After the hunt...

Korey and I are on day 15 of our endeavor.  We got back EARLY Sunday (yesterday) morning from excursion I'd never in my life thought I'd experience (or even want to, for that matter).  Last Friday was my birthday...great big, giant numero 28.  I usually don't celebrate my birthday--I see it as silly considering how many I plan on having while I'm here on Earth!  This year was different, however. 
My obsession with free-roaming, pastured fill in the blank took me down a path I'd never traveled before.  I'd always eaten venison growing up, having had a deer hunter for a father.  Killin' Bambi simply never bothered me--I knew it was good eats!  As simple as it is to find local, grass-fed beef these days, along with the fact that Korey and I have our own chickens allows for us to have all of the beef, chicken, and eggs we want.  However, it is pretty difficult to find good quality, pastured pork.  ENTER FABULOUS IDEA!
Knowing that my birthday was coming up, back at the end of 2011 I brought it up to Korey that we should go for a hog hunt since we would then be able to have that amazing wild pork I'd been yearning for.  I'll admit, it was somewhat in jest considering I couldn't imagine myself actually attached to a tree, rifle in hand, sitting and pondering aimlessly until the (hopefully) eventual chance at bagging a huge trophy boar.  A few weeks past and I was still fixated on the idea, so I asked Korey to get serious and find a place where we could hunt our own pork...he did!
We went down to BFE South Carolina last week, using my birthday as the main excuse to get away.  Deep down we knew it was simply in pursuit of pork perfection.  Ten thousand acres of hunting land awaited us and I was ready to bag my limit--the goal was to need another deep freezer upon our arrival home.  I. Was. Determined.
Well to cut it short, I didn't kill anything.  We didn't even have the option until our last hunt--and that was right after dark.  At that point it was just for the sake of killing a pig--not a boar, a sow--and I didn't want it to be that way.  The kicker to the whole trip:  I'm hooked!  As many hours as we spent in the tree hoping to see a hog/get us one or two and actually failed to do either didn't go wasted.  I'm absolutely determined, still, to hunt me a hog again!  There's something about the thrill of the chase/hunt, and then being able to capitalize on your own kill (whether it be some fat juicy chops, thick 'ol bacon, or some fresh, sage-y sausage...YUM!).
In case you're wondering, I managed to stay on track with my no sweetener/protein track.  Granted I had one slip that I haven't had in a year:  I drank coffee!  Why?!  Simply put, I wanted to remain (as we say in the country) REGLAR!  Going out of town, I just never know how I will adjust.  Here's the strange part:  I drank it BLACK...and enjoyed the taste!  Weird, right...or just simply disgusting really!  Never thought I'd like black coffee, but I guess when you haven't even experienced sweet from even fruit for some time, your tastes just go whacky and you find enjoyment in stuff that used to would have made you gag!
Anyway, back of the coffee now--not good for the adrenals, but it got 'er done when I needed it!  I'll touch base in a few once we're closer to the finish line. 

Still trucking along...

I guess today is day 5 of my (and Korey's) Whole 30 commitment.  I'd have to say it's no where near as bad as I thought it would be.  It's actually kind of nice having to find other options at breakfast that don't include protein powder.  I'm getting used to a new ritual you could say.  Today, I'll admit, was a little tough.  I'm so used to eating on a regular basis--out of necessity from a medical stand point and simply because I love to eat!  Due to a crazy schedule here at the studio, lunch came a few hours after I normally eat it, so I'd have to say I had a little bit of hypoglycemia.  All was better, though once I feasted on roasted brussels and cauliflower and pulled chicken breast.  There's nothing quite like a roasted vegetable.  Even the ones I find near repulsive (i.e. radishes) in their raw state are actually quite tasty once doused in (insert healthy fat of the day here), salt, and pepper. 
The detox is still ongoing...which is a good thing, but GEEZ.  Was I that mucked up?  It's nothing I can't manage, and if you know me well enough, you know that I rarely feel more accomplished on an average day than when all is functioning the way it's supposed to!  To help speed the detox up, I've been KILLIN' the kale this week.  It has a unique way of aiding nature in pulling impurities out of your body--and it's damn delicious pretty much any way you fix it.  I've made two batches of kale chips this week (yes, during the work week) and I've had it sauteed with my veg med during breakfast.  Those damn kale chips are like little crispy pillows of heaven in a bowl: 

• 1 bunch kale (I prefer lucinato--the flat blue-green kind) cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 T melted coconut oil (my next round I'm going to try either duck or pork fat!)
• 1 T apple cider vinegar (raw and unfiltered, of course)
• Preheat oven to 300.  Douse your kale with the oil and vinegar and spread it evenly on a large baking sheet.  I like to line mine with tinfoil, makes for easy clean up.  Bake for roughly 25 to 30 minutes.  I check mine every few minutes for their level of crispiness (or simply because I'm anxious to devour every last one of them!).  When they're done, take them out, sprinkle with sea salt and your choice of seasoning...I go for a curry blend generally.  Now they're ready to eat--and fill free to eat every last bite!

I'm trying to get Korey on the kale kick but I think he isn't quite sold on it.  He'll get there eventually.  I'm just thrilled about moments like last night:  We are sitting at the kitchen table enjoying dinner and he says, "I really want some more cauliflower mash this weekend."  YAY!  To me, this is shear enjoyment--to see my husband like and request some of the things he'd never have even thought about touching before.  Amazing!  Anyways, that's where we are!

Interesting...

Today is my third day of the Whole 30.  Recap what this means for me:  no protein powder, no stevia, no tea, no cocoa (technically tea is allowed but without stevia, why bother--also, the tannins in the tea may not be good for my low iron, so it may be well worth it even more!). 
I'm starting to realize that although whey doesn't usually bother folks that are lactose intolerant, I may be one of the ones out there that even whey gives issues to.  I haven't been even a bit bloated since before I started--unusal for me since my food allergies/sensitivities are so acute that I sometimes feel like I'm always carrying a little extra bloat.  Here's the gross part:  I've been going through some serious detox!  Whatever I've been consuming all along that apparently didn't agree with me has began to work it's way out of me, slowly but surely!  This is a good thing...I feel more energized and I'm back to being hungry again.  Beforehand, it often seemed as though I had lost my hunger on several days of the week. 
I can't say that I'm truly missing my hot/sweet drinks.  The morning sleepiness is already gone; it had only lasted one day.  I am replacing the hot drinks in the mornings with homemade bone broth to satisfy the warmth aspect of it all and that actually seems to be helping with the "cleansing" process.  To be entirely honest, I was afraid this whole experiment would screw with my digestion as I'm not used to having a solid protein source for breakfast AND lunch AND dinner.  I kinda figured I'd have a protein brick in my gut and would be sucking down some Smooth Move for the first week or so.  I'm feeling good with a good 'ol trip to see John every morning early!  (I don't what it says about me to admit that this is one my favorite times of the day--I just feel so accomplished!)
On another note, I had accupuncture for the first time yesterday.  Why, you ask?  Well, I'm exploring different methodologies for the treatment of all that ails me, particularly my adrenal fatigue and apparent infertility.  Interesting experiene:  lying on my back in a lavendar-scented room, wearing a sports bra and running shorts; tiny pin pricks from the tops of my feet to the tops of my head; laying there for atleast 30 minutes then get the pins removed; turn over on my belly with my head in a face cradle; tiny pin pricks lining both sides of my spine from my sacrum to my cervical; laying there for atleast another 20 minutes or so.  I'm so surprised I didn't fall asleep, but I was so relaxed I literally couldn't (didn't want to) pick up my arms to get off the table.  I plan on doing this about 4 or 5 times again before I have bloodwork done in March and see my doc in April.  We'll see how it goes--who knows I may be fertile in a few months!