Week 3 Update

Checking in late this week.  I cant believe that it is almost Wednesday already.  Where does the time go.  Well I had a CRAZY week last week.  It could have been one of those weeks that I allowed myself to really binge and eat everything in sight, but I kept to plan.  The food I have been eating has been so delicious!!  It really does take time to prepare, but so worth it!  (Sorry, a bit tired this evening for a big update).

This Week's Meals

1.) Pulled Pork Sliders
http://miloche.com/2013/09/paleo-pulled-pork-sliders/

2.) Spicy Slow Cooker Chorizo Chili
http://paleomommyx2.blogspot.com/2013/09/football-season-paleo-eats.html

Quick Update -
Lost another 2 lbs.  So at 12lbs lost.  YAY!!!

Week 2 Update and Week 3 Plan

So week 2 went really well.  I made super delicious taco meat and made tacos out of lettuce.  It was so good and something to look forward to for dinner.  I also made an egg, buffalo chicken casserole.  Again - super delicious!!

The week went really well.  I have been staying on track really well.  I am really working on the 80/20 rule.  As long as I am clean 80% of the time I am really happy with my progress.

I also started bumping up my morning walks with Roxie.  I am taking 3lb weights with me to do arm exercises while walking.  My biceps and shoulders are pretty sore.  I also started jogging portions of the walk.  I would like to start running 5ks again this spring and summer.  Maybe even work up to a 10k.  I wanted to do that last year, but just never got motivated. 

So all in all I had a good week.  Very stressful week coming up and I need to plan and be well prepared.  Snacks, meals all right at hand.  There won't be much time to cook this week.

Here are this week's recipes -
1.) Chicken Fajitas - http://popularpaleo.com/2013/10/29/crock-pot-fajita-chicken/

2.) Cauliflower Rice - http://popularpaleo.com/2013/01/07/cilantro-lime-cauliflower-rice/

3.) Crab Cakes - http://www.grassfedgirl.com/paleo-crab-cakes-2/

Weight Update -
Pounds Lost - 10lbs

Week 1 Review and Week 2 Plan

How did I feel Week 1 -
1.) Major headache the first few days as I started to withdrawal from sugar.
2.) Few breakouts.
3.) Felt a bit lethargic first week, but not too bad.
4.) Felt hunger waning by the end of the week.  I need to be careful about this and make sure that I am eating on my regular schedule.
5.) Confidence went up a little as I started to gain control.

Things I need to research/try -
1.) I need to find a substitute for my morning coffee creamer.  It has to be creamy and sweet.  I love starting my day with coffee, the news and emails.  So I have to have my morning coffee, but want to get rid of the chemical craziness that is called CoffeeMate Creamer!!

Things I need to start/continue/stop -
1.) START - I need to make sure I don't over extend myself on the weekends.  I have a lot that needs to be done in 2 days.  I MUST make sure that cooking and prep time are included in my Sunday plan or I will not do them and I will be in trouble. (which I didn't do yesterday so I am in trouble!).

2.) CONTINUE - working on my eating schedule.  I cannot be a free range eater.  It doesn't work for me.  I am not advocating this for everyone, it is just what I need to do.  This week has been good with a 7am, 12pm, 4 pm and 7pm eating schedule.  This includes plenty of water to make me feel full.


Plan for Week 2 -
1.) Buffalo Chicken Egg Muffins
http://balancedbites.com/2013/02/easy-recipe-buffalo-chicken-egg-muffins.html

2.) Slow Cooker Taco Meat (I bought lettuce for "shells"
http://www.rubiesandradishes.com/2013/12/07/easy-slow-cooker-taco-meat/


Want to Try -
1.) Broccoli Rice Casserole -
http://holisticallyengineered.com/2013/10/paleo-broccoli-rice-casserole.html

2.) Crab Cakes -
http://www.grassfedgirl.com/paleo-crab-cakes-2/

3.) Beef Rice Stuffed Zucchini -
http://holisticallyengineered.com/2013/01/days-8-and-9-and-whole30-beef-and-rice.html


First Week Results -
I lost 7 pounds!!  Woo Hoo!!  My body typically slows down losing weight over the next 2 weeks and then hits a steady stride.  So I am not going to weigh myself most of this week since I won't see big drops every day.  Wish each week would be like the first, but slow and steady wins the race.

Plan for Week 1 of Clean Eating Challenge

If you all have followed a Paleo eating plan in the past then you know that it takes a lot of planning to make sure that you have items on hand for meals and snacks.  The last thing you can do is come home starving with nothing ready to heat and serve.  That is a disaster waiting to happen for me.  So I have planned out the menu for the week.  When I am at my best I make several meals  on a Sunday and am prepared then for most of the week.  I usually need to make another few meals by Wednesday, but I still have food to heat and serve Wed. night so I am not cooking my dinner that night.

Here are the recipes for the week -

1.) Pot Roast with carrots, onion and garlic mashed cauliflower
http://holisticallyengineered.com/2012/10/low-carb-pot-roast-with-roasted-garlic.html

2.) Chicken Tenders
http://holisticallyengineered.com/2014/09/paleo-chicken-tender-low-carb.html

3.) Low Carb Shrimp and Kielbasa Scampi with Asparagus
http://holisticallyengineered.com/2012/01/low-carb-shrimp-and-kielbasa-scampi.html


This should be enough for several dinners and lunches as well.  Snacks this week will be almonds and apples with almond butter.

First 3 weeks are the toughest, but I will hold on and get my way through it.  Once through those weeks it is much easier! 

Here's wishing you a great week!!

Alison

30-Day Clean Eating Challenge

So I have joined a 30 clean eating challenge online. I joined the following event to start this challenge on January 5th. I want to use this to get back into my clean eating program (i.e. Paleo Program). It's time to make a change. I will incorporate this into my plan to eat regularly schedule meals.

Why I Like Paleo -
1.) Lose weight.
2.) Get lean - you lose fat and not muscle.
3.) Joints feel amazing!!
4.) Skin clears up.
5.) No headaches.
6.) Energy is through the roof.

Why Paleo is Hard -
1.) It takes preparation and planning.
2.) I have to cook.
3.) Reduced sweets is hard for my sweet tooth.
4.) It says no alcohol, but let's get real here.

https://www.facebook.com/events/938105119534141/

Time to take the challenge!!

Where have I been?

Well - that's a great questions. Thanks for asking. I can honestly say that I have been lost in a haze of sugar for the last 8 months. Last year I lost around 40lbs, I got into running, was eating very clean, got rid of joint pain, completely thinned down and felt awesome. Fast forward a year through a break up, a new stressful job, a home sale and purchase, a move, one of my kitties died and gained 55lbs. I feel horrible, nothing fits me anymore, and I look terrible. I have to find a way to get my life back under control. I know what needs to be done. I have resolve every morning to make it happen and then by the end of the day I have lost that resolve. . So I am going to take this in steps. Here are some life changes I will make through 2015. 1.) Start eating regular meals only and stop all day grazing. 2.) Eliminate all artificial sweeteners and additives. 3.) Get back to clean, Paleo eating. 4.) Incorporate regular exercise back into schedule. 5.) Get enough sleep each night. 6.) Drink water every day. (I haven't had a soda now in 2 years!) 7.) Mindful eating So step one is to work on #1 above. I will start eating at 7am, noon, 4pm energy bar, and dinner at 7:00pm. That is the plan. Here I go!! Merry Christmas! Alison

How's it going?

Well I can honestly say that I really thought this no TV thing was going to be difficult. It's really not. I still sit on my couch and eat dinner. I do like that instead of sitting at a table. But now it is just quiet and I can focus on what I am doing. I do feel that I have cut back on eating, especially eating mindlessly in front of the TV. Also - with the TV off to start with, this past weekend I just left it off most of the day and got things done around the house and for the Humane Society (new pages on the website for my feral program coming soon!).

As I work on this challenge I keep thinking about new challenges for myself. Other little things that I have put in place - take the stairs instead of elevators whenever possible and the only caffeine in the day is my morning coffee (which I love, love, love). I have a big idea for March that you will have to wait for. Oh my - on pins and needles now I am sure!!

Since I have survived this - I challenge you all to give it a try. Turn off the TV and computer when eating meals at home. Focus on what you are eating and how hungry you actually are. You can do it!!

Good Luck!