February???

Oh my goodness - where the heck did February go?  I can't believe that the month is coming to an end this weekend.  I look back and I am not sure I accomplished much, but I feel like I was constantly busy. 

I wasn't super focused on being perfect this month.  I am still trying hard to cook on Sunday to have meals planned for the week.  I totally feel the days that I do not eat properly.  I get major headaches and am so lethargic.  It's crazy what a little too much sugar will do to you.  I did hop on the scale and I stayed flat.  Even with a couple of snow days thrown in the there!  I didn't rebound, I just paused.

I have been thinking, but not doing, about starting to workout again.  I have some good videos that I can pop in the DVD Player in the morning and get a quick 30 minutes in.  I have to start doing this again to really get back on track.  When I was running before I was slimming down so fast. 

I am going to challenge myself in March to workout 30 minutes a day!  30 minutes x 31 days and see what happens to the number on the scale and more importantly the shape of my body.

I'm excited to report back to you all!

- Alison

Month #1 Update

Month #1 Total -

Pounds Removed - 13.4lbs
Inches Shrunk - 11.5 inches all over

I'm needing to buy a pant size down so I don't look so baggy.  Awesome!!

Whole30/Paleo will be continuing!  This really isn't too difficult at this point.  I am allowing myself one treat a week if I am craving something.

This month I need to be sure to include more vegetables and limit my cheese intake.

Hope all is well with you and you are finding your way to healthy living.  We all have different paths!!

Good Luck!!  Alison

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!!