6.20.11 Post Paleo Cleanse

Well I made it through the 7 days, in the last 2 days I felt my energy return, so I guess the toxins had finally worked out of my system.  I am sleeping much sounder and waking up early feeling refreshed and ready to go vs. my usual where is my cup of espresso!  Learned several things, as mentioned in my prior post preparing ahead of time is critical and making sure healthy food/snacks are readily available.  This may be the hardest part going forward.  I am truly loving the different greens and no longer afraid to attack them with gusto. Next need to try Petie's Kale "pasta" recipe.

Now that the official cleanse is over my next goal is to try and adhere to strict a Paleo diet (no grain, dairy, beans, sugar, processed/refined foods) for an additional 3 weeks so can see the results of Paleo over 30 days.  I will add back alcohol on a limited basis and sugar but only in the form of raw honey.  Currently searching for a great tasting decaf espresso (processed the water method) so my taste buds can be joyous while keeping my body happy without the caffeine.   Right now the inside of my body is feeling like a smooth running engine with all the gunk removed, now if I can just get my piraformus (small butt muscle) and left rhomboid to loosen up all would be perfect, where is that lax ball?

I ate well over the week, though seemed I needed to eat every 2-4 hours, but in the end I lost 4.5 lbs, so that says something.  Below are some more tasty meals I consumed during the cleanse. Dinner: Grilled chicken, 1/4 avocado, raw asparagus, wilted spinach & dandelion greens with a cup of avocado-cucumber soup.  Breakfast: 2 eggs + 1/4 cup egg white omelet with mushroom, tomato & avocado, plus a smoothie: 1/2 cup coconut milk, 1/2 cup almond milk, spinach, 1/2 banana, fresh strawberries & blueberries, 1 TB ground flax seed, 1 TB almond butter.  I ate this breakfast about 2-1/2 hours before the "Pick Your Poison" WOD and I felt solid through the WOD and afterwards.  Guess this stuff works.

6.16.11 Taste Buds a little sad, stomach very happy

Day 4 of Paleo Cleanse and overall like the results.  The impact of missing my double espresso each morning has its pluses and minuses.  On the minus side my taste buds are yelling at me for a double shot of sweet-rich El Guapo Espresso from the Amaya Roasting Company, and my mind in the morning sometimes seems a little fuzzy.  On the plus side my stomach is very happy, no more tossing & turning after the espresso.

I think I finally created the perfect smoothie: 1/2 cup almond milk, 1/2 cup coconut milk, 1 TB almond butter, 1 TB ground chia seeds, handful of fresh spinach, frozen berries, with a scant of stevia.  What I found so far in the cleanse is that it is really all about planning, making sure the refrigerator is full of healthy food options, doing a little prep work when you have free time so when you do not have time to prepare it is already done, and do not put your self in a position of being in a place without food.

Today was another banner food day, a chopped salad for lunch with hard boiled eggs, romaine lettuce, dandelion greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkin seeds, grilled veggies & a little tahini dressing.  Dinner very satisfying of grilled tuna, mashed cauliflower, wilted spinach & grilled veggies, followed by some sliced strawberries & blueberries with a dash of coconut milk.  Now time for bed.

6.14.11 Paleo Cleanse Week

Been awhile since my ast post, quick trip to London set me back.  If in London stop by CrossFit Central London nice community and good coaches.  CrossFit does prepare you for the unknown as I was able to pull off two dead hang pull-ups from the rafter wall of a 500 year old English Country manor house + 2 Burpees without splitting my dress.   However I did remove my hat for the exercises.

This week I am doing a 7-day Paleo Cleanse through Baltimore Health Coach, so I thought I would share my experiences.  So far so good, but I did stop drinking my standard double espresso last week so the caffeine craving/yearning is abated, last week was a different story.  My goal is to eat clean, no grabbing a handful of nuts/seeds and eating too much almond butter, yes all a good source of fat & protein but not if you over indulge.  No glass of wine or beer at the end of the day and to do more with vegetables.

I have found that ground flax seed & chia seeds make a nice addition to a smoothy or in almond milk with some carob powder. Carob will never replace my love for pure dark bittersweet chocolate but for a week it will do.  The is discipline and as I have said before Mind Over Matter.  Photos of yesterdays lunch-dinner & breakfast this morning.  Not bad, not bad indeed.