So yeah - apologies for not really following up on the blog as planned. The last month has been a WHIRLWIND of craziness. My husband has had all kinds of medical ups and downs, and in addition to all the usual crazy holiday stuff, a friend had some major surgery last week, and we moved upstairs to a bigger apartment kinda out of nowhere.
Yeah. It's been that kind of month.
Too many things have changed in the last month; it's kinda crazy. And no, for the record, I'm not pregnant. One major thing that's changed is our diet. Sadly, we're really not what you'd call Paleo anymore - it just isn't in the cards right now. Josh's health is currently dictating our diet, and what's best for him is definitely not paleo. We're still gluten free and mostly grain free, though we now eat quite a bit of rice, quinoa and GF breads. I've also incorporated a bit more dairy into my diet, and it doesn't seem like it's an issue at all for me if I stay on top of my stomach acid as needed.
But what would you call us? Primal? Meh...probably not. Archevore? Possibly - see http://www.archevore.com/get-started/ for information. We eat a diet fairly consistent with what Kurt suggests, with the occasional added sugar.
It has to be obvious by now what I'm getting at - the content of this blog is going to change, just as I change. The Paleo diet is and will always be a fantastic diet. I consider it the best place to start when learning the basics of true nutrition, but as all of the great Paleo bloggers and supporters out there will probably tell you, one size does not fit all. It just doesn't. And if some grains (rice and quinoa, specifically), dairy, and the occasional added sugar are decently tolerated (gut and weight seem fine), then that's just what works for us. But you might be different, and it's important to realize that. You need to test these things on yourself and weigh the results yourself.
In the end, I think a Paleo lifestyle is more than just a guideline for eating - I really believe it's a way of thinking for yourself and finding the best natural foods to fuel your body with. If I can encourage even one of you to stop buying crappy boxed food and start eating unprocessed fruits, veggies, and meat, then this blog has been a total success. I mean, really, the very existence of this blog is a total success - I've been able to share some really great knowledge with you guys, and I've been able to track my own progress. I've gone from around 195 lbs to hovering around 168. Sure, I have a good 10-15 lbs left to lose, but I would not be here if I hadn't found the Paleo diet and learned what real food really is.
I chose to step out of the blindly-accepted conventional nutritional guidelines, and find the path of true health. And I'm still wandering down that path, discovering all kinds of fascinating information. This is where the blog comes in. I'll dump that information in here as I stumble upon it, Paleo or not.
2012 will be a good year. A year of change. A year of bettering ourselves. We have only to act.
I declare 2012 the year of action. Let's do this.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
It was a Paleo Thanksgiving...mostly...
In the next week or so, I'll be reviewing the recipes I found online and prepared for Thanksgiving. And let me tell ya - I found some gems. Quite a few of these dishes will be making another appearance come Christmas and for many years to come!
Stay tuned!
Stay tuned!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Video Introduction to the Paleo Diet
As I was browsing through all my wonderful Paleo and Primal blogs, I found this little golden-nugget-of-a-video on http://www.30daysofpaleo.com/my-blog/2011/09/fireside-chat-with-robb-wolf.html, and I thought I'd share it with you. It's a great introduction to what "Paleo" is and how it can benefit you.
Enjoy, and let me know what you think!
Enjoy, and let me know what you think!
Primal Fitness
Long time no see! This summer has been a bit crazy - hopefully I'll be able to start posting more soon.
I've been trying to figure out a way to work fitness into everyday in some way, and I had even halfway considered trying crossfit since so many Paleo enthusiasts seem to be in love with it. But after researching it a bit further, I'm pretty sure I'd hate it. I'm just not into that kind of workout. So I considered a regular gym again - nah, it's not me either. Then I remembered that Kirkland's community center offers a neat quarterly pass where you can go to as many fitness classes as you can for a pretty resonable price. The classes seem interesting enough, so I signed up. But I still didn't feel like that alone would cut it.
A few days ago, I had the chance to read through Mark Sisson's blog, http://www.marksdailyapple.com/, and naturally, I couldn't help but wonder why I hadn't read through his blog before now. When you sign up for his newsletter, you get access to some free e-books - nice! And there it was...a fitness e-book. FINALLY.
Presentation is everything I guess, and somehow, Mark's presentation spoke to me. He says that fitness should be made up of three things - move frequently at a slow pace, lift heavy things, and sprint. (http://www.marksdailyapple.com/how-to-succeed-with-the-primal-blueprint/#fitness)
SOLD! I'm only a few weeks into it, and I'm still working on fitting in heavy lifting and sprinting regularly, but I'm pretty confident this is a pattern I can get into and stick with. I'll keep you posted on how things go.
I've been in classes for 2 weeks now, and they're pretty great - I'll write a detailed post on them in the next couple of weeks.
I've been trying to figure out a way to work fitness into everyday in some way, and I had even halfway considered trying crossfit since so many Paleo enthusiasts seem to be in love with it. But after researching it a bit further, I'm pretty sure I'd hate it. I'm just not into that kind of workout. So I considered a regular gym again - nah, it's not me either. Then I remembered that Kirkland's community center offers a neat quarterly pass where you can go to as many fitness classes as you can for a pretty resonable price. The classes seem interesting enough, so I signed up. But I still didn't feel like that alone would cut it.
A few days ago, I had the chance to read through Mark Sisson's blog, http://www.marksdailyapple.com/, and naturally, I couldn't help but wonder why I hadn't read through his blog before now. When you sign up for his newsletter, you get access to some free e-books - nice! And there it was...a fitness e-book. FINALLY.
Presentation is everything I guess, and somehow, Mark's presentation spoke to me. He says that fitness should be made up of three things - move frequently at a slow pace, lift heavy things, and sprint. (http://www.marksdailyapple.com/how-to-succeed-with-the-primal-blueprint/#fitness)
SOLD! I'm only a few weeks into it, and I'm still working on fitting in heavy lifting and sprinting regularly, but I'm pretty confident this is a pattern I can get into and stick with. I'll keep you posted on how things go.
I've been in classes for 2 weeks now, and they're pretty great - I'll write a detailed post on them in the next couple of weeks.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Life is tough...
...and so am I. And so are all of you, but maybe you don't realize it yet. Forgive me if I go on a bit of a tangent with this post as it will have mostly nothing to do with a Paleo lifestyle. If you're hell-bent on reading Paleo-only thoughts, skip to the bottom.
The last few months have been some of the most challenging of my life. My husband has been going through a lot of medical problems - thankfully, none of them have been serious. But they have been trying, and they have caused us both a tremendous amount of stress. I thank God ceaselessly that these difficult times haven't torn us apart - actually, they've brought us closer together, which I think is exactly why we haven't cracked up.
I think the stress has really started catching up with me lately though. I've gained about 9 pounds, which I think probably came from eating my way to comfort. It's something I've always done, and I've been able to resist the urge for a while. I've also, as some of you have noticed, withdrawn myself from people. I'm realizing that multi-tasking (socially or otherwise) is not my strong suit. And while I do love each of you, Josh is my priority.
So if I don't participate in a program I used to, or if I don't participate as much as I used to, or if I don't hang out with you as much as you'd like, or if you feel like I'm not there for you, or if you haven't even noticed a change in me - hang tight and be patient with me. Pray for me, send positive energy to me, or toss me some encouragement. I've been through a tiny slice of hell this year, so it'll take me some time to heal.
****back to some Paleo thoughts*****
All that said, I'm working on getting my eating under control. I'm back to eating almost totally Paleo (rice is an occasional indulgence instead of included in every meal), and I'm working really hard on establishing a workout routine. Have I measured myself? HELL NO. My body is a bit wonky as I've stopped taking some meds I used to take, so I'm experiencing a delightful onslaught of...well, side effects. It'll pass. And when it does, I'll give it a go.
While most of this post has been negative (BLECK), I'd like to leave you with some positivity. These are thoughts that have driven me to be healthier, physically and mentally, and I want to share them with you.
You deserve love, happiness, peace and success. Seek love, seek happiness, seek peace, seek success. You can absolutely do anything you choose to do. Step out and take the risk. And never think for a moment that you're not strong enough. Because you are strong enough. You are.
The last few months have been some of the most challenging of my life. My husband has been going through a lot of medical problems - thankfully, none of them have been serious. But they have been trying, and they have caused us both a tremendous amount of stress. I thank God ceaselessly that these difficult times haven't torn us apart - actually, they've brought us closer together, which I think is exactly why we haven't cracked up.
I think the stress has really started catching up with me lately though. I've gained about 9 pounds, which I think probably came from eating my way to comfort. It's something I've always done, and I've been able to resist the urge for a while. I've also, as some of you have noticed, withdrawn myself from people. I'm realizing that multi-tasking (socially or otherwise) is not my strong suit. And while I do love each of you, Josh is my priority.
So if I don't participate in a program I used to, or if I don't participate as much as I used to, or if I don't hang out with you as much as you'd like, or if you feel like I'm not there for you, or if you haven't even noticed a change in me - hang tight and be patient with me. Pray for me, send positive energy to me, or toss me some encouragement. I've been through a tiny slice of hell this year, so it'll take me some time to heal.
****back to some Paleo thoughts*****
All that said, I'm working on getting my eating under control. I'm back to eating almost totally Paleo (rice is an occasional indulgence instead of included in every meal), and I'm working really hard on establishing a workout routine. Have I measured myself? HELL NO. My body is a bit wonky as I've stopped taking some meds I used to take, so I'm experiencing a delightful onslaught of...well, side effects. It'll pass. And when it does, I'll give it a go.
While most of this post has been negative (BLECK), I'd like to leave you with some positivity. These are thoughts that have driven me to be healthier, physically and mentally, and I want to share them with you.
You deserve love, happiness, peace and success. Seek love, seek happiness, seek peace, seek success. You can absolutely do anything you choose to do. Step out and take the risk. And never think for a moment that you're not strong enough. Because you are strong enough. You are.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Struggling with Addiction
I have an addiction to food, namely, grains and starches. It has become especially obvious since I've started drifting away from a strict Paleo diet. I've added rice and potatoes back to my diet, and my jeans have started noticing. And so has my brain.
I can feel it as I type - I'm not hungry, but I have this desire to go grab some more of my roasted rosemary fingerling potatoes from the fridge. I would also kill for a bowl of buttery rice.../drool. Maybe another rice biscuit and some jam...cobbler...
*Whimper*...
So I'm planning a swift retreat from these enemy foods. I mean, let's face it - food should not have this power over the mind. I shouldn't be distracted by the thought of certain foods. I shouldn't feel like I'm going through withdraws when I just had a freakin' bowl of rice 17 hours ago. And I DON'T like my size 10s feeling snug like this!
This is getting just a bit ridiculous. Again.
And that's where the blog comes in. I figure I need some accountability here, so I'm thinking some daily posts might be in order to get me back on track and keep me there. I mean, I've got a wonderfully supportive husband who supports all things Paleo, etc., but he's been nudging me for a while to stop all this non-Paleo stuff, and his attempts were met with, "I CAN HAVE WHATEVER I WANT IN MODERATION SO SHUT IT!" type attitude (maybe a pinch less attitude than that, but I was determined). So I'm guessing that I need more than one person encouraging me.
And here we go - tonight, I plan on doing some measurements, getting a proper before picture, and getting this ball rolling. I've stalled long enough - I mean, for crying out loud, I really only need to lose maybe 15 more pounds.
How hard can it be, seriously?
I can feel it as I type - I'm not hungry, but I have this desire to go grab some more of my roasted rosemary fingerling potatoes from the fridge. I would also kill for a bowl of buttery rice.../drool. Maybe another rice biscuit and some jam...cobbler...
*Whimper*...
So I'm planning a swift retreat from these enemy foods. I mean, let's face it - food should not have this power over the mind. I shouldn't be distracted by the thought of certain foods. I shouldn't feel like I'm going through withdraws when I just had a freakin' bowl of rice 17 hours ago. And I DON'T like my size 10s feeling snug like this!
This is getting just a bit ridiculous. Again.
And that's where the blog comes in. I figure I need some accountability here, so I'm thinking some daily posts might be in order to get me back on track and keep me there. I mean, I've got a wonderfully supportive husband who supports all things Paleo, etc., but he's been nudging me for a while to stop all this non-Paleo stuff, and his attempts were met with, "I CAN HAVE WHATEVER I WANT IN MODERATION SO SHUT IT!" type attitude (maybe a pinch less attitude than that, but I was determined). So I'm guessing that I need more than one person encouraging me.
And here we go - tonight, I plan on doing some measurements, getting a proper before picture, and getting this ball rolling. I've stalled long enough - I mean, for crying out loud, I really only need to lose maybe 15 more pounds.
How hard can it be, seriously?
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Paleo Blackberry Cobbler and Biscuit Adventures
Last summer marked quite possibly the height of my glutony and food indulgence. We discovered a few years ago that most natives of this area consider blackberry bushes to be the most obnoxious weed known to man and nothing more. They hack at the bushes, spray them, curse them, and yet they come back each year bigger and pricklier than ever. Sometime last August, we decided to take advantage of the poor neglected plant for the benefit of our tummies.
Most of the local parks have nearly endless blackberry bushes scattered throughout, and one in particular had easily accessible berries. So one sunny day, we grabbed our largest plastic bowls and some scissors, and paid a visit to the park to raid the lucious berries.
I'm pretty sure I baked about 3 or 4 blackberry cobblers in about 2 weeks...I honestly can't remember. You see, I was in a bit of a sugar/gluten/fat coma. I was tripped out on cobbler. I would have injected it into my eyeballs if it would have made the taste linger a little longer on my tongue (how injecting anything into your eyeballs can directly affect your taste buds is beyond me, but just roll with it).
I was addicted. And I could hide behind my husband, point to him and say, "HEY, he ate most of the cobbler!" but I would be lying. I daresay I ate 3 of the 4 cobblers I fixed by myself...
I was addicted.
Fast forward a year, and blackberries are starting to show themselves at farmers markets, and naturally, all I can think of is, "How can I have my cobbler this year???" I might have fought back a tear a few times as we passed by the berry stands...
So I decided to go out on a limb and actually try to make some GF/DF (gluten-free/dairy-free; Josh doesn't eat dairy) cobbler.
I knew I wanted a biscuit top because...well, that's just cobbler to me! So I found this excellent recipe for drop biscuits:
http://www.glutenfreecookingschool.com/archives/how-to-make-gluten-free-drop-biscuits/
The only problem is that the flour mix she suggested is definitely not Paleo (shhhh, I know rice isn't Paleo either, but we can talk about that another day), so I knew I would have to improvise, and here's what I came up with.
Semi-Paleo Blackberry Cobbler
Topping
Most of the local parks have nearly endless blackberry bushes scattered throughout, and one in particular had easily accessible berries. So one sunny day, we grabbed our largest plastic bowls and some scissors, and paid a visit to the park to raid the lucious berries.
I'm pretty sure I baked about 3 or 4 blackberry cobblers in about 2 weeks...I honestly can't remember. You see, I was in a bit of a sugar/gluten/fat coma. I was tripped out on cobbler. I would have injected it into my eyeballs if it would have made the taste linger a little longer on my tongue (how injecting anything into your eyeballs can directly affect your taste buds is beyond me, but just roll with it).
I was addicted. And I could hide behind my husband, point to him and say, "HEY, he ate most of the cobbler!" but I would be lying. I daresay I ate 3 of the 4 cobblers I fixed by myself...
I was addicted.
Fast forward a year, and blackberries are starting to show themselves at farmers markets, and naturally, all I can think of is, "How can I have my cobbler this year???" I might have fought back a tear a few times as we passed by the berry stands...
So I decided to go out on a limb and actually try to make some GF/DF (gluten-free/dairy-free; Josh doesn't eat dairy) cobbler.
I knew I wanted a biscuit top because...well, that's just cobbler to me! So I found this excellent recipe for drop biscuits:
http://www.glutenfreecookingschool.com/archives/how-to-make-gluten-free-drop-biscuits/
The only problem is that the flour mix she suggested is definitely not Paleo (shhhh, I know rice isn't Paleo either, but we can talk about that another day), so I knew I would have to improvise, and here's what I came up with.
Semi-Paleo Blackberry Cobbler
Topping
2 cups flour mix (I measure out about 1 cup of brown rice flour, 1 cup of sweet white rice flour, and 1/2 cup of tapioca flour to make my flour mix.)
1 tsp baking powder (I don't use baking powder - instead, I put in a bit of baking soda and a pinch of vinegar)
1 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp xanthan gum
6 tbsp shortening (I used palm shortening)
1 cup milk (I used whole fat coconut milk)
1 egg beaten
Sugar
Filling
Berries - I used 4 pints of blackberries, but you can put in as much as you want. Try mixing different berries!
Agave nectar or honey
Sugar
1 tsp arrowroot powder (though tapioca starch would probably work)
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Pour the berries into a baking dish. Start with maybe 1/4 cup of agave or honey and coat the berries. Mix well. Sprinkle some sugar on top and mix again. I like to crush the berries a bit, but do whatever you want there.
Set the berries aside and click on the drop biscuit link above, and follow the directions. When you've got your biscuit mixture, drop spoonfuls of the dough on top of the berry mixture and spread it out a bit. Then sprinkle sugar liberally on top of the dough, and place the cobbler in the oven.
Honestly, I don't know how long it takes, so stick the timer on 35 minutes, and check on the biscuits every few minutes after that - you'll know it's done when the berry mixture is bubbling and the biscuit top is a nice golden brown.
I suggest topping with some gluten free ice cream - <3
Enjoy! If you make this recipe, let me know how it went! I'd love to hear stories or see some pictures of the finished product.
Peace out my hommies.
PS: I also tried making a few drop biscuits w/ the leftover dough. Good stuff. Give it a try!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
You know you're fully immersed in a Paleo lifestyle when...
...you question what's in your shampoo. Then you look up all those chemicals in your shampoo. Then you wonder why in the world companies put chemicals that harsh in your shampoo. So you buy shampoo that consists of probably 95% organic, natural oils with only 1 slightly bad chemical in it. And even that bothers you.
...you feel guilty about wearing eye makeup - have you ever looked up all the junk they put in those tubes?! Petroleum, really? As in, if I had a ton of this, I could possibly run my car with it?!
...you feel guilty about wearing any kind of make up, moisturizer, or sunscreen. Seriously, if I'm not putting crap into my body, why would I want to smear crap onto my body? Enough said.
...you stop using your Bath and Body Works products because they're just as creepy as your old shampoo. Sad days...
...you stop buying nasty chemical cleaners and start buying locally made "yuppie" soaps which you have to dilute with water and pour into reusable spray bottles. And then you have no idea what to do with the chemical cleaners you have left over...ugh.
...you throw out all your plastic wear (it didn't say BPA free on the package), and you purchase Pyrex bowls, etc. BPA is of the devil, and it's EVERYWHERE!
...you realize that since you've stop putting crap in your body and onto your body, it's probably time to stop bringing unnecessary crap into the house. So you decide to be more frugal and get rid of things in life that you never use. You buy things when you need them. You stop impulse shopping (except for today when I found an awesome shirt at Ross. Yeaaaah).
**********************************************************
A Paleo diet has not only helped me lose weight, but it's also led me to new ways of thinking. It's taught me to question the "norm" and seek out, for myself, what I feel is best for my body and my life. I don't need the media to tell me what works for me. I don't need big agriculture telling me that my health will suffer if I don't eat their GMO grains. I don't need the government to tell me what proper nutrition is. I don't need to buy into all those fad diets.
I need to consume the fuel my body was meant to process - you don't put helium in the gas tank of your car, do you? I would hope not (I wonder what liquid helium would do in a gas tank/engine...I'm guessing it would just freeze it). The same goes with your body - processed foods, pesticides and preservatives don't grow on trees. And they ain't meant to fuel your body (definitely wouldn't try liquid helium here - just sayin').
I'm starting to feel like the same concept can be applied to the outside of my body as well as my environment. You're not only what you eat. You're how you act and interact with your world. I choose to be as naturally me as possible, inside and out. One step at a time.
...you feel guilty about wearing eye makeup - have you ever looked up all the junk they put in those tubes?! Petroleum, really? As in, if I had a ton of this, I could possibly run my car with it?!
...you feel guilty about wearing any kind of make up, moisturizer, or sunscreen. Seriously, if I'm not putting crap into my body, why would I want to smear crap onto my body? Enough said.
...you stop using your Bath and Body Works products because they're just as creepy as your old shampoo. Sad days...
...you stop buying nasty chemical cleaners and start buying locally made "yuppie" soaps which you have to dilute with water and pour into reusable spray bottles. And then you have no idea what to do with the chemical cleaners you have left over...ugh.
...you throw out all your plastic wear (it didn't say BPA free on the package), and you purchase Pyrex bowls, etc. BPA is of the devil, and it's EVERYWHERE!
...you realize that since you've stop putting crap in your body and onto your body, it's probably time to stop bringing unnecessary crap into the house. So you decide to be more frugal and get rid of things in life that you never use. You buy things when you need them. You stop impulse shopping (except for today when I found an awesome shirt at Ross. Yeaaaah).
**********************************************************
A Paleo diet has not only helped me lose weight, but it's also led me to new ways of thinking. It's taught me to question the "norm" and seek out, for myself, what I feel is best for my body and my life. I don't need the media to tell me what works for me. I don't need big agriculture telling me that my health will suffer if I don't eat their GMO grains. I don't need the government to tell me what proper nutrition is. I don't need to buy into all those fad diets.
I need to consume the fuel my body was meant to process - you don't put helium in the gas tank of your car, do you? I would hope not (I wonder what liquid helium would do in a gas tank/engine...I'm guessing it would just freeze it). The same goes with your body - processed foods, pesticides and preservatives don't grow on trees. And they ain't meant to fuel your body (definitely wouldn't try liquid helium here - just sayin').
I'm starting to feel like the same concept can be applied to the outside of my body as well as my environment. You're not only what you eat. You're how you act and interact with your world. I choose to be as naturally me as possible, inside and out. One step at a time.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Sasha and the Great White Potato
So while on vacation last week, I decided that it might be time to allow a food back in my life which I had abstained from eating for 6 months, and one that used to be among my favorite foods - the Great White Potato.
Yes, it deserves to be capitalized.
I reintroduced it back into my diet with style (style meaning about 3 heaping tablespoons of real butter and 3 tablespoons of whole-fat sour cream atop the great baked beast). Man, was it freakin' good!
Which brings me to my next point - last night, I convinced Josh that since he's in the clear, he should try nightshades again (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, etc). So we bought red potatoes, and I sliced them up to look like McDonald's french fries. They were pretty darn good - even the slightly burnt ones had a great taste, especially smothered in ketchup.
Only one small problem with all this. I've started getting heartburn symptoms (which for me means I'm not producing enough acid oddly enough), and I can't help but wonder if it might be the potatoes. Okay, I lied. There's another problem - I'm also VERY scared that I might get on a potato kick and gain all my weight back (This was not encouraging to see on googlenews today "Pound for Pound, Worst Foods for Weight Gain").
What's the plan, then? I'm thinking for now, I'll limit my white potatoes to a max of 2 times a week and only on days I exercise a decent amount (moderate cardio for around 30 min should be good). I also need to take my Betaine HCL on a more regular basis...ugh.
Do you have heartburn problems? Have you ever tried taking Betaine HCL to see if it helps with heartburn symptoms? You might give it a try - you'd be surprised how many people inhibit their stomach acid thinking it'll help, when in turn it actually hurts the stomach/gut.
(Note - I'm not a doctor; I'm just sharing what I know. Below are some informational links on low stomach acid and Betaine. If you're not sure, ask a doctor.)
http://www.modernherbalist.com/betaine.html
http://www.leakygut.co.uk/Hypochlorhydria.htm
http://www.prohealth.com/library/showarticle.cfm?libid=13388
Yes, it deserves to be capitalized.
I reintroduced it back into my diet with style (style meaning about 3 heaping tablespoons of real butter and 3 tablespoons of whole-fat sour cream atop the great baked beast). Man, was it freakin' good!
Which brings me to my next point - last night, I convinced Josh that since he's in the clear, he should try nightshades again (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, etc). So we bought red potatoes, and I sliced them up to look like McDonald's french fries. They were pretty darn good - even the slightly burnt ones had a great taste, especially smothered in ketchup.
Only one small problem with all this. I've started getting heartburn symptoms (which for me means I'm not producing enough acid oddly enough), and I can't help but wonder if it might be the potatoes. Okay, I lied. There's another problem - I'm also VERY scared that I might get on a potato kick and gain all my weight back (This was not encouraging to see on googlenews today "Pound for Pound, Worst Foods for Weight Gain").
What's the plan, then? I'm thinking for now, I'll limit my white potatoes to a max of 2 times a week and only on days I exercise a decent amount (moderate cardio for around 30 min should be good). I also need to take my Betaine HCL on a more regular basis...ugh.
Do you have heartburn problems? Have you ever tried taking Betaine HCL to see if it helps with heartburn symptoms? You might give it a try - you'd be surprised how many people inhibit their stomach acid thinking it'll help, when in turn it actually hurts the stomach/gut.
(Note - I'm not a doctor; I'm just sharing what I know. Below are some informational links on low stomach acid and Betaine. If you're not sure, ask a doctor.)
http://www.modernherbalist.com/betaine.html
http://www.leakygut.co.uk/Hypochlorhydria.htm
http://www.prohealth.com/library/showarticle.cfm?libid=13388
Monday, June 6, 2011
Paleo eating while...traveling. Good times...
I don't know how many of you are seasoned Paleo enthusiasts, but I'm a mere 6 months into this commitment, and I haven't yet had the extreme joy of having to figure out how the heck I'm gonna eat while flying 9 hours across the country. No more stopping at airport restaurants!
Needless to say, the very idea of having to meal plan for a trip to TN sent my head spinning and my eyes bonking out of my head like a Tom and Jerry cartoon.
Then I took a breath, remembered that the Paleo blogging community is swimming with oodles of ideas, and started searching. That's when I came across this idea:
http://www.primal-palate.com/2011/01/beef-jerky.html
It's so simple, so perfect for a long plane ride. I was a bit intimidated when I saw that it called for Coconut Aminos, but our local health food store, PCC, came to the rescue. And, the best part of all?? It's not a liquid food, so I don't have to worry about TSA examining it and deeming it unfit or more than 3 oz or whatever. Hurray!
Another thought, which looking back, I can't help but wonder why it didn't immediately come to mind...
TRAIL MIX!
Here's my plan:
1/2 cup organic raisins
3/4 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup almonds
1/2 cup walnuts
3/4 cup dried apples
1/2 cup dried banana chips
1/2 cup dried strawberries
We have a food dehydrator, so whatever else I can think of tossing in it will probably also end up in our trail mix. (By the way, I totally just made up the numbers on the fly - you can put in whatever you want however you want, but I think this will be a good ratio of nuts to fruits to coconut.)
I also plan on bringing some Larabars - they're fantastic. The only draw back is, they're loaded with sugar, and while it's natural sugar from the dates and fruits they use in the bars, it's still a bit much. Especially when you're strapped to a plane seat for 4 hours at a time and your only exercise is climbing over people and seats to get to the bathroom.
I could kinda use a veggie to round out Friday's day of snacking, so I'm thinking I might bake some kale chips. Surely between the jerky, trail mix and kale chips, we'll have enough chow to get us through until we get to my mother's house at 11pm Friday night.
What snacks do you take with you on trips? Anyone have any Paleo traveling tips you'd like to share?
Needless to say, the very idea of having to meal plan for a trip to TN sent my head spinning and my eyes bonking out of my head like a Tom and Jerry cartoon.
Then I took a breath, remembered that the Paleo blogging community is swimming with oodles of ideas, and started searching. That's when I came across this idea:
http://www.primal-palate.com/2011/01/beef-jerky.html
It's so simple, so perfect for a long plane ride. I was a bit intimidated when I saw that it called for Coconut Aminos, but our local health food store, PCC, came to the rescue. And, the best part of all?? It's not a liquid food, so I don't have to worry about TSA examining it and deeming it unfit or more than 3 oz or whatever. Hurray!
Another thought, which looking back, I can't help but wonder why it didn't immediately come to mind...
TRAIL MIX!
Here's my plan:
1/2 cup organic raisins
3/4 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup almonds
1/2 cup walnuts
3/4 cup dried apples
1/2 cup dried banana chips
1/2 cup dried strawberries
We have a food dehydrator, so whatever else I can think of tossing in it will probably also end up in our trail mix. (By the way, I totally just made up the numbers on the fly - you can put in whatever you want however you want, but I think this will be a good ratio of nuts to fruits to coconut.)
I also plan on bringing some Larabars - they're fantastic. The only draw back is, they're loaded with sugar, and while it's natural sugar from the dates and fruits they use in the bars, it's still a bit much. Especially when you're strapped to a plane seat for 4 hours at a time and your only exercise is climbing over people and seats to get to the bathroom.
I could kinda use a veggie to round out Friday's day of snacking, so I'm thinking I might bake some kale chips. Surely between the jerky, trail mix and kale chips, we'll have enough chow to get us through until we get to my mother's house at 11pm Friday night.
What snacks do you take with you on trips? Anyone have any Paleo traveling tips you'd like to share?
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Tea time
One of the ladies at church is holding a tea party at her house today. Naturally, the first thing that comes to my mind isn't so much what am I going to wear - it's more like what am I going to eat???
Food is my vanity. Wait...does that even make sense?
Whatever. Anyways, I don't have a ton of Paleo desserts in my repertoire yet. So off to the internet I go! And what do I find, you ask?
Yummy things. When I first saw "Vegan Avocado Scones" in my search results, I gagged a little. Then I wondered why in the world that would make me gag (I think it was probably the Vegan part). I mean, avocado is an amazing fruit. Why not throw one of those magical foods into a scone recipe, seriously?!
If you're interested in the recipe, check it out: http://www.familyfreshcooking.com/2011/05/04/avocado-scones-vegan-and-gluten-free-recipe/
I would also love making these, if only I had enough time today...
http://www.paleoplan.com/2010/01-04/almond-macaroons/
http://www.paleoplan.com/2011/04-14/paleo-ice-cream-2/
http://www.paleoplan.com/2010/01-04/almond-muffins/
EDIT: Just found this recipe, and it looks AMAZING. Obviously, one would need to swap out Oat flour and corn flour for something more "kosher" like almond flour, coconut flour, (rice flour if you're okay using rice products), etc.
http://www.familyfreshcooking.com/2011/04/06/gluten-free-ratio-rally-strawberry-snack-cake-recipe/
Alas, there's only so much time in the day, and that time happens to be only 2 1/2 hours from when I've gotta leave.
So enough chatting - TIME TO GET MY BAKE ON!
Food is my vanity. Wait...does that even make sense?
Whatever. Anyways, I don't have a ton of Paleo desserts in my repertoire yet. So off to the internet I go! And what do I find, you ask?
Yummy things. When I first saw "Vegan Avocado Scones" in my search results, I gagged a little. Then I wondered why in the world that would make me gag (I think it was probably the Vegan part). I mean, avocado is an amazing fruit. Why not throw one of those magical foods into a scone recipe, seriously?!
If you're interested in the recipe, check it out: http://www.familyfreshcooking.com/2011/05/04/avocado-scones-vegan-and-gluten-free-recipe/
I would also love making these, if only I had enough time today...
http://www.paleoplan.com/2010/01-04/almond-macaroons/
http://www.paleoplan.com/2011/04-14/paleo-ice-cream-2/
http://www.paleoplan.com/2010/01-04/almond-muffins/
EDIT: Just found this recipe, and it looks AMAZING. Obviously, one would need to swap out Oat flour and corn flour for something more "kosher" like almond flour, coconut flour, (rice flour if you're okay using rice products), etc.
http://www.familyfreshcooking.com/2011/04/06/gluten-free-ratio-rally-strawberry-snack-cake-recipe/
Alas, there's only so much time in the day, and that time happens to be only 2 1/2 hours from when I've gotta leave.
So enough chatting - TIME TO GET MY BAKE ON!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The Chart
I just happened to be playing around on SparkPeople.com - taking a look at some old data, etc. I happened upon something quite eye-opening. It made me realize how long I had been in denial over my weight; how long I was complacent with being obese.
It was my weightloss chart. I've been using the website for about two years trying to lose weight. There were chunks of time I chose to stay far away from the tool that was my mirror, the tool that tried to show me I was so unhealthy.
Here it is. Can you tell when I started the Paleo diet?
This chart makes me sad, and in the same breath makes me joyful that I found a way to finally get healthy.
Here's some pictures of me in 2009. I didn't take many of myself...
It was my weightloss chart. I've been using the website for about two years trying to lose weight. There were chunks of time I chose to stay far away from the tool that was my mirror, the tool that tried to show me I was so unhealthy.
Here it is. Can you tell when I started the Paleo diet?
This chart makes me sad, and in the same breath makes me joyful that I found a way to finally get healthy.
Here's some pictures of me in 2009. I didn't take many of myself...
Yeah...chubby.
Here's the most recent picture of me.
I wish I had better pictures to show how I've gone from a fluffy puffy obese chick to a leaner, healthier, only-14-lbs-overweight gal. These will have to do for now.
Besides, once I get down to 155ish, you guys might get tired of my new found vanity and over-taking of pictures of myself...mwhaha! ;)
Friday, April 29, 2011
Are you label literate? I'm guessing no...
It's shocking what hides in our food. Are you drinking a soda right now? Maybe eating a candy bar or some chips? Take a look at the nutritional label, and read the ingredients. No, go ahead, I'll wait...
Do you really know what most of that stuff is? Or do you assume that since someone put it on the shelf, it has to be benign?
I challenge you to take one of those weird words you found on the label, and type it into a search engine. That's right - learn what you're putting into your body. Because whether you choose to believe it or not, you most definitely are what you eat. And I personally don't want to be "partially hydrogenated soybean oil."
Here's a picture of a can of refried beans I found in our cabinet. As someone following a Paleo lifestyle, what are some of the things that stand out to you that make this food a no-no?
Alright, so after taking a long look at the picture above, what are some of the no-no foods/ingredients you found?
You should have found that:
1. BEANS - no-no on Paleo! Beans, part of the legume family, are an off-limits food. If you don't know why, Google it.
2. Autolyzed yeast extract. My rule of thumb is, if I don't know what it is, I probably shouldn't be eating it. Click here to learn more about autolyzed yeast extract.
3. Partially hydrogenated soybean oil. Two bad things here - one, no one should eat anything with any degree of hydrogenation, partial or otherwise. It's not natural, and it's not healthy. Two, soybean oil - soybeans are another food group Paleo dieters stay away from. Again, if you don't understand why, Google it (you need to learn some of this stuff for yourself).
4. May contain Soy. Okay, the very idea that they would say "may" when they list "partially hydrogenated soybean oil" as one of the ingredients just cracks me up. DUR.
There are probably a few other things I would add to the list as something I personally avoid (excessive sodium, non-organic, etc.), but those things aren't worth going into right now. The whole point is to show you what is in your healthy food.
BTW: If you are avoiding gluten, it's really important that you read ALL the labels and packaging that comes with your food. Gluten is in nearly everything, and if it doesn't specficially say "Gluten free" somewhere on the label, there's a really good chance that there's gluten in the food.
Take a look at that soda or that can of Pringles you're consuming. Having second thoughts yet? Oh, and heaven help you if you're drinking a diet drink. Might as well chug a few beakers from a chemistry lab. Nasty.
Do you really know what most of that stuff is? Or do you assume that since someone put it on the shelf, it has to be benign?
I challenge you to take one of those weird words you found on the label, and type it into a search engine. That's right - learn what you're putting into your body. Because whether you choose to believe it or not, you most definitely are what you eat. And I personally don't want to be "partially hydrogenated soybean oil."
Here's a picture of a can of refried beans I found in our cabinet. As someone following a Paleo lifestyle, what are some of the things that stand out to you that make this food a no-no?
Alright, so after taking a long look at the picture above, what are some of the no-no foods/ingredients you found?
You should have found that:
1. BEANS - no-no on Paleo! Beans, part of the legume family, are an off-limits food. If you don't know why, Google it.
2. Autolyzed yeast extract. My rule of thumb is, if I don't know what it is, I probably shouldn't be eating it. Click here to learn more about autolyzed yeast extract.
3. Partially hydrogenated soybean oil. Two bad things here - one, no one should eat anything with any degree of hydrogenation, partial or otherwise. It's not natural, and it's not healthy. Two, soybean oil - soybeans are another food group Paleo dieters stay away from. Again, if you don't understand why, Google it (you need to learn some of this stuff for yourself).
4. May contain Soy. Okay, the very idea that they would say "may" when they list "partially hydrogenated soybean oil" as one of the ingredients just cracks me up. DUR.
There are probably a few other things I would add to the list as something I personally avoid (excessive sodium, non-organic, etc.), but those things aren't worth going into right now. The whole point is to show you what is in your healthy food.
BTW: If you are avoiding gluten, it's really important that you read ALL the labels and packaging that comes with your food. Gluten is in nearly everything, and if it doesn't specficially say "Gluten free" somewhere on the label, there's a really good chance that there's gluten in the food.
Take a look at that soda or that can of Pringles you're consuming. Having second thoughts yet? Oh, and heaven help you if you're drinking a diet drink. Might as well chug a few beakers from a chemistry lab. Nasty.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Working on some posts...
Sorry I've been so slow with updates the past couple of weeks. I've got three posts I'm working on right now - hope to have at least two finished this weekend.
Just letting you know that I haven't fallen off of the face of the earth fully yet - stay tuned!
And now, I'll leave you with this clue as to what I'm doing this fine Saturday.
...everyone is here getting gas today. If you're here, too, look around. I'm waving!
...yeah.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Just letting you know that I haven't fallen off of the face of the earth fully yet - stay tuned!
And now, I'll leave you with this clue as to what I'm doing this fine Saturday.
...everyone is here getting gas today. If you're here, too, look around. I'm waving!
...yeah.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Monday, April 4, 2011
From 14 to 10
I can't believe how my body has changed - I expected to lose some weight, but I never imagined that I would be two sizes smaller in three months. Oh, and I feel really amazing in general.
Here's a picture of my size 14 jeans.
Here's a picture of my size 10 jeans.
And even more impressive, here's a pic of the jeans together.
Did I really lose that many inches?!
Here's a picture of my size 14 jeans.
Here's a picture of my size 10 jeans.
And even more impressive, here's a pic of the jeans together.
Did I really lose that many inches?!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Tips for some quick Paleo meals
Time is a precious commodity for Josh and I - we seem to always be running out of it. Very frustrating.
We especially have very little time Monday - Thursday when I work 10 hours a day. When we first started our Paleo lifestyle, we spent hours each night cooking and cleaning. Not exactly the most relaxing thing to do after 10 hours of working.
Then suddenly, one day out of a mixture of sheer desperation and curiosity (and a desire to actually make use of the appliances we have), I decided to throw some food in the oven. I think I threw in something really easy, like a meatloaf (1 lb of ground beef, half an onion, salt and pepper) and POOF - we suddenly had time to work out. We had time to be together. We had time to do something other than cooking and cleaning the kitchen.
Angels sang and saints wept. It was a beautiful moment of why didn't I think of that before, dang it!?
So if you're thinking about going Paleo or maybe already are and are getting a bit burnt out with the same old time draining routine of cooking entire meals, try using your oven or crockpot, and try to prep veggies, spices, etc. ahead of time so you always have something quick on hand to grab and throw in the oven.
Need some ideas for what to fix ahead of time?
Onions - having a bag of chopped onions in the freezer ready to go is a HUGE time saver. Just designate maybe a half an hour one day to chopping up as many as you can, and store them in your freezer. Perfect for throwing into chili, meatloaf, stir fry, soup, stew, or anything else you can think of!
Peppers - if you're not avoiding nightshades (eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, etc.), dice up some peppers and throw in the freezer. Again, a great food for so many dishes, and it's so nice to just grab it out of the freezer and toss it in whatever you're cooking.
Carrots - I'm thinking I might throw some in the food processor and freeze it so I can use it for carrot breads and stir fry.
Sweet Potatoes - I haven't actually tried this, but it sounds like a pretty good idea. Cut up some fries, then toss them in a ziplock bag, and you can bake them whenever.
Zucchini - I think you're getting the idea here...
Recipe time! If you're low on time, give this recipe a go.
Paleo Meatloaf
1 lb grass-fed beef
1/2-1 small onion (to taste)
1/2 diced bell pepper (unless you're avoiding nightshades)
salt and pepper to taste
Put the oven on 375. Grab a baking dish and mixing bowl. Dice onion and pepper and toss in the mixing bowl with the beef. Salt and pepper as you'd like, and mix everything together thoroughly. Place the hunk of meat in the baking dish, and put it in the oven for at least 30 minutes. Basically, take it out of the oven whenever you want - I happen to like medium well beef, so I look for the bit of pink color, and then I take it out.
Aren't I an amazing recipe writer? Yeah...just oozing talent.
Anyways, play around with the recipe - is there a specific spice you love to throw into all your beef dishes? Give it a go! I love this very simple one; it's fast, easy, and versatile. Sometimes I toss some minced mushrooms in, which is really tasty.
We especially have very little time Monday - Thursday when I work 10 hours a day. When we first started our Paleo lifestyle, we spent hours each night cooking and cleaning. Not exactly the most relaxing thing to do after 10 hours of working.
Then suddenly, one day out of a mixture of sheer desperation and curiosity (and a desire to actually make use of the appliances we have), I decided to throw some food in the oven. I think I threw in something really easy, like a meatloaf (1 lb of ground beef, half an onion, salt and pepper) and POOF - we suddenly had time to work out. We had time to be together. We had time to do something other than cooking and cleaning the kitchen.
Angels sang and saints wept. It was a beautiful moment of why didn't I think of that before, dang it!?
So if you're thinking about going Paleo or maybe already are and are getting a bit burnt out with the same old time draining routine of cooking entire meals, try using your oven or crockpot, and try to prep veggies, spices, etc. ahead of time so you always have something quick on hand to grab and throw in the oven.
Need some ideas for what to fix ahead of time?
Onions - having a bag of chopped onions in the freezer ready to go is a HUGE time saver. Just designate maybe a half an hour one day to chopping up as many as you can, and store them in your freezer. Perfect for throwing into chili, meatloaf, stir fry, soup, stew, or anything else you can think of!
Peppers - if you're not avoiding nightshades (eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, etc.), dice up some peppers and throw in the freezer. Again, a great food for so many dishes, and it's so nice to just grab it out of the freezer and toss it in whatever you're cooking.
Carrots - I'm thinking I might throw some in the food processor and freeze it so I can use it for carrot breads and stir fry.
Sweet Potatoes - I haven't actually tried this, but it sounds like a pretty good idea. Cut up some fries, then toss them in a ziplock bag, and you can bake them whenever.
Zucchini - I think you're getting the idea here...
Recipe time! If you're low on time, give this recipe a go.
Paleo Meatloaf
1 lb grass-fed beef
1/2-1 small onion (to taste)
1/2 diced bell pepper (unless you're avoiding nightshades)
salt and pepper to taste
Put the oven on 375. Grab a baking dish and mixing bowl. Dice onion and pepper and toss in the mixing bowl with the beef. Salt and pepper as you'd like, and mix everything together thoroughly. Place the hunk of meat in the baking dish, and put it in the oven for at least 30 minutes. Basically, take it out of the oven whenever you want - I happen to like medium well beef, so I look for the bit of pink color, and then I take it out.
Aren't I an amazing recipe writer? Yeah...just oozing talent.
Anyways, play around with the recipe - is there a specific spice you love to throw into all your beef dishes? Give it a go! I love this very simple one; it's fast, easy, and versatile. Sometimes I toss some minced mushrooms in, which is really tasty.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Back to the forbidden, per the Doc's orders
So, we visited Josh's naturopath yesterday - yes, an ND. Now you might be thinking that we are seriously starting to drown in the pool of yuppy crap. You might be thinking that next, we'll start wearing yuppy clothes, get yuppy haircuts, bathe ourselves in patchouli, go live in a yuppy commune and grow yuppy herbs to heal all our woes.
We're considering it.
Anyways, this ND was not at all what I expected. I was a bit snarky myself, assuming that she would have us chant some stuff, pray to the nature gods, center our Chi and send us home with $200 in supplements. Call me Princess Cynicism. However, when we walked into her office and sat down, I was blown away by what she did and said. It...all made sense. She created a plan for Josh to follow to get him healthier - suffice it to say that he's got some imbalances right now that are really making him miserable. And no, it wasn't a plan filled with silly, expensive herbs, etc. It was a plan filled with careful thought and consideration for the individual and (gasp!) science.
I was blown away - never have I encountered such a genuinely concerned medical professional! She listened to every thought and concern Josh had; we talked for an hour straight. What doctor sits down and talks to you, I mean, really talks to you like you're a person?
At any rate, we found out that Josh's fabulous, massive weight loss in the last month has not been so fabulous after all. He's lost way more than he should, so the doctor prescribed...brown rice. No joke, I thought Josh was gonna lose it. He really didn't want to start eating it again, but she insisted it would help plateau the weight loss.
<3 I had spaghetti last night, and even with a sub par spaghetti sauce, I was in happy. Absolute happy. (Yes, you can be in happy.) Spaghetti one of my favorite comfort foods, and I haven't had any version of it in...3 or 4 months? I can't even remember how long it's been!
I also stopped by the store and got some brown rice flour, so I plan on experimenting with bread recipes this weekend - another thing I've never been able to try on Paleo (I don't count my favorite zucchini bread because it's seriously more of a cake than a bread).
Do you have any gluten/soy free bread recipes to share? I'd love to have some! I might post some this weekend when I have a chance to troll the Internet and search out the gems.
Until then, enjoy this awesome picture I took today - man, I love the sun. Wish I could inject it's warmth and happy right into me!
We're considering it.
Anyways, this ND was not at all what I expected. I was a bit snarky myself, assuming that she would have us chant some stuff, pray to the nature gods, center our Chi and send us home with $200 in supplements. Call me Princess Cynicism. However, when we walked into her office and sat down, I was blown away by what she did and said. It...all made sense. She created a plan for Josh to follow to get him healthier - suffice it to say that he's got some imbalances right now that are really making him miserable. And no, it wasn't a plan filled with silly, expensive herbs, etc. It was a plan filled with careful thought and consideration for the individual and (gasp!) science.
I was blown away - never have I encountered such a genuinely concerned medical professional! She listened to every thought and concern Josh had; we talked for an hour straight. What doctor sits down and talks to you, I mean, really talks to you like you're a person?
At any rate, we found out that Josh's fabulous, massive weight loss in the last month has not been so fabulous after all. He's lost way more than he should, so the doctor prescribed...brown rice. No joke, I thought Josh was gonna lose it. He really didn't want to start eating it again, but she insisted it would help plateau the weight loss.
<3 I had spaghetti last night, and even with a sub par spaghetti sauce, I was in happy. Absolute happy. (Yes, you can be in happy.) Spaghetti one of my favorite comfort foods, and I haven't had any version of it in...3 or 4 months? I can't even remember how long it's been!
I also stopped by the store and got some brown rice flour, so I plan on experimenting with bread recipes this weekend - another thing I've never been able to try on Paleo (I don't count my favorite zucchini bread because it's seriously more of a cake than a bread).
Do you have any gluten/soy free bread recipes to share? I'd love to have some! I might post some this weekend when I have a chance to troll the Internet and search out the gems.
Until then, enjoy this awesome picture I took today - man, I love the sun. Wish I could inject it's warmth and happy right into me!
Monday, March 21, 2011
Oh coconut...how I love thee.
Let me count the ways:
- coconut oil
- coconut flour
- coconut milk
- coconut beverage (not nearly as rich and dense as the cooking variety)
- coconut yogurt
- coconut water
- coconut ice cream
- coconut flakes
Yeah, you could say I have a new favorite food. There are so many things you can do with coconut products - it's incredible, it's dairy free, and it's good for you! Hurray!
I recently tried vanilla flavored coconut yogurt - I wasn't sure about it at first, especially since I found coconut coffee creamer to be so incredible wrong, but after taking a leap of faith and giving the yogurt a go, I was pleasantly surprised.
It definitely has the same consistency as your everyday dairy yogurt, but the color is...different. Different enough to make you think "Hm...why did I buy this again?" Be brave. You'll be glad you did!
I tried So Delicious, and so far (which the exception of the coconut coffee creamer) the brand name holds steady and true. The only downside? The price is Not So Delicious, which is typical of most coconut-based products. At our local PCC, I found it on sale for about $3.58 for a 16 oz. container.
What are some of your favorite Paleo-friendly foods?
- coconut oil
- coconut flour
- coconut milk
- coconut beverage (not nearly as rich and dense as the cooking variety)
- coconut yogurt
- coconut water
- coconut ice cream
- coconut flakes
Yeah, you could say I have a new favorite food. There are so many things you can do with coconut products - it's incredible, it's dairy free, and it's good for you! Hurray!
I recently tried vanilla flavored coconut yogurt - I wasn't sure about it at first, especially since I found coconut coffee creamer to be so incredible wrong, but after taking a leap of faith and giving the yogurt a go, I was pleasantly surprised.
It definitely has the same consistency as your everyday dairy yogurt, but the color is...different. Different enough to make you think "Hm...why did I buy this again?" Be brave. You'll be glad you did!
I tried So Delicious, and so far (which the exception of the coconut coffee creamer) the brand name holds steady and true. The only downside? The price is Not So Delicious, which is typical of most coconut-based products. At our local PCC, I found it on sale for about $3.58 for a 16 oz. container.
What are some of your favorite Paleo-friendly foods?
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Want to convert to Paleo? Here's some ways to begin...
I stumbled and fumbled when it came to starting this diet. I had no intentions of following the Paleo diet - I wanted to be on what I called "a whole foods diet." Wheat, other grains, legumes, dairy - you name it, and I was willing to eat it as long as it was unprocessed and organic. But once I realized what wheat, grains, legumes and dairy were doing to me, I was quick, though tearful, to rid my life of nearly all of them (except dairy, as you've read in a previous post).
If you've considered converting to Paleo nutrition (I really hate calling it a diet), here are some steps you might find helpful.
1.) Clean out your cabinets and fridge. This was BY FAR the most painful thing for me to do. I had a lot of delicious foods stored up, foods that I had made plans for, foods I had known since their infancy, foods I had started a college fund for (okay, I was ridiculously attached to these evil foods).
Gather up and get rid of:
- Food that is processed (read the labels - if the ingredients contain weird words that sound like chemicals, it goes in the toss pile)
- Food that contains wheat or grains (yes, goodbye oatmeal, spelt, quinoa, rice, etc.), legumes (no more beans, peas, green beans and peanuts), dairy, or corn in any form
- Flours containing corn, wheat or any other grains
- Sodas
- Anything with any added sugar high fructose corn syrup or any other kind of artificial sweetener
You can either donate this food or throw it away. Either way, it needs to get out of your house ASAP if you're going to stick with this. When I was finished, I had a couple of canned foods (organic pumpkin and coconut milk) and lots of nuts and fruit on my shelves. My fridge looked like a ghost town until we filled it with meat, veggies and fruit. Though, it took me a few months to throw away all the condiments in the side of the fridge.../sigh.
2.) Get thee to a grocery store. It’s time to start this, and start this right. Here's a list of Paleo musts.
- Buy organic/local food whenever you can. No pesticides and supporting local farmers = WIN
- If you can't buy a product that's both, go for local.
- If you can't find local, go with organic.
Great stores to frequent (if available in your area):
- Trader Joe's
- Earth Fare
- Whole Foods
- Local farmers' markets
- Fred Meyer
- Costco
- Kroger/QFC
Suggested foods:
- coconut oil
- extra virgin olive oil
- fish (especially wild pacific salmon)
- grass-fed ground beef (if it doesn't say grass fed, just say no)
- grass-fed beef (steak, roast, etc.)
- free range chicken
- free range eggs
- pork (no nitrates)
- salad
- onions
- mushrooms
- cucumbers
- yams
- apples
- avocados
- greens (kale, chard, spinach, etc)
- oranges
- grapefruits
- bananas
- strawberries
- blueberries
- blackberries
- raspberries
- celery
- cherries
- kiwi
- limes
- lemons
- plums
- pomegranate
- arrowroot (thickener)
These are just some of my favorite things – if you were to visit us and go through my fridge, it’s very likely you’d find well over half this stuff in it.
Here’s a great resource for Paleo-friendly foods:
http://altmed.creighton.edu/Paleodiet/Foodlist.html
Oh, and the link above says you can have beer in moderation. Most beer contains gluten, so that’s a no-no. Also, be careful with mercury content in fish. Search online to find fish with low mercury levels (salmon is one of the best).
3.) Have a positive attitude, and commit to it. Your body is addicted to grain, massive amounts of sugar, and a whole host of other things you’re used to eating. This is going to be difficult. Ask my husband how many times I’ve raved about pasta or Coke or bread or cupcakes. You’ll probably be like a drug addict and go through withdraws and insane cravings. DO NOT GIVE IN. These cravings pass in time. Commit to a Paleo lifestyle for at least a month, and see how you feel. I think if you really commit to it, you’ll love the results.
4.) Do your research. Most of what I have told you so far is based on my experience and my research, but it’s very important that you do some research for yourself. Here are some resources that I have found incredibly helpful:
Websites
Books
Please, as always, share any recipes, books, websites, stories, questions, comments, and anything else you think might be help to others.
If you have any questions, let me know. I definitely don’t have all the answers, but I’m always willing to search for them for you!
Happy Hunting and Gathering!
Sasha
p.s. If you have questions about the science behind all this, please read at least the first book referenced above - it explains it all.
*Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor, so I’m not here to cure you or diagnose you. You should consult your doctor before starting a new diet if you have any concerns about it or any medical problems. I’m also just a fan of the websites and books I’ve mentioned, however, I’m in no way affiliated. They’re just awesome people with awesome info.
If you've considered converting to Paleo nutrition (I really hate calling it a diet), here are some steps you might find helpful.
1.) Clean out your cabinets and fridge. This was BY FAR the most painful thing for me to do. I had a lot of delicious foods stored up, foods that I had made plans for, foods I had known since their infancy, foods I had started a college fund for (okay, I was ridiculously attached to these evil foods).
Gather up and get rid of:
- Food that is processed (read the labels - if the ingredients contain weird words that sound like chemicals, it goes in the toss pile)
- Food that contains wheat or grains (yes, goodbye oatmeal, spelt, quinoa, rice, etc.), legumes (no more beans, peas, green beans and peanuts), dairy, or corn in any form
- Flours containing corn, wheat or any other grains
- Sodas
- Anything with any added sugar high fructose corn syrup or any other kind of artificial sweetener
You can either donate this food or throw it away. Either way, it needs to get out of your house ASAP if you're going to stick with this. When I was finished, I had a couple of canned foods (organic pumpkin and coconut milk) and lots of nuts and fruit on my shelves. My fridge looked like a ghost town until we filled it with meat, veggies and fruit. Though, it took me a few months to throw away all the condiments in the side of the fridge.../sigh.
2.) Get thee to a grocery store. It’s time to start this, and start this right. Here's a list of Paleo musts.
- Buy organic/local food whenever you can. No pesticides and supporting local farmers = WIN
- If you can't buy a product that's both, go for local.
- If you can't find local, go with organic.
Great stores to frequent (if available in your area):
- Trader Joe's
- Earth Fare
- Whole Foods
- Local farmers' markets
- Fred Meyer
- Costco
- Kroger/QFC
Suggested foods:
- coconut oil
- extra virgin olive oil
- fish (especially wild pacific salmon)
- grass-fed ground beef (if it doesn't say grass fed, just say no)
- grass-fed beef (steak, roast, etc.)
- free range chicken
- free range eggs
- pork (no nitrates)
- salad
- onions
- mushrooms
- cucumbers
- yams
- apples
- avocados
- greens (kale, chard, spinach, etc)
- oranges
- grapefruits
- bananas
- strawberries
- blueberries
- blackberries
- raspberries
- celery
- cherries
- kiwi
- limes
- lemons
- plums
- pomegranate
- arrowroot (thickener)
These are just some of my favorite things – if you were to visit us and go through my fridge, it’s very likely you’d find well over half this stuff in it.
Here’s a great resource for Paleo-friendly foods:
http://altmed.creighton.edu/Paleodiet/Foodlist.html
Oh, and the link above says you can have beer in moderation. Most beer contains gluten, so that’s a no-no. Also, be careful with mercury content in fish. Search online to find fish with low mercury levels (salmon is one of the best).
3.) Have a positive attitude, and commit to it. Your body is addicted to grain, massive amounts of sugar, and a whole host of other things you’re used to eating. This is going to be difficult. Ask my husband how many times I’ve raved about pasta or Coke or bread or cupcakes. You’ll probably be like a drug addict and go through withdraws and insane cravings. DO NOT GIVE IN. These cravings pass in time. Commit to a Paleo lifestyle for at least a month, and see how you feel. I think if you really commit to it, you’ll love the results.
4.) Do your research. Most of what I have told you so far is based on my experience and my research, but it’s very important that you do some research for yourself. Here are some resources that I have found incredibly helpful:
Websites
Books
Please, as always, share any recipes, books, websites, stories, questions, comments, and anything else you think might be help to others.
If you have any questions, let me know. I definitely don’t have all the answers, but I’m always willing to search for them for you!
Happy Hunting and Gathering!
Sasha
p.s. If you have questions about the science behind all this, please read at least the first book referenced above - it explains it all.
*Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor, so I’m not here to cure you or diagnose you. You should consult your doctor before starting a new diet if you have any concerns about it or any medical problems. I’m also just a fan of the websites and books I’ve mentioned, however, I’m in no way affiliated. They’re just awesome people with awesome info.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Devastation
I've been so distracted lately. Japan is in an utter state of crisis - it's kinda left me a bit flat in the Paleo writing department. I've started a few times on some posts, but they were just lifeless. Meaningless, given what's going on.
So this post will deviate ever so slightly (okay, massively) from the norm, and it will touch on some questions people have been asking me lately.
Q: Did the earthquake/tsunami happen in or near the town you went to in Japan last year?
A: The epicenter of the earthquake is approximately a 3-4 hour drive from Tomobe (Ibaraki Prefecture) to Sendai (Miyagi Prefecture), so no. They very much felt and saw the effects of the earthquake, but the damage in Tomobe pales in comparison to the damage in Sendai, from what I understand. The missionaries we worked with say that there were messes to clean up inside the house and church (broken dishes, food, etc.), but the buildings are structurally sound. People around them sustained damage to their roof tiles and stone walls, but that's about it. They're slowly regaining their utilities.
Q: Has or will the radiation from the damaged nuclear plants reach WA?
A: I'm guessing absolutely not, based on what I've read so far. Right now, it sounds like the latest explosion has put the population within an 18 mile radius of the plant at risk to low-moderate radiation exposure. One of the plants is approximately 100 miles from Tomobe. Check out this article for info on radiation in general and the radiation problems in Japan http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12722435. But yes, Mom and Dad - if I hear of any problems, I'll hop on a plane and head home. :)
Q: I've heard so many things on the news - some of them sound so scary, and some of them sound, well...less apocalyptic. How bad is it really?
A: Not only have I asked that same question and talked about it with tons of other people, I also don't know the exact answer. All I can say is please, please acquire the ability to discern hyped up news garbage from real facts if you don't have that ability already. I've read some ridiculous headlines from some (arguably) respectable news sources, and I've heard/read some that just do their best to lay out facts. If you see some beyond-shocking headline somewhere, double check it. Triple check it. Don't spread it around until you're sure it's reasonably factual. Spreading false information about a crisis is about as helpful as not trying to help at all.
Q: What can I do to help Japan?
A: Okay, I haven't exactly been asked this (why would anyone ask me? I'm just some nobody from WA!), but I feel compelled to share some resources with you.
Help Japan:
http://american.redcross.org/
text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 from your phone
http://www.internationalmedicalcorps.org/Page.aspx?pid=332
text MED to 80888 to donate $10
Also, check out this article for more resources:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/14/how-to-help-japan-earthquake-relief_n_834484.html
I've been trying to think of other ways to help - sometimes, it feels like throwing money at the problem doesn't always solve the problem. Maybe getting a group together and throwing a fundraiser for one of the churches we know of there (bake sale, knitted goods sale, knitting pattern sale, youth group auction, etc.), praying, spreading the word on how others can help...that kind of stuff.
If you have any great ideas or want to start something of your own, do share! :)
So this post will deviate ever so slightly (okay, massively) from the norm, and it will touch on some questions people have been asking me lately.
Q: Did the earthquake/tsunami happen in or near the town you went to in Japan last year?
A: The epicenter of the earthquake is approximately a 3-4 hour drive from Tomobe (Ibaraki Prefecture) to Sendai (Miyagi Prefecture), so no. They very much felt and saw the effects of the earthquake, but the damage in Tomobe pales in comparison to the damage in Sendai, from what I understand. The missionaries we worked with say that there were messes to clean up inside the house and church (broken dishes, food, etc.), but the buildings are structurally sound. People around them sustained damage to their roof tiles and stone walls, but that's about it. They're slowly regaining their utilities.
Q: Has or will the radiation from the damaged nuclear plants reach WA?
A: I'm guessing absolutely not, based on what I've read so far. Right now, it sounds like the latest explosion has put the population within an 18 mile radius of the plant at risk to low-moderate radiation exposure. One of the plants is approximately 100 miles from Tomobe. Check out this article for info on radiation in general and the radiation problems in Japan http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12722435. But yes, Mom and Dad - if I hear of any problems, I'll hop on a plane and head home. :)
Q: I've heard so many things on the news - some of them sound so scary, and some of them sound, well...less apocalyptic. How bad is it really?
A: Not only have I asked that same question and talked about it with tons of other people, I also don't know the exact answer. All I can say is please, please acquire the ability to discern hyped up news garbage from real facts if you don't have that ability already. I've read some ridiculous headlines from some (arguably) respectable news sources, and I've heard/read some that just do their best to lay out facts. If you see some beyond-shocking headline somewhere, double check it. Triple check it. Don't spread it around until you're sure it's reasonably factual. Spreading false information about a crisis is about as helpful as not trying to help at all.
Q: What can I do to help Japan?
A: Okay, I haven't exactly been asked this (why would anyone ask me? I'm just some nobody from WA!), but I feel compelled to share some resources with you.
Help Japan:
http://american.redcross.org/
text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 from your phone
http://www.internationalmedicalcorps.org/Page.aspx?pid=332
text MED to 80888 to donate $10
Also, check out this article for more resources:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/14/how-to-help-japan-earthquake-relief_n_834484.html
I've been trying to think of other ways to help - sometimes, it feels like throwing money at the problem doesn't always solve the problem. Maybe getting a group together and throwing a fundraiser for one of the churches we know of there (bake sale, knitted goods sale, knitting pattern sale, youth group auction, etc.), praying, spreading the word on how others can help...that kind of stuff.
If you have any great ideas or want to start something of your own, do share! :)
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
When all else fails, make up something
Oddly enough, the title of this post sums up my college experience.
Nice, right?
Anyways, after enduring (thankfully only) two days of jury summons, which could also be renamed "Sitting in a Giant Waiting Room with Hundreds of People for Hours a Day Wasting My Life Away," and after riding the bus home (always a horrifying adventure for me in the big city), I was yearning to do something creative. You know, something where I'm not sitting on my butt for hours doing nothing. We had recently bought some organic chicken legs and breasts, and I was craving coconut. I tried looking online for recipes that were basically some kind of coconut product and chicken, but I kept finding coconut curry recipes. Not a huge fan of curry.
What's a Paleo girl to do? Answer: Make up something.
So I made up the following. Please note that some of the measurements...aren't measurements. I'm a Southern woman at heart - I make stuff up as I go when I cook, so just go with the flow, and get inspired. If you think you want more of an ingredient, just add it.
Jury Duty Baked Coconut Chicken with Coconut Mushroom Gravy
- 5 organic chicken legs (or 4 chicken breasts)
- 1 can of light coconut milk (Trader Joe's)
- 1/3 cup of coconut flour
- 1/2 tsp of salt (really, just as much salt as you like on your chicken)
- black pepper to taste
- 3 cups (or more if you like) of crimini mushrooms
- maybe a pinch of arrowroot powder to thicken the gravy
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grab a baking dish (one large enough to hold the meat). Place the meat in the baking dish. Pour the coconut milk over the chicken and into the dish. In a separate bowl, place the dry ingredients (coconut flour, arrowroot, salt and pepper), and mix together. Sprinkle dry mix over chicken and into the dish. Next, finely chop up the mushrooms and spread them onto the chicken and into the dish. If you like things salty, toss a pinch of salt on top of everything, then pop it into the oven. Bake for approximately 45 minutes or until the top turns golden brown.
Not bad for just making up something on the fly - my only regrets are
1) I didn't use enough mushrooms. I probably could have used the entire Costco-sized package in the dish, and it would have been amazing! Oh well - next time.
2) I didn't use enough coconut milk. And, I was using frozen coconut ice cubes from the last can I opened, so it was difficult to tell how much I was using, especially since I wasn't measuring anything along the way.
3) I used a little too much pepper. I did want it to be a bit spicy, but Josh was even a bit startled by the heat. Since he wants to stay away from night shades, he seemed suspicious that I had used cayenne or curry. Nope! Just got a bit excited with the fresh ground black pepper.
4) I didn't use arrowroot. It would have been nice to have a slightly thicker gravy.
Anyways, I hope you enjoy the recipe!
On a less food/jury duty note, Josh and I have started exercising again. Goodbye another 20lbs! I can imagine it melting off of me now...ah. How satisfying. Not to mention, I feel like I can actually run a mile straight - I haven't tried it yet, but I feel that good. Seriously.
Have I mentioned that the Paleo diet is amazing?
It is. If you don't believe me, try it.
Oh, quit whining about pasta and pizza, you big baby. If I can kick the addiction, then you can. And yes, you are truly addicted. You're about as bad off as an alcoholic or a meth head. Oh, and you're in denial. Trust me - I've been there.
We'll talk more about that later.
Let me know if you try the recipe, have some suggestions to make it better, or just hate it.
Craving pizza always,
Sasha
p.s. I respect and appreciate our civic duty as American citizens to serve on a jury in court. Doesn't mean I have to like it.
Nice, right?
Anyways, after enduring (thankfully only) two days of jury summons, which could also be renamed "Sitting in a Giant Waiting Room with Hundreds of People for Hours a Day Wasting My Life Away," and after riding the bus home (always a horrifying adventure for me in the big city), I was yearning to do something creative. You know, something where I'm not sitting on my butt for hours doing nothing. We had recently bought some organic chicken legs and breasts, and I was craving coconut. I tried looking online for recipes that were basically some kind of coconut product and chicken, but I kept finding coconut curry recipes. Not a huge fan of curry.
What's a Paleo girl to do? Answer: Make up something.
So I made up the following. Please note that some of the measurements...aren't measurements. I'm a Southern woman at heart - I make stuff up as I go when I cook, so just go with the flow, and get inspired. If you think you want more of an ingredient, just add it.
Jury Duty Baked Coconut Chicken with Coconut Mushroom Gravy
- 5 organic chicken legs (or 4 chicken breasts)
- 1 can of light coconut milk (Trader Joe's)
- 1/3 cup of coconut flour
- 1/2 tsp of salt (really, just as much salt as you like on your chicken)
- black pepper to taste
- 3 cups (or more if you like) of crimini mushrooms
- maybe a pinch of arrowroot powder to thicken the gravy
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grab a baking dish (one large enough to hold the meat). Place the meat in the baking dish. Pour the coconut milk over the chicken and into the dish. In a separate bowl, place the dry ingredients (coconut flour, arrowroot, salt and pepper), and mix together. Sprinkle dry mix over chicken and into the dish. Next, finely chop up the mushrooms and spread them onto the chicken and into the dish. If you like things salty, toss a pinch of salt on top of everything, then pop it into the oven. Bake for approximately 45 minutes or until the top turns golden brown.
Not bad for just making up something on the fly - my only regrets are
1) I didn't use enough mushrooms. I probably could have used the entire Costco-sized package in the dish, and it would have been amazing! Oh well - next time.
2) I didn't use enough coconut milk. And, I was using frozen coconut ice cubes from the last can I opened, so it was difficult to tell how much I was using, especially since I wasn't measuring anything along the way.
3) I used a little too much pepper. I did want it to be a bit spicy, but Josh was even a bit startled by the heat. Since he wants to stay away from night shades, he seemed suspicious that I had used cayenne or curry. Nope! Just got a bit excited with the fresh ground black pepper.
4) I didn't use arrowroot. It would have been nice to have a slightly thicker gravy.
Anyways, I hope you enjoy the recipe!
On a less food/jury duty note, Josh and I have started exercising again. Goodbye another 20lbs! I can imagine it melting off of me now...ah. How satisfying. Not to mention, I feel like I can actually run a mile straight - I haven't tried it yet, but I feel that good. Seriously.
Have I mentioned that the Paleo diet is amazing?
It is. If you don't believe me, try it.
Oh, quit whining about pasta and pizza, you big baby. If I can kick the addiction, then you can. And yes, you are truly addicted. You're about as bad off as an alcoholic or a meth head. Oh, and you're in denial. Trust me - I've been there.
We'll talk more about that later.
Let me know if you try the recipe, have some suggestions to make it better, or just hate it.
Craving pizza always,
Sasha
p.s. I respect and appreciate our civic duty as American citizens to serve on a jury in court. Doesn't mean I have to like it.
Monday, March 7, 2011
An unconventional chip
Baking kale and chard into chip form isn't a new thing, I'm sure. But never in my wildest dreams did I realize it'd be so good!
Snacking can sometimes be tricky when following a Paleo lifestyle. I mean, apples, oranges, broccoli, celery, and nuts are great, but after a while, it gets old. Especially when you're trapped in a jury room surrounded by vending machines and people munching and crunching on potato chips all around you. It tends to jog fond, misty-eyed memories of delicious fried chips of yore. Ahhh...chips.
Where was I?
Oh, healthy stuff, right. So the other day, I bought a mess of rainbow chard (love love love it!) and kale, and proclaimed to my husband that I would make chips. I really wish I could have made them last night and had them today at court to munch on - they are seriously divine!
Based on a blog I found (http://soursaltybittersweet.com/content/csa-2010-files-kale-chips-chard-chips-kohlrabi-top-chips) and my own laziness (let's keep these recipes simple and quick, people), I came up with this recipe:
Rainbow Chard Chips
- 1 bundle of rainbow chard
- Redmond Real Salt Ancient All Natural Sea Salt (or a lesser salt if you must) to taste
- 1 small lemon
- approx 2 tbs of extra virgin olive oil
Preheat the oven to 300. Remove the stems from the chard, and chop them up into chip-sized pieces. Rinse chard and spin in a salad spinner. Cover two cookie sheets with foil and coat the foil with olive oil. Lightly salt foil. Place chard onto the foil. Cut lemon in half and squeeze juice over chard. Salt lightly to taste (loves me some salt!). Put cookie sheets in the oven for around 15-20 minutes until the chard looks crisp. Take out and let them cool.
Play around with the spices. If you find a good combo of spices, please share! :)
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go finish off my chips.
Greens never tasted so good!
<3 Sasha
Snacking can sometimes be tricky when following a Paleo lifestyle. I mean, apples, oranges, broccoli, celery, and nuts are great, but after a while, it gets old. Especially when you're trapped in a jury room surrounded by vending machines and people munching and crunching on potato chips all around you. It tends to jog fond, misty-eyed memories of delicious fried chips of yore. Ahhh...chips.
Where was I?
Oh, healthy stuff, right. So the other day, I bought a mess of rainbow chard (love love love it!) and kale, and proclaimed to my husband that I would make chips. I really wish I could have made them last night and had them today at court to munch on - they are seriously divine!
Based on a blog I found (http://soursaltybittersweet.com/content/csa-2010-files-kale-chips-chard-chips-kohlrabi-top-chips) and my own laziness (let's keep these recipes simple and quick, people), I came up with this recipe:
(Not pretty, but very tasty!)
Rainbow Chard Chips
- 1 bundle of rainbow chard
- Redmond Real Salt Ancient All Natural Sea Salt (or a lesser salt if you must) to taste
- 1 small lemon
- approx 2 tbs of extra virgin olive oil
Preheat the oven to 300. Remove the stems from the chard, and chop them up into chip-sized pieces. Rinse chard and spin in a salad spinner. Cover two cookie sheets with foil and coat the foil with olive oil. Lightly salt foil. Place chard onto the foil. Cut lemon in half and squeeze juice over chard. Salt lightly to taste (loves me some salt!). Put cookie sheets in the oven for around 15-20 minutes until the chard looks crisp. Take out and let them cool.
Play around with the spices. If you find a good combo of spices, please share! :)
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go finish off my chips.
Greens never tasted so good!
<3 Sasha
Friday, March 4, 2011
The break up of the year
Milk. Yogurt. Cheese. Ice cream. Sour cream. Heavy cream.
Seriously, anything involving cream. Oh...excuse me. Drooling a bit.
Anyways, I've had a really hard time giving up dairy. I really should have given it up when I first started the diet, but I adore cheese - I have an almost-empty pack of feta in my fridge, and I've been rationing it out the last week, because I know it's coming.
It's coming.
I plan on breaking up with dairy this month. I just need some time, you know...to think things over. I need to know that this is a relationship worth fighting for, and I need to know if it's compromising the lining of my intestines. And if you think about dairy, it's actually kinda gross.
Eh?
I've been reading Robb Wolf's book, The Paleo Solution, and he talks about foods that can promote inflammation. These include dairy, night shades (bell peppers, hot peppers, tomatoes), and a variety of other foods we'll probably get to later.
Now, ask yourself a question: Is it natural to consume the "breast" milk of an animal? Yeah, not so much. I'm fairly sure our very ancient relatives didn't chase cows down and suckle at their teat. Gross much? I think so.
So we've nailed down that it's gross (seriously, it would make more sense to make ice cream, etc. out of human breast milk, even though that sounds even more disgusting). Next, I want you to open up a window or tab in your browser, and search for "dairy causes inflammation." Interesting, huh?
Of course, there are many people who don't have a problem ingesting dairy - their body doesn't have an auto-immune response to it. Quick thought: Why would our bodies have an auto-immune response to dairy? Quick answer: Cause our bodies aren't meant to digest an animal's milk. Just think on that for a bit.
I wish my relationship with dairy could last forever. Maybe one day we can be together again, but for at least about a month (starting once my feta and creamer are gone), I will keep my distance from this delicious lovely.
-Sasha
p.s. Don't tell dairy, but I'll be seeing coconut products behind his back. Hopefully he won't be too upset about it if we get back together next month.
Check out this delicious breakfast using organic coconut milk (vanilla flavored; $2.99 for a half gallon @ Fred Meyer), organic blackberries, organic banana chunks, and walnuts. Fairly cheap and quick to make.
Mmm...might have to make another bowl.
Seriously, anything involving cream. Oh...excuse me. Drooling a bit.
Anyways, I've had a really hard time giving up dairy. I really should have given it up when I first started the diet, but I adore cheese - I have an almost-empty pack of feta in my fridge, and I've been rationing it out the last week, because I know it's coming.
It's coming.
I plan on breaking up with dairy this month. I just need some time, you know...to think things over. I need to know that this is a relationship worth fighting for, and I need to know if it's compromising the lining of my intestines. And if you think about dairy, it's actually kinda gross.
Eh?
I've been reading Robb Wolf's book, The Paleo Solution, and he talks about foods that can promote inflammation. These include dairy, night shades (bell peppers, hot peppers, tomatoes), and a variety of other foods we'll probably get to later.
Now, ask yourself a question: Is it natural to consume the "breast" milk of an animal? Yeah, not so much. I'm fairly sure our very ancient relatives didn't chase cows down and suckle at their teat. Gross much? I think so.
So we've nailed down that it's gross (seriously, it would make more sense to make ice cream, etc. out of human breast milk, even though that sounds even more disgusting). Next, I want you to open up a window or tab in your browser, and search for "dairy causes inflammation." Interesting, huh?
Of course, there are many people who don't have a problem ingesting dairy - their body doesn't have an auto-immune response to it. Quick thought: Why would our bodies have an auto-immune response to dairy? Quick answer: Cause our bodies aren't meant to digest an animal's milk. Just think on that for a bit.
I wish my relationship with dairy could last forever. Maybe one day we can be together again, but for at least about a month (starting once my feta and creamer are gone), I will keep my distance from this delicious lovely.
-Sasha
p.s. Don't tell dairy, but I'll be seeing coconut products behind his back. Hopefully he won't be too upset about it if we get back together next month.
Check out this delicious breakfast using organic coconut milk (vanilla flavored; $2.99 for a half gallon @ Fred Meyer), organic blackberries, organic banana chunks, and walnuts. Fairly cheap and quick to make.
Mmm...might have to make another bowl.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Out of the dark, into the light
I can't help looking back at the last 26 years I've been alive in disgust.
Ouch.
When I think of all the processed food I've inhaled, all the sugar I've ingested, all the wheat I've eaten, all the chemicals I've consumed...oh. Hold on a sec. I think I'm gonna be sick.
But in all seriousness, I lived a little over 25 years with nutrition blinders on. I've never questioned the food pyramid, the teachers, the scientists, the doctors, the articles. Instead, I reasoned that having bread every morning was a necessity (my right as an American, dang it!), sweet tea was a must (at least three times a day at one point in my life), and if I didn't allow myself a "treat" every day (a candy bar, ice cream, pie, etc.), I'd be denying myself and would one day end up morbidly obese from finally giving in to the pressure and binging on everything in sight.
Here's my story - how I slowly crawled out of the dark and found the light.
But first, let me give you a not-so-quick background story on me (for those of you who have forgotten, didn't know me before WA, college, etc., or just don't know me in general). I was a decent size girl my senior year in high school - I weighed around 155. Not too bad for a band nerd of average height. My diet at that point was, what I would consider, fairly typical - maybe toast, butter and jam for breakfast, a breaded chicken sandwich or pizza and corn or breaded okra or a cookie from the cafeteria for lunch, and fried or grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and a roll for dinner. This was a fairly common pattern for me.
Notice the lack of vegetables and fruit; notice the excess starch and carbs?
Fast forward a year - I'm a freshman at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. I'm living on my own for the first time, and I'm high on freedom and independence. My diet suddenly changes - I eat lots of pasta, Pizza Hut personal pepperoni pizzas (I never want to know how many I ate the three short months I lived in Knoxville, GAG!), more pasta, soda, sweet tea, and fast food. I might have had two salads and a smoothie the entire time I lived there. Any guesses on how much weight I gained?
If you guessed "the Freshman 15," you are correct. How great for you.
For me, not so much. By the time I graduated from ETSU, I had gained around 25 lbs. Yet I had convinced myself I was mostly okay - I just needed to work out more. Right.
So I started working out. And working out. And the scale didn't budge, and the fork to my face kept shoveling it in. Naturally, motivation begins to dwindle when you don't see instantaneous results (discipline and I hadn't formally been introduced yet), so I gave up working out, and embraced the fork to my face routine.
And would you believe it, I lost 30 lbs?!
Nah, just yankin' your chain. When I moved to WA and finally got enough guts to purchase a scale, I weighed about 183. The thought of being so close to 200 lbs horrified me - my parents have struggled with obesity for several years, and I knew if I crossed that 200 lb threshold, I might not be able to turn back. So I turned back to exercising. Josh and I would go to the park and play catch or we'd walk down to Juanita Beach Park and chase ducks. Unfortunately, Josh had a job where he had to travel. A lot. And what would Sasha do when the hubby was gone? Eat. Eat. Eat. My only friend in WA was food.
At the end of summer 2008, I got a job - yay! Oh, have I mentioned my previous jobs were all standing jobs? It's worth noting. Anyways, I got an office job, and I've got this great schedule! I work four days a week, 10 hours a day in front of a computer answering phones, emails, posting listings on our website...
Did you read that and let it fully sink in? I work four days a week, 10 hours a day. Awesome for weekends, no doubt. Not so much for my thighs...oh, and my fabulous coworkers are amazing cookers, and love to bring in things to share. Oh hello, temptation - I think we've met. Oh yes. We've met.
Fast forward from 2008 to 2010. I was fat. MOOO. At my heaviest, I weighed 197 lbs. Oh that's right. I bet not too many of you knew that. I was overweight, sluggish, and incredibly unhappy with myself. I had no energy, no drive, no self-esteem, and no idea how to climb out of the deep, dark hole I had sunk into. Throughout 2010, I had really tried changing my lifestyle - I purchased a heart rate monitor and started exercising very regularly, I tried counting calories, I tried adding in exercise throughout the day, I tried staying accountable with friends, family, spouse, etc. But oddly enough, I was still around 190 lbs for most of the year.
In December, I was compelled to make a radical change.
For years, my husband had tried to convince me to go on a gluten free diet. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Give up my bread, my cereal, my pasta, my soul? NO - NEVER!" was pretty much my answer every time he asked. But in December, I had a sudden shift of heart (not to mention lots of heart tests). I knew that in order to lose weight, I needed to radically alter my diet, so I planned on going on (what I called at the time) a "Whole Foods Diet." No processed foods, all organic, all as fresh as possible. But this still included wheat, grains, legumes, nightshades, and dairy. My husband decided to go on something called the Paleo diet. Psh...sounds stupid.
Was I really that immature just a couple of months ago?!
I think my epiphany came when I watched the documentary, Food, Inc. (if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it). I felt so betrayed and disgusted by modern, industrial food! I couldn't believe how horribly the animals are treated, how chemical our food is, and how unhealthy practically everything is! And what disgusted me more than anything is that I never thought to question the system.
The more Josh talked about the Paleo diet, the more I realized that I had to try it. I mean, it just makes sense - eat foods that early humans had access to (within reason of course): Meat, nuts, fruit, veggies. Eat only foods that can be eaten raw. That's not to say that I can't cook food, mind you. It means don't eat beans, cashews, peanuts, and a whole host of other foods I thought were healthy. And, you just eat when you're hungry. No counting calories (thank goodness - I suck at math, ha!).
After some more research and soul searching, I decided to take it on.
And in two months, I'm down to 172.2. Hello smaller pants size!
Join me on my journey - I'll post updates on me of course (lucky you) - how the lifestyle is going, how I'm feeling, recipes, Paleo info, and anything else I feel like putting on here.
Into the light we go. Dare you to follow.
Ouch.
When I think of all the processed food I've inhaled, all the sugar I've ingested, all the wheat I've eaten, all the chemicals I've consumed...oh. Hold on a sec. I think I'm gonna be sick.
But in all seriousness, I lived a little over 25 years with nutrition blinders on. I've never questioned the food pyramid, the teachers, the scientists, the doctors, the articles. Instead, I reasoned that having bread every morning was a necessity (my right as an American, dang it!), sweet tea was a must (at least three times a day at one point in my life), and if I didn't allow myself a "treat" every day (a candy bar, ice cream, pie, etc.), I'd be denying myself and would one day end up morbidly obese from finally giving in to the pressure and binging on everything in sight.
Here's my story - how I slowly crawled out of the dark and found the light.
But first, let me give you a not-so-quick background story on me (for those of you who have forgotten, didn't know me before WA, college, etc., or just don't know me in general). I was a decent size girl my senior year in high school - I weighed around 155. Not too bad for a band nerd of average height. My diet at that point was, what I would consider, fairly typical - maybe toast, butter and jam for breakfast, a breaded chicken sandwich or pizza and corn or breaded okra or a cookie from the cafeteria for lunch, and fried or grilled chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and a roll for dinner. This was a fairly common pattern for me.
Notice the lack of vegetables and fruit; notice the excess starch and carbs?
Fast forward a year - I'm a freshman at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. I'm living on my own for the first time, and I'm high on freedom and independence. My diet suddenly changes - I eat lots of pasta, Pizza Hut personal pepperoni pizzas (I never want to know how many I ate the three short months I lived in Knoxville, GAG!), more pasta, soda, sweet tea, and fast food. I might have had two salads and a smoothie the entire time I lived there. Any guesses on how much weight I gained?
If you guessed "the Freshman 15," you are correct. How great for you.
For me, not so much. By the time I graduated from ETSU, I had gained around 25 lbs. Yet I had convinced myself I was mostly okay - I just needed to work out more. Right.
So I started working out. And working out. And the scale didn't budge, and the fork to my face kept shoveling it in. Naturally, motivation begins to dwindle when you don't see instantaneous results (discipline and I hadn't formally been introduced yet), so I gave up working out, and embraced the fork to my face routine.
And would you believe it, I lost 30 lbs?!
Nah, just yankin' your chain. When I moved to WA and finally got enough guts to purchase a scale, I weighed about 183. The thought of being so close to 200 lbs horrified me - my parents have struggled with obesity for several years, and I knew if I crossed that 200 lb threshold, I might not be able to turn back. So I turned back to exercising. Josh and I would go to the park and play catch or we'd walk down to Juanita Beach Park and chase ducks. Unfortunately, Josh had a job where he had to travel. A lot. And what would Sasha do when the hubby was gone? Eat. Eat. Eat. My only friend in WA was food.
At the end of summer 2008, I got a job - yay! Oh, have I mentioned my previous jobs were all standing jobs? It's worth noting. Anyways, I got an office job, and I've got this great schedule! I work four days a week, 10 hours a day in front of a computer answering phones, emails, posting listings on our website...
Did you read that and let it fully sink in? I work four days a week, 10 hours a day. Awesome for weekends, no doubt. Not so much for my thighs...oh, and my fabulous coworkers are amazing cookers, and love to bring in things to share. Oh hello, temptation - I think we've met. Oh yes. We've met.
Fast forward from 2008 to 2010. I was fat. MOOO. At my heaviest, I weighed 197 lbs. Oh that's right. I bet not too many of you knew that. I was overweight, sluggish, and incredibly unhappy with myself. I had no energy, no drive, no self-esteem, and no idea how to climb out of the deep, dark hole I had sunk into. Throughout 2010, I had really tried changing my lifestyle - I purchased a heart rate monitor and started exercising very regularly, I tried counting calories, I tried adding in exercise throughout the day, I tried staying accountable with friends, family, spouse, etc. But oddly enough, I was still around 190 lbs for most of the year.
In December, I was compelled to make a radical change.
For years, my husband had tried to convince me to go on a gluten free diet. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Give up my bread, my cereal, my pasta, my soul? NO - NEVER!" was pretty much my answer every time he asked. But in December, I had a sudden shift of heart (not to mention lots of heart tests). I knew that in order to lose weight, I needed to radically alter my diet, so I planned on going on (what I called at the time) a "Whole Foods Diet." No processed foods, all organic, all as fresh as possible. But this still included wheat, grains, legumes, nightshades, and dairy. My husband decided to go on something called the Paleo diet. Psh...sounds stupid.
Was I really that immature just a couple of months ago?!
I think my epiphany came when I watched the documentary, Food, Inc. (if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it). I felt so betrayed and disgusted by modern, industrial food! I couldn't believe how horribly the animals are treated, how chemical our food is, and how unhealthy practically everything is! And what disgusted me more than anything is that I never thought to question the system.
The more Josh talked about the Paleo diet, the more I realized that I had to try it. I mean, it just makes sense - eat foods that early humans had access to (within reason of course): Meat, nuts, fruit, veggies. Eat only foods that can be eaten raw. That's not to say that I can't cook food, mind you. It means don't eat beans, cashews, peanuts, and a whole host of other foods I thought were healthy. And, you just eat when you're hungry. No counting calories (thank goodness - I suck at math, ha!).
After some more research and soul searching, I decided to take it on.
And in two months, I'm down to 172.2. Hello smaller pants size!
Join me on my journey - I'll post updates on me of course (lucky you) - how the lifestyle is going, how I'm feeling, recipes, Paleo info, and anything else I feel like putting on here.
Into the light we go. Dare you to follow.
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