In Search Of...

[RGHS150]

Mentors, coaches, cheerleaders, friends, sages, encouragers and all the rest as I slowly try to switch from a SAD diet to a nourishing diet.

This is not my first attempt at a Traditional diet. I got WAY TOO overwhelmed and over-extended last time I gave this a go.

I'm going to try to do this tiny babystep by tiny babystep this time! I'm working on wiggling my way into local support groups, but I also want to take advantage of this forum which seems to have an abundance of individuals that possess a lot of real world, traditional diet experience.

My name is Rebecca, BTW.

[itsrtimedownhere]

i'm making baby steps too. we can be TF buddies.

[FairyRae]

I couldn't find a cheerleader, so I'm bellydancing you on!

The best advice I got was to try and learn/implement only one thing a week. Make it part of your routine, and only then move on to the next thing. It worked for me! We went from NOT TF to totally (IMO) TF in a couple months. (We were completely whole foods due to allergies, so our total TF transformation was really more like a year and a half from SAD to TF.) It's sticking though. I have absolutely NO plans to go back...(Best thing I've EVER done for my health!)

This is an AMAZING forum for TF support--I'm glad you're here! One step at a time...

[Drummer's Wife]

Babysteps, definitely. Then it won't be so overwhelming. Stay motivated by thinking about how much healthier you will be.

[LauraLoo]

Originally Posted by FairyRae

The best advice I got was to try and learn/implement only one thing a week. Make it part of your routine, and only then move on to the next thing.

I did all the easy things first - like ridding my pantry of all suspect foods. But then I had to replace them with homemade from scratch things, and that got very crazy, very quickly. I felt like I was tied to my kitchen from sun up to sun down...... But eventually, things started to flow and become part of my routine. I've learned to do things to save me time, like making food in batches and freezing some of it. Now I'm ready to add more because I can handle it. I like to think of it as moving to a new town. At first I had to know where I was going, use a map, and then drive around looking at street signs. Now I'm more on using landmarks for making my turns.

I've learned how to source our food -- and at first that seemed crazy to go to more than a couple of locations each week, but now it's worked into my weekly routine.

I do keep a book of things to try, like new recipes, new fermented foods, condiments, etc. and then as I am ready for more, I know where I want to go next.

And remember, even small, simple changes are positive. Never feel like you have to do it all in order to reap any benefits. This isn't an all or nothing kind of lifestyle change.

Welcome!

[RGHS150]

Crap! I lost the post I just typed! Man, this board logs you out fast!

Thanks for all the replies, I need all the help I can get! I'm currently a single mom (separated last month) but this is important to me and I REALLY want to make this change for our health.

I agree with the whole baby step, one thing at a time concept. Putting the cart before the horse was what did me in last time. I am going to do this, but I am going to proceed cautiously!

Currently, my goal is to serve four healthy(ier) dinners each week. My focus will be on obtaining grassfed cuts of meat that can be used for 2 or 3 meals. Today I roasted a chicken and we had that for dinner, now I am making broth. I plan on pulling chicken and rice, rosemary beans and carrot soup out of the remains. Wish me luck! I also have a lamb shank and a ham hock in the freezer. Those should work well as double duty meats.

What other extend-a-meal cuts of meat could I consider.

Main focus: Each week serve four meals from grassfed meat and getting me some broth going in this here kitchen.

Rebecca

Love the bellydancer btw!

[sweetjasmine]

Originally Posted by LauraLoo

And remember, even small, simple changes are positive. Never feel like you have to do it all in order to reap any benefits. This isn't an all or nothing kind of lifestyle change.

Welcome!

This is what derailed me when I tried TF awhile back. I work full time and got overwhelmed trying to do too much. But I don't have the time or money to try and source everything. I visit my regular grocery store and I sometimes pick up a few items at Whole Foods. I am trying to keep costs down so I don't want to go too much above my budget. Thank you, LauraLoo, for what you said above. Someone said something similar in another thread. I feel like I have permission now to relax and to try to figure out those things that I can do without resentment and that work for me and can start to make a small difference at least.

[itsrtimedownhere]

Originally Posted by RGHS150

Main focus: Each week serve four meals from grassfed meat and getting me some broth going in this here kitchen.

i'm making some broth/stock tomorrow. lamb, beef and veggie/chicken stocks

i'm most excited about the veggie/chicken. i got the idea from someone on here. i saved all the scraps of food that i shaved/cut off from my veggies in a ziploc in the freezer. whenever i chop something, i throw the spare parts in the bag. it only took my about a week to fill it up. i also had a little chicken fat that i threw in there too.