Potage Parmentier....simplicity itself

I finally started reading Julie and Julia.

The first recipe up - Potage Parmentier, described as "simplicity itself." Potatoes, leeks, salt.

Simple, but not easy. SO TRUE.

Makes me think of my "clean eating" goal. I mean really, how complex could it be to just cut out processed foods from our diets and eat whole foods? Simple concept...however, I am running into some implementation barriers. Willpower being barrier numero uno. I think I eat a box a week of Raisin Nut Bran. It's delicious. And Easy. And processed.

Frankly, I think I need a full time personal chef to make this happen - the weekly grocery shopping for fresh foods alone is not a piece of cake (oops, bad analogy).

Suggestions anyone? I am going to subscribe to Casey's Clean Eating magazine for tips :-)

P90X - 60 Day Fit Test Results Are In

I just finished phase 2 phase of  P90X (classic version). I didn't skip any workouts! Results matter - here ya go....they are listed as Day 0, 30, 60: 

1) Push-ups: 10, 30, 35
2) Vertical leap: 8.25", 10.25", 11.25"
3) Toe Touch: 5", 6.75", 7.25"
4) Wall Squat: 1:26, 2:00, 2:30
5) "in and out" Ab crunches: 45, 75, 88
6) Bicep curls w/10 lb weights: 22, 30, 35
7) Weight: 127 lb, 124.4 lb, 122.6 lb
8) Body fat %: 24,8%, 24.9%, 22.5%


The best part? I have biceps! I actually did my FIRST chin up without jumping. Woo hoo. 

I am getting close to my goals:
1) Measurements: Weight: 122, Body Fat: 22%
2) Strength: 1 regular pull up (chin up doesn't count!)
3) Endurance: I am going to run in the St Patty's Day 8K


I have to admit I am planning a hiatus for the next 7 days. I am traveling to Florida to be with my mom because she is ill. I am going to use this time to "train" a bit for the 8K since I haven't been jogging in months. But, as soon as I return it is on to PHASE 3 - bring it. 

Waste not, want not

I can't stand to waste things. No, I don't think you understand. You see, I also don't like clutter. I don't want things in my house that are of no use. Yet I can't just throw things away. If I am going to get rid of something it has to go to good use. I donate a LOT of stuff to Goodwill. I eat all of my leftovers. I scrapbook. And everything else is tucked away out of sight in all the nooks and crannies of the house.

I was reading this article in Cooking Light magazine common mistakes people make when cooking or baking. I thought to myself, "Hmmm...perhaps this will help me figure out why my whole wheat bread looks nothing like a loaf of bread when I am done baking it."  The article suggested fresh was best when it comes to essential baking ingredients like baking soda and baking powder. I thought of this while I was at the grocery store and broke down and paid $3 to invest in some new baking soda and baking powder because I figured it had probably been more than 6 months since I bought those ingredients....and I really want to make a good loaf of bread.  When I got home I pulled the old containers out of the cabinet and just out of curiosity I checked the expiration date.....

MARCH 2004!?!

Yes, that was 6 YEARS ago, not 6 months ago. And yet I still didn't want to toss it out....it looked perfectly good. A little Googling and I come to find out that it is a great way to take the stink out of your trash cans.  Ahhhh, I feel better now.

Do I have a problem?

I hate it, but I love it.

That is such a Tony Horton-ism. But I am actually not talknig about P90X today, I am talking about Splenda, or sucrolose. I love it. I love sugar, but I think I might love splenda more. It is 98% as yummy as sugar and has no calories.

I have been using Splenda for quite some time now and I the thought has crossed my mind on more than one occasion, "I bet this is really bad for me." I mean c'mon, is anything that tastes this good really supposed to be a guilt-free pleasure? No way. But, ignorance was bliss. Until I bought a book at the airport during my snow delay last week. Oh boy, here it comes:

"A few of the side effects of sucrolose in animal studies include shrunken thymus glands, enlarged liver and kidneys, atrophy of the lymph follicles in the spleen and thymus, reduced growth rate, decreased red blood cell count, hyperplasia of the pelvis, aborted pregnancy, decreased fetal body weights and placental weights, and diarrhea."

Say it ain't so.  Those are pretty extreme side effects and who knows what kind of study this was but to make matters worse the article went on to list the more common side effects including "Bloating, abdominal pain, gas, nausea, blurry vision, headaches, frquent need to urinate at night...." and on and on.

All the more reason to avoid eating anything that comes in a package. My morning coffee is doomed - have you read the ingredient list on the bottle of creamer:

It could be worse.

I have completed the first phase of the P90X (classic version) without skipping a workout and the results are not stunning, but tolerable! I lost 2.5 lbs but my body fat % has remained the same (24.8%). Here are the pretty big wins:

1) Push-ups: +20 (10 to 30)
2) Vertical leap +2" (8.25" to 10.25")
3) Toe Touch +1.75 (5" to 6.75")
4) Wall Squat +35 sec (1:26 - 2:00)
5) "in and out" Ab crunches +30 (45 to 75)
6) Bicep curls +8 reps (22 to 30 w/10 lb weights)

Okay phase two, I am ready for you. BRING IT.

Not too much!

For me there seems to be a very fine line between enough and too much.

We have all heard of the "20 minute rule" where it takes this much time for the food you have eaten to reach your small intestines and signnal to your brain to stop eating. In theory if you eat slowly your food will get to your gut before you have woofed down a super-sized serving.

Why can't I be more like my mother and nephew? If you want to see a slow-eaters contest you just have to check these two out. Breakfast is only half eaten by lunch time. Me, well, not so much. I am more like my dad. We can eat a meal lickedy split. Since I can't seem to slow myself down I have implemented a new strategy. While I am cooking dinner I eat my salad in hopes to fill myself up on some healthy PLANTS and allow enough travel time for the road trip to my intestines.

That's it. Now go read the book: In Defense of Food.

Mostly plants....

This is a toughy. But, to sum it up, it is pretty much a universal consensus that eating plants is good for you. However, since I am an omnivore so here is the next point - you are what what you eat eats, too. Just as I should eat veggies, cows should eat grass. But they don't. Why? Because it is cheaper to feed them seeds. And this makes them sick. And so we give them antibiotics. And therefore I eat a less healthy slab of beef with too few omega 3's and too much saturated fat. You'll have to read the book (see previous post) for the details...

So, what to do? Pull out your wallet and eat organic. 100% grass fed beef....look for the word "pastured" on the package so you know the animals has access to grass. The same goes for chickens and their eggs.