[tempus vernum]

Katigre, can you add butter/coconut oil to almost everything? Butter candy? The rest of the plan sounds awesome. Self talk is ALWAYS helpful IMO

Jen, we weren't able to tolerate broccoli slaw at first and lots of people struggle with broccoli slaw cuz the stems are so tough (super heavy fiber that our bodies aren't used to). Did you eat raw? Some people find things like that have to be cooked at first when making a change like this - your body isn't used to the high concentration of fats/meats/veg. The transition onto the diet can cause a few bumps in the digestive road but when it evens out you will probably feel better.

AFA how to proceed, I just don't have an answer. For our family, we've struggled for the past 7 months with .5 income (DH has been underemployed or unemployed. I have had a few part time jobs and an internship). BUT we've made it somehow - God's grace, food stamps, and a lot of grit. AND we just felt like there was no way that we could go back to how life was before our diet change. Our lives are SO SO SO much better than they used to be. THe cost has been high and difficult. I won't sugar coat it. I've slept less this winter than I have ever in my adult life. I am SO busy that I have a huge amount of stress in my life. To make ends meet, I have taken an extra burden of stress. Yet we haven't really "felt" the stress. It's really been a breeze IRT stress level NONE of us have had massive problems/meltdowns If I look at my life last year (not crazy like this), our life this year is so much more pleasant.

Oops. . . sorry to start droning. I don't think you should make a financial decision you and your dh aren't convicted by. When dh was laid off last november, we'd already been on gaps 5 months and I was freaked out by the idea of going off. We prayed, considered, and we BOTH AGREED to stick with it.

Still loving ELAD. It's also making my children more willing to help in the kitchen cuz we had a long talk about why we don't have "treats" and I told them I am too exhausted from the rest of our life and just putting meals on the table so they are willing to do the work themselves