Blondie

Hey Jenn - pushups are one of my goals too! Did you see the article by Steve about doing a pushup? I'm following the recommendation of 4 sets of 20 every other day. Right now I am on my knees on a small incline and will go down to knees on my next go. Whew! I try a few on my toes. Brutal! Switching to Paleo does take a lot of planning, but you did really awesome on your first day - don't sweat the small stuff, just learn from it and move on. There is no shame in trying. I have been trying paleo for a few months and have my moments of #facepalm. I love your goals and Operation: Marlin! I agree with the healthy vs. weight loss. I am tired of being told I need to worry about my weight. I would rather stack on some muscle and watch my waist shrink, thanks. Excellent Work! ~ Blondie

Hi Sam, Welcome! It looks like you are doing well on your goals so far. Your diet sounds really calorie restricted - is your chief goal to lose weight or add muscle or both? I wanted to welcome you, I love India and hope to visit there someday. Blondie

Hehe, I've thought the same thing myself. Yesterday I ran in to the office to grab my check and walked out with half a doughnut in my hand - why? no answer. Definitely want to help each other! I think I am going to try brushing my teeth after meals or when cravings strike, if I am able to. I know sometimes its just a matter of a pep-talk with myself.

PS - I love the recipe - I like Everyday Paleo. I might make it, but i am trying to avoid even pretend sweets right now, they are a slippery slope.

Hi Lanalia, That's fantastic to hear about running keeping your depression away! I hope to be able to get off medication within a year and balance myself more naturally. Life has not been very supportive of that transition in the past few years, but I am tired of anti-depressants (do I feel depressed, no, but sometimes I don't feel anything. I don't like it) I feel like being paleo has helped me survive the real severe cravings that normally come from diet changes. Really it is emotional. I was just reading about another person who has a struggle with these cravings over on Rebel Base Camp (Thread: Cravings.) I wonder if there is a way for all of us to help each other not jump off the deep end into a pool of ice cream. Welcome to NF

Corbab, that guide is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for posting it! I am definitely bookmarking it and shopping accordingly... Although, I have to say that I never really "crave" PMS....

Abbey, I struggle with the same problem. I know it is mental and it is something I can overcome. I don't always succeed. Something that helps me is a substitution (wanting ice cream, I make a protein-powder smoothie with fruit and water and fiber.) I also supplement with glucomannan (sp?) fiber (AKA konjac root, AKA African Sweet Potato) It helps keep me feeling stuffed which makes me not so keen to eat junk. And I take another supplement that has Chromium in it, which helps balance your blood sugar. Sometimes those cravings are a nutritional deficiency, sometimes they are like a narcotic withdrawal. For me, I know that the more of those types of things I do eat, the more I want to eat - If I go for a week or two without eating any starches or sugars (IE - Paleo) then the cravings go away much easier and come far less frequently. How about that, I just answered my own problem too! Haha! The trick for me is to not eat anything that will spike my insulin. I am really struggling with this right now too - maybe we can help each other! Blondie

Hey Blueberries, I just saw that you are in WNC - me too!

I am definitely paying attention to my diet - I eat paleo when I'm not cheating (stopping that here). I guess I want to know if one or the other will get rid of body fat quicker. Blueberries - when you are talking results taking some time are you talking about gaining muscle/strength or losing fat? I know there are no short cuts, just curious if one way might be a little easier to see results faster to keep myself motivated. Thanks all for the responses - I do like the idea of mixing it up!

I have a couple of years experience lifting light weights @ high reps and have toyed with heavier weights at lower reps the past 2 weeks. I enjoy it a lot. My chief goal is to lose flab. Which is best here - body weight exercises or lifting heavy? Or do I alternate? Blondie

Start what? Thank you!

I'm new to these parts, but it looks like I should be in the adventurers guild! About me: Size 10-11ish, depending on the clothes 165 lbs 5 feet 5 1/2 inches tall 31 going on 32 Female Warrior spirit, ex-smoker (4 yrs smokefree!) DV survivor, AF Vet, mom of a 7 y/o daughter (also abused by same guy who abused me) and married to a paleo warrior who will probably get on these forums soon... I am Primal going back to Paleo, and a major sugar addict. Sugar is my comforter, companion, soother and I need to give it up. Fitness level right now: Squat 100 lbs @ 3 sets of 8 reps Lunge - 20 @ 2 - 3 sets Bike 2 miles in 15 minutes (with 1 major hill) Back Row 25 lb @ 2 sets of 8 reps Abs - 45 second plank, 30 second side planks x 2 sets each Pull-up assisted by 65 lbs 8 reps still working on the goals, some need to be developed: Goals: Goal #1 is lose fat (4 dress sizes would be a great start) while working Goal #2 - Goal #2 kick the sugar addiction. Am mostly paleo, have slipped to primal but deciding paleo is better for my bod. Need to get back there Goal #3 Car free in 6 weeks and I need to be prepared for the cycling & walking endurance I am going to face. A whole new lifestyle! Goal #4 - 10 regular push ups in 6 weeks. 1 unassisted pullup in 6 weeks. Goal #5 - Heavy weight training 2-3x week, interval/cycling training 2-3 x week Goal #6 - Getting my 7 year old to ride her bike every day and get more comfortable with it (still on training wheels, poor kiddo) Goal #7 - Get 7 year old off of all grains and dairy (except grassfed cheese) Goal #8 - Take better care of my appearance - skin, hair, feet, nails, etc. Goal #9 - Write more Goal #10 - Take better care of my finances - budget, build credit back up, create savings Goal #11 - Get a hobby (aerials, acting, or roller derby are on my short list). I am not sure what guild I will wind up in. I love climbing trees and loved trying aerials. I also am enjoying lifting heavy and I am also going to be a bike commuter so where does that put me? Now that I am here, introduced myself and have jumped into a guild... where do I start?

Hi Raincloak, I'm doing therapy - its been mostly crisis-management for the last 3 years but she focuses more on CBT. We've talked about my eating issues and I know what the problem is - mindfullness is what I am trying to work on, and finding other ways to deal with emotions too. The last thing you said really hit home. When I go for treats I rarely make an experience out of it. For instance, frappaccinos at Starbucks. I go, I suck it down and it takes the edge off whatever I am feeling, which is enough to quell me. But, I did try sitting down and making a whole mindful experience out of my favorite treat last week. I sat down with it, savored it slowly, enjoyed it with some tea and no computer/phone distraction. It was very relaxing and pleasant. I am discovering more of why I seek sugary treats as the cure all, but breaking it is another ball game and knowing why doesn't provide me the how-to that I need to do it. Sometimes I think I am making it harder on myself. Did the sugar addiction cause depression or vice versa? or neither?

Wow, Tigersheart, that was a really helpful post. I have never even thought of it that way. For me, a spoonful of sugar would not cure me. I usually crave sweets in a specific form. Ice cream. Frappacino (my current vice) or sweetened ice coffee vs unsweetened. A slice of cake or cookies. I will have to explore alternatives and figure out if it is something else like the texture. All I know is that those things make me feel better. Yes, one habit at a time, knock out one thing at a time. I have taken to replacing sugars with fats and I don't think that is going to help me lose weight either. IE - almonds when I want cake usually means I just ate 6 servings of almonds in one sitting. Fruits can help, but its the emotional response that i most want to break.

Awesome! I've been driving my Jetta for the past 5 years and have to say that its been a good car. Manual is easy once you get the hang of it!!