Team Paleo

I'm hesitant to post this because I've started paleo challenges and stopped them so many times that I don't think anyone will take me seriously. I know I wouldn't :)

But, I told Melinda I would join her in her paleo challenge and that I would post here as well so we could see each other's progress. I had no intention of doing a paleo challenge. I love eating paleo and can definitely tell a difference in the way I look and feel when I eat paleo style, but I didn't want to go 30 days without cheating. However, I've been impressed lately with the progress I've seen in other crossfitters, both in our gym (Durham and Local) and other gyms once they really focused on their diet and training and I want to see those results as well. So, I'm joining Melinda in this challenge. This is my Day 1.

No post dinner muffin top

So it has been 5 days total that I have adopted a paleo-ish diet. I've lost 6 pounds and feel pretty awesome. Someone tonight told me I was glowing. And I'm definitely not pregnant. Paleo? Could be.

So you might be wondering why I say paleo-ish. I say that because I am doing the best I can while still living a normal life. For example, tonight at a restaurant I ordered teriyaki beef plate that came with sauteed spinach and grilled asparagus. I'm sure there was some salt, sugar (teriyaki), butter, or other paleo no-no's, but I made the best choice I could.

First of all, that is a meal worth paying for. It was yumola. Second, it was a lot of food and people were kind of jealous of what I ordered. We should address the righteous feeling that comes along with eating this way, but I will leave that for another post. Third, I ATE THE WHOLE PLATE OF FOOD and still sat comfortably in my jeans for the rest of the night. Usually when I go out out, I don't eat much because of the whole tight pants thing that comes after you eat. This did not happen. At all. Holy hannah, that may be the single most interesting piece of the experiment so far.

Earlier today had I posted I would have been very negative. I felt pretty bad. Like my body just wanted me to stop. I didn't eat much at all this morning = one egg white and 4 almonds and half a lara bar after pilates. Went shopping (topic for another post!) and had to sit in the dressing rooms for awhile I was so tired. Went home and ate eggs, bacon and a pear and sunbutter (my new fave snack). Still felt crappy. Didn't really feel better until I ate dinner. Basically I am learning that a protein heavy meal is going to make me feel crappy, whereas a protein / carb (veggie) balanced meal, makes me feel awesome.

Experimenting is cool.

P.S. I still totally wanted to chow on the cheesy spinach and artichoke dip and pitas that the whole table was eating. There is strength that comes from abstaining.

6k

When I started Crossfit last April I could barely row 250 meters. On Monday I rowed a 6k. It took me longer than anyone else but I was proud that I was able to finish. It took me 30 min and 5 seconds. I was really hoping to get it under 30 min. Oh well. I do have to remember to equalize my ipod. Rhiahna just wants to yell while everyone else is singing at a normal level. Yesterday Greg had us do 2 sprint ladders on the rower. I think it was worse then the 6k. My total was just over 3k. I was doing fairly well at staying around 2 min mark (per 500 meters). That is quite an improvement.

Let the experiment begin

So this morning I woke up craving a ginormous bowl of oatmeal and I don't even eat oatmeal very often. I'd say the much anticipated carb cravings have begun. I also feel VERY VERY hungry. Like even right after I eat. So I ate a little more today. I need to find a good balance that does not always end in me eating a lara bar. I'm trying to consciously be mindful of how much of things like avocado, nuts and lara bars I eat. No need to overdo it. And I could totally overdo it with those things. In fact, I did this evening. I am full. Like really full and haven't felt that way so far on paleo. I ate dinner from Day 1 again. But more meat and added guacamole instead of plain avocado. Then I ate this "grok bar" that Dave gave me (which was mother f'ing good by the way). Full - very full.

I weighed in at Weight Watchers today. Weight Watchers (WW) wants you to eat dairy and whole grains, so my leader was not thrilled about my experiment. Its just 30 days - relax. Anywho - I lost another pound, which means about 3 "real" pounds (I say real because I lost an additional 3 pounds of cookie palooza) lost in about 4 days. I'm going to tweak some things next week if this continues because it makes me nervous to lose that fast. That sounds ridiculous I know, but the WW tools told me to slow down, blah blah heart murmers, anemia, blah blah. I am sure this is just water and it will level off in the next couple of days.

Today at crossfit I was kind of faster than normal maybe. I don't know. Kettlebells and situps, both of which I do decently already. I was SOOOOOOO thirsty though. I thought that was weird. I drink a gallon of water a day already. Why would I be so thirsty?

I don't think about cheese at all, but I am CONSTANTLY thinking about grains. Its like everything I read, hear, smell - grains.

So I'm not going to say this is hard, giving up heroin is hard. But I will say it is challenging...

Things that have snuck in

So I think I am accidentally eating things that are not Paleo: salt, balsalmic vinegar. Plus I chowed on a Lara bar that I realized afterwards was peanut butter = peanut. Oops.

I've really got to branch out on the flavorings. I don't use dressing on salads anymore - in fact, I haven't done so in a very long time. I just use balsalmic vinegar or nothing if there is fruit and cheese in my salad. I'm not sure I can take in my normal big ass salad without balsalmic vinegar. Suggestions for a similar salad "dressing"? I really enjoy my big ass salads, so it would be a shame not to keep in in the rotation.

Little Known Fact about Beatrice

I used to be a wimp. By that I mean, I use to give up a lot when it came to sports. I would decided to run a mile and it would hurt so I would stop. I love swimming and was not bad at it but I was never a Ryan Hendren. He was an amazing swimmer at my high school. Seriously the man was beautiful to watch he could just cut through the water and it looked effortless. He was like a dolphin. I was a tadpole in comparison. I could run the 100 meter and was not too bad at that either but not great, far from great. So, I would see people sail past me and then just quit. I decided about 3 years ago that I did not want to be that person anymore.
Rich and I set out to run a marathon. About 3 months into the program I sprained my ankle badly. That was it for that year. Then I met a girl named Kate. She wanted to run a marathon so I started to train with her. I plopped down the $135 to run the Disney and that was it. It was in Jan. I started training in June. Remember, I could not Run a mile. I started using a book that slowly introduces you to running by making you walk and run. It was great. Until I got: bronchitis, 2 ear infections and a sinus infection all at once. Oh, and my friend dropped out. I decided, F@#% it. I am going to do it any way. I went the Month of Nov and half of Dec with out running but I did it anyway. It was hard and I was slow but I did it. Now I do not quit anymore. I just keep going, because it might take a while but the pain will go away at some point and I feel like I can respect myself more if I keep going. Dolphin I am not, but I can be a badass little tadpole.

Pea Shoots - sure I'll try that

Day 3 - feeling a little tired, but stayed up late. Had late night coffee. ooops.

I really wanted my dinner from Day 1 again - but thought I would branch out. My fridge is chock full of spectacular colorful goodness. I had pea shoots with my dinner tonight. How can you not walk by something labeled "pea shoots" and not want to purchase them? I know, right? Pea shoots raw were just OK. I used them as a lettuce substitute. Like for my salad. Kind of a grassy taste. Looks like grass, so seems logical. I am thinking that they would be good stir fried maybe. I'd give em a go again. And maybe add bacon! Yes! I will try that.

Perhaps I should share my day time stuff too.

Breakfast #1 - about 1/8 cup of OJ with my green drink powder, 2 hard boiled egg whites, 4 almonds

Breakfast #2 - 2 oz no salt turkey from WF + no sugar added applesauce / cinnamon

Lunch - big ass salad with chicken, sunflower seeds and balsalmic vinegar; fruit cup (from cafeteria salad bar)

Snack - before adult sorority (boo) - banana + cashew macadamia nut butter

I am thinking that I might be eating too much fruit - but maybe it doesn't matter yet.

Lost another pound. I know its just water, but it is still a pound.

Oh - interestingly, eating this way keeps me within my Weight Watchers points so far. So maybe its possible to be a paleo weight watcher. But thats just crazy talk.