I count myself among the blessed in Sandy’s aftermath. Our home is intact. Our power has been restored. We didn’t in any way harm one another during our days of solitude and darkness.
The only evidence of a lost routine lies with me…and it lies directly between my upper and lower body.
The pooch is back.
The pooch owes its return, at least in part, to the lack of fresh foods available during the course of our power outage. We were among those emptying Wegmans’ shelves prior to the storm. It was one of the most depressing shopping trips I have made. I did not want to eat any of the items I loaded into my cart, but I was aware that the food I did want wouldn’t last without refrigeration. (Apples and bananas were a saving grace during this time of hardship.) We stocked up on (ugh) canned goods, (gag) cereals, and (sob) potato chips and cookies. I credit this large pile of crap with our lethargy, irritability, and overall feelings of blah in the days following.
Honestly, they didn’t even taste good. My palette rejected them immediately.
I also credit it with my increased belly size. Goodbye, hardearned definition. So long, beginnings-of-my-six-pack. Adios, pride in my midsection.I am right back to square one.
Luckily, I am far more knowledgable now than I was a year ago. And no, it’s not exactly back to my stomach of a year ago…not exactly. I am conscious of the fact that my newer and smaller pants still slide up with ease. There is a slight tightness about the waist in the first few moments of wear now, but it dissipates.
What irks me is the jiggling. I can feel it while doing my tuck jumps and air jacks during TurboFire.
So I’m back to careful consumption now. No cheats until I am safely back to defined and proud. And guess what? On Day 1 of Reclaim Queenly Abs, I am already feeling better. That nagging quasi-nausea that’s been plagueing me the past week? Gone. My inexplicable fatigue? Lessening with each hour that passes without prepackaged grub.
Let the heavens part! With returned electricity comes a usable blender!
I don’t think there is a stronger case to be made for my Paleo switch than leaving it behind for close to a week. My body has stated its displeasure loud and clear – and I’m listening.
If you think there’s a better time of year than right now…well, you’re just wrong.
I do quite enjoy spring and summer; I love the warmth, the sunshine, the beach, the outdoors. I downright loathe winter and everything that goes with it (aside from Christmas and hot cocoa). But fall…now that’s just perfection.
First of all, it’s gorgeous. The reds, the golds, the oranges! Can’t beat it! And when those lovely colors drift to the ground, they create pleasant crunching sounds beneath running feet. An added benefit for runners? That sweet chill in the air. It is the perfect balance between the roasting humidity of summer and the outright frostiness of winter. Running in that gentle golden light relaxes and invigorates in the same moment. There is no light like October light. This, in my totally biased opinion, is the best time of year to start running. You can discover the zen and the love to carry you through those bitter winter months.
Plus – you get to dress up for the races. Anyone up for a 5k Trick or Treat Trot?!? How fun is that? No better holiday than Halloween in this gal’s book. You can be anyone or anything. This year – Batgirl, replete with pleather pants, eye mask, and wig. Oh – and sweeping yellow cape for billowing behind me as I run at incredible speeds (those tortoises will be quite jealous). Here’s a link to our local race: http://www.trotatthetrail.com/Trot_at_the_Trail/Home.html
Not a runner (yet)? Lace up those boots and start hiking. You still get the satisfaction of the crunching and the glory of the trail. If you’re as blessed as me (few are, right?), you can march right out your back door and into stunning wooded bliss. If your backyard is more akin to a postage stamp, I highly recommend the AllTrails app which allows you to find trails anywhere in your current vicinity and even hooks you up with Google Maps to get you there. Check out the website for more info (and friend me there, too! http://alltrails.com/my/profile
Now that you’ve finished running and hiking (because I know you have), you’re gonna be ravenous for some healthy noshes. I am a huge proponent of both local farmers markets or (for relative ease and convenience) Wegmans to find seasonal produce. Know what I learned this year? Roasting a fresh pumpkin is deliciously easy and suprisingly bountiful. You get an amazing amount of pumpkin meat from just one itsy bitsy pumpkin and your Paleo pumpkin bread/pie/muffins will taste much much better. If this inept baker can do it, so can you. Here’s how: http://www.elanaspantry.com/how-to-roast-a-pumpkin-in-10-steps/
So hit the trails in your running sneaks or hiking boots and then hit the kitchen with your pumpkins, your apples, your squash. Report back to reinforce my head-over-heels feelings for fall (nice alliteration, huh?). Pictures required so I can ooh and aah.
Time seems to be our biggest obstacle, both when it comes to working out and healthy eating. Let’s face it – a homecooked meal takes more time and effort than swinging through a drive-thru. But let’s also face this fact: that’s the only pro drive-thru’s got. I know I have the “luxury” (I use that term very loosely) of being a SAHM. But I’m busy, too. I’ve got those crazy workouts every day and those crazier kids. I’ve got the pets, the online business – plus all those “…With Friends” games to keep up with. (As my daughter phrased it: “Mom, you’re very attracted to Gems.” I’m pretty sure she actually meant addicted, but in either case…she’s right.)
However…I cannot bring myself to go back to our previous prepackaged ways. This means I gotta continuously plan ahead (something I have never quite managed before) while putting in the extra effort of measuring, mixing, and cooking. It also means I squeeze this new addition into an already cramped schedule. Yet all is not lost! I have discovered shortcuts and cheats on this journey, and I’m quite willing to share. You’re welcome.
Four ingredients, five minutes, seven hours. Just do it.
First and foremost – abuse the hell outta your crockpot. Ten minutes of prep work can yield culinary masterpieces on a daily basis. For instance, yesterday I stuffed my slow cooker with apples and pork and then poured honey and cinnamon over top. Set that sucker to low, relished the divine scents, and came back seven hours later to discover an instant family classic. You know what I did today? Same f*&#in’ thing. It’s pouring out and I had lots of catching up to do. Plus, it was that good. Do some googling, some bing-ing, or whatever. Find the recipes you like. But first, try these. Because they’re gonna be your favorites anyway.
Second – take one day and do serious food prep. Chop what needs chopped, grill what needs grilled. Cut, mix, marinate, and store. Then every meal is just as easy as slapping a frozen pizza in the oven, just a hell of a lot tastier and more fueling. Grilled chicken is fab. You’ve got salads, wraps, and entrees all week long. Same with steak. Oh! And bacon! Because with Paleo, I eat that now (organic, of course). And I love to cook it now, too, because I’ve discovered a naughty little secret: baking bacon. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil, line up your delicious strips, and shove it in the oven for 20 minutes on 400. DO NOT preheat your oven. No mess, no burns – and believe it or not, better tasting. Again I say, you’re welcome.
Paleo pumpkin bread with FRESH roasted pumpkin
Now, in order to prep, I need a guide. I plan the menu once a week and make note of what I can make ahead of time on food prep day. For instance, this week I was able to make pumpkin bread, lemon poppyseed muffins, guacomole, salad, hardboiled eggs, and more. So plan accordingly. And learn to use as much of your produce as possible. For instance, I bought my pumpkins solely for their pumpkin meat…but was reminded of their seedy delicacies when I cut those bitches open.
What other food doubles as seasonal decoration?
Which brings me to my next point: grab-n-go. Sometimes, you don’t even have the time to throw your chicken into your salad. Sometimes, the Babe is still teething (and seems like he will be till he hits puberty), the older kids are bickering about seating and/or proper pillowcase application (I kid you not), and you are simply EXHAUSTED. That’s when you need to have your grab-n-go items on hand. Often times, for myself, these are my pre-prepped snackages listed above. I also have whole fruits at all times (your bananas, apples, peaches, plums); chopped veggies (carrots, cukes, spring onions, bell peppers); various nuts; and, though I try to limit is use, organic deli meat. For special occasions, I even keep some dried fruit on hand. This week, the Babe is totally grooving on dried papaya. This used to be my greatest challenge: thinking that quick snacks had to come in packages. Duh. Nature has ’em packaged already.
Kids love ’em too.
And, yes…my other on-the-fly go-to is Shakeology. Toss it in the blender with some frozen fruit and almond milk and I’m done. Tasty, nutritious, and fast. That’s my kinda shake. Say I need a snack instead of a meal replacement. Swap the milk for water and voila. Amazing, right? Get some.
There’s effort required, but trust me: it seems less and less as time goes on. You’ll discover your own little tricks of the trade. You’ll also discover the way you were meant to feel. Walk away from packaged foods. Don’t eat anything pre-made unless you pre-made it.
I actually adore running in the rain…just not with a babe in tow.
Rain…again. Putting off groceries…again. See, the thing about food shopping is this: I actually enjoy it when I’m sauntering through the aisles, coffee in hand, mouth closed. As in, not saying in my best I’m-a-calm-and-not-yelling-mama voice, “No. We will not be buying CrunchySugarDyedPreservative Oh’s. Don’t touch that. Don’t TOUCH that. DON’T TOUCH THAT.” But I was gonna brave it all and cart the babe along today in the interest of having fresh goodies when the older two returned on the bus. But rain and a potential toddler meltdown? I just don’t have it in me today. Healthy shopping will once again be done post-monkey-bedtime. Padded rooms don’t flatter me.
Of course, the run is still on the schedule, just moved to the treadmill (which – knock on wood and say a small prayer – continues to work!). Today is a 70-minute pace run (my favorite!) to be squeezed into naptime hours. And followed by a little High&Tight with my new squeeze Leandro. If the babe follows his recent schedule (THREE HOUR NAPS! HOORAH!), I can even do a little Bum Bum (since I missed it yesterday and I figure my run more than makes up for the Cardio Axe workout). Insanity will go on the backburner today as it is “merely” Max Recovery. I’m taking each day on a workout-by-workout basis. I simply don’t have the 3+ hours to hold to a true schedule for each current program I am participating in right now. I wish I did…and the alone time to do them without explaining what I’m doing.
He’s watching my back(side).
Although, two nights ago, I much preferred the questions and the chats while I huffed and puffed through Insanity Max Plyo with my little shadow. Here’s the setup at the M&M Estate: every day, as part of their chore lists, the monkeys are required to complete one physical activity. Choices range from football/cheer practice/games, yoga, Tony & The Kids, or a run/walk with Mom or Dad. On this evening, our Werewolf was low on time and in need of the DVD player I was currently using. I told him to join me for one round of one segment – about 4 minutes. He stayed for the remaining 40. I never laughed or even smiled during Plyo before but found myself so thoroughly enjoying his company and enthusiasm that the time simply flew by. Not to mention, he’s much better than me at power pushups and now my goal is to match him. Yes, that’s right…I hope to be as fit and strong as my 6-year-old…
They make a FitMama proud.
Then last night, all three insisted on trying out the pullup bar. Repeatedly. The babe (obviously) required extra help from Dad. The Bear pushed for 2 on her own, to be slightly topped by the Werewolf with his 3. How many can I do? One. These monkeys are showin’ me up! Which means this mama is steppin’ it up. Extra pullups and pushups. Every day. I gotta keep settin’ that example, right? I swear, I’m not in competition with these wee creatures…That would just be silly…right?
No lie – he hears the blender, climbs into his seat, and commences drumming his fingers. This boy loves his Shakeology!
I am lovin’ it. I love that they are enthusiastic about fitness. I love that they are carting their Paleo lunches to school every day. I love that we have a running dialogue (no pun intended) regarding nutrition and health and goal achievement. These monkeys are goin’ places. And Mama’s hot on their heels…
The thing with Paleo is this: ya gotta spend some time in the kitchen. Not necessarily this Cavegal’s strong suit. I’m more of a “Oooh! That sounds delicious! Why don’t you make that for me?” sort of girl. Unfortunately, I have not yet (YET!) reached financial levels that afford me a personal chef. Nor can I rely on Hubby during football season (coaching Flags is serious business. Just ask the Werewolf). So cooking has fallen to me – with OUTSTANDING results (for all of the two days I’ve been back in the kitchen).I had the recipes; I had the goods; I had the time. So here’s what I made – with photographic evidence to prove it.
Snacks!
Breakfast yesterday – no photos, but I still cooked. Simple stuff – scrambled eggs with salt and pepper, oven-baked bacon, and fresh strawberries. Nothing groundbreaking, true – but more substantial than the cinnamon rolls and/or powdered donuts provided the previous two mornings. (Bad, bad CaveMama.) And they ate it. Not one complaint about the missing sugar or toast. A good start to the Paleo journey!
Lunch was leftover tilapia seasoned with Tod’s Bayou Dirt (never heard of it? Now you have. Go get some. Put it on your popcorn, your meats, your eggs…everything. As a Cajun myself, I highly recommend it). Snacks consisted of fruits – apples, bananas, cantaloupe. And then…dinner.
Better than a candle (tastier too!)
I made a FANTABULOUS Smokey Roast – ten or so minutes of prep, then seven hours in the crockpot. This recipe doubled as meal and aromatic fantasty. The house continued smelling delicious even after we arrived home from our football scrimmage. Who needs Yankee Candles when ya got a roast, am I right? Plus, it was a crowd pleaser. Nearly everyone became a member of the clean plate club (some of us – I’m not mentioning any Queens – became members twice). Turns out, I am a GENIUS in the kitchen. Just give me someone else’s recipe, and I’m a freakin’ chef. http://everydaypaleo.com/2011/05/13/smokey-roast/
For dessert? Paleo brownies! That’s right, I said it…BROWNIES. Now, I am providing the recipe because Ienjoyed them. No one else at the M&M Estate was quite so enthusiastic.
Brownie ingredients
They definitely have an almond-y flavor and are more suited to grownup tastebuds (not mature…I said I liked them, remember?). I did have to substitute vanilla extract with almond extract, so I plan on attempting them again with the exact ingredients and doing another family taste test. That being said – this is a healthy dessert recipe worth trying. http://www.bakergal.com/2011/08/bakergal-chewy-paleo-brownie-recipe.html
Now, today…I made –from scratch– Paleo lemon poppyseed muffins. The babe devoured TWO. I stopped myself at one but I hear them out there, calling me, demanding my attention. We can only hope there will be leftovers for Hubby when he finds himself back at the Estate. http://www.elanaspantry.com/lemon-poppy-seed-muffins/
A little help from the WerewolfJust…incredible…
So what have we learned today, Readers? We have learned that even the most reticent FitGals can tackle kitchen duty with incredible success. We have learned that nutrition is a journey – but it doesn’t have to be an “are we there yet?” hell spiral. To be quite honest (and if you share this with anyone, I may have to squash you with my Insanity muscles), the cooking wasn’t so bad. I may have even (gasp!) enjoyed it a tad. A tad. Which is good, because I’ve got lunch and dinner ahead of me…and we have decided that school lunches will from this day forward be packed. To ease our junkfood lovin’ monkeys into this, they are permitted ONE DAY each week to purchase the (thurp) school lunch. My goal is to allow the lunch account to dwindle right out of existence.
Because what fun is it to be fit all alone? I, for one, would be so lonely without others beside me to remind me how wonderfully I’m doing.
My fitness goals, as you know, include increased strength, increased cardio capability, and all the healthful byproducts of that. They also include…*clearingmythroat*…lookin’ good.
They work ooouuuttt.
Yes. I, too, am shallow. I want to look in that mirror and think, “Day-um! She fiiiiiiiinnnnne!” And there are certainly days when that happens. More and more often, in fact. There are those days, yes, when I’m bloated and exhausted and just a mass of MomBlob…but they are fewer and farther between. Most days, I hear LMFAO blaring in my brain when I’m slipping into my size 6 jeans (they’re getting a tad big, you know) or slithering into one of my FOUR bikinis. It runs through my head as I navigate my cart through the grocery aisles and around the racks at Target.
She be workin’ on her fitness.
“When I push my cart through Wegmans, this is what I see… Everyone stops and is starin’ at me. I got muscles on my arms and I ain’t afraid to show it… I’m sexy and I know it…”
That’s right. And that’s just one song. “Fergilicious” is another that gets its fair share of play time. Because I be workin’ on my fitness, and Jackson – he’s my witness. Don’t even try to tell me you’re not doing this too. I see other women who strut and wonder what song it is they’ve got spinning in their heads. (I also see the nonstrutting women glaring at those of us who do strut…I gather they’re listening to Gilbert Godfried narrate How To Be Unhappy And Jealous Instead Of Doing Something About Your Life…or something like that.)
Here are the requirements for my tune wedgies:
It must be superficial and shallow, namely about lookin’ fine and blowin’ minds.
It must have a beat I can wigglewigglewiggle to…yeah yeah.
It must have a catchy refrain that reminds me of my superior rear/abs/delts status.
Check our her guns.
Sometimes, if I catch the eye of jealous MomBlob (and they all immediately take on the appearance of Harry Potter’s Aunt Petunia), the song will make an immediate switch to Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation” while I smile politely yet knowingly. I can almost hear Gilbert cackling in her head.
So my gift to you today, dear Readers, is a little “I Got Fitness and I Know It” playlist. Here’s my personal soundtrack as I strut through my day, be it at Wegmans, Target, the public pool, or simply doin’ diaper duty here at the M&M Estate. Feel free to add your own personal “baby got BACK” tunes in the comments section. I’m always lookin’ for more ways to celebrate my outstandingness and music ranks high on that list.
The Queen’s “I Got Fitness and I Know It” Playlist: I’m Sexy and I Know It – LMFAO Fergilicious – Fergie Bad Reputation – Joan Jett Fighter – Christina Aguilera Rumour Has It – Adele Hanky Panky – Joan Jett Hey Mama – Black Eyed Peas You Could Be Mine – Guns N’ Roses Does Your Mother Know – ABBA She’s Crafty – Beastie Boys Boys – Britney Spears Lay Your Hands On Me – Bon Jovi Dirty – Christina Aquilera Hollaback Girl – Gwen Stefani Run The World (Girls) – Beyonce
This is what’s on my plate (almost literally) for the weekend:
Insanity workouts. Vegetarian shopping (with added chicken and fish for Hubby and the babe). Closet organization (which has little to do with my FitLife, but is quite high on my priority list right now). Date with the Werewolf (at the very top of the list).
So, yes…some of these are obvious pieces to my FitLife journey, others maybe not so obvious. I’m guessing I don’t need to explain Insanity whatsoever. But I’m also guessing a few of you may be curious as to how exactly that is going. Um…AWESOME. (In my head, I hear an old cheer we used to use: “A-W-E! S-O-M-E! Awesome! Awesome! Awesome, are WE!” Good. Now you hear it too.) I didn’t take an extra break until I hit minute 34, and it was because my shoulders gave out, not my lungs. Upper body has always been my toughest area to tackle, but I’m soldiering right through. Next week, the goal is 35 minutes. It WILL happen.
And I promised I would explain further my wading in the vegetarian pool. I’ve been wrestling with it on an emotional level for quite some time, but what finally tipped the scales was a picture that caught my eye on Pinterest. It caught my eye because it was a photo of my favorite, dreamiest Beatle, Sir Paul. And the quote got me. So, enough with the meat. I have gone this route before, but fell off the meatless wagon. Something tells me this time, it’ll stick. I’d bet my boots the support this time around will be a thousandfold of what existed before. So thanks in advance to my meatless pals.
Closet organization really does fit in, I swear! My mind is clearer when my spaces are uncluttered. The closet is the first in a long line of “re-do’s” around the M&M Estate. Partially because I simply am done with the every-morning frustration of sorting through clothing to find something that fits (this time, because it’s all gotten too big! Woot!). Partially because I tend to do my workouts earlier in the day when I don my sports bras and shorts first thing, which in turn leads to a generally more productive day. See? Told you there was logic and connection. You really ought to believe me when I say stuff.
The date with the Werewolf? you ask. Where does that fit? It’s good for Mama’s mental health, for one. There is no one else on the planet that can make me laugh like that boy can, nor is there an easier-goin’ creature in this household. He is an easy person to be around, and I have come to appreciate easy people. And for two, he’s shopping with me to gather those vegetarian foodstuffs. I always view grocery trips with kiddos as lessons in nutrition and money. So we’ll have some good convo on both topics and he will (I hope) come away with a greater understanding of our shifting diet and how to best budget our cash flow at Wegmans.
That’s what’s on my plate today. What are you filling yours with?
I honestly enjoy the shopping part of grocery shopping. I adore Wegmans with my whole healthy heart. The gorgeous produce, the seemingly endless supply of organic and tastey options, the calm shoppers (there are certain superstores I am frightened to venture into). I get excited to choose healthy meals and snacks for my family…and I cringe every time I come face to face with our total bill. I’ve gotta admit, sometimes the produce does not look so gorgeous when I see its price tag.
But – I am also aware that eating this way will curb other costs. We are happier when we eat well; we feel better when we eat well. Less doctor’s visits, less OTC medications, less restaurant tabs (and that is a biggie for a family of six). I nearly choked when I first saw the price of Shakeology. Then I realized, that’s a meal a day for 30 days. Four bucks a day. Cut out Starbucks, cut out snacks filled with preservatives and unpronouncable ingredients…there’s your four bucks. Now, add in the value of increased energy, improved bodily function, and controlled cravings…I don’t feel sticker shock now. I feel like I made a wise and healthful choice for my body. (And tastey!!! Refer to my earlier post…)
So, once my spending is vindicated, I need menus! I need recipes! I need children to eat what I make! The first two are easy…
I consider myself a hunter and gatherer of recipes, pulling from Making The Cut by Jillian Michaels, magazines (Fitness, Shape, and Runner’s World are great resources), Push by Chalene Johnson, and Thin Kitchen Beachbody. Sometimes, I’ll just take an entire week’s menu straight from a diet plan; sometimes I mix and match. Starting tomorrow, I am following Shaun T’s six-day slimdown in order to get myself geared up for his class next Saturday. I will modify meals somewhat for the rest of the family…but they’re still getting mostly organic and fully fit meals, whether they like it or not.
Which brings me to my third “need.” Kids learn from us, whether we like it or not. The choices we provide them now are the habits they’ll use later. So while they would love for me to shove platefuls of processed chicken parts in front of them every night, they are also learning to get excited about fish, fresh veggies, and seasonal fruits. Everyone must try at least one bite of everything, every meal, every day. I was surprised to find that even our finickiest eater can appreciate most of what we serve.
And for those in-between times, we keep a “snack basket” as a go-to in the kitchen. As soon as I get home from shopping, I separate all snacks into single-serving bags. The same goes for anything I make (I actually MAKE STUFF now! In an oven and everything! Who knew?!) When they require a little nosh, they can grab whatever they like from the basket, and I know they’re getting something nourishing for their little bodies. I’ve also started (finally!) keeping a bowl of fresh fruit on the kitchen table. Right where we can see it. And guess what? No more rotten fruit in drawers in the fridge. It all gets eaten.
What are your sneaky tricks? SHARE! And if you’ve found a great farmer’s market or cheaper brand that tastes just like a brand name, SHARE! Our M&M Clan has come a long way in the food department, but I like knowing that things are just getting started…
SweatItOut 