Let's Talk Paleo: A Mother/Daughter's 30 Day Challenge

Glad I'm Back!

2011-02-02T21:20:00.000-08:00

Pictured is dinner: Cod and Beet Apple Salad. I enjoyed all 3 meals today. Hope I can stick with it this time around. Just knowing all the benefits of eating healthy is not necessarily enough to keep someone on any plan. But here I go!

2nd Go Round

2011-02-02T18:40:00.001-08:00

I've finally returned to the Paleo plan and I can't tell you how happy it makes me. I've been stumbling around for several days and realized how much more energy I have when I eat paleo. So, the photo on the left was my breakfast: Sweet Potato Hash and 2 poached eggs. The photo on the right was my lunch: turkey burger with tomato, onion, slivered almonds and an orange.

I did a 9-mile bike ride and I've been busy doing yard work...pruning trees. There is always lots of yard work to do and it's quite a work out! So, I've been holding my own as far as not gaining any weight.

7 lbs and Counting!

2011-01-20T12:19:00.000-08:00

Today marks one month from the time I started the paleo way. Even though I have not been as vigilant as I had hoped, I'm still happy that I lost a total of 7 lbs. Also, my clothes are fitting looser.

Yoohoo!

2011-01-15T18:23:00.000-08:00

Out of Service

Oh No!

2011-01-14T22:04:00.000-08:00

Today is a non-paleo day...check back tomorrow.

On the Paleo

2011-01-13T10:40:00.000-08:00

I decided not to follow today's menus and wing it the paleo way. I think it's more important to stay on the plan than to have to follow the menus as presented. I enjoyed a western omelet and sweet potato hash...yum yum.

I went for a 12 mile bike ride. I was a little tired so I snacked on beef jerky and macadamia nuts and some fruit. Don't feel like making dinner and I'm not really hungry. So, do I eat anyway? I don't know what the rules are as far as eating when not hungry. I'll have to investigate.

My Way

2011-01-12T18:53:00.000-08:00

Breakfast today was supposed to be bacon, 2-3 eggs over easy or poached but I decided to have the quick paleo pancakes (previously pictured Sat Jan 8)instead. Again this was sooo delicious! Slated for lunch today was leftover Chicken Apple Salad but I enjoyed a grilled salmon salad (pictured on the left). On the right is tonight's dinner: Flank Steak and Bacon & Greens.

I took advantage of a beautiful day and went for a 15-mile bike ride. I'm looking over tomorrow's menus and I'm not very excited. Breakfast and lunch are both leftovers...not that I mind leftovers. It's just that I don't feel like eating steak tomorrow morning and slow-cooked rosemary veggies and meat. I'm sure I'll figure it out.

On the Run

2011-01-11T18:24:00.000-08:00

I ran out of the house this morning and grabbed what was closest...a cara cara orange and a handful of macadamias. Not what was on the menu but had to run errands. But before I left I did manage to put a roast and veggies to slow-cook which would be my dinner later. I spent most of my day in Bakersfield...at Target, Costco, Winco, and Lassen's with my neighbor Dorine. We had lunch at Carrows. We had first stopped at Marie Calendar's but we left because they don't serve breakfast fare after 11am. Pictured is breakfast/lunch: Corned Beef Hash, 2 eggs and tomato slices. I didn't realize at first that the hash had bits of potato but I ate it anyway. It was late afternoon when I returned home and I was glad I didn't have to worry about making dinner...it was ready!

Results are a Great Incentive

2011-01-10T09:23:00.000-08:00

I just weighed myself and lost 6 more lbs. That is now a total of 10.5 lbs...woohoo! I am now beginning my 3rd week of paleo menus...let the weight loss continue! To the left is today's breakfast: Boiled Lamb Sausage and an apple. As I mentioned before I don't eat lamb so I chose chicken apple sausage. A sausage by any other name is still a sausage and taste as "sweet". So much for my knowledge of Shakespeare! Lunch was leftover Paleo Chicken Alfredo and dinner was spaghetti-sauced meat over green beans. Dinner for me was nothing to write home about.

I did manage to fit in a 15 mile bike ride early in the day and it's a good thing because it got colder in the afternoon.

As you may or may not recall I started this paleo plan with my daughter, Diana, on December 20th. I have not seen any posts from her since December 23rd. I don't know what to make of this. She did say she was going to start blogging again but as you can see...nothing. She left me to do this on my own, which is fine. It was fun while it lasted. I'll continue my journey alone.

Oh What a Foggy Day

2011-01-09T19:09:00.000-08:00

Lunch is pictured on the left: Burger on top of greens and a side salad. I chose to have a turkey burger and of course no bun. Dinner is pictured on the right: Paleo Chicken Alfredo. It was tasty but it wasn't saucy enough. I followed the recipe but I didn't have any liquid left over to add to make the sauce. So, I added water. But all in all it was quite good. The recipe used kelp noodles but you wouldn't have noticed it wasn't pasta.

I had to google the health benefits of kelp noodles. Here is what I found among other things: Kelp is known to aid metabolism, promote weight loss, boost energy, aid in digestion, promote scalp and hair health, and help with thyroid function. That's good to know! And today was sooo foggy (I couldn't see my backyard) and cold that I decided to take the day off from exercise. Tomorrow is my weigh in...can't wait.

Peach'n'Pecan Scramble

2011-01-09T11:10:00.000-08:00

Breakfast is pictured on the right. It's supposed to be peach'n'pecan scramble but it turned out to be apricot'n'pecan scramble (I had no peaches on hand). It was an interesting combination. It also included leftover chicken but the scramble was plenty of food.

Late Dinner

2011-01-08T20:44:00.000-08:00

Pictured is tonight's dinner: Lamb Sausage with Artichokes and a poached egg on top. Well, it's not really lamb sausage, just a sausage of my choice. I had a late dinner which I don't really like to do. Sometimes I'm so busy with whatever that time gets away from me and I'm having lunch at 4:30pm. So, if it happens again I'm going to have a snack instead. I should be okay until breakfast.

Perfect Way to Begin Weekend!

2011-01-08T11:13:00.000-08:00

I have been looking forward to this breakfast all week. Pancakes without using grains topped with warm, fresh, blueberries and maple syrup. OMG, did I enjoy a delicious treat.

You have to try this recipe. Quick Paleo Pancakes: 2 eggs, 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce, 1/2 cup nut butter such as cashew or macadamia work well (not peanut butter), 1/4 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp vanilla extract and coconut oil for cooking.

Lunch today is rotisserie chicken and steamed veggies of your choice. No photograph provided since it's self-explanatory.

I did go for a 9-mile bike ride and also took my dog for a 2-mile hilly walk. It's a good thing I went earlier in the afternoon because it got cold and windy later in the day. Tonight is another light weight workout. I plan to workout with weights 3x per week to begin with. Writing it down helps me to follow through with my plans.

Make Time

2011-01-07T16:54:00.000-08:00

2 eggs over easy served over sauteed zucchini started out my day. (Breakfast pictured to left) I drove 50 miles to get my car serviced and had to wait for 3 hours. I took my dog Fibi (pronounced Feebee) and instead of just sitting we went for a walk around Auto Mall row. Just wanted you to see what beautiful eyes she has...that's the first thing people notice. And pictured above breakfast is today's lunch. Smoked turkey salad served over mixed greens with 1/4 cup pine nuts.

When I got home I took a short 6-mile ride on my bike...very exhilarating. Never make excuses, always make time for some form of activity. If it's important enough you'll find the time. Btw, I had an exercise regimen long before I started the paleo way. The one thing I had been lacking was the weight training and better eating habits.

And once again, I want to point out the pretty coffee cup pictured. Another Starbucks exclusive... holly leaves all in white except for the red berries on the outside and totally red on the inside. And no, Starbucks does not pay me to promote their coffee mugs. I just really like them.
Dinner was very easy to prepare hence it's called Quick Chicken Curry. It was quite yummy but then again, this is based on my taste buds.

Be Sure to Eat Your Veggies

2011-01-06T19:56:00.000-08:00

Lunch is pictured on the left: Beet Apple Salad and Tilapia. Dinner is on the right: Chicken and Cauliflower, at least that's what the recipe called for. But cauliflower is not one of my favorite vegetables so I used zucchini instead. Eating veggies is so easy to do on this program and quite an enjoyable experience! So if there is an ingredient you don't particularly like...make choices that will make it easy to stay on track.

And yes, I did indeed do 30 minutes of light weights! Thank goodness for light weights because I wouldn't have been able to do the exercises demonstrated in the book. Phew! I only used 5 lb dumbbells but that was enough for me. I certainly hope to progress to a little bit heavier weight as time passes.

Oh, and not that you asked but after eating the Beet Apple Salad my urine was reddish-pink( a lighter version of the color of beets). Just wanted to pass that on so you wouldn't be surprised.

Ginger Eggs

2011-01-06T12:03:00.000-08:00

A combination of 3 eggs with green beans, ginger, garlic, chopped chives or green onions, coriander and pepper to taste made up breakfast. Three eggs is quite a serving so I ate approximately 2. I didn't much care for the coriander flavor in the eggs. I normally really enjoy ginger but I wouldn't use it again in eggs. I'm willing to try these recipes but I certainly won't prepare the ones I don't like in the future. And I guess that it goes without saying...if I stick to the basic tenets of the program that's what is most important.

In the photo you also see another pretty Christmas mug I got as a gift from Diana..also from Starbucks. Anyone who knows me knows I really like Christmas mugs.

Who's Coming to Dinner?

2011-01-05T20:20:00.000-08:00

Wish it hadn't been me! Didn't like tonight's dinner: leftover Pork Curry and Chilled Cucumber Soup...yuk! I have yet to enjoy a cold soup, not that I've tried so many but still. In my previous post I mentioned more about riding my bike than about "paleo". So, what does it have to do with "paleo"? Absolutely nothing! Well, that's not exactly true. And btw, you are supposed to incorporate some sort of activity to get you moving and break a sweat. And as you might have noticed I have yet to start any weight training. I think it's about time. So, 1st thing tomorrow morning...I'll be lifting some light weights. I'm stating it now so that it will force me to kick it into action. And there is only so much I can write about the food. And that's one recipe I will not be replicating!

A Loop & A Lunch

2011-01-05T16:54:00.000-08:00

Before I made lunch today, I had to go for a bike ride. I rode a 15-mile loop. It's the longest ride to date. I'm actually preparing for the Starlight Spectacular in Colorado Springs. It winds through this beautiful park... Garden of the Gods. The photo on the right is known as the Balanced Rock.

I rode for the 1st time last year (June 12, 2010 and begins at midnight). This event has never been canceled in 16 years...neither rain nor sleet nor snow...blah blah blah. I did stop after riding halfway through...it was pouring rain. I looked like a drenched rat. Hopefully, this year the weather will be more cooperative.

And yes, today's lunch was leftover tip steak, sliced into strips, served on salad of mixed greens, tomato, bell pepper, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil.

Breakfast of Champions

2011-01-05T11:27:00.001-08:00

Breakfast this morning was indeed a treat...after last night's dinner. I've never been a fan of applesauce but combined with ham was quite delicious. Oh, and don't forget a spoon of almond butter, again, something I don't usually eat. And to round out breakfast I made a homemade Americano coffee in my favorite moose mug. It was a gift from Diana, Christmas 2009. She got it at Starbucks. This year Starbucks had a bear mug...I bought that one for my husband Eduardo. Every year at Christmas they put out some very nice mugs. If you like one you'd better buy it because you won't see it again. I know...I made that mistake. The mugs are a little pricey but it's only once a year.

What can I say?

2011-01-04T19:45:00.000-08:00

Tonight's dinner:Pork Curry. Brown 1 lb ground pork in 1T olive oil, add 1-2 T curry while it's browning; add 14 oz baby spinach and 7 oz coconut milk; allow spinach to wilt and add 2-3 minced garlic cloves; mix well and serve. It was okay, not one of my favorite recipes. But it will be part of my dinner tomorrow night also. I'm not going to like it any better then. Like I mentioned before, the food is very dense and therefore, I don't have any cravings. The recipes call for some spices I normally don't use which as it turns out has been great! I have noticed that many of the recipes don't use any salt and are still quite flavorful.

Back on Track

2011-01-04T11:45:00.000-08:00

Well, breakfast today was leftover steak and 1-2 oz macadamia nuts plus I had black coffee. No dairy is allowed and I never sweeten my coffee. But my favorite coffee drink is a cafe latte which I no longer drink. I may even stop drinking coffee all together since it's not as enjoyable as it used to be. I'm an avid herbal tea drinker anyway.

It's still cold here, in the high 30's but it's very windy and feels a lot colder. No bike riding today but I'll figure out some other form of exercise.

Lunch today consists of chicken breast with Indian-Style Slaw (this was a recipe from the 1st week which I did not like) but I am substituting spinach instead.

Assessing the Damage

2011-01-03T14:20:00.000-08:00

I have been missing in action for 5 days! I've returned to the paleo plan...I'm baaack! I weighed myself 1st thing this morning and much to my surprise I only gained 2 lbs...that means I kept 4.5 lbs off...yippee! Not that I should be jumping for joy about this but at least I didn't regain the 6.5 lbs I initially lost. I did go for a spin on my bike...to the left is one of the hills I climbed. Great workout! It's 30 degrees outside but I didn't notice it until I got home and got off my bike. This was only a 6-mile loop. This was pretty much an uneventful day. I have been trying to finish a book I started last year and is due tomorrow...The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. It is the 3rd in a trilogy by Stieg Larsson. The previous 2 books: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and The Girl Who Played with Fire were both excellent.

Try Harder

2010-12-28T22:18:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning at 7am and made a cup of tea. Today's breakfast was Tip Steak and macadamia nuts. Since there wasn't any tip steak leftover from last night's dinner I only had the macadamia nuts. After breakfast I raked leaves in my back yard for about 1 hour...you can certainly work up a sweat doing this. After all the fun of raking leaves, I hopped on my bike and went for a ride(unless otherwise specified my usual ride is a 9-mile loop). I was on the road most of the day and prepared my lunch before I took off and had turkey and Indian-Style Slaw. It was actually chicken for lunch today but turkey was all I had. I was driving home and I knew I wouldn't be able to get home in time to make Pork Curry. I stopped on the way home at Wendy's and ate a burger, fries and a coke...but I only ate half the bun. So much for this day.

Paleo what?

2010-12-27T19:13:00.000-08:00

We went to a late breakfast this morning. The paleo menu called for a slice of ham, 1 cup unsweetened applesauce w/cinnamon and 1 oz walnuts. Instead, I ate 2 poached eggs, Canadian bacon, sliced tomatoes and avocado. I also enjoyed half a cinnamon roll which of course is not part of the plan. This does not mean that I am no longer on the plan. I just felt like having something sweet. I wasn't even craving sugar but it was very enjoyable. There I admitted it. I didn't eat lunch today although it should have been a large salad with chicken strips, lettuce, olives, tomato, chopped almonds and carrot strips. Add olive oil and vinegar of your choice. I did eat 2 oz of walnuts. Dinner tonight calls for Tip Steak and Steamed Vegetables. I had tip steak with sauteed onions, green and red bell peppers and spinach, plus 2 oz macadamia nuts. I'm done for the day. Tomorrow will be a better day.

Weigh to Go!

2010-12-27T16:37:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Eddie! Today is my son's birthday! He's the tallest one in the photo. It has now been one week that I have followed the paleo plan. I weighed myself this morning and have lost 6.5 lbs. Please don't ask me how much of that is actual fat loss because I couldn't venture a guess. But it is a great incentive to continue. Nothing feels better than getting results.

Christmas 2010
In the photo from left to right: Diana (daughter), Eddie (son), Kelli (future daughter-in-law), Carlos (son engaged to Kelli), Dora (Mom), Eduardo (Dad).