Top sirloin steak broiled to a medium rare. Baked sweet potato with some Kerrygold butter and cinnamon, and steamed Brussels sprouts. This is more like it.
Enjoy your holiday weekend!
Friday, May 24, 2013
Riding the Sugar Roller Coaster
I have been a bad girl!
For 3 days straight I resisted temptation and ate mostly Primal meals. Granted, I've eaten out a lot this week (shh! don't tell my doctor), but that's been more to laziness and poor planning than anything. But I was making my meals as Primal/Paleo as I could. I was feeling pretty good about myself. Had lots of energy and felt really focused.
Yesterday...it all came crashing down!
We had an ice cream social at work...I know, I know! I shouldn't succumb to that temptation because of the milk allergy (which, if you haven't figured this out by now, only causes internal inflammation and not an anaphylactic reaction with me). But the opportunity to be social was too tempting to pass up. And it got me away from my desk for a few minutes.
That wouldn't have been so bad, but when I got home, I washed what few dishes were left over from breakfast (note to self, make it a habit to do the dishes as soon as I finish eating). The kitchen was nice and clean...and I couldn't bear the thought of messing it up! I just didn't feel like cooking (which is a clear sign that something is wrong with me).
I broke down and asked my husband to bring home pizza. I also asked him to bring home wings, since they're not breaded. I tried to be good!
He brought home pizza...and cheese sticks...and the wings. And I ate a little of all of it. I knew I shouldn't have, but I couldn't seem to stop myself from the self-destruction. By the end of the evening, I was exhausted...and feeling a little sick. Why, why, why do I do this to myself?!!
Today wasn't better. I started off well. Ate the leftover wings. Probably not the healthiest of choices, since they were drowning in barbecue sauce, but it could have been worse. Then lunch rolled around, and I found myself eating a Taco Bell chicken quesadilla and taco (granted, the taco was fresco, but still...corn, anyone?). Now I sit here, fighting sleep (which I haven't done in the afternoon in a very long time) while my body asks me "What WERE you thinking?!!" in a Molly Weasley-like voice.
I now realize why I've been feeling tired, run-down, swollen, constantly hungry, and a little sick. Too much:
I hate roller coasters, by the way!
Seriously, spin me around all day long, and I'm fine. But don't take me up to a great height, then drop me quickly. I don't enjoy it. That's why I avoid theme park roller coasters.
I don't enjoy the sugar roller coaster, either. These last couple of days are a reminder of why I went Primal/Paleo in the first place. I don't like feeling this way.
We're cooking at home tonight. I know top sirloin is on the menu. Maybe we'll roast the rest of that cauliflower and saute some greens, as well?
What are you having for dinner tonight?
For 3 days straight I resisted temptation and ate mostly Primal meals. Granted, I've eaten out a lot this week (shh! don't tell my doctor), but that's been more to laziness and poor planning than anything. But I was making my meals as Primal/Paleo as I could. I was feeling pretty good about myself. Had lots of energy and felt really focused.
Yesterday...it all came crashing down!
We had an ice cream social at work...I know, I know! I shouldn't succumb to that temptation because of the milk allergy (which, if you haven't figured this out by now, only causes internal inflammation and not an anaphylactic reaction with me). But the opportunity to be social was too tempting to pass up. And it got me away from my desk for a few minutes.
That wouldn't have been so bad, but when I got home, I washed what few dishes were left over from breakfast (note to self, make it a habit to do the dishes as soon as I finish eating). The kitchen was nice and clean...and I couldn't bear the thought of messing it up! I just didn't feel like cooking (which is a clear sign that something is wrong with me).
I broke down and asked my husband to bring home pizza. I also asked him to bring home wings, since they're not breaded. I tried to be good!
He brought home pizza...and cheese sticks...and the wings. And I ate a little of all of it. I knew I shouldn't have, but I couldn't seem to stop myself from the self-destruction. By the end of the evening, I was exhausted...and feeling a little sick. Why, why, why do I do this to myself?!!
Today wasn't better. I started off well. Ate the leftover wings. Probably not the healthiest of choices, since they were drowning in barbecue sauce, but it could have been worse. Then lunch rolled around, and I found myself eating a Taco Bell chicken quesadilla and taco (granted, the taco was fresco, but still...corn, anyone?). Now I sit here, fighting sleep (which I haven't done in the afternoon in a very long time) while my body asks me "What WERE you thinking?!!" in a Molly Weasley-like voice.
I now realize why I've been feeling tired, run-down, swollen, constantly hungry, and a little sick. Too much:
- Dairy
- Sugar
- Grain (wheat in particular)
I hate roller coasters, by the way!
Seriously, spin me around all day long, and I'm fine. But don't take me up to a great height, then drop me quickly. I don't enjoy it. That's why I avoid theme park roller coasters.
I don't enjoy the sugar roller coaster, either. These last couple of days are a reminder of why I went Primal/Paleo in the first place. I don't like feeling this way.
We're cooking at home tonight. I know top sirloin is on the menu. Maybe we'll roast the rest of that cauliflower and saute some greens, as well?
What are you having for dinner tonight?
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
No I Didn't Get Lost, But I Did Get to the Doctor
Sorry about not posting. Life got a little crazy with the final product push at work. But I did get good news at my doctor's office.
My blood pressure was normal!! That's rare for me. It's usually a little elevated at the doctor's office, because I deal with "white coat syndrome." What's that? It's a condition some people experience when they go to the doctor's office. It causes a feeling of anxiety, which often translates into a slightly elevated blood pressure reading.
I was a happy woman. This "Paleo thing" must be doing some good.
The doctor did advise me to follow a slightly more strict version of Paleo/Primal than what I've been following (which has been much closer to 65/35 than the 80/20 to 85/15 that Mark Sisson and Robb Wolf recommend). So I'm back to coming up with some newer Paleo/Primal recipes. I'll post them as I experiment, I promise.
My doctor also advised me to get away from the computer and get at least an hour of movement in every day. I'm open to suggestions, folks. What do you think I should do?
My blood pressure was normal!! That's rare for me. It's usually a little elevated at the doctor's office, because I deal with "white coat syndrome." What's that? It's a condition some people experience when they go to the doctor's office. It causes a feeling of anxiety, which often translates into a slightly elevated blood pressure reading.
I was a happy woman. This "Paleo thing" must be doing some good.
The doctor did advise me to follow a slightly more strict version of Paleo/Primal than what I've been following (which has been much closer to 65/35 than the 80/20 to 85/15 that Mark Sisson and Robb Wolf recommend). So I'm back to coming up with some newer Paleo/Primal recipes. I'll post them as I experiment, I promise.
My doctor also advised me to get away from the computer and get at least an hour of movement in every day. I'm open to suggestions, folks. What do you think I should do?
Monday, May 6, 2013
No More SAD
Mark Sisson, author of The Primal Blueprint, and Robb Wolf, author of The Paleo Diet Solution, refer to the diet most Americans follow as the "standard American diet," or "SAD." This diet consists of:
I, however, have another name for SAD.
Swollen
Anxious
Depressed
I was a bad Hoosier cave girl a couple of weekends ago and ate far more wheat and sugar than I ever should. It started with a birthday cake that I bought (I have a major weakness for butter cream icing) for my husband and brother, because their birthdays are within about 3 days of each other. We had friends over, so cake was a celebratory offering.
Yeah, I know. I have GOT to stop thinking like this!
I figured one piece would not kill me. My body may be unhappy the next day, but I would deal with it. I had a great idea and plan, until...
No one took the leftover cake home with them. We were stuck with over half a cake!
My husband didn't take it with him to work the next day, so it stared at me ALL DAY LONG!
Did I mention I have a major weakness for butter cream icing? I ended up eating several pieces over the weekend (the pizza we had Saturday night probably didn't help, either).
I ate more of that cake than I ever intended. And, man, did I pay for it! My legs have swelled to the point I feel like I have rubber bands around my knees. My digestive system is sluggish. I'm feeling slightly anxious and depressed at the same time (which really messes with your head, believe me). Trust me, the cake was NOT worth this misery.
I think, the next birthday that crops up in my group of friends, I'll make the cake myself with "Paleo" ingredients (at least without lots of wheat, milk, and processed sugar). Hmmm...maybe I'll try my Paleo Pineapple Upside Down Cake again (that will be another post).
For now, it's back to the Paleo eating and calisthenic exercise to get the swelling back down. Maybe I'll go harvest sage from the garden before I cut back the sage bush. That might help, too.
Has your diet been making you feel sluggish? Share your thoughts with me.
- Lots of carbohydrates in the form of grains and legumes.
- Plenty of calcium in the form of dairy.
- Limitation on meat and fat intake.
- Processed foods that are loaded with sugar and chemicals.
I, however, have another name for SAD.
Swollen
Anxious
Depressed
I was a bad Hoosier cave girl a couple of weekends ago and ate far more wheat and sugar than I ever should. It started with a birthday cake that I bought (I have a major weakness for butter cream icing) for my husband and brother, because their birthdays are within about 3 days of each other. We had friends over, so cake was a celebratory offering.
Yeah, I know. I have GOT to stop thinking like this!
I figured one piece would not kill me. My body may be unhappy the next day, but I would deal with it. I had a great idea and plan, until...
No one took the leftover cake home with them. We were stuck with over half a cake!
My husband didn't take it with him to work the next day, so it stared at me ALL DAY LONG!
Did I mention I have a major weakness for butter cream icing? I ended up eating several pieces over the weekend (the pizza we had Saturday night probably didn't help, either).
I ate more of that cake than I ever intended. And, man, did I pay for it! My legs have swelled to the point I feel like I have rubber bands around my knees. My digestive system is sluggish. I'm feeling slightly anxious and depressed at the same time (which really messes with your head, believe me). Trust me, the cake was NOT worth this misery.
I think, the next birthday that crops up in my group of friends, I'll make the cake myself with "Paleo" ingredients (at least without lots of wheat, milk, and processed sugar). Hmmm...maybe I'll try my Paleo Pineapple Upside Down Cake again (that will be another post).
For now, it's back to the Paleo eating and calisthenic exercise to get the swelling back down. Maybe I'll go harvest sage from the garden before I cut back the sage bush. That might help, too.
Has your diet been making you feel sluggish? Share your thoughts with me.
Grinding Your Own Hamburger Part 1
So I was listening to America's Test Kitchen on NPR yesterday, and I heard you can grind your own hamburger meat using a food processor.
Yes...you read that correctly...a food processor.
According to the chefs, using a food processor breaks up the connective tissue in the meat, so your burgers won't shrink up into tennis ball shapes when you fry/grill them. The show recommended using flank, skirt or flat iron cuts instead of chuck or round steak, though you can still use those cuts.
I'm curious to see if the meat will "stick together" less when you fry it in bulk instead of in patty shape. I have some flank or skirt steak in the freezer (can't remember which off the top of my head). I may just have to try this! Once I figure out the process, I'll present it in Part 2. I will make sure to try both bulk and patties during the test (lots of cooked beef makes for a happy household in my family).
What cuts do you think would be used for ground pork? Feel free to weigh in with a comment.
Yes...you read that correctly...a food processor.
According to the chefs, using a food processor breaks up the connective tissue in the meat, so your burgers won't shrink up into tennis ball shapes when you fry/grill them. The show recommended using flank, skirt or flat iron cuts instead of chuck or round steak, though you can still use those cuts.
I'm curious to see if the meat will "stick together" less when you fry it in bulk instead of in patty shape. I have some flank or skirt steak in the freezer (can't remember which off the top of my head). I may just have to try this! Once I figure out the process, I'll present it in Part 2. I will make sure to try both bulk and patties during the test (lots of cooked beef makes for a happy household in my family).
What cuts do you think would be used for ground pork? Feel free to weigh in with a comment.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)