Archive - December 2013

I’m sorry for my absence from blogging, but Christmas was a bit busy for me.  Hope everyone enjoyed theirs!  I kept mine pretty Paleo and clean, minus eating too many Paleo cookies and a gluten free cupcake that was purchased for me.  Other than that, I stuck true to eating clean and still feel great.  I haven’t fallen off or anything, so I’m pretty stoked about doing this 30 days of strict Paleo, plus working out.

I’ve been recruiting people (mostly friends) for my 30-day Paleo plan starting January 1, 2014.  It’s just a coincidence that it’s January 1st; not starting that day as a “resolution”.  January 1st just happened to be the next first of a month.  While this may be one of thebetter times to “start something new”, I think the idea of a New Year’s Resolution, sets us up for disaster.  We make “resolutions” to motivate ourselves, so for a whole year we tend to procrastinate.  Some of us aren’t ready to make the changes we resolve to do, so that’s why most people end up failing or achieving the goal of their resolution!  So before you go thinking that this will be impossible to do…just give it a week.  One week is all you will need to feel the difference.  I will be adding in a workout regimen, but it is not necessary that you work out (crazy, right?).  This is all about becoming a new, healthier you.  After you start feeling better…then you can make your resolutions.

I actually wanted to touch on the connection between Paleo and working out.  Working out will be a big part of my 30 days (I’ve neglected the gym since I started Paleo).  The Paleo diet has to be altered slightly, depending on your activity levels.  After a conversation this weekend, with a friend who spends a lot of time in the gym and wants to go Paleo, led to many questions and not so many answers.  I never really looked into it.  The only thing I knew was eating lean proteins almost immediately after a workout.  I couldn’t tell you why, just that I read that somewhere.  So here it goes…

If, for any reason, you are one of those cardio maniacs at the gym…I regret to inform you, that is no longer how it will be (if you decide to go Paleo).  You will trade the cardio in for brief and intense strength training.  Upon doing some research, I found that the “chronic cardio” keeps you in a constant fight or flight mode, which will increase cortisol levels, inflammation, and damage to your cells.  Plus, the high-carb diet required to sustain the “chronic cardio” harms your body in the long term by raising your insulin levels.  Working out should never feel like a pain staking chore.  You should want to workout to feel better and support overall health.  Make sure you get your rest in, as well.  Make sure your workouts are energetic and not leaving you exhausted and sore.  A workout schedule while eating Paleo is definitely flexible, so find what works for you.  The workout for a Paleo lifestyle is based on natural movement.  They say to not use machine based equipment, such as a treadmill, but rather, go outside and go for a hike.  If you do high intensity workouts, make sure you’re leaving plenty of time for your muscles to recover.  But remember, your rest days shouldn’t be spent on the couch watching TV…slow movement should be incorporated on these days.  Perhaps you can walk on a treadmill for a few minutes, or go outside for a walk.

StupidEasyPaleo.com had a good article on post workout Paleo meals.  If you’re working out and eating clean, you should definitely check it out here.  I think it’s important for anyone who works out, especially for those of you who have intense workouts and who eat clean, to make sure that you get the right nutrients.  I do a lot of research on things such as this to make sure I achieve the maximum benefits of eating clean.  When I start this 30 Day Plan, I want to make sure I supply as much information as I can for anyone who is willing to listen.  I will be working out more during this 30 days, so it was imperative I did this research.  Here’s another good link for “A Quick Guide to the Paleo Diet for Athletes“.  At the end of these 30 days I’ll write about more of my observations and personal experiences.  If you want to be included in the 30 Day Plan, contact me paleyoblog@gmail.com or twitter @paleyoblog.

Challenge yourself.  You’ll be surprised.

“Don’t change because a New Year is coming up, but change for your own personal growth. No matter what resolutions you make, they start with you.”

I just realized that maybe I’ve been slacking on talking about my meals lately…sorry.  I’ll work on it.

Let me start off by saying this recipe for pizza may be the most amazing thing I’ve found to date.  Not only did I make pizza (that everyone practically inhaled and didn’t even question), but I also used the same recipe to make pitas!  Everyone who I have made this pizza for (Paleo or not), loved it.  You can dress it up however you want.  If you eat dairy, you can add your cheese.  Now, of course you can’t be eating this every day, but it sure makes Friday nights a little more exciting…pizza night!  This recipe has changed my life!  (Not really…but you get the point)  If you would like further directions, contact me.

1 cup water
1/2 cup ghee, grass-fed butter or extra virgin coconut oil
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp granulated garlic
1 1/2 cups tapioca flour
2 eggs
1/2 cup coconut flour

I’ve been using recipes from the “Practical Paleo” book, and doing a lot of my own little creations.  All the mouths I feed have zero complaints.  So I went from zero to cooking hero in four short months.  I can’t wait to make some Christmas cookies!  (a week away…wow)  I’m going to make some not Paleo (that I will NOT be eating), and Paleo ones that I can enjoy before my 30 days of strict Paleo living begins (January 1…there’s still time to jump on the band wagon).  That means 30 days of no Paleo treats…I got this!  I should be able to lose a few more pounds, and I’m adding more gym days to my week again so I’ll get a bit more toned.

A few months ago I had filled a closet with all these clothes I was going to get rid of because they were too small.  This weekend I decided to clean that closet out; my pile was drastically reduced because a lot of the stuff actually fit again.  The clothes I wore last New Year’s Eve I am donating because now they are way too big.  (Can you see the smile on my face?)  I’m hoping that by my 31st birthday (March 31), that I’m close to my end goal.  I had this hoodie that I wore during last football season, I put it on…I looked like a 3 year old in my dad’s jacket.  I’m not even exaggerating.  Amazing.  After the new year I think a shopping spree is in order.

I read this article about Adam Richman (Man vs. Food), and how “he ditched the show, overcame his bad habits, and took control of his body.”  I met him a few years ago, nice guy.  Here’s the article: Man vs. Flab.  Glad to see he’s doing awesome!

I can’t wait to go snowboarding this season.  I want to see what Paleo does for riding.  I used to get a lot of leg and foot cramps, so I’m wondering if eliminating all the gluten and such will help with that.  I’ll keep you posted.

This is has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for myself.

“Skinny girls look good in clothes.  Fit girls look good naked.”

Four months and 1 week later…I have reached my (first) goal.  I have lost 30.5 lbs.  I can’t even think about where I was a year ago, compared to now.  I certainly view my life through a very different pair of glasses now.  I have a lot more clarity and meaning. Attributing all of that to my lifestyle change would be a stretch, but I’d have to argue the fact that if you “eat clean”, it will definitely “clean” your mind.  I would have never imagined myself getting out of the hole I was in mentally, let alone physically.  Today when I was at the gym, I was running on the treadmill and I thought to myself (and then out loud), “Wow.  I have really come a far way.”  Things were put into perspective, besides the fact that my yoga pants were too big and falling down, I just felt confident, and it felt effortless.  (so I pushed a little harder)  Still got some work to do, but I’ll get there soon enough.

I can’t take all the credit for my success thus far.  I really owe it to the people in my life that support me, and constantly encourage me.  It’s humbling when you have friends who say they are inspired by you.  People are forever inspiring me.  We all deserve that from one another: encouragement, support, and love.

January 1, 2014, I am still planning on doing a strict 30 days again.  I’m going to follow one of the plans in the Practical Paleo book.  The 30-day plan is called “Squeaky Clean Paleo”.   If anyone is interested in doing the 30 days, let me know.  Find me on twitter @paleyoblog or email me at paleyoblog@gmail.com.  If enough people want to do it, I’ll figure out how to get a little online group together.  I’ll post recipes, and everyone can post their stories, trials, and tribulations…and maybe even some progress pictures.  Just an idea.

“I want to inspire people.  I want someone to look at me and say, ‘Because of you I didn’t give up.'”

I’ve made it through November without getting sick for the first time in years!  Pretty much every year, since I was a kid, I always got sick in/around November.  From strep, to bronchitis, to viral infections…hardcore stuff.  The other day I realized it was already December, then I realized I made it through November without getting sick, and THEN I realized I haven’t been sick since starting Paleo!  I may have woken up with a sore throat once or twice, but nothing more than that.  Could it be coincidence, sure…but I’m attributing it to eating clean.  It’s been 4 amazing months and 1 amazing day so far!  Will I ever go back to eating the way I used to before this?  No.

I think I’ve managed to stay healthy since cutting out all of the foods that I have.  It takes a lot of stress off of my immune system.  The grains, legumes and processed foods can (and will) cause damage.  They cause our intestines to become permeable…allowing for “bad stuff” to get into our bloodstream (this shouldn’t really happen).  When this happens, our immune systems fight them off because they recognize that they shouldn’t be there.  When your immune system is consumed with fighting off these proteins and foreign bodies (that can be avoided), unfortunately, it has no other time to fight off actually illness.  Need to keep that gut flora in check!  Our immune systems are adaptive.  They sometimes falsely recognize the “bad stuff” as good stuff, and conversely attack the “good stuff”; autoimmunity follows. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, Leaky gut contributes to all kinds of autoimmune diseases, including Type 1 Diabetes, Crohn’s Disease, and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

My gut flora has been so balanced and awesome.  I do not miss the bloat whatsoever.  Forgot what it was like.  Sometimes I sit and wonder where it went…and try to imagine what it felt like and if I’ll ever feel it again…then I snap out of it and think…why would I ever wonder what that feels like ever again?  haha  I digress.

Basically, all I’m saying is that Paleo may be the factor that kept me healthy during the time that I’ve always been most susceptible to getting sick.  Only time will tell for sure.  I wonder if this lifestyle will have any effect on my allergies.  I won’t know until the spring time though.

I shared one of my SCOBYs with a friend today.  She seems really into it…I’ll keep you posted on how she does.  Keeping the lineage going, Noah!  She loved the story!

“Exercise to be fit, not ‘skinny’, eat to nourish your body, and always ignore the haters, doubters, and unhealthy examples that were once feeding you.  You are worth more than you realize.”

Peanuts…not Paleo.  Contrary to popular belief, they are a legume…a bean!  Who woulda thunk?  Well, most people think they are a nut, and that technically if you go Paleo you can consume nuts…au contraire, mon frere.  Just a note, nuts have a hard, protective shell; legumes have a soft, permeable pod. Peanuts grow underground, because they are part of the plant’s root system.  This leaves peanuts at the mercy of temperature and moisture conditions that allows for the growth of molds (more on that in a second). Peanuts, peanut butter, peanut brittle, honey roasted peanuts…anything with a peanut in it…is no more.  Listen, it’s not so bad…there are alternatives.  Almond butter for example…delicious, creamy, almond buttery…and does everything peanut butter can do, but better.  Don’t knock it ’til you try it.

When it comes down to it, legumes are really not worth it.  They really don’t have much nutritional value, and they are way high in carbs.  Can you say bloated?  Ain’t nobody got time for that.  Plus, most people are allergic to peanuts nowadays…cutting it out would save the world!  (not really.)  Don’t get me wrong…anything peanut butter was probably my most favorite thing in the world, and to be honest with you, I don’t even miss it.

Okay, so more on the mold…   Peanuts are generally stored in large masses, and during this storage time the peanuts commonly develop a mold.  They also can develop this mold when they are growing underground.  This causes a toxin (Aflatoxin) to develop in the peanuts!  Too much of this mold can cause a person to develop an allergy to the peanuts.  I read that Aflatoxin has been known to cause liver cancer, and our liver is really important for a lot of reasons; for detoxification and fat-burning.  In the U.S., usually the way we prepare peanuts is to roast them.  This rids them of most of the bad stuff, but in other countries like China, who boil or fry them (better proven ways of removing the toxins), they have less known cases of allergic reactions to peanuts.

It’s your choice of what you want to consume, but I wanted to shed light on this.  Just because by definition A is B, doesn’t mean your A can’t be C, know what I’m sayin’?  Everything I eat is so full of flavor, I don’t miss things I had to give up.  I had an unhealthy addiction to food (for taste), so now that my food is healthy and tasty…it’s a win-win.  Life is good.  By the way, if you don’t get the quote reference, go ahead and google it.  :c)

TTFN…ta-ta for now!

“Sometimes I lie awake at night, and ask, ‘Where have I gone wrong?’  Then a voice says to me, ‘This is going to take more than one night.'” 

-Charles M. Schulz-

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  I know I did.  I ate a lot, and managed to maintain my lowest weight.  ;c)  How?  Elementary, my dear Watson.  Like I have been saying, and like you will read online…put good things in your body, and good things will happen.  The gluten free stuffing didn’t even set me back (I thought it was going to), but that does not mean I will be introducing it into my current way of life.  It was my “treat” for Thanksgiving…and boy, did I enjoy it.

Update:  Two new baby kombuchas formed, and a gallon of new kombucha is brewing.  Three bottles are in the second fermentation stage…and I will be opening them tomorrow!  (3 days fermentation)  I don’t need to get anymore on my ceiling.

As we all know, I like to find out the why’s and how’s of things…such as, why can’t I eat this…or how is this not “paleo”.  There’s a lot of foods that can be primal or paleo…or some people will argue whether things are paleo or not.  Upon further research, I have come to the conclusion that many of these controversial items and whether or not to consume them depends on one thing…are you active or sedentary?

By definition, active is engaging or ready to engage in physically energetic pursuits (Google), and sedentary is tending to spend much time seated; somewhat inactive.  So that makes sense.  If you’re sitting around on your couch most of the day, those controversial foods, such as rice, should not be consumed; if you’re active, then you have more room on your plate (so to speak) to eat these foods.  Although, you shouldn’t really eat them either way (in my opinion)…but if you’re on the fence about it…then categorize yourself, active or not.  This is based on the simple fact that hunters and gatherers (the people this diet is modeled after) were always active.  Hence the name, hunters and gatherers…hunting and gathering…the hunter and the gatherer…okay, you get the point.  So if you’re one of the sedentary folks, then get active.  I read online, and I’ll have to agree, that a brisk walk daily will not make you “active” per se, in terms of Paleo and being able to enjoy that rice.

I don’t go to the gym as often as I’d like anymore, but I spend a lot of time on my feet between preparing meals, cooking, food shopping, and the like.  I also have a lot more energy (since becoming Paleo) to run around all day doing random things around the house, cleaning, or playing with the dogs.  I’m not sure how many calories that burns, but it’s definitely burning something.  I am affectionately know as “The Hurricane”…go figure.  haha

I go by a strict Paleo diet, and I feel that no cheat will be worth it.  The “cheat” will be the gateway drug that will make you feel like, “A little of this won’t hurt…”, and that’s not the attitude you want when trying to accomplish clean eating.  Paleo has treats you can enjoy, in moderation.  Although all ingredients are Paleo, they aren’t as nutritious as the “non-treat” foods.  Starting January 1, I’m going to be doing another 30 day super strict Paleo (no treats and less sugar), and follow one of the plans in Practical Paleo.  I can’t wait!

So BTW, in case y’all were wondering, key factors to being one of the healthiest countries in the world…fresh food, unprocessed food, grass-fed cattle, and good healthcare.  FYI, America didn’t make the list.  I was just curious to see who these countries would be and why, and this article popped up…The World’s Healthiest Countries (and What We Can Learn From Them).  Very interesting.

“You can’t plow a field simply by turning it over in your mind.”