All the Changes Equal a Life I Could Only Dream Of!

We all have our own "AH HA" moments.  Mine came last April when I decided to smoke my last Marlboro Light cigarette and to never touch them again.  That was the day that catapulted me into a lifestyle of CrossFit, running, and Paleo.  All of which I told my husband numerous times that I would never do.  I never dreamed that I would be someone that anyone would ever ask diet or exercise advice from, want to go running with, or tell me I inspired them in any way.  I feel so blessed to be living a happier and healthier life for myself and my family.  I feel even more blessed that people have joined me in my quest to be happy and healthy and have given me so much encouragement along the way.  Thank you all for helping me stay focused and successful.

Some changes were big, some changes were small, but all of them have equalled to a life that I could only dream of having a year ago.  I go to bed every night thankful for all of the successes and blessings.

My most recent set backs of sciatica for almost 2 months and this Thyrotoxicosis that I have been dealing with seem to be under control again.  I am back in the gym and signed up for my first 5K of the year for St. Patty's Day.  I am also following a new paleo diet plan that removed some of my staple foods, broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage, to name a few.  This was scary for me and I was nervous about it, but I am getting used to eating different veggies and really enjoying eating more berries.  It has decreased my resting heart rate and the weird hot flashes with excessive sweating have disappeared.  I have two more months before I will be tested to see if this is really helping, but so far, so good.

I may have a little case of cabin fever too because I am also excited that we are only 8 weeks away from our new CSA pick ups!  I cannot wait to have fresh, local food.  I am also working on the plans for my herb garden so that we can have fresh herbs in the backyard.  Spring can't come quick enough!

In the kitchen, some good clean recipes!

Due to my many health related issues that I have been having lately, I have been unable to workout.  So instead I have been in the kitchen brushing up on my skills at cooking.  I am going to post a few of my favorites that I have tried recently.  

Apple  Streusel Egg Muffins (from Practical Paleo)

ingredients:

• 3 large green apples, chopped into 1/2 inch pieces (approximately 2 cups) – peeled if you like

• 3 tablespoons warm water

• 2 teaspoons cinnamon, divided

• 9 eggs

• 1 1/2 tablespoons butter or coconut oil (to make it dairy-free), melted

• 3 tablespoons coconut milk

• 1 1/2 tablespoons coconut flour

• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

preparation:

• Preheat oven to 350F.

• In a medium skillet, sautée the apples, water, and 1 1/2 teaspoon of the cinnamon until the apples are the consistency of chunky applesauce or apple pie filling. Allow the mixture to cool before combining with the egg mixture.

• In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, butter, coconut milk, coconut flour, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, baking soda, and salt until well combined. Add the cooled apples, reserving 1/4 cup for a garnish.

• Spoon egg and apple mixture into parchment cup lined muffin tins—1/4 cup each. Gently spoon about one teaspoon of the remaining apple mixture onto the top of each muffin.

• Bake for 40 minutes.

Bora Bora Fireballs

Prep 10 min | Cook 30 min | Makes about 42 meatballs

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 teaspoon plus 1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon plus 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1 cup canned crushed pineapple, sugar-free, packed in its own juice
2 tablespoons coconut aminos
1 1/2 teaspoons dried ginger
3 cloves garlic, minced (about 1 tablespoon)
3-4 scallions, white and green, very thinly sliced (about 1/4 cup)
1/2 fresh jalapeño, seeds and ribs removed, finely minced (about 2 teaspoons)
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 pounds ground pork

Directions:1. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Cover a large baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat, then add the coconut. Toast, stirring often with a wooden spoon, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper. Set aside to cool.

2. Drain the cup of canned pineapple in a sieve placed over a bowl to catch the juice. Press the pineapple pulp against the sieve with a wooden spoon to extract the excess moisture. Place the pineapple in a large mixing bowl and save the juice for later.

3. To the pineapple, add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon cayenne, coconut aminos, ginger, garlic, scallions, jalapeño, and eggs. Beat with a wooden spoon until combined. With your hands, crumble the pork into the bowl and knead until all of the ingredients are incorporated.

4. Arrange the bowls of pineapple juice, spiced coconut, and seasoned pork for easy access. Measure a level tablespoon of pork to make a meatball, lightly douse it in the pineapple juice, then roll it in the coconut, pressing the coconut shreds into the meat by lightly rolling the ball between your palms. This is a rare case in which more isn’t better — don’t go too cuckoo with the coconut. Line up the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet, about 1/2 inch apart.

5. Slide the meatballs into the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, until sizzling and golden brown. These taste great with Confetti Cauliflower and/or Sunshine Sauce.

http://www.theclothesmakethegirl.com/2013/03/05/bora-bora-fireballs/

And my favorite to add to anything is Sweet and Spicy Sweet Potatoes.  Here's the link
http://www.heandsheeatclean.com/2012/05/clean-eat-recipe-sweet-spicy-sweet.html

This was a way for me to remember that 70% of health is made in the kitchen and only 30% is exercise.  So remember to have a good foundation with you food.  Good clean food makes for a healthier you!

Staying in Control

A little slide backwards over the last few weeks.  I have been having trouble sleeping, heart palpitations, excessive sweating, and "female issues".  All of these things added up to a diagnosis of Thyrotoxicosis.  What this means is my thyroid gland is over producing the hormones.  I had always thought that it meant that I would loose a bunch of weight and loose my hair.  This is not always the case. There are many symptoms to hyperthyroidism.
I am sharing this because I am going through the process of additional testing to help me decide what the proper treatment will be for myself.  The testing should also conclude what is causing my thyroid gland to be overproducing the hormones.  I have been very lucky to have a group of physicians working with me that are willing to give me all of the treatment options, pros and cons to each of them, and then giving me the option to choose my treatment.  I get to stay in control.  I really like that.
We are very lucky to live in a time that we can jump on the internet and research our medical issues.  I have been able to do plenty of research.  The key is to know what the worst case may be, but to focus on the best case and start from there.
I am really having issues with the thoughts of going through iodine radiation treatments to kill my thyroid without attempting other options first.  It seems killing it is the most common treatment chosen.  I truly feel that I should try medication and dietary changes first.  So I have already began the dietary changes with a low sugar diet while waiting for the test results.  I took action and so that I can control of my own outcomes.

Breakthrough, Finally!

Breakthrough!  I have finally completed a WOD and felt good!

Tonights WOD consisted of plate snatches and up downs, suicide sprints and finished off with a 2k row.  This was one of the few workouts that I went through that I felt strong and competent.  I am hoping that this means I am finally getting more comfortable with my strength and my abilities.

I was able to even come home and eat the dinner that Uncle Cave Man (this is what our niece has dubbed my husband) made for us.  Steak, mangos, plantains, and baconado.  Pretty awesome paleo dinner to eat right after a great workout.

Check out the recipe page for One Skillet Squash and Sweet Potato Hash.  This is an great recipe to make ahead of time and just warm up for breakfast.  Throw an egg overtop of it if you have some extra time or need more protein.  ENJOY!    

Crossfit is amazing...and burpees still suck

Tonight's lessons at Crossfit=Crossfit friends are motivators and will help you to do things that you never thought you could do, and burpees still suck.

Tonights workout was a deck of cards.  Each suit represented an exercise, squats, pushups, situps and burpees.  Our team of 3 had to complete all reps, the value of the card, before getting a new card from the trainer and moving on.  Our score was the total number of reps completed in a set time, 3 rounds.  Somehow my husband trainer gave us every card that represented the pushups and burpees in the deck.  Well maybe not, but that is what it felt like.  I also think he found a slight bit of pleasure as I choked back the vomit when he told us, "12 burpees" toward the end of the workout.

I joke about the WODs, but it is all worth every bit of sweat and effort that I put into Crossfit.  I walk out of the gym with a completely different attitude then when I walked in.  All of the stressors that have found their way into my day seem to disappear and I have a complete sense of accomplishment.  One of the mantras that I have hanging in my bathroom is, "My body is getting stronger every day."  This is how I have always wanted to live my life.

I don't know remember if I have shared this, so forgive me if this is a repeat.  I did try Crossfit about 6 years ago.  There was only one Box in Summit County and my husband would follow the WOD posted on the main site at the local YMCA.  I decided to try it with him, I made it through two workouts, puked my guts out and vowed to never do it again.  It has been 11 months from the time a friend talked me into trying Crossfit again and I stepped foot into a Box.  I truly feel that I am stronger and more confident in myself than I have ever been.  I feel very blessed tonight to be able to call Crossfit Utility my Box.

10K Training is Under Way

The lovely smell of bacon cooking for my Baconado may be the most lovely smell there is after my run today.  Today was the Day 1, Week 1 of Ease into a 10K.  Not too bad.  I felt pretty strong today and it breaks up the monotony of treadmill running.  This is a 10 week program so I will be finishing up around the time that the weather breaks here in NorthEast Ohio and I can start running outside again.  I have been checking out races for 2013 and trying to decide which ones I want to sign up for.  I am so excited that the Winter is half over and Spring is right around the corner.

This weeks food includes Golden Cauliflower Soup, Sweet Potato/Squash Hash, Dill Veggies, Lemon Rosemary Salmon, Turkey Legs, Mango-Plantain Steak and tonights Bacon mashed into avocado (one of my favs).  I found the hash especially nice for breakfast, as I just have to heat it.  No morning cooking.  I have all of these recipes "Pinned" under Paleo Food.  I will add them to the blog this week.  I will also be making bone broth out of the turkey thighs/legs this week in the crock pot.  I am super excited as this is the first time I will be attempting making my own broth.

Diet, Questions, and Books

This week I am having issues with hunger.  I am finding that I am incredibly hungry at the end of my workday.  This is not a good thing because I workout in the evening.  I cannot eat an entire meal before going to the gym without it ending up on the gym floor.  So, for next week my focus will be on getting in the fat and protein earlier in my day and hopefully this will help the hunger pangs from creeping up on me at 4pm.

I have had a few questions via my Facebook account and I thought some of them were worth sharing here.  This is in no way professional medical advice-this is just what I have found to work for me.  Also, if I endorse a product I am not getting paid in anyway for it.  I have just found that the product works for my lifestyle and helps me.

1.  Digestive issues with switching to Paleo is common, usually constipation.

Most Americans' are deficient in Magnesium.  I have found a product called Natural Calm.  I get mine at Earth Fare Markets or Seven Grains, but I am sure it is available in many stores and also through this link to Amazon.  My favorite flavor is the orange.  

http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Vitality-Calm-Orange-powder/dp/B000OQ49ZW/ref=pd_sim_hpc_4

You can also attempt to absorb Magnesium through the skin via Epsom Salt baths.  However, I have not found it to be as effective at helping digestion as the Natural Calm.  But it is nice to soothe sore muscles.

2.  Does everything have to be organic or local?  

This is my own personal opinion, I like to support the local economy so I choose to purchase local when I have the opportunity.  It is not necessary to do, just follow the Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen lists to know what you should spend the extra money on and buy organic.

Dirty Dozen/Clean 15 listings:  http://www.organic.org/articles/showarticle/article-214

It is also good to eat antibiotic, hormone free meats.  I choose to also get the grassfed variety when it comes to my beef/bison.

3.  Is this a gluten free diet?

Yes.  This is free of all wheat products.  You may have them in moderation.  (I cannot due to my intolerance to it.)  However, if you follow the 80/20 rule you can absolutely have wheat as a "cheat meal".  It will not disrupt anything unless you have an intolerance to it. 

I am currently reading Primal Blueprint and I am waiting on my ordered book Practical Paleo to get here.  I am finding a love for educating myself on more of the medical "side-effects" that going Paleo has to offer.  Already, I experienced the dramatic change in my insulin and cholesterol.  So I am looking forward to really working hard to tweek my diet and see what other benefits I will have.