Still Primal

I have been doing this for 4 weeks now. I am not perfect. I sneak a sweet here and there but I am still convinced that this the life for me.
I am down 9lbs since I started. I am sure that if you took out the dark chocolate and a few cookies that have entered my system over the last month I may have seen more progress but I don't know that I would feel as good as I do. I don't believe in deprivation, as I believe I have stated before. It isn't good for me to crave things to the point that it is all I can think about. You gotta do what you gotta do.

With that said, I gotta do this...1,000 Challenge. I found this on a Paleo board and I think it is what I need. I love a challenge and I am in! I did the first workout on Monday (21 lunges, 21 squats, 21 side lunges, and 21 calf raises). I could barely move from sitting to standing and vice versa yesterday. It was crazy. But I did it all again this morning, despite the soreness. I will have to say that I am doing my calf raises on my fireplace bricks because I don't have a step so they are slightly modified.

I am hoping that once they get easy (I am assuming that they will), I will add weights in to the routine.

Nobody's Perfect

Okay, I did it. I completely cheated.
Let me start by saying that I have been eating some amazing, delicious foods that are all Primal. I have had steak, grilled shrimp, pulled pork, and many, many eggs.
But last night I ate frozen yogurt. I justified it by getting the no sugar added kind made from strawberries and bananas. But, really, there was no excuse. Just short of two weeks in and I broke a major rule.

I read somewhere this week about how it is okay to fail. It's all in how you handle it. Will I eat frozen yogurt again? Maybe. But I do see the error in my ways. I want to be Primal; all day, every day. I woke up with horrible stomach cramps this morning at 1am, which I can only assume was from the yogurt even though I do eat cheese. So, I paid. Probably in my comfort while trying to sleep and on the scale as well.

This morning I am back on track, despite the challenge of having the day off of work (and therefore I am more likely to eat crap out of boredom). I ate two eggs and leftover pulled pork for breakfast. Probably whip up a spinach salad for lunch later and then meat and veggies for dinner.

I'm trying.

Day 2

Well, Day 2 is winding down and I already feel the stress of this. While it isn't going to be hard, it's going to be hard. I am not hungry at all. I did feel hunger this morning and I ate. Because with this plan I can eat. As much as I want. But only of certain things.

I have to admit that I am going to need to break some pretty awful habits. I love soda. Not that diet crap. I mean real soda. Black Cherry and Root Beer are my favorites.

And I love ice cream. I recently pushed myself to give up little $1 sized cups of ice cream and convert to Popsicles but now I can't even have those. After dinner last night I craved the sugary treat. I put coconut milk into the freezer and it was awful.

I did have some successes though.

I made it through Day One, eating turkey bacon, a hardboiled egg, a handful of berries, an apple with almond butter, chicken with beef bacon mixed with steamed broccoli and carrots. Also, I ate my own trail mix that I made up.

That's almond, walnuts, and sunflower seeds (all raw), with dehydrated raspberries and dried mangos and bananas (no sugar added). The bananas are delicious. Trader Joe's carries them and even though they are sweet, I promise the label only lists bananas as the ingrediant.

For Day 2 I ate two eggs mixed with grated cheese. I realize that the cheese was probably a slip up. I am not sure that grated cheese is allowed. I think Feta would have been the wiser choice. For lunch I had an apple and a baggie of plain carrots. I started to eat my Trail Mix but realized that I wasn't hungry.

For dinner I am planning on a hamburger patty with avocado with a small green salad (mixed greens, spinach, feta, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar).

I search recipes multiple times a day for new ideas. Considering a paleo ice cream recipe and thinking heavily about the dark chocolate in the cupboard....more on that later.

I am wondering if people are really 100% primal or paleo. Can you really cut out all of the treats (half a muffin, a cookie, a frozen yogurt) all of the time? I know cavemen did but this is 2012. Is that really what is expected of me, forever?

The Beginning & The End

Here I am. The fat girl. I have always been the fat girl as long as I can remember and I am pretty sure I will always be the fat girl.
I have tried exercise, calorie counting, attempting to jog, lots of walking, Weight Watchers, yoga, more exercise, cutting portions, and other 'diets'. And each and every time I see minimal success and I am still the fat girl.

Well, I am trying something new. Normally I wouldn't broadcast the fact that I am trying again because it never ends well but I am pretty sure I am on the right track this time so I am documenting the journey. This is more for myself than for anyone else.

I am going to attempt to go Primal.

What does that mean? Well, I am new to this so it doesn't mean a whole lot to me yet. The basics, as I understand them, is that I am about to give up all processed foods. Anything that a caveman wouldn't have eaten is out. No more bread, pasta, legumes, sugar, soda, ice cream, rice, etc.

So, what can I eat? Again, I am new so if you are looking at this post for guidance, look elsewhere. I am still learning. But I am going to start with meats (beef, ground turkey, chicken, shrimp, bacon), nuts (all are okay except peanuts), fruits (minimal), vegetables. I will drink water and maybe coconut water (which I have never tried).

Is this a fad diet? For most people that I have encountered and read about, No. This is not Atkin's or South Beach. This is way of life for many people. It is meant to be sustained for the long hall.

Eventually, I will work on my exercise routine as well. Baby steps.

So, tomorrow I begin the Primal Lifestyle and end the Fat Girl Lifestyle. Good bye to the way I have been for 32 years. I am sure it will be hard to shake and there will be bumps in the road. Can I lose any weight at all?
Will I make it through the first week (said to be rough)?
Can I stick with it?
Will I slip up from time to time and give into old habits?

Let's see, shall we?

What will I post?
I am going to share with you the challenges, successes, and hurdles. Maybe recipes and tips. Suggested websites and ideas.
Assuming I lose weight, I will tell you about it. Eventually I may even post photos.