Boy have I not been a good primal eater

Yup, it has been that long! I am ashamed that I have not kept myself on track with primal eating. This will change though, I PROMISE. I have had lots going on with my health and now that we have things figured out and I am on a treatment plan, I am getting myself back to the better basics of eating.

Not so sluggish

I thought for sure that I would feel weak or tired. Now on DAY 3 and I actually feel good. Not tired or weak, have more energy and feel pretty alert and it is 7:29PM! I even like how I feel after eating, I do not feel bloated or gorged. Today I even got in alot of walking since we went on a field trip with my daughters preschool. Went to a pumpkin patch and she made us trek all over looking at all the animals and stuff. I have even noticed that by the afternoon at work I am not feeling like falling asleep. So just maybe there is something to this diet. I her people say, oh it sounds too strict, or I could not give up my carbs I like them to much. I once thought that, but I am convinced now it is all in your mind, because I have not felt deprived with my meals. Maybe alittle hungier, but I honestly think that is due to the added exercise. I am even proud of myself today, because after getting back from the field trip I had to go to work and I was hungry and gave it a thought to go through the drive thru of the local Mcdonald's and I actually drove to the supermarket and made a salad off of the salad bar of romaine, grilled chicken, fresh broccoli, cucumbers and some black olives.

Day 2 and who would have thought......

That I would actually like an omelete sans CHEESE! This was just my lunch before I head to work and I was not sure what to make or have for that matter. So I thought to keep things interesting I would make an omelete and use the leftover pepper, onion, mushroom and diced tomato mixture that we had with lasts nights meal. I ate my omelete over spinach. I took a picture and I promise onse I upload pictures off my camera there will be a post of my meals I have made in a picture montage.

Made it to the gym today as well, go me two days in a row no wonder it is cold and chilly here the gods are in a uproar cause they didn't think my fat ass could do it. Feeling pretty good to. Thinking I will work mainly on my cardio until the end of October and then add in my strength training. It is amazing how only a year and probably two months ago I was able to run a full 45 mins on the treadmill and was 45 pounds lighter. See what being lazy does to you. I will get back there, I am determined.

Just realized that four years ago this very day I embarked on a new journey of being a stay at home mom. It has been one of the most wonderful, and fulfilling journeys ever. So it seems fitting that I am now at the four year mark embarking on anothr chapter in my life. One that I only hope makes me healthier and able to do the things with my family I want to do. I want to go on the family vacations and explore places and not feel unfit, fat and tired.

Somthing else I think I am going to try and do, is to monitor my sugar levels. When I was pregnant with my daughter I unfortunatley developed Gestational Diabetes and had a very hard time maintaining my sugars where my doctors wanted. Even with me following a strictly monitored diet by my gyn and maternal fetal doctor. I still have the glucose monitor and all, so I was thinking since I know that because of this I am at a higher risk of becoming a diabetic, I should start monitoring it. Just to see where I am at and if this diet helps to keep it in check. All the research I have seen says that it will.

First Day Back @ The GYM & First Day of ALL PALEO eating!

You'd think since I work at a GYM I'd workout everyday. While that was the case about a year ago, I unfortunately I let LIFE and other things get in the way and stop me. Of course then it was just excuse after excuse and well we all know where that got me. Gained weight back that I had lost, let me bad eating habits slip back in and well I remain a fatty. But that is now changing. I am more determined then ever to get myself back on track, and I know that The Paleo Diet will help me. So anyhow, this morning began day one of being back in the gym working out. I managed to get in a full 30 minutes of cardio on the treadmill, and LET ME TELL YOU boy was I winded and and did I sweat. Even with all of that I pushed through and in the end I felt better for doing it. I have decided for at least the first 4 weeks I am just going to work on getting my cardio in before I add strength training back, I don't want to overwhelm myself.

Now onto breakfast. This I can tell is going to be my one big challenge, since you are kind of limited in what you can eat. Hence the no cereal, oatmeal or yogurt. I think I am going to have to join a Paleo forum for some suggestions on breakfast type meals, and also so I can ask questions of things I am unsure of. Anyway for breakfast I had a banana and then after my workout I had a 3 berry protein shake. I hope that was allowed.

Lunch on the other hand is leftover dinner from last night. See above post for that.

I noticed today as well, that I felt less tired and did not feel stuffed after eating. I think this is going to work.

A Lifestyle Change?

My name is Jen, and I am a 32 year old wife and mom, who is well to put it bluntly fat and out of shape. I am this way because of my eating habits and my sometimes not so active life. I want to be healthy and lose weight. I need to change my life and my eating habits, because I want to be healthy, have more energy and be able to run after my daughter. So I am creating this blog, as a way to keep track of my journey.

After researching The Paleo Diet, I have decided for me this is what I want to do. What is Paleo you may ask? Well primarily it is a way of eating like the hunter/gathers of The Stone Age. You eat all the lean meats, fish and seafood you can. As well as all fruits and nonstarchy vegetables. You cannot have, DAIRY, SUGAR, PROCESSED FOODS, GRAINS, or LEGUMES. Sounds tough right? Well what diet isn't. You might think what can you eat? Well you eat real food.

I know this is going to be hard, because I have for years been a carb and sugarholic. I love my pasta, bread, potatoes, and sweets. There I said it and boy did it feel good to admit it. So here is to what I hope is the beginning of a great and wonderful journey of being healthier, overcoming my fear of dieting and changing my lifestlye with food.

Tonight I tried my first ever Paleo meal that I made myself. It really was SIMPLE and EASY to make and had lots of flavor. I had chicken breast with veggies in lemon juice. Recipe is as follows:

• 3 boneless skinless chicken breast
• 1 red pepper
• 1 green pepper
• 1 yellow squash
• 1 green zucchini
• 5 mushrooms sliced thinly
• juice of 2 lemons
• 1/2 tablespoon cilantro
• 1/2 tablespoon basil
• 1/2 tablespoon cumin
• 1/2 garlic

You cook all ingredients in olive oil and serve. I'll post a picture of the finished dish later. It was so flavorful and easy to make.