heaven nor is it the legacy I want to leave behind. I DO have to fit it in- I can't deny that-
BUT
...I have to make room for the true desires of my heart first. This perspective is what fuels dreams, harnesses power and drives personal success. I may not get to these items EVERY day- but if I have gone weeks without these priorities, there is a good chance I'm living a life off balance and off my chosen journey!

What would be your top 3 priorities and what can you do to make sure these priorities are making it into your daily life?
Go out and live the life you dream, the life you cherish, the YOU you were meant to be!


Blessings & Balance to you and yours,
TKP

A Spoonful of Sugar...

It is common practice in our church to dedicate the first Sunday of every month to fasting and prayer. My family and I have often offered specific and unified prayers for special blessings or needs we may be seeking. Concerns over health and strength or special desires for insight are often the subject of our fasting and prayer.


This is an opportunity for our spiritual selves to overcome our physical selves. I have come to discover the unique blessing this has been in my own life and in our family as a whole.

As May was drawing to a close, I reflected on the month and pondered what I might dedicate my June fast to. I realized that, with all the chaos in our home right now, I was most in need of offering a prayer of Gratitude! A trial that I have ALWAYS viewed as the ONE thing I did not think I could survive happened to our family at the end of March. Rather than beating me down and causing me to fret and fright each and every morning, noon, and night (which is my habit), I have felt peace, joy, and an overwhelming sense of privilege for such a trial! As the days have turned into weeks and the weeks into months, I see what a gift this is for my husband, my family and myself!

It felt very good to declare that I had no needs nor special concerns that were more important than the awareness I had of all the small and mighty beauties that had filled my life in April and May. As I had journeyed throughout the months of April and May, I had taken stock each day  of the sweet hand of the Lord in my life. I was overcome by the small and simple things that can bring us joy if we just open up and see them for what they are.

I believe these gifts of bounty are manifest in each of our lives. I also believe that we must be in the right mindset, otherwise there is a good chance we won't recognize that which is right in front of our faces.We need to open our hearts to see the world, our lives and our experiences in a way that is contrary to public habit. When we look at what we lack, it is very difficult to see our abundance. There is no lesson that I spend more time teaching my kiddos than that "Happiness is a Choice" and choice is the only thing in this life that we truly have complete control over.

retrieved from www.contentinacottage.blogspot.ca/2013/02/abraham-lincoln-quote-about-roses.html

If we only see the trial, it may be impossible to watch the hand of Mercy come in and prepare a path to beauty that never before seemed possible. This is the power of stepping back and looking at what we THINK we see with new eyes- a better perspective.

retrieved from http://www.justgrowalready.com/2013/08/reader-mail-how-do-you-react-to-setbacks.html#.Ule1JieVOS

 We can complain about the rainstorm, or we can dance in the rain.

My beautiful daughter with a determination that knows no bounds

After the storm, the rainbow WILL come, whether we choose to see it or not. The person who runs inside, angry about the storm that ruined the picnic is sure to miss the beauty in that very brief moment when the sun and the storm intersect. But he who chooses to dance in the rain, is sure to bask in the glory of what can only be created in full grandeur AFTER a storm!

Photo taken in McKinney, TX by friend Lisa Wood

I shouldn't have, but I did

I know better-
I really, really know better!

But I did it anyway-
and you know what,
I am DARN glad that I did!!

I bribed my 8 year old son

to try to eat healthy for ONE full week-
NO sugar,

The Makings of Chocolate Molten Lava Cake

NO artificial food
 
and LOTS & LOTS of
Fruits & Veggies

You see, we eat healthy-

at least mostly-

here at Chez Peterson,

But my two youngest-
well they are the shame of our Chez,
they are the pickiest of the picky-
so I got desperate and
I bribed him!!

In exchange, I offered a treat
at the local Yogurt Stop that he
has wanted for SOOOOOO long-

This is a treat I always say 'NO' to-
Not to mention,
in January, we stopped going for
store bought treats completely,
so he has been YEARNING to
go and get a big ole' yogurt smoothie!

I NEVER bribe healthy for junk-
I mean
REALLY- where is the logic??

But desperate times called for desperate measures-
and this mom saw NO other option.

He has been amazing-
He is bound and determined to succeed.
He has eaten veggies at EVERY meal,
he has tried cantaloupe, blackberries and green grapes-

he has eaten cucumbers, celery and avocado!

You don't live here, so you don't realize it
BUT this is BIG

Today is Day 4-
one more school day to go,
Next week we are going at it again-
we'll make it longer-
TEN DAYS!

There is hope yet that he won't turn to plastic
because of all the fake food he eats!

Day 80- Healthy Snack Attack

I have two main concerns to my healthy diet-
First, I often don't eat enough in a Day!
Surprisingly, a lot of women,
especially mom's do not!
When we don't eat enough, or don't
eat a consistent diet on a daily basis,
our bodies get confused and go into
a starvation mode. When this happens
our bodies hold on to every bit of food
we give them and store them as fat, to
be used at a later date.

If exercise is part of your routine,
the importance of making sure you are
getting enough calories is that much
more important.

This has been one of my biggest enemies
over the past several years. I have to be
vigilant at ensuring I get the right number of
calories with the proper allocation of
protein, carbs and fats.

The second challenge I face, is I am
a sugar addict. This is no surprise and can
be easily proven by the number of desserts in
my personal recipe collection. I need to be
extra cautious that I keep my sugar cravings
at bay. The biggest trick for me is to keep myself
out of the kitchen during the day. If I can
have snacks pre-made and pre-portioned,
I am less likely to stand around the kitchen
trying to decide what to eat.


I have noticed that when I follow the nutrition
advice of eating five small meals a day at intervals
of between three and five hours, I can get a pretty good
grasp of both of these issues.

Because exercise is a big part of my daily routine,
I pay special attention to the amount of protein
I get each day. The general consensus is that
your diet consist of about 1/2 of your body weight
in protein. Make sure you get about 20-30 grams of protein
within one hour of a weight lifting workout.

This list of easy and simple snacks keeps me
craving free, satisfied throughout the day
and ensures my protein needs are met.


Simple & On The Go Snacks

Banana with 1-2 TBSP. peanut butter & a dallop of Vanilla Paste
Celery sticks and pisatchios
Almonds and Apple
Greek Yogurt and Berries
Tuna on a rice cake with Salsa
Jicama, sliced peppers & Guacamole
Turkey Slice & cheese stick
Hummus & Persian cucumbers
Gluten Free crackers & 1 oz. cheese
Rice chex, dried cranberries & almonds
Cottage cheese & tomato slices

I love that with these easy snack combination
I can ward off cravings for sugary foods,
keep satisfied and because I am eating the
right combinations of food, I am less likely
to over eat on dinner or the occassional
dessert night.

Puff Oven in a Bowl

I shared a list of our all time
favorite breakfasts
here, when I talked about finally
having the opportunity to
eat breakfast each morning
as a whole family.

Well, I have discovered a new twist
on this time honored classic
Puff Oven Pancakes-

I'm not going to lie or pretend that
they are healthy in any way-
but one thing we all agreed on
was that having them this way
forced a more moderated approach
to one of our favorite breakfasts.

These are quick & tasty,
and made this way, most of the kids
used the berries rather than the
syrup and powdered sugar we usually
SLATHER on!!
So though they aren't a pure definition
of healthy,
they are a "Healthier" way to eat a
Peterson morning Favorite.

I used the regular recipe
and filled well greased muffin tins
about 1/2 full with the egg mixture
and baked them for 12 minutes at 375.
For Miss Lactose Intolerant,
I make a separate batch using
almond milk.

While they baked,
I stewed blackberries, raspberries and
blueberries very slightly. I added the zest
and the juice of 1 orange and the smallest
amount of cinnamon (I do NOT care
for the taste of cinnamon, you should
add to your liking)


These puff big in the oven, and than
fall perfectly to form a little bowl
once they are out of the oven. Don't
expect ones made with a milk
substitute to puff as much, but they
still taste great.

We added the berries, and sprinkled a
tad of powdered sugar on top-
and voila! Yummy, Yummy Breakfast.

Veggie Lover Sandwich Wrap

In an effort to re-vamp the lunches
that the kids take to school
and to encourage
"more good stuff" into their
school day diet,
I have spent a busy week
waking up early to get
breakfast ready first

and than getting all the fixin's
out and ready so the kids could
come and prepare their lunches.

Think the Brady Bunch on steroids
as everything is lined up for the
kids to come and package up their
lunch bags.

Our favorite lunch was a
Veggie Lover Sandwich Wrap-

I was hesitant with this idea,
because I wasn't sure how they
would take eating just a Veggie Sandwich.
Who can complain when there is so
much goodness available to put
in the wrap?

I got no complaints when they saw
the plate full of veggies,

and only compliments
when they got home from school.
So I can say it was a hit on the home
front for sure.

Today, Karli confessed that she had
several people at school today tell
her how lucky she was to have such
good lunches all week!!
SCORE!

The thing I liked most was how the
work from that one morning
carried over for a few days-
the next day we had wraps with chicken-

the yummiest roasted buffalo chicken evah!

and I had everything ready for a fresh salad
at lunch.

I struggle with making & eating
lunch when I am home all day with no
one to prepare a meal for, so this
preparation was nice for me too.

It's Friday and I feel good about
everything the kids took to school
this week-

Post Cleanse- Now what?

I haven't written about it yet,
but the past few weeks have seen
me hit my Turning Point-
the point where they say people must
get to before they can make a lasting change
in their lives-

Well I think it is very likely that I have hit my
Turning Point-
and I will tell you about it
LATER!
I am still trying to gather my thoughts
and make a good, solid plan!

But in the mean time,
I am officially off the cleanse,
and now left to decide how I want to
proceed from here.

My cleanse actually ended half way through
spring break. Although I did alright,
I had a major cupcake issue and
I eagerly allowed sugar back into my diet!

My goal is to maintain a lot of the
cleanse thinking-
1) Eliminate processed foods and all
the fillers found in foods from a box!

2) Eat twice as many veggies as fruits

3) Encourage exercise as an an outlet for
stresses, emotions and toxins.

4) Get those who are suffering from the side
effects of our family diet that has been
so out of whack since we moved in November.
(We have weight gain, bloat, swelling, illness
insomnia and depression running rampant in
our home right now- all of which I believe will
improve with diet)

5) Eliminate ALL of the sugar that is currently
being offered as "Treats" in our home! By
definition a "treat" is "an event or an item that is out
of the ordinary and gives great pleasure"
It ain't a treat if it happens more than daily!

I have a few obstacles that I am facing:

1) I have four daughters and I firmly
believe the one of the worst things that a daughter
should see is her mother on a "diet",
and worse than that is being put on a "diet".
This isn't about a weight loss regime, it is
a refocus on health and wellness!

2) I have six people who eat lunch away
from our home, so I have to find foods
that are portable, healthy, likable and
easy to prepare same day or better yet,
the night before.

3) Seriously, not only am I a sugar addict,
but I have raised a bunch of mini addicts!
My kids are used to getting a treat if they
remember to breathe some days, so how do
I make this transition smooth rather than
torture?

4) I need to bring a good solid routine of exercise
back into my life because quite frankly, I KNOW
that exercise helps my lupus!
BUT, when I exercise, my metabolism shoots
through the roof and under eating and
gaining weight becomes an issue.

5) I hate being a Food Nazi in our home,
so I need to find a way to make this seem
as natural as possible.

Best Eating Tips

I have been doing a ton of reading
and researching!
Actually, I think I may just be trying to
hypnotize myself into practicing
what I KNOW to be a more healthy
way of life.
I am a slow learner,
you can read a little about
my personal food struggles here

So I found this quick little list of
healthy eating tips very useful.
I know a lot of this,
I actually think most of us KNOW
a lot of this,
but it is translating it into lifestyle
that sometimes is the clincher.

Vegetables: asparagus, cauliflower, celery, mushrooms, spinach, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, collard greens, cucumbers, garlic, kale, leafy greens, onions, peppers, scallions, sprouts, tomatoes, watercress, beets, eggplant, jicama, okra, yellow squash, zucchini

• Fruits: apples, berries, cherries, citrus fruits, peaches, pears, apricots, plums, tropical fruits
• Grains: barley, brown rice, buckwheat, corn, couscous, kasha, millet, oat, quinoa, rye, spelt
• Legumes/lentils: tempeh, tofu, beans, peas (all fresh, nothing dried)

Fats To best support your metabolism, you should be getting roughly 30 percent of your calories from natural oils and fats. Don't eat excessive amounts of fat, but don't specifically restrict your fat intake. You can choose from fats on both the fast and slow oxidizers' lists of permissible fats.

• Nuts/seeds: walnuts, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, almonds, cashews, Brazil nuts, filberts, pecans, pistachios, coconut, macadamias
• Fats/oils: butter, cream, almond oil, peanut oil, coconut oil, sesame oil, flaxseed oil, sunflower oil, walnut oil

Things to Keep In Mind...
Eat the foods that are ideal for you, and remember the following guidelines of what to avoid.
1. Don't eat meals made up of just one macronutrient. Make sure you adhere to your ideal ratio of 40 percent carbs, 30 percent protein, and 30 percent fat.

2. Don't drink alcohol. It's often accompanied by empty calories, which can lead to a sugar crash as well as an increased appetite. If you choose to have a drink, avoid sugary cocktails, beer, and wine. Stick to clear alcohols like vodka and rum with calorie-free mixers like diet and club soda.

3. Don't eat foods that have a high Glycemic Load value. If you should happen to eat foods with a high GL value, make sure you accompany them with protein in order to slow the rate of oxidation and stabilize blood sugar and energy levels.
** Find a great chart to compare Glycemic Load here

4. Don't drink too much caffeine. In the forms of coffee, tea, and soda, caffeine gives you short-term energy by signaling your adrenal glands to release adrenaline into your blood. When the caffeine wears off, you feel tired and weak.

5. Don't overcook your meat. Avoid overcooked animal products because heat destroys essential amino acids and valuable enzymes.

Everything is Better with a Hug

My littlest has definitely clued into
one of my secret tricks-

If I offer a hug to my husband
in the morning,
I can usually squeeze out a few extra minutes
of sleep in the morning-
even if I have begged him to push
me out of bed first thing-
"NO MATTER WHAT"

Well my Mr. KaiGuy
thinks he has me all figured out as
he wraps his little arms around my
neck when I come to wake him up.

Little does he know,
that I have him all figured out!

If I lay down for that little hug,
he is able to get out of bed
so much easier,
with very little arguing and cajoling-

That few minutes of hugging in the
morning just starts the day off right.

I think we all need a little hug :)

Cleanse 2012- Menu

In a perfect world,
I would have taken pictures of all
the foods so far.
But it's not a perfect world
at my house,
and I wanted to put up the Menu for
the Dinner Meals that my family ate
while supporting me through
this cleanse.

It really is simple eating,
I won't be up for any type of
Culinary Nomination for this Menu,
but it might just help when planning
for your own cleanse.
It seems like it gets easier for me each time,
just because I know what recipes work,
what don't
and how to adjust.

Also, these are just our DINNER meals,
for Breakfast and Lunch I am kind of boring,
but I am okay with that. I eat a fruit smoothie
and a banana or other fruit every morning
with a protein supplement in it.
For lunch, I eat either leftovers from dinner,
a salad of some sort or raw veggies dipped
in guac or pico.

Days 1-11 
Fruits, Veggies, Olive Oil, vinegars 
& natural seasonings, with a ratio
of 2 veggies for every one fruit &
1/2 cup brown rice or lentils

1) Broccoli with Caramelized Garlic
2) Roasted Rainbow
3) Field of Greens Salad without chicken
4) Stir Fried Veggies w/ Brown Rice
5) Sauteed Tri-Color Peppers over rice
topped with guacamole (don't knock it till you try it)
6) Roasted Asparagus served with
this Thursday's post- a delicious Arugula Salad
7) Roasted Butternut Squash
served with Greens topped with berries &
a homemade pomegranate dressing
8) Jicama, pepper, cucumber slices served
with guacamole & Blackberry Salsa
9) Orange Scented Green Beans
and Veggie Salad (I topped mine with
olive oil, lemon juice & poppy seed dressing)
10) Spinach Salad with Roasted Carrots
served with 1/2 c. brown rice

Days 11-21


On Day 11, everything stays the same
but chicken & fish enter the menu. 
This time I wasn't trying to 
identify allergies, so I added nuts too.
Grilling should be done on electric grill
or broiled in oven.

*** By Day 11, I am usually feeling so
amazing that I am a little nervous to
add the chicken & fish. But I am
also getting a bit bored and ready
to have some substance back.

11) Albacore Tuna, served with
Salsa & Guacamole on a Brown
Rice Cake (again, don't mock it)
12) Grilled Chicken,
served with Roasted Asparagus
13) Pan Seared Salmon topped with
Olive Oil & crushed black peppercorns
topped with Guacamole & served
with Sauteed Peppers & spinach
14) Fish Primavera
15) Grilled Chicken marinaded in
olive oil, oranges, red pepper flakes,
(I just modified my Spicy Orange Glazed Pork Chops)
served with brown rice & veggie salad
16) Chicken & Veggie Fajitas (mine without
the tortilla shell) served with guac & pico
17) A very modified version of my favorite
Asain Chicken Salad
18) Blackened Salmon topped with
Apple Avocado Salsa &
Tomatoes Stuffed with broccoli slaw
19) Roasted Rainbow served with
Grilled Chicken strips
20) Spicy Vegetable Stir Fried Rice
21) Field of Dreams Salad with
the Chicken

Also, I love to make Mango Lime Smoothies
for desserts (swap sugar with stevia) when
I am feeling a little sorry for myself.
And I take a lot of long walks to get
out of my house when a craving hits-
because if you are like me, they will hit!

*** Usually by the end, I have dreamed of
what I am going to eat as soon as this
moment comes. But by day 21, I don't
want to do anything to impede the progress
I have made, so I am able to stay pretty
good until a stretch of birthdays or other
celebrations comes along- In my ideal land,
I could have a treat for said celebration
and stay on the healthy track. But
I am an addict in case you don't know,
so I struggle with that just a bit. I'm
working on it, that's all I can say

So I hope this helps. I get asked ALL the
time for my cleanse menus. I hope this
makes sense.
Good luck and here's to your health!

The Good, The Bad & The Beautiful

On Thursday,
My family will officially have been
in Texas for 4 months-

A LOT has happened in these
4 months,
but also, A LOT is left to happen-

In 2011 we moved from California,
to Texas-

 In 2008 we moved from Minnesota
to California

So that means in three years, we've lived in
3 States!!
And I'd like to point out
that WE MOVED TEENAGERS!!

With LIVES!!!

So when me and the kids sat at the airport
on October 29, 2011-
we were just a heightened bunch of emotions
that ranged from fear to sorrow and
from anxiety to anticipation-

Now they are good kids,
and they are pretty mature for their ages,
but when we got to Texas,
I could tell this wasn't going to be our easiest move
so I went into SURVIVAL mode big time!!!

Think MAMA Bear on STEROIDS!!!!

I started several at home practices that would
help me know what was going through their minds
and what was happening in their day.
I can't begin to express how much I
believe these things helped get our family
through the harder parts of this transition!

One thing we did that helped a ton
was to share at dinner each night-
Our Good,
 (something awesome from the day)
Our Bad
 (something frustrating, sad, lonely...)
&Our Beautiful.
 (any mercy that helped us see that in the long
run Heavenly Father was watching out for us
& everything was going to be okay)

It was so helpful for me,
to hear from each child not only how the day went
but what was upsetting,
how they were handling the good
and more than anything else,
that they were noticing the little
Miracles in their lives that sometimes get
overshadowed by life in general

We've done this many times in our lives,
sharing our Ups & Downs
Highs & Lows
Peaks & Valleys,

but this added a new dynamic that I loved,
a recognition of a Heavenly Hand.

I believe it got us talking about our day,
allowed us to cry together if needed
and celebrate successes together.

Here's to your Good, Bad and Beautiful!!

Cinnamon Swirl French Toast

No rocket science here-
just a little flour, cinnamon
and effort
& Breakfast is served.

I love to use My Favorite White Bread Recipe
for the Cinnamon Swirl Bread

to make the yummiest EVAH
French Toast-

it is thick,
it is flavorful,
and it brings morning delight-

I am pretty sure all good grades in our home
are a direct result of this breakfast staple!!

3 Days, That's All it Takes

In the Grand Scheme of Life-
Three days isn't that long!

If you are pregnant and knew that you only
had three days before delivery-
you'd be in a panic to get everything done,
thinking three days is not that long!



When school is winding down,
and you realize you only have
three days until summer vacation to get
everything done-



three days is just not that long.

But to break a SUGAR craving addiction-
three days is like a
TORTURE CHAMBER-
and it feels like forever.

But that's all it takes for me-
three days with no
SUGAR,

FLOUR,

OR SUGAR, FAT, FLOUR COMBINATION!


I get to 3 o'clock in the afternoon and I am DYING,
at least I think I am,
and I just go searching.

At this point, my usually pretty discriminating
tastes don't care what it is,
just give it to me NOW!!!!

Stat!!!!!!

This is an EMERGENCY.

But I really don't feel well when I eat this stuff,

I am ok, if I can keep it to once a week,
that seems to be my happy balance.

But I haven't been in a happy balance
since October,
so I haven't been in a happy health place.

I decided enough is enough,
and I started on my THREE DAYS!
I started again the next day,
and the next
and the next.

It took me two weeks to succeed, but I
finally did it.
Three days with NO Sugar, Flour or
Sugar, Flour, Fat combination.

My swelling is down,
my energy is coming back up
and my mood is definitely
in the "people are willing to live with me" place!

And my cravings are gone.

I don't know why it is so hard for me,
well actually I think I know why it's so hard for me--
but I have the hardest time when I've been out of control,
to get back in control.

Here's to another success,
no matter how long it may be.