2011 Paleo Challenge: March 2011

What to Eat

What is the Paleo Diet:

The modern dietary regimen known as the Paleolithic diet also popularly referred to as the Caveman diet, Stone Age diet and Hunter-gatherer diet, is a nutritional plan based on the presumed ancient diet of wild plants and animals that various human species habitually consumed during the Paleolithic—a period of about 2.5 million years duration that ended around 10,000 years ago with the development of agriculture. In common usage, such terms as the "Paleolithic diet" also refer to the actual ancestral human diet. Centered on commonly available modern foods, the "contemporary" Paleolithic diet consists mainly of meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, roots, and nuts, and excludes grains, legumes, dairy products, salt, refined sugar, and processed oil.

What to Eat:

YES to WATER. Nothing but water and tons of it!!!

YES to meat, seafood, vegetables, some fruit, eggs, nuts, and seeds. Beef, pork, chicken, lamb, seafood, tuna, salmon, shrimp. Avocado, asparagus, arugula, spinach, broccoli, celery, sweet potatoes, yams, any type of leafy green, red cabbage, artichoke. Berries, melon, pomegranate. Chicken eggs, ostrich eggs. Almonds, brazil nuts, walnuts.

No to processed foods. Pretty much anything in the middle of the grocery store. Can't recognize it growing or running around in the wild? Don't eat it.

No to sugar. I don't care whether it's super natural 100% organic fair trade sugar from the honey of communitarian bees, ITS STILL SUGAR. No sweeteners, no agave nectar, honey or maple syrup.

No grains. This includes bread, rice, pasta, cereal, oatmeal, corn and all of those gluten-free pseudo-grains like quinoa and sprouted grains.

No to legumes. Peanuts, peanut-butter, beans, peas, lentils.

No to dairy. Milk, cheese, yogurt, etc.

No (Less) alcohol. No sugary mixers, no beer or alcohols containing gluten.

Fewer sweet fruits and starchy vegetables. Bananas, eating a bunch of apples, dried fruit, or white potatoes. (If you have serious inflammation issues like arthritis, you may want to consider avoiding all nightshades for 30 days.)

Cook with real fats. If you're cooking, then cook with lard or animal fat. If you don't have that, then cook with coconut oil, olive oil, or butter.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Day 18

Food Log
Breakfast: 2 Eggs, 1 Egg White. 2 Slices Deli Ham, Banana
Lunch: Carrots, Protein Shake w/almond milk, Raw Almonds (2 Fish Oil, 2 Multi)
Snack: Homemade sweet potato fries, Pineapple, Carrots
Dinner: Baked Chicken, Big Spring Salad, Sun-dried Tomatos

Work Out
At home workout
Chest

Woke up this morning with a coffee intervention from my wife... as she sipps her Baileys. J/K only on her days off. Listen up everyone, my food log my look like I am not eating very much and sometimes this is the case but I don't log the few bites of nuts and raw veggies that I munch on through out the day.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Day 17

Food Log
Breakfast: 1 Egg white, 1 Banana (2 Fish Oil, 2 Multi)
Snack: Lara Bar, Pineapple, Few carrots
Lunch: Chicken Salad (2 Fish Oil, 2 Multi)
Snack: Hand full of Almonds, Beef Jerky
Dinner: Pork Sausage, Cabbage, Onions

Work Out
None

Day 16

Food Log
Breakfast: 1, Banana, 1 Egg ham cupcake (2 Fish Oil, 2 Multi)
Snack: Lara Bar
Lunch: 2 Egg ham cupcake, 1 Grapefruit, 5 grapes, 4 strawberries, Starbucks Americano (2 Fish Oil, 2 Multi)
Dinner: Paleo Chicken Pad Thai
Desert: Casin Protein shake w/almond milk (1 Fish Oil)

Work Out
Crossfit Threshold
5 minute AMRAP (As many round/reps as possible)
  5 Box Jumps (24")
  10 Sumo Dead-lift High-pull (95 lbs)
  Rest 1 minute
  Run 800 meters
  Rest 1 minute
Repeat (2 cycles)

Round 1 = 4 Rounds + 1, Run = 4:02
Round 2 = 3 Rounds, Run = 4:21

The workout felt great. I think I maintained good form throughout workout. The SDLHP got a little heavy at the end of the workout, but thats the point, right?! Ashleigh's Paleo Chicken Pad Thai is awesome. I have been having a little issues falling into deep sleep. (I think my brain may be too clear) Wait never mind...

Monday, March 28, 2011

Day 15 - 3/28/2011

Food Log
Breakfast: Banana, 2 Egg Whites (2 Fish Oil, 2 Multi)
Snack: Lara Bar
Lunch: Apple, Mixed Nuts & Dried Fruit, Raw Evolution Bar
Dinner: Everydaypaleo.com's sun dried tomato chicken bake add mushrooms, Mixed greens and nuts.

Workout
None

2 Weeks clean!! Its been very hard not to have one sip of alcohol. I am glad to say, I have now just passed my last record of 14 days. I weighed in today, with no surprise, at 165 lbs. This seems to be my sticking point. Although I feel and look a lot leaner. I am going to try to work on some at home cardio this week. Last week was a bust besides the Crossfit workouts.

Weight= 165 lbs

Day 14

Food Log
Breakfast: Banana, Protein Shake w/almond milk
Lunch: 1 Chicken Apple Sausage, Salad, Protein Shake w/almond milk
Snack: Pineapple, Mixed Nuts
Dinner: Grilled Fish, Coconut Shrimp
Desert: Lara Bar

WorkOut
None

Man I was hungry all day. I need to make some rescue paleo packs Ashleigh retired the night with one too many Key Lime Martini's. While falling asleep, she was laughing and repeating "Honey badger doesn't give a shit". YouTube it!

Day 13

Food Log
Breakfast: Protein Shake w/almond milk, 3 Bacon, 3 Egg Whites (2 Fish Oil, 2 Multi)
Lunch: 1 Chicken Sausage, 1 Pork Sausage, Mixed Nuts
Snack: Dried Mango
Dinner: Baked Salmon, Baked Veggies
Desert: Protein shake w/almond milk

Workout
None

Friday, March 25, 2011

Day 12

Food Log
Breakfast: 4 Mini Turkey Sausages, 1 Banana, Protein Shake w/almond milk (2 Fish Oil, 2 Multi)
Lunch: Grapefruit, Larabar, Mixed Nuts
Snack: Muscle Milk (Bad)
Dinner: Seared Tuna, Veggie Mix

Workout
None

Day 11

Food Log
Breakfast: 2 Bacon, 1 Egg 2 Egg Whites (2 Fish Oil, 2 Multi)
Lunch: Raw Revolution Bar (Mango), Protein Shake w/almond milk, Mixed Nuts
Post-workout: Protein Shake w/almond milk, Dried Mango
Dinner: Nut Crusted Fish, 1/4 Sweet Potato, Spinach
Desert: Ashleigh's Paleo Key Lime Pie

Work Out
Crossfit Threshold
5 Rounds for time
10 Deadlifts (185 Lbs)
200 Jump rope
Time= 21:23

Good workout and felt good today. Man, I need to learn to do double unders. 1000 Singles is ridiculous. 185 was a good weight for 10 rep Deadlift. "If you love deadlifts, say you love deadlifts."

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Day 10

Food Log
Breakfast: 2 Egg Whites
Brunch: 1 Slice of Paleo Meat Loaf, 1 Grapefruit (2 Fish Oil, 2 Multi)
Lunch: Mixed Nuts
Dinner: 4 Lamb Chops, Mixed Veggies (Mushrooms, Zucchini,Squash)
Desert: Handful of grapes

Work Out
None

Busy with work and finished our taxes today. We treated ourselves to some Greenstreet in Coconut Grove. My meal was good but not great. Its hard walking around in Coconut Grove and not having a drink. 35 more days. DANNNGG

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Day 9

Food Log
Breakfast: Banana, Protein Shake w/almond milk (2 Fish Oil, 2 Multi)
Snack: Lara Bar, Ashleigh's first attempt at paleo fruit muffins, not bad!!!
Lunch: Turkey Sausage, Apple (2 Fish Oil, 2 Multi)
Dinner: 1 Slice of Paleo Meat Loaf, Asparagus
Desert: 1/4 cup Coconut sorbet (has some cane sugar), Apple w/Almond butter

Work Out
At home workout
Chest, Back, Tri's

We ate dinner a little to early today and in turn we were hungry before bed.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Day 8 - 3/21/2011

Food Log
Breakfast: 1 Egg 2 Egg Whites, 1/4 Banana, (2 Fish Oil, 2 Multi)
Brunch: Lara Bar
Lunch: Grilled Chicken, Apple, Carrots
Dinner: Ashleigh's Toasted Pumpkin Seed Crusted Fish, Sauteed Asparagus
Desert: Casin Protein Shake w/almond milk

Work-Out
Crossfit Threshold
50 Box Jumps (24")
Run 400 meters
25 Front Squats (95 lbs)
Run 400 meters
50 KB Swings (55 lbs)
Run 400 meters
Time 19:09

Felt good throughout today. Front squat form felt solid but I was gassed for the KB swings. Ash cooked a mean piece of fish today. She said she is going to work on posting her Paleo recipes for all, we'll see!! This morning I weighed in at 165. I don't think I will lose much more weight but hopefully the fat continues to melt off.
Weight: 165 lbs

Day 7

Food Log
Breakfast: Protein Shake w/almond milk, Banana
Brunch: Dried Mango, Mixed Nuts
Lunch: Shredded beef, Grapes
Snack: Big green salad w/ some chicken
Dinner: Mixed Nuts, Ground Beef, Onions, Jalapeños

Workout
Brief workout on bi's

All in all, I had a very lazy weekend but it was nice. Legs are back and I am ready for Mondays WOD.

Day 6

Food Log
Breakfast: Protein shake w/almond milk, Banana
Brunch: Dried Mango, Mixed Nuts
Lunch: Grilled Chicken
Dinner: Grilled Pork Sausage, Mixed Nuts, Grapes
Desert: Raw Vegan Bar (nasty)

Work-Out
None

Legs are still stiff and i didn't get a good nights sleep. Note to self, don't drink coffee at 8:30pm.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Day 5

Food Log
Breakfast: 2 Cups of Coffee, Protein Shake w/almond milk, Banana
Brunch: 2 Bacon, 1 Egg, 2 Egg Whites (2 Fish Oil, 2 Multi)
Lunch: Mixed Nuts, Protein Shake, Carrots,
Dinner: Ashleigh's Paleo Steak Pad Thai (Steak, Zucchini, Almond Butter, Onions, Ginger)

Work-Out
None

My legs are recovering from Thursday WOD. Pretty stiff. Today I figured out why Chris Holt from Threshold loves Starbucks black coffee. Me and Ash were at Whole foods and my attitude was like hitting a brick wall. I had no energy, no motivation and I wanted to eat everything in the store. Iced black coffee saved the day. I almost felt drunk I was so happy.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Day 4

Food Log
Breakfast: 2 Hard Boilded Egg Whites, Banana, Protein Shake w/almond milk. (2 Fish Oil, 2 Multi)
Brunch: Mixed Nuts
Lunch: Carrots, "Pork Fried "Rice" Cauliflower" (2 Fish Oil, 2 Multi)
Snack: Protein Shake w/almond milk
Pre-work Out: 1 Grapefruit
Post-work Out: Protein Shake w/almond milk
Dinner: Steak, Cauliflower, Onions, Broccoli
Desert: Strawberries and cream

Workout
Crossfit Threshold
3 Rounds for time
  10- 20 lbs Wall Ball Shots
  20-75 lbs Push press
  40 Squats
Time= 12:22

Woke up and my lower back was a little stiff. Decided I really wanted to hit todays WOD. Once again it was tough. Push press was easy and legs were weak, all in all my heart was pounding. Slow recovery. My beautiful wife made me a strawberries and cream(unsweetened coconut cream) with raw coco desert to settle my first late night sweet tooth. Did the trick.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Day 3

Food Log
Breakfast: Leftover steak and Zucchini Squash, (2 Fish Oil, 2 Multi)
Brunch: Raw Revolution Bar (Mango)

Lunch: Protein Shake w/almond milk, Carrots, Mixed Nuts, Slice of Grapefruit (2 Fish Oil, 2 Multi)

Snack: Raw Revolution Bar (Banana)
Post Workout: Protein Shake w/almond milk
Dinner: Sauteed Chicken, Pork Fried Rice "Cauliflower"

Workout
Crossfit Threshold
5 Rounds for Time
  15 Dead-lifts @ 155lbs
  15 Sit-ups
  250 meter row
Time 19:10

Woke up feeling pretty charged. All the water & clean diet is already kicking in. The workout was really tough. I couldn't catch my breath, heart was pounding. Its amazing what two weeks off can do.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Day 2

Food Log
Breakfast: Protien Shake w/almond milk, 1/2 Lara Bar (2 Fish Oil, 2 Multi)
Brunch: Apple
Lunch: 1 Grilled chicken breast, Grapefruit, Nut Mix
Snack: Few cocktail shrimp, carrots
Dinner: 6oz Steak w bacon, Zucchini Squash Shrooms , Salad w/ Lite Vin.,

Workout
None

With a long work day and friends over for dinner I'm little disappointed I didn't get workout in. But good times with friends. Heavy lemon in my water instead of booze seems to help.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Day 1 - 3/14/2011

Food Log
Breakfast: 2 Chicken Apple Sausage, Protein shake (2 Fish Oil, 2 Multi)
Lunch: Grilled Chicked, Apple, Carrots (2 Fish Oil, 2 Multi)
Snack: Lara Bar
Dinner: Seared Ahi Tuna, Seaweed Salad, Asparagus

Workout
At home lifting: Chest, Back, Tri's

It's day one and damn I want a rita and a piece of key lime pie. I weighed in at 170.5 lbs this morning.
Weight 170.5 lbs

Ashleigh's Cave

Ok... so when Bryan and I got married the only thing I knew how to cook was mac n cheese (gross). Fast forward two years and our meals and our bodies are way better looking. I did a strict paleo challenge back in November coming in second place (still bitter). At that time we really had no kitchen (in the middle of a total remodel) and my meals were difficult and boring. This time I am cooking up a storm. I don't really make anything original so thankfully there are really awesome paleo cooks out there giving out their really awesome paleo recipes for free. Once you start feeding your face with the wholesome goodness that is paleo your taste buds will never be the same. Time to get cookin'!
Disclaimer: For the benefit of everyone who knows me and must come into contact with me, I am not abiding by the no alcohol rule during this challenge. This way no one gets hurt.

2011 Paleo Challenge