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Saturday, February 26, 2011

Random

Today's Primal Eats:

Breakfast: 8 oz plain chobani 2% yogurt with Torani sugar free caramel syrup, 2 Primal pancakes (batter consisting of bananas, almond butter, and eggs) with coconut oil in lieu of butter, eggs scrambled with coconut milk

Midday Snack: Cottage cheese & strawberries

Dinner: Chicken something or other (haven't decided yet)

Friday, February 25, 2011

The Unsung Mantra

Ta rah, rah, boom dee day! Ta rah, rah, boom dee day! It is finally Friday, and that means it's pay day, which makes it SHOPPING DAY! We love shopping day.
This last week, thanks to a generous friend, I had the privilege of trying grass fed beef. Let's be honest here. I was expecting this choir of angels to part the heavens and start a resounding hallelujah chorus with how everyone on the Primal Blueprint board raved about the stuff. Frankly, it tasted like beef. Exactly like what we buy at, yup, you guessed it, WALMART.
And that made me realize... I'm kinda over it. Not Primal Blueprint. No, no. If I'm going to lose weight, it might as well be whilst enjoying copious amounts of critter & coconut fat! I am over the whole "You MUST eat organic, grass fed, pastured everything" mantra. Cuz who the heck can actually afford organic, grass fed, and pastured goods? It's a shame that those are the exception, rather than the American standard.
So my quest on this pay day is to buy the best that we can afford, and trim up our budget a bit. Settle for tillamook instead of raw milk cheddar, darigold instead of pastured butter. You get the idea. They all taste the same to me.

*Stares at the snow falling outside, and plow truck running by* Now to just muster up the courage to leave the house!

EDIT: Back from shopping. We are still looking at $350 for 2 weeks of food. *Sigh* this learning curve is expensive. It probably would've been better if I didn't discover low carb, crapless ice cream (meaning I recognize all of the stuff on the ingredient list as natural, and can pronounce them, and count the quantity of ingredients on my right hand), cultured coconut milk (yum!), and a couple of other splurges, like 2 things of corned beef, and 2 tri tip roasts. On a bright note, I got almost everything on my list at 3 stores today! At least SOMETHING got cut in half.

TODAY'S PRIMAL EATS:
Breakfast: A delicious and generous portion of intermittent fasting
Lunch: 1/4 cup cottage cheese with some blueberries and a couple of strawberries (I tried to feed them to Grace, but she lost interest quickly, despite berries being just about her favorite treat in the whole wide world); a big @$$ salad made of shrimp cooked up on the griddle using this morning's leftover bacon fat/grease, served with macadamia nuts; a glass of cultured coconut milk with some torani's sugar free caramel syrup (mmm, tangy!); a bite of my new mint chocolate ice cream
Dinner: Dickeys! (shut up and get your mind out of the gutter)
Exercise for today: Primal foraging (aka: grocery shopping at 3 stores)
Damage: 1361 cals, 30 carbs, 109 protein, 88 delicious, natural fats

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Checkup

Went to my diabetes check up today. On the way there, I was listening to music on the radio, and I hear a little voice from the back.
"Mom?"
"Mmm-hmm?"
"Rock and roll?"
*blink* "What?"
"Rock and roll."
"Did you... just... say..... rock and roll?"
"Uh huh!"
*Changes channel* (Gives You Hell was on, by All American Rejects) "Happy?"
"Uh huh!"

Then we get to the appointment. My hA1c was 5.8. I'm off of glucophage. Clarene cautioned that my fertility may be affected by going off of it. I guess we'll find out in July. She said I'll probably have to take thyroid meds for the rest of my life. I wonder if Primal Blueprint can help with that? Sticking to the straight and narrow PB path, seeing the results it has already given me health wise.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

There's a Snake in My Boot!

You know the line from Toy Story, when you pull Woody's string and he decries, "There's a snake in my boot!"
Yeah, well... there's snot in my armpit.

Grace has a cold. It may be an inner ear thing, she was complaining about her ears last night. Andy & I took turns sleeping on her bedroom floor b/c she was so miserable she wouldn't stay in bed.

It's because she's been eating crap.

Wow, that was really graphic. Let me rephrase.

I believe this illness is a result of eating poorly. When I eat poorly (as I have confessed the last few days), she eats poorly too. She hasn't been around kids all week, so I can't blame it on a bug she picked up. Andy & I have been healthy, so she didn't get it from us. The weather has been a little outrageous, but it hasn't bothered me. So I blame it on her diet. I've let her slip off the straight and narrow. Thus, the snake in my boot.

Back to Primal Blueprint for everyone.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Double Booked

VERY successful day chocolatiering! Not so successful day Primal Blueprinting, LOL. Had way too much fun enjoying samples with my hostesses and their guests. I don't dare look at my sugar in the morning. Back on PB tomorrow. I have "The Boss" to face on Tuesday!

Did 2 parties today. One in the morning in Taylorsville with an old friend, and one in Provo with a friend from college (whose play I am cast in next month, YAY!). I wish I could be double booked more often. It was fun (and Andy got lots of quality time with Grace).

I love chocolate, I love sharing it, and I love getting paid to do it! Thanks to my special hostesses today and all their hard work. It's hard to have chocolate love without them ;)

Friday, February 18, 2011

Primal Friday

Just finished my primal breakfast. Bacon wrapped 5 egg omelette with 2 oz crumbled feta inside. Lay bacon horizontally across hot griddle. Pour egg mixture over them, taking care to build up walls so loose egg doesn't go everywhere. Crumble feta. Fold omelette carefully when ready. Consume!
Probably won't eat again until dinner. I'm having chicken drumsticks. My Dove Chocolate Discoveries spring kit came today, and I am eager to bust out the spicy cocoa rub & chocolate bbq sauce.

More to follow. Stay tuned. Gotta take Brother in law to therapy.

Okay, back now.

So excited to use my DCD sweet & spicy cocoa rub. I threw it in with the chicken & EVOO and apple cider vinegar. It's cooking now. I really struggled today with carbs. It's so hard to not eat fruit, especially when it's in the house. This week my weakness is fruit and chocolate apparently. Not because my kit arrived today, either. No, no. I've been having this mega chocolate craving and subsequent gnoshing ALL FREAKING WEEK. I know dark chocolate is good for you, and can be enjoyed daily, but it's not exactly helping me on my quest to get into ketosis so I can burn off the rest of my fat. The next few weeks are gonna SUCK. *Sigh*
Why do the things that taste the yummiest have to be off limits?

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Court

Went to court today. Defendant no show. In her defense, she did try to contact me. I wonder if she was looking for a ride? I don't really feel it's my job to make sure she gets there.
Warrant out for arrest or re-summon. I gave them a few leads on where to find her.

When we got home her duffle bags were on my porch. *Crickets chirping*

Uh... Yeah.

Carbo binged today. I don't expect a good weigh in tomorrow. Everyone keeps saying I look leaner. I don't know how when I'm up a few pounds. *Scratches head*. Hubbins says my weight is redistributing itself.

Dear weight, please redistribute yourself into thin air, plz, k, thx!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Marching Into March

Phew, glad that lovey dovey nonsense is over. Ready to roar into March like a lion and eat the whole lamb. Feeling better tonight, minus the headache that's keeping me homebound.
Changed my background to reflect greener days ahead.

Court tomorrow (17th). Andy wanted to stay home so he could go with me. Awesome hubbinses.

Off to put the toddler to bed, then watch Biggest Loser contestants mindlessly kill themselves through chronic cardio (albeit inspiring results).

Ate well today, but still want to gnaw my arm off. How the heck do you eat 1600 cals and still want to gnaw your arm off? I'd jump on the coconut oil bandwagon, but I think I'm having a food aversion right now. Oh well.

Checkup with Clarene in 5 days.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Valentines Sucks

A lot of people in the world will agree with me that, not only is Valentines Day often a hit or miss holiday, it completely sucks. Today is one of those years. I'm just really depressed today due to things going on in my life.
1) I food poisoned my family over the weekend.
2) I'm most likely putting one of my best friends in prison on Thursday.
3) I feel like I suck as a business person and friend.
4) See 1 & 2.

I hope your day is better than mine. I just want to hide in a corner and cry. Happy Valentines Day, hosers.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Testing: One, Two, Three

Either my blood glucose machine is broken, or Primal Blueprint works.

My sugar was 115 this morning. I ate 800-1000 cals in about 5 mins (all delicious). My sugar 2 hours later was 127.

I haven't had glucophage in a month, and have been insulin free since October.

My hA1c at my next visit is going to totally rock!

Diabetes-free, HERE I COME! Rawr.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Power Trip

I am LOVING Primal Blueprint! Aunt Flo is coming into town this week and, girls, you KNOW how whiney we get about EVERYTHING (honestly, it's just as bad as when our big boys get a head cold). I didn't want to go, but I'm so glad I did. I cranked out 5 miles on the elliptical and felt like I could go all day. I amazed myself further when I went into the weight room and effortlessly moved up TWENTY POUNDS! When asked last week by a close friend what I liked about PB, I told them the energy.
Tara, I take it back.
It's the power.
Ever since I was a teenager, I've been addicted to power. You could even call me a control freak. Just ask my poor, sweet husband about my Nazi like "Everyone must eat this way" regime at home.
Off to eat some bacon and coconut fat! Nom, nom, nom.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Organic

For several years I have not only touted the fact that I can't fast because I'm diabetic, but have also, unashamedly, and wrongly, used it as a crutch. Now that I practice IF (intermittent fasting) on a regular basis, I know that I can handle fasting. Being diabetic is no longer an excuse. My last meal was at 6:30. My next meal will be at 6:30 PM tomorrow. I will then take my fill and enjoy every bite. I will take this opportunity to draw closer to my Heavenly Father, and perhaps nature too.
After my dinner tonight, I dashed off to the Good Earth health food store. We are running low on coconut oil and I have been looking for a cheaper one of equal quality. Good Earth has Artisana 100% raw organic coconut oil on sale for $9.86 a jar (I think it was that), which is cheaper than Sunflower Market's own brand. I was very excited, considering it was a 16 oz jar, and my 24 oz was $26. I eagerly picked up 3 jars, as well as a Maca Chocolate bar. It's 90% cacao! I can't wait to try it. It's gonna be INTENSE! I am feeling confident about the Artisana, considering I can totally chow down on their yummy coconut butter.
While I was there, there was a lady & her son going by. I was checking out the coconut milk ice cream when I heard the boy read from the nutritional list. "120 calories, that's good. Oh, look Mom, no fat!" To which I quickly responded "FAT IS GOOD FOR YOU!" Yeah. Right there in the middle of the HEALTH FOOD STORE. Where people usually go to either A) Lose weight or B) Live healthier. Fat gets such a bad wrap, it's sad. When I went to check out, the lady & her son were there, and they said "Oh, there's the lady!" And I promptly showed her my 3 jars of coconut oil, explaining that the right kinds of fat (like coconut oil, avocados, and critter) are really good for us. They were intrigued. I showed them where the coconut oil was & what a great deal it was (Did I mention $3 off per jar?). Conveniently I gave them (and the gal at the check out) my Dove Chocolate Discoveries business card and told them to email me any time to discuss nutrition. The checker had made a comment about me being a coconut addict, LOL. I told her about the protein cookies I make, and she seemed interested in the recipe. I hope they both take me up on my offer.
I was way tempted to try the Maca chocolate bar on the way home. I even pulled it out of the bag, but put it back. I told myself it would still be around tomorrow after dinner.

Anyway, the reason I called this post "Organic" is because I wanted to address a couple of things.
Earlier today, Andy, Grace, and I were at Sunflower Market and checking out some yogurt. Grace found one with a kangaroo on it (actually it was a wallaby, but who are we to argue with the 2yo?). I'd seen it before, and read the ingredient list multiple times. Grace & I both love yogurt (especially Greek style), but I told Andy to read the list.
Long story short, remember this: Just because it's in a health store, doesn't mean it's healthy. Just because it says organic, doesn't make it healthy either! Here are a couple of ground rules to lay for yourself when trying to decide what to buy at one of these health food establishments:
A) If there are any ingredients on the ingredient list you can't pronounce, set the product down and run far, far away!
B) If there are more than 6 ingredients, see rule A
C) Do not fear healthy fat. Sugar & carbs are far worse than fat, because, guess what, they cause your cells to HOLD ON TO FAT. Which is probably what you are trying to lose, right? Do right by your bod, my friend. Replace the unhealthy fat clinging to you with healthy fat. You can weigh 200 lbs & look like Linda Hamilton in The Terminator, or be 125 in a bikini with a spare tire (and not the kind that you float or fix your car with!)
Think it over.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Bacon Hound

Grace is having a really good eating day today, I think. This morning she polished off a chobani kids greek yogurt, a cup of peaches, some coconut flour chocolate chip banana bread I made last night, and then for lunch enjoyed several slices of bacon, and 1/2 a red bell pepper, as well as some cheese and grapes. I couldn't be happier. She is such a bacon hound. She gets very excited when I mention making bacon. She loves to help in the kitchen, too. Last night she helped make the coconut flour chocolate chip banana bread.
Tonight we'll have some fish for dinner. I'm going to make my favorite salad (wild caught shrimp over baby romaine with feta & walnuts), as well as some cod fillets.
I have been tracking her macronutrients on My Fitness Pal to make sure she is getting enough to eat. I'm trying to follow her hunger cues and allow her free range of the food in our house, since it's all good stuff.

Speaking of bacon, the Dove Chocolate Discoveries catalog came out for spring (there's a recipe for bacon chocolate truffle cupcakes). I got my copy last night. It's bright, colorful, and very summery. There are lots of new products that I can't wait to share with my friends. The line that excites me the most is their new set of savory products, including a chocolate BBQ sauce, cocoa rub for grilling, and a chocolate fig vinaigrette. After adding cocoa powder to my chili a week or two ago, and being amazed at how much depth it added, I can't say enough how delighted I am to see my company putting out savory products for cooking. If I can get you the hook up, lmk! Summer is on its way. Punxatawney Phil failed to see his shadow today. HOORAY! I'm *SO* ready for spring.

Here's a link to the online catalog:
http://www.dove-chocolate-discoveries.com/sites/pgerschgoodies/productcatalog

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Grace's Thoughts on Shopping

As promised, here are photos of our recent shopping trip, through Grace's eyes.