Primal Journal - Josie N. page

[Josie N.]

I started the 21-day challenge when Mark posted about it this fall and only made it 9 days before a cheat slipped in.
Once I cheated with the popcorn I hide in the back of my cupboard (first mistake.. should have just thrown it out!!) I continued to cheat that day because I already had - this is my most frequent excuse.

Since I didn't make it with the 21-day challenge of hitting it (the primal lifestyle) hard, I am going to take it at a slower pace. Maybe focusing on eliminating the worst things for me, because I do have a major sweet tooth. In that respect as well, this won't be a Day 1, Day 2, etc. but just a journal of what I eat so I can feel more of a sense of accountability and so I am actively thinking about what I have chosen to ingest each day, improving these choices when I recognize a slip up.

My biggest concern in this regards is people offering me homemade treats at work or gatherings. I feel bad not taking their offer or I almost feel like people think I'm a snobby, wanna-be-health nut, because really.. who doesn't love the TASTE of that stuff!? (even if we all know in our very educated minds that it is not good for us) *Disclaimer - I know these are ridiculous feelings, so I will be working on not caring what others think as well.

Another big concern is espresso drinks. I love mochas and have drank probably hundreds of them during my college career. Now.. I love tea, but sometimes a chocolatey milky drink just sounds better at the time. I have been getting cafe miels instead of mochas lately which have milk, coffee, honey and cinnamon (I feel that is a bit more primal than my worst enemy - the mocha)

On with the food journal:

B - Sausage and egg burrito with veggies and salsa and a miel. Situation: Traveled this weekend and went to breakfast with the friend I stayed with. I went this route rather than the scone, muffin, cinnamon route. And I had to drive 5.5 hours so the miel seemed like a not-so-terrible idea.

S - A spoonful of almond butter mixed with honey

D - Coconut pancakes (from the Primal Blueprint Cookbook) with unsweetened coconut shavings and pure maple syrup & 3 strips of bacon.

Improvements:

B - IF for the morning because the burrito had cheese and a tortilla and I would have survived the car ride without anything in my stomach. And dark tea to drink instead of the miel.

D - skip the maple syrup, or at least use less than I did!


Stay tuned, tomorrow is sure to be a good day (lunch is already prepared for work tomorrow).

[Josie N.]

For today I want to add my other primal habits from yesterday. I walked about two miles yesterday in my Vibram five fingers while talking on the phone (rather than just sitting or lying down). It was a beautiful fall evening too!

B - 1 egg, 2 rings of red bell pepper, 2 coconut pancakes (left over from my batch last night) with unsweetened shredded coconut. (No maple syrup! and 1 strip of bacon.

S - a couple of handfuls of pastachios & earl grey tea at my desk.

L - Shrimp and Olives dish... with lots of tomatoes! and an apple.

S - 2 squares of Endangered Species 88% dark chocolate. A small glass of Dark Chocolate Almond milk

D - Paleo chicken pot pie - and the leftovers will make for 3 lunches this week! with two glasses of red wine.

Not too much physical activity.

Improvements:

S - really only the dark chocolate almond milk, which I bought as a healthful substitution for sweet cravings, but I know it is worse for me than I think!

[Josie N.]

Today's Eats:

B - 4 coconut pancakes w/ unsweetened shredded coconut on top (last of the left overs)
handful of raspberries
1 strip of bacon

S - Earl grey tea

L - Paleo Chicken pot pie
Half of a Naked Blue Machine smoothie

S - Handful of mixed nuts
Square of Endagered Species 88% Dark chocolate
Earl Grey tea

D - Trio blueberry nut bar
2 scrambled eggs with Spinach

Improvements:

L - The Naked smoothies are supposed to be all natural, but I guess I question this. And since it is all fruit purees it is quite sugary!

D - The nut bar again.. not probably as "all natural" as it claims.

(both seemed like a good item when strapped for time, but I could definitely stop buying them.)

Workout: Kettle bell class at the wellness center ( in my vibrams of course

[Josie N.]

B - ~2 scrambled eggs with spinach and salsa
handful of raspberries
1 slice of bacon

S - Earl grey tea and pumpkin seeds

L - Paleo chicken pot pie
A banana

S - More earl grey

D - Bowl of Rice chex with coconut milk (in a hurry)
A chai tea latte (I believe it was made with syrups )
spoonful of almond butter mixed with honey with raspberries

Improvements: I still have a lot of sugar in my diet (coffee shops.. I really need to stick to teas!) but I feel like I am actually less hungry between meals so that's a plus!

Workout: Biked 10 blocks to and from the coffee shop in my vibrams.

[Josie N.]

Today.. not so good:

B - ~2 eggs with spinach and salsa

S - blueberry scone :S
Italian roast coffee
1 square of 88% dark chocolate

L - Paleo chicken pot pie
Organic applesauce

D - Cup of clam chowder

S - Bagel with cream cheese
and a turtle latte.. again:S but I'm editing for 5 hours after working for 8.. felt like I needed it.

Improvements: coffee shops get me every time, even though I fully enjoy tea just fine! grrr

Not much physical activity today either..

[Josie N.]

Well, this weekend was kind of awful. I attended a conference for The Deming Institute and food was provided so I just went with it.. So we'll start back up with Monday!

B - IF

S- Earl Grey tea and Pistachios

L - Steak Salad with salsa

S - A couple handfuls of mixed nuts

D - Two roasted chicken legs, strawberries

No exercising

[Josie N.]

Last night I also had a glass of red wine.

Today has been a good day!

B - 2 scrambled eggs with spinach and salsa
handful of blueberries

S - 2 squares of 86% dark chocolate
Earl Grey Tea

L - Paleo chicken pot pie (I still have lots of veggies that I cut up from making this a few weeks ago so I'll probably have it for lunch next week as well )
Handful of mixed nuts

D - Salmon fillet on a bed of spinach with balsamic vinegar and EVOO

I attended my kettle bell class tonight and it felt great!

[Josie N.]

Busy night last night prepping for an interview, so I have to report on two days of meals!

Report on Monday:

B - 2 scrambled eggs with spinach and salsa
handful of blueberries

S - 1 square of 86% dark chocolate
Handful of pumpkin seeds
Earl grey tea

L - Paleo chicken pot pie
Organic unsweetened apple sauce

S - Earl grey
1 square 86% dark chocolate

D - Bed of spinach with a fillet of salmon and bell peppers
with balsamic vinegar and EVOO

S - bowl of rice chex with coconut milk (was up late and needed SOMETHING)

Played a game of pick up bball. This satisfies my "playing" for the night, as well as quick sprints up and down the court for an hour and a half.

For today:
B - bowl of rice chex with coconut milk
an apple

L - Paleo chicken pot pie
1 apple and a handful of mixed nuts

S - Sunflower seeds
Java Chip mocha after work... I had good intentions going to the Starbucks (coffee is natural)
But definitely dropped the ball here

D - Duck (hunted by my friend himself), mashed potatoes and creamed corn (this friend had me over so I decided I was at his discretion this evening). I had a sliver or two of fudge for dessert (I had already had the java chip mocha so I went for it).

Improvements: again, the cafe is usually just bad news no matter my intention
I could have skipped the spoonful of creamed corn very easily without offending my friend..

[Josie N.]

Apparently I was very busy last week, and didn't find reporting meals as worth my time.

Today:

B - Coconut biscuit with honey
pineapple and strawberries
1 strip of bacon

S - handful of mixed nuts

L - Pot roast with mixed veggies
2 squares of 86% dark chocolate

S - 2 walnut brownies (Primal Blueprint cookbook) soo good

D - Iced Tea
Paleo Chicken pot pie
pineapple

[Josie N.]

B - pot roast with mixed veggies

S - 1 square of 86% dark chocolate
and a cup of coffee

L - Chamomile tea
Paleo chicken pot pie
1 apple

S - Handful of mixed nuts
1 square of 86% dark chocolate

D - Beef broth soup with one egg (tried a variation of egg drop soup with my leftover broth from the pot roast)

Activity: walked to kettlebell class (and worked out) in my vibrams

I am going to try not to keep snacks at my desk at work and see how it works for me. Because I wasn't even hungry when I reached for the nuts this afternoon.