A (not so) sweet treat for you :)

I had the urge to try something new today. Not that I'll actually be eating it right now, since I'm still on my Whole30, but I'll admit that I had a small bite, and I loved it.

This treat is for all of you who don't want it too sweet. No honey or other sweeteners involved. The only sweetener in there are the figs.






Ingredients:

approximately 1 cup of hazelnuts (I forgot to take exact measurements for the nuts)
14 black mission figs (sundried and unsweetened)
1/4 cup expeller pressed coconut oil
2 to 3 tbsp chia seeds
3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
coconut flakes (optional)

Instructions:

In a food processor chop hazelnuts until coarsely chopped. Add the figs and coconut oil, and process for a couple more minutes. Now add chia seeds and cocoa powder and process for several minutes, until the hazelnuts have reached a fine consistency, and you can easily press the mixture like you would with cookie dough.

Press mixture into an 8x8 or 9x9 brownie pan (sprinkle with coconut flakes if you want) and set in refrigerator or freezer to cool. When cooled off, cut into small pieces or bars. It's a truly delicious (not so) sweet treat!

The FastPaleo Top 100 of 2012 is now available :)

I am so excited about this announcement, because James and I have worked on this for the past two months, and it's a great ecookbook, if I say so myself.

It's also the first of its kind! It's a community cookbook, featuring dozens of paleo bloggers and food enthusiasts. The recipes all include bios and link back to all of their blogs and websites. Each contributor can sell their own copies and make a 75% commission.

Giving back to the community! How awesome is that?

With the cookbook you'll get 4 mini ebooks free. :) Check it out! The recipes are all awesome, easy to recreate, and tried and true not only by their creators but by lots of people who have tried them at home and loved them.

I'm happy to say, that my coconut flour brownies are in there as well.

Find the banner to the right, click there and purchase YOUR copy of the ecookbook. No waiting for it to arrive in the mail. You'll have it right away. :)

Wooohoooo!! What a fabulous day!

Brussels Sprouts fritters... Paleo style

Someone posted a recipe for Brussels Sprouts fritters on Facebook today. I can't for the life of me find that link, or I would credit the person who gave me the idea for this. I did have to make some changes, because the recipe I found was not paleo.

First of all, let me tell you... these things were delicious! Secondly, I don't have exact measurements for this recipe. But bear with me. It's not that difficult to make. And oh my gosh, they tasted delicious and disappeared quickly. I could have made twice as many, and they would still have all been eaten up tonight. Good stuff!

Instructions:

2 cups thinly slices Brussels Sprouts (I did this with a sharp knife)
3 eggs
1 tbsp coconut flour
some almond flour (see recipe for more instructions)
5 shallots thinly sliced
salt and pepper to taste
coconut oil for frying

Mix together the sprouts and shallots, add the eggs, the coconut flour and start mixing. Then let sit for about 10 minutes to let the sprouts soak up the moisture.

Now add a dash of almond flour (maybe 2 to 3 tbsp), stir thoroughly. Try to form a patty. If it falls apart in your hands, add just a bit more almond flour. I think I ended up using approximately 5 tbsp or so.

Make a patty. This doesn't make great patties, but they shouldn't fall apart in your hands. (If they still fall apart too easily, you need to either let them sit a little longer or experiment with eggs and almond flour.)

Heat a skillet, add coconut oil and carefully place patty in the skillet. Cook on medium to medium high for several minutes before carefully turning over and cooking for several more minutes. I made sure to always have plenty of coconut oil in the pan.

The patties turned out nice and crispy! Delicious!!

Monday's Worth a Read

Okay, I am not a very artsy person as you can see by my sad attempt at an exclamation mark and writing as much as four words! But it'll do the trick for now! From now on, every Monday you will see this little exclamation mark in my post, as I will scour the internet for you for the latest and greatest information, that I think is worth checking out.

This might be a blog post, a recipe, an announcement, a giveaway I found somewhere... anything paleo, primal, or Crossfit related... you'll find it here every Monday! So, why don't we get started right now!

Chris Kresser (King of all things Paleo!) wrote an article on his blog for those of us who are struggling with the detoxing process when getting on a paleo diet. He also offers a solution! Here's a little blurb:

The list of symptoms caused by impaired detox capacity is nearly endless, but in my work with patients I’ve observed the following common patterns:

• Hormone imbalances (especially in women). Defects in detoxification cause hormones to become partially metabolized, blocking the action of active hormones and throwing off natural feedback mechanisms.
• Skin breakouts and rashes. The skin is the largest organ in the body, and the most likely to be affected by detox issues.
• Energy problems. One important aspect of detoxification, called methylation, plays a key role in cellular energy production.
• Depression and mood disorders. Methylation is also crucial for proper neurotransmitter synthesis.
• Brain fog and cognitive decline. Proper methylation is required for the production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that profoundly affects mental clarity.

Do you see yourself? Then this article is most definitely for you!

I personally don't struggle with constipation when I'm strictly paleo. Quite the contrary actually. But if it is an issue for you, and I know of several people who are struggling, then this post by Paleo Diet Lifestyle may be fore you! Here's what she says:

So what are the causes of constipation, and how can you treat it? As with so many other health problems, the answer is fairly complicated. Possible culprits range from thyroid problems to pregnancy to gut flora dysbiosis, and almost everything in between. By fully understanding these potential causes, you’ll be much better equipped to identify which one (or more) is relevant to you, and then take action accordingly to handle it.

My all time favorite primal dude Mark Sisson answers two great questions in this blog post. I am particularly amused by the first one. But the second one is awesome! Check it out! :)

Antibiotic ointments like Neosporin are certainly good at preventing infection, they can certainly make cuts heal faster by preventing or stopping bacterial infection, and plenty of people will absolutely vouch for their efficacy, but they don’t always perform very well in clinical trials. In one recent study of different ointments’ influence on wound healing time, Aquaphor Healing Ointment, whose active ingredient is simple petroleum jelly, beat both Neosporin and Polypsorin (an antibiotic ointment containing fewer antibiotics than Neosporin).

FREE SHIPPING AT TROPICAL TRADITIONS!! TODAY ONLY!  Use it or lose it!

Check out the Whole9 blog for this great post on how to Unplug the Noise, Sharpen the Signal. We all forget! Let's all remember.

We already know that our bodies do not like being overloaded: too much sugar, refined carbs, and toxic non-foods will put a strain on your hormonal and immune systems. But food is not the only input your body receives. The stress hormone your body produces as a result of a multitude of overwhelming environmental stimuli is exactly the same. You may even not realise that your gauges are in the amber zone, going on red.

And finally, please check out Primal Deliverance, a FREE ebook by James from FastPaleo.com. It really is a great read... and you can't complain about FREE!!!

This book is my story of beating addiction, of nearly losing a life, and then finding a much more wonderful one. An important part of that, and what makes it a story about you as well, is how the paleo lifestyle was such an important part of that. 

Have a great week!!

Pale Pen Pals January 2013 Edition

So I decided to join Three Diets One Dinner and What I Gather in their Paleo Pen Pals project. Each month you get paired up with another paleo fan. You send them some ingredients, and they do the same for you. Then you create a meal or treat of some sort, which you post by a certain date of that given month. The January deadline is today. :)

I received my ingredients from Karen at Living Low Carb... One Day at a Time. She sent me smoked pepper, some seaweed, and tarragon mustard (and also some yummy fruit snacks!). I must admit that I am not a fan of seaweed. So it basically just sat in my cupboard until... today!

But well, my adventurous side came through and I decided to give that stuff a try after all.

And what can I say? I was pleasantly surprised!!

I took a sheet of seaweed, placed a slice of the smoked salmon on it, spread the tarragon mustard on the salmon, seasoned with the smoked pepper, and rolled it up.

If I had to give it a name, I guess I'd call it salmon roll-ups. :)

I'm glad I did give this a try! Plus, it's all Whole30 Hell30 approved, so I'm giving it a double like! And what's more, my 9 year old son loved it and devoured it!!

Foggy brain, carb flu and more...

Day 5 of my Hell30 (FYI for those who don't know... I've renamed the Whole30), and I'm going strong! Judging from the headline you might think that I am suffering or something, but I'm not. Here is what I AM experiencing!

I wake up early (as always) and generally don't stay up too late. I sleep hard, and I dream quite vividly. Two nights ago I woke up during a terrible nightmare by my own screaming my daughter's name. Quite dramatic, isn't it? My dreams are loud and adventurous and full of people I know now and others I've known a long time ago. It's an odd experience for sure. I do remember these vivid dreams from when I first went paleo, so I know this will wear off in a while.

Other symptoms YOU may experiencing as you're cleansing your body and getting rid of all those nasty toxins are headaches, a foggy brain, fatigue, sluggishness... This is called the carb flu or low-carb flu. It's the period of time right after switching to a paleo lifestyle. For some people this carb flu can last up to three full weeks, others suffer for only five days... and yet others might not notice any difference at all.

Since I was already gluten free and mostly paleo before my Hell30, I don't seem to struggle much. On day 2 and 3 I had headaches. I am a little more tired than usual, but I'm also working out really hard right now, so being tired might be a combination of the two.

Please don't give up, if you're experiencing any of this. It does take some tremendous willpower for some of us. But it is all worth it in the end. You WILL soon start feeling much better, and you'll feel clean and alive and strong. So hang in there, stick with it. If you need some extra support, go check out the Whole30 website for tons of great information! Also, check out the Whole30 support group on Facebook. You are not alone. And one month will be over in no time. :)

And of course, check my Facebook page for daily motivational quotes and more.

STEP AWAY FROM THE SCALE!

LADIES! (And Gentlemen...) What is your first memory of stepping on a scale? How old were you, and how was that experience? Positive? Negative? Or did you simply not care?
My memories of when I was a younger child are a little fuzzy. I do recall hopping on and off the blue analog scale in our bathroom. It was a fun game to watch the numbers race by in the little display window.

What I do remember quite vividly is a day when I was ten years old, and I had my best friend over. We hung out in the yard, and she casually started talking about weight loss. At that point I wasn't a stranger to the subject anymore, as my own mother was always very aware of how much she weighed. I saw her step on the scale every single day. As for me, I was a long, skinny stick, with my every rib showing under my skin. I weighed 80lbs at a height of 5'2''. My friend was several inches shorter than me and of course she also weighed less. She informed me that "the ideal weight for a 10 year old" was 75lbs. I don't remember where she got that information, but she did say that she weighed only 74lbs and was ever so proud of it.
That night I stepped on the scale, and the number I saw suddenly had a whole new meaning. It had become my enemy. I was 5lbs overweight. Without really understanding how to diet, I made the conscious decision to eat less.

Fast forward five years. At the tender age of 15 I was well aware of my body shape (which by the way was just fine, but tell that to my 15 year old self and she'll laugh at you). A couple of pounds of difference on the scale meant rigorous dieting, until I reached my "ideal weight" again. This was normal behavior to me. Every girl around me was aware of what she "should" look like. And of course there was still my mother, who frequently introduced new foods like tofu, whole grains, fish, and other things, and who still made a point of NEVER weighing more than her "ideal weight". You see where this is going, yes?

My real weight loss roller coaster started in high school. In the past 20 something years I gained and lost and gained and lost hundreds of pounds quite literally. I'd gain 50, lose 30, gain 30, lose 40, gain 50, lose 60. I was a professional dieter, always accompanied by my trusted enemy... the scale. I wanted to throw that thing out the window. I wanted to change the number, I wanted it to go down. I was absolutely obsessed with this number. I drank shakes, took ephedra, went on Atkins, ate next to nothing, cooked Lean Cuisine meals and Progresso soup for weeks on end, and I cardioed myself into oblivion.

The number on the scale would go down, and I'd be cheerful and excited. And then it would go up again, because for how long can you not eat before you devour everything in sight? And when the number went up, I'd cry and be upset and sad. I'd whine at my husband, at my mother.

At one point I actually asked myself "Is this going to continue for the rest of your life? Weighing yourself? Doing two hours of cardio a day? Dieting yourself into the grave? What a sucky life. And yet, I had no idea just how to stop this vicious cycle.

I'm 38 years old. The last time I stepped on the scale was after returning from our trip to Germany about two weeks ago. I didn't like the number. And for a moment I considered throwing a tantrum. But I think I'm officially too old for that. Also, I have some really amazing people in my life, who told me in no uncertain terms that my obsession with my weight and especially that darn number on the scale is hurting me. That they love me and appreciate me just the way I am, and that the sooner I can come to realize that I'm amazing no matter my size, the happier I will be. Yes, I do know some wonderful and smart people. (You know who you are!)

I can't say that I'll be immune to the number, but more often than not I simply "step away from the scale". And if your relationship with the scale is as disturbing as mine, I recommend you do the same!

Besides... on the moon I weigh only 26.5lbs... on Jupiter 378.2! :)

Hell30

Hello, my name is Grokette, and I cheated! You know that Whole30 I was going to do at the beginning of the year? Yep, I cheated. I broke down and ate crap. I have no good excuse either. I can't tell you why. I know quite well, that I've done this before, and that 30 days are really not that big a deal. And yet... *insert deep sigh here* Oh sure, I know, how much better I feel when I stick with it. But well, that trip to Germany... See? Excuses!

Since my first cheat, I re-stared my Whole30 every day for about a week. How sad is that? Waking up in the morning saying to your reflection in the mirror, "Okay, it's January 16th... Day 1".... "Okay, it's January 17th... Day 1".... "Okay, it's January 18th.... " You get the point. Whole30 has become Hell30.
You may say, "Well, why don't you just not do a Whole30?" And yes, I could do that. But somewhere inside of me sits little Grokette, that little teeny tiny voice whispering to me, "And why the hell not? Cleanse your body, start over, feel better about yourself. What is not to like about the positive side effects of a Whole30?" And she's right!

Yesterday, I went to the Oregon Crossfit Winter Games 2013 in Bend, Oregon with my good friend B. B is the woman who got me hooked on Crossfit last year, when she competed in the games and I came to cheer her on. This year we were both itching to be out there with the other athletes... but realizing that well, we ought to do something to get back in tip top shape. :) Watching those athletes made something click inside my head (and heart). I want this! I really, really do want to get back in shape, so that I can compete in Crossfit Games.

And really, I'm so sick and tired of being sick and tired. The headache I'm feeling right now is not welcome, not wanted, and it has to go. But it will only go, if I finally step up to the plate and take responsibility. And finally, I feel bad for letting down people who follow my blog or Facebook page... They (YOU) deserve better than that.

I was going to start my new Hell30 tomorrow... Monday... start of the week, start of something new. But I believe, I'll do it today. What better time to start is there than right now! I invite you to check in on me. Or join me. Or unfollow my Facebook page, because you're so utterly disappointed. ;)

Okay, it's January 20th... Day 1

It's all about food!

It's all about food! Truer words have never been spoken, I tell ya. Because my life quite literally revolves around it. Sure, there are also my sweet, adorable, wonderful children who are taking up an enormous part. But without food I could not keep them alive. It starts with breakfast, which has become more complicated since we started our paleo journey. From a slice of bread with nutella or pb&j we went to eggs with bacon, or almond flour pancakes, or coconut flour waffles. And sometimes, certain people of the family (I shall not name any one person, dearest daughter) have different wishes, at which point of course I tell them to please "Serve yourself"... I'm your mother, not your cooking slave. This week on my meal plan are:

pizza, chicken skewers, pork chops with red cabbage and sweet potato fries, Beefy Mexi Cauli Rice, brats and sauerkraut, pulled pork...

I never did make the chicken skewers (too lazy) and threw the chicken into my wok for stir frying instead. See the result above. I love chicken stir fries. You stir fry the chicken, set it aside, stir fry your vegetables (whichever vegetables you like!), add the chicken back in, add the pineapple, about a half can of coconut milk, season with salt, pepper, paprika, and curry... maybe some ginger. Add a little bit of spinach at the very end, and you have a fantastic meal... which by the way has never produced any leftovers. EVER!

And because I am a good mom who wants her children to eat well, but understands too, that a sweet tooth sometimes needs to be fed, I made chocolate chip cookies from a recipe I wrote down from somewhere someday. These cookies are so delicious. But you have to be a fan of chewy cookies. Because that's what they are. Nice and chewy. Yum! Of course this is true for most paleofied chocolate chip cookies. Just check out any of the FastPaleo chocolate chip cookie recipes. All of them are chewy. I'm still trying to figure out how to make crunchy ones for my best friend. All attempts have failed so far.

Next on the snack list, my famous coconut flour brownies. Oh baby! These are super moist and super delicious, and they are GONE! They never last long around here.

You can find the recipe right here. You really want to be careful with the coconut flour on these. Just one tablespoon will make a difference in the consistency of the batter. You want this batter to be relatively runny. If it gets too thick, the brownies will be more dry.

Tonight is the night for pork chops with red cabbage and sweet potato fries. Nom nom!

Hey! Tomorrow the Ogre (my husband) and I are headed to Bend for the Crossfit Garage Games. Woot woot! I'll be spectating, not competing. Don't you be getting your hopes up. A weekend sans the lovely brood, but with adult friends, who happen to also be paleo. I expect it will be wonderful. Have a great day, All!

Shrimp and leftovers dinner

Darn, I almost forgot to take a picture of this. The plan was to get a really good one in the wok. Alas, I didn't remember until I was done eating... and my son had devoured about half of his plate.

Today was leftover day around here. For lunch I made a quick tomato soup with leftover chicken. This can be made in about 15 minutes. Toss a jar of chicken stock, a cup or two of water (depending how much you want to make), a can of tomatoes, and some spices into a pot. I like to season with salt, pepper, paprika, turmeric, curry, and some chili powder. Add cut up chicken, cook for 15 minutes, and it is done. For me and my husband I added avocado pieces to our bowls, for the kids we added cheddar cheese. Super easy and quick, and you can get rid of leftovers that way.

For dinner I browsed FastPaleo.com for ideas. I had plenty of leftovers from my week. I wanted to make something with shrimp. I can only recommend this method for cooking leftovers. Browse fastpaleo.com for recipes using your main ingredient as a search term. I found several recipes for shrimp, skimmed through them, then checked my fridge. I had broccoli, cauliflower, bacon, tomatoes, salsa, and garlic. Perfect.

Instructions!

Thaw 1lb of cooked shrimp under running water. Heat coconut oil in a wok, until it is very hot. Cook shrimp on high heat for a couple of minutes. I actually had to drain the liquid a couple of times. So be aware of that. Season with salt, chili powder, paprika. Then set aside.
In the same pan (I drained again, but you can leave the liquid in the pan if you prefer) stir fry the vegetables and bacon you're going to use. In my case that was the broccoli and cauliflower... But you can use any leftover veggies really.
Add about a half to 3/4 cup of salsa, a diced tomato, a large clove of garlic (chopped), stir it, cook for a few more minutes. You can stir fry your vegetables for a good 10 minutes, then add the shrimp, cook for another couple of minutes. Season to taste. Sprinkle lime juice all over and mix it up well.

Feel free to add any amount of coconut oil if you ever feel that your food is getting too dry. Again, I drained the liquid in the beginning, because I prefer it that way. But this meant I had to add a bit of coconut oil to the vegetables after a few minutes.

Again, a stir fry like this can be made quickly and easily. You can use just about any vegetable for it... Carrots, turnips, spinach (at the very end), peppers, mushrooms... or anything like that. :)

This was so good! And I have almost no leftovers in my fridge tonight. Tomorrow I'll post a new meal plan for the week.

The one week primal success story

So, my daughter turned 12 yesterday, but instead of going into detail about how incredibly wrong it is that time is passing me by like this, and that it can't possibly be true, that she is 12 YEARS OLD, I will tell you the great story of my friend J, a newly converted Grok.

J and his family joined us for the birthday dinner. I already heard from his wife, S, that he was a different person now that he is primal... But what I experienced last night, was so awesome (for me!), that I find it worthy of sharing with all of you.

You see, J had high blood pressure at the tender age of 40ish and was put on blood pressure medication. J is also an Italian dude who likes his pasta and bread. In all the years of our friendship I was informed (in no uncertain terms) that there was no way on Earth, J would ever give up pasta. Pasta was a staple of his diet. Well... a little while ago, S (J's wife) went gluten free, then primal. She encouraged J to go gluten free for the month of January, and asked him to read the first four chapters of The Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson. And because J is a good husband, he obliged... hesitantly... but heck, why not.

Last night, I met the new J... I met the guy who read three chapters of The Primal Blueprint, recognized himself to be Mr. Korg and decided right then and there, that he was done being Mr. Korg and ready to become Grok. He started about a week ago, after months of not feeling quite right. The guy was basically bouncing off the walls, as he was telling us, how great he felt. The man, who used to have the hardest time getting up in the morning, started singing in the shower, making coffee for his wife, feeling full of energy. He was beyond thrilled not only about not feeling the fog in his brain anymore, but also the fact that he could finally calm down... "My brain wasn't going a million miles a minute anymore. This is so amazing." he told us.

But what's even more important, here is a man, who needed blood pressure medication to keep his blood pressure in check. Last night he said, "My blood pressure is now lower than it was when I was ON my medication." Think about it... this happened within a week!! Can you imagine what's possible over the course of the next few months?

We spent several hours with J and S last night... and most of our conversation revolved around this new way of life they had adopted and just how thrilled he was. And all I could do was sit and listen and feel excited and happy for them both. I saw both of them laugh last night like I've never seen them laugh before. What a great treat. It reminds me very much of the time, exactly two years ago, when it was me who was so thrilled and excited, that I wanted to talk about it non-stop. It really is thrilling to feel like a new and improved person.

No, not everyone will have the same experience... not everyone will feel the euphoria within a week...
But this story is real, and it is only one of many similar ones.

J may not be done eating pasta for the rest of his life. But I have a pretty good feeling that this former staple will become something of a treat in the future. In the end he and S will have to figure out for themselves (and for their children) just what exactly it is that works for them, and then go with it. And I'm excited to go along for the ride. :)

Got your own primal success story? Want me to write about it? Just let me know. I love these stories!!

What to drink during your Whole30

Originally this was going to be a post about kombucha, as it is actually a Whole30 approved drink, AND there are a ton of health benefits. But then I found this post by the food renegade, and it's an excellent post! Why write another one, when it's been covered so beautifully already.

Instead I'll make this post about what you can drink during your Whole30, as this is often a question people ask themselves. What, besides water, can I drink??? Here is my list!

Water! Call it boring if you'd like. But water is absolutely essential, and drinking it will quench your thirst and make you healthier. If you just can't stand the boring flavor of water, add in some lime juice or a few slices of cucumber. Et voila, you now have a healthy AND tasty beverage. Just think how lucky you are to be able to drink clean water whenever you like.

Kombucha! It's been around for more than 2,000 years, but it's just now experiencing a big hype here in the US. Kombucha's health benefits are many... First and foremost, it's a fantastic aid in detoxification. You can't find a better beverage for your liver! Really read the blog post I mentioned to find out more about kombucha!! Also, stop worrying about the sugar you have to add to make kombucha. The skoby eats the sugar during fermentation. Yes, kombucha is in fact Whole30 approved by Melissa and Dallas themselves!

Coffee! Personally, I couldn't care less about this stuff. It smells good but tastes disgusting. But I understand, tastes are different, and coffee is Whole30 approved. Though you'll want to stay away from the milk and sugar to go in it. You can try adding a little coconut milk. Also, you can drink flavored coffee, unless it also contains a ton of crap besides the added flavor. So, yuck for me... and yay for you!

Tea! Now there is something I love. My personal favorite: Vanilla Rooibos tea. Of course there are a ton of teas. You can pick and choose. But again, watch those ingredients. I've seen tea mixes that are actually not gluten free, and fruity teas often have sugar or other sweeteners added. Drink tea, my friends!

Sparkling water! Absolutely Whole30 approved. You can drink it, then burp, then drink, then burp some more. Add lemon juice, lime, cukes... you could even add some berries. Very delicious.

Coconut water! I don't get anything out of the stuff. But it's a possibility, if you're looking for something different. Once again, check the ingredients in coconut water, especially when it's not just basic coconut water but has added flavors.

Vegetable juice! Okay, don't go running to the store to buy Odwalla vegetable juice... It's really mostly fruit with a little added vegetable. Vegetable juice is easily made at home. If you're in a rush and have to get it at the store, be sure to buy something very basic. As always, check those ingredients. A virgin Bloody Mary is a great treat. Just a splash of hot sauce, a stick of celery (and an umbrella) and you're good to go.

I hope this short and sweet list helps. :) Enjoy!

Food is for the soul... and my meal plan this week

Aaaah, food! The scent of it fills the kitchen and sometimes the entire house long before you sit down to eat. Sniffing the herbs and spices, the meat and vegetables stimulates the senses, and quite literally makes your mouth water.

Then you sit down to a beautifully arranged meal, with family or friends and enjoy every bite, only to be amazed at the taste explosion happening inside your mouth. This may sound like a badly written novel, but the truth is that I mean every word of it. Not only do I love to cook, but I thoroughly enjoy to eat. I love to taste the result of my work, and yes, I love how it makes me feel. Even more so now that I'm back home from a 3 week "fell off the bandwagon and ate a ton of crap" trip to Germany. Everyone in my family agrees, eating paleo feels good, it feels right, and of course it tastes delicious.

Food is for the soul, because you don't just nourish your body. You nourish your mind, you satisfy cravings and stimulate your senses. You take a break from everyday life to sit and eat. You engage in meaningful conversation. This is why I am looking forward to each meal. It forces me to slow down, to relax and breathe. Even when I'm alone for a meal, I make a point of taking time, decorating it nicely on my plate.

Why do you think the French have no word for fast food? Because food is for the soul.
Why do you think the Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians had great feasts? Because food is for the soul.

As someone who eats paleo, you have already committed to making better choices. Now I urge you to commit to really enjoy it. Spend a few extra minutes decorating your food nicely on a plate. Sit down at a table, ideally with the TV off, so you don't have any distractions. Really enjoy every bite. Don't rush if you don't have to. See for yourself if your food is for the soul. :)

So what's on the list this week?

Taco Soup
Spicy Chicken Spaghetti
Pulled Pork Tenderloin from the slow cooker (my own recipe)
Beefy Mexi Cauli Rice
Goulash (my own recipe)
Baked Chicken (my own recipe)

I'll post my own recipes throughout the week. :) Yum!! Oh yes, food is for the soul!!!

Water retention... what can cause it!

I really wish I could take credit for my new knowledge. Sadly, I wasn't the one who discovered the connection between low potassium, low protein and water retention, but my husband. So here's to him for pointing this out to me. Thanks, honey.

It has been almost 3 weeks since we arrived in Germany. After a combined 13 hours on planes, and another 3 hours in the car, we were not surprised to find we were retaining water. My feet were swollen like an elephant's, and I could barely even move my toes. I figured this would all go away within a couple of days. It did take a couple of days for it to disappear... However, another couple of days later, I noticed more swelling in my ankles. I was astonished, and I had no understanding of why this was happening. So I decided to leave it alone.

And I would have likely not started digging into the subject, had it not been for my husband, who pointed out to me yesterday, that there was in fact a connection between low potassium, protein and water retention.

Our diets over the past 2 1/2 weeks was very high in carbs, grains, sugars... and very low in protein and potassium. That is not to say that I didn't have a little bit of meat every day. But a few days ago, for instance, we ate a Goulash, and I found 4 bite-sized pieces on my plate. Lots of sauce and rice though! ;)

Potassium is important to your health, as it is a vital mineral that is responsible for the proper function of your tissues, cells, and organs. So deficiency could cause weight gain by water retention. Severe water retention is called edema. It can lead to a swollen face, belly, fingers, legs, and feet. In some cases this can even affect your state of mind, shortness of breath, and other symptoms.

I recommend not taking a diuretic right away, as those can sometimes lower your potassium levels. In mild cases like mine, bananas should do the trick. Of course I'd urge anyone to see a doctor who has a severe case of edema. (Waiver: as always the information I'm sharing on here are the result of my research. I am however not a medical professional, and I do not give any medical advice. I simply speak from my own experience.)

Protein (specifically albumin) is responsible for keeping water and salt inside the blood vessels, keeping it from leaking out into the tissues. If you are low in albumin, you'll retain water especially in your feet, ankles, and lower legs.

Certainly, this is not a diagnosis of your weight gain problems or mine. I know that some of my weight gain is directly related to all the crap I've been eating. :) And I take full responsibility for that. But I do believe that in my case the water retention might be explained by low potassium and protein.

It felt good to eat clean yesterday! And today my lower legs are looking almost normal.
Isn't it great to be paleo?

Day 1 of the new year... and of a new Whole30

Happy New Year, dear friends. We actually did make it to 2013. No apocalypse, no disastrous end of the world. Although I'll say, that vacationing in Germany has been disastrous for my health and well being.

It is January 1st, and the list of my symptoms is getting longer, which is why I am doing another Whole30, the 30 day challenge sponsored by Whole9.

As of today I am:

-storing water in my hands and feet
-growing an enormous belly (well... not enormous... but I hate my snug jeans)
-sporting some lovely pimples
-suffering from aches and pains in my joints
-feeling generally "un-clean" if you will

Time to put an end to the madness! Time for new beginnings! The folks at Whole9 are launching the biggest ever Whole30 today, and they provided a ton of information for anyone who wants it and needs it. I'll say it right off the bat. This really is a challenge, and you need to really WANT to do it. But it can certainly be done, and with a little bit of preparation and a little bit of support, here, on my Facebook page, or on the Whole9 support forums, you'll be on your way to a better, healthier you!

Having said this, I am still in Germany, and things are going to get a bit complicated in this house of non-paleos who think I'm a little nuts for eating this way. But with a couple of small modifications (I'm pretty confident that things will work out just fine) I'll do just fine. I return home on January 5th to an empty fridge. I love that. :) It gives me the chance to sit down, make a plan for the coming week, and buy only Whole30 approved foods.

And really, this is the one piece of advice I would give you, out of all the great advice you can find when starting a Whole30. Clean out that fridge. Clean out that cabinet. Rid yourself of the temptations that will ultimately make you fall off the bandwagon when you have a weak moment. YOU can do this! As will I. I'll report here and on Facebook. And I invite you to join me.

Plus, there are a ton of Whole30 conforming recipes on FastPaleo.com. We categorize our recipes by dairy and non-dairy for paleo and primal folks. There are thousands of recipes. Go and check them out. Make a list. Plan ahead. I can't wait to get started!!