Week One Review

I love this "diet" thus far. Maybe it's because I didn't go through the sugar/carb withdrawal that some people go through (Jeff, sadly, is one), or maybe it's because I'm actually eating more than I did when I wasn't eating paleo, but I am truly enjoying this way of eating. I am re-excited about food, invigorated about cooking, head over heels in love with all the fresh vegetables you can find in Oregon in the summer. I'm actually planning meals in my head, when for the last year my dinner "plans" have always been along the lines of "What take-out place do I want tonight?"

I definitely have more energy, more mental alertness, and have been in a better mood. I'm down six pounds, and in the mirror I see a noticeable difference in my face, and my tummy. Most of all though--more important than the weight loss--I feel better; I love knowing that everything I put in my mouth has gone through minimal, if any, processing. I can see why advocates of the paleo diet are so zealous (pre-paleo I might have said "cult-like") in extolling the virtues of this eating style; you just feel healthier, and more in touch with what you're eating. Week one down, and thus far it's a success!

I'm going to post every meal I had this week, and maybe to a cost breakdown. I've purchased a lot of staple "start up" items though, so it's not really indicative of the diet as a whole yet.

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New bounty!

Look at what I got yesterday at the PSU Farmer's Market! A head of beets, two artichokes, a bundle of chard, tomato, three poblano peppers, three huge summer squash and two Japanese eggplants for the grand total of... (drum roll please...) $9.75! For lunch I roasted some of the beets, sauteed up some asparagus I had on hand, and diced up some tomato, mayo, and bacon for a small cold salad on the side. It was delicious. I adore roasted beets, and for just over a dollar for the bunch, I feel like I lucked out. Will definitely be getting more next Saturday!

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Nearly a Week

Day 6, and 6 lbs down. I've been spending the last couple of days working on this new website, and I'm pretty thrilled with it so far! It still needs a lot of work, but I'm having fun tweaking it to just the way I like it.


Tomorrow will be the end of my first week doing Paleo, so I want to write up a brief overview, as well as post up my first week of meals. I will say now, however, that I have never felt happier changing my eating plan. My mood has seen a boost, and I've only had one day of low energy. Last night, for the first time in months I slept solidly from midnight to 5:30, no dreams, no waking up. It was wonderful.


Jeff's not having as great a time; he's having trouble finding things to eat, keeping expenses low, and not being tempted by all the sweet and bready things at the bakery he works at. Plus, he has given up coffee completely, and that's definitely had an impact on his mood. I'd probably be a lot crankier if I weren't having a cold-brewed toddy every other day or so. No cream or sugar, but my mornings are best when I get the taste and texture of cold-brewed french roast. I. Can't. Help. Myself.


I've been researching and creating a work-out plan as well. I know I want to tone and firm up, not bulk, and be more active overall. I think I'll start running with Henry in the mornings or evenings, and doing a core/strength/endurance workout midday. Henry's still just a puppy, so I think he and I should be on the same ability level for running.


So much wonderful stuff ahead!

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Cakewalk...without the cake!

Day 4 of Paleo is going strong. I had a surprise guest come and stay the last few days, and originally it looked like it would put a kink in the brand spanking new paleo-drive I was experiencing. As it turns out, it was a great experience in approaching small bumps (like eating out), and sticking to the Paleo plan. I’ve lost 4 pounds so far, and I feel more alert and energized and just happy. It’s so wonderful to be sticking to a eating lifestyle where I can eat, instead of restricting myself to the saddest little amount of calories. 


When I first started looking through paleo blogs, I really wanted someone to show me a walkthrough of what they were eating and doing, as a guide. I’ll put up my week thus far in a separate post, maybe it will help someone. In this post though, I want to talk about eating out.


When my friend Conor stayed with me, he was pretty intent on eating out. Visiting the Pacific Northwest from New Mexico, he was hardcore missing all the amazing food Oregon and Washington have to offer: fresh veggies, farm-fresh ingredients, non-Southwestern “cuisine”. Where he lives there are no Thai places, no pho, no sushi, etc. I love me a huge hot bowl of pho, but since noodles are on the do-not-pass-go list, that was out of the plan. I also wanted it to be inexpensive, so a local steak or seafood joint was also nixed. He was craving Thai pretty badly, so we went to Sweet Basil on Glisan. I figured I could find something inexpensive and Paleo friendly. As it turned out, it was easier than I had thought. The Tom Kha, a lemongrass and coconut milk soup, in my case studded with huge sea scallops, mussels, shrimp, and squid, only set me back about $7. The next night was a little more difficult: we were on our way back from a trip to the coast, hungry and tired, and every suggestion seemed to include carbs and wheat and dairy all around; or it was too pricey. Finally, in a moment of brilliant inspiration, I thought of a great 24-hour diner downtown. I could get ham or bacon with eggs, and sub tomatoes for the hashbrowns and toast. Again, about $7. Success! 


I have to admit, I haven’t hit any huge cravings yet. I don’t really miss cake or pie or bread. Jeff is having more of an issue, since he’s working in a bakery, and is therefore confronted with amazing forbidden foods all day long. I know he’s really struggling with it, but so far seems to be holding up! For me, I’m already looking forward to breakfast (mushroom omelette), lunch (salmon), and dinner (nitrate and filler free hot dogs and 5:10 eggs) with either fresh bing cherries or banana-walnut ice cream for dessert! Should have pictures up soon!

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Day One!

First day of August, Lammas, my Paleo diet… a lot of beginnings around here! For the first time I did not waltz to my local little coffee shop and sit down with a 16oz. laden with half and half. Nor, when my friend (staying with me for a few days) wanted to nab some breakfast at Lovejoy Bakers, did I partake of his vanilla bean custard danish. I’m feeling positive and excited. Right now under the broiler are a couple of chicken legs, roasting for my lunch. After my 12:45 meeting I’ll be doing a huge shopping trip, picking up fresh veggies and paleo staples like sweet potatoes, nuts, some fruit along with more meat and some tinned “emergency protein”. 


On Saturday I went through my entire kitchen and dumped everything non-paleo. There is not a smidge of sugar, high fructose corn syrup, grain, legume, or gluten in my place. I’ve never approached a “diet” in this fashion before: I’ve always kept around the “bad” stuff “just in case” (that’s a lot of poor little quotes abused in one sentence!). I’ve done diets before where I would allow myself cheat days, and I know many people utilize that with the paleo diet. But I’m looking to do an entire life change here, and I want to get out of the mindset that I’m trapped to something, and need the freedom of cheating. I’m excited to be facing meats, vegetables, and the simplicity of recognizing every bit of food that goes into my body. Never before have I been so ready to make an entire overhaul of how and what I eat. 


I grew up in a pretty poor home, and finishing your plate (of tuna helper or pasta-and-cream-of-soups-swamped casseroles) was not only mandatory; there was a fear factor associated with not finishing. This mentality stayed with me and for as long as I can remember I would continue eating long after I was full, concerned with making sure that nothing would go to waste. That perspective makes cleaning out a kitchen of non-paleo food items a little difficult. Luckily, my apartment has a “free” shelf, and it’s not uncommon to see unopened food items up for grabs. So I know that my brand new packages of short-grain rice, barley, soups, and oatmeal went to good homes, and weren’t wasted. 


Soon I’ll go grab my roasted chicken, and settle down to a quick lunch before heading to my meeting. Here’s goes everything!

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A Vegetarian Once Told Me...

I first heard about the Paleo/Primal lifestyle from a friend of mine who has been a vegetarian for years. He’s a physical therapist, and very active, and has always striven for a healthy approach to life. We were all sitting down one evening, having a beer at a local pub. He mentioned he was thinking of changing up his eating habits. “To what,” I joked, “all meat this time?”


Actually, he said, yes. Then he told me about Paleo.


I will admit that initially I scoffed a bit. It sounded like a fun and trendy little fad. I downed the rest of my beer, probably had a slice of pizza, walked home with the dogs. But what he told me about it nagged at me. So I decided to do my favourite thing EVER: research it on the web.


Soon I began turning up lots of information about energy, endurance, weight loss and maintenance, and most importantly, lifelong health. The more I read, the more it began to make sense to me; and honestly, not even so much in the archaic “this is how we lived once”, sense, but in a getting-back-to-basics sense. Identifiable food. I have just turned 29, and I am ready now, more than ever, to turn my eating lifestyle around; cut out the processed crap and sugars, get back to the basics.

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Begin

Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?

— Mary Oliver

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