Before she cheats...

...she should make certain that the Coldstone Creamery she is heading to is in fact still there.  Just a little tip, from you to me.

So.  Today I almost cheated. 

I had to bag my race this morning.  I woke up feeling like I'd swallowed a bottle of paste and it was all stuck in the middle of my throat.  Not a good feeling.  Rather achy, actually.  I decided running wouldn't be good for anyone involved.  Instead I dug out some robitussin and went back to bed. 

I woke up with my throat feeling a lot better but on the whole I was tired and headachy.  I returned a friend's call first thing; she advised I should record my voice mail message while I sounded like Kathleen Turner. 

I had to go to the library in the afternoon so I made myself presentable (translation:  put on a bra) and did that.  On the way back, I thought about how I still felt pretty blah and decided I needed ice cream.  From Coldstone Creamery.  I knew I shouldn't, and that I would not be happy with myself later, but I just felt so lousy.  I went past the turn off to my house and headed towards the ice cream shop.

Only to find that it was closed!  And not just closed, business hours are over.  Closed as in, this space for lease. 

I was actually relieved to find out that was the case.  I did pull out my phone to see where the nearest open location was, but decided against driving there since it was not all that close.  I headed home.

Where I prepared, among other things, grilled scallops and a broccoli-carrot stir fry for dinner.  No comparison to the peanut butter chocolate catastrophe I'd been thinking about, but infinitely much better for my body.  I marinated the scallops in a little walnut oil, fresh lemon juice, some orange juice, and spices.  I made up the broccoli-carrot stir fry, with walnut oil with minced garlic and some powdered ginger.  Next time I'd used a little less oil since the broccoli tends to suck it up like a sponge and it took a long time until they were cooked enough (at least to my taste), but the carrots tasted fabulous like this.  Next time I might just do the carrots on their own. 

My weekend was otherwise fairly uneventful so I'll post a few pics from last weekend.

Cheers,
the CilleyGirl

From my run last weekend.  Between my bodybugg, my iPod, and my Garmin I felt like the Borg.  Resistance is futile!

From the county fair last weekend.  I love funky looking chickens.

My hair!  My hair!

This little guy was one day old.

Dreaming of Coldstone Creamery.

Dinner last week.  Go paleo!

On my Christmas list

Would be one of these little guys.  You have to watch the video.  The part where he's being brushed?  And when he's in the playpen wagging his tail?  I think I strained a vocal cord with my "squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee."

Day 4 of the paleo challenge in the bucket.  The cravings were baaaaaaaaaaaad last night.  This >< close to going out for something.  Only that big scale loss yesterday kept me strong.  Well, that and an emergency diet coke.  I keep thinking of that (the scale, not the soda) and the fact that it would suck to have gone through these cravings for nothing, if I cheat now.  Today I want sushi.  Otter-free, thank you very much.  But I'd share!

Also keeping me strong today is that I'm going to hit the deli for dinner tonight and get me some'a spicy meatball.  And get some more shrimp, the scallops -- basically, all the paleo stuff that I've been wanting.  Something a little different than just steak.  And a tad easier on the choppers.  On the up side, my dentist will be thrilled with how much I'm flossing now. 

Cheers,
the CilleyGirl

Scale Warfare

Today is Day 4 of my 30-day paleo challenge. 


This morning I saw a number on the scale that I haven't seen since the first week in June.  I mean that in a good way (good weigh? thank you -- try the veal!).  Kind of made up for the humongous number I saw on the scale on Monday when I started this.  Best of all, Aunt Flo is scheduled to unpack her bags next week so this (today) is traditionally a time when the scale shifts upwards.  To see it head down made me smile.  A big, naked smile.
 
What, do you weigh yourself when you're dressed?  Man, I even exhale before I step on.
 
Yesterday continued to be a difficult day all the way up to bedtime.  Even despite receiving a free neck and shoulder massage during the office lunch hour (we're lobbying to turn this into a monthly perk), it turned out to be a four-soda day.  The cravings were foremost in my mind, although it's shifted from Arby's to Burger King (double whopper with cheese and bacon -- and take off that lettuce, tomato or onion crap while you're at it -- plus the biggest order of chicken fries they have).  It probably didn't help that in the afternoon I watched a clip of The Today Show where they had the "eat this, not that" guy on with Matt Lauer comparing fast food meals.  I pretty much wanted it all.  Even the "the fat and calories in this KFC meal is equivalent to these 32 chocolate donuts" donuts.  And the waffles.  I'm kind of obsessed with maple syrup right now and I don't know why.  Although I do want it on a rasher of paleo-friendly bacon rather than on no-no pancakes. 
 
Mmmm, bacon.  I started making my weekend shopping list last night.  After diet soda, bacon tops the list.  Follows by shrimp and scallops.  I'm really enjoying having shrimp (or "chrimps" if you're a Birdcage fan) for breakfast with just the tiniest dab of cocktail sauce.  Bacon and shrimp made me think of scallops, so there you go.  Reminds me, I need to add avocado to the list.
 
Day 3's dinner was elk kebabs, roasted cauliflower, and mushrooms.  The elk kebabs were marinated in a bourbon and brown sugar marinade that is done by McCormick & Schmick.  Yum.  I didn't plan to do kebabs.  In fact, they're probably technically not kebabs at all since I didn't add fruit or veggies to the skewers.  I thought I pulled out a package of elk steak to defrost and it turned out to be stew meat so I thought, skewers!  My dogs were lobbying pretty heavily for me to share the elk kebabs.  To the point of some deliberate attempts to trip me in the kitchen.  (They had a coordinated effort going on.) 
 
 

Do I look like I could ever do such a thing?

 
I semi-appeased them with the roasted cauliflower, which who knew dogs liked cauliflower?  I just wanted them otherwise occupied.  But they thought that was da bomb.  It was pretty good; I roasted it with a little walnut oil and some spices until lightly browned and tender.   I didn't share the mushrooms; they're sort of my go-to vegetable since I can't have corn, peas, green beans, beans, or potatos.  Which pretty much represents the only vegetables I ever ate for my first 25 years of life.  Except for maybe some iceberg lettuce.
 
Hmm, I think I need to add mushrooms to my shopping list too.
 
Cheers,
the CilleyGirl

A difficult day for the CilleyCaveGirl

Day 2 is behind me, Day 3 is trying to get away from me.  It's been hard not to say, hey why not have a mini Milky Way?  Hey, maybe coworker will come back from lunch with cake.  Hey, why not have Arby's for dinner tonight?  We don't feel so well and therefore we deserve a little happiness. 

Of course, as we (the actual we, not just me with a mouse in my pocket) know all too well that candy bars, cake and crap will not give us happiness.  At least, nothing beyond a few seconds -- and is it really worth it just for that?  Not that it reminds me of my younger days when I approached not only food but sex with the same attitude ("but he seems to really, really like me, I'm sure this will last beyond tonight!"). 

(In some way I guess it's good I got a little too self-conscious about my body to do that anymore.  Plus I grew up.  Plus I started to actually like myself and realized I was worth more than that.)

Anyhow.  I'm a smidge hungry and my brain is taking that opportunity to tempt me with fond remembrances of food past.  Although I have noticed that it's glossing over the not so fond remembrances of what happens when you eat too much.  Break out the Prilosec, the Pepto, and the um, what other tummy med starts with P? 

Cherries would be a much better choice.  And a distraction.  So I'm surfing for interesting stuff in between tasks. 

In case you need a distraction too, I give you this.  Nothing like reading about a whole bunch of awesome and amazing people who on the whole work with people who want food because they are actually hungry.  Or homeless.  Or both. 

Kind of takes the fun out of fantasizing about a trip to Arby's, huh?

Cheers,
the CilleyGirl

Good news is, nobody bet against me

Bad news is, nobody bet on me either! 

Day 2 of the paleo challenge is almost over.  I really want Arby's.  Or a Reese's.  I'll end up having a banana.  Maybe two. 

Last night I made a fantastic salad for dinner.  Romaine, grilled sliced chicken breast. dates, walnuts, and an avocado with a tropical mango olive oil vinaigrette (Bolthouse Farms on the latter, very tasty and very low cal). 

I haven't gotten into making my own paleo salad dressings.  I never had salad until I was 11 or 12.  We never ate it at home.  I had it for the first time in summer camp.  Part of my problem with salad over the years is salad dressing; I could never find a dressing I liked.  Usually they were too thick (didn't know about the "dip your fork in the dressing on the side" trick back then) or too vinegary.  I finally found one about eight years ago that I liked and I credit it with helping me to lose 30 lbs.  Of course, they stopped making it!  A lot of sucky salad dressings later and I now have four or five that I like.  For the challenge I am planning to stick to the ones that are closest to paleo.  The mango one is about 99% paleo (almost all real ingredients) plus so flavorful (and of a thin consistency) that you don't need all that much.  And it's only 30 calories for two tablespoons.  Bolthouse Farms makes some excellent dressings.  I also like the Litehouse reduced calorie vinaigrettes, they have a honey dijon and a pear gorgonzola that are great.

And did you notice that if you look at the word "vinaigrette" long enough it looks completely misspelled?

Condiments are one thing I am using sparingly during the challenge, but still using.  This morning I had about a teaspoon of cocktail sauce with my shrimp.  I like to marinate my meat.  I do a smidge (maybe half a teaspoon) of ranch dressing with my carrot sticks. 

I should go eat some fruit.  And hide the car keys.  I should start keeping a list of all of my cravings, with the idea that if I want any of it in 30 days then I can go have it. 

Might be a long list.

Cheers,
the CilleyGirl

Join my challenge! Or place your bets as to how long I'll last...

Either way, I don't mind!  Even bad publicity is still publicity, right?

Anyhow.

I've decided to do a 30 day paleo challenge.  For the next 30 days -- essentially the month of August minus yesterday -- my food choices will follow these guidelines*:

No dairy.  This includes butter, cheese, yogurt (even Greek) and milk (including in your coffee). 

No grains.  This includes bread, rice, pasta, oatmeal, and any grains purporting to be gluten-free.

No legumes. This includes beans of all kinds (including green beans), lentils (including peas), and peanuts.

No starches.   The most common are potatoes (regular and sweet) and corn.  Some do not include sweet potatoes and yams in this category; I haven't decided, so for now they are out. 

No sugar.  No maple syrup, agave nectar, Splenda, Truvia, Stevia, etc.  Honey is okay in small amounts.

No processed foods.  If there are a bunch of ingredients you can not pronounce or spell, it's out.
No alcohol.  Dun dun dun!!!

That's what I won't be eating.  Bet you're asking, what's left?  I'll tell you!

Real food.   Meat, shellfish, eggs, vegetables, nuts, seeds, fruit, and oils (good oils like EVOO, coconut, avocado, and walnut).  Foods with only a few pronounceable ingredients or no ingredients at all because they are real foods.

Special CilleyGirl Screw-You-It-Is-Too-Paleo Item.  That would be diet soda.  I'll kill people (with a club, just like my paleo ancestors) if I have to give this up.  I'm not a coffee person.  Yes, take away my grew-up-in-Seattle-now-live-in-Portland membership card.  I like coffee fine.  I just rarely drink it.  Same with tea, except that I drink tea more often than I do coffee (it's less work), particularly in the winter months.  But I have never been able to have something hot first thing in the morning, even if I've slept in a tent and it's 20 degrees outside.  So the soda stays.  I'm aiming for moderation with this, which means a max of two a day during the week, three a day on weekends.  

No counting calories.  Eat when you're hungry.  Stop when you're not.  Pairing your protein with your carbs is a good idea but not required.  I tend to eat protein then about a half hour later eat carbs.  Probably because I like meat best.  I have fruit issues, you know.

Starting weight:  I think it was 193.2 this morning. 

So, if you'd like to give this a whirl with me please leave me a comment.   If you are fine with where you are now but want to place your bet as to how many days I'll last before cheating and/or forgetting that I'm doing this (either one is equally likely), then leave me a comment about that.  If I get a decent response, maybe I'll even have a prize for whomever comes closest.  (I'd say I'll give away a prize for sure but I'm not sure what so I'm vacillating....)  If you live in or around Portland, maybe you can win a treadmill!  Because while it's a great treadmill I've outgrown it (training wise, not size wise) and I'd really like it out of my living room!

Cheers,
the CilleyGirl



*Inspired by the challenge guidelines posted at Whole Nine.  Except for the Screw-You item.  That's all me.

The Garmin is dusty no more!

On Friday, I realized that I was about to end a second full month of logging in zero miles -- after 18 months of doing this "running" thing.  I felt as though if I let that happen I might never get back.  So, Saturday morning I woke up -- sans alarm clock even -- nice and early and was out the door shortly past nine to the college track. 

It was the perfect weather for running.  Slightly overcast and about 55 degrees with no wind.  I debated taking a jacket with me and ultimately decided against it.  Okay, it was more like in my quest to remember everything I needed to do to go run I forgot about it but it turned out fine. 

During the half mile walk over to the college, I decided on my goal of a 5K.  I had no goal in terms of time, just wanted to test my legs and see if they still remembered how to run.  And they did!  After a nice, easy two laps only maybe a minute slower than what I would normally run I realized, as with my feeling that I needed to log some miles in July, I had to run this first mile.  By the last lap I was breathing heavily but I did run, and again only about two minutes slower than what I would do when I was in my best shape.

And it was easy to push myself to run that first mile and to run most of the rest as well.  While my physical fitness has definitely slipped during the ten weeks I did not run, I was happy that my mental fitness has not.  I was tired in that last lap of the first mile but I immediately remembered how I'd felt during the marathon and had no problem telling myself to keep going.  I did take several walk breaks during the last two miles, plus a water break at the halfway point, but my legs almost started to giddyup again without me consciously deciding to do so.  By the time I hit 5K I was breathing hard but my legs felt great and my breathing settled back down well before I walked back to the house.

My 5K time was 44 minutes and change.  That's seven minutes slower than my 5K PR but I intentionally wanted this to be an easy run.  I knew I could go faster but I didn't want to feel the run so much that I didn't feel like running for the rest of the week. 

My intention is to get at least two more runs in this week before Sunday's race, and I'd really like to do three, but again I don't want to push it in my first week back.  In September I want to get some sort of training plan into place.  Don't know what I would be training for quite yet, although I do still want to work on my speed so maybe that.  Otherwise I'm thinking a half or longer for next May, including setting a time goal. 

In other weekend excitement, my friend S and I went to the Washington County Fair today.  I love fairs and I hadn't been to one in years.  I was delighted to find out that this fair was going on this weekend -- admission is free!  And we almost got mowed down by a rogue sow in the swine barn.  Woo hoo!  I'll get some pics up from the fair -- sadly, not of the rogue sow, I was a little busy moving out of the way -- some time soon.  Which reminds me, I still need to get some camping pictures up. 

Unfortunately, a lot were overexposed or else I was holding on to two dogs at the time and they jerked the camera out of focus.  But here is CBS, probably shortly after I got everything set up in the tent.  Yes, I do really rough it when I camp.  Hey, if you're car camping you might as well bring whatever fits in the car.  But I can also hike into a campsite and make something like chinese food over a one-match fire; 11 years of summer camp left me with some skillz in this department.  Little too much trouble for just me, but if anyone wants to go camping let me know and I'll dazzle away!

Cheers,

the CilleyGirl