Almost a year later

Hello readers,

Like I said in my last post, many folks have been asking about Paleo and with new year resolutions happening, I wanted to link my first post here for you to check out. We all know I'm a Paleo advocate! And my health and body are also proof. 

As we go into this new year, my resolution is to motivate and help those of you who are starting off! I want to give you what you need in terms of resources and for me to be a resource. I am living proof that if you change the way you eat, everything changes. Once you make changes to your environment, your insides begin to change. 

So for the first motivator:

Clean out your cabinets. If you plan on starting Jan 1, you need to throw out everything in the house. Every processed item, anything with gluten. Do not and I repeat do not, eat it. Just get rid of it. 

I promise you will be hungry those first few days because your body is detoxing. If you are hungry, eat more fat, like avocado, almond butter, Kerry Gold butter or some meat, such as steak. These all curb the cravings and it's a nice way to just keep full.

If you eat a lot of gluten normally, you will most likely start to experience a carb flu. Carb flu has flu like symptoms but gluten free chicken broth really helps this one. Keep in mind this "flu" is awesome because that means it's getting rid of the crap in your body. Let your body detox and try not to feel unmotivated because the good comes after you are on the other side of this flu thing.

For a lot of people they feel like easing into Paleo. This is also a good idea if you have been heavily reliant on gluten. I suggest go gluten free first but you can also just go full swing. That's what I did. I went right into Paleo. My ex-wife suggested it so we just jumped right in, head first. I'm glad I did because I wouldn't have made the transition easy for myself had I eased my way in. You know yourself so do what makes sense for you. 

Also, don't just start without some sort of exercise. I'm talking walking, 35-45 minutes a day, work up to other stuff, but the whole point of Paleo is that you don't need excessive cardio. You will loose the weight without much exercise but you should also exercise because it feels good. Drink plenty of water and eat when you're hungry. Don't ignore the hunger and feed it good healthy food.

You can do it. Honestly, if I can do it, anyone can. It's a lifetime lifestyle change and I'm so glad I did it. It isn't a fad diet, it really is a way of looking at the world around you.

Peace and health!

Transitioning to paleo

I've gotten a lot of questions recently about how to transition to paleo. It's easier than you think! Start by eliminating gluten and refined sugar. Think about upping your good data, protein and veggies. Your taste buds will change and you won't crave gluten any more. In previous posts, I've talked about how the body changes and starts to think of fruit as sweeter when you eliminate refined sugar. 80/20 is the way to go but if you've been eating gluten and processed foods your whole life, it's easier to eliminate gluten to start then eliminate other non-Paleo food. Also if you are looking for some inspiration, Stacy from Paleo Parents has a truly remarkable story! She and her husband have lost over 100lbs combined by being 80/20 Paleo. It's really a game changer. 

Eliminating gluten has opened the doors for my joints to stop aching, for me to rest when I sleep, to wake up at a normal hour feeling like I slept. Who knew food could have this huge of an effect? People are learning and more and more are leaning toward gluten free, clean eating. It's healthier and it makes sense. You won't want to go back... I promise.

Check out my first few blog postings for how I transitioned and how rough it was. It's much easier now and it does get better with time.

Here's to a new year! 

Christmas Eve success!

I was able to eat and wasn't tempted (too much) by cookies. I did eat non-Paleo peanut butter balls but did not and I repeat did not eat any gluten! Wooooooooooo! Succcccccesssssss

I received quite a few compliments on how my Pilates/Paleo bod is shaping up. I'm convinced Pilates has changed the game! I'm so happy and not feeling bloated! 

Christmas Eve was definitely a success. #smallvictories #notperfectpaleo 

Merry Christmas blogger land! 

First day of travel

Travel had gone well so far! I was smart enough to buy gluten free food and cuties to snack on before I left. I also bought a litter water bottle in LA. As of this moment, drank the whole dang thing. Have currently switched to a delicious latte and am waiting on my plane. I think the food difficulties I've had are around the desire to have a bagel. It's really just the look. I don't crave them like I use to; it's more the ease and the nostalgia of them. Alright, back to my whole fat latte (the coffee guy thought I was nuts). Off to the final destination. Be well my friends!

East Coast for the holidays

Growing up Italian, as many of you already know, has instilled a love of food within my soul. I'm starting to prepare for the holiday travel and eating by mentally weighing which things I want to eat versus which things I know I can live without. The hardest part about being gluten free and Paleo is knowing that my aunt's famous cookies won't be enjoyed unless I want to have the most painful stomach ache and completely bloat myself. This is something I'm already thinking about. I'm planning on enjoying a few of her cookies and being done with it. Though if I choose to eat it, I'm going to get crap for it from my family :) They love me and give me a hard time but maybe those Italian cookies are worth it. Today the idea of them sounds worth it. They might not seem worth it tomorrow night. Who knows. I'm not a perfect Paleo but I'm not obsessing over it too much. I know I'll be able to eat some things, not all things and that has become my life. At least I was on my game enough to ask for main course items early. I'll stuff myself with that and move on.

The other hard part is not having Pilates for 5 days. I know, I know, it sounds odd but I am addicted! I love the burn in my abs, I love how my arms are sore when I lift them and how my legs tremble and feel like jell-o afterward. I'm thinking maybe a youtube video of some floor work I can do while I'm traveling. It's hard being away for my home (Claremont) for the holidays as my apartment and this city/town has become the place that I consider my home but it's worth it. I do miss my family and am glad that we are able to see each other for a few days but that I am also embraced despite my non-Italian way of eating.

The scale doesn't matter

I've always been obsessed with the scale. My goal was to get down from 156 to 130. I really wanted the scale to read 130. But I'm now changing that mindset. I'd much rather look the way I do from the side than the scale read 130 and be flabby. It's interesting how our goals change and how we fixate on various variables. I'm shocked that now I'm fixated on my muscles and less on my weight. I have even stopped weighing myself. When I started Pilates I was 140 and now I'm 144, which I can say absolutely is muscle considering my dress is an eight and fits perfectly. I have finally started to love my curves in a different way, have started to look at my body differently. I no longer see a chubby woman. I see a lean canvas. I see potential and feel the difference in my muscles. I have to say those differences are way better than the scale. I imagine this is what crossfitters feel like but I'm enjoying my pilates a great deal!

The Week of Posting

Greetings friends,

Its post number three this week! It's finals time here at the College so that allows a lot of time to think about my next post! Finals also means the dining hall is closing in t-minus 3 days for 6 weeks. DUN DUN DUN. As a Paleo who has found eating this way more easily affordable with the dining hall, I have done some research and made my grocery lists! I'm leaving on Monday for a few days of travel (we all know how hard traveling is for me) and will be back to a house with no food but plan on taking a trip to Pasadena (closet Whole Foods) to make some large purchases. Eating Paleo while living in an apartment, within the residence hall, has it's challenges. This is one! I have to feed myself for 6 weeks, make enough bone broth, Paleo lunches and dinners that keep me going and keep me following Paleo more 90% of the time. When the dining halls are open, 80/20 is easier because I have little knowledge about what is actually in my food.

My current struggle is I would like some soup. The dining hall puts gluten in EVERYTHING. I'm taking EVERYTHING. So I can't even get soup. My hope this winter break is to use my crockpot and my food pro, all the time. I'm so looking forward to cooking for myself because I control what goes into my food and I can always make sure there is something yummy in the house.

I've also added some more exercising into my Pilates routine. I walk in the morning and am trying to go into the fitness center at night when I'm not at Pilates. The fitness center also closes this weekend so that will have cease until they open again but the walking doesn't have to! (Until I go back east that is....).

Well I'm off for my walk. Have a beautiful day.

pilates is a cardio work out

so yesterday in Pilates, I walk in and expect the same routine....hahahaha I was dumb!!!!

This is what happened: Jumping! Now it looks easy right? Well it's not. I sweat more than I ever have, including during a traditional cardio workout. I promise you that you will feel sore but amazing. It was so much fun and in 30 minutes, I got the best cardio I've ever done!!!!

Two weeks of Paleo and Pilates

I haven't changed my diet in weeks, I'm still 80/20 paleo and I'm rockin' Pilates! Here is my progress: 

The top was 2 weeks ago and the bottom was this morning. I'm amazed at how flat and lean my core looks. I will say it doesn't always feel that way but this morning it certainly did!

Pilates and paleo power!!!!

First Christmas as a Paleo

Weirdest thing I've had to do yet? Ask my Italian aunt to see if she can prepare anything gluten free for me to eat on Christmas Eve. The seven fish dinner...I'd love to partake. It's so hard to eat a certain way when culturally gluten/pasta is such a staple. This must be the hardest thing I've had to do yet. We eat so much gluten in our family, I'm not entirely sure anyone would even know how to cook for me! It's kinda comical. I am actually sitting here contemplating shipping gluten free pasta to myself in CT so I can prepare it at my aunt's. It's so hard to find foods I can eat being an Italian American. Everything for us contains white flour. When I went Paleo, my family noticed my weight change when we facetimed during Easter. I told them I was not eating gluten. The first thing out of my uncles mouth was "what's gluten?" and this is a common reaction. No one knows what to do with me! It's so comical. I am really going to have to plan ahead and make sure there are plenty of of options for me to eat. UGH I just realized my aunts make these kick ass Christmas cookies. Crap. I'm going to be so screwed. One of my aunts makes these hershey kiss/peanut butter cookies and peanut butter balls. I am going to have to gluten myself because I have little self control when it comes to those types of things. Man o man. I'm going to have a hard Christmas. I better make an appointment for Pilates before and after I travel! It's going to be so needed. 

In prep, I'm going to look at menus for Paleo christmas food, maybe I can make a Paleo Christmas dinner for my family. Here's to my first holiday season as a Paleo!

Amendment: my aunt is the best, she totally has my back for Christmas eating!!! WOOOOO I can eat!!!!!!!!!

What a difference 9 months makes!

The top photo was march/April and the bottom was last night. I can't believe the difference! The entire shape and contour of my stomach has gone from inflated to deflated! It's very cool to see the transformation and see the curves pop out in areas I have never seen curves. I really just wanted to share another picture because I think people understand the benefits of paleo more by looking at the differences in paleo people's bodies. I'm not loose or flabby. I'm lean and I still have a pooch but it's deflated so much! My pants fit better, I have more energy, my cravings have gone bye bye, I eat less at meals but the most important is I can have a bowel movement that is normal. I know this seems dumb or insignificant but to me it's an amazing gift. I am blessed to be paleo and lost so much weight while gaining so much in other areas. 

I'm curious to see how much more Pilates changes my body. I feel a difference in places I have never felt a good workout, such as my abs near my ribs so that little spot under my breasts. I have never felt a workout there but Pilates has challenged my body is ways that is making every muscle wake up and feel the burn. I'm hoping with Pilates help, I can keep it up and become lean and mean! Haha

The below picture is me in my first ever size 4 dress. This was a huge accomplishment for me (considering I usually wear a 8/10) so I'm pretty stoked! Pilates and paleo. What an amazing combination!!!

Pilates and Paleo

So I took the Pilates plunge and I love have to admit, I love it so much!!!!! As a Paleo-lover and weight lifter, I have to admit, Pilates makes my muscles feel things that they have never felt before. My abs have a deep soreness to them and my arms feel strong and like they are toning much faster than lifting. I was talking about Pilates vs. lifting tonight and Pilates is creating long, lean muscles whereas lifting bulks you up. I am a believer in Pilates and it is something I'm hoping to stick with for awhile. Since starting Pilates on Sunday, I've also done the bike for some cardio but nothing serious. My weight hasn't changed but I see a difference already in my clothes. I know, I know, its probably all in my head but I see something different. 

Stay tuned!