Okay, I just gave my nutrition lecture last night and made the public announcement that I was starting the 30-day “Eat Like a Cave Wo(man) Challenge” tomorrow.
Tomorrow turned into today, and I must say that I would highly recommend doing this with a little more preparation. I hadn’t really hit the grocery store, didn’t know what we had in the kitchen, and truly was flying by the seat of my pants.
Right now it’s almost 3pm and I think I’ve done okay so far.
MEAL 1: Turned out we had eggs, chicken sausage and avocados in the fridge, so that’s what I ate for breakfast. And yes… today was my first day to actually drink black coffee. I’ve also told all my “starbucks friends” to keep an eye on me. I’m only allowed to order black coffee (regular or decaff), or hot tea. It might sound silly, but added accountability can help! (Takeaway for you: get other people involved. It’s just too easy to “slip” if you don’t let other people know what you’re doing.)
2 eggs and egg whites, 1/3 avocado, and chicken sausage from TJ's.... unfortunately there are no veggies in the house. : (
MEAL 2: Package of pre-portioned Almonds from Trader Joes. (very hungry before workout)
Then there was the 12 noon workout, which totaled 9K on a bike, 1.5 mile run, with 110 pull-ups in between. I have post-exercise nutrition down to a science. I always use my post-exercise recovery, and I add green powder and powdered L-glutamine. Well, one of the rules I implemented during the 30-day “Eat like a Cave Wo(man) Challenge”, is NO protein powders. Only because this is supposed to be a “eat real food” challenge.
So now I’m feeling a little discombobulated.
L-glutamine is approved (and encouraged) during the next 30 days as it should have a profound effect on your (and mine) sugar cravings, muscle recovery after workouts, and help heal your gut and digestive system. Also, green powder is extremely important as it helps alkalize your body, thus blunting the effects of cortisol after a workout. So, here’s my post-workout solution: MEAL 3:
1. 1 scoop of Amazing Grass Green Powder
2. 1 scoop of powdered L-glutamine (for me this is about 5-7 grams)
3. 1 cup of coconut water (only one cup! If you need more liquid, fill it up with water!)
This gets the greens and glutamine in the system fast. But please note: The only thing I will change back on day 31 is the addition of my favorite Post-Exercise Recovery back into the mix. So for now, my “real food” solution is to consume a 1/4 cup sweet potato and 2-4oz grilled chicken breast about 10-20 minutes after my workout. (this of course did not happen today as I had to go to the store, buy the sweet potatoes, and they are still in the oven cooking!)
I bake multiple sweet potatoes at a time and keep'em in the fridge. They are super yummy cold, and are only to be eaten AFTER your workout.
MEAL 4: I was walking around Whole Foods S.T.A.R.V.I.N.G. after my workout (again, unprepared). So I somehow managed to get this into my basket and put it into my tummy. I actually am writing this blog after this meal, which really did the trick to making me feel normal again!
Okay. So that’s how I’ve done so far. I don’t have any headaches yet, but considering the amount of sugar I’ve been consuming lately, I’m guessing they’ll hit tomorrow.
A word about caffeine:
IT. IS. NOT. THE. END. OF. THE. WORLD. TO. HAVE. BLACK. COFFEE. FOR. 30. DAYS. You WILL survive.
Battling Cancer is hard. Dealing with sick family members is hard. 100 Burpees is hard. Spending 30 days to CLEAN UP YOUR FOOD and drink a little black coffee IS. NOT. HARD.
This is yours (and my) OPPORTUNITY to SHOW UP fully for our life. There is no way in Gods Green Earth that you are showing up as energetically and vibrantly as you should when you’re too strung out on sugar, can’t digest your food appropriately from overeating processed foods, and riding a blood sugar roller coaster every day.
Trust me. If I can do this…. SO CAN YOU. I’m the girl who lets 3pm emotional triggers and exhaustion lead me into a starbucks for a caffeine and sugar fix mixed with dairy and wheat. If you are sick of doing this (or just sick of being sick in general)… then get on board and DO THIS!
The hardest part of the next 30-days will have absolutely nothing to do with your food. The hardest part of the next 30-days will be the undeniable Paradigm shifts that you will have to undertake. It will be the managing all the thoughts going on between your ears.
And THAT’S when real change will happen.
Get ready for the RIDE OF YOUR HEALTHY LIFE!!! I’m glad to be along for the ride. : )
Day One food:
Breakfast: 1 poached egg with salsa verde (tomatillos, onions, roasted peppers, cilantro-blend and saute for 20 minutes). 1/2 adelle’s chicken sausage . 1 black espresso (my own vitamins-the supplements did not arrive until later in the day-will start those tomorrow)
I really miss having some fruit, but the mantra is “it’s only 30 days”
Lunch: Salad with 2 oz roasted chicken, cucumbers, lettuce, spring snow peas, mushrooms, cherry tomatos w/ balsamic vinegar/olive oil dressing (w/ dash of toasted sesame oil). 2 Lydia’s Organics veggie crackers. Green tea
Dinner:
Stir fried Pork Loin, Cabbage, mushrooms, green garlic, green onions,ginger, cayenne, 5 almonds (this was very satisfying! will eat this meal a lot)
workout: evening boot camp
post workout snack: amazing grass cocoa (1 scoop) with 1 c. coconut juice & ice
L-glucosamine supplement
Here are some recipes I like that I think fit this program:
Sauteed Brussels Sprouts with Lemon and Pistachios (my husband didn’t like brussels sprouts till he had this): http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Sauteed-Brussels-Sprouts-with-Lemon-and-Pistachios-241353
Broccoli Salad with Sesame Dressing and Cashews (Can leave out the raisins): http://recipes.health.com/recipes/10000001046799-broccoli-salad-with-sesame-dressing-and-cashews
Moroccan vegetable tagine:
Ingredients
About 6 cups of vegetables (up to 7 kinds, whatever is in season)
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground black pepper (or less)
2 tablespoons tomato paste, diluted a little in water
1/2 bunch chopped parsley leaves
1/4 cup water
2-3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Heat the vegtable oil in a large pot, add vegetables, ginger, pepper, tomato paste, parsley, then add 1/2 of the water. Cover and cook over low heat for 3 minutes, adding the remaining water as necessary and occasionally stirring. Add cinnamon toward the end of the cooking time.
So, my review of the first day of Clean and Lean.
So here’s my bad, ugly and good (want to end on a positive note)
Bad:
I had little energy most of the day. but that could have just as easily been lack of sleep as I stayed up pretty late (so maybe not really a bad)
Not quite ready to start. Didn’t have any of the supplements. Need to get to to Whole Foods
Ugly:
Realizing there are lots of foods and beverages that I crave emotionally to feel better, feel comforted, to have something fun to do, etc. I should not have a “relationship” with food where it makes me have feelings of longing, dreaming, anger and such…the clean and lean is helping me see food is a means of giving me energy so I can live.
Lots of trips to the bathroom because of all that water so didn’t get a lot of work done
Hungy at 3pm and 7pm- is this a pattern?
Good:
My plate was a beautiful rainbow of vibrant colors.
The breakdown of my emotional relationship with food (seeing food just as an energy source, not a source of happiness)
Clean food day! Go Girl!