Mo Goes…

I have wanderlust that goes so deep into my soul, my heart aches. I love traveling, exploring new places, trying new things, meeting locals, & collecting money from all over the world. If I had my way, I would never visit the same city twice - the world is too big, & life is too short.

I even have a job that requires me to travel most of the time…turns out that travel is not nearly as fun as personal travel, & it gets draining, quick. But it also allows for cool experiences. Getting sent to Bemidji, MN in the middle of December was not something I was looking forward to, it was the coldest, harshest, iciest weather I have ever experienced - & children were playing outside during recess! Without that trip, I would have never channeled my inner Elsa, realized the importance of chapstick & good boots, walked on a frozen lake, hiked the Mississippi River headwaters, or stood between the legs of Paul Bunyan.

Recently, I've been letting work take over my life. When I say "recently" I mean for the past couple of years. I got so busy making a living that I felt that I wasn't actually living. I didn't even realize it until one of my friends told me, "I'm going to look back on my 20s & not worry about work. I'll remember the random nights out, the fun nights in, traveling, moving, & making new friends." That's when I realized that I spent the better half of my 20s working my ass off. I've experienced so many awesome things, but all of those experiences are shadowed by work.

So my vow to myself, as I'm about to enter my 28th year of life, is to LIVE! I'm going to take days off so I can experience summer in Chicago - I will no longer have Use or Lose time at the end of the year. I am saying yes to every outing my body can handle. I am going to try new things, all the time. I will stay healthy, but not be so hard on myself when I miss the gym to have fun. I will chase the Stanley Cup all summer long. I will travel…for fun, for work, for me. I will meet new people, fall in love, make memories, & cherish every minute of it. I'll still be a kick ass employee, but I won't give my agency anymore free time - no more staying late at work, no more coming in on my days off, no more responding to non-emergency emergencies.

June isn't even over yet, but it is already the best birthday month! One of my favorite people moved to Chicago, a child I care deeply about turned 10, I "played" softball in front of the Washington Monument, I zoodled, acupuncture changed my life, the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup which led to an epic amount of celebrating, I met the Blackhawks Coaching Staff, I hugged the Stanley Cup, I celebrated, I loved, I lived. I even had fun when it rained on my (Blackhawks) parade.

The best part is, the most exciting part of my month is yet to come. In just 2 short days, I'll be in London with some of my favorite people!

Here's to living!

4th Week of Paleo

This is it, I've completed my 30-day Paleo Challenge! At first, Mo Goes Paleo seemed like the worst idea ever…week 1 was tough, but the month got progressively better as I completed week 2 & week 3. I've never felt this good in my life - healthy from the inside out.

To be completely honest, this past week wasn't 100% Paleo. I had a beer at Mai Fest. I have a million excuses as to why I drank that beer - it was the 1st festival of summer, I like beer, a new friend was buying a round for everyone, I knew I was strong enough to be Paleo in tough circumstances, one beer wash't going to kill me. At the end of the day, I realized, it doesn't matter what my excuses for drinking that beer were. I don't owe excuses to anyone. If I wanted to drink a beer, every now and then, I'll drink that damn beer. It won't be a regular thing, this I know because I don't feel as good when I deviate from Paleo. My tummy was a little upset (I did not get sick), & I felt bloated & sluggish the next day. Since I'm constantly striving to be my best self, I know straying from Paleo won't be a regular thing - I LOVE the way I feel when I am Paleo & strict about it.

The social aspect was hard, I'll admit it. People like going out to eat & drink. It's the number 1 social activity. But, it is possible to socialize & be Paleo - order the boring salad, go on the creative/non-traditional dates, drink water, always have almonds in your bag & hard-boiled eggs in your refrigerator. Figure out what works for you - I realized I needed to add more carbs to my diet. Eating a sweet potato (or 2) everyday is when I started to feel so much better & love this Paleo lifestyle. I'm not weak - I workout 6 days/week, & I have been increasing my weightlifting workouts.

I feel like everyone I've encountered this week has commented on how good I'm looking - how I'm slimming down, my lower belly (that troublesome spot every female has) is flatter, my thighs (which have been beautifully thick my whole life) are toning up, & my shoulders have more definition.

Basically, Paleo has been one of the best decisions I made. I'm kicking ass at it & I'm kicking ass at life while being Paleo. I get that it's  not for everyone. I get that it's hard to cut certain foods. I get that it makes me an asspain. I get it! But, as someone who struggles with autoimmune diseases & is constantly sick & feeling crappy, this is the first thing I've tried (& I've tried a lot) that has worked for me. I'm trying not to be preachy about it - I don't want to be that person. But, sometimes I get really excited about every Paleo thing that I am learning, that I come off as preachy…it's not intended, I'm working on it.

I had originally thought that I would stay Paleo when I'm grocery shopping; but whenever I socialize, I wouldn't be a Paleo asspain - I would just eat the grains, drink the beer, & enjoy the cheese. That may still be the case, but probably a little less than I was originally thinking. I am perfectly ok with ordering boring salads, bringing my own food (in situations where it's socially acceptable), & drinking lots of water. Every now & then, I will indulge, but I prefer feeling good - not feeling gross & bloated the following day.

I highly suggest trying the Paleo lifestyle. It sucks at first. It really sucks. But, the way I feel right now was worth that first week of hell. I'm actually excited about doing this for the unforeseeable future!

Happy healthy eating :)

MoGoes...to Chipotle while Paleo

Chipotle might be my kryptonite. I love that place. I've eaten 3 meals in a row from Chipotle...not something I'm proud of, but also not necessarily something I'm ashamed of either. I thought that the worse thing about going Paleo would be missing Chipotle.

But, I've done great...aside from getting popcorn during my first week of Paleo, I haven't cheated. It took 4 weeks, but I've even stopped thinking about Chipotle on a daily basis.

Until today.

One of my dear friends & coworkers has a birthday this week. We always celebrate with lunch & dessert. She told me she wanted to meet at Chipotle (I'm blessed to have friends who share my love for that restaurant). All day yesterday, I was debating - do I get a burrito bowl or do I just bring a Paleo meal to lunch? I know, it's rude to bring outside food to a restaurant, but it's Chipotle we're talking about here. Everyone I talked to about my dilemma said "it's still healthy" or "just adding a little bit of rice won't hurt" or "you've completed enough of this challenge it's time to go back to eating normal now."

I was on the fence of what I should do...be a Paleo asspain or stick to my challenge. The fact that I was even on the fence was telling, because 2 weeks ago I would have looked for any excuse to cheat AND eat Chipotle. I kept thinking about what my trainer told me when I was struggling through my first week, "you committed to something, you need to follow through." I was finally feeling good & strong on Paleo, was I really going to throw that all away for a burrito bowl full of rice & cheese & chicken that is obviously marinated in cocaine?

As I was baking her favorite dessert last night, lemon cupcakes with raspberry cream cheese frosting (recipe coming soon), I licked the batter off the spatula, just to make sure the batter was delicious before putting it in the oven. BIG MISTAKE! Within 5 minutes my stomach was upset, I had terrible gas, I was bloated, & I felt gross. I still felt bad this morning, I woke up unrested & sluggish, I had a canker sore in my mouth, dark circles under my eyes, & I was going to be late for work.

That's all it took, this was going to be my downfall...the smallest bit of flour and sugar in my cupcake batter.

I knew I couldn't eat a non-Paleo meal of Chipotle...my body wouldn't accept it. So, that was it, I was bringing my own lunch. Luckily I had some chicken & veggies in my fridge, ready to go. Then about 10 minutes before lunch, I thought, 'what an asspain bringing my lunch to a restaurant when they have my favorite meal, maybe I'll just eat Chipotle.' Then a dear friend said to me, "When have you ever cared about being an asspain? Just bring your lunch, it's not that hard." Well, no truer statement has been said - I don't care if people think I'm an asspain, I'll continue to do what's best for me. & it really wasn't hard.

I thought I might change my mind once I got to Chipotle, saw their beautiful burritos, & smelled their cocaine chicken. But, I didn't! I ate the lunch that I brought...the real kicker was the birthday girl didn't even come to lunch! She bailed on us last minute because she was caught in a meeting.

Oh well, at least now I know how strong I am :)

Don't Be A Jackass

There are a few words that I despise hearing - mainly any variation of "retard" or "gay" being used incorrectly. Really, there is no correct way to say "retard," so I don't know why it is still common in the average person's vocabulary. Given all of the improvement for civil rights for homosexuals, you would think people would stop using "gay" in a derogatory way. But, the world will constantly disappoint you.

What many people don't understand is the term "special needs" isn't always appropriate for people with disabilities, & in fact, can be offensive.

The term "special needs" or "special" trivializes the person's achievements or the person themselves. Even the Special Olympics is very prescriptive in their language guidance to avoid labeling the person or athlete as "special," but an athlete who participates in the event called "Special Olympics."I have a friend who has a brother with Down Syndrome, he participated int he Special Olympics and could out swim most of his high-school swim team. Anytime someone heard "special," they assumed that he couldn't really swim and didn't want him to be on the "normal" swim team because he might "hold up" the others - they would even act incredibly surprised when he could swim well. Jackasses. Swimming isn't his disability, so why does it shock people that he can swim well?

There is a lot more to that than the terminology (but the terminology plays a big role). It's also not a denial of the person's disability, but only talking about the disability where it is appropriate. My friend's brother for instance (the great swimmer), may have difficulty understanding how to apply for a State ID or how credit cards work, due to his disability, but it doesn't affect his ability to swim. Therefore, instead of describing the entire person in a certain way, only mentioning it when it is relevant and needed. This would also give you a better idea of how to interact with him. Saying someone has "special needs" doesn't really tell you anything about that person - I've seen this all the time at work. Staff on a disaster will send our Disabilities Coordinator information about someone who is applying for assistance, and when the Disabilities Coordinator asks what the need is, the staff responds, "he has special needs." Well, no shit, that means next to nothing to the Disabilities Coordinator, and she can do nothing with that information. Does the person need accommodations in order to communicate? Do they simply need to take medication that were lost because of the disaster? Does the person need accessible transportation? Do they need a lift equipped vehicle for their wheelchair?

It's all about not trivializing or promoting negative stereotypes - or not giving someone an opportunity because you have negative assumptions about their abilities. Similar to the point about not using terminology like "wheelchair bound" - it creates all types of negative assumptions, like the assumption that anyone using a wheelchair cannot stand up or walk at all. There was this terrible meme (that I refuse to repost) that went around on social media a few years ago that had a picture of a woman in a wheelchair standing up to reach a bottle of alcohol on a store shelf. The meme read something along the lines of "there has been a miracle in the alcohol aisle." This was so upsetting & offensive, there was this assumption that she must be faking her disability if she can stand up (not taking into account that the woman may have difficulty walking for long periods or balance in general) & that people with disabilities should not drink alcohol for whatever reason (which is offensive on another level - but that's for a different rant). Would it have been as "funny" if she was standing up to reach for apples or water? & who is this jackass who is taking pictures of people to shame them, instead of offering them assistance?

There are so many people with hidden disabilities who, understanding the barriers that negative attitudes really do put in front of people, are hesitant to tell bosses, friends, or family about their disabilities for fear it will limit their opportunities or the way people think about them. People with visible disabilities don't have that option.

The best term to use is "a person with disabilities," or to be more specific: a person who is blind, a girl who is deaf, someone who needs oxygen, a man who is autistic. Make sure you list them as a person first, instead of saying "disabled person." We are always a person before anything else, disability or not. 

With that being said, you still see the term "special needs" being used, although not as frequently as it has been used in the past. It's important to be aware of how some people, and many people who have disabilities themselves, see the terminology and something to think about in the future.

Go forth & make friends with someone who has a disability; don't be afraid to use the term "disability" or even talk to them about their disabilities; don't pet service dogs, but feel free to (kindly) ask the person what service the dog provides; & above all else, don't be a jackass.

3rd Week of Paleo

I can't believe just a few weeks ago I was contemplating giving up on Paleo. I thought for sure I would never complete the full 30-days of this crazy Paleo lifestyle. Now, I love it, I love the way I feel, I love the way I look, & I am loving the food I'm eating. I have no cravings anymore…I even stopped dreaming about eating non-Paleo things like cheese, Chipotle, or truffle fries.

I look good, I mean I always look good, but now I look better. I don't know what it is, but my skin is clear & glowing - I rarely wore makeup this past week & was still confident in public. People keep commenting on how skinny I look - I don't think I've actually lost any weight, but I will gladly take the compliment.

After last week, I decided that I needed to add more carbs to my food intake. I began eating a sweet potato (sometimes 2!) every day & I have noticed a huge improvement. I finally feel satisfied with my meals, I'm not as weak, & I'm not hungry all of the time. I'm a huge fan of sweet potatoes & experimenting with them. My trainer made me  wonderful Sweet Potato Sandwiches, that I keep on hand all the time now. I would have never thought to add almond butter to my sweet potatoes, but it's delicious!

I bought a Zoodler to make noodles out of vegetables. I liked the dishes I made, but I did not like the actual contraption that I purchased - it was cheap, flimsy, wasted a good portion of the vegetables, difficult to clean, & cut up my fingers. After a long night of research (& a good deal on Amazon), I purchased a Spirilizer; I haven't used it yet, so I can't give an honest review, but I am looking forward to it.

Granted, I worked from home most of this week, so eating was very easy, since I could cook most of my meals. I even baked a cake & my amazing frosting without licking the bowl or eating any of the cake. Of course, I had to immediately give it away, but that was more because I felt like it would have gone to waste in my house, than because I was tempted to eat it.

At one point, I thought I would try Paleo-approved chocolate - Super Dark 80% Cacao - it was so bitter, I have no desire to ever eat chocolate again. I don't recommend trying it. Next time I crave chocolate, I will just have some green tea & almonds.

People keep asking me if I will continue with the Paleo lifestyle after this month is over. My plan is to continue to grocery shop Paleo, but I won't be the Paleo asspain I currently am - when I go to friend's houses, or out to eat, I won't dictate the meal based on my Paleo lifestyle…I'll have a beer & cheese, if the night calls for it. But, I'll remain mostly Paleo. The benefits of feeling this good outweigh the taste of sugar.

Sweet Potato Sandwiches

My trainer/food coach made these Sweet Potato Sandwiches for me yesterday & I immediately had to make more! They are delicious, Paleo-friendly, & the perfect pre-workout fuel.

They're simple to make & you don't even need exact measurements!

Ingredients
Coconut oil
Sweet potatoes, thinly sliced
Cinnamon
Almond butter

Directions
Preheat oven to 350F
Grease a baking sheet with a thin layer of coconut oil.
Evenly spread out the sweet potato slices on the baking sheet.
Sprinkle sweet potato slices with cinnamon.
Bake for 30-40 min, until cooked through.
While still warm, put ~1 tablespoon almond butter on half of the sweet potato slices.
Make sandwiches using the remaining sweet potato slices.

Eat the whole batch, like I just did, or have a couple & save the rest for tomorrow. They even taste good cold.

Your house will smell great & your tastebuds will enjoy the party in your mouth!

Sliced sweet potatoes, sprinkled with cinnamon,
before going in the oven

Making sandwiched with almond butter

Finished product…get in my belly!

2nd Week of Paleo

My first week of Paleo was rough. But now that I am half way through my 30-day Paleo challenge, I am feeling MUCH better! I even thought to myself, 'I'm feeling really good & have noticed some positive changes...maybe I'll continue to do this forever!'

The headaches have pretty much gone. With the help of oil pulling & rinsing with Apple Cider Vinegar, my canker sores quickly went away. I didn't cheat at all this week…well, not that I know of - I'm skeptical of eating in restaurants & what their hidden ingredients are. I still had awesome dates - Wormhole Coffee, Emporium Arcade, & seeing Mad Max. I'm back to my regular intake of a gallon of water…some days I did drink 1 1/2 gallons of water, but I'm not as concerned about getting water intoxication any more.

I did feel pretty weak all week, and my sleep was unrestful. Due to this, I did not work out as much as I wanted to. I know I know - any workout is better than no workout. I still feel guilty for missing those workouts. I came up with a pretty good 5 week workout plan that I've decided I will stick to…of course, that's easy to say when I'm feeling well.

I'm getting enough protein, I know this for sure, but I'm wondering if I need to increase my carbs. Paleo friendly carbs are: butternut squash, spaghetti squash, sweet potato, yams, banana, mango, apple, pear, carrots, beets, kohlrabi, jicama, dates, pineapple, & peach. It should be easy to incorporate more of those into my diet.

I'm still slightly unsatisfied with my meals - meaning nothing hits the spot. No matter how much I eat, I'm still hungry. I think adding more carbs will help with this, too. I did buy a zoodler, to make noodles out of veggies. After a few more experiments, I'll post some recipes. So far, I liked the zoodles (zucchini noodles) that I made. Next, I'm going to try beet noodles, broccoli noodles, and sweet potato noodles. I have noticed, now that I am more comfortable with Paleo friendly foods, I am experimenting more with my meals…which is good, I love cooking & I love a cooking challenge.

Knock on wood - my eyes are completely healthy. No flare ups, no pain, no blindness (aside from my already damaged eyesight), no issues. That alone will make me stay Paleo for the rest of my life. Granted, it could just be a fluke, & I'm not willing to base my eye's health off of two weeks of being Paleo, but so far, it's good enough for me.

So, yes, week two went far better than week one. I'm feeling good, I'm getting used to this lifestyle, and I'm figuring out what works for me & how my body is responding.  I'm liking the challenge & I'm glad I'm doing it. I even realized, it's not as hard as I thought it was…the word "hard" is relative - on weak days, everything seems hard; but on these strong days, going Paleo is easy & one of the best things I decided to do. I'm hoping this strength isn't short-lived.

I think I would even recommend Paleo to others :)