Thickener

a few months ago, I was seeking out a way to thicken soups/gravies. I ran up on one by accident.  I bought this stuff called coconut butter.  I thought I could use it like coconut oil.  When i put it in the skillet it burned like a roux.  So, today when I was making tomato soup, I decided to put a couple of tablespoons in the blender with the soup.  When I put it back on the stove, the soup thickened very nicely. It wasn't as runny as it has been in the past. Yippee, I can have gravy. Probably won't make it that much, but its nice to know there is a paleo gravy/sauce.

Journaling what I eat

So, I get on the scale and I'm back in the 240s . . . after getting down to 236.  How could I have gained so much weight so quickly?  I've really been watching what I eat and my thanksgiving was pretty paleo except for the sweet potato pie.  I think it has something to do with my lack of movement in combination with poor eating for the past few days.

To be honest, the days at the beginning of this week were the worst:  I went out for sushi (i got a kind with cream cheese, rice & deep fried)  I think that this is one of the major roots of the weight gain.   And I had Indian food with BFF but I didn't have rice, but I'm sure the palek had cream.   Also, I've been terribly gassy since eating poorly this week.  I wish it go away.  After this weekend, its strict strict strick paleo until Christmas break.  Doesn't look like I'll reach my Christmas goal--to be in the 220s.  I had planned on buying on a new & fitting outfit for NewYears.   *sigh*

I need to journal what I eat whether I want to or not, so that I can notice trends in my eating & weight gain. This is just a little upsetting.  But its my fault, I went crazy this week.  I need to make sure I live the lifestyle, not the addiction to food.

A bad day of eating

I was craving sugar today and I felt all jittery (i knew it was PMS).  I got a package of Reese PB cups from the the vending machine after lunch today.  I ate one and gave the other to a co-worker.  It satisfied the craving.  After school, I headed to Whole Foods for a couple bars of 73% cocoa chocolate bars.  Its the only way I'll survive the week.

Breakfast: none

Lunch:  pot roast, raw spinach, 1 peanut butter cup

Dinner:  French onion soup, 5 slices of bacon, 5 slices of london broil, 1/2 bar of 73% chocolate, pecans

For some strange reason, I like bacon, right now.  When I started Paleo back in June, I couldn't stand bacon or sausage--still can't stand sausage.  But after buying and trying the "farm" bacon, I like it.  Its like the pork has a different taste.  Maybe its because the pigs are eating better food--just loving the bacon from the deli case.

I know i'm not eating enough. . . but i'm not hungry. This happens around cycle time. . . i just want chocolate and sleep.   Off to sleep I go!

Day 6 of Round 3

Breakfast:  bacon and orange

Lunch:  crockpot chicken and french onion soup, dark chocolate

Dinner:  chicken curry coflouti  (first time making it.  I liked the flavors, but it fell after being out of the oven.  It felt more like egg caserole.  I added mushrooms and carmelized onions to the dish.  Maybe thats why it fell. I read something about people using the batter for desert and I might do it with some fresh berries.  I did LOVE the taste of the butter. Its the first time, I've had any since going Paleo.

i'm still not eating enough, but today, I just didn't feel like it.

Day 5 of Round 3

Breakfast:  7 slices of bacon, 1/2 can coconut milk, banana

Lunch:  civiche (i went out to a mexican place with my friend, it was the only thing on the menu i felt comfortable eating.  But there must have been an acid/preservative in it b/c afterward, I had a little indigestion.  Didn't have any chips or anything)

Dinner:  Bok Choy with Chicken sausage, raw spinach, beef filet

I'll probably have a snack later tonight.  I know i haven't eaten enough.

Yesterday, I didn't eat alot b/c it was pretty crazy day.  However, I went to dinner with my friend and had a salad with scharwma on it.  It was really good.  During the movie I nibbled on some dark chocolate and almonds, I put in my purse

Day 3 of Round 3

Lunch:  spinach, chicken sausage, tomato soup, handful of almonds

Dinner:  tomato soup, braised cabbage, raw spinach, spaghetti squash, ny strip

I feel fine after today's dinner.  I stopped by whole foods and got some cans of REAL coconut milk and bananas.  If i'm hungry later this evening.  I'll blend the two with a little ice and cinnamon.

day 2 of Round 3

Breakfast: none

Lunch:  handful of dried strawberries & bananas, 100cal pack of dry almonds, tomato soup, salad greens topped w/bellpeppers

Dinner:  spaghetti squash, braised cabbage, raw spinach, beef filet

After dinner, I was fidgety  and my skin was crawling.  I desperately wanted something sweet or something more to eat.  I don't know how I survived the withdrawal the first time.  I don't know AT. ALL.  I feel like screaming!!!    I had 1 can of "light" coconut milk left.  I blend it with some ice and cinnamon.  I throw in an apple that is starting to go bad.  I hope this soothes my jitters.  I can TASTE the different between "light" and real coconut milk. It taste like water.  I guess I need to get online and order a new box.

Day 1 of Round 3

I still don't eat breakfast, I know I should but I'm usually in such a rush to get out the door, it is the last thing I worry about.

Lunch:  3 slices of beef, 1 cup of lettuce, 1/2 cup of nuts, 1/4 cup dried strawberries & bananas

Dinner:  2 bowls of tomato soup, 1 chicken andouille saussage, 1 cup of braised cabbage, ny strip steak, salad

I seriously considered eating out today.  But I didn't b/c I am desperate to lose another 15-20 lbs by New Years.

I am seriously craving chocolate.. .  .sugar. . . something.  I am in full withdrawl!!!

Day 2 of Round 2

I fell off the wagon tonight.  I went to a benefit dinner and didn't eat before I weng.  So, I ended up eating/drinking what they served.

Breakfast:  Awakened late and didn't get it in before leaving

Lunch:  Chili & Spaghetti Squash, a slice of orange

Snack:  a cup of almonds, 1/4 cup freeze dried fruit (bananas & straweberries)

Dinner:  1/2 glass of white wine, steamed veggies, salad, baked fish with some kind of sauce on it, 1/2 piece of chicken breast  (really honestly, I could have gotten away with it if I hadn't enged in the white wine) Everything else on the PLATE was horribly unpaleo--potatoes au gratin, rolls . .. sauces) I didn't eat any of it.

At home dinner: bok choy & chicken sausage

Day 1 will start again tomorrow.

Another 30 days

I've been feeling like EVERYTHING is spiraling out of control.  Especially, with Paleo.  I can't even call it semi-Paleo.  Yes, I've lost 30 lbs and I am wearing stuff from college over 8 years ago. But it feels like I'm compromising on food quality over and over and over again.  My sweet tooth is back--although, I have not engaged in candy and such, I've still felt the need for "sweets."

I've decided that I will start another 30 days to restore my Paleo lifestyle.  I started this morning.  After breakfast, I was craving something sweet.  Now, I've REALLY realized that I've really gotten off track.  The biggest issue has been the winter squashes, I didn't realize that they had as much sugar/carb content as sweet potatoes until last week.  I was having a acorn and butternut  and spaghetti squash with almost every meal. So, its def time for a Paleo reset.  

Yesterday, I made a big pot of tomato soup.  Here is the recipe:

3 cans of drained tomatoes

2 tablespoons of tomato paste

1-2 cups of chicken broth

1 small onion

1/2 cup of chopped bell peppers

1 can of coconut milk

3 cloves of garlic or 1 teaspoon of garlic powder

1 tablespoon of coconut oil

5 leaves of fresh basil

salt/pepper to taste

Over medium heat, I sauted the onions until they were tender. Added in the garlic.  I drained the juice from the tomatoes.  The drained tomatoes, tomato paste and chicken broth were added to the stock pot.  I put a lid on on let it cook for 20 minutes.  In my blender, I took 2 cups of the tomato from the cooking pot and blended it with a can of coconut milk, basil leaves and bellpeppers. (Some people like their soup completely creamy--if soo you can blend it all. But I like chunky soups, so I only blend 2 cups.)  I added the blended mixture back to the pot on the stove.  Added salt/pepper to taste  for me it was about 1/8 teaspoon.  I let it cook for another 10-20 minutes, giving it an occassional stir as the soup bubbled.  

Here is a rundown of my eating for the day:

Breakfast & Lunch:  

Tomato Soup, Cup of Raw Spinach, 1 chicken andoulle sausage, 1 chicken bellpepper sausage (I found these sausages at Whole Foods meat and they are my new favorite thing. Nitrate free & chicken is cage/preservative free

Snack:  almonds, 1 plum

Dinner:

• Bok Choy & Chicken Sausage
• Raw Spinach
• Tomato Soup

Not loosing, but not gaining

It's been a bad few weeks.  And I resorted to old addictions. . . . and felt terrible afterward.  I am a foodaholic.

Here is what is working:

• not keeping junk food/sweets in the house
• staying away from junk food at school--have had 1 piece of lemon pie brought to me by a colleague.  However, I've stayed away from the sub sandwiches, the cupcakes donuts and all of the other freebies in the lounge.  This is why we are so fat at my school.. . . people/groups keep trying to feed us!!!

Here are the problems I'm encountering:

• not eating breakfast b/c I stay in bed too late.  sooo not a morning person.
• long days & i don't want to cook when I get home.  monday, i ended up buying a pizza from a local pizzeria.  bad, bad, bad b/c my body responded terribly.  And then afterward, I asked myself why I put myself through that.  laziness is the only answer.
• how to handle stress. . ..last week I found myself in the middle of controversy b/c my principal reprimanded me in writing. . . and I didn't feel he was just and filed a grievance. .. . well, i did what i do and went to whole foods and bought cheesecake and anything else that I thought would make me feel better.. . . it didn't.  I've got to find an alternative to eating to work out my stress.
• lack of meat/veggies . .. . somehow, as the summer ended I haven't found the right balance to handle work vs home .. . versus being able to get to the farmers market (which all ended this week).  Eating paleo in the winter is going to be difficult.
• glutenous products gave me constipation and have been extremely hard to digest.  I find myself with a little indigestion

Inspired by Mike's post, here is all the good: 

• my numbers are all very good.  blood pressure and everything!
• no sickness only sick days were for mental health and dentist
• PMS seems easier.  I don't know whats happening there but I don't have to spend an entire day in bed sleeping and popping pills to get away from the cramps
• walking is sooo much easier.  I'm okay whenever i take the stairs.  I don't have to stop at the top of the staircase to catch my breath.  
• Embarrassing to post:  Starting weight 272  current weight 243.  I know that at some point I have had higher numbers than 272. . . i know that scale has been at 280 at some point.  Funny, but when I reached the 240s, I didn't believe my scale.  So, I went to the Y to weigh in there.  I haven't seen  the 240s since before college. . . .at least 10 years.
• My friend who hasn't seen me in a bit said today, "you're getting sooo skinny."  

Constipation

It was a bad, bad week.  I won't go into detail, but I dived into emotional eating.  When people eat emotionally, it doesn't matter how the food tastes, just how the chemicals in the food react to your brain.  I ate terribly, i had chips, cheese cake, nacho cheese, premade guac and tortilla chips, cookies. . . i was just stuffing my face.  I knew I would pay later.

Yesterday constipation set it.  Sugary things create diarrhea and glutenous products produce constipation.  I don't feel good and now am even having problems sleeping.  I've got to find another way to handle stress besides eating.  How quickly I fell off the wagon when stress set in.

2 lbs away

I have lost a total of 28lbs and I can really see the loss in my face, neck and clothes.   Today I wore a top that used to cling to me, now it is really baggy. I have a student who gave me her mother's phone number because she does alterations.  I was thinking that I'd get a few of my skirts altered, but I think I want to wait until after the Race for the Cure 5k in October.  Besides I don't want her fixing all of my summer clothes and then I can't wear them this winter.  So, hopefully, I'll be getting some accurate alterations on my winter clothes.  I have NEVER been this successful before.  NEVER!  And the thing is Paleo is EASY!

I occasionally get a craving for things from the snack machine. Instead, I just eat a piece of fruit.  But the reality is:  if it isn't in your house then you won't miss it! 

Eating Non-Paleo

This week I turned 33.   I decided to celebrate by eating anything I wanted.  On Wednesday, I went out for dinner at an Indian restaurant.  I ordered all of those creamy foods hadn't eaten since being Paleo and they brought me a "birthday ice cream."  Right after eating that meal, I had nausea so bad that I ran to the bathroom even before we paid for the meal.

Tonight, I was in desperate need of some PMS chocolate.  I go to Whole Foods and in the bakery case there was a "chocolate tuxedo cheesecake."  I ordered up a slice and when I got home I couldn't wait to dive in.  I start eating and sadly it wasn't as good as I remembered.  I eat about half of it and again nausea strikes.

Here is what I learned:  sugary processed foods  are not good for me.  They do not make me feel good AT. ALL.  Interestingly, when I made the switch to Paleo, I don't ever think I felt bad. . . it was just diarrhea and hunger.  I guess processed foods are like poison to our bodies.  I've decided that I will continue to stay away from these foods b/c I don't really miss them and they make me feel ill.  Also, i notice that all of that sugar makes me really really thirsty.

My weight loss has been noticeable. People who haven't seen me in a while CAN see the difference.  I definitely feel the difference in my clothes.  It was really nice to buy new undergarments b/c the others were too big.

My goal is to lose 25 more pounds by the December.  So, on Sunday, I am going back on the strict version of Paleo for another 30 days.

over 20lbs

I'm down lower than I've been the past 5 years, but my teeth are turning brown. It scares me, i'm brushing and brushing and there are still brown stains. After some googling, it discovered that I might have a vitamin c deficiency. That sounds about right . . . I haven't eaten much citrus since switching to a Paleo diet.  So, today, I'll head to Whole Foods to get some Vitamin C tablets and oranges and orange juice if I can find some with no additives or preservatives.  I figure I  can add an orange a day to my diet.   I'm hoping that I'll see changes within the week.

Also, I have found that buying my pork a whole foods is about the same price as buying it at the farmers market. I will still buy from the farmers market to support local industry, but on weeks where I don't make it to the market and especially in the winter-Whole Foods will do just fine.

Doing really well on Paleo since school has started, but I've found that my diet has changed a little bit.  Not as much coconut milk. Mostly I find myself making a protein on the foreman grill and veggies roasted in the oven and something raw.  I don't have time on the weekends for the massive cooking that I used to do.  When the next holiday rolls around I'll probably make some zucchini muffins and freeze them.  I find that I don't want them everyday like I used to.   And I'm okay with out snacks.  My biggest issue is staying away from chocolate.  What has worked:  not having it in the house. Pretty much I just eat whats at home or in my lunch box.

I'm really happy about the changes to my body shape.Really happy.

Bhindi

oing really well with Paleo!  No need to document what I'm eating everyday.  But here are the highlights for this week.

• I did a big order of meat from the meat people.  I was VERY disappointed.  The steaks were the size of my palm.  Never eaten a steak that small before.  I've decided I will not order beef from them anymore.  And they shorted me to boot!  And when I emailed them, she said they were out of stock of that particular item and would issue a credit on the next order.  I'm not exactly please with that.  She could've given me a refund?!
• I made a lot for my "big cook" this weekend, I wanted to have a lot of choice . . .and I WON'T have time to cook this week. . . i'm going back to work, tomorrow.  For the week I have:  zucchini muffins, braised cabbage, bhindi, vegetable casserole, paleo lasagna, meat loaf . . . made extra lasagna sauce so that I can have spaghetti squash this week.
• I made bhindi this evening, its one of the dishes I love from the India Palace.  I LOVE bhindi and it came out well.

Couch to 5k

This evening as I talked with SRB over dinner, I decided that I need a new goal. I told her that I'd like to get in shape well enough to travel next summer.  I want to tour Europe, but in order to do that I needed to be able to handle walking long distances.  Somehow, our conversation changed.  . . and we started talking about the Race for the Cure Race in October.  Our conversation migrated to a discussion about a Couch to 5k link the ND had sent me.  I think I can do it!  I'm going to do it, I'm sooo excited.  

So, tomorrow morning I'm off to the gym to either do water aerobics or walk on the treadmill.  I'm going to try to train (walking) night and day until I feel like I can run for 60 seconds.  I've got to be able to run for 60 seconds straight in order to do Couch to 5k.  Couch to 5k is a 2 month program.  I've got the whole month of August to get running!  Going to buy some new sneakers tomorrow.

Cheese

I had cheese for the first time today with a salad at a local restaurant--its one of those restaurants where the chefs shops daily at the farmers markets and only make "in season" meals.  My salad was topped with goat cheese.  I'm not sure how my body will react to it.  But here is what I thought as I ate:

I really  thought I wanted to add cheese back into my diet, but it wasn't as good as I remembered.  I can live without cheese.  It isn't worth slow weight loss.  

I can't explain how much I like eating this way.  And I like myself better like this.  Overall, I'm just happy!

~~~~~
3 hours later:  my stomach is rumbling and rumbling.  no pain, just rumbling.  its the loudest i've ever heard it before.  lots of rumbling.

Chocolate & Bowel Movements

I bought some dark chocolate and it was wonderful--it was listed as organic and free trade.  It didn't have any milk products in it.  It was REALLY good, but I didn't like the after taste, but it didn't stop me from nibbling.  And just a few squares quenched my sweet tooth.  Normally, when I'd buy chocolate, I'd demolish the entire BAR in the car.  Today, I ate a couple squares and put it back in my purse.    When I got home, I ate a few more bars.  And then while I was cleaning up after lunch, I had a few more bars, with still about half of the original bar left over.

Twenty minutes later, I felt SICK!  Nausea and general discomfort.  Like that day when I had too much fruit at PD.  Because my body and diet have changed, too much sugar does NOT feel good.  AT ALL!  Lesson learned.

Breakfast:  zucchini muffin, 3 pieces of patrami, plum

Lunch:  salad, flounder, roasted green beans

Dinner:  snapper, zucchini, salad, braised red cabbage

Snack:  half a bar of dark chocolate

Since going Paleo, I've had this WEIRD fascination with bowel movements.  I've been reading about them online b/c my bowel movements seem more frequent and urgent.  Here is something I found online today:

What is that ideal frequency? It depends on what you eat. It takes meat between 48-72 hours to make its way from your mouth, through your stomach, intestines and out. It takes most vegetables about 2 hours. But, if you are eating a balanced diet, most doctors expect you to void at least once per day, more if you're eating a lot of vegetables and other foods with roughage.

I don't consider what I've eaten a meal unless, I have 2 or more veggies (used to be I'd have to have a substantial carb/grain) But finding this completely explains how my system is reacting to the change.

Fried Chicken

Today at PD, they had a southern style lunch complete with fried chicken & gravy & cobbler.  They had 2 veggies but both were those casseroles smothered in something that was creamy and topped with some crunchy grain stuff!.  I passed on this.  And actually it didn't bother me too much b/c I have a goal in mind.  And I came prepared with my own lunch.

Run down of my meals today:

• Breakfast:  Zucchini muffin, 3 slices of pastrami
• Snack:  sipped on coconut milk blend
• Lunch:  meatloaf, braised cabbage, squash, mixed fruit (honey dew, canteloupe, grapes & strawberries)
• Snack:  tbsp of hummus, boiled egg, crudités (celery, sliced bell peppers, tomatoes), handful of pecans.
• Dinner:  turkey leg, zucchini caserole, chef salad, braised cabbage.  I didn't finish it but b/c I was starving when dinner time rolled around  . . . my plate was bigger than I could handle.  I'm a bit disappointed in the turkey leg.  I'll order wings next time and see if I like them better.

I find that I am STARVING when I get home everyday.  I've gotta do something to be better prepared to handle my hunger after work days.

Tea for Indigestion, not needed on Paleo

Breakfast: left over steak, zucchini casserole &eggplant, sipped on coconut milk this morning

Lunch: salad, meatloaf, zucchini casserole, eggplant

Dinner:  roasted zucchini, braised cabbage, 2 pork chops

Dessert: blueberry cobbler

Last night, i had a tea made for digestion--it was the only caffiene free that i had. That stuff cleared me out and now I sit here late at night kind of hungry.  I don't think I'll drink that stuff again. It would have been perfect after my rib binge on the 4th

Resisting Sweets,

Breakfast:  zucchini muffin, 3 slices of pastrami, coconut milk blend

Lunch@ PD:  chef salad (with eggs & grilled chicken & bacon), no dressing, almonds, 5 dried cranberries, 1/2 cup of mixed fresh fruit

After PD meal:  crudités, paleo hummus, meatloaf w/paleo bbq sauce

Dinner: ribeye steak, zucchini casserole, eggplant.  After fixing my plate, I found that I wasn't really hungry.  So about half of the meal will wrapped and put back in the frig for tomorrows breakfast.

At lunch today, I resisted the brownie they served with our lunch.  It looked good, but I held out.  Unfortunately, my brain is still processing that the sweets, though bad for me and filled with corn and other inflammatory ingredients, still look & taste good.  The lady at my table told me, "I just cut back on what I'm eating.  So, I just take a small bite and let that be it."  I explained that  I couldn't have it. "I don't know what is in it."  And to be honest, my clothes are fitting better than ever and I don't want to fail.  Today, Sarah noticed that my shirt was hanging off of me a little bit.  Those are the sweet moments!  Sweet!  I just feel good and better about myself.  I'm smiling more.  Although there are restrictions, I like this life.  And I don't have to count calories or points.

This evening while making dinner, I realized that all of the prep work done on the weekend really helps with cooking my meals. While my protein cooks & rests, I roast a veggie and prep tomorrows lunch and snack.    And the dishes????!!!!   I won't have to run the dishwasher tonight.

Changing the Title of this Blog

Breakfast:  leftover sirloin steak, zucchini muffin

Lunch:  salad, cauliflower mash, meatloaf, sautéed mushrooms, paleo bbq sauce

Dinner:  snapper, roasted squash, braised red cabbage

Desert:  blueberry cobbler, handful of pecans.  I am glad that I froze the rest of the cobbler, otherwise I'd be tempted to eat this everyday after dinner.  And I know that I need to reduce my fruit and nut intake.

I am thinking I need to change the title of this blog.  I think I want it to be more about my new "lifestyle."  Including workout information, recipes, maybe a page of stats and motivational ideas.  Maybe it should be confessions from the couch pt 2.  LOL!

My Big Cook

I'm out of my 30 days. . . but I've decided that I will be sticking with paleo. Tastes have changed and I can't deny the health benefits.

Breakfast/Lunch:  Steak, sauteed mushroom & onion, & a vegetable (don't remember what it was), plum

Snack:  pecans

Dinner:  braised cabbage, snapper, roasted zucchini, zucchini muffin

I completed my big cook tonight.  I decided that I could not "big cook" and clean my house on the same day, its just too much.  I was exhausted after 4 hours.  I was in the kitchen so long I didn't want to eat dinner.  Here is what I have ready for the week:

• hummus (i followed the recipe and felt like it was sooo salty I don't know what I'm going to do. . . i think I'll put it back in the blender tomorrow with more zucchini to thin it out.)
• zucchini muffins
• mashed cauliflower
• braised red cabbage
• sautéed mushrooms (I use these top everything)
• meatloaf

This week should be pretty easy cooking.  

Day 31

Breakfast:  Pork chop & Zucchini

Lunch:  Asparagus & swordfish

Snacked:  dried fruit from Just Tomatoes.  Probably about 10 pieces.  I made a coconut blend.  Didn't drink but a few sips b/c it was terrible. Something wasn't right.  I think I added too much water.  The ratio was off.

Dinner:  Salad & Chicken Wings from the India Palace.  I'm sure that the seasonings were non Paleo, but it was a celebratory dinner.  I won't do it again for a very long time.  I was still hungry after eating.  I know I didn't eat enough today. But I don't want to cook and nothing is ready for easy warm up.  This is why I desperately need to keep veggie slices and chopped and ready to go in the frig.

Dessert:  I came home an made blueberry cobbler from this recipe.  I made it in individual servings so I could freeze it.  I didn't eat it with coconut milk.  At first it seemed a little tart, not very sweet, but by the end of that serving, I wanted more.  Really tasty!  I resisted the urge and put them all in the frig to cool and avoid temptation.  This was more than enough of my "candy bar" for the day.  It really was a special treat.

Honey:  At the farmers market, I spent some time talking to a local beekeeper about their honey.  I asked if it was raw.  She said no b/c they heat it to 90 degrees, no more than that because if its more than that you loose the natural healing properties of it.  She explained that I shouldn't be looking for raw honey but local honey b/c it would contain the properties needed for immune systems in this area.  I bought a jar of her whipped honey.  Apparently, its raw honey had been whipped into a butter consistency.  I came home and read about raw honey--should be murky and not have been heated. The whip I bought is definitely murky but i don't know if it had been heated.  I still don't quite understand what I've bought--just that I've stimulated  the local economy. At least next time, I know what questions to ask.

The lady who sold the honey told me that for allergy sufferers, 1 tablespoon of raw honey everyday would cure them.  But it must be done everyday.  I tasted some this evening drizzled on top of my cobbler and when I finished the itching I'd been suffering from all summer long reoccurred.  (Tried a new pill today and it seemed to work okay) Supposedly the honey contains pollen and other stuff. . .if i try this plan, I think there is a period of adjustment. . . b/c right now my ears and throat are itching, again.  *sigh*

Day 30

Day 30 was great.  I am extremly proud of myself.  I've lost 10.5 lbs in the last 30 days and my numbers are GREAT!!!  The most fantastic thing of all:  I COULD FIT IN THE BOOTH AT J ALEXANDERS!!!!  Normally, it's a squeeze & its uncomfortable!  This time there was space between my belly and the table.  Oh, yeah!!!!

Breakfast:  zucchini muffin, leftover pork chop

Lunch:  At with a friend at J. Alexanders--had grilled trout & zucchini

Dinner:  Pork Chop smothered in sauteed onions & mushrooms, Salad topped with cucumbers, tomatos & pico.

After dinner drink:  Hot Green Tea with lemon.  No sugar or honey.

Day 29

I can't believe it. 29 Days!!!

Breakfast:  zucchini muffin, left over sirloin steak

Lunch:  Salad topped with fruit  (for some reason after I ate this I became really sick--nausea, gastric discomfort, pain)  After a conversation with a co-worker who attended the PD with me, I think I ate too much fruit at once.  And my stomach and body reacted to the serious increase in sugar.  It just wasn't good!

Dinner:  Zucchini casserole, snapper fish, pork chop.  I know went overboard, but I was soooo hungry.

Zucchini Casserole:  
1tbs coconut oil
1 chopped onion
1/2 red bell pepper
2 stalks of chopped celery
4 oz of bacon or canadian bacon
8 oz of mushrooms
3-4 medium zucchinis chopped
1/2 cup of coconut milk
1 egg
1 cup of almond meal
1 tbs paprika
1 tbs dill
pepper to taste

Sauté the onion, bell pepper, and celery on medium high heat with coconut oil. After 4 minutes, add in your bacon and mushrooms.  Stir occasionally.   While they are cooking chop your zucchini.  After its all chopped, add it to your pan of sautéed veggies.  Turn off the heat.  Mix coconut milk with one egg in a separate bowl.  Add 3/4 cup of almond meal to the pan of veggies.    Add in the seasonings.  Mix everything well.  Make sure the heat is off!!!!  Take the coconut milk-egg mix and a little at time and mix it into your veggies. (it will thicken any liquid that is produced by the veggies)  Poor into a greased casserole dish.   Bake at 450 for 30 minutes or until zucchini is tender.  Add the remaining almond meal when there is 10 minutes of cook time left or top with cheese.

*if you do dairy you can substitute the coconut milk/egg mixture for cheese.
*if you do not like crunchy/firm veggies then you can sauté the zucchini before added the seasonings etc.
*the bacon can be left out.  I just need to do something with mine before it went bad.
*you can add 1 tsp of salt if you feel the need to salt your veggies


The finished product (mine was a little toasty b/c I forgot about it):

I created this recipe b/c I wanted a squash casserole and I couldn't make Paula Deen version

Digestive Issues

Here is what I think regarding my digestive issues.  I think they are now triggered by eating out. I got up this morning with a serious serious stomachache and other issues. The only thing I did differently yesterday was eat the lunch provided by the PD.  I do not think that I can eat meat anymore if I didn't make it. I think the preservatives or the fact that it is NOT grass fed meat irritates my digestive system. I did fine when I ordered my steak bare.  But every time, I order or eat chicken out somewhere (which has been seasoned), my stomach goes into a whirlwind. I'll order chicken from my grassfed meats guy and see what happens with that.

Day 28

I got a good report from my doctor today!  All of my numbers are in order--sugar & insulin are fine and I'm NOT diabetic!  And my cholesterol is down!!!! Yaahoooo!!!!

Breakfast:  zucchini muffin, 2 slices of bacon (fruit from the fruit platter they had a PD--melon, grapes and strawberries)

Snack:  coconut milk blend in my thermal coffee mug.  I sipped on this all morning.  Because of this there was no need for snacks

Today, I had PD and they provided lunch--build your own salad.  I stayed away from the bacon b/c i'm sure it wasn't nitrate-free.  My salad was all veggies, boiled egg and chicken.   Two Hallelu-yer moments for this meal:

1. I made this big huge salad b/c I knew I couldn't have desert.  About halfway through the salad, I realized I wasn't hungry.  I stopped eating and threw it away.  This picture is what I threw away.
2. They had 2 delicious looking desserts. . . turtle brownie with all of the fixins and this lemony mouse thing.   I admired it b/c it looked sooo good.  But to be honest, I didn't have a desire to eat it.  I didn't have a sweet tooth at the end of my salad.  Who would've thought?  I can resist/not desire dessert!

There wasn't a need for my snack that I took with me.  When I came home, I put them in the frig.  I'll take the back tomorrow b/c again, I am not sure of what will be offered.

Dinner:  sirloin steak, roasted zucchini and squash, leftover turnip greens. Today, I salted my steak with a little sea salt before cooking it and I'm feeling like it's a little salty.  Wow, my taste buds have really changed.

This is an AMAZING squash I found at the farmers market today.  It's taller than my microwave.  It is really really fat.  I'm going to cut it tomorrow and make a casserole.

How should I shop for cheese if I want to add it back in?  I'd like to occasionally crumble some on my salads.  I'll make sure that its extremely limited no more than a tablespoon at a serving.

Day 27

Breakfast:  zucchini muffin & salami

Lunch:  tomato & cucumber salad, topped with roast beef and walnuts

Snack:  cup of coconut milk blended with ice & banana

Dinner:  ribeye, steamed veggies and salad   I had a "girls" day with one of my friends that included a pedicure and movie and dinner.  I asked for the steak bare. I think they may have put a little oil and salt on it, but it didn't seem excessive. the salad and veggies were perfect.  I can't believe how good the food was . . . I'm still a bit worried about what they may have done to it back there in the kitchen. . . . since doing Paleo, I just prefer to eat at home b/c I know what is in my food.

You know thinking about my diarrhea issues, I'm going to look back at my posts for the last week to determine when I've eaten out and see if thats the source.  Even before going paleo, Indian food would always send me running within a couple hours of eating it.

For tomorrow's PD, I've packed a ziplock baggie of almonds & cranberries  and a baggie of cucumbers and cherry tomatoes to snack if things don't work out.  I plan to put a cup of coconut milk in my coffee cup, to sip on throughout the morning to curb my appetite.  I'm really nervous about spending the entire day out. But I am excited about all of my preplanning.  It's really made me think about some of the things I need have in my classroom once the school year starts.

What kind of tuna do ya'll buy?

Day 26

Breakfast:   3 slices of salami & zucchini muffin and melon

Lunch:  tomato & cucumber salad, 2 boiled eggs

Dinner:  Leftovers of roasted squash and peppersteak

I cleaned out my frig today and threw away most of my nonPaleo stuff--i kept the booze. (School is starting soon and I might need a little "sum sum"!)  Left my frig pretty bare.

(the blue cup is left-over coconut milk that I might drink later tonight)

Day 25

Not a big eating day for me.  Just wasn't hungry.

Breafast:  Salami &1 zucchini muffin  ( i believe this will be my "go to breakfast")  It isn't hard get down.

Lunch/Dinner:  Peppersteak over mashed cauliflower and turnip greens, coconut milk blend

Snack:  cup of nuts

Peppersteak recipe:   Brown minute steak on high heat (abt 2 minutes per side)  I seasoned my minute steak with thyme, pepper & garlic powder (you use any seasonings that you desire)  Next time, I'm going to put some salt on them.  I am not salting my veggies so I think its okay to season my meat.

In the same pan with the drippings left over from browning the minute steak, toss in a sliced onion and 4 stalks of chopped celery.  Let it cook for about 3-4 minutes.  Slice the minute steak and put it back in the pan.  Add one can of diced tomatoes and 1 and 1/2 cups of beef broth.  Cover your pan with foil and place it in the oven for 1 hour.

After an hour, add in slice bell peppers about 4 bell peppers worth.   And 1 cup of sliced mushrooms.  Bake uncovered for 30-45 minutes until the gravy in the pan reaches the desired thickness.  Serve over mashed cauliflower.  I have not found a paleo way of thickening sauces w/o eggs.

I have found the source of my gnats.  I bought a big bag of onions and didn't put them in the refrigerator.  I put them under the kitchen sink.  Some had gone bad and were attracting gnats.  After cleaning out the cabinet and getting ride of the fowl onions, I believe that will be gnat free.  We'll know for sure tomorrow.

Day 23 & 24

Day 23

Breakfast: zucchini muffin & salami

Lunch: raw spinach topped with pot roast beef & pico

Snack: melon, nuts 

Dinner: Dinner at a jamaican style resturant.  Salmon on top of a dinner salad.  The salad had pumkin seeds on it.  I've got to do something about the way my friend and I socialize. . . we usually "break bread" and discuss and catch up.   We need to do more activities together.

I was going to eat paleo lasagna today but I dropped a plate and it cracked on the edge of the casserole dish.  My paleo lasagna was covered in glass bits.  Can you believe it?  I had to throw the WHOLE DISH away.  My feelings were hurt.


Day 24

Breakfast:  zucchini muffin, 2 slices of salami, 2 slices of bacon


Lunch/Dinner:

•  NY Strip
• Roasted Vegetable medley (tomatoes, squash, zucchini)
• Mashed Califlower

Snack:  

• Boiled egg (I can't believe I ate it with nothing else)
• Pecans

I hate that I've been eating pecans & fruit as snacks for the last couple of days.  The reality is that I need to go grocery shopping but I'm trying to hold off until next week.  I'm out of spinach, celery & bell peppers as well as other staples that are good for snacking.  Next time I shop, I will buy the spices to make the ranch dressing.  I have decided that on my big cook day, I will slice veggies and keep them in a baggie for easy snacking.  

Next week, I've got a couple of PD sessions. They provide lunch for us, but I think I still need to be prepared to take my own lunch.  Usually the company that does the training provides a make your own salad of some sort.   So, i think I'll be safe.  I just need to make sure that I take some "paleo" snacks and eat a substantial breakfast before leaving.

Today my blood pressure was taken 116/72!  I'll thrilled that its down.  THRILLED!!!!  I know its the rest and relaxation, but getting the exercise component in is key.  I was thinking about a trainer or something until I can be responsible for exercising on my own.  Sort of what J did to help me with Paleo, but I'll need someone IN PERSON to help me to navigate the gym.

I think I've got Paleo down and I LOVE it.  I feel free with it- a really good thing for me.  Honestly, I really only think about cookies & cake & ice cream when I see them.  Strangely my eyes are connected to what I think I want to eat. And now that I've been reading other Paleo sites, I believe this is something I can definitely do for life.  And it has really helped to watch movies like King Corn and Food, Inc. I realize how bad all that processed stuff is for the body. I hope the changes I make now can reverse the damage I've done over the last 30 years.
~~~~~~~
Reason I went to the doctor again today:  plate glass in my foot that I couldn't remove.  I was reaching into the cabinet to get a plate for paleo lasagna.  The plate fell onto my casserole dish (full of my veggie/paleo lasagna) and shattered.  I thought I had cleaned up everything pretty well, but not before I stepped on a plate shard that was left the floor.   Lesson learned!  Always wear shoes.  Even in the house.

Day 22

Breakfast:  leftover sirloin steak, cabbage and zucchini

Lunch:  zucchini muffin, cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, 2 slices of salami (ordered this from the grassfed farm)

Snack:  5 cubes of melon

Dinner:  Raw spinach topped with roast beef & pico.  I was too depressed to cook so I just threw this together.

After dinner I had serious emotional eat:  i made a chocolate milk with coconut milk & had a handful of just grapes and handful of nuts.  i just stood in the kitchen and chowed down.  This was a first since I started Paleo.

After the "binge" I felt bad.  I don't know why I did it.  I just did.  I don't know what I'm doing anymore.  I'm confused and hurt.

Day 21

Breakfast:  2 zucchini muffins  & 4 strips bacon

Lunch:  raw spinach, pico, left over pork chop, left over greens

Dinner:  Sirloin steak, boiled cabbage, roasted zucchini & tomatoes, coconut milk & banana blend

I've been thinning out my coconut blend:  1 can of coconut milk, 3 cups of ice, banana, teaspoon of cinnamon into the blender.  This produces about two 12 oz cups of a frozen blend.  I usually drink one and put the other in the freezer for the next day or for a snack later that night.

Day 20

Can you believe it?  I only have 10 days left!!! I can see this as a lifestyle change, but we'll have to wait until Thursday when I have a checkup with my doctor.  I hoping for positivity and good numbers.

Yesterday, I made a batch of zucchini muffins.   Half had the just grapes (raisins) in them and the other half didn't.  After a taste test, I like the ones withOUT the fruit better.  Who would've ever thought that?  Next time I go to whole foods, I'm going to buy the dried apple and try it instead of the grapes. . . maybe its the grapes that I don't care for.  I really liked the ginger in muffins.  But the orange juice & zest didn't work for me.

Breakfast:  2 zucchini muffins & 5 strips of bacon  This is a perfect breakfast for me.  I don't feel like I'm choking  down the food.

Lunch:  Raw Spinach topped with roast beef and pico. This pico  and I are friends. . .I could probably make it myself.  All thats in it:  tomatoes, onion, cilantro, lime juice, jalapeño.  Chopping the tomatoes will probably be the hardest part.

Snack:  Paleo lasagna & 4 cubed pieces of honey dew melon
I tried something new with the Paleo Lasagna. . . instead of Italian sausage (which I really am not a fan of), I used bacon.  And I tried to add in more veggies.  So, instead of just layering the sauce with the zucchini, I layered in some bellpepper slices, raw spinach and mushrooms along with the zucchini..  It produced about a cup of liquid.  I tilted the casserole dish and poured the extra liquid off and it was fine.

Dinner:  Pork chop, eggplant casserole, turnip greens

Day 19

Not a good day.  Nothing good to report.  I was not hungry today, its probably all of that MEAT I ate over the forth holiday. . .  .so I just nibbled on things throughout the day.

• Raw veggies of celery & bell pepper slices
• Pico  & Guacomole
• Ribs brought home from the cookout at my aunt's
• A hamburger
• A coconut blend

Today was my big cook day.  I made zucchini muffins, eggplant casserole and a pot roast (which I burned by leaving it in the crock pot .  Tomorrow, I'll make a Paleo-Veggie Lasagna.  A friend of mine makes a veggie lasagna that I'm going to combine with the Paleo recipe and see how it comes out.  

Day 18

Breakfast:  4 slices of bacon & zucchini muffin.  The bacon was much better than I remembered and very salty.  I just don't like the way it smells when its cooking.

Snack:  I fixed this snack b/c I was afraid of what would be at today's bbq.   Boiled egg, bacon, celery, cucumber, bell pepper slices with guacamole and pico de gallo

Lunch/Dinner:  Pork Ribs & Hamburger.  I had put some greens on my plate and ate about 3 fork fulls thinking they were a little sweet.  Then, my uncle showed me the can he used "doctor" the greens .  I read the ingredients and immediately stopped eating.  I think offended my family.  They cooked sooo much food and it all looked really good, but the only thing paleo friendly was the ribs and hamburgers.  My cousin said that I had a lot of discipline and will power b/c I stuck to my diet even in the midst of ALL the stuff they had.  I told them that I wasn't "eating carbs" instead of trying to explain Paleo.  She said she wished I'd told her so before I came so that she could have other things to offer me.  I felt bad that I hadn't done that.. . . The ribs were really good.  I think ate half a slab.

I felt sick when I left.  I have indigestion.  I haven't eaten that much pork in a VERY long time.    I need to do a cleanse to rid my body of this yuckiness. How do I get my insides clean after 2 days of meat craziness?  I usually eat a lot of veggies with every meal.  My body is probably going into shock after all of this meat!  Still, my stomach never felt tight. . . .it just feels unhappy.  And I can hear it gurgling, now.

day 17

Wow, I'm up to day 17!

Breakfast:  Canadian Bacon and Zucchini muffin

Lunch:  Went for my weekly Indian w/my friend.  This time I was clear  about my new diet.  I told her about Paleo.  I had a salad of lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes mint sauce, tandoori chicken.  This time I went back for seconds.  I ate until I was full. I think I ate 5 or 6 pieces of chicken.  I was hungry and I'd met her without going home in between my errands and had breakfast really early.

Snack:  celery, bell pepper slices & cucumber dipped in pico de gallo & guacamole that I bought at the farmers market after DRILLING the seller about its contents. (He was clear that it only contained what I saw in it, lime juice and salt.)  So, I felt pretty comfortable about buying it.  I know it was "homemade"  The avocado chunks in the guacamole were HUGE!!!   I didn't finish the whole plate.  I ate about half of it--the satisfied level.  I ate this b/c I was not sure what would happen when I went to the bbq.

Dinner:  Went to a BBQ.  Had 3 pieces of chicken, hamburger & steak along with several pieces of the crudités (tomatoes & broccoli).  Grilled veggies.  For desert, I had 2 strawberries (they were sooooo SWEET!) It felt like everything was really salty.  And I'm sure it was, I think I need to flush out my system with water from all of the salt I ingested.  After eating at the BBQ, I felt like I had overeaten.  The first time since I started this whole process.  But again, it wasn't so bad that I was sleepy or felt sick.  I had a little indigestion after eating but it went away after about 10 minutes. . . I think it was the salt.  I think I'm a changed woman . . . I think I might have found the RIGHT path for a healthy body.  I can really taste my food and . . . I can't wait to see the BIG changes at the in 13 days, unless J tells me I need to start over b/c I didn't do well at the BBQ.

Day 16

Breakfast:  Canadian Bacon, Zucchini Muffin, left over coconut milk-banana blend

Lunch:  leftovers (zucchini, squash & eggplant casserole) & Canadian bacon

Dinner:

• Spinich salad topped with grilled scallops and sautéed mushrooms
• Squash

After a comment from J, I will be cutting out nuts.  I will only eat them if they are in a recipe.  No more snacking on nuts.  And, I won't be using the cocoa powder either.  I really want to do this right.  I don't want to cheat or be "disobedient."   I think I'm over the worst part of the transition.  I'm not hungry all the time . . . and the only thing I TRULY miss is cheese (really thats the only thing I'd like to add back after the 30 days).  I don't miss the candy anymore.  I'm sure my teeth don't miss it.  The only time I want something sweet (like cupcakes) is when I see a commercial.

When I put on my clothes this morning, I really liked the way that I feel in them.  My pants used to always roll down.  I think it was b/c they were too tight in the waist.  Now, they stay up and fit comfortably.  My shirts are officially too big.  My upper belly (yes, I have two--an upper & lower roll) seems to be decreasing in size.  My bra seems to fit just a little bit better.  It'll be a "Hallelu-yer!" moment if these puppies shrink!

I don't feel the need to salt things much anymore.  I am really beginning to enjoy the taste of veggies with just a little bit of pepper.

Con of Eating Paleo:  GNATS!!!  I think I brought some home from the farmers market the last time I went.  I've been cleaning and there never around the sink or trash.  I only see them when I sit down to eat!  And its driving me insane b/c I can't figure out how to kill those annoying little buggers.  This one little bug keeps flying around my face. . .  and, boy do I have some words for it!

I am worried about the 4th of July festivities.   I've already been invited to a bbq & i'm sure more invites will come. (and I haven't told anyone I'm Paleo yet).  I know I can eat the meat, but I KNOW it will have a lot of salt on it.  Worried about how I can make this work.  Just eat before I go and decline everything thats offered?  I know that I'll probably made a veggie dish to take and I can't just eat that.  But I can't partake of anything like slaw or baked beans or potato salad or corn on the cob. . . .I'm even worried about the veggies.  *sigh*  I called the friend and told her that I was carb free and she went on and on about caramel cake and other things.  I can't eat any of it.  She said their would be grilled peppers and mushrooms.  Hopefully, they won't slather it in BBQ sauce.

Day 15 The Half Way Point

This morning I went to the pool.  It was great being back in the water.  I really feel like I've lost some of my skill, but I feel like I look better in my suit.  My stomach doesn't seem as round as it used to be.

I noticed today that yellows of my "farm" eggs are yellower than normal eggs.

Breakfast:  Left over NY strip & zucchini muffin (J, thank you for RELEASING me from the standard breakfast fare.  Those eggs and I were not getting along.  I like eating breakfast a little bit more now.)

Lunch:

• Eggplant casserole 
• Spinach Salad (boiled egg, cucumbers, heirloom tomatoes, lemon juice, sauteed mushrooms, bell peppers & celery)

Snack:

• Nut bag:  handful of coconut flakes, handful of walnuts & pecans.  (I went to a movie and I didn't want to be tempted to have popcorn OR anything they were serving there except for water.  So, I made this baggie and put it in my purse.  I brought home half of what I took to the theater.)

Dinner.

• Sirloin
• Roasted Squash
• Mashed Cauliflower with a couple tablespoons of coconut milk
• Leftover cabbage
• Coconut milk

Strangely, all of my vegetables are starting to taste SWEET!  Its weird and I don't like it!  Is it b/c I haven't been having a lot of sugar?  Cauliflower, sweet?  Weird!    Yesterday, the eggplant casserole was sweet could my palette be out of whack?

Am I eating too much now?  I feel like I am eating WAAAYYY too much!  But I'm not feeling the need to eat in between meals. I'm still want a cupcake.

Oh, I ordered bacon from the meat guy.  They make it on the farm, they say its nitrate free and antibiotic free but it says its made with "salt, maple and cane sugar, beet powder, lemon oil and spice extractives."  The sugar in the bacon is that bad?

Day 14

Breakfast:  In all that I had to do to get ready for the day out.  I forgot to eat.  For real, I had plans, I just forgot!

Lunch:  A friend invited me to Rafferty's to lunch.   I ordered a grilled salad and use lemon and lime to dress it.  Honestly, it was NOT tasty.  And I was starving.  I left hungry.  But I had more errands.  Here is a picture of that TERRIBLE salad.

Snack:  Handful of pecans & 5 Just Grapes

Dinner:   (I was really REALLY HUNGRY & my eyes were bigger than my stomach.  I ate all of everything except 1/2 of my NY Strip)  Interestingly enough,  I wasn't sleepy after ALL of that food!

• NY Strip
• Emeril's Eggplant Casserole (It tasted just like mom's stuffing/dressing from thanksgiving)
• Roast Zucchini
• Spinach Salad (spinach, bell peppers, cucumber, celery, sautéed mushrooms, heirloom tomatoes)
• Coconut Banana blend--this time I tried the unsweetened cocoa powder to add flavor-at first I couldn't tell at difference in the flavor, at the bottom of the pitcher it tasted like chocolate milk.  Thats with 2 tablespoons of the powder.

Recipe for Eggplant Casserole:   

It tastes like Thanksgiving dressing (people in the north call it stuffing).  It was a little sweeter than I'd prefer, but I think that was because of the coconut milk.  Next time, I will add more almond meal & more celery to counter act the sweetness of the milk.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/eggplant-casserole-recipe/index.html 

• I substituted 1/2 cup of coconut milk for the cup of cream
• 1 cup of almond meal substituted for 1 cup of bread crumbs
• I used Italian Seasoning to add more flavor & dried basil.  I'll buy fresh next time.
• No cheese was added
• Next time, I think I'll add zucchini or squash for more texture.

I think I am getting the hang of Paleo.  Its not as hard as it looks EXCEPT for resisting sweets when I see them on TV or out in public.  

After talking to my mother on skype and showing her pictures of my neck now and then having lunch with one of my BFFs, I believe my neck has gotten lighter from the reduction in sugar.  I'll wait until the end of the 30 days to show pictures of that.  Who knows my skin may even out all over my body?

Day 13-Leftovers

Breakfast:  Leftover cabbage with bits of beef. Paleo BBQ sauce

Lunch:  Leftover curry & leftover coconut milk blend from yesterday, zucchini muffin

Snack:  handful of pecans

Dinner:  Leftover fajita, salad with avocado, coconut milk blend

Not much happening today.  No new thoughts.

Day 12

Breakfast:

• Left over meatloaf
• Left over roast beef & cabbage
• Leftover Brussels sprouts
• Left over egg plan

Today, I got so caught up in what I was doing and I wasn't hungry.  I realized around 3 that I hadn't had lunch.  So here is what I threw together.

• Salad topped with cucumbers, left over roast beef & avocado & paleo bbq sauce
• Zucchini muffin
• Coconut milk blended with ice & banana

Dinner:  A fajita salad (salad greens topped with seasoned bell peppers, onions, zucchini, & steak) Avacado, Salsa, & lime juice to add flavor

Question:  How do you get your veggies in the winter time?  Most of the farmers markets will be closed?  Do you do frozen?

Day 11

Last night, I actually got the jitters b/c I wanted something sweet SO BAD!!!  I finally just forced myself to go to bed.  It was the only way b/c I still have a lot of stuff in my house from my nonPaleo days--WW ice cream bars and the like.  I can't believe that I've resisted having one all this time.  I haven't had ice cream in 11 days.  Its like a miracle.  I always thought I didn't have willpower.  Well, I guess I do!

My struggle:  Breakfast   I don't like breakfast food, specifically eggs.  Its like a dread eating breakfast. . . I don't like eggs or sausage.  I'm going to get some bacon from the meat man, next Saturday and well see how that goes.

Breakfast:

• Left over meatloaf & 
• eggplant & sautéed mushrooms

Lunch:

• Left over cabbage & roastbeef, Paleo BBQSauce, 
• Coconut Milk Blended with Banana & Cinnamon

Dinner:

• Beef Vegetable Curry (Minute steak, Green Veggies)
• Brussell Sprouts

Update on stomach issues:  I still have  diahrea, but it only comes after every meal.  I think its becoming more solid.  An interesting thing, I have began burping again, is it because of the increase fat I'm eating?  At the end of meals, I'm really beginning to fill "full."  Maybe, I wasn't eating enough before.  Am I eating too much now? Another note, since increasing food intake, I still don't feel the need for a "nap" afterward.  Southern cooks feel great pride when some wants to sleep after their meal.  It means the food was good and the eaters are stuffed . . .I haven't had a "food coma" since going Paleo.  Although, 2 PM is still my nap time!!!

I am really loving the coconut milk now.  REALLY.  The banana and cinnamon give it a lot of flavor.

Addendum:

Snack:  Handful of pecans & coconut

This evening I'm feeling a bit headachy. So much so, I don't feel like doing my weekly clean.  Could it be due to a lack of sugar?

Day 10

Late Night Snack on Day 9: After cleaning up and brushing my teeth and getting into bed.  I was hungry.  So, I fixed a 10:45 PM snack of:  zucchini muffin, left over zucchini & meatloaf. It was quite tasty and satisfying.

Body:  Yesterday, I noticed that there is so muscle soreness in my right leg.  Like the kind of soreness you feel after the next day after working out.  And I haven't worked out this week.  The only exercise I've gotten is from cleaning my apt and walking the farmers markets.  I've been to two this week.  I wonder what could be causing it, could that muscle be working to burn fat???? I'm being wayyy to optimistic about that.

I went to the farmers market to check out a different meat man.  I think I will only buy with him when things run out.  I'm not to sure about him being completely grass-fed.  I think he does a mixture based on what I overheard when he was talking to another customer.  Instead, I'll be buying from this farm.  He delivers to my area.  I may eventually join his CSA.  

My goal for the farmers market was to buy mint for a sauce.  When I got there, the lady only sold the plant, not just the lives. Sooooo, to get mint, I had to buy the ENTIRE plant.  I asked her how to care  for it.  She gave me instructions how to break off mint leaves and water the plant appropriately. She emphasized watering the plant over and over.  She said it would need a bigger pot, too.  When I signed up for Paleo, I never thought I being growing herbs, too???!!!! 

Breakfast:  Paleo Quiche w/Crust topped with avacado & salsa

Lunch:

• Tuna Fish Salad (avacado, dill, onion, cucumbers)
• Zucchini Muffin
• Coconut Milk blended with Ice & Banana, I threw in a dash of cinnimon (its quickly becoming one of my favorite drinks!!!)

Snack:

• Left over meatloaf & sautéed mushrooms

Dinner:

• Chuck Pot Roast (Onions & Cabbage)
• Salad with lime for dressing & crushed almonds on top
• Eggplant
• BBQ sauce

I tried to make a mint sauce.  It was NOT good.  I've got to figure out the right balance of mint to cucumber to make it taste good.

CRAVING:  I want cupcakes after seeing a commercial.  But I'm not hungry.  I just had a huge meal, but I want a cupcake sooooo bad.  Soooo bad  *sigh*

Day 9

This morning I awakened with a need for the scale.  I expected that since I'd been doing Paleo for a week now, that I would've lost at least 5 lbs.  It hurt my feelings when I hadn't and sent me into tears.  I'd lost about 2lbs.  I expected a large number b/c everytime I'd done WW, I lost some humongous number in the first week.   I sent a tear stained email to J. Basically, I was ready to give up.  I was so upset I couldn't even eat breakfast.  I was just upset.

I made plans to meet my friend S for lunch.  She wanted to do Indian, it's "our place."  We've been going there almost weekly for close to 10 years.  We haven't been for 2 or 3 weeks b/c she had started WW and then I started Paleo.  I still haven't told her that I'm on Paleo.  So, today was a bit of a reunion.  The owner came out and brought us complimentary Mango Laci's.  He said he'd missed us.  That IS how often we go for Indian. (S drank my comp mango laci)

At any rate, I made my way to the buffet.  I know that Indian food is filled with butter and cream.  I thought, I'd just stick to the veggies and have a big salad.  In my email, I'd let J know that I was going for Indian.  I'd went to the buffet and this first picture is the plate that I'd made.  Then J's return email came in.  *sigh* I knew what I had to do.  After we'd said grace, I went back to the bar and made the second plate.  It contained 3 pieces of tandoori chicken.  Lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes & the mint sauce.  I used squeeze limes as a dressing for my food.  I set the other plate to the side and dived into my salad-it was really good.   However, when I finished my plate, I was still hungry, but I was too embarrassed to go back and get more. (I did take two bites from the other plate--one of the palak paneer & one of the snap green beans)
So, I left hungry AND I still had errands to run.  While I was running my errands,  my head began to hurt.  I knew it was b/c I was hungry.  I was trying to think of what I could have when I got home that'd be filling.  J is always talking about NOT eating a lot of fruit and drinking a glass of coconut milk.  As I drove, I thought, I'll limit my fruit  intake to no more than 1 per day as J instructed.  She told me I needed to get in more fat.  I decided that I'd blend a can of coconut milk with ice water & a banana.  So, no more fruit for the day after this drink.

When I was at the Indian restaurant, I had a revelation.   The mint sauce is simply mint, cucumber and jalepeno.  I really liked it.  I will make it at home and use it as a salad dressing. Tomorrow, I'ma keeping my eye out for mint when I go to the Farmers Market.

So, here is a run down of my eating today:

Lunch:  salad of cucumber, mint sauce, tandoori chicken & tomatoes

Snack:  1 can of coconut milk blended with a banana & ice water

Dinner:

•  Meat loaf (Ground Turkey,Italian sausage, onion, bell peppers, egg, tomato paste, salt free steak seasoning)
• Boiled cabbage (beef stock, cabbage, onions, garlic powder)
• Roasted Zucchini
• Paleo BBQ sauce

BTW, today I notice that my 3X T-Shirt seemed way to big on me.  When I looked in the mirror in the  bathroom of the Indian restaurant--it just seemed to big, where it used to "fit."  So maybe I have lost inches and I just didn't know it.