So much for that...

Apparently you, or I, can't go from being vegetarian to eating meat to cave girl.  I really don't want to eat processed foods or a lot of bread and starches.  So, now I'm attempting pescetarian-paleo.  Of course, I only want to eat sustainable fish.  Never can do things the easy way.  :)

Really?!?

So, I caught my husbands cold, which comes with a burning sore throat.  The kind that only orange Creamsicles will help.  Well, maybe a Big Stick would.  I'm talking about the Popsicle!  Get your mind out of the gutter...   Anyway, so I sent my husband a text asking him to stop on his way home and pick up some Orange Creamsicles. What I got were Kroger no sugar added fruit bars (Nope, no added sugar, just artificial sweetener instead).  To which I responded, "Really?!?"  How do you get those things confused?  Orange Creamsicles are classic!

                  

    


And, yes, I realize that this isn't paleo, but I think being sick makes it okay.

It doesn't really matter though, because I didn't eat either.  I don't touch anything with artificial sweetener.  That shit is poison.  And, NO, my husband isn't trying to poison me.  I just haven't convinced him the importance of reading labels yet.  I think.

I don't know what it is about being sick that makes you crave stuff that's cold and sweet, but I did drink a coke.  And oooooooo, was it good.  I was worried I'd be back on them.  I used to be addicted and that stuff is like heroin.  I'd drink several a day and still would want more.  But I hadn't been drinking them since I changed my way of eating (I think I may have had one once before).  I find that they are good at the moment, but I don't keep wanting them.  Which is very cool and unusual.  I've stopped drinking coke for months at a time before, but as soon as I have one I'm hooked again.  I don't know what it is about this diet, but it really does kill cravings.  Except for chocolate.  I still crave chocolate.

Have to try these, even if they are considered SWYPO

Paleo Perfectly: Paleo Pineapple Coconut Muffins: So after the pina colada pancakes were all gone, I began craving them. Those things are so good. I decided I needed to make a more portabl...

Have to try these, even if they are considered SWYPO

Paleo Perfectly: Paleo Pineapple Coconut Muffins: So after the pina colada pancakes were all gone, I began craving them. Those things are so good. I decided I needed to make a more portabl...

Eating for a migraine

This will be short because yes, I'm suffering with a migraine.  Previously, when I had a migraine, I would load up on soda and greasy pepperoni pizza to get rid of a it.  I don't want to start up my old habits so I stuck to my paleo diet today and drank only tea and water.  I'm still suffering, but honestly not craving Coke or pizza.  So, while my head may hate me, I'm feeling good about the decision.  Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

I wonder if there are paleo foods that might help...

Cooling Inflammation

Cheeseburger in Paradise

Okay, so maybe not paradise.  I mean, the closest beach is, at least, 12-13 hours away.  You can't have paradise without a beach.

Tonight I seriously cheated on my paleo diet.  Not even quit sure why.  Guessing I got a bug up my ass, because I was feeling/doing fine and didn't have a real craving for what I got.  

They opened a Five Guys in Springfield recently and I've been wanting to try it.  I've been hearing how wonderful it is and that if I've been craving In-n-Out  it would not only satisfy my cravings, but that I would like it better.  So, I've been wanting, but waiting, so my husband could go also as he'd never tried it either.  But, when I came home tonight my hubby informed me that he went there today for lunch.  WTF?!  Really?  Well, guess what, we're going for dinner too.  

And I gotta say, FG's was NOT better than In-n-Out.  There really is no comparison.  None.  I mean, look at those grilled onions and the sauce and the cheese and the fresh veggies and that quality beef.  You can't beat that.  The fries sound like they are similarly done, but even those weren't as good.  God!  I miss In-n-Out!

I think though, that I've satisfied my burger craving until I get to go home in June.  I'll definitely be going to In-n-Out then.  And then there's Tommy's Burgers.  I'll be stopping there too.  OMG, they have the best chili cheeseburgers and chili cheese fries.  This is how we do it!!!

I will probably gain 10 lbs just stopping by those two places, but I seriously do not care.  Unlike FGs, it will be worth every last bite.

In the mean time, hi ho, hi ho, it's back to paleo I go!!!

PaleOMG – Paleo Recipes – Fudgy Brownies

PaleOMG – Paleo Recipes – Fudgy Brownies

Every day is a struggle.

I swore this was getting easier.  But honestly, I'm still really struggling with the way of eating.  I think I'll start to be really energetic and a go-getter.  No such luck.  I'm still tired most of the time, and I'm hungry ALL of the time.  :(

I'm pretty surprised to be feeling this way.  I've been on a diet where I've eaten even less before and wasn't hungry.  Not like this.  Now, when I'm done eating I want a second meal.  I thought I'd be adjusting by now.  The day after tomorrow I hit the one month mark.  I was hoping to be a bit more strict with my diet by then.  Now, I think I'll be lucky to stay with it because being hungry pisses - me - off!!!

Cheaters never prosper

So, today I cheated.  It wasn't one of those I'm out and about and the restaurant doesn't have anything, but I'll stick as close to my diet as possible type of cheats.  It was a conscious decision to be BAD.  I was simply jonesing for Mexican food, so I went to Tortilleria Perches for lunch.  I love their carnitas dinner, and it tasted as wonderful as it always does.

But, it wasn't good to me today.  After three weeks eating paleo to the best of my ability, my taste has changed.    That, and they mistakenly gave me corn tortillas instead of flour.  Again.

To top it all of, I'm now exhausted.  I just feel completely drained of all energy.  I need to do a lot of work around the house, but I just want to nap.

I did go to the Farmer's Market this morning and got quite a bit of locally raised, grass fed proteins and some wonderful tomatoes.  I also made the mistake of buying Todd some oysters.  I swore he loves oysters, but apparently, only fried.  He's trying not to eat fried foods.

Dang!  I better get moving.  I'm nodding off as I write.  Oops.

Energy +

Energy plus, that is what my step father used to say to me whenever my ass was dragging the night after partying.  Now, I just have energy plus!

Two weeks with no breads, no pasta, no rice, no dairy (except a wee bit of cream in my coffee), no beans, no soda, no sweets (not even a cookie), and no beer (well, one night I had a couple).  That is major for me.  I am a coke-a-day girl and love my chocolate.  Hey!  I started this the day before Valentine's Day and the chocolate hearts are still in their wrappers in my desk drawer.  Untouched.

As I posted previously, I've been all over the map since starting this way of eating (it's not really a diet...).  And I'm still having major cravings, which can make me cranky, but the last couple of days I've noticed that I have a lot more energy during the day, even if I've only had a little sleep.

Now, if I could just turn that energy into motivation to go to the gym.

It's funny, because I was going to blog (fancy name for a diary, isn't it?) yesterday and talk about what a struggle this is.  Which it is.  I was in line at lunch and headed for the pita pit (yummy sandwiches on pita bread) or for the breaded coconut chicken.  There was NOTHING that was paleo in that cafeteria, except salad, and salad is booooooooring.  So, I was headed for the good stuff.  Then this really in shape guy asked me what was where.  I replied and he headed for the salad.  Made me feel guilty, so back to the garden I went.  My husband says he has no cravings.  Show off.

Tonight I made up for it though.  I made some chicken with coconut and almond meal "breading"and baked it in the oven with some garlic, lemon slices and a small amount of chicken broth.  Yummy!  This paleo thing might not be so bad after all.

I have to admit...

... for all my bitching, there is some good to all this.  I don't feel guilty every time I eat AND my pants aren't as tight.  YAY!

Diet AND exercise?!

I don't do New Year's resolutions.  Except for the year I resolved to never make another.  That has worked out well for me in the past.  However, since I've been with my husband I've started "observing" Lent.  He does anyway.  I go along with it.  For Lent this year he has given up beer, is following the paleo diet and exercising 3-4 days a week.  The funny thing is, I wanted to do all of this before Lent.  Actually, since last summer.  Really.  And I still do.  And I'm doing two of the three.  The one that I don't seem to be able to get started is the exercise part.

Just the other morning I was lying in bed daydreaming about working out, going over the exercises in my mind.  They were all things I could do at home and eventually it came to me that I should just get up and do them instead of thinking about them.  So, I jumped out of bed, went downstairs, made myself a wonderful cup of coffee and sat down to read a good book.

Here's the deal.  I want to exercise, but I HATE to exercise and I just don't have the energy.  The only times I have had any success sticking with it is when I've had a friend to exercise with, a personal trainer, or when I joined Crossfit Springfield.  I started going to Crossfit last June and loved, loved, loved it.  Until I hurt my knee, then my elbow, then my shoulder, then my back (the last three areas of injury happened at work).  I'm finally all healed, but can't really afford Crossfit right now.  That is a major bummer.  So, I'm a member of the Meyer Center.  Hopefully, one day soon, I'll throw on my gym clothes and go to the gym instead of just thinking about it...

Not even Whole14, yet...

Last week (on 2/13/13) my husband (Todd) and I started the paleo diet.  Man has it been a roller coaster.  Some days I've been exhausted.  Others, totally irritable.  But the last couple have been the worst.  The cravings have been so bad I'm afraid I'd commit murder for an Oreo.  I was in the grocery store on Thursday and as soon as you walked in the door they had double stuffed Oreos displayed.  I almost lost my mind.  I had visions of jumping into the display, tearing the packages open, and eating every last one of them (starting with the cream in the middle, of course).

Before I could follow the dream, my husband came through the door and we headed off to the produce section.  We got our fruits and veggies and got out of there.  Whew, that was a close one.  He probably saved me from being arrested and thrown into a straight jacket.  But, it's two days later and I still can't stop thinking about those damn Oreos.

From what I've read, and that isn't much, this is normal the first couple of weeks (Check out: http://whole9life.com/2013/01/whole30-timeline/).  The first few days are supposed to be filled with, well, pretty much feeling like shit.  Imagine waking up the morning after going out for dinner and a glass of wine, but winding up spending the evening doing shots on an empty stomach.  The headache, oh man, the headache!  Will someone please shoot me now?!  

But wait, after a few days of that I felt GREAT!  Except I wanted to kill everyone.  Everyone got on my nerves, but happy, morning people were the worst.  While they sang good morning with a big, cheesy grin on their faces I was daydreaming about removing tongues with a sharp instrument.

Fortunately, that only lasted a couple of days.  Personally, I'd rather be a hateful bitch that feel like I have narcolepsy.  Yes, that's the next phase.  Or, at least, MY next phase.  I just started a new job and can't afford to fall asleep at my desk, thank you very much.  I'm still struggling with this phase a bit, but am already transitioning into the next phase.  

That is the, "give me a flippin' Oreo!!!" phase.  Seriously, this is the worst.  It feels as though I'll die if I don't get an Oreo.  My body NEEDS one.  No, reeeeally, it does!  If cravings are this bad, your body must be lacking something it needs, right?  WRONG.  I don't really need an Oreo, but my body wants that sugar fix.  I just hope this phase ends soon, because my will power has just about reached it's limits.  

Until then, I'll continue to read, "It Starts With Food" in an effort to keep myself on track.  And wouldn't you know, I get to the next part of the chapter and they start talking about...yes, you guessed it...OREOS!

Side note.  I say I'm trying the paleo diet, but it really is more like the Whole30.  Mostly organic meats, veggies and fruits.  Nothing processed and no grains or dairy (except that wee bit of cream in my coffee).  I haven't even had peanut butter.  Oh dang.  I think I just created another craving.