Food train - choochoo!!!

So 2 friends at crossfit invited me to join their food train. They prepare enough foods for eachother for the week that are paleo friendly. They have been doing it since the paleo challenge and really enjoy it. They asked me to join and I jumped at the chance. I made the lunches this week - 15 salads in total. I made Cobb ( with no cheese), spinach salad with strawberries, pecans and grilled salmon and chicken Waldorf salad. All of them came out delicious if you ask me. In return i got omlettes, scrambled eggs with sausage and almond muffins for breakfast. I also got a few dinners that I have even looked at all of them yet. Tonight was mango chicken and carrot salad. This is a great idea and I hope it works! My only hesitation is that I am not sure ill like reheated eggs and my job often has lunch or dinner meetings . Not sure if ill be able to eat everything.
Keep calm and food train!

This ain't easy!

Anyone who has ever said change was easy obviously has never done a lifestyle change. Changing eating habits is so very hard. It's mind over matter. I realized that I think about food a lot. When I wake up - what will i have for breakfast, eating breakfast - what will I have for lunch, eating lunch - what will my afternoon snack be, snack - what can I make for dinner. Food is all around and I love it. I do, i really love food!! I love eating it and making it ( i love eating it more). Paleo has been rewarding in a sense that I feel great and I'm losing weight but i've also struggled because there are so many comfort foods that I miss. Carbs and cheese. I could get buy with no sweets but I really love Carbs and Cheese. I do - whomever created the Grilled Cheese was a Genius! Finding a balance of paleo living and some comfort foods I have not found out. I'm back on track and eating well. Making choices that allow me to be filled but not full. The first few days back on the diet I have a headache (caffeine,sugar withdrawl) and also a little nauseas ( I don't think i'm eating enough and I'm probably a little dehydrated). My day is just soo busy at work with meetings after meetings I forget to fill my water cup. I need to be more aware of this and drink more WATER, especially on days when I crossfit. I'm also very tired. I should have a ton of energy from eating clean and working out right? Instead I'm tired all the time. I wake up and after I snooze, check facebook, read my horoscope and check the weather, i think about how many hours before I can get back into bed. I need a day with NOTHING and I can just catch up on sleep. Would that ever work? Can you catch up on sleep? Many people are out on vacation this week in my office so temptations have been less. No big meetings with leftover sweets in the chill zone, not as many people asking to order out and no freshly baked goods being brought in as a friendly gesture. Everyone on vacation has actually been good for my waistline and commute. I like routine and the last time i did the diet ( 30 day challenge) by day 12 I was eating the same things and continued to just rotate the same foods in. It was easy, i liked them and i knew i could lose weight eating what i was eating. yes it was boring but hey - i lost 10 lbs. Now i'm only down 7.5 lbs ( i'm hoping some was muscle gain) and I want to be down 10+ again. I have started eating what i ate in January again and i'm beginning to get sick of. there are so many good paleo website, i need to look at the recipes and really lean in on making new exciting recipes. A slow cooker should really become my friend! At crossfit our owner talks about setting a goal and having metrics to measure it. Not just, i want to lose 20lbs. What is the timeframe and how will you do it. So here it is, I want to lose 20lbs. I will do it but continuing my crossfit training 3-4times a week, running outside or on a treadmill at least 1 additional day to crossfit, eating paleo lifestyle 5-6 days a week. I plan on losing 20lbs by 9/1. That's only 5lbs a month... i got this. Keep Calm and Set Goals

Here I go again!!!

Ok -I'm back on a self 30day paleo challenge. I'm challenging myself to get back to the paleo lifestyle. It's the day after Easter and all the delicious foods and candy - I need a restart. I've gained a few pounds back according to the scale but clothes are still fitting great so I'm hoping the scale has gone up because of muscle gain. I know eating a Paleo diet helped me lose weight and feel great before And i want to see/feel that again! Summer is coming and is really like to feel confident in Wearing a bathing suit. Maybe even wear a Bikini for the first time! Today I already had a few cheats - couple mini Cadbury eggs. Other than that I refrained from carbs and dairy! I went grocery shopping and I'm ready to go for the week! Today at crossfit it was a doozy of pull-ups, lunges, wall balls and thrusters! My legs are already so sore! Tomorrow walking up the stairs may be a little challenging!
Keep calm and back on paleo track!

Birthday Weekend/Week

I just celebrated my hmmmmppp 32 Birthday! Had a great weekend celebrating with friends and family! This Birthday when I blew out he candles on the DELICIOUS Chocolate cake I wished for something different than i normally do. Fingers crossed this year continues to be YOS ( year of sara) Along with the celebration came drinks and awesome food! It's Birthday weekend, obvy I'm going to have some of my favorite foods and I did :) Getting on the scale this week - the little line did tick up a little but nothing too drastic. This week has proven to be a little tricky because i have such AWESOME work friends and they brought me cupcakes, we went bowling ( beer and bowling food) and we went out to lunch. All in all, i've been making good choices and I'm proud of that. I was only able to go to Crossfit on MOnday this week as I had an Early Morning meeting today and had to miss the 6am class. Though I HATE getting up so early to work out, I've made some really nice friends at the 6am class and it's nice to get to class and know tht you have friends motivating you and working hard alongside you. The crossfit games start tomrrow and though i didn't register I will still do the perscribed workouts at Friday's class. Last year's first workout was 7 mins of Burpees. 30 seconds of burpees is awful, I can't even imagine was 7 mins is like! I'm still trying to stick to eating as much of the paleo lifestyle as I can. I still make the pistachio pesto with spaghetti squash at least once a week. My friend Barbi just sent me a recipe for an egg quiche with sweet potatoes that looks ahmazzing - i'll be sure to let you know how it comes out when i make it. Keep Calm and Birthday week!

Still strong

I just wanted to Check in - I'm still doing good on the diet and I'm down 9.4 pounds. So yes, I gained a little back but all in all I've remained close to the 10.2lbs I lost right after the challenge. I still haven't had pizza or a bagel! I've avoided dairy except for a splash of milk in my coffee. No cheese, yogurt or creamy dressings in daily diet. I honestly don't have any desire to have it. I had frozen yogurt from my favorite place Peach Wave over the weekend but that's it. Carbs , haven't really had any. I'm kind of craving a sandwich on a roll but I want to make it a reason to have it or be someplace special, not just my Wednesday lunch. I'm going to a Mardi Gras party this weekend and the famous muffalata sandwiches will be made. Now that's a sandwich to splurge on! Sugar- I did have some chocolate and some peanut butter but other than that I've been good. I would still really like to continue to lose weight so I'm sticking to the diet. I'm going to try and kick up the cardio. I am feeling good and being a little lighter - maybe running will be a little easier! Next goal - train for a 5k
Keep calm and stay motivated!

Adam Levine

Oh Adam... What an Ahmazzing concert tonight! I went to MSG in NYC to see the Maroon 5 concert. Show was so fantastic and Adam Levine is beyond gorgeous and talented if you ask me! I now have to look online and see where I can see go see him
Again. I have been doing very well keeping up with the paleo lifestyle. Tonight I gave in a little. I had beer, nachos and chicken wings! It was all so delicious. No desserts but I did have dinner items that I haven't had in over 50 days! It all tasted so good but I do feel guilty for having them. I'm glad I went to the gym this morning! It's days like these that I don't feel like I can 100% live a paleo lifestyle. I enjoyed having a drink at dinner, a drink at the show and a drink after. It wasnt excessive and it was over the course of 5 hours. I'm on the train home and I feel a little swollen in My hands and my restless leg syndrome is kicking in. I know it's from being overtired. I go to bed at 1030-11 and it's 225am and Still not off the train :( soon enough.
Keep calm and Adam Levine!

Happy Valentine's Day???

I usually love holidays... I do - everything about them. However, when you are single and actively searching and not meeting the right guy or any guy for that matter - the superficial Holiday of Valentine's day is awful. Awful, i mean just awful! I tried to put on a happy face. I baked a sweet treat for my friends at work, I wore an adorable neon pink blouse from Jcrew with my black skirt and bow heels, I gave my roommates a little valentines gift and I wished all my friends and family a lovely day! That being said, I can't help but be jealous of all the girls around me who recieved flowers today at work, had a special card left on the counter when they grabbed their coffee, have dinner plans tonight or in general have that special guy to go home to. Though I'm trying to be really really good about staying on the paleo diet... once I finish my report I'm going to go home and enjoy a glass of wine and something chocolate. Why be completely sad when a chocolate treat will help. My calendar says it best -why fall into LOVE when you can Fall into Chocolate! Keep Calm and Love Chocolate.

3rd Place!!!!

Woo hoo - I just found out that I won 3rd place in the whole 30 paleo challenge!!! The Nelly #1 song lyrics are in my head. What does it take to be number one? Two is not a winner and three nobody remembers (hey) What does it take to be number one? Hey hey hey hey.. I honestly didn't think I was going to win and I was happy just knowing I lost 10 lbs and am feeling so much better! However, that being said.. I'm super excited to get my prize ( $50) and continue on with this lifestle as much as I can. Ironically, 3 is my lucky number. My birthday is March 3rd or 3/3 as it works out. With the Blizzard I have not been able to get to Crossfit since Tuesday and I'm so ansy to go. I'm looking forward to a good workout tomorrow morning! Keep Calm and Lucky Number 3

Cabin Fever

Well given the fact that we got over 30 inches of snow and have not been able to get out the store, I haven't really been good about sticking to paleo. Today after shoveling for 4 plus hours, i went with my neighbor to get a patty melt from the drive in up the street. It was ahmazzing and so delicious. I didn't eat breakfast ( i know that was bad) and felt that i shoveled for 4 hours i was ok to eat it. Then to finish off my cravings since the challenge I made a half batch of dark chocolate chip cookies for my roommates and me. Scrumptious. Tomorrow i plan 100% to get back on track with the diet. I've already made my shopping list and I'm excited to get back on track. It's a slippery slope, you taste a little here and a little there and it all adds up. I'm strong, heck, i just resisted for 30 days! I can do it. Keep Calm and get back on track!

Nemo Blizzard 2013

First I'd like to ask... who names Blizzards? I was working from home today because of the Nemo Blizzard. This supposedly crippling storm has closed major highways and we are expected to get 2 feet of snow by morning. Why would someone name this Blizzard after the cutest little fish in the sea? Since finishing the whole 30 challenge I really haven't tasted any of my favorite foods. Partly because I wasn't home to go grocery shopping since I was at the Sales meeting. I returned home last night and was just too tired to go brave the super market. This morning I got up early and went to 6am crossfit. Had a great workout deadlifting and hang cleans. I had a personal best for both exercies today! After class I braved Stop & Shop. It was actually really crowded for 7:05am. Everyone was getting final supplies before the storm. I picked up a few non paleo items. Hummus, chips, an easy mac, and dark chocolate chips to make cookies. I figured if I'm snowed in, when better than now to make some warm delicious chocolate chip cookies :) I had the easy mac for lunch and it was beyond tasty. I know it's all artifical and there is no health benefit to any of it but it tasted to good and warm! Oh mac and cheese how I have missed you. I am very cautious that I don't want to gain the weight back that i have lost. I weighed myself this morning after being away all week and i only gained .6lbs. I don't plan on being a psycho about weighing myself but I will be checking to make sure I'm not gaining it back. I figure if I can continue to eat whole30 during the week and most of the weekend it will be ok to have a few non paleo foods on the weekend. That's my plan but if I find that my pants are not at loose I may have to give myself a 30 day challenge again. Keep Calm and Nemo Blizzard!

Cheap Date

Yesterday was my first official day not on the Whole30 Paleo challenge. I was still at the sales meeting so I ate the food provided but I made samrt choices on opting for no carbs or sugar when possible. Last night at the dinner though, I enjoyed a few drinks and tasted the mac and cheese! Delicious!!! Having a drink was weird. After just one drink i was definitely feeling good. cheap date or 2 sip Sara. hahah Today I plan on keeping the diet up but I'm at the hotel and back at my office with no packed food so i'll have to rely on the caefteria salad bar or ordering out. This weekend that are prediciting a crazy snow storm! I better stock up on some protein. Keep Calm and keep up the diet!

I can't believe I Lost 10 pounds!!!!

Today is the LAST day of the Whole30 , Paleo challenge and I can't even believe it, I weighed myself and I lost 10.2 lbs!!! Never, I mean NEVER have I lost this much weight in 1 month. i would say, Never have I lost this much weight in a year. I started to tear up when I saw the the number and realized it was 10 pounds. WOW - Crossfit combined with whole30 really works. I knew I had lost weight because clothes were loose but I NEVER thought 10 lbs. WOW, I'm so excited!!! I'm definitely going to continue to eat this way as much as I can. Today is the last day of the challenge and I'm at my sales meeting. I brought food with me and I was able to have salad at lunch and one of the snacks in the candy bar was Pistachios! I was so excited. While everyone took a cup up Reeses, Sweedish fish (my favorite), chocolates, gummy bears... I took Pistachios! GO me :) Tonight after the group dinner I plan on hanging out at the bar and will have a celebratory drink ( maybe just a few sips) of wine or maybe i'll have Champagne as a toast to celebrate my 10 1b victory and completion of the challenge. This journey has had it's ups and downs. Mostly downs in the beginning when I was nauseaous and the cravings were there. Once I got over the cravings and saw how great I was feeling and how my clothes were getting loose, it became so much easier to stay on track. I've never felt this good before and I'm on track to reaching my goal weight! When New year's came aroud this year I said it was YOS (Year of Sara) So far things are on the right track! I just have to stay positive and take it one day at a time. Little wins are still wins and I can't get upset with setback or frustrated that I'm not where I want to be career and personal life. I have to believe that everything happens for a reason and there is a reason why I am where I am today. Regardless if I win the challenge at Crossfit or not, I have won in other ways!!! Keep Calm and LOVE Life!

1 more day!!

OMG, I can't even believe it - 1 more day of the challenge! Woohoo. Though it's been very hard, I'm feeling GREAT and loving the compliments I'm getting. Today I performed the final workout (1 day early) because I'm heading to my sales meeting this week and won't be able to do it with the rest of the class. It was just as hard as I remember it the first time BUT I shaved off 2 minutes from my time! I coudldn't even believe it! 2 mins!!!! I knew I would be faster ( well i hoped) but 2 mins. WOW - this lifestyle diet really does work! When i was done i didn't know if I should vomit or collapse. I felt so awful. I drank my water and when I got home I had my protein shake. I was feeling fine. i took my shower, got ready for work and made my breakfast of 2 strips of bacon and a scambled egg. On the way to work, I started to get a terrible headache and my vision was starting to get blurry. oh no... I must have overdone the workout and I was probably a little dehydrated. It was awful. Once i got to work, I sat there for like 20 mins. I felt so terrible I couldn't even move. Finally i walked inside and everyone was asking me if i was ok. I was probably so pale (well, paler than usual) I drank water and took some excedrin. Finally after about 2 hours I was feeling better. I had some almonds and things were looking up. Ugh, it was so awful but I kept positive knowing i beat my time by 2 mins. I know yesterday I said I would reveal my weight loss but i'll weigh myself at 5:30am tomorrow morning when I get up to get ready to leave for the sales meeting! Keep Calm and 1 more day!!!

Super Bowl!

It's halftime and I just lost out on $150 and $500 in work pools. I am not rooting specifically for either the Ravens or the 49ers but really 49ers. You had to go for the kick? Ugh - oh well I still have 2 more quarters to win! I'm excited to see Beyonce perform. Maybe a little Jayz or Destiny Child reunion? We shall see! Food wise I've been fine. Sure I'd like to have some pizza or potato chips and onion dip but I'm good. Only 2 more days and this challenge is over. I have my sales meeting this week so I won't be able to do my normal schedule of Crossfit. I will be doing my last workout tomorrow and I'm actually really excited for it. I know I e gotten stronger and faster so I should definitely beat my time from last time! I'm also going to weigh myself tomorrow. I'm hoping for at least a 5 - 10lb weight loss. As I've said before - I totally plan on keeping this diet up during the week. Keep calm and Beyonce time!

Kettlebell kickboxing gala

I had the best time today in NYC at the Kettlebell Kickboxing Fitness Gala hosted by Megan Hilty of Smash. all money raised went to the Joyful Heart Foundation. Over 150 people gathered to workout and raise money. Dasha Libin the founder of kettlebell kickboxing taught the class. She was awesome! Lots of great energy,instruction and sweat. I've been using the 44lb kettlebell at Crossfit. The weight today was 4lbs. A totally different routine than what we do at Crossfit but it felt soo light! Hahah I really wish the classes were offered near me so that I could take them during the week. The invitation to the event said to wear bright colored clothes. Think Niki Minaj working out it said. My friend Sarah(partner in crime for all celebrity events) and i wore neon yellow and purple. Great move because most everyone had on pink and black. We stood out int the crowd and had our picture taken a few times. Maybe we'll end up in a magazine next month. After the class we got the chance to talk to Megan hilty. She was so friendly and nice. A real people person not standoffish at alI. i totally felt like we could be friends. Ha there were so many temptations in the city and event today but I stayed strong. After the event we went to Chopt Salad. Salads are good but when you Chop it - it becomes 100 times better. There were So many salad options that were whole30 approved and they even had 2 dressings that had no sugar cheese or mayo! Love you Chopt! Please come to CT! I posted some photos of the event today on Facebook and received many comments of how great I look. It was very nice to hear!
Keep calm and kettlebell strong!

Last Friday!

It's the last friday of the competition! Next Friday if I want to unwind with a glass of wine I can! Yippee :) I've really missed wine on the weekends. Something about a nice glass of pino nior makes me feel better. Had a great workout today. I used the 44lb kettlebell and moved to the 24inch box jump! I can definitely tell that I'm getting stronger and faster. Going to bed early tonight - tomorrow I'm going to a charity event in NYC that benefits the Joyful Heart Foundation. It's a kettlebell kickboxing fitness gala! Hosted by Megan Hilty from Smash - I'm so excited!!! What to wear? Attire says - bright gym wear! I'm sure I have something neon. I also hope I can sleep better. The last two nights I've been tossing and turning. I actually turned on the tv at 2am last night. I almost bought the cami shaper from the infomercial! I was totally sold on the shirt helping you lose 2 sizes instantly! Hahah
Keep calm and sleep well!

5 more days!!!

5 more days... 5 more days!!!! That is such a small amount of time. I totally got this challenge! Today at lunch everyone had burritos and quesadilla's from a new mexican place but I had my salad. I did have avacado and salsa but no cheese, chips, sour cream, rice or beans. Not even 1 chip! Nope. It all smelled so delicious but none for me! I got this :) I know I have said this before but I got this challenge! It's funny, in the beginning would think about my finish meal all the time. Knowing in 28, 25, 15 days I could have chocolate or pizza was very all i could think about. I'm not thinking about it anymore. yes, i want toast that is a given but I'm not obsessing about it like i used it. My friends at work say that I'm talking more about food and maybe I am but I guess it's better to talk about it than eat it. Not only am I seeing results in my waist I think my feet are shrinking. I have the hardest time finding boots that fit. Wide calf or not, it seems i could never find boots to fit. I finally found Fitzwell boots called Syrup 2 years ago that changed my life! They fit perfect and are super comfy. I've noticed that the boots are getting a little bigger. I'm excited to keep this diet up and come next fall I may be shopping for normal boots nbot wide calf! Keep Calm and New shoe shopping!

No more eggs for Breakfast!

It's been almost 30 days of eggs for Breakfast and I'm flat out TIRED of Eggs. I used to eat everything from egg sandwiches, eggo with peanut butter, fruit, cereal, bagel, muffin etc. For this challenge I've been very good about eating a protein filled breakfast and eggs and bacon are my go to meal. I've made the eggs every way possible and I'm Tired of them. This morning I had something new. I had 2 chicken sausages! Last night I grilled the sausage so that this morning I just had to reheat. It was delicious and very filling. This challenge has taught me that it's very important to have protein in the morning. I realized that if I ate oatmeal or a carb I was satisfed for a little but was always hungry for a snack by 9:30. Now I am satisfied till 10:30ish when I have my snack of nuts or banana. I'm super excited to get on the scale next week because friends at work are telling me that I'm looking great and skinny! let's be real... I'm not skinny but it's definitely nice to hear. My clothes are definitely starting to get a little baggy so i'm sure that is why people are saying i'm looking good. My work friends are so great - they have supported me 100% on this challenge and are very encouraging when I have said no to treats in the office. whenever somoene had a carb or sweet treat around I would just say "it's poison" and walk away. Now when others are reaching for the cookie and I am near by they say it's posison as well! haha ya know, they say you have to do something for 21 days before it becomes a habit. I believe that - today is the 24th day of this challenge and the first 3 week sugar and carb cravings are gone. yes, i would eat a chocolate or piece of bread because it tastes good but i'm not Craving it by any mean. I'm very satisfied with my meals. I've had no stomach issues infact my stomach has been the best it's been in probably 2 years. Keep Calm and Breakfast Strong!

Whole30 may have saved me from the flu

I'm thinking being on this whole30 challenge may have saved me from getting the flu. Over the weekend one of the parties I went to seems many people have gotten sick flu like symptoms afterwards. Last night I felt really tired and a little achy and chills. I put myself to bed a little before 9pm. I immediately fell asleep but woke up a few times super thirty for water and with chills. When the alarm went off at 6:15am the chills were gone but I was a little nauseous. I ate 2 pieces of bacon for breakfast and brought my hard boiled eggs to work. I can always rat bacon :) Around 10am I was feeling better and ate my egg and 1/2 a banana. I really wanted ginger ale and chicken soup but I know I can't have the ginger ale and the cafeterias soup would definitely not be paleo approved. Luckily my leftover chicken pesto hit the spot and I feel 100% better. So while friends are still feeling sick today my little bug was less than 24hours. I'm thinking because I didn't eat any of the community foods like chips, dips, or pizza at the party maybe that's why I didn't get sicker. Thank you whole30 paleo challenge!
Keep calm and whole30 strong!

1 Week to go!

This is it... don't get scared now! (You all better know what movie that quote is from!) only 1 week to go. I can't believe I am down to the final count down of this challenge. It's actually getting easier and easier everyday to make smart food choices and I'm feeling GREAT! Today I wore a skirt to work that I had to roll over to fit. When I got to work I realized how big and frumpy the skirt looked so I went to the bathroom and rolled the waistband over to make it fit! It was such an AWESOME feeling! I'm retiring this skirt to the "fat" pile and hope it never fits again! Tonight for dinner I made my favorite pistachio pesto! It's so delish and so filling. You don't even miss the parmesean cheese that is normally in pesto! Combined with spaghetti squash and chicken - it's the perfect meal! Everyone at work keeps asking me what I'm going to eat when this challenge is over. Honestly, I totally thought I would want chocolate, cookies, fries, cheese, pizza, ice cream etc. Nope, I still really want some toast and I'll be good to go. This new way of eating is very filling and has become very satisfying. I also have a new personal record to report today. Today at Crossfit for the WOD ( workout of day) I used the White Kettle bell. That is 44lbs of kettle bell swinging 7 times a minute for 12 mins for a total of 84 swings! Thank you very much :) Keep Calm and Kettle bell on!

Monday's come too soon!

The weekend is sadly almost over and I survived 2 parties! Today I was with friends celabrating my friend Erin and Brian's son Ben 2nd Birthday! Happy Birthday Bubba! A great party fit with Thomas the Train Funfetti cupcakes with homeade frosting. It was so hard to resit the dessert,appetizers and pizza but I did. I came armed with plantain chips with fresh salsa and my seltzer. I want to just take a moment and thank whomever created natural flavored seltzer! Thank you Thank you! Without seltzer I would have probably cracked and quit the challenge. Water is fine but I need the carbonation. Todays food worked out fine but boy did I want to try a cupcake. Especially after I saw the birthday boy dig in for cupcake #2. I've realized over the past 3 weeks that I go to a lot of parties and social events that have foods not paleo approved. I've realized that going to these types of events are fun and delicious but have probably been the reason for the added inches on my waistline. When this 30 day challenge is over I don't plan on going back to my old way of eating but I do plan on having a glass of wine or a half a cupcake at a birthday party. If I can live a paleo lifestyle 90% of the time and only occasionaly have a food not paleo approved I think I will still feel good and still be able to live healthy. I'm not saying I'm going to have beer and pizza every weekend. No that's not the case at all. However, if I continue to eat whole 30 during the week and want pizza and beer on saturday night with friends I'm going to do so. I'm sure my system will not allow me to eat pizza like I used to which is a good thing. I think I have definitely lost weight during this challenge. As someone who has struggled with losing weight her whole life, I don't want to gain it all back in 2 days. The will power and dedication these past 21 days has been very hard and I don't want it to be for nothing. I need to find the right balance and I'm confidant I can continue to lose weight, get strong and stay healthy! ok, time for SAG awards. I'm such a sucker for awards shows. If we could only skip the speeches. Keep Calm and Love Seltzer.

Dinner parties!

Dinner parties are so fun! I love hosting and I love going to them. Being on this Whole 30 challenge has proven to be a little difficult. There are so many tasty foods that are not whole 30 approved. Dips, appetizers, main dishes, side dishes, and of course desserts! Tonight I went to a dinner party with work friends. Some are current colleagues and others are friends who left the company over the past year. Those i work with now know of me diet and were very supportive. Those who I hadn't seen where very interested in learning about it and complimented me on saying I'm looking skinny! Skinny - I wouldn't say that but clothes are definitely fitting better!
I knew the menu beforehand and the host was awesome in letting me know all the ingredients. I didn't want to show up and not eat anything so I made sure to bring some foods I new I could eat. I ate prior to going as well so I wouldn't be hungry and tempted to cheat. I also brought flavored seltzer with me so that I would be able to have a drink besides water. The party was great. To compromise - I took home a small piece of the hosts famous joe Torre corn bread - it is out of this world good. I put it in the freezer and I will enjoy it in 10 days!!! Dinner parties can still be fun on the paleo challenge you just have to prep in advance!
Keep calm and dinner party on!

Ugly sweater contest

Today at work Marketing sponsored an Ugly Sweater Contest! There were a range of sweaters from holiday themes, colorful and too many stripes, putrid solid colors, and over bedazzeled. Luckily for me - my mom has a collection of what she calls elementary school teacher sweaters. She claims the little 2nd graders love them but I secretly think she likes them. I wore her Halloween sweatshirt that was complete with haunted houses, dancing candy corn and ghosts. I also wore my roommates candy corn shoes! A nicely coordinated outfit but so ugly! Along with the sweater contest - there was free lunch. Sub sandwiches, chips, cookies, dips and more! Luckily there was also fruit salad, apple slices, clementines and nuts. I really wanted to try the homemade cookies and Oreo bars but totally resisted. I didn't even want to eat the whole bar it was more that I love to bake and I wanted to taste it. I still am not craving sweets just - toast! Ha . Darn toast... Why do I want you so bad? I want diner toast and a large stack of it! 11 more days. I can't believe it - only 11 to go. It won't be easy - I have two parties this weekend. I plan on bringing healthy paleo approved snacks to both. At crossfit today I had my new personal best in back squats - 135lbs!!
Keep calm and Hooray for weekend!

You have to kiss a lot of frogs...

They say you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you meet your prince! I'm so tired of hearing that! If I hear that one more time I am going to scream and Probably cause a scene! Really - how many frogs? How come some girls don't kiss ANY frogs? Why do I feel that I've kissed frogs, toads, lizards and a snakes! Will my prince ever come - where is he? Is he out there right now saying the same thing??? whaaaaa! breathe...Ok that is my rant for the day! Today My shoulders are super sore from the hang power cleans yesterday. It hurts to do a shoulder roll - hopefully they will be a little looser for class tomorrow morning. Pull-ups are on the list so they better be or I'm in for a doozy. Today at lunch I included my pomegranates in my salad . So cool and refreshing! Made my sometimes boring salad delicious and I felt almost like I was cheating on the diet because it was soooo good. Tried a new breakfast today appelgate turkey, bacon and mustard lettuce roll ups. Wasn't bad - I was full and not hungry for a snack till 1045 but the first few bites were a little weird. I'm so used to eating something warm first thing in the morning it was odd to bite into something cold and crisp!
Keep calm and someday my prince will come!

Pomegranates.

Bought, sliced and seeded my first pomegranate . Verdict .... Ahmazzing! Very messy but so so tasty! I love it. If I can't have Craisins, Pomegranates are an even better solution. I love the tartness, juiciness and texture. Oh pomegranates where have you been all my life! Today I had a business meeting at another office. Went to the cafeteria to get a salad. I huge office - I for sure thought the salad bar would be great. OMG- Terrible. My salad was only lettuce , cucumbers, carrots,, red peppers and chicken with olive oil and red wine vinegar. So boring and so not filling. Good thing I bought some nuts and green apple with me. I've found that brining good snacks with me wherever I go is KEY to maintaining this diet. Without snacks I would be eating my arm or would have definitely failed on this challenge. Keep calm and love Pomegranate!

Bagels and Pizza Oh My!

I've come to realize that my diet failures have probably come from work. Today there were Bagels Bagels and then Pizza! The temptation is all around. As I ate my eggs for breakfast and salad at lunch I realized that I do love WHITE carbs and I've always caved in and ate them. No more... white carbs will be saved for special occasions not just a back to work after a long weekend day! ha. As I'm tying this, the smell of cheese pizza and garlic knots is sending me into a trance. I actually caught myself taking a longer sniff just to smell the beautiful smells of cheese, cause and garlic! Thanks a lot EMILY!!! I'm over it. I'm going to home to eat a lovely healthy dinner with some plantain chips and guacamole on the side! I thought I had weened myself off the iced coffee but I was wrong. Today I've had a terrible headache all day. Maybe it's the lack of caffiene or maybe that is is 10 degrees outside and the barametric pressure is down ( I sound like my mother). I found a new recipe I want to try. If anyone tries it before i comment on it please let me know. Keep Calm and NO WHITE CARBS!!! http://paleomg.com/my-new-go-to-meal/ My New Go-To Meal Prep time: 10 mins Cook time: 10 mins Total time: 20 mins Serves: 1 Ingredients •1 cup brussel sprouts, cut into fourths •1 Applegate Chicken Apple Sausage, sliced •1 piece of bacon, cut in half •1 garlic clove, minced •4 tablespoons Tessamae’s Zesty Ranch •salt and pepper, to taste Instructions 1.Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, add 4 tablespoons of zesty ranch to the pan along with the minced garlic clove. Then toss in your brussel sprouts. 2.Sprinkle some salt and pepper over the brussel sprouts and let them sit for a couple minutes until they begin to burn just a bit. 3.Use a spoon or a flip of your wrist to turn the brussel sprouts over to cook on the other side. 4.Once the brussel sprouts have been flipped, add in a tablespoon of water and cover the pan with a lid. Keep an eye on them, being sure to move them around once more so the little guys don’t stick to the pan. 5.While the brussel sprouts finish cooking, add a medium skillet over medium-high heat. 6.Add your piece of bacon that has been cut in half to the pan. As soon as the fat begins to render out into the pan, add the sliced chicken sausage. 7.Once your bacon is ready to flip, flip the bacon along with the sausage to cook on opposite side. 8.When your brussel sprouts are soft enough to stick a fork through, remove from heat, salt and pepper once more, then place in bowl. 9.Top with your cooked bacon and sausage. 10.Done and done.

Happy Day off from Work!

I am so happy and excited to have TODAY off from work! I've had a great day - I slept in, went to crossfit, shopped, visited my friend and baby at her new house and enjoyed a stress free day away from the office! It was also President Obama's Inauguration. Is it bad that I was more excited to see what Michelle and the girls would be wearing than the actual Oath? Crossfit this morning was great - i'm getting a little better on my assisted pullups and working at my "l" sits. I'm not at the L yet but squat knees and a regular plank will help me get there. Today is the final day of the long weekend and I made it through eating all approved foods and I'm still in the challenge. Breakfast was eggs and bacon, snack 1/2 babana, lunch was little odd because I ate breakfast later and I was out and about. I had some plantain chips with quacamole, cashews and my other half of banana. For dinner I'm either going to have grilled chicken salad made with mustard or finish the italian sausage or go back out to the store to get the spaghetti squash I forget and make pesto out of basil and pistachios. I can't believe I'm already on week 3. It feels great and I'm so proud of myself to focusing and staying on track. I love the Food Network! It's like my saturday morning cartoons. I could watch it all day. Watching it over the past few days, I've realized 90% of what the chefs are making is not PALEO freindly. There are white carbs, dairy, sugar etc... Wouldn't it be great if there was show where all the recipes were paleo friendly? OMG - I think I should email the FN and tell them about my idea! I could even host it :) Keep Calm and Next Food Network Star....

2 Weeks Done!

Today is day 14 - woohoo 2 weeks down on the challenge and I'm doing great! The weekends are definitely a lot harder with more temptations but I'm staying strong. It's mind over matter at this point. Today for lunch I made chicken salad with just mustard. Not bad - it wasn't your typical chicken salad with mayo or waldorf chicken salad with mayo, grapes and walnuts but it was good. It had a little kick! I will probably make it again even when I'm not on this challenge. I bought new sneakers today. Brooks brand. I've never worn Brooks sneakers before (i'm an asics girl) but 2 friends who crossfit reccomended them and they are cheaper than Reebok Nano's. They are purple, blue, black and silver. I like them so far but tomorrow will be the test when I use them at Crossfit. I'm so excited to NOT have to go to Crossfit at 6am tomorrow. I'm off from work so I'm going to enjoy sleeping in a little later and probably go to the 9am class. I was very productive today and cleaned out my closet. Since I'm getting organized in my diet I should be getting organized in my house. I Made 2 bags for Goodwill, 1 bag for consignment and took 3 bags to garbage! Don't you feel so accomplished when you do a big clean? I know I do! I moved into my house 2 years ago and I found items that were neer worn since I moved and I even found a sweatshirt that was still in the Marshall's bag! It was like getting a present for all my hard work so far on the challenge. Keep Calm and stay organized!

Healthy movie snacks

I saw Silver Lining Playbook today! Great movie - love Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence was outstanding. The temptation at the movies with the smell of buttery popcorn and fountain soda was torture but I 100% resisted and brought with me a lime seltzer to drink and a snack size bag of nuts. Very satisfying but I still craved the popcorn. I think I was craving it so much because I associate movie theater movies with popcorn. Simple as that. Just as I'm training myself to not want sugar and carbs, need to rethink what foods I associate with pleasure. Lunch and dinner I have no trouble finding meal options. I'm starting to get sick of eggs for breakfast - need to find another option. Today's workout was a doozy! Walk and lift a keg over a bar, 10 wall balls and then run 400 meters. As many rounds as you can in 20 mins. My team completed 5 rounds but only 4.5 in time allowed. I hate running - it's getting a little easier each time but running today in a crisp 45 degrees did not help my cause. Long weekend ahead and I need new sneakers. I broke mine on Friday doing mountain climbers.
Keep calm and shoe shop!

I feel guilty using toothpaste

Quote of the day from my friend Barbi who is also a crossfitter and in the whole 30 challenge "I feel guilty brushing my teeth with toothpaste - it tastes so good!" Hahah - I never even thought about that. I brush my teeth with either crest or Colgate whitening toothpaste. It's mint flavored. I never even thought about the taste or ingredients in tooth paste and if they are paleo approved or not. Thinking about it now - my sparkling mint toothpaste probably isn't approved but you have to brush your teeth!
Today at work there were New York bagels everywhere! Everywhere! I love a New York bagels! Especially an everything bagel with veggie cream cheese! While everyone was enjoying g a Friday morning treat I was good was still full from my scrambles eggs and salami slices. Then at lunch - the marketing department had a meeting with deli sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies!!! Good thing I brought my salad and grilled chicken with my green dressing. Finally at 3pm they surprised a coworker with stew Leonard's birthday cupcakes. Again I resisted and had a few nuts. It's getting much easier to say no to these foods but I still have a moment when I say - dam I wish I could have a taste. Tonight for dinner I had a baked sweet potato with cinnamon and appelgate hotdogs and mustard. The hotdogs were delicious! I totally recommend them! I'm super super super excited for a 3 day weekend! It will be a little challenging because I'm home and not as regimented as I am during the week. Normally on a long weekend - I'd go out to dinner twice or definitely meet friends for drinks. I'm sticking to my seltzer and if I do go out ill make sure to ask and make the right choices. Keep calm and enjoy a Long weekend!!!

Charlie got a haircut

Charlie is the name of my friend PJ's dog. He is the most adoroable peekapoo i've ever seen. EVER! Charlie has no reference to my paleo diet challenge but Charlie got a haircut today kept popping up in conversaton today at work and I felt I should include him in my blog. Today was a good day of eating. Scrambled Eggs and spinach for breakfast, nuts for a snack, salad with chicken and my green sauce dressing and some plantain chips for lunch, banana for snack and not sure what i'll do for dinner tonight. I'm on the board of my condo association. TOnight we have a meeting. Normally after these LONG drawn out policy/procedue meetings some of us get together at the bar to unwind with dinner and a beer. I definitely won't be having the beer or wine but I would like to go out afterwards. I think my best plan is to run home, grab a snack so i'm not starving during the meeting and opt not to eat out. Eating out is really hard during this challenge. You never know how the food is prepared. You can so no butter to your waiter but do yo really know if the chef isn't cooking with it? I love eating out. I do, I get excited when I go on vacation because I know I'll be getting to eat out at new restaurants or some of my favorites that I go to once a year. Speaking of that... I need to plan my 2013 vacation. So many places I'd like to go. Napa, San Fran, Las Vegas, Hawaii, FL, Charleston, TX, Paris, Italy... list goes on and on. I better start planning and start saving! 1/3 of the way done with this challenge! Keep calm and plan a vacation!

Resisted Crumb Cupcakes!

Another Big Win Today... I RESISTED Crumb Cupcakes!!! Today is one of my most favorite people at work Birthday - Happy Birthday Lori! Though we normally celebrate co-workers birthday with one big Monthly celebration the team decided to do something a little special for our friend today. Lori is the most positive uplifting person I know. Her glass is always full and her positive attiude, can do style is infectious at work! I know I am a better person for being her friend. As part of her birthday celabration, the team decided to bring in mini Crumbs Cupcakes! OMG - the tini goodness sitting right ouside my desk. As you may or may not know.. Cupcakes are my favorite dessert! Hands down - I LOVE cupcakes. Resisiting this little morsel of goodness was a big accomplishment. While everyone debated over which cupcake or 2 to try I peeled my orange and enjoyed that. Another really long day at work working on the same project but I left before 8 tonight to get home and make a Green Sauce that I recently tried. The real name is Guasacaca Sauce. Below is the recipe that I made. It is Ahhmazzing!!!! I totally reccomend everyone to try it. I put it on a hamburger and it was almost better than a burger from Shake Shack! Today is day 10 of the challenge. It is definitely getting easier to make the right food choices. I'm feeling great, clothes are fitting better and I'm motivated to keep up the challenge. Keep Calm and Green Sauce! Green Sauce Recipe: Ingredients 1 medium onion, roughly chopped 2 green peppers, seeded, deveined, and roughly chopped 2 ripe avocados, peeled and seeded 2 cloves garlic 1/2 bunch fresh parsley leaves 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro leaves 1/3 cup red wine vinegar 1 tablespoon salt, or to taste 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1 cup olive oil Directions Put everything except the olive oil into a food processor and process until mostly smooth. Add the olive oil in a stream with the processor running and process until smooth. Let stand at room temperature for at least 1 hour for the flavors to blend. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve sauce at room temperature with meats, fish, or vegetable chips. If made in advance, store, covered, in the refrigerator, but bring to room temperature before serving.

what do you mean the superbowl is during my 30 day challenge?

OMG - how did I just realize today that the SuperBowl is during this 30 day challenge! The SuperBowl! The Mega Event of Food! The feast only 2nd to Thanksgiving! The day I love to watch New Commericals, the halftime show and Eli Manning if he is playing! I LOVE The Superbowl!!!! I was already planning what fun dessert or appetizer I would bring to the party! Say it ain't so that I Won't be able to have the Buffalo Chicken dip, nachos, mini hotdogs, brownies and chips! Beer!!! No BEER!!!! Say it ain't so!!! OMG - NOooooooo!!!!! ahhhh Now I know the point of this challenge is to get over these cravings and train youself to not want these foods but it's the SUPERBOWL! The Superbowl of food and I can't partake in it this year! ok, enough of my complaining - i'll be fine but I'm really upset that I won't be able to partake in one of America's greatest traditions! Maybe the SuperBowl is the cause of America's obesity? Maybe it's this one event that has allowed millions of people to overindulge in fatty unhealthy food? Maybe cancelling the Superbowl would make America healthier? hmmm I'll be fine with my seltzer, my veggie and fruit plate, my uncured salami slices. I'll be fine really, well I hope so :) Can we have a 28 day challenge? Today was superstessful at work. Again I'm here past 8pm. I'd love to go home and have a comfort food or wine but I'm still not giving in. Tonight's dinner is a new recipe I saw for Tunafish with olives, parsley, lemon, tomatoes and olive oil. It also calls for capers but I couldn't find any paleo approved so i'm leaving them out. Keep Calm and Healthy SuperBowl Strong!

Monday Monday

Monday Monday, da dah, dah dah dah dah. Who knows that Mama's and Papa's Song? I confess I was listening to it on the way into work this morning. I'm so exicted that today is the start of Week 2! That mean's i'm 25% done with this challenge. Oh what a day. I had a back to back meetings all day and I'm still sitting at my desk at 7:15pm. I had to take a break from working on my report and decided to write in the blog. I had a Great workout this morning at Crossfit with rounds of rowing, ball slams and ab mat situps. I'm glad I got the workout over with early as I would definitely not being working out when I leave here around 8pm. A big shout out to my friend Linda at Crossfit to brought me Tessemae's Lemon Chesapeake salad dressing from Whole Foods to put on my salad today. It was so delicious and maybe one of the best tasting things I have had in over a week! Thank you Linda! When I finally get home tonight I'm excited to try my roommates Ali's Paleo Buffalo Chili. I'm super stressed out at work and really want to give in an have a comfort food tonight but I'm staying strong. It's emotional eating that has probably lead to the additional weight I'm trying to lose and I'm not going to let get the best of me. Keep Calm and Week 2!

Week One is DONE!

Woohoo - week 1 is over. Hallejuah! It was not not not easy! Seriously - if anyone ever said it's easy to change your eating habits by drastically removing sugar, carbs and dairy - they were on drugs. I was nauseous, headachy, cranky, stressed, hungry, complaintive but also somehow also energized and excited. As I said in my earlier blogs, I miss carbs. I do, I still want a piece of bread but I'm feeling good and not going to give in. The ahmazzing feeling of having my jeans fit better after 1 week is enough motivation to keep it going. This morning I woke up early to attend a group flex weight class at the other gym i belong to. There was a sub an the class turned more into a cardio class wtih a few weight intervals. Very different than the type of group class I've grown to know at Crossfit. it was a nice change of pace. I then went to the grocery store and did my shopping for the week. i only shopped the perimeter of the store and wasn't even tempted to sneak down another asile. I do have to return to items... I bought Stop and Shop natures Promise Chicken Sausage. I read the ingredients but failed to see the ingredeint citric juice and now I have to return it. I also bought another brand of unsweetened coconut milk but upon further inspection at home this also is NOT paleo friendly. Breakfast was scarmmbled eggs and a clementine. Lunch was Applegate salami and a green salad with a few olives. For dinner tonight I attempted a recipe from www.paleomg.com Ginger apple pork. In the crockpot you combine a pork shoulder, apples, onions, cinnamon, ginger, garlic, salt and pepper. Set for 6 hours on high and Voila! You are supposed to add honey but since that is 100% not paleo I did not include. Verdict... good but not great. Maybe it's because I dont love ginger. i thought the cinnamon and apple flavor would be stronger but the ginger was the most dominant. All in all it was good and now I have lunch tomorrow. Tonight is the Golden Globes and normally I'd have a fun dessert to watch the show. I'm a sucker for these awards shows and red carpet specials. I'd love to have some frozen yogurt right now or a cookie but tonight I'll be having either a banana and some almond butter or a few plantain chips. This is hard, it really is. I'm being honest, i really want to cheat and have a treat because all this meat and veggies is getting old. I just have to stay strong and remember how good I feel and how I'm bettering myself eating this very healthy lifestyle. Keep Calm and 1 week OVER!!!

First Saturday!

Love love love my weekends - especially after a long work week. Today I had a great day shopping with my friend Erin and even scored a New Pair of Paige jeans. Side note - I totally recommend Nordstroms for jeans. Free alterations!!!! I was a little worried that I would be tempted to go off the Whole30 challenge but armed with snacks and good food choices I was all set. Tonight though is a different story - I'm going out to dinner with a friend from college That i haven't seen in a few years. I chose an organic burger place because I know I can at least have a plain burger with all the veggie toppings they have. I'll refrain from any potato side because I'm not sure how they make the sweet potato fries. Maybe they have baked sweet potatoes but if not I'll just have a side salad. Normally I'd have beer or vodka tonic but tonight it's seltzer with lime. It's no doubt going to be very hard because I love cheeseburgers and fries but I'm staying strong on my first Saturday night out!
Keep calm and hamburger on!

TGIF

Well I knew it would be a crazy day when my alarm didn't go off and I casually woke up at 6:01am. My alarm was supposed to go off at 5:33am so that I could make it to Crossfit for 6am. Well made it to class for 6:08 and only missed a few stretches. It was a great workout with back squats, wall balls, burpees and an 800 meter run. I was definitely tried at the end. I raced home and took a quick shower. I thought the best part of today was that I didn't wake up nauseas - I was wrong. The best part of today is that my jeans for a little loose!!! Wow - after only after a few days , I may have lost some weight! I'm Not getting on the scale till the end but I gotta believe that looser fitting jeans is a sign. Work was super crazy stressful busy. Honestly - I hated today. That new project I'm assigned to is stressing me way too much and I have to work on it this weekend:( hopefully it will get easier but right now I'm miserable. Food choices today were good - hard boiled eggs and salami for breakfast, salad with chicken and strawberries for lunch and ahi tuna for dinner! Very satisfied and it was all delicious! I did have a moment at work today. Some devil left a huge package of. Chewy chocolate chip cookies in our break area. I actually smelled the cookies but did not touch or taste! I just told myself they were poison and walked away! Tomorrow I'm heading out shopping with a good friendl and I'm meeting a friend from college for dinner. My whole 30 challenge will really be put to the test tomorrow! Positive thoughts that I will have the will power to make whole30 choices!!!
Keep calm and TGIF

My New Personal Best

In any other diet that I've done that has involved limiting or removing something like bread or cheese the longest I've lasted is 3 days. Yup - 3 days and I gave in. I am happy to report that I am now on my personal best of 4 days!!!! woo hoo, it's not been an easy 4 days but I'm very proud of myself for setting a new personal best. Today was the 4th day of feeling nauseous so I posted to my crossfit community on facebook the question asking if anyone else was feeling the same. Surprisingly there were a few others who also didn't feel to well either. The conclusion was 1) i'm not eating enough or 2) i'm getting sick. For the first time in my life I actually think it's 1 - I'm not eating enough!! Could it be? I'm not eating enough and as a result my body is trying to over compensate and I'm feeling nauseaous? I forced myself to eat a delicious grilled chicken salad and apple with almond butter and an hour later I was feeling SOOO much better! I think I just needed to get over the first days and allow my body to adjust and now I can be on track to feeling better and not craving carbs and sweets so much. I do really really really want a piece of toast but I'm not caving in. I'm on my new personal best of sticking to a diet/lifestyle and I'm not giving up now. I've had a hard week at work and I just took on a new project that I'm actually really nervous about. Normally with the stress of this new project I'd come home and have a glass of wine. Tonight I'm having seltzer in my Wine Glass and it feels good. Keep Calm and Beat Your Personal Best!

I workout!

Today was jam packed for me at work. I was up early and couldn't go to my normal Wednesday morning crossfit class because I was getting picked up for work and heading into NYC. My job with Wisk Detergent has a new spokesperson - Jackie Warner, fitness guru. She is truly amazing and such a nice person. Well I was all stressed out about what I was going to eat because I will be in the city and not able to make all my meals. Well turns out it didn't matter because I was nauseous all day. I had scrambled eggs with salsa and 2 strips of bacon for breakfast and iced coffee. Fine - no problems. Around 9am I was not feeling so good. Headache and upset stomach. Then on the drive into the city I was multi tasking and I think the crazy cab driver and typing on my iPhone made it worse. While everyone ordered lunch I ordered a plain salad as fruit cup. All I was able to stomach was some grapes and few prices of lettuce. Finally around 4 I felt a little better and had a seltzer and an apple. Now I know it's more fruit than I probably should have had but it's all I could eat. 530 came and it was time to take Jackie Warner's bootcamp! Omg - no joke! Her class was Awesome and she incorporated many crossfit elements! A real motivator and hardcore workout guru. You go Jackie! I was very proud of myself was being one of the better class participants and for being able to do everything without stopping. I was definitely sweating at the end and out of breathe but I survived. Now I was hungry. There is a great salad place called Chopt right next to the gum. So perfect - create our own salad. Headed right over and created a salad of all approved veggies and grilled chicken they even had a dressing of just avocado, garlic, cilantro and lime! I asked to see th nutrition and they had all the ingredients so I know I was ok. It was a long day and I'm in the car heading home. Thank goodness for a car service! Keep calm and Jackie strong!

Toast

TOAST TOAST TOAST... all I want is a piece of TOAST! A friend at work was talking to me and I was involved in the conversation but all I could think about is TOAST. Warm crunchy on the outside toast! Not gourment multigrain bread.. I'm talking Wonderbread White Toast with maybe some butter.ooo butter... OK besides my craving for TOAST it was an ok day. I woke up feeling a little queezy ( not 100% sure why) so all I had was coffee till 10am when I then had a small banana. Lunch was leftover roasted asparagus, some steak tips that I cooked last night for lunch today and a green apple with some almond butter. Very satisfying! On my drive home from work all I could still think about was TOAST. I turned up the Broadway station on XM radio a little louder to belt out a few tunes and my thoughts of Toast faded. I decided that I would make Spaghetti Squash with meat sauce for dinner. I was pleasantly surprised with the easiness of the preparation and the taste was quite good. If you close your eyes you can kind of forget that it's not Pasta. I said kind of :) TOAST!!!! Tomorrow is going to be a little harder. I'm heading into the city for work and there will no doubtly be lots of temptations and we will probably be eating out. I'll just have to be that girl who asks how each item is prepared to make sure there are no ingredients that I can't eat. From what friends have told me the first 4 days are the hardest. I'm half way in so hopefully it will get easier. Keep Calm and Toast

Day 1

Well today is the day - the start of the Whole 30 Challenge ( Paleo Diet). The day started with a very intense crossfit workout. The alarm went off at 5:29am and I immediately had a moment of OMG - it's so early, it's Monday and Today starts a New beginning. The 6am workout was no joke, row 1000 meters, 50 wall balls, 40 ab mat situps, 30 hand release pushups, 20 box jumps and 40 burpees. yes, 40 burpees to end the workout. To anyone who doesn't know what a burpee is, I suggest looking it up and trying a few. They are no joke! My time complete that workout was 17:40. Slower than I would have liked but I'm pumped and ready to smoke that time in 30 days when I do the workout again! With the workout over it's on to a day of crazy meetings and of new eating. Breakfast - scrammbled eggs with fresh salsa and 2 strips of uncured bacon Snack - small banana Lunch - salmon with lemon, celery sticks and a little almond butter, seltzer Snack- orange Dinner - remainder of my salmon, half a avacado and roasted asparagus. *8 classes of water today and a 1/2 cup of iced coffee. Now to anyone who knows me you know I LOVE LOVE LOVE Iced Coffee. I drink it everyday regardless of the weather ( yes, i'll order it when it's snowing out no matter how many times the Dunkin Donuts clerk asks me for HOT) basically black with just a splash of milk. Without the milk - ugh, it tasted so bitter and it was awful. I did kind of had a headache this morning which i'm sure was from caffeine withdrawl. I'll have to find another option to drink it. Maybe with coconut milk? The hardest part of today was being at work when there was pizza, cookies, honey roasted peanuts and toffee bark. Seems the Holiday treats have not left the building. I told myself and everyone who was eating around me that those items were poison and to just tell me that they were awful. haha - seemed to work. Tonight is a great night of TV with the Irish playing for the title, return of the Bachelor, Biggest Loser and Bunheads. Normally I'd have a treat to watch or a glass of wine. Tonight I'll be enjoying maybe a few almonds. To be honest I'm not even hungry so that is a good thing! Keep Calm and Day 1!

Happy Paleo Eve

On the Eve of my new beginning I'm feeling very full. I have endulged this weekend having many of my favorite foods in what felt like the last supper(s). I had Pizza,wine, bagel,munchkin, Chocolate, cheese, chips, ice cream, some sweedish fish candy ( my absolute favorite) and soda. I ate like I was a 13 year old boy and it all tasted so delicious. I do feel a little gross but every bite tasted so so good I couldn't stop. I won't be having any of these foods for a long time if I continue to live with the Paleo lifestyle so I don't feel that guilty about it. After this gym this morning I went to the grocery store and spent more money than I usually do on a weeks worth of food. I only shopped the perimeter of the grocery store and it was easy. I bought lots of fresh veggies, fruits, nuts and bought organic meat. After I put it all away I made Kale Chips! I had heard they taste like potato chips and are pretty healthy. They came out great( don't smell that gpod) but the are cripsy and will hopefully satisfy my crunchy salt craving this week. They were super easy to make, just wash and dry COMPLETELY Kale leaves, cut or tear into small pieces, toss with olive oil and sea salt. Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 400 degrees for 15 mins or until cripy. As part of the challenge at Crossfit I have to take a picture of myself in a bathing suit and send in. I'm beyond terrified of this. As someone who has never worn a Bikini the thought of taking a picture of my stomach to send to someone scares me more than anything including spiders. To those who know me - you know how absolutely frightened I am of Spiders so this is a BIG DEAL. I'll take the picture tomorrow on day 1 but may need some help pressing send to the email. My hopes is that in sending this absolutley embarassing photo, it will be sending away the current me and next time I take a picture it will be about showing off the New and Improved me :) Keep Calm and Kale Chip On

Why I'm starting the Paleo Diet

Happy 2013! Many of us have made resolutions for 2013. Eat better, exercise, limit the alcohol, stop smoking, get out of credit card debt, be nicer, do more charity work etc. I make resolutions every year on New Year's Eve and throughout the year. My philosophy is that when you want to make a change, don't wait to make it - make it right away. That is how I have come to the Paleo Diet. I decided in the fall of 2012 that I was going to give Crossfit a try. I go to the gym and work out and also enjoy taking group exercise classes. I get a good workout but I wasn't seeing any results on the scale. After months of being a little lazy with my workouts I decided that I needed a change. That is when I took a free class at Crossfit with my roommate and decided to commit to the $100 plus dollars a month on membership! My roommate Ali has been an avid member of the Crossfit Community for the past year and has seen great results. She has also adapted the Paleo diet lifestyle and has seen benefits as well. I'm on month number 3 of Crossfit and though clothes are fitting better I haven't seen the results I would like to. That is why I'm starting the Paleo diet now! This blog will no doubt reflect my highs and lows with changing my diet habits and adapting the Paleo Diet. I hope to share many sucesses along the way but I also will be honest wtih my struggles as I love Carbs and Sweets and this new lifesyle does not allow for the majority of my facorite Foods! Keep Calm and Resolution!