Archive - February 2014

It’s one of my favorite Green Day songs, but it’s also how I’m feeling about getting really strict again and working out hard.  The weather is warming up, bathing suit catalogs are coming to the house, and I got a trip to the Caribbean on the horizon!  I’m happy with my progress so far, but I want more!  I haven’t fallen off the wagon or anything, just kind of lolly-gagging around.  In two weeks the clocks will go ahead one hour, which means the sun will set later in the day.  This will be good for me since I usually go to the gym after I sleep after work, around 6 or 7 PM.  (I work overnights)  <—-and Paleo has been a Godsend, just FYI.

Cooking meals is becoming second nature now, and food shopping has gotten much, much easier.  I can’t believe I haven’t had bread or pasta OR PIZZA since the beginning of August.  Incredible.  It’s amazing what our bodies are capable of, and the things we can adapt to.  It’s also amazing how we get so comfortable with how we feel (even if we feel bad).  People, we have to stop this behavior!  Prior to August, the way I was with eating and things I ate, I have completely abandoned for a new way of life.  There’s no possible way.  Being Paleo is beyond gluten free, so all those cute little gluten free snacks you see…yeah, I don’t eat those either.  I have to make things from scratch.  My “bread” is the pizza dough I make.  I had an egg sandwich the other day…it was amazing.

It’s the weekend, enjoy it!

“Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets.  So, love the people who treat you right and forget about the ones who don’t.  And believe that everything happens for a reason…if you get a chance – take it; if it changes your life – let it.  Nobody said that it would be easy…they just promised it would be worth it.”

Who doesn’t love some french fries once in awhile?  Sure, they aren’t the healthiest food we can eat, but assuming you bought a potato from the store and made some homemade fries, it’s still better than any other processed-sugar loaded snack.  Right?  Well, yeah.  Truth be told, 1 cup of white potatoes have a heck of a lot less calories than 1 cup of almonds; on the contrary the glycemic index of the white potatoes is way higher than that of the almonds.  Since becoming Paleo, I noticed that I don’t even worry about calories anyway, plus my carb intake is substantially lower than when I wasn’t living Paleo.  As far as how many carbs one should consume, I’ve said it before, you have to figure out your own formula for what works for you.  Don’t listen to what anyone else has to say.

Potatoes are mainly starch, a complex carbohydrate, that supply a small amount of protein.  They do have many micronutrients though, so let’s not hate.  White potatoes are fairly low calorie, high in fiber, and have certain properties that will help protect against cancer and cardiovascular disease. They are excellent sources Vitamins B6 and C, copper, manganese, potassium, and fiber, it’s just that the carb load is what makes the spuds not so good.  The amount of carbs in a white potato causes it to be digested quickly, thus causing a spike in insulin levels.  The insulin is then secreted, and your blood sugar levels drop.  Paleo has made me not miss that carb overload crash.  Now remember, if you’re a diabetic, or have had any kind of metabolism issue, maybe potatoes aren’t the best choice for us.  They are insulin resistant, but still they are better than some other things we could be eating.  I am trying to lose a few more pounds, so after doing some research, I think I’ll be sticking with a non-potato diet (the way I started out).  I’ll see how my body reacts.  I haven’t been over doing the potato thing, but I certainly made some questionable choices about fries or extra veggies.  If you do eat white potatoes, but you only enjoy them in chip and french fry form covered with salt, you are being robbed!  juss’ sayin.

Avoid white potatoes at all costs if you are:  1) trying to regulate blood sugar, 2) trying to lose fat and gain muscle, 3) new to Paleo, 4) sedentary, 5) deal with an autoimmune condition, or 6) feel crappy after eating them!  If you really want some potatoes, go for the sweet potatoes.  Enjoy white potatoes every now and then (make sure you peel them), but don’t eat it in place of your veggies!  Oh, and BTW, if you are looking for an alternative, try plantains!

“People will judge you no matter what you do, so you might as well do what you want.”

Sorry for the lack of posts lately.  I’ve just been really busy trying to get to the gym more often, help with family issues, work, snow…snow…and more snow!  (Whoever is praying for snow, please stop.  Thank you.)

Still dropping weight, just much more slow than I was.  That’s okay because I feel great, plus I’m building more muscle.  My progress pictures are proving to be a very awesome thing (Keep taking your own!).  I have come so far, and getting back to where I want to be.  In a few months, I will be speaking briefly at a function about my paleo journey.  When I get more information about the function, I’ll post it and you are all welcome to join!

Been much more strict about buying grass fed and organic foods.  I am still aiming to be at my optimum health, and this is a major factor to me.  If there is one thing we owe ourselves, it’s to feel great!  If you feel great, you’ll look great…that’s just how it works.  :c)  I ordered my meats off of the U.S. Wellness Meats site.  If you haven’t checked that out, I highly suggest it.

Having been paleo for 6 months now, it has gotten much easier, as far as having the knowledge and discipline to know what and what I can/should not eat.  I’ve really been able to break it down to fundamentals (still have a lot to learn).  For example, if someone says, “Here have a chicken parm sandwich.”  Well, I can’t have the bread, the cheese, or the breading on the chicken.  So they would respond with, “Well take it off the bread, take the cheese off, and take off the breading.”  My next response is that I’m unsure of what it was cooked in…and it goes on from there.  It’s just not the bread or the gluten or the cheese, it’s more than that at this point.  Maybe that only makes sense in my head (like most things).

If I’m put in a situation where I am unable to prepare my own meal, or I’m out for dinner, I don’t freak out thinking, “I don’t have options!”  I always have options, it just takes a little work.  And now I don’t have many temptations anymore.  I also don’t have the appetite I was fooled into thinking I had a year ago.  I was a bottomless pit, searching for comfort in the things I ate because it was the only satisfying aspect to my life (or so I thought).  When in reality, I didn’t realize how much damage I was actually doing to myself and all the amazing things I was actually missing out on.  I paid for it, but finally there is light at the end of the tunnel!

I am seeing so many changes in myself.  My view of the world has gotten a little more clear.  Quoting Willy Wonka, “If you want to view paradise, simply look around and view it.”  Ain’t that the truth?  If you haven’t gotten there yet, don’t give up.

Tell me your stories…I’d love to hear them.  Be sure to follow me on Twitter, too!  @paleyoblog

“The greatest gift you can give to anyone is speaking and sharing your story.” 

-Noah De Koyer-