May 29, 2014

Whole 30 Challenge Results

Here's 30 days of cleaning eating by the numbers:
  • Weight: dropped 9.6 pounds
  • Inches: dropped .35 inches around my arms, .62 inches around my waist, and .75 inches around my hips
  • Exercising: exercised for over 1,000 minutes
  • Points: came in 3rd place overall, but my team won!

These numbers only tell one part of the story. As I proclaimed early on, I feel really great after every meal. Gone is the bring-on-nap-time, sluggish and kind of sad feeling I had after really indulgent meals. These were usually ones that contained a lot of grains. Now I feel energized after eating; that makes a lot more sense.

I also feel much more informed, but that's isn't something I can measure. I wrote throughout the challenge that there are some parts of paleo that are not for me. And that's okay. The major lesson learned over the past month is to make the better choice and eat real food. I'll probably never choose bread, but I will choose beans. I'll rarely choose white potatoes, but I will drink wine. I predict dark chocolate will satiate my sweet tooth in a way that only milk chocolate had in the past.

You've probably gathered that I really love my work and the people I do it with. Aside from being intelligent and talented, there's a spirit of constant improvement there that bleeds to all parts of our lives. I'm really grateful that folks at my school started this challenge and that we supported one another while doing.

To a lifetime of better choices!

May 26, 2014

Shrimp and Broccoli Recipe - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 29

It's hard to believe tomorrow is the last day of this challenge. I'm looking forward to getting my physical results--inches and pounds lost--but the health results are already known to me. I feel really great and I've already learned the lesson for me: eat real food and always make the better choice. The better choice will never be processed, packaged foods, weight-loss shakes, or the latest fad. Everyone looking to lose weight and get stronger knows that, but quick and easy is a tough message to resist.

I'll start reintroducing some foods in the next few days and see how I feel. In the meantime, here's a very simple recipe that's a take-out fake-out. Mr. Crying Cook cannot eat peanuts, but you can add that to this recipe to make it more Thai-like. Brown rice is also an option for those not eating the paleo way.

Fake out take out


Ingredients & Tools

  • a crazy ton of broccoli or 3-4 large heads
  • 1 lbs. shrimp
  • 1 can of coconut milk
  • 2 tablespoons of chili garlic sauce or to your taste
  • salt
  • large pot with lid
  • large bowl
  • potato masher or large slotted spoon
  • cutting board
  • chef's knife

Fake out take out


The wonders of coconut milk. I've made this many times and it took me too long to realize that I needed to make sure that the coconut milk was well mixed before adding it to this dish. The fat from the coconut milk separates in the can, so you'll open it and realize there's coconut water and very chunky/solid coconut. 

Empty this out into a large bowl and mash or mix it really well. Shaking the can won't do the trick and skipping this step results in separated coconut milk in the dish. It doesn't affect the taste, but it's isn't visually appealing.



Fake out take out


Add the chili garlic sauce. You can find this with Asian foods in your supermarket. As you experiment with this recipe, determine the precise amount for your taste. For me, 2 tablespoons is the perfect balance for the sweet coconut milk and the huge amount of veggies.

Stir well.


Fake out take out


Speaking of vegetables, this is a lot of broccoli, but there's no rice in this dish and more vegetables never hurt anyone. There's no portion nitpicking on paleo and no calorie counting. Go nuts with the vegetables!

Add the now mixed coconut milk and chili sauce combo to a large pot. Add the chopped broccoli, season with salt, and stir.

Cover and cook over a low flame for 10 minutes.

In that time, prep the shrimp.


Fake out take out


Add the raw shrimp to the tender broccoli, cover, and cook over a low flame for 10 minutes. I like to give the pot a good shake with the cover on about half way through.


Fake out take out


A super simple and really healthy, not all Thai, dinner.

May 25, 2014

Soft-shell Crab Recipe - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 28

Last summer, I ate this salad for the first time. It's a bit bizarre to crunch through the entire crab at first, but it's incredibly tasty and, again, accidentally paleo without the flour.

Yesterday, I featured my father-in-law's swordfish and today it's my mother-in-law's soft-shell crab. Of course, it helps when you have great access to local seafood.

summer recipes, crab recipes, paleo recipes
These are not the most attractive guys,

Ingredients & Tools
  • 3-4 soft-shell crabs per person
  • Romaine lettuce
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1-2 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning 
  • 1 lemon
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • tartar or cocktail sauce (your preference)
  • large plate
  • large pan
  • tongs

summer recipes, crab recipes, paleo recipes


Mix the flour and Old Bay seasoning. Adjust the amount of the Old Bay to your taste. If you're father-in-law Crying Cook, the more seasoning the better.

Dredge each crab in the mixture and shake off the excess. The objective is to lightly coat, not smother. My mother-in-law was nice enough to indulge my 30 day challenge by not dredging mine. 


summer recipes, crab recipes, paleo recipes


Heat a large pan over a medium heat and melt the butter. Cook 3-4 minutes on each side.


summer recipes, crab recipes, paleo recipes


They should look golden and crispy.


summer recipes, crab recipes, paleo recipes


We had ours with shrimp over Romaine lettuce.


summer recipes, crab recipes, paleo recipes


My lunch, sans the flour and the sauces, but it was still delicious with a squeeze of lemon.

May 24, 2014

Swordfish with Garlic Tomato Sauce Recipe - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 27

My father-in-law has been making this dinner for a few years and it's simple and tasty. By eliminating one thing, it's suddenly paleo. They had it with pasta, but the sauce and fish were a substantial dinner for me.

Ingredients & Tools
  • 5-6 cloves of garlic
  • 5 pints of grape tomatoes
  • 1 1/2 - 2 lbs of swordfish
  • olive oil
  • salt and pepper
  • spatula
  • large pan
  • grill pan

Swordfish Recipes


Add olive oil to a large pan and place over medium low heat. Chop and add the garlic cloves. Cook for 3-5 minutes until fragrant, but don't allow the garlic to brown.


Swordfish Recipes


Add all of the cleaned tomatoes. There's no need to cut them. Sauté for 20 minutes.


Swordfish Recipes


Some may have popped--this is a good thing. Use a spatula to squish the tomatoes to create your sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Lower the heat.


Swordfish Recipes


Prep the grill pan with a little olive oil over a high flame. Cook the swordfish for about 4 minutes on each side.


Swordfish Recipes


I was absolutely useless in cooking this dinner. My father-in-law did all the heavy lifting while I drank tea and took pictures. He's a really good guy and this is a really good dinner.

May 23, 2014

Banana Pancake Fail - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 26

A few days ago, I was inspired to make some paleo foods like this chia pudding. While that recipe was a success insofar that the result was what it was meant to be, it's not something I'll eat regularly, especially considering how expensive chia seeds are.

I also found a two-ingredient recipe for banana pancakes. The pictures on paleo blogs of this grain-free breakfast classic were beautiful. Surely, I could do the same thing, right? No such luck. They stuck to a cast iron pan prepped with butter and a nonstick pan with Pam. They were flat like crepes and not worth the effort. I don't even have pictures of this failure because after photographing the prep, I was too frustrated with the stickiness to remember to shoot this kitchen disaster.

Nutrition
Breakfast: More paleo granola with almond milk and this time strawberries. I had left over zucchini "pasta" with sausages in a red sauce. For dinner, I had a spinach, tuna, and avocado salad. I also ate the sad remains from this banana pancake adventure.

Exercising
Somehow, I got in 10 minutes because I was really exhausted yesterday. I did this Tank Top Arms workout and felt pretty triumphant.

Mobilizing
It didn't happen.

Drinking
Two points.

Lifestyle
I read more of Justice Sotomayor's autobiography.

May 22, 2014

Quick Post - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 25

Nutrition
I had more paleo granola with almond milk for breakfast. I really love this stuff. I had leftovers for lunch: roasted turkey breast, green beans, and a baked sweet potato. It smelled like Thanksgiving. I had sausage in a homemade tomato sauce over zucchini. I made this for my dad and stepmother on Mother's Day. There's no pretending the zucchini is pasta, but that's another group of foods I don't miss.

Exercising
I did this HIIT workout and my legs... my poor, tired legs.

Mobilizing
I got it done right after laying on the floor for five minutes.

Drinking
Two points.

Lifestyle
I'm finishing My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor. My dad asked me to read it months ago and I can see why. Her immigrant-from-Puerto-Rico-landing-in-New-York story feels the same to the ones I've heard from my own family.

May 21, 2014

Beautiful Run - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 24

Nutrition
I ate paleo granola with almond milk for breakfast, shrimp and broccoli for lunch, and chicken vegetable soup for dinner. It was a day of leftovers, but they were all really delicious. I also ate a banana and a coconut Larabar as a snack. Good eats today.

My Beautiful Brooklyn Neighborhood

Exercising
I ran 3 miles, interval style. I do 10 minutes steady, 2 minutes fast, 5 minutes steady, 2 minutes fast, and then continue in 2 minute intervals. There are times when I'm running the fast interval and I'm sure I'm about to break an Olympic record or near a 6 minute mile. It's more like 8:40, but it feels great.

The run felt wonderful and I wasn't feeling very motivated when I came home from work. I never regret a run, but today was a long and busy work day.

I used Rock My Run again and jammed out to a Katy Perry remix. Out of breath on my stoop, I looked at my data from Run Keeper from the last year. I ran my 8th fastest overall time today.


FitSugar

Mobilizing
Post-run stretches are so, so good. I hung out in butterfly for a while.

Drinking
I had green tea and a lot of water.

Lifestyle
I read the newspaper on a weeknight. My brain thought it was a Saturday morning. This article points out what nearly everyone in education knows: America does not have the best teachers. Tomorrow, I need to read something lighter before bed.


May 20, 2014

New Workouts - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 23

Warning: There's a brief rant below.

The Dove Campaign for Real Beauty

Nutrition
I had strawberries and chia pudding for breakfast with green tea. I had an apple while unit planning and leftover chicken and vegetable soup for lunch. I brined a turkey breast and had that for dinner with green beans--which are a go on this challenge--and a baked sweet potato. Mr. Crying Cook had the devil's white potato.

Exercising
I did two new workouts today. I did this Low Impact Lower Body and Core Tabata Routine. It wasn't challenging for me, so I won't be coming back to this. A routine certainly doesn't need to be primarily cardio for me to break a sweat. There are quite a few body weight workouts that give me a run for my money, but this one was just too far below my current fitness level.

I also did this Tracy Anderson Arm Series. I've done another Tracy Anderson arm workout because they're straightforward, but challenging. I also want to tone and strengthen my arms, but I don't like her messages. I hate the phrase "problem area." I don't have problem areas. No part of my healthy, fully-functioning body is a problem. Please get it straight. I'm not 100% confident 100% of the time, but my body is not a problem. She also wants to help us make our arms "teeny tiny." You're a grown woman. Please don't talk like that. Perpetuating the idea that healthy and beautiful means skinny makes things like the Dove campaign necessary.

Semi-related, listen to Daniel and Kelli from Fitness Blender rant about thigh gaps.

Mobilizing
Two points.

Drinking
Two points. I drank green tea, lemon zinger tea, and a lot of water.

Lifestyle
I finished It Starts with Food. Here's the review.

May 19, 2014

Chia Pudding Recipe - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 22

On day 19, I wrote about trying some new recipes. Now that I have a week break in between semesters, I can do some experimenting and I started with this chia pudding. Now, please know the word pudding here may lead you to imagine the product Mr. Cosby was selling two decades ago. This is not that. Still, it's interesting and Pinterest is stocked with ways to change this standard recipe into many different dessert variations. I just described this recipe as "interesting." Please keep reading.

Chia is definitely all the rage on the Internets. Every post includes that this tiny seed can absorb 10 times their weight in liquid. And, look, now I did it too.

They're an excellent source of protein, omega-3, and fiber. This also means I can have something a bit more breakfast-y to eat in the morning. It's also a part of your childhood.

Whole 30 Challenge Ingredients Paleo Breakfast


Ingredients & Tools
  • 1/3 cup chia seeds
  • 1 and 1/2 cups almond milk
  • 2 tbsp real maple syrup
  • 1 tbsp real vanilla extract
  • large bowl
  • whisk
  • plastic wrap

This is very simple. Add all the ingredients into a large bowl and stir.


Whole 30 Challenge Ingredients Paleo Breakfast Seeds Almond Milk


You'll get a bowl of vanilla-y smelling slush. Cover it and let it set in the fridge overnight.


Whole 30 Challenge Rasperries Breakfast Paleo


The consistency takes getting used to, but this makes a great snack and I bet a good breakfast with a more substantial helping of fruit. I will definitely try this again using some of the variations I've found online.

Nutrition
I had this chia pudding with a lot more raspberries in it for breakfast. My husband and I had a great brunch in Cobble Hill and I ate a western omlette with a green salad. We were supposed to head to the movies, but he started to feel sick. I was going to make roasted chicken with a variety of vegetables for dinner, but I changed it to chicken soup with carrots, sweet potatoes, and spinach instead. I earned a bonus 10 good wife points. I had some chia pudding and fruit for dessert.

Exercising 
Mobilizing

Drinking
Two Points.

Lifestyle
I can't believe it's the final week already! For the lifestyle challenge, we need to read for pleasure for 30 minutes a day. The timing could not have been better with my break from school.

May 18, 2014

It Starts with Food Book Review - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 21

I am nearly finished with It Starts with Food by Melissa and Dallas Hartwig. The book ends with  a "how to" for the Whole 30, but more than the first half is the science behind paleo concepts. My main take-away as they share it: paleo is not about trying to be a caveman, but choosing the most efficient energy source in your food. The purpose of the Whole 30 is to eliminate food groups that research indicates are less than ideal for our bodies. After the 30 days, you reintroduce food groups and determine how they make you feel in comparison to your 30 days of clean eating. It's all pretty straightforward, until it's not.


There are lot of contradictions in the book. The authors themselves acknowledge that one study supports one claim and then a host of others support its opposite. This goes back to the individualism they support once the 30 days are over: you have to figure out what works for you.

Some parts of their logic made me shake my head. In the section about dairy, they italicized to emphasize that drinking cow's milk is completely ridiculous because it's meant for newborns of a different species. Well, paleo food includes organ meats. You could easily put that in bold letters with a double underline to emphasize you're eating the liver of another animal! Those carnivores eat pigs' heart--PIGS' HEART! That sentence is probably in some vegan book somewhere. Why are humans somehow meant to eat this part of an animal and not that? I'm not convinced.

Yet, here's my own contradiction: I doubt dairy will be a major part of my diet after my 30 days are over. Yes, I love cheese--the stinkier the better [see below]--and ice cream is pretty much the perfect dessert, but I used to drink hot chocolate and eat grilled cheese sandwiches regularly and I never felt particularly great after those eats. I feel slowed down after a major dairy session and that's a pretty bad feeling. I want the food I eat to make me feel liking going, not napping.

The authors make a good point about grains and legumes. Using the fact that people have eaten these foods for thousands of years is not a good justification to keep eating them. They point out these were the foods that were eaten because they were readily available and needed for survival, but were not ideal for thriving. And, again, they assert that while beans, for example, are a good source of fiber, many vegetables are a better source. I can agree there, but I'll also be returning to some legumes next week.

They talk about the overconsumption of grains and legumes, but that's not a problem for me. I can guess that for some cultures it could be a problem because of limited food sources and limited money. Black beans will never be my entire dinner, but I do believe they are good source of nutrition and I cannot continue to eat as much animal protein as I have for the past 3 weeks. I want more of a balance in my diet and I also resent how the challenge calls for such expensive foods. The ideal animal proteins are local, organic, pastured, grass-fed, and on and on. 

Overall, the book is worth a read, especially if you're interested in their view on how food reacts in your body, both physically and psychologically. Of course, the most important thing is how it reacts with you as an individual. I am my own research.

Nutrition
I had bacon and eggs for breakfast. For lunch, a fall salad in the middle of spring with arugula, apples, pears, fresh cranberries, walnuts, and blue cheese. Minus one point. I had shrimp and broccoli in a faux coconut curry sauce for dinner.

Exercising
Mobilizing

Drinking
Two points.

Lifestyle
I downloaded an app that coaches you through a seven minute meditation. It was nearly impossible for me to focus. 

May 17, 2014

Quick Post - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 20

Nutrition
I had two hard boils egg for breakfast, quickly followed by an apple and a blueberry Lara bar. I had a massive and delicious salad of mixed greens, grilled chicken, walnuts, beets, and avocado. Dinner was trout and kale.

Exercising

Mobilizing
It happened right after the workout. I'm pretty impressed with myself that I got this and the workout in among the chaos.

Drinking
I'd like a latte to wash down this final much more than wine, but I had neither. Two points.

Lifestyle
I took several work breaks and counted breaths. To be honest, it stressed me out.

May 16, 2014

Busyness & Food Boredom - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 19

I need to make more food! You already know I'm knee-deep in a final. I'm nearly finished, but this has meant that the evenings after work have been packed: workout, final, eat something, quick blog post, sleep. I've had the work on my mind so much so that I woke up at 4:30 this morning and wrote yesterday's post. I'm getting bored of eating the same things over and over, but I feel too busy to really do anything about it.

During a break from strategic special education action plans, I went to Pinterest, looking for new things I can eat on this challenge. I found two very yummy looking options: banana pancakes and chia seed pudding. After a quick text to my paleo-knowledgable friend who is heading up this challenge, I got the green light on real maple syrup, which I'll need for both recipes. I hope after noon on Saturday I can make these. I'll report back.

FromAway.com

Domesticate Me


Nutrition
I had golden raisins, dried apricots, sunflower seeds, Brazil nuts, pepitas, and cashews in a "high energy mix." I ate an apple shortly after and was starving by the time my bunless bacon burger arrived. I swapped the fries for sauteed garlic spinach, but it was just meh. I had eggs and more spinach for dinner. Snooze Town.

Exercising
I did the first round of Jillian Michaels 6 Week 6 Pack Abs. This was more than 10 minutes of a workout, so I still get two points. In obsessively talking about this challenge at work, many of us think we should earn more points for working out longer. A 40 minute routine really should earn more points than a 10 minute workout.

Mobilizing
In bed.

Drinking
Two points, not pints, NB.

Lifestyle
I'm getting into the editing phase with my final and I've looked at these words for too long. The five minute breathing break helped me push on.

May 15, 2014

Creating a Google Exercise Calendar - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 18

Nutrition
Another weird breakfast: baked salmon and spinach. It was delicious, even at 7am and I felt full until well after noon. I had a banana, a Lara bar, cashews, tea, and coffee with almond milk throughout the work day. I haven't been adding it to my posts, but I've also been drinking a lot of water.

Fresh Direct, the food delivery service in my area, forgot my pork chops in the last delivery. There was nothing to cook, so Mr. Crying Cook got us take out. I had blackened catfish and sweet potato fries for dinner; very satisfying.

Exercising
I did a Fitness Blender workout that I'd never tried before because I wasn't pumped about the one scheduled on my exercise calendar. If you've read my posts on how obsessed I am with Evernote--like using it for menu planning, adding browser extensions to increase efficiency, e-mailing directly to Evernote, or that time I was featured on teaching a blog because I just heart Evernote so damn much--you won't be shocked to know I have a Google calendar with the workouts I'll do daily. I'm deeply invested in the Google ecosystem since it's my e-mail provider, I use Blogger, I have an Android phone, and it's just really good. Sure, they're watching everything I do, but that's another post for another time.

I have a calendar called professional and I use it to schedule all work- and grad school-related events. I have an app on my phone called SmartActions, which is an "If this, then that" logic app. If there is an event in my professional calendar, then my phone goes on silent and the background data is disabled. No embarrassing ringing phone or text alerts while in a meeting and no unnecessarily depleting battery.

I also share a calendar with my husband called Mr. & Mrs. Our Real Last Name. He's subscribed to it and we add all the things we need to do together. The events show up on his Google calendar too.

And then there's this exercise calendar, called just that. Each calendar can have its own rules, so this one sends me an e-mail reminder 10 minutes before the event and I can click on the YouTube link right from the e-mail. I usually workout using my iPad, but on early mornings if I left it in the bedroom and don't want to wake up my still slumbering husband, I use my phone or laptop.


For the workouts I really like, I create repeating events. They can repeat at many different intervals and expire after a certain number of events or on a specific day. This was not at all labor intense and just the geeky thing I like to do on a Sunday morning.

As another digression, I really like the two week view best on the calendar. One month is too much; I really don't need to see what happened on May 2nd on May 15th, but one week is not enough. To get the two week view, click on the gear and select settings. Scroll down to default view and select custom. Just below that, select two weeks on the drop down menu next to custom view. Voilà!

Back to our regularly scheduled programming.



This At Home HITT Training workout was posted to the Fitness Blender YouTube channel more than two years ago, so I don't know how I missed it. It was very challenging for me. I couldn't keep up with Kelli's double butt kickers. They were more like quadruple butt kickers, but that's where I am right now and I was exhausted after this 24 minute routine.

Mobilizing
I listened to Elvis Duran and the Morning Show on the iHeartRadio app while stretching. I've been listening to this show since the late 90s!

Drinking
Two easy points.

Lifestyle
I found a bit more success today looking at one object rather than having my eyes closed.

May 14, 2014

Moderation - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 17

I've been eating a lot of nuts on this challenge which means I've been brushing my teeth a lot. Mr. Crying Cook is allergic to nuts and I don't want to delivery a deadly kiss. My nut consumption happens in snacking through Lara bars and my buddy's excellent banana walnut muffins (made with almond flour). At breakfast I've been eating nuts since that paleo granola is mainly comprised of almonds. When I get salads, I like adding nuts for the crunch.

As I searched for another kind of paleo granola online, I found a ton of links--mostly paleo blogs--warning me that nuts would kill me. Okay, that's hyperbolic, but I came across post after post about how too many nuts could wreak havoc with my digestion. So far, no complaints, but this is the kind of information that drives folks to ignore most nutrition "news." One day coffee will be your demise, the next it'll cure all your ailments.

I wonder what paleo enthusiasts would say about the environmental impact of consuming so much animal protein. The energy it takes to produce beef is significantly more than it takes to produce a vegetables. Paleo is not perfect.

Once this challenge is over, I will return to some of my eating ways, but some things are permanent changes. I'll go back to eating beans, quinoa, oatmeal, farro, barely and the like. Those foods make me feel good. They're also inexpensive. While I can afford to do this challenge, I resent how expensive it is. It feels elitist.

I'll eat a lot less red meat. Besides the price, I've been eating a lot of beef and I have yet to come across a neutral source that tells me this is what a sustainable diet looks like. 

The biggest change, and I've written about this before, is how this challenge has curbed my sweet tooth. I am shocked that I can have coffee with one sugar. I don't have the crazy need to have a dessert after dinner. Basically, moderation, moderation, moderation. Eating a lot of one category of food is not for me.

Nutrition
I had grilled turkey and roasted veggies for breakfast. For lunch, I grazed on a salad and had a Lara bar. It was grad class night, so I treated myself to a steak Chipotle bowl and made the choice to have beans. They were delicious, but I lost one point.

Exercising
Mobilizing
Two points.

Drinking
Two points.

Lifestyle
The meditation is less about a focus on breathing so far and more about paying attention to my thoughts without judgment.

May 12, 2014

Mother's Day - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 15

I spent a beautiful Mother's Day in sunny Brooklyn with my father and step-mother and remembering my loving grandmother. The weather seems to have permanently turned and I took the warmth and crystal clear blue skies to be the embrace I've missed for almost 14 years.

Nutrition
I had another banana and another Lara bar for breakfast. Perhaps I should get back to the frittatas. I made a spicy tomato sauce with carrots and sausage for my parents. Mr. Crying Cook, my dad, and step-mom had their sauce over spaghetti. You know, like normal people. I had mine over raw zucchini. It was good, but I was hungry again very soon afterwards. I'm guessing the serving of sauce had little protein by way of the ground sausage, so I ate the portion I saved for tomorrow's lunch for tonight's dinner. I'll need to boil some eggs and get some vegetables together to have enough to eat at work tomorrow.

Exercising
It's been awhile since I've done a pure HIIT routine and I had limited time to workout, so I did this HIIT Workout for Fat Loss. I still hate sidewinder mountain climbers.

Mobilizing
Two points.

Drinking
Apparently, Mr. Crying Cook picked an excellent red wine for lunch. I wouldn't know.

Lifestyle
Since it's the start of a new week, we have a new lifestyle challenge: meditation. I've never actively meditated before. I tried to sit and focus on just my breath. It was incredibly hard, as what felt like a fourth of July fireworks show of thoughts and emotions came to mind. I paid attention to them, but it's hard to know how "successful" I was at meditating.

I have a very strong memory of riding in the back seat of my father's beige hatchback with my grandmother. When I was very little, she was always in the back with me. I can only guess that I requested it and she obliged. That's a good summary of how she took care of me. 

On longer rides, I'd get tired and she'd let her black leather purse be my pillow. She'd stroke my hair and created a safety only a child can know. It's impossible to thank someone for that. I look forward to creating that sense of security for my own children someday. 

May 11, 2014

Picture Post - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 14

Nutrition
Quickie Breakfast
Spinach, Mushroom, and Bacon Omelette
with Overdone Sweet Potato Fries
Hemp Latte with One Sugar and Minus One Point
Lobster Roll with Zero Roll and All Points



Exercising


Mobilizing
Yoga for Better Sleep

Drinking
Two Points
Lifestyle
Thank you to my family for great seats at
Game 3 of the NBA Playoffs--Brooklyn wins!

May 10, 2014

I ate bread! Gasp! - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 13

Today was not a perfect point day, but the world kept spinning. Teacher appreciation week came to an end and it was tremendous. We were showered with gratitude through A LOT of food, but I honored the challenge consistently. Well, at least I did until today.

The culmination of our week was at a bar and we were treated to food and drink. I lost points for the first time by ordering wine [not really worth it], empanadas and fried calamari [worth it], and a grilled chicken sandwich [the bread wasn't worth the point].

So, I've learned my need for sugar has been considerably curbed. I would have predicted that bread would have felt more like a sacrifice, but it isn't. When I'm prepared with my own food, I don't feel tempted by other offerings.

Nutrition
I had more of my paleo granola with almond milk for breakfast and turkey tacos without the shell or cheese for lunch. See above to understand why I lost three points.

Exercising
I have not been this consistent with exercising since my high school cheerleading days and my muscles are making me very aware of it. This routine was definitely needed.


Mobilizing
I think my workout counts here too.

Drinking
One point.

Lifestyle
I wrote another note to friends. I have nice stationery, but if money was no object, I'd like hand engraved stationery from Cranes.


May 9, 2014

Quick Post - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 12

Nutrition
My all-paleo-all-the-time friend ordered me something from Kettle Bell Kitchen. I got this Pamanian Paleo Granola and it was really good with almond milk. I was really happy to be eating something other than 'dinner' for breakfast today.

I went out to dinner with two friends and talked about this challenge a lot. We had Israeli food, which meant I had to avoid hummus, pita, and probably half of the menu because the dishes had feta. I managed to make a delicious dinner of meze: roasted eggplants, beets, merguez, and fried cauliflower.

Exercising
I really like this total body workout.

Mobilizing 
I want to try to get some stretching in during the work day, but I haven't been successful so far. I paid close attention to my chronically tight hips after my work out.

Drinking
Two points.

Lifestyle
I put my stationery to use and sent a friend a note. On actual paper.

May 8, 2014

Appreciation - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 11

Teacher appreciation week keeps getting better and better! Not because today we had a cafe with coffee to order, paleo cookies, sugary treats [not for me, but others]. Not because we went to a Soul Cycle class or because today is my work buddy's birthday. Teacher appreciation week keeps getting better because I'm appreciating my fellow teachers even more.

As the normally busy day wound down, a few of us met in a conference room to head to our school-sponsored spinning class. I've been spinning before, but never to this particular chain. It was an incredible time because I went with these incredible people.


My school is atypical. We work longer, harder, and more seriously than most. I know because I've been around the block with public education. My colleagues are fiercely intelligent and dedicated. They are all just good people. In case you needed a reminder of why I'm a crying cook, I'm getting a bit emotional writing about these people I feel honored to work with and who make me happy to show up and give it all I have.

Selfie with my
Gorgeous Buddy

Nutrition
I had my Chipotle teacher appreciation deal for breakfast: a beef salad. Whoa, that kept me full all day long.

There were so many treats in the cafe my school organized: cannoli dip [hello, actual dip made of the cannoli filling], danishes, brownies, you name it. A dedicated paelo-enthusiast made chocolate and coconut paleo cookies that were so good. I am really impressed with myself that I only ate one.

Later in the day, a huge fruit basket showed up in our cafe [by the way, the cafe is usually the PE room] and I made this delicious lunchtime snack.


I had a banana before our spinning class and then made a pretty tremendous dinner, if I do say so myself: steak, mushrooms, and Brussels sprouts with bacon.

Alright, I am sad to report that I lost one nutrition point today. I confessed to my teammate by the copy machines. I had a latte with almond milk and a tablespoon of sugar. Now, if you know me, you realize this is comparatively less than the amount of sugar I usually put in my coffee. I took the one point hit and enjoyed every sip of that latte. And here's the breaking news: that was enough sweetness for me to enjoy the drink. This seems to be another excellent consequence of the challenge; I may have recalibrated my need for sweet tastes.

Exercising
My experience at Soul Cycle fell in line with those before: a really energetic teacher, loud, good music, and upper body moves that really test my coordination. What Soul Cycle really has going for it is super clean facilities and friendly folks behind the counter. Still, I can't pay $34 for one class.

I was really tested as a student because I was trying to distract my friend with my loudly obnoxious singing, but she was too in the zone. My favorites were oldies that took me right back to middle school--two very different ends of musical tastes from the 90s.



Mobilizing
My legs were SCREAMING at the beginning of the spin class. I stretched for 10 minutes before bed and could have probably used another 20.

Drinking
I almost forget to add this everyday because it's a non-issue.

Lifestyle
I think this post qualifies. I love you, Lions!

May 7, 2014

No Excuses - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 10

Busy. The B word. I feel very busy right now, but I can't make any excuses when it comes to my health. No one is so busy that they can't make a better choice. Perhaps the best choice is out of reach when life is jam packed, but the better choice is always there.

Nutrition
I had my fourth and final serving of my mushroom and kale frittata for breakfast. For lunch, I had roasted broccoli and sweet potatoes. Snack consisted of many very tasty blueberries--the difference of eating something in season.

I'm a teacher and this is teacher appreciation week. My school had a masseur in and I had a wonderful massage in the middle of the school day. They also had Jamaba Juice delivered and I had about a third of a paleo juice: mango, peach, and strawberries. It was dairy free, but it was mega sweet.

My work buddy told me Chipotle was offering a buy one, get one free deal for teachers. This was perfect timing because I had grad school. I bought two salad bowls, knowing I could save the other for the next day. So, for dinner I had a steak salad bowl with pico de gallo and guacamole.

Exercising
I know I write about bonus points a lot. That doesn't mean I'm going to stop. I got home from grad school, wiped from that and a regular work day, but rallied to workout. Where are my well-deserved bonus points!?

This workout is quick at just 23 minutes. Do it. Know that the first exercise was tough for me, but no excuses!



Mobilizing
I stretched with Kelli and then again before bed.

Drinking
Two points.

Lifestyle
Prioritizing gratitude is such a great goal. I showered a family member with some gratitude over the phone.

May 6, 2014

Jury Duty - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 9



I didn't have to go to these lengths, but after sitting in a massive room with hundreds of other inconvenienced Brooklynites, I was dismissed. I'm off the hook for 8 years.

Nutrition
I had the mushroom and kale frittata for breakfast; leftover from yesterday's dinner. Since I had an hour and fifteen minute lunch break, I did some walking around downtown Brooklyn. I got on line at Starbucks because I had a $10 gift card, but there was nothing there I could eat. All the food options had cheese or some sort of grain. I ended up with an enormous salad of grilled chicken, mixed greens, beets, avocado, and bacon. I ate half for lunch and half for dinner.

Disclaimer: What follows is anything but cute.

I snacked on another Lara bar because they're mostly dates and they're sweet. They have two to three ingredients and, again, quite tasty. After having one on two consecutive dates, I felt a bit bloated at the end of the day. I realized they have quite a bit of natural sugar, but even so, this is a lot more natural sugar than I've had since the zeros days and the last nine days of the challenge. Up until now, I've had sugar in the form of fruit and dried cranberries. No more Lara bars for the next several days and I'll see how I feel.

Exercising
Do this at your own risk: 45 Minute HIIT & Total Body Toning Tabata Workout. It was incredible. Again, I think I should get at least, at least, 300 bonus points for getting this workout done with no pauses and no cheating. Who do I talk to about my bonus point concerns?

Mobilizing
I did this pretty lame 10 Minute Yoga/Hip Stretch routine. It was about 4 minutes of talking. Not everything on the YouTube is Fitness Blender quality. I did my own stretching after.

Lifestyle
This week, we're focused on gratitude. We can show our gratitude in any form, it just has to be front of mind. While I was sitting in the jury room, I had lots of opportunities to show my operations team a ton of gratitude, as the hustled to help me get connected to the internet and get some work done.

May 5, 2014

Bridal Shower Discipline - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 8

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines discipline as a way of behaving that shows a willingness to obey rules or orders. This challenge doesn't have rules, though. It has guidelines. Suggestions. I could have a glass of wine, but then I'd lose a point. I could eat some chips and lose points, but I don't want to! This challenge has awaken my competitive beast. 

My beautiful friend's bridal shower was today. I am her bridesmaid, like she was mine, and I wanted the shower to be a special day for her. I think it went really well and that she felt loved. Her other friends added lovely touches and everyone looked like they were enjoying themselves.

I had a great time, despite being surrounded by weaknesses. Her shower was themed Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue. Her friend made a wonderful candy bar like the one below with all blue candies and guests created their own goody bags. I looked, but didn't partake. 





Nutrition
I ate a Lara bar in the car for "breakfast" on my way to the bridal shower. For lunch, I had the mother of the bride's delicious sausage and peppers and grilled vegetables. I snacked on almonds and cranberries while other guests had chips and salsa. In addition to the candy bar, my friend's sister-in-law made her chocolate cupcakes with vanilla icing in the shape of a wedding dress. It was so sweet of her and they looked divine along with the cannoli and cookies. I had fruit salad for dessert and felt satisfied. I had a frittata for dinner.





Exercising
It was a busy morning, so all I had time for was this 20 Minute Upper Body Routine. I no longer do push-ups on my knees, in case you were wondering.

Mobilizing
It didn't happen.

Drinking
And although I lost my mobilizing points, I really should earn a bonus 1,000 points for discipline. I was surrounded by wine and only had water at the shower.

Lifestyle
Again, I chose Game of Thrones and Mad Men over 8 hours of sleep. No points here.

May 4, 2014

Weight Loss - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 7

I stepped on a scale today and was stunned to see that I've lost 4.6 pounds in 9 days. That's unusual. I know normal weight loss is 1-2 pounds a week. I'm attributing this to cutting out white flour, all sugar, and all processed foods. I'm working out regularly, about 30 minutes a day. I'm really enjoying the strength exercises. I've underestimated the cardiovascular benefits of lifting weights. I definitely felt that today.

I'm not doing this challenge primarily to lose weight, but this is incredible motivation. I realize it won't be as dramatic moving forward as my body gets more used to this new way of eating. I'm still feeling really good and talking about this challenge constantly. It'd be more if I wasn't writing about it, so you're welcome, family and friends.

Nutrition
I went out to brunch with my family at an incredibly delicious and frustratingly popular restaurant. After a forty minute wait, I had a short beef hash, with fried eggs and greens. It was so worth weight. I had tea, cashews, and walnuts for a snack. After a House of Cards marathon, we ordered take out and I had roasted chicken and plantains for dinner.

Exercising
I did this Fat Blasting Total Body Strength Training and Toning workout and really liked it. It was challenging since I increased my weight and it definitely is total body. I'm going to add this one to the rotation more regularly.

Mobilizing
I like the before bed stretching routine--super relaxing.

Drinking
Two points.

Lifestyle
I got home too late and had an event in the morning. Zero points.

Rest Day - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 6

Today was the first day in quite a few that I tallied less than 11 points. I chose hanging with my husband and relaxing after a long work week over working out and I'm fine with that.

Nutrition
I had two hard boils eggs and a banana for breakfast; not delicious but fine. For lunch, I had my leftover roasted veggies; not delicious but fine. For dinner part one, I had a salad from a new spot near the office: an overpriced beets, walnut, and [gasp!] goat cheese salad. I didn't read closely enough and, even though it was barely four dollops, I lost a point. And it wasn't even that delicious. Mr. Crying Cook and I went out for dinner and I had ribs and collard greens; the best eats of the day.

Exercise
After a longer than usual work day, I needed a meal out, so the workout didn't happen.

Mobilizing
I stretched before bed.

Drinking
Two points easy.

Lifestyle
A two points loss.

May 2, 2014

Food as Reward - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 5

I have treated myself to an overpriced coffee drink after a long day of work and right before grad school because "I deserved it." After all, I have a demanding career--both professionally and emotionally--and I'm pursuing a second masters. I surely have "earned" a treat or two or six, right?

There's no doubt that I work hard and I'm not alone in my feeling of wanting to reward myself. However, what if the reward was not food-related? I want more time: more time to spend with my husband, my family, more time to read, more time for myself. I also want to try new kinds of exercise classes and indulge in something relaxing.

I doubt my body thinks I've earned the unnecessary calories of my favorite coffee drinks. Don't get me wrong, enjoying food is important to me and I will return to eating desserts after this challenge. Real desserts, not the ever present chocolate at work or the not-even-that-tasty random sweet treat from the corner store. I've already started to disassociate rewards with food. And for the sake of motivation, here are some rewards I'm thinking about for the end of this thirty days:

Aerial Yoga Glasses at Loom Yoga Center

J. Crew Bikini

Spa Day

Nutrition
I had three delicious meatballs for breakfast. For lunch, I ate last night's grilled turkey with roasted carrots and sauteed spinach and for dinner I had roasted broccoli and sweet potatoes. I probably wasn't that hungry because I had nuts and dried fruit for a late afternoon snack. I've been drinking a ton water and had a lemon zinger tea.

Exercising
The kneeling back extension in this Advanced Core Workout is a lot harder than it looks.

Mobilizing
Once my abs were on fire, I did this stretching routine and I could have stayed in each pose much longer.

Lifestyle
I started reading It Stars with Food by Dallas and Melissa Hartwig and got about seven and half hours of sleep. Close, but no points. Just in the first hundred pages, they tackle a lot, including how deeply connected people's emotions are with food.

May 1, 2014

Poor Planning - Whole 30 Challenge - Day 4

As you know, I had my grad school class last night. Not only did I not get my eight hours of sleep, but I also didn't cook anything for dinner. There are very few good food options around where I work, so nearly every lunch I have as work is made up of the previous night's dinner.

I was worried this morning. I headed to work without my super cool lunch bag filled with healthy foods. I figured I'd order something and be annoyed at myself for not planning better. When I started talking about this, my lovely friends shared all their paleo goodness. Every single thing I ate during the work day was because of my awesome friends. Yeah, I sort of felt like a charity case, but I will return the favor tomorrow.

Nutrition
I ate my buddy's JS's Lara bar and PK's chicken breast for breakfast. I ate AM's spaghetti squash with rich meat sauce for lunch--so good! NB provided snack: roasted sweet potato and Brussel sprouts. I got my act together for dinner [I actually made two dinners] and ate grilled turkey breast, roasted carrots, and sauteed spinach.

One of My Great Work Buddies

Exercising
I did this quick and challenging HIIT workout: HIIT Workout for Fat Loss

Side Winder Mountain Climbers = Brutal


Mobilizing
I stretched right after my workout.

Drinking
This will clearly be the easiest two points of the challenge.

Lifestyle
I got my full eight hours and I'm feeling great today!