Paleo Day 6 and 7

One week down!

I don't know that I've noticed a huge difference in my weight just yet and I also didn't do any "before" measurements. Well, actually I did. I had started with my waist...and that's where it stopped. Not the same waist size I had pre-Zoe. I'm at a lower weight, but everything has shifted, I guess. No biggie. I wear the same size, if not smaller in some things, and feel great.

The biggest things I have noticed this past week: I've been sleeping better, my energy has been up overall, and my skin is glowing. Bye bye gluten and dairy! Shane's energy seems to be up, too. It's also been fun experimenting with new recipes and meals. As I type this, I'm enjoying a yummy fisherman's cioppino from Whole Foods. I've never had it before and it is so delish!

Yesterday started off with an egg white scramble with mushrooms, onions, and spinach. Lunch was uncured apple chicken sausage with a berry spinach salad and half a mango. Shane's included a bit of leftover egg scramble. Last night, we dined on cod with a homemade pineapple mango salsa. This morning was a similar scramble and a banana. Tonight may include some steak and grilled veggies.

Trying new recipes and ideas has been fun and has reminded me how much I do like to cook. Fresh food is so much easier to work with and I feel like I can be more creative with it. Before I loved carbs first thing in the morning and often at night. Surprised? Nope. The more carbs we eat, the more our body craves them. Practical Paleolithic talks about how our bodies will eat protein and veggies until we're full, but will continue to eat carbs until we decide we're done. Sugar overload!!

I still will get the sugar bug at night, normally after dinner, but have found a yummy coconut milk "ice cream". I can have a tiny scoop of it and am satisfied. So yummy! Sadly, I still haven't made it to Crossfit, but seriously plan to this next week...

It's pretty cool to hear from different friends of mine that are following Paleo as well. I know there is always someone that I can talk to about it and get ideas from. I want this to be something that Shane and I stick to. Clean, healthy food works. Period.

Paleo Day 4 and 5

Day four wasn't realllllly a Paleo day for me. Breakfast started out great (some turkey sausage and fruit), but I knew that I planned on having my "cheat" meal later. I like what Adam Farrah talks about in Practical Paleolithic; listen to your body and try to practice Paleo 90-95% of the time. This gives me the sense that I have a little freedom. Other times when I've tried to 100% eat clean, I've felt like such a hypocrite if I want a french fry or jelly bean. So, I had my Greek food last night and enjoyed every last bite of potato. Yummmmm!!

I got up this morning (day 5) and with the time change, decided to get my day started. I packed up my baby girl and headed to Market Street for more of their yummy Old Bay seasoned shrimp. I loaded up the cart with organic fruits and veggies, including some rainbow chard I'm excited about, and headed for the checkout. Apparently noticing my plethora of organic goodies, the college-age checker asked me, "so do you really notice a difference with this organic stuff?" In my head, I was screaming, "heck yes I do, how could I not??". Instead, I said, "oh yeah, the flavor is so much better". Even though I could have stood there for at least another 10 minutes going on about all the reasons to "go organic", I knew maybe that reason alone would encourage her to try it out. The whole time, Zoe stayed content teething on cold slice of organic Braeburn apple.

On the menu for today: egg scramble with hamburger and avocado, snack of an apple, lunch of spinach salad with strawberries and tomatoes topped with cold left-over broiled chicken, and dinner will be fish and mixed veggies.

One of the biggest reasons I decided to take on this challenge for 40 days...and hopefully a lifetime...was to be a strong role model for my baby girl. I want to show her how to take care of your body and how to be a strong, independent girl and woman. Everyday I wake up, I remind myself of that.