Hello Again

I am back! I have been off enjoying the beautiful and unseasonably warm weather. After the challenge, I have wanted to write but the thought of finishing the 2nd part of my Paleo reflection has created some resistance in me. I think it stems from my perfectionist/procrastinator side. I want to find the perfect words for the reflection and if I can't, I just keep putting it off. I guess it's almost like I am afraid it won't be good enough, that I won't find the right words. I compare myself to other people and other blogs I have read. Today, I noticed this part of me come out again as I finally got through some thank you cards I have been putting off. I believe I have procrastinated writing them because I am afraid that I won't find the right words to convey my gratefulness. It always comes back to bite me though, because either I send them really late, or it becomes too late and I don't send them at all.

I have always seemed to have a similar problem with eating and exercise. I can get rather compulsive about it if I let myself. First, I often need to wait for that perfect day to begin. Then that perfect day just keeps getting put off because life happens. I finally begin and just when I feel I have a handle on my eating, the cravings kick in. Then, if I can't follow the diet perfectly, I get frustrated, beat myself up mentally and quit. My mind gets the better of me. Where is the resistance to being healthy coming from? When I look closely at it I wonder, what am I really afraid of: failing or succeeding? Who will I be if I am healthy and in shape? Where will the old me go? When I am carrying those extra pounds, what am I protecting myself from? Lately I have been looking at the many ways this pattern repeats in my life. I just listed 3 and I am sure there is more.

As I continue to learn to maneuver this Paleo lifestyle, I find myself coming upon this same resistance. The cravings in me for sweets have been strong lately, and occasionally I have indulged more than I should. It never feels good mentally or physically and then I find I beat myself up afterward, promising to do better next time and then feeling like a failure when I don't. I think the trick is to be more gentle with myself. I think of the phrase "what we resist persists." One of the reasons I believe that many people find success in the Paleo/Primal template is that we don't have to be perfect to see results. Yet the perfectionist in me needs to continue to learn this. I also need to start to ask myself: what is it that I am really searching for when I find myself starving in the kitchen searching for something, anything, to satisfy my cravings (usually chocolate)? Most of the time I think it is as simple as me the act of chewing to calm my nervous energy/anxiety. For some people it may be to fill a void. I plan to continue to just notice what other feelings are there when the cravings come and ask myself what it is that I really need before I reach for something to eat.

On a brighter note, I have completed two CrossFit sessions. I have started working out at CrossFit Wilmette where my brother works out and I have really enjoyed it so far. I am being gentle with my body as I work back into things. Most of the work I have been doing is mobility work, but my muscles are not used to being used this way so I absolutely feel it. I am incredibly sore, but as former athlete, I have grown to enjoy that feeling. Along with it comes a sense of accomplishment for a job well done. I find that in CrossFit, as in all the other areas I spoke about earlier, I have that same resistance. That same voice telling me I can't that, I will fail, that I am not good enough, that this will be another thing I can't stick to. My first workout required me to get over my own ego as I found that my body just couldn't do the things I wanted it to anymore. It was embarrassing to me. I started to beat myself up. How could I let myself become this out of shape? I found that beating myself up did not make me feel stronger, it made me feel weaker. Instead of putting my energy into accomplishing things I was putting my energy into feeling weak. Thank goodness I got over my ego fairly quickly. I started to tell myself how proud I was of myself for just going there and beginning again. I reminded myself that it took courage and strength just to try something new. On Saturday, my coach/trainer put a box in front of me and asked me to do a box jump. Again, my first thought was, "I hope I don't fall on my face". My second thought was, "I don't even know if I can jump that high anymore". After I got over myself and realized where my energy was going, I focused on the task at hand. Then I focused hard and I jumped it and then I did it again and again and felt more proud of myself than I have in such a long time. I have done a ton of different workouts in my life, but CrossFit is completely new to me. I am learning how to use my body again and it feels good. I already feel stronger and look forward to each session.

By the way, check out my brother's blog. As I have said before, I am so proud of him for how far he has come. He has also shown me so much support as I embark on this new Paleo and Crossfit journey.
http://www.thecrossfitpaleoparadigm.blogspot.com/

Until next time...

30 Day Challenge: Life After the Challenge Part 1

A lot of people have asked me how I am eating now that the challenge is over. I can honestly say I have stuck with Paleo/Primal eating for the most part (75-80%, maybe more). When I am at home, I will still avoid processed foods, soy, dairy, legumes, and grains as much as possible. That being said, I have eaten a pita bread from Rose's  (dairy and gluten free) here and there, and a small piece of high percentage dark chocolate on most days. I also had a yogurt yesterday.

I have eaten out a few times including going to Rose's for their gluten-free pizza and Da Luciano's for my dad's birthday. They serve fabulous (in my opinion) Italian food. Best part for me, they have a large gluten-free menu! If you have never been to Da Luciano's, I highly recommend it. It is a small place, and sometimes the wait can be long, but it is worth it. They do take reservations. I had the chicken marsala and indulged in their gluten-free bread. I also used a little Parmesan cheese with the olive oil to dunk the bread in. For dessert, I shared some gluten-free Tiramasu. I went to Panera for lunch and had a small Caesar salad and tomato soup (no bread/croutons). Lastly, I went to Red Robin where I had a grilled chicken breast and some guacamole and sweet potato fries (may or may not be gluten-free). Besides that, I have eaten at home most of the time and my dinners have continued to be strictly Paleo. Restaurants don't have the same appeal to me as they used to. I have learned that eating at home with the family can be just as enjoyable.

Some of the perks of eating at home:

1. 3 kids in a restaurant....enough said.
2. I control my portions and the ingredients that go into my food
3. I don't have to pay for seconds
4. Saves money
5. More time-efficient

I find that I feel better when I avoid dairy and too much sugar. One thing I have especially enjoyed about this way of eating is that it is really stress-free for me. I have tried many diets in the past and the biggest thing I have come away with from them is not permanent weight loss, but guilt. Guilt, because I couldn't sustain it. Guilt, because my temptations would get the best of me. With this way of eating, I don't feel deprived. If I want something that is not "Paleo/Primal", I eat it. Then, the next meal I get back to the basics, not because I have to, but because I want to.

Eating Paleo/Primal has become a way of life for me. While I may indulge here and there I can definitely see myself following the 85/15 rule. I will eat Paleo/Primal at least 85% of the time.

Check out these two links:

1. Coming Soon: My Crossfit/Paleo Experiment- Check out my brother's story on his blog! He has been my inspiration in this process and incredibly supportive! I am so proud of him! I will post it as soon as it's published.

2. Will Eating Red Meat Kill You? -Those of you who have seen footage of the meat study that just came out might want to check out a response to the story from the Primal side. I have never been a big red meat eater and still am not, but it is still frustrating to see the generalized statements about the horrors of red meat I have seen on the news.

Coming up in Life After the Challenge Part 2:

-Scott's top 5 picks for best meals we have had since the challenge started
-Amy's top 5 picks for best meals we have had since the challenge started
-More recipe ideas
-Tips for eating Paleo/Primal
-Pro's and Con's of eating Paleo/Primal
-Final reflection

 I have decided I will continue to blog. It has helped me to check in with myself and I have really enjoyed it.
Thanks to all those who have supported me throughout this adventure! I am excited to see where it will lead!

Day 30: Challenge Complete!

Today was the final day of my challenge! I didn't have a whole lot planned menu-wise. Scott wanted to pick the last meal of the challenge so he picked Better Butter Chicken. It looked like a good choice and he had been wanting to try it for awhile.

Breakfast: I woke up and had 2 eggs and some left over spaghetti squash.

Snack: A small bag of almonds and a pear/spinach and peas pouch.

Later snack: I was on the run and the avocado I wanted to eat for part of my lunch wasn't ready yet so I had half of a banana and a few cashews (to offset the sugar from the banana).

Lunch: I finally got to sit down for lunch and had some canned salmon, the other half of the banana and a small piece of Trader Joe's very high percentage dark chocolate (no soy or extra junk included).

Snack: Apple slices

*Got in a nice long walk today. The temperature was brisk, but the sun and you could feel it's warmth.

Dinner: Better Butter Chicken on a bed of red chard (Everyday Paleo, 57) and steamed carrots. I can't compare this recipe to any other butter chicken recipes, but I was very happy with how this one turned out. The chicken was very tasty (dare I say buttery) and the red chard was a nice touch. We actually used ghee (clarified butter) instead of real butter, but it did the trick. I felt bad for Scott. He had a bit of a cold, which affected his taste, so he couldn't get the full flavor of the chicken. Guess we will have to make it again, soon!

Dessert: Sliced mango

Now that the challenge is complete, I feel like I should have a whole reflection or summary ready to post and quite truthfully I don't, not yet. I need a little time to think about where I was 30 days ago and where I am now. I also am still thinking about how I will continue. Stay tuned!

Day 29: And 1 to Go!

I can't believe tomorrow is the last day of the challenge. Time went by so quickly!

Breakfast: This morning we had banana pancakes w/coconut oil, coconut flour, almond milk, eggs, vanilla and some cinnamon. To balance with some fat and protein I had a small bacon omelet.

Snack: Handful of cashews and one of my kids pouches (spinach, pear, and peas-actually pretty tasty).

Lunch: Spaghetti squash (yum) with a garlic and ghee (ghee is a form of clarified butter) sauce. We also had some ground turkey and kale chips. I added two little dried apricots as a "dessert." The spaghetti squash was fabulous again. One of my favorites!

Snack: Apple slices and peanut butter (I know peanut butter is not Paleo, but we ran out of almond butter and I was craving and hungry).

Dinner: We went out to dinner for my hubbies mom's birthday. I find it interesting that I hardly ate out at all during the past 30 days and now we just ate out 2 days in a row. We went to Di Pescara, a steak and seafood restaurant. We had a great waiter who was really helpful. They even had a small gluten-free menu. I chose grilled chicken and a sweet potato for dinner (the sweet potato was huge and filling). They did have options for gluten-free pasta and some salads. They also could have made many of the fish and steak options gluten-free as well. I had a glass of wine and decaf coffee as well. All in all, a great meal at a very nice restaurant. I am sure we will try it again.

Tomorrow is the last day of the challenge!

Day 28: A Special Lunch Outing

Breakfast: Scrambled eggs and a sweet potato

Snack: Cashews and a banana

Later Snack: Almonds and a peach mango pouch (yes, one of my kids' pouches). They are tasty and quick. We go for the organic with only pure ingredients.

Lunch: Today we had our youngest, Sienna, baptized. For the other two kids we had 50+ people at a pizza place for lunch afterwards. To keep costs down we had Sienna's post-baptism lunch at a local restaurant with only our immediate family and the Godparents. At this restaurant,  I would have typically ordered a burger (no bun) and fries or a grilled chicken/avocado melt (with cheese, no bun). It was the first time I really looked at the menu and had to find another option. The most difficult part about the lunch was watching the potato skins go by. They looked so yummy and greasy! I was also worried that I would have to watch everyone around me eat fries, but most of the people ended up ordering a more healthy meal. I ordered a tasty broiled salmon with a mango salsa, spinach with some lemon, and a house salad with olive oil and lemon for dressing (if you are trying to eat gluten-free, remember to tell the server no croutons on the salad-it has been awhile since I have eaten out in a place without a gluten-free menu so I forgot). I also had a half of a glass of wine. The meal was very good and filling. It's amazing how eating healthy can be contagious. It started with my brother, spread to my family and my parents, then spread to some other members of our extended family. Eating healthy was definitely a topic of conversation at lunch today. We talked about how we eat, what we eat and even gave each other some advice on things to try. My brother and dad were even talking to the pastor about Paleo/Primal eating, and he noted one of the books we use so he can check it out =)

Snack: Apple slices

Dinner: We find at the end of the week we have some leftover food we need to use. We actually did pretty well this week and didn't have as many leftovers as usual. That means we planned well. We made seasoned ground turkey, avocado, and salad with olive oil and balsamic vinegar dressing. We also attempted kale chips for the 3rd time. We didn't burn them, but some of them were not quite crunchy enough to make them chips. The taste was still good though.

Day 27: 10 Rules to Eat Safely for Life

I was watching an infomercial for the book The Blood Sugar Solution by Mark Hymen. I was curious to see where it was similiar and where it was different than the Paleo/Primal templates. I found out they are based on a few of the same premises, but his "solution" still involves eating whole grains, just not flours. The major similiarity is the push for whole, unprocessed foods that were grown or raised on a farm. One part of the infomercial I really liked was his "10 Rules to Eat Safely for Life." After the challenge is over, I will still strive to follow these 10 rules. It is very difficult with kids. Some of the rules we have done a good job following with the kids are: trying to eat foods with fewer than 5 ingredients, avoiding high-fructose corn syrup, avoiding hydrogenated oils, avoiding foods with ingredients I don't recognize, avoiding any food additives and avoiding foods with artificial sweeteners. At times I think some of the family members think I am crazy for doing that, but it is important to me. I would like to work on trying to decrease the amount of quick, less-natural foods we give the kids like cereal bars (even if they are organic).

The Ten Rules:
1. Try to eat food without labels.
2. If a food has a label it should have fewer than 5 ingredients.
3. If sugar or flour is on the label, throw it out.
4. Throw out any foods with high-fructose corn syrup.
5. Throw out any food with the word hydrogenated in it.
6. Throw out any highly refined cooking oils (stick with olive oil, coconut oil and avocado oil for example).
7. Throw out any foods with ingredients you don't recognize.
8. Throw out any foods with preservatives, additives, colorings or dyes.
9. Throw out any foods with artificial sweeteners.
10. "If it came from the earth or the farmer's field, not a food chemist's lab, it's safe to eat."

One other article I found by the same doctor was called: "3 Hidden Ways Wheat Makes you Fat."

Breakfast: Leftover chicken stir-fry and jicama/carrot mix.
Snack: Walnuts
Lunch: Canned salmon and avocado
Snack: Banana and cashews
Dinner: Beef burger (no bun) and sweet potato. I love that I now know how to make a burger using ground meat. It is an easy and quick meal to make. I also love that I now know how to cook sweet potatoes. They are so easy and a good slower-acting carb. How sad it is that I had never cooked one in the past (almost embarassing)!

Day 26: Winding Down

Day 30 is getting close. The Paleo Challenge will soon come to an end. I am starting to think about how I will continue when this challenge is over. As I have for this challenge, I will try to listen to my body and find out what it needs. Sometimes that isn't the easiest thing to do. I feel like after all I have read and learned about food, I can't go back completely to how it was before.

Breakfast: Scrambled eggs and a banana

Lunch: Fancy Pear Salad (Everyday Paleo, 129): Really it's just salad greens, a pear, onion, balsamic vinegar and pecans. We had the salad with some ground turkey.

Snack: Apple slices and roast beef deli meat

Dinner: Chicken and Boiled Cabbage. We decided to go with a more basic meal tonight. We had some chicken in the freezer and some left over cabbage so Scott put them together to make a meal. He stir-fried the chicken breast (cut into pieces) with olive oil, garlic, onions, celery and a bit of chicken broth. He boiled red cabbage. The cabbage was more tasty than I had anticipated. Alexis had a few helpings of the cabbage, which was surprising. He also steamed some beans for the kids in case they didn't like the cabbage.

Dessert: Each of us had one Great Ball of Date (Everyday Paleo, 218) from the night before. They are such a yummy little treat!

No pictures today. Although the meal was simple. It was still tasty and filling. I think that as we progress with this way of eating we are going to have to use more simple meals more often to keep the costs down. We will still continue to plan our meals in advance and make a shopping list. We started doing that about a year ago and found that it is so helpful in keeping to a budget.