Primal Nut

Stress, sickness, laziness… none of them are excuses. I’ve been slacking lately. I’m talking about both staying primal and updating the blog.

This is how I feel lately:

It needs to stop!

My goals by the end of 2012 (some more immediate than others):

1. 90% Paleo
2. Lose 40 lbs. (~2/week) (not final goal)
3. 9 minute 2k time on the erg (rowing machine)
4. Join a Crossfit gym and afford the monthly membership (~$135/month)
5. Become a skating referee for roller derby
6. Upload 4 videos to Primal Nut Recipes (once a month)

Obviously, all of these goals work together nicely.

To reach #1,#2, and #3 I’m going to track my food and exercise online.  I’m not sure which site is the best and if I’ll be able to share on my blog, but there’s got to be a plugin for that, right? Comment and let me know!  To be honest, I feel like this back-and-forth between paleo and SAD (Standard American Diet) is worse for me than just sticking with one or the other. I end up eating more fat while I’m also eating carbs. Not always at the same time.  Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think I read somewhere that that’s a recipe for disaster.

To track my progress on the Concept II, I’ll be sharing my logbook. My baseline 2k will be done this week, as soon as I don’t feel like complete crap (I’m still getting over a wicked case of bronchitis). In college my best time was 7:16. I think 9 minutes is a very realistic goal.

#4 is just a matter of budgetary constraints and prioritizing. It kills me that Crossfit is so expensive. I understand that the equipment is top notch and you’re basically getting feedback from a personal trainer on what to do and how to do it, but $135/month is jaw-dropping.  Starting CrossFit is exciting to me, mostly because I already have a Concept II rowing machine at home (that’s 16 years old BTW)! Also, it reminds me of the heavy lifting I did in college. I’ll take a WOD over an hour on the elliptical any day.  Plus, I’ve always been super competitive. So I would push myself by trying to beat my last WOD time, lift heavier, row faster, etc.

Leave a comment below about CrossFit, sticking to 90% paleo, budgeting, or just say hi!

It’s officially been ONE WEEK of no sugar/gluten/corn syrup/crap!

If you didn’t know I was doing the 21 sugar detox, pull your head out of the sand and watch this video!

The first few days were pretty hard.  I crashed a lot from lack of caffeine and felt moderately hungry all the time.  By day 4 I was gettin’ into the groove of it, but craved a hot satisfying meal (instead of all the deli meat, eggs, pickles, etc).  So we grilled some steaks that night and that was all I needed to push me through the rest of the week.  On to week #2 – It will be challenging because I’m going to Indiana for a roller derby tournament this weekend. Four days away from my kitchen.  I predict lots of snacks, steak, Jimmy John’s, and Qdoba.  And you know I’ll be taking pictures to post on my food photo blog – AbbyEats.

For the first week of 21DSD, I’ve also been tracking my food intake on SparkPeople.com.  I wanted to make sure I was under 100 grams of carbs and getting enough protein and fat.  I’m not worried about calories, but I find it really interesting that I ate so much more for the first two days.  After week one, I haven’t been hungry all the time and can go longer stretches of time without a meal.  This will be great for the 6 hour drive to Indiana.  I noticed this phenomenon last year when I was strict Paleo.  Feed your body awesome, nutritious food (versus stuffing yourself with filler) and you don’t need as much volume or calories to feel full.  Plus, you feel full longer.  What do you think of my Weekly Progress?  The 2 grams of fructose is from a trail mix that I got with raisins. I didn’t eat the raisins, it was just easier to track it that way.

I hope you’re all having a great May!

Just checking in with a few quick items.  We ordered 10 lbs. of grass fed meat from US Wellness Meats.  I couldn’t tell much difference between the ground beef, it was just a little greasier than what we normally get.  However, the beef sliders we AMAZING.  I made three last night with two eggs over easy and it all just melted in my mouth. I can’t get over how delicious they were!  Zack agreed.  I can’t wait to try the rest of our order.

Starting tomorrow, I’m starting the 21 Day Sugar Detox.  I didn’t buy the eBook, but it’s pretty simple.  Avoid carbs, fruit, sugar, fake sugar, etc.  Just eat whole foods.  Worst case scenario, just eat meat cooked in butter .  I’m going to severely limit my alcohol intake, but not eliminate it.  I’ll drink vodka and club soda with a lime.  Or is tequila better?

I’m thinking about vlogging my experience sans sugar on my PrimalNutRecipes YouTube channel.

Then this weekend we’re visiting a new farm in Perryville, MO – Three Spring Farm.  They will have seven steers available at the end of May, so we’re considering purchasing a 1/4 steer.  It’s a lot of meat though, about 80lbs., which means we need a deep freezer!  I’m hoping to find something cheap on Craigslist.  How do you handle your meat purchases?

Leave a comment about US Wellness Meats, the 21 day detox, or local farms.  Or just say “hi”!

It’s hard to reprogram yourself after 30 years of life.  Personally, some days I struggle to stay on track.  Usually it’s when I’m not prepared.  You know the excuses – there’s nothing good to eat in the fridge and I’m starving, or I’m at work, didn’t plan for lunch, and it’s scalding hot outside.  I don’t know why I do it, because I feel like crap immediately… mentally and physically.  That bag of chips or bun is not worth a day on the toilet (TMI?). And it doesn’t even taste that good or fill you up! Especially if you compare it to some of my LCHF (low carb/high fat) meals.

So, I’m declaring now, that I will choose LCHF over crap 100% and I will make every effort to be prepared (after all, I was a girl scout for 10 years).

I’ll tell you what makes a low carb diet practical for the long haul.  FAT.  Good fats are key to satisfying your hunger.  If I eat lots of protein and about 30-50% fat, it’s amazing how much less food I need (‘cuz it’s not all filler!).  So, I just need to keep repeating this to myself.

Rule #1: Eat lots of protein, don’t skimp on the good fats!

Rule #2: Don’t fall off the wagon, it’s a slippery slope.

I feel like once you go down that sugary road, it’s hard to make it back unharmed.  Once your body gets used to the horrible things you’re putting it through, it’s easier to make bad nutritional decisions.  So stay strong with me, and put nothing but awesomeness into your body!

(on the right) Rowing at Duke in 2002... Let's get buff again!