An anniversary of sorts

Just over a year ago, I had McDonald's for the last time.  Let me set the scene.  As a child, McDonald's was a common family frequent for meals on the go or in a pinch.  I loved dunking my fries in the sweet n' sour sauce and always debated whether or not to get the quarter pounder with cheese or the nuggets.  (Usually the quarter pounder with cheese won the debate as an adult, but as a child, it was nuggets hands down).  It's salty, fatty food always tasted heavenly, and it was always my favorite fast food pit stop, especially when on road trips or waiting at the airport.  (Without fail, I ALWAYS got McDonald's at the airport).  It was a way to bond with my family -- if my sister and I didn't like what was served for dinner, we'd sneak out of the house and grab a McDonald's meal, giggling with glee the whole time.  Even seeing Super Size Me in college didn't keep me from eating there.  My apologies to Morgan Spurlock -- it's an amazing documentary, and I should have learned my lesson.  At that time, I was just too foolish and in denial about my health, my weight, and sustainability.  Besides, if mainstream America ate McDonald's, it was fine that I did... right?

(How eating McDonald's for 30 days straight adversely affected Spurlock's health)

Fast forward to June 2010.   I had just met Melissa, who challenged me to try a Primal diet.  So, on June 20, I begrudgingly had my McDonald's hurrah.  After meeting with some friends, my husband and I drove to McDonald's where I inhaled a Diet Coke and a quarter pounder with cheese meal.  It felt like my last meal.  When would I be able to have my next McDonald's fix?  Could I make a month without going to the golden arches?  I felt like I had set myself for failure and I was pretty cranky and annoyed.

The first two weeks were rough.  Feeling like I couldn't eat something made me more resentful.  Plus, I had given up Diet Coke, my staple drink, and was experiencing serious food and caffeine withdrawals.  I wanted to drive to Micky D's immediately and say "screw you!" to this unrealistic healthy lifestyle some person I barely knew had convinced me to follow and devour a 20 piece chicken McNugget meal in my car.  But as time went on, it got easier.  Over the past several months, I've probably seriously considered going to McDonald's three times, but I always managed to talk myself out of it.  I thought this change would be too difficult and unsustainable, but since that fateful June day, I haven't looked back.  And I'm proud to say that I've been McDonald's free for a whole year.  And it's been great.  My cholesterol and blood pressure levels are impeccable, and I've received clean bills of health from my doctor, who is also inspired by the health changes I've made.  Yes, there are times when I get nostalgic and sentimental for my McDonald's memories, but I'm happy and proud that I no longer frequent there.

Is there any lifestyle change that you've made that's been easier than you thought?  Let me know!

A few of my favorite foods...

I thought it was time to list some of my favorite food products or places to buy food.  Perhaps it might get some ideas rolling for new foods to try!

Taza Chocolate

I've talked a lot about Taza before, but it is worth saying again and again that this chocolate is unbelievably amazing.  With very basic ingredients (and no soy lecithin), the stone mill process gives it a great texture, and it has a rich flavor without being over-powering.  After eating Taza, I haven't wanted any other chocolate bars.  And while it's a little pricey (about $6.49 a bar), I find that a little goes a long way and satisfies my taste buds so I can make a bar last a long time.  (Proof:  I've carried a bar in my purse for almost two weeks and still have about 1/3 left!)  I always go for the 80% dark chocolate, and buy it at Tilly's or City Feed, but you can also buy it online -- even Amazon carries it!

Basil Infused Olive Oil

Basil infused olive oil was one of my latest and most favorite discoveries.  I absolutely love it for salads -- it gives a flavorful and refreshing taste, which is perfect for summer.  Give L'Olivier a try, although you can make your own (or find it in gourmet food shops).

Red Barn Coffee

Red barn is organic, fair trade, and a locally flavored coffee -- everything used to make the beans is found in Massachusetts (minus the beans themselves).  The Red Barn Blend is our standard go-to; it's a medium roast that has flavor without being too strong.  The Ethiopia Yirgacheffe is another great roast.  Their coffee is smoother than Starbucks and packs better flavor, in my opinion.


Apple Ice Wine
I discovered Still River Winery at the Natick Farmers Market. Apple ice wine is, well, made from basically frozen apples. While it's probably not technically "paleo," it's basically like drinking alcoholic apple cider/juice.  It's not as heavy as apple cider, but has a lot more flavor than apple juice.  Yum.  It's perfect for a Sunday brunch or a summer evening get together.

Radishes

For some reason, radishes have always intimidated me -- I never had much of an interest in eating them.  A trip to the farmers market changed my mind.  After speaking with Freitas Farm, I decided to buy a bunch and am now hooked.  Radishes give a great crunch to my salads.  I was worried that they'd have too strong a flavor, but I am happily mistaken.  Plus, they make any dish look more beautiful.

Chestnut Farms
Again, I've written about Chestnut Farms before, but their meat products are fabulous.  Most of the meat we consume comes from there, and we buy everything from pork chops, to sirloin, to on the bone chicken breast. A sustainable farm with grass-fed animals, their meat just tastes better -- like meat, if that makes sense.  Every time I now eat meat or poultry from the grocery store, I find it lackluster and flavorless.  Grass fed is definitely an experience worth having, both for the palate and the body.  For a great weekend breakfast, I highly recommend their sausage patties.  I never really liked sausage before, but Chestnut Farms has me hooked!  It has a great blend of spices and isn't greasy.

Dry Brine

One of my favorite Williams-Sonoma products, it's the fastest and easiest way to make a great roast chicken.  Slather some over a whole chicken or bone in breast the night before; leave it covered in the fridge over night, and roast the next evening at 375 degrees.  Voila!  Dinner is served.  It is a great accompaniment to the bone in chicken breast from Chestnut Farms.

Rosemary

Rosemary is just my all-time favorite herb.  Perfect for pork, poultry, sweet potatoes, sauces, red meat, a little rosemary goes a long way for giving food intense, refreshing flavor.  Fresh is the way to go.

Stonewall Kitchen Sea Salt

Stonewall Kitchen is a neat company from Maine that specializes in gourmet food products like spices, dressings, cake mixes, and marinades.  While a lot of their food isn't paleo, their sea salt is out of this world, and great for cooking.  Adding a pinch to any dish will help bring out the flavor.

Trader Joe's Creamy Almond Butter with Sea Salt

At first, I was skeptical of almond butter.  I don't love eating nuts, and I was always a big fan of the Skippy peanut butter.  But when I decided to be a cleaner, healthier eater, I decided to give it a try.  On a banana, on an apple, or just straight out of the jar, I now cannot go a day without my almond butter from Trader Joe's.  Weekly, I clear out the shelves!  It's perfect for breakfast, a snack, or dessert.  I'm simply in love!

Links

So, I'm not quite sure how "eating healthy" was defined in this poll, but according to this MSNBC story, Americans are doing less of it.  Basically, Americans (mostly young adults, seniors, Hispanics, and women) are eating less fruits and vegetables.  Don't be one of them!  Enjoy the summer produce available, whether at the grocery store, farm stand, or a local farmers market.  It's not perfect, but this article has some great ideas for kick starting a new attitude toward eating (and I love how it acknowledges how great eggs, the most maligned food of my childhood, actually are for you!)

Gluten-free eating is so en vogue right now, people opening gluten-free bakeries and stores are succeeding (and thriving) during the recession: so, if you need a "Plan B," think about Gluten-free options, according to the NY Times.

In a food rut?  Check on Mark's favorite foods on marksdailyapple.com for a dinner or snack inspiration!

Another reason why we all need to get some sleep: not sleeping enough makes us more tempted to reach for the carrot cake instead of the carrots.  My best advice -- keep that food out of the house so you're not tempted by it at home, get your rest, and if you do need that extra sweetness, invest in some great dark chocolate bars (I recommend Taza Chocolate).

Some food for thought

I think this is a busy, but awesome graphic organizer of the Paleo diet, and I just had to share!

Go to http://infographic.paleolithicdiet.com/ for more!

Paleo diet -- biologically makes sense, or another fad?

Recipe

Fish is good for you, and I'm making an effort to incorporate more fish into my diet.  Granted, I still get squeamish around seafood, but I am trying to increase my consumption of our seafaring friends.
With that said, I've always had an affinity for canned tuna.  Perhaps it was all the mayonnaise and pickles I mixed in it as a child, but I've always had a place in my heart for canned tuna fish sandwiches.  My brilliant husband thought it might be a good idea to convince me to actually eat fresh tuna steak since it's tastier than the canned stuff.  After a few tries, I've found that I love it, especially when grilled (albeit not for too long).

Enjoy this recipe that he's adapted -- it's perfect for summer grilling!

Tuna steaks:

Marinade 1 pound tuna fillet cut in two to three parts for at least 1/2 hour (1 to 2 recommended) in:

1/3 cup EVOO
juice from 1 lemon
1/2 cup chopped cilantro; plus additional chopped for garnish
3 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped
1/2 tablespoon paprika
1/2 tablespoon chili powder
sea salt and pepper to taste

In a bowl, mix together the EVOO, lemon juice, cilantro, garlic, paprika, chili powder, and sprinkle of pepper.  Add tuna; cover and refrigerate.

Prepare grill; grill vegetables of choosing first (although I made steamed broccoli on the side for this round).

Sprinkle with salt; grill to liking (at least three minutes each side for rare-medium rare).

This recipe is wonderful, delicious, and gentle for a non-seafood girl like me.  Enjoy!

The Great Bear

This past weekend was filled with running.  Let me preface this by saying that I'm not a huge fan of running, but as I've wanted to run a 5K for a long, long time.  Whether accurate or not, I think that the ability to run 3.1 miles without stopping is an athletic accomplishment that I should be able to do.  In a way, I feel like completing a 5K solidifies and validates any kind of athletic prowess that I have recently gained.

I would like to say that I've never run a 5K, but that's not an accurate statement.  In college, I completed a 5K, but it was pretty abysmal.  I was out of shape, overweight, and did little more than the occasional elliptical or bike at the college gym.  I ran about half the race; walked about a mile, and then ran the last part.  My memory has blocked my time, but I want to say it was somewhere between 36 and 38 minutes -- maybe more.  I found it embarrassing; I didn't realize that my time would be recorded, and to me, it was just another indicator of how badly out of shape I was.  So, running a whole 5K has always been in the back of my mind as my moment of redemption.

So, some CrossFit friends suggested that I check out the Great Bear Run.  The race raises money for prostate cancer research, and the course would be partially downhill, partially a small grade incline.  My husband and I decided to sign up: why not?  This could be my chance to redeem my awful prior race!

photo courtesy of racewire.com

I really had no desire to start running, though.  Part of why I'm not keen on running is because I've found it to be painful.  The last time I started to run a couple miles on a regular basis, I started having problems with my right IT band.  Second, I find it to be dull and repetitive (which, I guess, it's certainly repetitive).  I just haven't managed to find a love of it, even though I want to complete the occasional run.

I've heard from many people that my CrossFit training would be more than adequate to completely run a 5K.  Considering the nature of CrossFit workouts (including the sprinting I've done in them), I hoped that it would be sufficient to finish in a decent time.  My goal: sub 27 minutes.  I had no idea if it was realistic, but I figured it was worth a shot.

When my husband and I arrived at the race, we registered, got our bibs, and waited for our CrossFit friends to arrive.  It was lovely to be with a group of friends at the start and finish of a race.  We warmed up together, joked around, and even took a "team" picture with the Great Bear mascot.  One friend, a frequent runner, also put me at ease for the race.  His advice: don't run too fast at the beginning because adrenaline will wear out too quickly;  towards the end of the race, find someone to follow, and slowly speed up; the last 100 meters or so, pick up the pace, but not to an all out sprint.  He also showed me the route map and talked me through it.  Brilliant.  Thanks, Mitch!

The weather was overcast and cool, which was perfect running weather.  We headed to the back of the pack, which I will never, ever do again, as it was far too frustrating to pass people when needed.  But, I was able to find my pacing and go.  The first mile was fabulous and fun -- I talked to a CrossFit friend for a bit, and then a total stranger for a few seconds.  As I passed one couple, I heard them say, "well, I'm okay with it when the young people pass me."  I couldn't help but smile.  It wasn't until almost the two mile mark where I felt like the "fun" part of the race had worn off, and I just wanted it to be over.  I had to convince myself to keep on pushing through it.  Not long after, I saw a girl who had stopped and encouraged her to run with me.  Toward the end of the race, I found two people to follow.  I tried to enjoy the route and waved to anyone who was along the way, but it did feel tedious.  I'm a person who likes to know exactly where I stand, and the uncertainty of not knowing my pacing or the remaining distance was frustrating.

As I turned the last corner, I saw Mitch, who had finished strong and was waiting to cheer the rest of the CrossFit crew on.  It was enough energy for me to keep on going.  And then, I saw the red digital clock, which read "25:40."  I was so close to finishing the race sub 26 minutes, and I knew I had to give it my best shot.  My CrossFit competitive nature kicked in full gear. I broke into a sprint, passed one person who I had been following, and finished just on the heels of the other (who was 64 years old!  I was impressed!)  At the end, I was handed a yellow ribbon with a medal.

My husband finished in 24:53 with an average pace of 8:00 per mile; I finished with an average pace of 8:21 in 25:57.  I also found out that the yellow ribbon meant that I had finished third in my age group of 25-29, which was something that I was not expecting.

After the race, I felt amazing.  It was so lovely to have it over, but physically my body felt great, and mentally I felt a whole lot stronger!  I definitely hope to run another 5K in the future, and am toying with the idea of eventually running a 10K.

Crappy college 5K -- you have officially been defeated.  I can run, and I'm so thrilled that CrossFit got me to this point.  It was also a lovely experience to share with my husband and friends.  

So now, I debate my next running step.  Do I try to PR a 5K?  Do a bit more distance running?  How would I have to prepare for a 10K?  I do want to try and improve my running through the POSE Method, but that's a blog post for another time.

For any runners out there, any thoughts on a next (literal) step?

Is there a benefit to lifting only three pound weights?

I was absolutely horrified and mortified when I saw this video, courtesy of Oprah's website.  I encourage everyone to watch it, but in a nutshell, it's Gwyneth Paltrow of promoting her "pint-sized miracle,"personal trainer Tracy Anderson, for helping her "stay thin." Paltrow exercises six days a week for two hours a day, focusing mainly on cardio.  Oh, and Anderson only allows Paltrow to lift three pound weights, because, according to Anderson, "no woman should lift more than three pounds," as lifting more will make a woman "bulky."  (Perhaps I should send Anderson some before and after photos so I can show her how much better I look.  And Anderson, having muscles and muscle definition does not mean I'm "bulky" -- in fact, it means I'm healthy, physically fit, and strong).

Paltrow, you look seriously emaciated.  

Honestly, I think I'm mostly disappointed in Oprah for posting this crap on her website and airing it on her show.  Oprah, women all over the world look up to you.  How could you feed them even more bad, baseless information?  I really would love to see Oprah cut out processed foods and try CrossFit!

Well, the joke's on Gwyneth, who has developed osteopenia, a pre-cursor for osteoporosis.  The irony of the situation -- current research has shown that weight training prevents bone loss, and may even help build new bone.  For Tracy Anderson, I'd like to ask -- how is it realistic for a woman to never lift more than three pounds?  Even Gwyneth makes a flippant comment about lifting her 30 pound son all day, so I don't understand how she can claim that there's a benefit of lifting such a puny weight.  Wouldn't being able to lift more weight be much more practical for her lifestyle?  From my own personal experience, strength training has made daily tasks much easier, from carrying in groceries or kitty litter, organizing the desk and chairs in my classroom,  and gives me more energy to get through my day.  I think I find Anderson's workouts to be so disturbing because they are anti-feminist and reinforce an idea that women are supposed to be frail and weak.  

I highly recommend Graeme Thomas's article on why being "skinny fat" is unhealthy and unattractive.  He does a great job of describing how trainers like Anderson perpetuate the myths and misconceptions about female weight lifting.  My favorite part of his article is where he analyzes what Paltrow eats in a day, which averages out to less than 1000 calories.  Clearly, Paltrow's diet is less than ideal.

Ultimately, I hope that women realize that trainers like Anderson are bogus and unhealthy, and I want women to know that being strong is beautiful.  So, how to we debunk the myths that Anderson, et al. spread?  How can we convince women to stop being scared of weights?

P.S. Gwyneth: if you did CrossFit, you wouldn't have to work out for two hours, six days a week.  Just sayin'!