Category: info about me

Ode to an Old Friend

In this post, I remember the life of a wonderful dog!

 

After 12 wonderful years, we finally had to say goodbye to our family dog.  We aren’t sure exactly how old she was.  We adopted her as a young adult in 2007 so…she was at least 13 and could have been closer to 15, just based on the information we were given at the time of adoption.  This sweet, spoiled canine led a good, long life!

Allow yourself to feel grief

Sometimes “adulting” is hard.  I’ve spoken before about how we don’t like to experience any pain in the modern world if we can avoid it (and frequently we can).  There’s usually a pill that will at least help to dull the ache.  Pain is never completely avoidable in life, though.  One of those unavoidable heartaches is the loss of close friends (be they human or animal).  Grief sucks…and it HURTS!

We must keep in mind though, that this feeling of loss we are forced to experience from time to time is actually a sign of a good life.  That pain means you had something to love, something that added joy to your life, to begin with.  We should consider ourselves blessed if we have things in our lives that hurt so much to lose.

The Trekkers have been preparing for this eventuality for quite a while.  For the last several years, we’ve watched our dear friend, slow, lose her hearing, and the ability to fully enjoy many activities she used to delight in.  The dog who once–with enthusiasm–drug our butts all the way up and down the 6,683-foot Mt. Mitchell, in North Carolina, became a greying friend who could barely make it around the block. 

Our furry friend led an enjoyable life.  Since 2007 she’s accompanied us on countless hiking and camping adventures, traveled with us to both Indiana and New England to spend holidays with our families, and relocated more than 1700 miles across the country with us when we moved from North Carolina to the Black Hills of South Dakota. (She glared at me from the back seat of my Civic through every mile of that trip 😂!  This is a dog who used to get carsick after less than 15 minutes in a car, which made things interesting those first few years. 😛)

We adopted her from the Wake County Humane Society in Raleigh, North Carolina.  For anyone living in the area, this is an amazing place.  They provide an incredibly comprehensive survey to help match you with your ideal pet, and they provide support services after adoption (such as behavior counseling) if needed.

Happier memories of times past:
Black and tan dog lays on the back cushions of a sofa
She LOVED to sleep on the back of that couch (it did not survive her)! 😂
(View from the rear) Dog walks in front of a woman down a trail in the woods
Dragging Mommy down the trail…
(View from the rear) Dog walks down a snowy trail in front of a man
Dragging Daddy through the snow…
Black and tan hound dog stands on a rock in the forest
She loved getting outdoors!

Black and tan dog panting while standing in the forest

In case it isn’t obvious from the pictures, this pup was spoiled rotten.  😉

We received her terminal diagnosis several months before she died, so we were very blessed to get to spend so much extra time with her.  She ended up outliving the vet’s prognosis by several months!  We were so happy that she hung on long enough to be able to enjoy laying in the sun and rolling in the soft, green grass of spring again.

I have to say a huge, “thank you!” to the staff at Dakota Hills Veterinary Clinic as well.  They took such good care of our friend for the last eight years, she actually enjoyed going there.  On her last day on earth, she happily walked in the front doors, excited to see the friends she had made there.  The staff made a difficult and painful experience as easy as possible to bear. 

We were fortunate to have more than 12 long years with our friend, and I like to think she was pretty happy with her human pack members as well.   

We should all strive to live life like a hound dog!

Black and tan dog lays on green grass with a tennis ball in her mouth Black and tan dog rolls on her side in the grass and snow

Black and tan dog rolls on her side in the grass and snow

Black and tan dog rolls on her side in the grass and snow

Black and tan dog lays upside down in the grass

Goodbye old friend, you are missed but you will never be forgotten…

Black and tan dog lays in the bright, green grass

 

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Reduce Stress by Embracing Mindful Minimalism

In this post, I provide a list of mindfulness and minimalism practices I use to keep my sanity when I’m stressed.

 

I hate that feeling when your mind seems to be racing out of control.  When you’re so hyped up, your whole body feels like it’s trembling.  It’s like you’ve ingested too much caffeine…you feel like life and your brain is careening out of control and you just can’t seem to relax.  The more you try to focus on something the more it seems to slip through your mental fingers.

Yet you notice, perplexedly, when you take a breath and are able to relax, that thoughts come easier.  You can remember and focus when, just a few hours ago, you couldn’t hang onto a thought for more than a few seconds…read on for tips on how to lessen stress using Mindful Minimalism.

Signs Your Body is Stressed

Tight stomach muscles…taught shoulders…you feel the dull ache of a tension headache at the back of your neck…then your eyelid or cheek starts to twitch…your lower back and shoulder blades are tense…there’s the occasional, weird twinge in your chest or abdomen…sometimes a lightheadedness kicks in, complete with difficulty focusing and a dazed sense of, what could almost be described as, disorientation…you may have trouble sleeping, or experience sleep disturbances or strange dreams…

These are all signs that our body is telling us, “YOU ARE STRESSED AND NEED A BREAK!”  You know the stress is building when you notice these signs.

My understanding is some of the stranger symptoms, such as the lightheadedness and disorientation, occur because we have a tendency to unconsciously hold our breath– or at least breathe shallowly–when we are tense and stressed.  This leads to lower oxygen levels and the disconnected, lightheaded feeling (it doesn’t help that I have chronic sinus and inner-ear problems that mess with my equilibrium 😋).

How to Use Mindfulness and Minimalism Practices to Reduce Stress

I’ve learned to take heed when these symptoms show themselves.  At the first sign of them, I immediately try to kick my mindfulness, simplicity and minimalism practices into high gear.  I focus on meditation, physical exercise and taking slow, deep breaths.  I also try to focus on only one task at a time while keeping the distractions as minimal as possible.

In the age of our always-on, always-connected lives, many people are starting to feel that our brains are being overwhelmed, present company included. Below are some of the procedures I employ when I notice these symptoms and realize I need to take a little “me time”:

Digital Minimalism:

This may seem odd for a blogger, and full disclosure, I do use multiple social media platforms for the blog.  However, I try to focus on them ONLY for the blog.

I do use them to stay up-to-date on certain subjects, mostly travel-related, and to keep in touch with long-distance family and friends.  I also peruse the occasional political site to keep up with the news, as well.  But I consider it a good sign when the platform is “nudging” me that I haven’t been posting much.

Prioritize Minimalism in All Areas of Your Life:
            • I try to minimize the distractions caused by music and television (unless I’m focusing on them as a means of relaxation).
            • I try to focus on other relaxation practices such as coloring or writing in a journal.
            • I’m big on simplicity.  I don’t wear much jewelry, and what I do wear tends to be small.  I find one of my biggest irritations in the morning is how much time I waste “getting ready” (and the fact that Mr. Trekker can do it in half the time it takes me 😋).  So, to counteract that, I keep that process as simple as possible.  I don’t mess with my hair much, most days I don’t even dry it.  I wear very little makeup, I don’t even own a bottle of hairspray anymore. 😋
            • I’ve never been a very showy person (says the woman with a nose ring and tattoo, but hey, they’re both small!   I suppose “showy” is in the eye of the beholder. 🙃)  My tattoo is simple, consisting of only one color and a little shading. Both can be hidden if I choose.I prefer these methods of beautification because they are simple and constant.  They’re there but are blessedly low maintenance.  Often times I completely forget about them.  They allow me to show off my own personal flair but in a subtle and simple way.

(To be clear, this isn’t intended as any sort of judgment on people who do prioritize beautification more.  These methods are just part of the way I keep life simple.  I was also always way too lazy to take the time to learn how to do much regarding my hair or makeup anyway. 😛)

Make Lists (LOTS of Lists!):

I’ve always been a fan of list-making, but I find during times of higher stress it’s even more helpful.  It relieves stress because, when you write things down that you need to keep track of, you don’t have to “stress” 😉 about remembering them anymore.

This also helps with maintaining focus as you have fewer thoughts bouncing around in your head.  I always carry a pen and a small notebook with me so, at a moment’s notice, I can write things down I don’t want to forget.  You can also use the “notes” or “reminder” function on your phone, but I’m partial to the “old school” method.

Stress Makes Everyday Life Harder

High levels of everyday, mental stress make it more difficult to handle real problems when they actually occur.  As an example, a “low-tire” light on a car, while not usually more than a nuisance, can feel like an insurmountable obstacle that you don’t feel like you can handle when your mental energy supply is already depleted.

One of my biggest struggles is feeling like IhavetorushandgetmytodolistdoneasfastasIpossiblycan!!!  (That’s difficult to read, right?  Yeah, that’s just a glimmer into the everyday workings of my foul little mind. 🙃)

Inevitably I find I allow myself to get stressed about all the things I need to do throughout the day or week.  Sometimes they are legitimately urgent (in which case they go to the top of the Mental Energy Priority Pile).  But more often than not, they’re just everyday tasks that need to be completed.  Things like errands, groceries, chores around the house and various work tasks. These issues are by no means life and death, they’re just part of normal living.  Inevitably I find I ALWAYS manage to complete them (quite often, faster and more easily than I thought I would).  And if they take a little extra time to finish, guess what, the world somehow still continues on.  The sun still rises each morning and sets each night, the birds still sing in the trees…

The trouble with all that stress I bring on myself is that when I complete the task and realize all is well…I still have all that negative energy built up…and then I start stressing about how to relieve THAT! 😛🙄

To Conclude:

Ultimately, it’s not healthy for us to maintain all the strain that we hold on a daily basis.  The rates of anxiety and stress-related illnesses keep increasing in modern society.  The saddest part of this is, that most of our lives aren’t even that difficult.  We are literally making ourselves sick with illnesses that harbor potentially lethal consequences…over “First World Problems”.  We all really need to CHILL OUT! 😉

More and more I’m finding that implementing mindful, minimalism practices helps with controlling my anxiety and stress-related symptoms.  I hope this list helps you (and I) work toward a more serene life.

How do you implement Mindfulness and Minimalism practices to help reduce everyday stress?  Let me know in the comments!

 

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Black and white picture of the woods in snow. Tree shadows trail across the white snow. Pin reads, "Reduce Stress by Embracing Mindul Minimalism; 'Into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.' --John Muir"

 

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Final Thoughts on Low-Carb Lent

In this post, I outline what I learned when trying a low-carb diet.

 

Several years ago I tried going low-carb for my Lenten Fast.  Honestly, it didn’t go very well…

I did a pretty good job of staying away from grains (my primary goal) but I ate potatoes…and fruit…and drank soda.  I ate a hard-core, hearty, wild rice medley on a few occasions, as well as bread ONE TIME (that was more out of necessity and it had actual seeds in it!) 😉😝 

It still floors me that foods of this heartiness can somehow be “bad” for you (assuming you don’t have outstanding medical conditions).  These types of seemingly counterintuitive ideas still make me a little dubious that this low-carb craze is really best for every body type. 🤔

Going Low Carb is Hard!

I think I mentioned it before, but in case I didn’t make my feelings perfectly clear then…this diet is a PAIN IN THE A**!  I wasn’t expecting it to be as hard as it was, and I wasn’t expecting to come to LOATHE it as much as I did.  

Cravings weren’t the problem, those actually weren’t too bad and I have experience dealing with those. What I wasn’t expecting is how INCREDIBLY inconvenient this diet is.  That is what I found to be the most difficult part.  People never talk about that factor.  

As an example, you may have to go to multiple stores to find what you need as it’s not easy to make substitutions.  I can’t imagine trying to work the diet around the palate of a picky child (this picky adult struggled 😝).   

Perhaps for people in more metropolitan areas, this isn’t as much of a problem.  But for those of us where the nearest Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods is 400 miles away, it can be a bit of a hindrance. 😝

  The main takeaways from my low-carb experiment:  
      • This diet is EXPENSIVE (compare a bag of almond flour to a bag of regular flour sometime)! 😝
      • This diet is difficult if the entire household doesn’t commit to it.  You either have to end up making multiple dishes to keep everyone happy, or the special food ends up posing a HUGE inconvenience to anyone not committed to it. (This seems unfair to them, in my mind, if you’re pursuing the diet for non-health-related reasons.)
      • Unless you live in a warm climate where you have regular, easy access to fresh fruit and veggies all year round–or you have your own large orchard/garden to get these goodies from and can easily preserve them for later–you can end up needing to go to the store multiple times per week to keep getting fresh foods.  The stuff that’s good for you spoils quickly, especially during the warmer months. (Oh, and have I mentioned that fruit has carbs in it). 🙄
      • I was hungry quite a bit.  That probably means I wasn’t eating enough protein, but dear God, how much meat can one person stuff their face with? 😝 

        I probably should have chowed down more on the vegetables too, but as I’ve said before, I have a sensitive gag reflex regarding veggies, I can’t explain why.  Ever since I was a child, a certain texture or “green” flavor hits the back of my tongue and it’s like my stomach lurches and my throat closes up.  At that moment, any appetite is instantly gone (of course it comes back later, with a VENGENCE).    

      • I found that I thought about food ALL THE TIME.  I was CONSTANTLY thinking about what I was going to make for the next meal (or the next several meals)…and whether or not I needed to stop at the store while I was out running errands (or make a special trip out just to go to the grocery store)…and if I DID need to go out which store, specifically, did I need to go too?  It was EXHAUSTING! 😝
      • I also noted more instances of heartburn when I went low-carb.  This seems odd, as most of the research I’ve done makes it seem that low-carb diets should help with heartburn occurrences.  Maybe this is further evidence that my body doesn’t really need a low-carb diet?  Or, maybe I’m just suffering the effects of getting old. 😝
      • In a previous post, I talked about feeling like carb-heavy meals made me feel full of air, whereas protein-heavy meals left a more substantial, full feeling.  I will say, when I eat mostly protein and vegetables, I feel like there are still a few holes missing.  Like a piece of bread or some crackers could just perfectly cap off the satisfying meal.
        I found it interesting that this desire did not slacken AT ALL across the six-week fast. (I’m also taking it to mean it’s ok if I eat some carbs since it seems like that’s what my body wants. 😁)

The most surprising thing of all, I found this diet to be depressing, and I mean that in the most literal way.  For me, it kind of sucked the joy out of eating.  It required so much thought and planning and was so limiting of foods I truly enjoy, that it made me not even want to bother.  I couldn’t help feeling like, “what’s the point”?  

Going low carb made me miss out on some of my favorite foods

I’ve said this before but I’m sorry, I can’t give up things like pizza, or noodles, or brownies. Not entirely at least.  I may be able to reduce my consumption of them, but as long as these things aren’t making people in our household sick (and at this point in our lives they aren’t), I can’t give them up entirely.  

At some point, giving up these things starts to make life less fulfilling.  I’m not sure if that’s emotionally unhealthy, to put that much emphasis on food, but I think it’s how a lot of us are.  Food reflects our cultures, in both a macro and micro sense, so I don’t think I’m the only one who feels this way. It brings us comfort and happiness, it’s called “comfort food” for a reason for heaven’s sake! 😉 

I’ve said it plenty of times before, but I’ll say it again, I’m a Midwest girl at heart. We show love through food (this includes some of the most fattening, most DELICIOUS meals you can think of). 😝  I enjoy eating, plus, I was fortunate to grow up in a family of good cooks who passed their recipes on to me (Mr. Trekker doesn’t complain). 😉 

Related posts: Yummy Keto-friendly recipes!; Yummy Low-Carb Foods; A Sustainable Low-carb Lifestyle

I enjoy foods that bring back memories of family dinners and happy times.  This diet takes A LOT of those emotions away.  If I don’t require it for health reasons, why would I want to limit myself like that?  So, lessening, yes, substitutions, sure, but complete exclusion of certain foods, I don’t think so. 😝  

There were a few good takeaways from my low-carb experience:
      • I found it interesting how much I became aware of my eating practices (such as how many “white” carbs I generally consume that aren’t good for you.  Also, how frequently I eat them).  I do hope to continue better practices in the future regarding snacks (trail mix and peanuts rather than chips, for example).
      • Another thing I found is you can usually “eat-paleo” at just about any location, you just may need to get creative. (I say “usually” because I actually found that I could not find ONE low-carb dish at one of my favorite restaurants. Hey “Pizza Joint”, they have invented this stuff called “salad”.) 😝As an example, take McDonald’s.  You can eat a burger (or two) and salad, just hold the bun.  Technically, you should also hold the cheese and ketchup, but I wouldn’t. 😝 (This hearkens back to my point about, “why bother eating, at some point?”) Obviously, McD’s isn’t the healthiest choice, but in a pinch, you can make places like this work.

Going low carb is a complete lifestyle change

I LOVE to eat, so it has to be exciting, it has to be a treat.  If it isn’t, I’ll never be able to maintain a lifestyle change such as this.  As long as my household remains healthy, where the foods we eat aren’t making us sick (such as with Type 2 Diabetes, Gluten Intolerance, etc.)  I’m going to stick with what enhances my life.  After all, if we aren’t enjoying it, what’s the point?  

If Mr. Trekker or I needed a diet like this for health-related reasons, that would be one thing.  I can commit to a lifestyle change with that kind of motivation.  But that’s really what this diet is, it’s a full-scale, lifestyle change.  If you aren’t willing to commit to it fully, I would dissuade you from it.  

In the end, I’m glad I tried the experiment.  I learned that my body does seem to respond better to a higher protein and fat diet (with whole-grain carbs included).  As an example, if I have a sandwich for lunch, white pasta for dinner, or cereal for breakfast, my stomach is growling LOUDLY (and I am STARVING) just a few hours later.  

In contrast, if I eat something higher in protein (a thick piece of steak, pork, or chicken) mixed with veggies, or breakfast with bacon, eggs, and potatoes, I can usually make it 3 – 4 hours without feeling hungry.  This makes sense, as basically, fats and proteins burn more slowly than carbs (though I do notice that “non-white” carbs, such as brown rice, millet, and items with whole grains, stick with me better). 

So, based on this, in the future, I’m going to pursue more of a “slow-carb” diet rather than a “low-carb” diet.  This allows for whole-grain carbs and, I think, will fit far better with the Trekkers’ current lifestyle (and my patience level). 

So my take-away after six weeks of going low-carb…I won’t be “going Keto” (or Paleo) anytime soon!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with some soft, Easter Dinner rolls!

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!

Have you tried a low-carb diet?  Tell me about your experiences in the comments!

 

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Picture of a bag of Organic Millet & Brown Rice RAMEN. Pin reads, "Low Carb Lent"

 

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Use Mental Energy Wisely

This post is about being purposeful and mindful with how we spend our limited supply of daily, mental and emotional energy.

 

I was sitting at one of our favorite overlooks on a recent weekend, with a panoramic view of the gorgeous, Black Hills countryside (see the picture above), and I couldn’t help thinking…our world is such a beautiful, amazing place. So, why aren’t people happier?  

It seems that my social media feeds are full of people outraged over the scandal-of-the-hour; anxious about imminent dangers that could befall them and those they care about at any moment; or convinced that the overall state of our world is in steep decline.  But are these thoughts many of us carry around on a regular basis helpful?

Most of us are just striving to be a productive employee, to keep the house from falling apart, and to keep control of a hectic schedule.  Are these additional stressors a wise and productive use of our mental energy?  Could the stress of these additional stimuli to our already overstimulated lives actually be detrimental to our overall health?

Be Careful with how you Use Mental Energy

Sadly, it is true that there are bad things that happen in the world every day.  With the internet, multiple social media channels, and 24-hour news coverage we can easily be made aware of each and every one of them.  But is this a good thing?  

I think it’s good to be aware of problems in our world* as this makes us informed citizens. Being informed helps us to make better choices when we’re choosing our leaders.  It helps us to know what policies our legislators are looking to enact (or what rights they may be looking to rescind).  It’s also important to be informed of what problems our world is still facing in the modern age.   

*Each person has to decide for themselves what constitutes a “problem”.  Different issues are important to different people, as is the severity of any one issue in comparison to any other.  An issue one person finds to be incredibly important, another may think is minor. I’m not here to tell you what you should care about, but simply to discuss a more productive way to prioritize what we care about.

I think it’s important to be aware of what is occurring around us, both in our local communities and the larger world.  However, I think this concern becomes detrimental when we allow ourselves to become hyped up regarding numerous issues that we are made aware of throughout the day, week, month, and year.  

It seems logical that if we are constantly worked up about given issues, both our mental and physical health will eventually suffer.  This constant angst isn’t healthy.  It can, understandably, cause depression as it leads to the impression that each day the world gets a little worse (as you will see later, this idea is NOT backed up by statistics).

Don’t take my word for it…

How is our current “information age” hurting us?

Anxiety in the West: Is it on the rise?

What is depression and why is it rising?

Why The World Is Getting Better And Why Hardly Anyone Knows It

Now for the good news!

The world is not actually going to hell in a handbasket:

Extreme poverty around the world is decreasing

Around the US, rates of violent crime are down

Life expectancy is increasing around the world

The statistics show that the world, in general, is continuing to get better. People are living longer, healthier lives.  We live in a world that has greater access to opportunities and information (thanks to technology) than ever before in human history.  

I’m not trying to suggest we should become lackadaisical with issues we care about.  Even if improvement has been seen in recent years, this doesn’t mean that further improvement isn’t called for.  But we can take a moment to step back and appreciate the gains we have achieved, and allow ourselves a little break.    

Mental Energy is Finite

Our daily reserve of emotional and mental energy is finite.  We only have so much available to us on any given day.  We have to be purposeful in choosing how we use it.  

It’s like saying that every day you wake up with $25 in your pocket.  You can spend it on ANYTHING you want, but once it’s gone, it’s gone.  You don’t get any more until tomorrow and you can’t borrow from anyone else.  Once you’ve spent that $25 for the day if anything else comes along that requires those funds, it just has to suffer and go without.

This is important!  Because we only have a given amount of energy available to us each day, we need to be mindful of how we use it.  With our 24/7 access to events that are occurring throughout our world, we have to intentionally avoid being constantly stimulated by these.  As there are so many things that could potentially sidetrack our energy, I think it’s important that we be purposeful and prioritize how we choose to expend that energy.  

We each have to decide for ourselves how much we want to let the problems of the world take over our lives.  I frequent multiple social media channels. On each, I see some people (emphasis on SOME) who seem to be outraged, every single day (often multiple times per day) over various issues.

While I believe their hearts are in the right place, I worry that thanks to modern media, we are constantly being exposed to events that we never used to be aware of.  While the issues may be completely factual and worthy of concern, do each one of us need to be concerned with every single event?  If you live in West Virginia, is it really a good use of your emotional energy to debate with a stranger on the internet about another stranger’s child who fell into an animal enclosure at a zoo in Arizona? 😝 

While caring about these things makes us wonderful, compassionate people, at some point in time, we run out of emotional energy.  At that point I wonder, are we really able to do any good to any of the causes we find so important when our reserves are spread so thin?  Would it not be better to focus more on a specific issue?  

Each person will have a different tolerance for how much energy they have available to expend.  The reserves that each of us has within ourselves may even wax and wane as we work through the trials, tribulations (and joys) of everyday life.  I just think we need to be selective on how we choose to use our personal energy reserves.  

This may come off as selfish and that is not my intent.  I don’t think we should only care about things if they directly affect us and hinder our daily lives in some way.  We should be concerned when others are facing struggles.  But is every negative event that occurs throughout the world deserving of all of our personal, precious emotional energy?  Even if it doesn’t affect us or anyone we know personally? Even if it has no effect on our local community or even our larger state/province/country?  

Perhaps we can better use the precious resource that is this energy on problems that are closer to home.  Or, at least, maybe we should pick one or two issues to focus our attention on, rather than allowing ourselves to try to tackle every single one of the world’s problems.   

To Conclude:

Ultimately, regardless of what happens today, the sun WILL come up tomorrow. Birds are still tweeting in nearby trees; babies are still crying at their mothers’ breasts; the trash still needs to be taken out. 😉  I think there are numerous issues and situations in our world that are deserving of our concern as human beings.  But our personal, emotional energy is a precious gift.  It is also a limited resource.  I think we each, individually, need to be selective of where and how we use that resource. 

This is a good way to reduce the stress in our lives.  We need to be mindful and purposeful with how we use our concern in a world full of things to be concerned about.  It is perfectly acceptable to say, “I don’t have the energy to put toward that today, I need to focus on my own mental health/family/community.”  

Do you have any suggestions on how to better prioritize mental and emotional energy?  If so, share them in the comments!

 

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View overlooks brown-grass hills and rolling plains dotted with pine trees all under a blue sky speckled with white, fluffy clouds. Pin reads, "Using Mental Energy Wisely"

 

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Mindfulness and the Open Road

Who wants to go on a road trip?

 

I love going for drives, I absolutely LOVE them.  I love lengthy road trips too (as anyone that’s followed this blog for a while should know) but I also love just simple drives around the countryside.  It’s hard to describe the feeling of peace and freedom that comes from the open road.  

I enjoy drives by myself on winding roads (just me and my Honda, dancing through turns).  I also enjoy them with Mr. Trekker, my trusty side-kick, and usually, the primary driver.  He’s probably one of the only people I can stand being stuck in a car with for days on end. 😁 (This is another good sign to watch for if you’re considering marrying someone.  The question isn’t just can you tolerate, but do you actually enjoy lengthy car rides with your significant other? 😁 )  

Can you inherit wanderlust?

I maintain it’s not my fault that I have this crazy obsession with the open road, it’s in my genes.  I seem to have inherited my maternal grandfather’s wanderlust.  He used to love to “go for a drive”.  Oftentimes, he’d invite us grandkids along (it didn’t hurt that this usually meant there was a Wendy’s frosty in your future if you went 😉).  I can remember my grandma asking him, “why are you going this way?”  His response was always, “I already went the other way!” (Duh! 😉)  I firmly endorse this statement!

Mr. Trekker even knows if he’s driving us somewhere, we can’t go the same way twice.  Why would we go home the way we came, we already saw that stuff today?! 😝

Can wanderlust be taught?

I don’t think this desire is all Nature though, I blame Nurture, as well.  I went on numerous road trips throughout my childhood, with both my parents and grandparents.  I rode along with my paternal grandparents, one year when they returned to their home in Kansas after a visit to Indiana.  I also rode to Florida for family vacations several times as a child.  I even helped my maternal grandparents drive there on a few occasions, as I got older and they started wintering in the warmer climate.  My parents and I also took numerous trips to New England over the years, to visit family.

As it turns out, there were times Mr. Trekker and I may have been quite near each other, throughout our childhood, as he grew up near where the family we were visiting lived–we didn’t actually meet until college though.  He also shares my love of road trips, probably due, in no small part, to the highway adventures he enjoyed while growing up.  His parents took him throughout New England, as well as to countless Civil War battlefields up and down the Eastern Seaboard.

A dirt road climbs a green mountainside

Songs about the Open Road

There are a few songs that well relate my love of the open road (click on the link on each title to hear the full song):

In “Take a Back Road”, by Rodney Atkins, the lyrics state:

…Gotta get outta here, get it all off my mind
And it makes me wanna take a back road
Makes me wanna take the long way home
Put a little gravel in my travel…

These lyrics speak to me because there are times when I feel like I need to escape from the stress of daily life.

…Tear down some two-lane country who knows?
Get lost and get right with my soul…

We shouldn’t be afraid to go the long way through the countryside, things seem to fall back into balance after spending a little time on the open road.

I’ve been cooped up, tied down ‘bout forgotten
What a field looks like full of corn and cotton…
…I need the curvin’, windin’, twistin’ dusty path to nowhere…

I, personally, could never forget the sight of a field.  I grew up surrounded by them (and still live by the prairie).  But that isn’t the case for everyone.  A lot of people are constantly surrounded by a concrete jungle.  I think this separation between us and our evolutionary roots with the natural world causes angst for people.  Getting out on the open road helps us get back in touch with those roots.

A dirt road leads across the prairie with mountains in the distance.
In “Backroad”, by Granger Smith, the lyrics state:

Barbed wire fence carving out a hillside, cutting holes in the midday sun
Like a postcard framed in a windshield covered in dust
I love the rhythm of an old grey blacktop
Steer the wheel, one-handed on a two-lane, hugging that line
I got the windows down, no one else around singin’…

I used to be incredibly outgoing and extroverted.  I would get re-energized just by being around other people.  These days, I’m still outgoing, but more and more, I prefer quiet and solitude.  Mr. Trekker and I can spend several days in the wilderness, with just each other, the pup, birds, deer, moose, and maybe a bear for company.  We head into “town”–that can mean very different things in different parts of the country–to restock on supplies and get a shower, and within a day we’re both ready to get back to the solitude again.  These days, I get exhausted being around people all the time.

**Working from home the last several years probably doesn’t help my newfound introverted side much.  I spend more time alone (or with just the dog) now than I ever used to, which I am PERFECTLY happy about, mind you.  I have actually found, now that I’m not around people as much, my patience for them (in parking lots, while driving, in stores) has actually increased.  It’s like less exposure to people increases my tolerance level for them! 😂 

We hope to someday get property in the Hills.  Maybe we’ll live close enough to our neighbors so that we can actually see their house from ours…maybe. 😝  We currently live in town, but at least in the summer, our backyard is walled in by green trees, shrubs, and bushes.  I can at least pretend I’m alone.  I see pictures of other neighborhoods where the houses are closer together, or the properties aren’t separated by barriers.  Or I see pictures in large cities where big buildings block out the sky unless you’re looking straight up.  These images just make me cringe!  They get my anxious heart pumping!  I need room to breathe, ya’ll! (Again, not really my fault.  I grew up as a farm girl in Indiana, it only makes sense that I love wide open spaces.) 😁

Granger Smith goes on to say:

Freedom is the miles I’m rollin’ on…
…I feel the wheel like a melody, like a radio dialing in strong
The breeze smells like a summertime hay field’s just been cut
I got the windows down, way out of town singing…

There is freedom on the open road (and the smell of fresh-cut hay is DEVINE!)  Don’t just take my word for it.  There have been some famous people who have shared my love of it too.  John Steinbeck, for example, in his book “Travels with Charlie” (his poodle) comes to mind.  In that account, he and Charley enjoy a country-spanning road trip, sleeping out of his truck camper.

A dirt road runs through a dry landscape covered in scrubbrush, leading to some trees, with mountains in the background.
Another song that reflects my love for the open road is “My Church”, by Maren Morris.  The lyrics of that song state:

…I find holy redemption
When I put this car in drive
Roll the windows down and turn up the dial
Can I get a hallelujah
Can I get an amen
Feels like the Holy Ghost running through ya…
…I find my soul revival…
…Yeah, I guess that’s my church…
…When this wonderful world gets heavy
And I need to find my escape
I just keep the wheel rolling, radio scrolling
‘Til my sins wash away

I get this sentiment. I feel the same way about the open road.   I feel refreshed and stimulated when I’m out there.  It’s almost a spiritual experience or a spiritual renewal of sorts.  I feel so much more relaxed after a good, long drive. It’s like I can breathe again, like I’ve been rejuvenated.

**This is partially why I love being out in nature so much.  It’s quiet, it’s natural, it’s solitude, it’s peaceful.  You gotta respect it because it can kill you, 😳 but it can also refresh you in a way nothing artificial can.  Nature and wide-open vistas are my Xanax!  

Oddly enough, I don’t love the Plains because they are too wide open.  It’s a bit overwhelming.  I love the mountains, but I couldn’t live in them, either.  For one thing, the weather can be too extreme.  For another, they block the view!  I prefer to live in the foothills, they are an almost “Goldilocks”-type region.  You get to experience the best of both worlds.  The flatter land that leads up to the base of the mountains is open, so you feel like you can breathe, but it doesn’t continue on endlessly.  It is reigned in by the rocks (and you can also enjoy mountain views, as well).  You also benefit from the protection the monoliths provide from the worst of the weather, and lower altitudes usually also offer more mild weather.

A dirt road travels through a grassy area into some trees, with rocky, tree-covered mountains in the background.

I love taking my car on the winding back roads.  It’s fun to drive and it makes you feel like you’re one with the land, it’s like you can finally relax. I LOVE the smells of the country, yes, even “those” smells.  Manure is natural too kids! 😉

Below are some more pictures of our travels on the open road.  Don’t they just make you feel like you can breathe?:

An empty, paved road travels the prairie with mountains in the background.

A dirt path through a field of wildflowers with mountains in the background

An empty, paved road winds through the hazy mountainsAn empty, paved road rides over tree and grass-covered hills

An empty, paved road winds through towering mountains

A dirt path crests a hill, with mountains in the background

A snowy landscape and a long, railroad bridge over the ice-covered Missouri River

So, the next time you get the chance, don’t be afraid to get out there and enjoy your own back roads a little!

Do you enjoy long drives in the country?  Tell me about it in the comments! 

 

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4 pictures: 1) A paved road runs along a wall of pine trees; 2) A dirt road runs through a desert landscape with scrubbrush and reddish-borwn rock formations along the side, all under a clear, blue sky; 3) A dirt road runs through a dry landscape covered in scrubbrush, leading to tree-spotted mountains in the background; 4) A paved road through a meadow leads to rocky mountains in the distance. Pin reads, "Mindfulness and the Open Road"

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Yummy Keto-friendly recipes!

In this post, I detail how I felt while trying out a low-carb diet, and several new recipes we tried.

 

Below are some Keto-friendly recipes I tried during my Low-Carb Lent a few years ago:

Stir-fry with Cauliflower Rice:

This was YUMMY!  This was one of those recipes that isn’t really a recipe because you can pretty much throw whatever sounds good into it.  You can even buy frozen, stir-fry mixes with the veggies already cut up (some of them have sauce packets too).

For veggies I used:
Green peppers
Onions
Mushrooms
Edamame
Corn
Canned bean sprouts
Water chestnuts

For the sauce, I used a Kikkoman stir-fry sauce, but again, you can use whatever you want.  I’d recommend two bottles of it (though I made a huge pan and we had plenty leftover).  

Also, drain the veggies and meat before you put the final dash of sauce on so it doesn’t water down the flavor of the sauce, or get too soupy. (I didn’t bother to read the directions on the bottle first.  If I had, I would have cooked the meat in the sauce first so it had a stronger flavor.  I’ll do that next time.  According to the directions, you’re supposed to then remove the meat and cook the veggies in that sauce/meat-juice mixture.  Then you can add a little more sauce if you want…but who reads directions? 😝)  

For the meat you can, again, use whatever sounds good.  I used steak strips, but you could do chicken, or pork, or shrimp (or a combo)!

Beef stir fry on a plate
I was pretty proud of this one!

For the cauliflower rice, I just got a few bags, frozen, from Walmart.  You can microwave them in the bag, though I sautéed them up in a skillet with some olive oil.

I was pleasantly surprised that the cauliflower didn’t stink when I cooked it (I was worried if it smelled strongly it would turn my stomach and that would ruin any chance of me liking the food.  Since then, I have found the smell is stronger if you cook the bag in the microwave.)  

The taste isn’t too strong either.  You can definitely taste a little cauliflower, but it is mild.  I wouldn’t want to eat it plain, but mixed with other foods, it was pretty good. I like the texture as well.  It is a little more grainy than regular rice, a little firmer, but we both like our rice pretty chewy/al dente, so we don’t mind.  If you’re used to eating brown or wild rice, which is firmer anyway, it isn’t too big of a change.  We only needed one bag of cauliflower for the two of us, but we ate it all at that one meal. 

A bag of Green Giant, Riced Veggies Cauliflower sitting on a table

Cauliflower that looks like rice, in a pan on a stove
“Riced” cauliflower

Broccoli and Cheese Veggie Tots

Another YUMMY choice!  Full disclosure, I LOVE tater tots, L-O-V-E, LOVE them.  But regular potatoes are kind of a no-no on a low-carb diet (one rule I’m only following when I feel like it 😝).  So we tried these as a substitute.  They are good!  They are lightly breaded (I didn’t realize that till I was eating them, oops!), and since they contain cheese they would NOT be Paleo-friendly (meh!)  Mr. Trekker doesn’t share my love of tater tots (though ironically, he likes potatoes WAY more than I do), so he was fine with these as an alternative.  

A bag of Green Giant Veggie Tots Broccli and Cheese

Breaded "veggie tots" in a bowl
Pay no attention to the breading! 😇

Related posts: Low-carb Lent; Yummy Low-Carb Foods; A Sustainable Low-carb Lifestyle; Final Thoughts on Low-Carb Lent

Rice Ramen:

We enjoyed this as well.  They are ramen noodles, basically, but they had no salt as they’re just the straight noodle.  You don’t add a packet of seasoning (you can add whatever sauce/toppings you want, they basically take on the flavor of that).  

There are some carbs, but it’s about half of what you find in normal pasta.  Also, these noodles are VERY filling, but in a satisfying way, not the airy, “white-carb” way that only leaves you feeling full for about five minutes.  I was full all night after eating these and that’s unusual for me for a normal “spaghetti night”.  I LOVE the texture on these, but then I LOVE ramen. 😝 

Note: You have to be careful cooking these noodles, there’s about a 30-second, Goldilocks-style difference between too hard, PERFECT, and too mushy. 

There are several varieties, but the one I prefer is a combination of brown rice flour and millet.  We both really liked it.  We tried them with alfredo sauce, broccoli, and chicken; with just regular Italian dressing; and with regular “red” sauce.  All were good, though the lighter the sauce flavor, the duller the flavor of the dish, so I would definitely recommend something more flavorful.  This type of noodle reminds me a lot of angel-hair pasta, which is one of my favorites! 

Bag of Organic Millet & Brown Rice RAMEN
I’ll be keeping this in the rotation!
Chicken, green veggies and pasta with white sauce on a plate
One of my new creations!

Pizza with Cauliflower Crust:

This one was easy, we got it from a local pizza place. 😉  It was also, surprisingly good (albeit expensive).  The texture was a little different from that of a normal pizza crust.  It was a little denser and chewier, but I liked it! Mr. Trekker liked it too!  

If I hadn’t known I was eating something different, I don’t even know if I would have noticed.  There was no flavor difference that I could tell.  I had buffalo chicken pizza, so that may have helped.  This pizzeria also offers garlic-cheese “breadsticks” with a cauliflower crust.  I wouldn’t mind trying that sometime as well, just to see if the taste of the crust is any more noticeable.  

I did find this didn’t reheat well.  The crust got very dark and hard.  It wasn’t inedible, but it also wasn’t nearly as tasty as it had been the night before.  Aside from the exorbitant cost, this is definitely something I’d be willing to try again!  

Side Effects of a Low-carb Diet:

A few things I’ve noticed while trying out a low-carb diet:

      • I noticed a bit of nausea and queasiness when I would get hungry (usually close to meal-time).  My understanding is, this comes from low blood sugar and isn’t unusual for people switching to a low-carb lifestyle.  The answer seems to be, “eat more protein”.  I found that a handful of nuts or a granola bar when I first felt it coming on usually solved the problem.
      • In the past, when I stopped eating sweets for Lent, I’ve experienced strong cravings for carbs.  This makes sense as my body was seeking out alternative sources of sugar for fuel.  I was pleasantly surprised this didn’t seem to be the case when I went “low-carb”.  I assume this was because I had already decreased my carb intake, so my body was learning to seek out protein for energy instead?I did crave proteins, specifically beef, as well as salt.  My understanding is, the salt cravings are also normal.  The answer (again) seems to be, “eat more protein”, and increase your salt intake (seriously).  It has something to do with your electrolytes being out of whack due to the lack of carbs.Apparently, on a low-carb diet, your liver and kidneys flush more salt rather than store it, so it’s normal to need to refresh the supply more readily.  I found, if I had a particularly strong craving, just a small pinch of salt really helped (also it was INCREDIBLY satisfying).
      • The first week or two of the diet I noticed increased irritability (Mr. Trekker did not comment on this, he is a wise, wise man 😂).  It almost felt like I was suffering from PMS, even though I knew that wasn’t likely the culprit (that explanation won’t help the male readers much. 😝)  Again, based on research I’ve done, it appears this is a normal part of the transition, as your body learns to use different fuel sources.  It seemed to ebb after the first few weeks.
      • I struggled to feel satisfyingly full.  I’ve noticed this in the past as well, just from giving up sweets, but really cutting back the carbs increased the issue (and may have contributed to the irritability).  Eating protein-rich snacks, such as nuts, really helped, and I’m tried to increase my veggie and fruit intake. (You have to be careful with fruit though, as it does contain carbs, from the natural sugar.  I noted in a previous post that I didn’t worry myself as much with those types of carbs.).Eating more veggies is probably the best answer, but as I’ve mentioned before, neither my palate nor my gag reflex has a love affair with vegetables, especially the green ones.  I keep finding more that I enjoy, and I keep seeking out new ways to prepare others to help me learn to tolerate them.
      • I rarely felt “stuffed” when I ate fewer carbs.  I have definitely noticed a difference in how I feel based on what I eat.  When I eat more “white” carbs, or more carb-heavy, rather than protein-heavy,  I feel different.  It’s like you feel full, but not satisfyingly full.  You feel bloated, almost like there’s too much air inside you rather than actual substance.  Whereas when I fill up more on protein or at least the whole-grain carbs that digest more slowly, I feel satisfyingly full.  I thought that was interesting.  

In the book, Wired to Eat, that sparked my interest in this diet, to begin with, the author believes it can be beneficial for us to feel hunger at times.  This is because our bodies evolved in an era where missing meals was relatively common.  This was due to a lack of easily available food, thanks to the situations our ancestors found themselves in (famine, an unsuccessful hunt or lousy harvest, etc.)  

Yeah, that’s all well and good for him, but I don’t do “hungry” well.  I get cranky easily. 😇  And this isn’t 2000 BC, we have grocery stores and Uber Eats.  For the safety and sanity of everyone in my general vicinity, it’s best if I eat every three hours (not counting the 12-hour fasting break I take while I sleep).  😝

The author of the book also feels there is no such thing as “cheating” on a diet because you don’t have a relationship with your food.  I think this is a very healthy way to look at the issue.  Either you eat according to your diet or you don’t.  If you don’t, and you feel “guilt” about it, use those negative feelings as motivation to make better food choices the next time around. (Although in my case, I followed the diet as part of the religious tradition of sacrificing something for Lent.  So, I may not have cheated on my diet, I just cheating on God.  That makes me feel SO much better! 😳🤔😔)

 

Do you have any favorite low-carb foods?  Tell me about them in the comments!

 

Did you enjoy this post?  Pin it!

Four pictures: 1) A bag of Green Giant, Riced Veggies Cauliflower sitting on a table; 2) Beef stir fry on a plate ; 3) Breaded "veggie tots" in a bowl; 4) Chicken, green veggies and pasta with white sauce on a plate. Pin reads, Yummy Keto-friendly Recipes! New dishes I'm trying in my attempt to go low-carb."

 

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Low-carb Lent

In this post, I detail my experience trying out a low-carb diet that was part of my Lenten Fast in 2019!

 

In 2019, the Trekkers attempted to go low-carb.  That culminated in a full-scale, low-carb, Lenten Fast for me.  I didn’t get the result I had expected but it was an interesting experience…

I used to just give up sweets for Lent.  However, as the Trekkers have been slowly working to decrease our sugar intake over the last several years**, giving up sweets hasn’t been as difficult in recent years as it was in the past.  Going low-carb made this more challenging as I not only gave up sweets, but I also gave up things like blueberry muffins and cereal.  These types of foods had been my go-to “treats” in past Fasts when I couldn’t have the cookies, candy, or ice cream that I was really craving.

**Going Low-carb

Mr. Trekker and I had been slowly edging towards a low-carb life the last several years, so I didn’t exactly go “cold-turkey” in my quest to lessen my carb intake.  As an example, we traded out our usual Cheerios for fruit smoothies in the morning. (On REALLY cold mornings, I’ll still sometimes make oatmeal, but the stuff you actually have to cook, not the instant kind.)  

For lunch, we also traded out lunchmeat sandwiches or leftovers from the crockpot for salads with a meat-based protein or chicken/veggies/whole-grain rice and quinoa dishes. Several years ago we started switching out ground beef for ground turkey and I began buying nothing in the oil department other than olive oil (and using that for almost ALL recipes, even if they call for butter or another fat).  I only really use butter for baking purposes. (And yes, ALWAYS real butter.  I never touch the margarine/hardly-any-different-than-plastic stuff. 😝) 

Mr. Trekker also traded cookies and crackers/chips, in his lunch, for nuts and granola bars.  We also tried to eat fewer desserts overall–though that one is still a struggle (especially now that Momma Trekker lives close by and provides us with frequent, delectable desserts! 😳😉)  Just by doing these things, however, Mr. Trekker lost more than 20 pounds! 😳  I haven’t seen quite as good of results, but I think I had slightly better practices to begin with (I eat fewer cookies 😉).  I also haven’t been as dedicated to giving up the “naughty” foods.

Related posts:  Easter Ends the Lenten Fast!; My Lenten Fast; More Yummy Low-Carb Foods; Yummy Low Carb Foods; Yummy Keto-friendly recipes!; Final Thoughts on Low-Carb Lent; A Sustainable Low-carb Lifestyle; Wired to Eat (A Book Review)

Low-carb Lent 2019

In past years, I have craved carb-heavy snacks when I gave up sweets.  This makes sense as my body was seeking alternative sources to acquire the “sugar fix”.  Going low-carb required me to adjust my notions of “snacking”.  There was no more grabbing a bag of Doritos or pretzels at the gas station.  During “Low-Carb Lent” it was all carrot sticks, other raw veggies, granola bars, and trail mix for me! (I did allow myself a bit of dip to go along with the veggies, and yes, I realize granola bars have carbs in them.  *sigh*  I had to allow myself SOME enjoyment, right? 😝) 

The one exception to the “no sweets” rule that I allowed myself was dark chocolate.  This was because dark chocolate is the one, true “dessert” that is allowed by the Paleo diet.  You are supposed to eat the darkest type you can stand, preferably 90% cacao or higher. However, neither my IBS, nor my palate, allows me to go that high, so I stuck with around 70%.  Fortunately, my IBS doesn’t allow me to eat much of this food at any given time either, so those “treats” were minimal.  

Another exception I allowed myself was soda.  I love soda, L-O-V-E, LOVE it!  I could drink it all day, EVERY day (and we’re talking full-sugar here, that diet stuff tastes like crap and the fake sugar is bad for you, it also triggers my IBS.) 😝  Obviously, this is not the healthiest of choices.  Fortunately, my stomach doesn’t tolerate high amounts of soda intake, so I try to show a little restraint.  I usually allow the occasional soda as a “cheat” during Lent, and I did so during my low-carb Fast, as well. (Yes, I am aware there are carbs in soda.  Actually, it’s chock full of sugar, let’s just be honest.)  But it isn’t made from grains, and it isn’t a sweet dessert, and those are the main things I was focusing on that year. (As I said before, a girl’s got to have a little fun SOMEWHERE. 😉)  

I suck at dieting 😝

As you may be able to tell, I’m pretty bad at this.  I HATE counting calories, carbs, whatever, so I pretty much refuse to do it.  I’ll read the occasional label, but, basically, with this Fast, I was just trying to live a reasonably, low-carb lifestyle.  I couldn’t bring myself to count how many carbs were in the raspberry vinegarette dressing I put on the spinach-and-kale salad I ate for lunch, or how many were in the fruit smoothie I made every morning.  I can’t contemplate how it can be bad to eat things like this, even if there is a bit of natural sugar in them (assuming you aren’t diabetic).  Especially if I’m using these recipes to replace more carb-heavy meals.

Neither of the Trekkers is gluten intolerant, has been diagnosed as diabetic, or as having an autoimmune disease at this point in life (for which we are very thankful).  If that were to occur though, that would alter the zealousness with which I pursued this type of diet.  The author of the book Wired to Eat, which I discussed in a previous post, is gluten intolerant.  He literally gets sick if he eats too much gluten.  So he has far more invested in this type of alternative lifestyle choice.

Basically, I SUCK at dieting, and I’m too lazy and unmotivated to reasonably see this changing much in the future. Even with the Paleo diet, you are allowed a modicum of carb intake, so I allowed some exceptions (such as low-carb noodles or whole-grain pancakes, also whole-grain oatmeal on really cold, snowy days).  I also didn’t seem to have the dedication required to give up potatoes. 😝 

I allowed these exceptions partially because I could have SOME carbs and because it gets REALLY inconvenient not to eat any.  My hope was that if this diet really did work, I would still see some positive results.  They may not have been as good as if I was actually following the plan perfectly, but they should’ve still been present. (And if I saw results without following the diet perfectly,  this would prove that it works, at least somewhat.)

Fasting:

I also implemented fasting–on a VERY minor basis.  Basically, during the week, I would fast around 12 hours per day.  My understanding is that this is the absolute bare minimum that you can fast and still call it Fasting. 😝  But, it still counts in my book. 😉  We usually eat breakfast around 7:30 – 8:00 in the morning.  It’s rare that we aren’t done with dinner by 7 at night, so the goal was that by 7:30 each night, I wouldn’t be eating anything else until the following morning.** 

**Fasting at night is easy, I’m asleep! 😉  I find, sometimes, I’ll start feeling hungry about the time I go to bed.  That’s easy enough to ignore, though.  Even on those occasions, I rarely wake up with my stomach growling, seven or so hours later.  I also usually find I can wait an hour or two from wake-up before actually ingesting breakfast.  

Realistically, I should be fasting for at least 13 – 15 hours per day, but with our daily schedule that starts to get into the wholly inconvenient arena.  That would be the point where I make smoothies for breakfast for us…and then mine sits in the fridge for several hours before I actually drink it?  Or I end up needing to eat dinner before Mr. Trekker usually even gets home from work at night?  I just…can’t.  

Perhaps I’m lazy, or just lack discipline, but I’m seeking out real solutions and lifestyle changes that I can maintain long-term. Anything extreme just isn’t practical for me and I know it won’t last.  I am aware this may mean I don’t see the full extent of the results possible on these types of diets, but I’m ok with that.  

To Conclude

So, this was my adventure into the low-carb realm.  Check out the articles linked above for new recipes I tried out.  You can also read the final conclusions I came to regarding how my body performed on a low-carb diet here. (Another Spoiler Alert:  I HATED it!  I was hungry ALL THE TIME, it made me irritable, and I did NOT feel “great” on it! 😝) 

Have you tried going low-carb?  Tell me about it in the comments!

 

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A picture of a plate with a pork chop, asparagus and roasted, sweet potatoes. Pin reads, "My Low-Carb Lenten Fast"

 

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Yummy Low-Carb Foods

In this post, I review some more yummy, low-carb recipes, stuffed peppers, and spaghetti squash.

 

Several years ago I attempted a lower-carb lifestyle during my Lenten Fast.  Below are some of the recipes I tried, including stuffed peppers, roasted brussle sprouts and spaghetti squash! 

Fun low-carb meal ideas!

Stuffed Peppers:

These are AMAZING! (And this is coming from someone who doesn’t even like peppers.)  Most people make them with green peppers (I think?) but I chose to go with red, orange, and yellow because–as I mentioned before–I don’t like peppers. 😝  I hoped these would taste sweeter and possibly have a lighter flavor (and they did!)  There are numerous recipes for this, some are for enchilada, some for Philly-cheese varieties.  I kind of made up my own concoction.  

I combined ground turkey with dried onions and garlic salt and then added diced tomatoes (the kind with peppers, onions, and celery mixed in).  I cooked all that together, then stuffed them in the peppers that I cut in half and de-seeded.  I added a little cheese on top and cooked them for about an hour. (You don’t have to cook them a full hour, it kind of depends on how tender you want your peppers to be.  I like them super tender–bordering on soft–so I cook them longer.)

To finish, I added another layer of cheese and baked them a few more minutes to finish them off.  (I know, this isn’t exactly paleo-friendly, with the cheese, but it is keto-friendly.  Going low-carb is one thing, going low-dairy is something else entirely–a girl has to have some fun in life! 😉)  Also, I actually found this dish was better the second day after the spices had time to meld together.  

Bottom line, I HIGHLY recommend this one!

Baking container on a stove, with peppers cut in half, stuffed with a meat/veggie mixure and sprinkled with cheese
Before baking
Baking container on a stove, with peppers cut in half, stuffed with a meat/veggie mixure with melted cheese over the top
Ready to eat!
Spaghetti Squash: 

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this.  The texture is a little different (crunchier) than real pasta, it IS a veggie, after all. 😝  The taste is very mellow as it mostly takes on the flavor of whatever spices or sauces you are using.  I’ve heard you can use butternut squash as well, but I haven’t been brave enough to try that one.  I like butternut squash, I just worry it’ll be too strong a flavor for “pasta”.  I also don’t want to ruin my love of it. 😳

This dish is pretty easy to make once you get the squash cut in half.  Just baste it with olive oil, add some garlic, salt, and pepper (or whatever spices/sauces you want), and bake, face-down, for at least 30 minutes, or till desired tenderness. (You should be able to stick a fork clean through the squash, easily.  I found 45 minutes seems to work fairly well.)  

After baking, you shred the squash–careful, it’s hot!–with a fork.  This should be VERY easy,  It kind of just strings off, all the way down to the rind.  Then I add some sauce and cook it up.  I use red sauce, but you could try a thinner, Italian sauce, Balsamic vinegar, an alfredo sauce, or just some more spices.  Play with it and find what you like best! 

A word of “warning”, these smell like cheese pizza (or at least cheesy breadsticks) while you’re cooking them.  Just be prepared for the cooking of this dish to cause lusting for “not-so-low-carb” foods.  😝

The recipe I used for this dish can be found here.

Baking sheet on a stove with yellow squash cut in half and sprinkled with black pepper
Pre-baking
Baking sheet on a stove with browned, yellow squash cut in half and sprinkled with black pepper
Post-baking
Shredded yellow squash in a pan on a stove
Post-shredding
Shredded, red-colored squash on a plate
Final product
Roasted or Glazed Sweet Potatoes
Roasted Sweet Potatoes

This one we REALLY enjoyed.  It’s a bit of a unique twist on this typical dish, as you don’t use any sweet spices.  Instead, I used garlic salt and pepper (the recipe calls for garlic, salt, and pepper). 😉  I wasn’t sure how it would taste with the combination of the sweetness of the potato and the spice of the spices, but we REALLY liked it.

The mild, sugary flavor of the potato blends perfectly with the spicy and salty kick of the other seasonings (it reminds me of the combination of a salty pretzel dipped in sweet chocolate).  Baked this way, with the peel left on, the peel crisps up and adds a surprising, candied crunch.  This also adds a pleasing, sweet flavor to the dish.  Mr. Trekker wasn’t too sure about this tuber, as he hasn’t liked it in the past, but he stated he’d happily eat this dish again!  Here’s the recipe I used!

Sweet potatoes cut up on a baking pan

Glazed Sweet Potatoes

I also tried sweet potatoes with a cinnamon-sugar glaze.  The glaze was DEVINE on the potatoes; however, with all the brown sugar it required I don’t think it would qualify as low-carb. 😔

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

For this dish, I used basically the same recipe as the one I used with the sweet potatoes.  Mr. Trekker really liked them, I thought they were ok.  I was pleasantly surprised by their mild smell and flavor (I’m not a huge cabbage fan).  They had a subtly-sweet aftertaste and the tender, crunchy texture was pleasing.  They were a bit “green-veggie”-tasting for me (my palate really struggles with green vegetables).  I enjoyed them better mixed with another flavor and texture, such as potatoes or gravy.

Browned brussel sprouts, cut up, in a bowl

Zucchini spaghetti

This one was GROSS!  It was mushy and tasted too “green” (although I’ve liked zucchini in the past, prepared on the grill).  I ended up eating Cheerios for dinner that night. 😝  I’m not even going to show you a picture of this mushy nastiness, just YUCK!

To be fair, I’ve heard from friends that the problem may be that I used frozen zucchini…well, I bought it at Walmart and that’s how it came! 😝  Apparently, if you use it fresh it keeps its texture better but, you still have to deal with all the residual, natural liquid from the vegetable.  I think I’m just gonna take their word on that one. 😝

Related posts: Yummy Low-Carb Foods; Yummy Keto-friendly recipes!; Final Thoughts on Low-Carb Lent; A Sustainable Low-carb Lifestyle

To Conclude

One takeaway I’ve had from these “foodie” experiments is that I’m glad we’ve found at least a couple of recipes that we both really enjoy (namely the sweet potatoes and the stuffed peppers).  I would rate both of these dishes as “comfort food”.  It’s nice to find recipes that are healthy that you also derive a lot of enjoyment from.  

One slight annoyance with many of these dishes is the cooking time. Several of them take 30 minutes to 1 hour to cook.  However, they’re SUPER easy to make.  Many of them only have prep times of around 15 minutes (not including the baking times).  The nice thing is, though they take a while to bake, you’re free to get other stuff done while that’s happening (dishes, laundry, pack the kids’ lunch for tomorrow, read a book, write a blog post, 😉 whatever!) 😃

 

Have you tried any of these recipes?  What did you think?  Tell me about it in the comments!

Did you enjoy this post?  Pin it!

4 pictures: 1) Baking container on a stove, with peppers cut in half, stuffed with a meat/veggie mixure with melted cheese over the top; 2) Baking sheet on a stove with yellow squash cut in half and sprinkled with black pepper; 3) Shredded yellow squash in a pan on a stove; 4) Shredded, red-colored squash on a plate. Pin reads, "More Yunmy Low-carb Foods"

 

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Anxiety: The Devil Inside

In this post, I discuss two songs that I feel well explain my struggle with anxiety.

 

“Where words fail, music speaks.”  –Hans Christian Anderson

Music has long been known to stimulate the brain and emotions.  An entire field of therapy has evolved around this theory.  Anyone who has read this blog for a while knows that I struggle with anxiety and some depression.  I’ve mentioned previously how certain songs speak to me.  Today I am going to discuss two songs I’ve always found draw a perfect picture of what it feels like to live with these disorders. (This may apply to other mental health diagnoses as well, but these are the ones I have personal experience with and can speak to.)  The songs are “Monster” by Skillet and “Jekyll and Hyde”, by 5 Finger Death Punch…

“Monster” (by Skillet)

I love, love, LOVE this song!  It is, by far, one of my top 10 favorite songs.  It’s just so pertinent.  It’s one of those tunes you can’t help but get revved up by.  My understanding is, the band’s intent with this song was to use the “monster” as a metaphor for sin, or a person being fake and not showing their true selves to the world.

(For those who may not know, Skillet is a Christian rock band.  I can proudly say I liked them back in high school.  We don’t need to talk about how long ago THAT was, 😝 but let’s just say it was well before everyone else thought they were cool. 😉) 

Anxiety as an invisible demon

“The secret side of me, I never let you see
I keep it caged but I can’t control it…”

Every time I hear these lyrics I think of my struggle with anxiety. They refer to a monster (the diagnosis) that is caged (invisible).  This is especially relevant as many of us who struggle with mental health disorders are often quite adept at concealing them.  Sometimes, people suffer so silently they aren’t even aware they have a disorder at all, as they’ve never talked with a professional and been diagnosed.  They may think they’re “just a worrier” or that they’re just “different” from other people.  

It’s not uncommon for those who struggle with anxiety to actually be incredibly outgoing, driven, and as a result, quite successful.  This means outsiders may be surprised to hear of their internal struggle, as it isn’t obvious.  The thing about this monster is though, while I can keep it “hidden away” and subdued in its “cage”, I can’t control how it may scream or violently shake its enclosure (i.e. me 😝)…

“…the beast is ugly…”

The beast (the disorder) is nasty.  Dealing with it is exhausting and a constant chore…

“My secret side of me I keep hid under lock and key…”

“…Cause if I let him out he’ll tear me up, break me down…”

I worry that if I slip and allow “the monster” to show its ugly face, that it’ll get out of its cage and I’ll lose control of it–and as a result–lose control of myself.

“It’s hiding in the dark, its teeth are razor sharp
There’s no escape for me…”

“…No one can hear me scream…”

This speaks to the fact that “the monster” causes emotional pain.  It’s difficult to explain to others what it’s like dealing with a mental health diagnosis, so you feel like they can’t understand you.  It makes you feel isolated…due to this, people often suffer in silence.

Anxiety constantly plagues you

“It’s scratching on the walls, in the closet, in the halls
It comes awake and I can’t control it
Hiding under the bed, in my body, in my head…”

“…I feel it deep within, it’s just beneath the skin…”

Imagine the frustration of something continuously scratching on the walls around you, constantly picking at you.  You know it can’t physically hurt you, but you also know nothing you do can make it go away, either.  It accompanies you everywhere.  It’s your everpresent, unwanted companion.  

You feel it in your chest, it churns in your gut, it makes thoughts bounce around in your head.  It hides just under your skin, where no one else can see it, but you know it’s there.  You worry that it’s obvious to others though, oftentimes, it’s invisible…  

There is no magic pill for anxiety

“The nightmare’s just begun…”

To me, this phrase speaks to the fact that this disorder is something I’ll, likely, have to deal with for the rest of my life.  There’s no magic pill that will cure me tomorrow.  It’s something I have to accept and deal with.

“Jekyll and Hyde” (by Five Finger Death Punch)

This song, obviously, references the pop culture icon where two souls, one evil, one an upstanding doctor, share the same body.  

Anxiety is a constant anchor around your neck

“There’s just so much..weight on my shoulders
All I’m trying to do is live my…life
Supposed to be happy, but I’m only getting colder
Wear a smile on my face, but there’s a demon inside…”

just like Jekyll and Hyde…”

“…I feel like Jekyll and Hyde…”

This song also reflects the idea of a demon (the anxiety) living in you that you can’t quite control.  It constantly wears on you and drags you down.  You’re continuously dealing with this weight on your shoulders while putting on a brave face for the outside world.  It even speaks to the feeling of guilt that is often present for bothering other people with this struggle because you know that others are struggling far worse than you are.

“I just wanna be Jekyll, but I’m always fighting Hyde…”

“…Everyone I know, they’ve got a demon inside…”

This also alludes to the notion that everyone struggles with problems.  These could revolve around mental or physical health, finances, relationships, a job, or other outside circumstances beyond our control.  Everyone is dealing with something.

In both of these songs, I see “the demon”, “Hyde” or “the monster” as a metaphor for my anxiety symptoms.  They’re always there, waiting to rear their ugly head.  I can usually control them, but sometimes, it’s a struggle.

Battling the “Demons” of Mental Health Disorders

A “demon” or a “monster” is a good way for me to describe my personal experience of the sensation of dealing with mental health diagnoses. Whenever I try to imagine my anxiety in a physical sense, it’s always in the form of a black shadow, with large claws, reaching out to grab me.  Other times, I imagine a beast with its talons already embedded deep within my shoulder–like something out of one of Frank Peretti’s books from the ’80s. 😉  

The “demon” is something I can control.  I own it, not the other way around. However, what I can’t control is the fact that it is consistently present within me.  I may be able to keep it from “breaking out” into the larger world, but it’s still something I have to deal with.  

Are there “perks” to anxiety?

I don’t mean for this post to be a downer.  I actually find both of these songs to be energizing.  Who doesn’t enjoy some hardcore dance moves with a little headbanging thrown in for good measure? 😳😉  I’ve actually come to appreciate, to a degree, some of the insights into life that my anxiety has brought me.  The disorder allows you to better empathize with the hidden struggles others face because you’ve experienced difficulties, personally, as well.  

I also find my anxiety helps me to appreciate life more (in a sense).  When you’re constantly stressing that something may go wrong, it helps you to fully appreciate, even the small things, that turn out right!  The disorder also helps you keep in mind that regardless of how happy and “put together” someone may look on the outside, you have no idea what they may be dealing with privately.  NO ONE has a perfect life, or has it “easy”.  That’s a common bond we all share.  I am thankful that I have learned how to use this struggle as a tool, to deepen my lived experience.  

I don’t expect anyone to pity me for having to deal with this struggle.  This is just the one God (the Universe, Fate–or Whoever/Whatever-you-believe-moves-the-pieces-around-on-this-giant-chessboard-we-call life) dealt for me.  Everyone has challenges placed in their lives, this is mine.  I just hope this allows you a clearer understanding of what life is like when dealing with an invisible illness or unknown, difficult situation.  Maybe we can all use this knowledge to give each other a little break since we’re all dealing with something.

**Below are links to both songs.  For those who aren’t aware, Five Finger Death Punch has an affinity for explicit word use.  I love their music, but in the interest of keeping this blog’s PG rating, I left those words out of the lyrics.  This is a GREAT song though (and it’s got an awesome guitar riff near the end) so I encourage you to click here for the UNRATED, full version. 😁 (But if you’re offended by strong swear words, you’ve been warned. 😉)

You can view the video for “Monster” here. (Anyone who’s heard the song knows one of the best parts is the final chorus line when an electronic demon sound screams “I FEEL LIKE A MONSTER!!!”) 😉

Do you struggle with anxiety or another mental illness?  Is my experience similar to yours?  Tell me about it in the comments!

 

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A field with trees in the background. Storm clouds fill the sky overhead. Pin reads, "My Personal Take on Anxiety: the Devil Inside."

 

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Cross Country Skiing is Hard! Be Persistent!

This post is a glimpse into the ongoing process of the Tranquil Trekker learning to cross-country ski…

 

Most articles I’ve read about cross-country skiing call it the “easy” winter sport.  You never hear about people having terrible accidents on cross-country skis.  “It’s something even a beginner can do!” they say…these are LIES I tell you, filthy, dirty LIES! 😮😉

Cross-country skiing is HARD!!!

The Trekkers have been cross-country skiing for several years, though we usually only get out a few times each winter. (Life is busy!  We’ve also had such warm winters the last few years it’s hard to keep the snow around–at least snow that isn’t sticky or icy, that is powdery, and actually fun to ski in…have I mentioned how much I hate climate change? 😡) 

This could explain why I’ve struggled so much to grasp the techniques of the sport.  I read somewhere that you have to ski 10,000 kilometers to become skilled at cross-country skiing (it was a Canadian talking. 😝  For those of us living south of the border, that’s over 6000 miles!)  We’ve probably skied less than 100 miles so far, so we’ve got a little ways to go. 😅 

We’ve pretty much done all the stuff you’re supposed to do to learn to ski.  We’ve watched various videos on Youtube, we’ve talked to the “experts” at several sports shops and equipment rental places. (To be fair, we haven’t taken an actual class, I can’t quite bring myself to do that.  I don’t need five-year-olds skiing circles around me to humble my skiing ego.  The bruises and sore muscles I acquire every time we go out take care of that just fine, thank you…Also, comparing my skill to that of a five-year-old is probably insulting…to the five-year-old! 😝)  

An example of what frustrates me so much when all these experts make skiing sound so EASY… “The snowplow technique is an easy and effective way to stop yourself that even beginners can employ.” Will someone please tell me how I’m supposed to do this with six inches to a foot of snow on top of my ski?  Or at the very least, with a six-inch lip of packed, icy snow surrounding the lane my skis are in?!  They don’t tell you THAT in the videos! 😝  

The trainers also say things like, “if you fall, just get your skis under you and roll back up!”  Uh-huh, again, how do I do that when I can’t even see where my skis are under all that snow?  And when I can’t get any leverage, because every time I try to push myself up my arm sinks into the powder up to my shoulder?  Also, I have weak ankles that are “supinated”, meaning they tend to bend outward and I put most of my weight on the outer edge of my feet so I roll my ankles easily and frequently…this causes lots of problems. 😝 (I’m just saying, my lack of skill may not be ENTIRELY my fault, 90% my fault, tops. 😉) 

I think a lot of these “experts” and trainers are used to cross-country ski resorts, where the trails are groomed and the terrain is fairly flat.  They aren’t guiding people in the backcountry, through the secluded (albeit GORGEOUS) national forest, where hills can be steep, turns tight, and you may have to break your own trail.

A ski path traverses a meadow covered in snow and surrounded by trees, all under a clear, blue sky.

Cross-country skiing is easy! (NOT!)

This sport is, supposedly, easy to master.  People don’t usually even wear helmets when engaging in it.  They aren’t needed, you aren’t going that fast.  You hear people say, “if you can walk, you can ski.”  This may be true for some people, but, on a normal day, my feet don’t–usually–slide out from under me (each going an opposite direction) due to their waxed or fish-scaled bottoms. 😝  I do believe the saying is true regarding snowshoeing, I just think skiing takes a bit more finesse.  

Let’s just be blunt here, I pretty much suck at skiing.  Yes, that flailing spider monkey you see SLOWLY making their way down the hill, the one you pray doesn’t hit you…the one you wish would just get out of the way…or the one you just want to avoid entirely…yeah, that’d be me. 😇  I’m the one who, when on skis, falls over…WHILE STANDING STILL…on flat ground!…because I had the audacity to turn my head to look in another direction. 🙄

For those who aren’t familiar with the Eagle Cliff area where we usually ski, it has some groomed trails. (The area is run by volunteers so sometimes you have to be patient for them to finish with the grooming and plowing at the trailheads.)  

To be clear though, it isn’t unusual for us to have to break trail when we go skiing.  Or, if we don’t have to actually cut a trail, oftentimes there is just a two-track ski path available to follow that was recently cut by someone else.  If it was only just created, it may not be packed much yet.  Due to this, we may not have the struggle of breaking through six inches (or more) of fresh powder, but we can still sink with every glide we make as the process of packing the trail is still occurring (it almost feels like walking in sand).  I only stress this to make people aware, we often aren’t dealing with perfectly groomed ski trails here.

Cross-country skiing IS fun! (No really!)

Regardless of the frequent humiliation, when I am able to remain vertical, I really enjoy skiing.  I like the exercise.  I like the way I can glide along, almost soundlessly, through the beauty of the snow-shrouded forest, with just the *wisp-wisp* of the skis slipping through the powdery snow as an accompaniment.   I LOVE seeing the adorable, little, rodent paths crisscrossing the snow as they make their way from snowbank…to fallen log…to tree…

I do feel bad, though, for the rodent whose path suddenly ends in the middle of a large area of wing-swept snow, where it’s obvious that something both much bigger than himself (and with talons) scooped him from his daily business, never to be seen or heard from again. 😳  At least it was a good day for the bird, I guess. 🤭  

I enjoy watching the deer spring effortlessly through the snowpack at our approach.  I always find it fascinating, “reading” the stories the forest “tells”.  In the Black Hills, this often includes the large, padded tracks left in the snow by a giant feline’s paws.  You can picture it stalking the unsuspecting deer herd in the meadow below, from its vantage point on a ledge high above.

Foot prints traverse a meadow covered in snow and surrounded by trees.Learning to cross-country ski

After several years of trying, I have finally learned to use my knees while skiing! (This technique may seem like a no-brainer, but it was a HUGE game-changer for me, so bear with me. 😉)  

I’ve always known a bent-knee stance should help with control, flexibility, and looseness.  Apparently, I’ve just never bent my knees enough. (It’s amazing how well things work when you do them correctly. 😝)  All of a sudden I felt like I hit this sweet spot.  I could finally use the angle of my knees and the weight of my body to turn (a little!)  I could finally attempt the “snowplow” maneuver used for stopping (slightly!)  But, for the first time, I actually felt like I had a little control (“little” being the crucial word). 

I also found, the lower I kept my center of gravity, the easier it was to keel over into a fall if I felt like I was losing control.  I FINALLY conquered my fear of plastering myself into the nearest tree!  Now, if I feel like I’m heading towards a tree and can’t seem to turn the skis from their stubborn track, I can lean to my side and slide to a safe stop–with legs that flail a bit less.  Getting rid of the fear changes everything! (Remember I have anxiety! 😉)  

I recently learned a new trick…plant your heels! This helps when trying to “snowplow” to stop and can help with steering too!

The best method when cross-country skiing actually reminds me of the best method when mountain biking…stay loose!  When you’re fearful or worried, you’re tense; you’re tight; your body can’t flow with the normal rises and falls of the surface you are gliding over.  And if you do fall or hit a bump badly, you’re more likely to injure yourself due to your, already tight, muscles.  So, this newfound ease of mine is a game-changer!   

I also need to learn that I’m not really moving all that quickly.  It just “feels” like I’m careening down the hill at unimaginable speeds.  In the real world, I’m actually just coasting along. 😝

Be persistent when learning a new skill

For me, this has been one of the most frustrating activities we have attempted, but I FINALLY feel like I’m starting to make some progress!  I think there’s a take-home lesson in this.  That is, never give up.  If there is something you enjoy doing, something you have your heart set on, something you want to accomplish, keep working at it, and keep persevering.  You may fail MANY times, but each time is another opportunity to learn a new technique that you can implement on your next attempt.  Each time you try, you get a little better, a little stronger, a little faster.  

Footprints in the snow run through a "tunnel" of leafless trees, all under a clear, blue sky.

I read that the word “F.A.I.L.” can be a positive acronym for:
First
Action
In
Learning 

I like that, it’s empowering.  It helps us to recognize that sometimes failing to do something the first few times–or the first few hundred times–we try it doesn’t have to be a negative experience.  It pushes us beyond the boundaries of our comfort zone.  We can use it to make ourselves better.  Oftentimes, I find failing at something, and thereby having to work hard and be resourceful to achieve it, actually benefits me more in the end than if I had just, easily, succeeded on the first try.  Those difficult experiences are how we learn!

 Regarding skiing, I just have A LOT of learning to do!  😉

What experiences do you have with cross-country skiing?  Tell me about them in the comments!

 

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Footprints in the snow run through a "tunnel" of leafless trees, all under a clear, blue sky. Pin reads, "Cross Country Skiing is Hard! Be Persistent!"

 

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