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.