For the past 6 months or so, Cir and I have been eating a mostly Paleo type diet. If you haven't heard of it, just think back to round about the 80's - I know, I know. I'm telling my age - when the caveman diet was popular. Well, Paleo is sometimes called the Caveman Diet. You eat in a way that is very similar to the way our Paleolithic ancestors ate.

And what way was that? I know your curious if you haven't heard of it yet. And I know if you're familiar with that period, you may have already conjured up visions of cavemen and women running around with clubs and spears trying to kill something for dinner. Or gathering berries out in the wild.

Well, fortunately, we've progressed to the point where we can do our gathering in a grocery store or better still at a health food store or farmer's market. There are a few rules for eating this way, that we should probably lay out here before getting started.

First the don'ts or foods to avoid:

1 - grains including corn, soy, wheat, rye, etc., and anything made from them 2 - legumes 3 - All processed foods 4 - artificial sweeteners Basically, if it's not whole foods, you shouldn't eat it.

Now on to the do's or foods you can eat:

1 - fruit, fresh or dried, preferably organic - limit to 2 to 3 servings per day, especially if you want to lose weight 2 - veggies, preferably organic - pretty much whatever you like, accept for white potatoes 3 - seeds, nuts, (peanuts are not nuts, but legumes) 4 - grass-fed, humanely raised meat, fish, poultry, and pork

These do's and don'ts are just the very basics of eating Paleo or AIP. You may need to make a few adjustments so that it will work for you and your family. Totally eliminating grains was a big deal for us. So much of what we ate involved some sort of bread or baked good. To quit "cold turkey" was a little challenging, but so worth it. The benefits are so noticeable, it amazed us.

We both had almost effortless weight loss. We also had less inflammation, which was a plus. More energy - just lots of little things that are too numerous to mention here. We did the "Whole30" approach and tried it for a month before deciding this was the lifestyle change we needed to make.

The recipes here are all Paleo and/or Primal and a couple will follow the Autoimmune Paleo diet or AIP. So without further ado, here are the recipes - Enjoy!

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Note: If you would like more recipes like these, , drop me a line and let me know.

Quote of the Month

This quote is perfect to start the year off with.

Here's the quote. Enjoy it!

Inspirational Quote "~ Courage is not the absence of fear, but simply moving on with dignity despite that fear. ~". ~ Pat Riley ~ Photo courtesy of Flickr_Mathias-Erhart

Tip of the Month

What does it mean to have a new outlook on life? I suppose when you really think about it, it has a lot to do with making resolutions. I like to think of it as making a fresh start.

Not necessarily making a promise to do something in a certain amount of time. More like deciding to live your life differently. And that decision doesn't have to be a big giant change all at once. Changes, no matter how small, can make a big difference in your life.

These small changes can lead to even bigger changes down the road. The main thing is, is that you start. That way you have something to build upon – something to grow.

What Do You Want?

What do you want in your life? Is it something you can possibly work towards or attain within a year? Do you need the help of someone else or can you get there on your own?

Start with a list of possible changes you'd like to make. Then decide what it will take to get you there. Suppose you want to lose a few pounds. I know, I know. This is what everyone wants to do at the beginning of the new year. I think if you try it as a life change and not a resolution, you are more likely to stick to it.

What will it take for you to lose a few pounds? Eating more healthy foods, right? Now what baby step can you take to get you there? Eat more fruit. So the next time you shop or send someone to the store, get a bag of apples.

Now you have the apples on the kitchen counter. The next time you want a snack, grab an apple. Wash it off, and either slice it up or eat it whole. Add it to a smoothie or cut it up in your salad.

Expectations

What can you expect when you make changes like this? Not much, you say. Well that may be true if you're only talking about one month or even two. Over the course of a year, however, that simple change could mean the difference between an additional 5 or 10 pounds. Because you substituted an apple for a cookie or a slice of cake, the healthier choice meant less weight gain.

So, small changes mean big differences. Even if those differences take place over a longer period of time. They still mean something. And that something is important in your life in the long run.

(Clicking image below will open a new window).
Book of the Month

This months book Fighting Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis: Practical Ways to Create New Habits and Increase Your Energy by Nancy Lowenstein is a book that may actually help you make the changes you want to make over the course of the year. At least it will help you deal with one of the main symptoms that may keep you from getting what you want.

It has 9 chapters, including the following:

The information in this valuable resource can help individuals with MS learn techniques to assist them in having more energy to do the activities they enjoy. Lowenstein's expertise on fatigue management, rehabilitation, and environmental modifications make this the go-to book for dealing with fatigue and MS.

Of the 400,000 people in the US with multiple sclerosis, 86% cite fatigue as the number one symptom of their disease. If you are one of these people, Fighting Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis: Practical Ways to Create New Habits and Increase Your Energy is the book for you.

You don't have to simply put up with fatigue, or resort to substances such as caffeine, sugar and medications to combat it, instead this book will show you how to use "Energy Conservation Techniques" to deal with this debilitating symptom. Studies show that these techniques have a positive impact on a person's ability to deal with fatigue as a result of MS.

If you'd like your own copy of Fighting Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis, click the link (will open a new window).

Cartoon of the Month

Have you ever felt invisible? This is especially true when you are in a wheelchair. We've had this happen several times when we are out. Sometimes I don't say a word, just look at my husband and let him respond.

How do you respond?

You can still check here for past Cartoon of the Month cartoons.

This months cartoon is also drawn by my 17 yr old daughter, Nasya. She is an up and coming young cartoon artist. Enjoy her artwork - (she may be famous soon).
Here is the cartoon. We hope you enjoy it.