How do you define "healthy?"

Madelyn recently asked Patrick and me how we define healthy.  What a great question!  It's easy to say that healthy is defined as eating the right foods, exercising, getting proper sleep, and avoiding drugs and alcohol.  However, I think that, while all that is good, a person's emotional health really shapes their overall health.

So, what does that mean for me?  Well, it's really quite simple.  My emotional health is good when I feel good about myself and the relationships in my life.  Relationships can make or break you, I think.  There are the close relationships you have in life - spouse, child, parents, siblings - and then there are the friendships in your life.  We spend so much of our lives creating, maintaining, and/or abandoning friendships which is why they are an important piece to our overall health.  Most of us have those handful of friends that we have carried with us since childhood, but it would seem that the vast majority of our friendships are those created in adulthood.  It is these friendships that can wreak havoc on your emotional health and remind you of your high school days.  Your "old" friends are clearly lifelong friends because they know you inside and out and have endured the ups and downs of youth.  Your "new" friends are often made out of convenience.  What do I mean by that?  Well, you become friends because your kids play on a sports team together, you go to the same fitness class, or you work together. Take out that common element and the friendships rarely withstand that change.  But in the moment, we think those friendships are solid.  We invest in them and get our feelings hurt.  Why?  Wouldn't you think we would learn our lesson after seeing how disposable they really are?  Apparently not.  Those relationships make us feel good until they start making us feel bad.  You start seeing cracks in the foundation.  You start seeing that your position on the totem poll of friendship changes depending on circumstance and availability.

See, here's the thing - life is going to disappoint you and that really stinks, but should the people you choose to have in your life disappoint you, too?  I think not.  So when you develop friendships, develop them with honestly and integrity and then when you maintain friendships, maintain them with the same.  It goes a long way.  And if your friendships, old or new, start wreaking havoc on your emotional health then perhaps it is time make a change.

A Big Fat F

I must preface this post by saying that I am not intending to offend anyone by what I am going to say. 

Breakfast is an important meal and I do try each day to eat a healthy one.  This morning was busy at our house even though I was the only one home.  After getting ready for work, I threw chicken in the skillet with a little cononut oil and salt and pepper, put diced onions, green and red peppers and a tiny bit of sausage in another skillet with a bit of coconut oil and then let all three dogs out, fed them, gave them their water and put them in their proper locations for the day.  After I came back in, I washed and shredded romaine lettuce, cut up a cucumber, diced more peppers and threw that all into a big bowl.  I then made an oil and vinegar dressing before adding a couple of eggs to the skillet with the peppers, onions, and sausage.  I also added shredded spinach to the eggs, cooked it up, and then put it in a plastic container.  I took the chicken off of the stove, boxed that up, and then packed all of the above things in a basket along with a small container of raspberries and a boiled egg.  I refilled my coffee and was out the door.  Sounds like that took a long time, huh?  Nope, just 15 minutes.  In that small window of time, not only did I get my sweet little pups taken care of, but I also made not one, but TWO healthy meals for the day.  Not bad, huh?  Well, when I got to work and walked to the kitchen to put my food in the refrigerator, I saw someone else preparing their breakfast.  This "breakfast" consisted of a 6-pack of powdered mini-donuts and a 20-oz Mountain Dew.

With this being said, it is no wonder why Indiana ranks 15th in adult obesity and 27th in childhood obesity.  As a general population we tend to eat what is convenient and quick.  Too bad so many people do not fully understand that their convenient and quick choices are slowly killing them.  And what is even more disturbing to me is that doctors at bariatric surgery centers are rolling in the dough because of these choices.  Quick and convenient choices "fixed" by quick procedures.  Well, not really.  Did you know that it is not rare for someone to go back for a second bariatric surgery because they gained back their weight?  I don't know about you, but that tells me that surgery isn't the answer.  How about a change in what is consumed?  I can tell you this, my breakfast this monring was delicious.  I am not just saying that.  I tasted really, really good.  I eat that several times a week and sometimes I have a little fruit on the side and I am not usually hunrgy again until well after the traditional lunch hour.  If there is anything that I have learned by trying to follow a Paleolithic eating style it is that healthy food tastes GOOD when we detox our body from the garbage that is out there (donuts, ice-cream, soda, chips...). 

So, I dare you to change up one meal a day to all healthy choices (whole, REAL foods) and then tell me how it makes you feel.  If our 15-year old can tell a difference after eating REAL food, then I bet you can too!

One thing I do know...

An interesting question was raised by a 9-year old this weekend - "Where will you work out?"  Of course our 15-year old responded with a sarcastic remark - "She will fly to Brownsburg every day."  Well, if things go as planned I WILL need to find a new place to work out by the end of the year and I WON'T be flying to Brownsburg every day. 

I love PR Fitness.  It has really changed who I am in a positive way and pushed me in ways I never have been pushed before in my life.  I never thought I would be able to do pull-ups by myself or deadlift 227 pounds, but I can.  The trainers at PR Fitness are amazing; you would be hard pressed to find trainers out there quite like them.  They don't just care about you in the gym; they care about what you do outside of the gym.  I have had countless text messages answered outside of "gym hours" that did not have to be answered.  That is what makes our gym special.  And then throw in the athletes that come each day to have their lungs bleed and their muscles scream - they are in a league of their own.  I do not know many people who would show up to run, do burpees, do air squats, and beat a tire when it is close to 100 degrees outside, but these athletes do! 

With all that being said, it is easy to say that PR Fitness would be near impossible to "replace" and I don't know what we will do if changes take place and we can no longer come to PR each day.  One thing I do know, though, is that I am better equipped to come up with my own workouts now using my body and random objects such as tires, logs, park benches, jump ropes, etc and I learned that from PR Fitness.  So, while it won't be the same if I am working out somewhere else, I will carry a piece of PR with me each time I flip a tire, do a box jump, or flop down for burpees.  PR has definitely changed the way I view fitness and for me that is huge! 

Change

Change is inevitable.  It happens to everyone.  Some changes are small, almost unnoticeable while other changes are huge and impact many people around us.  We don't always want the change that comes our way, but what about the change that you chase?  Is that type of change any less difficult just because you went looking for it?  I suppose it depends on who you ask.

The last couple of years Patrick and I have found ourselves looking for a change.  Last year, while in Charleston, South Carolina, we made our four-year plan.  That plan involved moving to Charleston upon Madelyn's graduation from high school and my completion of my Master's program.  We were keeping our eye on our goal and spoke of it often.  Then, out of nowhere, our plans may have changed (I won't elaborate just yet on those changes as they aren't 100%.  Yet!) 

The change on the horizon is exciting and scary all at the same time.  The fear is not that we might be making the wrong choice; it's more about the unknown.  Will we like it?  Will we make new friends?  Will Madelyn adjust to the change? My stomach has been hurting just thinking about it and I know much of that is a result of things not being 100% right now.  On my drive into work this morning, I began to realize that, even though I have lived in nearly the same location for 35 years, I have not really set roots here.  Sure,our families lives here and all that goes along with that, but I am not really invested in my community like so many others and, honestly, we really don't see our families all that much anyway.  That thought makes change a little easier.

There is that old quote that goes something like this - You don't usually regret the things in life you did; you regret the things in life you didn't do.  I suppose you never know what could be if you don't go for it and this is an opportunity that fits our goals and dreams almost perfectly.  Will it require some adjustments by all of us?  You betcha, but some things are just worth it!  It may require each of us to sacrifice in some way, but, in the end,  if we are happy and healthy then it was a sacrifice worth making. 

First Sprint Triathlon Is In The Books - 1:24:43

Today I completed my first sprint triathlon.  While there were times when I was uncomfortable, I really enjoyed it!  I had a great friend by my side the majority of the time and that made a huge difference.  The water temp was perfect today considering 5 days ago the pool we used was really cold.  My bike, once again, proved to be worth every penny it cost.  Having a good road bike makes a huge difference during the bike; just ask Aimee!  The run was my most challenging evolution and even that was actually okay.  It was great to have Aimee's husband, Shane, there supporting us the whole time since Patrick had Navy duty this weekend.  I understand even more now how much of a difference support makes at events.  I missed Patrick like crazy, though, and was excited to text him when it was over.

I will definitely do another sprint triathlon.  Next time hopefully will be with Patrick!

Spartan Race

I loved the atmosphere of the Death Race and the people there.  I loved the race organizers and their philosophy of wanting to push people to their limits while not coddling them like "other races" do to their participants.  I have spent over a week telling stories of our experience and how awesome Spartan Races is so what was left for me to do?  Sign up for a Spartan Sprint, of course!  And that is precisely what I did on Friday.  I guess you could say I put my money where my mouth is.  How could I rave about a group yet not participate in their madness?  I emailed Any Weinberg, one of the Death Race creators, and told him I was signing up.  He was excited and told me that Joe, the other creator, would give me a free entry.  Nah, I will pay for my first Spartan Sprint.  So, on October 15, 2011 I will drive to Marseilles, Illinois to compete in the 11 am wave of the race along with my favorite friend, Aimee (REGISTER NOW, AIMEE!)  I can't wait to be an official part of an awesome organization.

Comfort Zone

Anyone who truly knows me knows that I am not a big fan of running. Don't get me wrong; I have completed the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon 6 times, but I cannot recall any of those times being enjoyable like it is for some runners.  The last time I completed it was in 2009.  My training consisted of running about 2.5 miles three times per week.  I planned on walking it with a friend who had never done it before and was not a runner.  However, we got separated before even crossing the start line so that left me with no choice, but to run and get it over with.  My plan was to run as far as I could without walking.  I completely anticipated that being about 3 miles.  However, I made it past the track before I allowed myself to walk.  I finished the Mini that day and said that was my last run! 

Fast forward two years.  I just registered for my first sprint triathlon; 500 yard swim, 10 mile bike, and 3.1 mile run.  As I was running 800 meters last night at the start and end of our workout I was questioning my sanity, but then I thought about our past weekend and the people who were out on the Death Race course and my run got a little easier. 

It feels good to challenge your own comfort zone and it feels even better when your comfort zone expands.  My goal for the sprint triathlon is to have fun and to finish.  If you aren't having fun then what's the point, right?

Evolving

When I started our blog it was to serve to purposes; 1 - document our experience with the Paleo diet and 2 - satisfy my growing desire to write.  We are still eating Paleo about 80% of the time, but have learned that we will never be 100% nor do we want to! It makes us feel better and we definitely know the health benefits. 

This past weekend, at the Death Race, I began blogging about our experience and not our food.  I realized how much I enjoyed that aspect of blogging.  It was exciting to describe not only what we were seeing and experiencing, but more importantly, what we were feeling.  I loved sharing that with those who were interested in what Patrick was doing in Pittsfield.  Patrick even sent my "Reality" post to one of the race organizers who loved it.  That was a good feeling.

So, rather than get caught up in blogging about one thing only, I am going to use this to blog about the things we are doing to become better individuals, spouses, parents, children, friends and athletes. 

Reality

To try to put this past weekend into words is next to impossible.  In a million years I would never have thought that the Death Race and the people we encountered would change us, but it has.  We arrived in the tiny town of Pittsfield, Vermont on Thursday afternoon and I fell in complete love with it.  Then we started meeting the other racers and we were changed.  The people that we came across over the 4 days were the strongest I have ever met.  And when I say people, I am not referring to athletes only.  I don't know how to adequately describe the role of "support person" at the Peak Death Race.  There were people up for nearly 45 hours chasing down their racer to feed them and give them dry clothes.  They didn't sign up for the Death Race, yet they were in it right along with their racer.  It takes a unique individual to want to be involved in this sort of thing.  I love it.  I am hooked.  I am inspired by my new friends.

 A great example of the type of person I am describing is this - Joe Decker, declared Fittest Man Alive, was in the lead at about 8 pm on Saturday night.  He was in the process of a lot of wood chopping in the parking lot; the ABC crew needed to get their car out so he stops what he is doing (RACING!) to move logs and direct them out of their spot.  Are you kidding me?  This guy is amazing.  And humble.  You couldn't help, but to cheer him on as he sent logs flying with the swing of an ax.  The man is remarkable.  When we saw him at 11 am Sunday morning after he had finished every challenge/obstacle handed to him, he looked good.  Sure, his legs were cut from the knee to the ankle in nearly every visible place, but he was smiling and being so encouraging to those around him still on the course.  That's a class act.  We can all learn from that.

Today it's back to reality though I long to be sitting on the huge porch at Amee Farm overlooking Amee Barn and being caught up in the energy that is the Death Race.  Conversations have started.  We feel that fire beneath us telling us this is the time to make a change.  The Death Race is clearly more than a race.  It is a way of life. 

Thank You

I would like to express my greatest appreciation for the support Melissa has given me during the time I was in the fight; more on this in a little while.  I would also like to express my appreciation for everyone following my progress; not as long as I would have liked it, but I am taking a lot of lessons learned from this experience and will be adjusting my training for 2012 and go back at it.  ABC Nightline interviewed me as I quit, but in exchange they provided me a ride back to the place we are staying.  Please feel free to watch my 15 minutes of shame Monday or Tuesday, which CNN will also be airing the taping they have been doing.  I would also like to thank all of the competitors as they too have taught me a lot about myself and have all been amazing in their efforts regardless of their place.  Regarding Melissa, I have been extremely humbled by her endurance and what she did for me while I was in my 1302 squat cleans with a 25lbs rock as she followed me around the circle feeding me as I rotated. She gave me incredible support emotionally during the tough times and has stood for a person who can improve exponentially when they put their mind to something and serves as encouragement for next years run.  I must also point out that through the registration and purchasing of items (sometimes a bit beyond our budget) she stood by my side and kept encouraging me and telling me that I would do great.  The 4:30 am call was one of the most difficult things I have had to say to her, because I know she would still be supportive of my decision.  I have felt aches and pains and sometimes in life regardless of the situation you have to know when you have pushed your body, and I reached that point fearing I would be a burden to my fellow competitors as we made our way back down the river (2 more hours of cold and slippery conditions; air temp was 55 and the water could not have been too much more than that, and the organizers agreed that the river was up much more than years past; not excuses but this part will not appear adequately during the the presentations as it was in the middle of the night and there was not enough spots along the route for the crews to get footage).  Melissa, I Love and Appreciate all that you have done - THANK YOU!

Ditches, Ponds, and Barbed Wire. Oh my!

We found out why you etch your number in a log.  At the top of the 7 mile hike, the racers are required to move 100 logs for a local farmer.  Then they hie 7 miles back.  It's grueling.  We saw some of our new friends go up after breakfast and it is now after 7 pm.  We are hoping they come down.  Some of these racers coming down look like they may not know their name.  Anyway, back to the logs.  You get back down with your log and, after you check back in, you throw your log into the pond and then make your way through a long barbed wire ditch.  Then, jump in the pond and retrieve YOUR log based on your number.  In the dark it may be difficult.  Once you get your log you head up another mountain to the next checkpoint.  We actually went to the highest drivable point and then hiked up about 30 minutes to meet the 2nd place racer. It was awesome.  He looked great.  He ate, hydrated, and took off back down.  Once they get back down to Amee Farm they have to chop 45 pieces of wood into quarters and then stack it.  As we sit here, Joe Decker, the guy in first place, is chopping and stacking his wood.  Look him up.  He is amazing.  Most functionally fit guy in America.

Stay tuned...the night is young.

A Real Log Fest...

The racers have really started to spread out now.  Some are just now coming off of the trail after completing the 7 rounds and then the trek back up the river followed by the 1 mile trail walk while others have already reached a checkpoint 7 miles up the mountains.  Somewhere between the river and the trail back to the farm, the racers chopped firewood, carried a log up a hill, read a verse from Corinthians, came down the hill, recited the verse, and headed out.  Recite the verse wrong and you go back up the hill, take a look again, and then hope you etched it into your long-term memory.  

Once you reach the farm, you head up a hill, find a log, and then cut it in half with a hand saw.  You carry that log down to the barn where you then use a hand drill to etch a number into the top of the log.  If the number can be read by officials, you strap it to your pack and start your 7 mile hike to Colton Camp.  If they can't, you try again.  

Patrick, being the man he is, ran coffee up the hill to two female racers who were having a rough time.  I imagine they appreciated the thoughtfulness.  I hope they did at least.

The rain has stopped.  For now.  

Water War

3:00 am arrived and I packed up boiled chicken, an egg, and a gallon of water and headed down to the barn.  It was shockingly quiet and only a few support people remained.  After asking around, I found that they had departed for the river.  Now, Vermont had a HUGE snow season and it has been raining cats and dogs all week.  They had to travel down the river, in the water.  Once they got to another spot they had to sit in a pond for 5 minutes.  Patrick said that was rough and between the river and the pond he spent a great deal of time underwater.  They then had to go through the water again, up a muddy hill, and then had to carry a lit candle around a big field.  If your candle blew out then you had to start over.  Finish that and then you do it six more times.  That was the final blow.  Patrick knew that after those seven total rounds then he would have to get back in to the river and he knew his feet were D.O.N.E.  At 4:30 am my walkie talkie start beeping and I heard Patrick's voice saying "Are you there?"  When I answered, he said, "I'm done."  "Done, Done?" I said.  "Yes, you have no idea.  I will explain what it is like out here later."  My response, "There is no shame in that."  In that moment, I loved him even more.

Funny enough, the ABC crew interviewed him and gave him a ride back.  He came in to the Lodge looking strong and feeling great except for the feet.  He took a shower and stuck by his decision to drop. He told me that when the checkpoint person called down to Andy, one of the race founders, to say that Patrick had dropped, Andy said, "NO!  He can't quit!"  Sorry, Andy. Game over.

We slept a couple of hours and then checked on some friends before breakfast.  We just learned that a Navy SEAL has also dropped.  This race is not a joke.  You cannot know what is ahead of you nor can you prepare for everything you will face.  I respect and admire everyone who started this race at 6 pm last night.  It isn't for the weak.

I am proud of Patrick.  I know he is disappointed, but he is walking away having learned a lot!  He is already talking about what to do next year and who to round up to participate.  I love that about him. He may be done today, but he is not done with this race.  Thank you for all of our friends who have sent messages, prayed for him, and helped him train.  It means so much.  We will continue to post about this race while we are here.

Until then...

Insanity!

It has commenced.  After a 6 pm meeting at the local church for a briefing on world religions, the racers headed back to Amee Farm Barn where they were told to carry logs into piles of 15.  Who know what will happen with those.  I imagine the ax will come in handy!  Next they got into groups of 13, made a big circle out of 13 rocks, threw a huge pvc pipe, a bale of hay, and a big rock into the center and then picked a rock.  The task is simple; pick up your rock, bring it to your chest, take it back to the ground (DON'T DROP IT!), and then rotate to your left.  After you have picked up each rock in the circle, your team gathers in the middle, picks up all of the items in the center, and then cleanly puts them down.  That is one round.  Repeat 150 times.  Yes, I said 150 times.  That was 4 hours and 39 minutes ago.  They just hit the halfway point.

So, what did I do all evening?  The race organizers said that they would give us a clue to help our racer out later in the race.  The catch?  You had to hike "one mile up that mountain" and find the clue past "the house."  One mile, my A$$!  After a 2+ mile hike IN THE DARK and up a windy, wet, muddy trail we found the clue.  I was smart enough to bring a camera so I got a lot of pictures and then headed up higher with a couple of other people.  After enough mud I decided to head back down to the lodge.  Sadly, I found out that if you hiked farther up there were 3 more clues.  However, I found someone who will share with me so that is great!  The bad news?  Patrick owes me a new pair of Nike Frees.  My are trashed!

This is such an amazing experience.  I am so happy that we are able to be here.  The physical and mental strength it takes for this race is unbelievable and rare.  I am so proud of Patrick as I watch him lift those rocks.  What will tomorrow bring?  Who knows, but I can't wait to find out!

Anticipation

We grabbed a bite to eat at the General Store which is owned by one of the two race organizers.  This guy owns basically the whole town.  Call it his own Sim City if you will.  Well, this guy was in the General Store and said "Hey, we are thinking only 6 of you will finish."  You could see each one in there mentally saying, "I'll be one of the six."  These guys who run the race do nothing more than mental mind games.

Patrick got his bib, sweatshirt, and hat.  As we were standing there, a female participant comes up to the race organizer and says, "Where is a bathroom?" After he points her in the right direction and she walks away, he says, "How long do you think she will last?"  My response? "Well, she couldn't find the bathroom on her own."

I applaud anyone who tries this race, but I think, just like at PR Fitness, you need to check your ego at the door.  Come in cocky and you could be crushed.

Peak Death Race 2011

Wow!  As I make this entry, I am sitting on a huge porch at Amee Farm Lodge overlooking the Amee Barn which is the "Command Center" for the 2011 Peak Death Race.  The rain is falling steadily and it is a cool 55 degrees outside.  The first "meeting" of the day was to be a parachute packing class at noon.  Everyone milled around asking "where do we go."  It didn't take long to figure out that this was certainly just the first of many mind games being played by race organizers; how long will these people walk around in the pouring rain look for a "meeting" before they give up.  Patrick is taking a nap!

The people here are awesome and the energy is contagious.  We have seen more CrossFit tshirts here than we've seen anywhere!  We have had a lot of interesting conversations and actually met a gym owner from Birmingham, Alabama.  We will definitely visit his gym next time we are there.

I am honestly so happy here and so incredibly proud of Patrick for even signing up for such insanity.  To do something like this takes an large amount of mental toughness.  Without it, you are toast.

I look forward to posting about it the rest of the weekend.

Missing potato chips?

If you know Patrick then you know that he LOVES chips!  So, when I stumbled across a recipe for kale chips I was very interested.  I made them for the first time a couple of weeks ago when everyone was home and Madelyn's friend Alex was over.  Surprisingly they all loved them!  What is even better is that they were pretty easy to make.  Here is how I made them:

Wash leaves and then cut out the stem.
Tear or cut into small pieces (maybe 1" because the larger they are, the longer they take to crisp up)
Spread out the leaves on a cookie sheet
Mist with olive oil (or you can brush it on)
Season with a seasoning of your choice (I used garlic, sea salt, and pepper)
Bake for 9 minutes at 355 degrees
Flip leaves over
Bake an additional 9 minutes*

*you can determine how crispy you want yours...I checked on mine a couple of times the first time I made them.

Let them cool and ENJOY! 

This is a small batch I brought in to work today to let a couple of people try.  Everyone liked them!

Energy

When people ask about our new way of eating and the benefits associated, one of the first things that pops into my head is ENERGY!  Prior to June 1 I would get the afternoon sleepies.  I would feel terrible, could not focus, and just wanted a nap.  Patrick and I are both so happy about the extra energy we have felt the last few weeks.  In fact, Patrick had a late flight out of Jacksonville on Sunday night and did not arrive home until well after midnight.  However, he had no issues getting out of bed and on with his day.  Even at bedtime last night he still felt great.  It is not a coincidence.  Eating REAL food is the REAL DEAL!  I won't say that I don't ever feel sluggish or tired, but it is a lot less frequently and is usually because I did not get enough sleep the night before.  That is my fault. I have learned that if you trust the process, it does work!

3.2.1....GO!

After 19 days of wading our way through the world of Paleo as a family, the Whole30 Challenge at the gym begins today!  I am pleased with the strides that we have made and, yes, we have eaten "unclean" during that time, but we have learned from those meals.  Madelyn said that eating bad made her feel "old" and so she didn't want to really do it again. That was the most encouraging conversation I have had in 19 days!  Ultimately I know that Patrick and I can do this, but our kids are a different story.  Teenagers are faced with so many temptations and when they aren't with us it is hard to regulate what they eat.  We hope that they make the right decisions, but we can't guarantee it.  I love that Madelyn has been grilling herself chicken breasts during the week.  Sure, it is an effort greater than throwing turkey between two slices of bread, but she is making great choices!  Even Marin, who is only with us a small portion of the time, has tried to do better. 

A big test for me was going to the movies this weekend with Aimee and our girls.  The popcorn and the candy along with diet coke was not only calling my name, it was SCREAMING my name!  However, it helped to sit farthest away from the sugary goodness.  Dinner was great - a delicious filet with steamed veggies.  It was nice, as I think Aimee mentioned on her blog, to eat dinner with someone doing the same thing.  It is less judgmental, but also creates additional accountability. 

Patrick was gone for the weekend and he did such a good job.  It was hard in his setting because he wasn't always able to dictate where he ate or when so he just made the best of the situation.  I am so proud of him!

Thursday we leave for Vermont where Patrick will compete in the Peak Death Race.  It will be a challenge to eat Paleo the entire trip, especially for him, but we will do all that we can to stick to the plan.

I won't make those again!

Sweet potatoes are a vegetable that I have never really had other than once at Thanksgiving, but I was feeling a bit courageous so I decided to make sweet potato crisps.  It sounded like a good idea, but when put on my plate it wasn't so good.  Don't get me wrong; it wasn't terrible.  I just didn't care for them.  I am glad that I tried and even Patrick, who apparently had a projectile vomitting incident with sweet potatoes as a kid, tried them AND saved the leftovers.  Small victory, maybe? 

Last night when we got home I made up a batch of bbq sauce from a paleo website I found.  The sauce tasted great so I put it over ribs in the crockpot and that will be dinner tonight along with collard greens and paleo-friendly cole slaw.  Sure wish I could have a cold Yuengling to help wash it down!

Two weeks down

We are officially into week three of cleaner eating.  We aren't perfect, but we all feel so much better already.  It has been a challenge for Madelyn to find things that are clean that she actually enjoys eating so right now she has been eating a lot of chicken and eggs.  When she has eaten "unclean" she has said that it makes her feel bad and that it has given her heartburn.  I thin that helped her understand even more why we are eating the way that we are. 

Yesterday I had lunch with my boss and it was nice because he is a VERY healthy eater and eats most veggies raw.  We ate at Stone Creek and I was able to order a plain, grilled chicken breast and a big side of steamed vegetables.  During lunch he told me that his college-aged daughter is a food extremist and eats her meats RAW!  YUCK!!!  I almost lost my lunch right there!  Raw chicken? Raw beef?  I guess that is what makes us all different!

Today I made a delicious salad for lunch with fresh lettuce from our garden and topped with chicken, green and red peppers, an egg, and a mix of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.  It was quite nice!

It's taken over...well, at least partly

Yesterday was a great day with no temptations or desires to really "slip." What I realized at the gym last night was that I am naturally competitive, but I HATE that this Whole30 is going to turn into a "contest" of sorts.  That is all that people are talking about and it is getting annoying.  Support is one thing, but seriously, can we have a real conversation that doesn't revolve around food.  By doing nothing other than talk about food forces me to almost think about nothing other than food and then I think about the foods I have cut out and well, you know how that goes.  It's like that old saying "what we resist persists."  So, does that mean that if I keep resisting ice-cream and wine that those cravings will persist?!  I hope not!!!!

Days 10, 11, and 12

The weekend has come and gone and with it came challenges, realizations, and successes.  Friday night we attended the gym's Whole 30 and Whole 9 kick-off meeting.  It was a duplication of a lot of stuff I already knew from my research, but I did learn some things.  I am not sure how the Porters will do in the actually "contest" portion of this challenge because of Patrick's participation in the Death Race and the party we are planning afterwards, but we are going to do OUR best. What I have learned this weekend is that I/we have to focus on only ourselves and what works for US.  It is easy to get sucked into the "competition" of this process, but I don't want to do that.  As much as I would like to say we have been 100%, we just haven't.  I would say we have been closer to 90% and I am perfectly fine with that because I get it.  I understand because those little detours have been noticeable to my body. 

So, with that being said, I am not going to blog everything that I put in my mouth each and every day.  That is obsessive.  Instead, I will talk about how this journey is going for us, what we have learned, and how we have grown.  That is what really matters.  I have found great enjoyment the past two weeks in discovering new ways to prepare my food and different snacks to eat.  For example, Saturday evening I made kale chips.  Everyone in my house liked them including Madelyn's friend, Alex.  That is a victory in my book because it was a healthy snack that we could all agree on. 

We will be as compliant as we can because we want to be healthier.  We want to look and feel good.  We want to model a healthy lifestyle for our children.  Patrick said the other day how glad he is that we are doing this because he realized the negative, never-ending cycle that eating bad creates.  Neither of us wants that to continue.  We will keep plugging along on this Paleo journey and only time will tell where it takes us. 

Day 9 - And then it happened....

Day 9 started out with the remainders of a craving for ice-cream, but I was doing great.  I ate healthy all day and made a delicious meal for dinner, but somehow I allowed myself to get derailed.  I don't even know if derailed is the right word.  I allowed myself something I really wanted after having at least 27 healthy meals with no unclean foods in between.  That is a victory right there.  The ice-cream was good, but of course I carry a bit of guilt with me today.  I could have made it through the night without it, but would the craving been worse today and caused me to fall even harder?  Maybe. What I do know is that I will never be "perfectly clean" in my eating.  It isn't realistic for me.  Maybe others can, but I know me.  I can be close to perfect, but every now and again I will drink that wine or have the bowl of ice-cream.  It's reality.  The difference between the old me and the new me is that I know the impact of the ice-cream on my body and I understand the benefits of clean eating.  I like all of the food I have had lately and so the ice-cream was nothing more than a side trip from what I am doing.  Does that make me weak?  Some may think so.  I think it makes me real. 

Food
Breakfast - egg, turkey, green peppers, onion, and spinach
Lunch - leftovers from Day 8's dinner
Snack - peach, larabar, ice-cream
Dinner - sausage, cabbage, egg and onion.  YUMMY!!!

Today is a new day with a clean slate.  We won't beat ourselves up for the ice-cream; rather, we will applaud ourselves for being true to ourselves and still moving forward on our Paleo Journey. 

Day 8

Day 8 has come and gone and left with it the desire to scarf down a half gallon carton of ice-cream.  We were so used to getting ice-cream at least once per week (and using our Boston Terriers as our excuse!) that it is now a habit I hate to break!  I walked in and out of the kitchen half a dozen times last night trying to find something to put in my mouth that would curb the craving, but finally just realized that sleep would be the only thing to do it.  Of course, on my way in to to work this morning I started craving glazed donuts from Dunkin Donuts.  I have no idea why other than my body is still going through withdraw.  I am trying to stay positive, but I am frustrated and just want a caramel brownie blizzard!!!  Patrick seems to be doing better about controlling his cravings than I am!  Below is our food intake and workout:

Workout
"Hotter than Hell-en"
3 rounds for time:
run 400 meters
21 kettlebell swings (35#)
12 pull-ups

That workout was a killer because it was nearly 95 degrees outside and I was sore from the previous two days.  Patrick didn't make it to the gym with me, but he did go on a 3-mile run. 

Food
breakfast - egg with spinach and bacon
lunch - chicken with salsa and guacamole and green beans
dinner - shrimp, onions, red peppers, spinach
snack - fruit

I need to find other breakfast ideas, but right now I am doing what is comfortable and quick.  We are both enjoying the fun of finding dinner ideas and trying new things.  Madelyn is doing okay with the food.  Last night's dinner she put back after one bite. 

Well, today is a new day and hopefully I can curb the cravings without giving in!

Day 7 - One Week Down!

Day 7 has come and gone and it was perhaps the best one so far.  I continue to feel full of energy all day which is a nice relief from that mid-afternoon sleepiness that I frequently experience.  Patrick was feeling better than he was feeling the day before so that was good.  I believe on Monday he said he could eat his fist and yesteday he could eat a finger or two.  Sounds like progress to me! 

We continue to enjoy trying new menu items because we had been getting so bored with eating the same thing all the time.  It reminded me of when I was a kid and my mom always put the same foods into the rotation.  Boring!  Below is a recap of our exercise and food intake:

Exercise
Rode bikes to and from the gym (approx. 16 total miles)
Skill work (I worked on unassisted pull-ups and Patrick worked on double-unders)
AMRAP in 15 minutes - 7 deadlifts (me: 155# Patrick: 305#), 7 box jumps, 3 wall walk-ups
I completed almost 5 rounds and Patrick completed 3 rounds.

Food
Breakfast - eggs with green peppers, onion, spinach, and one slice of bacon
lunch - chicken, green peppers, onions, and green beans
snack - berries
dinner - chicken with salsa and guacamole

Each day gets a bit easier, but I do miss ice-cream and wine.  I am, however, quite pleased with the results so far in how I feel and even how I look. 

Day 6

Well, we are almost through week 1 and it is safe to say that we have both experienced a "meltdown" of sorts.  I suppose it is only natural when your body is confused and going through shock.  Today, however, I woke up feeling energized and positive!  Last night we worked out at the gym for the first time since last Wednesday.  I know, I know.  We were not great last week, but we were prepping for a trip.  I told Chris that yesterday was the first time in a long time that I wasn't dragging a$$ mid-afternoon and it felt good!  Below is our workout and food intake for the day.

Workout
Strict Pull-Ups as follows:
1
rest
2
rest
3
rest
4
rest
5
rest
5
rest
4
rest
3
rest
2
rest
1

4 rounds for time:
Sandbag Squat Clean x 10 (40# me, 60# Patrick)
Burpee x 10

That workout was rough, but it was good.  I finished in 9:32 and felt pukie for about 30 seconds and then was shocked at how fast I recovered.  That tells me that I am seriously stronger than I ever thought.

Breakfast
Eggs with green peppers, onions, spinach and turkey
Lunch
Turkey and watermelon
Snack
Mixed berries
Dinner
Chicken, green peppers, onions, green beans, and salad with balsamic vinegar

I feel great today; perhaps we are over the hump!

Days 3, 4, and 5

I spoke a little too soon.  Patrick and I went to Pittsburgh for the weekend for a Navy conference and who knew the challenges that would present!  Friday morning (Day 3) started off great.  I got up early and made us an omelet for breakfast.  Later in the morning I had a peach and then it was off to the airport.  My first departure gate was in front of a Cold Stone Creamery.  Really?  What a sick joke! That may have been what triggered my weekend of severe sugar withdraws.  I made a good choice at the airport consisting of an apple, diced chicken breast, almonds, and water.  Later that night I had a hamburger patty with nothing on it.  Saturday was a little more difficult.  I didn't make it down to breakfast so I had a couple of cups of coffee and then headed out to walk around Pittsburgh for their annual Three Rivers Arts Festival with a friend of mine.  For lunch we found the perfect place that grilled salmon and fresh veggies.  That was delicious, but I soon realized that rich salmon on a stomach that had seen nothing other than coffee all day may have been a bad day.  I suppose ridding your body of pure crap really does a number on your digestive system!  That night we went on a river cruise with a lot of our friends and Patrick's shipmates.  They had a bar there, but we opted for waters with lemon (for me) and lime (for Patrick.)  We figured that it if we aren't drinking we can at least make ourselves feel like we are having a cocktail of sorts.  After that we headed to Capital Grille and this is where the real torture started!  They have the best pumpernickle bread which I had to pass up along with a nice glass of red wine.  UGH!  We managed through dinner and then the waitress put the dagger through the heart by saying that our dessert was on the house as a thank you for the mens' service.  I desperately wanted cheesecake, ice-cream, cake, ANYTHING!!! However, we both ordered a bowl of fresh berries and called it a night.  Another day down!
Sunday was another rough one.  Breakfast was okay; I had a big omelet and a HUGE bowl of berries.  Lunch consisted of 1/2 a pork chop and 1/2 of a grass-fed burger along with a side of fruit.  We took off for the airport and this was once again where things got ugly.  I realized that healthy choices are hard to find.  I paid $5 for fruit at the airport and it was HORRIBLE!!!  I threw it away.  So, I ate a grilled chicken breast and sulked.  I think I sent out some texts to a friend more or less begging for chocolate.  I think I have some understanding of what addicts go through during detox!  I never knew my body was so addicted to sugar, carbs, and just plain junk. 

The good news is that we made it through the weekend with clean eating and this is a brand-new week.  I am happy for both of us and the choices that we made.  It was hard; I won't lie about that.  But, I am glad we are doing it.  I feel better about myself.  I don't feel bloated and gross after I eat.  Only time will tell.  

Day 2

Day 2 was another great day.  I find it somewhat surprising how much easier this is than I thought.  Patrick and I both have slight headaches and we are assuming it is a result of carb and sugar withdraws.  I am sure the headache will go away soon.  This weekend we are heading to Pittsburgh for a Navy conference and this will certainly be a test of our will and dedication.  I am feeling confident that we will be successful. 

Below is our food intake from yesterday.  I tried a recipe for garlic mashed cauliflower.  It was acceptable though Madelyn said it was "disgusting."  Not surprising since that is a vegetable she doesn't like and she was anticipating tasting mashed potatoes.  Surprise! 

Food

Breakfast:  2 eggs and 1 sausage patty
Lunch:  Flank steak with peppers and onions and green beans
Snack: Orange
Dinner: Salmon, asparagus, and garlic mashed cauliflower
Snack: peach

I need to be more mindful about fruit intake.  I read on many different blogs that fruit should be somewhat limited, particularly if fat loss is a goal. 

Day One

Day One of our Paleo Journey is complete and was a big success!  We weren't as prepared as we planned to be, but we managed to stick to the foods that are healthy.  I woke up this morning feeling proud of us for being dedicated to our goals.  Starting can sometimes be the hardest part.  I plan to blog what we eat and what we do for exercise each day of the initial 30 days.  This blog will likely go past that time frame since our gym is going to be starting the Whole 30 on June 20th.  We will be participating in that experience along with everyone else which will be beneficial.  Having a support system full of people who understand what you are attempting is important.  So, below is Day One's food and exercise:

Food
Breakfast: 2 eggs and 1 sausage patty plus a cup of coffee
Lunch: 6 deli slices of turkey, a handful of grapes and almonds, and 2 scrambled eggs
Snack: Peach
Dinner: Flank steak strips cooked with green peppers and onions and a cup of green beans

Workout
Skills and Drills with Big Ole Tires!  Flipping tires for fun!  Can't beat that!!!
3 Rounds for Time:
5 deadlifts @ 205#
100 meter sprint
5 strict pull-ups
5 knees to elbows

The workout last night was challenging, but a lot of fun. 

So, with day one under our belts we feel positive and believe that we can accomplish our goals.  Let's see what day two holds for us!

Paleo?

When I first started going to my current gym (PR Fitness) over a year ago I remember the owner/coach discussing nutrition one night.  I distinctly remember saying that I had the nutrition part down because I am a lifetime member of Weight Watchers.  I vividly recall the look on his face (he said nothing!) that seemed to say "Really?  Weight Watchers?  You have a lot to learn."  I didn't get that for months and months.  I still continued to eat what I thought was relatively healthy, but of course I ate breads and sugar.  I was getting stronger each day, but still not happy with my body.  When Patrick came home from Afghanistan, I started dragging him to PR and soon he, too, was hooked.  We were working out as many days each week as our schedules would allow, but we were putting on weight.  We stopped eating the way we should, we were now both in graduate school, and Madelyn was in the middle of her first year of high school.  Talk about a stressful time in our lives.  I started talking to one of our gym owners about changing our eating habits and slowly began having the "paleo talk" with Patrick.  He initially dug his heels in the ground and put up some resistance.  "Give up cheese!? Are you NUTS!!"  I know, I know.  Everything is better with cheese, right?  Well, everything, but your health!  And Madelyn had a stronger reaction to the loss of milk.  Eventually a 30-day agreement was made.  We would commit to trying this whole Paleo thing for 30 days.  After that we would re-evaluate the situation and see how we felt.  We were realistic with our start date because of some things going on in our lives. 

So, today is June 1, 2011 and we begin our Paleo Journey.  I have been reading blogs and books for a few weeks now so that we don't jump in without any knowledge of the "what" "whys" or "hows" of it all.  To say I am excited would be a pretty accurate assessment.  So is Patrick.  I am going to attempt to document our daily food and exercise in this blog.  Tonight we make our big shopping trip.  We have our garden planted.  We have our minds focused.  We can do this. I know we can.  I don't expect it to be easy each and every day, but we want a healthier life and this is the best option for us to achieve that goal.  Here we go!