Monday, December 8, 2014

Partytime Paleo Protocal

94.4 kilos and counting


I have started reading more widely about "going Paleo."  Some of the nutritionist push-back is starchily negative.  I agree that eliminating whole groups of foods from one's diet is extraordinary. I agree that  for some folks, eating this way for a long period of time might cause  health problems. I also agree that the Paleolithic man's diet and this modern version are distant cousins at best. But I am convinced that for me, turning the food pyramid upside down is working for me full stop.

 I am overweight, diabetic,suffer serotonin deficiency, and am addicted to certain carbs, I also have a slow thyroid.  After the last miserable decade where NOTHING I tried shifted weight, I can tell you the Paleo Protocol is nothing short of a blessing and miracle to me. For the first time in a decade, last week, a doctor looked at me with approval and encouragement.  And did not poo-pooh my efforts.  I doubt a nutritionist would have been so supportive.

I have to say that my personal Paleo is not as rigid and "clean" as some folks do.  I do not source fancy high end bio  meat, per se.  I buy what's on sale. We buy Irish beefsteak cuts  because  good tasting, good textured beef is hard to find here.  I am not interested in spending twice as much on meat all the time. It takes a little doing but I watch the weekly ads. So no, we don't eat beefsteak very often. And I don't feel like I consume extravagant amounts of protein in one sitting.  I stop eating when full.  The leftovers are for breakfast.

We eat lean, which means the oils I use are coconut, or olive. I have stopped using vegetable oils and the fluid cooking fats that are so popular now.  Yes, I still use butter in very small amounts.  I am thinking about making ghee (which is butter with the milk solids cooked out.) but I never ate that much butter. An acceptable sub for mayonnaise is a hard boiled egg whizzed with avocado. This is what elevates Paleo from my Atkins experience.  I found Atkins to be so greasy and fatty.  All that cheese and cream.  I love cheese and cream and find it interesting that I miss it so little after 30 days of not having it.

This weekend was the annual holiday gift giving for the Dutch.  We have Sinterklaas here. The evening is replete with bread and processed meat,  carbonated sugar waters and juice.  Then there's the traditional candy and peppernoten.  I brought grilled mixed veg with avocado and chicken.  I did moan over passing up randpa's sausage rolls, but I did snitch a bite. I brought a recipe I was auditioning: Pumpkin mini pies. I used part coconut flour instead of all almond flour because I didn't feel like making a special trip for more almond flour. Bah. Coconut flour needs wayway more fluid. It's like sawdust.  I am still learning new tricks.

On Sunday we went to church, and then revamped the house to put up the tree. I got plenty of movement....

This morning I weighed 94.4 kilos. When I hit 90 we buy a new bicycle.  Paleo works for me.


Thursday, December 4, 2014

The Paleo Experiment

thirty days 

4.9 kilos/10 pounds

The experiment is over.  I am still amazed at how stress free and comparatively easy using a Paleo protocol is.  10 pounds, just like that. Himself is totally on board.

So I am announcing part two of this test:  Paleo during the holidays, with birthdays, Sinterklaas, visitors, Christmas, and a trip to Belgium.  It will be a challenge.

I am starting to audition menus and recipes.  In between everything else.

If I get a menu chart worked up, it will help. I am on my own, even with all the internet resources because each Paleo person has their own style.   

For those who have loyally followed this experiment, I think you for your support.  Who'd a thunk after the last horrible decade, that simply reversing the food pyramid would be so effective.

I saw my GP this morning...he's all impressed and thinks I look great.  TAAAA-DAAAAA!

Monday, December 1, 2014

The Paleo Experiment

Day 24

So if anyone was watching, there were no posts for Saturday or Sunday because we were offline. We were off having a wonderful weekend in Madrid and Segovia at other people's houses, and well, I just could not announce I needed to go write my blog of the day.

I think that Madrid might be a hard sell for Paleo on the road. I never did find a larger grocery so I really don't know what is available for this protocol I follow for this 30 day test.  I did not follow the protocol rigidly on the weekend; did have churros and chocolate; I did try some of the bread ( a couple of bites, the shape was fun, but it was dry and meh.)   Lots of sausage so if you want to eliminate animal fat you have a problem. Iberico cured ham is yummy. Lettuce was mostly iceberg, tomatoes. We had suckling pig in Segovia, served with grilled asparagus -THAT was a good meal.  The fish we had for tapas and for Saturday dinner was yummy too.  Do the folks in that region have variety? They such don't use herbs and spices; onion, garlic, salt that's it. Pastries looked too sweet and BIG for me to enjoy. Amazing how one's palate adapts so quickly.

I finally decided on a tortilla chicken wrap at the airport because the prices were so bad for anything more protein heavy and our plane was delayed---and our fridge was empty.

I was at the diabetes clinic today and the weigh-in was 96 kilos with clothes. After all the stairs and the hills I walked since Friday,  I was not surprised. The rest of the test numbers are very good. The clinician is happy.  

Breakfast today was eggs scrambled with salsa. Lunch was Romaine lettuce with a can of drained tuna, dried tomatoes, half an avocado, vinegar and oil. Tonight's menu is baked chicken and onions with mixed hot veg and a bowl of lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, lemon juice and sesame oil.  Maybe nuts if I remember.