What I've learned after week 1, Ashley

This week has been great. I've had headaches, I have been tired, I have been hungry, I have been tempted by walking through a street of funnel cakes but you know I've managed to stay straight and right now that makes me feel so good. I went to six flags yesterday with my brother, Cori and the Jeneral and it would of been so easy to consume donuts, slurpees and pizza, but we brought our own paleo picnic and stayed straight. If I can handle that, then I can even handle Mo's tempations.

Six Flags Paleo Snacks

I've also learned a lot about food this week, that even I did not know, which is pretty exciting.

1. More fat, I need more fat in my diet and early in the day. When I eat half an avocado in the morning, I do much better all day vs. not eating one. Luckily half an avocado for breakfast has been a staple in my diet the past month, with some protein, so I need to be prepared and stick to this plan.

2. 96% of all foods, including organic, have extra sugar added to them. Read the labels people and if that doesn't do for you, start cooking from scratch. With my previous encounter and let down of sunbutter, I decided to make my own toasted hazelnut butter on Friay and this stuff is good. Instead of an ice cream business, maybe I should be doing nut butters.

Ashley's homemade toasted hazelnut butter


Recipe:
2 cups of toasted hazelnuts (375 degrees, 15 minutes, wrap hazelnuts in a damp clean kitchen cloth and let steam for 1 minute, then roll the cloth to remove the skin of the hazelnut. Place in processor, add 1 tablespoon of coconut oil as the machine is spinning until you have the consistency you desire. I like thicker nut butter, so I used about 2 1/2 tablespoons. At the end add a very small pinch of salt, then refrigerate. )

3. Even deli meats, sausages, chicken, beef have glutens added to them. Make sure to ask the butcher for nitrate and gluten free cuts or you're eating garbage. Gene's Sausage in Lincoln Square has a complete section of gluten/nitrate free meats. I recommend the peppered turkey and the london broil roast beef.

4. Being prepared and bringing food with you everywhere keeps you straight. I bring my breakfast with me in the morning to work, because I'd rather sleep then cook in the morning. I also bring my lunch and a mid day snack or two. This keeps me prepared to not fail. If I was to go to work without bringing food, I'm quite sure I would fold somewhere. My favorite snack this past week has been a green apple with a scoop of nut butter and some nuts.

5. If you place a can of full fat coconut milk in the fridge over night, then scoop out the fat portion on the top of the can and whisk it, it makes a pretty damn good whip cream alternative that is paleo. Just add a little vanilla to it and serve with strawberries and bananas. Honestly, this was very satisfying and it felt like a cheat meal.



Next experiment will be paleo ice cream next week. This might be big.

Today is day 8 and I'm ready to start week 2. I feel good, not bloated and disgusting anymore, so I'm excited for the next coming up weeks. I also went to WCCF 4 times this week and it felt good to be back full time to crossfit. I will only get in three wod's this coming up week as I heard the box is closed on Thursday and I'm flying to Colorado early Friday morning, but maybe I'll squeeze in a long bike ride, depending on the weather.