dieter

Friday Miracle?

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Brace yourselves, everyone, I think the second coming of Christ is imminent.

Why, do you ask?

This morning I witnessed a MIRACLE.

In my usual sleepy stupor I hopped on the scale, anticipating a small drop [I’ve been sticking to my diet 100%] but also not getting my hopes up, as I’ve steadily lost 0.2 to 1.4 pounds every day since Monday.

Here’s a little summary of my weigh-ins this week:

Monday: 143.6

Tuesday: 142.2

Wednesday: 141.0

Thursday: 140.8

So, want to know Friday’s weight?

….drum roll….

…….

137.8

I literally dropped 3 lbs overnight.

No, I didn’t take a diuretic. No laxatives. No supplements of any kind, other than my normal morning regime of a multivitamin and a vitamin D tablet.

I hopped off the scale, reset it to zero, and hopped on again to verify the number. Yup. 137.8.

How does that happen?!

weight-loss-scale

This guy is my new best friend.

I’m not complaining at all, of course. I’m THRILLED to be back in the 130 range, but how in the world did I go from 143.6 on Monday to 137.8 on Friday? That’s a loss of just under 6 lbs!

Did my mitochondria go into overdrive last night and decide to metabolize at three times the normal rate?

Did a mystical liposuction fairy come in the dead of my sleep and slurp out some hidden fat cells?

And, if so, how can I make him come back?!

I have no idea what caused the sudden drop in weight other than the fact that I’ve hit the gym consistently this week and stuck solid to my Paleo diet. I’m going to maintain this pattern through the weekend and pray to the Gods of Ketosis/Metabolism for their continued grace and blessings.

With that note, I wish all of you a happy weekend and, as usual, bon appetit!

~ Tori

Dining Out on Paleo

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So for the past four days, I’ve been sticking religiously to the Paleo diet.

No dairy. No wheat. No soy. No corn. No soda.

Basically, I’ve only been eating things that came straight out of the earth or had been consuming the earth just a few days prior.

I still can never understand why I strayed from this diet in the first place. When I was first introduced to it in August 2012, I immediately picked it up and lost almost 25 lbs with little to no effort. I exercised less, ate MORE food [both volume and in quality], and never felt deprived.

With the holidays came laziness, pecan pie, ripe cheeses, and lots of bad decisions. Yeahhhh. I had been on a downward spiral in my dietary habits pretty much from December until this past weekend. It was bad.

Needless to say, after four days of eating clean, I’m feeling much better.

Each morning my weight has gone down on the scale. Monday morning I was 143.2 [ouch!] and this morning I was back down to 140.2. Not back to the 134.4 I was last October/November, but I’m steadily working my way back to it.

Every day I’ve eaten until I was full with no feelings of regret, deprivation, or otherwise dissatisfaction.

Here’s the kicker —

Every day I’ve prepared all of my own food. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I’ve made sure to  follow the Paleo diet to the T. Today was the first major challenge which involved eating out.

Could I do it?

OHHHH YEAAAAAAH.

Baja Burrito Kitchen = Paleo Heaven on Earth

Baja Burrito Kitchen = Paleo Heaven on Earth

You know, most people think that dining out is challenging, but the Paleo diet is easy. Keep it fresh, keep it clean, and don’t eat anything that doesn’t need to be refrigerated. As you can see in the above picture, that’s not hard to do at most restaurants.

At Baja Burrito Kitchen, I just ordered the “Baja Burrito Kitchen Combo” and asked them to sub the rice and beans for onions and peppers and to double my guacamole instead of the sour cream and cheese. It was DELICIOUS. A few squeezes of lime, some fresh salsa, and lots of cilantro. LOVED IT.

So, this proved that dining out on Paleo is not only possible, it’s EASY. And I don’t see this being hard at pretty much all restaurants: seafood, steakhouse, Mexican. Really, the only challenge would be Italian [no noodles? sauce over veggies? hmmm] or Chinese [um, steamed veggies and seafood, no soy sauce?]

So, theoretically, I have no reason to cheat on Paleo. I can cook for myself or pick food up. I have a collection of healthy snack food options and I also know what I can safely pick up at a gas station if I’m in a rut.

I think I’ve got this.

Bon appetit, my friends!

~ Tori

Life Lessons

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I just wanted to take a quick moment to share some life lessons I’ve picked up in the last 24 hours.

Don’t worry, I’ll be quick.

  1. It’s a bad idea to sign up for GymPact the evening before you have an out-patient surgery. Out-patient surgeries typically don’t allow you to do strenuous workouts for a few days after the procedure to ensure you don’t exacerbate the injury.

  2. It’s an even WORSE idea to ignore the post-op care and attempt to go for a run 24 hours after your procedure. Popped stitches = owwies. But I’m not losing my $5, damn it!

  3. If you’re hungry but don’t know what to eat, drink a Fox Barrel Blackberry Pear Cider. Fucking delicious. 130 calories. And Paleo!

  4. Ciders [or the alcohol inside them] numb your stomach and you no longer want to eat every piece of junk food in your house.

  5. Sweat REALLY burns when it gets into your stitches.

  6. Seriously. Sweat + open wounds = bad idea.

That being said, I skipped my workout on Monday but went today, primarily because I didn’t want to lose money on GymPact and I needed to hit 5 workouts by Sunday at midnight. With Monday a wash, I couldn’t skip a second day.

What did I tell you? I’m motivated when I have a goal – especially a financial one – on the line!

Bon appetit, my friends!

~ Tori

Vingt à Neuf (because everything sounds better in French)

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So, another birthday has come and gone. It’s official. I’m 29.

I have entered the last and final year of my 20s.

Boy, that went fast.

I had just gotten into the groove of the 20s, feeling like I was coming into my own. Now, suddenly, I’ve gained sight of the bridge leading into my 30s. Whoa, slow your horses there, friend. I’ve only just set the cruise-control on my 20s and it’s already time to slow down, shift gears, and prepare for the ascent into those trichotomous digits? No, no, no. I’m not quite ready for that, thanks.

I’m 29 and I still feel like I’m 21. I’m a college student (for the second time), I drink more of my calories than I eat (whoops), and my weight is still yo-yo’ing more than it remains still. Shouldn’t I have better control of that on the brink of the triple-decade?

As you can probably guess, I did NOT hit my goal weight by my birthday. In fact, I packed on two pounds, bringing me back to 144.

Lovely.

I was 134.4 [my lowest since grade school] just before the holidays, and I’ve been spiraling out of control [OK, that’s slightly dramatic, but you know what I mean] since Christmas dinner.

Will my 29th year of life bring me some stability?

Will I suddenly, on the cusp of “true” adulthood, find balance in my diet, in my exercise, and in my body image? Or will I spend this last year of my 20s just as obsessive about food and numbers on a scale as I had for the decade prior?

I’d like to say that I am starting 29 with a renewed sense of self-worth and purpose, but really, I’m just starting it with a muffin top, a lingering hangover, and a wish for another piece of birthday cake.

Hmmmmmm.

Maybe it’ll be better tomorrow. Until then —

Bon appetit, my friends!

~ Tori

Independence Day

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It’s been over 200 years since America declared its independence from their distant British ruler. Over two centuries since America and its colonies established itself as a force to be reckoned with on a global scale. For 237 years, the United States has stood for freedom, for acceptance, and for refuge for those suffering.

Suffering from persecution, prejudice, or the restriction of their basic human rights? You’ve found sanctuary here.

It seems fitting, then, that I found myself reflecting on my personal struggles with weight and body image during the festivities of the 4th of July celebration.

For years, I’ve been a slave to the scale.

You can't see it, but imagine a ball and chain locking me to this damn thing.

You can’t see it, but imagine a ball and chain locking me to this damn thing.

I’ve allowed it to dictate my mood, control even my most basic decisions, and play the role of judge and jury over the value of my life.

I’ve talked about it here extensively in the past, but the scale in my bathroom is both one of my most prized possessions – as well as one of the most malignant items in my house.

A good weigh-in means a day of happiness, of celebration, of pride.

A bad weigh-in means a day of guilt, of self-inflicted punishment, of shame.

You know, I’m getting really tired of the oppressive dictatorship of my scale.

While I can’t directly compare it to the British control over the American colonies, I can relate to the feeling that it’s not quite FAIR that this scale – which is not involved in my exercise, my diet, or any other element of my health – is able to have so much control over me. Sort of feels like taxation without representation, you know?

That’s just not right.

So, with that thought in mind, and a healthy dose of American pride coursing through my veins thanks to the fireworks yesterday, I’ve decided to declare my independence from the scale.

While I’m not sure I have the strength or fortitude of our founding fathers to make it a PERMANENT division in our relationship, I do plan to secede from the scale for as long as possible. A few days. A week. Maybe I can make it until the end of July, who knows.

Regardless, I’m declaring today – July 5th, 2013 – my personal Independence Day from the scale. Much like the British, I anticipate a bit of retaliation from the little metal and glass piece of evil… but I’ll fight that battle when I have to. In the meantime, I’m going to savor my liberty for as long as possible.

Bon appetit, my friends, and happy Independence Day [from the scale] to all!

~ Tori

Too much of a good thing?

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Everyone has a favorite.

A favorite color. A favorite food. Favorite pair of jeans. Shoes.

Place. Person. Pet.

[Shhhhhhh. Don’t tell anyone, but I sort of like my boy Chihuahua a bit more than my girl. Proof is that he has his own Facebook page and she doesn’t. Whoops!]

Everyone is guilty of having favorites in almost every aspect of their life, including their fitness regime.

I happen to have a favorite type of cardio exercise: the elliptical machine.

If you've followed this blog for a while, you probably realize that's not ME in the photo.

If you’ve followed this blog for a while, you probably realize that’s not ME in the photo.

Image source: http://www.ellipticals.us/

I don’t know what it is about this machine in particular, but I can literally spend 90+ minutes on it and feel great. The TV distracts me, I’m often rocking out to some killer tunes, and in some cases, I’m reading a book for the duration of the workout.

Unfortunately, you can have too much of a good thing.

I’m extremely guilty of not diversifying my workout. I have a tendency, especially when I’m tired or not motivated, to do the exact same exercise [60-90 minutes on the elliptical] every time I go to the gym.

For the past three weeks, other than one super motivated day in which I did a strength circuit, I’ve ONLY done the elliptical machine as my exercise.

Yeahhhhh.

The same machine. Always for 60-90 minutes. Every week, 4-5x per week.

As you can probably guess… it’s not helping my weight loss. In fact, as of this morning, I’m up a pound from my starting weight on June 11th.

It’s frustrating, because, despite the repetitious-aspect, I’m putting in effort. I leave the gym pouring sweat. I feel an ache in my legs the next day, which is normally a good indicator that I’ve given those muscles a pretty strenuous workout.

Why isn’t that enough?

I was reading a few fitness articles online and I discovered there are a couple of major CONS to doing the same workout over and over.

  • For one, you’re more prone to injury! As this article by Body4Life states, doing the same workout over and over creates a “repetitive-task” response, which can lead to an increased chance of injury.
  • The workout becomes less effective. As you continue to do the same workout over and over, your muscles learn the motion and it requires less energy/effort to mimic the action. Practice makes perfect – but, in this case, it means the workout provides less overall caloric burn because it’s not a challenge to your muscles anymore.
  • You won’t see the same results. If you continue doing the same exercise over and over but expect different results [aka, new definition or muscle development], you’re going to be sorely disappointed. [get it? sorely disappointed?! I’m such a pun-artist!]

So, with all of that being said, I guess I’ve fallen into the cardio-rut and it’s time to overhaul my workout a bit.

I hate to say this, Mr. Elliptical-by-the-Door, it’s time to take a break. I need to see other machines.

facebook-break-up

That treadmill is looking mighty sexy. And I’m pretty sure Mr. Stairclimber has been checking me out all night. Don’t get me started on the rowing machine… he’s been dying to bend me over since he laid eyes on me.

Don’t be upset. We can stay friends. I’ll still visit from time-to-time. I’m just not ready for a committed relationship at this point, you know?

I’m glad you understand. I love you and I’ll never forget the joy – and the sore buttocks – you’ve brought me.

Bon appetit, my friends —

~ Tori

 

Paleo Super Foods Shake

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This morning I went to the local farmer’s market, where they had incredible organic fruits and veggies available. I stocked up on some of season’s best: fresh, plump blueberries, sweet pineapple, and fresh kale.

Since I’m still not much of a breakfast person, I created the following recipe for a healthy morning shake pumped full of nutrients. My hope is that the shake will give me enough natural energy that I can break my morning coffee habit [processed creamer + splenda = bad!] and get myself to a point where I’m eating as clean as possible.

Here’s the recipe I crafted – delicious, sweet, and refreshing!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup ice
  • 1 cup vanilla, unsweetened Almond milk
  • 2/3 cup fresh blueberries
  • 1/2 cup chopped pineapple
  • 2 tbsp organic flax seed
  • 2 tbsp organic chia seed
  • 2 leafs of kale, rinsed and chopped

Combine all ingredients in blender and blend for two minutes on high. Serve immediately.

You can’t even taste the kale over the sweetness of the pineapple and the seeds add fiber and protein otherwise absent from a fruit shake.

I hope to have this daily, though I might substitute blueberries for frozen raspberries once mine run out. 🙂

Bon appetit, my friends!

~ Tori

Laughing Giraffe Organics

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Since I’m in approaching-birthday-diet-blitz mode right now, I’ve been seeking out healthy, Paleo snacks that I can grab whenever the sweets craving hits. I’m normally pretty good about making them, as I’m constantly posting recipes on here, but sometimes I just need something quick, tasty, and convenient.

Of all places, I happened to stumble upon this brand of Paleo snacks – Laughing Giraffe Organics – while in Marshalls.

A clothing store? Beats me.

I have a habit of roaming the aisles aimlessly when I go to Marshalls and I often find myself lingering in the food aisle, as they have unique spices, interesting sauces, and lots of [surprisingly] healthy snacks. Normally I end up picking up organic agave syrup, Indian spices, and a few bags of sweet potato chips, but this time I came across a bag of Laughing Giraffe Organic “snackaroons” and decided to give them a shot.

LaughingGiraffe

Holy crap.

They are AMAZING.

They are moist, chewy, and satisfying, but not too sweet. They pack a ton of fiber and are vegan, organic, gluten-free, and flour-free. To be honest, I was skeptical when I picked them up, as they sounded too good to be true. Cardboard cookies, anyone?

Boy, was I wrong. They are absolutely delicious and just the right texture – chewy, firm, and almost like an oatmeal cookie with hidden chunks of macadamia nuts and cacao nubs.

They pack a decent amount of calories – about 160 for 1 and a 1/2 snackaroons [who only eats a half of a snackaroon, in the first place?] – but they were incredibly satisfying. While I *wanted* to have more than one, I found that a single snackaroon was satisfying and I could walk away from the bag.

These are a bit costly, ranging between $7-12 a bag in most stores, but definitely a good go-to when you’re in a crunch for a healthy snack and don’t have time to prepare something for yourself. They certainly taste better than any of the Paleo treats I’ve made, but that’s likely because I’m not the best baker.

Whether you’re on a Paleo diet, gluten-free diet, or just trying to avoid processed foods as a whole, I would definitely suggest checking these out next time you’re at Whole Foods. Or Marshalls, in my case. 🙂

Bon appetit, my friends!

~ Tori

One Month

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Crap.

It’s June 11th.

How is it already June?

Hell, how is it already summer to begin with? I swear, yesterday I was still cleaning tinsel and pine needles from my carpets and now suddenly this blasphemous wall calendar is telling me it’s mid-June. What gives? I deserve at least another six weeks of May before we move into this horrible, no-good, very bad month.

Why am I panicking?

It’s one month away from my birthday today.

For most people, this is an exciting thing. Good things are on the way, right?

Presents! Cake! Friends! Celebration! Presents! Time off! Presents!

For me, the weeks leading up to my birthday tend to be stressful. For one, I’m not handling the whole aging-thing well. I know my face isn’t collapsing into wrinkles yet and I’m not standing in line for Botox, but I can definitely see the years moving faster and the toll it’s having on my body, my mind, and my heart – and it terrifies me.

 

keep-calm-it-s-almost-your-birthday-3

 

I have a list of goals a mile long and the time seems to be sneaking away faster and faster.

One of the goals I have [every year] is to hit my goal body weight. Amazingly, I was on track for more than the first six months of this year [birth year, not new year], but I lost my mojo right around the holidays and have yet to get back into motion.

More than ever, I’ve been yo-yo’ing up and down since December 2012 and haven’t been able to get back into a diet or workout regimen that I can stick to for more than a few weeks.

Well, now we’re officially one month away from my birthday and I’m sitting more than 12 pounds over my goal weight, whereas I was just 4 pounds away from it back in December.

To say that I’m mad at myself is a bit of an understatement.

I’m disappointed. I’m embarrassed. For such a driven person, why do I let food and my own laziness beat me so often?

Fortunately, I’m not a morose person by nature, so instead of wallowing in depression today, I’ve merely recommitted myself to my goals. While I don’t think I can get 12 pounds off in 30 days [not in a healthy way, at least], I do think I can dent that number pretty substantially if I set my mind to it.

So… here goes. [Boy, deja-vu with that statement, right?]

Today’s weight: 142.2

Ideal Body Weight: 130 or less

Let’s do this.

Bon Appetit, my friends!

~ Tori

Paleo Pasta

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Last night, after a two hour cardio session at the gym, I was craving COMFORT food. Fattening, carb-rich, and delicious – I felt I deserved it.

Of course, it takes almost two hours to burn off 1,200 calories but about 5 minutes to eat it, so I opted to still prepare a healthy dinner so as not to negate my efforts.

Exhausted as I was, I threw together a fast, healthy, Paleo-friendly dish in about 10 minutes and it turned out to be a winner. Basically, I modified your “typical” Italian dinner – mounds of pasta with rich, creamy sauce and hunks of sausage – into a lighter, leaner version.

The Meat Sauce:

  • 1/2 cup red onions, diced
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup button mushrooms, washed and chopped
  • 5 Jennie-O Sweet Italian Sausages, slice about an inch thick
  • 1/2 cup dry red wine
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 jar of Organic Basil Marinara
  • 4 tbsp dried onion flakes
  • 2 tbsp dried basil
  • 2 tbsp garlic powder

In a large sauce pan, start by sauteing the onions and mushrooms until tender, or about 5 mins at medium heat. At this point, add the slices sausages and the dried seasonings increase the heat slightly, so as to sear it evenly. Once the sausages are cooked through [really, just 2-3 mins], add the red wine, the jar of sauce, and the water, as well as the onion flakes. Simmer for about 8 mins, or until your whole kitchen smells like a pizzeria.

The Noodles:

Here’s where you have options. Personally, I am OBSESSED with Shirataki noodles, such as Miracle Noodles or NoOodle, but you’re also welcome to use thinly sliced zucchini or even spaghetti squash [steamed, for both] as your base. In the case of the Shirataki noodles, just drain the noodles well in a colander, then dry-saute them in a wok or large pot in order to cook off the excess water. I drizzle them with a tiny bit of olive oil to keep them from sticking.

Putting it Together:

Once both the noodles and the sauce are finished, I prefer to toss it all together for even coating of the sauce and then sprinkle with just a DASH of Parmesan cheese. Depending on if you’re a hardcore Caveman, you may not have cheese. I try to avoid dairy, but permit myself the occasional sprinkle of Parmesan on my dishes, because it just adds so much flavor for very little caloric punch.

And there you have it! Paleo pasta that doesn’t negate your workout! Even non-Paleo dieters will approve, as the sauce is surprisingly flavorful and the sausage adds a distinct richness, despite the turkey-base. Yum yum!

 

Bon Appetit, my friends!

~Tori