In a recent email conversation with a relatively new blog reader (hi Julie!), I asked how she had found my blog. I often wonder where you all come from and how you find me. This space has morphed so many times in the past few years - from homeschooling, to crafting, and now food, food, food.
Julie didn't recall exactly how she found me, but she did mention the grain free waffles and also the picture of my midriff.
Which of course inspired me to take an updated midriff photo and share my progress, because I'm sure you've all been dying to know what I look like in a sports bra.
Now, it's not yet the six pack I aspire to, but it's a whole lot better than it was last summer! This same view made me cringe a year ago. I hate to hate on fat, but I was hating on my fat last July. I avoided bathing suits and swimming like the plague. Things began shifting in my mid thirties in unexpected and unwelcome ways, which is exactly why at the end of last summer, I began renovating.
Today marks three months since I started Crossfit, and I'm fast approaching the one year anniversary of going Paleo. Things have started to shift in welcome ways, and renovations are going better than I expected. Over the weekend, I received word from two readers that they've both just recently started similar renovations, beginning by giving up grain. I'm beyond excited for both of them, and I'm thrilled that I helped inspire their journeys. Both mentioned a positive change in their hunger and satiation. I know this feeling, and it is good! It is powerful! It is encouraging!
Here's my advice. Put on a sports bra and take a picture. Keep it somewhere only you can see it (or post it on your blog for the world to see - your call). Keep on eating clean, avoiding grain and sugar, and moving your body. Take another picture in three months. Then three months later. Prepare to be amazed. Personally, I'm looking forward to taking a picture one year from now.
Of course, it's not all about your midriff or how you look in a sports bra. It's about how you feel in your skin. My husband asked me a poignant question recently, a question I now ask myself quite often: "Are you happy when you look in the mirror?"
I'm getting there. More importantly, I'm happy.
And I've been meaning to share for months now that my parents have also gone Paleo! I'm so proud of them. I thoroughly enjoy being on this journey alongside them, sharing meals, recipes, recipe reviews, cooking tips, and of course, the myriad of ways we are all feeling better and healthier. (Photo by my brother-in-law, Mark. Thank you, Mark, for taking this picture.)
Speaking of recipes, a few of you asked about the watermelon, lime, and mint popsicles.
Watermelon Lime Mint Popsicles
6 cups of watermelon chunks (enough to fill a blender)
a handful of mint leaves
the juice of 1 lime
Blend thoroughly and freeze in popsicle molds. Makes 10 popsicles.
Super simple, and midriff friendly too.
Just out of curiosity, how did you find my blog?
I found your crafty blog years ago, I think. Then lost it, then found it again because of your grain free granola recipe. I stopped eating grain a few months ago and stopped feeding it to my family only recently. Sometimes it seems the paleo world is mostly single people, so It's nice to see a (lovely, crafty) mama make beautiful food for her family. I still make your granola quite often, but I also make this chocolate granola that you should try: http://gourmandeinthekitchen.com/2012/gluten-free-grain-free-chocolate-granola-recipe/ because it's pretty awesome.
ReplyDeleteoh yum. i'm pinning that recipe for sure! that's the second recipe i've seen recently calling for raw cocoa powder. putting it on my shopping list.
Deleteand yes, meg, you've been stopping by for years! i remember you from my crafty days, and i'm glad to see you again. i love that your brother owns a crossfit gym!
I am super excited for you. Your midriff is looking awesome but look at those quads, shoulders, biceps! Sweet!
ReplyDeleteI thought of you as I was doing my chin-ups tonight on my new pull-up bar.... inspired by you built by him.
I have no idea how I found you. I had to laugh because when you asked I went searching my blog bookmarks. I found you once under "crafty blogs" and twice under "homeschool blogs." You now reside on my igoogle homepage. You are well loved here no matter what you blog about :)
well dawn, i'm extremely flattered to be on your home page :) you know how to make a girl feel special!
Deleteand i'm so stoked that you have a pull up bar! you're going to rock it! i need my man to build me one. also, i need a pair of rings. muscle ups - here i come.
ha - I know one of those readers is me! I am still amazed at my non-hunger!! I made the almond meal pancake yesterday morning for a Sunday morning treat - it was good! Still going strong and loving it.
ReplyDeleteYou look AMAZING but even more so HAPPY!!!
Happy Molly!!
i'm glad you outed yourself! i didn't want to betray your confidence, just in case :)
Deletei made two of those almond pancakes this morning, but only got a tiny bite of each. the kids are back to loving them. we'll see how long that lasts.
thank you, denise!
While I do admire your midriff in your latest sports bra shot, I have to say my eyes locked on to your vastus lateralis... such definition...holy smokes, you are looking good Mrs. Dunham, looking good! Your happiness is evident! I am so happy for you -all!
ReplyDeleteyeah, that muscle is a little out of control. and probably super pumped after today's front squats. thank you, sandi!
DeleteI am pretty sure I might have found you on flickr... not sure anymore, but I remember that I liked your writing style right away (and I just plain liked *you*). Girl, you are lookin so strong!! I think I am kinda scrawny, haha!
ReplyDeleteI don't feel like paleo is quite the thing for me, but I am always all ears when it comes to healthy changes. I love to hear what one notices in their energy level, well being, and any other thing that comes up, when making efforts to take care of their bodies in the way that feels best. I am super excited for you. And I am inspired to strengthen up! :)
aw, shucks. i like you too, abby! and come to think of it, flickr has brought many fantastic peeps my way. too bad flickr is not working right on my computer. i miss it.
Deletescrawny? no. long and lean. i noticed that about you right away - and envied it. i couldn't be long and lean if i tried. short and strong? yep. i can do that.
and regarding strengthening up, yes! every woman should lift heavy weights! it feels (and looks) amazing.
You and I go way back. Of course you have no idea since I only recanting starting commenting. I would guess homeschooling and crafty is how we met. I love my paleo lifestyle. Once we are back home from our extended trip east, I am thinking about finding a cross fit gym. I am inspired.
ReplyDeleteheather, we certainly have a lot in common! find a crossfit gym, and we'll have even more to talk about! we can compare WODs :)
DeleteI have no idea when/where I found your blog. I've been coming for awhile though.
ReplyDeleteHow was the transition to Paleo for your kids? I've been trying out a few new recipes here and there. Sunday night we made kabobs with pineapple, chicken, and red bell peppers. The two oldest wouldn't really eat. I'm wanting to change our diet some but I hate the fights.
kelly, your question deserves a post of it's own. i'll work on that. the transition is not easy for kids, especially if, like mine, they're picky and prefer white food :)
Deleteyour kabobs sound delicious! my mom used to make a stir-fry with those same ingredients, plus cilantro i think. i might have to give those ingredients a try!
I'm a hanger-on from your crafting days, probably when you were featured on Crafty Crow or One Pretty Thing. I'm still here -- even though your focus has changed you're still interesting (!).
ReplyDeletei think it's been years since i've been featured on either site :) you have been visiting for a long time, and i always appreciate your thoughtful and insightful comments. thank you.
DeleteDang! Look at those muscles! :) I think I found you a couple of years ago through another blog.
ReplyDeleteMolly, you inspire me, beyond words. I feel like I want to take this plunge,(grain free or maybe even paleo) but am not quite sure how to go about it with my family.
ReplyDeletebaby steps, baby steps.
I can't remember how I found your blog, but I am pretty sure I have been a long time follower..
baby steps are good. but so are plunges. your kids are still quite young, aren't they? the earlier you start, the better. maybe not easier, but since when is raising kids easy? :)
Deleteand you and i do go way back! one of these days, we'll have to meet in the middle.
I've been reading you since around Valentine's 2011, found you thru the darling crochet hearts. Which, incidentally, I still haven't mastered. Crochet and I just don't speak the same language apparently!
ReplyDeleteI visited every now and again, and then you began writing about the health changes you were beginning to make. I've recently begun running for the first time in my entire life and am LOVING it. I'm up to 3 miles a day now! And I am really, really proud of that.
way to run! you should be proud! i do not love running, but i'm working on it. i'd love to get to the point that i look forward to it rather than dreading it.
DeleteI can't remember when I first bookmarked you. Probably in your crafty/homeschool phase when I was going through my first foray into homeschooling. I remember ♥-ing your photography and the sense of calm and confidence you exuded in your family life. Then I became intrigued with your paleo-living, and it sparked my own research and nutritional experiments, if you will. Although I'm not a paleo girl, I admire your commitment to healthy food. :o)
ReplyDeleteAnd, forget the six pack. Dang, girl, look at those legs!!!
yes, those legs serve me well. i can squat some heavy weights thanks to my thunder thighs!
Deleteand i love that you've discovered a way of eating that makes you feel good, both in body and soul.
I glanced through your archives and it looks like I found you around 8/08. I'm not sure how. If you were on a list of homeschooling blogs back then, that might be it.
ReplyDeletewow, four years! thank you! i wonder if i was part of the unschooling ring back then. hmm.
DeleteWell, I certainly don't look like a poster for the Paleo lifestyle, but I am working on it. I'm circling the exercise and feel that by next year at this time, I will have made some dents in the muscles! Hopefully more dents then dimples!
ReplyDeleteMom
a year of clean eating and exercising will be amazing! bring those kettlebells to tahoe and we'll get you swinging.
DeleteI've been meaning to send you a comment thanking you for the granola and pancake recipe-- my sons love them both and so do I. Just yesterday my husband begged to take some granola to work but I sort of hoard it.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog when I was looking up homeschooling stuff. Pleasantly surprised to find healthy recipes too!
Candi
trivandermeer.wordpress.com
yay! i'm always excited to hear when our family's favorite foods find their way into other family's kitchens. any chance you saw the chocolate grain free granola i pinned on pinterest? i'll be making a batch very soon, though i fear it will be dangerous.
DeleteI think I found your blog 18 months ago or so via Maya Made, but I cannot be sure. We are all eating more Paleo here in my little house in England thanks to you. We are not doing it for weight loss but for health. Have not been able to stop my husband and children from eating processed breakfast cereals yet and my daughter is vegetarian (since she was 11) but I am making slow slow changes so that hopefully they won't notice and so cannot complain!
ReplyDeleteI think I found you about a year ago and probably through a homeschooling link...but I'm loving the inspiration on the eating and exercise front. I'm loving your enthusiasm. I'm going to do the mid-drift thing...I'm cutting grain but can't do the full on meat thing just yet.
ReplyDeleteHi Molly, waving back atcha, so nice to e-chat with you, hope to continue :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with all the above commenters, what a midriff, but yowza what arms and legs! I may just have to muster up the courage to take a shot of my middle, you are some powerful inspiration. Those pops look awesome, I think I will have to whip up a few this weekend--trying anything to stay cool as NYC bakes in the heat!
and I too am contemplating Paleo-izing our pantry and fridge to get hubby and teen son on bandwagon, hopefully I won't get too much pushback!
Gee Molly, I have no idea how I found you, or started reading along. I just remember one day realizing that you were in the *California* foothills, and not too far from me! I let you know that and you wrote back!
ReplyDeleteCan you believe that it's been almost three years since we finally met at the homeschooling conference?
Your transformation this year has been utterly inspiring. Much as I admire the midriff shot, I really love the one of you smiling behind your parents. You do look so happy. Like you walk around backlit like that all the time!
I've been having my own fun experimenting with a raw food diet. Crazy, huh? I'm not doing it 100%; I'm eating more traditional dinners with my family, but going raw for most of the day. I'm eating so much good food, feeling so fantastic. Many of the raw recipes would fit right in with Paleo, I think, so we'll have to compare notes one of these days...
I love that picture! This is the first I noticed what your dad is reading... Even better :)
ReplyDeleteI love that picture! This is the first I noticed what your dad is reading... Even better :)
ReplyDeletemolly, i first started reading finding your tutorial for making stars out of sticks. we made them right away and i have been reading your blog ever since. i love reading your blog - finding out where life is taking you. we never know the journey we will take! your eating and exercising is so inspiring. i'm nowhere close, but am inspired each time i see where you are going!
ReplyDeleteJust popped over via a Pin on your crochet stars, liked what I read there and am now bookmarking! Funny little world
ReplyDeletevisiting via tonia @ study in brown :)
ReplyDelete