6 Pack of….Abs or….Soda?

So I am pleased to report that after my lady friend has come and gone I’m back to my weight of 120lbs. I now have 10 days remaining on the challenge and I am determined to lose as much as possible in those 10 days. Granted I’m still only cleared to walk on the treadmill and not strain myself, but it’s something…right?

This morning before the gym I decided to use the last 4 bananas we had in the house and make some banana muffins.

These look yummy don't they!

These look yummy don’t they!

In keeping with the Primal/Paleo diet I substituted a 1/2C up the flour it required for almond meal instead. Almond meal is a fantastic substitute for flour however, I have yet to perfect pancakes with it. They all fell apart and it was not a pretty sight in the kitchen!

Now for the fun part of this post: Water VS Soda. So I stumbled upon a little post on FB earlier today and felt compelled to share it via my blog:

WATER
1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.
2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.
3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one’s metabolism as much as 30%.
4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.
5. Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.
7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.
8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%, and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer.

And now for the properties of COKE

1. In many states (in the USA) the highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the truck to remove blood from the highway after a car accident.
2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of coke and it will be gone in two days.
3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl and let the “real thing” sit for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china.
4. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a rumpled-up piece of aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.
5. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion.
6. To loosen a rusted bolt: Applying a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.
7. To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of coke into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your windshield.

IMPORTANT INFO

1. The active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. Its pH is 2.8. It will dissolve a nail in about 4 days. Phosphoric acid also leaches calcium from bones and is a major contributor to the rising increase in osteoporosis.
2. To carry Coca-Cola syrup (the concentrate) the commercial truck must use the Hazardous material place cards reserved for Highly corrosive materials.
3. The distributors of coke have been using it to clean the engines of their trucks for about 20 years!

Now the question is, would you like a glass of water or coke?

Too many people make the mistake of thinking that Diet Soda or Coke Zero is a better alternative to regular Coke. While it might not contain any calories but it is still filled with chemicals that only poison your body.

On a separate note, my personal 6 pack is starting to come back which is a fantastic milestone. I also received a package in the mail today from my friend Cat with some samples of Rehydrate:

Rehydrate powder and Gel! Can't wait to try!

Rehydrate powder and Gel! Can’t wait to try!

Lastly lunch today consisted of baked chicken thighs from yesterday that were cooked with pepper, salt and paprika and some left over broccoli. I personally think it tasted just as good if not better than yesterday.

Today's lunch!

Today’s lunch!

Recipe:
2 packages of boneless chicken thighs
salt to taste
pepper to taste
paprika to taste
Coat a baking dish with olive or coconut oil and place chicken thighs in the dish. coat top of chicken with some olive oil
Preheat oven to 400F and place dish in oven and cook for approx 30 min. If you like your chicken with skin and bones you might have to cook it longer.
Steam or cook broccoli in a cast iron pan, using a little coconut or olive oil to prevent sticking. Enjoy!!

Fat Kid Living Inside of Me…

That’s right. You read that correctly. I have a fat kid that I keep stuffed deep inside. Don’t believe me?

Circa 2008 In Maine! OMG!

Circa 2008 In Maine! OMG!

Yeah that's me on the left

Yeah that’s me on the left

Yeah that’s right. 5 years ago I tipped the scales at 160lbs! I’m only 5’1″! My diet consisted of pizza, 6-8 regular sodas a day, cheetos, chinese food, and I could totally clear a pint of Ben and Jerry’s icecream in one sitting (actually I think I could still do that if I tried today). Thankfully the military would not allow me to remain at this weight much longer.

I'm bigger than the snowman?!

I’m bigger than the snowman?!

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Long story short in less than a year I dropped 30lbs and gained muscle! 5 years later and I’m steady at 120lbs! I’m MUCH healthier, my diet is so much cleaner than it used to me. I no longer drink sodas unless its a special occassion. I follow the Primal or Paleo diet lifestyle and I have to say it has done wonders for my energy level and overall well being!

Me 2012 in Washington DC

Me 2012 in Washington DC

So how did I do it you ask? well that’s the whole point of this blog! Stay tuned for the diet that changed my life!

Life’s Surprises

DSC_0270June 26, 2013 started as any other normal day until 9 am arrived. This was the day I made a second trip to the Emergency Room for some pretty weird symptoms. Let me back it up a week. On June 20th I was driving with another co-worker to a meeting when I lost vision in my left eye. Not being a stranger to miraines with auras I shrugged it off and kept driving as I could still see mostly. A few minutes later I lost control and movement in my right hand. yeah, you read that correcly. Did I forget to mention I’m only 31?? Within 10 minutes all the “stroke symptoms” subsided and I carried on with my day wondering what just happened.
Long story short on June 26th I could hear my pulse in my left ear and decided to return to the ER to figure out what was going on. After being admitted we were informed the next day that I suffered from a Carotid Artery Dissection. I tore the inner lining of my carotid in two places and did in fact suffer a stroke a week prior. I was rushed to the ICU and Cath Lab where a 2.3 inch long stent was inserted into the back of my head. Needless to say I am one lucky girl!
This blog will be dedicated to my continuing fitness and healthy lifestyle while helping others who might be going through similar situations. I can no longer lift heavier than 20lbs for the rest of my life and this hugely impacts my workout routines. So the search for new and innovative workouts continues all while following the Primal Diet…wait…Primal Diet? What is that? Stay tuned to find out!