Primal Journal - Siobhan page 171

[Siobhan]

And I haven't even started in about my co-workers and the health problems and the weight problems (closely related, natch) and the weird diets and the junk food - I feel like I've joined a healthy cult and they've joined, shall we say, a different one. And my poor mom, who is being tortured by my Weight-Watchers-counselor sister - it's just too depressing. Good for your daughter! You and she will have a positive influence, I know you will. You never know who is watching and listening.

[Siobhan]

I just made Mark's pesto dressing. Listen. I've made a lot of salad dressing in my day. I haven't purchased bottled dressing in years. But never have I stuck my hands in the food processor bowl and licked my fingers to get all the goodness. I've never licked the utensils and regretted the little bit that had to go down the drain with the wash water. This stuff is good - really good. Tonight is the oregano mint marinade on a London broil. I will make report afterwards.

For lunch I had two hamburger patties topped with the red pepper sauce. It is just as good today. Oven baking is my new way to make burgers. They turn out great - mahogany colored on the outside, cooked all the way through but still juicy and moist. 400 degrees for 30 minutes, turn once. It's funny, reading Mark's post about food fatigue really hit home. I didn't realize it, but that is what had happened to me. I fell into a very boring cycle and wasn't looking forward to eating. And do you know what happens then? Carbohydrates, that's what. I cannot consume more than 100g of carbs per day, even primal ones. I feel bad, sluggish, and depressed. I know this now. I'm going back to journaling my food, something I stopped doing about a month ago. Paleotrack has been upgraded since I've been there, it is even more fun now! It has a Primal prompt. Also, a lot of food seems to have been added.

Swam today and realized that I had stopped thinking of swimming as exercise and that I view it purely as a fun activity. Something to look forward to every day that I can swim. Even the sprinting is fun, not something I have to make myself do. How did that happen? And when? The other night when everyone was complimenting me, one of the nurses asked if I was exercising, and I told her that I swim a lot. "Don't you think that has something to do with the way you look?" she said. I honestly hadn't thought of that, but yeah, it does. I've been swimming 3-4 days a week since August, and that is enough time for my shape to show change. I also realized, looking at my bills, that swimming is paying for itself. I do most of my showering at the Y and my propane bill has gone down by $50 per month. When I shower at home, it's a quick wash, no hair washing. I pay only $30 a month for the Y! Does it get better than this?

[Siobhan]

So I made the oregano mint marinade on a piece of beef chuck steak. Obviously on the tough side but very tasty. The marinade is very good but I will hold off on making it again until I have more herbs in pots. It's too expensive to purchase oregano and mint. The carnivores fought me for it, although I don't think the oregano and mint had anything to do with that. It was delicious.

Slim cat also fought me for the nice armchair. He won. He wore me down after the tenth or so time. I'm sitting in a folding chair that I use on the deck in the summer.

[Siobhan]

If you take some chicken broth, some coconut milk, and add a tablespoon or two of the roasted red pepper sauce, you get a very, very delicious soup. If you add some fish or chicken, you get a very, very tasty meal.

An added advantage for me is that the carnivores DO NOT LIKE SPICES!

[Judg]

Thanks for the recipe link. I might try it with acorn squash, which is what I have on hand.

I'm wearing my 'new' thrift shop cargo pants and got three compliments. It's funny because I don't consider them to be very flattering. They are baggy but not nearly as baggy as my old ones, which won't stay on any more. They are cut for someone much curvier than I am. I like them, though. I've been wearing regular clothes to work instead of scrubs for the most part. I don't know why I have a sudden aversion to scrubs. Maybe because I don't really have any that fit. Loose is good but way too baggy is not good. My scrub tops are HUGE. When I think they used to be tight in places...

Well, slouchy is in style too, so you're making a fashion statement. I'm taking advantage of the whole trend by keeping my jeans when they start getting too big and wearing them belted on my hips. I got my first cargo pants (capris) a couple of summers ago, and really enjoyed them. I'll be looking for more come summer, and maybe some heavier ones for cool weather when I am next in buying mode. Right now I'm well stocked and getting consumer fatigue, so I'm trying to hold off until I have an immediate need.

I just had two hamburger patties with Mark's red pepper sauce and I have one word to say: WOW! Try it. It is very spicy and flavorful, so if you like bland food this is not for you. It is not really hot, however. I used half a jalapeno and that was fine, also I did not use the seeds, although next time I might put a few of them in. It is taking all of my willpower to not eat the rest of it right out of the bowl with a spoon. (I'm too full, though.) Coll, if your family likes sauces and garlic and onions and peppers, they will like this, but those are nightshades, right? Anyway, it is delicious. This is a recipe I file in my mind under 'restaurant food' - this is something you would pay a lot of money for in a restaurant. The only caveat is that I actually liked it better before I put in the coconut milk, although of course that adds nutrients and healthy fat.

I have the ingredients for the oregano mint marinade, so that is next. The only basil available was $5, so I held off. But I think the pesto dressing is in my future.

I'll have to try them. I didn't have the ingredients on hand, so I haven't yet. Got to grow some more kitchen herbs. All I have right now is basil. It's past due to be harvested, so maybe a small batch of home-made pesto is in my future.

[tomi]

You treat your carnivores far better than I do! My Bobo kitty tries to steal sitting spots when someone gets up - cuz its warm and cozy I imagine - but upon returning - the kitty must move! Furniture is for humans in my house........ dog stays on the floor, or the window seat, kitty is allowed on the couch, but must take second seating options to humans. This is my beautiful Bobo kitty (named because she was very bow legged as a kitten).

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and.......... suck in all that complimentation (is that a word?) that you can hold He deserve it!

[Siobhan]

Whew. Close call tonight! I lit a fire in the woodstove and went into the next room to watch a video. I think it was about half an hour later when the carnivores started jumping on me. They wouldn't let up so I got up thinking to feed them and when I went into the kitchen I saw the stovepipe was on fire. Rather, it was on fire inside - I could see and hear the flames through the pipe. Pretty scary! I screwed down the vent on the door and opened a couple of windows. Yes, air feeds fire, but fresh air seemed like a really good idea at that moment. Anyway, the fire went out quite quickly and I didn't pass out from CO poisoning, so it was good. The carnivores were leaping all over the place. They don't like fire! Well, I guess I'm going to have to get someone in to look at that stovepipe!

Ate four scrambled eggs with the end of the tomato sauce from the weekend, very tasty. It's still kind of weird for a city girl like me to actually know the hens that lay the eggs I eat!

[tomi]

wow - smart little kitties! Animals are amazing.

Sounds like you need the chimney cleaned? You could burn one of those logs that are supposed to rid the chimney of creosote (sp?).

[Judg]

Watchcats! Good thing you have them!

I often eat eggs from Translator Son's chickens nowadays. It is a bit of a weird feeling, isn't it? They make me think of my grandson, who "introduced" me to the hens and who has the daily task of collecting the eggs. He's barely three... He drops a few, but hey, he's barely three... With two little brothers, he is firmly convinced he's a big boy.

[Siobhan]

Bought some treats for the cats today!

Had cold chicken with roasted red pepper sauce - the second batch. The chicken is just a vehicle to get the sauce into my mouth. I guess you could say I like it a lot.

Had a great swim today. I've been working on breath hold and staying under water as long as possible. Just because it's fun. I used to enjoy looking around the pool and having my head above water, but I've gone in the other direction. And a nice thing happened. I was asked to help out with the swim team. Coaching! (Not carrying wet towels) Can you believe that? I'm a self-taught swimmer, never had a lesson. I was flattered, although I declined immediately. I don't have the time or the interest. I could care less about competition and in any case I don't have time.

Actually, I spent a fair amount of time watching the guy in the next lane - an older man, a really good swimmer. He makes almost no splash, seems to be moving effortlessly but in fact is moving very fast. That's how I learned, watching other people.

Work tonight. Maybe I can get caught up on journals. I've been very remiss in making some comments and trying to be helpful to others. I have two nights of work, so hopefully there will be some time.