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Discussion: What Are Your Health Goals?

March 10, 2011 By 46 Comments

weight loss by removing grains Discussion: What Are Your Health Goals?

So enough of me talking lately….. I want to hear from you guys!

As part of the 40-Day Grain Free Sugar Free Challenge (Sign up now, if you haven’t already!) , I’m going to try to provide a community of support so that you guys can encourage each other.

I’m also hoping to get your feedback on what I can do to make the adjustment to not eating  grains easier, and what resources and information you want to see in the future.

I know that you are going to see some great health changes over the next 40-Days, so now is your chance to document your starting point and see your results in 40-Days. If weight loss is your goal, consider taking some before pictures! If you have a health condition you are hoping to improve, consider keeping a log of your symptoms and struggles and watching for any changes during the next 7 weeks.

Many people find it helpful to keep a simple food diary the first couple weeks. This often helps you keep on track and also lets you know how your body is reacting to certain foods. You can also use a free site like FitDay.com to track your food intake and get a breakdown of nutrient levels in your meals.

Leave a comment below and introduce yourself! If you are participating in the challenge, join the discussion:

  1. What is your reason for going grain/sugar free for 40-Days?
  2. What are the health goals you hope to accomplish during this time?
  3. If you are really brave, what is your starting weight and goal weight?
  4. What concerns (if any) do you have about being grain free?
  5. What do you think will be your biggest challenge in being grain free?
  6. What can I do to help make this transition easier and provide support in the next 40-Days and beyond?
  7. What information would you like to see on Wellness Mama, and what giveaways would you like to see?

IMPORTANT: Sign-up for the 40-Day Challenge will close on Saturday (March 12) at midnight. If you have been thinking of joining, sign up now! You can still participate in some of the activities and giveaways without officially signing up, however, making the commitment to sign up will ensure an automatic entry into all giveaways and make sure you get the latest emails and tips during the challenge.

Sign Up For the 40-Day Challenge Now!

 

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About Wellness Mama

Wellness Mama is a full-time housewife with a background in nutrition, journalism and communications. Her passion is helping others achieve optimal health through a “Wellness Lifestyle.” She has helped hundreds of clients lose weight, increase athletic performance, improve fertility, and overcome numerous health problems and diseases. Connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, & Pinterest.

  • Karen

    I just joined your challenge. I’m very excited about seeing great results after the 40 days. I have a question about Stevia. I heard so many good things about it but noticed it’s on the list of foods to avoid completely. Why? and How do I sweeten herbal Iced green tea? I drink alot of decaff herbal iced green tea but want to sweeten it alittle.
    Thank you so much for helping us on this challenge!

  • Lisa

    I have already been on an anti-inflammatory diet for two months. I have lost about ten pounds without actually trying. In my current diet, I had to give up dairy. If I can do that, I can do just about anything (I’m a bit of a milk addict). I am a bit concerned about giving up grains AND dairy. I can have a bit of cheese about once a week, but there are a lot of dairy items that I really miss. I think I will miss corn (especially summer ears) and a lot of the treats that go with Easter and other holidays. Giving up sugar is not so bad, but giving up grains altogether will be a challenge!

    My goal for my current diet and now for adding the no-grain aspect is to heal infertility. I have a history of endometriosis and pelvic adhesions (and the resulting screwed-up anatomy), which was corrected in a series of surgeries this Fall. I’m on the diet journey to try to keep the endo at bay and perhaps make my ovaries behave so we might actually be able to get pregnant someday.

    I am not actually trying to lose weight, although I’m sure it will happen naturally. I am 164 lbs now, and probably about 15 lbs above “ideal” for my height. I would love to see recipes, recipes, recipes! Since giving up sugar and dairy, I dream about food a lot and I think that’s because I feel deprived. I want to eat well enough to dream about something else!

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Hi Karen! The warning against Stevia is mainly against the processed white version, which has been loosely linked to some health problems if used often. Since stevia, an herb, is normally green, it has to be bleached to be white and usually other things are added. There are a couple decent ones out there, but I’d still caution about using too much of them. If you are brewing your own tea, it is possible to use the actual stevia leaf, which has not been associated with any problems at all. If you are interested, I think these guys carry it : http://wellnessmama.com/go/mountain-rose-herbs/
    All you’d have to do is get a little tea ball or muslin bag and put a tiny amount of stevia in there and brew along with your tea. If you make by the gallon and keep in the fridge it would be the same idea. I do something similar and make Iced Red Raspberry Leaf with stevia and keep in the fridge in quart jars to drink on the go. Thanks for joining the challenge!

  • Aricalittle

    I can do without the grains, it’s the sugar that gets me. I have a serious sweet tooth and love fruit! Also, my liquid multi-vitamin Vemma has some sugar/carbs. If I give that up, I’m not sure what to supplement. But I do want to lose more weight. I just hit my pre-pregnancy weight FINALLY!! I’d like to lose twenty more pounds and be fit and healthy to bring more babies to our family. Thanks for all you do!

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    I’ll make sure to work on those recipes! Congrats on your progress so far… sounds like you are doing great! Make sure you are eating enough proteins and especially fats, that helps with the hunger and cravings for food in the beginning.
    Also, best of luck with your fertility journey. I’m working on a complete course on natural fertility, and hope to finish it soon. This was actually my specialty in client consults and the system I am testing now has an incredible success rate, so perhaps it can help. (I’ve had several with endo who were told they would never conceive who are moms of 2 or more now) You are definitely on the right track though!
    Thanks for joining the challenge, I’m excited to see your progress!

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Thanks for sharing! Looking forward to seeing your progress. As for the multi-vitamin, if it doesn’t have grains, it might not be terrible, depending on the amount of carbs/sugar. There are certainly multivitamins out there without sugar, and hopefully, if you are off grains and sugar, you will be getting enough nutrition from your other food that a multi wouldn’t be as necessary. If you do stick with the multi, just make sure your total carb consumption for a day is less than 100 grams, and the small amount of sugar i there shouldn’t have too much of an effect.
    Congrats on hitting your pre-pregnancy weight!

  • jo

    My reason is that I have ulcerative colitis and while I have been symptom free for a couple years, I’d like to see if I just feel better overall. I have had eggs scrambled with veggies the last 2 mornings and it keeps me full all morning.
    Currently I weigh 133 and want to get down to 123.
    Sweets are very hard for me to give up and I’m also big on ‘crunch’. I am looking for something to snack on (probably mostly mental because I’m not really hungry per se) and can’t have pretzels, popcorn, crackers, or anything like that. I had some nuts and dates but now am reading to avoid sugar too and know that dried fruit has a ton!
    Thanks for the support.
    Jo

  • http://alifeofabandon.blogspot.com/2011/03/40-day-challenge-and-my-thoughts-on.html BeckyD

    I’m doing this, and bringing my 6 year old son along with me. (he doesn’t know it though. heehee) For health reasons, we have been on a gluten/corn/refined sugar free diet for about a year. The sugar really isn’t an issue anymore, but the grains will be hard. I’ve recently been realizing that although we are gluten/corn free, we haven’t really given up all of the high carb ways of eating. So, we are nixing the rice pasta, and millet bread…and everything else that is a grain. For us, I’m hoping for even better health – to clear up once and for all some allergy issues with my son, and also just as a test to see if the grains (or lack of grains) really does make a big difference for us health-wise. And unlike those who are trying to lose weight (although a few pounds for me would be nice) what I’m really trying to do is help my son GAIN weight. At 44″ tall, and only 39.5 lbs….we need to beef him up.
    At the same time, I’m upping our healthy fats intake – more coconut oil, and pastured butter, and adding in more fats from meats, avocados, and eggs.

  • Christa

    Hi,

    I would like to master going sugar free! I already live grain free and dairy free %90 of the time. Sugar has been the hardest thing to tackle. I need to lose weight (approx. 15 lbs) as well as not always feeling so tired.

    Starting weight 160 lbs at the height of 5’3.

    Weekends and not shoveling every single piece of food in front of me into my mouth is always my biggest challenge.

    I am always looking for snack ideas that are very portable :)

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Thanks for joining….I’m looking forward to seeing your health improvements. I will try to get some more posts out on good snack ideas. Eating healthy on the go is certainly one of the toughest parts to adjust to!

  • Rose

    What is your reason for going grain/sugar free for 40-Days?
    I like the conviction. I’m not Catholic, but I respect the concept of Lent. As a mindful Christian, I’ve never celebrated this season before, but I do want to teach my children more of the liturgical calendar.

    What are the health goals you hope to accomplish during this time?
    I want that clarity and energy everyone on pure, wholesome diets talks about!

    If you are really brave, what is your starting weight and goal weight?
    Currently 130ish, but that doesn’t worry me much as I’m 9 weeks post-partum. Eventually I want to get back down to 125.

    What concerns (if any) do you have about being grain free?
    The universality of grains, and the vigilance required to actually do this completely. (Even so, I can’t commit completely, but am simply going for avoiding serving grains in my home.)

    What do you think will be your biggest challenge in being grain free?
    The cost really makes me balk. I know that fresh fruits and veggies and good meats are good for us, but they are so expensive. I can’t rely so heavily on meats AND buy the good, organic meats. I could only buy a $12 chicken if I used it sparingly to make five meals, which requires rice, noodles, beans, or potatoes to stretch. If I’m going to serve a pound of meat for a meal, then it can’t be organic, grass-fed, etc.

    What can I do to help make this transition easier and provide support in the next 40-Days and beyond?
    The recipes are great! So are all the articles explaining the dire effects of grains. All the information you provide is so fascinating. Eventually I’d like you to weigh in (from your professional dietitian’s standpoint) on how to prepare grains and legumes to minimize lectins (soaking, sprouting, etc.) The latest article on beans seems mostly directed at improperly prepared beans. I’ve always soaked my dry beans at least overnight, so I hope that would move them down into the more acceptable lectin levels.

    What information would you like to see on Wellness Mama, and what giveaways would you like to see?
    I’d love some good-eating giveaways like coconut oil. I’m still saving up my swagbucks to buy a jar on Amazon.

  • Malitalyor

    Gosh, where to start. I was completely grain free for a couple of months last fall and felt really good! Then with the holidays we all know what happen. My TMJ came roaring back to the point I can not eat anything cold and outside it hurts to breath cold air. I would like to lose 10ish pounds, have energy to perform Tabata Sprints, and in general just feel better all around. Eventually I would like to be well nourished enough to try and taper off depression meds. I have tried alternative options, but they don’t seem to work the best for me. So for now I want to focus on whole nutrition and nourishment in all aspects of my life.

    Although, I do admit to my daily square ot two of dark chocolate, other than that I am sugar free as well. Which for me is HUGE ;)

    I would like to see if possible meal plans that include different breakfast and lunch ideas as well.

  • http://sevenlittleaustralians.blogspot.com/ Erin

    We have gone mostly grain/sugar/dairy free in the effort to help our teen eliminate moderate acne. Recommitting mostly for teen for Lent/40Days.
    Really hoping to make further progress. When teen is particularly grain free great progress is made.
    The biggest challenge with a large family is cost, which is why at times we ‘fail’. But not teen.
    What I’d really love to find are more breakfast type meals. Teen is sick of bacon and eggs, and would like quick easy to go breakfast like cereals give.

  • http://www.barefootandpregnantblog.blogspot.com Calah

    Sorry I’m just getting to this, Katie.
    1. We attempted to do Nourishing Traditions a while back (four months ago) and in the month and a half attempt my husband and I felt loads better and had more energy. Unfortunately it was too costly and too much a strain (kitchen-time-wise) for me with three kids, one an infant. I still believe in those principles, though, and your way of eating seems to incorporate them without being nearly as difficult and costly. However, probably our biggest reason is that as a family we simply cannot say no to grains and sweets. We eat them by the boatload, and not only are my husband and I overweight and tired, but our kids are starting to exhibit the same over-sugared symptoms…not as much energy, unwillingness to eat meat and vegetables, insatiable craving for sugar. My husband and I decided that we’d never help them be healthy unless we were healthy ourselves, so we decided to make Lent our first step in that direction. It’s also a sort of penitential thing for us, as we’ve let our health get so out of hand.
    2. I’d love to see some weight loss, as would my husband, but our main goal is just to learn to control our eating habits and have more energy, and generally take real steps toward a healthier and more ordered life.
    3. Oh. UGH. If I can’t say it here, where can I say it, eh? I’m not sure about my husband, but at 5’2″ I weight about 160 right now. I’d like to be down to 130 or possibly 125, as those were pretty steady weights for me in high school. I do not have a slight build and am naturally fairly muscular (not at the moment, but when I was fit), so the higher end of the BMI scale works best for me.
    4. My only concern is how to deal with other people telling me that it’s unsafe for my children. I don’t believe it is, but I’ve already had several concerned relatives inform me that this is a dangerous thing to do to my children and I’m jeopardizing their health. I don’t believe it, but in the face of my two-year-old staunchly refusing to eat all day long yesterday, it ‘s hard to keep it up. This is really my biggest challenge.
    5. The above is my biggest challenge. Getting my kids to eat. I can handle my own weaknesses, but I worry (like any mother) that if they’re not eating, they’re starving.
    6. Kid-friendly meals are the biggest things…my youngest daughter loved the fish sticks yesterday but my oldest wouldn’t touch them. Any help there is great. Also, maybe some idea on how to do this effectively on a budget? The fresh produce and pastured, organic meat is already putting a strain on us. (Sidenote here: it drives me crazy when people insist that poor people are obese because they’re uneducated. They’re obese because the cheapest food isn’t food! Real food is so expensive! Rant over. Sorry.)
    7. Anything would be great. I’d love access to raw milk, but since my state has outlawed it I guess you can’t really ship it to me, can you? Other than that, I think you probably know best what we need.

    Thank you so much for doing this! I’m loving your recipes and all the great information on your website. Also, I just want to tell you that your website is wonderfully accessible. Other websites that have similar info are really difficult to navigate, but yours is great. Well done!

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    I will try to get some other breakfast ideas out soon. Have you tried making frozen coconut waffles that can just be heated and eaten , or turned into breakfast sandwiches?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    I’ll work on getting some better meal plans out with breakfast and lunch ideas. Make sure your body is getting enough healthy fats, including saturated fats, to help with the depression. Also, have you had vitamin D levels checked?
    Big congrats on being sugar free except for chocolate, and grain free!

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Stay tuned for that coconut oil giveaway! I will post more on ways to reduce the harmful properties in grains at some point, the problem is, they are the worst offenders, and it is impossible to remove those harmful qualities completely.
    The cost can be difficult at first, especially when adjusting to eating this way. My opinion is that it would still be healthier to eat meat and veggies that are not organic than to eat grains in their place. Depending on where you live, finding a cow-sharing or local farmer might help to make the meat much more affordable. We buy ours from an amish man who raises the cows organically and grassfed, and pay less than regular meat at the grocery store.
    Hope that helps some and welcome to Lent!

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    How wonderful that you are working on your health for the sake of teaching your kids positive eating habits! Hang in there, it is tough with the kids at first, but they adapt faster than you will.
    As for people worrying it is bad for your kids to eat this way… I had this same struggle for a while. eventually the results speak for themselves when none of them get sick and are little pictures of health, but the transition is difficult. If people bring it up, just remind them that kids especially need lots of fats and protein to grow and have proper brain development. Also, there are no nutrients in grains that are not also in veggies or meat in bigger amounts.
    I’ll try to get some good recipes out soon, and I wish I could ship you some raw milk!
    Thanks for reading, and looking forward to seeing your around more during the challenge.

  • Malitaylor

    FUnny you mention the vitamin D level, my D.O. just mentioned that, will probably have it tested next week. I try to eat alot of healthy fats, but I could probably use more. Thanks for the insight

  • http://alifeofabandon.blogspot.com/2011/03/40-day-challenge-and-my-thoughts-on.html BeckyD

    Oh – I’d also like to see lunch ideas that could be packable/portable. My biggest struggle right now is packing my son’s lunch! (He’s six.) He doesn’t like the coconut bread – so that’s out for sandwiches. I pack soup sometimes, and he likes that, but not every day. I’ve also done chicken nuggets (made with almond or coconut flour breading) and he likes that – I pack homemade beef jerky and sliced cheese for snacks, along with fruit, and trail mix that’s made from nuts, seeds, dried fruit and chocolate chips. He LOVES the “almond joy” chocolate clusters as a treat too! I’d LOVE to hear other ideas for his lunch!

  • Anonymous

    I found the challenge similar to what I was feeling I wanted to do this spring..tighten up my diet a bit as well as my belly! I was also excited about the prospect of hearing new ideas from you and others of ways to more easily incorporate basic Weston A Price principles into snacks and meals for my family. I do hope to lose some weight and see improvement in adrenal and circulatory issues as well as in digestion and assimilation.

  • Pingback: Grain Free Meal Plan — Wellness Mama

  • Desiree

    I actually found my way here via your comment on the “Fat Head” blog site. So very glad I did! My husband and I have slowly been transitioning over for a couple weeks now and, with the exception of fake sweetened creamer in our morning coffee (we’re down to one cup a day, as opposed to continuously drinking buckets all day), we’ve gone au natural! I am already in love with this way of eating. I think the biggest thing for us is that we don’t feel punished. Rather than focusing on all the stuff we can’t have, we’re able to focus on all the things we’re welcoming back into our lives. (BUTTER!!!!) I’ve got almost 100 pounds to lose before I’m back into a healthy range (college + video games + new baby + lazy= me 100lbs heavier) Really hoping this can help me get there!

  • Jenny

    I joined the challenged as well because I have a host of issues going on with me and some of my family members. I have been on gluten free and now a dairy free diet for a little while now. I just put my 11 yr. old daughter on a gluten free/diary free to see if her issues clear up. My youngest son has been diagnosed with a tic disorder and he is my most picky eater but I am hoping he will benefit from better nutrition. I am leaing towards scd/gaps diet which removes all disaccarides. My 15 year son has asthma and is always congested and gets ill very easily. My 17 year old daughter is starting to show signs of pcos(which I have). My biggest obstacle for me is sweets and carbs as well as the rest of the family. I always give those up for Lent since that is my greatest weakness. This time around I have included grains as well as sugar etc., So I was very pleased to see this challenge come at this time. It is amazing how I am feeling in just a few days off all starches. For someone who has chronic stomach pain that says something. This weekend while at a friends for dinner I did have some corn chips and I noticed how awful I felt.

    My biggest issue for meal planning is breakfast and lunches. I am trying to move away from processed lunch meats because they are just nasty and very expensive. And getting my kids away from the starchy breakfast items. Recipes for these meals would be most welcome. Also good ideas for when we are on the go.

    Budgeting for better food has been real tricky. But we did purchase a side of grassfed beef for a better price this past fall. I buy pastured chickens when I can, otherwise, I buy chickens that have nothing added like that solutions they put in them. I react horribly to that stuff. Pork is the same way and it is hard to find pork that doesn’t have the solution in them. So now we are buying some pastued pork from a friend who is raising some this spring. It is very frustrating that I spend more money on whole foods then all the process stuff out there. But I am getting better at figuring out ways to stretch the budget and with the health issues we are facing I figure we will either pay now or later and health care cost would be a lot more money. That said I have cut expenses elsewhere so I can increase my food budget. I am always looking for more ideas to stretch the dollar.

    I hope by paritcipating in this challenge I can be free from the constant craving for sweets. I love having desserts and such this will be my biggest issues after Lent. I am very worried about afterwards. I have about 75 pounds to lose and have insulin resistance as well as hypothryroidism. And this has been my constant battle and I feel I keep losing….

  • Sue

    I joined the challenge to see how grain-free would affect skin issues, (rosacea, dryness), and also to see whether I could finally get rid of those last 5 lbs. Family has a host of issues, but they are not ready for one more diet, (we’ve done GF/CF and briefly, SCD), but I figure that wholesome real food dinners will be a start for them. Looking forward to new ways of thinking about cooking!

  • diana

    What is your reason for going grain/sugar free for 40-Days?
    Have been eating paleo for the past year with a major digression into grains over the winter holidays. This seemed like a nice support group to recommit to being grain free.

    What are the health goals you hope to accomplish during this time?
    No major health goals, but would be great this improved slight rosacea.

    If you are really brave, what is your starting weight and goal weight?
    Start wt. 159, goal 145-7.

    What concerns (if any) do you have about being grain free?
    No concerns, all the literature has convinced me humans aren’t designed to eat grains.

    What do you think will be your biggest challenge in being grain free?
    Crunchy English muffins, for some reason. :D

    What can I do to help make this transition easier and provide support in the next 40-Days and beyond?
    Your week one newsletter looks great already.

    What information would you like to see on Wellness Mama, and what giveaways would you like to see?
    Keep up the good work on lunch-type items, portable food. Any giveaways you come up with will be great.

    Thanks for offering this, and thanks for the work of running it.

    diana

  • Doris

    Hi, I’m Doris, I’ve been on/off Weight Watchers for 6.5 years, and even though I did lose 45 lbs., reach goal and stay there for two years, I gained 50 back and have since lost 40 of those. I currently am about ten pounds above where I wish to be, and stay, at a healthy weight. I’m getting married in 47 days, so being at my best health wise is a priority…

    1. What is your reason for going grain/sugar free for 40-Days? Well, I was planning to give up sugar for Lent, trying to break my addiction, and your invite came up at just the right time.

    2. What are the health goals you hope to accomplish during this time? Weight loss, more energy (I’m tired all the time!) and better sleep (I’ve had sleep issues for years).

    3. If you are really brave, what is your starting weight and goal weight? 157 today, my goal is to stay between 145-150 permanently.

    4. What concerns (if any) do you have about being grain free? I love pasta, bread, granola bars, etc. Let’s face it I’m a carb girl and I dine out with friends monthly, how do you avoid grains at a restaurant (I don’t eat chicken, so that eliminates ALOT of restaurant entrees…) ? I guess, I can control it at home, cooking, etc., but I have a healthy social life that includes dining out.

    5. What do you think will be your biggest challenge in being grain free? Dining out.

    6. What can I do to help make this transition easier and provide support in the next 40-Days and beyond? I think you are already doing it. Can’t think of anything in particular… For the beyond part, just keep up the great blog posts and recipes!

    7. What information would you like to see on Wellness Mama, and what giveaways would you like to see? Product info (pre-made groceries/foods that are good for us). I work a lot of hours, and am therefore away from home alot. Convenience food is just a necessity some days. There is a great health food store near my work, so items are available, if I know which ones are best!

  • Anna Wheatley

    Thanks so much for hosting the challenge! I’m hoping to see some benefits in clearing my skin. I’ve dealt with mild but persistent acne since HS, and I’m now 24 so I’m just tired of it! I recently (about 2 months ago) revamped my eating habits in the WAP tradition, including grass-fed meat, raw milk, healthy fats, more veggies, cod liver oil etc. I’ve also been doing the Oil Cleansing Method nightly for several months.

    I would love to see any specific info about skin and the link to grains/sugar. Is there a sense of how long it should be before I can see results? It would also be helpful to get some egg-free meal ideas, because I feel like I rely pretty heavily on eggs, particularly for breakfast.

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    I have a post in the works about skin health and grains, though I don’t know yet when it will go out. On average, it takes 2-3 weeks to start seeing lasting improvement, but usually moves pretty fast after then. There is also a chance there could be an underlying yeast issue, and while the diet will help with that a lot, there are some other things you can do to help speed things along.
    I’ll try to get a good breakfast guide up soon. Eggs certainly are an awesome breakfast in any form, but I can certainly see the need to mix it up!

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    I hope to get a guide to healthy products out this week or next. Eating out can be tough, especially during the transition. I’ve found that Mexican and Mediterranean restaurants are easier, because you can usually get a meat and veggies along with things like guacamole or olives. Most restaurants offer steak or salad, which could perhaps be topped with beef or shrimp?

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Thanks for joining. Looking forward to seeing your progress. Concentrating on drinking water and consuming enough fats, if you aren’t already, might help additionally with the skin also.

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Welcome to the challenge! I hope to get some resources up soon for good breakfast and lunch ideas on the go…. that is definitely a tough part, especially for kids in school.

    I’m confident that being grain and sugar free will make a big difference for you. In my work with clients (my specialty is fertility) I encounter a lot of cases of PCOS. As you mentioned, this often goes along with insulin resistance (and thereby carb consumption) , but science is increasingly pointing to a connection between gluten/grain intolerance and PCOS. There are some additional supplements that you can take to help, but if you already seeing improvements in how you feel, it sounds like your body will recover just fine. For your daughter, prevention is always easier than reversing PCOS, so that is wonderful that you are helping her make this transition now.
    For desserts after Lent, there are some good options there too and I’ll be posting more of those toward the end of the challenge.
    Looking forward to hearing about your progress over the next 40-Days!

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    So glad you joined the challenge, and you can definitely reach your goal! Ever tried heavy whipping cream in your coffee. This alone (or even with a tiny amount of sugar) would be a lot better than the fake stuff, and it tastes so much better, in my opinion.
    Isn’t butter wonderful! :-)
    Looking forward to hearing about your progress.

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Welcome! I will certainly be working on some resources to help make incorporating the challenges easier. Being grain/sugar free often does wonders for adrenals and circulation, and fixing the adrenals often helps digestion a lot. Looking forward to hearing about your progress!

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Working on some resources on fast breakfasts/lunches and hope to get that out soon. Thanks for joining!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Kelsey-Milliman-Andrus/657780116 Kelsey Milliman Andrus

    Have you looked into cow shares, or has your state outlawed those too? I think most states still allow cow and goat shares (which is what we have), although I know they’re trying to make even that illegal. Go to realmilk.com for a list of farms in your area. Hope that helps, raw milk is awesome!

  • Ryandkels

    I just realized I haven’t chimed in yet. My husband and I are doing this because we have both been diagnosed with hormonal imbalances, which has made getting pregnant impossible. We have been eating more healthy fats but want to cut out grains to give our bodies that extra boost they need to get back in balance. Our biggest challenge right now is meal planning. That’s when we slip up, because if we don’t have meals planned and plenty of “acceptable” foods in the house it’s easy to cheat. We have an extremely busy schedule right now, so getting to the grocery store is sometimes a challenge! I’ve already noticed I don’t crave grains and sugar like I used to, though. Like everyone else, I’d love more breakfast and lunch ideas. I try to just take leftovers for lunch, but sometimes would like something different. Snacks are kind of tough, too, although I’ve been making sugar and grain free nut bars that are delicious, but I’d like to not eat TOO many nuts. But since I’m allergic to dairy that makes snacking tough. I don’t have any weight to lose, but my husband does, so this is a nice way to help him (he’s already cut out sugar and starting exercising to help him lose weight). The newsletters and menus have been great, thanks for all the info!

  • http://www.tothemotherland.blogspot.com Laura

    First of all, thanks for this idea and the wonderful supportive community. I’m Laura and I am joining the challenge along with my 2 year old.
    1. What is your reason for going grain/sugar free for 40-Days?
    My doctor tried to diagnose me with an auto immune condition but my labs haven’t supported her first diagnosis. Now she suspects it’s another one. I think I have a bad case of leaky gut syndrome from poor diet and being on the pill for 20 years and a lingering issue with parasites from when I contracted them on a trip abroad. I know I should do gaps but I can’t get up the nerve. I thought this would be a good way to ease in and hopefully find some relief. My daughter, meanwhile, has both bowel issues, a constant runny nose and excema.
    2. What are the health goals you hope to accomplish during this time?
    I hope to alleviate joint pain, be less tired and lose weight.
    3. If you are really brave, what is your starting weight and goal weight?
    I weigh about 148. I would like to lose about ten pounds.
    4. What concerns (if any) do you have about being grain free?
    Making too many coconut flour and almond flour replacements.
    5. What do you think will be your biggest challenge in being grain free?
    Eating less sugar. I have so far only committed to the grain free part though i know the sugar free would be equally, if not more, beneficial. However, that is a huge addiction to overcome! Not sure i would be successful going cold turkey.
    6. What can I do to help make this transition easier and provide support in the next 40-Days and beyond?
    Recommend things I can eat that would satisfy my sweet tooth.
    Provide recipes that are quick and easy. I am a single parent and have little time to prepare 7 different recipes each night.
    7. What information would you like to see on Wellness Mama?
    Information on healing auto immune conditions and excema through diet.
    8. What giveaways would you like to see?
    Gift certificates to use in classes provided locallly.
    Blanched almond flour!!!
    Cookbooks/manuals such as Nourishing Traditions, GAPS, etc.

    Thanks again for the great idea and the informative website!

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_LMQ7ZNVII7LGXVV7EJRFFM4FVI Mel

    Thank you so much for this idea and all the wonderful information on your website.

    1.What is your reason for going grain/sugar free for 40-Days?
    I’ve been exercising consistently for a year now which is great – I’ve always started, stopped, started, stopped for years. I’d take the weight off and get lazy but now that I’ve had a child and gotten older it doesn’t come off so easy. In a year I’ve lost 25 pounds and the last 10 of that has been since Jan 1 when I started making new changes to my diet. I’ve tried to eliminate as much processed foods as I can and have been trying really hard to educate myself on what is in the food I’m eating. I”m finding sugar in so much more than I realized. I still have another 10 lbs to lose and I’m hoping this challenge will help to educate me, make changes that will last a lifetime, and it’d be great if it gets rid of those last 10 lbs!

    2.What are the health goals you hope to accomplish during this time?
    Really just to lose a few pounds and just feel healthier. A lot of my weight is in my stomach and it’s my spot I hate so I’m hoping this will help me love my tummy more :)

    3.If you are really brave, what is your starting weight and goal weight?
    Right now I’m around 142-144 depending in the day it seems. My overall goal is to get down in the low 130′s – I’d like that weight to be 132-134 :)

    4.What concerns (if any) do you have about being grain free?
    My household isn’t grain free – I’d love to get there someday, but telling my hubby to not eat grains isn’t happening so seeing some things make it’s challenging to always just say no. A little bit of a cost concern – pastas and such are so cheap and I’ve found since I’ve tried to eliminate processed stuff and go as organic as I can afford my grocery budget is taking a hit.

    5.What do you think will be your biggest challenge in being grain free?
    Dining at a friend’s house. You go to a cook out, get invited to a friend’s for dinner, I have a monthly girls night always hosted by someone, etc – It’s almost always pasta, chips, wheat thins, etc.

    6.What can I do to help make this transition easier and provide support in the next 40-Days and beyond?
    The more information you can give me the better. I really want to be educated on this so when I say I don’t eat something I can explain why – I have some know-it-all friends and I can deal with that, but want to easily why I’ve made the choices I’ve made. I’ve learned so much from your site – I love the wealth of info you have! And recipes, recipes, recipes – I love to cook so trying new stuff isn’t a problem.

    7.What information would you like to see on Wellness Mama, and what giveaways would you like to see?
    Any tips on saving money on organics and non-processed foods which rarely have coupons and aren’t on sale much. Easy go to lists of foods containing grains, sugars, etc – the basics but also the things we probably don’t think about. I love the list you e-mailed out already – it was so helpful.

    Giveaways – well I’m never picky about giveaways, I mean it’s a chance at free stuff :) I saw you mention coconut oil which sounds great – I haven’t tried it yet. I’m not a huge coconut fan so I’m worried I won’t like it and it’s expensive to buy if I end up not liking it! Gift certificate to an online organic place or a place that delivers grass fed meat – not sure if that’s possible with everyone scattered throughout. Any great grain free cookbooks. I’m sure you’ll come up with great stuff.

    Thank you again for doing this. I look forward to being healthier and hopefully getting my family on the same path so my daughter never even thinks twice about what her belly looks like or the scale reads :)

  • Anna

    Thanks so much for hosting the challenge! I’m hoping to see some benefits in clearing my skin. I’ve dealt with mild but persistent acne since HS, and I’m now 24 so I’m just tired of it! I recently (about 2 months ago) revamped my eating habits in the WAP tradition, including grass-fed meat, raw milk, healthy fats, more veggies, cod liver oil etc. I’ve also been doing the Oil Cleansing Method nightly for several months. I would love to see any specific info about skin and the link to grains/sugar. Is there a sense of how long it should be before I can see results? It would also be helpful to get some egg-free meal ideas, because I feel like I rely pretty heavily on eggs, particularly for breakfast.

  • Veronica

    I just had baby number 2 (number 1 is only 17 months old) and have quite a bit of baby weight to lose. Also, I’m nursing and want to provide the best nutrition possible for myself and baby. I did well limiting grains (almost none at all until 1 year old) for my daughter, but recently our diets have not been great. My husband is not really interested in going grain free, but if I make a tasty dinner he will eat it :-)
    Besides weight loss, I’m curious to see how my cholesterol responds to the diet.

  • Caroline

    First of all, I’d like to say thank you so much for providing so much practical information in your blog. I found it just a couple of months ago, and I love how you present the information – you make it actually do-able! All the resources needed for natural living are in one place which makes it easy for quick reference.

    My main goal for this challenge is to feel more energized and have more mental clarity. I’m tired of being tired all the time and navigating through my “brain fog” every day. I don’t think that is what God had in mind for us when he created human beings. I’d also like to be more physically fit, clear up acne, experience fewer PMS symptoms, and get my body ready for a baby!

    Ever since I found your blog, I knew I wanted to try going grain-free, so this challenge came up at the perfect time. I told my husband that I was going to go grain-free and he freaked! But I read him your post about “how grains are slowing killing you” and then he softened to the idea. Last Tuesday night he told me that he was also going to join me in the challenge for Lent! We celebrated the end of our lives as we knew them be having cannelloni and a cherry cheesecake for dinner.

    We thought our biggest challenge would be the new food, but we love your recipes! So far we’ve had breakfast egg muffins, coconut flour pancakes, omelettes, chicken stir-fry, stuffed peppers, chilli, grilled citrus chicken salad, guacamole, pork chops and apples, tuna and apple salad, fish sticks, coconut clusters, sweet potato fries, and tons of salads with raspberry vinaigrette. Mmmmm! It’s easy to eat healthy food when I post the meal plan for the week on the fridge, print off the recipes, and stock the fridge with $160 worth of real food for the week (Is there any way to bring that number down???) I also love your other ideas for natural hairspray, sugar body scrub, all-purpose cleaner and scouring powder.

    Our biggest challenge has actually been trying to explain our reasons for going grain-free to our friends and co-workers. They always give us either a blank stare or a twisted face. We also get a lot of reactions like “Why! Are you sure that’s okay? What about your carbs? That’s just like the Atkins diet. Is that safe? What do you eat? I can’t even imagine that…”

    I do have some questions about going grain-free: What is the short answer for people who want to know why we are going grain- free? How is the grain-free diet different from the Atkins diet? When should I start noticing improvements? (So far I’ve been miserable… I’m tired. I’m not hungry. I have an empty feeling inside that not another cucumber will fill. And I’m eating a lot less than I normally do because I’m not hungry. I’m concerned because I don’t have very much weight to lose.)

    If possible, I’d also like to see more posts on fitness, breakfast ideas, snacks, acne, homemade shampoo and bubble bath, PMS, natural breath freshener, homemade dish detergent, mental health and relaxation. And finally, some fun ideas for giveaways — your favourite health and wellness books, samples of natural soaps or bath products, and samples of fresh herbs.

  • Sherrill

    First, I want to thank you too for giving me the final push to commit to this change. I joined the challenge for several reasons. Mostly health and fitness. I am tired of being tired. I am almost 42 and have more acne than I did at 16, and I would love to lose weight. I am currently 230 lbs and would love to be at 150. Over the past 3 years, I have lost 40lbs.
    My biggest concerns mirror several other’s: the cost of good, healthy food is expensive, especially in the winter months. (Come on spring!) My family thinks I am a little wacko. I have outwardly commited to stick with this through Lent, but I am hoping to make it long term. I would love for them to join me, but as teens (and a husband,) I think they need to make those choices. But if I don’t buy any more sugar…..;o)
    I would love to know your thoughts on stevia and all the new sweetners that claim to use stevia.
    On a side note, I have been grain free and sugar free for a week and I feel great. My face is begining to clear up and I am not having the uncontrollable urges to eat cake! Although the scale has not budged, I am feeling thinner and have so much more energy! Thanks Again! Love your blog!

  • Mae Dicarlo

    I suspect that I might have a mild form of PCOS. I’m in my late 20s and about two years ago developed a terrible case of acne (after always having perfectly clear skin, even as a teenager) and also started growing some hair on my face as well as some other embarrassing places. However, I’ve always been a healthy weight and have never had menstrual irregularities or problems or the other symptoms of PCOS. A blood test for hormone levels came back normal. I am interested in nutritional remedies that might help clear up these issues, which, though minor, are unsightly and embarrassing to me.

    I’ve never eaten refined sugar, “junk food,” or processed food, except once in a blue moon. When I developed the problems above,after reading that a low carbohydrate diet might help, I cut out most grains, fruits, and starchy vegetables from my diet, and have kept this up since. Combined with 2 weeks of antibiotics, this cleared up the worst of the acne. After about six months, I also noticed a reduction in hair growth! Additionally, I started to feel stronger than ever in my life. I had felt fine to begin with, but now I have even more energy! However, I still have mild acne and more hair than is normal for a woman.

    A concern that I have is cost…I cannot afford all the items on your lists. Also, I don’t eat nearly as much meat as you suggest. I rely mostly on eggs, dairy, and nuts for protein but do eat a ton of vegetables and adequate amounts of healthy fats.

  • Betsy

    Sorry that I am so late to comment, this being week two and all… I have been eating Nourishing Traditions for a while with my family and I like it a lot. I was not able to lose my pregnancy weight after my fourth. (I am sure that I consumed far too many carbs/grains during my pregnancy) I have thought for a while that going grain free would be the healthiest “diet/cleanse” to go on, and so your challenge offered a great incentive. Thank you! I have had some trouble with “cheating on the weekends” when I don’t tend to cook much or plan meals like I do during the week…but I am happy with my energy levels and lack of cravings once I got past the first two days. Since the “cheats” are not binges, but “bites”, I am happy with my progress and hope to continue to do better and better. My problem is that I “felt” healthy before I started, I just wanted to lose weight. But now that my system is “clean” I notice that eggs upset my stomach and raw milk gives me immediate mucous in my throat. I can give up milk no problem, (my kefir doesn’t seem to bother me) I just don’t want to give up butter and grain-free is much more challenging without eggs… Any thoughts? I could probably still do egg yolks…and could just go for kefir smoothies with raw yolk for b-fast when I don’t feel like meat and vegies… Anyway, I am still convinced that this is a wonderful and long-term way to eat… Thank you for your encouragement because it is not always easy to be consistent…

  • http://wellnessmama.com Wellness Mama

    Hi Betsy! So glad you joined. This is most likely a transition issue that should pass. I experienced the same thing with dairy at first and now can handle it no problem most of the time. The theory here is that your microvilli in your intestines have been damaged by grain consumption, and have consequently lost the ability to produce the enzymes necessary to digest these foods. While the damage is still being done, this is less noticeable, but as the body begins to heal and can try to keep out toxins better, it reacts. Most people are able to heal the microvilli and regain ability to eat these foods within a few months. Extra probiotics and fermented foods can help in the meantime. For any foods you think are a problem, try eliminating just for two weeks and then reintroducing… you may have no troubles then.