Food for thought and beauty.

I have been paying specific attention to what I eat for a little over 12 months. I've dieted my whole life, but have more or less watched calorie consumption rather than what I ate.  Last year Roissy talked about Paleo eating and a few readers backed him up, my curiosity was piqued.  At first I thought it was raw food eating and I thought there would be no way I'd eat my food raw.  Once I discovered the principals and researched what to eat I went for it.  I ate a 99% pure Paleo diet for five months and lost a lot of inches.  I don't weigh myself because of what it does to my mental state, but I did drop three dress sizes.  I slowly started introducing non-paleo foods to see how my body handled them and sure enough I slowly started putting weight back on.

I recently was called HUSKY! in front of my man by an old man and this was all the wake-up call I needed to get back on the food wagon.  I didn't go back to Paleo I opted instead for the Ultra Simple Diet to detox and see how I did.  The only real difference that I can see is they don't mind protein powders, rice or flax.  I don't eat gluten grains, processed sugar, dairy or red meat in abundance.

I felt better almost immediately. I bloat terribly with diary or gluten, removing those gut irritants makes me look like I've lost 5 lbs the first week.  Many people commented on my weight loss, when for me it's simply loss of bloat.

It's a disciplined way of eating to be sure.  One has to be committed to substituting and planning in order to make it through restaurants and family occasions.  One week at a time is the best way I've found for me to attack it.  My man is away and I thought it would be a perfect time to get serious.  I walk about 3 miles a day, do a boot camp class every week and eat very clean.  I've dropped a dress size since he left. Plus I firmed up the booty a nice side benefit.

I've read Good Calories Bad Calories by Gary Taubes.  It's one you really have to wade through, but great information.  If you like research, this is a must read.  I've linked to a site which has summarized the book for you.  Mark's Daily Apple is a great place to get started in the Paleo lifestyle if you're curious.

What goes on in the inside of us is reflected on the outside.  Eating well, exercising and striving for a balanced life will add to your beauty.  Food is where it starts, you can't possible exercise enough without also changing your food to make a signifiant difference.  I found by eating Paleo I wasn't hungry, I didn't have to white knuckle through it and I lost cravings I thought I'd have forever.

Well I'll get off my soapbox and simply add encouragement.  You can do this.  You can feel better in a short amount of time.  You will look better, have patience.  It's a journey, don't go nuts trying to arrive tomorrow.

Food for thought and beauty.

I have been paying specific attention to what I eat for a little over 12 months. I've dieted my whole life, but have more or less watched calorie consumption rather than what I ate.  Last year Roissy talked about Paleo eating and a few readers backed him up, my curiosity was piqued.  At first I thought it was raw food eating and I thought there would be no way I'd eat my food raw.  Once I discovered the principals and researched what to eat I went for it.  I ate a 99% pure Paleo diet for five months and lost a lot of inches.  I don't weigh myself because of what it does to my mental state, but I did drop three dress sizes.  I slowly started introducing non-paleo foods to see how my body handled them and sure enough I slowly started putting weight back on.

I recently was called HUSKY! in front of my man by an old man and this was all the wake-up call I needed to get back on the food wagon.  I didn't go back to Paleo I opted instead for the Ultra Simple Diet to detox and see how I did.  The only real difference that I can see is they don't mind protein powders, rice or flax.  I don't eat gluten grains, processed sugar, dairy or red meat in abundance.

I felt better almost immediately. I bloat terribly with diary or gluten, removing those gut irritants makes me look like I've lost 5 lbs the first week.  Many people commented on my weight loss, when for me it's simply loss of bloat.

It's a disciplined way of eating to be sure.  One has to be committed to substituting and planning in order to make it through restaurants and family occasions.  One week at a time is the best way I've found for me to attack it.  My man is away and I thought it would be a perfect time to get serious.  I walk about 3 miles a day, do a boot camp class every week and eat very clean.  I've dropped a dress size since he left. Plus I firmed up the booty a nice side benefit.

I've read Good Calories Bad Calories by Gary Taubes.  It's one you really have to wade through, but great information.  If you like research, this is a must read.  I've linked to a site which has summarized the book for you.  Mark's Daily Apple is a great place to get started in the Paleo lifestyle if you're curious.

What goes on in the inside of us is reflected on the outside.  Eating well, exercising and striving for a balanced life will add to your beauty.  Food is where it starts, you can't possible exercise enough without also changing your food to make a signifiant difference.  I found by eating Paleo I wasn't hungry, I didn't have to white knuckle through it and I lost cravings I thought I'd have forever.

Well I'll get off my soapbox and simply add encouragement.  You can do this.  You can feel better in a short amount of time.  You will look better, have patience.  It's a journey, don't go nuts trying to arrive tomorrow.

Getting my groove back

Week number 2 of Primal eating.  Feeling better mentally.  I'm looking a little slimmer too, but that's water weight.  If you don't eat many carbs, you don't hold on to water.  My biggest issue is drinking enough water - I don't really like the stuff. 

I'm in the midst of renos at my house as you can see by the paint can at my feet.  I haven't had a shower in my home for two weeks!  The bathroom will look gorgello when done, but honestly I had NO idea that it would take this long.  I may be being raped.  Single womanhood sucks. 

Getting my groove back

Week number 2 of Primal eating.  Feeling better mentally.  I'm looking a little slimmer too, but that's water weight.  If you don't eat many carbs, you don't hold on to water.  My biggest issue is drinking enough water - I don't really like the stuff. 

I'm in the midst of renos at my house as you can see by the paint can at my feet.  I haven't had a shower in my home for two weeks!  The bathroom will look gorgello when done, but honestly I had NO idea that it would take this long.  I may be being raped.  Single womanhood sucks. 

Sick and/of getting fat

I'm soooo sick.  Terrible bronchial infection and a fever.  I'm at work AND I walked my 5k today.  I'm feeling fat and God forbid I miss a day of movin' my booteh.  I had a dream that I was super fat and it depressed me for a couple of days, heck I'm still depressed.  My body got in great shape while in NY for 10 days, I ate very well and walked around 100 blocks a day.  I felt and looked great when I returned.  I returned to work stress and then excuses for bad eating started.  "I'll only do this today."  Now 6 weeks later and I can see and feel the fat.  Ick. 

Today I'm back on the Primal wagon.  I gotta kick the grains and sugar again.  I feel like a heroin addict - where's my methadone?  I will eat a ton of protein in the next couple of days, I need to get into the state of ketosis in order for my food cravings to end and my appetite to drop.  I'm going to hate the next three days, but I recognize that when its done I'll feel better. 

I have no rhyme or reason for the boot pics.  Maybe it's because I need a kick in the ass??  *wink

Sick and/of getting fat

I'm soooo sick.  Terrible bronchial infection and a fever.  I'm at work AND I walked my 5k today.  I'm feeling fat and God forbid I miss a day of movin' my booteh.  I had a dream that I was super fat and it depressed me for a couple of days, heck I'm still depressed.  My body got in great shape while in NY for 10 days, I ate very well and walked around 100 blocks a day.  I felt and looked great when I returned.  I returned to work stress and then excuses for bad eating started.  "I'll only do this today."  Now 6 weeks later and I can see and feel the fat.  Ick. 

Today I'm back on the Primal wagon.  I gotta kick the grains and sugar again.  I feel like a heroin addict - where's my methadone?  I will eat a ton of protein in the next couple of days, I need to get into the state of ketosis in order for my food cravings to end and my appetite to drop.  I'm going to hate the next three days, but I recognize that when its done I'll feel better. 

I have no rhyme or reason for the boot pics.  Maybe it's because I need a kick in the ass??  *wink

Leaner but not meaner

I don't know how I managed it but I did.  I've lost weight while stressed.  Most times I put it on, but perhaps Primal eating has kicked my metabolism butt in gear and for the time being have conquered fat gain.

I walked myself silly while away.  I loved New York and found myself walking upwards of 100 blocks a day, so this also helped keep my weight in check. 

I don't know if I actually lost weight or just leaned up a bit,but my clothes are looser and my legs look and feel tighter.

November 1 is back on the full time Primal wagon for me. I've made a few un-primal choices these last few weeks, but fortunately my body reacts horribly to gluten so I've not put back flour products.  I'll have to kick the caramels I've been eating though.  Oh and the diet soda. 

Sorry to those of you who took up my September challenge, I wasn't doing a very good job of being accountable, even to myself. 

Leaner but not meaner

I don't know how I managed it but I did.  I've lost weight while stressed.  Most times I put it on, but perhaps Primal eating has kicked my metabolism butt in gear and for the time being have conquered fat gain.

I walked myself silly while away.  I loved New York and found myself walking upwards of 100 blocks a day, so this also helped keep my weight in check. 

I don't know if I actually lost weight or just leaned up a bit,but my clothes are looser and my legs look and feel tighter.

November 1 is back on the full time Primal wagon for me. I've made a few un-primal choices these last few weeks, but fortunately my body reacts horribly to gluten so I've not put back flour products.  I'll have to kick the caramels I've been eating though.  Oh and the diet soda. 

Sorry to those of you who took up my September challenge, I wasn't doing a very good job of being accountable, even to myself. 

Girls will be Girly

My date last night asked if I'm a girly girl.  I could say without a doubt, "yep".  I love all things girl.  Clothes, shoes, hair, and make-up.  I can't imagine being a boy, and I have never wanted to be one. 

My latest girlie pleasure is an air brush machine, made by Temptu, which allows me to apply foundation without having to touch my face.  I can layer as much or as little on as I want.  I apply blush and highlight using the same method.  My skin looks flawless as a result.  I have almost, made even have, regained the dewiness of youth. Okay that's going a bit far, but it's a miracle machine and if I could make money pitching it I would.  A fantasy job for me would be me being a make-up artist to the rich and famous.  I wouldn't want to do Jane Smith off the street, because...well she can't pay me what I'd charge frankly.  I watch a ton of YouTube vids on make-up and have picked up a number of helpful tips.  Sometimes I fantasize I'll have my own YouTube channel and make tons of money just like star youtubers.  Ya...it ain't gonna happen.

For those of you following primal/paleo eating for September I'm still in ketosis and feeling top of the world.  I've noticed a drop in weight as far as how I feel and look in my clothes.  I'm raring to go for the full month.  It took almost three days to enter ketosis and thank god I have because it takes most of my appetite away.  Eating chicken, beef and tuna for protein.  Very little veggies - I could do more of those.  No fruit.  Coffee and cream are my treats and I can't imagine giving it up, it's probably mostly psychological because I have one a day and rarely two.  I'm probably NOT a good person to follow as follow food choices because I stick with a very basic plan and at this point am not using any recipes.  I bb-q 99% of my food, and I'll do that until the snow flies, mind you judging by our recent weather that means next week. 

I have a post brewing about a recent interest of mine - Sasha Grey.  Porn actress who's crossed over into main stream and still has her feet, okay ass, in porn.  I've got some thoughts.  More on that later.

Girls will be Girly

My date last night asked if I'm a girly girl.  I could say without a doubt, "yep".  I love all things girl.  Clothes, shoes, hair, and make-up.  I can't imagine being a boy, and I have never wanted to be one. 

My latest girlie pleasure is an air brush machine, made by Temptu, which allows me to apply foundation without having to touch my face.  I can layer as much or as little on as I want.  I apply blush and highlight using the same method.  My skin looks flawless as a result.  I have almost, made even have, regained the dewiness of youth. Okay that's going a bit far, but it's a miracle machine and if I could make money pitching it I would.  A fantasy job for me would be me being a make-up artist to the rich and famous.  I wouldn't want to do Jane Smith off the street, because...well she can't pay me what I'd charge frankly.  I watch a ton of YouTube vids on make-up and have picked up a number of helpful tips.  Sometimes I fantasize I'll have my own YouTube channel and make tons of money just like star youtubers.  Ya...it ain't gonna happen.

For those of you following primal/paleo eating for September I'm still in ketosis and feeling top of the world.  I've noticed a drop in weight as far as how I feel and look in my clothes.  I'm raring to go for the full month.  It took almost three days to enter ketosis and thank god I have because it takes most of my appetite away.  Eating chicken, beef and tuna for protein.  Very little veggies - I could do more of those.  No fruit.  Coffee and cream are my treats and I can't imagine giving it up, it's probably mostly psychological because I have one a day and rarely two.  I'm probably NOT a good person to follow as follow food choices because I stick with a very basic plan and at this point am not using any recipes.  I bb-q 99% of my food, and I'll do that until the snow flies, mind you judging by our recent weather that means next week. 

I have a post brewing about a recent interest of mine - Sasha Grey.  Porn actress who's crossed over into main stream and still has her feet, okay ass, in porn.  I've got some thoughts.  More on that later.

30 day Primal Challange

Dream Puppy and Erica Unmasked are joining me in eating clean/primally for the month of Sept.  It's MUCH better when you're accountable to others, not to mention more fun,  so I'm asking others to join in and see the results.  For those of you who haven't done it before - I have a few hints which helped me. 

The rules:
No sugar
No grains - for most of us that means no flour - whole OR refined
No processed food - most contain sugar and/or flour anyway
No starches - no rice, no potato's
No diet soda - yes zero calories but the taste inspires sweet cravings AND it's aspartame - chemical crap
No dairy - my exception is full cream because it doesn't have lactose
No vegetable oils - stick to olive oil and/or coconut oil, some people use butter
No legumes - no beans or peanuts

Eat:
Protein - fish, nuts, meat (red and white)
Vegetables - no starches and very light on the corn and peas if at all (high glycemic)
Fruit - try to stick to berries - if you want weight loss avoid bananas

Hints:
Eat a LOT of protein the first three days! This is only to get you over the mental hump of the huge sacrifice you feel like you are making.  By the third day you'll enter ketosis and your appetite will drop significantly.
Drink lots of water - this is how your fat/waste gets removed from your body.

Cheat:
I do drink two coffees with coffee cream a day.  I find the fat in the coffee satiates me.  And... I like my coffee in the am and in the mid afternoon. 

Exercise:
Walk six hours/week
2 strength training sessions - using as heavy weights as I can

Send in your cheats and hints.  I'll cut and paste them from the comments and put in this post.

Primal On!


For more information check out Mark's Daily Apple Primal 101 Guide. 

30 day Primal Challange

Dream Puppy and Erica Unmasked are joining me in eating clean/primally for the month of Sept.  It's MUCH better when you're accountable to others, not to mention more fun,  so I'm asking others to join in and see the results.  For those of you who haven't done it before - I have a few hints which helped me. 

The rules:
No sugar
No grains - for most of us that means no flour - whole OR refined
No processed food - most contain sugar and/or flour anyway
No starches - no rice, no potato's
No diet soda - yes zero calories but the taste inspires sweet cravings AND it's aspartame - chemical crap
No dairy - my exception is full cream because it doesn't have lactose
No vegetable oils - stick to olive oil and/or coconut oil, some people use butter
No legumes - no beans or peanuts

Eat:
Protein - fish, nuts, meat (red and white)
Vegetables - no starches and very light on the corn and peas if at all (high glycemic)
Fruit - try to stick to berries - if you want weight loss avoid bananas

Hints:
Eat a LOT of protein the first three days! This is only to get you over the mental hump of the huge sacrifice you feel like you are making.  By the third day you'll enter ketosis and your appetite will drop significantly.
Drink lots of water - this is how your fat/waste gets removed from your body.

Cheat:
I do drink two coffees with coffee cream a day.  I find the fat in the coffee satiates me.  And... I like my coffee in the am and in the mid afternoon. 

Exercise:
Walk six hours/week
2 strength training sessions - using as heavy weights as I can

Send in your cheats and hints.  I'll cut and paste them from the comments and put in this post.

Primal On!


For more information check out Mark's Daily Apple Primal 101 Guide. 

Primal On

Sooo much stress at work.  Had fallen off the primal wagon which of course contributes to feeling unwell.  Today was my restart day.  Committed to 30 days of no cheats which is how I started in the first place.  I looked good pretty quickly when I first started and was quite a bit larger than I am today.  I'm taking my mom on a holiday at the end of the month - one of the fashion capitals of the world - and I want to buy new clothes.  I can lose a dress size if I stick to this eating for a month.  I walk an hour a day and will increase strength training to increase muscle and tone. 

I'm pumped up about getting myself under control. 

Primal On

Sooo much stress at work.  Had fallen off the primal wagon which of course contributes to feeling unwell.  Today was my restart day.  Committed to 30 days of no cheats which is how I started in the first place.  I looked good pretty quickly when I first started and was quite a bit larger than I am today.  I'm taking my mom on a holiday at the end of the month - one of the fashion capitals of the world - and I want to buy new clothes.  I can lose a dress size if I stick to this eating for a month.  I walk an hour a day and will increase strength training to increase muscle and tone. 

I'm pumped up about getting myself under control. 

Primal Charge

Slippage was occurring in my Primal food lifestyle and I noticed it by feeling my skirt getting tighter a few days ago. This is NOT allowed to happen. I love how good I feel and it's too easy to fall back into old habits if you forget the benefits.

I'm wearing a size 8 skirt in this pic and I think my small bones could easily handle a 6 if I continue to eat like I had been. Stress at work made me justify restaurant meals, Primal choices, but still restaurant meaning high sodium and likely wrong fats. I began drinking diet sodas again and occasionally would open a small pack of Christie crackers. The slippery slope of slippage.

I'm back in Ketosis and plan to check frequently - I'd fallen out of the habit. Ketosis can take a couple of days to enter, so why mess with food choices and have to wait another two days for my body to begin to burn fat as fuel again? Ya good question.

I feel better mentally when I eat clean and right now I need every non-fried brain cell I can get. I am already feeling better and it's only been two days of pure clean. Yay!

Last night I had a date and he ate popcorn right beside me and I didn't even want to cheat. Nice.

Primal Charge

Slippage was occurring in my Primal food lifestyle and I noticed it by feeling my skirt getting tighter a few days ago. This is NOT allowed to happen. I love how good I feel and it's too easy to fall back into old habits if you forget the benefits.

I'm wearing a size 8 skirt in this pic and I think my small bones could easily handle a 6 if I continue to eat like I had been. Stress at work made me justify restaurant meals, Primal choices, but still restaurant meaning high sodium and likely wrong fats. I began drinking diet sodas again and occasionally would open a small pack of Christie crackers. The slippery slope of slippage.

I'm back in Ketosis and plan to check frequently - I'd fallen out of the habit. Ketosis can take a couple of days to enter, so why mess with food choices and have to wait another two days for my body to begin to burn fat as fuel again? Ya good question.

I feel better mentally when I eat clean and right now I need every non-fried brain cell I can get. I am already feeling better and it's only been two days of pure clean. Yay!

Last night I had a date and he ate popcorn right beside me and I didn't even want to cheat. Nice.

Break-up Benefit

The benefits of a break-up:

Not hungry.

I haven't weighed myself in a couple of years so I can only speculate on what I might weigh right now. I'm guessing I'm 20 - 25 pounds away from my ideal. I'm small boned and carrying some junk in the trunk - literally my trunk. The boobage I'd be content to keep, however I know what those puppies are made of and they're going to shrink. I'm a C-34 now, down from a D-38 - yay!

I'm eating well and exercising every day. I'm getting so fast in my walking speed my runner sister can't keep up. That's impressive to me(and to her).

My concern is losing weight in my face. I'm not a young thang and can't afford to look sunken - so that will be monitored. Honestly I'd rather be curvy and keep my face, than be skinny and look hollow. Skinny is to age as fat is to women. Or something like that.

I'm taking advantage of my temporary reduced appetite to fuel properly and eat fairly healthy primal choices. Coffee and coffee cream may not be in the category, but I'm on my second cup. Spank me.

Break-up Benefit

The benefits of a break-up:

Not hungry.

I haven't weighed myself in a couple of years so I can only speculate on what I might weigh right now. I'm guessing I'm 20 - 25 pounds away from my ideal. I'm small boned and carrying some junk in the trunk - literally my trunk. The boobage I'd be content to keep, however I know what those puppies are made of and they're going to shrink. I'm a C-34 now, down from a D-38 - yay!

I'm eating well and exercising every day. I'm getting so fast in my walking speed my runner sister can't keep up. That's impressive to me(and to her).

My concern is losing weight in my face. I'm not a young thang and can't afford to look sunken - so that will be monitored. Honestly I'd rather be curvy and keep my face, than be skinny and look hollow. Skinny is to age as fat is to women. Or something like that.

I'm taking advantage of my temporary reduced appetite to fuel properly and eat fairly healthy primal choices. Coffee and coffee cream may not be in the category, but I'm on my second cup. Spank me.

Back on the Buffalo

I had no idea being in a relationship would occupy my thoughts as much as it does. My blog is being seriously neglected, and this bugs me. I'd like to be more consistent, but my attentions are elsewhere. My angst's reduced and my need for validation disappearing, I find little energy for my writing. Am I this fickle? Apparently.

I fell off the primal wagon while on vacay in Vegas. I blame TI's desert buffet. How did they manage to have every one of my favorite yummies? Since returning a week ago I've found it hard to get back on track. Yesterday was the buckle my belt day and decision to get back on the buffalo (sounds more primal than horse). I feel better just making the decision. Four months of eating healthy can not be blown by one four day vacation.

I still have refused to weigh myself but I know that losing two dress sizes is a lot of weight. I have at least one more dress size to go before I'll be at my best weight. That said this vacation proved to be the best one I've had because I didn't look with envy at every other thin woman on the planet. I felt great.

I don't often post my whole face, but heck I feel like it today. I'm sure I'll get insulted - I know I have a big nose - so either say I'm ancient or...I don't know something more creative. I'm prettier in person my man tells me. I'll take his word for it. (I included an unretouched one, I'm so brave - yes I realize I look super shiny - it was 118F people! I'm from Canada - jeesh).

Back on the Buffalo

I had no idea being in a relationship would occupy my thoughts as much as it does. My blog is being seriously neglected, and this bugs me. I'd like to be more consistent, but my attentions are elsewhere. My angst's reduced and my need for validation disappearing, I find little energy for my writing. Am I this fickle? Apparently.

I fell off the primal wagon while on vacay in Vegas. I blame TI's desert buffet. How did they manage to have every one of my favorite yummies? Since returning a week ago I've found it hard to get back on track. Yesterday was the buckle my belt day and decision to get back on the buffalo (sounds more primal than horse). I feel better just making the decision. Four months of eating healthy can not be blown by one four day vacation.

I still have refused to weigh myself but I know that losing two dress sizes is a lot of weight. I have at least one more dress size to go before I'll be at my best weight. That said this vacation proved to be the best one I've had because I didn't look with envy at every other thin woman on the planet. I felt great.

I don't often post my whole face, but heck I feel like it today. I'm sure I'll get insulted - I know I have a big nose - so either say I'm ancient or...I don't know something more creative. I'm prettier in person my man tells me. I'll take his word for it. (I included an unretouched one, I'm so brave - yes I realize I look super shiny - it was 118F people! I'm from Canada - jeesh).