2 Sistas go Primal - AUS vs. USA page 5

[Sourcat]

That is all very useful. I've heard artificial sweeteners make people increase calorie consumption afterwards, but I didn't understand the mechanism. The desensitisation of tastebuds makes perfect sense. Congrats on the loss. I saw a study on habits of people that have lost weight and manage to maintain it, and a big one was weighing yourself every day. My hubby and I weigh ourselves most days, I think it is helpful. Hopefully you are becoming a fat loss machine
Actually, we have figured out he is particularly salt-sensitive. He went to the USA in September to visit his family (and for work), and came back with a gut. Now he is at his ideal weight during the week, but at the weekend his weight goes up 5 whole pounds. This seemed crazy. Then after two days of eating primaly it goes back down to his ideal. This is too big of a shift to be fat, so it must be fluid. I think it is due to increased salt intake, as we usually eat out over the weekend. High blood pressure runs in his family, which also fits, so we are going to be more careful with salt intake at home.
My weight barely moves. It goes up about 1.5 pounds if I have been socialising and drinking a bit, then after 2-3 days goes back down. I did hit a new low last week (by about 1 pound). Even though I haven't really lost anything significant, I am getting heaps of compliments & I am pretty sure the weight I do have is redistributing.

[Sketcha]

I'm so relieved to be back on a no-carb diet. It is so hard to get past the first 3 days, but it is much easier the way I did it this time - gradually cutting out one thing every few days, and eating lots of high-fat comfort foods (esp. dairy) at the beginning. At first I was already off wheat/bread products, but stopped eating rice bread as well (even though I found one that is extremely tasty). Then I cut out rice, then soymilk, then milk chocolate, then once I was okay without the grains & legumes I started cutting back on dairy. And I also stopped drinking alcohol the same day I went dairy-free (the day after hubby's 30th).
I'm definitely going to recommend this method to anyone that has trouble going cold turkey. Make a list of the top ten non-primal foods you love and spend ten days gradually removing them from your diet. Especially if it is harder to find primal foods. I still miss dairy a lot, but I think cutting out the lactose keeps my blood sugar levels in check. Once I get down to my maintenance weight I might bring back the full fat greek yogurt and sharp cheddar. One thing that I noticed early on, a few days after eating full-fat meats and cheeses, is that I have stopped craving avocados. When I was trying the conventional method of dieting (egg whites, turkey sausage, nonfat greek yogurt etc.), I was eating a whole avocado many days. Now, although I still love avocado, I don't really care enough about having some to drive out to the only grocery store that sells decent ones.

Today I went out and bought a fresh turkey to cook for Christmas dinner! I'm very excited about it. I bought the smallest one they have (13lbs), and it cost $40 but it's mega primal (love them crazy Amish peeps) and grown locally! "All of our Amish Country Kitchens Fresh Turkeys are raised free-range on the great plains of Illinois in the Amish tradition".

I also bought almond flour, wild rice and sweet potato fries to further wean my husband off the worst carbs. I'm not going to cook anything that isn't somewhat PB friendly anymore. I'm trying to learn how to cook more veggies and things so there is enough food. And I've got a nice variety of cured meats and fancy cheeses available in the fridge for snacking. I'm going to make hard-boiled eggs today too. So far I haven't gotten any complaints - except he hated the organic 'pork 'n beans' baked beans last night, but I only had those left in the cupboard from my low-fat days. I was actually glad they weren't very tasty because if all the carbs he eats from now on are gross, he'll be more likely to want to go full primal.

Tonight we're having rib-eye steaks grilled on the bbq

[Sourcat]

Ok, I've been fumbling my way through primal eating over Christmas and NYE, which has been a challenge. I've had way too much alcohol and general calorie intake for sure, but have maintained at least 80% primal or more. It is getting easier & the family is slowly getting on board. I am now finally happy with black coffee (with a little bit of sugar) and loving it. I have also started reading Wheat Belly, which is written by a cardiologist & a great resource.

Here is the big HUGE news. I haven't needed any anti-inflammatory medication for the last four-five days!!! I have been on a high dose for the last two years. In the last month I went down to a half dose & now I seem to be pretty good on nothing at all. I still have injections once per month, but I am actually almost due for another, so this is usually when my joints are the most sore. I really am in shock about it & really hopeful this is going to keep up. I'd also like to note my skin looks great still. I haven't lost any weight at all (nor have I been trying), but that is hardly surprising this time of year. I start work on the 11th of January, so I think that will mean less snacking & hopefully it will drop off.

I have discovered so much yummy, primal food lately. Coconut mango popsicles, beetroot & sweet potato chips & dark chocolate. It might be time to send little sister a care package. . . .

[Sketcha]

Such exciting news about the anti-inflammatory medicine! After I've been doing this for a few months straight I might get my knees X-rayed and see if the arthritis is gone.
I did not drink at all over Christmas/NYE, but I did eat a lot of milk chocolate and dairy. And sugary drinks like peppermint mocha and coke.
I haven't weighed myself in a few weeks because I feel like I gained ten pounds. I'm back on the primal wagon now. I tried the chocolate primal fuel for breakfast this morning. It's pretty good. Nice chocolate flavour with coconut. If you're going to blend it with fruit I would get vanilla.

I made pork chops last night. Basically browned them on both sides in a skillet, then baked them covered with Apple slices for 25 minutes. They were delicious. The pork is local organic too from Witzig organic farms. It really does make a difference in taste. I used this recipe Pork Chop Supper Recipe as a guide since I haven't cooked pork chops before (except pan-fry but they were already seasoned when I bought them). I made a lot of modifications to the recipe. Left out the rice and sugar, seasoned the pork with onion powder instead of putting chopped onions in there, I browned the chops with duck fat, and used ghee for the apple cinamon mixture. And I used liquid concentrate organic chicken stock instead of the cube kind.
The recipe needs a little work (my non-sugar version), but it is a good way to add some fruit in with dinner. Maybe if you used sweeter apples instead of granny smith it might be perfect. I've been trying frozen sweet potato fries and tater tots on my husband lately. They are actually very delicious. Not as crispy as the potato ones but still yummy. They went well with the pork chops and apples.

[Sketcha]

I also want to add that I found some somewhat locally raised eggs - at Target!?! Farmers' Hen House - Organic and Cage Free Eggs get their eggs from local Amish and Mennonite families. All the farms are self-sustainable so even though the chickens are fed corn, soy beans, and flax, it is somewhat better than the eggs I usually buy.

[Sketcha]

So the count-up begins again! (since Jan 5 2012) Tuesday (Jan 3rd) we did some celebrating with friends and on wednesday I continued the sugar binge by grabbing a small white choc mocha while walking my dog with my husband. Normally if I get coffee on our walks, I get espresso. I cave so easily. I'll have to make hubby get the coffee for a while so I can't cheat.

But I'm almost through day two. I have lots of great food available in the fridge to look forward to.

Last night I made lamb meatballs from the quick & easy cookbook, but didn't like them very much. I didn't like the cinnamon in there. I've never made meatballs before though, it was so easy.

I also made chicken skewers which husband cooked on the grill for me. They were great. the almond dipping sauce wasn't that great with the chicken, but did give the carrots and squash a tasty boost.

My husband is trying the primal diet for 1 week. His New Years Resolution is to be healthy or something. It's hard cooking food for him to take to work, but I'm having fun cooking new things.

My New Years Resolution is to keep a clean & organized house. And to stay primal, but i started that last year. Plus it doesn't seem challenging enough because i love it. I might as well just say my new years resolution is to eat chocolate every day. Okay, if i make it so I have to stay primal, dairy-free, (and no more alcohol until i reach my goal weight of 135lbs or 20% body fat)...that sounds like a real challenge!

[Sketcha]

Just found this primal blog with photos of what she puts in her toddler's lunchbox. Useful for husbands' lunches too. Primal Kitchen: A Family Grokumentary: Lunch Box #1

[Sourcat]

We are now back in Melbourne. There was so much going out to dinner and drinking, the last two weeks were a bit of a disaster. I did enjoy it though. I am +3kg (yikes), but I am pretty sure some of that is fluid. I start work this Wednesday & I think things will be much easier - no snacking, planned breakfasts, lunches & dinners (by necessity).

I just ordered some lunchboxes for the kids from Planetbox.com. All the little compartments make it very easy to do a tapas/ sample plate type lunch. It can come with a bag & frozen cold pack. I can't wait for them to arrive, I might need one for me and husband too. He usually just takes a massive salad with a can of tuna to go on top. I'll probably do the same, but take smoked salmon or chicken.

So our mum is going primal as well. She downloaded the Primal Blueprint to her kindle & started last week. I have the kids eating about 80% primal. Gluten is gone, but they still have some rice crackers and popcorn. The kids now LOVE coconut milk smoothies every morning. They always have either mango or banana (for sweetness) plus some berries. Tomorrow I am going to throw in a raw egg and see if they notice. I have done a little bit of research about the salmonella issue. Apparently aussie eggs have never had salmonella, and free range is usually much safer. I figure the salmonella has to be on the outside of the egg, so I am also going to give it a good wash with dish soap before I crack them open. I'd just like to get a bit more protein into them in the mornings without having to cook anything.

That is so great your hubby is going primal for a week. Good luck with it. Just make sure he gets TONS of protein and plenty of fat to keep him happy. Also, might be time to experiment with some primal treats, maybe some berry friands?

[Sketcha]

I just ordered some lunchboxes for the kids from Planetbox.com. All the little compartments make it very easy to do a tapas/ sample plate type lunch. It can come with a bag & frozen cold pack. I can't wait for them to arrive, I might need one for me and husband too. He usually just takes a massive salad with a can of tuna to go on top. I'll probably do the same, but take smoked salmon or chicken.

I love the bento boxes at Bento&co | The Bento Shop. They have some cool stainless steel and nice wooden ones. I found them a few weeks ago when I was looking for a ceramic bento box. Didn't find any ceramic ones btw.

I want these! Yude Tama Egg Molds


I recently bought this great glass tupperware at BedBath&Beyond. Great price - 5 containers for $20. I can't believe I bothered with plastic all this time! The glass ones are so much easier to clean, and you can see what's in them!


Kinetic® GlassLock 10-Piece Glass Food Storage Set - Bed Bath & Beyond

[Sourcat]

$20? So good. I might plan to switch to glass when we move. Right now the tupperware drawer freaks me out. So I dropped 2.2 kilos after three days back at home! I think that means I didn't actually gain any weight while I was away - go primal

Are those molds for poaching in the microwave? Love Japan.