About this blog

In other words, the Zone + Crossfit = Optimal Heath!
This blog focuses on nutrition, using the Zone Diet as the basis. However, I often eat Paleo foods in Zone proportions.
I love to investigate anything having to do with food- what we eat and why. And what happens within our bodies, our organs, our brain, when we do? My precious mother struggled with eating disorders. I want to avoid this delimma based on research, common sense, and the natural consequences on my body. The Zone shows me where the balance lies between eating too much and eating too little.
My husband runs a Crossfit gym. Exercise and choosing the right foods have become a mission for ourselves and our children. We don't want to be nerds about it, we just want to be healthy.
I have been asked by several friends what I feed our family, especially our kids. My husband and I follow the Crossfit prescription to nutrition (meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, some fruit, little starch, and no sugar). If you know me, you know that the sugar part of this equation will be a life long struggle given my love for chocolate! Evan adheres to the stricter version known as the Paleo-Zone diet (and I do on my good days!) which requires the same foods in a ratio of 40% protein, 30% carb, and 30% fat. Children require 50% carbs, 30% fat, and 20% protein. If you're wondering how to figure this out, I do it on a per meal basis and I have a "block" chart from the Zone website.
It seems like a headache at first, but if you're interested, just know that it is not that bad once you practice it for a couple of weeks. All you need is a $10 scale and some determination. It really is quite simple and makes my life easier at the grocery store and when cooking dinner. Most of all, I feel great when I eat well- mentally and physically, and we all know that the physical can affect the mental and visa versa!
Evan and I are hunter/gatherer wanna-be's! This blog will track my journey of health as it should be, and the honest reality of living in a sugar fried culture. When it comes down to it, I get excited to talk about nutrition, but I am definitely not perfect at it! If you have the desire to eat well, but it is often a challenge to overcome the temptations along the way, then you are in the right company!
I hope you leave this blog feeling enlightened and encouraged as you go throughout your day!

Friday, September 18, 2009

9-18-09

I won't bore you with my failures again today. I ate several complete meals, but I also gave into an afternoon sugar craving. I will tell you this, I threw a box of donuts and a loaf of not-so-healthy bread in the trash. Many of you may run into this. Some of you have asked how to avoid hurting peoples feelings when it comes to avoiding their unhealthy food. I have a relative that has good intentions and brings junk to my house all the time for the kids. She has not picked up on the fact that we NEVER have this kind of food in our house when she is here and FOR A REASON. Either she is not perceptive or she thinks we are depriving our kids. Either way, we have to throw it out when she leaves. Sometimes, I hang on to it to divvy out to the kids at appropriate times, but all too often this wrecks all my hard work because I end up giving into temptations when I know it is there, even if it is in the freezer. Believe it or not, Evan can also be tempted this way. If icecream is in the freezer, it is too hard to avoid it. Well, blah blah blah... here is what I ate today that was worth telling: (remember, I eat 3 block meals)

Breakfast: 3 scrambled eggs (using EVOO/olive oil cooking spray), 1 piece of Ezekial bread raisin toast with 2/3 tsp. butter, 1/2 of an orange. Water. Coffee w/ 1 tbsp. H&H. I did not feel good, so I ate the other 1/2 orange hoping it would help my headache and lack of energy. I'm not sure if I am fighting off getting sick or if it was a result of the past few days of badness.

Lunch: Pita sandwich with mayo and roast beef, coffee w/ H&H, water.

snack: badness

dinner: chicken tenderloin cooked in EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) on the stove in my iron skillet, dipped first in egg and then in a mixture of oat bran and chicken seasoning. Green beans with salt. I could have cooked the g.b. in chicken broth for more flavor, but didn't think about it in time. The kids dipped their chicken in ranch dressing. Evan had his chicken cooked in EVOO and vinegar. I found the oat bran to be a healthy alternative to bread crumbs. The kids weren't so sure about it, but ate it. I'm bet after another 4 or 5 times, they won't think twice about it not being really greasy crust!

So, this was my hybrid day of counting blocks for some meals, but not all day long. Tonight I have also had some almonds.

3 comments:

  1. Hi Angela - I know what you mean!! I went to a wonderful party given by terrific people and ate delicious cake...2 kinds!! I have felt bad all weekend!

    You keep up the good work...it will all pay off and you will be sooo proud. You need to be sooo proud right now!!!

    love ya!

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