The SixPack Experiment

For 18 mos. I've trained hard, and for at least 6 weeks I've been conscious in my food choices as an athlete.  Just staying the course, doing what I do, waiting for my sixpack to show up.
I've been saying that for months like I'm joking, but I'm really not.  I find super shredded abs to be remarkably fascinating and I want them.

I've not been systematic and single minded in pursuing this goal. Maybe if I focused on it I might have better results.... but nah, not really my style.  My style is to just do what I do, striving to be constantly varied and give my best - crossfit style - focused more on the results of performance on each workout rather than trying to sculpt my body in any particular way.  It will adapt.

I don't know if I'll arrive at the elusive 6 pack one day - maybe not, but in this light I'd say I'm definitely making progress!

Fajitas

1 sliced pepper
1/4 sliced onion
3 oz. shrimp
Fajita seasoning

Lettuce cups for tortillas
1/2 avocado
3 tbs  Almond "Cheese"
Salsa

Fiesta en mi plato!

Lies

What an interesting time this is in my life.  I am excited and hopeful, encouraged and renewed, except of course when I am scared and frustrated, discouraged and exhausted.  ha.
I am confident  in the victory of the Light and Good, but it IS a battle... everyday.  I have to pray against the lies, and the fear, and the tired, and the blah blah blah, inviting the Truth to renew and refill me.

At this moment there are two inklings I have (I can't call them discoveries yet)  that I am not thrilled about ... to say the least.

1) Almonds might not be my friends
2) Caffieine probably needs to leave my diet

UGHHHH!  I hate these ideas.  I do not like them one bit.  ONLY because I want to be at the end.  I want to have my diet all in a nice little package that is 'easy' to live with, if only in the sense that I have it figured out, and now I have to go back to the beginning by changing more things. 
I DON'T want to give up coffee :( and every treat I get these days is almond based, but I'm suspecting that it's not treating my body.

Isn't life just like that though?
I want to have it all figured out.  I want it to come in a nice little neat package.  I get coaxed into submission to a world of things that are not good for me because they are more appealing than the true good.   And as much as I hate the idea of making changes because I have stumbled onto a potential truth - I hate living with lies even more. 
I am so sick of lies - doctors who sell you the drugs they are supposed to sell rather than tell you what would really cure you, marketing that makes you feel like whatever they are selling is good for you or will improve your life, the list goes on...   I'm sick of commercialism in general because it rewards lies.

And here I am - faced with something SO small:  "Your beloved coffee might be the reason your acne hasn't cleared up in 15 yrs."  and I want to hate it

but I can't.  If this is the truth then I will fight for it. 

You remember this dialogue from A Few Good Men (I think). 
"I want the truth."  
"You can't handle the truth."

We think we want the truth, but almost always the truth forces us to change something, makes us a little uncomfortable, opens our eyes to things we were happy to be ignorant of (even if our ignorance is killing us).  I understand, in this moment, why so many people reject the truth.  While the truth will most definitely set you free, freedom always comes at a cost.  Too often we'd don't want to pay the price, we don't want to work for it, we don't want to fight for it... so we just ignore it.

God help me - I want the truth!

Did you know?

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/corn-is-not-a-vegetable/

huh... wow. Well there it is!  "In sum: corn is not a vegetable, and it’s a worthless grain." - Mark Sisson

Lunch, Snack, and Dinner

Grilled Chicken, Cucumber, Tomato, Broccoli Slaw, Sundried Tomato Olive Oil

Purple Yam "Icecream"

Turkey burger in a Lettuce bun with Sauteed Squash

Sweet Dumpling Squash Breakfast

I'm short on enery for fun recipes & short on groceries...  I had a cute little (sweet dumpling?) squash in my fridge that needed to get eaten.  Here's how it happened.

Preheat oven to 350.

Cut Squash in half...this may take some warrior samarai skill.

lightly coat the inside with coconut oil

Place flat sides down on baking sheet with layer of water.

Bake for 20 min.

Peel an apple.  Chop it into small chunks.

Put it in a small bowl.

Add cinnamon and a handful of chopped walnuts.

(I just grab a palmful and crunch them in my hands...I'm about time saving!)
Add a small drizzle of coconut oil
Cover and shake.

After the squash has baked 20 min.
Take it out.  Flip it over so it is like two little cups.
Add the apple walnut mixture.

If you just baked it another 30 min like this that would be delicious.
But I wanted protein... short on time and groceries.  Grabbed egg whites.
(because I have a carton of them yes.)
Fill the squash apple walnut cups with egg whites.

Bake uncovered for 30min.
I like my eggs not at all runny so I had to cover with tin foil and add more time.
Flavor = good. 
Not having to think or search for recipes or go to the store = priceless.

*Idea was inspired as a variation from recipes read weeks ago, probably on a friend's Wicked Appetite blog and/or tasty paleo.

Sugar. Crack. Whatever you want to call it.

"Our body has this defect that, the more it is provided care and comforts, the more needs and desires it finds. " St. Theresa of Avila.

This is going to be a little tiny bit of a rant.

Last week I tested one little 'cheat'.  A diet coke. It's was ok, nothing phenomenal.  I didn't finish it, but after a month of avoiding sicknesses I caught a cold within 24hrs.  Coincidence or not, I blame the chemical infused coke.  Poison.... Of course I would have to test it a few more times to be scientifc, but I am not offering my body as a guinea pig for that. Just resting assured that I'm fine without diet drinks in my life again.

Enter cold & flu symptoms:
Not feeling well ignited my cravings for junk food for some reason - oh yes, comfort... Anything to make me feel better (even if it really would make me worse).  I resisted wine, milk shakes, chocolate, etc ... but I did indulge in a lot of fruit concoctions smoothies, blueberry banana walnut 'cereal' (see icecream entry) apples with almond butter, more smoothies, a homemade 'frapaccino' sweetened with dates, etc etc etc.  I could tell right away that "something" I was eating wasn't helping... but why examine it?  "I'm sick afterall... shouldn't be too hard on myself, and I've already given up so much." right...

Meanwhile a friend suggested a homeopathic remedy for cold/flu symptoms, I took her advice along with others (and a few of my own) without pause.... I brought the remedy home, took a dose..."wow this is like candy"... read the label... "inactive ingredients: lactose, sucrose"  SUGAR! They even add sugar to cold medicine!? "homeopathic" ones too!?
Now, I should know better than not to read labels before purchasing... let this be ANOTHER lesson. 
But.... I bought it so why not just take it?? So I did. about 6 doses in 2 days.  I do feel better I'll admit, but that 'medicine' is calling to me.  I want to keep taking it... like a lot want to.  "and why shouldn't I?" a voice calls from within, "Why shouldn't I finish off the remaining bit... I'm not 100% and it will only make me feel even better"  hmmm....Why?  It's still counterproductive to what I'm trying to do with my body. aka give it real food, and real nutrients, hence cutting out ALL of the non nutritive kinds of sugar.
    
Yesterday, my chiropractor went one better than to affirm the nutrition path I'm on... He said some really smart stuff including that glucose (sugar) actually blocks the cells receptors from absorbing vitamin c .... loosely translated that means sugar = extra bad when you have a cold.

Again we all know this, right?  Our mom's told us that. Or maybe it's like natural law or something.  We just know.  But it's buried deep somewhere and I have always been a stubborn and rebellious child. I chose to ignore this little echo because I wanted to feed my cold whatever would feed my emotions and make me 'feel better', sigh...

I think I got the lesson. I made a note to self  "Eat more veggies,  and lay off the fruits and homeopathic remedies for a few days."   Today I have tried consciously not to eat any fruit except to squeeze some citrus into my water. I was surprised at how hard it's was.  I had to be really deliberate not to just reach for the fruit fixes I make so easily.  Such a little thing. 

I am proud to be able to share, though, that I did it... one entire day with sugar  Only veggies, meats, eggs, and fats. baby steps.

The journey to a balanced life while fueling my body for performance and its best continues. Onward march...

Green Eggs

The short of the story is I need mas veggies!! (the longer rant against sugar I will save for next time).
1st breakfast = celery sticks with almond butter and coffee with coconut milk.
2nd breakfast = THIS!

 doesn't look so green, but it looked very green in my bowl with the Avo

1/2 bag of broccoli slaw
1 tbs EVOO
1/2 left over pork chop (diced)
1 egg
~2 eggwhites
1 green chili
few leaves cilantro
Fajita seasoning, garlic powder,
fresh cracked pepper
1 avocado




In a skillet, heat EVOO.  Add broccoli slaw, seasonings, and meat source (this time pork chops). Saute a few minutes.
Add green chili and eggs/eggwhites.  Scramble.  Lower heat and cover for about 3-5 min. Stir in some cilantro.  Once cooked to satisfaction top with Avocado and more pepper.

Balancing Act

The title of this blog is "life in the balance" - the image brings me back to my old school science days with the little balance and weight system...  you have something you need to weigh on the left or right and on the other side you have a plate that you have to add weights to, when it's perfectly level you've found the mass of the substance you are weighing.  If only I could bring my life to balance so easily.

It is constantly teetering to one side or another. As soon as I even think I might  have leveled it out, life changes and new variables are introduced. Back to work I go.  I'm not complaining!  Not at all!
I want life to keep changing, because I know God has more for me and changes are channels for Him to give it.  Besides I might get bored to be always the same.
It is a challenge to embrace the adventure at times rather than just feeling lost, BUT here's to adventure any way! ... just one day at a time.

I know that my life needs some tweaking.  It's not something I can just think the answer to, it's something I have to experiment to find.  Trial and error.

Diet is just one thing: I posted my latest nutrition plan - no alcohol, no sugar, no legumes, no grains, no dairy, as much as possible nothing processed.  It may seem extreme, but I needed extreme!  I felt a little out of control.  I felt like I needed to be stripped.  I needed "lent in the Fall"  - sacrifice that would empty me and refocus me.  I really felt the effects of the way I was eating/drinking before, and that my will power was weak.  Inside some thing just screamed - "Stop! I can't keep abusing my body like this." 

Now the hard part is over, my body has mostly adjusted to eating this way.  I don't feel that out of control-ness anymore.

Check out this Freedom Moment:  I served cake and icecream at a friend's birthday party.  I joyfully declined having some myself, but in serving I got frosting on my fingers and when it was all done I didn't even lick it off ... that sweet sweet frosting...  to you the idea of licking your fingers may be gross, but to me friends, it was a habit and a temptation, and to just let it go, that was beautiful!  To say "no thank you" to things and really mean it! To be able to let others enjoy it and I don't need it ... it's not even really a sacrifice.  This is a freedom!

So while there are so many good things with this new lifestyle, there is a part of me that is warned - BALANCE.  I don't want food to control my life. I don't want training to control my life.  I don't want work to control my life.  (Oh and the big one: I don't want fear of others' opinion or disappointment to control my life.)  How do I strive for greatness, how do I continue to sincerely work to be my best without losing the balance?

That, my friends, is the adventure.  This month has had some excruciating moments, particularly in taking the step to say "no" to things.  No, to competing in an event I had been excited about for months.  No, my pastor's invitation to more involvement at church. No, to my current training regimen.  Saying no at the time (and still in some cases) was uncomfortable and very sad.  It was painful to let go of opportunities.  But my heart just wouldn't let me be happy otherwise - not really happy.  So I've taken some steps of faith in letting go and trusting my heart more.  Already, I've gotten some blessings for the steps - I didn't compete, but I got to judge.  I didn't get shunned or chastised for not helping at church (I'm sure I will be plenty involved enough).  I am risking a bit with changing my training regimen, but today I got to roll around on rings like I was 6 yrs old at the playground... and they call it a work out?!  How fun!  My heart is glad :) and I am so so so excited to see where the journey will lead. one. day. at. a. time...

My Version of ... Tacos?

Well, they're not really tacos, but they were a great lunch :)

~3 oz. ground turkey (pre-cooked) 

1/2 bag of Broccoli Slaw

1/4 onion chopped

1/4c salsa

small handful of cilantro chopped

1 tbs of EVOO

1 bell pepper

Saute turkey together with broccoli slaw and onions in EVOO until warmed throughout and onions are cooked to your liking.

mix in some fresh chopped cilantro and 1/4 c. of salsa

Cut bell pepper in half pull out the seeds and top... the pepper halves make a nice crunchy "taco" shell.  Fill them up with the turkey/slaw mix and enjoy

(with napkins!)