A New Year...A New Me...

I think that's what I titled my first post last year when I began writing, but I guess it's fitting for my first post in over 6 months. I stopped writing because I needed to find myself and not just write what I was doing and where I was going. But people kept looking to my writing for inspiration for health and wellness and I think it's time to pick up writing again.

As I write this, I am on Day 6 of my fourth (maybe third) Whole30. A lot has changed since my last Whole30 in May. After I completed the Whole30 in may, I went to Puerto Rico with Ryan for a much needed vacation and indulged on tostones, mofongo, yucca rice/beans, tortillas and dessert. But because I had just completed a Whole30, my health, my weight and my happiness was at an all time high so I enjoyed the food, the location and the rest and relaxation. We were extremely active on this vacation - we hiked at El Yunque Rainforest and went swimming in the waterfall, went kayaking on the bioluminescent bay at night, walked all over Old San Juan, went stand-up paddle-boarding and snorkeling and jet-skiing and swam every morning in the ocean.

After we returned, I did a Whole15 in August before we left for a trip to San Francisco. There I really indulged....crab sandwiches, peanut butter ice cream, clam chowder soup, garlic fries, basically everything that wasn't paleo. When I was on the trip, I was upset with myself for letting myself eat this way...I was bloated, red in the face and sad. But looking back now that I have had the time to think about it, I am so glad that I enjoyed the food while on vacation. It was a once in a lifetime trip with my husband and I shouldn't look back and wish that I had eaten something. All that I can do is do my best to prepare for events like this and then enjoy whatever situation I am in because it may never happen again. We were active on this trip too - walking up all this hills in San Francisco is the best booty workout ever! We also went hiking in Muir Woods and went on a 10 mile bike ride from San Francisco to Sausalito! And we're New Yorkers so we walked a lot except when we took the old fashioned trolleys! I did 2 Bar Method classes, one with the founder, Burr Leonard and my first ever Soul Cycle class.

 

After San Francisco I did a quick Whole7 to restart my healthy eating habits (see why I am on round four, but really I never did a complete round 3). Ryan and I have been eating completely Paleo since his first Whole30 in May. Both of us are so happy with this transition in lifestyle - we are so much happier, healthier and aware of the foods we are feeding our bodies. His transformation has also been amazing to watch because his workouts at the gym have been so much more efficient and his body has completely transformed.


The biggest thing that we did in October was Tough Mudder! I still cannot believe that I signed up for Tough Mudder but even more unbelievable is that I did it. I guess because I didn't think about it or train (which I do not recommend), I wasn't able to really think about what I was getting myself in to. But on a cold, windy and rainy Saturday morning in October, Ryan, my brother and his friend and I ran 13 miles and completed 22 obstacles together. We ran as a team, we completed every obstacle as a team, we worked together as a team and as a Tough Mudder team helping other individuals complete the course. We ran through mud, swam in an ice bath, jumped 12 feet off a plank, ran up a half pike, and ran through 100,000 volts of electricity...and we got a headband and a tshirt at the end to prove we did it. I had never done anything like this before and probably never will again but I have never been so proud of myself and my family for helping me complete the course. Of course I couldn't walk for 3 days after but it was worth it!

 

 

 

 

   

 

For Thanksgiving, my mom cooked a completely paleo meal which was so incredible to see how our family has completely embraced the new lifestyle and healthy eating habits. The only thing I did indulge on was the chocolate coconut cookies that I can never have just 1 of (I can't even have only 3). I did Bar Method Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday so even though I felt a little sick after eating so much, I made sure not to fall into a rut and let one cookie (okay, maybe 9) ruin my weekend. I could have sat on the couch and said "well, I ate 9 cookies yesterday, so might as well eat 9 more today," but I didn't and that is one of the harder parts of this journey. My only issue - Foldover the day after Thanksgiving for the second year in a row...really...you want me to go parallel to the floor after one of the biggest food holidays of the year? You must be crazy! Thanksgiving morning my brother and I did a 60 minute Turkey Burn Ride at Peloton.

After Thanksgiving, we kept up the Paleo lifestyle and I even stepped up my workout routine. Still doing Bar Method 4 days a week, I added in a lot of spin classes. I joined classpass which allows me to go to unlimited classes at select boutiques in NYC for the low price of $99! I love it. Swerve Fitness and Peloton have easily become my new fitness addiction. Only problem with spin, the amount of showering I have to do and I am running out of workout clothes each week but with the added fitness classes, I can't afford new clothes right now. Both Swerve and Peloton have an amazing team aspect to spinning which I never thought I would enjoy but I have become obsessed with. I hated spinning, never enjoyed being yelled out to bike on a stationary bike - where are we going? What hill do you see me going up? And why do you want me to add more resistance when my legs are barely moving anyway? And weights? You want me to lift weights and bike at the same time? This is ridiculous. But Peloton and Swerve have me going at least twice a week in addition to Bar Method. My whole family loves Swerve too - my brother goes to Swerve most weekends and Ryan comes with me to Peloton. If I can't get him into a Bar class then at least I can get him on a bike. I even got a few 1st places at Swerve which is so exciting

Christmas vacation was a little tough. I had off from December 24 - January 5 so I knew I wanted to workout every day but the food became hard to handle. Christmas Eve my family made dinner and everything was paleo except for the popovers and dessert. Well I indulged. Christmas Eve Ryan and I had our first Jewmas so after an amazing Peloton ride, we had donuts and my first bagel in over a year. It was from Essa-Bagel so it was special to me...when I was younger, my mom would wake me and my brother up every Christmas morning at 5am and take us to the Rockefeller Christmas Tree. It was dark outside and the streets were quiet and empty. After the sun started to rise we would go to Essa-Bagel and get the first batch of bagels hot and fresh out of the oven. So this year I introduced Ryan to that family tradition (there was a tree in the Peloton studio so that counts). After breakfast we went to see a movie and got popcorn with raisenettes (you pour the raisenettes into the bag of popcorn so the chocolate melts)! Dinner was Chinese Food (what else would you even think to eat during a JewMas). We got dumpling, egg rolls, pork buns, scallion pancakes, spicy beef and chow mein. And now, we're not done there...we had chocolate peanut butter Ben & Jerry's at home for dessert.

Well I paid for this meal the next day. I couldn't get off the couch. Every muscle ached, I was so tired that I couldn't keep my eyes open and I had a terrible headache. I ate completely Whole30 that day (when I was not napping). I made it to a spin class that morning but didn't leave the couch the rest of the day. Talk about a Carb Hangover.

The rest of the vacation we ate very clean except every night we had a Paleo dessert. My favorite was chocolate molten lava cake with almond butter crunch topping.

Tuesday December 30th I began my day with a 60 minute Dream Ride at Peloton. The class was focused on setting intentions for 2015 and less about resistance and how hard we were working. There was a percussionist in the room and the studio was lit by candles and the music was very motivational. I found myself crying, releasing 2014 and every worry and doubt I was holding on to and feeling lighter and happier. We filled out intention cards with I WILL, I CAN, I AM and I DO. It was a great way to end the year!

That same night I went to dinner with my girl friends at The Nomad. It was a special meal to share with my best friends because this is the hotel where Ryan and I stayed when we got married and the same owner of Eleven Madison where we had our wedding dinner. I indulged in the best food I had ever eaten and the best dessert. It was a very special night and I couldn't have been happier.

New Years Eve was like Christmas...donuts from DOUGH, Essa Bagel, a salad for lunch and pizza and ice cream for dinner. Ryan and I went to Comic Strip Live for a comedy show and came back and ordered in pizza and had Ben & Jerry's Milk and Cookies ice cream and a glass of sparkling cider. As soon as the ball dropped, we were in bed.

My workout schedule for the 11 day vacation was:

December 24: 6:30am Bar Method
December 25: 9:30am Peloton
December 26: 9:30am FlyWheel
December 27: 10:30am Swerve
December 28: 8:30am Bar Method and 10:30am Swerve
December 29: 10:30am Bar Method and 12:30pm Swerve
December 30: 9:30am Bar Method
December 31: 12:30pm Peloton
January 1: Carb Hangover
January 2: 12:30pm Peloton and 5:00pm Bar Method
January 3: 8:30am Bar Method
January 4: Rest Day
January 5: 6:30am Bar Method and 6:30pm Revolve Spin

January 1 was the start of our Whole30. We are doing it together with a lot of people from around the world. It is the largest site wide Whole30 and I feel excited to be a part of it. It isn't about completing 30 days for me because I eat very clean and have learned so much from my past whole30's but right now it is about resetting my habits. I hate needing dessert after dinner, or not being able to go without craving pizza and ice cream since I had it so often in the past 2 weeks. I eat well, I workout, but I need to recognize the habits I created after finishing Whole30 and how I have gone back to my old routines. I am on day 6 now and already have more energy and focus than I did during Christmas break.

I am so glad I pushed myself last week for double workouts and know that without those double days, my eating habits would have been worse. I gained some weight and I am aware of it, but I look back on the 11 day vacation and know that I had an amazing time with Ryan, with my friends and lived the final days of the year to the fullest.

Yesterday was the first day back at work, the first day that I woke up at 5am for Bar Method in over a week and a half but I am ready to get back to a routine, get back to my healthy eating and workout habits. I just miss the time I spent with Ryan and my friends - I feel trapped in my routine of working out early and then spending 8-9 hours at work and working out in the evening. It's hard to balance it all but that's part of the journey.

I look forward to writing again and seeing where this journey takes me!

Post Whole30 Week 2

It is week 2 since my Whole30 ended, which technically means I am 14 days into my 2nd Whole30 without realizing it. I won't make it to 30 days though because Saturday is my Birthday Dinner at Delmonico's with my Baked Alaska dessert which I fear and am really excited about! So that means I did a Whole47! I am really proud of myself and it is such an amazing accomplishment to have overcome my sugar addiction, my carb addiction, my lack of meal planning, me constant counting, weighing and measuring and my total lack of self control when it comes to food! I eat real, whole foods, fat, meat, vegetables, fruit in moderation and no added sugars or processed foods. I have stopped microwaving frozen meals and realized that in the time it takes to "peel back the film, microwave for 4-5 minutes, remove film, stir, heat for an additional minute and let stand for 1 minute," I can make a delicious steak with a mixed green salad. It's just as easy and even more delicious and satisfying.

I am planning on having the Baked Alaska at Delmonico's - I have gone back and forth with myself on whether or not I will, but it's my Birthday (not an excuse), it is something Ryan and I planned pre-whole30/paleo, and I am not going to feel guilty about it! It will be my first taste of sugar and dairy in 47 days and I hope my body doesn't hate me. I am expecting some stomach aches, maybe a headache, and I am sure I will feel gross the next morning, but to have this special meal with Ryan is worth it. We could easily change our dinner reservation or not order the baked alaska but I don't want to fear food. I want to be able to have this treat in moderation and be able to control myself while eating it. It will be a true test, but Whole30 has taught me so much and I think that even with a few tastes (with a big spoon), I will come out of this experience happy, healthy and wise! And the next morning go back to my wonderful new eating habits.

I have decided to not begin reintroducing foods to my diet yet like dairy, weight, legumes and sugar (honey and maple syrup) because I love how I look and feel. My body feels amazing, my mind is clear, I am focused, energized and happy. I will eventually begin slowly having honey in recipes if I make something for me and Ryan or dairy on special occasions like my birthday but I really want to not have grains/gluten and beans because I know those will seriously hurt my stomach and it is not worth it! I know how I felt, how I feel and how I want to continue to feel. This is a way of life, not a diet and I choose to live like this!

Ryan has expressed more interest in working towards a primal lifestyle. Similar to paleo but with some dairy and legumes in moderation. This is better for him because the restrictions of paleo are too much and he has already changed his eating habits so much in the last year that a little milk and black beans won't hurt him. He used to have a bagel with cream cheese, cereal and a pastry/muffin every morning for breakfast, a foot long sandwich for lunch, and multiple dinner rolls with his dinner. His mindset has completely changed and his eating habits are so improved that he is on the right track for a primal way of life. He just needs some help and guidance and I think we can do it together and he will be successful.

This week was wonderful. It was so beautiful out and we had our first brunch outside of the spring/summer season. We went to a cute belgian restaurant near our house - I ordered the tuna nicoise salad which had green beans, tuna, hard boiled egg and fingerling potatoes and Ryan had a roast beef club sandwich (I said working towards primal, not there yet)!

After brunch we went home and I meal prepped a few items for my birthday brunch that we were having Sunday at our apartment with our close friends! I prepped a few dishes Saturday and only a few on Sunday to lessen the stress of hosting brunch. I made all Whole30 approved dishes (no sugar) and everything was paleo (except the croissant I had for a few non-paleo guests and the flourless chocolate cake provided by my mom - but still gluten free), and everything was absolutely delicious.

BIRTHDAY BRUNCH MENU

 

 

Prosciutto Egg Cups (nonnompaleo)

Hidden Vegetable Muffins (Against All Grain)

Tex-Mex Hash Casserole (PaleOMG)

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Zesty Shrimp & Avocado Salad (Skinnytaste)

De-Constructed Salad with tomatoes, peppers, pepperoni, smoked salmon, oven-roasted chicken)

Prosciutto Wrapped Dates

Flourless Chocolate cake
Chocolate - Walnut Banana Bread (Civilized Caveman) - I left out the vanilla and added 2 tbsp of cocoa powder and cacao nibs and walnuts

 
Fruit Salad

Croissants

Everyone loved the meal and there were barely any leftovers, which is great when you're hosting and want everyone to enjoy the food, but sad when you don't have anything for the rest of the week. This was my first event at our apartment that I cooked everything - Passover my mom "catered" and I am so proud of myself. Next time I would love to have fun table settings and dishes but this was a great start and I can't wait to do it again.

Ryan and I were so full from brunch but at 8pm we decided we should eat dinner so that we weren't ravaging the fridge for food at 10pm! Ryan made us both bison burger salads and I topped mine with avocado. It was light, delicious, fatty, juicy - and I was overly full. So full that I went straight to bed after eating.

This past week was really busy and I didn't get to as many Bar Method classes as I would have liked. I didn't go Wednesday or Thursday because I bruised my knee and couldn't move it (bending and stretching is all Bar Method is) but I did go Friday evening and I had a great class. I was so much more flexible and worked a lot harder than the morning class. I always say this after I take an evening class but I would love to do more evening ones - especially now that it is still light out and warmer. Because I was home 3 mornings this week I had breakfast with Ryan before work. We had scrambled eggs with spinach, tomato and chicken sausage. I didn't meal prep or have groceries so I had a lot of mixed green salads for lunch. I also wasn't home after work Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday so I had a few RxBars.

Thursday night Ryan and I made dinner together! We made shrimp scampi with zoodles! Ryan made the zoodles and had so much fun using the spiralizer and the shrimp was cooked in a lot of garlic, shallots and lemon juice. So simple, so easy, and I had some leftovers for lunch on Friday. Friday after Bar Method I made a quick bison burger with avocado.

Zoodles are now my favorite pasta substitute - I bought green and yellow squash this week and hope to make a mixed zoodle dish sometime! We finally went grocery shopping too and got some chicken, pork chops and steak so I think this week I will be more prepared for meals and not have to eat out as much for lunch. I need to save money and buying groceries per dinner and eating lunch out was costing a lot more than buying bulk groceries and prepping at home!

This mornings Meal 1 was leftover prosciutto egg cups, a slice of tex-mex hash and some smoked salmon. I don't have too many leftovers from brunch, but saving money on breakfast after Bar Method helps too! I loved eating at home with Ryan but I missed my morning Bar class and I am happy to be back on track with my routine!

It's also a little easier to go to my morning Bar Method class now that it is light out when I leave in the morning - no more dark commutes which make it feel like the middle of the night!

5:50am Madison Square Park

I am excited to be continuing eating Paleo/Whole30. Cutting out sugar was my biggest change to my diet and I feel incredible. I am trying in the next part of this lifestyle to cut back on nuts too as I know they are fattening and were becoming a snack food rather than a great crunchy addition to meals.

I hope everyone is doing well and having a great day.

XO