16 pounds and counting

Yep, that's how much I've "released" thus far and I'm good with that.  I haven't been this excited about a lifestyle change since I did the South Beach Diet.  I'll give the initial kudos to the Fast Track version of BFC but the rest goes to the Paleo community and from here on, my posts related to food will reflect that.  I have a ridiculous collection of cookbooks as you can see:

Okay so there are a few phone books and gardening books in there but really, does this not put into perspective how much I LOVE and THINK about food!?  I adore cookbooks, they are my favorite type of book and yet, I am now beginning to ponder the prospect of letting some of them go....

I ponder this because it may be, for me, no different than having those tempting "crap" food items in the house....I may be tempted to concoct a tempting sweet treat out of one of these books.  Now, having said that, I am also doing some research online to see how I can modify some of these unhealthy recipes into healthier ones that are Paleo friendly.  I have invested in two new books to help with my lifestyle and add some variety to the menu....I also am looking forward to having a near "perfect" Paleo Thanksgiving..."near" due to some must have's of the in-laws.  I've already decided I'm cooking smaller quantities of their "must have's" as they do not eat left overs and I certainly don't want that food in my home any longer than necessary.  So here are my new books:

I purchased the book on the left at Costco and the book on the right is available at selected Costcos (not mine so I ordered from Amazon).  If you are interested in learning more about Paleo and how it can help several health issues AND comes with menu planners and shopping lists (free online download from her website) I'd get the book on the right.  Diane has a blog http://balancedbites.com/ that is FULL of great information and she also does podcasts.

One of my biggest "gripes" against BFC was that Jorge didn't provide any science behind his S/C ratio.  On page 96 of Practical Paleo, Diane gives the carb breakdown!  Needless to say, BFC max of 120 is TOO HIGH unless you are a serious athlete.  The latest news in sugar is women should limit it to 5 teaspoons or 20 grams per day.

So, here are some pictures of meals I've eaten that have assisted in my thus far 16 pound weight loss.

Two examples of breakfast-pastured eggs (2) and tomatoes and preservative free bacon (2) or sauteed spinach and kimche.  I cook my eggs in either Kerrygold butter or coconut oil.  I have a 12 oz. cup of coffee over ice with 1-2 tbsp. heavy cream and a couple drops of liquid stevia.

These are dinners and IF there are any left overs, they are brunch/lunch for the next day.  I tend to be more of a brunch person-eating around the lunch hour so I guess I naturally do a little intermittent fasting.  So my "eating window" is typically noon to 8pm.  Today, as I write this, I realize that I've not eaten since approximately 8pm last night--it is currently 2:17pm EDT. I don't feel hungry but I know I need to eat in order for the fat stores to melt away.  I'll cook a couple eggs and have some kraut or kimchee.

Thank you for stopping by and please feel free to share in the comments :-)

Disclaimer-I am NOT a nutritionist or dietician and my posts are strictly for entertainment purposes NOT nutritional/dietary advise. 

Adventures in Chicken and Salmon

So with my renewed interest in cooking, I took it upon myself to find out how to butcher/break down a whole chicken.  I wish Costco would carry organic chicken thighs and breasts with the skin on.  Since they don't and I prefer to purchase the organic chickens, I went to YouTube for help.  I found a video done by Ian Knauer, an editor at Gourmet magazine.  It was very clear and simple and well done.  I broke down two chickens!

 Then I did something I saw on Paleo Parents blog....they wrapped BACON around chicken! Actually, they wrapped bacon around a whole chicken and roasted it, but you get the idea...I've done that too.

I ground pepper over these bad boys and boy were they good :p (that's me licking my lips).  Another recipe from Paleo Parents that totally rocked my world was Stacy's recipe for crab balls.  Now, I didn't have any crab meat but I did have salmon and have grown up eating salmon cakes.  I tweaked the recipe a bit adding fresh dill and lemon juice at serving.  I also got crazy decadent and pan fried these in Kerry Gold Butter.  To go along side these delicious cakes, I served the sweet potatoes delivered to my door from the CSA I belong to.  

What is that yellow pool above the sweet potato you ask????  Why, Kerry Gold Butter of course!  Yes, I've got a healthy love of dairy :)  The Hubs was very impressed with this dinner in particular and I've got to admit, it was REALLY good.  I do not brag about my cooking and frequently criticize my cooking but I had to agree with the Hubs this time and all the credit goes to Stacy of Paleo Parents.  The Hubs and I are looking forward to trying the actual crab ball recipe, I plan to make them cakes as I find it a little too tedious to roll out 25 balls.

As for how things are going on the weight loss front, I've lost another pound which brings me to 11 pounds so far.  It would be GREAT to get to 16 pounds by May 25th which is my son's anticipated graduation date from Navy Basic Training in Great Lakes.  My 7th wedding anniversary is May 29th and I've got a FAB dress that would "feel" better on if I lost a few more pounds.  I would really like to get my arms and legs in better shape but I'm lacking in motivation.  I have a 25th high school reunion some time this summer too.  

I pulled out the tape measure two days ago as I realized my brassiere felt loose.  I've lost a cup size so now I get to lay out more money for replacements.  Luckily, this new size is a little easier to find in the big box stores so hopefully, it won't hurt the bank too much.  I've also learned that Maidenform has an outlet store in Myrtle Beach so a great excuse for a road trip :)  I am still wearing clothes ranging from 8-12 but the 12's are getting big-I am able to pull some of my size 12 pants on and off without messing with the buttons and zipper.

Well, it is 12:25am and I've got a moving day tomorrow into an office at my new job :)  Thanks for reading and have a GREAT day!

Rediscovering the Joy of Cooking

So I have had some time to tap into my love of cooking since I have changed jobs and have gone to a very part time basis until I can build a case load.  I spend a lot of time on the computer during the day which helps me rationalize not exercising as I am researching all things dietary and delicious :)  One meal that I made recently made really satisfied and I felt good eating it.  I made pork burgers and caramelized some onions from my CSA box.  I also used the hydroponic Bibb lettuce from the CSA box as a "bun" for the burger.  I made a salad using the rest of the Bibb lettuce along with a cucumber, Kumatoes and carrots.  Granted, the burger was messy but OH how juicy and delicious.

  

I have also really enjoyed getting a little creative with the One Minute Muffins.  I made Strawberry muffins for dessert one night using the juicy organic strawberries from my CSA box and topped it with some homemade whipped cream with a touch of vanilla.

  I posted this picture on my Facebook page and a dear friend made a reference to the movie "Calendar Girls" can you guess what it was?  ;)

My husband has recently remarked on how much he is enjoying my renewed enthusiasm for cooking.  He was recently diagnosed with high blood pressure and prescribed medication in addition to the medication he takes for chronic kidney stones.  I must share that since I met my husband 7 years ago and took over the cooking duties, his health has improved and the formation of kidney stones has dramatically decreased.  As a single dad, he was fond of cans and eating out....A LOT!  Granted, I am not there when he goes out for lunch every day, but I like to think what I'm doing here at home is helping to off-set that one meal a day he eats on his own :)

On a personal note, since I began Fast Track BFC and then incorporating some Paleo/Primal principles into my new eating "lifestyle" I have lost 10 pounds to date.  I managed to lose another pound last week!  I don't think this is bad at all for about 6-7 weeks of "work".  Sure, it has slowed down to a pound a week, but still, IT IS A POUND PER WEEK! Oh, AND WITHOUT EXERCISE :) as I am loathe to do it....still haven't found the motivation as of today but there is always tomorrow, right Scarlett?

Trying BFC Fast Track

So today is day 6 of the Fast Track version of the Belly Fat Cure.  I bought the book last Saturday at Costco and spent that weekend indulging in all the "bad" stuff for the final time.  All-in-all I've had a good week.  I have had several days where I've only eaten 2 meals and maybe a snack.  My morning routine doesn't involve eating...it is an afterthought honestly.  Take today, I didn't eat breakfast and so far, at 253pm, I've eaten a slice of cheddar cheese and some pumpkin seeds still in the shell.  I've had a low grade headache all week as I am coming off sugar.  I have also reduced my alcohol intake this week and last night's glass of red resulted in a major headache this morning...I didn't have a huge glass either and I drank it over the course of several hours.  I guess I'm sensitive to something in it to have this reaction.
Anyway, Amber's blog has been great in providing some alternatives as I am really struggling with no sweets or seasonal treats.  She has posted a coconut pancake recipe, pumpkin and coconut muffin recipe and a recipe for chocolate coconut balls.
I have gotten on the scale every morning and it hasn't budged.  I hope this is due to a week's course of antibiotics.  I'm off them now and will resume my probiotic routine and I am going to drink some homemade ginger/peach kombucha a friend was kind enough to share with me.  I really expected to see a loss as I'd really gone crazy with sugar and carbs in pre-made foods.  I'm feeling disappointed and discouraged but at the same time I wonder if maybe I wasn't eating as poorly as I thought I was.  I've learned a lot from BFC and have done pretty well keeping the basic principals in mind when shopping and eating.  I do freely and readily admit that I am susceptible to seasonal treats such as: hard ciders, muffins, cookies, pies and chips and salsa.
Eggs have been the staple this week and I need some variety.  Perhaps tomorrow I will make the ham crusted quiche in the FTBFC book.  I will also make Amber's coconut pancakes and make enough to freeze/refrigerate as a grab and go breakfast or snack.  I would also like to make Amber's pumpkin coconut muffins.
Something that Amber and I share in common is using tea as a "treat".  I love looking for yummy teas and have found World Market to be a good source for this.  I have also enjoyed the standard grocery stores carrying the Celestial Seasons holiday flavored teas....sugar cookie, sleigh ride, candy cane, nutcracker as well as their decaf sweet coconut chai.  I drink these hot or cold.  I make a pot of flavored herbal tea every day and fill my insulated tumblers with it to drink throughout the day to ensure I get my required fluids in.  I enjoy Alyaa's Herbal Water a lot but can't always afford it so I use the herbal tea to make my own version of "flavored" water.  Since we are finally experiencing cooler evenings here in coastal North Carolina, I've had a hot tea with cream at night when the snack or sweet cravings hit.  Thanks to Amber, I now will have a yummy muffin to go along with the tea!
Tomorrow I will get my exercise area set up and I will commit to doing at least 30 minutes of core exercises a day.  It may be 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes after work, but I'm going to do it.  
Yahoo news showcased female actors over 40 and their looks on the red carpet this year and I would like to look as healthy as they do.  Of course I don't have nanny's or a personal trainer available to me 24/7 so I'm realistic.  "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step".
So, how's your journey?