Important Organic Purchases

A lot is made of purchasing organic food, specifically produce, but there are definitely items that are higher up on the priority list. Check out the link that talks about the 'dirty dozen' or just follow the helpful chart below when making your produce purchasing decisions. Good luck!

Join a CSA Today

Joining a CSA is a great way to get your vegetables and it ensures you that what you are eating is being grown locally and without all the extra pesticides that most supermarket (non-organic) products use. Along with the obvious health benefits that come from these foods you get a great variety as you are eating what is in season and you are helping you local economy! Searching for local CSAs isn't difficult, but oftentimes there are only a certain amount of shares available so looking into it early in the season is important.

I joined a local CSA (Wholesome Harvest) for the first time this year and so far the vegetables have not disappointed. Lots of great greens and even some fresh strawberries! This week was a nice selection;

•Arugula
•Mesclun Mix
•Asparagus
•Green Leaf Lettuce
•Radishes

Good luck finding your own CSA and remember, you're helping yourself and your local farmers which is a wonderful thing!

(Not So)Perfect Game

So, I'm sitting on my couch listening to my fiance and her friend talk on the phone about a baseball game that happened last night...neither like or know anything about baseball, seriously. However, what happened last night is even making THEM talk about the game!

Basically a perfect game was ripped away from a Detroit Tigers pitcher with 2 outs in the 9th inning on a terrible call by an umpire at first base. The batter was called safe even though he was obviously out (see image), which the ump later admitted was a blown call. And today Bud Selig (the commish) came out and said the play would not be overturned. While I think it is a shame the kid will not go down in history as only the 21st pitcher to throw a perfect game, I'm torn on Selig's decision. There are many factors to consider when changing a call, so it is hard to fault his decision. The blame lies on the ump and lack of replay in baseball. While replaying the call would have delayed the celebration on the field that comes along with perfect games and no-hitters, at least the correct call would have been made.

Just a shame.

50 Day Bootcamp: Bring It On!

So, I'm getting married in 50 days and putting a boot camp together to get in great shape seems like a good idea. I started my pledge to eat better and workout harder about a month ago which I've kept up pretty well with (minus a minor Memorial weekend binge), but this boot camp includes my future wife! Actually, the idea for it came from her wanting to get in better shape, so I figured I'd become a personal trainer for a month and half. I wonder how much I should charge per hour? Just kidding, sort of...

The boot camp includes both exercising and nutrition, so it is going to be a challenge. It is especially going to be challenging as she is a vegetarian and my Paleo diet is obviously centered around meat and protein. However, we are going to figure everything out and it is going to be fine. Lots of eggs and fish for her I guess. We had our first workout this morning and woke up at 6am to get it done. It went well and she is already sore after day#1, I think we have some work to do.

50 days until I'm married - crazy. Definitely excited and still lots to prepare for!

Wedding Season Is Here!

It is officially wedding season and we are on our way to Des Moines for our first one of the year. It's a bit of a drive but hopefully it will be worth it. I suppose I should be taking notes as our wedding is right around the corner! Only 2 months away!!!

I always think of the movie Wedding Crashers when weddings happen because it is soooo funny and something you can keep quoting year after year. "Football and crabcakes, that's what Maryland does!" Just awesome.

We kicked the weekend off right last night by heading downtown for some drinks and appetizers. We ended up getting a cheese plate (we are in Wisconsin people!) and a beer flight with 8 different types to try from 'The Old Fashioned'. 6 out of 8 beers were good with the New Glarus Moon Man being my favorite. Nice flight holder huh? Go Wisco!

Looking forward to being back Sunday already.

A little behind, but still some Excellent Dinners!

My blogging has been a little lax lately but I'm determined to start doing a better job of getting relevant and timely posts up for my loyal readers:) Things have been a bit busy over the last couple weeks; bachelor party, roof leaking and helping PLAN A WEDDING! I understand that the planning is mostly being done by my lovely fiance, but even helping seems to take a lot of time. Also, trying to eat healthy and preparing meals on a daily basis can add to the time crunch. After getting home from work, preparing and eating dinner, doing dishes and other house chores, it is usually bedtime. As I've mentioned before, getting adequate sleep is a must!


So, I'm sort of cheating on this post but i'm including a few of my recent meals that we have consumed even though it is a bit late.



First up was my chicken with parmesan cheese, tomato, fresh basil (my faux Caprese salad meal) and avocado dish. With some green peppers on the side and a Pale Ale to finish. I actually put together a Caprese salad a few days prior and I had leftovers, still tasted great!
















Second; grilled cod marinated in evoo, lemon juice, cracked pepper and dill. Grilled yellow squash with some evoo and cracked pepper and green peppers. It is FINALLY time for grilling in Wisconsin and I plan on taking full advantage for the rest of the Summer!

Lastly is my meal for tonight, a BIG salad. It consisted of baby romaine, organic spinach, four strips of bacon, a handful of walnuts, some green peppers and drizzled with evoo. Absolutely perfect for a day where we had a grill out at work and I didn't get my usual fill of salad greens.

Dinner: Primal Plus A Green Monster

Another week has begun and I wanted to start it out on the right foot with a solid workout and healthy eating. I got a great 30 minute workout in at lunch that consisted of a bench press, multiple pushup forms and a variety of back exercises. It's always nice to feel sore heading back for the afternoon...it means I did something right! Tomorrow is my legs and sprints day, always a killer.

For dinner I had a 1/2lb of grass fed beef, 1 avocado, roasted broccoli and a Green Monster to wash it down. The beef was previously browned with some cumin, the avocado was sliced and tossed in lime juice and the broccoli was roasted in the oven with some evoo and cracked pepper. Everything was excellent and exactly what I was looking for on a Monday night. The big surprise was the green monster drink that was made for me by my fiance. I was a little skeptical at first, but it turned out FANTASTIC! The mix is below;

Green Monster

-2 cups spinach

-1 banana

-1 cup Almond Milk

-2 tbsp ground flax

-ice cubes

Apparently there are a lot of options with this drink, but this mix ended up tasting pretty great as we split the total amount into two glasses. Try it out, it is good!

Sugar is the Enemy

Sugar is something I have been trying to stay away from as much as possible, save for what I get naturally from my fruit intake. Knowing that sugar promotes fat storage among other negative effects, it is hard to believe so many people continue to eat the junk and processed foods that seem to contain one form or another. As always, MDA has done a great job of looking into this matter and breaking down the various forms of sugar and which ones we should absolutely keep out of our bodies. Check out the link and and think about sugar and the role it plays in your life.

Do you drop a cube in your morning coffee?

Do you spoon a couple tablespoons onto your cereal (other quick breakfast options)?

Do you still have a sugar dish?

If you answered 'yes' to any of the questions above you should think twice about if it is necessary and try giving it up for two weeks to see if you really need it or not.

Even though sugar has been scientifically proven to cause a variety of cancers, it still brings a laugh to think the ad above was actually used to entice people AND make them think it would help their cravings at mealtime!

Primal Fruits - Which are the best options?

A quick link from MDA on the best fruit options for paleo eating.

There are different areas to look for when deciding to have fruit, but going for the highly antioxidant rich fruits are usually your best choice. You'll read that there are other things to consider for getting the most nutritional value out of your fruits, but it all comes down to the individual. I seem to go with bananas most often (because of the convenience factor), but that obviously needs to change. Blueberries and cherries here I come!

Keeping fruit to a minimum is important because of the high sugar content found in many options, however, a good piece of fruit can really hit the spot sometimes.

Elevator Pitch...Paleo Style

In the business world it is important to have your own elevator pitch in case you have a short amount of time to highlight your key attributes, experience and goals to somebody. It is basically a quick synopsis of you and your talents in case you run into a situation where you need to show yourself off to a person that you are attempting to impress. The goal is to have it short enough so that you can say it in the time you would be riding in an elevator with another individual (hence the name).

I came across a post on another blog (Whole 9) that was talking exactly about this in terms of the Paleo way of eating and I thought it was important and worth putting on here because it was so good. I could really use something like this when discussing the Paleo way with people new to the idea or who are just curious about why I eat like I do. Below is the exact 'pitch' they have which can obviously be tweaked, but I think it does an excellant job of explaining the finer points without going into too much detail, which generally loses a listener anyway. Enjoy.


I eat “real” food – fresh, natural food like meat, vegetables and fruit. I choose foods that are nutrient dense, with lots of naturally-occurring vitamins and minerals, over foods that have more calories but less nutrition. And food quality is important – I’m careful about where my meat comes from, and buy produce locally and organically as often as possible.

It’s not a low calorie “diet” – I eat as much as I need to maintain strength, energy and a healthy weight. In fact, my diet is probably much higher in fat than you’d imagine. Fat isn’t the enemy – it’s a great energy source when it comes from high quality foods like avocado, coconut and nuts. And I’m not trying to do a “low carb” thing, but since I’m eating vegetables and fruits instead of bread, cereal and pasta, it just happens to work out that way.

Eating like this is good for maintaining a healthy metabolism, and reducing inflammation within the body. It’s been doing great things for my energy levels, body composition and performance in the gym. It also helps to minimize my risk for a whole host of lifestyle diseases and conditions, like diabetes, heart attack and stroke.

Advantages of Grass Fed Beef and Dairy vs. Grain Fed

There seems to be a general misconception out there that red meat is evil and will cause you heart disease and other health related illnesses. However, a closer look at the facts can help point out that grass fed beef and dairy actually can be eaten pretty healthily and not cause all of the so-called diseases the public believes will fall upon them if they touch the stuff. While I do believe a balanced diet of lean meats and all things Paleo is the right approach, having grass fed beef multiple times a week is not going to kill you.

Here are a few bullet points that I took from an article on the topic that help illustrate some of the benefits of eating grass fed beef versus the general grain fed you'll find in most grocery stores.

-More antioxidant Vitamin E

-More antioxidant Beta Carotene

-More CLA

-Less Fat/Saturated Fats

-Less Omega 6/More Omega 3 fats

-Less chance of the animal getting sick or producing sick meat

Check out the full article here...charts included for easy digestion of the info!

A Call To Action

Something must be done! Simply, it can not go on like this any longer.

I have hit a point where I am making excuses for my poor eating and justifying why I can't work out far too often. This is going above and beyond the 80/20 rule of primal eating and living and it is starting to affect my mood and lifestyle. While I am exteremely happy with my decision to go primal it has caused me to slack off in my workout efforts. By eating primally I have some how ingrained in my mind that it is ok to not workout as often or with the passion I had before. Taking a rest day if I am tired is fine, but these 'rest days' are popping up all the time lately.

So, I am challenging myself with a call to action to become more primal with my eating and living and kick start my butt back into my previous workout mode. Starting Monday (4/26/10) I am getting back to my solid four to five day a week program that pushes me to the max. There will not be any light 'cardio' days where I plug away on an eliptical machine at the gym for 30 minutes. I will either be stretching myself at home with various P90X dvds for bodyweight exercises or hitting the gym and doing heavy lifting and sprinting on the treadmill.

Still having the occasional vice like a beer or dark chocolate here and there is ok, but my primal eating needs to get back on track as well. I have less than three months until I get married and my goal from now until then is to stay the course and keep my focus straight. Of course, my bachelor party is another story but i'll only be gone for a few days and I plan to give myself a killer workout the Thursday morning before our flight.

For those of you out there in a similar rut or situation, ask yourself if you need a call to action as well? I know I did.

NFL Draft Tonight!

Hard to believe it is already time for the 2010 NFL draft, it seems like the Super Bowl just took place and Favre was limping off the field toward another off-season of uncertainty.

I used to love sitting and watching the draft all day and listening the the analysts say the same thing over and over again. However, this year the NFL decided they wanted to have the draft in primetime on Thursday night instead of the usual all day Saturday and Sunday event. I'm not boycotting it by any means, but it is just another business ploy to make money and grab ratings. Saturday made it an 'event' for me while Thursday night makes it just another program on at night. I hope it flops and gets changed back but I'm not holding my breath.

As for the Packers, lots of needs on this team to fill but I'm hoping they stick with OTs and d-backs. We need quality and depth in both areas.

I swear, if TT drafts Tebow in the 1st round I will stop being a Packer fan until he is fired!

GO PACK!

Dinner and Grocery Shopping

Summer is almost here and that means two things; sun and the farmer's market! More on the farmer's market in another post, but Summer also makes me want to eat a lighter type of meal that has more of a Summer feel to it. So, last night I made a mozzarella, tomato and basil salad with my version of a tuna melt. Both are extremely easy to make and tasty.

The salad includes fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, a little evoo and cracked pepper. As you can see, you simply slice the cheese and tomatoes and lay them out on a serving plate and then chop the basil and arrange on top. Then drizzle some evoo over it and add cracked pepper to taste. Chill in the fridge for an hour and serve! The tuna melt is my paleo version (so, sans the bread). Simple can of tuna with a slice of pepperjack cheese on top and put in the oven at 375 degree until cheese is melted.

While the above meal is a bit heavy on the cheese and dairy, i'm not too worried about some in my diet. I'll just make up for it by cutting back tomorrow by having very little to none...just balance it out. On to grocery shopping...

Grocery shopping the paleo way can be fun but also stressful at times if you are still tied up to old habits. I guess this will just take some time, but sticking to the outside walls of a grocery store is a helpful way to stay on track. The middle isles are usually full of the processed and packaged crap that we do NOT need anyway. There are a few items to wander into the forbidden ground (my own term) for like evoo, almond butter, pepper, etc., but don't get sucked in to those chips and cookies calling out your name!!!

My usual list at the store includes the following but does vary depending on season and how i'm feeling;

Proteins

-eggs(organic are best here)

-beef(grassfed variety)

-chicken

-Salmon

-Cod

-Shrimp

Veggies (LOAD UP)

-lettuce

-celery

-carrots

-avocados

-roma tomatoes

-green peppers

Fruits (some but not a lot)

-bananas (#1 on my list)

-apples

Dairy (some but not a lot)

-milk

-parmesan cheese

-mozzarella cheese

-string cheese

Sensible Vices (ok, but don't over indulge)

-dark chocolate

-beer

-wine

Liquids (don't waste your $)

Drink H2O, it's free and healthy for you. I know some people like fruit juices, but make sure they are 100% juice without the sugar or other additives included.

Crazy Tourney And Some Predictions

It's been awhile since I've posted, but lots has been going on recently and a quick post was needed.

So Duke ended up winning the NCAA title over Butler in a classic game of 'David vs. Goliath', however, Goliath ended up winning in the final seconds this time. Unfortunately David (Butler) cost me the chance at winning a certain pool for the second consecutive year, where I finished third. Although, I ended up winning the big $ pool, so all is good in terms of my pocketbook:) Overall it was a great tournament with TONS of upsets, can't wait for 2011! Unless they decide to expand from 65 to 96 team...no thanks.

Baseball season officially got underway on Sunday with the Yankees and Red Sox playing, typical, but that is a ramble for another day. Looking forward to watching the Brewers this year to see how they progress (hopefully) from last season. Planning on getting to at least one home game at Miller Park...always a good time. While they made some steps to improve the pitching staff, it wasn't a great improvement because of how terrible they were last year. The offense should be solid with Fielder and Braun in the middle of the lineup, but beyond them it might be a tough year for getting RBIs.

PREDICTION: 83 wins

And, The Masters started today with Tiger Woods making his comeback after a long layoff from his 'situation' at home. I always enjoy watching tournaments where Woods is in contention over the weekend, but I'm just not sure about him these days. As far as his golf game, I think he'll get right back to it.

PREDICTION: Tiger wins the Masters

That's it for now, but I'll have more soon.

Another Early Morning

While a workout was much needed last night after work, the gorgeous weather was too much to pass up. So, I grabbed a few drinks and food with a friend while sitting outside on the deck of a bar. This IS Wisconsin and 75 degree days in March don't come along very often! We headed to a local bar and restaurant called the Lazy Oaf Lounge and enjoyed some refreshing Hopalicious beer brewed from a local micro brewery (just down the road actually). It is an American pale ale and probably my favorite of the Ale Asylum microbrews. It was great to be able to be outside and not freeze for the first time in many many months.



Although I had a good time with the food, drinks and conversation I have been up since 5am this morning unable to sleep. I'm attributing this to the beer I had, as more than one in a night seems to really mess up my sleeping pattern. I don't do this often and not getting my much needed sleep will probably keep me from going out for a lot of happy hours in the future. Now and then is ok, but keeping a solid sleep schedule is essential to being healthy and active. Check out the link on sleep above, it really makes you want to get your 7-8 hours a night.

Looking forward to the beginning of April today and another beautiful day in Wisconsin.

Cheers

5 Signs Of A Good Workout

1. You are dripping wet and standing in a puddle on the floor.
This is pretty self-explanatory, but your shirt and shorts are soaked and the puddle of sweat on the floor is proof that you have exerted a ton of energy and effort. While some people may sweat more than others (me in particular), the amount of sweat a person works up usually coincides with the amount of energy expanded. So, be proud of those puddles and not ashamed!

Culprits: Extreme cardio, fast-paced or heavy lifting, Vinyasa yoga, many others…

2. Toilet Sore
Now, I can’t take credit for this terminology but I’ve definitely felt the effects before. This is basically when a person goes to sit down on the toilet and you are SO incredibly sore that you try to ease yourself into position but end up falling the last couple inches onto the toilet. It happens and be happy about it, your glutes will thank you later.

Culprits: Squats, Lunges, Plyometrics, lengthy cardio, hiking

3. You are craving a protein shake more than ANYTHING!
You have just worked out so hard and furious that you need to re-fuel ASAP! And nothing will help you more than a wonderfully delicious and nutritious protein shake to get those muscles the nutrients they need to recover quickly. Muscles need their recovery fuel 30 min- 1 hr post workout for best results.

Culprits: Lifting, period.

4. You are mentally alert and ready for the remainder of your day (or night).
I find that after a morning workout I feel more prepared for the day ahead and ready to take on whatever challenges I might face at work or thereafter. A workout can help lower stress levels according to a 2003 study, and less stress means more mental awareness and focus.

Culprits: A good workout at any time of day, but morning seems to really help start things off right.

5. Your muscles are completely exhausted.
You know by the feel of your muscles that you have pushed yourself hard and you will see the benefits in time. Continuing to push hard will payoff and having sore muscles for a brief amount of time means you are doing something right.

Culprits: Lifting, sprinting, bodyweight moves

Health Care Reform...Is There A Better Way?

Today marks a significant change for healthcare in the USA, both for the present and future of the country. Obama signed into law today a nearly 1 trillion dollar healthcare bill that will affect the way everyone receives and pays for healthcare going forward. I'm not here to completely bash the bill or applaud it, as time will tell how effective it truly is. While I certainly have my thoughts and opinions about the pros and cons of the bill from both a morality and fiscal standpoint, I want to take a different approach to looking at the 'health' of the country.

Preventative health measures vs. Medicine/Prescription Drugs:
I guess this seems pretty obvious to me, but the country as a whole relies far too much on medicine and prescription drugs. You have a problem? I bet we can find a medicine that can fix it! You have a headache, pop an aspirin! You have diabetes, take a pill! You have an erectile disorder, here's a viagra! While I understand these can help people and certain situations, it is ultimately a 'quick fix' versus finding a solution to a problem. Doctors are some of the biggest offenders of this as well, because many of them and whole medical establishments are in the pockets of 'big pharma' anyway.

Taking a preventative health approach can help improve and sometimes remove certain diseases/issues all together. Just think if the government and this country took an approach to help educate early on so people wouldn't be affected later in life. Afterall, many diseases are preventable and the treatment of these is what can drive healthcare costs up and up. By improving ones lifestyle now, the quality of life down the road will be much greater and relying on medicine to simply survive and function might not be necessary. Preventative measures may take some work and effort on the individuals part along with the educational efforts by the government, but I think that is a better option than simply giving everyone free reign on healthcare and continuing down the path we are on.

Higher Taxes:
I'm not referring to raising taxes on individuals or those who make lots of money, because they shouldn't be solely responsible for the care of others either. The higher taxes i'm referring to should be placed on specific items and products that cause the majority of the health issues to begin with! I personally get a little upset thinking that I might have to help pay for the healthcare of someone who smokes a pack a day, drinks soda non-stop and eats fastfood twice a day. So, how about we dramatically raise the taxes on cigarettes, foods high in trans fats and sugar and other processed crap? Then, those who purchase these products (which directly contribute to poor health) are being taxed and not Joe Sixpack who would never touch the stuff.

The bill signed by Obama today did have something similar to this that I noticed, an increased tax (10%) on indoor tanning bed use. So, someone obviously realized that tanning has been directly linked to cancer and those choosing to partake in such activities should be charged an additional amount. Makes sense to me.

Pattern of Behavior (THE BELOW PATTERN NEEDS TO CHANGE!)
Eating Poorly=Gain Weight/Fat=Health Problems=Dr. Visits=Using Medicine/Drugs=Rising Medical Costs=Higher Premiums=Higher Cost of Healthcare For Everyone

To finish up, I basically think a healthier lifestyle would help fix and cure a lot of the diseases and ailments people in this country are faced with today. Rather than throwing money (we don't have) into a healthcare overhaul, how about starting with a preventative approach.
Eat healthy and get some exercise.

LET THE MADNESS BEGIN!

It is finally here! March Madness has arrived and I am super pumped,it's going to be a LONG day at work today. At least I've got a vacation day for Friday so I'll get to enjoy watching the Badgers destroy Wofford in the 1st round while drinking some beer.

As for my brackets, going with a lot of chalk but that is usually how you win the pools. Final four teams are Kansas, Syracuse, Kentucky and Nova. Then Kansas over Kentucky in the championship. Hopefully I'll bring home some money again this year.

Let the games begin!

Selection Sunday Is Here

Finally it truly feels like March Madness!

Although Wisconsin isn't playing in the Big Ten tournament final today I am excited to watch the selection special and find out exactly where the Badgers will be seeded and who they'll be playing next weekend. However, i'm more excited about getting a hold of the brackets and filling out the winning entry! Last year was pretty successful as I won all four pools I was in, so hopefully that luck can continue again in 2010.

It should be an interesting NCAA tournament this year as there has not been a completely dominant team throughout the year. There have been some solid teams (Kansas, Kentucky, Syracuse) but none that have shown the ability to be the odds-on favorite to win the title. Because of the lack of a dominant teams I think there are some definite upsets in the making and that is going to shake up the brackets. The Big Ten looks to be set up to have a good showing with their deliberate style of play and coaching. I'm looking for the Badgers to at least make it to the Sweet 16.

I'll be taking a vacation day on Friday to kick things off right, grabbing some drinks and watching some games. Some friends are coming to town so i'm looking forward to catching up and watching basketball. Let the Madness begin!

Up Before Sunrise?

Up at 5am this morning laying in bed not falling back asleep, so I figured i'd get some things accomplished with the extra time I apparently have. Ended up unloading the dishwasher (and re-loading), worked on some wedding music selections, made a to-do list for the day and brewed some coffee. I have a lovely sister who continuely hooks me up with coffee, so we never run out! Oh how I love a tasty cup of joe in the morning. Speaking of joe...

Good coffee is definitely one of the little things in life that brings me happiness and I couldn't help but think this morning of a great little coffee shop I was introduced to while visiting a friend in New York called Joe. They made THE best Americano and i'm pretty sure I won't find another cup like the one I had there. Hopefully i'll get back again someday, but my friend just had to go back to school. Although, he is now in Chicago and I look forward to trip there in the near future.

Looks like shower time for me, have a good one.

Back To It + Almond Butter

After a fun Saturday night celebrating the 21st birthday of a college friend's sister i'm back to eating primally. I strayed a little bit with some extra drinks and some snacks (post-bar), but nothing like I used to in my pre-primal days. I limited myself to two slices of pizza afterwards and started drinking water at the last bar we were at...never would have happened in my earlier years. Overall, I think I did pretty well with sticking to my eating while still having a great time with everyone who attended. Looking forward to the next get together with friends.

Back to the grind at work today, but I had my first experience eating almond butter and it was fantastic! I spread it on some celery sticks and it might be a new favorite snack, satiating and tasty. Definitely better than peanut butter and waaaaay healthier for you. After checking out prices at a few different grocery stores for $6-$8 a jar, I was glad to find it cheaper at our local Trader Joe's for about $4! While still more expensive than peanut butter, the benefits far outweigh the extra $1.50 I have to pay for it. Can't wait to have some more tomorrow.

Friday Night Fish Fry Anyone?

Well, it is that time of year again when pretty much any local bar, tavern, and restaurant that serves food is churning out a Friday Fish Fry. Lent is here (which for some means no meat on Fridays) and that will bring out the masses for chowing down on fried fish. I wonder if this is just a Wisconsin thing or does this ritual take place nationwide? I love a good fish fry, but after going primal my days of eating 'All-You-Can-Eat' fried fish are probably over. While that might seem a bit sad, i'm not worried as I LOVE baked and broiled fish too...with EXTRA butter and lemon juice!

After getting home from work yesterday I was ready to do some cooking of my own to honor this tradition (and keep with my Lenten sacrifice) so out came the cod. Rather than coating this with beer batter and deep frying it in some form of vegetable oil as most places do, I decided to go with the baked approach. A bit more pimal I think and it turned out nicely (see image).

It was a pretty simple recipe and we ate it with a nice bed of romaine lettuce with cracked black, a drizzle of EVOO and a little parm cheese. The fish was coated in EVOO, lemon juice, cracked black, dill flakes, garlic powder and a few red pepper flakes (we love a little kick!). To top it off we washed it down with a nice micro brew IPA from Great Lakes Brewery (Milwaukee), because a Wisconsin fish fry isn't complete without a beer in hand.

Weight Loss...Without Trying?

I've been getting the 'you are too skinny' comment lately and it is interesting to hear. I'm not totally against it, but at this point in time i'm really not trying to lose weight. I understand this is not a really bad problem to have especially when there are people out there who would love to lose some extra poundage. Due to my injuries over the last month my working out has declined quite a bit, so I can only assume this sudden weight loss is from me beginning my 'primal' eating plan. I actually tipped the scales at 173lbs this week...I haven't seen that weight since my sophomore year in HIGH SCHOOL! My ideal target weight is between 180-185lbs, but more muscular.

I have been eating plenty of food in my opinion, but i'm sticking (for the most part) with healthy foods and plenty of protein and good fats. For example, the picture included is my dinner for tonight. One whole avocado, two strips of bacon and three (omega 3 enhanced) eggs with some parm cheese. That is FAT, FAT, AND MORE FAT!!! So people, I am NOT intentionally trying to lose any more weight, really.

On a sports note, it is officially March. MARCH MADNESS is right around the corner!!!

Almond Flour Pancakes

Just made some almond flour pancakes from Mark's Daily Apple and they turned out pretty good. Still need a few more attempts to perfect them, but not a bad showing for the first try. Very simple to make in terms of ingredients, but the flipping and heating temp is where i'll need some practice. Almond flour may have become my new favorite cooking ingredient.

While the pancakes were filling, I still had room for some bacon and eggs:)

Life

Life is an interesting road. It can be going as perfectly as expected one day and come crashing down the next. I was feeling pretty positive about life in terms of how things were shaping up for me; eating healthy, exercising with a purpose, starting to feel fit and preparing for the next step in my life with my fiance. Then a death in the family occurs and it makes you realize life is not perfect and can turn at any time.

Death is a part of life, but it still causes much pain and agony when it happens. I firmly believe there is a better place for all of us after this life ends, so that can help with the hurt. I also believe that a person can let the pain turn into a path of continued sorrow or a catalyst for better and brighter things to come. While there is always grieving involved in death, i'm determined to come out with an enhanced sense of wanting to live life to the fullest! (For M.K.)

Primal...I'm All In

Interesting how a viewpoint can change in the matter of two weeks. I was not completely sold on the 'Primal' lifestyle, although it was very intriging. Trying to break away from the conservative wisdom (CW) and years of so-called 'healthy' eating was difficult, but I did some research and tested the waters...as of today you can count me ALL IN!

Two weeks ago I had only started reading about primal/paleo eating and wasn't completely sure if it was for me or not. It wasn't the carbs I would need to give up or the bad food, but rather the potential cost of the food that worried me. In a recent post I noted how I haven't bought into organic foods, but with the primal diet it is a must! You really can't eat primal without consuming organic/grass fed/free range/hormone free/etc., vegetables, meats, and other foods. So, i've come to the realization that paying a little more for food now will save me in the long run.

I've started to feel somewhat better as far as my injured shoulder and knee as well, so i'm ready to get going in terms of working out and eating the primal way. Tonight I tried another recipe from Son of Grok, and another success! Tonight it was meatloaf with a couple minor tweaks (mainly some extra bacon on top) from the orginal recipe. Don't the pics look amazing?!

Until the next.

In Need of a Workout?

I'm a person who constantly gets injured or at the very least has minor nagging pains that seem to derail my focus on working out. These injuries started way back in junior high and continued through high school and college. So i've been accustomed to dealing with them, but it is frustrating when i'm trying to make gains in my lifting. That backstory leads me to the present where i'm dealing with a sore left shoulder, left elbow and right knee.

I've had to take a break from my P90X workouts over the last couple weeks because the pain in my shoulder and knee have affected me to the point where I have not been able to correctly finish certain exercises in the program. However, after having not really done much of anything over the last two weeks I was feeling the NEED AND WANT to get a workout in. So, I got home tonight and forced myself to make it through a workout. There were still certain parts I couldn't finish, but it was such a good feeling to finally get back to working out! Interesting how the body starts feeling the need to workout once a routine is in place.

Now, if only I could bottle up that need and want to use on the days when I really don't feel like working out. Oh well, push on I guess.

Pizza Recipe

As I mentioned in my last post, i'd be posting the recipe for the primal pizza I made recently. This might be more expensive than buying a cardboard pizza (frozen) from your local grocery store, but it's a heck of a lot healthier and packed with protein! Also, interesting how i've grown up to refer to frozen pizza from the grocery store as 'cardboard pizza', that is saying something I think. Both from a taste and nutritional standpoint it just doesn't stack up.

So, good luck and enjoy if you attempt this. I'm excited to try other new primal recipes that I find online and i'll be sure to pass them along too.

Primal Pizza (not an original recipe, check out http://www.sonofgrok.com/2008/12/recipe-sog-primal-pizza/)

Ingredients:

Crust:
2 Cups Almond Meal/Flour
2 Eggs
2 Tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Tsp salt

Sauce:
1 Can Tomato Paste
1-2 Cups Water (To desired thickness)
1 Tsp Dried Oregano
1 Tsp Garlic

Toppings:
Whatever you want, we used mozzarella and garlic, but feel free to add veggies and other meats as well.

Instructions:

Crust:
1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
2. Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. This should give you a ball of “dough”. If your dough is too “mushy”, continue to add almond flour until you get a good consistency.
3. Make a pizza sheet or baking tray non-stick. This is VERY important if you want your pizza slices to come off in one piece.
4. Press your dough on the sheet nice and even about 1/4 inch in the middle and 1/2 inch at the edges.
5. Put crust in the oven for 15 minutes. It should look slightly golden brown when you take it out.

Sauce:
1. In a saucepan, combine all ingredients. Use water to desired thickness. Feel free to add more spice if you want it, too.
2. Simmer on stove for approximately 15 minutes.

Toppings:
You will want to pre-cook any meat going on your pizza. Veggies can go on fresh and raw, or cooked depending on your preference. Your favorite cheese will do.

Put it all together:
1. After crust comes out of the oven, spread sauce evenly over crust.
2. Add your cheese and toppings evenly on top of sauce.
3. Put back in the oven and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 15 more minutes. Cheese should be evenly melted.
4. Slice and enjoy!

Paleo/Primal Eating...is it legit?

Recently i've come across some different websites and reading material in my quest to find the right eating plan. I freely admit that I have not done enough background and research on the topic, but what I have read so far has definitely opened my eyes to other ways of eating outside the norm of what we have been told is the right way. The Paleo and Primal way of eating are very similar from what i've read, but slightly different in the way each looks at specific types of fat. Again, this is something I haven't researched enough to know the specific details, but so far they make a compelling argument for why the Paleo/Primal eating plan is the legit.

Basically, these two base their eating values (lifestyle) on the way our ancestors (caveman) ate and lived. These are high in protein and also include lots of vegetables, good fats, nuts and fruits. They focus on natural sources of food rather than processed and other manufactured items. You'll notice I did not mention carbs; as it has been said before and most notably of late with many Atkins people, 'carbs are the enemy.' I'll be sure to link additional information about this once i've read more, because this is an extremely brief overview of the Primal eating plan.

I thought i'd try out a recipe that fits into primal eating (technically anyway) that I found online. Since i'm new to all of this I figured i'd work myself in easy, so why not start with pizza?! The image is what it looked like, not too bad as far as asthetics go in my opinion. And the taste was actually quite good too...even my fiance ageed! (I'll post the ingredients/recipe soon, but the crust had ZERO carbs included if you can believe it).

2010 Winter Olympics

The Winter Olympics started over the weekend and i've watched a few different events, but it just doesn't have the same impact on me or meaning that it used to when I was a child. I remember vividly watching some of the ice skating, speed skating and skiiing events years ago, but now it just seems like another sporting event. I still feel a little patriotic as I always find myself cheering on the the USA athletes, so I guess I haven't lost all my feelings towards the games. The only sport i'm excited to watch this year is hockey as I find it more interesting than the NHL, although that doesn't take much.

Regardless of my lack of excitement for the games I hope it goes well for all the athletes and that the USA comes out on top in the medal count!

U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!

Why does eating healthy have to be expensive?

Eating healthy is a great decision for anyone and oftentimes a difficult one, as it requires commitment and potentially a drastic change in lifestyle. This will vary for everyone, but it can be anything from not eating out everyday for lunch, to skipping dessert, or not having seconds at the dinner table. It is a personal choice and something each individual needs to make. My question is; why does it have to be so expensive to eat healthy?

I knew starting my new eating plan would make my usual trips to the grocery store more expensive, but it has been shocking how much more ‘healthy’ options cost. It can be seen in something as simple as buying a loaf of bread; 100% Whole Wheat is about $2 (or more depending on brand) and regular white bread is 0.99 cents. This type of comparison can be seen throughout a grocery store with even more of a cost difference between ‘organic’ options and regular. I have not yet bought into the ‘organic’ benefits of various foods outweighing the cost difference, but after reading article after article about the multiple pesticides and hormones used it’s making me think.

I feel like I’m doing a good job of keeping my food bills to a minimum as much as possible, but there are just certain foods you can not cut without hurting your nutritional intake. I shop at your usual grocery stores, but walk into a Whole Foods and you’ll see an even bigger change in your costs. Whole Foods prides themselves on buying quality products and therefore costs to them are higher which in turn go on to the consumer.

It is no wonder America has the terrible obesity epidemic it does right now when you see so many chips, treats, soda and other sugary and fatty loaded food items cost so much LESS than healthy foods…and that is just grocery stores! Look at your nearest fast-food joint and you’ll see a ‘dollar menu’ or something similar that is quick, convenient and cheap. These usually consist of fried foods, grease filled burgers/sandwiches and other unhealthy food selections.

Eating healthy in my opinion should not be a burden of cost, since people are trying to better themselves from a health standpoint. I understand that there are increased costs associated with organic production, but I hope we (government) can figure out a program or way to help the consumer find a way to eat healthy and still keep some coin in their pocket.

Super Sunday

It is Super Sunday and instead of the usual terrible for you food (pizza, wings, beer) we are having some pita chips, guac, and cheese slices. It isn't a perfect substitute, but it important when trying to stick to a positive nutritional plan. So far tha game has lived up to the hype, but at least it is competitive.

Starting tomorrow is the second set of P90X workouts (days 31-60) and we weighed in and took measurements today. Good results for the most part, lost 10 pounds and a couple inches off my waist! Need to keep it up!

I hope the end of the game finishes well. Go Colts...I guess.

Another Football Season Coming To An End

Football season is by far my favorite sports season of the year and it is unfortunately coming to an end as the Super Bowl is taking place this upcoming Sunday. This is also apparently the same view as the majority of sports fans across America as the tv ratings are off the charts for these events versus the other major sports year after year. I'm a fan of both college and NFL football and playing fantasy football on top of that only keeps me more intrigued as it makes watching terrible NFL games a little more palatable if I have a 'player' playing in the game.

It was a postive year for my hometown football teams (Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badgers) as they both had successful years in terms of records and some individual achievements as well. However, Brett Favre dominted my football focus in 2009/10 as well as the rest of the football world. He is a larger than life individual and the way he has played the game over the years as made him a person that people can not get enough of...both good and bad.

Favre has been in the middle of many debates i've had as well as numerous others in the state of Wisconsin and across the country. After having multiple discussions (arguments) concerning Favre and the way he has handled the end-part of his career, it appears you can either be 'Pro-Favre' or against him. There really doesn't seem to be a middle ground, so i've come to the realization that no one is changing their mind and that is just fine. Stats can easily be thrown around to support both sides of the Favre debate, so it is simply a matter of opinion. One thing can and should be agreed upon by everyone, Favre is good for the game of football.

So, thank you Football for another great year and i'm already ready for next season!

For the record, i'm Pro-Favre all the way.

Fitness and Health

Fitness and healthly eating are key components to a long and healthy life, which is something I hope to have for many years to come. Recently i've started a new fitness and nutrition program that is challenging yet exciting, because the results I want will come only with total committment. The program I started is P90X and so far it has been every bit as challenging as I expected going in, both in working out and eating. I look forward to continuing the program as I am on Day 21 right now...before and after photos might even be posted if I achieve the results i'm working for!

The P90X program is set up in 3 phases which focus on what they refer to as 'muscle confusion'. It is meant to keep your muscles off balance and learning new moves constantly so your body never hits a plateau. After three weeks of working out i'm definitely feeling the effects of the the routines, so i'm looking forward to what days 31-60 have in store.

Healthy eating is a very important part of getting positive results as working out without the proper diet is a waste of time (and money in this case), because the body needs the proper fueling to achieve maximum results. It may be difficult at times to be 100% committed to this part, but making the sacrifice is necessary. I'm continually reading about new recipes that are both healthy and delicious, so if I find some worth sharing i'll be sure to include links on future posts.

The First...

My first post should probably touch on the title of the blog (although it may change) which is 'Sports, Fitness, Life'. These are three things that I love to take part in, watch, read about and live.

Sports - first love and will always be apart of my life.
Fitness - goes along with sports, but is something that i've wanted to get more involved with from a health standpoint as i've grown older.
Life - living life to its fullest is important and is something i'm working on. You can never know what life will bring next, but learning from what you've already experienced is a good way of helping the direction and places you'll be heading.

I'm not sure how this blog will develop or how often i'll be posting, but the idea for it came from someone pretty smart I know, so I figured i'd give it a try. Enjoy.