Paleo Day Two, or I Must Be Insane

When I woke up this morning, I thought I would keel over from hunger. RAVENOUS. I didn’t feel better until about an hour after I ate breakfast.   

Breakfast: chicken sausage, hashbrowns with peppers, grande americano

Lunch: leftover steak, cauliflower, red peppers, green beans

Snack: tomatoes, cucumbers, ½ avocado, balsamic vinegar, little olive oil

Dinner: Chopped Salad (baby spring mix, spinach, carrots, cauliflower, tomato, clover sprouts, roasted chicken, sunflower seeds, balsamic vinegar, olive oil)

Mentally this morning I felt a bit fuzzy, around lunchtime I got hit with the “low carb flu.” This happens to some people who suddenly go low carb, and it feels…well…yucky. I am determined to power through.  Seriously, I'm struggling today.  Zero energy.

I'm so very sleepy today.  With that, I'm going to wind down and hit the sack.  :) 

Paleo Day One

Why did I decide to try Paleo? First, the concept of Paleo makes sense to me. I have always noticed feeling bloated and gross after eating things high in gluten or carbs, I like the idea of trying something for 30 days, because, well…it is only 30 days in the big scheme of things, and after the 30 days, I can make any needed adjustments. There is something to be said for listening to your body and tweaking your food intake to feel your absolute best. In what rule book does it say that in order to be healthy I MUST have a bowl of oatmeal every morning? I don’t even like oatmeal. (Unless it’s in oatmeal cookies, but that’s not very Paleo, either.)

Beyond that, I crave structure in my life. I function better as a whole when I have concrete, attainable goals in front of me. Complete 30 days of Paleo living= concrete, measurable, attainable.

Additionally, I have about 8 weeks until my next mud run, and I want to feel as good as possible.

Without further ado, Paleo, Day One:

Breakfast: 2 eggs, bowl of strawberries, Grande Americano(no cream-waaaaah!)

Lunch: Chicken & apple sausage, green beans, olive oil

Snack: cucumbers, tomatoes, ½ avocado with oil and vinegar, a few almonds

Dinner: Steak, cauliflower, red pepper

I felt good when I woke up this morning, I slept well last night and got up an hour earlier than normal since I had to be to work early. I got eight hours of sleep, but could have easily slept another hour. I ate breakfast at 6:15 am.

Around 10:45 I started to feel shaky, so I ate my lunch, felt better about an hour afterward.

I had my snack around 3 pm- I HEART avocado. 

Overall I feel decent today... a little "under-carbed" but that's obviously to be expected.  I'm sure I'll feel better and better over the course of the week. 

paleo paleo paleo

I just finished reading the Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf...  and I'm taking the challenge. 

Paleo, day -1:  I'm starting tomorrow, officially, but did eat a Paleo dinner this evening.  I'm committing to trying this for 30 days... I figure if I could stick to the Isagenix thing for 30 days, then CERTAINLY I can do Paleo for 30 days, because Paleo is ACTUAL FOOD.

I'll try to keep a good record of inches/weight changes, but mostly I want to see how my body reacts to this way of eating.  I shall be a guinea pig!!  I'm not a huge fan of cereal grains/beans/legumes.  I think what will prove a bit challenging is no dairy (I love lattes) and the bread/pasta combo.  I know those sit in my gut like a freaken gluten bomb, and I know I can get used to going without them, because I have before. 

So, an experiment in eating no dairy, no grain, no gluten, no processed foods.  I will keep you posted. 

a quick thanks to the heavens...

Everyone is napping...the house is completely silent, save for some pug snoring...  homemade turkey sausage and eggs for breakfast, and am about to go enjoy a bellini on the deck.  It's quiet and cool, I'm thinking about the week ahead and everything I want to accomplish. 

Week after next we're on vacation, and it is MUCH needed.  Work has been so busy.  But moments like right now allow me to reflect and relax, and think about all I'm thankful for.  I'm so thankful for my amazing fiance, our three funny, smart-mouthed kids that keep me laughing all the time... for my sweet animals, our home and all the love and laughter that we share... 

This is the life I always wanted.  This is the good life.  :) 

health and happiness

Two weeks ago, I returned from a trip to Vegas.  I went with my sister and we stayed at our brother's place.  I had an amazing time, but couldn't believe how run-down and TOXIC I felt when I got back.  And then my neck started feeling...weird.  I've always had pain in my neck from all the scar tissue, but this felt different.  Of course I started feeling my neck, and it felt weird.  Lumpy and strange.  Not good, given my propensity for hypochondria.  I made an appointment to get in to my PCP, but the week-long wait was HORRID.  I'm talking full blown nervous breakdown.  I couldn't sleep, and all I would do when I was alone is think the worst and cry. 

It's only scar tissue.  My bloodwork all came back perfect, with the exception of my crazy thyroid.  According to my doc, my thyroid labs make no sense at all.  The numbers are completely contradictory.  That explains the 'run-down' feeling...  I can't begin to tell you how relieved and thankful I feel. 

I have always known how loving and caring my sweet fiance is, but during this time of total mental breakdown, he couldn't have been more supportive.  I am so blessed to have him in my life. Oh yeah, that's right...I said 'fiance'  :)  We got engaged at the end of April and I couldn't be more excited.  What made it even more special for me is how excited the kids are.  I'm a stepmom!  And I'm blessed beyond measure. 

30 days down!!

I DID IT!!!!  I finished the 30 day Isagenix cleanse.  I gotta tell ya...at the beginning I thought I would NEVER be able to finish.  But here I am, pounds lighter, inches smaller, and feeling...quite honestly, the best I EVER have.  My fitness is at a level it has never been, and I have never been this healthy.  Feelin' good.  :) 

I would never have believed the difference it makes when you only put good things into your body...no alcohol, no sugar, no flour...  pretty amazing how your body will react when you feed it with lean protein, healthy carbs, and cut out the garbage.  I'm amazed.  That's all I can say.  Amazed.  I've cut out grains and things with a ton of gluten in them for the most part... not because I have some sort of adverse reaction, but because personally, my body just works better without them.  Tweaking my diet here and there has yielded great results.  What works for me doesn't work for some people...it's taken quite alot of experimentation to figure out what works.

Also, with regard to alcohol... I LOVE me some wine...LOVE it.  But starting the cleanse that made me completely cut it out was the best thing I have ever done.  It's not forever, I'm not going to be a teetotaler, but this is really working.  And I'm all about doing what works, and creating the kind of life that I want.

Feb 2012!

When I was a little girl, I thought we'd be traveling around in flying cars by 2012...  alas.  :) 

I haven't updated in while, so here goes... 

I'm about THISCLOSE to reaching some huge fitness goals, they're closer every day...  with the help of my trainer, I've blown through boundaries that seemed insurpassable.  I NEVER dreamed I would be in this kind of shape again, and that I would SO enjoy the journey.  Lynda has helped me understand what exactly to feed my body to get the best results, and that it's more about what you do OUT of the gym than in it.  I am into day 18 of a 30 day cleanse, another thing I never thought I'd make it through...  but here I am, in the home stretch.  In the last two weeks I think I've tightened up more than I have in months.  My skinny clothes are too big, and I feel better than ever.  I had side effects from cancer treatment that I thought would stay with me forever.  Some of them will, but Lynda has also helped me see that while I may have to work harder than some to reach my goals, they are right there for the taking.  Best. Decision. Ever.  :) 

Olive, Lenny, and Izzy are fat and happy as ever...  Olive and Len are hating being on a doggie diet, but it's helped Olive immensely with her mobility.  She's got her 'hops' back :)  Izzy is getting old and struggles a little with equilibrium, but she's a happy girl. 

Scott and the kids are well... Nate just turned THIRTEEN...  I can't believe this.  Teenagers everywhere.  :)  They are such good kiddos, and make me laugh 'til I cry.    Scott and I are going to turn the basement into a gym, once we get the area cleared out.  Isn't it amazing how much STUFF one can accumulate?  I'm all about paring down.  We were talking the other day about how being in great shape makes you want to do everything in your life better...  and we are.  Everything is in order, I just had an awesome review at work, and I've got my eye on some fun fitness goals this year.  No stopping.  :) 

Love you all-  XOXO
Ally

I read something today that really resonated with me.  I was browsing the local bookstore during my lunch hour, and picked up yet another Tosca Reno book.  I have three of her books already, and have a hard time resisting buying all of them.  She said (and I’m paraphrasing here…) that exercising is not something she “has to do,” it’s a privilege.  It just struck me, because it IS a privilege.  One that you take for granted until you are unable to use your body.  
 
I have had times in my life when I’ve been so ill I couldn’t even lift my head off the pillow.  I had lung problems from the chemo regimen that I was given that left me winded even getting in a hot shower.  Walking from the parking lot into my office left me feeling like I’d been hit by a truck.  Most recently, this (minor-but-annoying-and-painful) foot injury sidelined me for a bit.  You really don’t appreciate the MARVEL that is the human body until it’s not cooperating with you.  
 
I am thankful every day that I get to work out.  Every time I get to run, do lunges, or pushups.  Every time.  I will NEVER take that for granted.  I will always value this body that I’ve been given.  To that end, I have made a promise to myself that I will take the best possible care of my body.  It is the only one I’ve got. 

my, how time flies!

I have been a very bad blogger.  :)  Life has kept me occupied. 

My foot is on the mend.  It was finally diagnosed as tendonitis and bursitis.  I am back to training, harder than ever...aaaaand, I registered for the Dirty Girl Mud Run with my cousin and a team of ladies that are going to kick some SERIOUS arse.  I'm so excited. 

I had my 6 week measurements/results with my trainer, and I'm down 3% body fat.  :)  woop, woop!  I feel good, I'm eating clean. 

I've set some goals for myself this year, and I'm happy to report that I'm about 75% done with my list.  I have never been happier, more content, more secure, or more confident about my future.  Life is good good good. 

June

June is going by so quickly! 

Brief update: have lost several pounds and am in dire need of new pants that don't fall off of me :)  This is a good thing.  Bad thing: sprained my foot on Wednesday.  It's on the mend, but I'm a little nervous to go back to training...hoping I don't re-injure it. 

I'll do a real update soon.  :)  Love to you all. 

update!

Life has felt like a bit of a blur lately- but a good one.  There have been some enormous changes in my life- and all good.  Months ago I caught a documentary called "Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead" on tv...and the changes began.  The movie is about a man with an auto-immune disease that is crippling his ability to enjoy life, he is 90 pounds overweight, and decides to do something about it.  Doctors haven't been able to help him, he's taking multiple doses of steroids every day to keep his disease under control, and he suddenly questions: If my body could heal itself on the outside, why couldn't it heal itself on the INSIDE as well?  He goes on a 60 day juice fast.  Nothing but juice of fresh vegetables and fruits.  He explains the difference between micro and macro nutrients.  Micronutrients are the good stuff: fruits, veggies, nuts, beans... Macronutrients are everything else. 

Long story short, he loses the 90 pounds, cures his autoimmune disorder, and sparks a movement that is spreading like wildfire.  EAT MORE PRODUCE. 

I found the movie incredibly inspirational, especially as someone that has had my share of health struggles.  It got me to thinking about curing the damage that's been done to the inside of my body from prescription drugs, chemo, radiation, and the toxins that come with every day life.  So I gave myself a goal of changing my diet...making HALF of each meal be micronutrients...raw when possible, and organic when possible. 

Fast forward a few months and I have switched to a plant-based, mostly organic, lean diet, and I'm already seeing benefits in my health and skin that surprise me.  Eating better made me want to do everything better.  I hired a personal trainer and have been working with her- and working HARD- four times a week.

(as a side note: another INCREDIBLE documentary is "Food Matters." Speaks volumes about how most health issues are preventable with nutrition...but that there's no money in nutrition...there's money in the pharmaceutical industry.  Really thought provoking.)

Working that hard on myself made me see how easy "work" has become.  I recently found out that my job is being eliminated, but I have an opportunity to move into something new, that will be a good change of pace. 

I have felt so much more clear-headed about everything in life.  What is possible, the goals that seemed too difficult to reach now seem just around the corner.  I've been happy this past year and a half, but now I'm more than that...I'm super EXCITED about life in general.  My life is falling into place in so many ways.  Things are good. 

scalloped potatoes

 

I made this as a side to our Easter dinner with ham, green bean casserole, biscuits, and deviled eggs. 

Ingredients:

 

• 4 cups thinly sliced potatoes
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 dash cayenne pepper
• 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup grated cheese, to sprinkle on top
• paprika

Directions:

Prep Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 1 1/4 hr

1. 1 In a small sauce pan, melt butter and blend in flour.
2. 2 Let sit for a minute.
3. 3 Add all of cold milk, stirring with a whisk.
4. 4 Season with salt and cayenne.
5. 5 Cook sauce on low until smooth and boiling, stirring occasionally with a whisk.
6. 6 Reduce heat and stir in cheese.
7. 7 Place a half of the sliced potatoes in a lightly greased one quart casserole dish.
8. 8 Pour half of cheese sauce over potatoes.
9. 9 Repeat with second layer of potatoes and cheese sauce.
10. 10 Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.
11. 11 Top with some paprika for color.
12. 12 Bake uncovered for about 1 hour at 350F

Read more: http://www.food.com/recipe/scalloped-potatoes-85629#ixzz1KgdugIBV

Fried Eggs over Bruschetta

I found these perfect little gold cherry tomatoes at the market, and had some arugula and mozzarella from earlier in the week, so I made bruschetta and then thought the creamy fantasticness of egg yolks would be good over the top.  I was so right :) 

I mixed the tomatoes with fresh basil, oregano, thyme, salt and pepper, spread on french bread slices and topped with slices of bocconcini-  broiled that til golden, put on top of arugula tossed with balsamic vinaigrette, and top with two perfect fried eggs.  Fork and knife ready :) 

snuggly bugs

bite fight :)

panini!!

I bought a panini press/waffle maker/grill/griddle by sharper image this week...  and made turkey and green chili paninis.  Here's what ya need:

Asiago cheese bread, sliced
cajun spiced turkey
green chilis
avocado
mayo
pepperjack cheese
butter or olive oil. 

Assemble the ingredients as you like, brush the bread with butter or olive oil and grill on the panini press.  It is a MOST delicious panini.  :) 

Roasted Red Pepper Paninis with Garlic Chevre

Making the old classic Sunday Pot Roast, Carrots & Potatoes in the slow cooker today.  I remember coming home from church on Sundays as a little girl and the whole house smelling amazing...  makes me very nostalgic.  :)

I cleaned all day, did eight billion loads of laundry, and found time to make paninis for lunch.  Getting myself in order for the new year.  Feels good. 

Red Pepper Paninis couldn't be simpler.  Here's what you'll need: 

1 loaf ciabatta bread
1 jar roasted red peppers
1 container garlic goat cheese ( I use the garlic and herb chevre made by Jumpin Good Goat Dairy...they're local, their cheese is delicious, and their baby goats are sooo cute!!)
olive oil

I just slice the ciabatta sandwich size, and then in half.  I scoop out a bit of the bread insides...makes for a crispier sandwich.  Spread both sides with goat cheese and put one layer of roasted red peppers on one half.  Put the halves together.  Heat a couple T of olive oil over medium high heat in a nonstick skillet.  Cook sandwich on first side until golden brown.  I usually put a heavy cast iron skillet on top of the sandwich to weight it down while cooking.  Flip the sandwich and cook the other side until golden brown.  Remove from heat, slice in 1/2 and serve! 

Baked Ziti

Yum, yummy yum.  :) 

Baked Ziti.  I made this recipe up years ago and I always play it by ear.  Or tongue.  Or what the heck ever.  :)  It depends on how many people you're feeding, what else you're serving with it, etc. 

If I'm serving 4 people, with garlic bread and salad, I use an 8x8 baking dish.  I pour the dry ziti into it to eyeball how much ziti I will need.  I never measure anything with this dish. 

Here's what you'll need:
1 lb italian sausage
1 jar marinara sauce (whatever your favorite is... I like Bertolli Olive Oil & Garlic)
1 bag shredded mozzarella cheese
1 small carton heavy cream
1 box ziti or penne or rigatoni

Preheat your oven to 350.
Cook the pasta according to directions, undercooking by about 2 minutes.  Drain and reserve.
Brown sausage.  Once nearly cooked through, add the whole jar of marinara.
Add heavy cream just until the sauce turns an orange-y color.  You don't want to over-do...just make the sauce creamy. 
Add the pasta to the meat/sauce.
Place a layer of pasta mixture into your baking dish. 
Top with a layer of cheese.
Repeat, until all the pasta mixture and cheese have been used up. 

Bake, covered, for 20 minutes.  Uncover, bake 10 more minutes.  Broil until golden brown and bubbly on top.  Serve with ceasar salad and garlic bread. 

I know this recipe is kind of unexact and crazy, but that's why I love it.  You really can't mess it up.  :) 

Shrimp with Ginger and Lime

I adapted this from a Wolfgang Puck recipe-  and cooked the shrimp with the snow peas under the broiler as opposed to the grill or BBQ. 

3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon minced ginger
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 large clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon grated lime zest
1 teaspoon Asian sesame oil
1 pound large shrimp (16 to 20 count)
2 limes, each cut into 4 wedges
2 tablespoons chopped, fresh cilantro

mix together lime juice, olive oil, ginger, brown sugar, garlic, zest and sesame oil. pour over peeled deveined shrimp, marinate for 30 minutes.

I put mine under the broiler with some snow peas and served over brown rice.

Chili Chicken with Basil

Oh my stars.  If you like spicy, try this recipe.  It's just spicy enough that it stays with you, not so spicy that you want to cry. :)  The only thing I did different was to add a little chopped green onion with the basil.

Chili Chicken with Basil (from Women's Health magazine) 4 servings

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast, chopped into bite sized pieces
2 thai bird chiles (or serrano chiles)
1 tsp soy sauce
2 C loosely packed fresh basil (I chopped mine after measuring)
1 Tbsp fish sauce
3 cloves garlic
1/2 Tbsp peanut oil or canola oil
1/2 Tbsp red chili paste (I just used sriracha)
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp cracked pepper
Cooked Brown Rice, if desired, for serving (this is what I used)

1.

Finely chop the garlic and chilies, then use the side of your knife to press them together into a rough paste. (Add a pinch of salt to make this process easier.)

2.

Preheat a wok or stainless-steel saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the oil and the garlic-chili paste you just made, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes (be careful not to burn the garlic). Chop the chicken into small pieces and add them to the pan, cooking until they're lightly browned, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add the soy sauce, fish sauce, red-chili paste, and sugar, and continue to cook until the chicken is done all the way through, another 3 to 4 minutes.

3.

Add the pepper and basil, and cook until the basil is just wilted, about 2 minutes. Serve immediately over brown rice.