Riding off into the kale sunset

This week was my 3 year wedding anniversary and when I started this whole30 journey I promised myself that I would give myself a break to celebrate our anniversary. So all week I focused on just getting to our staycation that we had planned. I ordered salad when we went out, I brought only homemade food to work for lunch, and I avoided the dairy aisle like the plague. 

When we arrived at the resort Friday night I was STARVING, I had looked forward to dinner all night long and I had barely eaten throughout the day. Also as luck would have it, my allergies decided that Friday would be the perfect day for a full on assault of my senses. So I loaded myself up with allergy meds, dayquil, nyquil, and the resolution that I would not in fact get sick (didn't work). The hotel sent up Champagne and chocolate covered strawberries (this is not going to get gross, I promise you can keep reading). Now I have not had any dairy, processed  junk, or grains in 3 weeks... this might not have been the best way to reintroduce the fun stuff back in. We split the bottle of champagne, I killed the strawberries and then I continued to burp and gurgle. Luckily my husband thought it was hilarious so he loaded a slightly tipsy and definitely gassy Lauren into the truck to go to dinner. He couldn't have picked a better place for dinner... we went to the restaurant where my brother works, Lons at the Hermosa. If you are looking for a verrrry nice ($$$$) place to eat with great atmosphere I highly recommend it. It is worth the money! My brother sent us a bottle of wine and some appetizers which again were amazing. My stomach did not know what to do with itself, and I have to say I was a little worried that it might revolt and ruin the night. I had a stern talking to it before we left. It went a little something like this... 

We started with a bread basket, followed by pork belly in a steamed bun, then chicken tortilla soup, tomato soup with pork belly grilled cheese, pork spare rib, a ribeye, lots of wine, and topped off with a cowboy candy bar. Lots and lots of good food, by the end of dinner I couldn't take another bite without risking vomit. 

I didn't vomit and I found a way to somehow be ready to eat breakfast by 6am... Like waiting outside the restaurant not so patiently at 6am hungry. We managed to wait until 7 when they opened and then I did bad things to the breakfast buffet. 

Can we just take a moment to thank whatever culinary genius came up with the breakfast buffet? 

Croissant? Got it. Cheese blintzes? I'll take 2. Salami and cheese plate? I'm not sure why this is out here but its going on my plate. Pork? done. More pork? yes please. Chicken sausage? Absolutely not. Donuts? 2 please while  I wait for the egg guy to finish up  my ham, cheese, tomato, and egg white omelet(for my health). 

We wrecked the buffet. 

I am not even ashamed, I would have eaten more cheese if I could. 

But this also tells me how big of a hold bad food has on me. 

It was also harder than I thought to get back on the wagon. I didn't really climb on as much as I ran along side it, jumped and missed a few times, ran face first and bounced off it a few times, and then somehow fell on the wagon. 

I was so tempted to cheat I made myself get up and make a full on Whole30 meal for lunch. No salad and grilled chicken today. I followed that up with a trip to sprouts for my weekly list of hippie shit and another Whole30 meal for dinner. I kind of feel like I am back on the wagon, I am still looking back over my shoulder as we ride off into the kale sunset but I have firmly planted my ass on the wagon. 

Also I want Pizza. 

Paleo day 6

I am worn the f out. Avoiding no no foods has worn my resolve to a nub. Today was a gauntlet of my own doing, I went and got my husband donuts at 5:30 am, went out to brunch and avoided mimosas and breakfast beers, followed by grimaldis and more beers, then I made green chili enchiladas for dinner. I did have a small taste of the sauce to make sure it tasted right but that has been my only "cheat"
I am over the excitement of doing something new phase and I have transitioned into the "can I just nap away the days until this over?" phase. I am hoping to find the phase where eating like this becomes a habit.
So good night world, goodnight cheese, goodnight pizza, good night cold beer...I'm off to dream of kale and skinny jeans.

Breakfast: black coffee, omelet with turkey sausage, onions, spinach and a side of sausage.
Lunch:  side salad, green tea
Dinner: roasted bell peppers and zucchini with roasted turkey breast.
No snacks, no donuts, no creamer, no cheese, and no pizza.

Just water, thanks!

Today was the first really hard day for the fat kid, I have had days where I wanted to cheat but didn't. I have had days where I was cranky but survived, but today was my first day outside my bubble of homemade foods and my strictly regimented meals. It was my first weekend, my cousin is in town and my usual form of family bonding includes alcohol...copious amounts of alcohol and food. I am half Mexican so it's in my DNA...family = food and alcohol. It was also my dad's birthday and we needed to celebrate. This all added up to a fat kid gauntlet full of cheese, beer, more cheese, beer, cheese again, and a beer nightcap.
I started morning with 7 mile run at 4:30 am, eggs, bacon, coffee, and a smoothie ( and that was just my breakfast). After a few near misses with popcorn and protein bars and a pep talk with the fat kid we headed downtown to meet my folks and show my cousin part of downtown phoenix. Which of course included killing time at a local bar with a killer beer selection and even better menu. By this time my quads were screaming for any tiny morsel of food, my brain was screaming for beer, my stomach was screaming for pizza and I was trying to reign it all in as the fat kid skipped merrily along. When the waiter came around I uttered the forbidden phrase at any great beer joint  "just a water, thanks!"
I really was starving and I felt a cheat coming on so I scoured menu for anything that might fit my parameters. I settled for brisket tacos... hold the cheese, the tortillas, and the beans. I just ate the brisket and red cabbage slaw which was actually delicious and it kept the hunger demons at bay. After we finished up there we met my parents at the arrogant butcher for an early dinner. I know you are thinking "Jesus Christ woman, you just ate the douchiest version of a taco ever. How are you still hungry! ?"
And my answer to that is... Hi. My names Lauren, welcome to my blog. Also... 7 miles,  you judgemental a hole.
It was also a few hours before I ate again, everyone ordered beers and appetizers while I stared at the ceiling and memorized my fingerprint pattern. Everything seemed to be covered in cheese, dipped in cheese, or just a plate of cheese.  My favorite phrase was uttered over and over again... just water, thanks!
But I survived and I enjoyed myself without binging and that says a lot right there. I don't need food to enjoy a night out, I can enjoy the company and conversation instead.  I ended up ordering a burger and side salad (no cheese, no bun). No beer, no cheese, no grains, no cheating.
All this being good has worn me out, time for bed at the party animal hour of 8:30.

Paleo Day 3

I am three days in and the cheese/sugar/grain free world has not come crashing down around me. I feel good, hungry... but good. I am not starving in a way that is unhealthy but it is taking my body to get back on the right track. It doesn't help that Triathlon/Race training amped up this week so I am burning excess calories on top of detoxing and cutting the crap from my diet. I haven't jumped on the scale yet and I am trying to hold out until Monday morning but we will see if that happens. I have a lot of energy and I have not had the headaches that usually accompany a good detox. I am also trying to not focus on counting every calorie that goes into my body. Everything I am eating is fresh and unprocessed so the calories that I am taking in are good calories. My theory has always been to eat as much as I want of the good stuff (carrots, avocados, apples. etc) and try to keep my portions in check for the not so healthy stuff.  Tomorrow is catered lunch day at work and of course they decided to go with Portillos. I scoured the menu and the only thing I could see that fit in my parameters was a burger, no bun, no cheese, no mayo. Just meat. I will bring my own salad and try not to pout.

Breakfast: Smoothie-kale, banana, pinapple, coconut water, and 1/2 scoop of egg white protein powder
Lunch: Leftover beef curry and 2 cups of spring mix
snacks: 2 apples, 1/2 avocado and small portion of roasted turkey
dinner: Mexican Chicken with green chili and lime, pan roasted zucchini and 1/2 avocado

workouts: 1:10 min bike ride  

Paleo day 2

A little more hungry, a little more cranky, and very sore from riding/running/swimming/biking. I haven't strayed from the plan but I had a couple moments where I came close. We normally never have any sweets in the house but with Easter, chocolate seems to be everywhere. I made it through the day and I really tired. I don't know if it's from getting back into race training or getting used to eating right again. Tonight we made a curry recipe out of the whole 30 book and it came out pretty well. It was ground beef with carrots and cauliflower, seasoned with salt, pepper, curry, and garlic salt.

Breakfast: smoothie with kale, strawberries, and vanilla egg white protein
Lunch: leftover peppers and sausage with two cups of spring mix

Dinner: ground beef curry with carrots and cauliflower

Snacks:  bell peppers, apple, grilled chicken and avocado

Paleo day uno

I have survived day one. I can't say that I skipped along like a bunny on crack all day but I didn't feel like I was being dragged behind a pizza delivery guy either. I tried to focus on not grazing all day and making more out of my meals. I ate slower and took the time to plate my foods. Normally I race through my meals and then spend the next 20 minutes scavenging for more food.  I will try to blog a couple times a week and keep everyone updated

Food day 1
Smoothie: kale, strawberries, bananas, coconut water
Carrots
Chicken, avocado, and salad
Chicken, avocado with lemon pepper
Grilled zucchini, bell peppers, sausage
And enough water to sink a boat

Confessions of an emotional eater

Lies I tell myself: 

I'm going to turn Frozen off after Let it Go so I can get stuff done. 

I'm not hungry, this salad is very filling and I hardly miss the cheese. 

I am going to wake up at 3:45 and go to the gym before work. 

Nobody needs tacos. 

Squats are fun! They are like the Disneyland of the gym.

You know what this smoothie needs? More kale. Definitely not more kit kats and ice cream. 

Cheese is overrated. 

Coffee tastes good black

Seriously, I am going to turn Frozen off. 

Confessions:

I feel like a huuuge douche when I talk about things like eating Paleo, kale, almond milk and protein powder. 

Sometimes I put my headphones in at the gym without any music playing so I don't have to listen to the meat heads talk about all the things I just referenced in my previous sentence. 

Some days I loathe running with a hatred that is unmatched, other days I can't live without it. 

I eat the worst when I am alone. 

I am an emotional and closet eater. 

I can eat more than your average linebacker. 

I have watched frozen 3 days in a row. 

Sometimes I eat so fast I wonder how I don't end up throwing up in the grass like the dogs after they drink too much water. 

I spend a lot of time thinking about pork 

I plan my next meal as I am eating my current meal 

(and not in a grown up who plans her meals and grocery shops according to those plans kind of way)

Also, I rarely blog when I am in a deep abyss of pizza and beer. That's a good sign that I am being dragged and run over by the proverbial wagon. 

sigh. 

That last confession stung a little. 

I will not eat my feelings, I will not eat my feelings. 

Donuts bad, kale good (and kinda douchey)