Taking a pause

So this 30 day Paleo has come to an end. I like Paleo Restart...it was worth the fee for it.

At this date in 2014 I weighed 107 Kilos. Today I hover around 92 kilos.  That is a 15 Kilo loss, or 33 pounds in other scales.  Significant.

I am taking a pause from this blog to work on Traveler, me for the next two weeks as we travel to Bangalore India and it's environs, including a mini safari.  I have no clue what I will be able to eat in the Indian peninsula.     I may come home with a gain from so much rice....if they serve it without spices.

I am excited and terrified at the same time.  This really is an adventure.....and another kind of test.

Day 21 ALREADY??

January is zooming by and although I am keeping to the protocol generally,  I am falling short of my goals.  Today the scale was at 92.4 kilos, which is certainly FAR better than it was a year ago. There is solace in that.

I spent too many exhausting hours in the car and standing in line these last days;  breakfasts? lunches? went out the window depending on when we rushed off.  Not enough water.  When I did have time to prepare meals the recipes from  the Paleo Restart were easy and tasty.  But the downside to Paleo Protocol is the preparation, planning and access to a kitchen.  Next month in India we will be at the mercy of hosts and hotels.  That is why a good loss before we left would have been a benefit.

One new wrinkle: we have been grocery shopping by internet and having it delivered.  This means no extra temptations in the store and no exhausting lines, or dragging around tons of stuff.  If we are careful we are not breaking the budget.   I still go to the cheap store for most meats and common veg.  It's working for us. Himself LOVES the convenience.

Eleven days to liftoff. Let's see if I can get at least a kilo gone before we fly.

Pushing on

Today the scale registered 92.2; it is a loss, but nothing like previous weeks.

Two things are happening. One:  I still am not eating clean. Snacking after dinner.  Movies with jelly beans.  "Paleo" baking with nut flours might be on protocol but way to dangerous for me.  If it is there, I will eat it.  not enough water. Not enough movement.  January will not make history.

The second event: Doc L., our GP, has reduced the levothyroxine dosage. I knew it would change metabolic reactions. I wonder if I will have to struggle a bit more.  I wanted to get to 90 K by the time we left for India because I have NO idea what kinds of food will be available or even when because I will be living in hotels for ten days. I might not reach that goal.

I will be more active though.  We've cleared some storage areas in preparation for reorganizing the project bins and sorting fabrics back into categories.  This opens up the annex so it isn't so depressingly cluttered.  I have been pretty consistent keeping my work room tidy, so after the laundry is done this week, I can rip through sewing projects. Losing weight has a big downside. NOTHING FITS.  I have a few things from China-in-summer trips that I can alter or recycle,  but slacks are a real problem.  I have a series of leggings for here at home where it's cold and damp, but hot and humid climates call for clothes I just don't have.  and then I won't be doing laundry there so, ack. This is not a chuck a couple of things in a backpack trip.

So, even though the weight loss was not remarkable this week, the recipes from Paleo Leap are very good.  I am looking forward to the next week. :)

Paleo Leap

Week One

Weigh in this morning 92.6 K. Loss in 8 days 1.3K

I am surprised at the scales today.  I have not been eating clean this week. Ice cream. Sauce on veg. Skipped meals. Candy at the movies. Cheese and crackers. Not much movement and exercise.  Not yet back into the swing of things after the holidays. I still came in at more than a kilo loss. Miracles exist.

The Paleo Leap program has proven to be worth the fee so far.  The recipes are tasty, not complicated.  Since there is no packaged food, nearly everything is readily available in Dutch groceries.  I did have to source smoked paprika, but a little research taught me the Dutch word for it, and viola, pimenton is not a needle in a haystack.  The actual Paleo Leap website is fussier than I personally care for. Some people need to journal and examine all the minutiae of their food journey.   I don't care enough to record the temperature of my emotional state every day.  It is helpful to have those features built in for those that do.  There is a cheerleading segment in the daily email; exercise tips, stress reducing info, support.  It is, I think, well written.  Worth scanning.  I am really bad about reading self-help stuff unless I am totally invested in research. Right now, the recipes and menus are my great need. Paleo Leap ticks all the boxes in that respect.

I suddenly realized this week that I am rekindling my joy in food.  The fresh herbs and spices, the colors, interesting variety and my husband's delighted reaction to meals spurs me on.  Yes, I do spend more time in the kitchen, but it means less time sitting online, or sitting period.  I have had to readjust my schedule. I am forced to think ahead and plan ahead.  It takes getting used to now, but I used to plan out meals and menus before eating became so fraught.  Paleo leap support encourages eating, supports good vegetable fats and oils, and actually is not overly lettuce heavy. One does get sick of lettuce.  I have no idea how many calories I eat.  And it matter not one whit.  It's more important that I EAT.

There is still the challenge of the right kind of fibre to keep elimination regular.  Not enough water makes a big and unpleasant difference.  That is still an ongoing thing.

This week the doctor reduced my thyroid medication. What impact that will have will be interesting.

Paleo Leap

yes, I spent money on a commercial program.

Because today is the first day of the rest of my life, and I want to enjoy it. And because we fly to India in 30 days.  And because I needed some input.  I bought into a plan called Paleo Leap today. it promises a 30 day re-start complete with menus, grocery lists, recipes and support.

Tomorrow is start day.  I like the look of the menus, and the grocery lists make life so much easier!

Whoo-hoo!

So December 2014 is over.

Let the New Year Begin!!

I knew December 2014 would be  mixed bag in health and food respects.

Health: Blood tests revealed that the thyroid values are changed, and the GP has lowered the Levothyroxin dosage. I will implement the new dosage within a few days.  He says keeping the dosage high until I am satisfied with my weight will create a retro-bounce in weight when then metabolism adjusts to the lower dosage. He'd rather have the weight come off more naturally now.  Hmmm. OK.
Because I am avoiding bread, or using much salt ( even if it is iodized)  there is a concern about low iodine levels; GP suggested eating bread ( ugh.)  Thus, I added 150 mg of kelp to my cocktail every morning.  All other meds and supplements are the same.  I guess I should make a listing of what the cocktail is sometime. Not today.
Eating poorly took its toll on my general health. I felt molasses underfoot tired, even taking 2 hour daytime naps tired.  My resistance took a beating too.  I have had a struggle controlling a massive sinus infection in December, brought about in part from being soaked to the skin in cold, biting winds, and not getting myself warm and dry quickly.  Then yesterday I spent too long trudging around in damp misty weather with too few warm up breaks.  So today the ears and throat are on the warpath.  And this time I was prepared: warm clothes, watertight shoes, umbrella, ears covered, warm neck scarf.  However, I have been eating junk, not getting enough water, and pushing too hard to stay involved with all the holiday happenings.  Some of it admittedly is attributable to aging but since I know how good I felt in November, I think Paleo protocol improves things for me generally.

Having said that, I would not change a thing I did.  December 2014 was a stellar month of wonderful. I even put on ice skates for the first time in maybe 15 years.  Yes, I even got back on the ice.

Food and Diet:  December is not the time to practice Paleo in the Netherlands.  Although I tried to avoid the worst offenders,  fried dough, pancakes, candy (even all fruit gummies), I caved. Salad and vegetables are not high on the party food list around here.  So I ate bad for me food. More than once. For days at a time.

Himself was home for two whole lovely weeks, so we slept in, had meals at odd times, spoiled ourselves silly, had great fun with the families, and celebrated  his birthday, Sinterklaas, Christmas and the New Year by making great memories.

So today I finally dragged myself out of bed at 2 pm, weighed in at 93.9 kilos, and signed up for a 30 day program at Paleo Leap.  It cost some money, but I got some cookbook freebies and promises of lots of support.  I hope that getting back on track will help me healthwise too.  I really did feel much better in November.

I guess the trade-off for feeling lousy is the great time we had finishing December.  I DID shed 30 pounds in 2014.  I did finally find a diet protocol I like and can follow without making myself nuts.
At 90 kilos we start looking for a new bicycle.  Mentally, I am in a far better place than I was 365 days ago.

In 30 days we fly to Bangalore, India.  I have to be hale and healthy.