Why Paleo?

Twice since I started paleo I had ‘nightmares’ about eating sweets and I got mad at myself and felt guilty IN the dream! How silly is that? It’s probably because when I was picking up some toilet paper at Shoppers Drug Mart, I spotted some Cadbury Cream Eggs on steep discount for $0.25 each, so I picked up a few to have as a reward AFTER my paleo challenge ends.

Maybe this is where all my dreams nightmares are coming from. When I bbm’ed my Boyf the nightmare story, he said “Give me the cream eggs for safe keeping, lest you wake up with one in your mouth“. Which made me laugh so hard my tears welled up. So true, never know with me.paleo salad

I’ve been uploading photos on instagram, my personal FB page, doing a weekly chat about it on my blog and documenting it in my book for my CrossFit coaches. But I’m still getting questions online about why I have chosen to do this Paleo Diet — and while I hate the word Diet. I still consider it one.

But why Paleo?
I am in sugar rehab. I had an unhealthy amount of sugar on a daily basis and I wanted to stop it. The Paleo Challenge was just easy for me to choose because I have to actually show the CrossFit coaches (at the end of the 30 days) what I’ve done to achieve not eating junk food, and it just so happens I’m not allowed dairy, wheat, legumes for these thirty days, too. I suppose you could say I just wasn’t motivated to change my diet until now.

Any diet that includes bacon is okay in my eyes. paleo breakfast

How I’m feeling:
I went into Paleo knowing very well what to expect. People kept telling me that the first two weeks were going to be hard. Hard? Hard is such a relative term. You cheat? That is your choice. It’s always a choice, so don’t say it was an accident. No one forced you to eat chocolate. I’m committed to finishing Whole 30 with zero cheats.

Sure I wanted sugar but it wasn’t enough to make me go buy one, cheat on Paleo and then feel guiilty about it. I know what that chocolate bar tastes like. So I just imagine it. I know that sounds ridiculous but if you remember one thing: cravings only last ten minutes, you’ll do fine.paleo snack

I’m not going to turn into one of those hardcore paleo eaters. I still want a sandwich every lunch time (from Ace Bakery – the best kind…) and I plan to dig into one on May 8 along with some Smokes Poutine for supper. From there? I’ll probably still keep a relatively healthy paleo diet 90% of the time because of the changes I’m liking in my body and we’re only at day 16. My pants are a little looser, and I’m seeing baby abs come in. paleo breakfast2

I also don’t know how people can go out to eat and be strict paleo. If I’m invited out to dinner, I’m going to indulge in that one glorious meal of whatever it may be, and enjoy it. I’m not going to ask the waiter if something was cooked in coconut oil, or if there is any dairy in whatever the cook serves. Know what I mean? It’s all a healthy balance at the end of the day, and I’m not about to deprive myself of some mouth watering food. I am totally salivating right now and I don’t even know what kind of food I’m thinking about. 

My Performance:
I’m still waiting for my performance at CrossFit to improve. Last week I had to really drop low in my weights and use a piddly amount. I was feeling lethargic, tired and lazy. Apparently at some point “the magic will happen”. This is when you sleep better (I have the best sleep all the time…) and you’ll feel just as good as when you wake up as you do at the peak of your day. I cannot wait for this.

Food right now tastes great. I don’t even have salad dressing on my salads anymore! Weird, right?kale salad

Someone mentioned drinking protein smoothies for breakfast to fill me up. It’s not really recommend I do that on paleo because they want you eating whole foods that includes the juice and fibre. Not just extracting the juice and throwing away the fibre. Your body digests juice much more quicker than whole foods so you’re not staying as full, for as long. 

I hope this answers any questions people may have of the reasoning behind me doing the 30 day paleo challenge.

Any more questions, just leave them in the comments below!

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CrossFit Journal Year 2 Week 7

I’m on day 16 of Paleo you guys. How crazy is that? I don’t want to stop :)

Hopefully you’re enjoying the weekly recaps of what I’ve been eating, and getting some ideas. Though, I’m sure you can’t get that much inspiration from someone who eats the same stuff over and over again.

The short:

Monday — CrossFit
Tuesday — Climbing
Wednesday — CrossFit
Thursday — CrossFit
Friday — CrossFit
Saturday — Rest
Sunday — Rest

The long:

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year 2, week 7, day one

GWOD: Ring Dip
5-5-5
WOD: 10 rounds
15 deadlifts at 95lbs
15 pushups
What I completed: I ended up Rx’ing for the WOD and used 95lbs for the deadlifts. I completed 6 full rounds and then 3 pushups. Nearly 7 rounds! :)

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year 2, week 7, day two


Climbing!

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year 2, week 7, day three

3-3-3-3
Hi Hang Power Clean
5-5-5
Hang clean high pull
WOD: AMRAP 10
200m run
5 chest to bar or 7 pullups

What I completed: I couldn’t do chest to bar’s very much so I ended up doing 7 kipping pullups without a band. I ended up doing 5 full rounds + 2 more pullups.


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year 2, week 7, day four

SWOD: Front Squat
10-10-10
WOD: 3 rounds (13 minute time limit)
10 unbroken push press
15 unbroken wall balls
20 unbroken situps
25 unbroken double unders (or 75 single skips)
*If broken do 5 burpees then continue on

What I completed: I completed the WOD in 9:12

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year 2, week 7, day five

WOD: 7 Rounds
7 Hang Cleans (95lbs)
7 Burpee pullups
30 mountain climbers

What I completed: I finished the wod in 18:13 and used 75lbs in weight.


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My Paleo eats (week 2)

Paleo week two is complete. See what I ate during week 1 here.

Prepping food in advance is so much easier, and if I plan to do this with paleo food, I know I won’t grab for anything off limits. Sunday afternoon I cooked up a whole package of bacon, and made more egg muffins. I’m not the hugest fan of these egg muffins, because I’m not the biggest fan of eggs – but it’s easy, quick and edible when I’m tired in the morning.prep fod

I cannot get over that I’m at the halfway mark (today). I don’t even want to be done yet! My pants are fitting a little looser and more comfortable, and I am seeing baby abs forming on my stomach. Heck yea. But at the same time I’m finding it hard to make my meals different each week.

I’ve also incorporated multivitamins and omega 3 pills with my meals each night. This little selection here is from Koge Vitamins* which I received to review.Koge Vitamins

How the hey do I review vitamins? Either way, I’m going to give it a few weeks to see if I feel different/better/noticeably blogworthy. I’ve already been taking multivitamins since January but I’m new to omega 3 capsules. There will be a discount for all my readers too.

*It’s a referral link to track how many people have clicked it. I don’t get a percentage of anything. Full review coming in a few weeks.

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paleo-day-8

Sunday April 14
Breakfast: 2 pieces of bacon, 2 hard boiled eggs, and raspberries
Snack: Almonds
Lunch: Leftovers: spaghetti squash with homemade tomato sauce/paste with ground beef & veg
Snack: honey crisp apple
Supper: Leftovers: Salmon, sweet potato with coconut oil with broccoli and cauliflower
Water intake for the day: 56 ounces

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Paleo Day 9

Monday April 15
Breakfast: 2 ham veggie and egg “muffins”, 2 pieces of bacon, and a pear
Snack: almonds
Lunch: chicken spinach salad with carrots, bell peppers, cranberries, sunflower seeds, and tomatoes with balsamic vinaigrette
Snack: Leftovers: lemon pepper chicken stir fry with tamari sauce and coconut oil
Supper: Sweet potato, chicken, broccoli and cauliflower
Water intake for the day: 64 ounces

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Paleo-Day-10

Tuesday April 16
Breakfast: 2 ham veggie and egg “muffins”, 2 pieces of bacon, with raspberries
Snack: almonds
Lunch: Leftovers: Sweet potato, chicken, broccoli and cauliflower
Snack: Chicken spinach salad with carrots, bell peppers, cranberries, sunflower seeds and tomatoes with homemade balsamic vinaigrette
Supper: stuffed peppers with ground beef with a sweet potato
Water intake for the day: 72 ounces

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paleo-day-11

Wednesday April 17
Breakfast: 2 ham veggie and egg “muffins”, 2 pieces of bacon, and a pear
Snack: almonds
Lunch: Leftovers: stuffed peppers with ground beef with a sweet potato
Snack: chicken, carrots and celery with a bit of mustard
Supper: chicken, sweet potato, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower and tomatoes
Water intake for the day: 64 ounces

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Thursday April 18

paleo-day-12
Breakfast: egg explosion in the microwave — don’t care, was too hungry and tired to make the photo look pretty. Decided on 3 pieces of bacon and 2 egg “omelet” things.
Snack: Pistachios
Lunch: Leftovers – chicken, sweet potato, broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots + tomatoes on the side
Snack: 1 can of tuna with carrot, celery and bell pepper with some coconut oil. Then on the side I had 2 coconut dates, dried unsweetened mango, and plantains
Supper: Pork chop with spinach salad (sunflower seeds, pecans, bell pepper, 1/2 piece of  bacon, some cranberries & coconut oil as my ‘dressing’)
Water intake for the day: 72 ounces

 

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Paleo-Day-13

Friday April 19
Breakfast: 2 fried eggs, 2 pieces of bacon, carrots
Snack: dried unsweetened mango, plantains, and some trail mix
Lunch: Leftovers: Pork chop with spinach salad (sunflower seeds, pecans, bell pepper, 1/2 piece of  bacon, some cranberries & coconut oil as my ‘dressing’)
Snack:  Chicken, celery, carrots and red pepper coated in mustard
Supper: 1 piece of bacon, chicken, carrots and sweet potato fries
Water intake for the day: 64 ounces

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Paleo-Day-14

Saturday April 20
Breakfast: 2 pieces of bacon, 1 scrambled egg

Snack: N/A
Lunch: Sweet potato fries and a chicken spinach salad with veg
Snack: apple
Supper: Salmon and veggies
Water intake for the day: 48 ounces

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