I finally got my lazy ass into the gym today. I signed up for the gym at work at least 2 weeks ago, but kept having various problems getting there. Forgot my gym bag, forgot to go...Hey, I admit I'm lazy. I'm no fan of exercise.
But I have a buddy who keeps pestering me to go, so today I made it in - with my gym bag - and motivated myself to the gym. I promised I'd start easy. Sprints on the elliptical. I really did go easy: 5 minute warm up, then 1 minute sprint at high resistance followed by 1 minute slow at a low resistance. Five sprints total, and a short cool down. And then I was done. Short and easy and out in time to have lunch and get ready for my afternoon meetings.
I know I did something. My legs are tired.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Benefit #5
Being able to miss meals without getting hungry.
This morning, I had a meeting at 7:30 at a restaurant. Silly me, I assumed a meeting in a restaurant at that time meant we'd be ordering breakfast. But no. The only thing we ended up eating the whole 2 hours was coffee, or tea for me.
Before I switched to eating primal, if I went more than about 4 hours, I was feeling hunger pangs. If I went too long, or had a blood sugar spike and crash from a previous meal, I was really hurting. But today, I not only skipped breakfast and was able to still think and communicate clearly, I went through lunch with just a small bowl of vegetable soup. I'm still doing just fine. A little bit hollow inside, maybe, and looking forward to a nice cod dish for dinner tonight, but it's not the over-powering, distracting hunger I used to have.
I love the feeling of freedom I have now. I'm no longer tied to my stomach. I still love to eat, and sometimes eat too much, but I don't feel like I HAVE to have a power bar in my purse, or HAVE to pack a lunch if I'm running late.
If I miss a meal, I just remind myself that Grok and Grokette were never assured of three square meals a day, and it won't hurt me to miss one or two. Especially since I've got a few weeks worth of reserves padding my waist.
This morning, I had a meeting at 7:30 at a restaurant. Silly me, I assumed a meeting in a restaurant at that time meant we'd be ordering breakfast. But no. The only thing we ended up eating the whole 2 hours was coffee, or tea for me.
Before I switched to eating primal, if I went more than about 4 hours, I was feeling hunger pangs. If I went too long, or had a blood sugar spike and crash from a previous meal, I was really hurting. But today, I not only skipped breakfast and was able to still think and communicate clearly, I went through lunch with just a small bowl of vegetable soup. I'm still doing just fine. A little bit hollow inside, maybe, and looking forward to a nice cod dish for dinner tonight, but it's not the over-powering, distracting hunger I used to have.
I love the feeling of freedom I have now. I'm no longer tied to my stomach. I still love to eat, and sometimes eat too much, but I don't feel like I HAVE to have a power bar in my purse, or HAVE to pack a lunch if I'm running late.
If I miss a meal, I just remind myself that Grok and Grokette were never assured of three square meals a day, and it won't hurt me to miss one or two. Especially since I've got a few weeks worth of reserves padding my waist.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Primal Survival Beef and Vegetable Soup
Today I was working from home and decided to do something a little different for lunch. It's a cold day here and soup sounded really good. We've eaten most of our fresh vegetables and with an impending ice storm, we didn't want to fight the hordes at the grocery store going for their bread, milk and toilet paper. (Really people, the roads will be slick tonight and tomorrow morning and by Saturday it'll be back up to 50 degrees. You can't manage to spend 36 hours at home with the food that you have in your pantry?)
I had some leftover beef stock in the refrigerator from a grass-fed pot roast we had last week. It had a nice layer of tallow on top of a good and jiggly bit of stock. I tossed the whole thing in a sauce pan, fat and all.
As it melted, I added three strips of beef jerky and let it soften for 10-15 minutes. The broth was getting a bit low, so I added a cup of water, then some dehydrated tomatoes, red pepper, red onion, kale and a few slices of dehydrated sweet potato. I let that simmer for about 15 minutes. Added some sea salt and pepper and it made a mighty tasty and mighty filling warm bowl of soup.
I call it Survival soup, because I stocked up on some dehydrated vegetables so that I'd have them in event of emergency (meaning I was out of fresh). They've worked out really well. They softened up and weren't hard at all. The jerky was still a little tough, but nothing bad. Just a little chewy.
The take away: Save your leftover juice from cooking a pot roast and turn it into a tasty soup with fresh, dehydrated or leftover vegetables and beef.
I had some leftover beef stock in the refrigerator from a grass-fed pot roast we had last week. It had a nice layer of tallow on top of a good and jiggly bit of stock. I tossed the whole thing in a sauce pan, fat and all.
As it melted, I added three strips of beef jerky and let it soften for 10-15 minutes. The broth was getting a bit low, so I added a cup of water, then some dehydrated tomatoes, red pepper, red onion, kale and a few slices of dehydrated sweet potato. I let that simmer for about 15 minutes. Added some sea salt and pepper and it made a mighty tasty and mighty filling warm bowl of soup.
I call it Survival soup, because I stocked up on some dehydrated vegetables so that I'd have them in event of emergency (meaning I was out of fresh). They've worked out really well. They softened up and weren't hard at all. The jerky was still a little tough, but nothing bad. Just a little chewy.
The take away: Save your leftover juice from cooking a pot roast and turn it into a tasty soup with fresh, dehydrated or leftover vegetables and beef.
Plateaus - Day 23
Well, it appears I spoke too soon. I'm back up to 219. *sigh*
I'm tracking my calories and macronutrient profile. I'm eating about 1600-1800 calories/day, around 80-90 grams protein, and 60-80 grams of carbs, mostly from vegetables and my half of a protein brownie every day. I've had no flour, rice, oats, corn or sugar. I've cut my sodas down to 1 a day, from my usual 3-4 a day. I'm moving more, although I'm not doing dedicated exercise.
Speaking of exercise, I actually signed up for a year's membership at the gym at work, and yesterday, I packed my gym bag, but I had so much stuff going out the door than I forgot to bring my gym bag. I keep thinking I'll do something at home, but I'm having a terrible time getting up the gumption to do it.
I'm tracking my calories and macronutrient profile. I'm eating about 1600-1800 calories/day, around 80-90 grams protein, and 60-80 grams of carbs, mostly from vegetables and my half of a protein brownie every day. I've had no flour, rice, oats, corn or sugar. I've cut my sodas down to 1 a day, from my usual 3-4 a day. I'm moving more, although I'm not doing dedicated exercise.
Speaking of exercise, I actually signed up for a year's membership at the gym at work, and yesterday, I packed my gym bag, but I had so much stuff going out the door than I forgot to bring my gym bag. I keep thinking I'll do something at home, but I'm having a terrible time getting up the gumption to do it.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Plateaus - Day 21
I've been at the same weight for 21 days now. Initially I was excited because I lost the requisite 5 pounds of water weight and I was happily waiting for the 1 or 2 pounds a week (hopefully). But I stalled almost immediately. I was stuck between 218 and 220 for 21 days.
Yesterday, I was at 217.5 and I thought MAYBE I had broken through the plateau. But this morning, it's back to 218. At least it's not higher.
I weigh myself every morning so I can keep a 10 day running average of my weight, and that's what I use to gauge my progress, not the actual number on the scale, because it can fluctuate by 2-4 pounds in a day.
I've upped my fat content in my diet, cut out all processed foods except the 1/2 protein "brownie" that is my afternoon snack. I'm eating plenty of veggies. Still have a decent amount of dairy in the butter and an ounce or so of cheese every day. I'll stick with this for another week. I've been slowly trying to add in more daily exercise/movement.
Yesterday, I was at 217.5 and I thought MAYBE I had broken through the plateau. But this morning, it's back to 218. At least it's not higher.
I weigh myself every morning so I can keep a 10 day running average of my weight, and that's what I use to gauge my progress, not the actual number on the scale, because it can fluctuate by 2-4 pounds in a day.
I've upped my fat content in my diet, cut out all processed foods except the 1/2 protein "brownie" that is my afternoon snack. I'm eating plenty of veggies. Still have a decent amount of dairy in the butter and an ounce or so of cheese every day. I'll stick with this for another week. I've been slowly trying to add in more daily exercise/movement.
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