I've been hunting for a protein smoothie that works for explorer (and me). Whey protein is a good option, but I'm still skiddish about making any dairy a part of my daily diet, as well as any cross contamination issues for my milk-allergic son. Pea protein is another good option, but I have yet to find a truly pure source of it, without additives and ingredients I can't have. Rice protein is one I need to look into a bit more, it seems like an oxymoron, rice protein, but maybe I can find a good source of it. Chicken eggs are out for explorers, so my old standby protein is not an option (my son's also allergic to it, so there are those issues again).

The best I've found so far has been Peaceful Planet Supreme Meal. It has a few black dot toxins down the list, and mung bean sprouts. Mung beans are a toxin, but I'm not sure about the sprouts. For now though, it's what I'm using.

It's been good to have something like that this week, as I've been skipping meals. Having something that convenient helps to keep me out of toxin territory. It's been a crazy week, some parts fun and some parts very stressful. The stressful parts are that My father-in-law is having heart bypass surgery today, and my husband is out of the country, returning asap. So far the surgery has gone well.

The fun parts have to do with having fun with my kids. My oldest has just one more week of kindergarten, so school is a big deal right now, and I went with him on a field trip this morning. He had some days off during testing, so we got to have some fun on those days.

Then, sometimes the fun turns into stress, like when we climbed up into the top loft of a small lighthouse at Thanksgiving Point to be nearly attacked by a wasp, with the only exit being down a steep ladder with a very loose guard rail at the top. My son, who was attacked by hornets last summer, did not panic, he just did what I told him to, and we came out of the situation without any stings or injuries. I think it was actually a good experience for him, and he walked away feeling more confident rather than being terrified. I was proud of all of us, and took some time to unwind while watching a beautiful sunset by the ampitheater before returning home. Windmills, ducks flying over, boys safely playing on the grass...couldn't have been more perfect. I have to force myself to take moments like that, to breath.

(They've since fixed the rail and exterminated the nearby wasp nest, so it's much safer now).

Today I have to clean the house, plan some meals, and shop for groceries...better get off my computer.

This week I was surprised to learn, through a bit of a medical adventure, that a person can be regular and constipated at the same time. Meaning that things move along slowly, even though they generally keep moving. Without getting things in gear, I'm at risk for diverticulitis, colon cancer, and according to some sources, appendicitis. I was constipated most of my young life, thanks to celiac disease, and although it has improved significantly, I still consider it status quo and often think nothing of it.

I think this is a good turning point for me as far as my health goals go, and I've started to lose weight again, whereas I had stalled pretty well despite being quite compliant for a week or two. I'm now ingesting soluble fiber whenever possible (with lots of water). The doctor prescribed Miralax, but I prefer something natural, as opposed to eating some weird polymer. It takes a lot of natural soluble fiber to have the same effect, so I'm currently getting that from many sources.

The fiber section at the HFS is extensive...and few products say on the front what they actually are. So it took a while, but once I got past all the slightly scary products, I found some interesting things. (Don't forget NAP's arabinoglactan, which is probably the best of the best).

Fiber Xpress, inulin fiber, 2 grams of soluble fiber per packet. Derived from chicory root, with nothing added. There are other inulin fibers with artificial sweeteners and all kinds of additives, so I was happy to find this, and it's so convenient to use. It's taste/texture is quite undetectable in a liquid.

I also found soluble fiber from rice (which the label says usually gets rinsed away in the preparation of brown rice), that looked promising. There was also apple fiber powder, with pectin, although it was only 25% soluble fiber and 75% insoluble. I think soluble fiber is the best at first, at least initially.

Explorers can also have most glucomannan sources, including shirataki noodles (they say they're made from yams, but these are not the yams that are avoids, these are actually konjac, an explorer superfood). I didn't seen any glucomannan powder at the HFS, but have seen it online.

Chia seeds are also great. They can be ground or eaten whole, and used in a variety of different ways. Sprinkled on cereal or porridge is the way I usually eat it, but stay tuned to this blog for news on my first attempt at making chia crackers.

Of course nothing beats a bowl full of jerusalem artichokes, or some dandelion peasant soup!

I'm spending today on my computer figuring out a meal plan for my family. It will be a blend of Explorer and Teacher, with my youngest on the explorer plan, and my oldest on the teacher plan. This was mainly my husband's idea because he is ready and willing to try the diet full-bore now, both for weight loss and long-term health. So, that's an opportunity I'm not going to pass up! He doesn't have very much weight to lose, but for a teacher, the long-term implications outweigh the weight implications when it comes to diet. That's the case for everybody, but O explorers tend to have longer lifespans than A teachers, so I want to extend his years (mine too, of course). From the Dr. Laura perspective, too, I need to be taking better care of him, food-wise. He often fends for himself while I scramble to make something for the kids and myself. That can be overcome with planning, and then executing the plan. Everyone in the family will benefit from that.

I have to say that I've had a good week diet-wise. I did an explorer cleanse, along with a couple days of vegetable and fruit fasting (eating just veggies and fruit). That got my appetite more in line, and made for a more compliant week. The explorer cleanse seemed to work a bit better than usual, sometimes I can't really tell a difference, it's so gentle, but this time I could tell. I'm in a weight-loss slump, however, and fighting frustration with this day of planning.

I'm also in a workout slump. I tweaked my rotator cuff (practicing break falls on the high school track pole-vault cushion). My doctor told me to take it easy on my shoulder, but I'm feeling the need to get some motion now that the soreness is gone. I want to get back to taekwondo next week. I meant to go back today, but it was a rough night at our house, so I didn't make it.

Anyway, lots to do...comparison charts of explorer and teacher food lists, and menu plans, with grocery shopping tomorrow.

Ok, if you had a frappacino yesterday, this may not hit the spot, but for someone like me who has never had one, never will, this is a good substitute...

Brew some Raja's Cup herbal coffee substitute, and make it strong. Filter and pour about 1/2 cup of it onto ice cubes (about 2 or 3 cups) in a good blender that can make slush out of ice easily. Add some vegetable glycerine and/or agave, or honey if you can have it. Add a tablespoon of carob powder (or cocoa if you can have it), a bit of milk of choice (rice milk in my case), and blend into a smooth slush.

It's a good way to break up your herbal tea routine.

I also made a winner of a recipe last week from Cook's Illustrated for braised lamb shanks. That was so yummy and fairly easy. I highly recommend their cookbooks. I tried a recipe from another source tonight for cornish game hen that didn't turn out so well and took twice as long to cook as it claimed. I think I'll stick with Cook's Illustrated...anybody need my other cookbooks?

...
I've recovered pretty well from that vacation, and have been feeling pretty good. My compliance improved dramatically, and is still steadily improving. I'm not 100% cheat-free, but getting there quickly.

I've been gardening. We planted snap peas, kohlrabi and green onions in my shared garden area. There are many more rows to go. As small as the garden looks, it sure gets bigger when you start working in it! My own backyard squares are doing pretty well too. The radishes should start maturing soon, the peas are still happily growing, and everything I planted is coming along pretty well. I planted some asparagus in most of the second box I have. I think it will do well. My new elderberry bushes seem to be establishing themselves well enough.

Taekwondo is also going well. I don't know if I'll ever get to the point that it never makes me terribly sore, today I am in such a sore state. My feet and ankles in particular...so many small muscles that I didn't know I had!