Day twenty nine...looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow.

Woke up eager this morning at 6am to make egg drop soup but the chicken broth still had a couple of hours to go. Since I had to be to work at 8, there was no chance of this happening. After twelve hours of work followed by an hour at the gym..I am ready to call it a night!

Breakfast: 1 cup coffee, 4 boiled eggs, 1 cup blackberries, handful of blueberries.

Snack: 1 apple, 2 tablespoons of almond butter.

Lunch: 6 oz grilled mahi mahi, 1 cup romaine lettuce with balsamic vinegar, 1/4 cup diced tomatoes.

Snack: 1/4 cup blueberries, 1 tablespoon of almond butter.

Dinner: 6 oz oven roasted chicken, 2 cups mixed greens with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, 1/4 cup broccoli slaw, 1/2 avocado, 1 orange, and cilantro.

Post workout meal: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 1 cup spaghetti squash, 6 oven roasted sweet potato wedges.

Day twenty eight...little girl arms are starting to become big girl arms:)

While brushing my teeth this morning, the reflection of my arms caught me off guard. They are changing! I couldn't help but to switch my tooth brush from right hand to left so I could watch the muscles in my shoulders and biceps move. Just the extra motivation I needed to put a smile on my face, do a little dance, and hit the gym before work!

Breakfast: 2 eggs mixed with 1/4 cup egg whites scrambled, 1/4 cup blueberries, 1/2 cup spinach, and 1 cup of coffee.

Post workout meal: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 1/4 cup red cabbage, 1/4 cup broccoli slaw, 1/2 cup mixed greens.

Snack: 1 apple, 2 tablespoons of almond butter, triple shot espresso.

Lunch: 4 oz grilled chicken breast, 4 oz grilled tilapia, 2 cups mixed greens, 1/4 cup broccoli slaw, 1/4 cup red cabbage, 1/4 cup blueberries, 4 grape tomatoes, cilantro, and 1 parsilla pepper.

Snack: 4 oz grilled chicken breast, 1 hard boiled egg, 1 cup blackberries. I ended up going back to the gym to do 20 minutes of interval training and abs after work. All I want is protein and food now.

Dinner: 4 oz oven roasted chicken, 1 cup mixed greens with balsamic vinegar, 1/2 avocado, 1/4 cup broccoli slaw, 1/2 orange.

After oven roasting a whole chicken tonight and looking at Kait's primal kitchen blog, I decided I wanted to make her egg drop soup with homemade chicken broth. The carcass, giblets, carrots, celery, garlic, bay leaves, peppercorn, and oven roasted skin on onion are now simmering away in the crock pot and morning can't come soon enough!

Day twenty seven...love myself a good shoulder burn in the morning.

This morning's workout with Dee consisted of a thirty minute circuit training involving 100 push ups, 100 turkish get ups with a 20lb kettle bell, 100 burpees, 100 bottoms up kettle raises, and 100 deadlifts with 95lbs..followed by 30 minutes of shoulders and abs to finish it off. I am hungry NOW. Time to fill this bottomless pit of a stomach.

Breakfast: 1 cup coffee, 1/3 cup eggs whites scrambled, 3 oz grilled chicken breast, 1/2 avocado, and 1/4 cup blueberries.

Post workout meal: 6 oz grilled chicken breast with balsamic vinegar, 1/4 cup blueberries, 1 orange.

Snack: 1 apple, 2 tablespoons of cashew butter. Nap time!!

Lunch: Triple shot of espresso, 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 1 cup mixed greens with balsamic vinegar, 1/4 cup blueberries, 1/4 cup broccoli slaw, and handful of blackberries.

Dinner: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 2 cups mixed greens with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, 1 orange, cilantro, 6 grape tomatoes, handful of walnuts, and 1/4 cup broccoli slaw.

Snack: 4 oz grilled chicken breast, handful of blueberries.

I made a protein shake for a friend at work tonight and had to hold myself back from drinking some. They are so convenient right after a workout and make for a tasty quick snack. Protein powder is definitely not paleo friendly. But I'm still considering whether or not to bring them back into my diet after these 30 days are up. I do wish to continue on with this lifestyle so we will see how long it lasts. After a busy night of work followed by inventory, this girl is ready for bed. I need to rest up in order to hit the gym in the morning before work in the afternoon. Good night:)

Day twenty six...walking a couple inches taller today- Thanks Chrissy! :)

This morning Chrissy and I went to the gym together to do legs, buns, and abs. We haven't seen each other in a couple of weeks, so first thing she said was that she could tell a difference in my body! Yay! Just the motivation I needed to push through another workout and not leave til I was done.

Breakfast: 1 cup egg whites scrambled, 2 oz grilled salmon, 1/2 avocado, handful of blue berries, 2 strawberries, 1 cup coffee.

Post workout meal: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 1 orange.

Lunch: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 1 cup mixed greens with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, cilantro, 1/4 cup broccoli slaw.

Snack: 1 apple, tablespoon of almond butter.

Snack: 4 oz grilled filet. Snack and dinner were only a few minutes apart. Work was busy which means I didn't have a chance to eat for almost 7 hours. It got a little ugly at the end.

Dinner: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 2 cups mixed greens in balsamic vinegar and olive oil, 1/4 cup blueberries, 4 grape tomatoes, yellow bell peppers, 1/4 cup broccoli slaw.

It's almost 2am and I am finally unwinding from a busy night at work with hot tea in hand. I'm ready for bed. Time to replenish and heal this sore body with some well deserved sleep.

Day twenty five...yoga on the brain.

I put myself to bed before I had a chance to finish my last thoughts for yesterday's entry. Just what I needed. After eight beautiful hours of sleep, breakfast in my tummy, and coffee pulsing through my veins..I was ready to go and full of energy all day.

Breakfast: 4 eggs scrambled, 1/2 avocado, sweet potato onion hash, 3 strawberries, and a handful of blueberries, 1 cup coffee. Went to the park/soccer field for a 20 minute run afterwards. When I say 20, I mean only 20. Ankles are finally feeling better and I don't want to push it.

Lunch: 6 oz sauteed ground chicken, fresh ginger, fresh garlic, shitake mushrooms, parsilla peppers, water chestnuts, yellow onions, pepper, tamari soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, and sesame seed oil. 3 iceberg lettuce wraps. I actually stayed full for awhile after this. Yes!

Snack: 1 orange.

Post workout meal: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, handful of macadamia nuts.

Snack: 1 apple, tablespoon of almond butter. New addiction.

Dinner: 2 char grilled bacon wrapped sea scallops, 4 grilled shrimp with fresh lemon juice and olive oil, 1 cup mixed greens with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, 1/4 cup sauteed garlic swiss chard, chopped grilled serrano pepper, 1/4 cup broccoli slaw, red cabbage, and cilantro. Bacon wrapped anything is amazing. Next time I'll wrap the shrimp too!

Snack: 3 oz grilled chicken, handful of blackberries.

It's been over a month since I last did yoga because of my ankles and I've thought about it every day. Now that I'm feeling better, I may start going to a class or two a week. I love that my body has been as sore as it has lately and am looking forward to the extra stretch. On that note, think I'll go foam roll my back, calves, and hamstrings before bedtime. Nighty night :)

Day twenty four...I will learn to love squats.

I could do the leg press, machines, deadlifts, and cycle all day but single leg step ups and deep squats with weights? No thank you. Just shows me that I need to work on my lower body strength. One day, I will do them without wanting to scream out loud or thinking about throwing my weights across the room. My legs and back feel like jello. I see a lazy day of cooking, eating, pool time, and sleeping in my future.

Breakfast: 3 boiled eggs, 4 oven roasted sweet potato wedges, 1 cup coffee.

Post workout meal: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 1 apple.

Lunch: 6 oz char grilled wild salmon, 1 cup mixed greens, 1 cup red cabbage, cilantro, yellow bell peppers, 2 strawberries, 6 grape tomatoes, 1/4 cup broccoli slaw, balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

Dinner: 12 oz char grilled steak (thats right)- marinated in fresh ginger, tamari soy sauce, and olive oil, 1 grilled serrano pepper, grilled portabella mushrooms, and 6 asparagus spears with fresh lemon and olive oil. After a long nap, this girl was ready to eat. I'm pretty sure I had my protein intake for the day so any snack for the rest of the evening will involve fruits and veggies:) 

Snack: 1 apple, handful of carrots.

Day twenty three...butter?

Woke up this morning wanting a little hollandaise sauce with my eggs and bacon. I normally associate butter as bad so I rarely allow myself to eat it. Just what I needed to start my day. Now off to do a little cardio and abs before work this afternoon.

Breakfast: 3 poached eggs, hollandaise sauce (4 egg yolks, fresh lemon juice, butter, cayenne pepper, and salt), 4 oven roasted asparagus spears, 3 slices of extra crispy bacon, and a cup of fresh blackberries, blueberries, and strawberries. 

Post workout meal: 4 oz grilled chicken breast, handful of blackberries.

Lunch: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 1 cup mixed greens in balsamic vinegar and olive oil, 1/2 avocado, 1/4 cup broccoli slaw, 2 strawberries, celery, red onion, cilantro, and oven roasted sweet potatoes.

Snack: 1 boiled egg, 1 orange, double shot of espresso.

Dinner: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 2 cups mixed greens, 4 strawberries, 1/4 cup blackberries, 6 grape tomatoes, 1/2 avocado, 6 oven roasted sweet potato wedges, 1/4 cup broccoli slaw, cilantro, balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Work was steady but I was able to eat my dinner at a reasonable time before my head fell off.

Legs tomorrow with german volume training. I'm excited! I used to hate working out my legs because they have always been naturally muscular. Now that I'm getting older, there is that annoying little bulge on my inner thighs that I would like to say good bye to. With the next two days off, I'm looking forward to training, sleeping, cooking, and eating. Its what I do. Bring on tomorrow morning and another kick ass workout with Dee! Time for this girl to get some rest.

Day twenty two...all I see is farmers carry.

Killed my shoulders and triceps with Dee this morning. With multiple over head farmer's carry routines in between all of the conditioning exercises, I ended up not finishing the last of the side plank dips because my arms were shaking so bad. Lame. I'm not a quitter so this was disappointing. After a nap, I did a couple more rounds of side planks and ab exercises. Still thought about it at work and wished I had pushed through the pain. Next time, I will see it through.

Breakfast: 3 oz grilled chicken breast, 2 boiled eggs, handful of blackberries.

Post workout meal: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, handful of blueberries, 1/2 cup spinach.

Lunch: 6 oz chicken tenders (coated in dijon mustard, coconut milk, Mrs Dash spicy seasoning, and rolled in crushed macadamia nuts, almonds, and walnuts) 1 cup spinach, 3 strawberries, handful of blackberries, handful of blueberries. Perfect meal before work and tided me over until I had a chance to eat my dinner when it slowed down.

Dinner: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 2 cups mixed greens in balsamic vinegar and olive oil, 1 oven roasted beet, 10 carrots, 4 strawberries, 1/4 cup blackberries, 1/4 cup broccoli slaw.

Snack: 3 oz grilled chicken breast, 1 cup spinach.

I had someone tell me tonight that it was weird that I'm a bartender and I don't drink right now because of fitness goals. I had to laugh. Vodka has been such a big part of my old daily lifestyle for the last ten years. After a long day of work, it was "normal" to go eat junk food and unwind with drinks..then go home, drink some more, and pass out. I never thought, I would be able to be that person that only drank on the weekends, let alone going without for over months at a time. I will never go back to my old routine. My body being sore the next day from working out is my new daily hangover. And it feels good!

Week four...already?

Last week of four and I was hoping to see jalapenos, sugar snap peas, and ahi tuna. Guess I'll have to wait til next week when I can enjoy ALL paleo friendly foods! Here's the latest shopping list. 

Proteins:

• 1-2 dozen eggs
• 1 lb deli turkey
• 1/2 lb sausages
• 1 lb salmon
• 1 lb chicken breast
• 1 lb steak
• a few large slices of ham
• 1 lb pork loin
• 1 lb ground meat
• 1 lb sea scallops
• 1 large italian sausage

Produce:

• 1 cup berries
• 1 small head cabbage
• 1 head broccoli
• 2 avocados
• 2-3 bags spinach/mixed greens
• celery
• 2 bags frozen mixed veggies
• 1 bag carrots
• a few apples
• jicama
• salad fixings
• 3 portabella mushrooms
• a few onions
• 1 head of garlic
• 1 head of lettuce
• 1 medium zucchini
• 1 medium summer squash
• 1 red onion
• 1-2 yams/sweet potatoes
• a few lemons
• 8 cups-mix of kale, chard, raddichio
• 1 bunch asparagus
• 1 delicate squash
• 1 package of mushrooms
• 1 small acorn squash
• 2 sweet chocolate peppers or pasilla peppers
• 1/2 cup grape tomatoes
• 1 red bell pepper
• 1/4 cup cauliflower
• 1 serrano pepper

Nuts and seeds:

• almonds
• walnuts
• pine nuts

Spices and herbs:

• salt
• pepper
• thyme
• curry powder
• cumin
• garlic powder
• oregano
• fennel seed
• 1 bunch fresh cilantro
• 1 bunch fresh parsley

Pantry items:

• olive oil
• almond butter
• 2 cans tuna
• salsa
• coconut milk
• chicken or beef broth
• 1 can salmon
• djion mustard
• balsamic vinegar
• tamari (wheat free soy sauce)
• 1 can water chestnuts
• cashew butter
• 1 jar marinara sauce

I am stoked about the scallops and a lot of the produce! Crazy how healthy foods are more exciting to me than sriracha, tobasco, sour patch kids, jasmine rice, zipp's foccaccias, and pizza these days. It took me awhile to get to this point but I am thankful I did. I'm ready to rock these last 30 days and hopefully change my body even more!

Day twenty one...eight hours of sleep and I feel like a new woman!

Going to bed early and sleeping in for eight hours is exactly what I needed. I feel like me again. It gets a little unpleasant when I am hungry or tired..so the combination of the two yesterday was not pretty. Time to get ready for work. Hopefully my afternoon will be filled with thirsty drinkers and friends. Can't wait to get in the gym afterwards to work legs and abs. Its go time.

Breakfast: 3 oz grilled chicken breast, 2 boiled eggs, 4 strawberries, handful of blueberries.

Snack: 2 handfuls of toasted coconut. Stuff tastes like candy!

Lunch: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 1 cup mixed greens in balsamic vinegar and olive oil, 1/4 cup blackberries, handful of raspberries and blueberries, 6 grape tomatoes, 1/2 avocado, 4 char grilled asparagus spears, and a handful of pine nuts. I was working the patio bar this morning so lunch was easy to eat when I was hungry. Mood was great through my whole shift!

Post workout snack: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, handful of macadamia nuts.

Dinner: 6 oz grilled chicken thigh (tamari soy sauce, minced ginger, olive oil) over sauteed garlic portabella mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes, red onion, and squash. Mmm...chicken thighs were a nice change.

Snack: 3 oz grilled chicken breast,1 apple, 4 strawberries.

I'm excited to workout with Dee again tomorrow morning! Friday, I was told that I graduated to lifting straps and I can't wait to used them! I'm starting to dream about lifting. I love the feeling of getting stronger and crave it when I'm not doing it. Tonight is almost tomorrow and that means I am on to week 4. Where has the time gone?

Day twenty...I see you bed.

Its almost eleven and I finally have a chance to post for today. I've gotten so used to my nights of going into work at 3 that I was not prepared for today's shift..food wise. Meal times were off and my energy was low. Live and learn. After just finishing up with dinner, I feel a little better.  But this is about as much as I have to give..so here's what I ate today before I leap into bed head first.

Breakfast: 6 oz chicken breast, 2 slices bacon, 1/4 cup blackberries, 1 cup coffee. At the menu change meeting this morning..had a bite of filet, seabass, and grilled artichoke by 9am. The pineapple creme brulee really tested my discipline and I couldn't help but to stare as everyone tried it.

Lunch: 12 oz char grilled salmon, over mixed greens with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, 1 sliced oven roasted beet, 3 strawberries, 1/2 avocado, broccoli slaw, handful of pine nuts, 1/2 cup spaghetti squash with marinara, double shot of espresso. Didn't have a chance to eat lunch til 3:30 today because it was busy at work. I was starving! Cleaned my plate. Probably over did it with the salmon but I was hungry. Two hours later, hungry again but forgot to bring snacks.

Snack: 3 oz grilled chicken breast, handful of blackberries. Its was almost 8:30 and had just got home from work. Eating schedule today is throwing my body off.

Dinner: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, mixed greens with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, 6 asparagus spears, 1 apple, 6 grape tomatoes, 1/4 cup broccoli slaw, and cilantro. Energy is back up. I was fading in and out all day. Need to remember to bring snacks to work!

Day nineteen...STRONG is the new skinny.

My whole mentality of food and body image has changed and I am the healthiest I have ever been in a long time. I used to admire the skinny girls. Now, I aim to achieve the physique of those with muscle and definition. Strong IS the new skinny. Letting go of the number on the scale and letting it define me as a person..is liberating. I will only look back to remind myself of where I never want to be again and how far I have come. A better me and future awaits. I'm ready for it!

Breakfast: 1 cup of black coffee, 2 boiled eggs, 2 strips of bacon, handful of blackberries and blueberries.

Post workout meal: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 1/2 cup of spaghetti squash, handful of blackberries. Today's workout was all upper body..these arms are shaking!

Lunch: 2 pan seared chicken apple sausages, sauteed yellow onions, green bell peppers, roma tomatoes, and boiled kale drizzled with fresh lemon juice and topped with sauteed minced garlic.

Snack: 1 apple, 3 oz grilled chicken, double shot of espresso.

Dinner: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 1 cup mixed greens with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, 2 strawberries, handful of pine nuts, 1/2 avocado, handful of blackberries, 3/4 cup spaghetti squash, 1/2 cup of ground turkey marinara.

Snack: 3 oz grilled chicken breast.

I am exhausted. My back and biceps were killed this morning (love it). And after a long night at work, this girl is ready for sleep. Tomorrow, I am taking a much needed day of rest from the gym. Back to work in less than 7 hours so I am putting myself to bed. Night.

Day eighteen...day of rest?

With as sore as I was last night, I woke up this morning expecting not to be able brush my hair or sit down with ease. I'm a little tender but not that extreme. It is amazing how fast the body recuperates with a good diet, stretch, and roll out on the foam roller. Today was going to be my rest day but with the whole day off from work? I think not. Maybe I'll go do some light cardio and yoga later this evening.

Breakfast: 1 cup black coffee, 4 egg omelet with 3 oz grilled flank steak, asparagus, blistered grape tomatoes, 1/2 avocado, handful of blueberries, 1/2 an apple, and 3 strawberries. With a full tummy, I'm off to the grocery store. I've been craving spaghetti squash..so think I'll make a homemade marinara sauce (with of course MEAT) to go with it.

Snack: 1/2 pound of cooked shrimp, 1/2 avocado, yellow onion, grape tomatoes, cucumber, cilantro, fresh lemon, coconut milk, salt, and pepper. Ended up doing 20 minutes of interval training and 30 minutes of abs halfway through the day.

Lunch: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 1 cup of spinach drizzled with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, 1 boiled egg, 2 bacon slices, handful of pine nuts.

Snack: Handful of blackberries, 3 oz grilled chicken.

Dinner: 2 cups oven roasted spaghetti squash, steamed green beans, and ground turkey breast marinara. (peeled and seeded roma tomatoes-food processed, fresh oregano, fresh basil, 1 bay leaf, diced tomatoes, carrots, celery, green bell pepper, yellow onions, 2 garlic cloves, salt, and pepper) Never did marinara with ground turkey before, it was actually really good and went perfectly with the spaghetti squash.

I am surprised that I didn't snack more today. Though, other than running errands and my twenty minutes of cardio..I've been lazy and I was unmotivated to leave the house for 6:30 yoga tonight. Yes ME. I know, sometimes I listen to my body..weird. Guess that yesterday's workout took more out of me than I thought! Boulder shoulder, big girl biceps, and a bad ass back workout tomorrow morning with Dee. Think I'll make myself some tea and enjoy the rest of my evening with a movie.

Day seventeen...holy bomb ass workout!

This morning's hour and a half workout with Dee involved...1/2 a mile of lunges, backward lunges, and squats with a 15 lb body bar. 1/2 a mile of jogging with weights held over the shoulders. Suicide sprints, mountain climbers, side ways planks, one leg burpees, pushups, plyo pushups, reverse tricep dips, bear crawls up hill, bunny jumps, renegades, military squats and press, plank ups, backwards run up hill, and abs to finish it off. I'm pretty sure I left out a couple of things but that is all that comes to mind right now. Over two months ago, I would have wanted to throw my weights into the fountain, run to my car, and drive away.  My body is on FIRE and I feel like I could take on the world right now. Love it! 

Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs, 4 oz pan seared pork tenderloin, 4 strawberries, 1/2 avocado.

Post workout meal: 5 oz pan seared pork tenderloin, handful of macadamia nuts.

Snack: 1 apple, handful of carrots. I can already tell that I am going to be a bottomless pit today. Time to grill more chicken for the week!

Lunch: 6 oz grilled chicken breast with spicy Mrs. Dash, 2 cups mixed greens tossed in olive oil and balsamic vinegar, 1 oven roasted beet, 5 slices grilled sweet potatoes, 2 strawberries, and a handful of crushed macadamia nuts.

Snack: Handful of frozen raspberries. Mmmmm....tastes like mini popsicles! 

Snack: 3 oz broiled tamari and fresh ginger salmon. 

Dinner: 6 oz char grilled flank steak (with spicy Mrs. Dash and olive oil), 8 char grilled asparagus spears, 16 steamed green beans, sauteed fresh garlic and olive oil red swiss chard, 2 strawberries, and a handful of blueberries.

Snack: 3 oz grilled chicken breast, 1 apple, 2 slices of grilled sweet potatoes.

I've been hearing some negative feedback about the paleo diet. Frankly, I find it annoying but lets entertain the idea for a bit shall we? Fad diets are grouped together by people that think that it is a unhealthy choice of eating. Cabbage soup diet, grapefruit diet, HCG diet, sleeping beauty diet, air diet, five bite diet, ear stapling diet, tapeworm diet, baby food diet, and the cotton ball diet. All big no nos in my book. Restricting and starving yourself wont get you your long term goals or build muscle. Believe me, I know..instead it got me the skinny fat physique for the last couple of years. The paleo diet is defined by what you can not eat as much as it is what you can. No grains, potatoes, sugar, legumes, or dairy. What you can have is delicious fruits, coconut, vegetables, nuts, olive oil, wild fish, and grass fed protein. The cavemen didn't eat twinkies, ho hos, chips, or big macs (and yes I was guilty of this before as well)...why should we? Look at my shopping lists alone and you'll see all the nutrients and foods offered. Now google paleo diet (not the 30 day). There you go, there's even more. I'm not saying the paleo diet is all mighty, all other diets suck, and grains are horrible. Consuming specific grains in moderation can provide significant health benefits with very little downside. Sprouted grains (such as wheat grass) and cereal grasses as examples of good grains. And take barley as another example (when consumed presprouted, sprouted, or cereal grass forms, it's a monster of nutrition) high in beta-glucans and it's one of the lowest of all foods on the glycemic index. Will I eat jasmine rice ever again in the future? You bet your sweet ass I will. The paleo diet has taught me discipline and learning to enjoy foods with out having to smother it in sauce. I'm seeing the results I want, I have more energy, and I feel a hundred times better. I think the key is finding a healthy eating lifestyle that is still enjoyable and easy to maintain. Everyone is different, so find one that works for you and stop involving yourself in what other people are doing. Eat clean, work the body hard, and live well.

Day sixteen...coffee, my new love.

Woke up this morning with a hot cup of coffee. Black, just the way I like it. Oddly enough, I used to hate the stuff and avoided it like the plague. Now, I couldn't imagine my day without it. Normally, I have a couple of shots of espresso at work..but coffee in the morning before a workout? How did I not think of this before? It gave me that extra little boost of energy and after an hour and a half at the gym, I will still going hard. However, I am learning moderation so when I came to this realization..I packed up and went home to eat. Now on to the rest of my day.

Breakfast: 4 scrambled eggs, 3 oz pan seared pork loin, 6 strawberries, handful of blueberries, 1 cup of black coffee.

Post workout meal: 6 oz grilled lemon pepper chicken, 1/4 cup oven roasted beets.

Lunch: 6 oz char grilled wild salmon, 1 cup mixed greens tossed in balsamic vinegar and olive oil, 1/2 avocado, broccoli slaw, diced apples.

Snack: Handful of macadamia nuts, double shot of espresso.

Dinner: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 1 cup mixed greens tossed in balsamic vinegar and olive oil, 1/2 cup broccoli slaw, 3 sliced strawberries, handful of blueberries, handful of walnuts, and 1/2 cup oven roasted beets.

Snack: 4 char grilled shrimp, 1 piece bacon, 3 oz grilled chicken breast.

Great workout this morning followed by a great night at work. Life is good. Tomorrow I take on the fountain with Dee. I'm excited for what workout is in store for me in the morning. Bring it on.

Day fifteen...the half way mark.

These past two weeks have flown by! I'm seeing changes in my arms and mid section and I'm only half way through this month. So excited to see my hard work starting to pay off. Off to another kick ass workout with Dee. Time to jump start my day.

Breakfast: 4 oz grilled chicken, 2 boiled eggs, 4 strawberries, handful of blueberries. This mornings workout has me drained. I thought I'd be full of energy since it was raining this morning and we didn't have a chance to do the pop up sprints up hill.

Post workout meal: 6 oz grilled chicken, 4 strawberries, 1/4 cup blueberries. I brought my meal in the car with me this morning so that I could run errands after this mornings workout with Dee. Two hours later..I was dying. Metabolic starter is right!

Lunch: 4 oz grilled flank steak, 4 oven roasted sweet potato wedges, 1/2 avocado, 1 strawberry, 4 grape tomatoes, mixed greens tossed in balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

Snack: 1 apple, 2 strawberries, and 2 oven roasted sweet potato wedges. I'm ready for a nap before work. This girl is exhausted!

Snack: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, handful of macadamia nuts, triple shot espresso.

Dinner: 6 oz grilled lemon pepper chicken breast, 1 cup mixed greens tossed in balsamic vinegar and olive oil, 4 oven roasted sweet potato wedges, 4 strawberries, handful of blueberries, handful of walnuts. Work was steady enough that I didn't have time to eat until almost 10 at night. I also seasoned my food with a little salt this evening. My body retained extra water and I can tell the difference. I think I need to drink more water through out the day.

Snack: 3 oz grilled lemon pepper chicken. I'm still hungry!

I'm debating on going back to school and getting a degree in nutrition, culinary, or something to do with the body in the future. Eating good and working out excites me. I'd love to be able to help open other people's eyes to a healthier lifestyle. Just a thought. I am tired...got to gear up for another workout tomorrow then hopefully a busy night of muddling and shaking mojitos at work! Nighty night.

Week three...flank steak, sausages, and swiss chard. Yes please!

Finally at the half way mark of 30 days! Shopping list for this week is not too much different than the past two weeks, except for sausage and lots of it.

Proteins:

• 1 package lamb sausages
• 1 package chicken apple sausages
• 1 package bacon
• 1-2 dozen eggs
• 1 lb flank steak
• 1 bag precooked shrimp
• 1 turkey breast
• 4lb ground beef, turkey, or chicken
• 6 oz chicken breast
• 3-5 lbs meat, ground or whole
• 1/2 lb ground turkey
• 1/2 lb spicy sausage
• 1/2 lb shrimp

Produce:

• a few bags of mixed greens or spinach
• a few bell peppers
• a few tomatoes
• a few avocados
• 2 oranges
• 2 carrots
• 1 lemon
• 3 apples
• 1/2 cup berries
• celery
• a few onions
• 1 head garlic
• 2 lbs green beans
• 1 head cabbage
• 2 bag frozen mixed veggies
• 1 quart strawberries
• 1 bunch swiss chard
• 1 head cauliflower

Nuts and seeds:

• pecans
• walnuts
• blanched almonds
• cashews

Spices and herbs:

• oregano
• basil
• tarragon
• allspice
• ground cloves
• salt and pepper
• rosemary
• cumin
• cinnamon
• chili powder
• sesame seeds
• bunch fresh parsley
• mustard powder
• coriander
• cajun seasoning
• bay leaf
• cayenne pepper

Pantry items:

• apple cider vinegar
• olive oil
• 1 can of sardines
• 1 6oz can tomato paste
• 3 14oz can tomato sauce
• beef broth
• chicken broth
• 1 can salmon
• cocoa powder
• roasted hazelnut oil
• unsweetened applesauce
• balsamic vinegar
• coconut milk
• coconut oil

Week 3...lets go!

Day fourteen...another day off?

I planned on taking a day of rest today but after waking up late this morning..I was itching to go to the gym. With all this energy, what else am I supposed to do? This afternoon, a woman stopped me during my workout and told me I was inspiring to watch. This comment surprised me but made me smile and I pushed myself even harder. I've been getting a little grief for all the changes I have made in the last couple of months so it was nice to hear some positive feedback. Amazing start to my day. Now, time for some food:)

Breakfast: 4 oz grilled salmon, 3 scrambled eggs, 1/4 cup home made apple sauce, handful of blueberries, 1 strawberry, and 1/2 avocado. Not sure if I'll add the salmon to the eggs again. Plus, it makes me crave jasmine rice and sriracha. I'm asian. Yes, we eat like that.

Post workout meal: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, handful of blueberries.

Snack: Handful of macadamia nuts, 1 apple.

Lunch: 4 oz grilled turkey burger (with yellow onions, red and yellow bell peppers), grilled zucchini and squash in olive oil, balsamic, and pepper, grilled red pepper, yellow onion, and oven roasted beet apple slaw.

Snack: 4 oz grilled chicken breast.

Dinner: 5 oz pan seared almond encrusted tilapia with dijon mustard and parsley, 2 sliced tomatoes, sauteed garlic and olive oil swiss chard, and steamed zucchini.

Snack: 1/4 cup blueberries and strawberries.

Week three is almost here and I feel good. I think I'll try using coconut milk and oil in my meals this week. Back to work tomorrow for two days, then two days off to spend more time playing with food, working out with Dee, and doing what I do at the gym. Shoulders, hill sprints, and a war game workout awaits me in the morning. Think I'll go to bed early tonight.

Day thirteen..replacing the old with the new.

Transformation begins in the kitchen, accepting this as true took awhile to digest. In the last 5 months, I have gone from eating gluten and unhealthy foods, to a gluten free diet, and now to the paleo diet. Somewhere between then and now, even the thought of my old eating lifestyle is no longer appealing. It has shown me how much strength and self discipline I actually have.  Thou, transformation begins in the kitchen, change only continues with hard work. Time to get my body to the gym. Got to build these big girl muscles!

Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs, handful of blueberries, handful of blackberries, 4 strawberries, and 1/4 cup homemade apple sauce.

Post workout meal: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 1 orange.

Lunch: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, mixed greens, spinach, handful of blackberries, 1 cucumber sliced up,  oven roasted beets, and tablespoon of balsamic and olive oil. Perfect meal before a perfect 3 hour nap. I heart days off. 

Snack: Handful of macadamia nuts, handful of blueberries.

Dinner: 6 oz broiled lemon pepper salmon over 1 cup shredded cabbage, cilantro, sauteed peppers and onions, boiled kale, tossed in balsamic and olive oil. Got this recipe from Chrissy. Delicious! Next time, I will grill the salmon. The filet I got was to thin to throw on the grill.

Snack: 3 oz broiled salmon, handful of blackberries and blueberries.

This is my first weekend off from work in forever! I feel like I should be out drinking with friends but four weekends this month is not going kill me. Socially conditioning myself to let go of my late night shenanigans has been one of the hardest habits, I have had to break (other than sriracha). With one habit broken, it is filled with a new. Instead of going out to the bars, I go to the gym. It's a healthier habit and I save money. I am almost at the half way mark of 30 days and still going strong. Slowly, I'm seeing my body change..but these things take time. If it were easy and fast, everyone would do it. So I will continue being patient and working towards my fitness goal. In the end, it will pay off and I wont be looking back wishing I had done something different.

Day twelve...its in the cards.

For some reason, I was craving salt this morning and tried dipping my chicken in a side of soy sauce. Ended up being too salty. Too salty for this girl?! Like sriracha, I used to put salt on everything including my fruit. Dee told me that this is why I dropped five pounds within the first week and have maintained my weight since then. I have a new respect for the natural taste of food and water the way they are meant to be. Back, shoulders, and a nasty deck of cards (whatever that means). Its go time.

Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs, 3 oz grilled chicken breast, 3 slice grilled sweet potatoes, 1/4 cup homemade apple sauce, and 1/4 cup blackberries.

Post workout meal: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 1/4 cup blackberries, 1 orange. I didn't realize that a deck of cards was so literal. I'm pretty sure if I ever see a deck of cards on the floor (not while working out), I will step over them in fear of doing squats to pick them up one at a time, just to put them down again one at a time. Bahaha...love it.

Snack: Handful of blueberries, 1 strawberry, handful of walnuts.

Lunch: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 1/2 cup mixed greens, 1/2 cup spinach, diced red peppers, oven roasted beets, 1 tablespoon olive oil and balsamic.

Snack: 3 oz grilled chicken breast, 1 cup steamed carrots. Time to get ready for work. Closing down the bar then off for TWO days. What? Today really is my friday! 

Snack: Handful of macadamia nuts, 1 boiled egg.

Dinner: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, mixed greens, spinach tossed in olive oil and balsamic, grilled squash and zucchini, 2 strawberries, asparagus, and a handful of blueberries.


Snack: 4 oz grilled chicken breast.

Sore butt cheeks, shoulders, and back. Love the pain. Lets me know I worked out hard this morning! After work tonight, this girl is spent. Haven't been to yoga in two weeks and looking forward to a good stretch tomorrow morning. It's bed time for this girl.

Day eleven...energy, dont leave home without it!

Went to bed by 12:30am and got up by 6:30...scratch that, up by 9:30. Today is my day off and I feel amazing. Time to take on this day, first up...gym!


Breakfast: 4oz grilled chicken breast, handful of blackberries, 6 strawberries, and asparagus.

Post workout snack: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 1 cup cabbage slaw, 1 tomato.

Lunch: 4 oz grilled turkey burger, 4 baby carrots, grilled asparagus, zucchini, squash, and sweet potatoes lightly brushed with oil and seasoned with salt and pepper. Forgot how much I love to grill, adds so much more flavor to my meals and looks better too. 

Snack: handful of macadamia nuts, handful of blueberries, 4 slices grilled sweet potatoes.

Dinner: 6 oz grilled wild salmon (marinated in diced ginger, olive oil, and tamari gluten free soy sauce), 1 cup spring mixed greens, grilled green peppers and onions tossed in olive oil and fresh lemon. I noticed that I snacked less today. Probably because I didn't work out with Dee this morning but also because I changed up the protein in my meals. I've also found a new addiction, sweet potatoes. Yum! I've been craving them for a couple of days now. Definitely hit the spot.

Snack: 3 oz of grilled chicken, 1 orange.

I love the choices I am making for myself these days. Other than feeling better, I love what I see when I look in the mirror again. Not just because my body is slowly changing, but because I'm becoming the person I knew I was always meant to be. I think this kind of energy attracts good energy. A girlfriend of mine, just got engaged in Hawaii last night. She is one of the most amazing woman I know. I've always admired her spunk and spontaneity to pack up and move wherever her heart takes her (something I have always wanted to do). She focused on herself and when she wasn't looking..her match entered her life almost a year ago. It's inspiring and just confirms to keep doing what I am doing. I'm not looking nor have I been in the five months I've been single now. I'm enjoying myself and working on achieving my goals. So universe- keep me in mind for the future, but please don't send mister right my way any time soon..because I'm not ready yet! My mind and body still have work to do:)

Day ten...meh.

It's almost 10:30 at night and I am finally getting around to doing my blog. Tired. Not inspired at the moment...these things happen. Day off tomorrow and I'm excited. Sleep in, work out, eat paleo, and relax! Love it.

Breakfast: 2 egg whites, 3 oz grilled chicken breast, handful of blueberries, 1 roma tomato.

Post workout snack: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 1 cup cabbage slaw, 4 strawberries.

Snack: handful of macadamia nuts, 1 apple.

Lunch: 1 cup spinach, 1 cup spring mix greens, 1 cup broccoli, 4 carrots, 4 strawberries, oven roasted beets, 5 oz grilled salmon, 1/2 avocado. Today, I brought my lunch to work but left out the protein. Too much chicken lately, so I ordered some grilled salmon. Just what I needed.

Snack: handful of macadamia nuts, 2 cucumber slices.

Dinner: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 1/2 cup cabbage slaw, 1/2 cup mixed greens, 1/2 cup spinach, oven roasted beets, and a handful of blackberries.

Snack: 3 oz grilled chicken breast, 1 orange.

Day nine...sleep equals good.

Some how for the almost the last 5 months, I got the idea in my head that the longer the body slept..the more it starved and fed off the muscles. Sounds ridiculous? I know. Sometimes when people tell me things, I either run with it or I don't. I ran with it, only allowing myself 4 hours of night time sleep and taking a 2 hour naps during the afternoon to get me through the rest of my day. Dee told me yesterday, that the body burns the most calories when sleeping because it is repairing itself in order to build muscle. After that, game on. Slept for a glorious 10 hours this morning and I feel better than ever. Its gym time, lets move this body of mine.

Breakfast: 3 oz grilled chicken breast, handful of blueberries, 3 oven roasted-grilled sweet potatoes.

Post workout meal: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 1 apple.

Lunch: 3 oz lean hamburger patty with onions, 1 sunny side up egg, 2 slices of bacon, 1/2 cup spinach, 1/4 cup zucchini, 1 strawberry, 1/2 avocado, oven roasted beets and apple slaw.

Snack: Handful of macadamia nuts, 1 orange.

Snack: 1 peach, handful of almonds, double shot of espresso. Note to self: don't take double shots of espresso when its slow at work.

Dinner: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 1 cup spinach, 4 strawberries, handful of blueberries, 6 carrots, olive oil.

Snack: 1 orange, 3 oz grilled chicken breast.

Snack: 3 oz grilled chicken breast, 1/2 cup cabbage slaw.

I came home tonight from work, feeling down because my body was not how I wanted it to be right NOW. Sometimes its easier to focus on how much further we have to go, rather than how far we have come. I had originally started working out a year and a half ago in hopes of improving an old relationship at the time. What I ended up improving was my relationship with myself. Every day, I get stronger. Every day, I become faster. Every day, I figure out what I want from life and how to go about achieving it. If you haven't notice by now, this paleo diet isn't just about a diet to me. Its about focusing on myself and making even more changes in my life that will take me to the next level. I do have a ways to go, but I'm ready for it and will enjoy it every step of the way.

Day eight...bacon, bacon, bacon, bacon..

I woke up this morning, looking forward to making myself some breakfast with one special ingredient. Yes, you guessed it..BACON. I could eat a whole large heaping plate of bacon. And I have before at Carnegie's deli on 7th avenue at 55th street, New York. I knew better but wanted to prove a boyfriend at the time wrong (yes I am that stubborn and competitive). Boy did that back fire. Took me over a year and a half to appreciate bacon again..but take it away for a week? Its on. Two strips of bacon with my eggs..yes please.

Breakfast: 1 egg with 1/2 cup egg whites scrambled, 2 strips of bacon, 1/2 avocado, 3/4 cup of mixed berries- blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, 2 oven roasted sweet potato wedges, and cilantro to garnish. 

Post workout snack: 3 oz grilled chicken breast, 1 boiled egg, handful of blackberries. Another amazing workout with Dee! 100 burpees, 100 pushups, 100 squat jumps, 100 tuck jumps, and 266 kettle bell swings. Body is on fire and I love it! I see a nap in my future before work..or at least a ton of eating..

Snack: 2 oven roasted sweet potato wedges, handful of walnuts.

Lunch: 4 oz grilled chicken breast, sweet potatoes, zucchini, and squash spritzed with olive oil and lightly salt and peppered-oven roasted then finished off on the grill, cabbage slaw, red onion, cilantro, and oven roasted sliced beets. No sign of a nap needed in sight! Work in two hours? I'm ready for you. 


Snack: 1 peach, double shot of espresso, handful of blueberries and blackberries.

Dinner: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, cabbage slaw, 4 carrots, handful of blueberries, 6 slices of oven roasted-grilled sweet potatoes, zucchini, and squash.  Andy made me a paleo friendly home made hot sauce. Yeah, thats right..I tried it. So delicious. Its going into the freezer until February 2nd, when I can finally have jalapenos and eat it with my meals:)

Snack: 5 oz grilled chicken breast, cabbage slaw, oven roasted beets.

Snack: 1 orange, handful of macadamia nuts.

Someone at work told me to lay off the caffeine because I was moving fast and running all over the place. With no nap and only a double shot of espresso? Nah, its all me. My body, spirit, and mind are happy and feeling healthy! I will rock the rest of these 30 days and stick to the paleo diet afterwards. Del (someone that has been on the paleo diet for some time now) introduced me to Kait's primal kitchen recently and I can't wait to try out some of the recipes using coconut flour and almond flour. It will be a little more substantial than fruits and veggies, meaning I'll be able to snack less. But that is all in the future. Another week, another day..and I am well on my way to day nine.

Week two...hello bacon!!

 Another week, another shopping list. One, two, three.....GO!! 

Proteins:

• 6 oz sliced deli ham
• 3 lbs chicken breasts
• 2 dozen eggs
• Rotisserie chicken
• 1 lb ground meat
• 1 lb tip steak
• 1 lb ground pork
• 1.5 lbs tilapia filets
• 10 oz smoked deli turkey
• 2 lbs chicken thighs
• 2 moroccan lamb sausages
• 1 package bacon (YES!)

Produce:

• lettuce
• 1-2 heads of broccoli
• 1 head of cauliflower
• bag of carrots
• a few tomatoes
• a few plums
• several bell peppers
• 1-2 avocados
• a few bags mixed greens
• a few oranges
• celery
• 2-3 yellow squash
• 1 bag broccoli slaw
• a few lemons
• 1 lb beets
• a few apples
• 2 red onions
• 2 medium cucumbers
• 1/2 cup green beans
• a small piece of ginger
• 1 bunch chives or green onions
• 1 red bell pepper
• 2 small zucchini
• 1 peach
• 1 bag spinach

Nuts & seeds:

• walnuts
• almonds
• cashews
• pine nuts
• macadamia nuts

Spice & herbs

• cinnamon
• thyme
• mustard seeds
• cumin
• turmeric
• curry powder
• tarragon
• garlic powder 
• onion powder
• bunch fresh cilantro
• coriander
• salt and pepper
• dill
• mustard powder
• paprika 

Pantry items:

• unsweetened applesauce
• olive oil
• balsamic vinager
• olives
• almond butter
• jerky
• coconut milk
• chili oil
• chicken broth
• 1 can El Paso tomato sauce
• curry sauce
• cashew or macadamia nut
• butter
• vanilla extract
• coconut oil
• 1 can of artichoke hearts
• 1 12oz package of kelp noodles

Bring on week two!! Im ready for you. 

Day seven...no excuses.

We tend to eat with out eyes first, so my goal has been perfecting my presentation of eating better. My love of cooking and art together in one. I've noticed that the meals I bring into work lately, have been getting people's attention and they wish they had more time to make healthier snacks. You make time. In that ten-fifteen minutes it took for the kitchen to make your chicken sandwich or kobe burger..you could have taken that time at home to make a healthier meal- plus snacks. Another excuse I hear is that eating healthy is expensive, but eating out all the time is even more. Believe me, I used to do it at least 4-5 times a week. Add cocktails to that meal, and the bill more than doubles...in my case triples. Just telling you through experience.  I love how far I've come in the last couple of months. Eat clean, train hard, work hard, and live well.  

Breakfast: 1 cup egg whites scrambled with olive oil and pepper, 3 oz grilled chicken breast, 1/4 cup blueberries, 1/4 cup blackberries, 1/2 avocado, 2 tablespoons pico de gallo.

Snack: handful of macadamia nuts, 2 oz chicken, 1/2 avocado. No, your eyes do not deceive you..no post workout meal. Decided to sleep in and let my body rest before I have to be at work at 12:00pm. Packing lunch and snacks..I'll continue this blog after the happy hour and dinner time rush. Enjoy your sunday funday.  


Snack: 1 apple, 3oz grilled chicken breast, double shot of espresso.

Snack: Smoothie- fresh oranges, strawberries, raspberries, and spinach (made by Jocelynn). Handful of macadamia nuts.

Lunch: 4 oz grilled mahi mahi, red leaf lettuce tossed in lemon juice and olive oil, handful blackberries, 8 grape tomatoes, handful of blueberries. 

Snack: 3 oz chicken breast, 6 oven roasted sweet potato wedges. The sweet potatoes helped to keep me full for a longer period of time. A little olive oil, sea salt, and pepper..perfection.

Dinner: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, cabbage slaw with red onion and cilantro, over roasted sliced beets, handful of orange bell pepper, tomatoes, and blueberries.

With week one behind me, I'm excited for week two to began. My energy level has been better than ever! This week has a little more items that I can work with, so I'm looking forward to trying out some new recipes and putting a little more skill into them.

Day six...cilantro is my new sriracha.

I think I am finally through my sriracha with drawls. Woke up today and made breakfast without even twitching at the sight of the half filled bottle with its green top. I've started realizing how much I enjoy foods without having to smother them with hot sauce. The crisp sweet taste of an apple (yes, I put hot sauce on it before). The moist savory bite of fresh grilled chicken. The crunchy texture of broccoli and asparagus. I am in bliss. I've started adding more fresh herbs to my diet. Cilantro being one of them. I love the flavor that it gives to my meals, however..I do not eat it with everything. Everything in moderation I've decided. That's my motto for the new year. And this new year, is my year.

Breakfast: 4 oz ground meat patty, 1/4 cup pico de gallo, 1 strawberry, 1/2 avocado, handful of blueberries.

Post workout meal: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 1/2 cup broccoli.

Snack: handful of almonds, 1 boiled egg.

Lunch: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 1/2 cup steamed zucchini, 1/2 avocado, 1 apple, 4 strawberries. Woke up late so this is it before work. Packed myself up some snacks and dinner on the go. Hopefully, it gets me through another night of making pineapple jalapeno mojitos and coconut cloud martinis!!

Snack: 2 apples, handful of almonds, handful of raspberries.


Snack: 2 boiled eggs, 1/2 avocado, 1/4 cup bell peppers, double shot of espresso.

Dinner: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, red leaf lettuce tossed in olive oil, 1/2 cup cauliflower, 1/2 avocado, 4 strawberries, 1/2 granny smith apple, 1/4 cup steamed zucchini. Work tonight was slow in the beginning, so I was able to keep track of snacks and eat my dinner. Energy was definitely better than ever.

Snack: handful of macadamia nuts, handful of blueberries.

Tonight was hard not to go out after work. Normally, I'll drink once a week but one weekend down..three more to go. I know that following this 30 day diet, will give me that edge of getting my body where I want it to be physically. The more I learn about the paleo diet, the more I am intrigued. I'm listening to Robb Wolf as I type the rest of today's blog. Sounds a lot like how I was already living so continuing this diet after the month is up, is definitely in the cards. He just mentioned that if your going to drink, drink clear liquids (already do), drink earlier, and follow it with some protein and fats. Day drinking? Yes please. I could go for a patron silver on the rocks with fresh squeezed lime juice. Hello February 3rd, 2012.

Day five..everything changes.

They say that the biggest weight-loss muscle is the brain, change your mind, and you will change your body. I used to think that if I worked out for three hours a day (six times a week) I could eat anything I wanted and drink all the KettleOne in the world. It took me up until five months ago to realize that this thought process wasn't working. I started drinking once or twice a week instead of every day. Stopped eating out and started cooking my meals at home. I also took gluten out of my diet long enough to know that my body does not tolerate it anymore. Good step in the right direction right? To reach and achieve my fitness goals, I've now learned to accept (from the last couple months of training with Dee) that EVERYTHING must change. That diet just confirms that and cuts straight to the point. No booze, no dairy, no sugar, no grains, no legumes, no processed oils, and most importantly- no excuses. 

Breakfast: 2 boiled eggs, 3 oz grilled chicken breast, 6 strawberries, handful of macadamia nuts. Workout this morning was killer. Love that I'm getting faster with pop up suicide sprints! Did however learn that kettle bell hops could join one leg burpees and turkish get ups in my least favorite exercises to do. Blah. Hopefully one day, I'll be able to do them with ease and a smile on my face.


Post workout meal: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, asparagus, kale, handful of macadamia nuts.

Snack: 1/2 avocado, 1/4 cup blackberries, 1/4 cup spaghetti squash.

Lunch: 4 oz shredded pork loin, 1 cup cabbage, 1/2 cup spaghetti squash, 4 strawberries, 6 baby carrots, 1/4 cup pico de gallo. My new way of eating has brought me new energy. I took a nap after my last snack, but instead of a three hour nap..I found myself waking up naturally after an hour. And it felt just as good! Time to take on the rest of my day before work.

Snack: 6 baby carrots, 1 apple, handful of walnuts.

Snacks x 3?: 3 boiled eggs, 2 handfuls of walnuts, handful of almonds, 3 oz grilled chicken breast, 1/2 avocado, 1 apple, 6 carrots, 4 shots of espresso.

Dinner:  4 oz grilled chicken breast, cauliflower, kale, red leaf lettuce, 6 strawberries, 1/4 cup spaghetti squash. Ended up eating dinner again around 11. Boo. But the extra snacks helped!

Today, I realized the more I am teased about not being able to last without my daily intake of sriracha or being able to eat or drink certain things, the more those items are dead to me. Feed my fire people, it just makes it easier!! I'm a little competitive. By a little, I mean ALOT. Maybe I'll even go longer than one month, only time will tell. Overall, my energy and mood were a lot better at work tonight with more snacks. This could be caused by four espresso shots instead of three but I'm leaning more towards the food intake. Can't wait for another day tomorrow. Sleep, workout hard, eat clean, sleep...repeat. Love it!!

Day four...down 4 pounds?

I woke up this morning feeling more lean and light on my feet. Could be that I'm down four pounds. To my understanding, this is water weight (or lack of condiments?) and I need to increase my daily intake of protein. My goal through all of this is to build more muscle and become stronger. On that note, it gym time! Then off to shake martinis and muddle mojitos and close down the bar at work.

Breakfast: 3 egg omelet with 6 51/60 count shrimp, lemon garlic asparagus, 1/2 avocado, and 1/4 cup blueberries.

Post workout meal: 4 oz grilled chicken breast, 1/4 cup spaghetti squash, handful of macadamia nuts.

Lunch: Red leaf lettuce and kale salad with olive oil and lemon, 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 1/4 cup baby carrots, asparagus, 4 strawberries, and 1/3 cup spaghetti squash.

Snack: Handful of walnuts, 1 apple.

Snack: 2 boiled eggs, 1/2 cup cauliflower. Packing myself up some shrimp, walnuts, berries, carrots, and dinner on the go for work later. My biggest obstacle is working a normal 7-8 hour shift when its busy and not being able to eat. Hopefully, bringing in even more snacks then usual along with dinner will get me through the night!

Snack x 4?: 14 51/60 count shrimp, 3 oz grilled chicken, 1 cup of carrots, 2 apples, 1 orange, 2 handfuls of walnuts, 6 strawberries, 1 boiled egg, and triple shot of espresso.  Keeping track at work is hard. Just kept popping food in my mouth whenever I had a chance!! Didnt have time to eat my dinner until after I got home at 11:00pm. Boo.

Dinner: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, red leaf lettuce and kale salad, 1/4 cup spaghetti squash, and asparagus.

I'm exhausted. I think I need to try to eat dinner earlier or bring in more snacks to get me through work. That and much more espresso. One of the best perks of this diet!! Icing my ankles and calling it a night. Morning workout with Dee will soon be here! Triceps, kettle bell hell, and pop up suicide sprints..oh boy.

Day three...one armed burpees, turkish get ups, and 30 minute circuit training..OH MY!!

I'm finding that I need to wake up earlier than my normal 6:30am get up and go in order to prepare something tastier than boiled eggs and fruit. And believe me, when I say I definitely need the extra energy for Dee's killer workouts. By killer, I mean kickass. She pushes me harder than I could ever push myself and helps me to get closer to my goal of having a six pack and big girl arms!! Every day counts. Push it to its limit. 

Breakfast: 3 egg omelet, olive oil, handful of dices tomatoes, onions, cilantro, 1/2 avocado, 1 strawberry, and a handful of blueberries. My new diet and sense of determination is making for even better workouts. I think I would normally want to throw the towel in when facing 10 rounds of turkish get ups (more evil than one leg burpees), knee jumps, push ups, and deadlifts..but I held strong. One day that circuit will be under 10 minutes!!

Post workout meal: 5 oz of grilled plain chicken breast, 1/4 cup of slaw (see discription on day 2), 1 orange.

Snack: 1 boiled egg, 1 granny smith apple, handful of macadamia nuts.

Lunch: 1/2 cup spaghetti squash, 4 oz shredded pork loin, 1/4 cup pico de gallo. Its almost 1:00pm...nap time. Its my day off,  I do what I want.

Snack: 14 51/60 count shrimp, 1/4 cup blackberries, 2 strawberries. Too hungry to sleep. Snack time and we'll try this again.

Snack:  2 oz shredded pork loin, 1/2 cup cauliflower, 1/4 cup blueberries. Need to learn to turn sound off on phone..

Dinner: 3oz grilled chicken breast, 2 oz shredded pork loin, oven roasted asparagus, 1/3 cup spaghetti squash with olive oil, 3 blackberries, and a strawberry.

Snack: Handful of walnuts, 1 apple, asparagus.

Snack: Handful of macadamia nuts, handful of blackberries.

This diet is getting easier. The first two days were a struggle and I was getting irritated, my angry face definitely came out a couple of times! By day three, I'm feeling more energized and back to my normal self. Just in time to go back to work tomorrow. I am curious to see how much more energy I will continue to have as time goes on. My nap today was a BUST. Fluke or not? Maybe instead of waking up early, working out, taking a 3-4 hour nap, then going to work..I can eliminate the nap and be more productive with this new way of life.

Day two...early to bed, early to rise..

Normally my motto on a daily basis, but not today. I was hitting the snooze button before my alarm had a chance to even sound off at 5am. Don't judge me for it is my "saturday." Asleep by 12:00am and up by 10:30am..bring on my first day off of two!! Gym time, legs and abs baby. Its go time.

Breakfast: 4 egg omelet, 1 tsp olive oil, with 2 spears of asparagus, handful of yellow bell peppers, and 1/8  cup of pico de gallo. 1/4 cup of blueberries. Perfect source of energy for my workout. Not too full and not still hungry. I am surprised with how energized I actually feel, and its ONLY day two. Positive energy seems to be pulsing through every vein in my body and I love it!

Post workout meal: 6 oz grilled plain chicken breast, 1/2 of a fresh avocado. So used to my protein shakes after working out so this is taking time to get used to. Think I may need to start carrying a cooler of chicken or boiled eggs in my car on days I need to run errands afterwards. Got to beat that 30 minute window!

Snack: 1 granny smith apple and a handful of almonds.

Lunch: 10 51/60 count shrimp, red leaf lettuce, handful of yellow bell peppers, 6 grape tomatoes, cilantro, 6 blackberries, and 4 baby carrots tossed in 1 tbsp of olive oil and fresh lemon. Think next time, I'll saute the shrimp up with a little olive oil, fresh garlic, and oregano.


Snack: 2oz shredded pork tenderloin, scoop of pico de gallo.

Snack: 1/4 cup of blackberries, handful of macadamia nuts. My head is going to fall off. Im a bottomless pit. Think I need to add a lot more veggies to my mix..

Dinner: 6 oz grilled chicken breast, 1/4 cup cabbage, cilantro, red onion slaw tossed in lemon juice, 1 strawberry, handful of cauliflower, and 1/3 cup spaghetti squash with olive oil and pepper. Forgot how much I LOVE spaghetti squash. Just the veggie I needed..cant wait to snack on it tomorrow.

Snack:  2oz shredded pork tenderloin. 1/4 cup strawberries.

Made the mistake of going to the grocery store earlier today, without eating a snack before hand. BIG mistake. Not only did I want to stick every gluten free cracker, cereal bar, and box of brown rice in my mouth with a big cup of hot sauce to wash it down. I found myself getting irritable until I ripped open a bag of macadamia nuts and a box of blackberries in the middle of the store and started going to town. Classy. Wont do that again. Live and learn! Im excited for tomorrow. With every day comes repetition, strength, and empowerment. I can do this.

Day One...good bye sriracha!!

I normally start every morning off with oatmeal, greek yogurt, and chia seeds. I can still do the chia seeds but no more dairy and grains. We'll see how much energy I have without them..

Breakfast:  2 boiled eggs and 1/2 cup of blueberries and blackberries. Surprisingly, this filled me up and prepared me for my hour workout with Dee!! Could of done without the burpees and jumps up hill though ;)

Post workout meal: 6 oz of grilled plain chicken breast and 1/2 cup of peeled baby carrots.

Snack: Handful of almonds, raspberries, and 1 granny smith apple. Note to self: apples, raspberries, and lemon juice do not make for a good smoothie. Next time add honey.

Lunch: Romaine lettuce, teaspoon olive oil, fresh squeezed lemon juice, and grilled Salmon seasoned with sea salt and black pepper. Im pretty sure the sriracha was staring at me from the kitchen. I resisted but boo.

Snack: 1/2 cup of peeled baby carrots. 4oz of grilled plain chicken breast.

Dinner: 6 oz of grilled beef tip steak topped with fresh pico de gallo (minus the jalapenos). 1/2 of an avocado. Steamed asparagus and baby carrots with olive oil and lemon. I rarely eat red meat but had to start the first day off with a bang!!

Snack:  1 orange and handful of almonds.

Snack:  3 oz of grilled chicken.

Overall, the first day was a success. It was hard not to drench my food in hot sauce but eventually my craving for sriracha will become less and less with each passing day. Im excited for the changes this month has in store for me and embrace this challenge with an open mind and heart. Thank you for taking time to read my blog. And thank you Courtney Peters for encouraging me to create one. This is fun!!

Paleo diet versus me. Lets do the damn thing.

The paleo diet is also referred to as the "caveman diet." It is a nutritional plan based on the ancient diet of wild plants and animals during the Paleolithic era that ended with the development of agriculture.


BRING IT ON and let the Paleolithic Diet begin! As you all know, I eat clean and enjoy working out. With the help of Dee, I have decided to take it to the next level and fully commit myself to this natural eating lifestyle for 30 days. By eliminating grains, legumes, sugar, alcohol (goodbye ciroc, rum, & champagne!), dairy, and processed oils from my diet I will achieve great health and a better physique. Yes please. Easier said than done? I guess only time will tell. One meal at a time. First things first, I'll need to get started with the shopping for the week..

Week 1: The Shopping List

 Proteins-

• 2-3 dozen eggs
• 2-3 pounds skinless chicken
• 1 lb wild caught salmon
• 1 rotisserie chicken
• 3 lb pork loin
• 6 oz sliced ham
• 2 lbs ground beef or turkey
• 2-3 lb deli turkey
• 1 lb beef tip steak
• 1 package nitrate free sausages
• 10 oz shrimp
• 1 lb ground lamb
• 1 lb halibut or other white fish       

Produce-

• Berries
• bags of onions
• several bell peppers
• red leaf lettuce
• several tomatoes
• avocado
• bag of apples
• 1 lb green beans
• a few oranges
• zucchini
• cauliflower
• a few bags of mixed greens
• 1 spaghetti squash
• 1-2 lbs broccoli
• bag of carrot sticks
• quart of strawberries
• 1 small head cabbage
• several lemons
• 1 head garlic
• 1 bunch asparagus
• 1 bag frozen berry mix
• 1 bag broccoli slaw
• 1 sweet potato

Nuts and Seeds-

• almonds
• pecans
• walnuts
• macadamia nuts

Spices and Herbs-

• cumin
• oregano
• rosemary
• sea salt
• pepper
• thyme
• basil
• cinnamon
• mustard seeds
• turmeric

Pantry Items-

• olive oil
• coconut oil
• jerky     
• salsa
• balsamic vinegar
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 1 jar marinara sauce
• 1 can tuna
• toasted sesame oil
• tamari (wheat-free soy sauce)
• dijon mustard    

Now that the groceries are taken care of, its time to get down to business. Wish me luck. Lets do this.