Day 16 cocoNUTS!

Day 16!  I am over the hump.  It has gone pretty quickly for me, as this year is flying by already.  I feel great.  I have so much more energy than before, my skin looks even better and my clothes are growing.

One thing about Paleo one will find is the use of coconut.  There's coconut flakes (unsweetened), oil (virgin, organic and cold pressed is best), milk, water, butter and aminos (substitute for soy sauce).  One thing that I have heavily relied upon that I have begun to rethink is coconut milk.  I am referring to the canned variety.  The kind that comes in a carton is almost always a big no-no as they add lots of sugar to make it taste good.  The canned variety I am not so sure is all that great either.  At first I was using Goya and a couple of other brands when I was living in Japan.  It was all I had access to, but I didn't like the fact that they add sulfites.  Here in the US I have found Native Forest's organic coconut milk.  I like the fact that it is organic and does not have sulfites.  However, it does have guar gum.  From what I have read guar gum comes from legumes- specifically soy (don't quote me on that).  Soy is a big no-no as well in a healthy paleo diet.  And the last thing that bothers me is BPA's- the fact that it comes in a can (and does not indicate it is BPA free).

I looked for a homemade version of coconut milk.  And yes- I have found some recipes- all which involve using coconut flakes and then straining the solid pieces out.  It is supposed to be quick- but...

Specifically I use coconut milk in my coffee.  (Yes I use a Keurig and no my coffee is not always organic- don't judge please.)  I have kicked the artificial creamer habit- and that is hard to do.  It was one of the last things I gave up.  Coconut milk works well if you heat up the milk in your mug prior to pouring the coffee in- it helps it to blend.

Seeing how I was trying to kick the canned coconut milk habit- I decided to try something new.  Well some people use butter in their coffee (I have tried it and it's not bad).  So I decided to try coconut butter.  Wow!  It is yummy.  The coffee isn't as creamy- but it has a nice smooth taste with a hint of coconut.  The dregs at the bottom are the best part.  The coconut butter I use is pictured above.  That stuff is the bomb!  I always lick the spoon afterwards.

What do you think?  Would you try it?  I use a good heaping tablespoon.

Butt Sweat Angels, Fish Oil and My Lunch

Today was a good day as far as being a cave girl.  I at right, except for a little dairy (I am using full cream in my coffee because I cannot find my organic coconut milk I like to use.)  I had an awesome WOD, and I had an awesome lunch.

My lunch- Buffalo Chicken Meatloaf (see yesterday's post), spinach salad with homemade mayo dressing, and my coconut water I forgot to drink yesterday.  I was stuffed, and it was yummy.

Today my WOD consisted off push jerks, lateral burpees, and kettlebell swings.  I literally told my coach that the bar was too heavy, but he made me keep going anyway.  It was a rough WOD, but I felt awesome afterwards for having done it.  You know how your muscles feel all nice and warm after a good workout?  That is a great feeling.  I also made a nice butt sweat angel after I was done:

I had run out of my fish oil so I decided to pick up some of the Stronger Faster Healthier Brand of fish oil (sold ay my box).  It is liquid so I wasn't sure how I would like it.  This kind I picked up is vanilla.  There is no gluten, sugar or soy in it.  And it was actually quite tasty!  I did burp it up a couple of times afterwards (I had the full dose of 2tsp which is almost 5000mg- I usually take 4000mg with the pills), but it wasn't an unpleasant taste at all.  One wouldn't know it be fish oil.  I am impressed so far- I might just stick with it.

Speaking of fish oil- my hubby is now taking it.  He has super high cholesterol, and had been to a cardiologist to have his heart checked out.  His heart is super healthy, including great blood pressure.  But for some reason his "bad levels" are off the charts.  I was dreading what he was going to be prescribed as I believe some meds do more harm but good.  But I think his doc has caught on and he prescribed fish oil!  That really gives me hope.

Buffalo Chicken Meatloaf with BACON!

Like I said yesterday- I was planning on making Buffalo Chicken Meatloaf for today.  So I went shopping after my WOD this morning and decided to double the recipe and add bacon.  Oh it smelled heavenly while it was cooking.  Unfortunately I didn't have time to try it before work and had to wait for my lunch break to eat it.
 It came out perfect, I only think next time I need MOAR BACONZ!  I didn't do the muffin cups like I thought I would- not enough time- I barely got it out of the oven and cooled off enough to put back in the fridge before I left for work.

We had this for dinner as well- I added a spinach salad with my homemade mayo dressing I love.

A little sneak peak into my lunch bag.  Underneath the Lara Bar and coconut water was my cantaloupe and meatloaf.  I actually forgot to drink the coconut water today and the Lara Bar was enjoyed on the way to and from work.  

I try not to rely on them (Lara Bars) too much because 1. they are expensive and 2. I try to keep them as emergency food when I am on the run.  Which was the case today- I didn't have much time this morning to eat before work (except for some extra bacon I cooked.)

Do you eat breakfast before a morning workout?  Robb Wolf suggests that we don't if we work out early enough.  Some people say you HAVE to eat something.  But I find if I am eating clean- I don't get the "sugars" in the morning (meaning I don't feel like I am starving because my blood sugar dropped after eating crap the night before.)  I only drink water and I am fine to work out.  After my WOD I am ravenous of course and food tastes so good at that point.  It is more enjoyable all the way around.  If I do make myself eat before hand- usually just a banana or something light- I am burping and heaving during my WOD.  I don't ever throw up- but that banana never tastes that great the second time around.  

And if I work out in the morning, I wait to drink any coffee.  Why?  If you have had children, you may know the answer.  I have a hard enough time practicing my double-unders without the threat of coffee making me run for the bathroom to pee (and I don't always make it)!  TMI- I know but I have to keep it real. =)