After I fell completely off the Paleo wagon, it became apparent that a drastic change wasn’t going to work for me. Maybe if I wasn’t running major mileage, I could handle the lack of energy. Maybe if it wasn’t winter and I wasn’t already dealing with grey and cold, I could handle the crabbiness that occurred. But I can’t. Not right now.
So, instead, I’m moving slowly towards a paleo lifestyle. I know I’ll never be 100% for more than a few weeks. Why? Two words: beer and cheese. Anyways, I’ve been debating the best way to start. I thought about cutting out wheat, or legumes, or most grains, but in the end, I decided that rather than cut out any one food, for now I’ll work on decreasing them all. Here are some of my successes and “failures” this week…
Breakfast:
I love oatmeal. I’ve given it up for the most part, but when the “feels like” is 8 degrees, nothing is better. I added in sweet potato, walnuts, and dried fruit (and admittedly, a small amount of maple syrup. I LOVE maple syrup. I’m not sure I can ever give it up.)
Lunch/snacks:
From top left, going clockwise:
- Sauteed veggies, eggs, salsa and avocado. I’ll pretty much put salsa on any veggies and be happy.
- My new favorite snack: mashed avocado with fresh ground pepper, cauliflower for dipping.
- Pear and nuts. This (or an apple) is my go to when I’m hungry between meals.
- Kohlrabi sauteed in coconut oil. I could eat a whole kohlrabi at a time…
Lunch tends to be my most Paleo meal since I don’t have to worry about anyone but myself.
Dinner:
Last night I made stuffed sweet peppers. This was perhaps one of the easiest meals for me to make Paleo and still keep my family happy. I blanched a couple of sweet peppers and sauteed some grass fed ground beef. (We are in beef mode at the moment as my next quarter of a steer arrives on February 1). I also sauteed some cabbage, mushrooms, and peppers for mine. To assemble mine, I layered meat, veggies, and salsa and repeat. For Beer Geek, I layered meat, salsa, and cheese. Then I baked them in my convection toaster oven for about 25 minutes at 400 degrees. So very good! And I totally did not miss having a “carb”!
Yesterday I did an hour of yoga and then ran 4.3 miles on the treadmill. Supposedly I’m running outside today, but a “feels like” of 5 is making me want to cry. I may brave it for as long as I can and then finish on the treadmill. I have to admit that I’m not unhappy that my lower mileage week is coinciding with the coldest temps Virginia has had in about four years…
love how you phrase it TIP TOEing.
we only fail (I ONLY FAIL?) when we run full crazya** steam ahead 🙂
Oh girl, bless your heart for those temperatures. Bundle up!
I adore stuffed peppers or tomatoes. It always turns as the amazing dish! Yours look perfect!
Like I said in a previous post, I am so interested to see how this goes for you. I am much the same in my effort to decrease these things instead of cutting them out completely. Except bread. That is out. And not close to as hard as I imagined.
I’m doing a 30 day paleo challenge right now to see how I like it and it’s been going good! I think I can adapt some of the lifestyle but not all. I miss my oats, greek yogurt and goat cheese but everything else has been easy. Oh, I haven’t given up wine either. After not drinking for basically a year when pregnant and breast feeding, I’m not giving up my vino by choice! Ha!
Looks good to me!
Of course, I’m about as close to Paleo as Britney Spears is to her virginity, so I’ll never be one to judge healthy eating habits!
I am beyond impressed that you are even thinking about running outside when it “feels like” 5!!!
Your new method to Paleo seems like a great plan!
Maple syrup is ok. I have a friend that’s 99% paleo and will never give up maple syrup. So between the 3 of us it’s paleo. 😉
Have you ever tried making oatless oats? Or Oatmeal minus the oats? I think those are a pretty close second if you are wanting to keep your oatmeal but go paleo!
I’ve never had kohlrabi, but I took them to the fair one year for FFA. Haha. My grandparents grow them, and when I needed an extra vegetable for my display they happily supplied a few. When they handed it to me, I was like “What is this?”
Those stuffed peppers look and sound amazing! And I feel your pain…the “real feel” for my area is -8*! Stay warm!
Ilove SP in my oats! I got on a kick withthe SP Baked atmeal… maybe tomorrow I’ll make some the old fashioned way.
I could never run in anything sub-20, my brain wouldn’t function. Seriously. I would be all about the treadmill!