Remember the abominable snowman from Bugs Bunny?

I had a not so happy time making dinner last night. 

It has nothing to do with the way the food turned out; it was delicious! It was just the process of making it, mostly due to my own lack of observation, left me a bit frazzled.


I made the Mamma's Meatballs and Marinara Sauce from SleepLoveEat.com. I had all of the ingredients, I got everything out, started chopping and dicing. Part of the directions say to put the tomatoes, including juice, in the food processor with some basil. I did that, but did not pay attention to capacity and overfilled it. Next thing I know, I have tomato juice leaking all over my counter. So I hurry and try to clean it up, leaving the water running (oops), which quickly fills the pan sitting in it and starts to overflow ... all over the other counter. So as I'm cleaning up these two messes, I turn around and see that the sauce, which is now on the stove, is boiling and popping up and out and all over onto everything in reach. It was just one of those moments where there is some disaster (slightly dramatic, I know) waiting every time you turn around. Whew!

Did I also mention that it was during the "Kill All Things" part of the Whole30 Challenge that I thought I had managed to avoid? So, I was a bit on edge already, lol.

As I was telling my friend about all of this, she told me I should have just gone and cuddled with our bunny, Gus, for a while. Instantly, Bugs Bunny popped into my head:

credit: peliculas.film-cine.com

"Just what I always wanted. My own little bunny rabbit. I will name him George, and I will hug him and pet him and squeeze him..."

Anyone remember that? In case you don't, or never saw it, or want to see it again... here's the link to the video courtesy of Todd S. on YouTube.

I'm pretty sure my little Gus-bunny would not appreciate that kind of handling, lol. Probably best to just simmer down on my own. Hubby did come in and give me a hug though and helped me take a breath and start again.

From there, things went much more smoothly. Today is the last day of the "Kill All Things" stage and then I get to move on to Days 6-7: "I just want a nap!" ... At least that one is over the weekend, and I don't really have much to do, so it might be a little easier for me. We'll see and I'll let you know!

Now for the recipe!

This recipe just sounded delicious from the moment I laid eyes on it. I always loved pasta and all of the creamy sauces that it comes with. So to find a way to get to eat "spaghetti" again, it's great! I did use spaghetti squash instead of actual spaghetti, by the way.

Marinara Sauce Ingredients (recipe inspired by Giada De Laurentiis, but tweaked a bit)

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion-diced
• 4 cloves garlic-crushed, diced, chopped…however you like it
• Bunch of basil
• 2 28 0z. cans of whole organic tomatoes with their juice
• 1 tablespoon oregano
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

credit: sleeploveeat.com

1. Combine both cans of whole tomatoes with their juice and the bunch of basil in a food processor or blender.
2. Pulse until smooth and set aside.  Place olive oil, onions and garlic in a saute pan and cook over medium heat until translucent and soft…about 10 minutes….
3. Add tomato sauce, oregano, and salt and pepper to taste and bring to a boil over medium high heat. 
4. Once boiling, let the sauce simmer on low  for about an hour.

I find the longer you simmer, the better it tastes…if I am home I will just let it sit for a couple hours on low, stirring occasionally.  If you don’t have time, it’s still delicious after 30 minutes! It makes a lot.

Meatball Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 lb. ground pork (feel free to use ground turkey or chicken…whatever you feel like I am sure will work)
• 1/2 onion – diced
• 1/2 cup fresh basil
• 1/2 cup parsley
• 1 cup loose-leaf spinach
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup almond meal
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1/2 cup tomato/marinara sauce
• 4 cloves crushed garlic
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

credit: sleeploveeat.com

1. Place basil, parsley, and spinach in food processor…give it a couple pulses to chop and mix it up…
2. Place all ingredients in mixing bowl and mix together…I use my hands…I find it is the best way to get everything mixed evenly. 
3. Next I use my scoop to make golf ball sized meatballs. 
4. Cook at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes.  I then place them in the sauce for another 30-60 minutes, but if you don’t want to do that, cook them for 25 minutes.

This recipe makes about 3 dozen.

It took me a little while to make, probably mostly because of all of my bloopers, but I just baked a spaghetti squash while I was cooking up the sauce and meatballs. The sauce and meatballs are to die for and the spaghetti squash is a great substitute for real spaghetti pasta. You won't be disappointed! I hope you have a better time cooking it than I did, lol.

Some Food and an Update!

credit: www.idontwannagrowup.com

First, the update. 

Today is Day 4 of the Whole30 challenge. I seem to have more and more energy when I wake up in the mornings now. I feel like a completely different person, even a happy morning person! I can't remember the last time I felt that way. I always thought 6:30 was so early, but it's not so bad right now. It does help that it's light out; I have a feeling that winter mornings are still going to be a bit more difficult since they're still dark when I get up, but we'll see!

Until then, no more of looking like this in the mornings: →

Kill All Things!

I believe that hubby has moved into the Kill All Things stage of the process a bit more quickly than I did (or will... hasn't happened yet). He's had a stressful week though, so I'm sure that doesn't help much. If you remember from my post yesterday, here is the timeline that is expected:

Day 1: So what's the big deal?
Days 2-3: Hangover
Days 4-5: Kill All Things!!
Days 6 - 7: I just want a nap!
Days 8 - 15: Boundless energy, now give me a darned Twinkie!?
Days 16 - 28: Tiger blood! Feeling awesome!
Day 29: HolyOprahIt’sAlmostOverWhatAmIGoingToEatNow?!?!?!

Day 31: Deep breathing, and maybe some ice cream.

I feel like my emotions have been pretty mild up to this point. I did have headaches the first few days, but I think I may avoid that today. It would be nice! : )

Unfortunately, the days where you just want to take a nap (Days 6 & 7) fall directly on the day that hubby is planning on going on a kayaking trip with some friends from church... so, I hope he isn't too tired by then. It'll just be a day trip though, so hopefully it won't be too much for him.

Recipe: Beef Stirfry

This recipe is from Paleo on a Budget and works for the Whole30 plan.

Ingredients

Credit: paleoonabudget.com

• 1.5 lb ground beef

• 1 bag frozen veggies {Mixed bag… I used carrots, broccoli and cauliflower for mine!}

• 1 medium onion, sliced

• 1 medium fresh tomato, chopped

• 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder

• 3 tsp Basil

• 1 tsp Dill

• Salt + Pepper

• 2 tsp Oregano

• Lemon Juice to taste {Or Apple Cider Vinegar}

• Coconut Oil {or fat of choice}

 

Instructions

1.) Get a big ‘ol skillet heating with some coconut oil, and slice up your onions. When they’re all pretty toss them in the pan to start to sweat, you don’t want them caramelized just translucent.

2.) Once those get to a good spot, toss in your frozen veggies and let them cook for a few minutes, then add in your ground beef and continue to let it all cook.

3.) Once it’s almost cooked all the way through, add in your spices / herbs and Lemon Juice. Stir and finish cooking.

4.) Literally seconds before your ready to serve toss in your tomatoes and give a quick stir. That way you still have the cold bite of the tomato and still tastes “meaty” {and hasn’t softened}.

 

Note:

I will say that I added in a bit more garlic ( I really like garlic) and I added in some sweet potatoes rather than making them on the side.  This recipe was delicious though, and a balanced meal full of healthy protein, fat, and carbohydrates! To read the original post from Paleo on a Budget, click HERE.

Whole30 Day 3! Feeling the Hangover!

They say that there is a general timeline for people as they work their way through the Whole30 process. This is how it typically goes for people:

Day 1: So what's the big deal? You don't understand why anyone thinks this is so hard.

Days 2 - 3: Hangover. Headaches, fatigue, etc. 

Days 4 - 5: Kill all things! Irritation and impatience.

Days 6 - 7: I just want to nap! All you will want is your bed!

Days 8 - 15: Boundless energy! Now give me a darned Twinkie! You'll have a lot of energy, but those cravings will be serious business. 

Days 16 - 28: Tiger blood! You are feeling great, have energy again, things are clear and optimistic.

Day 29: HolyOprahIt’sAlmostOverWhatAmIGoingToEatNow?!?!?!

Day 31: Deep breathing ... and maybe some ice cream.  

To read more details about each phase of the process, read the full article HERE.

I'm feeling it!

I can tell you that I am definitely right on track with the timeline. The first day, and even the second day, were mostly "Eh, this is not such a big deal." Today, Day 3, I've got a headache and I woke up feeling more refreshed, but still feel like I could just go back to bed. Plus, I am so sore today from the two workouts I've done in the last two days. Since we're doing a 2 days on/1 day off routine, however, I can take a rest day today and recover. Also, I've eaten the same thing for breakfast in the last three days. The first two days were fine, I was full, I felt good. Today, I feel like I could eat a huge pile of pancakes after I just ate my Lagniappe Casserole. All of this is normal, apparently, so I am just going to stick it out and see what happens when I get in the "Kill All Things" stage. Luckily, my husband and I are doing this program together, so we'll be entering that phase together. Should be interesting, haha!

My husband and I are doing the Whole30 program, but I also signed up for the Whole30 Daily and I bought their book, "It Starts with Food: Discover the Whole30 and Change Your Life in Unexpected Ways ." I tend to go all out when I'm motivated to do something. I also love to learn about why food affects us the way it does and how to control it so it doesn't control us. I have to say that both of these extra resources, the Daily and the book, have been a great investment so far.

Whole30 Daily:

 The Whole30 Daily is "32 days' worth of information (including a Day 0 and Day 31) written just for you, specific to that particular day of your program".

Credit: whole9life.com

Each day there is an email in my inbox explaining what I can expect for that day and tips for staying on track. And at the end of each email are two links. At the end of the day, and if you managed to stay on task, you click on the link that says, "I did it!" But if you got off track, there is a link that says, "I didn't do it. I need to start over" and it will take you back to the beginning. So it's nice to have that little click at the end of the day to look forward to. And the information in the emails really helps to explain my emotions and everything I'm experiencing and makes it a bit more bearable.

 

Credit: gooogle.com

"It Starts with Food": 

Whole30 describes their book, "It Starts with Food", as a source that "details the "why," the "how," and the "what happens next?" of the Whole30 in an entertaining, accessible manner".

I'm only about 7 chapters into this book so far, but it has proven to be an incredible resource. I bought it for just $10 on my Kindle and I have found myself highlighting something on every page, just because there is so much information that I want to remember! I've done research before on why food makes me feel the way I feel, but there is something about this book that really takes it to the next step. It is scientific, but not so much that you can't understand. And they use a lot of helpful analogies to help you really get a grasp on what is going on in your body. And the best part, it all finally makes sense! I am really looking forward to reading the rest of the book and I'm so happy I ordered it. For just $10, you really can't beat that.


My husband and I are also talking rewards today. We've decided that we are going to reward ourselves (other than the obvious reward of a healthier lifestyle) with a non-food gift. We haven't quite figured out what they'll be yet, but I will let you know when we do. All we know so far is that if he messes up one day, then he doesn't get his reward, but I don't either. And vice versa. We think this will keep us more on task because we are both more likely to be less concerned for our own gifts and would rather not take that away from each other because of something we did. And it will help us really motivate each other. We want our gifts! Haha! Make sense?

Ok, well that's my check in for today. Gonna go get some lunch around. Hope you're all having a great Wednesday! And if anyone else is currently doing a Whole30 challenge, or maybe you've finished one, I would love to hear about your experiences!

Trying Something New

It's difficult to say, but I have gotten off track again. Between the stress of losing my job and doing a ton of overtime (odd combo, eh?),  my dad having surgery last week, and starting to interview for work... my desire to eat right has been hit or miss and my desire to workout has completely gone on vacation.

So my husband and I talked about it and have decided to do something we've never done before. We're going to try a program together. It's strict, but not scheduled. And I really think that having him do it with me will be a huge help. Something has got to change because last night I realized that I'm to the point of having to lie on the bed to pull on my boots and most of my pants don't fit anymore. If he does this program with me, it will help keep me on task because I won't want to let him down.

I know I have gotten to the point before where I had excellent will power, could turn down a free cookie even if it was just under my nose, refused to do anything else until I got my workout in ... but somehow I have lost that ability. For now. I know I can get it back. I think I just need a little extra help getting there. And it's time that I learned how to ask for that help. Luckily, my husband is super sweet and very involved in things that are important to me, so he was not hesitant to agree to do this with me when I asked.

Ok, so what is this program we're doing? 

I think you might have heard of it if you've been hanging around in the Paleo world for any length of time. It's called Whole30 from Whole9.  How do we do it? Well, this program happens to be free, so I can share the details. The program lasts 30 days. That's not bad, right? It is a combination of eating right and working out, but it's more of a guideline rather than a regimented schedule and list of recipes/workouts. So it allows for flexibility.

Credit: whole9life.com

As outlined on their website, here is what you do NOT eat for 30 days:

• added sugar
• alcohol
• grains
• legumes (except green beans, sugar snap peas, and snow peas)
• dairy (except clarified butter or ghee)
• carrageenan, MSG or sulfites
• white potatoes
  

You are also not allowed to Paleo-ify foods. That means no making "Paleo muffins" or "Paleo pancakes".  Instead, we'll will be eating foods like meat, seafood, eggs, veggies, fruit, and healthy fats. The real kind, not the stuff that is full of hormones or artificial additives. So it's pretty open to a lot of delicious meals ... you just have to find them! : )

And one more rule, they ask that you weigh yourself before starting and take measurements, but then you put the scale away. You don't weigh yourself during the actual program, just at the beginning and at the end.

They also ask that you do regular exercise, but I haven't seen where they are very detailed about the rules of that. They do include pre and post workout food options though.

Credit: whole9life.com

What's the Plan?

My plan is to follow what Whole Family Strong did, 2 days on and then 1 day off and repeat. I'll be doing the Fitness Blender workouts for this 30 day challenge. My husband has limitations due to a back injury but he'll be doing stationary bike and road biking  or swimming to get his workouts in.

Creators of Whole30 - Credit: nomnompaleo.com

My husband will be my partner in this, but if you're interested in joining in on the Whole30 Challenge, there is a whole forum available for support and tips or you can be a part of their Facebook and Twitter communities. And if you do better with more structure, they have included the option to sign up for a daily email, called The Whole30 Daily,with guidance and tips to keep you on track with an option to check in for accountability. It does come with a fee, but it's only $14.95 for the month so that is just .50 cents a day, which is not much when you think about how much you will save by not eating out for a month (or trying not to). We signed up for this option.

Want more info? 

If you'd like to see the real results of this program, they have a whole page full of testimonials. If you're still wondering what foods are good foods and which foods should be avoided, they have a book published that you could get as a reference. I have not read it, but if the book is anything like the site then I am sure it will be very helpful. It's called "It Starts with Food". They also recommend checking out the NomNomPaleo website for recipe ideas. Otherwise, we can get started on prepping before the start day. They happen to have a list of very helpful downloadable resources, including a Get Started list.

So ... that's the plan. 

We start on Monday. We got our Day 0 email yesterday when I signed up for it, and they should be sending another one soon to help us get everything set to get started. Today and tomorrow we'll work on cleaning out the fridge and cabinets of anything off-limits, although we don't really have too terribly much of that nowadays. Then we'll run to the grocery store and stock up on all of the things we will be eating for the next week. And tomorrow I'll post our starting weights and measurements. I want to make this a very open and public so you can all see my journey. I would really love to hear about experiences that you've had if you've tried Whole30 before and if you're interested in started the program with me, that would be great to hear your feedback too!

One more thing, I will be posting a new product review in the next day or two, so keep an eye out for that! : )

Primal Blueprint 30 - Day Challenge

 

Source: Mark Sisson - Mark's Daily Apple