Day 20

Oh my gosh!  Where has the week gone?  There has been just so much going on with my new job and Thanksgiving... So, my awesome success hit a snag this week.  Snow.  It snowed early in the week and I haven't been able to run since.  I just tried, and fell down, there's so much ice!  I've gained 2.5 pounds.  My husband says it's muscle!  Maybe he's right, I did do some yoga and a cardio video, so not all has been lost this week!
I also started working this week.  I have been bringing my own food, so I haven't faltered on the diet thus far!  It's so tempting, too!  They have fresh baked sticky buns and coffee cake every day!  Also, waffles and pancakes.  But, I forge forward and don't give in!
Our Thanksgiving was low key, just our little family, no extended.  My husband made an amazing dinner!  Roasted chicken legs, acorn squash risotto, roasted vegetables, with a simple pan sauce.  He also made a delicious potato leek soup!  We gave ourselves a small luxury in the form of some shaved aged cheddar in the soup, but very little.  Yum!
With the blizzard that we had (a foot in one day!), my husband went into "prepare" mode and made a ton of food! He smoked a pork shoulder and some chicken breasts.  He also made soup, stock, and a yummy apple cranberry chutney.  Well, we've been eating it all week.  So awesome!  He also made a roasted poblano pepper and pumpkin seed hummus.  We've been putting it on and in everything!  Add it to a soup, and it's a soup transformed!  Dip veggies in it, put a dollop on your salad.
We only have 10 days left, and it seems like it's gone by so fast! We have agreed that we will continue to keep the stuff out of the house, but that if we go somewhere, or it's a special occasion, we will allow it.  And, if we do eat bread, it will be homemade, and not the preservative-loaded stuff they sell at the store!  I have also decided that I will continue to share my experiences beyond the 30 days, especially concerning what it will be like when we re-introduce dairy and gluten into our lives (I intend to stay without sugar!).  Since we've never done this before, it's a mystery to us!
I do not feel discouraged by the slight weight gain, it could just be a fluctuation (I do kind of obsessively weigh myself too often!), and besides, the important thing is that I FEEL good.  I have more energy, I feel more alert, and just better in general!  So, here's hoping the darn ice melts soon, so I can get back to running!  I sure do miss it!

Week two winding down

I can't believe it's been two weeks already!  We have already decided 30 days isn't enough, we want to keep going! The strangest thing to me, is how I don't miss sugar.  I mean, you're talking about someone who could down ice cream like it was water!  I don't even really think about it, or miss it.  I think I will stick with the no sugar thing even when I'm ready to slowly reintroduce gluten and dairy.
So, after two weeks, I've lost 12.5 pounds!  Before we started, I dreamt that I lost 14 pounds in the first two weeks, and I thought, "yea right!"  Who would've thought I'd actually get close to that number?
Tonight, we are making pan-seared sole with lemon and capers, served over a watercress salad with a lemon vinaigrette, and roasted brussels sprouts.  Oh yea!  Tomorrow night, my husband is going to smoke a pork shoulder and make a cranberry-apple-honey glaze.
Also, tomorrow is my first day of work.  I am anxious on a number of different levels, one being: what can I eat there?  What if they want me to taste things I'm not supposed to eat?  I'll have to, but I will do as little as possible, and spit out when I can.  I don't want them to think I'm nuts on my first day!!!
The thing I really wanted to talk about today, is how strangely people view food in this country.  Even with the rise in popularity of the Food Network and Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, people still think it's a waste of money to spend "a lot" on food!  People think they're getting ripped off if they have to pay $2 for a head of local organic lettuce.  Why can't it cost the $1.30 like at the super market?  What's even crazier to me than that is that people will spend hundreds of dollars on special pet food for their animals to make sure they don't get filled up on "fillers" that cheaper foods use.  But, they go to the super market and buy food made from "fillers" for themselves!  Guar gum, dextrose, xantham gum, corn syrup, anything with -ase at the end.  All preservatives and fillers made from processing corn and soy.  They trick us into thinking it's yummy and that we're full.  Even store bought bread is full of these things!
What is the solution?  I'm still trying to figure it out.  I realize not everyone gets to stay home with their children and cook all day, but there must be some middle ground!  The only answer can't be "I don't have time, so I'm going to buy this."  Maybe it starts here, with us, creating simple, easy to reproduce recipes to share with everyone.  We aren't the only ones!  There's information out there, I am just trying to share how easy it is and can be.  How much better you feel when you eat this delicious, healthy food.  How much better you feel to actually KNOW where your food came from!  Stick with me, and I hope you will see.

Day 13... What?!

I can't believe  two weeks is already winding down!  Where has the time gone?  Well, it's been a busy week.  As you may recall, it was my husband's birthday, and I wanted to make him something special.  I was going to try to make a sugar-free sorbet, but I forgot to put our ice cream maker in the freezer!  Whoops!  What did I make? Well, he wanted steak, so I pan-seared  some NY strips, roasted broccoli and cauliflower, and made a coconut-cilantro rice.  I used about 2 TBSP of light coconut milk, just to give the rice a little creaminess.  I also made a cilantro compound butter for the steaks (only a little bit, though!).  The whole dish really came together and he was so happy!
My mom came to visit her grandson yesterday and was dying to know how to make some of the things we've been eating.  So I made us a yummy dinner, hoping she'd see how easy it is to pull off.  I made a bolognese sauce, sauteed kale with pearl onions, and polenta.  Rich, tangy, hearty (it's so cold outside!), and delicious!
When we first talked about doing this diet, we were worried we'd be spending a lot more money, buying so many fresh ingredients.  But, I think we are at least spending about the same, maybe even a little less!  I mean, we're not spending $5 on bread every few days, we're not buying anything pre-made (which is always more expensive than doing it yourself), milk and cheese are spendy.  So, instead, we're spending a few bucks here and there on fresh greens and fruit!  And, the local store sells their own raised beef and chickens (I think their lamb and pork are local, too), and it's the same price or better than the super market!  Of course, not everyone has this amazing country store where they live, but, it's still economical.  I am saving our receipts to see actually how much we spend each week, so I'll let you know.
Weight loss, you ask?  Oh yes!  I have lost 10.5 pounds!!!  It's incredible.  I really didn't think it would be so easy.  I know, at some point the dramatic numbers will taper off, but I am so thrilled at the success so far! 
The next challenge:  I am going back to work after being a stay-at-home mom for the last year.  How will it be to be in a restaurant every day and not fall off the diet?  How will it effect my exercise?  Or will being so busy actually help?  I don't know!  I certainly am going to try hard!
Also, the weather is changing, it's even snowing right now!  I must persevere, though, right?  I can't let a little cold and wet stop me from reaching my goal, right?  Right!  I will push on, just like the postal service...
Next, I will try to address Thanksgiving and how to cope with all the glutinous, dairy, and sugar-filled foods that day brings!

Day 9

I am officially in my second week, now, and it is no longer new!  Don't get me wrong, I'm still loving this diet experiment (especially the results: 8.5 lbs!!!), but now we will need to dig in and think of more creative ways to eat, so we don't get bored.
Yesterday, my husband made a delicious salad with hard boiled eggs, red onion, thinly sliced London broil, and a creamy (made w/ egg yolks) mustard vinaigrette.  I could eat a salad like that every day!  Jazz it up with nuts, or add a fresh herb to the salad dressing.  Switch out the meat, add avocado... The variations are nearly limitless!
For dinner, we had a simple roast chicken with vegetables roasted right underneath the bird.  Delicious!  Do I say delicious too much?  I don't care!  The food is too yummy.  Simple as that.
Tomorrow is his birthday, so I am going to wrack my brain for some clever ways to make something special for him without cheating on our plan.  I would describe some of my ideas, but I know he'll read this.... So, nice try honey!
I can honestly say, I feel a difference now in my hunger.  I don't feel like I'm starving all the time anymore, my stomach is adjusting to the new routine.  I find that I can trick my stomach, too, by drinking some water, and then having a small piece of fruit or a handful of peanuts.  I'll be satisfied and can hold off until my next meal.
I will keep everyone posted as to the success of the birthday dinner.  Especially if I can come up with a half-way decent dessert!  In the mean time, happy eating!

Week one down!

The end of my first week in this adventure is drawing to a close.  It went by really fast!!!  And, I am happy to report that in 7 days, I lost 7 pounds!  I've eaten a lot of delicious food, exercised, and haven't suffered too much...
Actually, it's funny how "out of sight, out of mind" some of the foods are for me.  My husband is having a harder time without the sugar than I am, which surprised me.
So, what do I feel I've gained so far?  A sense of really appreciating the food I am eating, for one.  It feels so good to go to the local country store and buy their produce, their meat, local eggs and bring out all the delicious qualities they have.  So much of our food comes prepared, processed, there's no "connection" with it anymore, it's just fuel.  A rush.  Instant gratification.  Now, I not only know where  most of my food comes from, I also have to work a little more to eat it.  Not a lot of work, but enough so there is some anticipation to the meal, some excitement!
What else?  Well, I feel good!  Sure, I'm sore from exercising and pushing out all the toxins that have been building up for who knows how long... But, overall, I feel better than I have in a long time!
The meal to round out the week is in the oven.  I am braising lamb shanks in maple syrup, sherry, espresso beans, and water.  Once it's done, I'll strain everything out, and reduce the liquid until it's a rich sauce.  I will serve it with polenta and green chard with pearl onions.  It's a total experiment, so we'll see how it goes!
And, into week 2 we go!

Day 6

Well, our computer has been plagued by a stupid virus, so I haven't been able to write as often as I like! But, I think it's fixed now, so, hopefully, I'll be able to stay more on top of it.
So, here I am at day 6 and I've lost 6 pounds already!!!  I am so thrilled.  I mean, while it feels good to be eating so healthy, I have to admit it's hard at times.  Sometimes I just want to eat a sandwich!  Throw it together and be done with it.  Luckily I am super stubborn!
Let's see, what's happened since I wrote last... We continue to eat delicious food!  Two nights ago, my husband smoked oxtails, and we ate them with lentils and rainbow chard.  I also went running again, and it was so hard this time because I was sore from the last time!  I feel better now, though, and I went for a 3 mile walk today.  It feels so good to exercise!!  And we get to see eagles every time (there's a nest just down the street from us)!
Last night, I made a pork roast, marinated in thyme, and I roasted delicatta squash, apples, and red onions.  Then I made a pan sauce with vegetable stock, a hint of sherry, and just a dab of butter.  Wait!!!!  Did I say butter?!  Yes, we decided to allow ourselves to use a minimal amount of butter.
As chefs, we can't abandon butter completely!  But, for those who want to really go dairy free, it's not essential, it just adds a richness to a sauce that wouldn't be there otherwise.  You can still make a yummy sauce without it.
Tonight, I am going to make some sort of a hash out of the leftover pork loin. I have to say, I am really enjoying cooking and making all these meals. It feels good to create something and eat it.  I really am finding that it is more satisfying than the instant gratification I get from a prepared or processed "food".  Before this started, when I would stand in line at the grocery store, I would crave the sweets there, and sometimes cave. Or I would get a soda.  Now, I see it, and it looks so phony!  Of course that's what it is, but I can't believe how quickly I've been able to change my thinking and my cravings!  It's crazy what the body can do!
I have had some requests for recipes, and I may do that at some point, but for right now, I just want to talk about my experience and how it's changing me.  Until next time!

Day 3

So, here we are at day 3 of this craziness!  And how's it going?  Surprisingly not that bad!  I thought this was going to be too hard, too difficult to plan the meals, plan the shopping, resist urges.  Especially when you're just starving and want some instant gratification!  But, we are doing it.  And, I feel great!
The thing I miss the most is bread.  I didn't realize how much bread I was eating: toast for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch, maybe some fresh bread with dinner.  Oh my God!
So, what are we eating?  Tons of stuff!  Polenta and eggs for breakfast, huge salads with home roasted turkey, soup, TONS of fruit!  Everything made at home, nothing premade, nothing processed.
The first night, my husband smoked pork shoulder and we ate it with polenta and roasted romanesco cauliflower.  Delicious!!!  Yesterday for lunch, he made an amazing salad with sprouts, turkey, grapefruit segments, grapefruit vinaigrette and roasted squash with curry on the side.  Did I mention my husband is an amazing cook?
This morning, I made a soup w/ the turkey stock I made from the turkey breast I roasted.  I used squash, potatoes, chard, mirepoix, and a little curry.
Enough about the food!  But it's so yummy!  Anyway, I started exercising today, too.  We are following a training program that's supposed to have you ready to run a marathon in 6 months.... Well, today, I did 2 miles.  I feel good about it!
And I've lost 2 pounds already!!!
So, it's a good start, I'm willing to stick with it.  I'm excited to see how this goes.  Will I keep feeling better and better?  Will it plateau?  How much weight will I lose?  Will I want to keep going after the 30 days?  We'll see!

Getting Ready

My husband and I are in love with food.  We spend more time talking about, looking for, and making food than probably anything else in our lives!  When he came to me and suggested we do this new thing, the "Paleo Diet", I thought he was out of his mind!  We are supposed to eat like the cavemen?  No wheat, no beans, no dairy, no food brought about by agriculture, no salt (!), no coffee, no no no no...!
We decided that was a little too crazy!  I did want to try something, though, because I felt like I was going down a trajectory of unhealth. We want to have another baby, but I feel like I'm not ready because I'm so overweight (from the last baby, but also just in general).  But where do we start?  We've given it a lot of thought, read a lot about "diets" and their pros and cons.
 So, we are going to try no gluten, dairy, or sugar.  What?!?!  I love bread!  I love cheese!  I love chocolate and ice cream!  I love to bake!  OK, OK, it's only 30 days.  Who knows?  Maybe I'll love it... Maybe I'll lose 10 or 15 lbs... Maybe I'll decide to do it longer...
I am such a non-believer when it comes to diets, so I've decided to chronicle these 30 days to see what really happens.  I'm going to be honest about how much I weigh, how I feel (both physically and mentally), and see where I end up!  We're going to start in just a couple of days, so, for now, I will plan...