(from Jenn)
Good first day! We were on the road from Akron to Cincinnati this morning, but we didn't do any of our normal snacking. Honestly, it made me sad to see cups of fresh fruit that I couldn't eat at the gas station we stopped at, but I survived.
After work, I got a walk in while Derek went to Vision MMA to learn some jiu-jitsu with a friend of his. For dinner, I sauteed some cabbage with sausage. It was delish and super quick/easy to make! Derek wasn't quite as excited about it, but he's really good about eating whatever I fix.
And... I should be in bed now, but that obviously didn't happen. Guess I won't be going to the gym in the morning like I'd hoped, but I suppose that's o.k. since I have my first time trial tomorrow night. Still, I know that sleep is going to be a key factor in the success or failure of this quest; I just need to figure out HOW to get into a better routine with that... Suggestions anyone?
Monday, April 30, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Challenges and Safeguards
(from Jenn)
I mentioned earlier that we faced challenges when we first started trying to eat primal. For example:
I mentioned earlier that we faced challenges when we first started trying to eat primal. For example:
- Healthy, whole foods cost more.
- Cooking every night gets tiring, and I lose all resolve to eat right when I'm tired.
- We have no will power when it comes to certain foods.
- Most people don't understand what we're doing or why.
- Remember that quality is worth the cost. Choose to spend our food budget on quality ingredients for home cooking instead of eating out.
- Freeze leftovers to have on hand for nights we're too exhausted to cook.
- We are pretty much addicted to sugar. So we've chosen to cut out all sweeteners in addition to actual refined sugar, and we're even avoiding fruit for now.
- We are in this together. We know we have to stay strong for each other.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Rewards!
(from Jenn)
Six months is a long time to go without breaking the rules at all, yet that's our goal. If we really do it, I'm sure our greatest reward will just be how good we look and feel. But I thought we should have a few interim rewards built in to help us along the way. Here's what we came up with:
After one month:
Derek gets to take me to a sporting event of his choice.
I get to go to the Smoky Mountains for biking or backpacking (if I can find people to go with).
After three months:
Derek and I each get $100 to spend on whatever we want.
After the full six months:
We each get to buy a new wardrobe, because we should really need it by then!
Oh, and I seem to remember something Derek said last year about getting me some race wheels if/when I get to my goal weight... :-)
Six months is a long time to go without breaking the rules at all, yet that's our goal. If we really do it, I'm sure our greatest reward will just be how good we look and feel. But I thought we should have a few interim rewards built in to help us along the way. Here's what we came up with:
After one month:
Derek gets to take me to a sporting event of his choice.
I get to go to the Smoky Mountains for biking or backpacking (if I can find people to go with).
After three months:
Derek and I each get $100 to spend on whatever we want.
After the full six months:
We each get to buy a new wardrobe, because we should really need it by then!
Oh, and I seem to remember something Derek said last year about getting me some race wheels if/when I get to my goal weight... :-)
Friday, April 27, 2012
The Whats and Whys
(from Jenn)
I first started thinking about eating differently after reading an article in my USA Triathlon weekly email (I believe it was this one). It was aimed at endurance athletes, and it talked about the benefits of switching to a paleolithic diet. I was surprised at first to read about a low-carb diet for athletes, since you usually hear about how much these athletes rely on carbohydrates to fuel their long and intense workouts. But I was intrigued.
After doing a little more research, I ended up buying a few books about Mark Sisson's Primal Blueprint rather than Loren Cordain's paleo diet, but the main principles of both are the same: Avoid all the highly processed crap of today's Standard American Diet (SAD) and eat like our ancient ancestors ate. Why? Because our bodies weren't designed to eat the crap that surrounds us today, and those things are making us fat and sick.
The Primal Blueprint is supposed to be more of a lifestyle than a diet, including several principles for exercising and general healthy living, which is one reason it appealed to me more than the paleo diet. These are the ten Primal Blueprint laws:
So, why six months? Well, I recently read about a study in which researchers were trying to break kids of their sugar cravings. In most cases, it took 12 to 18 months. We weren't quite ready to commit to a year or more, but we thought six months would be a pretty good start. At that point, we can reevaluate. Hopefully, we'll just keep on keeping on because we're feeling so good!
I first started thinking about eating differently after reading an article in my USA Triathlon weekly email (I believe it was this one). It was aimed at endurance athletes, and it talked about the benefits of switching to a paleolithic diet. I was surprised at first to read about a low-carb diet for athletes, since you usually hear about how much these athletes rely on carbohydrates to fuel their long and intense workouts. But I was intrigued.
After doing a little more research, I ended up buying a few books about Mark Sisson's Primal Blueprint rather than Loren Cordain's paleo diet, but the main principles of both are the same: Avoid all the highly processed crap of today's Standard American Diet (SAD) and eat like our ancient ancestors ate. Why? Because our bodies weren't designed to eat the crap that surrounds us today, and those things are making us fat and sick.
The Primal Blueprint is supposed to be more of a lifestyle than a diet, including several principles for exercising and general healthy living, which is one reason it appealed to me more than the paleo diet. These are the ten Primal Blueprint laws:
- Eat plants and animals.
- Avoid poisonous things.
- Move frequently at a slow pace.
- Lift heavy things.
- Sprint once in a while.
- Get adequate sleep.
- Play.
- Get adequate sunlight.
- Avoid stupid mistakes.
- Use your brain.
So, why six months? Well, I recently read about a study in which researchers were trying to break kids of their sugar cravings. In most cases, it took 12 to 18 months. We weren't quite ready to commit to a year or more, but we thought six months would be a pretty good start. At that point, we can reevaluate. Hopefully, we'll just keep on keeping on because we're feeling so good!
Thursday, April 26, 2012
What is normal?
(from Jenn)
Two thirds of all Americans are overweight or obese. Fat is normal in our society. Dieting is normal in our society. Failing to lose weight and keep it off is normal in our society.
Unfortunately, we are normal.
Like so many Americans, we have been stuck in a vicious cycle of dieting and falling off the wagon for years, and it has left us feeling frustrated, guilty, afraid of failing again, hopeless.
But we've been learning a lot about how our bodies work, what makes us fat, etc., and we are embarking on a sixth-month quest to find a new "normal." We realize it'll probably take longer than six months to break all our bad habits and form new lifelong habits of good health, but this is the first step. We are committed to doing it right this time, and we are taking every step we can think of to ensure success.
Which is why we've started this blog. We believe that publicly proclaiming our goals, our "rules," our progress, and our triumphs will help keep us accountable. Stay tuned for more details than you ever wanted to know about this incredible journey of ours!
Two thirds of all Americans are overweight or obese. Fat is normal in our society. Dieting is normal in our society. Failing to lose weight and keep it off is normal in our society.
Unfortunately, we are normal.
Like so many Americans, we have been stuck in a vicious cycle of dieting and falling off the wagon for years, and it has left us feeling frustrated, guilty, afraid of failing again, hopeless.
But we've been learning a lot about how our bodies work, what makes us fat, etc., and we are embarking on a sixth-month quest to find a new "normal." We realize it'll probably take longer than six months to break all our bad habits and form new lifelong habits of good health, but this is the first step. We are committed to doing it right this time, and we are taking every step we can think of to ensure success.
Which is why we've started this blog. We believe that publicly proclaiming our goals, our "rules," our progress, and our triumphs will help keep us accountable. Stay tuned for more details than you ever wanted to know about this incredible journey of ours!
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