Day 3 - May 22
Ate the same thing for breakfast....again. It's not that they are bad, it is just that I am still trying to train myself to eat certain veggies like tomatoes and spinach and sometimes they still make me want to hurl. Took me hours to choke them down. I'm really glad I only have one more days worth of them.
Then came the challenge of the day. Birthday Lunch. DUN DUN DUUUUNNNNN!
Every month my company buys all the employees lunch in honor of the people that had their birthdays. Usually it is something like sub sandwiches, catered Mexican feast, or lately a food truck comes out and we each get to pick our own.
Yesterday it was Pizza. Lets break pizza down.
Crust=grains
Sauce=tomatoes laced with added sugar
Cheese = delicious forbidden milk product goodness
toppings = some okay, others over processed meats. Can't eat, because tainted by other toppings
Combine all of the above...and I have nothing edible.
My desk is right outside the kitchen, and the smell was amazing!!!! I wanted a piece sooo bad. My co-workers were good sports and said it was the worst pizza they had ever had. Everyone kept offering to go get me a piece thinking I was stuck on a call and chat. I had to explain that I was on a strict diet of my choosing and that I was okay. I had a few people tell me I was hardcore and that there was no way they could do what i am doing.
Truth be told, I was in their shoes about a month ago. I had an interest in Paleo but figured there was no way in hell I could give up butter and milk, rice and black beans, Mountain Dew and Red Bull.
But I have, and I am doing it, and it is pretty awesome.
Since I couldn't have Pizza, I popped over to the Hunter and the Farmer, a local food truck that caters to Paleo eaters. I ended up getting some zuchinni "spaghetti" with vegetarian sauce and some barbacoa because they ran out of the meat sauce. It was pretty dang good.
For dinner, I decided I wanted to try and replicate one of my favorite foods, Fried Rice....but with some Whole30/Paleo Friendly twists. I had come across a recipe for Cauliflower rice on my favorite Paleo blog, "nom nom paleo." I whipped up a batch and then proceeded like usual. I know I should not have put the frozen peas in there, but I realized that too late. I used coconut aminos in place of soy sauce, and it turned out really well. My husband and I are not fond of cauliflower, but we both scarfed our bowls and took it for lunch the next day too.
I really need to work on staying organized and figuring out stuff in advance, because we keep not getting to eat dinner until 9ish because I am learning new techniques.
3 days down, 27 to go!
Friday, May 24, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Whole30 - Day 2
Day 2 - May 21
This was a tough one. Ate the same thing for breakfast, and some of the soup I had made the night before for lunch. Was feeling pretty good until about an hour after lunch. Started feeling tired and cranky. Was very difficult to be nice to customers. Headache was starting.
After work, drove to my parents house to get my starting weight.....and it was depressing:
Starting Weight: 226.8lbs.
SHAME! At least it was not over 230, which was what I was a few weeks ago.
Made it home, tried to start cooking and dishes, but the headache was now a full blown migraine. I went and hid in the dark and tried not to cry. My whole body ached, I had weird stabbing pains, I was shaky. Ended up falling asleep. Few hours later, woke up and I was ready to quit this Whole30 thing. I wanted a peanut butter and jelly or macaroni and cheese or something else quick and easy and delicious and not a frickin vegetable. I wanted Nobby's (a local burger joint that is amazing, but you most likely should not eat more than once in a while, and certainly not 3x a week, which was what I was doing). What did I care if I looked like a whale at the beach for the rest of my life or developed diabetes, give me the comfort food!!!!
I was pouting and saying I was going to quit. My husband told me to stay strong. I went to the fridge trying to find something. The bread and jelly were right there........and then I saw eggs! A scramble....easy and delicious, even without cheese. Sauteed some mushrooms up with some crumbled bacon (my cheat item until I have the money to get properly sourced bacon) in garlic olive oil. Once those were good and crispy (cause I don't care for soggy shrooms), I added in my eggs. A few minutes later, I was eating. Once I was not hungry, the deep desire for crap was lessened.
Day 2 was more challenging than Day 1, but also felt more accomplished.
I slept pretty poorly, but wind also freaks me out, and we had some strong gusts last night. So I will chalk up my poor sleeping to that.
This was a tough one. Ate the same thing for breakfast, and some of the soup I had made the night before for lunch. Was feeling pretty good until about an hour after lunch. Started feeling tired and cranky. Was very difficult to be nice to customers. Headache was starting.
After work, drove to my parents house to get my starting weight.....and it was depressing:
Starting Weight: 226.8lbs.
SHAME! At least it was not over 230, which was what I was a few weeks ago.
Made it home, tried to start cooking and dishes, but the headache was now a full blown migraine. I went and hid in the dark and tried not to cry. My whole body ached, I had weird stabbing pains, I was shaky. Ended up falling asleep. Few hours later, woke up and I was ready to quit this Whole30 thing. I wanted a peanut butter and jelly or macaroni and cheese or something else quick and easy and delicious and not a frickin vegetable. I wanted Nobby's (a local burger joint that is amazing, but you most likely should not eat more than once in a while, and certainly not 3x a week, which was what I was doing). What did I care if I looked like a whale at the beach for the rest of my life or developed diabetes, give me the comfort food!!!!
I was pouting and saying I was going to quit. My husband told me to stay strong. I went to the fridge trying to find something. The bread and jelly were right there........and then I saw eggs! A scramble....easy and delicious, even without cheese. Sauteed some mushrooms up with some crumbled bacon (my cheat item until I have the money to get properly sourced bacon) in garlic olive oil. Once those were good and crispy (cause I don't care for soggy shrooms), I added in my eggs. A few minutes later, I was eating. Once I was not hungry, the deep desire for crap was lessened.
Day 2 was more challenging than Day 1, but also felt more accomplished.
I slept pretty poorly, but wind also freaks me out, and we had some strong gusts last night. So I will chalk up my poor sleeping to that.
Whole30 - Day 1, part 2
This is a few days late, but I wanted to post it up anyway. This should have been posted on Monday, May 20.
Got home, started working on dinner and some food for the next few days.
Ended up coating a few yams in coconut oil and popping them in the oven. Paired that with some more of the Costco chicken.
One thing that amazed me yesterday was how little I ate. And I was full! My total food consumption for the entire day was about what I eat after I get home on a normal night volume wise, and way, way, waaaayyyy less calorie wise. I'm sure I cut 500+ calories alone just from removing drinks.
After dinner, I was kinda awake since I could not do any of my normal wind down activities (ie, stuffing my face with crap). Since I needed to get prepping and cooking some of the veggies that are starting to look sad, I ended up making some soup. I boiled down the chicken carcass and made a stock (since all my instant broths has SUGAR! dang it). This was something new for me. I also got to mess with a sweet potato for the first time. Sweet Potato>Yam.
Not having potatoes was going to kill me, but since sweet potatoes are okay in moderation, I can do this. In the soup I made, they were a great texture and hardly tasted sweet at all.
The end of day one involved an awful caffeine headache and lots of tossing and turning.
But I made it.
Got home, started working on dinner and some food for the next few days.
Ended up coating a few yams in coconut oil and popping them in the oven. Paired that with some more of the Costco chicken.
One thing that amazed me yesterday was how little I ate. And I was full! My total food consumption for the entire day was about what I eat after I get home on a normal night volume wise, and way, way, waaaayyyy less calorie wise. I'm sure I cut 500+ calories alone just from removing drinks.
After dinner, I was kinda awake since I could not do any of my normal wind down activities (ie, stuffing my face with crap). Since I needed to get prepping and cooking some of the veggies that are starting to look sad, I ended up making some soup. I boiled down the chicken carcass and made a stock (since all my instant broths has SUGAR! dang it). This was something new for me. I also got to mess with a sweet potato for the first time. Sweet Potato>Yam.
Not having potatoes was going to kill me, but since sweet potatoes are okay in moderation, I can do this. In the soup I made, they were a great texture and hardly tasted sweet at all.
The end of day one involved an awful caffeine headache and lots of tossing and turning.
But I made it.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Whole30 Challenge - Day 1, part 1
Whole30...Paleo on steroids. I had considered going Paleo, but thought that giving up a lot of my favorite foods would be hard. I watched one of my friends do the Whole30, and was intrigued. 30 days...that sounds challenging but manageable. I just turned 26, and I am not getting any younger. I've been trying to get my weight and health under control for the last 6 years without much luck.
My interest in the program peaked last Thursday, I bought It Starts With Food on Friday, and then I binged on all the delicious over-processed crap that makes up the majority of my diet for the weekend, and then, BOOM, here we are, Monday morning, Day 1 of my Whole30 Challenge. I didn't put it off any longer because I did not want to lose my gumption.
I guess this is called the "This isn't so bad day." The next few days will be like a food hangover, and the rest of the week just general misery. Then I may start to feel better. So far it has not been bad, but then again, I generally don't eat breakfast. Today I had three little egg "muffins". Kinda similar to a quiche, but without the heavy cream and potato crust and all the veggies cooked in olive oil instead of piles of butter. Since I ate, my stomach is now awake and ready to eat more.
For lunch I have a bowl of broccoli with some chicken breast (it is from Costco, which has sugar in their marinade, but I don't eat the skin, so I am fudging this a little) and I have a bag of strawberries (which I gave in and ate half of during my break).
Dinner is up in the air. I have to clean the kitchen after yesterday's Barbeque and then figure out what to make.I think the hardest thing in the house to resist will be the homemade Pomegranate and Sage lemonade in the fridge that is left over. Avoiding sugar-loaded-chemical-shit-storm beverages is going to be the hardest.
Later today I have to take my starting measurements and weight. You cannot weight or take measurements during the process so that way you focus on the positive eating instead of the numbers on the scale. This will be hard too, but is a great idea.
I am doing this challenge because I need to hit the reset button on my life, including food. Just "dieting" won't be enough, I have to fully unplug and then plug back in. I think I have some allergies, but my diet is so fouled up, I don't even know where to start. My husband is kinda participating, but only at home. My dad and mom seem to doubt that I will be able to complete this challenge, but that just adds fuel.
Next week we begin preparing for the Tough Mudder. Only 172 days to go from overweight couch potato to fit and hardcore obstacle course runner.
My interest in the program peaked last Thursday, I bought It Starts With Food on Friday, and then I binged on all the delicious over-processed crap that makes up the majority of my diet for the weekend, and then, BOOM, here we are, Monday morning, Day 1 of my Whole30 Challenge. I didn't put it off any longer because I did not want to lose my gumption.
I guess this is called the "This isn't so bad day." The next few days will be like a food hangover, and the rest of the week just general misery. Then I may start to feel better. So far it has not been bad, but then again, I generally don't eat breakfast. Today I had three little egg "muffins". Kinda similar to a quiche, but without the heavy cream and potato crust and all the veggies cooked in olive oil instead of piles of butter. Since I ate, my stomach is now awake and ready to eat more.
For lunch I have a bowl of broccoli with some chicken breast (it is from Costco, which has sugar in their marinade, but I don't eat the skin, so I am fudging this a little) and I have a bag of strawberries (which I gave in and ate half of during my break).
Dinner is up in the air. I have to clean the kitchen after yesterday's Barbeque and then figure out what to make.I think the hardest thing in the house to resist will be the homemade Pomegranate and Sage lemonade in the fridge that is left over. Avoiding sugar-loaded-chemical-shit-storm beverages is going to be the hardest.
Later today I have to take my starting measurements and weight. You cannot weight or take measurements during the process so that way you focus on the positive eating instead of the numbers on the scale. This will be hard too, but is a great idea.
I am doing this challenge because I need to hit the reset button on my life, including food. Just "dieting" won't be enough, I have to fully unplug and then plug back in. I think I have some allergies, but my diet is so fouled up, I don't even know where to start. My husband is kinda participating, but only at home. My dad and mom seem to doubt that I will be able to complete this challenge, but that just adds fuel.
Next week we begin preparing for the Tough Mudder. Only 172 days to go from overweight couch potato to fit and hardcore obstacle course runner.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Tales from the Garden: Three Sisters Garden
So this year I decided I was going to garden. I was weaning myself off of antidepressants, and needed something to distract me from the constant war in my head. Gardening slid into place as a distraction from unwanted thoughts, a positive outlet for anxious energy. I'm sure the sunshine and fresh air also helped the healing process. During February and March, I spent a lot of time looking at seeds (and building my seed hoard).
One rainy day we were at a local Osh and I was checking out seeds on a Renee's Garden display. In addition to individual seed packets, there were also bundles of groups of seeds that went well together; kitchen herbs, Gourmet Greens, Hummingbird Garden, and Three Sisters Garden.
The Three Sisters Garden caught my attention. I had already bought a lot of seeds, so I had corn, squash and beans already, but I was intrigued by the idea.
When visiting the Renee's Garden website it describes the Three Sisters Garden the following way:
"According to Iroquois legend, corn, beans, and squash are three inseparable sisters who only grow and thrive together. This tradition of interplanting corn, beans and squash in the same mounds, widespread among Native American farming societies, is a sophisticated, sustainable system that provided long-term soil fertility and a healthy diet to generations.Growing a Three Sisters Garden is a wonderful way to feel more connected to the history of this land, regardless of our ancestry."
If you follow the link above, you can see a diagram on how to lay one out. I have spent much of my time making sure that things I planted near each other were friends and benefited so this seems like the perfect experiment. Plus three things that I am most excited to grow are corn (I have 4 varieties), bean, and the pink porcelain doll pumpkins I also picked up from Renee's Garden.
So now the time has come to do dig my 10' x 10'. The pollen outside is so bad, it is making it hard to accomplish much of anything. At least we have a long, long growing season here, so if I delay another weekend, it will be okay.
One rainy day we were at a local Osh and I was checking out seeds on a Renee's Garden display. In addition to individual seed packets, there were also bundles of groups of seeds that went well together; kitchen herbs, Gourmet Greens, Hummingbird Garden, and Three Sisters Garden.
The Three Sisters Garden caught my attention. I had already bought a lot of seeds, so I had corn, squash and beans already, but I was intrigued by the idea.
When visiting the Renee's Garden website it describes the Three Sisters Garden the following way:
"According to Iroquois legend, corn, beans, and squash are three inseparable sisters who only grow and thrive together. This tradition of interplanting corn, beans and squash in the same mounds, widespread among Native American farming societies, is a sophisticated, sustainable system that provided long-term soil fertility and a healthy diet to generations.Growing a Three Sisters Garden is a wonderful way to feel more connected to the history of this land, regardless of our ancestry."
If you follow the link above, you can see a diagram on how to lay one out. I have spent much of my time making sure that things I planted near each other were friends and benefited so this seems like the perfect experiment. Plus three things that I am most excited to grow are corn (I have 4 varieties), bean, and the pink porcelain doll pumpkins I also picked up from Renee's Garden.
So now the time has come to do dig my 10' x 10'. The pollen outside is so bad, it is making it hard to accomplish much of anything. At least we have a long, long growing season here, so if I delay another weekend, it will be okay.
Monday, April 1, 2013
An Introduction
I have way too many blogs. A blog or two about tea, blogs for several different derby personas that never got off the ground, blogs for businesses that never quite took off, year long art projects that failed in less than a week, Movie and video game review blogs and any number of other things.
I love to write, but I lack focus and time. One minute I am really into one thing, the next I jump ship and swim away towards the next, leaving behind me a wake of dead blogs, scraps of notepaper and supplies associated with said interest or hobby. I usually do end up crossing paths or backtracking, but I always feel to start a new blog instead of picking up the old one. Maybe it is the shame associated with having to come back as say..."hey, I abandoned you, but I'm back!" Much easier to just say "This is shiny and new! Look at it!"
So this time I am trying something new. Still starting a new blog, with a somewhat themed name, but not a themed subject. This will be my blog to write about what I please. If I feel like writing a video game review, it will go here. A review of a certain tea....here. Update on my garden? Also here. Dramatic life event? Why not!
So hopefully this blog will live on...as a spot to write about whatever I am interested in at the time. Might make it hard to get a loyal group of followers, but there have to be people who are just as sporadic and fickle as I am, right?!
I love to write, but I lack focus and time. One minute I am really into one thing, the next I jump ship and swim away towards the next, leaving behind me a wake of dead blogs, scraps of notepaper and supplies associated with said interest or hobby. I usually do end up crossing paths or backtracking, but I always feel to start a new blog instead of picking up the old one. Maybe it is the shame associated with having to come back as say..."hey, I abandoned you, but I'm back!" Much easier to just say "This is shiny and new! Look at it!"
So this time I am trying something new. Still starting a new blog, with a somewhat themed name, but not a themed subject. This will be my blog to write about what I please. If I feel like writing a video game review, it will go here. A review of a certain tea....here. Update on my garden? Also here. Dramatic life event? Why not!
So hopefully this blog will live on...as a spot to write about whatever I am interested in at the time. Might make it hard to get a loyal group of followers, but there have to be people who are just as sporadic and fickle as I am, right?!
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