Going Paleo

I decided to get into the Paleo diet for a month.  I've had friends who've done it and had impressive results, some even decided to make it their lifestyle.  The Paleolithic diet, also known as Caveman diet, as the name suggests, is a diet modeled from the ancient era where people would hunt and gather for food.

Basically, the diet restricts you from intaking dairy, grains, sugar, starch, processed food, soy and legumes.  Thus, the bulk of what you eat are lean proteins, fruits, vegetables.  Here is a helpful infographic that best explains the diet:

A month of doing Paleo served as a learning experience for me.  It helped me beyond just physical benefits.  Here are the things that I gained from getting into the diet:

Control over appetite.  One of the main reason I decided to go into a diet is because I've noticed how my cravings have started to take control over me.  There was a point where I started giving in to my every urge to eat.  The more this happened the more my appetite was insatiable.  I had to take action to put my flesh in its rightful place.  A lot of the food that I craved for like sweets, dairy, bread where not allowed in the Paleo diet.  So deliberately cutting off those food made me develop self-control.

Creativity and resourcefulness.  I'm a foodie.  I love to cook and eat good food.  I have a palette for flavors.  Paleo put me in a position where I was limited with the ingredients I could use to cook.  It challenged me to come up with something delicious that was within the boundaries of the allowable food of the diet.  Luckily, there are tons of sites online with really good recipes.  After researching and trying out some recipes, I was able to come up with my own.

Here are some of the Paleo friendly meals I made:

 

Well-being.  Making a decision to live a healthy lifestyle does wonders not only physically but also mentally and emotionally.  One of the benefits of Paleo that was really evident to me was feeling energized.  I was less tired and felt like I had more strength for my activities (work, workout, tennis).  This made me feel more productive.

Perseverance.  I cannot really quantify my results in the basis of a weighing scale.  I would weigh myself almost every 3 days and still be stuck in the same weight I started.  It actually made me feel discouraged because I felt like I'm cutting all the yummy food for nothing.  My friends would tell me that the scale wasn't an accurate basis because I had to look at my progress in terms of body mass or inches.  I had to really stick to my commitment to the diet for a month.  I did feel like it was effective because my clothes seem to be looser and I can see that my stubborn body fat has shrunk (whew!).

As it is often stressed, a healthy diet is good but it should always be done with proper exercise.  It works hand in hand. During the course of my diet, I didn't stop working out.  I did Crossfit, tennis and plyometrics.  Paleo was perfect because it fueled my activities and helped me achieve results.

Learning to Learn Again

One of the most amazing things about being a mother is watching my children grow up. When I say grow up, I don't only mean taller or bigger or stronger, I also mean smarter, more intelligent, and, with constant encouragement and discipline, more mature and purposeful. Sometimes, when I look at their kid pictures, I'm so surprised at how fast they've grown. And when having conversations with them, I realize how fast they absorb things and how they're now processing ideas. My eldest, Lucas, who loves to read and is highly intelligent, always comes up to me with new words and ideas that I have to admit confuses me sometimes. Andres, my second, has a totally different set of gifts, picks things up fast, from cooking and baking to sports. Of course, my Natalia, who has stretched so much the past few months, always imagining, always laughing, asking questions, and thinking of things we can do together.

What a blessing it is to be a mom!

Chaos!

Finally!

Watching my children grow, I realized that I have to grow myself. I cannot say, "I'm the adult here. I know what to do." Frankly, many times, I don't know what to do. I have to learn. In fact, I have to learn to learn again. And I don't mean learn a new hobby, or learn a new exercise routine, or a new reciple. I mean learn how to grow as a person. Learn like I used to in school, absorbing lessons, absorbing experiences, and using them to grow. I need to go back to being curious and open without losing the lessons already learned.

Most of all, I need to be a student of my relationships if I want them to grow. I love God, but I know there's so much about Him that I don't know. For some reason, I've found Him more now than ever with less material things and more pressure. These days, I feel like I can't do anything right, which I know is a lie, but the little criticisms of people get to me. I'm learning not to listen too much to the opinions of man but to pray. Maybe that's really His way of showing me that He is my protector and provider. Maybe it's His way of teaching me trust. I need to keep learning that and growing in faith.

I also need to learn from and about my kids. Sure I do know more than them and I know I'm here to lead them, but I also know that God can speak to me through them. I also know that there is wisdom, creativity, and insight behind their bright eyes. I need to learn their music and talk to them about it. I need to learn the shows they watch (when they do watch). I need to learn about their books, their subjects, their lessons. I need to learn more about their friends, their dreams, and their hopes. I need to learn how to teach them to trust in God, and to apply faith in their different situations.

I also need to learn to grow as a friend. I shouldn't get too familiar with friends and think they'll always be there and will never change. People's circumstances are always changing and it affects us all differently. We need to be willing to reach out and care.

There's so much I need to learn, and just thinking about it can get overwhelming. But not knowing isn't the end, in fact it's the start, if we are willing to learn to learn again.

Our Heart's Song

Music has the power to express and draw out certain emotions.  There's always a song that touches you at a particular way in a specific time, there's always a song that you hear that floods your emotions back to a certain situation in your life and there are songs that uplifts you or highlights your feeling towards someone or something.  Music is a wonderful gift that speaks to our hearts.  Music is part of us.

Since music has such a great effect in our lives, let our hearts compose a wonderful symphony.  Let's give our hearts a chance to be true to the depth of its joy, pain, triumph, failures, anger, laughter.  Let us let go of pretenses and allow our hearts to melt in the midst of a melody that sings along with our  Heavenly Father.  Let us let Him be the high note.  His love the chorus that repeatedly reminds us of its certainty and fervor.

Like the Psalms of David, so sincere, so true, so real, so transcendant, so humble... May our hearts have a lasting song to sing...

A song of being loved by a perfect king.

A song of gratitude for a price that can never be paid.

A song of hope in the midst of anguish.

A song of praising a beauty that only He can offer.

A song of a heart that chooses to love.

May God put a new song in our hearts today that we may experience something wonderful that only music can give.

My heart, O Lord, is steadfast;I will sing and make music with all my soul.Awake, harp and lyre!I will awaken the dawn.Psalm 108:1-2

3 Simple Power Uppers

Whether you're a single mom like me taking care of what seems like an army of kids at times, or any mom for that matter, or a student with never ending homework, or a businesswoman beating deadlines and meeting people, or an athlete preparing for a competition, we all need a lot of energy to do everything we have and want to do. We need to fill ourselves with something to help power us through the day - because people need us to step up, particularly, in my case, my kids need me.

Here are 5 simple things to help you power-up to step-up.

Drink: get a lot of water.
This has always been my problem even as a young girl, I just never drank enough. Staying hydrated is important to staying healthy and energetic. Web MD writes:

"Your body is composed of about 60% water. The functions of these bodily fluids include digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of nutrients, and maintenance of body temperature."

 And here's even better news:

"What works with weight loss is if you choose water or a non-caloric beverage over a caloric beverage and/or eat a diet higher in water-rich foods that are healthier, more filling, and help you trim calorie intake," says Penn State researcher Barbara Rolls, PhD, author of The Volumetrics Weight Control Plan."

I also read somewhere that drinking water is an effective antidote to feelings of fatigue or confusion. These may be signs that you are dehydrated. Uh-oh!!

Who knew water could do all of that? Health, energy, and weight loss!

Now my aim is to drink 8 glasses, or 2 liters of water a day. Sounds difficult for a non-drinker like me, right? The trick is to break the quantity down so I drink 1/2 glass every 30 minutes, or 1/4 glass every 15 minutes.

Natural Fruit Juices: easy-to-make supercharged smoothies

Fight your next low-energy slump by trying one of these easy-to-make supercharged juices and smoothies. Consume foods rich in potassium, like oranges, bananas and apricots, to replenish your energy if you've been very active. These can even be taken before or after your workout.

WAKE-UP CALL: packed with energy-giving B vitamins

Blend 1 cup rice/soy milk, 1 banana, 4 dried apricots, 1 Tbsp. flaxseed, 1 tsp. honey and a sprinkle of nutmeg until smooth.

BERRY BUZZ: a burst of Vitamin C

Blend strawberries and blueberries, then add cranberry juice and a squeeze of lime.

You can also put them into popsicles for your kids to enjoy. Just put the smoothies on a popsicle maker. If you don't have one, you can use a cup and stick a popsicle stick in the middle.

Rest: get enough sleep.
Another "yikes" for me here. I always feel like there's not enough hours in the day. It's important for your health to have a sound sleep every night. Many people, like me, take it for granted and I notice that as I age (double yikes!) I find it increasingly difficult to achieve a good night's sleep.

Here are some tips for bedtime bliss:

1. Try to go to bed and get up at the same time -- or within an hour of your usual time.
2. Caffeine is a stimulant that is found in coffee, chocolate (boohoo!), and tea (double boohoo!) Avoid these for several hours before bedtime. Experiment to see what suits you and your body: some people find caffeine consumed any time after 10 am is enough to prevent them from sleeping.

3. Regular exercise should guarantee a good night's sleep, but try to complete your workout at least 2 hours before going to bed.

4. Establish a calming bedtime ritual, such as a soak in a warm bath. Add a few drops of relaxing lavender essential oil.

5. Use your bedroom only for sleeping. Set aside another time and place for planning, thinking and worrying so you are less likely to toss and turn at night.

I notice when I zoom in on these things: enough water, natural juices, and adequate exercise I don't get lethargic throughout the day. Since I need all the energy I can get with all the things I'm juggling everyday, I focus on the things that are readily available to me.

Healthy Breakfast Hash

I love breakfast food but I don't particularly enjoy waking up early to cook.  I realized that its one meal that I shouldn't miss because it fuels my energy for the day.  In order to be able to prepare a hearty breakfast, I started making weekly meal plans.  This helped determine beforehand the ingredients needed and the cook time and procedures.  I researched on different breakfast dishes and came up with a lot of really delicious and healthy choices.  It also expanded my cooking creativity as I would tweak some recipes or come up with a new one altogether.

One of my favorite breakfast dish is Breakfast Hash.  Most recipes I came across with make use of potatoes but since I'm currently doing the Paleo Diet, I substituted potatoes for zucchini and squash.

Here's the recipe:

   Ingredients:
   1 cup of shredded zucchini
   1 cup of shredded squash or pumpkin
   3 tbsp of flour (I used almond flour for Paleo)
   2 tsp salt
   2 tsp pepper
   2 tsp marjoram
   olive oil
   2 eggs
   1 sausage of your choice

   1. Use a grater to shred zucchini and squash into shoestring.  Squeeze the veggies to drain the water stored in it.  Mix in flour and combine in salt, pepper and marjoram.

  2. Heat olive oil in a skillet.  Cook the shoestring zucchini and squash until golden brown.  Set aside.

   3. Fry two eggs sunny side up (medium cooked) and cook the sausage of your choice.
   4. Place the eggs and sausages on top of the vegetable hash.

   Optional: Drizzle with mayonnaise or aioli for added flavor

I hope you'll enjoy this healthy breakfast treat!  We will be posting more breakfast recipes soon!

"I Want Homework!"

This is my daughter's own book. It helped us with potty training.

I love reading this book to my kids. It helps remind them that I think about them the whole day.

I love them every single minute of the day. 

I often hear this from my 4 year old daughter when her brothers are doing their homework. My boys, on the other hand, are whining about their sister's neverending playtime. How I wish it was the other way around!!!

On top of being a cake artist/baker/delivery person/purchaser/inventory person, I'm a mother of 3 beautiful, active, talented, and very curious children. I must admit when the boys were my daughter's age, I was more zoomed in on them when it came to "homework". Aside from school, we would have our own mini-learning centers at home and we really allotted time for reading, writing, art, a little bit of science and math. I would really prepare worksheets and tables and exercises to help them practice what they learned in school.

But times have changed, and I now have a thriving cake business that keeps my hands super full. It takes more effort from me to give "homework" to my little girl.

My little teacher

She's pretending to be a teacher reading to her students...or student (just me!) 

I just reminded myself to go back to the basics..how I started with my boys. I remember taking notes from the boys' teachers, who were also really good friends of mine, about what I can do to enhance their learning at home.

1. Handwriting Without Tears

This is the curriculum that my boys' school follow to teach their students how to write. I would have my own worksheets for them to practice on. What I like about this style is that they teach writing through play. My kids initially thought it was just a drawing activity.

They learned that the lines  and the curves that we practiced in our previous exercises helped them write their letters properly.

To know more about it, check out their website here.

For an added activity, I got my daughter a writing activity book that she can take with her everywhere. This helps her practice writing her letters, even when we're on the go.

2. Word Cards

One way to teach kids how to read is through sight words. Sight words are words your children should recognize by sight without having to sound them out. There are a lot of sight words printables available online but you can also do them yourself. All you need are index cards, pentel pen, binder ring, and a puncher.

I used to make sets of word cards for my boys to practice their reading. I wrote commonly used words on index cards and fastened them together with a ring. We would also read a favorite book together and I would write down the key words on the cards. We would go through the cards every now and then. And the next thing I knew, they were reading their favorite book on their own

I also wrote down some words and attached them to objects/things around the house. I know they may seem difficult words to start with but they remember from memory.

3. Teaching Values through Books

Did I ever mention that my kids and I love books? I think we're book hoarders! Haha! I have a stack of books in my bedside table, that just keeps getting higher. My kids are similar, especially my eldest. He never leaves the house without a book tucked under his arm. Super cute little boy! I call him my little walking almanac/encyclopedia. 

When the boys were younger, they used to have this short activity in school where the teachers encouraged the kids to D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything And Read). I adapted that activity in our "home school". (Disclaimer: I do not home school. I can only wish that I have the gift and the patience to home school my kids.) 

Books are great tools to teach kids about anything and everything you want them to learn. Check out some of the books that I got my boys when they were younger. These are the books that I read to my daughter from time to time. One of our favorites is The Little Critters series. They're simple books alright but they definitely helped me with a lot of "kid issues".

I read this to the boys when their little sister was inside my tummy. 

They were very excited for the coming of their baby sister. 

I got this book for my eldest son when he went to the hospital for an ear operation. 

The boy in the book had the exact same problem. It helped my son overcome his fear. 

It relayed the procedure of his operation. 

This book teaches about the benefits of eating healthy and exercising. 

This book teaches about being thankful. 

This book talks about the funny responsibilities of being an older brother.

This book talks about what different kids like to be when they grow up. 

These books show kids that they really have nothing to be scared of when going to the doctor or the dentist.

And this is an all-time favorite. It talks about the tiring routine of putting kids to bed. 

I learned that my kids relate really well with books. It's like they realize that they are not the only ones who face the issues they go through, even if it's only relating to a little critter. Hehe! It's a great way of teaching them without overwhelming them. 

These three are just a few of the many ways that you can encourage little kids to love learning. I believe that when you instill in them a passion for learning and cultivating curiosity, they will never get bored. These things are easily lost and replaced with mundaneness. Our role as the primary source of education of our children is to lead them to the path of loving learning and staying curious, AND most especially, to be resourceful in finding the right answers to their questions.

Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6)