Day 14, 15, 16, 17 & 18- I've made it two weeks already!!

Day 14

Omg, I've made it two weeks without grains!

Today was so crazy busy that I really didn't get to eat much. I had a banana and coffee for breakfast. But then I didn't eat again until dinner time because I was working on building a playground with SIFE. We got rained out! So close to being finished. Afterwards I treated myself to a watermelon juice. Seriously the best drink!

When I got home, I had some banana chips but I was so engrossed in making a trifold board for SIFE that I kept putting off eating, but not on purpose. Before I knew it, it was time to get ready to go out with my friends. So I made my go to salad - star berries, sunflower seeds and baby spring mix. It's so easy and quick to make.

Party time! I only had one drink while out and I had so much fun.

Day 15

I did not want to wake up early today even though I had told a friend I'd meet her to work on her classroom before I went to finish the playground. But my plans to finish the playground fell trough and my friend luckily didn't want to wake up early either.

I decided to reward myself today for doing pretty well on this new diet so I got a Starbucks iced coffee with whole milk and another banana for breakfast. Is it possible to have too many bananas??

Yay, one of my good friends recently got engaged and she invited me to go wedding dress shopping with her today. Yay! But hmmm..... What can I eat for lunch?? I shopped with them for a while then we were all hungry so we looked around for lunch. They decided to go to a bubble tea place that had food. Not too much food to choose from if I don't want to go off my diet too bad. I got curry chicken. It was delicious. It came with rice so I ate a little of it but I tried to focus on just eating the chicken and avoiding the potatoes. Ugh. Bad choice. I immediately felt bloated and super full. It was the first time I've had grains in two weeks and if that's the way I'm going to feel after eating grains, I will gladly skip them!

For dinner I had a salad with ground beef, guacamole and salsa. Paleo is doable. Sometimes it's hard to not add cheese and sour cream and beans to taco salads, but I feel much better about the eating habits that I'm forming. I'm nervous about tomorrow though, I start school and my schedule is already busy. I will need to find time to make food and things that I can take on the go.

Oh and obviously I didn't get to make the chili today that I had planned to do. Maybe next weekend.


Want some Whole30 approved spices?  Check out this link: Whole30 Approved Spicehound

Day 16

First day of the Fall 2012 semester! I am so not ready for this.  These first few days will be crazy busy for me.  I have morning classes, then head to work, then home to work on homework or stuff for my tutoring.  How am I going to manage sticking to paleo?  I need to buy a lunch cooler to keep my food from spoiling while it sits in my car during class.  Houston is crazy hot and the heat would seriously over cook my food....and I don't wanna cook lettuce or strawberries.  Gross.

So I just picked up a Bacon Chicken Salad to bring to work and some beef jerky if I need a snack.  Oh and I bought a cool lime refresher from Starbucks this morning because I was in need for some serious caffeine after my macroeconomics class.

Around 1pm my stomach started to hurt.  It was a weird feeling, like hungry, kinda painful like I had worked out my abs hard in the gym (but I haven't recently) and uncomfortable.  Not sure what's wrong.  Ugh.  I ate my salad but it only made the feeling go away a little.  Maybe it was from yesterdays rice? or the cool lime refresher? or maybe the beef jerky....can beef jerky go bad?

No working out tonight.  I have to buy school books online, finish the SIFE trifle board, buy a printer and my tummy hurts.  I just grabbed a smoothie after work for dinner because I was hungry and had to run some errands.

Day 17

Is it possible that today is busier than yesterday?  Half a day of work, class, tutoring then homework.  I seriously feel like I'm living off of smoothies right night.  I had a protein shake with some coffee mixed in for breakfast.  On the way to tutoring I picked up a fruit smoothie.  For dinner, I needed to eat something more nutritious and substantial.  I made grilled chicken and had my go to salad, by now you should now what type of salad that is....strawberries, sunflower seeds and baby spring mix. 

Day 18

I need to get back to eating regular foods.  A protein shake with coffee for breakfast on the way to class. 

What can I pick up to eat for lunch and a snack at work?  My Fit Foods!  I just need to make sure to avoid any dish with rice, pasta or grains.  It's doable. 

Are red potatoes paleo friendly?  I looked this up before stopping for food because I wanted their bbq chicken which comes with green beans and a red potato mash.  Seems like red potatoes are a touchy subject in the paleo world.  This blogger goes more into depth about red potatoes and if they are paleo.... Mark's Daily Apple - Are potatoes paleo?  He says that "Evidence exists for human consumption of roots and tubers from multiple sites spanning multiple time periods: Northern Europe (specifically Poland), in the terminal Paleolithic and early Mesolithic."  So I've decided I will get the meal with the red potato mash, but I won't do it very often.  I'll limit my spud in take since I'm trying to get into better shape.

Snack time!  I have egg salad with nut thins and celery from My Fit Foods.  So good.  But do not eat the nut things if you are trying to stick to paleo foods.  I made the mistake of eating them, THEN looking at the ingredients.  I thought that the Almond Nut Thins would be made from almonds. Well they have almonds, rice flour (fail) and some other paleoFAIL stuff.  You live you learn to look at ingredients before you eat something.  If you aren't trying to eat paleo, but are just eating healthy, Nut Thins are a tasty cracker replacement.  Oh and the egg salad....does have some mayo in it.  Another paleofail but at least it's nutritious since who knows when I will get dinner tonight.

Dinner time - egg drop soup, chicken and a little brown rice. I knew I shouldn't have eaten any grains. I don't want this to spiral out of control and start eating more grains little by little. Just need to cut out grains cold turkey.....again. I don't need them, they just taste good.

Day 12 & 13

Day 12



Lunch

I cant believe it's been almost two weeks of eating paleo. Still no grains. I'm almost shocked with myself and how well I've done. I've cheated a little except with grains. I've had a few beans, Starbucks refresher and Smoothie King but for the most part, I've stayed on track. I had a protein shake for breakfast, strawberry sunflower seed salad for lunch, and munched on some carrots as a snack. I'm still trying to figure out what I want for dinner. Maybe some eggs with squash, mushrooms and bacon, or maybe squash and mushroom with fish. Both sound really good.

I've had a dull headache since this afternoon and I'm super tired. Headaches really drag me down. I'm thinking the headache is from being so tired because of the extra long days I've had this week. I was planning on exercising today but I think I'm going to relax tonight.

Dark Chocolate Almond Butter Cups
Not 100% Paleo but at least no peanuts
and it's organic.

Dinner

I tried dark chocolate almond butter cups tonight. Amazing! I found them at Kroger in the organic section and thought I'd treat myself for doing so well on this diet.


I finally decided what to make for dinner.  Eggs, uncured bacon, sauteed mushrooms, squash and onions.  It was very delicous!  I didn't finish all the bacon or egg, but I cleans everything else off the plate.  I love mushrooms and squash.  For dessert, I had some fresh strawberries.

Day 13

Happy Friday!!  I did not want to get out of bed this morning but I feel fresh and in a good mood today.  I'm very excited about going to Zumba tonight.  The instructor is great, I'm covered in sweat by the end of class and I'm having fun!  After Zumba, I'll work out my triceps and shoulders.  I like to perform 3 different exercises per muscle at 3 sets of 8 to 12 reps for each exercise.  I choose a weight that will be hard to lift by the end of each set.  I'm trying to follow the exercises that are in my Jennifer Nicole Lee book. 

For example:
Today is Triceps and Shoulders, so I'd do:
TRICEPS:
Seated Dumbbell Extension - 3 sets at 8 to 12 reps
Dumbbell Kickbacks - 3 sets at 8 to 12 reps
Skull Crushers with bar - 3 sets at 8 to 12 reps
SHOULDERS:
Seated Dumbbell Press - 3 sets at 8 to 12 reps
Side Raises - 3 sets at 8 to 12 reps
Bent Over Raises - 3 sets at 8 to 12 reps

I switch up the exercises each time I hit the gym so I don't get board and neither do my muscles.  I also have the Kindle App downloaded on my iphone so I can just refer back to my book if I need any extra help.  Read her book Fitness Model Book.  It was the first book I bought on my kindle and I read it all in 3 days.  It's inspirational and she gives you so many tips and tricks.  I love her. Jennifer Nicole Lee's Website

For breakfast I had another protein shake from BSN Lean Dessert.  I think it was Banana Nut Bread flavor.  I think I like it almost as much as the Whipped Vanilla Lean Dessert.


Delicious!

I was totally in love with my lunch yesterday, so I'm having the same thing again today.  I seriously can't get enough of this strawberry, sunflower seed and baby spring mix salad.  It's that good!  I only had about a tablespoon of dressing, but the strawberries are so juicy that it didn't even matter.


 

Lunch before mixing it together

Okay, so I'm already thinking of what I could make on Sunday for next week.  I'm thinking a Paleo Chili in a Crockpot.  Should I make regular chili or maybe green chili.  I haven't had green chili since my roadtrip with Stella.  Stella & Petunia's Awesome Adventure blog   I'm gonna start looking up recipes.

Day 9, 10, 11 Paleo

Day 9

Banana with Sunflower Seed Butter
Kiwi, and Blueberries

Woo Hoo!  I made it through the weekend.  Yesterday was really hard.  Non-Paleo protein shake from breakfast.  Chicken Salad for lunch.  Protein shake for pre-workout.  Hit the park with my friend and run into 3 other friends.  I always love when that happens.  I only ran about 3/4 of a mile because my buddy wasn't feeling to well.  I did get in 3 miles though.  I love the feeling after you work out.  Post workout - banana with sunflower seed butter, kiwi and blueberries.  Yum!!

Kobi is ready for his run at the park

Day 10

I'm already wondering what I'll be doing for dinner as I have a meeting tonight with SIFE to work on our trifold board.  I ask for suggestions from another paleo friend, he says Luby's.  I'm told I can get meat and veggies there.  I've never been to Luby's and it doesn't sound all that appealing.  For lunch, I need something other than chicken salad!  I stop at Wendy's and get a side sald with a small chili.  Yes I know the chili has beans which is a paleo fail, but at least I still haven't had any grains!  Although, they put a million saltines and croutons in the bag with my salad and chili, but I tossed them to the side.  :)



One of our SIFE projects.  That's me on top in leopard.

I had a meeting with SIFE to work on our trifold board for recruiting, and I was in a rush so dinner on the go - green tea tango smoothie with no extra fruit from Smoothie King.  Yum.  SO delicious but has dairy and sugar.  Ahh.  I need to get back on track.  No legumes.  No dairy.  At least I'm starting to miss grains and fried food less and less. My SIFE peeps had Popeye's chicken and french fries.  Surprisingly I didn't leave the meeting craving fried chicken or french fries.  Win!  I had some mango and kiwi when I got home.  Mango is a pain to cut up!  Maybe I'm doing this wrong.  My friend told me I need to finess the mango.  Cut it into slices off the pit, then cut the skin off.  I'll try that tomorrow.  I was cutting the skin off with a knife, like peeling a potato or something.
Day 11

My parents back in maybe 1985 or 1986?
With me and my brother.

Happy 31st anniversary to my parents! They've been together for such a long time and just moved into a new house!! Love you guys!



I wake up feeling like I need to get back on track.  No dairy.  No grains.  No legumes.  No sugar.  I felt blah this morning and my weight went up a little.  I am going to allow myself protein shakes though.  I use BSN Lean Dessert.  Whipped Vanilla is my favorite.  It tastes kinda like whipped cream. 

Lunch time - Chicken and bacon on arugula mix with balsamic vinaigrette.  Good?  Well it was yummy, but ugh, the dressing had soy oil in it!  Oh come on.  I just won't use much of the dressing.  I'm still getting a hang of this whole paleo lifestyle. 

Serious cravings today.  I want a cookie, or a cupcake or frozen yogurt!!!  I'm going to try to push through these cravings.  I don't want to cheat on my new lifestyle.  I know eventually it will happen, but I want it to be good and worth it and PLANNED!  Not just because I have a craving for sugar.  Maybe I'm having this craving because of my smoothie from yesterday.....  :(

Check out this link about cheating on paleo:  Paleo Plan - Cheating

I didn't have time for a real dinner, so I got a smoothie again.  I know I said no dairy, no sugar, but I was starving and seriously had no time to sit down and eat.  I did at least have some beef jerky so I didn't finish the smoothie.  I am teaching someone how to use AutoCAD and I had to go straight to her house from work.  I really enjoy teaching others how to use the program.  I start teaching a new group of people new week.  It's just something I do on my own.  Maybe it's my future career?  AutoCAD Teacher?  Possibly.

A screen shot of AutoCAD

Day 8

Today is hard. Im feeling lazy and don't want to cook and it's rainy outside, so I don't want to go anywhere. I have plenty of stuff at home to eat.

Another salad with fruit on it. Luckily it's so good that I don't mind having another. Cantaloupe as a snack. I am also trying some Bolthouse Farms Orange + Carrot juice. I think it's paleo friendly. The ingredients are all fruit purée or fruit concentrate. Although I'm not to sure what Acerola purée us. I'll have to look it up. It tastes pretty good though.

Watching Hunger Games. I really like this movie, but the food scenes were a little rough! All that dessert got me craving for something sweet. I bought some 85% dark chocolate the other day for cravings like this. It's good but strong and a little bitter, probably not a bad thing because then I won't way to eat much of it.

It's bedtime and I've managed to survive another day without cheating. It is so hard at times. I hope it gets easier sooner. At least I am feeling better and no headaches, just cravings.

Such a great quote!
"Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great." - Mark Twain

Day 7!! I've made it a whole week.

Wow. I can't believe I've made it 7 days on the Paleo diet! I'm surprised and impressed by myself.

I had a great workout this morning. Zumba and I worked out my legs. It was rough but I felt great after and my legs are sore already. I pressed 230 lbs with my legs. I also did calf raises, and hack squat. My legs felt like jello.

Best part of my day was at the grocery store, my cart loaded with fruits, veggies and uncured bacon, the cashier asks me if I'm a runner. I saw no, I walk and do weights and Zumba. She tells me I look great and have a flat stomach and that she is trying to get that. :). Made my day. Thank you.

Had another strawberry salad for lunch. Spicy guac with carrots for a snack. Had hamachi tataki on plantains for dinner. The sushi was mostly paleo. There was some sort of white sauce on it that probably had a mayo base. It was pretty tasty though. I managed to not have any rice at sushi and I didn't eat any of my friends edamame.

I'm feeling great. I can do this!!

Day 4, 5 & 6 - Still going.....kinda strong

Day 4

Wow, I surprisingly made it through Day 4.  Had a lot of car drama today which made me want sugar and carbs....but I didn't grab any carbs.  I had a cool lime refresher from Starbucks....which I'm sure had sugar in it but atleast I skipped the caramel macciato that I normally get which has dairy and lots of sugar.  BTW - the cool lime refresher is soo good!  Lime, mint and caffiene extracted from green coffee beans.

The rest of the day was filled with salads, veggies and protein.  yum!  I didn't feel tired today, walked around the park with some friends.  When I saw walk around the park - I mean walk around Memorial Park which is a 3 mile loop.  No shortcuts.  I'm going to start running around the park next week.  My goal is to run 3 miles straight no stopping!

Day 5

Still not sure what the exact problem is with my car.  I was super tired this morning and I have a busy day today so I gotta figure out how to stick to my diet.  I am still using protein shakes in my diet until I can figure out quick meals for on the go.

I carried apples, beef jerky and banana chips with me today.  And yay, I had time to go home and eat dinner before going to my tutoring job.  Left over pot roast and a banana.  Okay, I have to freeze the rest of this pot roast.  I think I'm burnt out on it although it was super tasty.

I broke and had a cranberry vodka while out for a friends birthday and boy did I immediately felt like crap!  So it was my one and only drink of the night.  It's amazing how one drink could make me feel so blah.  Ok, I can just go without the booze from now on.  I can have fun with or without it.  I'll just order myself a club soda with lime.  Ta Da.  Looks like an alcholic beverage, but it's not.  :)

Day 6

Awesome.  I got my car back.  Not a major problem, just had to replace a hose and my car is working again.  I love my Jetta.  :) :)

Even better news, I'm down 6.5 lbs from when I returned from my awesome roadtrip.  And 4.5 lbs down since I started eating Paleo.  AWESOME!!!  I'm sticking to it!  I know the cravings will eventually go away.

They (I mean the paleo liftstyle people) say to just eat when you are hungry.  You don't have to have 6 small meals a day like other diets.  It makes it easier and I'm not counting calories either.  Just eating when I'm hungry.  So far breakfast and lunch have both been fruit smoothies and I had some beef jerky.  I think I'll make myself a salad and some tilapia for dinner tonight.  Yum!

Ok so I ended up making strawberry almond salad and a side of sautéed mushroom for dinner. Really good. I smelt French fries earlier and omg, I wanted some so bad, but I willed myself not to. So proud of myself.

Day 3 Paleo

Didn't wake up to a headache this morning, but I did feel a lot more tired and thirsty than normal.  Had a smoothie for breakfast with a little protein powder.  I don't think the protein powder is paleo friendly but hey, it's my diet and I was in a rush.  Sorry!

I was thisclose to getting a sugary sweet yummy iced coffee this morning but I willed myself not to do it.  I know this will get easier!  I packed some fruit, nuts, and beef jerky to take to work.  I also grabbed a grilled chicken salad to bring for lunch.  I have caesar dressing for it.  I'll have to check more into dressings for salads, but at least this is better than me picking up some subway sandwich.

I decided to opt out of meeting my friends for Taco Tuesday.  I know I'll want to eat some chips and tortillas and I don't think I'm strong enough right now to say no.  Maybe next week!