First Challenge - darkfoxx

[darkfoxx]

Starting Point: Recovering from the dreaded 'using the holidays as an excuse to do jack shit and eat like crap' time of year.

 

Goals: 1. Get back to working out 4 times a week - the sub goal here is for 2 days doing the NF bodyweight workout alternating with 2 days of the Jillian Michaels Yoga Meltdown routine. 

 

    2. Get back to eating right. Right now, this means going strict paleo for 30 days.

 

    3. In that paleo framework, find a better balance between the amount of meat my DH and I are eating and the amount of vegetables I want to be eating.

 

How I Plan On Achieving These Goals: My goals aren't that far out of the realm of how I was living pre holiday season. I was only a weekday paleo eater before; giving up ramen, dumplings and sushi during the weekends is going to be really tough. I'm hoping my DH will help keep things on track (usually he's the big cheater). As for working out, just 'faking it till I make it' as part of my daily routine is the only way I've found to stay motivated. Quitting the excuses (like it's cold). Just doing it. For food, I plan to decrease the serving size of the meat we eat and hope to make a '2 veg minimum' rule with each meal. Bacon and eggs will go back to counting as a meat serving like they did when we were eating vegetarian 2x a week. I won't have grains to fall back on this month, but I will make it a point to incorporate more larger vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower so portions look bigger in the hopes that my DH won't be so starving all the time. 

[darkfoxx]

Yesterday went well. I did the yoga workout and I wasn't as incapable as I feared I might be after a couple week break. Only had to crap out twice; both on arm heavy exercises. And, I managed to suck a mite less with the one-leg warrior pose than I have on previous days. 

 

Food was good - I had a killer kale salad from Union Market, my DH's green smoothie for breakfast, and a dinner of parsnip & leek hash with fried eggs and pancetta. I even managed to drink enough water and it all wasn't terribly taxing, either. 

[tekilla]

Dinner sounds yum! Might have to try your parsnip and leek hash. 

 

I was actually looking at the Jillian Michaels yoga dvd yesterday - one of my goals is to become more flexible, but knowing her, it's too hard out for someone like me. How are you finding it?

 

Strict paleo for 30 days is going to be awesome. My partner and I have just cut out wheat entirely (we were 80% paleo), and are noticing the difference. Even beer is out (and we're in the middle of a hot summer!) but we've found NorCal margaritas and it hit's the spot! Just once a week though

 

Have you read The Paleo Solution? I've just finished it, so i'm sorry if i sound like a bit of a preacher about it (now and in other posts!) but it really gives you a great understanding of the chemical reactions in your body when you eat certain things. And gives you an appreciation of how and why to balance your meals with proteins, fats, and veggies. If you're into the science behind it, i highly recommend it.

 

Good luck for day 2!

[darkfoxx]

It was great. I intend to blog about it soon over at www.gastography.com, but here's the quick version: grate 2 parsnips and add to a large skillet with 2 leeks (halved lengthwise and sliced into thin half moons) with 2 Tbsp. coconut oil. Sautee until browned and soft, about 15 minutes. While cooking, season with garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste. Top with fried egg and un-crisped pancetta slices. 

 

I like the DVD (I actually use the version on YouTube for now but plan to pick up the paid version on iTunes when I'm ready to move up to the second level). I worried that it would be too hard, too - her 30 day shred kicks my ass - and it was tough on my arms in the beginning, but totally worth it. I absolutely can't stand most fitness DVD people, but her I don't mind so much. The workout is arm heavy (lots of planks and chatarangas (?) (aka yoga pushups)), but I really like it anyways. 

 

Luckily my DH and I aren't gluten-sensitive, but being mindful is really helping. I've read the Paleo Solution, and while I'm not 100% sold on the whole paleo thing (personally, my body seems to be happiest with a whole grain, vegetable, light meat and really low to no dairy diet) the author has some good points. As do they all (the vegan guys, the vegetarian guys, the gluten free guys). My DH and I have decided to take a less hardline stance and just go with what works for our bodies the best in the long run. Right now, we're trying strict paleo because he wants so very hard to have an aha moment (and I want his diet to come into line with no crap, processed food or white starch). 

 

Thanks for the luck wishes - so far it's going great!

[tekilla]

Oh it's on YouTube! Awesome, might try before I buy yeh I absolutely agree, she is the only DVD fitness guru I would follow. I have the shred too And barely make it through level 1.

I'm not gluten intolerant either, I don't think? Nor lactose intolerant. But my partner is, poor thing, so best I go along with him. I definitely feel much better... Probably just a combination of eating well and exercising, sleeping well and not stressing I hope you have your aha moment!

DH = darkhorse??

[darkfoxx]

Aah, so that's probably who the other person who messaged me is talking about! Nope, not darkhorse, though whomever that is sounds popular

 

Gluten and lactose intolerance is the pits. I'm fairly lactose intolerant and seem to be getting worse with it every year and it sucks during the summer. Especially when my ice cream loving and frozen yogurt hating DH is in the middle of a frozen treat craving snap. This year, fruit popsicles/ices it is! Or, I'll just keep churning out my coconut and almond milk versions, which are actually pretty tasty. 

 

It's funny how something as simple as eating well, exercising and sleeping makes you look and feel so much better. Such a simple concept, but so hard for so many to do. When I first broke out of the eating like crap/not doing anything habit I managed to lose 30 pounds and and 4 pants sizes just by cutting out any grain that wasn't a whole grain, eating way more vegetables and way less meat, and cutting dairy (and bacon) out completely while just doing 30 minutes 5x a week on the Wii Fit. I'm not even talking sweating, here. I was doing 3 days of the yoga sequences and 2 days of the strength training sequences. Nothing terribly stressful. It took awhile, but the weight came off in about 6 months. 

 

Of course, that kind of great result seems to make it even harder to lose the subsequent 2 dress sizes/1.5 pants sizes I've gained back and the motivation to do anything about it. Hopefully this accountability business will help me stick to it! 

 

Here is the link to the Yoga Meltdown: 

 

Good luck to you too! 

[darkfoxx]

Day 2 went fairly well. I did the NF bodyweight exercises with no problem (even though I wanted to quit immediately). Ate paleo - hot Italian sausage from the organic butcher with a side of roasted broccolini, caramelized onions and grainy mustard - but only incorporated 1 actual vegetable. Onions don't count as a veggie. 

[tekilla]

Wow you sound like a bit of a chef! Looking forward to more dinner creations. Love trying new stuff!

[vic-torus]

All of the food you mention here sounds so good! Good luck on the challenge (You mentioned that it's summer in your first post- if you're from Australia, watch out with that heat!)

[darkfoxx]

tekilla - I love to cook (and write about food, and think about food - I'm a bit food obsessed). Not a pro chef, but it is a passion of mine. 

 

vic-torus - Thanks! Good luck to you, too. I think tekilla is from Australia. I'm from the East Coast. 

 

If either of you would like more paleo recipes, I post about 1 a week on my blog Gastography. All recent recipes are paleo, and most of the older ones are vegetarian. 

[darkfoxx]

Day 3 went well. I did my yoga workout for the second time this week and noticed a little improvement during the 'i'm trying to kill your arms' part. And then craziness happened with the dog and I lost a few minutes of workout but finished strong. My dad happened to be in near-ish proximity unexpectedly, so we took him to dinner at a chain steakhouse.

 

The meat wasn't grass-fed, but it was close to where he was and at least paleo. I had an under 500 calories meal with 7 ounce filet, grilled shrimp, green beans (not covered in butter, yay!) and subbed in a strawberry and grape salad. I don't even want to know how many calories that added, but hopefully by skipping the rice on the plate it might kinda sorta balance? At least that's what I am telling myself. I have no idea how they calculate the 500 calorie metric, but I'm fairly certain that total was for the steak alone or maybe the steak + the shrimp. Maybe. 7 ounces is a fair amount of beef. 

 

So, I hit my 2 veg for dinner mark (the salad had some dark green leafies) and I'm not beating myself up. Seeing my dad was worth it. 

[HandSewnMama]

Woot for improvement!

[darkfoxx]

Yeah, I'm pretty pumped about it. My thighs are hurting a bit today - hopefully not enough to make them crap out during today's bodyweight exercises - but my arms really aren't that bad. I think after a two months of off-and-on with this routine, my muscles are finally starting to understand that this workout isn't the devil and they don't have to try and leave my body. 

[Slosh]

Hi!

Great goals! Almost identical to mine as I want to workou three times a week and eat paleo.

[Fonzico]

Hey, looks like you're off to a good start! Ramen and sushi are my crack too... I went on a bit of a ramen kick in December, but I'm done with that now! We eat sushi once a month, and I usually get salmon sashimi (no guilt there!) and one roll. I figure a little rice once in a while won't kill me!

 

Your meals sound really tasty, too. I love to cook, I'm going to have to try the leek/parsnip hash I think, thanks for posting the recipe! Personally, I found getting rid of (pretty much) all wheat, whole grains included, improved my energy and my mood drastically, but I eat a lot of meat and vegetables. But that's how it goes, eh? Everybody's body works a little differently.

 

Anyhow, good luck to you!

[darkfoxx]

@Fonzico - This weekend is going to be hard (my DH and I eat ramen and/or dumplings at least once a weekend) but I think we can do it. It's going to suck, though, especially since I will be a block and a half from my all-time favorite ramen house (Ippudo) on Saturday. 

[darkfoxx]

No major hiccups on day yesterday to report. Did my 3 work throughs of the bodyweight exercises with little trouble (though my thighs were complaining after the first round of squats). Ate a huge salad for lunch and a bison burger with broiled carrots for dinner (burger recipe to come soon). I technically hit my 2 veg mark with dinner because I used a red pepper relish topper for the burger, but that is kind of slack. That morning's smoothie was slack (we were out of bananas and avocado), so the day started out rocky and I was hungry all day (and woke up hungry this morning), even though I compensated for the lack of fat with an ounce of plain almonds... 

 

On a side note, I've been frickin' thirsty lately despite drinking 60 ounces of water yesterday (and over the 48 benchmark set by the Fitbit scale daily). Not sure what that is all about, and I've noticed it before. Probably a metric I should be mindful of. 

[darkfoxx]

Weekend wrapup and week 1 analysis:

 

Friday was an unmitigated failure. After doing well during the day (a green smoothie for breakfast and grilled chicken salad for lunch), dinner was horrible. The DH and I went to leave for dinner, got into an argument, and he decided he didn't want to go afterall, so we ordered in. After an hour plus of continuing the argument, I was about on my last damn leg from hungriness. So I ordered rotisserie chicken takeout. And the place called back to say they had run out of chicken but they could fill my order in 2 hours. I canceled. Ordered steak from another place - and they never acknowledged the order so the service I used canceled the order. Tried ordering using the 1st service, but they have a cap on ordering things too close together. By this time I was almost in panic mode I was so hungry. Ended up finally getting half a rotisserie chicken, horrible and inedible broccoli raab, a salad with no nutritional value (all iceburg lettuce), and 3 meatballs. Ate all the chicken and a meatball. While I stayed paleo (hopefully there weren't breadcrumbs in the meatball), I didn't meet my 2 veg per dinner or trying not to eat so much damn meat goals. It was my non-workout night, so I was ok there. 

 

Saturday also turned into an epic fail. Smoothie for breakfast and went to a book club meeting after that. That was good, but I left at around 5 so hungry I thought I was going to die. So I bought sliced salami from Whole Foods for the train ride home and stopped into my favorite prepared foods grocery for something to eat when I got back. Picked up a nice little roasted red pepper and artichoke cold salad thing, some dried pineapple (inspired by @bagpipenebula's cravings - unfortunately the only kind they had was coated in sugar), and a tofu/mango/eggplant cold dish thing. It totally didn't occur to me that tofu is not paleo. My DH noticed, but by the time I got home I had crazy eyes, so he decided to not mention it for 24 hours. Smart man. So, fail. I also didn't do as much walking as I normally do on a Saturday, but at least I was social. I should really make that one of my goals. 

 

Sunday was only a half-fail. We ate paleo (a storebought smoothie for breakfast and smoked BBQ with broccoli for lunch), but I only had 1 veg with my main meal. Broccoli was the only thing they had on the menu for a side that was paleo. At least I avoided their heavenly baked beans. We did a lot of walking Sunday - enough that my knees were wearing out - so I'm counting that as good.

 

Week 1 Wrapup

 

Goal 1: Work out 4x a week (2x yoga, 2x bodyweight) - Pass. I did it and it wasn't even the drama-filled deal I feared it would be.

 

Goat 2: Eat strict paleo - B. For most of the week I did really great. And then I had tofu. 

 

Goal 3: Find a good balance between veggies and meat - B-. Veggies are still the first thing to go. I did really good for most of the week, but that Friday, man. That Friday just killed me. Sunday wasn't great, either. Saturday was technically ok on that front (artichokes + peppers + eggplant), but it wasn't quite good enough. 

 

Other goals I forgot to add as a challenge goal:

 

Be more social. There I was, out in the social, making friends. Let's see if I can keep this up. 

 

Drink more water. If I drink any more water, I'll be a damn fish. 60+ ounces a day most every day. 

 

On a side note, I think I'm going to have to break up with the FitBit app's meal recording feature. I love the weigh metrics, but the food section is too frustrating. I realize I don't eat like most people and that a large portion of the food I love will never make it to an app, but damn. I expect things like ground bison to be on there. And something else I don't remember that I was mad about. Metrics are great, but I might have to step back and find something better. Totally doesn't bode well for the FitBit wrist band thingie the DH wants to get when they are released this Spring. 

[Fonzico]

Don't beat yourself up too much! I don't think I'd call a little tofu and not quite enough veg an "unmitigated failure." It sounds like you are improving, so give yourself some credit!

 

Also, I don't know if you've tried it before, but myfitnesspal.com (there's an app, too) is a pretty good food tracker. The database is HUGE, plus you can add your own food, calculate your own recipes, and save entire meals if you tend to eat the same thing often. It's not perfect, (because people can add their own info to the public database, some items are missing macro and/or micronutrients, or are totally off-base) but it gives you a lot of options.

[darkfoxx]

@Fonzico - Thx. I tend to be a food nazi anyways and am definitely a black & white kind of person when it comes to either goals I have set up for myself or any sort of 'system' I'm attempting to adhere to. I should amend to be thankful that I remained mindful even when faced with a DH that was whining about the lack of carbs in his life (read: french fries and rice) & trying to convince me that giving paleo a good 30-day try was stupid (even though it was his idea in the first place - I started for moral support). That, and I was still able to make not-horrible choices twice when starving to the verge of shakes. So, in that respect, I suppose I could let up on berating myself for the tofu  

 

I had not seen MyFitnessPal, but I will check it out. I'm liking having something to obsess over while waiting for my own personal results meter to kick in. (I know I'm starting to lose weight when the skin around my belly button gets loose). 

 

Also, no injuries last week and I'm raring to go today!

[darkfoxx]

Week 2: Day 1 went well. Had a nice chicken salad for lunch, and a slight detour from planned dinner that turned out ok. (I set out to make chipotle chili salmon with carrots and a side of cashew chard, but the salmon smelled a bit fishy so I ended up broiling an Italian sausage instead). Not the most inspired dinner, but at least it fit the challenge criteria (paleo + 2 veg). 

 

Working out was great - I did the bodyweight set and feel like I blasted it well -- funny what listening to music (Acid Bath's Scream of the Butterfly is great for stretching a 5-minute lazy warmup jog into a 6 minute real jog) instead of watching my DH play Call of Duty with his headphones on. Call of Duty is the most boring game ever as a spectator and I can't wait until the obsession wears off. 

[Fonzico]

I know, right?! Just I sat down on the couch last night, my brother turns off his xbox and says "I can't play this game, it's stupid." Music to my freaking ears. At least when I monopolize the TV I play games that are awesome to spectate (ie Lego Harry Potter and FFXIII)

 

But way to go on picking something productive to do instead! Let me know if you ever do make the chipotle chili salmon, that sounds gooooood.

[darkfoxx]

I'm all for hobbies, and while I don't have the attention span to play fps myself (or pretty much any video game for that matter except for Portal, Half Life and the occasional Lego title), I don't begrudge the DH his game time. Halo was better to watch, as was Gears of War - and I love the soundtrack to Mass Effect even though the action isn't terribly fun to watch. But COD, that is just straight boring. 

 

I hope to try the salmon again next week, though I need to remember that Whole Foods never pinbones their fish - got to remember to ask next time. 

[darkfoxx]

Totally forgot to post yesterday; luckily I didn't forget about my goals. 

 

Tuesday: Did good with the food a raw kale salad with lemony caesar-style vinaigrette and a light sprinkle of good-quality romano for lunch; and chili with tomatoes, carrots and parsnips for dinner (+3 veggies ftw). Did my yoga and felt good doing it. Still kills my arms, but I think mostly because I have zero circulation.

 

Wednesday: Leftover chili for lunch (yum); curried cauliflower soup for dinner. Dinner had 1 veggie, but I'm not counting that as a black mark on my goals because the soup was vegetarian. And delicious. Did the bodyweight exercises and did a great job again - I even got to the floor with my "girly" pushups. Thighs aren't too bad today, either.

 

Tonight I know I won't have time to work out - we're going apartment viewing - so I will make it a point to eat a salad for lunch, and will pack something quick I can snack on for the train if I need it.  Luckily, I think the area of town we are going to has food options for dinner. I know there is some sort of crazy vegan place that has to have something we can eat, and if all else fails, there is a Trader Joes nearby. Their pre-made stuff is always great; they have to have something paleo. 

 

I plan to pick back up with exercising tomorrow - the DH will be working, so I have no excuse to not bust out a workout while I wait for whatever kind of cobbled-together takeout I end up ordering. 

[Fonzico]

Good couple of days! Best of luck with the apartment hunting!