Day 7 of New Year Strict Challenge

Observations:

1. My belly is already shrinking.  It seems so much smaller than it was around Christmas.  I wore a shirt yesterday that I refused to wear during Christmas time b/c I looked so bloated.  It was one of the first shirts, I bought when I lost weight the first time.  I am thrilled that my "hot bod" is returning.  
2. The first time I did the strict version of Paleo, I spent a lot of time in the bathroom.  That seems to be occurring again.  I figure that this is how my body cleans itself of all the "gunk" that it was holding on to.  I can't wait for this adjustment to be over.
3. I really need to exercise.  I don't like exercise.  My goal is to squeeze in a 30 minute walk several times a week.  But I don't really want to.  My friend told me I was a better jogger than her when we jogged for all of 30 secs during Christmas break.  I guess this proves I CAN exercise. . .
4. I found a new place to get FRESH produce during the winter--Mercado de los Latinos. I had been shopping at a produce store, but everything was soooo limited and it looked so bad.  Last week, when I was shopping at the spice store, the sales clerk recommended this place to me for fresh spices.  I walked in and was AMAZED.  They had 4 varieties of bananas, bitter melon and almost every single piece of produce you could wish or hope for. The funny thing is when my mother lived in Chicago, she always shopped at the Latino market because of the produce.  So I knew that Latinos and Asians often use fresh herbs and veggies, why hadn't I visited this side of town before to look for shops?  Why did I feel like I was always struggling to find veggies after the local farmers markets had ended when this gem was waiting for me?  Maybe, it was my own personal bias about that side of town. . . .nevertheless, I had am happy veggie eating woman again, a weeks worth of veggies for only $16!  I'm am a happy happy happy girl!

Breakfast:  leftover steak & ribs, broccoli, 2 banana muffins

Lunch:  coconut milk, meatball soup, walnuts & raisins

Dinner:  spaghetti squash, taco seasoned ground beef w/bell peppers and onions, lettuce & salsa

Day 6 of New Year Strict Challenge

Breakfast: nothing

Lunch:  nothing

Dinner:  Peanuts, 2-3 pork spare ribs, Ribeye Steak, Salad, Steamed Broccoli, sauteed mushrooms

Desert:  coconut milk, 2 banana muffins

Not really hungry today.  Went out to dinner with friends where I had peanuts (still not sure if thats paleo but i figured it was okay b/c it was a nut). . . one thing i'll say about the food, IT WAS TOO SALTY.  I forgot to ask for it plain, but everything was sooo salty and I only say that b/c I've been doing no/little salt.  I hope this doesn't ruin my paleo challenge, i don't want to start over.

Day 5 of New Year Strict Challenge

Breakfast:  Banana Muffin

Lunch:  raw spinach & carrots, coconut soup, sauteed onions & mushrooms

After School Snack:  Coconut milk, 2 servings paleo lasagna, 5 slices of bacon, boiled egg, nuts & raisains

I fell asleep without eating a real dinner.  However, I dreamed all last night about concession stand food: candy, slirpees and sandwiches. . . .a totally weird dream, i think it was b/c I was still hungry.  I am not eating enough but I didn't shop this past weekend and I am running low. Eating the frozen food (Paleo Lasagna) that I had in the freezer for times like this.  But I made it to Friday without falling off the wagon.

Day 4 of the New Years Challenge

I'm going Paleo strong and feeling okay.  Today, as I took the stairs at school, I realized how out of shape I am.  Before Christmas, I could run up and down those stairs with no problem.  Today, I got to the top and was a bit winded.   So, I know that doing this challenge has been the best thing for me.

Breakfast:  4 slices of bacon, coconut milk

Lunch:  coconut milk soup & salmon, salad greens & carrots

After school snack: cup of mixed nuts & raisins

Dinner:  steak, paleo bbq sauce, sauted mushrooms & onions, salad, coconut soup

Day 3 of New Year Strict Challenge

Last night, I was really craving some sort of snack, however the cravings are minor compared to the first time I tried Paleo.  I know its because I'm not eating enough.

Strangely, I don't like the way I smell when I'm eating bacon.  I smell kind of garlic-ky

Breakfast:  banana muffin, 4 slices of bacon

Lunch:  meatball soup, I'll have to share my recipe for it late.  I didn't finish the entire container, the meatballs were soo delicious

Snack:  coconut milk, 1 cup of nuts (mixture of pecans & walnuts & small hand of raisins)

Pre Dinner:  sauted bok choy, beef brisket

Dinner:  Coconut Soup (Tom Kha) with salmon & raw spinach. I chopped up salmon as I warmed the left over soup on the stove.  I dropped the pieces into the soup and let it cook about 8 minutes.

Day 2 of New Years Strict Challenge

My friends went out for ice cream today and I REALLY wanted to go!  REALLY badly!  But, I stayed in, brushed my teeth and began working on this post.

My friends came over to hang out and one had my saltless paleo meal.  She really really really like it.  B/c I seasoned things well with garlic & marjoram . . .and my beef brisket was bangin!

Breakfast:  banana muffin, 4 strips of bacon, coconut milk blend

Lunch:  worked through lunch, warmed up my lunch but never made it around to eating it.

Dinner:  1 cup of raw spinach, beef brisket, paleo bbq sauce, sauteed bok choy with mushrooms, 1/2 cup of tom kha soup  (thai coconut soup)

Snack:  nuts & raisains (handful of walnuts & handful of pecans & handful of raisins)  This mixture made about 1 cup.

My version of tom kha soup:

2 cans of coconut milk
2 cups of chicken broth
1 stalk of lemon grass
1 teaspoon of dried cilantro
2-3 dashes of dried ginger
1 cup of sliced mushrooms
3 stalks of diced green onion
(optional:  dash of garlic powder/toasted onion powder/sea salt, pepper-personally I think garlic overpowers the lemon grass)

Bring the coconut milk & chicken broth to slight boil turn down to low-medium heat.  Clean and crush you stalk of lemon grass, cut it into pieces and place in the bubbling liquid. Add all of your seasonings:  cilantro, ginger, garlic power, toasted onion power, a dash of sea salt if you choose).  Let cook for 20 minutes uncovered. Add mushrooms & green onions.  Let cook another 10 minutes.  Tomorrow for dinner, I'll throw in some shrimp while I warm it.

It is tasty soup, but not as tasty as the restaurant versions I've had.  Here is the original recipe, of course mine is paleo friendly--no fish sauce or soy sauce.  Also, I don't add the chicken, b/c I don't like it:

Day 1 of Paleo Strict Challenge

Beginning Stats:

Weight:  244.6 (*sigh* I gained 10lbs since Thanksgiving)
Clothes Size:  22 pants   22/24/2x tops
L. Arm:  12.5
W:  50
B:  42/53

I am VOWING to stay off the scale for the next 30 days.  The last time I did this I got on the scale after a week or so and had gained.  It left me in tears. I lost 40 lbs doing paleo in the last 6 months.  This time, I know the problems and pit falls, so I am bound to do better.

Day 1 is going okay.  I'm worried b/c I don't have a lot cooked and I don't feel like cooking.  I know I need to eat more, but I don't feel like cooking

Breakfast:  Banana Muffin (modified recipe, no chocolate instead I use cinnamon & nutmeg and pour batter into muffin tins), 5 slices of bacon

Lunch:  Salmon on Spinach, Coconut Milk, brussel sprouts

Dinner:  Beef Fillet, Brussel Sprouts, spinach & sauteed onions & mushrooms