sola fide

Crackers and Pizza!

2012-02-04T09:00:00.000-08:00

Say what?! Did I just say "crackers and pizza"?! I did!

I was REALLY having a craving for some pizza this last week and went hunting for a recipe. I didn't want to use nuts in the crust and so I stumbled upon this recipe. Talk about a sneaky way to get your kids to eat vegetables. The secret ingredient sure is a very versatile vegetable in the Paleo world and I am often buying two of them every time I go shopping.

The only change I made to the recipe was how I cooked the "dough." I patted it out on a sheet of parchment paper - I was a little worried it would stick to the cookie sheet and I don't use non-stick sprays anymore. I cooked it on the parchment paper on my pizza stone and had to carefully un-stick it from the parchment paper when it came out and before I put the toppings on.

BUT IT WAS FABULOUS. The person sharing it with me said they could taste the cauliflower, but I think they were just imagining things.

Oh, and yes.. cheese. My body isn't so happy with dairy anymore, but I let it slide now and then. I love cheese. As long as I am keeping gluten out of my diet all the time and processed sugar out most of the time, I am a happy girl.

Topped with olive oil, garlic, caramelized onions,
goat cheese & proscuitto - MY FAVORITE

Topped with homemade pizza sauce, gruyere,
goat milk mozzarella, italian sausage
and roasted fennel

Next, I wanted to venture into the cracker area. I have a few trips coming up in the Napa area (in fact, I could be there right as you're reading this!) and so I wanted to make some crackers to take along and be able to enjoy with cheese and sliced salamis. I came across this recipe and kind of made it my own. To be honest, my measuring spoons were in the dishwasher getting all clean, so I eyeballed a lot of what I put in and used what I had.

I used:

2 cups of almond meal

2 tbsp onion salt (next time I would use onion powder and maybe 1/2 tsp salt - a little salty!)

1 tsp garlic powder

2 tbsp sesame seeds

2 tbsp dried rosemary

3 tbsp grape seed oil

1 egg

Mix all the ingredients together and press into a ball. Roll between two sheets of parchment paper until cracker thin and use a pizza cutter to cut into desired shapes/sizes.

I also pressed the very thin edges back into the dough so they were the same thickness of the rest of the dough - didn't want them to burn!

I transferred the dough still on the parchment paper to the pizza stone in my oven - preheated to 250 degrees.

I set my time for 30 minutes and after checking, added another 15, then another 10 and another 10... all in all they cooked about 70 minutes. I'm thinking maybe on a regular cookie sheet they'd go a little faster - at least that's been my experience with a pizza stone. I bet it's a good idea to keep an eye on them because burned nuts do NOT taste good at all. Also, oven temps are different, people will roll into different thicknesses.. so what I am saying is.. don't go anywhere and check often.

Here's the final product. And not only do they smell delicious, but I bet they'll taste fab with some fancy cheese on them!

Grain-free Snacks & "Mouth Feel"

2012-01-25T17:12:00.000-08:00

One thing I have noticed since eating a mainly Paleo diet is that some of the addiction to grains and sugar is in the form of "mouth feel." This makes sense to me, especially when I compare it to people with other addictions.

My mother was a long-time smoker and I've worked with several people like her over the years. My mom had the great strength and determination to go cold turkey many years ago - no meds, patches, etc. Many other people I know have attempted and failed. Me giving up anything that converts into great quantities of sugar in my body hasn't been any different. While they struggled with what to do with their hands and mouth (one reason why weight gain happens after quitting smoking - food takes the place of the cigarette in the mouth!), I struggle with how foods feel in my mouth.

Honestly, there is quite the pleasurable feeling to sinking your teeth into soft, warm, freshly baked sourdough bread. Or licking smooth, sugary frosting off a cupcake. Or chewing a half-baked chocolate chip cookie. Sure, the sugar is nice, but the "mouth feel" adds to the experience.

This is where I've ventured into baking and cooking with grain and flour substitutes. Now let me start off by saying that you should not venture here until you are at your desired weight (or screw weight.. desired size!). This is something I am having a hard time with, so please do as I say, not as I do. Replacing almond flour with regular flour in all of your treats only means more calories - just because your body can tolerate them better doesn't mean they're going to help you lose weight.

Here are two recipes I've tried lately and have had pretty good success with. Keep in mind, neither of these are super sweet. Coming off the sugar detox I've found I can cut waaaaaaay back on the amount of natural sugars I add to a recipe, which is another point in the "win" column!

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Pecan Muffins
(modified from this recipe)

1/2 cup coconut flour
1 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 cup melted coconut oil
5 eggs
6 medjool dates, pitted and mashed with 2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice blend
1 cup chopped raw pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a medium sized mixing bow, combine eggs, vanilla, pumpkin puree, salt, baking soda, and pumpkin pie spice. Blend until smooth
Add coconut flour to batter, and continue to blend
In a small bowl, add pitted medjool dates, cover with 1 tablespoon of water and heat in the microwave for 30 seconds. Mash the dates with a fork, add another tablespoon of water, and mash again
Add date mixture and melted coconut oil to the mixing bowl, and blend until smooth
Stir in the chopped pecans
Place cupcake papers into a muffin tray, and fill each paper cup 3/4 full of batter
Bake muffins at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

"No-granola" Bars

(modified from this recipe)

2.5 cups assorted nuts and seeds (I used almonds, pecans and walnuts)

1 cup dried fruit (I used goji berries)

2 cups shredded coconut

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup honey (I used raw, unfiltered)

splash of vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon salt

generous sprinkle of cinnamon

Haven't attmpted to cut into bars
yet - thinking I may need to cook
the honey mixture longer next
time so it's stickier :)

Roughly chop 1 cup of the nuts and seeds. Place in a bowl
Use your food processor to pulse the other 1.5 cups of nuts and seeds into a finer “chop.” Add to the bowl
Add your fruit
Stir in the dried coconut
In a saucepan over medium-low heat, combine oil, honey, vanilla, salt, and cinnamon. Cook until the mixture bubbles, then pour over the fruit/nut mixture
Stir to combine completely
Press your mixture into a parchment-lined pan of some sort (9x13). Press HARD
Cool 2-3 hours, then remove from the pan and cut into bars

Beachbody / Paleo / Sugar Detox Testimony

2012-01-22T11:51:00.000-08:00

This is a long one, but hopefully this journey will inspire others! Bear with me!

Early in 2011 I heard about this way of eating called " The Paleo Diet." I brushed it off because it sounded like another one of those diets where you aren't allowed to eat a bunch of stuff you love and are miserable on a daily basis - pining over what everyone else is "allowed" to eat. This was just another Atkins diet, or so I thought. Around 2003-2004 when I was working at the local newspaper, a few co-workers did the Atkins diet and lost some weight, but I am pretty sure they look exactly the same right now - and have the same health problems. No thank you. I've already been on a roller coaster of weights since graduating high school in 1995. I was only interested in changing my lifestyle at this point so that whatever body composition change I made would STICK.

In April of 2011 I committed to a workout program through Beachbody and because I had seen the transformations possible through these products, I signed on as a coach so I could help get the word out and help other people. This was the first step in my lifestyle change and I am so thankful for all it has done for me. My focus wasn't on hardcore cardio like I had always chosen in the past - I wanted muscle and definition. ChaLEAN Extreme was the perfect program to help get me started and I am forever indebted to that woman for not only her positive attitude and motivation, but for giving me a great start to feeling better and fitting back into my favorite Seven jeans. My transformation from April 2011 to November 2011 speaks for the products themselves. Lift weight to lose weight.

But that's only half the story.

Somewhere during that time I kept having Paleo pop up everywhere. It finally came to a point where I couldn't ignore it anymore and so I bought a book, and another book, and one more. I read everything I could find to figure out what the deal on this "diet" was. Turns out, it's not a diet in the sense of "do this to lose weight", but in a "eat this way for the rest of your life to be healthy." That's what I wanted. I knew the end of my roller coaster was only going to happen when I focused on being healthy over being skinny.

Beachbody and Paleo at work - I was Paleo
between the 2nd and third picture. Still in progress!

So I gave it a shot. For 3 weeks I ate strictly Paleo, but allowed one cheat meal as long as I didn't go overboard. I lost 6 lbs effortlessly. I wasn't starving myself - I actually ate REALLY well. I even saved money because it was easier to make my own food than eat out. I did miss some stuff I allowed myself to eat freely before, but losing 2 lbs a week (without counting calories or points!) made it worth it to me. For the next 3-4 months I went from 155 lbs to 140 lbs - but I still was allowing my cheats and sometimes they were more than once a week. What can I say, I love food and definitely love certain foods!

Late November 2011 I was set to have a septorhinoplasty and I wanted to be healthy for it and potentially heal faster (grains can cause excessive inflammation in our body), but stress entered my life and I fell back into old patterns. I will admit it could have been worse if I didn't have the knowledge of how unhealthy certain foods were, but I allowed more of these foods into my mouth than I should. I am definitely an emotional eater and my sugar addiction doesn't help. I couldn't exercise for about 3 weeks and I was so miserable and uncomfortable that I ate whatever sounded good. Thankfully I only gained about 4 pounds during December!

During this time I set out to plan my goals for 2012. One of them in 2011 had been to beat my sugar addiction and I guess Paleo helped get me on that road, but I still had really strong cravings and limited willpower. I decided I needed to give this another go in 2012. Somehow, I ran across Balanced Bite's 21-Day Sugar Detox on Facebook. I needed something to motivate me and knowing potentially hundreds of other people would be doing this with me day-by-day was what I needed. Plus, I had convinced a few friends to do this with me! I was nervous, but had found my determination.

Diane (the nutritionist running the detox) gives you 3 levels of detox based on how you had been eating and if you had done the detox before. Level 3 was the most restrictive, but also the most Paleo - I figured I hadn't been eating Paleo, but I had been strict about it before, so this would be the level I would do. If you want to know the specifics of the plan, you can purchase the info here.

One of the amazing recipes (braised
short ribs) I made a couple of times.
No starving here!

As I have said in previous posts, this was not easy and requires a lot of planning in order to be successful. But anyone who knows me well, knows I am a planner :) I sat down on Sunday and made a meal plan each week, BUT since I am single, I knew I would be eating the same thing at multiple meals. This meant I would cook one meal and usually eat something from it for another 2-3 meals. Typically I would pick 4 recipes and buy the allowed green apples and some nuts for snacks, as well as my typical breakfast of free-range eggs and nitrate-free bacon and sausages. This worked well for me and sometimes the components of the previous nights meal would make it into my eggs and the other part would be lunch and/or snacks the next day. Cook once, eat 3-4 more times!

Now it's Day 21 of the Detox. I honestly wasn't sure I'd make it this far. Did I cheat? I think exactly 3 times. Was it on sweets? No. To be honest I really would like a cupcake or a brownie, but my desire isn't nearly as strong and it's much, MUCH easier to talk myself out of eating something. I surprised myself by really wishing for a grilled cheese sandwich more than a brownie at times. I also caught myself staring in disbelief at the aisles and aisles of packaged goods in the grocery section at my local Target. Other than some canned veggies and packages of nuts, I don't think there was a single package there that is considered entirely healthy for anyone. Yes, even those Smart Ones meals don't count. My perspective had changed. I have started to see food as fuel, not just a calorie count.

My biggest revelation just came this past week and was vocalized just last night by a good friend. Last Wednesday I drove an hour and a half to visit this friend and her family. For breakfast I had my typical eggs and bacon, did my workout and rushed to get ready to get out of the house on time. I realized I didn't have time to eat lunch and knew I was getting a little hungry. What to do?! I cut up a green apple, put some almond butter in a little container and grabbed my leftover tuna salad and put them all in a little cooler to take with me. We hadn't discussed dinner plans and I didn't tell her about my detox, so I was afraid she might have purchased a take-n-bake pizza like she has done before. I wanted to be prepared.

On the car ride down I ate my apple and almond butter (probably not the safest thing to do while driving, but I managed) and found out when I got there that we weren't going to eat for at least 4 hours. Yes, I got hungry... my stomach started talking to me a little bit, but I was ok. Did you read that? I was OK. I wasn't irritable, I could carry on a normal conversation while we waited for her husband to get home, food wasn't occupying my every thought and I wasn't constantly saying "Oh my gaawwwd, I'm starving!" My friend was amazed that I wasn't hungry since I only had an apple and almond butter since 9am (it was now about 4pm), but I think she was only amazed because she KNOWS how can I can be when I am hungry. I assured her I was hungry, but I would be ok.

Last night I met up with this same friend, her husband and another couple I know but don't see often. Again, I was definitely hungry when we arrived at the restaurant, but I was holding out for the yummy food I knew was ahead. It turns out, the other couple had been eating Paleo but fell off the wagon about the same time I did. The subject turned to Paleo and how I was limited by what I could order on the menu (however, Kobe beef, olives and garlic shrimp definitely doesn't sound like deprivation to me!). My friend, who has seen my weight fluctuate year after year for the past decade and a half, who has heard of every weight loss thing I've tried, said something like this: What really stood out about this way of eating is when Tonja said she had only had an apple for lunch and how she wasn't that hungry. She knew this wasn't like me. I constantly felt the need to eat before.. I could almost time my hunger to the clock. She has also been that person standing next to me in a restaurant's lobby while we wait an hour for our table and I am just standing there. Not talking. Looking pissed off. And just completely miserable. Who wants to hang out with someone like that?

This hit me like a ton of bricks that someone else noticed AND vocalized this to me. Here I was in a restaurant, sitting with friends, carrying on in good conversation and I hadn't eaten in probably 5 hours - and it was a bowl of coconut chicken soup. I couldn't wait for my food to come out, but I WAS A NORMAL PERSON.

Join the group here.

I went into this detox with the expectation of a little weight loss (probably about 2 lbs, but I didn't really pay attention that much), less sugar cravings, more motivation.. and I came out with the ability to not let food run (or ruin!) my social life.

At this point I am not sure what I have decided to do. I am pretty sure I will be keeping gluten out for awhile (possibly forever) and most overly-refined sugars. I do love Shakeology and really believe in the product, so that will be the first thing I add back in to see how it makes me feel. Other than that, I will be very cautious about what I decide to eat. I never thought that what I put in my body could really affect me THAT much, but it just goes to show that "everything in moderation" is probably not the best way to live. Who even made that up anyway?!

Diane is starting a new group on 2/1, but you can also start at any time. It's only 21 days - commit to it and see what it can do for you. If you feel the same when you are done, then go back to whatever you were doing before. But I could almost bet you won't...

Rumble Roller, Pull-up Bands and Energy & Endurance Formula

2012-01-20T09:24:00.000-08:00

I'm not quite through the first week of P90X2, but I thought I would give you an idea of what I think of it so far.

To sum it up - not as bad as I thought.

The only frustrating part has been the pull-ups, but the bands I purchased online arrived yesterday and I am STOKED. I slapped them on my pull-up bar and I've gone from a measly 1/8th of a pull-up, to 3-4 full pull-ups. Perfect. Just enough to not make me frustrated, but so few to know I am fully challenging those muscles.

Now if only Tony wasn't such a fan of pull-ups in the first place. *sigh*

Plyocide was the day I was dreading and although I was out of breath, I honestly think I was more out of breath doing one of the HIIT workouts in Turbofire. I think maybe the moves in Plyocide are more physically challenging though, compared to more taxing on my cardiovascular system during the HIIT workouts. Oh, and there is some eye candy in Plyocide. Say hi to Roberto for me every time you push play :)

See how a tight illiotibial
band could irritate the patella?!

Recovery and Mobility is pretty darn awesome and mostly because of the Rumble Roller. I bought a regular foam roller a few years ago and used the heck out of it during my 1/2 marathon training to help keep my illiotibial (IT) band loose (so it wouldn't pull on my patella and further aggravate my knee issues). Foam rollers are one of those things that hurts like a mo-fo when a certain area of your body needs it, but the more you use, the less it hurts and more it helps. Enter the Rumble Roller into my life - it's the roller from the other side of the tracks - spikes and all. I was grimacing in pain on Wednesday, but I know each time I roll every inch of muscle on my body out, it will only get better.

Rumble Roller

Which leads to the fact that I am sore, but not THAT sore. I can tell I've worked my body pretty hard this week, especially with some of those crazy moves. I am definitely having to modify the moves a lot, but they are obviously still doing something for me. However, I still don't feel as bad as I should. Amazing what stretching and basically an at-home deep tissue massage can do for you.

And now.. my review of the new Energy & Endurance Formula from Beachbody. I bought this for those early morning workouts or those sluggish afternoons where I still need to get my workout in. I am so impressed with the thought and care that goes into all the products they make and this one is no exception. The best part? It's only 20 calories!

My first time using it was Thursday morning before my longest workout of the week - over an hour of Total Body and then 15 minutes of abs. I will first say I am HIGHLY sensitive to caffeine, so as the container suggested I only took one scoop in about 6 ounces of water. Wowsa. Within a few minutes I kind of felt like I was on crack (well, what I guess being on crack might feel like). Definitely jittery. However, as soon as I started warming up during the workout and got into it, I was fine and could definitely tell it took me MUCH less longer to wake up and get going. So I give this product an A+. You can order it here.

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend and that your New Year's goals are going well. My Challenge participants are still kicking some major butt and I can't wait to add to my ever-growing group!

21-Day Sugar Detox - Day 14

2012-01-15T14:00:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's been two weeks already! They seriously have flown by so fast. It's weird to think I haven't had an ounce of processed sugar (and most fruit sugar) OR grains in that time. I don't think even when I started out Paleo I did that - I allowed myself one cheat meal a week. Talk about self-control here.

And let me tell ya: If I can do it, you can. I will admit I still haven't had any major withdrawal symptoms. I have a friend who just started this week and has had a major headache all day for a couple of days now. Others are getting the "carb flu" and here I am, doing ok.

source

I did have a minor meltdown that ultimately ended myself up in the E.R. last Monday though. Before January 1st hit I stopped at one point and asked myself if I was making too many changes all at once. New workout program (or prep for it anyway), no sugar/grains, getting up early to workout before work on some days, etc. Well, combine that with a little residual heartache from late last year, some issues involving planning some wedding festivities (as long as the future hubby agrees, we're quasi-eloping) and an issue with online bill-pay that had my bank trying to double pay my mortgage - well, that will affect you.

Monday morning I arrived to work early as I noticed when I woke up early that morning that my "pending" bank balance was in the negative. I took advantage of the online chat with a customer service representative (a service I love for many reasons - one being I can "hang up" on them when I am mad and not feel guilty). By the end of the chat I literally could not see straight I was so upset. Have you ever had whatever you're looking at bounce back and forth repeatedly like your eyes don't know where to focus? That was me.

Next thing I know, I am telling a co-worker about my issue and she tells me the left side of my face is swollen and the left side of my mouth is drooping. FREAK OUT MODE. I work in a hospital for those who don't know. We take this sh*t seriously. E.R. bound I was.

Thankfully I checked out fine neurologically. My jaw had started to hurt at this point, but the swelling seem to go as fast as it came. The only logical conclusion was stress. Wow.

So maybe instead of headaches and the "carb flu", the lack of sugar running through my system was messing with me in a different way, i.e. inability to suck it up and move on.

Recently found TJ's almond butter - better and cheaper than Maranatha!
Alas, none for at least a week :(
source

I think I am better now.. I had a great week full of lots of good food. I feel proud of how far I've come and am determined to make this next week really count. In fact, I've discovered I've replaced one addiction (sugar) with another (almond butter), so I am cutting that out this final week as well.

On the menu for this week for the detox:
Monday: Bachelor night so the sister is cooking - thinking fish tacos
Tuesday: Going to visit a friend out of town - should be interesting
Wednesday: Garlic Ginger Chicken (yes again!) with mashed Turnips & Parsnips
Thursday: Going to attempt some Tom Ka Gai soup
Friday: Spaghetti & Meatballs

Usually 4 meals gives me enough leftovers (as a single gal) for lunches/snacks for the rest of the week. Now that I can't do almond butter, I most likely won't do apples - so I might make a LOT of ginger garlic chicken so I have a lot of leftovers!

Menu planning - DONE. Last week - here I come!

P90X2 and "Girl" Pull-Ups

2012-01-15T09:01:00.000-08:00

Last night was my "night in" - a time to relax in the thought that I didn't have to put make-up on, entertain anyone or be at any certain place at any certain time. I was feeling a bit left out when I left work yesterday as the 49er game was still raging on and everyone (and seriously, their mothers) was talking about it all over Facebook. It's times like those I wish I was a fan, but no - I am one of those bandwagon people. Which I don't entirely think there is anything wrong with. I don't like watching sports enough to follow a team, but if there is a local team that is making it big, the only alternative to "bandwagon" is to sit there like an idiot amongst the screaming and yelling fans and do nothing. So those bandwagon haters, I ask WHY? It's not like I'm taking anything from your experience by jumping on and cheering for a team. I just don't get it.

Anyway, I pulled out my P90X2 box that I got over a month ago and started looking around some more. When you order these brand spankin' new programs, you really don't know what to expect. I wanted to go through each of the workouts and, at bare minimum, determine how long of a time commitment I had set myself up for each day. Ahhh... depressing. For some reason, anything over 45 minutes seems like way too long to be listening to any trainer tell you what to do. Every workout was a little under or a little over one hour . Oh, except for that one day you add in Ab Ripper - that's another 16 minutes.

I can do this.

But my biggest nemesis in this whole venture isn't just the commitment I have made to hour long workouts with names like "Plyocide", but also to those damn pull-ups. Tony loves them. Which makes sense because Chalene says in ChaLEAN Extreme "You like doing things you're good at."

Which means I loathe pull-ups.

Today is the fit test to determine where I am before I start P90X2 and for the pull-up section they tell you to even write down if you managed 1/4th of a pull-up. I am sure that will be me.

I allow myself to get SO frustrated and defeated with things like this. I don't like being UNABLE. It probably also has to do with the fact that there usually isn't just ONE pull-up exercise in a video - Tony has to smash it out a few times just to make someone like me feel incompetent.

But I have a secret weapon.

http://rubberbanditz.com

Last night I was searching on the internet for pull-up assistance bands. You know, something similar to that Gravitron thing at the gym.

This is where I found a website just for this sort of thing. There is a chart on the site where you cross-reference the number of pull-ups you can do (ZERO!) with your weight and they have a suggestion of band/bands that will start you off.

Tony, how 'bout them apples?

Now I get some people might think "just use a chair" and I've done that. But you can't estimate just HOW MUCH resistance you're giving yourself and if you're getting stronger or not. These bands seems to be a solution for now.

Girl pull-ups, here I come.

Two Fantabulous Paleo Recipes

2012-01-10T20:30:00.000-08:00

Last week on The 21-Day Sugar Detox Facebook page, the authors of the Make It Paleo cookbook posted a recipe. I love recipes so I usually take a peek at most of them, but I knew this one was special when they said they licked their plates afterwards. I'm not sure if they really did, but the next day they posted that they made the recipe again! "Ok, I am putting this on next week's menu plan for sure."

Here it is, next week, and I made this recipe last night. It lived up to the expectations for sure.

Garlic Ginger Chicken w/Mashed Cauliflower

It's not hard to make, so you really should make it tonight!

You can find the recipe here.
~~~~~~~~~

Then, while perusing their website some more, I came across a recipe for crab cakes. I haven't had crab cakes in FOREVER, so I decided to give them a try. Oh my.. they didn't disappoint either. If you like the crab cakes served at most establishments that have a very noticeable presence of bread crumbs, you may not like these (and you're weird). These are all crab, baby. And all yum. I didn't have macadamia oil, so I just made Everyday Paleo's mayonnaise recipe as I like the taste.*

Crab Cake w/Homemade mayo garnish

You can find the recipe for the crab cakes here.

Paleo doesn't have to be boring or bland. I am in awe of the recipes I have been coming across lately and feel like I am eating like a queen every night! This definitely is making The 21-Day Sugar Detox easier to handle :)

While you're at it, make sure you "like" author's page on Facebook and show them some love. They will for sure shower you with more fabulous recipes!

Happy cooking!

*I have recently found out that olive oil should never be heated and since the mayo is used in the crab cake, it eventually gets heated up. Read more about why we shouldn't heat up olive oil and should use other natural oils instead here. (Short answer: heat damages olive oil, releases free radicals, and free radicals are baaaad.)

21-Day Sugar Detox

2012-01-08T09:30:00.000-08:00

For those who've been reading my blog for awhile, you know sugar and I have a love/hate relationship. Heck, it even made it into my 2010 goals. I love how it tastes, I hate how it makes me feel and sometimes how it seems like it controls me. Oh, and the excess pounds it causes - don't forget that.

When I started eating Paleo (mostly naturally-raised meats, veggies, some fruit and nuts) last summer I began a "liking" spree on Facebook for anything and everything Paleo. The great thing is, the community is so accepting and supportive of everyone in it who is trying to help get the word out. One cookbook led me to a blogger, who wrote about another cookbook, who led me to a nutritionist and that got me to the 21-Day Sugar Detox. I knew since it had a Paleo structure to it, this wasn't going to be powders and pills and weird crap. This would be something my body really needed.

Today marks day 7 and the end of the first week. I think since my house has been mostly Paleo since last summer and any non-Paleo eating was mainly when just eating out, my body wasn't quite as in shock as some people who have been posting on the Facebook page. For me, it was giving up something I wanted. For some, it can be as serious as giving up something like cocaine - no joke. Just take a peek at this article from Details magazine. Think you're not addicted - I dare you to give this detox a try then.

Uncured, nitrate-free bacon, free range eggs and
leftover cauliflower, broccoli & sweet onion saute.
Breakfast, Day 7

I think Day 1 and 2 I had a very slight, nagging headache. Kind of like when you are a little congested, but easily ignored. Through day 4 or 5 I found I was just stuffing my face with anything approved to prevent myself from driving down the street to the most fabulous cupcake shop ever. I figured I was ok with this as weight loss wasn't my goal in this detox, it was keeping sugar out of my body. Luckily by the end of day 5 and through today, I haven't been shoveling as much food in and have surprisingly been eating very little - which I'll talk about more in my next post.

I'm also learning to discover the breakfast that isn't sweet. I grew up on cereal, LOVE a good bowl of oatmeal, crave cinnamon rolls, can devour a stack of pancakes and stuff like eggs and bacon were always secondary. And vegetables at breakfast?? Unheard of!

I have lost a couple of pounds with this, but that really isn't the point. I do feel empowered, I feel lighter, I am definitely less bloated and I can tell my sensitivity to sugar is increasing - green apples are tasting surprisingly sweet!

So here's to two more weeks.. and don't forget to "like" my Coach page on Facebook and spread the word. My goal in 2012 is to help motivate others in both areas of nutrition and fitness!

well 2011...

2011-12-31T23:00:00.000-08:00

so long to you.

i've loved and lost.

and loved and let go.

this year had me learn a lot about myself and who i want to be.

and the type of person who i need to be with.

as much as i don't want to look, i still keep thinking i'll turn the corner and find what is meant to be.

my heart aches for a certain someone that i still am not 100% sure why i met, except for teaching me that this feeling IS possible when i had almost lost all hope.

or because I really needed to know what that feeling would feel like when i had finally found it.

life definitely doesn't turn out how you plan it to.

i keep hearing it is usually better than what we had expected for ourselves. better than what?

this?

life goes on.

people come and go.

and possible come back around again when they realize what you've always known.

but, regardless, they remain in your heart forever.

Functional Septorhinoplasty - 1 Month

2011-12-30T22:25:00.000-08:00

The nose is getting better, all the stitches finally dissolved (ok, I kind of kept playing with some until I could pull them out) and I am sleeping a little better. I'm still not sure if I am breathing better during portions of the night or if I am getting better at sleeping with my mouth open. I am kind of afraid it's the latter - I mean, mouth breathers (and snorers) exist in this world so it must be able to work at some point without waking you up every hour. However, I am kind of afraid of turning INTO a mouth breather. Sometimes I wake up and find it's hanging open and when I close my mouth I can breathe just fine and I think "No!!!!" - how attractive that must be. I'll reserve that as something to be ok for guys to do, along with the fact that they can look distinguished with gray hair and wrinkles. Grrr...

Anyhow, it looks like the swelling is going down, although it looks a little more swollen after exercise and in the morning. The different shaped and sized nostrils might slightly be evening out and the incision line is slowly disappearing. You can tell the tip of the nose is still somewhat swollen because it's rounder, but that's about it. Overall, it looks pretty much the same. Now just to wait and see if I can actually breathe better.

Pre-op and 1 month post-op

The worst part? I cannot believe I have to return to work next Wednesday :( I have gotten much too accustomed to doing whatever pleases me and sleeping in until whenever I want. Other than working out, there hasn't been much discipline the past month.

But hooray for timing. The New Year is upon us!

New Year's Goals Twenty-Twelve

2011-12-29T14:36:00.000-08:00

I've been putting off this post for awhile... not because I don't want to make the goals, it just seems I have so many spinning around in my head for this next year. Most of them are related and I think all of them probably fall under the category of "self-improvement." Although it seems selfish, I've definitely learned that without me being where I need to physically, emotional, mentally and spiritually there is simply NO WAY I can be the best daughter, sister, friend and future-girlfriend/wife possible.

The sentence that sums up how I want 2012 to be for me is taken from the movie Water for Elephants: "You are a beautiful woman. You deserve a beautiful life."

Not only do I want to live that, I need to believe it.

Goal #1: Start and finish P90X2 - pretty self explanatory. I'll consider this my "physical feat" for 2012

Goal #2: Make working out in the morning before work a priority. I refuse to get up before 5:45am, so my goal is to always wake up around that time regardless of when I start work that day. That means on days I work 8am or later I should be able to fit my workout in.

Goal #3: Make the Paleo way of eating "normal" in my life and keeping the times I stray from that very minimal. I want to come to a point where I realize it's not what I am missing out on, but what I am helping my body become by removing harmful foods.

Goal #4: And if all goes well with #'s 1-3, then losing inches will happen. I don't have a number in mind, but I could lose at least 2 in both my waist and hips (and hope that the fat in my "chest" stays! Wishful thinking!! :)

Goal #5: Pay off my debt by June and use the last half of the year to put money into savings for new floors and painting my house and goal #7.

Goal #6: Sort through this head of mine and find someone un-biased and not involved in my life to help me do so - take from that what you want, but I know what it means.

Goal #7: Plan and go on a trip with family to somewhere warmer for winter :)

Sorry for no pretty pictures... that's just not the point.

Now, let's DOO this!

Braised Short Ribs - Paleo Comfort Foods

2011-12-27T15:41:00.000-08:00

I am almost on the floor... melting into a pile of goo in anticipation of tasting the braised short ribs that are cooking in the oven right now. I made them a couple of weeks ago and I just could not wait to make them again. The smell in my house is beyond heavenly!

The authors of Paleo Comfort Foods were more than happy to let me share the recipe. So if you are wanting to make something to impress the heck out of someone or maybe have that really special New Year's Eve dinner at home. THIS. IS. IT. The ingredients list looks daunting and all the steps might make your head spin, but it really isn't all that hard and you have 3 hours or so while the meat is getting all tender in the oven to go about your day and get whatever else you need to get done.. well, done.

Please note you will need a rather large dutch oven w/lid that is oven safe.

Make sure to "like" Paleo Comfort Foods on Facebook and go order your copy over on Amazon.

Braised Short Ribs

3-4 lbs of grass-fed beef short ribs
2-3 tsp fresh thyme, minced
2 tsp black pepper
2 tsp kosher salt (I used Celtic sea salt)
2 tbsp avocado oil (I had none, so used an appropriate high-heat oil: coconut oil)
1 1/2 cups onion, chopped
1/2 cup carrots, chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
4 sprigs fresh thyme
3 bay leaves
2 tbsp balsamic vinergar
1 cup marsala wine
3 cups dry red wine (think Two Buck Chuck Cabernet)
4 cups beef stock
2-3 portobello mushrooms, thick-sliced

One hour before you begin cooking, remove ribs from the refrigerator and their packaging. Season with thyme, salt and pepper.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F
In a large Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium high heat. Place the short ribs meaty sides down in the pan, working in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding. Sear until they are nicely browned on the meaty side (no need to brown the rib side). Transfer the browned ribs to a plate and set aside.
In the same Dutch oven, reduce your heat to medium and add in your onion, carrot, celery, thyme and bay leaves. Stir with a wooden spoon to scrape up all the browned bits in the pot, and continue cooking until the vegetables are softened and translucent.
Add in the balsamic vinegar, marsala, and wine and stir, bringing heat up to a high and letting the mixture come to a boil. Let the liquid boil until it is reduced by half.
Pour in stock and bring liquid back up to a boil.
Place the short ribs back in the pan and place the mushrooms on top and cover.
Braise in the oven for 2.5-3.5 hours or until the ribs are fork tender and do not resist at all.
Remove ribs and mushrooms from the Dutch oven. Increase the temperature to 400 degrees F. Place the ribs meat side up on a sheet pan and roast for 10 minutes or until browned.
While the ribs are roasting, remove the mushrooms from the liquid and set aside. Strain the braising liquid through a fine sieve placed over a bowl to retain all the strained liquid. Press down on the solids in the sieve to squeeze all the liquid out. If you want, you can skim off the fat at this point (no way! :)
Return liquid back to the Dutch oven and bring up to a boil. Simmer until sauce thickens slightly.
Return the ribs and mushrooms back to the sauce and serve, spooning sauce over ribs.

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P.S. I am thinking this is a perfect dish to accompany the 21-Day Sugar Detox I will be doing starting January 2nd. Join the Facebook page for the Detox here and to follow my journey here!

Why you shouldn't work out.

2011-12-22T12:02:00.000-08:00

This is the second time in 4 months that I have had to take an extended hiatus from working out. First it was the sprained ankle. More recently it was my nose surgery.

For those who know me, I am a pretty honest, "tell it like it is" sort of person. I don't love working out. So the first few days it's kind of nice to have a good reason for not working out.

But, I love the feeling after I work out. I like the energy it creates hours, days, even weeks later as I continue to work my body to a point of total fatigue. So after a few days I start to feel like a pile of goo. I find myself laying around more. Making poorer eating choices (probably some lack-of-exercise endorphin depression kicking in). So if you like feeling tired all the time, love how your body feels and looks and don't mind wallowing your misery in a pile of food that will only perpetuate the problem, then those are good reasons to not work out.

As for me, that isn't the case.

Today officially starts me getting back into my routine. I say "officially" because I worked out two days last week at my 2 week post-op point even though that was the lower end of the "wait 2-3 weeks for strenuous exercise". Instead of picking a strictly cardio workout like I did last week, I chose to do ChaLEAN's Lean Circuit 2 which is heavy on the shoulders and upper back. Other than losing weight and a ton of inches, my proudest achievement is what those body parts are starting to look like and I don't want to lose them.

Working towards this!
Chalene Johnson pretty much rocks.

So today starts what I am calling the "Prep for the Prep for P90X2." Sounds daunting.

At this point I am just trying to get my cardio capacity back to where it was. I am not sure that it will happen as fast as I like, but I will be starting the prep schedule my friend (and fellow coach) Craig made for me no later than January 2nd - so I better do what I can.

For those interested in a P90X2 prep schedule and you have a lot of the other Beachbody programs, this is the 2 weeks I will endure:

Week 1
Monday - P90X+ Upper Body Plus & Insanity Cardio Abs
Tuesday - P90X Plyometrics
Wednesday - 1 on 1 v1 Yoga
Thursday - P90X Legs & Back & Insanity Cardio Abs
Friday - P90X Core Synergistics
Saturday - Turbofire HIIT 30 & Asylum OT
Sunday - Stretch

Week 2
Monday - 1 on 1 v1 Yoga
Tuesday - P90X+ Total Body Plus & Insanity Cardio Abs
Wednesday - Insanity Max Interval Plyo & Asylum OT
Thursday - Asylum Relief
Friday - P90X + Upper Body Plus & Insanity Cardio Abs
Saturday - Turbofire HIIT 30 & Asylum OT
Sunday - Stretch

I may need to re-think the very end of week 2 as I need to get my P90X2 Fit Test in there somewhere and I want somewhat fresh arms and legs. I know the two week prep might nearly kill me, but I have to get my body prepared for the onslaught of P90X2.

Oh, and for those who might be wondering - I have not done P90X. I have done some of the workouts here and there, but it was before I got into working out regularly and for me personally, it was just too much for me to start out with. The reason I am moving on to P90X2 is because it's only 5 days a week which gives me flexibility to add in a run here and there, because it focuses more on athletic performance than body aesthetics (but of course, the better shape you get in the better you'll look so that will be a nice by-product as Tony calls it) AND because it's the new "IT" thing and I want to be in on it :)

Keep checking back for how I do in this journey! There is also still time to join me and be my P90X2 workout partner!

So long Twenty-Eleven...

2011-12-21T08:30:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year - we reflect on where we've come from and have big aspirations for where we want to go. At least I do. Not quite exactly a year ago I sat down and wrote about my goals for 2011. They weren't the typical very broad goals that usually happen - "losing weight" wasn't technically in the bunch anywhere. Nor was really giving up anything.

source

What I realized is our usual resolutions often consist of one of those end goals, but perhaps we need to back up and focus more on the tasks that will get us to that goal and POSSIBLY achieve other goals as well. If we're going to make a change in our lives, we might as well have it better us in more ways than one, right?

Have I lost you?

Take for example: losing weight. How many people do you personally know who have that goal for next year? I'm in the business of helping people achieve that goal, so I can probably bet on half my Facebook friends to be in that boat.

But step back - what's causing you to be overweight? It doesn't just happen. Of course we are either eating too much or not exercising enough, or both. But wait, don't stop at "eat less" or "eat more vegetables and less sweets." Why are you eating too much? Why are you making the wrong food choices? Perhaps you're depressed. Maybe the state of your relationship is causing you to seek comfort in food. Or you just don't know about nutrition or what to do in the exercise department? Maybe you have an addiction (sugar, anyone?). Waaa-la! Now we're getting to what our real goals should be.

If you can do that with any one of your resolutions that you've been knocking around in your head for the past couple of weeks, then you need to pick better ones.

For me, one of my 2011 goals was to break my sugar addiction. It was causing me to over-eat. This goal is still a work in progress and I came oh-so-close during the middle of this year, but I am working on it again. Once I get to that point again not only will I not over-eat, but I'll feel better, I'll lose weight and also be happier as a result of all of those.

And there ya go, one resolution with so many awesome end results.

My challenge for you is to break apart your goals and see if you can kind of work backwards and see if there is a better way to achieve them.

As for my other goals for 2011? One of them was to attempt a physical feat that I had never done before. I mentioned both a 1/2 marathon and the climbing of Half Dome as possibilities for my future. If you're a regular reader, you know I did them both (insert a big pat on the back here).

I also wanted to create some more meaningful relationships - I think this one is still a work in progress as well (a la the sugar addiction). Neither of those two are very measurable, but I will say I can say no to a cookie a little easier and I have made some new friendships that I am proud of - so that's a start.

Now on to think of what I want 2012 to look like.. stay tuned.

Functional Septorhinoplasty - 2 weeks & 2 days

2011-12-17T09:00:00.000-08:00

For the past 4 days or so I have slept a little better. My right nostril is opened up a bit and I think all the stitches have dissolved, but the left side still seems either swollen or irritated and not much air can pass through. So it's kind of a crapshoot as to if I'll get some sleep or I'll wake up with the sandpaper-like tongue.

I think I am being a bit crazy about examining my nose all the time. Hey, I am a details person. I notice the little things. I can tell my nose is wider and it's driving me a bit crazy. And the whole different-sized/shaped nostrils? Aaaahhhh! I am sure no one else notices.. everyone probably thinks I look exactly the same, but I can tell. You know what would make this all ok? IF I COULD BREATH. Trying to have patience.

So here is a picture 16 days post-op and heres's to hoping one month out is the magic number - I probably won't post another pic until then.

A bit blurry, but you get the idea.
My smile is still off too :/

Lose the fat! Beachbody Challenges are kicking butt!

2011-12-13T12:41:00.000-08:00

I am so proud of all my Beachbody Challenge participants right now! All of them have committed to 90 days of eating better and working out using Beachbody programs - specifically Chalene Johnson's Turbofire and Tony Horton's P90X.

Going into 2011 I knew I wanted to get into better shape myself and stumbled upon a product called Shakeology that has forever changed my life. I only signed up to be a Beachbody Coach to get the discount on this amazing product because I knew it was QUALITY and that it would supplement my diet with a lot of things that I either refused to eat (still working on veggies!) and stuff I couldn't even source locally to consume. This stuff is the real deal and if I could save money on it, I was going for it!

Long story short, I did Chalene's ChaLEAN Extreme (my favorite!) and then followed it with a hybrid of that and Turbofire. I posted my 60 day results and the people started asking what I did.. and there I was, put in a situation to help other people.

That's what it is all about.

I started up two Challenges in November and we've just crossed the 30-day mark with both of them.

Two ladies, Marci and Alice, are leading the way and I couldn't be more proud of them! Of course, they aren't where they want to be yet, so I am not going to post pictures - but I hope come the first half of 2012 I will be able to proudly display them. They are both so happy to be a part of these challenges and I am so happy I am making them happy!

Actual Turbofire transformation
source

To-date Marci has lost 9.2 pounds, which is 4.5% of her starting weight and over 10 inches - 5 of those were from her waist alone! She has been following the Paleo way of eating and although she was already gluten-free, I am sure the removal of dairy, other grains and sugar from her diet has contributed greatly to the waist reduction!

Alice has lost over 5 pounds, which is also over 4% of her starting weight and 7.25 inches - 1 each from her bust, waist and hips! She sent me her pictures from both Day 1 and Day 30 without labels on them and I didn't even have to ask her which was which. The change is subtle right now, but totally noticeable!

All by working out, making healthy food choices and substituting one meal with Shakeology.

Challenge groups are always starting up and I'd love to have you in mine. You don't have to live near me - one of my participants is completely across the country (Hi Sharon!). I am available by phone, text, email or Facebook and I guarantee I can give you the same results. Combine that with a money-back guarantee and you don't really have anything to lose. Beachbody has many programs for all beginning fitness levels and I will make sure to get you started on the right one.

Contact me at beachbodycoachtonja@gmail.com for more information!

Functional Septorhinoplasty - Day 12 (or the day it came off!)

2011-12-12T10:50:00.000-08:00

I was trying to be patient with the cast falling off, but I don't think I was successful.

I don't think 5 showers in less than a 48-hour time span is considered patient.

So yesterday I climb in the shower after laboring a bit in the backyard with an enormous amount of leaves. I had noticed the top of the cast was pulling away a bit so I pulled on it a bit to let water get down under it. Then I noticed it pulled away a little more...then a little more, and the next thing I knew I was peeling it off. YAY!

I'm in the shower so I can't see my nose, but I start feeling around. I'll admit, I got kind of scared. The bridge of my nose felt VERY narrow.

I couldn't get out of the shower fast enough.

Luckily once I looked in the mirror all was well. I can tell the tip of my nose is swollen because it isn't usually that big and I know he didn't do anything to that. There are only a few minor things that I hope resolve once the swelling goes down.. the big one is my nostrils are different shapes. I can hear ya now.. and yes, it's a big deal.

So here's a pic I took before going out to dinner. No big smile so I didn't over-exaggerate anything about it. But here ya go:

Functional Septorhinoplasty - Day 11

2011-12-10T18:31:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was the big day! I had my first post-op appointment where I was going to get my cast off, sutures and splints removed. Well, I thought so anyway.

Going to the appointment I was a little nervous as I have heard of many people passing out when the long plastic splints are removed from each nostril. It doesn't help that Dr. Pahlavan's office faces the side of the building where the sun is beating down on it late morning and afternoon. Thankfully, it's been pretty cold here lately, but I was still getting a bit sweaty waiting for him to come in.

The disappointing news? The cast wasn't coming off today :( My job was to take regular showers and let the water slowly work the adhesive off - he said the cast would come off on its own in a couple of days. *sigh* I think he sensed my disappointment. Possibly because of my big frown?

Taking the sutures out was a bit painful as the part inside my left nostril was very tender for some reason. There were some tears, but I survived. When it was time for the splints to be removed, I was a sweaty mess. I realized I was holding my breath and decided that wasn't the best idea. And the light he was using was so HOT on my face. He then asked "You ate something this morning, right?"

Oh, great.

At this point I closed my eyes, which now I am sad I did because I wanted to see how long those plastic splints were. They felt like at least 3 INCHES. Who knew your nostrils went back that far! He stuck what was probably tweezers up my nostril (again, eyes were closed, so only a guess) and grabbed what felt like my brain and pulled the first one out - complete with a big ol' pile of probably booger-y blood. Then he did the other one and suctioned both out.

That was it.

I still couldn't breathe well through them. After going home and doing a few sinus rinses I can now breathe through the right side a little more, but the left side is either still pretty swollen or there is still a bunch of gunk up there I need to get out.

Anywhere, here's a pic of me tonight. First time in full make-up in a long while.. and you might catch a bit of a turtleneck - it's ugly sweater party time!

Functional Septorhinoplasty - Day 8

2011-12-07T21:48:00.001-08:00

Just more of the same, except today I put on real clothes and drove myself to lunch with a friend. Eating lunch I don't think I got too many stares as I was sitting in one spot, but then I decided I should do some grocery shopping. I figure everyone probably assumes I got a cosmetic nose job, so I'll shop at the grocery store that caters to the income that most likely would do that - Whole Paycheck! :) Here's a pic from today:

All went well, I got my food and then went home for a nap. That was the most excitement I had in over a week!

See ya after all these bandages come off - 1.5 days!

Functional Septorhinoplasty Recovery - Day 6

2011-12-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

I woke up on Monday and just felt better. Still not sleeping well as the amount of air I can get in through my nose is very minimal. I am also finding I don't need to set my alarm to remind me to take my meds as I pretty much know when the 4-hour mark is and sometimes I can stretch it to 5.

What I feel like - source

At this point it feels like I have a costume nose on, kind of like when you wear fake eyelashes for Halloween and when you get home you just can't wait to take them off. I can't wait to take this nose off :) Well, the cast and splints at least. There are a few instances where they were making me a little insane and I just wanted to rip everything off/out. Betcha that would feel just peachy.

I look more normal at this point and feel as close to normal as I did on the day after surgery. The pain meds, instead of making me feel sleepy, make me feel like I am on crack and I started cleaning up the house, balancing the checkbook and doing all sorts of productive stuff. I also didn't take a single nap! (looking back, it might have been a good idea).

Today was also the day to clean myself up a little. The bath I had attempted looked like it never happened and I think I forgot to brush my teeth the day before. I know, totally gross. I blame the meds again. My sister came over early and helped me wash my hair (yay!) and then I washed the rest of me. A facial mask was in order as my skin was starting to feel like leather and I did a sinus rinse and got all sorts of yummy stuff out of my nose. I was a brand new woman.

Clean hair, clean face = happy girl
(I've tried to smile - it doesn't work yet!)

The family came over for dinner (they brought the meatloaf, I prepared brussell sprouts with bacon and cauliflower with sweet onion) and then we drove to look at some Christmas lights. I was beat by the time bedtime rolled around, but still didn't climb into bed until close to midnight.

I then proceeded to have the worst night of sleep ever. The roof of my mouth was on fire again! I just laid in bed wondering how the heck I was going to sleep and it occurred to me that maybe the roof of my mouth was irritated from getting so dry. That would explain why it was burning after surgery because under general anesthesia you aren't wetting your mouth. It just slightly hangs open and air circulates about and it dries out.

Racking my brain, I laid in bed almost in tears at how tired I was. It then occurred to me I had some Tiger Balm and I thought it would be ok to put in my mouth. It doesn't really taste like much so I coated the roof of my mouth with it and I think I got a couple of hours of sleep.

Functional Septorhinoplasty - Days 4 & 5

2011-12-06T15:18:00.000-08:00

Oh boy was I wrong about being in the home stretch recovery-wise. I woke up Saturday morning (using the words "woke up" loosely as I am not sure I ever really slept) and didn't even have to look in the mirror to have an idea of the state my face was in. My eyes felt like little slits and my skin felt tight and dry. One look in the mirror confirmed my suspicions.

This is not the iPhone "fat app" - Day 4 - morning

I managed to clean myself up a little before the picture so I could open my eyes. My face felt like it was on fire and I couldn't even get the peas cold enough. I had the bag directly on my skin - no barrier to prevent it from freezing my skin. I wanted it to freeze my skin. Even that would feel better.

To make matters worse, I was tired of the pain medication. Between that and the antibiotics I was feeling nauseous and totally out of it. The headaches would come and go and the only time I was comfortable was about 1/2 hour after taking the medication. Then it would wear off and I would count down the hour until I could take it again. I can't imagine I was taking it long enough to start having withdrawals already, but I was still freaked out about that possibility.

I think it was on Day 4 that I attempted to bathe myself as well. Washing the body in the bath wasn't so hard, but leaning my head back into the water put strain on my neck and face and gave me a headache. I also couldn't get my hair clean enough so I think I left with greasier hair than I began with.

Day 5 - evening

By Day 5 (Sunday), I was starting to look better and had even planned on having the family over for dinner (they were bringing me meatloaf!), but after an afternoon nap I woke up with a huge headache and I felt like I couldn't even see straight. The face still felt like I laid out in Mexico with baby oil on all day and I couldn't eat without feeling like it wanted to come back up again. I cancelled dinner and laid on the couch for the rest of the evening.

Considering I was told that days 4-5 would be the peak of the pain, I said a little prayer before I went to bed that I would wake up the next morning feeling like a new woman.

Functional Septorhinoplasty - Days 2 & 3

2011-12-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

At this point during recovery, the days were a blur. I went home from the overnight at my sisters house on Day 2 and pretty much just napped or took meds, or ate snacks, or napped. And napped some more. The longest I could sleep was a couple of hours, but even then I am not sure how well I actually slept. The swelling and bruising was getting worse, but the meds pretty much kept me pain free. However, there was still discomfort - if that makes any sense.

I also iced the heck out of it with little bags of frozen peas that I had to get up every 30 minutes to refresh. It was on these days that I thought I should have invested in hiring someone to bring me the new bag of peas at regular interval. Just when I would get comfortable, I would realize I pretty much had a cooked bag of peas on my face.

*sigh*

These pictures aren't pretty - you have been warned. You might even be wondering why I am posting these? Well, in my research beforehand I found a couple of blogs that had pictures, but they didn't continue with pictures for the long term and I hope to do that so the next person going into this surgery has some reference. Of course, everyone will heal differently, but hopefully this will help someone else out. I am sure it will bring me some hot dates too ;)

This isn't even the worst of it! Stay tuned for the next post if you want to see the "Fat App" for the iPhone put into reality!

Day 2 - evening

Day 3 - morning

Still am not sure why the right eye had more bruising. But again, I thought I was home-free as far as the worst of it. Boy was I wrong...

Functional Septorhinoplasty Recovery - The Day Of

2011-12-05T11:17:00.001-08:00

I could barely open my eyes - they literally felt like weights were helping to keep them closed. What do I do? Probably what everyone does: I reach for my nose.

"no, no, no.. don't touch your nose"

Duh. But it was like I couldn't help it.

I was in the recovery area and I managed to glance at the clock and notice the last thing I remembered was 4 hours earlier. Kind of scary if you think about it. But apparently I had been in recovery for almost an hour. I did tell them I was a lightweight, but I guess it's better to make sure I'm out good then to risk having me wake up too early.

I felt really nauseous and was told this is part the anesthesia, but also part the fact that with facial surgeries you end up swallowing a lot of blood and the stomach just does not like blood.

My mouth was really thick with spit and I knew better than to swallow more so the recovery nurse got me a bag to spit into. At this point I still wasn't really aware of what anyone looked like (or really cared) so I tried to spit, but most of it just ended up hanging off my chin. Lovely. It wasn't until the nurse got me a wet towel to wipe it off with that I notice he is an attractive guy about my age. More loveliness.

What surprised me most is how quickly I got to go home once I came to. I guess they just want to see you can get your clothes back on, form somewhat normal sentences and then you're off on your own.

First big mistake? Not taking a pain pill before I left.

Not much bruising or swelling yet..
and all bruising is only under the right eye?!

I was prescribed Percocet - a narcotic. I've never taken a narcotic. I was kind of scared. Dr. Pahlavan said I could take a 1/2 pill and see how that did, so that was my plan. On the car drive home (where I swear we took the bumpiest roads possible, which my stomach wasn't happy with) I finally took a 1/2 pill and the pain just kept getting worse.

BUT, it wasn't my nose. It was the roof of my mouth right behind my front teeth. It was on FIRE. I was miserable. I took the other 1/2 of my pill, because at that point I just DID. NOT. CARE.

After about 2 hours of kind of sleeping I felt so much better and true to myself, I was hungry. The rest of the evening was pretty uneventful. I iced my eyes, ate dinner and just watched TV.

My phone was set to remind me every 4 hours to take another pain pill, but I usually couldn't sleep the whole 4 hours. It isn't easy to mouth breathe all night... my mouth feels as dry as a desert by the time I wake up! On to Day 2...

Morning of Surgery - Functional Septorhinoplasty

2011-12-05T09:00:00.000-08:00

After 2 months of waiting, the day of surgery was finally here. I was both excited and nervous. I knew I was in extremely capable hands, but really didn't know what to expect at all. I was happy to have my surgery scheduled at Kaiser's newest ambulatory surgery center - kind of like the country clubs of surgery centers for sure!

I arrived at my schedule time of 8am with my sister Jen. Immediately I was sent over to be checked in while my sister hung out with the volunteer giving them all sorts of information like her phone #, what she was wearing, if she planned on waiting or was going somewhere else. They even gave her a map of the area with all the stores and eateries! It's kind of a nice set-up because a super nice movie theater is right next door and the new Whole Foods was just a little further away.. must be nice!

I got called back at about 830am and changed into a gown and had all my vitals taken and then my sister was allowed to come back while they started my IV, the anesthesiologist team (yes, team!) questioned me and Dr. Pahlavan came by.

First funny thing: the IV start. I start IV's all the time on adults and kids. On adults, we just start the IV already. I am sure it doesn't feel fantastic, but it's quick so you just get to it and get it done. Even with all the IV's I start, I don't look when someone starts one on me. I just never have, so why start now? Well, I thought she had started it but then I looked and she was pulling it out. What the heck? Turns out she was just giving me some lidocaine to numb the spot before she started the IV! Hilarious! I definitely didn't the IV poke, but wasn't sure it was necessary since the numbing poke did sting :)

Second funny: I asked Dr. Pahlavan one more time to please TRY and keep my nose looking the same and to pretend that he was doing this surgery on his wife. He said "I'll pretend I am doing it on one of my daughters" as the anesthesiologist chimed in "Yea, you don't want him pretending you're his wife right now! Daughter is better!" I think it was a joke because we all started laughing.. but it was good to know everyone had a sense of humor.

Shortly after they asked me to say goodbye to my sister and that they were going to give me some Versed. I knew this stuff! It would help relieve any anxiety and also cause amnesia from anything that was happening prior to putting me completely out. Wow. Talk about hardcore stuff.... they gave it to me, I immediately felt loopy and the last thing I remember was being pushed out of the pre-op area.

Disclaimer: I blame any and all typos (which I know there are a lot!) on the meds :)

A nose by any other name...

2011-12-04T12:24:00.001-08:00

...is still a nose. It just might look a little different.

About a year ago I visited my doctor because I was having issues with a raspy voice in the morning. He sent me to the ENT (ear, nose, throat) doctor who said I most likely was dealing with a little symptomless gastric reflux (which resolved on its own), but also told me that when he looked in my nose with his itty bitty camera, that my septum was a little twisted. He mentioned surgery could fix this if it were bothering me and I said a big, fat "HECK NO!" to that idea because I could breathe just fine.

Six months later I was well into getting back into shape, doing lots of cardio/interval programs and just having a hard time catching my breath. It seemed ridiculous that I wasn't really feeling like I was getting that much better. I felt like I could only catch my breath if I bent over at the waist and stayed that way for awhile. At other times I remember laying in bed at night feeling like I wasn't getting enough air and so I would grab my left nostril and pull it out a little bit and it was like insta-relief! All of a sudden it was like I was surrounded by a rush of oxygen and it felt fantastic!

It was at this time that I decided to go back to the ENT doc and see what he could do for me. I got a referral to Dr. Pahlavan who is the Chief of Head and Neck Surgery at Kaiser in Sacramento from a co-worker who had glowing reviews for him. After a brief visit he confirmed the twisted septum and also that my internal nasal valves were quite narrow and got even more narrow with deep breaths in - that could explain the lack of air while exercising intensely!

In order for him to fix both issues, it would require what is called a functional septorhinoplasty and it would be an "open" procedure which means the flap of skin on my nose would be pulled back instead of just working from inside the nostrils. Oh, and because he would be grafting some cartilage from my septum into the internal valve area to help keep them open, my nose might be a little wider.

WHAT!?

I assured him I didn't mind how my nose looked and to PLEASE try to keep it looking as same as possible.

Now, I don't know about you, but I can handle seeing just about any type of surgery - I've been in on full hip pinnings/replacements, femurs with external fixators, and have even seen a head cut open during an autopsy so the brain could be removed. But facial surgeries have always given me the heebie jeebies. I loved watching plastic surgery shows but anytime that little hammer/chisel came out to form the nose I would have to close my eyes and cover my ears. YUCK.

And now it was going to happen to me. Besides that, the thought of general anesthesia freaks me out. I've seen it done several times to other people and I just knew TOO much. But the date was set, the surgery was planned and I had high hopes I'd make it through just fine and be able to kick butt when I started my new workout program...

It's a soapbox.

2011-11-19T09:00:00.000-08:00

And I am on it.

Before you read this, trust me that I know people can make their own decisions and will ultimately do what they want. However, the decision I am going to talk about is often more of an emotional one before it is a well-thought out one, so I am hoping I make you think just a little longer this time around.

I am talking about bringing a new family member into your home. Specifically a pup, but this could almost apply to any new family member of the furry (or scaly, I suppose?) variety.

I get it. Puppies are cute. Almost ANY puppy is cute.. even if they grow up to be a not-so-cute adult dog. Do you really think the dog who won "Ugliest" was really an ugly puppy? Hardly. THEY ARE ALL CUTE. For that reason, they will all find a home by someone who really felt they needed to get the puppy because it was so darn cute. That's really the only real good reason to get a puppy. Even then, it's not a solid one.

What would other people say is a good reason? Most lean towards "I want it to bond with me." Have you met my dog Baylie? Seriously? She is glued to me. She knows I am mom. As much as she is willing to run towards any out-stretched hand (heck, don't even put it out there.. just let it lay by your side completely minding its own business), she knows *I* am mom. I also didn't become her mom until her 22nd month of life. So the "bond" excuse doesn't fly.

Maybe the kids want a puppy (why? Because they're cute! See above.), but I can pretty much bet if you adopted a non-puppy, they would quickly forget about wanting a puppy. Especially since it won't pee in their bed when they want it to sleep with them the first night they get it, or it will be less likely to destroy their toys (not completely a for sure thing, but I bet it already knows the word "no!" so it will learn much faster = less toys demolished).

Now let's go into temperament - you pretty much are taking a crapshoot when you get a puppy. There isn't a really good way to determine its personality when they are being sold off at the young age of 8-10 weeks. Yes, you might find places online that give you an idea how to choose, but honestly, it's just a guess. I was told female Goldens were less clingy than males. The two female Goldens I know really well are pretty darn clingy. So nothing is for sure with animals, just as it is with humans. Imagine picking out your spouse when he/she was 2 years old. Egad! But go to a shelter, or a reputable breed-specific rescue and you will have volunteers and fosters who know the dog and can give you a much better idea of what you are committing to for the next decade.

Another thing I want to touch on - and I guess this is even if you are still adamant that you want a puppy - don't just go on looks, please. Research the breed you are interested in. You don't want to get an extremely dense-haired dog or one with a smashed-up looking face if you want this dog to be a running companion. You also don't want a hairy dog if you are concerned about hair in your car or all over your house (which even those "non-shedding" breeds or even short-haired breeds will still get a crapload of hair everywhere - so now that I think about it, if you're anal about hair everywhere, don't get a dog!). Do you want a dog that will be a sense of security for the house? Don't get a Golden! Do you have only so much patience when it comes to training? Little dogs probably aren't good for you and even the super smart dogs require patience because they are almost TOO smart! And if you are gone 8+ hours a day and then go out with your friends or have activities planned most nights and on the weekends, probably not a good idea to get a high energy working or herding breed unless you want to come home to destruction - you want a couch potato - and most older dogs are just that. Do your research.

My Baylie girl at South Lake Tahoe

(**Side note: When I got Baylie I did some research on running with your dog and it turns out you should hold off on most running until the dog has fully developed physically which is around 2 years old so you don't damage their joints - another reason to adopt! Insta- running buddy!)

So maybe you think, ok, I'll look into rescue. WHAT THE HECK!?! $350 to adopt a dog?!?! I can get a purebred whatchamacallit for that price!

Ok, so pay that price, then go get shots, spayed/neutered, de-wormed, heartworm test, etc. and you've spent almost twice as much. Your very grateful adoptive friend comes with all that already done.

Again, you'll decide what you want to. Trust me. I want every puppy I see. But I remember the countless months of potty training (which require the dog being let out every 2-3 hours round the clock if you do it right), the constant eye you have to give to watch the pups every move, the chewed up $100 shoes, couch, underwear, etc.. and I am so thankful I just skipped all of that and found the best dog ever.

So before you get that pup, just go visit a shelter. Sometimes when we just aren't aware of the situation or even the fantastic dogs that are available, we just don't GET IT. There are literally thousands just in our area with NOTHING wrong with them ... all wanting a home. Yes, backyard breeders and such will exist whether you make the choice to adopt or not, but the new buddy you took home will be forever grateful you chose him over the "cute puppy."

Where can you find a list of dogs all wanting a loving home? http://www.petfinder.com is a compilation of a ton of different rescues and shelters - start there and narrow it down. If you find a rescue close to home that seems to be the best match, call them up and let them know what you're looking for. They may not have it at the moment, but such a huge commitment as taking care of a dog requires the perfect dog for you - and that is worth the time!

Beachbody Transformation - Still in progress!

2011-10-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Where have I been!?!? (I feel that's what maybe a couple of you might be saying... perhaps?)

Anyway, I've been working my butt off. Literally. This is my transformation story, in pictures, starting from June 2011 up until today. I've been doing a hybrid of two programs from Beachbody, both by Chalene Johnson. One is ChaLEAN Extreme, which is a GREAT strength training program with some cardio built in - I owe the major portion of shrinkage of inches (13 total!) to this program. The other program in the hybrid is Turbofire, an INTENSE cardio conditioning program - not for the faint of heart, but ANYONE can modify and get this done.

Pictures speak a thousand words - so here ya go.

If you are inspired and want to get this done, contact me. I don't bite and would love to coach you for FREE - whether you are near or far!. :)

I still have 4 more weeks of the program to go and I cannot wait to see what the this next month brings!

Can you afford it?

2011-09-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

People want Shakeology, they ask me about it all the time. They realize its benefits and its uniqueness in the flurry of nutritional supplements and meal replacement shakes out there. They understand it is good for you and can help them fight disease, lose weight, lower their cholesterol. But they balk at the cost.

So can you afford Shakeology?

This was written by a fellow Beachbody Coach and it sums it all up nicely:

You really can. There is really no excuse. I felt disturbed that I had left out Shakeology from my suggested meal plan, especially given the fact that many of the foods we eat today (particularly our chicken/fish/meat) are of such poor quality. It makes sense that Shakeology would make up for some of the nutrient deficient foods we consume as a society. But, the question remains: Can you afford it?

If I left it out of my meal plan, then somewhere in my mind I was saying, “No, there is little room for it in a tight budget.” However, somehow that just didn’t jive with me. Let’s do the math together and you decide.

The cost of Shakeology on autoship (you get free shipping) is $119.99. Plus tax, say around $126, for one month’s supply (1 serving a day for 30 days). Each shake comes out to about $4.20. The coach price for Shakeology on autoship is $89.99 or around $96 total. Each serving comes out to $3.20.

Too much you say? Not if you are using Shakeology as a meal replacement, which, by the way, will help you lose weight. Remember: Subjects in a 90-Day study lost an average of 10lbs when they replaced just one meal per day with Shakeology.

The cost of an average lunch at a restaurant or take-out: $6 to $9. Plus, even Subway sandwiches which are reputably low-cal average 460 to 560 calories. Shakeology has 140 calories, less than 1 gram of fat per serving, annnnnnd it is truly nutrient rich.

The cost of an average take out or restaurant dinner: $10 & up to be sure.

The cost of a home-cooked lunch or dinner: 6-8 ounces of chicken = $2.00 (and we are talking low-grade chicken), veggies= $1 (frozen veggies are really okay! hurray!) and 1 sweet potato = from .5 to $1.00. Total= about $3.4.

Conclusion: You are spending about $3-4 on a home-cooked meal, the same amount that you would spend on Shakeology.

So what is the big fuss about then? I think our resistance has to do more with our thinking than our actual ability to afford Shakeology, regardless of budget. Somehow, I’m guessing, many people see Shakeology as a luxury item. But is it really? I invite you to watch the following video.

We think nothing of spending $4 on mass-produced food that doesn’t truly nourish us, yet we protest that $4 for Shakeology is too expensive. There’s something awry with our thinking, don’t you think?

To your health and to thinking outside the box.

A day in the life...

2011-09-07T19:25:00.000-07:00

... of eating Paleo. I think sometimes people think I just munch on dried up turkey and broccoli florets all day. It's really not all that boring at all.

So here it is! A day in the life..

Breakfast consisted of 2 omega-3 cage free eggs, scrambled with some leftover roasted green chiles. I cooked the eggs in the leftover bacon fat from my most favorite bacon of the moment: Coleman all natural, nitrate and nitrite free uncured bacon. I cut up a little plum to complete the meal and I am pretty sure this meal will keep me going for a long time. Considering I didn't get this made until 9:45 this morning, it'll be a late lunch day.

I had a 1pm doctor's appointment and knew I would get to the point of past starving if I didn't bring something with me, so I whipped up my daily Shakeology and drank that on the car ride. I was getting the beginning's of what felt like an allergy headache and feeling quite blah, and luckily this perked me up a little. Oh, and I played with adding 2 teaspoons of coconut oil to the mix. I couldn't taste it, but the more I keep reading about it, the more I realize how much coconut products are good for you - even if supermodels are unnecessarily getting flack over their consumption of it.

Click here to see full size

By the time I finished having the doctor check out the inside of my nasal cavity with a tiny camera, my congested head had decided it had had enough torture between that and tree pollen. I still had to pick up my car from the dealership (yay! I have A/C again! 100 degree weather can kiss my ...) and then head home. It was 2:45 and I figured I wouldn't be home until around 4.

I got my car, headed home and by the time I walked in the door my head felt like it might explode. I was hungry, but only headaches and extreme exhaustion trump food. I had one of those and the lack of much movement over the prior 3 days from the ankle injury was making me lethargic. So naptime it was.

Of course I woke up STARVING, or my closest realization of what starving is.. so "fast food" dinner it was. Leftover hamburger from labor day, some "Whopper" tomatoes from my garden, red onion, avocado and some lettuce. Dressing was mustard. No, not honey mustard. Just some mustard. I called it my hamburger salad and it's quite good.

Yes, these are my "Whopper" tomatoes. Maybe in a wee little world.

Hamburger salad!

So now it's 7:15 ish, "dinner" is finished and I am sure I'll have a small snack before bed. For the sake of getting this post out, you'll have to just guess what I had. Maybe a square of sea salt dark chocolate? Perhaps some mango? Another plum? Heck, maybe just a scoop of coconut oil (really need to get me some coconut butter/cream concentrate!).

See? Paleo isn't boring.. although this was a low-effort kind of day in Paleo eating, it can be fun, always very tasty and so flippin' good for you! In fact there are a couple of new books coming out soon that I've heard have some amazing recipes in them. Pre-order them now!

Paleo Comfort Foods

Make It Paleo

EAT UP!

Minor setback

2011-09-05T22:15:00.000-07:00

I had a timeline in my head and have been visualizing the changes I want to see in my body by that time. My determination has been at an all-time high and even with some minor mishaps (all having to do with the biggest hurdle: food) I've been plugging along and seeing some great results.

Yesterday something happened to set me back: It was a relatively short day in terms of working out (40 minutes) and for that I was thankful. For some reason I have this mental roadblock when I find out a workout is longer than 45 minutes. Why is that? 45 minutes seems bearable, 50 minutes seems like an eternity.

Anyhow, I set out to do Turbofire's Fire 30 and was actually feeling really good. Perhaps that's why what happened, did. I was in the finale - probably only about 2-3 minutes left and I have no clue what I was even doing but my foot turned in, I heard several cracking sounds and I fell to the floor. I immediately started sobbing and then realized it didn't hurt THAT bad and that the sounds must have really freaked me out.

I then took my shoes and socks off, put pressure on the inside and outside bones on my ankle (lateral and medial malleoli anyone? :) and figured nothing hurt enough to be considered fractured. I put some pressure on it and it felt ok. I got up and walked carefully on it and all still felt ok with some minor soreness.

So what do I do? Put the 10 minute ab video in that I was suppose to do and finish the workout. Who is this girl and what did they do with Tonja?!?

I then made dinner, shopped at Wal-mart (where I realized only at Wal-mart do you feel ok walking around in pajama-like clothing) and came home to settle in for the evening. I propped my leg up and in about an hour my whole calf was throbbing and a couple of toes hurt. I pushed around on my ankle and realized it actually hurt quite a bit when I pressed on the inside. What the heck, off to the ER I go.

2 hours later I confirm what I thought: no fracture, most likely an ankle sprain or inversion injury. But by this time I cannot walk on it at all. I gimped it out to my car in crutches and realized it would have been nice to ask someone to go with me... not easy to have a purse on your arm and use crutches. I kept envisioning myself eating it in the ER parking lot and having to go back in.

This morning I physically felt a lot better. It swells up in no time if it isn't elevated and is a bit stiff, but not super painful.

The only thing that isn't better is my mental state. I've missed a workout that I most likely won't be able to make up because I am sure I'll miss another one tomorrow. It's killing me. I've become the person I never thought I would be - the one who goes crazy at the idea of not being able to work out. I had a goal in mind of being where I wanted to be weight and size-wise by the end of this program, which is November 6th. It's still possible, but I am going to have to crack down BIG time in order to get it done.

I guess that's what it's all about though. For one, I've become "addicted" to something healthy for once: my body is craving the physical activity and the challenge. Second, I have to realize that lack of activity means I need to compensate in other ways by being super careful about my eating.

So if there is anyone out there that is struggling with even getting started in the area of working out and eating better, know it IS possible to change your mindset. You won't always dread your workout. Being inactive is a habit just like any other bad habit you may be trying to break. Be persistent. Stick to it. And don't let minor setbacks get in your way.

You got this!

Why

2011-08-27T08:27:00.000-07:00

Last night I talked with a new customer, E, who is in her early 20's and has found herself in an office job where the weight just started gradually increasing. Uhh, hello! Not an uncommon situation - in fact, I was 18 when I started my first desk job and at the time I was 140lbs. Not obese, but maybe could stand to lose 5lbs or so. By the time I was 20 and moved out of the house I was pushing 160, and by 23 I ALMOST hit 180 on the scale. The combination of sitting on my butt for most hours of the working or school day and "convenience" food (yes, I'm talking about you Taco Bell!) I was in the worst shape of my life. And I was only 23 years old.

This is one reason I am thoroughly enjoying working with Beachbody: I get to meet new people who have a desire to get in shape and share my story with them. I just read the other day that by 2030, 50% of the people in the United States will be OBESE. Not just overweight, but clinically obese. How sad is that? But how awesome is it to work with a company whose sole goal is to see that number never happen??!

The path that brought me to Beachbody is a complicated one and as for what it will end up being in my life is still being figured out. But for right now I am loving the connections I am making with people.

So, at my heaviest I was 23 years old, 5'5 and 178 lbs = clinically obese. Can you believe at check-ups a doctor never used those words with me? In fact, I am not sure a doctor ever told me I should lose weight. I honestly feel that if a doctor had used the term "obese" with me it might have lit a fire under me. I just thought I was a little overweight - that's what happens when it goes on gradually. It wasn't until I sought help in the form of a nutrition group that we did my BMI and there it was: "clinically obese". I was mortified.

In my chat with E last night, I asked her if she had any questions. I had already given her a bunch of advice about making sure she was ready to commit to this because there will be days that she wants to give up. I also told her about the importance of fueling your body right because the workouts will be intense. But she wanted more. She asked something along the lines of "What else can you tell me that will help me?" - and I sensed a bit of defeat and/or desperation in her voice. Like "I've let myself get this far.. can I really do this and how?"

What I said next I have no clue where it came from. It's one of those situations where I think they were God-given words as I felt I was put in "the right place at the right time." I learned as much from my words as she did.

I said something along the lines of you need to know "why" you are doing this. Why you have decided to make this change now. It has to be beyond losing weight and fitting into size 6 jeans. It has to be beyond other people looking at you and thinking "Wow, you look great." You need to internally find out what your motivating factor is - and this is different for anyone. Because there are going to be days that you want to skip your workout, or you want to sit down with the bag of chips - whether you didn't walk in the door until 830 at night or you had a rough day at work and don't feel like cooking a healthy dinner. There will ALWAYS be ~~reasons~~ excuses to go off track. If losing weight is your "why", your thoughts will be "what is one day missed of my schedule" or "how much can one bag of chips affect my entire 3 month journey to completing this program?" And that's besides the point. Most likely that one day won't... but that decision to just give up in that moment, even if only momentary, could potentially spiral yourself into guilt for missing it which leads to more missed days or more bags of chips followed by some cookies that were just laying around. You need a substantial WHY to snap you out of that and back into forging forward to your goal.

I hope you see where I'm going. Your why has to be DEEPER.

As for my why, I've never put it into words. I feel it working in me, but am not sure I could actually put it down. I'm going to try. And please know your "why" can change. My "why" now will most likely not be my "why" in a few years. But the one I decide on now is the only one that matters!

I am committing to exercising, eating right and taking care of myself because I want to be an example to others. Whether those others be my nieces who are at such an impressionable age and need to know the importance of eating healthy (and unprocessed) foods and getting activity on a daily basis, or for the people I am coaching who feel hopeless and are possibly to the point in thinking that nothing is going to work for them. Lastly, for those who might be skeptical of how I am going about it - I want to prove to them this works and it's a lifetime commitment to getting in and staying in the best shape of my life!

What is your "why" for what you do or what you want to do? I encourage you to WRITE. IT. DOWN.

Because once you know your "why", your "how" becomes easy!

(thanks Beachbody for that one!)

Friday's Favorites

2011-08-26T09:54:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling all sorts of happiness for people I know who are so creative it makes me want to get out my paintbrushes and go all artsy again. These two ladies take their passion and run with it. If I could just capture a sliver of what drives them, I will be kicking some major booty in no time. Please take a peek and show some love.

Miss Margie Ruiz

This woman is all sorts of fantastic and she has the voice to match it. Here's a little sample of her singing... but head over to iTunes and do a little search for "Margie Ruiz" and listen to the tracks from her recent release: "So This Is Love". While you're at it, check out her web page as well! I went to her CD Release Party last night and she still doesn't cease to blow me away every time I hear her sing. She truly has a God-given gift and I am so thankful she shares it with everyone!

Miss Margie

Kristy DeVaney

You probably know by now I am a bit of a Paleo "freak" (but a good "freak", right?) and this girl has a little to do with it. She wrote a blog post a few months ago about her struggle with sugar and I might as well have written the same exact words. You see, she was CakeGrrl in every sense of what the general population considers an ordinary cake. But she ditched the flour and sugar-filled cakes and went completely pro-Paleo all the way. So what's a girl to do when the Food Network (Cupcake Wars) comes knocking on your door in response to an application you submitted months before ditching the very ingredients most of their chef's thrive on? Well, you do them your way. Here is her video submission to them. View it once or twice, write a comment, like it, share it.. just make it look really appealing to the Food Network staff. Oh, and while you're at it, wipe that scrunched up look off your face - these cupcakes taste AMAZING. You'd never know they were "different." Perhaps we can convince her to have a viewing party when her episode airs so we can all taste the fabulousness. Kristy? :)

What are some of your favorites?? Tell me.. I love inspiration!

Beachbody Challenge Pack

2011-08-16T09:43:00.000-07:00

I know, I know.. cheesy headline. But stick with me here. This is an AMAZING deal with the potential to transform your life and the lives of those around you.

Even if this isn't for you - read on. I know you know someone who this could help - so share this blog post like crazy. PLEASE. Paste it on Facebook, forward it via email, just do it. :)

Introducing the Beachbody Challenge Pack!

What you get:

I will coach, motivate, inspire and even meet with you in person or on the phone EVERY week to help keep you on track. I WANT you to succeed.
A premium fitness program from Beachbody with proven results (do your own search on YouTube) - P90X, Insanity or Turbofire
A month's supply of the best supplement shake on the market with a clear ingredients list and no artificial or chemically altered ANYTHING - Shakeology
A 3 month Club membership on TeamBeachbody.com where by simply logging your workouts as you do them you are entered into daily random prizes of $500. You will also get access to a meal planning tool, VIP chats with the trainers and a 10% discount on any other products you want to purchase (supplements, apparel, exercise equipment, etc)

The retail price on this package is almost $280. You get it for $250.

But you could end up getting it for free by simply referring friends to do this WITH you and further add to your accountability group. For each person you refer, you get $75.

So why not grab a group of friends or family members, pick a program and all decide to do this together? And then all enter the Beachbody Challenge?

Win money. Get in shape. Help others get in shape.

Email me for more info!

I think that's a win-win-win!

Craaaaaaaaaaaaasssssh ... Burn.

2011-08-13T11:55:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel like you've done a face plant into the sidewalk we call life? I sort of feel like I've been on repeat mode with that episode for about a week now. Things were going so well, I was feeling physically pretty freaking AWESOME and things were headed in the right direction. And then something happens.

Fun House mirror from the 50s?

And to make matters worse, I have NO CLUE what happened. My mood changed, I let the little things start bothering me, the mirror turned into a fun house mirror (and not the one that stretches you out and makes you look skinny) and I feel like my house is in a constant state of clutter and disarray.

How the heck do I fix this?

With my eating and exercising in order, and even my social life getting back on track post-break up (oh yea, I'm single...) you would think life would be just peachy.

Well, I'll be honest and say the only thing that I think is going wrong is on the spiritual end. I also truly believe that if you aren't right in that area and setting aside time each day to explore, learn, nurture or grow in your faith, then you are doing your entire life (and the lives around you) a disservice.

As most of you know (or should know?), I am a Bible-believing Christian and so I would generally hope to steer you in that direction. However, I am not one to throw what I believe at people and tell them they MUST live or believe that way. I prefer to lead by example. What a crappy job I am doing at that right now.

My new motto is "Breathe and let be..." from a quote that my dear friend Janice shared with me on Facebook. The quote in its entirety:

"Breathe and let be. Die to having to have anything be different in this moment; in your mind and in your heart, give yourself permission to allow this moment to be exactly as it is, and allow yourself to be exactly as you are. Then, when you're ready, move in the direction your heart tells you to go, mindfully and with resolution." Jon Kabat-Zinn

Although not a biblical quote, it sums up quite nicely with how we are to be content. It also cautions us to be MINDFUL in the decision of going where our heart tells us to go. So many times my heart leads me in directions that get hurt, so I need to make sure to weigh each direction carefully before I set out on this new path of mine.

Because, after all, I want to be balanced... and being just physically fit is not the entire piece of the puzzle. I know a lot of people who are in great shape and yet are lacking. I'm not perfect, never will be. It's also so much more than KNOWING where you need to go, but actually taking steps to move in that direction.

Busier than a Beehive

2011-08-04T14:42:00.000-07:00

Hey blogland! I've been M.I.A. for a bit now, but AWESOME things are happening. I just posted on Facebook that I am high on caffeine, gratitude and praise (all organic!) and that barely describes what is going on right now in my life and the lives of those around me. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! That's my very annoying I-just-found-out-I-made-the-cheer-team squeal of excitement - I'll stop now.

First, let's just say the first week of a "Get Healthy" challenge I am doing with about 9 girls is starting off fantastic. I have many passions, but a big one is helping people get healthy and lose weight (if they need to). I am not trained in nutrition nor carry a personal training certificate, but that hasn't stopped me. Besides getting my self in the best shape ever, I am helping others do the same and I cannot wait to share the results with you. Results like this take time, so be patient! You are going to be floored.

One of these ladies just sent me this email today and THIS is why I do what I do:

Second, the Fit Club that happens every Monday at Woodcreek Highschool is doing BIG things. And the awesome things we're doing are being noticed by Beachbody Corporate. Their motto to "End the Trend" of obesity is apparent in their responses to things like the above emails and the number of people showing up at the Fit Club to take charge of their health. If the Better Business Bureau rated executive staff of companies, Beachbody would certainly get an A+ in that category as well. Here is the video that is getting the buzz and I am so honored that people are impressed at what I am doing! Nothing like praises for hard work to make a girl happy!

Third, my own personal success is finally showing physically! I was a bit bummed that July only showed me with a one pound weight loss (and that was on the last day!), but I knew changes were happening and I knew the scale lies. It wasn't until I found a pair of super cute "shorty-shorts" at Tar-Jay that I thought "heck, let's see how these look." My sister was with me at the time and she knew what I verbally said though (something along the lines of "I'm sure they'll look like crap."). Well, they didn't! My legs aren't even close to becoming Carrie Underwood's ... yet. But they are getting there and I feel GOOD.

Oh, and even though that scale does lie, the lie it's telling me right now is somewhere around a 2lb loss just for this first week of August. I'll take it!

I Know You Want To

2011-07-30T18:48:00.000-07:00

But it's easy to put off. We all have a couple of pounds we want to lose. Or, if we are one of the lucky ones who has never struggled with weight, we still want to tone up. Why not join a group of people once a week in a supportive environment to help you finally kick off your weight loss/fitness goals?

Yes, it's an event designed to introduce people to Beachbody products, but as long as you have a fitness and eating plan in place, we're happy. We want to "End the Trend" of obesity and although our programs are proven to work, we don't really care how you help us to that goal. It's a no pressure, fun, supportive environment with all shapes, ages, and fitness levels.

And if this isn't for you, pass this on to someone who you feel might need that extra push!
Our kick off to the Fat Blast Challenge is this Monday, August 1st at 6:30pm at Woodcreek High School in the main gym. Here are the details:

COMMIT to exercise
EAT clean
ATTEND weekly Fit Club
WEIGH and MEASURE - provide weekly updates on pounds lost (no worries, this will be done in private)
PICTURES, before and after (for your eyes only if that's what you prefer)
JOIN an Accountability Fit Club Team
BRING a new friend and receive a Fit Club Raffle ticket for each friend, plus another if you check in on Facebook!
WIN a prize for BIGGEST BLASTERS!

Where will be five accountability teams to choose from:
P90X
Insanity & Asylum
TurboFire
ChaLEAN Extreme
Open (any other fitness program or activity you are committing to)

Each team will be lead by Team Beachbody coaches.

Check out our Fit Club on KCRA News

Want to see what a 70 person fit club looks like? Check it out!

What have you got to lose... except the weight?

Be sure to come prepared with a towel, water and yoga mat.

FIT CLUB LOCATION
Woodcreek Highschool, 2551 Woodcreek Oaks Blvd, Roseville

DATE & TIME
Every Monday in August, 6:30-8:30pm

Contact me for more details!

Saving money eating Paleo

2011-07-27T16:10:00.000-07:00

First, I need to start off by saying HOLY SCHNIKEYS! I eat a lot... or at least spend a lot of money on food. I imagine that will be going down the next couple of months, but using the last 4 months grocery and dining out numbers, you would think I was feeding an army! Anyhow, it's not about TOTAL, it's about the difference. Pre-Paleo and Paleo. I went from buying cheap beef and chicken to mostly sticking to grass fed and free range. Overall, I'm buying more meat as well since that and veggies have taken the place of grains and sugar.

So anyhow, don't mind the numbers so much - just the change :) I am not the couponer or willing to go from to 4 different stores on grocery shopping day to get the best deal, so I imagine someone out there could do it for cheaper.

Please note, this is for 60 days!

Pre-Paleo:
Groceries = $956
Dining Out = $621

Paleo:
Groceries: $1097
Dining Out: $320

As you can see, the grocery amount didn't budge much - only an average increase of about $70 a month. But you can also tell I don't eat out as much. Vanilla latte trips are slim and none (not for lack of a want, but when I get them now they just aren't the same - it's like I don't LIKE them anymore.. wha?!) and I'd rather cook my own meat and veggies dish at home because I do a much better job than most restaurants. It's like they can't get creative without throwing sugar and noodles in the mix.

Perhaps Paleo will start showing up on menus soon? I can only hope!

Friday's, ummm Saturday's Favorites?

2011-07-23T08:57:00.000-07:00

This was only to be episode 2 of Friday's Favorites, but I missed the cut-off for Friday - so here ya go.

I was inspired to start it again in light of a recent purchase for my pup. I think this is possibly a combo Friday's Favorites/Sharing is Caring. So here you go!

"Bird on a Wire" - how cute is that?

Molly Mutt not only has THE most adorable prints out there on fabric, but they are for dog and cat beds AND she has found a way to be environmentally conscious! These beds don't come all stuffed - the idea is, you go through your closets, your husbands closet, your kids closet and find all the stuff that just isn't good enough even for Goodwill (you know what I'm talking about). You take that pile of ratty old t-shirts, socks, the pleated cotton "dress" pants from the 80's and you put them in a "stuff sack" and that becomes the cushion for your pup's bed. How awesome is that?

Next up (and you knew this was coming): Shakeology. I don't know how I'd get through my day without it. I don't feel bad saying that in a completely drug addict sort of way because it's like saying I'm addicted to salads. I am in the process of getting some testimonials from friends and family members who are drinking it regularly and those are the first people who would definitely tell me it sucked if it really did. Read up about it. Google it. (wow, notice the first web page that pops up?) Do your own research and make your own conclusion. And hit me up if you want to sample it.

Now it's time for...... BACON! Bacon and eggs have been a staple at my house since eating Paleo. But not just any bacon - we need the good stuff. No preservative, nitrite and nitrate free, vegetarian fed and uncured bacon. Phew! This stuff just tastes better. Not as salty and pure heaven with some scrambled eggs. I got it at my local Sunflower Market (which I think is the same as Henry's) - my new favorite grocery store.

Now moving away from the food (but I LOoooOoVe food), we now head to a little clothing. My budget is slim lately due to the bathroom remodel, so I pretty much clothes shop at Target. It's never an on purpose sort of clothes shopping trip, but you know how Target is. You go in for deodorant and the next thing you know the cashier is putting $50 (if you're lucky) on your card. Thank goodness I have the Target debit card so I can save a whopping 5% on these purchases (it's free - get it!). Anyhow, I wanted to post the most favorite dress I got from Target, but I don't see it online anymore and 1) it just doesn't look the same hanging on my hanger and I am not appropriate looking at this time on a Saturday morning to wear it and snap a pic and 2) I don't think it's available anymore, so that would just be cruel if you loved it just as much as me. But here is the runner-up I also purchased. Light and flow-ey for hot summer days and nights and a fun print. If you hate it, just don't tell me. If you love it, go get it.

Happy weekend everyone!

Pick it and Stick to it!

2011-07-19T22:11:00.000-07:00

Every Monday evening I join anywhere from 30-70 other people and go to Woodcreek Highschool to do a Beachbody (or photograph if I've already done my workout for the day). The past couple of them I have been photographer and this is my latest video of everyone kicking some butt and getting their sweat on. It's a great way to start the week!

But you can't just get in shape by working out just on Mondays. It is also hard to get in shape if you don't have a plan. Ask any trainer. If you just go to the gym and do the treadmill here, the elliptical there and maybe do some crunches or some bicep curls now and then, you won't get much of anywhere. You NEED a plan and a goal. I know many people (including myself) who were or still are gym members and have been for years - and still haven't seen much improvement in their health or their weight. Gyms aren't bad, most just aren't structured to benefit YOU.. they are mainly looking out for their bottom line (think large-chain gyms).

This is where an exercise program will benefit you. Take your goals, pick a program that will help you get to those goals and stick to the program's workout calendar. It doesn't have to be a Beachbody program, but you have to know by now that those programs work. Do a YouTube search for any of the programs and watch the thousands of videos that pop up. Videos of people who were so stoked with their results that they made a VIDEO - trust me, they take a little time. That just screams pride in what they accomplished.

So that's it. Come to Monday nights if you aren't already working out. Talk to me, I'll help. If you are too far away, contact me and I'll still help you. That's why I got involved in this business. I don't need the money, but I do want to make a dent in the obesity epidemic ... one person at a time.

DIY Almond Milk

2011-07-19T11:01:00.000-07:00

A friend passed on this recipe to me and after looking at the ingredients in the almond milk I currently buy, I thought it might be worth a shot to make my own. It didn't look too hard and depending on the price of almonds, it would be much cheaper than buying it at the store.

It took a little trial and error - especially because the friend had used a Vitamix that holds much more than my little blender. Plus, I had never used cheesecloth before - I found out it probably isn't re-usable like I thought it was..

So here is how I did it:

Soak one cup of almonds in plenty of water for at

least 6 hours, but I did it for 24.

Add almonds and up to 6 cups of water to your blender

(mine only fit 4 and almost over-flowed!

Blend on high speed for a minute or two and you'll get this:

Pour the blender contents through a fine mesh sieve.

If you were only able to fit 4 cups of water in your

blender then add the almond "mush" leftovers back

to the blender and add 2 more cups of water. Blend

again and put through sieve again.

Then you'll have this when you're all done:

It looks good-to-go, but some smaller particles

sneak in there so it's good to use cheesecloth

to catch these before you drink it.

No one likes chunky milk :)

Like my use of clips? This is where I realized

I would not be re-using my cheesecloth.

Next time I'll cut a much smaller piece and

put it on the opening of the container

I'll store the almond milk in and pour it

directly in the container.

I did add a little vanilla to the final product,

but it tastes pretty darn good without.

And I feel a bit better knowing it doesn't have:

calcium carbonate

tapioca starch

potassium citrate

carrageenan (what?!)

sunflower lecithin

and other "natural" flavors

(what are those anyway?)

HGH & Anti-aging / Fat loss

2011-07-16T10:06:00.000-07:00

It's only recently that I had heard of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) and people taking it to lose weight. Not really paying much attention, my only thought was "Are you serious?" The lengths people will go through to shed a few pounds when the solution is "move more, eat right" (and usually less).

The subject just came up again this morning as I was looking through all the fun stuff my TurboFire program came with - Beachbody doesn't fool around - they WANT you to have all the info.

Some of the workouts in Turbofire are what are called HIIT, or High Intensity Interval Training, workouts. They aren't long workouts, but they don't need to be either. They will kick your ass, but in the way that makes you feel like you could kick some ass when you're done.

In the "Turn Up the Burn" booklet that comes with the program they devote a section to "The Skinny on HIIT and HGH." Intrigued. Yes.

But I needed to read up on HGH so I Googled reasons why people would take it other than for real medical reasons and realized it was mainly for anti-aging and fat loss reasons. Who woulda thunk. The Mayo Clinic's site had some good info and I feel is probably pretty reputable.

Apparently as we age, the pituitary gland produces less HGH which is one of the reasons we lose muscle mass and increase fat. I know the root beer and powdered doughnut diet I lived on in highschool wouldn't cut it nowadays and less HGH is one of the reasons.

So what have people gone and done? Started injecting themselves with this to help lose weight. Perhaps some are changing their diet and exercising, but I highly doubt it. We're all about a quick fix these days. HGH is pricey, so some people have turned to HCG drops. HCG is another hormone, but this is produced during pregnancy to help the developing embryo. Both are synthetic hormones being pushed into our bodies. Ew.

What does TurboFire have to do with any of this?

According to a recent study, it was found that HIIT workouts can trigger the body to produce more HGH. This means I can get my butt kicked during my workouts and even long after I am showered, rested and enjoying my Orange Julius tasting recovery drink, my HGH is going to work in my body to help me continue to burn fat. How lovely is that? Yes, it takes some effort, but I save $ on prescriptions (have you looked at the prices of those online pharmacies?) and I keep the synthetic crap out of my body.

"In reality, the fountain of youth is a puddle of sweat" -TurboFire

Passing on More Paleo Recipes

2011-07-15T22:01:00.000-07:00

I just can't get enough of Everyday Paleo. There has only been one recipe I didn't love... and tonight's sure was NOT it.

It admittedly doesn't look so awesome in this photo, but trust me - it was good stuff.

Of course, everything is better with pesto, but the pesto in Easy Skillet Rosemary Chicken with Pecan Basil Parsley Pesto blew me away. I think it's a favorite over just plain ol' walnut basil pesto. Something about the parsley and flavor of the pecans - oh, and probably the extra clove of garlic.... or three.

AND you cannot leave the No-Potato Salad out. I seriously don't think I'll ever miss potato salad after this. Yes, it's that good. Try it. You'll like it. Cauliflower is my new best friend.

That's it. Have a fabulous weekend everyone!

Curveballs

2011-07-13T12:10:00.000-07:00

I am definitely a Type A personality. I am not sure if due to that or because of it is why I like order and "normalness" so much. I like to know what's going to happen later today, later this week or even later this year. The sooner I can put it on my calendar, the better.

As the years have gone on I have become a little better at handling the curveballs that life throws. Maybe those close to me will laugh at that, but from my perspective I do. I don't like to blame that trait on "that's just how I am." But it really is. This doesn't mean I won't work on it or realize the need for change, but it will probably never go completely away. It will have to be accepted.

I just wish you could know SOME things in advance. Particularly things that involve money. The money that I work so hard for on my feet for pretty much 8 hours straight. Pulling often immobile and very overweight people from one table to another. My work is hard and the money is well deserved.

I just wish I could keep some in savings or spend it on something not exactly needed but very much wanted in my house.

Shower/Tub before - Gold - blech!

You see, when I moved into the house in January 2009 I knew I wanted the carpet gone and laminate floors put down. I planned on getting a dog (enter Baylie!) and the carpet wasn't going to last much longer. For some reason I spent a good chunk of change on my backyard first - I guess because summer was approaching at the time. But those floors were the next problem.

Until...

... water damage is found to be creating havoc in my master bathroom. Curveball!

Current state of shower/bath :)

At the moment, my bathroom is half functional. The bathtub is ripped out, the walls were torn down and re-built and soon the fun stuff will go back in. I am so thankful to have a brand new bathroom without gold-trimmed shower doors, just sad for the 10 G's going down with it.

I'm rolling with the punches here and am now postponing floors to 2012.

The following are pictures of some of the stuff going in the new bathroom. To say I am excited is an understatement. By the way, who knew it was so tiring making decisions about bathroom tile and countertops.. or mirrors!??!

New quartz countertop

Tile and backsplash

My Z Gallerie mirrors which I LOOOVE!

DIET

2011-07-11T22:11:00.000-07:00

I have found myself using the "diet" word a lot lately - mainly for lack of a better word or out of laziness.. or both. The Paleo Diet just comes with that name. Sometimes I use "Paleo way of eating" but that sounds pretty lame and kind of long. No one would give a book that title. Plus "diet" sells. I have no doubt millions of people choose to start one any given day.

So this is my reminder: I don't think the definition most people think of was the original intention of the word. I mean, how many people do you think actually dieted in the early 19th century? I think most of them were having issues of lack of food or of specific foods than a worry of being overweight or unhealthy.

And this is where the lesson starts... according to Merriam Webster, here are the definitions of "diet":

a : food and drink regularly provided or consumed
b : habitual nourishment
c : the kind and amount of food prescribed for a person or animal for a special reason
d : a regimen of eating and drinking sparingly so as to reduce one's weight

The first two are the ones I mean when I speak of the Paleo diet. The second one is somewhere in the middle. The last one is the one that most people mean when they say "diet."

The problem? If you choose option 'd' then you are only going to change your eating habits until your goal is met. Then what happens? You slowly slide back into old eating habits and you go back to where you were. Yo-yo dieting at its finest.

This is where you decide why you are making changes in your eating and exercise patterns. Is it it just one ultimate goal you have in mind (usually lose weight), or do you want to set a habit for the rest of your life?

Call it what you want, but no matter what you call it, find a way to make it stick.

Random Pictures

2011-07-09T14:00:00.000-07:00

I love reading the blogs set up on my Google reader each day.. and even better yet is clicking on the "recommended" blogs list to see if anything interesting comes up. Here are a few pictures that captured my interest. Perhaps in the future I'll do this regularly and actually give credit to the blogs where I found the pics. Right now I just finished working out and I'm feeling all "cut and paste" lazy.

Ok, this one got a proper mention since it's on the pic.

I want to make these. Not a new recipe, but new presentation.

So tiny. So cute. Yum.

This really reminds me more of my dog than cat.

I look at these cakes and I don't think yum.

I think of how many times someone's fingers sat and rolled

and pressed that into those shapes.

And how yucky I think fondant tastes.

This is apparently is in a park in Paris.

Appears to be a ball of grass,

but it's actually flat.

Love this kind of stuff!

Happy Saturday everyone!

Summer Wine Stroll, July 16th

2011-07-08T11:00:00.000-07:00

I don't believe in all work and no play. It makes for a tired and unhappy girl. Between working out 6 days a week, eating healthy and helping other people get in shape (oh, and the "real" job of helping to diagnose the sick and unhealthy), I need a break now and then.

Then an event pops up that's not too far from my doorstep and is inexpensive... and now I am looking for peeps to go with me.

The Summer Wine Stroll will be held at The Fountains (across from the Galleria) in Roseville. I can't tell you how much I just love the shopping center and the fact that there is an evening of wine and jazz music that will only make walking through the beautiful shopping center that much more enjoyable.

Here are the details:
Who: 15 Placer County wineries and local artisans
What: wine tasting, jazz music by Shadia
When: Saturday, July 16th, 6pm
Where: The Fountains, corner of Galleria Blvd and Roseville Pkwy
Why: Why not?

Buy your tickets here!

Besides, wine is just fermented grapes. That's Paleo, right? :)

Oh Em Geee... Chicken Satay with Thai "no peanut" sauce

2011-07-08T08:52:00.000-07:00

I miss peanut butter. I won't lie, I have snuck a couple spoonfulls here and there. I understand why I shouldn't eat it (I do notice in large quantities I do get headaches), but it's just hard to stay away from it's, well.... peanut buttery goodness.

One of my favorite ways to consume it is as a dip for Thai foods like chicken satay and those fresh spring rolls. And what did Sarah of Everyday Paleo have to go and do? Become my hero for coming up with a Paleo version of the peanut sauce. Sarah, I am forever indebted.

I did do some slight tweaks - basically by increasing a few of my favorite ingredients. Here is my version:

Thai "No Peanut" Sauce

1/2 cup almond butter
1/2 cup canned coconut milk
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
Juice from 1/2 a lime
1/2 tablespoon fish sauce
1 tablespoon (or more!) fresh grated ginger
1-2 teaspoons crushed or minced garlic
1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce (or hot chili oil) - omit or reduce if you don't like it spicy.

Whisk all the ingredients together and serve with grilled chicken or whatever sounds yum to you!

I ate with with chicken satay skewers that I grilled on the stove with a grill pan (grrr.. BBQ out of propane!). I bought a pound of chicken tenders and marinated them overnight in:

Juice from 1 lime
3 tablespoons of olive oil
2 teaspoons coconut aminos (found at Whole Foods or here - a great soy sauce alternative!)
1/2-1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce

I can't wait to eat this for lunch tomorrow!

Now Sarah, how about coming up with a rice wrap alternative so we can eat this sauce with those fresh spring rolls? :)

Paleo Spaghetti

2011-07-06T21:23:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share what has now become one of my favorite recipes. You can't go wrong with an entire meal that is about 40% meat and 60% vegetables and tastes AMAZING. Everytime I make this I *drool* for lunch leftovers the next day... and sometimes even the day after that. My hint is to double the recipe and freeze the sauce for later. Yum!

Paleo Spaghetti

1 lb ground grass-fed beef
2 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup chopped uncooked bacon (nitrate free)
1 large yellow onion, diced
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
2-3 carrots, diced
2 celery sticks, diced
1 zucchini, diced
2 tsp oregano
4 tbsp tomato paste
1 bay leaf
1 - 26 oz can of whole tomatoes
Salt and pepper to taste
2 spaghetti squashes

Heat a large dutch oven and add olive oil. Cook the ground beef and bacon for about 5 minutes.
Remove the meat from the dutch oven with a slotted spoon.
Add the onion through oregano to the pot and cook until just soft.
Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, ground beef mixture and bay leaf. I enjoy squishing the tomatoes between my fingers to break them up :)
Season with salt and pepper and add some chili pepper flakes if you like a little heat.
Simmer for about 45 minutes.

To cook the spaghetti squash:

Preheat oven to 350F.
Cut the squashes in half length-wise and remove the seeds.

The "spaghetti" will look like
this when scraped out of it's skin.

Put the halves, cut side down, on a baking sheet and put in the oven about 30 minutes. Check around 25 minutes - you will know they are done when you can scrape the insides with a fork and they break into strand-like pieces.

To serve:

You can either scoop the sauce into the squash half and eat it that way, or
Scrape all the squash out with a fork onto a plate and spoon the sauce over.

Yum!

I admit, not a pic of my dinner.. forgot to take a pic and had
packed it all into lunches before I remembered :/

Shakeology Cleanse / Detox

2011-07-05T10:15:00.000-07:00

Way back during the beginning of the year (because it seems like so long ago, yet almost like yesterday - how does that happen?) I was looking online for a cleanse to do. I needed one that made sense to me - not something that required only honey and cayenne, but one that would help clear out all the crap in my system but not shock the body by lack of nutrients or such minimal amount of calories.

Somehow, and I still cannot remember how, I stumbled upon a page talking about this product called Shakeology. I took the time to read up on it, even Googled "Shakeology scam" to see if any negative came up (absolutely none that I could find!) and was impressed by what I saw. I didn't want to order a full month's supply seeing as I only needed 9 servings to get through the cleanse, so I looked around for someone local I could buy some packets from. I did the cleanse, felt great, but then fell back into old eating habits and forgot about it.

Then I decided after doing my 1/2 marathon in March that I would want to cleanse again to kick off healthier eating habits - hoping 2nd time was a charm. I bought 9 more packets from a Beachbody coach and did it again. Felt awesome. But you guessed it, still couldn't get myself to eat right afterwards.

It didn't occur to me that Shakeology could help me stay on the "eating right" track at the time.

Obviously, you know how the story ends. I've been drinking Shakeology for 3 months now and feel awesome. My sugar cravings have decreased (but not disappeared - I'm only human!) and I have found it so much easier to stay on the Paleo way of eating than I ever imagined and it has to be because of this magic little drink.

So if you want a jump-start to a new way of eating and lifestyle, then I highly recommend the Shakeology cleanse to get you started. You can go here to purchase your full-months supply (with a money-back guarantee) or purchase packets from me. This is the ONLY cleanse I found where your body is not deprived of essential vitamins and minerals, plus gets all the goodness of greens, superfoods, prebiotics and digestive enzymes.

Here are the cleanse instructions:

1. Drink 3 Shakeology shakes each day (Breakfast, Lunch, Snack) mixed with only water (update: tastes a bit better with unsweetened vanilla almond milk and adds minimal calories and no sugar).

2. Have a salad for dinner each night with 4-6 ounces of protein. Dress the salad with 2 Tablespoons of an olive oil and vinegar dressing. Add 1 Tablespoon of chia, flax or hemp seed if you have it.

3. Drink a ton of water throughout the 3 days. Coffee and teas are fine just don’t add anything to them (milk, sugar, sweeteners).

Happy cleansing!

We're all being jipped

2011-07-03T10:43:00.000-07:00

Friday night I had the most memorable eating experience of my life. If you've been reading this blog for any length of time you know my love of good food runs deep. Friday night that love poured out as freely as the wine and laughter.

The set-up when we arrived

If you haven't heard of The Kitchen, then you must go read the reviews on Yelp. Then save up your pennies (ok, dollars) and make your reservation NOW. This is an experience that every person must have at least once in their lifetime.

But why title this post "we're all being jipped"? Because it occurred to me last night that in our quest to save money in all areas of our life, we have sacrificed so many healthy options that are actually so much better tasting. As I was looking over the "playbill" for the evening that included what each of the 5 courses would entail, I noticed the lack or very rare use of sugar, pasta, potatoes, rice, etc. on the menu. We weren't there to be stuffed with cheap fillers such as those. Even the blueberry "pot pie" dessert had very little sugar, but tasted perfect - probably because we were eating in season. We were there to experience real food how it was meant to be eaten.

Prepping the first course

Who would have thought that fine dining would follow so closely to the Paleo way of eating?

Chef Noah even touched on how each of the meats we were eating that evening we're raised naturally - eating what they were designed to eat, roaming the lands or waters they were meant to roam and living very happy lives up until they became my meal. And because of that, they were healthier for us - full of monounsaturated fats, which according to the Mayo Clinic help improve cholesterol levels and control insulin and blood sugar levels. Unfortunately, the high levels of monounsaturated fats aren't present in meats that aren't raised naturally.

With Chef Noah

I will note that I could have done without Noah telling us the pig we were eating that evening was named Petey.

Other than the name-dropping, it was a fabulous evening and I left quite full and very buzzed from the fantastic wine pairings. I still am drooling over the sashimi that was seriously the most fresh and tasty I have ever had and the beef tenderloin with béarnaise sauce was over-whelming... in a good way.

I'll even admit to getting very emotional over this experience and I think at one point, in my very buzzed stupor, I may or may not have told Noah that I wanted to cry I was so happy.

2nd Course

It was also refreshing to be somewhere that made you feel like you were at home - and you were encouraged to act that way. We could roam the kitchen, talk to the chefs, ask to have another plate of any course (which is impossible since I was so full anyway!) or make any other requests - they would try to meet whatever we wanted and they did.

My favorite course - beef rib eye with dungeness crab bearnaise

I am still in awe of the evening and am already planning on going back soon. In the meantime, I will definitely be focusing on purchasing natural meats and reminding myself that not eating grains or sugar on a regular basis is all about eating better and with more flavor and not cheapening my diet by filling it up with stuff it doesn't need.

Paleo Nam Tok Beef Salad and Grilled 'Chokes

2011-06-30T22:06:00.000-07:00

I love food. I love GOOD food. And you know what? Eating Paleo hasn't left me with a shortage of good food. In fact, I've been eating FABULOUSLY. Yes, it has been a bit more time-consuming in the kitchen, but rarely have I made something in the past few weeks that has left me wanting more.

Tonight was no exception.

When planning my week, I look through my Everyday Paleo book or do a simple Google search for Paleo recipes. There are so many awesome sites with all sorts of ideas and many dishes are already Paleo or can easily be converted by leaving out or substituting one ingredient.

In my searching, I found a recipe for Nam Tok Beef Salad, which I guess is something they serve at Thai restaurants. A co-worker had let me try something similar that she had made, so I knew I had to make it myself at one point. I followed this recipe from Fast Paleo and loved it!

Also, another thing I loooooove to do is planning my meals around what is in season. I already knew I what I was cooking for dinner, but today at work I perused the farmer's market and found a fairly good deal on artichokes. Side dish!

So there I go searching again and find a recipe for grilled artichokes over on a blog with a name I love: Sleep. Love. Eat. I would say those are 3 of my most favorite things!

Have I convinced you to at least give this a try for 30 days yet? The recipes are endless and my cravings have diminished. Even though I knew I felt better since eating this way, it wasn't until after the latest camping trip where I allowed the rules to slide that I realized just HOW great it made me feel - let's just say my body is still a bit out of wack from the bread and sugar I allowed it to consume.

Give it a shot. Drop me a line if you want more recipe ideas (I don't post them all) or if you need help fighting those sugar cravings. I would love to help!

Paleo Testimony

2011-06-29T21:47:00.000-07:00

This was posted over on the Midlife Army Life blog - I love life transforming stories!

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My 30 day Paleo Challenge

BY MIDLIFE ARMY WIFE, ON JUNE 22ND, 2011

For the past 30 days, I have been following a strict paleo way of eating (I don’t like the term ‘diet’). I haven’t mentioned it before because I wanted to complete the self-imposed challenge first and see how it went.

There is more to it, but to sum it up quickly, this means no grains, dairy, beans, & sugar. There is a lot of information out there on the science behind this, so I’ll let you do your own research. Before you think I’ve lost my mind, let me explain how I got to this point.

The background:

I’ve struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember.

I have PCOS (poly-cystic ovarian syndrome), which comes with IR (insulin resistance) and seriously affects my hormones.

Diabetes runs in my family.

Statistics show that something like 40-50% of women with PCOS will develop diabetes by age 40.

I just turned 37. I don’t have diabetes. I want to keep it that way.

I need to lose 60ish pounds.

I don’t eat a lot of junk food, fast food or processed food. For the past 4 years, our family has eaten 80% all natural/organic. We don’t eat High Fructose Corn Syrup, artificial colorings or artificial sweeteners. I rarely eat white flour, and instead eat brown rice, whole wheat flour, and other whole grains. I don’t drink soda. I don’t smoke. I rarely drink.

Cutting out those things made no change whatsoever on my weight, and I was out of things I could cut out of my diet (almost). So something else must be going on.

A little sidenote:

Over the past few years, as we have done more research on Lovebug’s Sensory Processing Disorder and ADHD, we also seen over and over that a GFCF (gluten free, caisen free) diet would likely be best for her.

I was fine with the gluten free part, after all there are tons of substitutes out there for breads, muffins, crackers, etc – many of which we already liked.

The CF, or dairy free part was another story. Give up cheese? Were they crazy?

Several months ago, I had tried the GF diet with Bug for a while (not even trying the CF part), and in even a short time I realized I felt better after eating. Unfortunately, I was in over my head and didn’t stick with it because I was spending a fortune on groceries. I had to take a step back and figure out how to do GF without all the pre-packaged foods. I needed to get back to what I enjoyed – cooking from scratch.

Fast forward to recently:

I had heard of the paleo way of eating in the past, and knew that it was “no grain, no dairy”. I had dismissed it once again because I could “never” give up cheese. Yet, this lifestyle kept coming back in front of me and I had a strong feeling that this way of eating would be good for me.

Recently, while I was doing some other research online, I saw several references to a “30 Day Paleo Challenge”. Several people were saying, “just give it 30 days of eating the paleo way and see what happens”.

No grains, no dairy, no beans, no sugar……for 30 days? Could I do it?

I decided to give it my best shot. I can do anything for 30 days, right?

Besides, I’m only cooking for 2 at the moment, and I’m in charge of deciding what we eat.

Preparing for the challenge:

First, in order to make my plan, I picked up a copy of the book Everyday Paleo. This book is written by Sarah Fragoso, who is a mom herself to 3 boys. Her book contains a ton of yummy recipes (with pictures!!), as well as a 30 day eating plan, and grocery shopping lists. Remember, she’s a mom, so these are even kid friendly recipes! She talks about incorporating this way of eating into your kids’ lives, and how it can help them. Both on her blog, and in the book, she’s very real about her lifestyle and how it works for her and her family. I love that!

I also cleaned out the fridge and the pantry before I started. Like I said, we already have very few processed foods in the house, but there were a few things like chips & bread that had to go. There are just some foods that I can not have in my house without eating them.

I also prayed about this. A lot. I knew that I couldn’t get through this without God’s help. I am so weak, but He is strong. So I asked for His help.

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength! Phil 4:13

Then, I was ready!

The challenge:

I did not follow her exact eating plan because I already had food in my freezer that I wanted to use, but I did make several of her recipes and every single one was delicious! I’ll post about those separately, but we’ve been eating very well.

I DID IT! Not a piece of candy, no pizza, no cheese, no ranch dressing, no bread. For 30 days.

The results:

I did lose 8 pounds. That is amazing, especially considering I still haven’t bumped up the exercise to where it needs to be yet. But, I can tell you that even if I had not lost an ounce, I would be sold! The physical changes I’ve had are life changing!

Within the first week, I could already tell a difference in how I felt. My energy level was amazing! There were several evenings that I was asking myself “did I have caffeine this afternoon?”, and the answer was always “no”. I felt GREAT. So great that it’s scary to think about how tired I was all the time before. I’ve been running around chasing my daughter up and down the stairs, cleaning house late at night, and feeling overall amazing.

My mind has been clearer, and it’s been easier to focus.

I have had zero "afternoon crashes”. Zero. This is unusual for me. I even had one day that I literally forgot to eat. I met a friend that morning unplanned and then the day got away from me. Before I knew it, it was 3:00 in the afternoon and I hadn’t eaten all day. I KNOW that’s not healthy, but the point is – I still felt great! Normally, I would have been literally shaking, and getting grumpy (just ask my hubby), but I wasn’t at all, so I was able to make a smart choice about what to eat instead of just grabbing something full of sugar to stop the shaking.

No cravings. I am still in shock that I went this long without sugar, ranch dressing, and cheese. Because I haven’t had the highs and lows, I’ve been able to make better choices and really think about my foods instead of just grabbing something because it’s easy or I’m craving it.

I have slept better. I know this because when I wake up in the morning my husband’s side of the bed is still made, which means I’m not tossing and turning as much. Normally, when he’s not in the bed, I end up with the blankets all over the place.

I’m also not getting up during the night to use the bathroom. For ages now, I have gotten up multiple (3-4) times during the night, and had just resigned myself to the fact that it was just how I am. Not any more! I’ve been getting up once on some nights, and there have been many nights I haven’t gotten up at all. Scary to think that the “excess urination” might have been caused by blood sugar issues all along.

Another awesome side effect is one that is probably “too much information”, but I’m going to share it because I know there are thousands of women out there dealing with this, and I want them to know about this!! One of the side effects of PCOS is increased testosterone and unwanted facial hair growth (so my ‘sideburn’ areas often need a little plucking/waxing). In the last 30 days, this has not been a problem! Unheard of! Oh, there has been a stray or two, but overall, I have seen this greatly diminish.

I can tell in my body that I’m less “puffy”. I know that sounds funny since I still have a lot of weight to lose, but I can tell that my arms and legs and other areas are just less swollen. I can see it in my face!

Life changing, I tell you!

What now?

I’m keeping on. I’m sold on this lifestyle. Does that mean I’ll never have bread again? Or pizza? Or ice cream? Not a chance! It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. In fact, Sarah Fragoso wrote an awesome post about just this “all or nothing” topic. I think the 90/10 rule applies here. If I can do this 90% of the time, then I’m good. If I choose to have something that doesn’t fit this lifestyle, then it’s just that – a choice. I can tell you that I will make wiser choices. If I want pizza, I’ll make a gluten-free crust. If I want something sweet, I’ll start with fruit, or some dark chocolate. I’ll make ice cream with just coconut milk and fruit in my Vitamix. I know I’ll have beans – I love beans. And corn tortillas. But I can leave off the cheese, and I can make gluten free choices most of the time.

I’ll bump up the exercise! I’m redoing my Couch-to-5K program because I had stopped it for so long that I had to start over. That’s felt really good. I’ll also add in more weight resistance, lap swimming & bike riding. At some point in the future, I would love to look into some CrossFit or Mixed Martial Arts classes because I really want to get stronger in addition to losing weight.

I’ll also continue incorporating this into Lovebug’s life. She’s been eating what I’ve had during this month, but she’s has extras too. I haven’t stopped her dairy intake, but I did decrease it a lot, and I’m trying to make the majority of her foods gluten free again. Overall, it won’t be too challenging to adapt her to this lifestyle, at least 90% of the time. She is already an adventurous eater, eats a great variety of fruits and vegetables, loves sushi (sashimi, actually – she prefers just the fish), loves meat, loves to help me cook, and will try just about anything. The other 10% of the time, she can enjoy her organic, dye-free, gluten-free candy guilt free!

Before you say “I could never do that”, I’m not saying it has to be for everyone. Do your own research. As for me, if eating this way makes me feel this good, I’d be crazy not to continue. Soon, I’ll post some of the delicious recipes that I’ve had this past month!

Tears and Triumph - Hiking Half Dome

2011-06-29T10:58:00.000-07:00

Half Dome at 530am

Wow.

What a whirlwind few days it has been. I am sitting here on my couch trying to do some pressure release therapy on myself. I never thought just crossing my legs would provide such relief. Let's just say that when I put my legs up on my mini table like I normally do, instead of my calf muscles nicely flattening out and being all comfy, it's like I am laying them on top of two apples. My calf muscles are so tight I walk like I have braces on both legs.

How did I get here? Well, I conquered physical feat #2 of 2011: hiking Half Dome.

I never fully doubted I could do it, but there were some fears. Would my feet hold up? Could I get over the heights (even though I've never had a full blown fear of heights)? Would my legs give out from the 7 or so miles of constant uphill? Would I freeze when I got to the cables? How about if I managed to get up but couldn't get myself to go down?

The stairs up the Mist Trail

These thoughts, plus many more, were constantly playing out in my head the whole way.

I definitely was not the fastest in the group. The constant barrage of stairs and uphill climbs definitely had me winded. I was thankful for breaks here and there to catch my breath and give my glutes a break.

But the views were breathtaking. The last time I hiked just a portion of this trail we were in a drought. The Mist Trail was hardly misty. This time it felt like I was walking through a really windy rainstorm. I likened it to a hurricane, but obviously have not been in one of those. A simple poncho really didn't help a bit.

But on to the tears and triumph. Let's just say the crying started before I even got to the cables and was really unexpected. I cry when frustrated, but not sure I thought I'd cry from fear. Maybe I was frustrated of my fear - who knows.

The route up the sub dome and dome

Before you get to the cables you have to climb what is called the sub-dome. You can see the sub-dome route to the right - it's the switchback portion that goes halfway up before you dip down to the start of the cables.

S-C-A-R-Y is an understatement. Not only is it just steps carved into a side of the mountain, but at times they weren't really wide and sometimes they disappeared all together so you were just hoping you didn't slide off the face of this rock. Enter: the tears.

After some deep breaths, prayer and some motivation from friends, I continued on.

The cable portion - those little specks are people!

Then I see the cables. Daunting. I sat at the top of the sub-dome for a good 20 minutes before a group all decided to go and I figured I should go with them or have to go up alone. The gloves I brought were not going to cut it (too slippery), so I found a pair in the pile at the bottom of the cables that were nice and wet inside from someone else's sweat - at this point I didn't care.

Going up?

And up we went. I don't know what the exact incline on this was, but it had to be around the 70-degree range. It was STEEP. At that point I was thanking Chalene Johnson for working my arms, back and shoulders so much over the previous months. I didn't rely on my legs too much because I didn't want to slip.

I really don't know how long it took, but luckily the cables weren't too crowded. I would estimate after 20-25 minutes we were at the top. It felt good.

The views at the top were amazing - you really feel like you are at the top of the world. We went from about 4000ft elevation to about 8800ft elevation in about 6 hours. To look down and see where you started really was unbelievable.

Then it was time for picture taking and seeing who could get the closest to the edge and make me feel nauseous by doing so. I managed to get on my butt about 5ft from the edge and scoot just far enough out to get a toe over the edge, but others were sitting on the edge with their feet hanging over. No way for me.

That's me! Toe over the edge.

I was even amazed that there was still snow at the top and little critters running around. Someone said one was a marmot and I think there was a squirrel too. I had to think, what the heck are they finding up here for food?

Going down!

We hung out a bit, rested our feet, ate some snacks and then headed down. I was dreading this a bit. By the time we hit the bottom of the cables my death grip had killed my wrists and my knees were starting to scream at me. Other than being tired and a little fearful, the whole way up hadn't been too remarkable in the body pain areas.

That was about to change.

The combination of exhaustion, downhill (no bueno for the knees) and the forming blisters on my feet really made it a tough hike home. Knowing I had 8 or so miles ahead of me killed the spirit just a bit. We had decided to take a different trail back to the bottom since it offered more switchbacks to hopefully help with the knees, but it didn't help much other than give me another mile of exercise.

And the last 4 miles took FOR. EV. ER.

We rocked Half Dome!

By the time we got back to the car, as hungry as I was, I could have sat on the asphalt behind the car with my shoes off for a very long time. It felt that good.

Overall, I am so proud of what me and my friends accomplished. I know a lot of people have done this hike before, but I also know a lot more people have not and never will. It's definitely not for the faint of heart and to be a part of the group who pushed themselves to do something that difficult feels awesome.

And to accomplish one of my 2011 goals times TWO feels doubly awesome.

Thanks for noticing me

2011-06-25T09:38:00.000-07:00

Accomplishments feel so much more rewarding when other people notice them without you letting them in on your goals. Yesterday I had a co-worker ask me if I was losing weight and that she could tell in my arms. Considering I was wearing baggy scrub pants and a t-shirt, I'll take it.

I've been working hard. I finally got myself all the way through an entire Beachbody workout (did P90X for a few weeks, Insanity - month 1 a couple of times). I feel a sense of pride in where I am going.

That's what it's all about.

My workout routine and eating plan may seem extreme to you, but honestly, I think it's the way we were designed to work out and eat. I am totally with you on thinking little tweaks here and there are important as we are still individuals, but the basis is the same.

Eat real foods - the less processed the better and workout in a way that challenges your body - a different workout each day and switch it up every 4 weeks.

That's the general formula. Where you take it from there is up to you.

For example, over on the Paleo Plan blog, they just posted about someone being confused by "the rules." The problem is, there are very little hard and fast rules when it comes to eating this way. One person says butter is out, the other person says as long as the cow was grass fed, then it's cool.

The main premise behind it is: eat strict for 30 days and see how your body feels. I guarantee you'll feel a difference. After that, add in a food that you really miss - such as rice. But find the most minimally processed rice you can. Eat it. How do honestly feel? If it doesn't negatively affect you, then eat it in moderation. Your body is the judge of what is good and not good for you - you just have to be willing to listen.

And if we listen to our bodies, we continue to learn what is going to help us get where we want to go and what is going to hold us back.

Also, I am here to help. I am passionate about people being healthy, getting in shape and giving their bodies the fuel it needs to get there. If you ever want to talk about any of this with me personally, I'd be more than happy to meet with you or chat over the phone or Skype. All you have to do is contact me!

Lies the Scale Told Me

2011-06-23T19:56:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, I KNOW I should not completely trust the scale. And I don't.

But it's hard not to rely on it just a teeny tiny bit since that's the only contraption I really have to use daily (ok, every other day or maybe only once a week), then I use it. Not as a be-all, end-all (is that how you write that?), but just as a vague gauge of my performance.

There is even some ranting over on Everyday Paleo (see Part 1 and the pretty amazing Part 2) about how we shouldn't even weigh ourselves at all. He might even have some excellent points. Buuuuuttt....

All I can say is, pick your battles dude.

I will continue to weight myself, but I have come to the conclusion that my goal weight could possibly end up being too low. Yes, I was at that weight once, but I was not working out like I am now. My goal wasn't to build muscle at that time, but just to be skinny. Now I want muscle... muscle that will help me keep my metabolism up for years to come. I am done with looking at a cupcake and getting fat.

Where am I going with this?

I perused over to the health education department down the hall from radiology today to hop on the electrical impedance machine. As far as body fat testing, it's not the most reliable, but I am looking for a basis to judge improvement. I could care less what my actual body fat is - I just want to see which way it moves and how far. I have print-outs from these machines all the way to 2001. If you could only see the roller coaster of numbers on those sheets of paper.

But, again, not the point. Here is a comparison of my two most recent:

May 12, 2011

June 23, 2011

Do you see what happened in that time? In 6 weeks I lost 4% body fat and gained TWO pounds of muscle. And the scale only tells me 7 pounds of weight was lost in that time... but I lost NINE pounds of fat. Good riddance!

Lies, I tell ya. Lies.

Honestly, neither weight nor fat % are really going to dictate when I am at my "right" place. You know what will? Being able to put on clothes and feel awesome in them. Being able to walk around in a bikini in confidence. And if the scale says 135 (my kinda goal weight) or 140, or my body fat is 22% or 20% - who knows. And who cares.

The anticipation is killing me though!

Face your Fears

2011-06-23T17:29:00.000-07:00

For a girl who likes to be totally prepared, I feel very not so at the moment.

Monday I hike Half Dome with a group of other people called Hikers Unite. The distance scares me a bit (16 miles or so) but mainly because my feet SUCK. I don't know what their issue is, but I've always had foot pain. I've tried every shoe possible that people rave about and still have issues. Even my work shoes now, which are the most comfortable I've ever had, still leave me with sore feet by the end of the day.

That's a long way up... and down.

Top this off with a 10 mile hike done a month and a half ago that left me feeling like I was walking on bruised feet. Uhhh, I'm a little worried.

So 16 miles is going to be interesting. I'm hoping I can keep the foot pain at bay with some regular rests, some Advil and perhaps a little prayer.

Oh, and although I've never considered heights a phobia, the whole cable thingie is going to be a bit nerve-wracking. I am just hoping we can get our large group started SUPER early in the morning so our chances of having not-so-crowded cables on the way up is a good possibility. I keep having flashbacks to being in a ferris wheel where the person I'm with starts rocking the car. No bueno.

So between feet issues, possible heights issues, knee issues (yup, half that hike would be downhill) and the fact that I feel I haven't trained properly for this length or level of hike, we'll see how it goes. As negative as I am sounding, I am actually pretty positive about it all - I know I can do it!

Just a tad hesitant.

What To Do

2011-06-21T08:21:00.000-07:00

To do lists are awesome. I know I am only in my early 30's, but without them I'd forget all that I needed to get done. So here we are again, my weekday off that never feels like a day off. Plus the heat (and birds!) had me out of bed WAY too early. So my to do list writing commenced around 7am and it's already a mile long.

Chalene Johnson (creator of both ChaLEAN Extreme and Turbofire) is also a motivational speaker. Sometimes I'm a bit wary of motivational speakers because they are just, well, too darn motivational. I guess I feel sometimes they are so overly positive that they must be covering some deep hurt or feeling of inadequacy. Gosh, I sound like Ms. Positive, don't I?

But not Chalene. Somehow she motivates me and it feels genuine. Nothing like a good pep talk during a workout to make me remember why I am doing it!

Anyway, Chalene is always harping on to do lists over on Facebook. Her latest one is "My to do list guides my day and when it's done, I feel empowered."

Oh how true that is.

I will say that I think I got my list making ability from my mom. She always made lists. Grocery shopping lists, meal planning lists for camping trips, lists for what chores us kids needed done before she got home from work (or else), etc.

And I agree nothing feels better than to cross things off as you go.

So if you feel stuck in a rut, unable to get your day going, or have a long workout schedule planned out for the next few months (me!), then make a list or calendar and start crossing things off. Show your list to the world and let them know as you accomplish each task. Whatever you need to do to get. things. done.

Be a Beachbody Coach for FREE!

2011-06-19T10:43:00.000-07:00

If you are active duty military, you and your spouse can sign up to be a Beachbody Coach for FREE! What does this mean to you? Absolutely no money out-of-pocket, the potential to put money back IN your pocket AND you get 25% of all Beachbody products like P90X, Insanity, Shakeology and many other workout programs and supplements.

If someone you know is interested in this, contact me!

Halfway through 2011

2011-06-19T08:46:00.000-07:00

Last night I wasn't tired. I mean, I was, but I couldn't get myself to crawl into bed. Sort like how when I try to drink coffee to stay awake - I am still tired, still want to sleep, but just can't. Therefore, I don't drink coffee to stay awake. Even in college I never stayed up late studying. There was no way I was going to sacrifice sleep just to cram in a little more information. Luckily, somehow I did well.

Anyway, so I couldn't sleep and I started looking through old blog posts of mine. It's funny the roller coaster I've been on with this whole trying to be healthy (ok, ok, get skinny) thing. I've jumped from one bandwagon to another faster than most Sacramento Kings fans.

Then I realized, I am in a very good place. Like, super muy bueno.

You might remember I posted my goals for 2011. Not resolutions, mind you, but actual goals. I guess in my head it makes more sense to work towards achieving something than to resolve to do something. Maybe the same thing, but I never said I really made a lot of sense.

Re-reading this post of mind blew me away - I'm kicking some serious butt!

My first goal was some sort of physical feat. At the time I was beginning training for a 1/2 marathon (my third attempt) and was possibly attending a trip to Yosemite to hike Half Dome near the end of June (yup, this month). I didn't have much faith in doing the 1/2 at that time, but I did it. And next Sunday I leave for Yosemite. As long as the Half Dome hiking gods are with me, I'll scale that one too.

And on to my second goal. I will be perfectly honest and say I thought the chances of this one happening was about as good as The Bachelorette deciding not to put the one jerk on the show that makes us all scream. I wanted to get over my sugar addiction. I won't say at this point that I have completely conquered this one - I mean, how do you test yourself with that sort of thing? Maybe lock me in a room full of cupcakes for 4 hours and see if I can resist? I do, however, feel I am on the right track. I've had some sugar since starting Paleo. Vanilla lattes are a treat, there was agave syrups in my margarita, honey for my salad dressing and some dark chocolate here and there. But NO awesomely yummy baked goods that make me weak in my knees.

Hello doughnuts, brownies and Icing On the Cupcake's. I'm talking to you.

I'm still working on my last goal of becoming more like the person I would want to hang out with and be in a relationship with. I also want to work on my current friendships and build new ones. Do you know how hard it is to make friends at this age? We just get more stubborn with age it seems. More unwilling to let people in our bubble. *sigh* Trying to let go.

Weird. Trying to reign in the eating but let go with the social aspect of life. It's so much easier the other way around.

Progress

2011-06-18T14:54:00.000-07:00

I finished my first entire Beachbody program this last week. ChaLEAN Extreme was just what I needed to get back into the habit of working out. Only 5 days a week, nothing more than 45-50 minutes and Chalene Johnson is just so darn cute and has such motivational words to say. I can't tell you how many times I wondered in the middle of the workout "Why am I putting myself through this pain?" and then she would say something to remind me.

This program focused a lot more on building lean muscle and definitely helped me build my upper body strength. I have some real biceps peeking out and I can see definition that I haven't seen in awhile!

The biggest successes are in how much better I do at plank work exercises, the number of full push-ups I can do (a guess would be from 2-3 full to about 5-6 full) and the fact that I've lost 8 pounds from 3/26/11 to 6/15/11. I'm not so concerned with pounds at this point since I easily put on a few pounds of muscle as well.

I owe all of that success to ChaLEAN Extreme, Shakeology and the new Paleo way of eating. I've found my formula!

Next week I am starting a hybrid of ChaLEAN and Turbofire and I am a bit nervous. I am SO excited to burn off some of the fat with some intense cardio conditioning, but my confidence is lacking in the area of time commitment. I will have a 6 day a week workout schedule and I think some of the workouts are up to an hour - eek!

Oh, and not to mention Turbofire could possibly be a nightmare for someone with no coordination (that would be me). I'm very thankful I get to do this in the comfort of my own home so no one can see me flail about - seriously, not a good thing :)

Here's a little video on the workout program:

I'm also pretty darn sure I'll have some "after" photos to be proud of after this program. Stay tuned!

Cholesterol Results

2011-06-18T08:01:00.000-07:00

Thought I would post the pre-Paleo results for those who were interested. I will note that I think my cholesterol HAS gone down since I started drinking Shakeology over 2 months ago though, which is one of its proven benefits. Where I work we occasionally have employee health fairs where they do a simple cholesterol test and I am pretty sure I was in the 150's a few months ago when I was tested.

Here are my results as of 6/17/11:

Based on the standard ranges and what I have read online, I am in good shape. Based on WedMD, they actually recommend HDL over 60 and LDL under 100 - still rockin' it!

I'll check back in in about 6 months. This will give the new way of eating plenty of time to make its changes (both inside and out!).

Until then, eat your veggies!

Or, drink them :)

Mmmm Cholesterol!

2011-06-17T18:44:00.000-07:00

What?!

I am one of those people who could never remember which was the "good" cholesterol and what was the "bad". Turns out, I don't really need to and I now know a heck of a lot more about the whole situation than I did before.

One big worry about starting the Paleo way of eating (can you see how I am trending away from the word "diet"?) is possibly causing harm in an area that I currently have no problems with: cholesterol. Of course, I'm young and have no health problems, so there wouldn't be an issue with cholesterol anyway. I just don't want to make it a problem.

So last night I did my overnight fast and gave my little blood sample so I can get some baseline numbers (which I think even after a few weeks not much could have changed just yet). My doctor said I should repeat in 3-6 months to see how things were going.

Now this is where I was a bit shocked in my research - "bad" cholesterol isn't all that bad really. It actually helps our bodies!

This is how they describe LDL or "bad" cholesterol: It actually isn't cholesterol at all, but a transporter of cholesterol from the liver to areas of the body that it is needed. The only difference of LDL to HDL is that HDL takes the excess cholesterol from the blood to the liver for storage when needed.

But if you have too many transporters taking cholesterol into your arteries, isn't that bad? Well, yes. But only if you are having continual problems that require you body to need the cholesterol.

And that is where we have the problem.

Elevated cholesterol isn't the problem, it is just a symptom of an underlying problem. The underlying problem is often inflammation in your arteries and this inflammation is caused by increased insulin in the blood (excess consumption of carbs), trans fats and vegetable oils. When there is inflammation in the arteries, cholesterol is sent for repair. When the inflammation continues, more cholesterol comes to hang out. Eventually you get plaque build-up and wa-la! You now have artery issues and if they are in your heart or neck you are in for a world of problems.

Basically, LDL cholesterol is only the enemy when it is allowed to be oxidized by free radicals and a diet high in antioxidants and low in carbs can reduce oxidization in the body.

Wow, I know this was a lot of information, but I am so glad I read up on this before I got my numbers back. I now know that I should hope for a high HDL and low triglycerides and not be so worried about what my LDL number is because I know I am eating properly to help prevent any inflammation in my body.

So now I wonder, is anyone caring about this out there in this world? Time to hear from you. What are your thoughts/concerns on this way of eating. I know you have some. Good or bad, I'll take 'em!

You say you wanna be an athlete?

2011-06-16T22:36:00.000-07:00

My first thought when cutting out a great majority of carbs from my diet was "how the heck am I going to make it through my workouts without crashing?" Oh.. and what was I going to do with that recovery drink I just bought. *sigh*

Well, little did I know there was a book called The Paleo Diet for Athletes written by the same guy who wrote The Paleo Diet. Without going into great detail, Dr. Cordain ran across a guy named Joe on the trail - and as many men are accustomed to doing, they were in an all out battle to see who could run faster and stay ahead of the other. They eventually became friends and Dr. Cordain convinced Joe to give the Paleo Diet a chance for just 30 days. Cordain was convinced Joe would see the benefits that he knew this way of eating could bring.

The issue is, Joe is an endurance athlete. He had won national races and finished in the top 10 in the World Championships. He had coached many successful athletes. And his way of eating and what he coached others to do was strictly high carb.

Joe set out to prove Cordain wrong and in the first two weeks of the new way of eating he was pretty sure he was going to win the bet - his workouts were sluggish, recovery was slow and he felt miserable. But in week 3, things began to change. His recovery began to come more quickly and he was able to increase his weekly workout time from the 12 hours he had done for many years to almost 15 hours without any negative effect on his performance. He went on to have one of his best seasons ever.

Now, he did find he had to make some tweaks to the diet. Our hunter-gatherer folk weren't endurance athletes. They didn't need to recover quickly in order to push themselves just as hard the next day. People like Joe needed SOMETHING, but he realized the key was timing and specific quantities.

The book goes into all sorts of specifics on what to eat before, during, immediate post-exercise and short-term post exercise in order to help rebuild, repair and recover your muscles and body. I am going to focus on immediate post-exercise. In this stage there are 5 goals:

Replace expended carbohydrates stores
Rehydrate
Provide amino acids for resynthesis of protein that may have been damaged during exercise
Begin replacing carbohydrates
Reduce the acidity of the body fluids

Sounds like a lot, but the book offers a simple home recipe you can make OR you can buy a recovery drink. Not just any recovery drink, but one that is high quality, just the right amount of each ingredient to help with those 5 goals and it should, of course, be tasty. This is where I throw at you the one that I feel provides all those to you: P90x Results and Recovery Drink.

Anyone who has ever tasted it has loved it - who doesn't like Orange Julius'? Blend it with ice and water and I workout just so I can have it after.

So there you go.. The Spaghetti Factory doesn't really need your business the night before a race - although I'll admit their mizithra sounds pretty damn good right now.

Pet Therapy hurdle #1 - PASSED!

2011-06-15T13:31:00.000-07:00

Last night Baylie and I ventured all the way to Shriner's Hospital for Children for the much anticipated evaluation to see if we would be good candidates in the Delta Society's Pet Partners program. This has been a months-long process as I had to go to an orientation, then I brought Baylie in for an informal evaluation and then we waited a few months for the real evaluation.

What a wreck I was. Life has been stressful lately and having this looming over me just added to the pile-o-crap.

Thankfully, it's over. Baylie did great and I did ok. I was more worried about Baylie goofing up that a few times I forgot I was being evaluated too. Luckily, the pup was my saving grace and held it together for me - she didn't even budge when I forgot to say "stay" and walked away. *phew*

This could be Baylie soon! Brings tears to my eyes...

For those interested in the program, Delta Society has a website that gives you a ton of information, including what your dog must be okay with and reliable with training-wise. It's definitely a lot more than most people think, as evidenced by the 10 or so people who got up and walked out during the middle of the orientation meeting.

So now I just wait, wait and wait some more. Have to send all the stuff into Delta Society, have to apply to be a volunteer at Shriner's and go through their background and drug check and then have to get oriented with the whole process. I definitely didn't think it would take this long, but I've been wanting to do this for years and I am so grateful I have a dog who is well-suited for this line of work!

Beans, beans, the magical fruit!

2011-06-15T11:53:00.000-07:00

I am learning so, so, SO much about food these days - almost to the verge of overload. But I promised to explain some things about the Paleo wait of eating, so here I go with the question/statement I get most often when asked about this way of eating:

Why no beans? or But beans are good for you!

There is so much information online about why beans aren't a good thing to consume - just a simple Google search will give you enough information to make your head spin.

Venture out on the web on your own, or just go here to read a bit about what the ingredients in beans can possibly do to you. I doubt most of us have felt any symptoms that we would consider serious, but I can tell you that in just over two weeks of eating this way I do feel different - in a good way. No bloating, less fatigue in the afternoons and, well, I was having some of that "magic" on a daily basis for reasons I do not know... but now it's gone. Ok, ok.. TMI. But you get my point.

Oh, and as a bonus I've lost 4 pounds that my body didn't need.

This is my challenge to you, because I know you probably don't agree or believe in this way of eating at all. You think it's another Atkin's diet or just the newest fad. It's not a diet, it's going back to eating foods that our body needs in order to function better and be healthier. The Western crops of processed wheats, sugars, soy, etc are pretty much holding us back. But don't believe me... try it out yourself and try to prove me wrong!

One last thing, I will note that everyone's body is different.. some people need more carbs than others. To stay strictly Paleo you do what I've been talking about, but some people have found that beans don't bother them, or a bowl of oatmeal is ok in their system. BUT, the only way to find this out is to cut it all out completely and see if your body responds even better without them. Otherwise, how would you ever know?

(If you refuse to try this, you can always go make some homemade beans here - at least do THAT much for yourself :)

Butterflies in my Tummy

2011-06-13T22:08:00.000-07:00

It's the night before a big test, but not just for me.

Baylie-girl has her pet therapy certification test tomorrow. If she passes, we're on the path to visiting little one's at Shriner's Hospital for Children and hopefully make them smile.

My running partner.
My ball fetcher.
My bring-random-pieces-of-my-clothing-into-the-front-room-just-to-roll-around-in dog.

Yup, that's her.

How could that face NOT make you smile?

A Quickie Paleo Recipe

2011-06-08T21:23:00.000-07:00

But heck, it's really a NORMAL food that happens to be Paleo.

I've never made homemade pesto before, but I can't say that anymore.

It's amazing.. try it. Over chicken is fabulous, but the possibilities are endless.

Basil Walnut Pesto
1 cup walnut halves and pieces
6 garlic cloves
1 cup olive oil
1 tsp sea salt
4 oz basil (about 3.5 cups)
Juice from half a lemon

In a food processor combine walnuts through sea salt until smooth. Add basil and lemon juice and process again until smooth. Spoon over chicken, fish.. whatever!

Going Huntin' and a-Gatherin'

2011-06-08T11:15:00.000-07:00

I am not one to just jump onto a bandwagon and ride it for all it's worth, only to see the fad die or find out it's horribly bad for you. This is why I've hesitated to even post about this for a few weeks. Plus you'll probably remember the many times I've mentioned ideas on how to get my eating under control AGAIN... and you might be led to think this is just another one of those short-lived moments of willpower.

I am thinking not.

So give me another chance.

Over the past week and a half I've been giving the Paleo Diet a chance. When first reading about this way of eating, it just sounded like a new name for the Atkin's Diet. I was completely opposed to the Atkin's diet. I couldn't understand the idea of eating fatty, over-processed meats all the time and no fruits and veggies. It just didn't make sense and I never bought into that way of eating. It didn't take long for me to see my co-workers lose 40lbs and then end up weighing more than they did to begin with. Obviously not the way to go.

The difference with the Paleo (or Hunter-Gatherer) way of eating is you can consume (and are encouraged to) all the fruits and vegetables you want (about 60% of your diet). The other 40% is lean meats, preferably grass-fed beef, free-range chicken and wild caught fish. Yes, all those meats cost more, but did you know they actually have higher amounts of nutrition for your body? Plus, you're going to save a ton by not eating out as much anyway.. it all balances out.

This is just a short list of the main things that you are asked to avoid for this way of eating:

All grains (wheat, rice, quinoa, rye, etc.)
All sugars (honey allowed in small quantities and ABSOLUTELY no artificial sweeteners)
Legumes (beans, peanuts, garbanzos, soy beans)
Starchy tubers (potatoes - sweet potatoes ok sparingly and usually after high-activity to re-fill glycogen stores)
Alcoholic beverages
Yeast-containing products (pickled foods, foods containing vinegar)
All dairy products (some people permit butter since the whey portion has been removed)

Woah, I know what you're thinking. Impossible. Yup, that is what I was thinking... but I've been eating some amazing food and even have allowed a cheat now and then (can you say Squeeze with Cheese, please - but hold the fries!).

And I lost 2 lbs in one week without feeling overly-deprived or having to count calories. Amen.

In future posts I am going to answer some frequently asked questions/statements I get the most, including these:

Why no beans!? I thought they were so good for you!

But I'm an athlete, I need my carbs!

Where does that name come from or what's the science behind this?

What about cholesterol, heart disease and other issues caused from eating red meat?

I will also be posting some tried and true recipes I've made that have even made me look forward to lunch leftovers the next day, as well as some common health problems this sort of diet has shown to help.

Please look into this way of eating before you turn up your nose. The books by Dr. Cordain are highly recommended and includes one specific for athletes. I've also been recommended to purchase the book Everyday Paleo for recipes - this is a mom who has converted her whole family to this way of eating and has been doing it for THREE years!

If she can convert the entire family and stay on it for 3 years, you can too!

And many say if you can just go 50% Paleo, it's better than no Paleo :)

bad mom.

2011-05-16T22:25:00.000-07:00

There was a time I wrote about how raising a dog is much like raising a child. Ups and downs. Laughter and heartache.

Welp. I'm gonna be a bad mom.

My Baylie girl has no dog food left and by the time I got the girl at Petco on the phone tonight to find out when they closed, they had already been closed a whole 10 minutes.

Baylie only had half a dinner because that's all I had left. I had planned on picking up the food on the way home from my workout to give her the other half when I got home.

Then I get to chatting in the parking lot, lost track of time (and momentarily forgot I needed to get her food) and .... then the girl on the phone says "awww" in response to "but I've got a hungry dog!" Clearly no real sympathy for this bad parent.

I have a list of excuses: I wasn't in the area of Petco yesterday and I still had enough to get her breakfast, I'd go at lunch at work, but then the morning was really busy at work and I needed a Peet's, and then I forgot to go on the way home... and, and, and...

Her second half of dinner was reminiscent of the bland diet she was on for a couple of weeks after the "mom-in-training" rat poison incident: chicken breast and a small dog cookie. Breakfast will probably be more chicken and green beans.

In fact, now that I think of it, I think she is hoping I forget to get her food again tomorrow.

Ooooh Ooh more than half way there!

2011-05-13T15:12:00.000-07:00

And yes, I'm livin' on a prayer!

Update time - it's been awhile (again) folks. Last time I left you I was beginning a new fitness program called ChaLEAN Extreme, starting a daily dosage of Shakeology and hopin' (and wishin' and prayin') I could get a better handle on what I shove down my gullet (now I feel like a turkey).

Where am I now? I am finishing up month two (of three) of the workout program and I AM seeing results - but not where the typical woman wants to see them (that would be the dreaded scale) and I am sort of okay with that.

Working on TOTALLY being okay with it.

You see, I think (and I know I'm not alone) that we're just too damn worried about the scale. Just as we're worried about counting every single calorie (aahhh I licked a lollipop, add 5 calories to my daily total!) and trying to figure out exactly how many calories we think we burned.

STOP IT PEOPLE! STOP THE MADNESS!

I'm still reading a book called In Defense of Food - my fellow blogger friend Heather gave me the heads up about this "awesomesauce" book (in quotes because she'd probably use that word to describe it).

To summarize, this book basically tells you to stop thinking so much about what you're eating and keep in mind only three simple rules: eat food, not too much, mostly plants.

And, NO.. food isn't anything that is edible. Here's a simple rule: grab that frozen meal from the freezer, or that Go-Gurt you're going to give your kids, or even the cellophane wrapper treat that's only "100 calories" and hand it to your grandmother or great-grandmother and if she would have to ask "what the heck is this?" or "how do you eat it?" then you probably shouldn't be eating it and it's not FOOD.

That's all I'm gonna tell you - get the book yourself, read it and tell me your thoughts.

So that's where I am in the food-arena - trying to keep it simple. I've stated before that I've never lost weight before by counting calories or restricting foods from my diet. It just puts too much pressure. Sure, it might be great for the weight loss portion of my life, but it will only come back to bite me in the ass when I want to maintain - because I haven't "cured" the one thing that is at the root of it all - an unhealthy love of food and the inability to control myself when I am allowing myself to have a small treat. If anything, in that situation I would have traded an unhealthy love of a certain food into an unhealthy love of restricting certain things from my diet (and the impending guilt I'd feel even after that small treat).

blah. blah. blah.

For the record: eating right - in progress; exercising - kicking ass!

The scale has hardly moved and like I said, I am mostly over that. I know I am building some mad muscle (I can see it in my arms and feel it in my legs) that is slowly increasing my metabolism. I spoke with another lady who did the same workout program, and she assured me she didn't see most of her results until the last month - everything you do just kind of culminates at that point.

My hopes! Turbofire will be my next program -
you can find a ton of these 'before and after' pictures
online with a quick search - these are NOT paid people!

What I love about these workouts is no two are the same each day and the whole routine changes each month. It's easy to hit a plateau when you are doing the same thing day-in and day-out and that's not a worry here.

As for the shake thing, the first month was interesting as my body was getting use to all these good things I was ingesting. Things have settled and I've had unexpected short-term results - namely, better skin. Heck, I won't argue that side effect. I'm basically shoving $40 worth of fruits and veggies and all their goodness into one drink every day and that can only do good things.

I do hope to post some of my own before and after photos, but I will wait until the end to see if I've overcome my shyness in exposing that side of myself to the whole world. The 'before' is scary and knowing me, I'll still think the 'after' is frightful.

I wasn't born this way.

2011-04-25T10:53:00.000-07:00

I don't care what Lady Gaga says, I wasn't born this way.

Brown, stick straight hair: yes.

My mother's hips: yes.

Perhaps even certain personality traits that I see in my parents: stubborn, go-getter, inpatient, compassionate.

But my issues with food: NO.

I keep trying to think back to when food became an issue. I've never been a super healthy eater, but I also know I wasn't always at war with food. Bad food choices are different than not being able to say no to food when I am not hungry.

Somewhere I decided food was comfort. And for some reason I also decided that if I only ate half the cupcake, I could never, ever have more of it later - might as well consume it all now.

Here's a run-down of my approximate weights and where I was in life at the time:

Graduate highschool - 1995: 140
2nd year of college, last year of being in the sorority, had moved out of the parent's house - 1998: 157 (I only know exact because of a "losing weight" bet I placed)
Working full-time, living on my own in an apartment downtown - 2001: 178 (at this time I entered Kaiser Permanente's "Healthy Ways" program)
Working full-time, part-time school, in a rowing club - 2003-04: 135
Not working, full-time school - 2004-06: 140's
Graduated x-ray school, moved home for a year - 2006-07: 150ish
Moved into a duplex, working full-time again, single and bored and started working out 6x/week- 2008: 135
Bought a house, went through a bad relationship - 2009: 145

Now I am hovering just below 160. Eww.

Movement is not an issue in this equation either. I am on my feet for my job 9 hours a day, 5x a week and I just completed a 1/2 marathon.

Food is the issue. And apparently when I have money, I have more food. Most of the times I've gained weight is because I have the ability to eat out more often (full-time job). I can buy what I want - I don't need to stick to chicken breasts and cans of chili to get by until the next paycheck.

This all is one big *sigh* to me.

Back in November you might remember I imposed a "eating in" rule. I don't recall losing much weight, but I also don't think I was being consistent with exercise. Perhaps I should try it again and keep the exercise consistent. As a Beachbody Coach I feel compelled to get the "beach body" to go with it. This company has give me a great set of exercise tools, time to work on the eating.

Anyone with me in this department? What do you do that is working?

"The superfoods that could change the way you eat, feel and live"

2011-04-14T20:59:00.000-07:00

Finally won the war with my Google Documents settings and here is a link to the online article that mentions Shakeology *phew*

I also confirmed it DID actually make it to print and picked myself up a copy of the May issue of O Magazine to see all the purdy pictures.

Today was Day 2 of drinking it and it's like having a chocolate milkshake for breakfast. It surprisingly doesn't have the gritty texture or powdery taste like a lot of protein drinks tend to have (although, Shakeology is NOT a protein drink!). Yesterday I used almond milk, a banana and a small spoonful of peanut butter. Today I omitted the PB and added a teaspoon of coconut extract - I think that is my favorite so far!

I am not sure if it's my resolve to get back on track or if it is because I am drinking the Shakeology, but I have been able to stay away from my typical splurge on sweets in the afternoon. I did read it helped people with their cravings, so perhaps that is one of the early benefits.

A couple of pounds down since starting ChaLean Extreme... hoping the combo helps keep me going in the right direction!

If you are interested in learning more about either Shakeology or ChaLean Extreme, visit here or post a comment!

Stuff like this makes my heart happy :)

2011-04-13T09:48:00.000-07:00

I had to share a friends blog with you. Although posts are kind of sporadic, it's all about gardening - mainly vegetable gardening... and there are often some good pictures. Her latest post did not disappoint!

Go visit her here and maybe if we put the pressure on her she'll post more often :)

The story of a little shake...

2011-04-12T18:07:00.000-07:00

I hate gimmicks. Or the idea of people pushing something on me. This is why I got out of sales and why I despise telemarketers. If I want something, I'll go find it. Google has made that all possible. Go figure that I majored in marketing. I think it was more for the creative aspect and not the sales side of things. *blech*

Enter Shakeology into my life. For $120/month I decided it couldn't really be worth that much money. I used it for a cleanse a couple of times, but I wasn't about to commit to drinking it daily.

Then an article came out. Oprah's editor-in-chief of her "O" magazine traveled the world to find out about a lot of the "superfoods" that were in this little shake with a catchy name. It turns out it was designed for a client of the big head honcho of Beachbody - money was no object - just come up with a drink that could give him optimum wellness, lose weight, reduce cholesterol, and not have to eat a platter of veggies every day.

And Shakeology was born.

Now, it could be a gimmick still, right? I am putting a lot of faith into this article, but if the man who created it is drinking it every day, then it has to be doing its job. I mean, this guy does not touch processed foods or even look at fast food drive-thru's, but he pours a packet of Shakeology into his blender each morning.

Sold.

Tomorrow starts Day 1 of drinking this little scoop of powder each day. In 30 days I'll let you know how I feel. The great thing is, if I hate it or I see/feel absolutely no change, then I get my money back - no questions asked.

If you are interested in trying it along with me, click here to order it!

Oh how He loves

2011-03-21T21:24:00.000-07:00

These past couple of weeks my heart has been heavy with sorrow, pain and joy.

My best friend's brother-in-law (Micah), who I've met a couple of times, was admitted to the ICU 13 days ago with pneumonia and septic shock. I dropped by his room the day after he was admitted to drop off a gift from my best friend since she was out of town. Although he looked uncomfortable, he was sitting up, breathing on his own and was able to say a few words to me.

The following day, he took a turn for the worse, was put on a ventilator and his odds of survival were put at a mere 35%.

My heart sank and the pain that I felt was so extreme you would think he was my own brother.

With three beautiful children and another daughter that could arrive any day, I spread the word to every person I knew that believed in the power of prayer.

Every time I told his story I would be on the verge of tears. I couldn't even sit through worship at church without becoming an emotional wreck as I sang my heart out to our God on behalf of Micah.

Just five days into his hospital stay I was talking with a co-worker about him and I pretty much said:

I've looked back on tragedies that have happened in

other people's families - where death has occurred and

someone has been taken from them. In just about every situation

I could see a positive - a reason that the Lord wanted to

take them home to be with Him. Whether that reason be the person

was suffering, or to bring a broken family together or to show

those around them that a family of faith can survive and thrive

in the toughest of circumstances. But this guy, I cannot possibly

see a reason that he needs to go yet. My gut feeling is he is going

to make it. His family is going to be a testimony to everyone

working in the hospital and to all the non-believers that see

a miracle truly working in his life. He still has a lot of

work to do here and I know God is not

ready to take him home yet.

And He isn't.

Because Micah is going home tonight.

His 35% chance of survival seems like so long ago. Everyone that provided care to him in the hospital, who had seen people lose their life to what he battled, is calling it a miracle. I would bet some of these people may not have even believed in miracles before they met this man.

The impact this experience has had on me is huge. I already knew our God was faithful and that prayer is powerful, but I so lack in demonstrating those in my own life. It's easy to say I believe, but the real test is if we show that through the way we handle the circumstances in life. Micah's family and friends have been a testimony to me in this area.

Be joyful always; pray continually;

give thanks in all circumstances,

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

This past weekend at church, we sang "How He Loves" by David Crowder. These lyrics spoke to me and the situation with Micah:

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,

Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.

When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,

And I realize just how beautiful You are,

And how great Your affections are for me.

Oh, how He loves.

US 50 [IN THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA]

2011-03-16T19:29:00.000-07:00

ROAD IS CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM TWIN BRIDGES TO MEYERS FOR AVALANCHE CONTROL.

Not what you want to hear when you just want to get home. Thank you CalTrans.

But considering my car had about 4 inches of snow on it and it was still coming down pretty significantly, I suppose that's what happens.

I had already resorted to the fact that I would need my chains and put them on at the cabin - a full 4 miles before I'd even need them. Proud moment there. I even double-checked with one of those chain installer dudes and he said I did a good job - as his buddy was putting on the chains for some guy in an apparently NOT 4WD (or one without mud and snow tires) SUV. I kind of wanted to smirk at him, but I didn't.

And that's probably why the universe thought it would play a mean joke on me and make me wait a full hour with no traffic moving at that very spot.

It wasn't until this point that I checked the CalTrans website again and found out traffic was being held in 4 different areas of the highway for avalanche control. I actually got ahold of a LIVE someone at CalTrans that explained I was actually still on Highway 89 and avalanche control wasn't possible on that short stretch before it turned into Highway 50 again... and it was very possible that small stretch could be closed for awhile. He couldn't say how long I'd sit there.

I cried a little. Maybe hormones, or frustration, or something. I was HUNGRY - day 3 of detox and I. WAS. OVER. IT.

So I did what any irrational person would do: I turned around, stopped and got a tri-tip sandwich and went back to the cabin to wait it out. Eventually it showed Highway 50 as completely closed to traffic.

This is where I really began to feel like the candid camera folks might pop out at any moment. Either that or someone at CalTrans had their traffic cameras just on me to see when I would go off in one direction so they'd update the road conditions in the other.

I showed that the east side of the lake was open with chain restrictions, the north part of the lake had no restrictions and I-80 was open with chain restrictions in the normal areas. Knowing that would mean taking the chains off again and then put them back on... and then off again ... I decided I would annoy all of South Lake by keeping my chains on and driving 30 mph through the casinos on clear roads. There was no way I was going to take them off THREE times.

Checked the CalTrans website again: Highway 50 was still closed.

Loaded the dog in the car and off we go on a route that would take us at least an hour longer to get home.

Almost to the casinos and something makes me check the status of Highway 50 again.

Are you KIDDING me?

It's open. See? I swear someone waited until I headed off in the other direction to let me know this.

Now I don't know about you, but the sound of cable chains on clear pavement is annoying and deafening, all at the same time. Plus I look like the total idiot who can't drive perfectly groomed streets without the safety of chains - TOURIST! Ahhhh...

I turn around.. another 10-15 minutes through town... the rumble of the chains grating on my last nerve...

Thank goodness the weather had let up, the sun was peeking out a bit and the rest of the ride home was very smooth with very little traffic.

I even felt a sense of empowerment again when I got out to take my chains off and did it in less time than the car behind me with 3 people all looking at their passenger front wheel like they had never seen one before.

Gosh I sound snotty.

Who cares, I am home and on real food again.

P.s.

2011-03-15T20:44:00.000-07:00

I so cannot wait to be done with this detox/cleanse.

I am sure it will do great things, but I know I've had enough when I really wanted to order the big bowl of oatmeal off the menu (vs. the tempeh burger).

Food is on the mind.. pizza, chinese food, pasta, burgers.... never realized there were so many yummy food places in Tahoe.

And like someone wanted to play a joke on me, the italian and pizza place are right down the street *sigh*

Yay for St. Patty's day! I WILL find me some corned beef and cabbage!

Don't these look fantastic?! Recipe here. Might just have to make them.

*grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrowl*

Sorry, that was just my stomach wanting the final word.

I heart Tahoe!

2011-03-15T19:51:00.000-07:00

the sun decided to hang out for longer than expected today.

baylie and i played ball near the cabins.

"throw the ball, mom!"

her favorite activity was digging for small chunks of ice to eat...

i then went off to have one of the best massages and facials EVER.

you must visit trish at biospirit if you are ever in town.

had sprouts again for lunch - yummy tempeh burger!

off to hike through the snow to the lake while the sun was still out - very windy though!

doesn't my skin look fabulous? :)

and now the snow is coming down. 5-7 inches expected in the next 36 hours.

hope i make it home tomorrow!

Time away

2011-03-14T21:43:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks before the 1/2 marathon I thought about getting away afterwards. I wanted time to think about things and enjoy a bit of time away from the life that seems to have become increasingly difficult (emotionally, spiritually & financially). I found a cabin in South Lake Tahoe that allows dogs and that's where I am now.

The weather held out for a little bit today so Baylie and I went out to run around, take some pictures and play in the snow in Kahle Meadows. One minute the sun would peek out and then the gray clouds would consume the sky and a light rain would fall.

A storm is a-comin' though... I might only make it out tomorrow just long enough to get my massage and facial and get some food.

Speaking of food, I am doing the Shakeology cleanse/detox that I spoke of before. Shakeology is by the whole Beachbody (think P90X) franchise and is designed to be taken once a day as either a meal replacement (if you are wanting to lose weight) or just as a snack if you want the benefits of all its nutrients.

Somewhere along the line someone came up with the idea to take it 3 times a day and add in a piece of fruit as a snack as well as lean protein and vegetables for dinner with no extras such as cheese, mayo, oils, etc. All in the name of cleansing your body.

Sprouts in South Lake Tahoe did not disappoint for my dinner choice. It is the healthiest place I know of in the area, so it had to be the best choice for dinners each night. Of course, I was so hungry by this time I probably could have eaten cardboard at that time and loved it, but it seriously was a great sandwich.

Yes, I cheated slightly with the whole grain bread and sesame chips, but no cheese!!

Looking forward to tomorrow and hoping I don't get bored...

All things are possible - or how I made the third time a charm...

2011-03-14T20:13:00.000-07:00

I did it.

My third attempt, but I finally showed the 1/2 marathon who was boss.

It was 7 years ago that I decided I was going to try the Shamrock'n half marathon during its inaugural race and my brain is failing me how far I actually got. I think it was 8 miles, but lately I keep thinking it was only 6 miles.

The last time I tried was around 2008/2009 - at that point I think I gave up around 5 miles.

The culprit? My stupid knees. Yes, stupid.

I decided my body clearly was not built to run long distances.

Then I got the itch to try again and this time I was going to do everything possible to make sure it happened. I got weekly massages, used my foam roller to beat up my IT band (and make me cry - you try it!), and decided I was ok with walking a portion of it. I had ran 4-5 miles with very little issues, so in the back of my head I told myself I could at least run 2/3rds to 3/4ths of the distance and walk the rest.

Training progressed, I ran 3 times a week and around week 6 or 7 of training, my knees were all but yelling at me that I was treading on thin ice. At this point I honestly just ran once a week - my long runs. I was afraid this wouldn't be enough, but my knees needed the break.

Then I get sick - the achey, chest burning, lethargic kind - two weeks prior to the race. I did an 8 mile run, got sick, a week and a half later I did a 4 mile run and hoped that was enough.

Enter race day: scared for my knees, nervous I'd have to walk more than I anticipated and take forever to finish, but thankful for perfect weather (for me - clouds, 50-60 degree weather, no wind or rain).

In the end, I did it. I got my medal.

My knees held up until a bit later than usual.. somewhere between mile 6 and 7 I thought "oh no", but I kept going. Miles 7-10 I did my normal walking only through the aid stations and stopping to stretch. At miles 11 and 12 I stopped again to stretch.

Almost there. Enter charlie horses and cramping in my calves. In fact, at this point my calves and feet started hurting MORE than my knees. Only a mile to go.

I could see the Tower Bridge and I knew Raley Field (the finish) was just on the other side. I picked up my speed - I wanted this over fast no matter how bad it hurt.

This is where my spirit got broken. The ONLY point during the entire race that I thought I might not finish was the last 1/2 mile. I know, weird huh? In that last 1/2 mile I saw people who had already finished walking the opposite direction to go to their cars. In that last 1 /2 mile I was out of breath because I was pushing myself hard to get it done. And in that last 1/2 mile I thought I was this close to the finish because I figured I knew where we entered the stadium and how we finished on the field.

I was wrong.

Turns out we practically ran around the entire stadium before entering the backside of the stadium

Heartbreak.

A major cramp just about took me down a few hundred feet from the finish.

But I got there... I did it.

I even managed up the entire flight of stairs to get out of the field and up to the concession area.

Why they did that to us, I don't know...

3 days and counting.

2011-03-10T11:32:00.000-08:00

And believe me, I am.

Way back in January (which seems like yesterday...) I vowed to a physical feat of endurance for this year. It was either going to be a 1/2 marathon or hiking Half Dome.

Welp, it might be both folks. The knees have held up (and by held up I mean I can still get from point A to point B on them) and I will be running/jogging/walking my first 1/2 marathon this Sunday.

I am not physically nervous yet, but I still have doubt in the back of my mind. I have a learned a lot about my body in the past 10 weeks, especially what is working for my knees and what isn't. For one, hills are my friend. For the average runner I know that isn't the case, but I live in Rocklin and my "short run" (4 miles) is mostly uphill - I am not sure how that works since I am running a loop, but it is. So in the time I've lived here and picked up running again, hills have become easier and my knees love them.

For example, 8 miles on the mostly flat bike trail = knees screaming bloody murder.

Two 4-mile loops in my neighborhood a couple weekends ago = knees only mildly whimpering.

The doubt that is creeping into my mind is because I know this 13.1 mile course is mostly flat.

My strategy? Slow and steady "wins" the race. I will be walking through every drink station, including STOPPING to stretch my quads and hammies. Most likely towards the end my knees will be super unhappy with me and I'll stop whenever they are hurting to stretch some more.

Time won't be an issue, but I am hoping to get done before the 2:40 mark.

And now, ladies and gentlemen, what will she do AFTER the 1/2 marathon???

It's going to be a sort of "starting over" sort of thing...

I get these catalogs almost every week: Title Nine and Athleta. The ladies in them are driving me insane. I'm not the type to really get all jealous of the celebrity bodies on People or other mainstream magazine covers, but give me a fitness mag and I get all gung-ho... for like a day.

Time to get gung-ho for like.... forever.

My inspiration:

I know I will never look just like that, but I'd love to wear a pair of those shorts and not have them ride up when I run. Perhaps one day.

To start myself off on the right foot, I will be heading up to South Lake Tahoe the day after the race for some me and God time. Well, me, God and Baylie time - the pup is going with me. During that time I hope to block out all Internet time, do lots of reading, praying and hopefully taking in the beautiful scenery around me if it doesn't rain the whole time. Oh, and treating myself to a deep tissue massage and facial... my reward (bribe?) for finishing.

I'll also be doing the Shakeology cleanse that I've done once before. I only did it two days before, but I definitely felt "lighter" and more renewed.

Physical renewal. Spiritual renewal. All which I hope leads to some emotional renewal.

Wish me luck, send your prayers... I have a long journey ahead of me.... it's called the rest of my life! :)

Iced knees and puppy love, please!

2011-02-13T20:23:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but when I think "iced knees" it makes me crave a fancy, frosty, blended tropical drink. I think I'm just thirsty, perhaps?

Today is my "rest" week in the training for the 1/2 marathon and boy did I need it. Last time I left my mark in the blogosphere, I was talking about my lack of confidence in doing my longer runs as I had what felt like a catastrophic run for my 6 mile distance. Achy knees just a few miles in, the seeming inability to push myself the last mile like I can usually do, and the feeling like my legs were going to literally fall off or break in half for the rest of the day.

Then what I did do? I took the whole Monday-Friday off and picked right back up for my 7 miler the next Sunday. I did it, but it was a bit painful as well. Not as much, but not really enough to gain a great amount of confidence back.

Oh, but then there was last weekend - 8 miles loomed over me like my pile of clean laundry that seems to always be sitting on my bed or dresser waiting to be put away (some may think that doesn't sound as dreadful as 8 miles, but for some reason around here it is). I was going to tackle it in the morning to ~~make myself miserable~~ push my body to be more accustomed to the morning hours as well as try to find a morning routine that would work better for me.

This was how I planned on tackling it:

Wake up 2 hours prior to running start time
Make a substantial breakfast - I decided my body can't survive on toast or something small - pancakes it is!
Fill up my water bottle with diluted electrolyte drink (can't do it full strength - the sugary taste makes me seem more thirsty)
Slurp down a GU 15 minutes prior
A scheduled walk break every 2 miles (about as often as the aid stations would come up) to drink some electrolyte drink, and 4 miles in another GU.

Shortly after 9am on a beautiful Sunday morning I joined the rabid bicyclists and the runners/walkers who don't know you need to do your thing on the LEFT side of the trail and let Lady Gaga start me out with a little pep talk - something about Bad Romance. She knows me well.

2 miles - good. 4 miles - good, GU = ehh. 5.5 miles - uh oh, there are dem knees. 6 miles - drink, walk, stretch the quads a bit. Stretching the quads seemed to help a little, so I stopped at 7 miles and stretched again. Then I ~~hobbled~~ hightailed it to the end. I was never so happy to see the 6.5 mile marker on the bike trail as I was this day (a feeling I am sure I will experience again a few more times).

I did it folks. 8 miles. I still am not confident my knees are going to make it. As it is, frozen blueberries are performing their PT on them right now after a 5 mile run that seemed to tear them up a bit.

Say it with me... UGH!

-------------------

Part two (bear with me!):

Last week I had my first training session with a dog trainer for my pup Baylie. I'll keep this short and simple (yea, right, this is me here).

It's been on my heart for a long time to use animals in a therapeutic way. I am not sure where I first heard about it, but I think I saw a show about animal-assisted therapy somewhere. It involves bringing your pup (or cat, or bunny.. or?) to a hospital or similar environment and bringing him/her around to patients. The therapeutic aspect of it can be as simple as emotional - just being happy to see a pup (who isn't happy to see my Baylie!?) or a bit more complex when it comes to patients who don't really have the desire to rehabilitate themselves by moving their hands/arms, etc. but will do so when offered an animal to pet or throw a ball for.

How could you not be happy to see this face?!

I am such a baby, but when I see stuff like this play out on documentaries (or real life) I start bawling. I knew somehow, someway I needed to eventually get myself into that field SOMEHOW.

Shortly after I got Baylie last year I saw Shriner's Hospital for Children had a pet therapy program and I didn't think she was quite ready when they did the orientation last spring, but THIS spring we are on it. I go to an orientation in a few weeks and hopefully have her tested a couple of weeks later.

Enter the trainer - she is helping me refine some of the stuff that Baylie needs to be good at or able to do. Most of it she has down well (there isn't a person she won't accept a pet from!), but other things (like staying where she is sitting next to me until I say it's ok to accept the pet) need a little more work.

I am BEYOND ecstatic. I truly hope Baylie and I pass and can bring a smile to little kid's faces. There is always the possibility they will say she'd do better in a different environment (older people, retirement homes, etc.), but I am holding out for the little kids.

Until then - prayers and positive thoughts are accepted!