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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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).

Primal update

I'm still eating Paleo/Primal. I'm actually finding it hard to eat enough. My appetite is very reduced due to being in a permanent state of ketosis. My man friend (I hate boyfriend as a term) says I don't eat enough vegetables or fruit, he's right. I eat meat and cream. Cream in my coffee which in itself is a debatable choice for nutrition I admit. Chicken, beef and eggs, a little bit of fish make up the rest of my food. I can easily eat once, maybe twice per day.

I'm not wasting away my curves (boobage) have stayed, my frame has simply gotten smaller. I've lost a bra cup size and my pants have dropped by two sizes. I'd like to go down one size more and then think I'll be content. I've started walking an hour a day and will work out three times a week doing free weights. My energy levels are OFF the hook!

I still recommend the lifestyle.

Worst Week EVER!

I had one of the worst weeks ever.

One of my best friends in the world dumped me over a dude. Her dude. He botched a kitchen reno at my house and when I let him know the significant mistakes she dumped me saying I wasn't nice to her fiance.

Then one of my close family members lost a baby, five and half months into her pregnancy.

The stress of this week caused me to over analyze my boyfriend situation and I felt incorrectly he was going to dump me. We're back on track, not that it had really left it, but I guess I'm mentally back on track.

Before in stress situations I would over eat, now I can barely summon appetite to eat anything. One meal a day is doing me and that meal is very small. I have to force myself to eat - which I wish I felt worse about - but frankly because its so unusual for me I'm kind of enjoying it.

This shot reveals the fact I haven't become too skinny. I have work to do on my thighs and arms, they're too soft and large, but are improving. The bathing suit in this picture doesn't fit my chest anymore, the band on the rib cage is too large. I'm back to a C cup, which is where I'll be quite happy to stay. The picture below shows a skirt I wore in February. I can't believe I was that fat!

I still believe Primal rocks!

Body Works

I haven't run away. Have been twitterpated as they say.

I want to update you on my eating before I introduce you to my new...like.

I've been a very good girl when it comes to eating (emphasis on eating). In fact I find it difficult to eat. I think I'm in week 13 of my new lifestyle and I feel like this is it - I've found what works for me.

Yesterday one of my bestest friends declared she wants my body . As boastful as this sounds, I kinda get it. I have lost so much body fat I can't believe its my body. Yet I've retained my curves, have just become a much smaller version of who I was.

This picture gives you an idea of the slimness of my torso.

Rock on Primal!

(would saying this is My Pussy - be too obvious?)

Half Naked Thursday once again

I knew what would make me feel better. Posting a half naked Thursday pic! It's been awhile. Besides I want to prove Primal eating is da bomb. I'm really, truly pleased with the changes in my bod these last nine weeks. I can't believe nine weeks have gone so fast honestly. I'm becoming a poster child for this WOE (way of eating) in my circle of influence. I hope to have some real converts - I'd love to have them feel as good as I do.

Specific weight loss areas I'm pleased about are back fat and side boobage fat. My athletic thighs (code for fat) have some ways to go, but are much smaller believe it or not. I'm hoping I don't lose the booteh. I kinda like it. This side shot shows how much slimmer I'm getting in width, gotta admit I love it!

Primal on my friends!

Week 8!

I forgot to do my JUBILANT it's Week Number 8 post on Monday. It is week 8, but I think the fact I didn't mention it means I'm somewhat entrenched in the new ways of eating and didn't consider the time. Good stuff.

For those of you who don't remember what week 8 means it means I don't eat grains, dairy (except for cream), legumes, starchy veggies, processed foods or non-naturally occurring sugars. Here's what the best parts of this new eating has brought me:

Foggy brain fuzz gone
Actually I didn't realize how much I'd had a fuzzy brain until I didn't have one. I feel like I was depressed but now am not.

No cravings
With the removal of sugars and grains, both of which can spike your insulin I have done away with any need for more of the bad.

No irritation from not eating
I think I may have had mild hyperglycemia and now that my insulin is steady I no longer need more sugar to balance me. I'm happy all the time! I can be a bit much -though - just sayin'.

I know what hunger feels like
I ate all the time prior to. I felt that stoking the furnace was good for metabolism - that's a common principal in the diet world doncha know. Now I practice IF (intermittent fasting) on a regular basis. I aim for two meals a day in a short time window - somewhere around eight to nine hours. I have done 24 hour fasts and would like to increase those to one to two times a week. When you fast you know what real hunger feels like.

I know what satiety feels like
I'm sure part of it is my stomach has shrunk, however I believe most of it has to do with the types of foods I'm eating. I'm not eating crap, crap begets more crap. Now when I eat clean foods I feel full. Today at lunch I had steak and veggies and couldn't finish all my veggies - I can't remember a time when I could turn away food.

I'm skinnier
I'm holding on to my curves and I hope to continue holding on to them, if only for someone else to want to hold on to them. My curves have come down in size pretty evenly all around. I'm fortunate that I don't have a body that holds substantial weight in one area - I'm boobs AND hips. I've read that my body will find its ideal weight and set point. The good news is as I lose weight I'm not losing energy or muscle. I gotta say the double takes from friends and family are fantastic!

More energy
I like how much energy and motivation I have, this kind of goes with brain fog I suppose, yet it's more than mental clarity it's energy.

All of the above makes me stay committed to this way of eating. Why would I substitue any one of the above? Right?

Reverse anorexia

Ok wow. I knew I was a bit pudgy when I started working out, I knew I wanted to lose a few pounds and show the muscles I was developing but I had no idea how big I was! I had reverse anorexia - I saw slender when there was no slender there. Wow.

You know what convinced me? The picture below. The picture on the left was taken one month ago. After seven weeks of primal eating you can see significant difference and I had no idea I was that fat! I say again wow.

My collarbone is showing a month ago, but you can tell the way the seams are on the front of the dress that they're wider apart then they are now. There has been no alteration to either picture - they are what they are. So will I continue with my eating plan? You bet your bippy I will!!

Gotta admit a bit embarrassing to post the before shot...I had a flat stomach and I thought that was enough...apparently not.

Night out

I was out partying it up last night. Family gathering truth be told and not a fun time in the City - although it was in the City and it was fun. I took a great deal of care and attention for this particular event - hair stylist and double the amount of time I normally spend on make-up (meaning 15 minutes instead of 7.5). The false eyelashes added the most amount of time. I had a super sexy dress but have yet to see pictures of it, only head shots on my camera. I'll see if I can get some sent and and I'll do my best to post them.

I ate everything the plated dinner offered. Rye bread, potato's, veggies, breaded chicken, mousse and cheese cake. Miracle of miracles I'm still in ketosis today! How that happened I have no idea - other than I fasted the entire day for the meal and then had nothing afterwards. I think perhaps my insulin receptors/uptakes whatever the heck they are, are working very efficiently. Niiiice.

I'm running because my iPhone is broken! Have to drive an hour for the nearest Apple store and then I have to work out. It's been too long since I had a good sweat. Too loooong.

(side note: tear troughs look fantastic!)

Skinny Tears

My coffee barista asked if I'd lost weight today - cool. I know I'm a bit focused in this area on the blog lately. I'm hoping to bring this into more of a balanced perspective once I get fully in the groove of the lifestyle change. Do have to say though that that suspicious mole/growth on my chest has completely flown the coop! Comment Whatever wondered if my new healthy eating cut off the opportunity for disease/inflammation. I'm wondering the same thing. Cool if it's connected.

There are down sides of losing weight when you're no longer 20. Your face loses volume. I like my face (mostly) and I don't want to have it look haggard just to be thin. I went to an esthetician on Monday who noticed it right away. I'd lost some tear trough volume making me look tired. Her recommendation? Juvederm. It's a filler that mimics natural volume. My response? Shoot me baby. The difference was immediately visible. The picture below comes from a google search because I don't have a representative before and after, but the results are similar. I'm a happy camper (if only it weren't snowing!).

IF

I'm doing my first Intermittent 24 hour Fast today. I've fasted before but this one is purposeful as it applies to primal eating. I had a steak last night at seven and my plan is to eat around sevenish tonight. I have a full work day and I plan on doing a high intensity workout just to see how I feel afterwards. My hope is I'll incorporate two 24 hours fasts per week.

There's quite a bit of research on fasting. Here's an article and here's another.

Here's the day broken down by how I feel:

10:30 am - feeling hungry but not starving. I feel like I can do this. I'm having a drink of water any time I feel a hunger pang.

2:30 pm - little hungrier. I still feel like I can do this. I am thinking about my meal for after my workout - perhaps a little too much?

3:30 pm - slight headache. Hunger still doable.

5:30 pm - had an orange juice at 4:30. Hungry, hungry hippo. It worked, I'm feeling better. Can work out and eat after.

6:30 - 8:00 pm - workout. I don't notice any differences in energy.

8:00 pm - grocery store to buy dinner. Hamburger which I'll put between wedges of iceburg lettuce and swiss chard.

8:30 pm = i'm quite hungry so eat a handful of grapes on my way home. I eat two burgers and am stuffed full.

10:30 pm - i watch my fav show Glee and have a coconut milk and banana smoothie. Yum.

11:00 pm - finish post and head to bed.

Start of Week Six

Start of week six. I've added coconut oil to my regime. In fact tonight I had the best smoothie to date and very simple to make. 1/3 cup of coconut milk (I don't eat dairy), five ice cubes, 2 tsp of virgin organic coconut oil, a medium sized banana, 1scoop of chocolate protein powder and water to make wet. Yum!

I've only broken primal eating in a bad way in five weeks of eating and I'm damn proud of this. The 'bad way' was mild compared to what it could have been it was controlled eating - not a binge. I continue to feel fantastic.

My tummy is starting to show nice muscle development. And yes those are freckles.

Oh and the yummy shoes below I just bought today. That's my real fuel source.

c