Cheat week?

Ugh. Last week I had so many cheats that it felt like a cheat week. I probably ate 75% Paleo, according to Drew. I guess I'm hoping for a lot closer to 95-100% Paleo. However, I'm not going to get stuck feeling guilty. I'm getting back on the horse. I did notice that the cheats that I really can feel are gluten cheats. Dairy & sugar don't seem to make me feel so cruddy. Good to know.

So here's the menu for the upcoming week.

Breakfasts: Scrambles, though I'm getting a little tired of eggs.

Lunches: Leftovers or lunchmeat with nuts and fruit

Dinners:

M - Avocado Topped with Roasted Shrimp

T - Paleo-Chili

W - Almond Crusted Chicken (see below) with Bacon Brussels Sprouts (I LOVE them!)

Th - Lemon Pepper Tilapia & Veggies
F, Sa, Su - Visiting Gran (my grandma) - we'll eat as well (and as deliciously) as we can

Snacks: Apples, Clementines, Bananas with Almond Butter, Nuts, Left-over Paleo-Granola

Almond Crusted Chicken:

• 1 cup almonds
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Spanish paprika
• 2 eggs
• Salt and black pepper
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 ounces each)
• 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Directions*
Finely chop the almonds in a mini-chopper or food processor. Transfer the nuts to a shallow dish and stir in the paprika. Lightly whisk the egg whites in another shallow dish. Pat the chicken dry and season both sides with salt and pepper. Dip each piece of chicken into the egg, letting the excess fall back into the dish. Then press both sides of the chicken into the nuts to coat. Place on a baking sheet, cover, and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to set the crust.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place rack on a baking sheet.

Heat a medium nonstick skillet over medium-low heat and add 1 tablespoon of the oil and the butter. Place the chicken smooth-side down in the pan and then raise the heat to medium-high. Cook turning once, until the nuts set and turn golden brown, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer meat to the prepared pan and bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the sides of the chicken registers 160 degrees F, about 20 minutes.

*Not a clue why the font in this paragraph is all messed up.

Strep throat

Saturday Drew was diagnosed with a really rough variety of strep throat with fever, chills, body aches and generally flu-like symptoms. This morning was my turn for diagnosis. Thankfully my version is much more mild, closer to typical strep throat. Hopefully the antibiotics will kick it and Sam and Lucy will avoid it all together. All that to say, today will be a rest day - no WOD.

In good news, I weighed in at 162, with clothes and shoes on at the doctor... there's always a bright side!

Menu January 25-31

Breakfasts: Scrambles, Paleo Pancakes, Breakfast Carnitas (with leftover pulled pork)

Lunches: You guess.... Of course, leftovers! This may sound dull or unappetizing, but I find it much more appealing than eating the same quick lunchmeat/tuna salad day after day. This is where you've got to make it fit your own preferences.

Dinners:

M - Paleo Pizza

T - Taco Salad (didn't eat it because Drew got sick, so I ate a lot of left-overs)

W - Pulled Pork with Guacamole (never ate it last week, mostly due to illness)

Th - Turkey Carrot Quiche, except I'll use ground beef, since I already have it
F - Out of town at a women's retreat - I'll eat as well as I can.

Sa - Out of town at a women's retreat - I'll eat as well as I can.

Su - Might get barbeque at Whitt's (meat only, no sides) and steam some frozen veggies. I've got a feeling we'll all be spent when I get home.

Snacks: Fruit, Nuts, Left-over Paleo-Granola, Smoothies (I've been thinking of throwing veggies in with some frozen strawberries to add one more way to get us all, especially Sam, to eat more veggies.)

So Drew got strep throat Friday afternoon, so date night never materialized. However, I did have a very nasty cheat that I've been dreading to post about. It's funny how this blog gives me accountability even if no one ever reads it. My confession: Sonic cheeseburger, cheese tots and a vanilla Dr Pepper, followed by a Snickers bar. I think two junk food triggers for me are (1) exhaustion and (2) eating alone, or without another adult, I should say. Sam would prefer a corn dog any old day! To battle the exhaustion of taking care of Drew, Sam & Lucy I tried Diet Dr Pepper today, but quickly remembered that I just don't like it. About 5-8oz in, I got a terrible metallic taste in my mouth that lasted until dinner. I think that if I'm not going to have the real deal, I'm not going to have it at all.

So here's to a new week. Cheers!

WOD Jan 22 & Paleo Granola

Warm Up: 2x15 - Air Squats, Push Ups, Back Extensions, GHD Sit Ups

50 Hanging Cleans 67#
50 Push Jerks 45#
50 Box Jumps 20"

16:02


I made Paleo-Granola yesterday and it was even better than the last time I made it. Yum! Thanks to Sarah Murray at Crossfit Invictus. Here's the scoop:

• 5 cups nuts and seeds (I used slivered almonds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pecans*, and walnuts*; you can use whatever you want, but make sure you use at least 2 – 3 cups slivered almonds, as these take the place of what is normally oats)
• 1/3 cup honey (or maple syrup or any other Paleo-approved sweetener)
• 1/3 cup Paleo-friendly oil (I used coconut oil and highly recommend it)
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
  

*I chopped most of my walnuts and pecans pretty fine this time and I think it caused the honey mixture to stick the fine nuts together a little & when it baked it became a little crunchy. Mmm-mmm. 

Mix honey, oil, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg in a small saucepan and bring to a boil on the stove. Let it cool. Spread the nuts and seeds out on a greased baking sheet and pour the cooled honey mixture over the top. Mix it around to get everything covered, and bake for 30 minutes at 300 degrees. Allow the pan to cool slightly and then put the mixture into a bowl. Mix in raisins and coconut, and enjoy!

And if you're having a hard time finding any ingredients, I recommend a trip to the organic or health food section of your neighborhood Kroger or Publix; and if you can't find it there, make a run to Whole Foods or Trader Joe's. I think I'll likely be making a WF/TJ run at least once a month.

WOD Jan 20

(WOD stands for Work Out of the Day)

Press 3x6  65, 65, 65(failed after 3)
Push Press* 3x3 75, 80/75/75, 75
Push Jerk 3x1 80, 80, 80

As many sit ups as possible in 5 minutes: 68
We could pick any one exercise and do as many as possible in 5 minutes, being encouraged to do something that you're not great at. I chose sit ups because my abdominal muscles have not recovered from pregnancy.

*I think I counted the weights incorrectly, overestimating by 5 pounds, just on the push press. Not sure though.

And the coconut muffins were AMAZING!

There are good reasons to cheat

Last night Drew & I got into an important conversation with a dear friend and found ourselves out of time to cook fish tacos. I know, fish tacos are quick, but little ones necessitate a dinner no later than 6:45 at our house. So we had a big, ugly cheat meal: Papa John's thin crust pepperoni pizza with cheese sticks. It was tasty, but to my surprise, as I sat down I really didn't want to eat it. I reminded myself that important things in life SHOULD supersede what it is I put in my mouth. I fully expect some to disagree with that statement. That's ok. This is my blog, so here you'll get my take on things.

Thus, tonight we had the tasty fish tacos (ahi tuna, avocado, cabbage, lime, corn tortilla*, fish taco sauce*).

When you see that * you'll know that it's either not strictly Paleo or not at all Paleo. In this case, corn is gluten free but still a grain. And the fish taco sauce is made with sour cream & mayo. I have a recipe for Paleo mayo, but haven't tried it yet.

So tonight I'm feeling bloated. I have to say that I'm surprised that I really CAN tell a difference in how I feel when I eat grain and dairy and sugar (all in the pizza). Maybe there really is something to this Paleo thing after all.

The journey continues...

2010 Goals

4 months eating Paleo (w/ only rare & small cheats)
Get 8hrs+ sleep a night at least 4 nights a week
Track my nutrition and fitness progress

@ 6 months weigh 140 lbs. (Started at about 170 on Jan 1)

I want to be clear that I know that weight is not the golden standard. It's just an easily measurable proxy for the kind of fitness that I'm hoping to achieve. I know that I have weighed 145 and been in pretty good shape previously, yet still carrying around unnecessary fat. I will still be nursing (in all liklihood) so if I'm in great shape, but my weight isn't where I thought it would be, I'll have grace for that.

WOD Jan 18

Warm up:
15 K2E
15 Dumbbell Snatch 25#
Hurdle Over/Unders

WOD:
6x400m
1:30, 1:31, 1:41*, 1:37, 1:39, 1:39

* May have actually been 1:39

Monday Morning Weigh In: 164.5