tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88908491331284649502024-02-06T18:31:14.918-08:00Cheers to LIFE!Bree and Guinnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08048828445543458294noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890849133128464950.post-38138547297257334872011-05-16T07:41:00.000-07:002011-05-16T07:41:13.924-07:00Monday Morning Workout--Back to the Basics!Every Primal/Paleo cite I read has some sort of recommendation for a Workout of the Week (WOW), so my blog would not be complete without one! HELLO, Bree! <br />
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The goal of my weekly workouts will be to get people moving and most of them can be done right in your living room--barefoot or in these sweet Vibrams (see picture) <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QSJYZPsNty0k6cyDxjZ6V0Z7XxnT8aYZFmZZ-IAKMDeDHSfOw2ZAuTRPxiuZBgH4FhQl67YCfeIqnLetbaIJFALZ34jVDW2m1QUIYULFHqDZzq5dDX3fQtIYZ1VF0Zw3ExAXeQD-4DQ/s1600/womens_vibram_five_finger_bikila_pink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QSJYZPsNty0k6cyDxjZ6V0Z7XxnT8aYZFmZZ-IAKMDeDHSfOw2ZAuTRPxiuZBgH4FhQl67YCfeIqnLetbaIJFALZ34jVDW2m1QUIYULFHqDZzq5dDX3fQtIYZ1VF0Zw3ExAXeQD-4DQ/s320/womens_vibram_five_finger_bikila_pink.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">If you haven't done so already, download <a href="http://www.marksdailyapple.com/primal-blueprint-fitness/">Mark Sisson's Primal Blueprint Fitness ebook</a>. It's completely FREE and it will explain and demonstrate some basic movements to get you moving! I highly recommend it because it will explain why we don't really need a massive gym and crazy equipment to stay in shape. Our bodies were meant to move and function in the environment with ease. These basic movements are in line with what our bodies were meant to do and will help make your daily activities that much easier!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So, here's my Monday Morning Workout to get you moving! </div><br />
1) Basic Plank--hold for 1 minute<br />
2) 50 Squats--please read Mark's for the proper form because I am no trainer and I gotta keep it real. <br />
3) 25 push-ups (BIG GIRL PUSHUPS) <br />
4) 10 Overhead presses--modified to Level 4 <br />
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Then REPEAT this! <br />
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This workout takes 25 minutes start-to-finish! Just try your best! If you need to modify, use Mark's PBF ebook to assist you and most of all, I hope you all have a great Monday! <br />
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Cheers to LIFE!--BreeBree and Guinnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08048828445543458294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890849133128464950.post-55279101863863728422011-05-14T10:46:00.000-07:002011-05-14T10:46:58.607-07:00You want to feed your kid WHAT?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I work with children. I’m a speech therapist by day and a Primal Enthusiast by evening. I love children. I love Primal living. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I enjoy most aspects of the daily career that I have chosen for myself. I get to help children learn to communicate and to become chatty little creatures. Awesome? Yes, I think so! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I feel a special connection to the kids I work with and I want to protect them and teach them just as if they were my own. So when I ran across an article today in the local newspaper I couldn’t help but think of how I wish I could meld my two worlds: Speech therapy and Primal living. This article really got me thinking. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You see, children don’t get to be in charge of much. From the moment they wake up choices are often made for them. Parents tell them when to bathe, when to brush their teeth, what to drink, what to eat, what to wear and when to go to bed and more! It’s what parents do, right? After all, as parents and teachers it’s our JOB to teach them HOW to do all these things, correct? If we don’t teach them, then who will? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">During the daytime, I work in the homes of the rich. I also work in the homes of the poor. In both cases, children are treated the same--No real choices throughout the day even when it comes to food. Food is provided and kids chow it down. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You may be saying to yourself, "Maybe the parents can't afford to shop for meats, fresh veggies and fruit (what I refer to as REAL FOOD)?" I disagree.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It's not because parents cannot afford real food. In fact, some of the higher income homes I go into the parents bring home dinner in take-out containers and paper sacks more frequently than in the lower income homes. Healthy food choices and income don't seem to play much of a role in the choices that are provided. In some homes children’s choices go something like this, “Ralphie, would you like strawberries or yogurt.” In other homes choices go something like this, “Nate, would you like chicken nuggets or hamburger?” or my favorite, “McDonald’s or Taco Bell, Timmy?” What's available in the kitchens and homes of children is not directly correlated with income in many cases. I believe, it's all a matter of convenience. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But here's my real point: We could kill two birds with one stone. Why not provide REAL FOOD? Nutritious fruits, vegetables and meats that sustain our children throughout the day. These foods maintain blood sugars, regulate energy and promote healthy brain development and immunity. If you say you don't have the money I will say, "You are a crazy fool." You would find money if your child needed to go to the doctor for an ear infection, needed insulin to stabilize blood sugars or medication to control hyperactivity. If you can find money for these doctor visits and medications, then you can find the money to feed your kids real food. Afterall, it's their greatest line of defense and real food prevents 90% of these problems anyway! </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Gq9FvHzBldnVy7OTJQYOZlZtyyJT8NGylq0uomP8cZRn1hyphenhyphencp85vMlwLW7QzKC3ljzvCI6da_tn2Hz8swfXn_8PCKX2Vc-CL8nHYGhgqTcOrtdCc97u1zAxisOKs7XP2YaPxByc7jZg/s1600/tantrum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Gq9FvHzBldnVy7OTJQYOZlZtyyJT8NGylq0uomP8cZRn1hyphenhyphencp85vMlwLW7QzKC3ljzvCI6da_tn2Hz8swfXn_8PCKX2Vc-CL8nHYGhgqTcOrtdCc97u1zAxisOKs7XP2YaPxByc7jZg/s1600/tantrum.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Think of it like this: “Perhaps, Timmy would have only 1 meltdown per week if we fed him real, nutritious food—like vegetables that grow out of the ground?” or “Maybe he would follow directions or attend to therapy tasks more willingly if he didn’t just eat 42 M&M’s in 30 seconds and his brain could focus?” Hell, I’d be 10 seconds from looney too if I ate half the crap we feed our kids! Give me one ‘fruit’ snack and I will have a sugar crash in 20 minutes and fully demonstrate a temper tantrum for you-- complete with whining, crying and self-injurious behavior! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just a thought here, but don’t our kids deserve more from us? Why is processed, sugary food even an option for them? Don’t they deserve for us to teach them to eat real food? How to grow food, love food, cook food and enjoy food? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Can't we make eating and feeding our family a learning opportunity? Think of all the verbs, nouns, adjectives and language that can be incorporated in preparing real food as a family! You can have wonderful conversations around food and around the dinner table. It is possible to meld these two worlds--Speech therapy and Primal living. Trust me. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Kids need us. They need us to make some better choices. We need to educate ourselves about eating real food and taking care of our bodies just as much as we educate ourselves about what preschool to send our child to, or whether to bring our child into this world in a hospital or through home birth? Don’t our kids deserve better than what we have? Or better than what we know? I think so and I'm willing to bet that you think so too. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sorry for the very opinionated post today! I hope it at least made you think, laugh or rage with anger just like me. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here are a couple of family friendly blogs about eating REAL FOOD: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://everydaypaleo.com/">http://everydaypaleo.com/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://www.growinguppaleo.com/">http://www.growinguppaleo.com/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Cheers to LIFE!--Bree</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Bree and Guinnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08048828445543458294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890849133128464950.post-42752948338142794662011-05-13T14:02:00.000-07:002011-05-13T17:13:58.484-07:00We all get a little lazy sometimes<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have to confess something. It’s terrible, but then again, most confessions are just that—Terrible. I’ve been eating Primally since January 1, 2011. I’ve had no trouble fitting in my jeans recently and that’s a great feeling, but I’ve been terribly lazy. L-A-Z-Y…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pre-Primal Bree would be at the gym 5 to 6 days a week doing a mix of cardio and strength training. I was a self-described, “gym rat,” and I was totally ok with that. Now that I’ve got my eating under control, I’ve noticed that my trips to the gym are few and far between. In the past month I took a 2 week hiatus from the gym and worked out approximately 5 times total. Hmmm…what caused this change in me? This is not the Bree that I know…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been working my booty off in many other ways…I’ve been working on designing a better blog, researching and learning everything I can about blogging and web design. I’ve been designing new AAC tools for my clients to use with the iPad. I’ve been working on new goals for my clients. I’ve been shopping and cooking almost every meal at home. I’ve been spending time with friends and family. I’ve been really focused on getting enough sleep. But all this time, I’ve been neglecting my dearest friend, gym. Crap. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s not that I couldn’t go to the gym. I DO have the time. I DO have the desire, but I also have the desire to do the 20 other things that I mentioned above. Herein lays/lies the dilemma. I’m not perfect and dang it, I wish I was! So it’s time to put the gym back into the routine. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tomorrow is gonna start off with a hike. Who is with me?? Any takers?? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_Po353oCj9GhpHqfLqzzQa6TZzvZbn_PKeFHdFfy5TJ3jdBalKnSikf9Xn-25odVdRmvjJxInphfbB2jaFHSYx4IsZYQAIIR4IgXExLkqB4ZB-jsOaKHPwKlchwgpxGEK-WJ3uNkB3s/s1600/008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_Po353oCj9GhpHqfLqzzQa6TZzvZbn_PKeFHdFfy5TJ3jdBalKnSikf9Xn-25odVdRmvjJxInphfbB2jaFHSYx4IsZYQAIIR4IgXExLkqB4ZB-jsOaKHPwKlchwgpxGEK-WJ3uNkB3s/s320/008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Cheers to Life!--BreeBree and Guinnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08048828445543458294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890849133128464950.post-49107025229809874292011-05-11T19:30:00.000-07:002011-05-13T06:11:06.603-07:00Lunch Hodgepodge!About once a week I run into this- "I'mnotsurewhatIwanttoeat" problem and I look into the refrigerator that is usually packed with a random chicken breast, some half chopped onion, bacon, sausage or something of the like. So, in an effort not to waste a penny, I have started cooking a weekly 'hodgepodge' of things from the refrigerator. Here is this week's hodgepodge recipe just in case you have the desire to toss a few things in a pan and get cookin' like I do! <br />
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1 random lonely organic chicken breast<br />
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2 chicken sausage links <br />
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1/2 a yellow onion<br />
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1 sweet potato<br />
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1 tsp garlic<br />
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1/2 tsp cumin<br />
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1/4 tsp turmeric<br />
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6 tsp coconut oil <br />
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Sea Salt/pepper/garlic powder to taste<br />
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Here's a tip: You have to cook the sweet potato in one pan while you cook the meat in another pan. <br />
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So I begin by sticking the chicken sausage in a pan on medium heat and letting it brown up on the sides. While that is cooking, I chop up the sweet potato into chunks and toss it in a separate pan with 3 tsp coconut oil. I season the sweet potato chunks with sea salt, pepper and about 1/2 tsp of garlic powder (you can use the real deal, but I was in a bit of a hurry so I used garlic powder instead--no biggie). Chop up the chicken breast here too!<br />
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Then, I go back to the sausage links, take them out of the pan and slice them into bite-sized pieces. I toss a little coconut oil into the pan with the diced up chicken breast (I also diced the chicken breast while the sausage was cooking. While the chicken is cooking I toss in half a yellow onion that has been chopped up recklessly (no need for precision when you are making a hodgepodge). While these items are cooking I toss in the turmeric, cumin, black pepper and sea salt and add back in the sausage. I also had some chicken broth in the fridge leftover from a couple of days ago so I tossed in about 1/4 cup of that and let everything finish cooking along with the sweet potatoes from the other pan. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hzqkcdwLNTu3GBSJyeAXkMcEFNbVCSqO7xu_dHmTo2WqIUMnsKWBoTWpQuZa2-6yNJp2jXvgNzwTf2Pn4iW_DDHtCVCqdo_Y9xWO46ZsSHdPpQlwUw3bz57cioA5stKre0UciHYKLKQ/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hzqkcdwLNTu3GBSJyeAXkMcEFNbVCSqO7xu_dHmTo2WqIUMnsKWBoTWpQuZa2-6yNJp2jXvgNzwTf2Pn4iW_DDHtCVCqdo_Y9xWO46ZsSHdPpQlwUw3bz57cioA5stKre0UciHYKLKQ/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>TADA!!!! Lunch was ready. This took me 30 minutes from start to finish--super easy! Don't be scared of all the randomness in your refrigerator! It could be something fantastic in a matter of minutes! <br />
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Let me know what you throw in a pan sometimes! Perhaps it turns out to be my new favorite recipe?! <br />
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Cheers to Life!--BreeBree and Guinnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08048828445543458294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890849133128464950.post-70931122722471023112011-05-04T20:41:00.000-07:002011-05-04T20:43:11.353-07:00I cook...from a book...I love to cook! It is like one of the most relaxing, fun, exciting things that I do daily...This week I had a bunch of leftovers to eat up so I spent the first part of the week eating those up and then went to the blogs to make some yummy food for tonight. <br />
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One of my favorite blogs, Everyday Paleo, was featuring a new recipe today--<a href="http://everydaypaleo.com/2011/05/03/curried-meatballs/#more-2305">Curried Meatballs</a>. I loved these meatballs. I made them using only 1 lb of grass-fed hamburger and then I took some chicken italian sausage that I bought at Trader Joes and inserted 3 sausages into the mix. In order to do this you take the casing off of the sausage and then just mix it in as you would the hamburger. I cooked the meatballs just like Sarah recommended and I even made the sauce! Super Yummy! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zNtK8LxiXkL8RoIJWi1U_9cRjERf0t44iUYcpd1wqE8_x_Bsd4H9EI3ejuY3ybuTzOQIAHoa8dR2Idy6heMB_DkghUjNKEWvKJcpfed8YtVcdEzrACq8icXHZY1Xshq14pf2-9ymUjo/s1600/meatballs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3zNtK8LxiXkL8RoIJWi1U_9cRjERf0t44iUYcpd1wqE8_x_Bsd4H9EI3ejuY3ybuTzOQIAHoa8dR2Idy6heMB_DkghUjNKEWvKJcpfed8YtVcdEzrACq8icXHZY1Xshq14pf2-9ymUjo/s1600/meatballs.jpg" /></a></div>Here is a photo of the aftermath! They were sooo good! <br />
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I had already planned in my head that I wanted to make some cookies using the new coconut flour that I bought at Whole Foods. So I searched and searched until I found one that I thought would be perfect! <a href="http://cavemanstrong.com/2010/12/coconut-banana-cookies/">Coconut Banana Cookies</a>! I actually went with this one because I had all the ingredients! So good too! I could eat all of them--like right now! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FMOy1dFlbRraXGIwYg3Bo6zQc2ZAVipNC-DWLpQ9QXEWkK-bHzQ2lS6wIIcc-NGVtPPbk0sZSGeYqWpksDC3poYbE9Bk4bjfW1htvZJ4PUlbP_uxp3h7Xne7kPbJIeGYha_IZNgQcjw/s1600/cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7FMOy1dFlbRraXGIwYg3Bo6zQc2ZAVipNC-DWLpQ9QXEWkK-bHzQ2lS6wIIcc-NGVtPPbk0sZSGeYqWpksDC3poYbE9Bk4bjfW1htvZJ4PUlbP_uxp3h7Xne7kPbJIeGYha_IZNgQcjw/s1600/cookies.jpg" /></a></div><br />
These are how mine turned out but if you want to take a peek at the recipe here is the Paleo Website that I used: <a href="http://cavemanstrong.com/2010/12/coconut-banana-cookies/">http://cavemanstrong.com/2010/12/coconut-banana-cookies/</a><br />
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I'm going on month 5 of Paleo/Primal and I'm really starting to just do it like clockwork. I do have the occasional cheat here and there...but I'm pretty much on track and lovin' it! I'm learning to cook and I'm learning to listen to my body. I could not be happier with my health at this moment! <br />
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Cheers to Life!--BreeBree and Guinnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08048828445543458294noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890849133128464950.post-16995819362835281022011-04-24T09:19:00.000-07:002011-04-24T09:19:56.453-07:00Bree's Easter WODHappy Easter everyone! I know I have enjoyed this weekend to the fullest and it's not even over yet...however...<br />
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This weekend has been especially difficult with keeping Primal in diet and exercise. In fact, this whole week I had originally set out to have zero alcohol! On Monday, I was talking to a Primal friend and just made the statement that I wouldn't drink this week...well, that all went right out the window by Wednesday evening (I think). Anyway, I had a beer and then Friday turned into an entire day by the pool with a couple of my best girlfriends and then...boom...I drank alcohol and ate a bunch of crap. Oh well, it is what it is. I think this just goes to show that I am completely human. Trust me, I will get back on the Primal horse tomorrow and keep on going because it makes me feel so much better! <br />
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Anyway, I woke up this morning and was somehow magically motivated to workout after eating like complete crap the last few days and this is the workout that I came up with at the gym. By the way...you don't really even need a gym to do this workout, just some motivation to get moving. So here it is: <br />
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1 mile jog <br />
Tabata sprints 8:20:10 (this means 8 sprints for 20 seconds on and 10 seconds off)<br />
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1 set of burpees 10-12 burpees each set ( I don't try to count them, I just do as many as I can per set until I feel like I might die, then stop). <br />
20 seconds of push-up position planks (hold both feet on floor for first 10 sec, then lift each foot for 5 seconds totally 20 seconds)<br />
REPEAT 2 times for a total of 3 sets<br />
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20 walking lunges (bodyweight only)<br />
10 to 15 pushups (modify if necessary) <br />
REPEAT 2 times for a total of 3 sets<br />
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20 squats (bodyweight only) <br />
10 jumping lunges (no weights for obvious safety reasons)<br />
REPEAT 2 times for a total of 3 sets<br />
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15 Tricep dips (you can do this on the side of a bench or do some real ones on parallel bars)<br />
10 jump squats<br />
REPEAT 2 times for a total of 3 sets <br />
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I was in and out of the gym in 45 minutes! The trick is to just push through each set of exercises to keep that heart rate in the aerobic burn zone but not maxed out. I have learned that you burn the most fat in the aerobic zone at 50 to 75% of your max heart rate. <br />
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The mentality in Primal exercise is that it should simulate the natural movements of the body and not put added stress on the body. As far as I can remember...Added stress during workouts can release cortisol--> increased cortisol= difficulty losing weight because your body thinks it needs extra energy under stressful conditions. This is why they always say keep your stress low, get sleep--blah, blah, blah all that jazz when trying to lose weight. You see--the body knows what to do in every situation...it's smart like that!<br />
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(P.S., I'm not a doctor, trainer or anything of the like...I'm just sharing the knowledge of the blogs I've read and what the trainers and experts in the field recommend in hopes that I can help others who have some interest in health and fitness.) <br />
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I hope you all have a very HAPPY EASTER! <br />
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Cheers to Life! --BreeBree and Guinnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08048828445543458294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890849133128464950.post-47939055981554877232011-04-16T13:35:00.000-07:002011-04-16T13:35:34.764-07:00A Trip to the OTSFM!I decided that I'm really going to start kicking some Primal ass now. I have been doing pretty well for a couple of months now and I'm really getting the hang of this stuff. I am feeling better, although, I have developed a bit of an egg intolerance and I am going to give up eggs this week for breakfast and see how that goes. I'm really gonna miss those fluffy little fellas, but oh well. Apparently 2 eggs for breakfast everyday CAN be a little rough on the tummy--especially mine, the World's Most Sensitive Tummy! <br />
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Anywho--I set off to check out the Old Town Scottsdale Farmer's Market this morning--abbreviated by me as OTSFM and it was quite interesting and lovely. I could have stayed for hours because I found it to be like a healthier version of Costco with friendly, young people offering samples of their own prized concoctions, instead of old people with hair nets. I didn't have that amazingly large shopping cart that Costco offers, so I sampled here and there and was envious of the people who remembered to bring their reuseable shopping bags (huge brainfart Bree!). Next time, I'm thinking I'll be more prepared for the awesomeness. <br />
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I had one goal in mind on my excursion to the OTSFM--to find some grass-fed beef! I wandered the market and found that there were three different ones. I talked to one beef-selling cowboy and he wasn't too exciting or helpful but I did gather a price list from him and learned that this particular ranch will deliver the meat to my door. He said, "I'll bring it to ya anywhere in the valley on up to Prescott." So I understand that to mean that he would deliver most places. This family owned enterprise is called JH Grass Fed Beef and can be found at <a href="http://www.jhgrassfed.com/">http://www.jhgrassfed.com/</a>. I took his pricelist and tipped my conductor's hat in his direction before continuing my parade around the market. <br />
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After that I was wandering, admittedly quite aimlessly, when I just about ran face first into a basket of granola held by a lovely old lady. She saw my paper and pricelist and whispered to me that she really enjoyed buying her beef from Circle Key Farms. She pointed me in their direction and it was all I could do not to bust out into a sprint to get there. <br />
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After some serious crown weaving, I walked up to the Circle Key stand (Phone # 520-450-1016) and they had pictures of their cute little cow and goat friends--(they sell eggs too). My demeanor must have been inquisitive because the lady proceeded to explain to me how they feed their little four-legged friends alfalfa and raise them by hand on pastures of grass that they grow themselves. They don't treat the grass with any pesticides and don't fatten up their cows with grain or hormones. (This doesn't mean that JH Farm guy does these things--but this lady wooed me with her explanation). <br />
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I asked a few questions and took a look at the pricelist and I got to meet the man behind the meat! The cowboy! This dude was real, 100% grass-fed cowboy! He was gruff, and tough with callused hands at least 1/4 inch thick. I'm sure he probably drives one of those Diesel Ford F150s and would scoff at my eco-friendly Prius with a toughness that would scare a bull. He's probably never heard of Beyonce or the Black Eyed Peas, but I bet if I brought up Elvis we would be buds. Nonetheless, he reminded me a lot of my grandpa in character and gruffness so I listened up! <br />
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He told me he raises the cows himself, feeds them from his own land and sells only the best! By the looks of this tough old cowboy, he wasn't lying! He has earned every wrinkle on his forehead and every dollar in his pocket. He said, "What can I getcha?" and "I'd be happy to sell you by the 1/4 and by the 1/2 (of a cow)...just don't go gettin' all 'steak happy' on me and you'll get it all for a better price. You know what you want?" So I thought about it and thought some more--"what does one do with 1/4 or 1/2 a cow?" and "Can you fit 1/4 cow in a Prius?" I also thought, "Uhhhh, I don't even know what half these cuts of meat are--holy crap I need to learn more about meat, NOW!" <br />
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By the way, I'm not sure I could fit 1/2 or a 1/4 of a cow in my Prius or my apartment, let alone my freezer, so I opted for the next best choice and bought a Top Sirloin steak and some ground beef. These were safe options in my mind. I figured I needed to sample this beautiful meat before purchasing THE COW. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurAmfyAW5nVHWinQn99JGT18R6yKom92tmwRujKby4TeXT4FJIluwhExVUvaOkVMCAjQeByQe6QC3jMEI2b26R8bilN6_q1pt_2yJLYNNRim-42q87ecisCSspvwluE-4Qy_4MhcMO1I/s1600/meat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurAmfyAW5nVHWinQn99JGT18R6yKom92tmwRujKby4TeXT4FJIluwhExVUvaOkVMCAjQeByQe6QC3jMEI2b26R8bilN6_q1pt_2yJLYNNRim-42q87ecisCSspvwluE-4Qy_4MhcMO1I/s320/meat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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So, tomorrow I'm gonna have some steak--I'll let ya know how it goes. But I wanted to pass along this info to other Paleo/Primal enthusiasts because by cutting out the middle man (like Whole Foods and Sprouts) you can save a lot of money on grass-fed beef products and put your money into the local market. <br />
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Click <a href="http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-differences-between-grass-fed-beef-and-grain-fed-beef/">here</a> if you would like to learn more about the benefits of grass-fed beef from Mark's Daily Apple. <br />
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Cheers to Life! --BreeBree and Guinnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08048828445543458294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890849133128464950.post-75451657171783238042011-03-28T15:07:00.000-07:002011-03-28T15:07:37.366-07:00Primal Dessert!So I thought I would share with you a very, very simple dessert that I have discovered now that I am eating Primally....<br />
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I call it Strawberry-Banana Smash<br />
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Step1) Let a few (4) bananas get over-ripened...like to the point of brown and spotted and a bit soft. <br />
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Step 2) Peel the bananas and put them in a food processor. (Don't mix it yet)<br />
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Step 3) Pour in 1 cup of almond milk and 1 to 1 1/2 tsp of vanilla. <br />
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Step 4) Add a about 4 or 5 strawberries cut into smaller chunks.<br />
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Step 5) Blend it up! <br />
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Step 6) Put in the freezer for about 30 to 45 minutes and it becomes slushy and ice-creamy<br />
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Soooo good! <br />
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--Cheers to LIFE! BreeBree and Guinnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08048828445543458294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890849133128464950.post-75695431664839703342011-03-17T21:22:00.000-07:002011-03-17T21:22:48.774-07:00Some Helpful Paleo/Primal StuffI wanted to give people an idea of how I go through my daily routine and what keeps me motivated and informed about the Paleo/Primal Lifestyle. This post is strictly dedicated to some helpful websites, blogs, books and a little about each one to help you get started. I put in the work and you can take a peek and see what you think Paleo/Primal means to you. <br />
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1) <a href="http://thepaleodiet.com/">The Paleo Diet</a> by Dr. Loren Cordain. There is a revised and new version as of 2009/2010 (I believe). It has some updated research in the area and provides you a solid foundation for understanding what Paleo means. It explains the bad parts about grains, gluten, etc. It also explains WHY we eat what we eat and why we are meant to eat this way. Awesome read and I recommend it to all starters. <br />
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2) <a href="http://www.marksdailyapple.com/">Mark's Daily Apple</a>--when I first started this was my absolute "go-to" website. The <a href="http://www.marksdailyapple.com/forum/">FORUM</a> is my favorite! People post questions daily on a variety of topics from exercise to eating certain protein powder to daily food journals of other Primal eaters. I also enjoy his daily posts--very educational, as well as Mark's post about why grains are bad. Mark has also written an awesome book that you can get from his website or the local bookstore, it's called The Primal Blueprint. I'm about 50 pages in and loving it! <br />
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Mark also hosts some awesome PAST seminars around the country where he educates others about the Primal way of life. I hope to attend one of these seminars soon. This guy really lives what he speaks and that's so inspirational. <br />
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Btw--if you have an iPhone he has an app that hooks you up to his site. It lists his daily posts which are my favorite things to read when I need to kill some time between clients or when I'm waiting to get an oil change. <br />
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3) <a href="http://everydaypaleo.com/">Everyday Paleo </a>is a great website for families who are trying to live the Paleo lifestyle. I am truly on there once a day and sometimes more! Sarah (the blogger) provides readers with real-life recipes that can be thrown together from the items in your fridge. She gives me ideas everyday and I haven't even had the chance to explore her entire website. She also has a friend/partner in crime, Chrissy, who writes the blog <a href="http://www.growinguppaleo.com/">Growing Up Paleo </a>, where she discusses Paleo living and pregnancy. It is possible to make this an entire lifestyle...something you WANT your kids to be living by every day. <br />
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4) I recently stumbled upon some yummy, Paleo snacks through <a href="http://paleopeople.com/">Paleo People </a>. I ordered a variety of their granola this week and I'm still waiting for it's arrival. It looks amazing and I cannot wait to fill you guys in on how it is. <br />
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5). Robb Wolf is one of the world's leading experts in the Paleo way of life. <a href="http://robbwolf.com/">His blog</a> is super informative! I have just begun to explore it. At the moment, my favorite part about his blog has to be the <a href="http://robbwolf.com/category/podcasts/">Podcasts</a>. I pull these up on my phone whenever I have the chance and just listen to what he has to say...tons of info!!! He has written a book that I hope to read soon called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0982565844?ie=UTF8&tag=robwol-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0982565844">The Paleo Solution</a>. He also owns and operates one of the Top 30 gyms in America called <a href="http://norcalsc.com/">Nor-Cal Strength and Conditioning. </a> There is a lifetime of information on his blog. <br />
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6). There will be more to come I'm sure! But these books, blogs and websites have given me a pretty awesome start!<br />
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Cheers to LIFE!--BreeBree and Guinnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08048828445543458294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890849133128464950.post-44370962181435999912011-03-17T19:53:00.000-07:002011-03-17T19:53:54.312-07:00Coconut Chicken Tenders with Chive and Green Onion DipSoooo, I felt like making some yummy Coconut Chicken for dinner tonight! Primal, of course! And it is turning out pretty awesome and it was WAAAAY easy with very few ingredients. I thought I would throw the recipe your way if you are interested! This is enough for 2 people approximately because I'm single people...and I like leftovers! <br />
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2 chicken breasts or 6 chicken breast tenders (If you have chicken breasts I recommend cutting them into three pieces so that you can make chicken tenders. I also used organic, free-range chicken<br />
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1 Omega-3 enriched egg<br />
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1 cup UNSWEETENED coconut flakes or shavings (I used shavings and it's turning out great). <br />
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Take the chicken pieces and dredge them in egg or egg whites if you desire. Then roll them in the coconut flakes and pop them in a pan and cover with foil for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and bake an additional 15 minutes until the coconut begins to brown. FYI, It took my chicken tenders about 30 minutes to brown up.<br />
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Serve these with my yummy green onion and chive dip. <br />
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1/4 to 1/2 cup of plain greek yogurt<br />
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1/2 a green onion finely chopped<br />
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1 fresh chive finely chopped or you can use dried chives as well. I used about 1 teaspoon dried chives as this was my trial run. Toss all of it in a bowl and mix it up. I ended up adding a little onion powder because I enjoy the flavor. I use this dip a lot to replace Ranch dressing. <br />
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This dish smells amazing when cooking, so be prepared! <br />
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Cheers to LIFE!--BreeBree and Guinnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08048828445543458294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890849133128464950.post-56574238474774311102011-03-11T21:04:00.000-08:002011-03-11T21:04:16.395-08:00A Day In the Life of Primal Eating!Since Primal eating is technically a 'restrictive' diet/lifestyle I thought you all might be curious to see just what people who eat primally eat everyday. <br />
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Here is what I ate yesterday: <br />
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Breakfast: 1 pork sausage and approximately 1 1/2 cups of steamed broccoli (I don't measure it--I just eyeball about how much I want to put in my tummy). <br />
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Lunch: Leftover Shrimp and sweet potato concoction made with asparagus, onions, garlic, brussel sprouts and some coconut oil. <br />
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Snack: I ate some trail mix (raisins and nuts--mostly almonds and cashews)...I'm guessing I ate about 1/4 cup here. <br />
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Dinner: One grass-fed beef hamburger with some manchengo cheese and asparagus cooked in coconut oil with some garlic and lemon. <br />
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Now today here was my meal plan: <br />
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Breakfast: 2 eggs cooked through in coconut oil and three slices of turkey bacon. I topped the eggs off with 1/2 an avocado<br />
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Lunch: Canned tuna mixed with a little mustard, a splash of olive oil mayo (not Paleo/Primal so I kept it to a minimum. There is a way to make Primal mayo but I haven't attempted that yet) and mixed in a few almond slivers for crunch because I have a texture thing with tuna from a can without the crunch from bread. I was still hungry so I made a Primal Protein shake with a banana and some frozen strawberries and a cup of almond milk. <br />
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Dinner: I made the most amazing Sun-dried tomato chicken with brussel sprouts and bacon. <br />
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Dessert: a few dark chocolate covered blueberries. <br />
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I've been eating like this probably 90% of the time over the past month and I'm telling you that it works. The last thing I feel is RESTRICTED. I'm feeling great, my clothes fit and that gets better everyday. I notice that my stomach is just flatter than it was when I was eating grains. On top of that, I build muscle quickly when I eat this way. I got sick a couple of weeks ago and I bounced back within about 5 trips to the gym--muscles and all! <br />
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I hope this gives you all a glimpse as to what I eat and do everyday...if you are at all interested or need some info on where to go just send me an email at <a href="mailto:bree.noback@gmail.com">bree.noback@gmail.com</a>. I would be more than happy to email you my favorite websites and book titles to help you get started. <br />
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Cheers to LIFE--BreeBree and Guinnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08048828445543458294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890849133128464950.post-49925144791242374742011-03-11T20:45:00.000-08:002011-03-12T12:27:48.417-08:00Just Living the Primal Dream!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, everyone is pretty curious about the Primal/Paleo thing and how I seem to be doing with it. Well, I would say “so far so good”. Will I ever go back to the way I ate before? The answer is without a doubt, 100%--“NOOOO! I WILL NEVER GO BACK!” This lifestyle is UNBELIEVEABLE! I cannot explain to you the difference in my mood, my body and my overall attitude towards life. I went Primal people and I’m NEVER going back. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So here are some of the pros for me, personally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They include better sleep, no more tummy troubles, no more lactose intolerance pills (more on this later), fitting into my size 4 jeans (yep, pretty kick ass if you ask me) without worry, skin is clearing up, my workouts are intense and excellent almost every time and a pretty cool feeling of endless energy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I am also learning about how to workout Primally and that has been a huge shift for me. </span>I truly have found no downsides to this life change. It’s excellent on every level. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some things I continue to struggle with include: temptations of COOKIES and sweets at night, difficulty explaining to others what I can and can’t eat and why, some of the pre-planning I have to do to make it through a day and accessibility and cost of grass-fed meat. Other than that—I love it. I’m not going back and I have recently “Primal-fied” my kitchen…it was sad to throw out my Smart Start and oatmeal, but it’s been worth it in every way. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, I know many of you are wondering why it is that I eat this way and what I have referred to in order to make this change. I will do my best to explain in this post. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I started this after trying to learn more about Cross-fit training and stumbled upon a pretty rockin’ blog: Mark’s Daily Apple hosted by Mark Sisson. At about the same time I took a trip to the good ole bookstore and dropped a few bucks on the Paleo Diet Book by Dr. Cordain. Armed with the information in these books, I went to work and I haven’t stopped, only stumbled. Let me just say that stumbles are a part of this process. It's all a part of learning how to make a lifestyle change. I just get back on track ASAP and chalk it up to “Life”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No stress. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For me, living this lifestyle is entirely stress-free because I know WHY I’m NOT eating certain things. This understanding alleviates that feeling of deprivation that most people feel during a change and it does so ENTIRELY!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure, if I want a cupcake—I’ll eat one and the same goes for a cookie, because those are the foods that keep me ‘cool’. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I don’t usually feel too well afterwards and tend to avoid them more and more everyday).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would say in the past 3 weeks I’ve had about 5 dessert-y type of things—pretty killer for a cookie-holic. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So back to WHY I’m NOT eating certain things…Well, let me give you some info from one of my favorite Primal gurus, Mark Sisson. In his book, The Primal Blueprint, he compares the Conventional Wisdom (CW) and Primal Blueprint (PB). I want to give him as well as Dr. Cordain all the credit for my understanding of eating Primal/Paleo. Without their books, websites I would be completely lost. They put it in real terms and leave the readers to make the decisions. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">P.S.--Mark is amazing—he’s one of those dudes that is NOT a doctor, a scientist or a salesman. He has lived and cultivated this lifestyle for over 20 years and has worked hand in hand with researchers, doctors, evolutionists, geneticists, paleontologists, coaches, trainers and a bunch of talented and knowledgeable individuals to show people the TRUTH about what our bodies need and WHY! And answers the WHY in some pretty awesome ways! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So here goes the Bree-version of Conventional (Neolithic) eating versus primal eating according to the “rules,” (and I use that term loosely) of Primal Blueprint. I will highlight just a few of the ones that really hit home with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are so many more if you check out the book. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rule #1: Step away from the grains! Grains include: wheat, rice, corn, bread, cereal and pasta.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to CW we should eat 6-11 daily servings of this stuff as it provides the energy to feed our muscles, brain, etc. CW also states ‘whole grains’ are somehow the gods and goddesses of the grain world—I call B.S. and so does PB. Whole grains are still PROCESSED and we are not doing our bodies any justice by consuming them. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In reality, grains, even WHOLE GRAINS, promote excess insulin production in EVERYONE! YES, even WHOLE grains! In addition, they promote fat storage and (gasp) heart disease (Booooo).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to mention the inflammation they cause in the intestines and what they do to suppress our immune systems. If you are sick, take a good look at what is on your plate and there is your answer as to why you feel like crud. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rule #2: Eat some fat! CW tells us that it causes heart disease and that eating it will make us fat. Uhhh, not so fast! Saturated fat is NOT associated with heart disease risk. Yes, this is true. In fact, it should be a large calorie source for bodies as it has promoted the advancement and development of brain function for millions of years. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It provides us with stable energy and WEIGHT CONTROL! Um, hello—fat is not the culprit here. It’s the combination of fat with grains with sugar with over eating that has brought about the epidemic of heart disease in our civilization. Our ancestors didn’t struggle with heart disease—we pretty much invented it along with the invention of the drive-thru, the automobile and everything else that makes us kinda lazy on occasion. Sure I enjoy these conveniences, but with modern convenience comes modern problems as I’m learning. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rule #3: Eggs are ok!? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yep! They are! CW teaches us that they contain artery-clogging cholesterol and we need to minimize them. PB teaches that there is really no correlation between heart disease and cholesterol levels. Yolk is good and should be considered nutritious, not unhealthy. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rule #4: Eat your fiber! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">CW teaches us that we need fiber, mostly from grains, to achieve the best possible gastrointestinal function, to speed up your digestive tract and to lower our calorie intake. Not so true…In PB we learn that you get ALL the fiber you could ever need from healthy fruits and veggies and even the meat we eat. In fact, too much grain-based fiber leaches important nutrients from our bodies! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So eat your veggies! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rule #5: Eat when you are hungry…Eating is optional.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So CW teaches us that eating a few times a day is best for optimal health. It teaches us that skipped meals are bad and promote a slowed metabolism. PB teaches us that we should eat when we are hungry, eat as much as we want of the right things and then fast when you feel like it. Fasting can help to lose weight or just speed up the metabolism. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heck, our ancestors fasted for hours, days, when food was scarce or when on the hunt. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rule #5: Weight loss is achieved through eating the right things not limiting fat/carbs or calories. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">CW states that we need to eat high complex carbs and low fat diets to achieve weight loss and it’s all about “calories in and calories out.” If you watch The Biggest Loser you see this type of methodology. It works for those people to drop the weight. I imagine if you asked the contestants if they were hungry, tired as hell or just plain sick of measuring their food, you would probably get a resounding “HELL YES!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hunger sucks. I hate being hungry more than I hate the Shane Co. guy’s voice and that’s a lot of hate (or as my mom would say “strong dislike”). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we’re hungry we make poor choices in the food arena and we end up sitting in a drive-thru somewhere buying something because it sounds AMAZING at that particular moment. It’s not amazing and the last thing it is going to be is HEALTHY. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let me tell you, I’m no longer the ‘hungry’ girl all day long. I eat probably 3 to 4 times a day and I’m totally cool with it. Sometimes I will make an awesome dinner and then sit down and eat only half because I’m simply not hungry—my needs have been met. In addition, I’m almost never tired in the afternoon. If I am, it’s because I’m bored and it’s not really because I feel like I’m in a food coma or an afternoon slump. Also, I don’t have lactose intolerance problems anymore—unless I happen to eat bread or a cookie. If I mix the two—there is trouble. So I’ve pretty much just stopped doing that altogether. Lastly, I am no longer counting a single calorie. I eat what I want when I want and I don’t waste a single second worrying about how it’s going to impact my waist, thighs or butt. I eat healthy so I can take the worry out of it. Who wants to worry about what they put in their body? It sucks. My personal self-talk includes this phrase, “Eat right Bree. You have control over what you put in there.” Corny, I know, but it works for me when I’m struggling. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So anyway, this is my lifestyle now. I know the answers to the WHY questions and I eat Paleo and Primal by choice—everyday. I love it. In fact, I love it so much that I researched Primal eating for dogs. I’m happy to announce that my furry giant, Guinness, is now transitioning to a grain-free, Primal-doggy diet as well. I hope he knows how much his mama loves him…it’s more than I love cookies, that’s for sure! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cheers to LIFE!--Bree! </span></div>Bree and Guinnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08048828445543458294noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890849133128464950.post-29466990035510194592011-02-09T12:50:00.000-08:002011-02-09T12:50:40.230-08:00Step Away From the Cookies!If there was a food item on this earth that could make me sabotage my entire Primal/Paleo lifestyle change, it would be the cookie. <br />
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Dang those soft, squishy, warm chocolate chips and sweet goodness. They are so awesome! I wish that cookies tasted terrible! I wish they were made out of dirt because I can say "No" to just about everything but a cookie. <br />
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During the past few days (Super Bowl Sunday EXCLUDED) I feel that I've done a pretty rockin' job on staying on the Primal Path. I've eaten like a champ and I have eaten no grains, no dessert, other than fresh fruit and I have been feeling great. I also joined a group that gets together to talk about the Paleo/Primal lifestyle--so exciting. Buuuuut, on the downside, I have to say that I have eaten a couple cookies, two to be exact...Darn it. Ugh. <br />
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So this is my goodbye post to cookies! For at least one month! After that, a cookie here and there won't be an issue. Let's be honest, I feel like crap every time I eat one and every time I eat bread for that matter. It's just bad news all around. <br />
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So, I quit you cookies! <br />
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Cheers to LIFE! --BreeBree and Guinnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08048828445543458294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890849133128464950.post-23530953582359670992011-02-07T13:14:00.000-08:002011-02-07T13:19:46.628-08:00Primal Life UpdateOh wow...I LOVE PRIMAL EATING! <br />
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I have discovered so many things while eating primally and researching this lifestyle. I am so happy to say that my body is healing from my previous eating lifestyle and I'm on the path to Primal Living....even though I have to be honest, it has NOT been easy to make this switch. It has been a mental challenge and there are good days and bad days when converting to this lifestyle.<br />
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While reading about this lifestyle I have discovered that our Neolithic diet has done our bodies very little good and A LOT of harm. Who knew that the so-called 'healthy' things I thought I was putting in my body were totally harming my body at the same time and made sticking to a healthy diet nearly impossible. YES, IMPOSSIBLE! <br />
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In fact, I have so many girlfriends who are constantly struggling with their weight and saying things like "oh, I would love to lose 10 pounds but I'm just so unmotivated", or they are motivated but grasping at straws to lose 5 pounds. Let's face it, as we get older we get fatter, softer and saggier. Frankly, I'm not ok with that. I'm also not ok with getting heart disease, cancer, having fertility problems or suffering from hormonal imbalances. All of the above have been shown to reduce significantly when following a primal/paleo lifestyle. So I said "Why not? I have nothing to lose!" <br />
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In the past, on calorically restricted diets with calories in/calories out mindset, I would struggle....I asked myself CONSTANTLY "I eat 'healthy' but I still gain weight." "Why do I feel tired all the time?" "Why do I feel irritable and gloomy?" and "Why the heck do I want to eat every 2 hours????" HELLO! DIET, maybe?<br />
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It's true. It's our Neolithic, grain and sugar-filled lifestyle that exacerbates our unsightly 'squishy' look and bad attitude? I am living proof of that YES, it is our incredibly yummy, yet malnourishing diet of salt, sugar, grains, wheat, steroid-filled meats, processed foods and 'non-food' that is causing this problem. This traditional American diet is making us pudgy, round, saggy, sad, moody, irritable, infertile, forgetful, aloof, tired, SICK, medicine dependent and eventually, DEAD. <br />
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Awesome, huh? Are you scared yet? Because I was and I still am! I'm terrified that if I don't turn my lifestyle around and get with the program that I will sucumb to one of the many 'diseases' that ails our society and I really just don't have time for that. Do you? <br />
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So I guess I just decided to get with the program. It isn't easy. But good things in life don't come easy and if they did...well, everyone would have them. I literally read about this lifestyle daily...I live it the best that I can and I am seeing some serious results!!! <br />
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For the naysayers: <br />
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Please don't say that being fit and thin and healthy is just for people who are vain. Vanity is not the issue here, our HEALTH is the issue. I guarantee that everyone would chose to be fit, thin, healthy and alive, able to spend one more day with the people they love, than to suffer from diseases, pain and sadness. I don't know about you, but life is better lived when I'm healthy, happy and self-confident. You can't be healthy tugging around extra weight, struggling to tie your shoes and button your pants. You just can't. You aren't happy then and you definitely aren't healthy. <br />
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So after to coming to these realizations, I said "Wow. I gotta do this." I woke up and I started it and I'm sticking to it. And it's been over a month! <br />
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So friends...if you see me with a cookie...please tell me to read this to myself again...and to step away from the cookie. Thank you. And if we are out to eat and I don't eat like I used to...please understand. I'm just trying to be the best that I can be. Please encourage me! <br />
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I hope this inspires you guys somehow, someway to do the best that you can and to be the best that you can be. <br />
Cheers to LIFE! BreeBree and Guinnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08048828445543458294noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890849133128464950.post-55598283397604617332011-01-28T11:07:00.000-08:002011-01-28T11:07:51.646-08:00A Paleo "Experiment"!Sooooo, I am guilty of just completely falling off the blogging train for the past few months. Please excuse me, I've been busy. Holidays, friends, family and now I am finally catching my breath. So, back to blogging it is. <br />
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As a couple of you might know, I decided to give a new 'lifestyle' a bit of a try. It's called the PALEO Diet. I would like to explain in MY words what it is, what it isn't, why I did it and why I want to continue it. <br />
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I stumbled across the Paleo Diet because I have been having some problems with my skin and I have this HUGE desire to be in really good shape for the rest of my life. I started researching ways to cut out bad foods and ways to cut out SUGAR because I think I'm addicted to the stuff. (Ugh...this has been the toughest part for me, especially after the cookie and bread-filled holidays.) <br />
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From my past experience with working out and eating healthy I have learned that in order for my body to drop weight, it's important that I stick to veggies and lean meats. When I introduce carbs and sugar, I don't maintain my weight and I constantly feel hungry, irritable and have all around 'issues'. So, I know my body well enough to know that these foods have to be out of my daily diet in order to maintain. So I started researching, stumbled upon some awesome and inspiring blogs and set a goal for myself. <br />
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I researched the diet and decided that I wanted to stick to it's core values starting Jan 1st. These values include: eat lean meats (including red meat), pay attention to what is fed to the meat (grass-fed is BEST), eat organic fruits and veggies when ever possible, include good fats (i.e., coconut oil, olive oil, avocado oils, eat nuts (almonds, macademia and others) in moderation and avoid GRAINS, DAIRY and SUGAR (all the crap that makes you feel like a slug, the stuff that makes us 'plump' and the stuff that causes major inflammation of the digestive tract/gut). <br />
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Paleo is a way of life, NOT a weight-loss plan. Frankly, I don't need to shed more than 5 to 10 pounds to be at my ideal weight and I just like to challenge myself. I chose to do it to see if I would FEEL better and see if my face would get back to normal. It has been hard. Way hard. But it's the journey and not the finish line that I am looking for here. <br />
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Let me tell you this: A) OMG! This is not the easiest way of life, B) It takes PLANNING and TIME, C) it's so hard to explain to your friends why you want to do it and D) I FEEL AMAZING when I follow it. and E)it is NOT as expensive as one would think (healthcare and failing organs is much more expensive I'm sure of it!). <br />
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I have definitely STUMBLED and fallen off the Paleo wagon since January 1st. I can tell you that even though I stumbled, ate sugar, bread and grains...I am committed to this way of life. I follow it about 80% of the time, but I want to follow it more closely to 95% of the time. I want to do it and I'm going to do it, even when my friends look at me like I'm nuts and offer me a cookie (so hard to resist). <br />
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I read about the Primal/Paleo way of life daily. I LOVE IT! It is sooo interesting to me and I love to learn how the body works. I have found the following books/blogs to be so helpful. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHylGA6hKaEL0U0i9nVM0b2_zDqfadj9XhdUG-CyEwVZe7Ik4lUCqeAyzBzh43sK8jAIoaQWd4xkq9T4TwEWRuKL7MIYd6girygzqhhlXqRLE9PGtSTLkZzbh4HF3AbbLTYsXC71OhNk/s1600/revised_paleo_diet_cover_7_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFHylGA6hKaEL0U0i9nVM0b2_zDqfadj9XhdUG-CyEwVZe7Ik4lUCqeAyzBzh43sK8jAIoaQWd4xkq9T4TwEWRuKL7MIYd6girygzqhhlXqRLE9PGtSTLkZzbh4HF3AbbLTYsXC71OhNk/s320/revised_paleo_diet_cover_7_10.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br />
I have made the book above my BIBLE! And I browse the following blogs in this order: <br />
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<a href="http://www.marksdailyapple.com/">http://www.marksdailyapple.com/</a><br />
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<a href="http://girlgoneprimal.blogspot.com/">http://girlgoneprimal.blogspot.com/</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.paleonu.com/">http://www.paleonu.com/</a><br />
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So far, so good. My body feels great! I'll keep you posted on this journey! <br />
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Bree--Cheers to LIFE!Bree and Guinnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08048828445543458294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890849133128464950.post-7112029614751600042010-11-06T21:59:00.000-07:002010-11-06T21:59:23.394-07:00I'm 28 going on 12!?So, this week was my birthday. I turned 28. I am not so sure how I feel about this age but let me tell you this: I feel about 12, but I'm obviously 28. Wierd. <br />
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Let me just start off by saying I am so greatful for the wonderful things in my life. I am employed. I have awesome parents. Great friends. A kick-ass dog that I secretly love more than most humans. I live in my own place with my own rules and my own messes. I don't have much in the way of responsibility. I am NOT a parent, nor do I have to take care of anything other than the space that I live in and the dog that I love and the occasional plant that I kill. I am sooo thankful for the life that I have and the great times that I have with all of the people in it. I am blessed, I am lucky, I am thankful and I am happy to be me. <br />
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With that being said...this year feels especially wierd. I feel like my body is getting older, but I am still not any older or more mature than I was this time last year. Not much has really changed for me in the past year. I have had good things happen. Crappy things happen. I pay the same bills, I work the same job and I kind of have the same lifestyle. I don't have a husband, a baby, a house or any sort of "grown up" things. And all of this is kind of a bittersweet feeling. <br />
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I would certainly like all of those things one day (the husband, the kids, the house...the bills), but I realized (after looking through many facebook friends' profiles) that once you have all of the STUFF, you don't get to go back. You can't go back to when you didn't have all that stuff....GULP! It's permanent. It's forever. And it's FRIGHTENING!<br />
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So, yes, I want the husband, the kids, the house and the random doctor bills and all that JAZZ. However, I am pretty sure that if I had all that stuff that I would not be old enough to handle it. <br />
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Can anyone please tell me the 'magical age' that you receive the gift of 'maturity?' The thought of all of those responsibilities somehow makes tonight's dinner slowly rise in my throat. Frankly, I'm hoping that when I hit that 'magical age' that I will either be able to suppress the vomit feeling, own stock in Pepto Bismol or successfully accept the responsibilities of being a 'real' adult. <br />
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Geez...by this age my grandmother had 3 kids, a husband and a house and when my mom was this age she was packing my lunch and sending me off to Kindergarden. I can't even commit to sending Guinness to doggie training or commit to going to happy hour on a Tuesday...who am I kidding? I am not an adult. Not even close. I'm a child! I still laugh at fart jokes. <br />
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I'm 28 and I'm going on 12. <br />
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So here's to growing up kids! <br />
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Cheers to Life!--BreeBree and Guinnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08048828445543458294noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890849133128464950.post-75764894210046905932010-10-10T20:23:00.000-07:002010-10-10T21:59:36.114-07:00Pink Clothes, Birthday Cake and Why I Want To Be 3 Again!So today I attended my little cousin's 3rd birthday bash! She is sooo stinking cute and sweet and loveable I wish I could buy her everything in the little girls' section (Let's be real...Guinness is cute, but he doesn't really dig pink clothes and matching outfits)! This little girl is amazing. I am constantly in awe of the cute things she says and how she can be incredibly bashful and hilarious all in the same five minutes! <br />
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Happy Birthday little one! I hope you know you are loved! <br />
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So, on to why I wanna be 3 again...<br />
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Today I watched as she played, danced around, jumped from lap to lap, grandma to grandma, and blew out the candles on her adorable Hello Kitty birthday cake. We celebrated her life today. Awesome, I know! And as I sat there I thought..."Damn, I wanna be 3 again. This kid has the LIFE! She got toys, clothes, cake and a million hugs and kisses, all in the same day....and SHE DOESN'T HAVE A CARE IN THE WORLD!" Do you remember the last time you didn't have a care in the world? When your biggest worry was, "When do I get to open my presents?" and not, "When is that bill due?" Well, I couldn't tell ya exactly when, but I'm pretty sure I haven't stopped to think about that in awhile! And man, am I just a wee bit jealous of that little girl! <br />
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I remember those years of my life and let's face it, I want them back (and then I would like to skip over the awkward times like middle school and high school when I had braces and boys were foreign objects). I wish I knew how little time I would have to be worry-free and three! Those were obviously some of the sweetest years of my life and I had no clue! I had no clue because I didn't HAVE A CARE IN THE WORLD...because I was busy being a KID! <br />
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Anyhow, I got the little one a couple of cute little outfits because let's face it...I like to shop! But, now that I stop to think about it, I wish I would have gotten her something else. Something more. I wish I could give her a beautiful, worry-free little LIFE--a million days just like this one! How much would she thank me later? How cool would THIS cousin be? Nope, instead, I got her jeans and a cute little sweatsuit...that's all. <br />
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So, I guess what I am trying to say is... here's to you, little "B"! I hope you had a magical day and you loved every little toy you received and every hug and kiss we smothered you with, and I wish I could turn today into a hundred-million of those for you! But I am just your cousin and I don't think it's gonna be possible, plus Guinness is just hairy and has no real 'skills' in that department. So I hope you had fun, at the very least...because I did! <br />
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Happy Birthday Little B! You are a beautiful little ray of sunshine! Love you! <br />
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I hope you will forgive me for the present, it's the thought that counts, right?...XOXO! <br />
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CHEERS TO LIFE! --BreeBree and Guinnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08048828445543458294noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890849133128464950.post-26906136150269304702010-10-09T13:11:00.000-07:002010-10-09T17:15:29.507-07:00My Committment to a Health Consciousness...Long Story.So without trying to offend those that I love the most, yet make it clear why I am the way I am...I am going to attempt to tell you about my journey to health consciousness. <br />
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I am 27, and for the better part of my childhood, teenage years and adulthood I have ALWAYS struggled with my weight, but have never really been hugely overweight (maybe 20-25 pounds or so). I have real fears about being overweight, fears about not liking what I see in the mirror and fears that others won't accept me. These fears may sound silly to you, but they are so real to me. <br />
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So let's start with my childhood...because obviously that's where I SHOULD start. And family, please remember this is not to offend..I just want to share here. I grew up in a family where my mom traveled quite frequently when I was a small child. She had a job that required her to be away often and my dad, grandparents and various neighbors helped to get me to school, daycare, etc. My memory gets fuzzy from time to time, but I remember my aunt often babysat me as a small child and then, when I hit school age, I went to daycare and the neighbor's house before and after school. By the 2nd grade I was a "Latchkey" kid and was deemed mature and responsible enough to let myself in and out of the house. I would come home from school and hang out for and hour or 2 before mom and dad would come home. If it was dad, he would pop a hot dog in the microwave for me or sometimes fix a sandwich. If mom and dad were both home, we might make Hamburger Helper, tacos, chicken...mom always had something up her sleeve for dinner. It wasn't what we would eat, but WHEN with her. <br />
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Throughout my childhood, my parents, grandparents, neighbors and family allowed me to drink soda, Kool-Aid and pretty much eat whatever I wanted including cookies, peanut-butter and jelly, mac and cheese, etc. I had few rules, if any, when it came to food and drinks. My parents just weren't the kind of parents that cracked down on what I ate, when or how much. I was also spoiled by my grandparents, particularly my mom's parents, and if I wanted candy, soda or cookies, it was available and was rarely withheld. I was not the kind of kid that heard the word "no" very often especially when it came to food.<br />
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I remember weekends at my grandparents house where my grandma would make scalloped potatoes and ham, pot roast with veggies, homemade bread, potato salad, etc. My grandpa loved to BBQ and would make burgers and hot dogs on the grill while my cousins and I would play for hours in the pool. My aunts, uncles, mom and grandfather would smoke and chat about the family business--and I always felt right at home with them--cigarette smoke and all! We had great weekends together. Tons of fun and tons of family. <br />
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I had a wonderful, blessed childhood with many memories of my grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and parents. I have memories that some children never have and never know. I do not consider my childhood to be bad at all, but it was just not something that trained me to think about my health. Let's face it, I was not a skinny child. I was chubby and round. All of my cousins were thin and lanky. I was the fat kid. (Here's where my parents would probably disagree--but it's not about what they saw and more about how I felt). <br />
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By about the 2nd grade, my family life took a bit of a turn. My brother was born and my parents were quite busy trying to stay sane. He was a blessing, but a ball of energy. I would go and stay with my grandparents over the weekends and our big family would get together here and there. Then, in about 3rd grade my cousins moved to California (my aunt and uncle got a divorce) and things just changed. My parents continued to raise my brother and me and we had struggles in our own little house. My parents would argue here and there and I remember by mom and dad's tension. My parent's relationship began to change, my mom began to go to an all women's gym by the time I was in middle school, and my dad worked and would watch my brother while my mom and I went to the gym. My mom loved the gym and she and I would go for hours. It was great for her. <br />
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At the gym is where she began to try to kick the smoking habit and change her health and the health of our family. She would bring me to the gym and I LOVED it. I learned to lift weights properly, took aerobics classes and ran miles by the time I was 15. Working out with my mom was awesome! I was super fit and I had abs of steel in middle school. So after a few years of working out regularly, befriending some awesome trainers and learning how to eat right, I was HOOKED! My immediate family sort of changed our ways of eating. Great, right? Well...<br />
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Throughout all of this time my parent's marriage was sort of strained, my grandfather's health was declining, due to cancer. Eventually, my parents separated when I was in high school and my grandfather passed away. Throughout this time, I always went to the gym, ate what I wanted and burned calories when I could. My group of friends and I would walk to the nearest fast food place for lunch and I wouldn't think twice. I was also a cheerleader at the time and very active, so eating particularly healthy didn't really occur to me for most of high school. By the time I was a senior in high school, I had quit cheering and had maintained my KFC, Taco Bell, fast food diet and it caught up with me on occasion but never really enough to make much of a noticeable difference. My clothes would be snug here and there and I generally felt uncomfortable, but I never gained more than about 10 or 15 pounds. I would think about how I felt and I would just work out to compensate. I worked at a Mexican Food restaurant to make matters worse...even then, I still maintained a pretty decent figure and worked out regularly. At that time, food never entered into the equation...even though I knew how I SHOULD have been eating--I learned all about that at the gym with mom.<br />
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By the end of high school, my mom had moved to California and I moved in with my grandmother to keep her company. My grandmother cooked frequently and I had many favorites! But all of that good, home-cooking managed to go straight to my thighs and would constantly have me thinking about workouts and eating. It was a struggle to get back to the body I had when I worked out and ate right. I lived with grandma for a little while and then went to ASU where I lived in the dorms. I made Easy Mac and noodles and ate pasta frequently. This was not good. I never gained more than that same 10 or 15 pounds that I had always fluctuated between and I just continued to work out to fit in my clothes. I began to learn what I could and couldn't eat to fit in my clothes and I figured out more protein and less starchy carbs seemed to help. <br />
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Throughout college, I would fluctuate around with my weight and I did up until January 2008. By then, I lived with my best friend Jenny and I just kept seeing the numbers increase. I weighed myself one day and that scale stared back at me 147 pounds (I am 5'1 and 147 pounds is not something good on such a small person). I had to make a change and I wanted to make a change! FAST! I joined a program that was geared toward weight loss. I won't say the name here because it really doesn't matter, but it managed to get me back down to 120-125 pounds quickly (about 6 months). I lost the weight and the program really focused on eating less sugar and focused more on eating lean meats and veggies. It was TOTALLY what I needed. <br />
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Since then, I have been more CONSCIOUS about the foods I put in my body. I know if I eat cookies, cupcakes and pizza that I will have a problem. I know I hate STRUGGLING with diet and exercise, but it's not so much of a struggle when I KNOW how to eat now. I know what my body needs and I try to limit the extras whenever possible. I splurge, I feel guilty for a second, and then I know that I have to tools and the committment to health to make smart decisions and get back on track. <br />
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I know my 20 pound weight struggle really isn't considered to be much to those with 50 or even 100 pounds to lose, but to me it is and was EVERYTHING. To me, looking good, feeling good and eating well are important and they always will be. I enjoy cooking fish, veggies, chicken and eating fresh things because they make me FEEL better. I don't go to fast food restaurants, but probably a handful of times each year and when I do, I rarely order the worst options. I have began cooking at home and eating at home whenever possible. I enjoy having friends over to cook for and I love to get outside and be active. To me eating is a time of decision making. I can decide to eat something fried and suffer the consequences or eat something healthy and reap the benefits. Life is all about the decisions we make and the first, most important decisions, should be about what we put in our bodies. <br />
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With that being said, I am far from a perfect! I am soooo totally far from perfect! I have lots of work to do and lots to maintain. I am continually trying to maintain consciousness when it comes to eating and exercising. I would love to be carefree in that department, but I am not. I am constantly thinking about food, when to eat, when to wait to eat and what to eat, how much to eat...the list goes on and on. It is a struggle in my head, although it may not look like a struggle on the outside. <br />
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So for those of you with issues about your weight and those of you who make judgments about people and their weight, I think its a healthy step to look back at your past. Look and see how you learned to eat, what brought you to your current place and reach out for help to make a change. It's a lot easier to live life feeling good than it is to live life feeling terrible. <br />
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I would love to share some more of my tips and tricks to eating healthy with those who are interested. Those closest to me know that I still eat cookies and crave sugar, but outside of that...I have a few tricks up my sleeve when it comes to easy, quick and healthy options and I am always willing to share! <br />
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Thanks for letting me BLAB and as always, CHEERS TO LIFE!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhcAwBQ9NwLM8C2OJDBPRLTrAQd0yrLHz7vNbZHYgyAk9RBt7Py8eCU7L3KxxP6bxL463aR7SEDlFpaa-kDzcz6yelS1UcJJpBltym5GLNfTvdbB6rQJal1Fw9NS2cneh3Pxcta094D0/s1600/Best+Friend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhcAwBQ9NwLM8C2OJDBPRLTrAQd0yrLHz7vNbZHYgyAk9RBt7Py8eCU7L3KxxP6bxL463aR7SEDlFpaa-kDzcz6yelS1UcJJpBltym5GLNfTvdbB6rQJal1Fw9NS2cneh3Pxcta094D0/s320/Best+Friend.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This is my best friend, Jenny, and the girl that has inspired me, helped me and been there for me through much of my adult life! Thanks girl! Without you my life would be pretty damn boring!Bree and Guinnesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08048828445543458294noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8890849133128464950.post-72671169213793577482010-10-09T11:17:00.000-07:002010-10-09T17:55:26.653-07:00Welcome Friends and Family!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPiiyTECbAY2o9jCfk9Ar70wDFiSGAzCggwF0eO6lpxNZa-tNiV-QGEQlbSZeGK79QwCkdnwrrHiKgUjRGMmChdyxv6_zPq28ce2HasGTk3CTdIC3WafN96Wlwy2hUc30ZZ6p5PVhs_U/s1600/G+Dog+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPiiyTECbAY2o9jCfk9Ar70wDFiSGAzCggwF0eO6lpxNZa-tNiV-QGEQlbSZeGK79QwCkdnwrrHiKgUjRGMmChdyxv6_zPq28ce2HasGTk3CTdIC3WafN96Wlwy2hUc30ZZ6p5PVhs_U/s1600/G+Dog+1.jpg" /></a>Here it is..."The BREE and GUINNESS" blog...the one and only! (And since that furball hasn't learned to type--I will be in charge for now).</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Here go the introductions... For those of you who may not know, I am single (but still browsing), I live with my huge dog Guinness (lovingly referred to as G-dog by his Godmother, Jenny) and I live in beautiful, hot, yet gorgeous, ARIZONA. I have a crazy family that continually makes me wonder how I managed to turn out the way I did. I dig red vines, cupcakes and in 20 years might be insulin dependent due to these addictions! (but that is neither here nor there). Guinness (a gorgeous German Shepherd mutt) is approximately 70 pounds on a 'skinny' day, enjoys pig ears, meat treats, bananas and waking up at 5:30am. My aim here is to take my life experiences and somehow share them with you all. Some things may be funny, some may be sad but it will all be REAL. I already have 1001 topics to write about and it's only DAY 1 so follow along, comment if you wish and most of all...just let me BLAB. XOXO!</div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SXNhVJqZFbL4geACMJGT9RjDuW2nGm200v1JoUjZYn_n9vzVt9LRuQ4yUI5pWk3NRP2wA3DAzgENrloAYG_Dyl2UcwZd3WIKVfeY-QY3l3hjkbCF7YmU97h1_zz5Yb8nG1RrvTohEB8/s1600/Bree+and+Guinness+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4SXNhVJqZFbL4geACMJGT9RjDuW2nGm200v1JoUjZYn_n9vzVt9LRuQ4yUI5pWk3NRP2wA3DAzgENrloAYG_Dyl2UcwZd3WIKVfeY-QY3l3hjkbCF7YmU97h1_zz5Yb8nG1RrvTohEB8/s1600/Bree+and+Guinness+2010.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqknUOwavOTLkwC6Fum4kJrM17XLe43oPxiWi6mgGPHfdehR51Hhz69Muet0vEf2P5MK2Oa3P5mkBs7WsQgC6WU2PMqIL6egsWXCGs9gIQtFjW7R6J__iWawB_BQG3tXkbA-90cIFGJY/s1600/597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqknUOwavOTLkwC6Fum4kJrM17XLe43oPxiWi6mgGPHfdehR51Hhz69Muet0vEf2P5MK2Oa3P5mkBs7WsQgC6WU2PMqIL6egsWXCGs9gIQtFjW7R6J__iWawB_BQG3tXkbA-90cIFGJY/s320/597.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> My Sweet Angel! <div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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