Oh my Paleo

We have been so slacked on Paleo since the beginning of March. It's not that horrible but I'm back to drinking coffee with half & half or whole milk and raw sugar daily. The goal is to give it up again starting Monday April 1. I also haven't gone and lifted in quite some time. But I have started my squat challenge (which I will post what it is here later). I also was finally able to give up rice! (Yayaya-one of the hardest thing I've had to do to date). And yet, we still have visited zpizza (gluten free deliciousness) and had our burgers out and naked. While this isn't all against Paleo, it doesn't help the weight loss aspect. So back to strict paleo! Hoping to finally be my goal weight after all these years!!!!!

Finally!!!!

Today someone said "are those pants just loose or is that you?" Meaning she noticed I've lost weight!!!!!!!!!!!!

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYA. my clothes are loose and I'm okay with that!!!!!! I'm so excited that someone noticed because I thought no one would notice (which is fine because loosing weight is for me and no one else). But still I was starting to think maybe those 9 lbs were in my head.

PHEW. I'm excited. Will post more soon. Just really wanted to share my excitement. 

Pales treats

Tonight I made paleo brownies. They were decent. Next time we will try another recipe for brownies or cookie dough balls.

Slacking off like whoa

Slacking off like whoa in the gym. I still walk the pooch but I'm going to start two challenges. The first is the 30 day squat challenge and the other is 10 minutes a day of planks. So we will see where that leads... I'm still walking Stella 5-6 days a week and feeling good so fingers crossed. Be well people and ill update soon!

Another pyramid to share

An article and my thoughts

Will everyone please eat gluten? This article is interesting and I understand, sort of, where the author is coming from, but the most upsetting piece is that people do "go gluten free" to loose weight but then gorge on beans, rice, legumes, nuts, etc thinking that the gluten part is the reason they gain weight. The author also states that there are no real health benefits (added energy, complexion etc) when you remove gluten from your diet. I beg to disagree. This author might want to look at the other things she's eating because they might the issue too. There is a way to live and eat healthfully without eating processed junk. 

The comments on this article are funny, intriguing and frustrating. There are many people out there who think going gluten free will solve their weight-loss problems or people who think fat is the devil. Folks, reality check, gluten is bad but so is refined sugar and rice. These things are the reason we gain weight, not just gluten. There are many good comments on this post. One in which states to the author that stating that people should just "go to the doctor" assumes they have the means, health insurance and the ability to get to the doctor. This article is written from a classed perspective for sure and a privileged vantage point. 

I'm sure that folks will say Paleo is a fad but fortunately for me, it's a fad that doesn't make me feel gross, ill, or have issues in my digestion. For the first time in my life, I feel like I can process food.

For example, pancakes, packed with gluten and sugar and whatever else. They were a staple growing up but every time I eat pancakes, they go right through me. I end up in the bathroom 15-25 minutes after consuming them. Gluten sensitivity? I think so.

Some symptoms of gluten intolerance or celiac disease: (these are the ones I experienced) (http://glutenfreenetwork.com/faqs/symptoms-treatments/gluten-intolerance-symptoms-how-do-you-know-if-gluten-is-making-you-sick/) 

• Gastro-intestinal problems (bloating, pain, gas, constipation, diarrhea)
• Fat in the stools (due to poor digestion)
• Aching joints
• Head aches
• Exhaustion
• Irritability and behavioral changes
• Cramps, tingling and numbness
• Decline in dental health

Now that's a problem! I now, thanks to my wife, know that I cannot handle gluten, my system isn't working to its fullest potential with that foreign substance in my digestive track. 

The author of the original article makes some valid points about using "Oh I'm gluten free" as a fad or a diet could potentially hurt those of us who really can't ingest it and if we do, we pay a price but I think it's also helping us because we can tell a server at a restaurant or a bakery or somewhere else that we are G-Free and they will know more than they would have several years ago. I for one, was a server and had NO idea what gluten was, what it could be found in and how to get it out of food for my costumers. I also thought it was a fad because I didn't know it was making me sick. But I became more knowledgeable about it and was able to help my costumers. I think there being more awareness around gluten intolerance, just like lactose intolerance, helps us. And if you think the food you could be consuming might be contaminated, say something, know yourself, ask questions, be your own advocate.

Treat yo' self!

Being on vacation means compromises and making changes to your Paleo lifestyle simply because you cannot be 100% sure of what's in your food no matter how many times you ask a server.

Last night we decided to eat at a French bistro in Palm Springs. We did our best to make wise choices. I had 2 filet medallions and tiger shrimp with brocollini and au gratin potatoes and Eb had Mahi Mahi crusted in coconut with rice and asparagus. Needless to say, we loved our dishes but we switched plates entirely!!!

I was way more into the fish and she the steak. We did the best we could and probably ingested things we shouldn't but we didn't beat ourselves up.

After dinner we walked about 3/4 of a mile to find this cute dessert place "Crave" and had some dessert. Thankfully I didn't get any adverse reactions to the Tiramisu I had! Ha. Eb had this wonderful mouse dessert and just loved it.

It's nice to treat yourself and allow yourself to eat fine, decedent food because you enjoy it differently and don't need as much.

We had this discussion yesterday, I need much less to fill me up than I use to. It's so lovely. I eat until I'm satisfied and walk away from it. Simple as that... Now. It use to be much harder for me to get full or I would eat until I was over full. But now I can pay much closer and better attention to my stomach.

But my main point was to say, treat yo'self. Don't be a dictator and don't beat yourself up. Do what you need to and what feels right :)

eat to live, live to eat?

This is another debate people have: eat to live or live to eat.....ah the age old question. Two months ago, I would have said I live to eat because I was a foodie and wanted to eat and try everything, despite my stomach's protests or upset or anger. I know that my new motto of eat to live can frustrate some who in my opinion are eating just because they can. I'm sorry if my food lifestyle is different than yours, if my stomach cannot digest certain types of food or genetically modified "food." I'm choosing to be healthier and choosing to eat to live rather than living for my next meal. 

Food use to be entertainment, as my beautiful wife put it so eloquently over the weekend but now it's just food. It has no power over me or my daily routine. I use to look up everywhere I would eat before the sites or things I wanted to do. I still  use Yelp but it's more about the types of food a restaurant has that I can eat than how decadent or amazing the food is. Paleo or gluten free food can be amazing and decadent while not upsetting my system.

Not going to lie, I can't wait for the summer to try out new recipes and make delicious food everyday even if our kitchen is small and has no dish washer. I'm excited about trying out new ways of eating outside of the dining hall.

So the debate still stands I guess, eat to live or live to eat? If you are eating to live, calories don't count in my book. I haven't counted calories in 2 months and have been loosing weight. Why or how you might be asking? I am no longer buying "low-far", "100 calories", weight watchers, "fat free" etc etc food. I'm buying whole, good food. I can pronounce all the ingredients in my food or I won't eat it. If I don't cook with it, it's not going to enter my system.  

I am by no means judging those lucky enough to eat whatever they want and have no issues. For me, I can't maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle if I just eat that stuff. My body starts to shut down and I feel crappy. That's my lifestyle change and challenge. 

Last night I wanted Chinese food so badly but I knew if I ingested it, I'd be passed out and bloated. Not a good look and it's a challenge to balance what my mind wants and what my stomach wants. I ate what we had at home and was fine. I enjoyed some mint dark chocolate that I had froze (tastes like a thin mint and I will be ordering more--Eclipse Chocolate in San Diego they have dark chocolate ranging from 55-82%). Regardless, I fought my mind's craving and went with the Paleo positive option. I feel good this morning and am excited about the rest of my vacation (starting in a few hours). I love eating but I'm happy making good, healthy choices for my body. :)

Live in peace my friends. Until next time.

Eating out help!

This is a great link to help you navigate eating out

1 week without rice

Believe it or not, one week without rice wasn't so hard; until today. My co-worker and friend was enjoying Chinese food and rice today. Now I'm craving....big time. I know that it's not good for me because it hurts my tummy but I do want it. But mind over matter or in this case stomach over mind haha. But I remember it being so good. I also remember rice as being delicious and filling. One week without rice is a good thing for me because I was eating it almost every day before and now I'm seeing a new difference without it.

Okay friends, will update soon.

We are going on a 2 days vacation to Palm Springs so there will be more Paleo challenges to blog about.

Be well, eat well, feel good!

Outback Steakhouse

Great choice when on a vacation. I was able to get a steak, fire grilled, broccoli and a sweet potato for lunch. PERFECT for an in a pinch meal. I'm excited toe at cause I'm hungry.

Paleo and eating out

It can be difficult and it can also be easy. Choosing NON-chain restaurants and being mindful of what is being put into the food.

Today we had breakfast out and it was yummy. I opted to have an omelette with fresh fruit. It was good and filling. Eb had an omelette made with butter and Italian style prosciutto. We both felt satisfied. Close still fit and that's always a pulse! :)

Week 8

We are both officially doing very well on Paleo. Wife has lost 15.2lbs and I'm down 9lbs. Which is the most I lost in the last 6 years. I'm only a 1.8 away from my goal! So excited and hoping being on vacation this weekend and then later this week won't throw me off too much. We shall see! Keep on trucking!

Vacation meal

Tonight we had red meat, white potatoes and corn. Corn is not something we are suppose to eat as Paleo lifestyle eaters. But we had corn today. It was AMAZING. So sweet, so delicious. I forgot how much I loved corn. I was very happy with it and thankful to have eaten it.

Day 3 without rice

Okay so I'm on day 3 of no rice and go me! I haven't slipped once! I did try some gluten free bread as toast this morning with my breakfast. It was yummy. Except when I read the ingredients--womp womp. Now that's out of the question too. Sticking to the paleo staples from now on.

We are going on vacation this weekend and for a few days next week so Paleo will be a little tougher considering the amount of times we'll have to eat out. Keep you posted!

Paleo Love

Love this picture!

Speak the truth

Very true sentiment. In order for Paleo to work for me, I must change my thinking. Day 1 of zero rice: success! Keep on swimming.... Change your thoughts and keep on moving.

What Paleo means to me

Love this image.  Wanted to share!

Good bye rice

It was decided tonight that I will be giving up rice. I love rice. I think I love rice more than I love chocolate, coffee and brownies (for those who know me, that's a lot). But we decided I eat too much rice and too often. So bye bye rice. It's been a good run and I'm sure we will bump into each other sometime in the future but for now, I'm taking a break from you.

Slacking?

I'm finding it hard to dig deep for the desire to lift in the past 7 days. It's been hard to want to get up and go to the gym to lift after walking Stella for an hour. I wonder if it's because I had my period last week and I am exhausted (not the exhausted from food, just sleepy, run down, over-worked kind of tired). My eating has been lacking a little. I'm less strict than I was at the beginning and I keep telling myself I will get stricter but I just feel like I'm good. I eat my protein and my veggies and my fat but I have allowed rice more often than I should. I just know rice is a weakness for me. I love it. (also while I'm writing this I'm enjoying a smoothie made with fresh juice and some pineapple sherbet--not Paleo--but it's so good!) so I know I'm slacking.

I'm not starting from the beginning but I do need to get stricter and really be more conscious of the food intake (in terms of rice). It's a process party people. Paleo is a lifestyle and something that I have to work on daily. I'm okay with this. I may try the whole 30 and see how that goes but for now, I'm loving my Paleo life and how I look and feel. 

So for now, I'm slacking but I'll get back on track. Eventually.  :) for now, I'm loving my life and living my life.

Gluten free pizza: success!!!

We decided to try a new pizza place that I know makes g-free pizza. It was awesome. It really didn't taste much different from gluten pizza. Ah my belly is happy that we found a pizza place that uses local organic produces and gets cheese from grass fed cows! Ahhhhh so happy!

Craving big time

Pizza. Oh pizza. This Italian is dying for pizza. I know I will regret it but I'm dying for it.... My mind can't stop thinking about it. Why can't I stop thinking about it? I haven't had pizza in weeks but something about its cheesy, delicious, saucey, doughy -ness is making my mouth water. I know if I eat it, I'll regret it because I'll be sick all weekend.

But the pizza is what my head is dreaming of today. Wife doesn't have the same effect when she eats gluten so she would be on board for pizza but for me, I would practically die.

So maybe this weekend we will bake so I can have the same effect. Ugh. Cheers to the weekend!

Get off the scale

I made A promise to myself that I will not weigh myself everyday anymore. Yes, most of my posts are about this because this is a battle I fight almost daily. I want to know, to be guaranteed that I'm loosing weight. But for what? I'm happy, healthy, successful, moving and exercising, eating whole, yummy food and living life. That being said, just like the majority of America, I focus on that scale when in reality it's not about that. It should be about how my butt looks in jeans, how my stomach looks different, how I sleep at night and how I am able to walk Stella for an hour without much of a problem.

I'm lucky to have a wife who encouraged me to try Paleo as a challenge because it has changed my life.

Where we typically go wrong:

Where we go wrong 

I'm guilty of getting on the scale everyday. I am resolving to not doing this anymore. Read the article. It's really great!

Updates

I love my shoes. As the website said, they worked muscles I didn't know I had! It is as if you are barefoot, hence barefoot and walking around barefoot takes a lot of energy and work! Downfall, they gave me blisters ACROSS the TOPS of my toes! HAHAHA I didn't know that was possible. But I'd rather the blisters be there than on the sides of my toes. 

Stella and I only did 45 minutes because my toe just kept bleeding into the shoe. I plan on bandaging my toes tomorrow so I can walk longer. The shoes are worth it though! I really love them and can't wait to see what else they can do :)

In other news, Paleo eating is going alright. We purchased a ton of grass-fed meat yesterday via Tropical Traditions (it's a website) which E was skeptical about at first but I'm excited about the idea. I will post pics when the meat comes in. We are stocking up for the summer so we don't have to deal with shopping so much. I'd rather know we are good than have to worry later, ya know? And it's grass-fed premium meat.

If you are interested in any Facebook pages: Just Eat Real Food is really good and that's where I found Tropical Traditions. We ended up buying bison, chicken and filet. I'll keep you posted on the final product when it comes.

Stay human folks!

New shoes

So my sneakers are bulky and they hurt my feet. I've had them for years and I figured because we are on a new lifestyle kick and I'm working out 5-6 days a week I figure I deserve comfortable shoes.

I bought merrell and vibram barefoot shoes. I love them and I'm so excited to break them in! Keep you posted :)

Health Benefits of Paleo

So many benefits come from eating Paleo. I have seen quite a few of these already! Mainly improved sleep,more efficient workouts, clear skin, balanced energy and stable blood sugar.

What else could you want from a "diet"? I'm down for reaping the benefits of this amazing lifestyle!

Chocolate addiction

I have fallen in love with dark chocolate through Paleo because I have a sweet tooth. But I have eaten WAYYYY to much chocolate this weekend. Can't keep myself away from the cabinet. I'm up a few pounds because of the chocolate I'm sure and I'm ovulating. Does that mean I'd be up lbs? Or maybe it's the muscle that I'm forming... Or maybe it just doesn't matter. Who knows. I feel good most days and am looking better in my clothes that's all that matters. It'll be a long road to my goal weight but I will keep trying. I think I will get back on my strict Paleo tomorrow.

Okay Paleo people, keep going and keep trying. Working toward my goals and believing in myself. I can do this!

WiiFit

According to WiiFit you'd never know that I walk 6 days a week and lift 3-4 days a week. It says I'm 151.5 and my BMI is still higher than I'd like (29). Guess I need to work harder? Or do I only concern myself with the scale? Or BMI once a month? Guess I don't know what to believe or how to work harder than I already am. Keep an eye on the price and work toward my goal. #motivation

Three one hour walks

Stella and I took 3 walks this week for close to an hour. Mondays was great, Fridays dragged but today's was good. We even went over an hour! Fat blasting! The gym opens shortly so I'll hit the weights and the abs soon! I also think I'm going to get into the WiiFit and see if my BMI decreased.