Oh Carbs..... you sneaky little devils!

For over a year now I have been enjoying and living the most consistent foodie lifestyle of my lifetime- Paleo! I began my journey 15 months ago entering into the Paleo world following the Whole 30 and wow was it ever a life changer! I dropped 16" within the first 30 days and lost around 25-30 lbs within the first 2-3 months. I had finally found my dream foodie lifestyle and it has been for the majority of this past year and almost a half   BUT.... as time has continued my weight loss has stalled, my energy levels have begun to plummet. Now apart of this is not necessarily Paleo itself but my personal choices of limiting starchy carbs ie sweet potatoes (I can only eat so many) and the fact that I am not a huge fruit person which in turn left me on a permanent low carb venture (routinely below 20%) Can you say Carb Fog?! 

Over the last few months I have been experiencing ridiculously low levels of energy, my brain has been in a permanent fog and thank goodness for the creation of pre-workout and coffee or I might have just elected to nap on the floor versus hit a workout. 

• Your workouts are beginning to slip
• Recovering from your workouts is becoming harder
• Feeling that brain fog
• Irregularity (TMI)
• Adrenal Fatigue

So now what do I do..... This past week I was tired, frustrated and decided it was time to just listen to my body and reintroduce carbs. Now I have reintroduced carbs twice before and both times it hasn't been a good experience. This time I am yet again feeling that fluffiness that comes from eating carbs but my oh my--- ENERGY and my brain functions! Is this how normal people feel?! 

I am excited and scared all at the same time as I head into my next foodie journey- playing with Carb Cycling! I know my body enjoys those moments when my carbs are low >> insert fat for fuel and hello weight loss! I also know now that my body needs those carbs to power me through my workouts and give me that much needed brain function. Excited yes but as in all journey's it's also scary to trust in the process.... did I mention that I am trusting this process with a trip to Mexico coming up in less then a month! Yikes! I have decided I am either going to Mexico with a 5lb weight loss or I am going with 5-10 lbs surplus! Only the future will tell but I do know it's time for me to make a change for better health and my long-term success is way more important then postponing it in fear of one trip looming that involves sand, sun, surf and gasp a bikini! I got this and most importantly I have faith and am excited!! It's amazing what can happen when your brain functions?! 

Paleo Pumpkin Protein Pancakes

Ingredients

4 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup pumpkin puree
Banana, mashed

½ Scoop of Vanilla Shakeology or your protein powder of choice. No protein powder you could add 1-2 tablespoons of coconut flour

2 Tablespoons of coconut oil, melted

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup *optional
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
                         or

      1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

      1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

      1/8 teaspoon cloves

      1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

      1 teaspoon cinnamon

Preparation

       Food Processor! Toss all the ingredients in together minus the coconut oil and then blend.

      No Food Processor! Mash the banana then add all wet ingredients then fold in your                   Shakeology, protein powder or coconut flour

       Melt butter or coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Then, mix the butter into the batter

       Grease the skillet and spoon the batter into the skillet to make pancakes of your desired size. I use a 1/3 measuring cup. When a few bubbles appear, flip the pancakes once to finish cooking.      

                   *I tripled this recipe and make a huge batch for the week. You can save them for up to 3-4 days in the fridge. I am going to be experimenting with freezing them as well! 

*

Creating Your "OWN" nutritional lifestyle choice?!

I jumped into the 21 Day Fix program as an experiment. Wanting to continue my knowledge and experimenting with ways to continue to perfect my own nutrition and food lifestyle choices. Going in I knew I was going to have to make adjustments as I am mainly Paleo So the lovely yellow container affords me sweet potatoes, my treat of almond milk and my 2 pieces of chocolate. At least I still get a few good things. 

When I originally went Paleo I followed the Whole 30 route and truly recommend that to everyone but that's a separate blog. Within a couple weeks of the whole 30 I started experiencing light headnesses, dizziness when standing etc. My response was to just power through as I was near the end of the thirty days (I'm not always super smart) once I began living a dirty paleo lifestyle I was able to get my BP issues in order mainly with yes I'm going to be honest potato chips- salt, salt and more salt! Good quality gluten-free real potato chips! Maybe not my best choice but it worked like a hot damn. 

Now entering into the beginning stages of the 21 Day Fix I was hit with my symptoms in less then 24 hours. Ridiculous amounts of dizziness, feeling like I was in a brain fog and even moments where I was concerned that I was going to black out. So I returned to my tried and true my Potato Chips. In a much smaller controlled quantity and started adding sea salt to my morning water. I saw some improvement but not enough to be safe. 21 Day Fix allows for carbs and although many items on the list are a still a no for me due to how they make me feel I decided to play a little bit. Finally I am out of my brain fog, my issues of light headnesses are less frequent but my stomach isn't happy. I am near the end of my first round and experiment of the 21 Day Fix. I have already started the reflection period and planning how I'm going to continue to play and create that perfect nutritional lifestyle that matches my body! 

My second round is going to consist of putting together what I love best of both lifestyle choices! For me the 21 Day Fix is the ultimate in accountability for me to eat my veggies! I need that accountability! I'm not a huge fruit eater so everyone's favourite purple is a work in progress for me and I will be aiming to hit half of my purple goal daily.  Now the paleo side of life.... I love how my body responds and performs using fat as it's primary fuel source. Unfortunately for me the 21 day Fix is limited on its allowable containers of fat. That is an area that I will be adjusting to fit my own personal nutritional needs. 

In researching other people who have experienced similar issues I have found some additional ideas and one that makes me smile! Carbs are still an important piece of the puzzle so I will be adding more sweet potatoes, pumpkin, using fruit for its carbs qualities and the exciting part I'm going to be including some white rice into my weekly meal planning! Oh yes you read right..... Formally known as white death will be joining my nutritional plan. I have no poor side effects from it and it's a food I love! I will also be making it a focus to complete my daily sea salt added to my morning water ritual. 

My long winded get to the point! Life is an experiment and so is our nutrition. Everyone's body works in a different way and has it's own side effects. No one cookie cutter style of nutrition works for everyone. Take the time to experiment and actually get to know your body! Complete a detox and clean up your system then add one food group at a time seeing how your body responds? Keep a diary if you need too? It's a very empowering process to actually be aware and learn what your body is trying to tell you! Be creative and create "your" own nutritional code that works for YOU! 

UPDATE!

Results from my Round 2 on the 21 Day Fix with Paleo inspiration! 

Down 8 lbs and lost 2" off my waist and an 1" off both my chest and hips! Oh yeah baby!

Y-Von's Paleo Approved Potato Soup

3 Large Sweet Potatoes Diced into cubes
1 med yellow onion
3 carrots, peeled and chopped
3 stalks celery, peeled and chopped
5 tsp jarred garlic, minced
1 1/2 containers of chicken stock or broth
2 Tbls of coconut or almond flour
1/2 c almond milk
Salt, pepper
optional garnishes: crumbled bacon, green onions

Add potatoes, onion,carrots, celery, garlic, seasoning, and chicken stock to slow cooker.
Cook on high for 6-8 hours
Add the flour, almond milk and non dairy cheese(if you choose). If your soup is really thick add a bit more stock to the mix. If you have an immersion blender you can blend right in your slow cooker. I usually use my food processor. I blend 3/4 and then mix it back in with the rest.
Stir well, top with your choice of garnishes & enjoy!

Coconut Crusted Pork Chops

Ingredients:

3 - 4 pork chops 

2/3 cup Ground almond meal 

2/3 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

3 Tbls of Coconut Thai Spice  (Bulk Barn) 

Grind some black pepper

In a separate bowl 

One egg white 

1/4 cup of water 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix the egg/water mixture together in a separate bowl. Add all dry ingredients in together I use a large plate with sides so I can get the whole of the pork chop in there. Dredge the pork chop through the egg/water bowl then cover with the dry ingredient mixture. Place in a roasting pan uncovered and cook for 15-35 mins depending in the size of your chops

Use any style of fruity salsa as a topping. This time I chose to experiment with a cucumber salsa and yum! A definite winner!

Cucumber Salsa Recipe is from All-Recipes

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/cool-cucumber-salsa/

Paleo 101! A 30 Day Journey of Personal Discovery

I recently completed the Whole 30 and it was quite the journey. Talk about an eye opening experience on all levels. How your body reacts to foods that are even considered good for you never mind the stuff we know is bad? The mind, oh that dirty little devil! The mental is the challenge you need to be ready for. You have to “own that why” to get through the games your brain will play on you. The soul, actually understanding what it feels like to get a solid night’s sleep and I mean deep sleep. Dreams and the whole kabang.  The amount of side effects is amazing! I’m still only skimming the surface- Did I mention losing 2 dress sizes and somewhere around 11-14lbs?! Still not even scratching the surface!

I loved this program so much that I am creating on-going challenge groups to support others in this life changing experience. I have had a few challenge groups go through this journey and with each one I have taken notes on what I have seen as the keys for success!

        Knowing it’s time! Feeling it in your bones that you truly are sick of how you are feeling and enough is enough! I knew while reading the book “It Starts with Food” that this was it! I had finally found my nutritional guide. I saw the finish line before I even started. 

   Ability to create that defining “Why” that fits you. What is your reason for wanting change? What is the end result you are working towards? What are the benefits besides possible weight loss? ( Weight loss is only a bonus side effect of this journey) You will need to “own your why” throughout this journey so the strongest “Why” you can create the stronger you will be throughout the journey and the days that follow.

 Having an interactive open safe challenge group. The more interaction within the challengers providing daily encouragement to full out Day 3 venting of how horrible life is. Sharing your experience, being vulnerable and open improves not only your chances of success but of those on the journey with you.

 Willingness to get your hands “dirty”  This is a lifestyle change not a 30 day quick fix so you need to be prepared to do some work. Although some nutritional guidelines will be provided you will need to be prepared to do the majority of the work. If during the excitement of a new challenge it is too much to have to plan then what happens Day 31?! This 30 Days is all a lead up to living a healthy lifestyle come Day 31 on what hopefully becomes the rest of your life….. 

I am looking to help people who are motivated, willing to educate themselves before and during the journey. Willingness to share within a closed group setting and most importantly people who are willing to invest time and energy into their new healthier life! I am not looking to drive numbers and have x amount of people participating! I am solely looking for people who legitimately are ready and wanting change.

To be accepted into the Challenge Group:

·      You will need to have your clearly defined “Why”?!  Why is now the time? Why do you want to do this?  Presenting your “Why” privately to me and if you elect you can always share it with the group at the time of the challenge. I also need your preferred style of communication if you were to start straying from the tracks.

·         Purchasing the book "It Starts with Food" The book does a fabulous job of explaining the why in regards to food and it's effects on the body. All successful challengers have read the book. I provide a cliff notes version but nothing can replace the book. It was while reading the book I had my light bulb moment and knew that this was "it" finally what my body was looking for. Mentally I was already at the finish line before I even started. The book is available on both Chapters Indigo and Amazon or a downloadable version through the Whole 30 website. 

·         Purchase Shakeology. Officially with the Whole 30 shakes are a "no go". However, I have run one challenge group with only myself using Shakeology and another challenge group where it was an option. Proof is in the experiment that using Shakeology was an addition to the program. I know personally I saw changes faster and to a much higher degree then the other challengers. It helps curb those crazy cravings and provides the extra sustenance needed for your workouts. Going forward all my challenges will include the purchase of Shakeology the vegan variety. Your choice of either Chocolate or Tropical Strawberry. Shakeology does have a 30 day money back guarantee so if you don't like it and feel at the end of the challenge it didn't help you achieve your goals your welcome to return it no questions asked. 

Here is the link to the Whole 30 challenge and the downloadable book! 

http://www.whole9life.com/itstartswithfood/

Here is the link to Shakeology. For the challenge you want the Vegan varieties as they don't have whey protein a form of dairy. Chocolate or Tropical Strawberry

http://www.myshakeology.com/eatwellbeactive

If your ready message me at 2eatwellbeactive@gmail.com

If you still have questions please feel free to send them my way to the above email address as well.

This has the potential to be one of the biggest life changing decisions you will make 

so a quick "I'm in" comment doesn't suffice. You must forward an email. I put a lot of work and effort into make these challenges as successful as possible and I need to see that you are ready to put forth the effort to do your part to make this happen for yourself!