Was it just two months ago that I swore I would get back to blogging on a regular basis? How quickly time flies! It’s been an action packed summer, full of friends, family, pool time, quilting and traveling. While I have been cautious (for the most part) about avoiding the things that will exasperate my inflammation issues, I will freely admit that I have fallen off the wagon. I feel it every morning when I limp out of bed.
You see, I’ve got plantar fasciitis in my right heel. Know the root cause? Inflammation. What are the drivers of my inflammation? Food. Hmm. Funny how that works out – if I avoid soy, gluten, dairy and the other triggers, my foot feels great! Otherwise, I’m limping around until it warms up, and thankfully that doesn’t take too long.
I was able to spend this past week in Chicago, reconnecting with one of my dearest Dallas friends. I also got a great overnight with one of my closest friends from grad school, Katie! Such a blessing to get to see her a second time this year, and see how much her baby girl has grown in six short months. So fun.
Robyn and I met more than a decade ago in the buying offices at Neiman Marcus, and I treasure her friendship more every day! Robyn earned her Master’s in Education after leaving NM, and headed up to a conference to learn more about using technology in the classroom. It’s amazing how much the world has changed since I was in elementary school – remember what a big deal it was to get a share of a computer to play Oregon Trail? Kids now have access to iPads and specialized learning programs. I’m such a visual learner and I envy them!
While I didn’t attend the conference, I was able to utilize technology to find great local restaurants for Robyn’s quick lunch breaks and our evening meals in the city. Thanks, Yelp! Surely that counts, right? I don’t know how my Chicago friends stay so slim – healthy food was scarce in Aslip, and portions were enormous. ENORMOUS! I indulged in Chicago Dogs, gyros, French friends and even some frozen custard. Thank goodness we spent our evenings running from L station to L station and exploring Chicago itself. I was able to hit several 10,000+++ step days and even lost a couple of pounds.
Check out this allergen and full fat food porn:
The veggie omelet (with bacon I swiped from Katie) was probably the most reasonable thing I had all week, along with the bloody mary. Look at that garnish! That leads me to the detox. What are you guys eating this summer? It’s so hot in Texas that many of the things I like to eat most just aren’t reasonable. I’m a big fan of soup, shredded chicken tacos, regular beef tacos, random salads and such, but I’m stuck in a rut.
I follow Whole 30 on Instagram and I see a lot of interesting meals there. While I don’t technically follow a paleo diet, eating paleo allows me to avoid most of my allergen and trigger foods. And it’s a lot easier for people to understand since it’s so popular. Bob from The Biggest Loser said if it didn’t have a momma or didn’t grow from the ground, to keep it out of your mouth. Good rule of thumb.
Tips? Tricks? Favorite recipes? I’m headed out to do my weekly shopping shortly, and while I plan to pick up the usual chicken sausage, fruits and veggies, I’m happy for those suggestions.
Cheers!
