And it has begun - 48 days to go

I started Paleo on Sunday.  Did some healthy food shopping and stuck to the outside aisles.  I have been eating 98 clean foods with some minor condiment sides that aren't strict.  I haven't had any fruit, sugar, or grains which is my main goal right now.  As a result I am down 6 lbs.

I am dehydrated tho.  I started adding salt to my meals for some sodium and I am moving from turkey bacon to real bacon on Friday.  That should inject some salt into me.  I am also looking for any suggestions from my box and our nutrition guy Matt is looking at some hydrating drinks for me.  My own research is going to look for veggies with high water content.  I am hoping this hydration issue is just temporary and I will solve it going forward.

I have started sleeping in the dark, no TV.  It is amazing how much better you sleep.  I need to do that all the time.  Once the dog isn't sick anymore i am hoping for some nice uninterrupted sleep.

Meatloaf is on the menu tonight.  I am making mine with almond meal instead of delicious bread crumbs.  I'll make that for the wife and kids.  I plan to take some tomato paste and mix it with water over heat and add salt for some a homemade glaze.

Keep plugging away, summer is around the corner and my abs haven't seen the sun for 25+ years.

The Fat Ass Challenge

I am very excited to see that my crossfit box has initiated a Fat Ass Challenge.  What's great to me is that it isn't a weight loss competition it is a competition to see who can change their body the most in 50 days.  50 days, that's it?  That's what I need to keep telling myself.

There is a prize at the end but I am looking beyond that right now.  The money is a very nice thing to have but I am looking at it that this is an opportunity to get my diet right.  I have been eating like crap lately and although my workouts haven't totally suffered, I am not making the gains I know I can.

So here is my strategy - it's all about the calendar.  I need to plan this out in order to win and stick with the plan.  I have to look at my work calendar and figure out what and when I am going to eat.  I need healthy choices in the house not convenient ones.  I need to plan food shopping lists and meals for the week.  No more dairy, no more grains, and no more alcohol (maybe a drink here and there).  At least St. Patricks Day!

So tomorrow it starts.  I will plan out a menu tomorrow and go food shopping to execute on it.  It will be primal, healthy, and transformative.  IT'S TIME!!!!

50 days, that's it?

Day 8 - Recovery

Busy day, in and out of the city and lots of work to do.   Won't get a workout in yet again :(. 

Breakfast
3 eggs

Lunch
Ostrich jerky

Dinner
Buffalo wings and a steak with some steamed veggies.

Day 7

Am really hurting.  Didn't get home until 4:08AM.  Missed the train and had to wait till 3.  Have a 9AM conference call and I feel like a truck ran over me.  I am dehydrated and hung over.  I feel like crap.  No workout for sure!!

Breakfast - can't eat yet

Lunch
3 Eggs

Dinner
Greek salad with gyro meat

Can't wait for bed.............

Day 6 - In da city

No WOD today or breakfast.  Had to be at the Javits center by 8AM.  Up at 6, showered and out the door. 

Breakfast - Nodda

Lunch
Fired Pork Belly
Cobb salad, dressing on the side

Dinner
Tuna, prosciutto with lots of beer and wine.

Big night of drinking, not helping the diet....

Day 5 - Starting to feel it

I feel pretty good.  I dont have the fog in my head when I wake up in the morning.  I have been thinking about incorporating more veggies into my meals.  It feels harder than it really is.  I have been making HUGE portions of broccoli and spinach and it really fills you up.  I am writing this after lunch and it am packed right now.  Ton of spinach.  I need to avoid snacking at night.

My cardio sucks.  Story of my life.  Need to get that cardio up, it is killing me.  The weights aren't as bad as the gas tank is.  Thinking about a rower but not sure.  We'll have to see how things play out.

Breakfast
Fruit Smoothie - blackberries, blueberries, a banana, a tablespoon of almond butter in coconut milk.  Was pretty damn good!

Lunch
Breast and a half of chicken dipped in Franks Ultra Red Hot with three handfuls of spinach.

Dinner
Light on the veggies but two chicken parms made with fresh sauce and fresh mozzarella.  Chicken was coated in almond meal and not bread.  It was pretty good.

Dessert
Thinking about baking some pears with cinnamon and honey :D

Day 4 - Let the stresser begin

This is going to be a busy week.  Looking at email this morning I just got another large thing added to my list and Wednesday is an all day affair in the city, were to fit my workouts in.....

Down another lb on the scale this am.  It's nice to see the weight coming off pretty easy but I know it will slow.  We have widow makers at the box today and I want to get it at 240lbs.  I havent done them in two weeks due to my stitches so it should be interesting.

Overall I am not as tired when I wake up in the morning and I can see the bloating in my stomach has gone down.  I wonder if the bloating is because of water build up or inflammation of the digestive track due to the grains.  I didn't eat any of the chips in salsa that my family ate while setting up the tree so I feel good about that.  So entering Day 4 no bread or grains to the best of my knowledge.

Breakfast
Egg Whites and Spinach Omelet

Lunch
Grilled Pork Chops with 5 cups of sauted spinach

Dinner
Flank steak with broccoli, onions, and peppers

Snack
Pistachios

Too many pistachios - need to cut that out!