I am slowly trying to work my way to be Whole 30 ready. I have been consciously cutting out grains and eating more vegetables. I still am drinking my coffee with half and half and Stevia, but you know it's not whole 30 time yet. I can already tell though that the diet change is having an effect. I am not as tired, with less caffeine. I used to drink Coke Zero at lunch almost every day because I get that half day tiredness. Now, I don't drink it at all. Here is an example of my diet for one day this week.

Breakfast is an egg and banana with coffee. I am not all that hungry in the mornings due to my coffee. Lunch is 2 or 3 hard boil eggs, some celery and carrots, and some pistachios. Sometimes I will eat a salad. For dinner, which is my favorite is usually some sort of protein, veggies, fruit and avocado. For example: chicken, orange slices, broccoli and onions, and avocado. And for someone who doesn't particularly like veggies, I have found out how to season the heck out of 'em and the chicken for it to taste awesome. Now, I wish I could say this was all I was eating, but I can't. I made cookies last weekend to try and get rid of them before the whole 3o. :) I eat at least two everyday. Annnnd yesterday I had a cupcake. That will be my main struggle I think is cutting out the sweet stuff because I still crave it. But I still have a couple more weeks to prepare myself.

Running wise, it's still going pretty well. Ran 4.5 miles on Monday. It was a pretty tough run, I think because I was still a little sore from Saturday's run. The weather is awesome!!!!! Finally, get to run in 80 degree weather instead of 90. I usually find it easier to run in the mornings, but on days when it feels this good outside it is just too good to pass up running in the afternoon. I'm going for a nice afternoon run today. My running plan calls for 6 miles. I find that the hardest part of running, going to work out at the gym, or attending a workout class is just getting there. How many times do I plan to work out that day, but then I am too tired or too busy? Josh gave me some good advice last summer. He said if you don't feel like running that day, just commit to taking a walk at the park. Chances are that you will end up ready to run once you get out there. It's so true, just getting out there is half the battle. I'm learning to stop making excuses for myself. If I want to get better, I have to just do it. Sometimes it takes a lot of self motivation, and other times I am motivated by someone else or something I watch. Just do what you have to in order to get yourself out there.

In other news, I am reading a wonderful book called Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent. My dear friend Jena gave it to me for my birthday. (By the way you should check out her blog, she sells some really amazing things. It's called Sweet Tea.) I am about half way through and have already teared up several times. Sometimes I read, hear, or watch things that just make an immediate impact. This is one of those books. If you are looking for something to read I suggest it. The book is about a little boy and his family and a near death experience for the little boy. The last part of the book I read, before I made myself go to sleep really hit me.

" 'I tell you the truth,' Jesus said, 'unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.' Whoever humbles himself like this child... What is childlike humility? It's not the lack of intelligence, but the lack of guile. The lack of agenda. It's that precious fleeting of time before we have accumulated enough pride or position to care what other people might think. The same un-self-conscious honesty that enables a three-year-old to splash joyfully in a rain puddle, or point out loudly that you have a booger hanging out of your nose, is what is required to enter heaven. It is the opposite of ignorance-- it is intellectual honesty: to be willing to accept reality and to call things what they are even when it is hard. "---Heaven is For Real

I am looking forward to continuing reading this. It's one of those where I get goosebumps all the time. :)

Still collecting donations for Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Check out the link, and donate if you can spare it. Trying to reach a goal of $500 dollars. At $100 right now, and I could use your help.

Donate!