Primal Journal - NorthernMonkeyGirl
(15 posts) (2 voices)-
7/11/09
OK, so I decided it's finally time to stop messing around. I registered on MDA *coughseveralcough* months ago, and have been mostly following the PB.
However I am easily distracted, and have been bouncing on and off the wagon (ouch!).
My general background is that I'm short and podgy, rather than obese. However I've been this way all my life so it's actually quite scary to picture a thin, healthy me.
I'm about 5'2 on a good day, my peak weight last year was 10 stone 9 (149 lbs).
I've always eaten more healthily than my peers - albeit according to CW - and have tried vegetarian and vegan phases. Funnily enough, I felt better vegan than "CW", but it wasn't sustainable and I didn't trust the frankenfoods (cheese-free cheese???!!)My main "physical" barrier is that I have PCOS. So basically my metabolism is against me to start with. It also leaves me prone (short and long term) to obesity, heart disease, infertility, diabetes, skin problems, depression....
Most of these symptoms improve with weight gain but my Dr has been no help beyond pushing the pill (which actually makes things even worse in the background).I've found that I do better when I record my diet (like in the survival weeks) and that I also need to be strict on carbs.
I'm starting in a good place from the last survival week, so I want to keep my momentum going. I don't want to track progress TOO much and maybe get a bit OCD (/depressed if I hit a rough patch). I can often get too introspective / overthink things and stop DOING things.My trouble is, I can't really visualise a definate goal.
I want to be fit, healthy, and strong.
I'm currently a wierd size 14 (UK) - a size 10 would be nice, a size 8 would be amazing. Being short, I can probably be a smaller size than I think.
I do NOT want to be a skeleton!So here's the Plan.
1) Record weight and waist measurements once a week, before breakfast. I'll be doing 2 waists - one at my natural waistline, and one around my navel. I'm also going to measure in cm, as I have no concept of how "big" that is (whereas e.g. a 32" waist has an emotional response. Hope that makes sense!)
2) Initially, track foods as well as breakdown (using fitday). I'd like it if I didn't have to, but I do slip easily. I may only post up the fitday stats, as I'll have the food info recorded anyway.
3) Aim for <50g carbs per day, 100g as an occasional absolute maximum.
4) Watch the dairy. I struggle with too much milk (lactose intolerance?), but enjoy butter and cream in cooking. Cheese is a "munchy" food so needs limiting. However I can easily end up using too much and suffering with bad skin / snottiness (as I am currently).
5) Workouts. I work on a farm, so sometimes that's very primal (walking, lifting heavy stuff, odd sprint to chase a stray cow). But sometimes it's 6 hours driving. I have workout DVDs that are useless from a CW, cardiovascular point of view. However they are good stretching, bodyweight, overall activities (yoga, dance, budokon...). I think at least one DVD a week is a reasonable, non-cheatable goal!
So here goes...
Posted 2 weeks ago # -
7/11/09
Forgot to put in starting weight / waist sizes!
weight - 10 stone 1 (=141 lbs)
natural waist - 85cm
waist at navel - 98cm"Gourmet day"
So much for good intentions, I hit the shops today to replenish the fridge. So dinner was somewhat experimental, and heavy on the dairy.Fitday stats
Cals - 1,528
Fat - 99.2
Carb - 131.9 (a one day special, I promise!)
Protein - 32.0
I made and froze a soup this evening. Tesco had "halloween pumpkins" for 75p (the big ones sold for carving, so perhaps a bit starchy / not tasting so good?).
So I did Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's recipe involving slicing the top off, pouring in double cream and gruyere cheese, replacing lid, and baking at about Gas 4 (180-190 deg C, no idea in F sorry!) until the inside is soft.
The flavour was a touch disappointing, but I added some cumin, mixed spice, and garam masala for a very subtle warmth.
Anyway, it got frozen in portions, it worked out 43ml cream per portion, and probably about a cubed inch of cheese per portion. HFW required more cheese!Interestingly, Gruyere is made from unpasteurised milk; I may switch to using this instead of other cheese. Gorgeous, almost nutty flavour. Of course staying within my limited dairy consumption!
My actual main dinner was a version of this done with a smallish butternut squash - it could have done with longer in the oven to be honest.
I confess to some luxurious chocolate ice cream, which hasn't actually bumped the stats up to ridiculous levels. And really that's okay, it was worth it, and it has been my only food for the day (so that's an accidental 22 hour IF, yay!)Off to fit a chin-up bar to my doorway now!
Posted 1 week ago # -
PrimalK
MemberHiya, fellow English person! I've been primal for 5 weeks now, full on proper primal that is. I find that by keeping the carbs low, it's much easier to cut out the stuff that isn't ideal - chocolate ice cream for example!
I also decided not to get too hung up on the scales too as I found I was getting a bit too OCD about it. I go by how clothes fit now. And also by what I see in the mirror. I also found that by cutting right back on the carbs, my calorie intake went right down, yet I was full - no starving myself.
Anyway, welcome welcome and enjoy!
Ps - cutting way back on the dairy will definitely help with a lot of your symptoms, in my experience!
Posted 1 week ago # -
Thanks PrimalK, I'm not normally so milk-filled but those recipes/munchies just collided this weekend!
Forgot to add in my main piece, I'm supplementing with vitamin D (5000 IU/day) and Omega 3 (1g/day). Considering taking agnus castus for the hormonal business.
A completely made-up goal weight would be 8 stone 4 (116lb) - only because a programme I'm randomly watching says that's a proper weight for a person my height.
Only 25lbs to ditch then....Posted 1 week ago # -
8/11/09
Fairly inactive day - browsing around shops, driving.
Roasted a leg of lamb and the juices made a gorgeous gravy - so having poured WAY too much on plate, I finished meal, fetched a spoon, and enjoyed lamb "soup" haha.
Also munched on pistachios which is what has bumped up cals and carbs I think...cals - 2,076
fat - 158.6
carb - 67.3
protein - 113.1
I'm watching TV online, catching up with "Supersize vs superskinny", and am wincing as the force of CW bears down on these poor sods. However, it's usually better than their biscuit-sandwich type diet.
I was cursing when one woman was pronounced to be uptight and missing vital nutrients as she avoided wheat and lactose *facepalm*....Posted 1 week ago # -
9/11/09
Lots of driving around today.
Tired - didn't sleep well last night due to random allergic reaction (?dairy overload over the weekend)Anyway, today's fitday:
cals 1,307fat 78.3
carb 38.7
protein 93.1
Made a lovely rich spiced lamb stew with my leftover roast. It was meant to be curry but I was down to the dregs of various spices! So it consisted of onion, mushroom, the cubed lamb, the roasting juices/fat, some vegetable stock, plus cumin, coriander, garam masala, tumeric, chilli. Oh and curry leaves! I wasn't sure how to use them so I treated them like bay leaves.
Posted 1 week ago # -
10/11/09
cals - 2,028
Fat - 154.1
carb - 107.4
protein - 63.7
Wow, carbs waaay too high, I nibbled a bit too much dried coconut...! Would explain why it was impossible to put down though.
Feeling a but groggy, think I'm coming down with a cold, grrrr!
Early night tonight hopefully!Posted 1 week ago # -
11/11/09
Another double dose on the vit D, and feeling much better. Also kept carbs in check!
cals 1,049fat 75.2
carb 32.5
protein 63.6
Posted 1 week ago # -
12/11/09
Doubled up on the vit D again today.
Got a bit of a bad back - not helped by physical work. BUT I've been able to lift gates and things that I was really struggling with a couple of weeks ago, so it's all good.cals 1,358
fat - 72.1
carbs 63.0 (that'll be the pumpkin soup for lunch, carrots for dinner)
protein 114.4
Posted 1 week ago # -
cals 624
fat 14.2
carb 44.4
protein 81.4
Apparently not eating breakfast kills my appetite for the rest of the day. Interesting.
I'm also growing biceps and getting stronger every couple of days - kinda scary, but good! I've been attempting chin-ups in addition to generally lifting and loading at work.
Shame I've done my lower back in :(Posted 1 week ago # -
Stats today:
Total C- 1,292F - 93.8
C - 49.7
P - 70.2
Andd as it's Saturday, the dreaded waist measurements are *drumroll* 82.5cm and 98cm.
I've been doing a bit more cheese and a bit less veg, and it seems to work. Maybe I'm a natural carnivore...?
Not done a fitness DVD this week, as my lower back is a bit dodgy. Funnily enough, the "natural sleep positions" article posed here a while back was a bit of an eye opener and being aware of those kinds of things has helped.
I don't think clearing out the car and shifting furniture around HAS helped though!!
C'est la vie....Posted 6 days ago # -
Didn't eat until 3:30pm today - just had other things to do!
Checked out a location for bellydance classes...found it fine but it's a main road out of the city centre so at rush hour it could be entertaining! Especially as I keep stalling the blooming van!Anyway, main meal was roast (organic) chicken. On a rack to let fat drain, only because then the underneath crisps up too. Actually quite fortunate as something in the bottom of the pan burnt pretty badly (kitchen was a bit smokey when I returned to check on it!). Also had some savoy cabbage, and have just nibbled some cheese. Emmental a bit tasteless to be honest! But again made with unpasteurised milk.
Stats today
TC 1,132F 70.3
C 8.7
P 113.3
Posted 5 days ago # -
17/11/09
Stats for yesterday...
TC 1,053F 72.3
C 22.9
P 79.7
today:
TC 1,338F 95.6
C 31.8
P 84.1
So dinner today was roast breast of lamb, all fatty and yummy :D
I'm doing extremely well at resisting sugar - cake was passed around at work, and normally I'll partake just due to the social "thing". But no-one actually batted an eyelid when I said no thanks. Logically, of course they wouldn't! But it's a different matter thinking about it.
I also stupidly bought some chocolate (on sale) for an Xmas present, without considering how long it would have to sit in my cupboard. That was on Sunday, so we'll see how long I can hold out! It is calling to me, but I'm trying not to listen :/Posted 3 days ago # -
Well, the chocolate didn't last long!
Although, in a kind of "damage limitation" way, it took two days to eat instead of two minutes...However looking back over fitday it seems to have triggered a carb craving. And this is why I know I need fitday still!
TC 2,125F 127.9
C 175.3
P 75.2
Then the day after was a courseaway with the dreaded buffet lunch. So I limited the sandwich (2 triangles) and nabbed the drumsticks, but it was enough to trigger stronger cravings....hence...
TC 1,696F 74.1
C 183.9
P 77.3
So yesterday I knew I'd be out and busy so I IFd breakfast and lunch. then promptly made up for it at night - AAARGH!!
TC 2,635F 175.0
C 136.9
P 131.8
Right. So my plan for today is to keep busy again, IF as long as possible, but to break the fast in a controlled way! I'm thinking pork chop, baked onion, butter-drenched veggies.
It's amazing how long the effects of a chocolate orange can last....!Posted 7 hours ago # -
Forgot to add - today is Saturday, so before doing some yoga I measured up... 82cm and 97.5cm - not too bad considering!
Still 141 lbs..Posted 7 hours ago #
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