Challenge Day 6 and a home WOD

As I am sitting here typing this the smell of bacon is wafting from behind me...I won't be eating any. Only the fam gets some and I get to smell it. I am not bitter...RIGHT. Honestly I am settling in to this challenge thing, I am feeling better (with the exception of allergies) and have a pretty good groove going. I am working on tweaking snacks because I typically don't eat them and I am not going with the whole cheese stick fruit or protein shake option every time. I am also going to cook up some quick grab items for the week. I am seriously craving warm comfy foods and am making a list to email regarding some healthy foods not on our list. I love bison and it is lean and full of protein but not on the list. I am also craving beef and a nice roast or stew would be really nice to have right now.

Meal #1 (8:30)
More cheese eggs...2 eggs, 1/4 cup cheese, splash of milk.
1 cup spinach sauteed in olive oil with garlic
Coffee, splash of milk

This is my last cheese egg breakfast. While I a using lowfat cheese I still don't want to keep this cycle up. I LURVE cheese eggs in a bad way, but they don't make me feel great as breakfast. Not sure why adding the cheese makes a difference but if I had eaten 2 eggs just cooked with the spinach I would feel differently.

Meal #2 (11:00)
1/2 cup cottage cheese with lemon pepper
apple baked with apple pie spice & topped with walnuts
Omega 3 dose 1

I trying to space my meals out further because I feel like I am constantly eating when I am not hungry. I am also trying to strategically plan my meals to eat certain groups at certain times. i.e. eating fat servings for snacks to prolong them.  This snack was a hard one to come up with because I am freezing. It went from 78 degrees to 54 degrees in 24 hours, my body hasn't had time to adjust so I am walking around like a bag lady in layers of warm clothes craving warm hearty comfort foods. I really want some bison stew but I need to find out if it is challenge legal. So since I was wanting comfort foods and warmth I decided to grab a serving of cottage cheese with some lemon pepper for my protein and then cut up and microwave an apple, then I topped it with apple pie spice & 2 Tbsp chopped walnuts. Typically I would also add a small nug of butter but not for the challenge, I could have used some coconut oil but it was good without it and I got some fat from the nuts.

This is a comfort food for me big time, my older brother first showed me how to nuke a baked apple; core an apple, fill it with butter and brown sugar and microwave until soft. Yum. I changed it up omitting the sugar & butter, and adding the walnuts. I am a big walnut fan especially in the winter. They are dropping like mad from the trees right now so that is God's way of telling you it is time to eat walnuts. Real paleo peeps back in the day would have foraged and found these healthy fats as well as a wild apple tree to pick from. See, food from God.

Meal #3 (12:45)
Deli roast beef and cheese rolls with dijon mustard
Tomato soup with roasted red pepper 1.5 cups
Pumpkin spice rooibos tea with splash of milk

I would love to say this meal was for nourishment or to beat hunger but this puppy was pure pleasure. I had planned on leftovers but then decided to have some of the deli meat we just got because I love this stuff. It is london broil from Boar's head...really tasty and completely gluten/wheat free! We get it from a produce market that only sells Boar's Head so no worry about cross contamination. I rolled a few pieces with cheese slices and dipped in Trader Joes dijon mustard, have you had this stuff? If not run to TJs and grab it, it is that good. Gluten and sugar free it is so versatile. It tastes like a blend between Grey Poupon and Colemans mustards. I love Colemans, it is my fave mustard but it is made with wheat flour (wth I know) so this is the best substitute I have found.

I also love tomato soup. Not the red & white can stuff, I hated tomato soup until I had the real stuff. Like you know made from tomatoes. At any given moment I will grab a can of tomatoes and few choice ingredients and cook it until good and melded then blend with an immersion blender, top with some greek yogurt and yum! I didn't have any yogurt on hand so I added some milk to cream it up a bit. I topped this off with TJs pumpkin spice rooibos tea. Seriously, if you have never tried rooibos you should. It has a natural vanilla taste and aroma and I have never had to drink it with sugar. I do like it with cream but milk works too.

YUM! and the tin is just so darn cute!

Meal #4 (3:45)

Banana

2 tbsp macadamias

2 oz turkey

Quick meal, just grabbing random things. I am freezing today and tired, either the being cold is making me tired or the allergies because I slept like a rock last night. 

Meal #5(6:30)

Chili 2 cups

I tried to not make chili for dinner tonight. We just had it at the beginning of this challenge so about a week ago but it is so cold here and it was either turn on my heat or chili. Chili won. I made a big pot so we could nosh some leftovers. I always like to add a little "something" to my chili. I have used carrot puree before but I typically use a can of pumpkin in the fall when it is everywhere. Today I didn't have any pumpkin and not sure if it is legal so I added chopped carrots, I wasn't in the mood to steam puree yada yada. So small chopped pieces will do fine. I also added beans to my chili which I don't typically do. Beans don't bother me at all I just don't eat them a lot, but I thought I would mix it up a bit from last week's chili, gotta keep it interesting. 

I am having such a hard time cooking. I cook with my nose. Whenever I bake something Daddy-O will be like how do you know it is done or how long do I bake this for and I am like until you can smell it. Ha, strange I know but I have a keen sense of smell. It is how I season my dishes and such and it has yet to fail me, except when it is not working like now. My allergies started acting up and couple that with the mudding and sanding Daddy-O is doing in our bathroom and my head is a mess. My sinuses are so angry and swollen and I have all but lost my sense of smell and taste for that matter. This is another reason I think my appetite has gone caput. I always put a smidge of cinnamon in my chili, you can barely taste it most people don't know what it is but they know there is something. I add it based on smell and right now I can't smell it. 

I had a really weird drop in sugar today like the kind you get when you haven't eaten all day, it was really random. I blame the fact that I am not eating what I need to because well I feel crappy and have no appetite. Frost advisory tonight, bring it and bring these pollen levels down!

I really wanted to play with Belle today and get in a home WOD. I searched last night and most of the day for inspiration and decided on a workout of 21-15-9 push presses and dead lifts. Small, safe and doesn't need any additional equipment, but I am not feeling it today so I am calling it a rest day and saving this for Tuesday.  I am praying this season doesn't mimic last cold and flu season where I almost changed my name to Sick because I constantly said "I'm Sick". It was awful I hate it. I am staying positive (one rule of actually fighting a cold) and thinking this yuk is a result of running outside, open windows, and drywall dust. 

Challenge day 5, 5k and Ermagerd Berrberrrlls!!!

Well I felt much better this morning when I woke up. I slept like crap and Firecracker was on a 2 hour rotation of waking up and calling for me. Poor thing can't breathe through her nose and wants me to suffer with her. I did, of course I did, she is my sweet baby girl and I don't care who you are "Mommy will you 'nuggle with me" is irresistible no matter how tired you are.

I woke up this morning starving, detox coming to a end. I was torn between big breakfast and something light since I was going to be running in about an hour. Since I dillied my dally all morning and had no time I opted for this...

Meal #1 (pre-run)
Protein Shake (made with 1 scoop protein & water)
Coffee with splash of milk

I drank this down on the way to my run. It was freezing so the coffee was good. I was hungry, it kind of sated me.

Post run - Post run I grabbed a water and banana and a sports drink. I examined sports drink for allergens then sugar...wow. Luckily Keri designer of our challenge was there so I could ask if it was legal. She said it would count as a starch, score. Took one drink and blecht it was pretty nasty and super sweet, totally not worth ingesting that sugar. I decided not to even drink it. I am out of this sugar detox I don't want to go back, it is so not worth it. The banana was all I needed.

Post run meal
Banana
1 swig of sports drink
water

So I did OHkay on my run. I mean I finished I had to walk a couple of times, my Nike+ said I shaved 12 seconds off of my last 5k. I started really good, my first mile was 10:02 which was a near 30 second improvement. I fizzled out quickly. I hadn't had any water save what was in my protein shake and I could tell.  Mile 2 was my hardest for some reason. I felt like the tank was empty my thigh was super tight and I was just over all tired. However after I passed the second mile mark things changed (mental? I think so) I tried a strong finish no point in slacking in the end. Overall I am happy.

Today's WOD

Run 5k

official race time - unknown

Nike+ time 33:18

Meal #2 (or 3) 11:00

cheese eggs - 2 eggs, 1/4 cup cheese splash of milk

1 cup of tomatoes sauteed in EVOO

SO when I got home it was down to business, food. I grabbed some quick scrambled cheese eggs and sauteed up some tomatoes. Quick, easy, filling and legal. I know my day is going to be off, there is no planning going into today's menu except dinner. Fun things could happen. Ha. 

Meal #3 (2:30)

Hamburger sans bun topped with jalapenoes, cheese, pico de gallo, avocado

Salad (plain) with lemon juice

So I got to go out and have a peaceful and uneventful (i.e. no allergy drama) lunch with Daddy-O. Kids are with their Nonnie for the afternoon. We went to chilis thinking it was the closest thing to us that might be safe. They were very accommodating and had a menu for every allergy imaginable. My list got smaller and smaller and I went through them lol. I settled for the one item they have that is sans all allergens for me, a burger. So I got a bunless burger and topped it with some goodies and replaced the fries with a plain salad. It was filling...not really a gastronomy master piece but hey I ate at a chain without problems. 

After lunch I was excited to go pick up my barbell, olympic barbell that is! My step-dad gave me a barbell also but it is only 12 lbs. I tried to buy weights for it at Wal-mart but they didn't have any. Boo. So I picked up a barbell I scored on craigslist. It is decent, not as nice as the ones we use but it is 35# and will get me started. So now when the inspiration hits I can run out to the garage do a quick workout and add to my increasing fitness...score!

Meal #4 (6:30)

Paleo Nick's Cacciatore - Chicken cooked stew style with tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, peppers & olive oil. 

1 helping with chicken and veggies one with just veggies. 

Omega 3 (Dose 2)

I grew up on chicken cacciatore, it is something I forgot about. I can remember my mom making it in the pressure cooker when she got home, I hated it! One of my least favorite foods to eat. Now as an adult I love it. Not sure why I didn't like it back there it had everything I like in it. I donno I was a teenager, I didn't like anything and surprisingly enough I hated meat. It wasn't an ethical thing it was a totally grossed out, can't stand the taste and texture thing. Now not so much, I am a meataholic. The other night while watching some vids on the CrossFit HQ channel on You Tube I came across Paleo Nick's Cacciatore video. I have always made this with chicken boobies but he makes it with whole cut up chickens, of which I happen to have 2. So I thawed one out and made this hunter stew. Here is the video...(not of me of Chef Nick)

Meal #5 (8:30)

Cheese Stick

2 tbsp macadamias

apple

I wasn't remotely hungry for this meal but I don't want to lose any points and I know I will wake up like a hungry angry beast. Honestly if I wasn't so tired I would probably have actually been hungry (and have completed an impromptu wod with the new barbell) but I am exhausted. After no sleep last night, this morning's run, purging 5 years worth of toys, and running other errands I am whipped. I am so tired I can't even tally my meals for you. I know pathetic. I know that I lost sleep points last night because I didn't get a solid 8 hours. Firecracker just wasn't letting it happen and there was no time for a nap. Ah, the joys of motherhood, you bet your sweet tuckas :D

I am hooping to squeeze in an at home WOD working on some bar work, while deciding where to store Belle (yes I named her Belle) I realized we have an old rug from our dining room in the garage, score! It is a jute mat really that used to sit on our dining room floor but then we had kids...Love hard wood! Rugs, carpet, not so much. So I am going to roll that out when I workout in the garage to use as a mat for burpees (yes I might voluntarily do them) pushups and such. I really want to get some sort of overhead bar I can use for, well I mainly want to work on knees to elbows then toes to bar. My core is so weak, it has been getting better but I really want to work on it. I think having Belle will help and then I am working on hollow body rockers and would love to be able to do knees to elbow too. I have been watching videos on building a home box haha. Don't get me wrong I love CrossFit Regeneration, but there are times when the kids go to bed and I just want to go out and CrossFit and I am only there 2-3 times a week. What can I say, it has happened...I am addicted. 

In closing I want to note I have cut out orange juice for this challenge and I have become a sneezing fool!! Never underestimate the power of Vitamin C in battling allergies. I have a Vitamin C supplement I am going to start taking, my house it running out of tissues. 

Challenge Day 4 and some stuff

Okay...I am going to be honest, I am feeling like a piece of roadkill, hit by a mack truck, run over by a motorcycle, and pecked on by a vulture. Yep that bad. I am such a lucky girl I get sick while I detox...should go buy a lottery ticket. So I currently can barely swallow and my sinuses are killing me (cold/allergies) but on top of it I have a headache, body aches and general fatigue. Get this however, I was so tired last night I could have gone to bed at 8, I stayed up and ended up going to bed at 9:30...sat there in the dark until almost midnight when I finally crashed. It was like true insomnia, sleep wasn't going to happen. Luckily it is fall break for Geeps and Firecracker didn't have school today either so I was able to sleep in until 8:00. Whew thought I was going to lose the 8 hours of sleep points.

Meal #1 (8:30)
Leftover Zucchini Stew - 1.5 cups
Apple with pie spice
Green Tea
Vit B, Vit D, Omega 3 - Dose 1, Vit C

I wasn't feeling cooking this morning, kids were settled for breakfast and so I went on the hunt for easy legal breakfast. I settled on leftovers from last night and added a chopped apple with apple pie spice for some comfort.

this is so good!

Meal #2 (11:00)

Cheese Stick

1.5 cups Strawberries

So I was being ultra chatty when I dropped the kids off for a playdate (thanks LL) I don't get much adult conversation and unfortunately when I do my mouth takes off haha. By the time I got home I was famished so quick grab of some dang good strawberries and a cheese stick. I am planning a big cook off this weekend to keep me from having to just grab stuff. I am not sure what to cook up because besides ground beef and chicken there is only fish and dairy. I can get sick of chicken easily because I am not really big on chicken breasts and the only kind I like to cook is a brand we get from Market Day. We are out of those already. I will manage but a nice fat beef roast would be good to have as my emergency protein but it might be ground beef from here on out. I don't eat ground turkey, it was one of the foods I had prior to Salmageddon and was recalled shortly after. Not risking it. 

Meal #3 (1:30) 

Zucchini Stew (2 cups)

Omega 3 dose - 2

Okay I know I am seriously lacking originality it today's food choices but I haven't had much time today and honestly I am having to make myself eat because I have no appetite from the detox. Plus I have no energy and nothing quick to grab besides this. Also it is dang tasty! I really really hope I have the energy to run in the morning. I honestly didn't think my detox would be this bad so guess who wasn't eating as clean as she thought?!? This girl...reality, check!

Meal #4 (5:00)

Chicken Fajitas (not tortillas)

Pico De Gallo

Mashed avocado

This day isn't getting better, dinner was not happening by my hand so the ever so awesome Daddy-O stopped and got us food from one of my safe restaurants. I opted for my usual the fajitas (cooked in canola I asked) without all of the sides (of which I am allergic to) except the pico and mashed avocado (they call it guacamole...it is just avocados). When dinner got here and we got it settled on our plates I blinked and mine was gone. I really didn't have much of an appetite but my body was hungry. I am happy I didn't have an appetite because I am a chips and salsa maniac but even the thought of it tonight made me want to hurl. 

We had a busy day today and after our play date friends left I laid down on the couch and dozed a bit while the kids chilled with some tv time. I am feeling extremely weak and tired and a bit moody (as in emotional roller coaster) I have been here before I just fooled myself into thinking it wouldn't be this harsh. Cutting sugar out of your life completely and cold turkey is intense, try it. I don't eat a lot of sugar but I do eat it. I am not now. The only version of sugar I can have now (without sacrificing points) is milk and fruit. I am keeping the milk to a bare minimum because I don't want to prolong this detox, I also don't plan on adding it back in for a while. 

In all honesty this is the hardest part of doing this challenge or any really clean or Paleo diet. The typical standard diet is full of just shit, there is no other word for it. There is fancy dressed up "healthy" shit and there is the screaming labels you know it is shit. I am lucky I am sort of forced to eat healthy, but there is plenty of junk foods out there I can eat. Potato chips for one, Coca~cola for an other. I said it before I want to become extremely fit, I am pushing 40, I don't want to look or feel what 40 might look or feel like. I don't think people realize how bad our food makes us feel. One day while hanging out reading an article after our CrossFit class I heard a guy walking past saying he ate a bag of peanut m&ms prior to class. I can't imagine how crappy he felt and wonder if he even realized how it probably inhibited his performance. So anyone eating a typical diet or even occasional junk foods diet who eliminates sugar will hit a detox, this is why people fail. I feel awful. I could feel better quickly by eating some pumpkin butter in my fridge or putting sugar in my tea but I want to soldier past this and get on that bright sunny side of this crap and start burning fat instead of sugar. 

So enough of a lecture! I am dying for some chai. I have read on a couple of paleo sites about this great pumpkin chai at Trader Joes, so when we hit our run to trader joe's tonight I asked Daddy-O to grab me some. He did and I examined it...the first ingredient is sugar. Oh the irony!! I am a pumpkin fiend I love it and will OD on it. It isn't on our list so just while longer but I thought a tea would be a good sugar free legal fix. Not happening...I should give it a spot next to my pumpkin butter, meh. Tomorrow I am going on a hunt for a plain chai tea. 

Meal #4 (7:00)

2 tbsp macadamia nuts

Vanilla protein shake (made with water)

I wasn't really hungry for this meal but hey I have no appetite and currently feel like I am going to hurl. So something kind of bland and to fulfill my quotas. I am trying some vanilla protein. 

So to tally today is I have hit all of my points except the workout. Today has been the hardest day but after this it will be easy. I just have to get through the detox, I hope it is over before my run at 9am...check back for tomorrow's post to see. 

Challenge Day 3 and a recipe

So this morning was insane. Well most mornings are insane when it is a school day. Today I had to cook breakfast, get Firecracker ready and make myself ready to go into public, no sweats and baseball hat, because I am getting my hair cut off today. Yes cut off! So breakfast was rushed and inhaled...sorry no picture.

Meal #1(7:30-8:45) My all time favorite breakfast
2 eggs
asparagus (12 stalks)
Hot Tea with splash of milk
Banana
Vit B complex, Vit D, Omega 3

SO this morning was really odd, I went to bed tired and a bit hungry but woke up not hungry...as in no appetite which most times equals the detox is starting. I don't perceive this to be a painful one because I won't have a wheat detox which is harsh, jut a small sugar one. Sugar is a funny thing, my sugar demon tried all morning to get me to appease it. Yes I have a little sugar demon in my head who was like put some sugar in your tea...c'mon you know you wanna. Drug pusher! It also tried to talk me into starbucks since I am out of coffee, persistent little thing. I just threw in a banana with breakfast, sugar averted fruit servings down by 2! Coach Charlie said last night during class he was having some cramping and he thought it was a lack of carbs...very possibly. I have been through the 2 worst detoxes ever so I recognize it and know how to handle it. It honestly isn't much unlike PMS haha. But here we go, I get excited about a good detox because I know what is on the other side!!

Finished water - liter 1

Meal #2 (10:30)
Cheese Stick
Apple

So during snack time I was getting my hair did so I just took an apple & cheese stick. Kind of hard to eat when getting chopped but I did. I decided it was time for a new hair style. I used to hide behind long hair thinking that short hair accented how heavy I was because my head is so small. I needed some bulk to balance. Now I feel so much better in my skin I got it whacked off. It feels great!! I am awful at taking pictures of myself, it makes me feel very weird and I always think I look goofy. But here is the best shot I could do...short hair!

Meal #3 (12:30)

4 oz leftover roast chicken

2 cups artichokes with lemon *see recipe

Finished Water - liter 2

One of my favorite dishes is lemon artichoke chicken. Lemons, artichokes, chicken and capers...how can you go wrong? The best recipe I have had is from Practical Paleo, it is really good. Since I had some leftover chicken and was jonesing for some artichokes (detox) and bought two bags from Trader Joe's yesterday. I asked Coach Charlie if it could be added and he said he would let me know...I can't wait, I am going to eat them now. I can't imagine these not being okay, they are low glycemic, non starch, non legume and really good for cleansing your body. Can you tell I am salivating for some artichokes over here? I decided to make a version of some lemon artichokes. I am having a hard time finding gluten free capers, it is the vinegar...So I decided to make this. Great serving of veges and really refreshing and yummy. 

Lemon Parmesan Artichokes

(1 serving)

2 cups frozen artichoke hearts

1-2 tbsp olive oil

1 lemon

1 clove garlic minced

2 tbsp parmesan cheese (if you buy the real deal it is naturally low fat and full of flavor)

Heat oil in pan on med heat (you can sub butter if you aren't on this challenge, it is better with butter but for points purposes I am using oil) when heated add artichokes. Cook about 5-7 min until heated through, be careful not to burn if they are getting crsipy turn your heat down. While the artichokes are cooking, juice your lemon, be careful to remove seeds, those suckers are bitter if you get one in your dish blecht! Add lemon juice & garlic and stir to coat. Let artichokes cook until juice is almost all gone. You can add salt and pepper I didn't measure, just a couple of shakes. Once lemon juice is all absorbed and there is no more liquid place in a dish and top with the parmesan cheese. 

I had thought about adding my leftover chicken to the mix but I love me some leftover cold roast chicken. So I ate it while cooking, needless to say my appetite is back. This doesn't mean the detox it over it has just begun. I mean I have no desire to eat anything with wheat in it, ever...Wheat = excruciating pain. No Bueno! However, today while cooking lunch I looked up to see some JoJos ( TJ oreo) and my mind was all yes eat one. WHAT. Commit wheatacide? Crazy Sugar demon! Just in case you are wondering I know these are sugar detox cravings because I am wanting things I never want...not even monthly. I hope that if anyone doing the challenge is reading this you aren't having too bad of a detox and if you are hang in there you will feel amazing when it is over. 

Meal #4 (2:30)

Protein Shake - 1 scoop protein powder & water

2 tbsp macadamias

Omega 3 - dose 2

This was an early snack, I was pretty hungry plus we have conferences at Geeps' school today and have to be there at 3:30. My plan is to pow wow with his teacher and then run home from the school. I am only planning on going about 2 miles since I am at the detox phase and I am running a 5k Saturday. Speaking of school...for conferences our wonderful teachers are there all night meeting with parents. Giving up their relaxing nights at home so in turn we the parents make them dinner. I got a side dish as my assignment this time and so I decided to make the ever popular Pinterest recipe for cream cheese corn ( I know, I know 50 ways of junk food, but it is a crowd pleaser) it is essentially cream cheese, butter and corn. I add chopped...wait for it...bacon on top. Mmmmm bacon, thank goodness you don't bacon detox or I may fail miserably at this challenge. It is quite hard however to sit here breathing in the fumes of bacon coming from my oven...So I will just sit here sipping my shake, hmpf. 

Also note I made this shake with water because I don't want to have a cup of milk during this detox or it may prolong it. There is 2 grams of sugar in my protein powder but it won't make much of a difference. I may actually shun the milk all together because I want to get off of the sugar kick. I also think I have to throw in the towel with this protein, it has soy lecithin in it which aggravates me due to my soy allergy and I liked my flatter belly not a swollen one. This crap is in EVERYTHING I mean trying to find soy free chocolate is damn near impossible. You either pay $20 for an import chocolate bar or get some sugar filled allergy free one. I tell you though I have a recipe for chocolate bacon bark I was saving to make for Christmas and parties but I might be just making a batch in 27 days haha. 

Did I mention my kitchen smells like bacon?

Meal #5 (5:45)

Zucchini Stew - made with ground beef, tomatoes & zucchini (duh) I ate about 3 cups worth...

For dinner I was starving, I had my snack too early and our conference was late. I was tapped and back to my sugar detox fatigue when I went to run. The tank was empty...ugh. I had to fight to run the short distance and the slow time that I did. Before I started Crossfitting I thought I was in decent shape, not great shape, just decent. I mean I had been regularly active up until I had my first child then didn't do much for almost 5 years so I have a lot of time to make up, but I could go run 20 min and walk for an endless amount of time. I am not fit...I am not anywhere near fit. I am striving for fitness but it has been 5 weeks, I can tell a big difference but it is time to step it up. I need to get there at least 3 days per week and then try something in between. 

So back to the eats. I realize I didn't tally yesterday so today as well as yesterday I hit all of the points and didn't minus any (except I might get a deduction for artichokes we will see). I did get 20 additional points yesterday for the WOD bringing me to 170, today even though I ran it is 150. A good point was made yesterday that really no foods are off of the table you just have to buy them with your points. I ain't buyin nothin! Er except maybe the artichokes which I will have to protest about haha. Did i tell you I had this beauty staring at me from the fridge?

Waiting unopened for November 1st I could buy it with some points but I'm not gonna...

Challenge Day 2...wait what?!?

So before I get down to the nitty gritty of it all I have to say that I am truly amazed at what I saw this morning. My tummy was so much flatter than when I went to bed. I really wish I had taken measurements because I know there was a huge change. Now I am not going to be naive and think after one day of this challenge I have lost weight (I am avoiding the scale) I just forget how much of a difference eating allergy foods make. I have said before that I classify my allergies into 2 categories, hard limits which are for foods I absolutely won't eat and cause me considerable pain and possibly death, then soft limits which are foods which cause reaction but it is livable. This is typically reserved for treats or monthly must haves. While these foods cause smaller reactions they still effect my body and I tend to forget just how bad.

I would love to say I also have more energy, my head feels clearer but Firecracker had a nightmare about a bee attacking her in her room and woke me up so while I slept for 8.5 hours I was interrupted about half way through. I am still not as sore as I have expected and I think that the fish oil is making a difference and well maybe I am actually getting fitter. I feel stronger and I am seeing muscles peeking out from under my chub all of the time. So with little more babble here we go.

Meal #1 (7:30)
Fajita Omelet - 2 eggs, splash milk, 1/2 green pepper, 1/2 onion, 2 tbsp cheese, salt & chipotle pepper
1/2 Raw green pepper
Coffee with milk
Vit B complex, Vit D, Omega 3 (dose 1)

Like I said last night I don't realize how little veggies I actually eat. I eat veggies with every meal but not in the quantity I need to. This morning I really had nothing to have fruit or veggie wise that went together. I just wasn't in the mood for greens (I know crazy huh?) I am feeling some sugar cravings again this morning but these aren't like yesterday...these are the detox ones. I know these so I ain't skeered. I am getting some sugar from the milk but I am trying to avoid drinking a glass of milk or consuming big quantities. Mainly a splash in my eggs and in my coffee.

What is the difference? and why am I sugar detoxing you ask? Well first off I am not anti milk which in the world of cave people makes me more primal. I do eat cheese, yogurt and typically cream because they are all sans sugar. Milk, while not an irritant or allergen for me, has lots of sugar (except cream which has...0) so I opt for coconut alternatives...so why the sugar detox. I am going to hit a small and more than likely quick one because last week I let myself go real laxed and had some goodies with sugar. I even put sugar in my coffee a couple of days...I know, scandalous!

9:30 - first liter of water finished

Meal #2 (10:30am)
Protein Shake - 1 scoop chocolate powder, 1 cup milk (yes real low fat milk)
apple

*note - I made this and then had to help Firecracker go potty and then I had to potty and came back to drink it and it was like sludge. Ugh...it was like drinking pudding GAG lesson today do not let your protein sit. Shake & sip my pees, shake and sip!

I could have gone without this snack today but it is book fair/lunch day at Geeps school and since everything on the lunch menu is a hard limit I opted to not eat while I am there. I decided to grab this quick snack and sneak in a fruit while I was at it. Firecracker and I are hitting Trader Joe's after to stock up on some fruits and veg then I will make lunch when I get back.


Meal #3(1:30)
3oz mustard glazed chicken, 2 burger bites (1oz each)
2 cups cabbage & tomatoes
Omega 3 - dose 2

Okay who was hungry for this meal...THIS GIRL. I got home a bit later than I planned from lunch with Geeps and a trip to Trader Joe's. Typically you hear not to grocery shop when you are hungry but it worked for me today because I got a boat load of veggies & some fruits.

I'm ready now don't you think?

When I got home I was starving so I heated up some leftover protein and made a new batch of cabbage and tomatoes...it is so good! At TJs I also got Strawberries, some gorgeous McIntosh apples, bananas, broccoli, asparagus, zucchini, tomatoes, pearl onions, cauliflower, green peppers, & artichokes. BAM! I didn't buy anymore greens because I have a huge bag of kale, a bit of spinach left and my garden is over flowing in chard. I am roasting a chicken in my crock pot for dinner and you so wish you were in my kitchen. Smells amazing. 

Meal #5 (4:45ish)

3 oz roast chicken

2 tbsp macadamia nuts

1 banana

Okay I swear there is so much validity to the saying trying to wrangle kids is like trying to herd cats...I only have two and they are a handful especially when I am trying to make a quick pre-wod snack. Also I am like Mr Parker from Christmas Story when it comes to roasted chicken. Sneaking in to get a bite haha. So I grabbed a hunk of meat from the one I had cooked, weighed it, gobbled it down while I was shouting orders like a drill Sargent, getting dressed and trying to get out of the door in time for class. 

Finished liter of water #3

Meal #6 (7:45) 

7 oz roast chicken

2 cups of cabbage & tomatoes (yes again, this stuff is crack!)

Omega 3  - dose 3

So after tonight's CrossFit workout I headed home and had the aroma of roast chicken still warming in the crock pot waiting for me. Kids and Daddy-O were already fed and heading to bed (kids not Daddy-O) so I grabbed some of the yummy meat stuff and heated up the leftover cabbage and tomatoes crack sautee and chowed down, glugging some water. 

All in all today, while rushed, went better than yesterday...but if course it did, I have been enlightened. We also got some foods added to the list one being plantains as a starch...watch out! I LOVE plantains. Sautee in coconut oil and dang!! I asked about artichokes because I just bought 2 bags of them and came home to see they weren't on the list. Here is crossing my fingers. Brussels Sprouts were added and they had huge stalks of them at TJs, I should have grabbed one. Also I didn't get a picture of dinner tonight because I was a post-wod hungry beast. 

So tonight was CrossFit Wednesday (yay) and I was feeling really good until I got in there and got working. Um sore and weak was I. Today we worked on overhead squats and ring dips. I just love when we are going to be learning a skill I have been excited about and it really shows me just how out of shape I am. So out of shape I couldn't even hold myself on the rings to even try a dip...I had to do bench dips. I also realized that when I said I wasn't that sore from Cindy it was really because I was still so sore from Saturday's WOD I couldn't tell a difference. SO after we learned our new skillz we did this. 

10 min AMRAP

5 ring dips (bench dips for me)

10 overhead presses

15 Hollow Rockers

4 rounds +7 Over head presses

Overhead presses are hard, especially after you did front squats & Cindy on Monday. I grabbed a 35lb bar and I had to end up doing the workout with a pvc pipe. I was shocked at how heavy the weight felt in the squat. I mean it was heavy holding it overhead but the squat was insane. I did a front squat with 55# and it was good, on the overhead squat that 35 felt like 100! I am not sure if it is the nature of this skill or the fatigue from Monday. It was hard. I am really bad at the hollow rockers. I have deduced that it is either because my low abdominal wall is so weak, or because I have a layer of chub in the way. Hmmm I will get back to you on that. 

Today was the last class workout for week 5. I am very sad about this, next week is our last week as a class. I know I will still get to CrossFit and go to classes but it wont be the same because it won't be our group. I really like our group we work well together and all get a long great. *insert sad face*

That being said I am going to bed I am exhausted!! But I leave you with this...

Challenge Day 1

So today is the first official day of the challenge and after getting through the madness that is our mornings here at the 46 home front I settled down to plan breakfast. I am trying to memorize this list so I don't slip up but for now it will be a constant extension of my arm. I knew eggs would be on the menu but needed to plot what to make with it. I only get 1 protein (****see below) per meal which = 1 egg so I will have a down sized breakfast for the most part but I get a snack in a couple of hours and I won't lie...I am looking forward to that cheese stick.

Before I start cataloging my meals for today I want to comment on just how not sore I am today. I know I have said that in the past and then 36-48 hours later I am dying. Today is different, I am going to attribute my post workout high protein dinner and taking my fish oil at bed time. I am ramping up to 3 grams and yesterday was the first day I took the third dose at it was a bed time. It could be anything but that is the one thing I did differently and I feel different...I may be on to something.

So now to start the catalog, you are going to get the good the bad and the ugly here. The day is broken down into mini meals or 3 meals 2 snack (or 3 snacks) essentially 5-6 "feedings" a day. I will call them meals because feedings make me think of boobies...what? I nursed two kids haha.

Meal #1 (8:00am)
1 egg
2 cups spinach sauteed in olive oil
Hot Tea with low fat milk
Mulit, Vit D & Fish Oil

I don't typically eat one egg, I never eat more than 2 but if I have 1 egg it is because I am having some other protein with it. As a woman I am allowed 1 protein per meal (****see below). Typically I eat breakfast and then do not eat again until lunch, I don't need to, I am sated until then, interested to see what this one does. I also ran into a conundrum of cooking said lonely egg because butter isn't on the list. I used olive oil...it wasn't bad. Different. The list has plant based oils as being legal, that opens up the floor for more mild tasting oils. I avoid most industrial oils because I am allergic to half and leery of the others so it is olive oil eggs.


Meal #2 (9:45am)
Cheese Stick
1 small peach, 1/2 cup strawberries

I tried so hard to wait 2 hours for this meal. I was jittery and starving. I know that I have become more sugar burner because of my recent indulgences but I didn't get this way yesterday. I am going to blame the small dose of protein and Cindy (and my ignorance ..see comment below). I did use low fat milk in my tea which is full of sugar but it was only about a Tbsp so I don't think that spiked me. I am really hungry today which could be attributed to my 2 crossfit workouts...jury is still out. After I ate this meal, I wanted bacon, or steak or a nice dose of protein but I gotta wait until lunch...

10:30am - finished first liter of water 33oz

Meal #3(11:45am)
1 cup chili (made with ground beef, tomatoes, onions & peppers)

I decided to eat this before I picked up Firecracker, I was still really hungry from this morning ( I blame Cindy) and I had to run an errand after which would put me home after 1:00 and I knew I couldn't wait that long. So I measured out 1 cup of chili which I am estimating is 1 serving of protein and I know has at least 1 serving of veggies in it. I would have had a larger portion but I didn't want to go over my protein ration. I think I ate this in 2 bites. I am ravaged as my body adjusts.

side note...about 20 min before I ate this my mind started thinking of sweet stuff. I crave sweet things 1 time a month if you catch my drift. Today I was craving them heavily...interesting, very interesting. I can't wait to see where this goes. I also want to point out that about an hour after consumed a good dose of beef I started to feel human again. The shakes stopped and my belly calmed down. The sugar craving even went away for a moment.

Meal #4 (1:40pm)
Protein Shake made with 1 scoop whey protein & milk****
2 tbsp walnut halves (about 6 halves)
1 apple
Omega 3 (dose 2)

So I grabbed this as soon as I walked in the door from running out. I hadn't hit the shakes again but I could feel it coming. Lunch lasted longer than my other meals but not as long as it typically does. I usually eat 3 meals a day and if I snack it is in the later afternoon or right before I hit CrossFit. This is also a pretty big snack by any definition but I still have a lot of servings of fruit and veggies to eat and I am hungry!! Also my day is far from being over, I still have to run and pick up Geeps, clean my house before taking Geeps to TKD and start dinner so it is ready when we get back, not to mention there will be some hide and seek or tickle time in there somewhere.

2:00pm finished second liter of water.

****This is the portion of the blog where I put on a big ole dunce hat!!! While reading the scoring sheet I noticed it said AT LEAST 1 serving for women of protein per meal...not that you only get one serving per meal. I have been dying all day craving and wanting protein and there it is in black and white...I can have it, I have been writing this blog as I go and I could easily have gone back and deleted the idiocracy that is well, me but then would that be reality? (no idiocracy isn't a word it is a movie I am using it, get over it)

Meal #5(4:30pm)
1 cup of chili
2 Tbsp cheese

grabbed this before taking Geeps to taekwando  , I was so so hungry not a raging beast like earlier...you know when I was being a total moron. So I grabbed this snack ate it quickly with one hand while wrangling kids with the other. I am so tired from my highs and lows I don't have it in me for an elaborate dinner. Kids are getting pizza I am baking some chicken.

Meal #5 (7:30) 
Mustard glazed chicken breast
Sauteed cabbage & tomatoes

Finished liter of water #3

So Tuesday dinners are typically crazy, I am usually prepared and have either something ready to be cooked or cooking when we leave for TKD. Daddy-O typically finishes it up for me while we are gone. Today I just couldn't get it done, my clock was on hyperdrive and time kept slipping away and I was exhausted. So I planned on mustard glazing some chicken breasts for us and pizza for the kids. What Mom? Pizza on a school night ...SCORE. So dinner was rather late since we ended up waiting for the kids to go to bed to eat.

I was hungry for this meal but not like earlier today...still wearing my dunce hat. I ended up eating two chicken boobies, they are right at 3 oz and I need some extra protein because while I was an idiot and read the sheet wrong I think I need more because of yesterday's workout and I want to be in tip top shape for tomorrow's. I hope that this mustard is legal as regular condiments are not listed. It is wheat free and fat free so I am hoping it is cool. This recipe calls for butter to make the sauce so here I was again with the butter conundrum then I realized, coconut oil is a healthy alternative! Score. It added a great flavor to the chicken. The cabbage was just sauteed in olive oil then I cut up the last of our garden tomatoes and added them and let it do it's thang. Delish. Actually Daddy-O was talking on the phone while I ate and I contemplated taking his too haha. I did get a second helping of cabbage.

So to tally my day I got my max of 150 points and no deductions. This is my plan for the next 30 days. The hardest thing will be getting in the veggies and fruits. I can knock out my fruit ration in a smoothie though with a banana so that will be easy. I usually eat a banana every day anyway to stave off muscles cramps and because my potassium still hasn't recovered from salmaggedon. Every person started out with 100 points. So I have a total of 250, if you get over 1100 you get a bonus. I wont hit this, this week because you have to have at least 3 workouts to get that and I will only have 2 since they only count if you go to the box to workout. I asked about coming in more but I think I need my breaks in between to recover. I am contemplating some open gym days to work on stuff I feel I am faltering on, thrusters anyone??

All in all after I quit being a dumb dumb and paid attention it was all good and not too much of a challenge. I realize I don't eat the quantity of vegetables that I think I do and that I for sure thrive on protein. I am seriously going to have to go stock up on more fruits and veg for the rest of the week because I can tell I am going to need more.

Oh and come follow my on instagram my handle is supermomsteurer, also follow my on twitter and Pinterest.

CrossFit Regeneration Nutrition Challenge

So today marked day 1 of the nutrition challenge at the ole box...I have been going there for 5 weeks now I can call it that right? I have been so excited about this whole thing today I have been on like an adrenalin high. Excited to participate in a challenge, excited to meet Cindy, especially excited to get back there knowing I went Saturday. I even plucked up the nerve to tell CrossFit Charlie I was walking out when I went back to talk to him, but he already knew that he reads my blog (you rock!) He can also be credited with my photos (thanks again!)

So today was typical beginner class day, but there was something different. I feel like our class is really coming along as far as a group. CrossFit Charlie said this before that we have what took him months to attain with other members. This is awesome and we all pal around but tonight it was different, joking around and such. It was great. We even teamed up to stay and do Cindy. It was one of those we all do it together or not at all haha. We did it, but more on that later.

Tonight we learned front and back squats and how to eject mid flight...per se. Again I will say how much I love bar work. I am getting annoyed that these people on craigslist either wont take my offer for a barbell or just don't answer. If I had my own barbell I would be in my garage all of the time practicing, I do it now with my broom much to the delight of my kids, who think I am silly.

Feeling very akward

After some suggestions from the girls I was like Oh Yeahhh I see, I love that Charlie caught that face

Front squat...I love me a barbell

So after a bit of practicing on these and chatting about Cindy we had our post workout lesson about GPP, general physical preparedness. Cool stuff. Then we all got our challenge packet and started the weighing. I went first just to get it over with. Honestly the camaraderie was so great tonight I quit being nervous about it. Like I said everyone knows I am chubby, I am not hiding it (and not in the shirt I wore tonight...worst choice ever!) but being weighed by someone else is egh...alas I weighed in. It is what it is. I wasn't happy. 

Cheese!!! Yeah I wasn't this happy to be getting on the scale...this is a made for TV movie.

CrossFit Charlie getting read to zap my fat cells to see how many there are...too many. 

So we also got a folder with a scoring sheet, food journal entries, and guidelines. This challenge for the most part is going to rock. There are guidelines based on allowed foods, you start with 100 points per day, you get points for following the guidelines and bonus points for say getting 8 hours of sleep. You also get deductions such as -20 for dessert and excessive starch servings ( I got this I am allergic to the entire starch list!). I am fairly excited, this is right up my alley and is going to be killer. You are required to eat 5 servings of vegetables a day and 1 cup of kale = 1 serving, I had 4 cups of kale for lunch, bingo!

So to sum up what today looked like, I did pretty darn good. 

I got 8.5 hours of sleep last night

I had 5 meals today (3 meals, 2 snacks)

The only thing I had off of the food list was unsweetened coconut milk in my protein shake & sausage. 

I eat a serving of protein at every meal (always yum)

I had 7 servings of veggies

2 fruits

3 healthy fats

drank 4 liters of water

took my fish oil

and worked out. Score...but I don't think I can count today ;)

So my day looked like...

Breakfast - 3 oz sausage, 1 small sweet potato, 1 egg (breakfast hash)

                  coffee with coconut cream

Snack - Handful walnuts

Lunch - 4 cups kale

             2 burger bites, leftover pork steak (3 oz total)

Snack/pre-wod - smoothie made of protein powder, banana, almond butter, coconut milk

Dinner  - Beanless (aka paleo) chili with sour cream and cheese. 

Actually I think my coconut cream and pork steak would count against me. The protein list is a little limited and contains a lot of protein I don't typically eat. I have 43# of meat in my chest freezer and half of it I can't eat for the next month. I do have 10# ground beef that is lean and will work just fine thank you. 

This challenge will take some tweaking from me, it is a lot harder than a paleo challenge would be. I am sure non paleo peeps don't think so but for me it is. It would not however be a challenge if it were easy so I am glad it isn't going to feel like cheating. I just might get sick of chicken and ground beef. Wait what...never. I will be missing my bacon. I am going to try to get more salmon in my gullet with this, especially since it is one of the 2 fish I am not allergic to. The fruits and veggies list don't contain any hard limit allergens. Like I said the starch is off limits, I have been eating a small sweet potato here and there but not too much or too often because it is a soft limit and I don't want to be miserable. 

The challenge was designed by Charlie's wife Kari. Many props to her for even taking on this project, and she knows her stuff. I had a short pow wow about fueling when and whats and I am having great results (even when I did it wrong). I also think that while most people were commenting on the no nos a lot of people were relieved, it is a great challenge and in all honesty while it is restricted it has a great list of foods. It is totally doable and winable ;) There are 2 prizes for most improved fat % and most points. I can go either way but would be more satisfied with having a largest drop in body fat. 

I am going to use you guys to keep me accountable and on track, plus I am publicly giving my pal FitChick permission to slap me if I get out of line. I want to take before and afters but I am too tired tonight so I will get Daddy-O to take some befores tomorrow. 

Lastly I bet you thought I forgot huh? Tonight's workout deets. For the beginner WOD we did 5 X 3 front squats. I didn't add any weight and just did a few with the bar saving my legs for Cindy. 

After this and our pow wow and weigh in we got down to Cindy business. I love that 5 of us grouped together and did it. So meet Cindy...

20 min AMRAP

5 pull ups

10 push ups

15 squats

 10 rounds +5 push ups (scaled)

I got a hard lesson in mental toughness tonight. I wasn't worried too much about Cindy, I think it was mainly because I had some great girls around me during it. My biggest problem was my hand and the hole residing there from Saturday. I taped it up hoping it would save it a bit but after the first set I felt it tearing. I just told myself if I couldn't see it I couldn't feel it and it worked. I did have to take a moment every time I got up on the box to get on the bar to tell myself it was only 5 then my hand got a break. I never felt fatigued, I never felt soreness from Saturday all I felt every time I did a pull up was the sensation that there was a hole ripping in my hand. One round I told myself it didn't hurt near as bad as the ring of fire when I had my kids, I got through that set pretty good, lol. I also kept telling myself it probably hurt worse than it looked...I was right, see not bad at all. 

tiny new rip...totally worth conquering Cindy

Here is an awful picture of me doing a pull up with my band. In my mind I look more like Julie Foucher HA

I wanted to do 9 rounds of Cindy and ended up with 10 and a bit more. My goal is 15 in a month when we do it again. Until then I am ready to get back to our class and hit another Saturday workout which will be a 5k this week. 

But for now I am going to get those 5 points for 8 hours of sleep!!!