Detox

This weekend was a busy one. It was both physically and mentally draining, and I didn't eat as well as I would have liked.  My husband and I attended a wedding on Saturday evening out of town. I ate the best I could, filling my plate with vegetables and salad. But when you're used to an extremely strict paleo diet, even eating a conventional salad dressing is considered cheating. When we left just after the dinner, I became extremely fatigued and a headache soon followed. The next day was a long one. After church we headed to the park to attend a Lyme fundraiser (which was absolutely wonderful) and we were around a lot of people which drains me quite easily. Immediately after the fundraiser we headed to my dad's house for supper. Again, I didn't eat the cleanest, though I tried my best (I'm seriously a sucker for mashed potatoes and gravy). When we got home that evening my hips, legs, and back hurt so much I could barely stand it. When I woke up this morning I felt like I had been hit by a truck. It's amazing what being mentally drained can actually do to your body.


As a family we try to rest and spend time together on Sundays, so when Monday morning comes there's usually a lot to catch up on. This morning I asked the kids to carry the laundry baskets up from floor 4 to floor 1 (why did we buy a house with 4 floors??!) because I just can't carry them up the stairs. As I sat sorting the laundry, I was hurting so much and I just knew I needed to be careful today. I don't always stop myself and often push too far but today I made a wise decision. I finished the laundry then drew myself a bath! Detoxing is imperative for me and, I'll admit, I don't do it nearly as much as I should. I figured it was an important time to have a detox bath because of the not so clean food I consumed over the weekend (even if it was only a small amount) and with the pain I was feeling.


If you've never had a detox bath it is a great, easy, and relaxing way to draw the toxins out of your body. I like to dry brush before I get into the tub. Not only does this stimulate your lymphatic system but it also clears your pours to let those toxins out. Get a good quality soft brush (not a synthetic one) and brush your dry body starting at your feet and hands and brush towards your heart. Once you are done you are ready for the bath!


All you really need are some Epsom salts (make sure to choose one that has just the salt in it). I like to add some non aluminum baking soda which also helps draw out the toxins. I also add some lavender essential oil ( add it to the salts first and mix, as the oil will not mix in the water), and also a dash of ascorbic acid (aka vitamin C) because this will neutralize the chlorine in the tap water. If you don't have a whole house filtration system you might want to consider adding this to your bath so you're not bathing in chemicals. I add all of this to a warm bath and soak for at least 20 minutes. And, listening to some music is an important addition to my detox bath because I have a hard time relaxing for that long!

Do you have a good detox routine?

Limits

Life with chronic illness comes with limits. Whether I'm cooking, teaching, or cleaning the house, I am limited in what I can and cannot do. This often, I'll admit, frustrates me but I'm learning to navigate this new way of life the best that I can. As a family we like to go for evening walks in the summer and it is something I really enjoy. However, I can't walk like I used to. My family has learned to slow down for me, but sometimes I feel like I am doing just that- slowing them down. And not just in the form of making them walk slower or for shorter distances, but in life in general. And some days this frustrates me more than others and I push to be able to be the wife and mom I so desperately wish I could be. Some days I push to play on the basketball court with my oldest son (if only for 5 minutes), or run down a grassy hill with the littlest and watch him as he squeals with joy. Afterwards my body pays for it but I do what I can to try not to miss out on absolutely everything.

Some friends went out for coffee the other evening and I knew I wouldn't be able to join, even though a lovely friend offered to drive me. I knew I would be too tired and it would be very difficult for me so I sadly declined. Some days I push more than others, but I am learning to understand my limits.

I read something amazing the other day that made me look at this whole illness a bit differently. I spend a lot of time being angry with myself, with my body. Why won't it work the way it's supposed to??! But then I read that I should take care of my body and appreciate how hard it actually works for me. My immune system works harder than a healthy person's to try to fight  for me. Now that's pretty amazing. I want to learn to value my body and what it does for me. God made us so complex. He gave our bodies the ability to fight sickness and infection, to literally heal itself. My body may be limited in what it can do, but it is still pretty amazing.

As I was baking yesterday morning, I had to sit down at the stove while I was cooking some yummy coconut custard  (this is something my husband pushes me to do daily, to SIT instead of stand while I'm doing something). It is hard for me to stand even for short amounts of time so this is important for me to do so I don't end up in bed for the rest of the day. I am so thankful for a husband who takes such good care of me. And I am so thankful I am learning my limits.

Of course, I had to snap a selfie of me sitting at the stove

I am trying hard these days to not be so upset about these limits but instead to find ways to make it work. I am not going to stop living or stop enjoying my family. We will still go for walks, but at my pace. I'll play when I can and my loving hubby will be right there if I accidentally play too much. I'll make the kids a yummy dessert, even if I have to sit to do it. We will take a trip this summer as a family and make memories  and we will figure out how to make it work, taking as many breaks as I need and having family with me for support. We will make it work because life is too short to allow these limits to stop me.

Ok. Enough of the talk. You want to know more about this coconut custard, right?! This is our new favourite healthy treat and you're going to love it!

I have been craving coconut cream pie lately which is odd because I never really ate it all that much in the past. But, for some reason I just had to have it. I came up with this yummy custard and it really goes with everything. The kids like it with berries, or we will eat it with my homemade grain free granola. We have put it on grain free pancakes and yesterday we ate it with shredded coconut and sprouted pumpkin seeds-yum!! But my absolute favourite way to eat it is with this yummy grain free "graham cracker" crust: http://glutenfreefix.com/easy-graham-cracker-crust/ then topped with toasted coconut!

Coconut Custard

Ingredients:

One can of full fat coconut milk or coconut cream

(or you can skim the cream off of the top of your homemade coconut milk, this is my favourite)

you can find that tutorial here http://thehealingmama.blogspot.com/2018/03/coconut-milk.html

3 Tablespoons of Tapioca starch

Approximately 5 Tablespoons of pure maple syrup (to taste)

1 teaspoon of pure vanilla

1 egg lightly whisked

Put all ingredients in a small pot on medium low heat (except the vanilla). Whisk until it starts to thicken, then take off the stove and whisk in the vanilla. Let cool. Enjoy!

Don't forget to lick the spoon ;)

Are you struggling to know your limits?