FortBacon - Kitchen Foundation

[FortBacon]

Yep! Well Fed is the best paleo cookbook.

Thanks for the recommendation... next stop, well fed

[FortBacon]

soreness... tired... but I'm okay - "I'M OKAY!!" Pressing through the pain to a new day. I need to do a little more re-grounding - clear the dashboard a bit more... struggling with some distractions.

[Eilyd]

See, we knew you could do it! And that on top of crossfitting--nice job! What new mountain of excellence will you climb today?

[FortBacon]

See, we knew you could do it! And that on top of crossfitting--nice job! What new mountain of excellence will you climb today?

 

Yes! You were right... and now a weekend of it.

[Eilyd]

A weekend of it? What do you mean?

[FortBacon]

A weekend of it? What do you mean?

A weekend of "climbing mountains of excellence" - as you put it!!!

 

So, I am sad to say that I am not running in the Warrior Dash with Haikoo tomorrow - the wife was concerned and had me consult my Doc - they both recommend against given the big weight fluctuations... so yeah, that's not happening for maybe a year or so.

 

BUT - I will continue with the awesome and excellence - Whole30 and studying and cooking and stuff - maybe I will have time to catch up on other threads!

[FortBacon]

I am starting to get a little excited... super excited... about something that MIGHT happen next week. No, it won't be too exciting to anyone else (not a movie release or world-cup soccer or whatever). I just had to say something real quick about how excited I am... more soon.

 

And I just had a great weekend. GREAT! I hope to post tonight.

[Eilyd]

Excitement? What is it? I want to be excited for you tooooooo!

 

It is too bad about the Warrior Dash. But better to be healthy and maintain bodily integration.

[FortBacon]

Sorry not to clarify on the excitement (will soon), but I just want to post that I'm re-thinking my CrossFit activity - it's intense (and so good for so many people), but it destroys me - I'm cooked at night and can't keep up with the family. I'm not sure what else I will do - love the barbell work and endurance / mobility - and there are so many bad gyms - thinking and praying how best to take care of myself and my family...

[FortBacon]

This has to be the WORST title for a thread - so corporate and non-creative - but SO WHAT - I do what I have time for (and maybe I use that "rushed" feeling in my next challenge).

 

First, my studies are really ramping up, but I am stressed about a ridiculous presentation I have to give in front of our entire company next week. It's hard not to think about it and feel the pressure - but this is where faith comes in, I transfer responsibility, and then do my best - I want to WIN, right? That's the spirit.

 

Okay, let's see if I can share links to what all I have been cooking - so far, all of these are from 4 Hour Chef

 

Recipe 1 - Osso "Buko" or Braised Lamb...

I have no idea what happened to get that all stretched weird, but it was YUMMY

 

Then - the most fantastic scrambled eggs I ever made (ratio of 1 whole egg to 1 egg yolk, or inverted, 2 yolks to 1 white) - with coconut oil, salt and pepper and parsley - and lemon juice - yum

 

Third - Union Square Zucchini - in ghee, olive oil, some crushed rep pepper (overdid that, according to the family) in a cast-iron skillet

 

Went back to the braising recipe, this time with Rump Roast - another success

 

I am learning - mostly about cast-iron skillet cooking (which rocks!). Okay, back to being a dad.

[FortBacon]

A brief note as to where my head is... I MUST kill the scale (the body-weight scale). It is not helping me. One of the persistent inner voices (a very loud and annoying voice) continues to shout that I cannot dislodge from this fat - that my thyroid and old-body are done progressing...

 

NO.

 

 

Yes - it's an overused gif, but it's what I need. Let's find out what I can do.

[tenaciousglee]

Hey man, I hope you're still being awesome!

 

How are you liking Four Hour Chef?  I was initially excited about it when I listened to Steve interview Tim Ferriss, but then got distracted and didn't buy a copy.  The idea of rapid skill learning is very appealing.

 

Also, did you see Steve's post last week about intermittent fasting?  That might help kickstart some fat burning.  I read a book called Eat Stop Eat this weekend that talks about the fat burning benefits of fasting once or twice a week.  You can find a find an older version online for free if you search carefully.  After reading it, I decided to buy the latest edition.

[Eilyd]

That gif is used so frequently because it's the best response.  (Incidentally, I have a yoga instructor whose voice makes me think of NPH. Yoga is epic with him.)

 

I would second this notion of looking into IF more. It seems very useful.  Also, that voice in your head is lying. Steve has highlighted many people who had bigger hurdles than you--perhaps go read one of there stories to jumpstart you again?

[FortBacon]

Hey man, I hope you're still being awesome!

 

How are you liking Four Hour Chef?  I was initially excited about it when I listened to Steve interview Tim Ferriss, but then got distracted and didn't buy a copy.  The idea of rapid skill learning is very appealing.

 

Also, did you see Steve's post last week about intermittent fasting?  That might help kickstart some fat burning.  I read a book called Eat Stop Eat this weekend that talks about the fat burning benefits of fasting once or twice a week.  You can find a find an older version online for free if you search carefully.  After reading it, I decided to buy the latest edition.

 

 

That gif is used so frequently because it's the best response.  (Incidentally, I have a yoga instructor whose voice makes me think of NPH. Yoga is epic with him.)

 

I would second this notion of looking into IF more. It seems very useful.  Also, that voice in your head is lying. Steve has highlighted many people who had bigger hurdles than you--perhaps go read one of there stories to jumpstart you again?

 

Thank you both! I am familiar with IF (specifically LeanGains), and I need to read Steve's article about it. In the past I had some success with IF, but in this reset (and with the complexity of learning all this cooking), I'm trying to just keep it simple and get my diet clean. Once I get it clean and keep it to a moderate portion per day, I will re-incorporate IF. It has some great benefits for sure.

 

To answer the GIF - I have stacked up two days of awesome - started yesterday and today with CrossFit (time to rest tomorrow) AND I have been eating clean - this is especially helped by my cooking frenzy over the weekend. I'm all stocked up with healthy leftovers (saving money and eating better). I feel fantastic!

 

About the 4 hour chef, it is a TOME - a very large book of learning, and at times it is nutty. Personally, I love it, and if you want the book for the rapid learning section (the first section), I strongly recommend pairing it with Joshua Kaufman's "The First 20 Hours" - he's the guy who wrote "The Personal MBA" and I loved "The First 20 Hours" as well. My learning is through the roof. I have been addicted to "learning how to learn" and if you are trying to learn for school, one more resource is Scott H Young. After two years of going through all this content, I feel like a master student (a skill that had atrophied terribly).

 

Now I must resist the butterfinger bars that are staring at me from my co-worker's desk.

 

Blah blah blah - good things happening, and I'm so glad to have all this support!!! Time to give some back.

[FortBacon]

Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow - MUCH EXCITEMENT FOR TOMORROW (but not quite saying why... avoiding the chicken counting before the hatching, you know?) - EXCITED - Elated even!

[Eilyd]

Gyah, you are making me excited too, and I don't even know what it's for!  Will you tell us when it happens?!

[FortBacon]

Gyah, you are making me excited too, and I don't even know what it's for!  Will you tell us when it happens?!

 

Absolutely

[FortBacon]

BIG big win this week (the thing I have been so excited to talk about)...

 

Is it starting every day with prayer? Yeah, but not what I want to announce...

Is it the PR in my 5k at CrossFit? No, but that was cool

Is it the first wall-handstand I've done since I was 4 years old? No, but that was cool

Is it eating ALMOST perfectly all week? No, but that feels fantastic

Is it going to CrossFit 4 times this week? That was cool... but...

Was it killing it at work all week while enjoying my family in the evenings? Pretty close

 

So, all those things in one week could make this my best week ever - I have never had so much win in one week (let alone month) ... not in a LONG TIME!

 

What is it I'm so excited about? My family just completed our 4 year battle with ... debt! We made our last payment on Thursday, and now we ... have ... no ... debt!!!!!!!!!!

 

It's still not real, but it is more so every day. Sorry to string everyone along, but I wasn't sure if it would happen (another car repair gets in the way, a medical emergency, etc.). It is real AND we even have a tiny little savings cushion in case of emergency!!! And we have jobs.  After our major financial crisis in 2008, by the grace of GOD we have recovered and might actually start contributing to society in a meaningful fashion!!!

 

Okay - that's all. Much love, my nerds! I'm too drunk on freedom to write anything very coherent.

[FortBacon]

Okay - tough week ahead... there is business travel and some drinking will be expected (not anti-drinking, but it can be tough on the paleo), will have to impress some boss-types, and I feel like I have 100 things to remember and achieve (work, studying, fitness).

 

Time to calm down and maximize the output... let's narrow the focus

 

FITNESS: Get sleep (don't let the bosses derail the sleep), eat paleo, and keep starting the day with WOD-like workouts or running... and drink water!!!

 

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT: Finish book stack and start daily with prayer / meditation stuff

 

BIZ: Three parts - Over-deliver for the bosses; study for the CAIA; find a way to start a business... (this seems to be fading - very tough to find the right idea)

 

It really helps just to get all this down on paper (er... computer screen)

 

One thing I'm going to add at the end of the day is journaling in my Day One app

[Eilyd]

What is it I'm so excited about? My family just completed our 4 year battle with ... debt! We made our last payment on Thursday, and now we ... have ... no ... debt!!!!!!!!!!

 

It's still not real, but it is more so every day. Sorry to string everyone along, but I wasn't sure if it would happen (another car repair gets in the way, a medical emergency, etc.). It is real AND we even have a tiny little savings cushion in case of emergency!!! And we have jobs.  After our major financial crisis in 2008, by the grace of GOD we have recovered and might actually start contributing to society in a meaningful fashion!!!

 

Okay - that's all. Much love, my nerds! I'm too drunk on freedom to write anything very coherent.

Oh wow! Congratulations, Bacon! This is so fantastic! I am so happy for you and proud of you and everything praise God yay!!!!!!!

 

This next week really does sound like it's going to be tough, but do not lose heart. Take this as an opportunity to rely on God's strength rather than your own.

[FortBacon]

The way I feel about my challenge is the way Ricky Bobby felt about facing his fears - "Well let's see. I got mauled by a cougar, my Crystal Gayle shirt is ruined, and I didn't learn dick about driving. Other than that, it was great."

 

I learned a ton about cooking, I got out of debt... and went right back into debt as my father took a dive into health issues - I had to travel back home and take non-paid leave and all kinds of other pain. So much good, and so much struggle. We will get back out of debt, and we will get Dad healthy again (what a long road ahead of him).

 

Still, I lost some weight, learned SO MUCH about cooking, and I feel fully equipped with an arsenal of recipes to help me in my quests... and I'm still breathing with physical and mental health - something I have come to appreciate!!! I will officially count this as leveling up - in both fitness and life. I will be ready for the next challenge.

 

Thanks for all the support, my peeps!!!

[FortBacon]

Hey nerds... thanks for all the support. I'm signing off for a while to take care of my family, though I might abuse your friendship through the IRC / NF Chat.

 

Please keep my Dad in your prayers.

[Eilyd]

Will pray for your dad.  If you don't mind giving further details, I'd be happy to pray for that and anything else you're dealing with.

 

Good job for finishing - leveling up doesn't always mean pwning the boss, but just grinding through the tiny battles of every day.  Congratulations again on getting out of debt!

[alienjenn]

bacon I am proud of you for getting out of debt

 

I am sorry for your dad and I hope he gets better... 

 

 

and feel free to abuse my friendship on IRC

[FortBacon]

Wow - I just wrapped the toughest 3 months of my life - Dad is getting better (finally) and showing signs that he will have a full recovery. I spent $$ and more $$ traveling between towns, but it was worth it - supporting Mom and Dad. We shall see how things go long-term, but, for now, Dad is manageable.

 

AND I completed my cooking challenge - much delayed, but I am officially super-comfortable in the kitchen. I cooked every recipe in the DOM seciton of Timothy Ferriss' 4 Hour Chef - and you can see it photo-documented in glorious tasty beauty here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/47022292@N07/sets/72157635026879954/

 

I really think this is one of the best things I could have done for my health. Even though I didn't lose weight or fat (mostly from the Dad-stress), I have a SOLID foundation of food-prep knowledge. One MAJOR barrier (excuse) removed... let the fitness commence!!!

 

Thanks friends - especially Eilyd, alienjenn and all the nerds on the IRC.