Day 28: Hello home(stretch)

Don't think I even woke up when my friend left at 4.30am.  Bad form, perhaps.  I don't know, the weeks knock it out of me, and I need my weekends to catch up. [I am getting old..?!]

More surprisingly was that by the time I woke up (only around 10, not at all outrageous for a Sunday), no one else was in the flat.  So I made a quick coffee and made my way to Kings Cross.  Just wanted to get home really.

"Brunch"

Steered clear of the breakfast foods in the station - it appears impossible to get a veggie non-sugar non-grain breakfast - and went straight in for the lunch option.  It was 12 anyway, so not entirely inappropriate.

Picked up:

• Salad: broccoli, chilli, pepper, lettuce, chard, tomatoes, mixed herbs, roasted seeds, seasoning
• Roasted falafel (chick peas, onion, chick pea flour, olive oil, water, garlic, lemon juice, salt, bicarb soda, coriander, cumin, parsley, pepper

The more awake of you will recall this from my last trip back from London.

Spent the train journey producing my detailed schedule for the Leeds International Film Festival.  And James' too.

Didn't even attempt to find anything worth consuming on the train.

Got back and extended my "brunch" to include:

Cheeky smoothie:

• Frozen mixed berroes
  
• 1 scoop Kinetica whey (Vanilla)
• ~200ml coconut milk
• dash of water 
• crushed mixed nuts on top 

Spent the afternoon attempting to make the house look presentable (ahem, downstairs at least), as Freddie's potential new Mum (+ girlfriend!!) were coming round to check him out.  The meeting went well.  Freddie will be packing his bags, it seems..

"Yah hi. Talk to me."

Just for the record this is Freddie, he is our current foster, for Hope Rescue.

[I am not, in other words, selling off my children to ladies that come to visit]

Tea

Thought I had plenty of time to come up with something for tea.  Turns out I didn't really.  Well, that and I wanted a little sit down (ie something easy).

Went for (post dog walk):

Butternut squash gnocchi: butternut squash, egg, coconut flour, tapioca, almond meal, salt, sage; tossed in olive oil with crispy sage and red onion

Bed of peas and broccoli with carrot and courgette 'noodles' (loving that julienne peeler!)

Fried egg

'Creamy' sauce (stock, thyme, oregano, basil, sundried tomatoes, olive oil, coconut milk, a little coconut flour, seasoning)

Yeah yeah yeah I did the gnocchi on Monday.  But I told you!-its well good!  And I changed it up a little.  I like the gnocchi a little more fried as well.  Only screw up: my egg went a bit mental.  Still ate it.  Still tasted like egg..

Egg on face.

(c) memebase.cheezburger.com

But.... WHO CARES?! - IT'S HOMELAND TIME!

Day 27: Saturday lectures

Yep its that time again.  6 hours of lectures on a Saturday.

Its so weird being down lawyerville (around Holborn) around 9am on Saturday.  It is dead.  I mean, like, 28 Days Later dead.

Me at 9am on a Saturday on my way to lectures, obvs.
lexxverse.com

Breakfast

• Challenge compliant muffin 

Lunch

The trouble with it being dead around here on Saturdays, is that most of the food outlets are closed.  Damn people with actual weekends.

Managed to acquire:

• Edamame salad with muki and green beans, broccoli, leaves, avocado, sesame seeds, 1 boiled egg
• Miso soup

Tea

I think my friend had intended (in his own bizarre non-organised way) that tonight would be our "night out".  But he forgot that our friend was flying back to Sweden in the morning.  And by morning I mean 7am, from Heathrow.  This meant she was up at 4.30am to get to the airport, check in and all that fun stuff.  

Now back int day this would have meant (without further thought) that we would be going out and coming for 4.30am.  But since we are supposed to be grown up now (actually its more because my friend has started his first ever) full time job [how is that possible at the age of 26? avoidance through continuous higher education, that's how] and hence had just done his second ever week of full time hours) what it actually meant was we stayed in, cooked, drank a little wine, talked, and watched shite tv.  Ahhhh..

So we ate (home made):

• Baked aubergine with fried onions and lemon (cumin, chilli, garlic, sumac, seasoning)
• Crispy kale

From a great, simple recipe from the Plenty book by Yotam Ottolenghi (which I happened to buy recently when I was in London, but Hannah already had herself anyway).  I thought I'd written about this book on here before, but can't find it.  Anyway, great book.

I declined the Kettlechips and dips (and Haribo - I'm used to that anyway), and wasn't at all bothered.

That just leaves the red wine.  I'm not proud of it.  But I'm not ashamed either.  It was totally appropriate in the circumstances, and a lovely, cosy evening.  

Snuggling with friends.  Can't beat it, really.

chzbgr.com

Day 26: McKerel

A day of waiting, and rushing.

Breakfast

• Challenge compliant muffin (thank goodness for these babies)

Lunch

Spent the morning in the V&A, most of it queuing for tickets for the Hollywood Costume exhibition.  Nice one.

No tickets available until later in the day, but late opening tonight, so booked that for after my course.

[not in 'til 2pm today due to an exemption I have]

Wondered on down to Holborn, and found somewhere to have lunch nearby where my course is.  The menu looked good (I'd been past a few times before), and it was well busy with suits.

For me the choice was either mackerel, or stuffed courgette.  The stuffed courgette of course running the risk of some kind of sneaky grain and/or cheese (I am very much au fait with the usual stuffings in these things).  I went for the mackerel.  

• Smoked mackerel fillet
• Roasted veggies

Despite being a pub, I happily went for the ol soda water and fresh lime.  Good job they brought that out quick, because our food order was forgotten..  Why does that always (only?) happen when you have somewhere to be..?

Got through the afternoon's lectures and made our way back to the V&A.  Stopped on that street (Exhibition Road?) with all the little french cafes with tables on the street.  Coffee calling.

Entering a gorgeous french bakery/coffee shop might seem like a bad idea on this challenge, but I wasn't really bothered about any of the grain-based goods.  Enjoyed a lovely steaming bowl (yep, really. ingenious!) of delicious black coffee.

Ooooff.  C'est delicieux, mademouiselle!

[cheeky fingers on hot scone NOT mine]

Tea

Another rush.  We waited for our ex housemate, who went AWOL (drinks with new colleagues at new job, forgot to check phone..??), which meant by the time it got to tea, it was pretty late.

We sauntered into a Japanese restaurant close to his house, and ordered, stat.

• Ramen: beansprouts, chilli, tofu, peppers, onions, bok choi, coriander, lime, coconut milk, lemongrass, rice noodles

They also gave us on the house:

• 3 pieces of tuna sashimi

Oh and I had a glass of wine.

2 blackmarks...  I am bad.  But honest.

schlurrping the noodle... who me..?

(c) gifbib.com

Day 25: Keep calm and eat fish

Aaaand so it continues...

Back on my course in London this weekend, with the added pressure of seeing my old uni housemates (not see for forever)..

What's that coming over the hill, is it a BLACKMARK, is it a BLACKMAAAARK..?

Breakfast

• Challenge compliant muffin (cooked up a batch last night to take with me to London)

Lunch

Hmmm... lunch.  Lunch has consistently been the most troublesome meal of the day for me, throughout this Challenge.  This is usually a result of me rushing/not having time/not having prepared.  I think that's a the reason (excuse?) for most people...

I had planned to have a fairly leisurely morning, getting up a bit later to catch my train to London.  As usual, this did not happen.  Various urgent emails from work, with important people not realising I'd taken today off to travel (Out of Office anyone?  Anyone??)..  I missed the train I was supposed to get, and then not only that, but I did not have time/failed to pick up any food on my way in (was intending to follow the M&S tradition).

I had figured (oh innocent naivety) there would be something (anything) I could eat from the onboard cafe thing.  So I went up and had an extended chat to the very nice man working in the cafe car.  Really sweet, he tried his very hardest to find something I could eat...  Turns out East Coast do not stock anything without grains and/or sugar.  

So he ended up (bless him) "sneaking" me a staff only "salad"...

Only for me to get to my seat and find... a luminous mass of pasta with (reconstituted?) ham!!

 

Trying to capture the highlighter yellow pasta in all its luminous glory...

[at least my nail varnish matches my fruit selection though..]

Trying to record the full role call of E numbers in this thing was somewhat futile.  Basically, it was full of crap. No, no, that's too kind.  It WAS crap, absolutely.

Is this what's called a salad these days?! I am rather alarmed.

Still, I appreciate the sentiment.

Anyway, this left me with:

• 1 Challenge compliant muffin (not brilliant to be eating for breakfast and lunch I know, but I had to eat something!)
• 3 plums
• handful almonds
• decaff coffee, water

Lunch of kings.  Kings stuck on an East Coast train to London whilst participating in a 30 day nutrition challenge, anyway...

Got to London, and topped up with:

• Mixed leaf salad (ohh pure green leaves, how I have missed you!!), with tomato, carrot, spinach, lemon juice, olive oil and seasoning

Phew.

Tea

At the mercy of my ex-housemate, who is by and large pretty bloody rubbish at organising anything, we were taken to a pub in Kensington, that also serves Thai food. Okkkk...

I went to a pub that also serves curry in Garforth once.  It wasn't great.

This pub, however, was actually well cool.  It was basically like being in a permanent memorial to the jubilee or something.  Covered in royal / Winston Churchill / general Englishness type items.  I mean covered.

And the food was pretty good.

I knew I'd be drinking (I was), and made a decision to eat some rice, in order to reduce the likelihood of getting smashed.  It worked.  It was a really lovely evening.  Oh, and I ate prawns.

• Thai green curry: prawns, peppers, water chesnuts, snow peas, carrot, thai aubergine, courgette, broccoli, cashew nuts
• 2 small spoonfuls of brown rice
• 3 glasses of red wine

I forgot to mention, the pub is also disguised as a garden.  Sneaky.

(c) Churchillarmskensington.co.uk

Day 24: In doubt, eat fish.

In what would turn out to be somewhat prophetic over the next few days, today was unexciting, except in my conclusion that fish is, without doubt, a convenient source of protein.  [hmm that wasn't exciting either, sorry].  There's also pretty much limitless options with it too.

This comes, of course, after my previous egg-piphany.


Breakfast

Smoothie (as before)

Lunch

Left over Pad Thai from yesterday.

CrossFit

3 sets of press ups, rest 1 min, double kettlebell swings x12, rest 1 minute.

Not done double kettlebell swings before, so another newbie to my ever expanding range of exercises (thanks, CrossFit!, as mentioned yesterday).  Odd/awkward hand position.  Definitely something to work on.

Partner WOD
Share (however you want):
Row 1000m
then 5 rounds of:
12 Deadlifts
30 MB Throws (High)

I liked this one.  Well, I like partner WODs in general.  But this was a good mix of movements for me (all things I feel comfortable with and able to push myself without losing form), hard but good.  We shared everything equally, which worked well.  My only mess up was not being able to get out of the straps of the rower quick enough (big old clodhopper feet, DOH!!).

Tea

As mentioned up the top of this post, I have come to recognise fish as a quick, convenient option.  When I get back from CrossFit around 8.15pm, having left the house at 7.30am, and not eaten since around 1, I want food, in my belly, asap.. without forgoing taste, of course (and notwithstanding nutritional content!).

I would generally say I'm pretty decent at flavour matching anyway, but one thing I like about (most) fish is that it is very adaptable - particularly white fish, for example.  So I adapted a recipe, originally based on a Jamie chicken recipe, as follows:

• Baked haddock (paprika, oregano, rosemary, lemon, olive oil, seasoning)
• Peppers, tomatoes, spinach
• Sweet potato mash
• Red cabbage with orange zest and juice and cinammon

Looks like chicken doesn't it? Its not chicken!!

I love red cabbage.  The thick crunchy texture and bright purple colour.  I love lots of different coloured veg on my plate.  Just looks so nutritious!

The cabbage combo was Preet's idea - posted on our Challenge Facebook page.  James wasn't so keen on it (I think the cinammon threw him), but I thought it was a lovely alternative.  I'm going to try cabbage + orange with a different spice/flavouring next time.  Just did a quick google and this cabbage with almonds, blood orange and ginger vinaigrette looks well yum.  (aaand its totally allowed, once the Challenge finishes and I'm ok with honey!)

Day 23: Just like before, but better

Breakfast

Smoothie:

• Frozen mixed berroes
  
• 1 scoop Kinetica whey (Vanilla)
• ~200ml coconut milk
• dash of water 
• crushed mixed nuts on top 

Lunch

Salad:

• Mixed leaves, carrot, mixed nuts, Omega seed sprinkle, olive oil and black pepp

CrossFit

Worked on cleans.  I don't feel comfortable/confident with my olympic weightlifting in general.  As mentioned, I'd never done anything like this before I came to CrossFit Leeds in June, and it still feels like a totally foreign/unnatural movement for me.  Another aspect of it is that I can't picture what my body is doing (compared to what it should be doing). e.g. looking at the coaches/other people I can see what they are doing, but I can't somehow translate that to my own body movement.  Hence, I can't even tell if I'm doing it right (although I do sometimes get the feeling that it is "working" compared to other times, when it err just isn't).

In addition, I have before - and again tonight - got a sort of strained/tweaked feeling in my shoulder after doing this movement.  Clearly (I think?) this means I don't have the technique down.  Its not the weight, the weight feels alright (I only do it at low weights, with instruction), but something is not quite right. HMMM.

Anyway, suffice to say, when it came to the WOD, I subbed the hang power cleans.  Not going to lie, it does feel like chickening out (I need to practice things I can't do, not avoid them) but of course I don't want to sustain an injury, which seems more likely in a time-pressured AMRAP.

6min AMRAP
7 Hang Power Cleans - subbed for Kettlebell Swings at 16kg
7 Burpee with lateral jump

Not the most exciting WOD, but I liked the lateral jump burpees (ok, 'like' may be a bit strong in this context).  I've said it before and I'll happily say it again - pretty much the best thing about CrossFit is the variety.  I'd never done burpess with lateral jump before.

Just need to work on damn cleans..

Tea

I actually don't eat a lot of wheat (before the Challenge I mean).  But there are a couple of things, and therefore a couple of dishes, that I thought would be pretty difficult to replace on this diet - e.g. occasional pasta for one.. and noodles for another.

Well it didn't take me long to get over the pasta (try 2 days).  And with the HUGELY EXCITING arrival of my julienne peeler the other day, I had a definite noodle agenda.. :D

[NB I have yet to get over the sadness and deflation felt at the failure of my spaghetti squash attempt.  As a result, I will not be revisiting this vegetable any time soon.  That, and I can't find it anywhere, again..!]

• Pad Thai: sauce: almond butter, tahini, garlic, chilli, lime juice, ginger, vinegar, cayenne, coconut milk, seasoning
• Carrot and courgette noodles with tamarind, paprika, fish sauce (anchovies and salt only)
• Onion, water chesnuts, red pepper, bamboo shots, cabbage, beansprouts, prawns, organic non GM tofu
• Sliced omelette (paprika, garlic, seasoning)
• Fresh coriander, lime juice, toasted chopped almonds

Most Pad Thai recipes call for peanuts.  A lot of Thai dishes in general do really.  

But peanuts are a paleo sin.  And I didn't see why I couldn't achieve the same/as good/better flavour without using them.  I was right.  This was well good.

---------------------------------------------------------

You might say, uhhh why are you avoiding peanuts, when you already eat legumes?  And even more uhhhh and what about the sneaky soy in there (organic, non GM tofu)?

Well, its about choices, I guess.  And doing what I can.

By using organic non GM tofu, I am choosing to minimise some of the 'Big Agra' issues paleo (and me!) have with soy in the first place (inc very high intensity farming, genetic modification and very high pesticide contamination).  By eating tofu, the soy has necessarily been processed.  This means some reduction of its antinutrient profile.  Although obviously, this comes at the expense of the processing (which itself is of course not paleo).  Not ideal? Not paleo? But a realistic personal choice, for me, at this time.

And as for the peanuts issue - well they are apparently a pretty unique (read: freak?) of the legumes, in that they:

1. Can harbour Aflatoxin, a carcinogenic mold 
2. Contain peanut agglutinin, a peanut lectin, which may be linked to bowel disease and colon-cancer
3. May contain a uniquely atherogenic oil: which induces atherosclerosis ie it clogs/blocks your arteries

- Atherosclerosis is a condition in which an artery wall thickens as a result of the accumulation of fatty materials such as cholesterol (wiki).

For decades, the atherogenic oil in peanuts has been used by scientists to induce atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rats, rabbits, and primates.  Some researchers think that peanut lectins, present in the oil, are the main cause of the atherogenicity (Mark's Daily Apple).

Yeah. I'm alright for that, thanks..

(c) Cookinglight.com

On a related topic though, I would be interested to know whether I can find out if my body is negatively affected by legumes.  I assume this would require some specific testing.  Its something I'm going to look into. (i.e. Google)...

Day 22: Back on it

Woke up (was woken up by alarm) at 6.30 feeling super tired.  Delayed/carried over response to the weekend...?

Breakfast

Smoothie:

• Frozen mixed berroes
  
• 1 scoop Kinetica whey (Vanilla)
• ~200ml coconut milk
• dash of water 
• crushed mixed nuts on top 

Lunch

Salad:

• Pea and bean shoots; alfalfa, broccoli and radish sprouts
• Lettuce, cherry tomatoes, carrot; with lemon juice and black pepper

CrossFit

Worked on back squats 5 x 5.  Not done them for a while.  Though can't be sure as I've been a bit lax with my diary..  That's something to work on itself.  Added 5kg to my last recorded max.  To be honest the weight still felt alright - some power left in my legs at the bottom of the squat (I'd like to try a little more next time) - but the bar was hurting the back of my neck - Emma suggested it may have been a little high.. Will try watch out for this and adjust.

7 rounds for time

3 Wall Climbs

10 Box Jumps 20" 

15 KB Squats 16kg 

This WOD was.. GROSS. Time of 13.40 but couldn't Rx it - managed 4 sets of KB Squats at 16kg before going down to 12kg.  It was the full on box jumps + KB squats combo that did me in.  Can't help thinking of course that the weekend won't have helped.  Next time this WOD comes up (or similar) I'll be aiming to Rx the whole thing, and improve my time (13.40).

Tea

I'd been previously irritated by the fact that commercial gnocchi in the supermarket always contains wheat flour as well as potato.  I was 100% sure this wasn't necessary.  So I did a bit of research online today, and came up with a decent recipe.

• Butternut squash gnocchi: butternut squash, egg, coconut flour, tapioca, almond meal, salt, sage; tossed in olive oil with crispy sage and red onion
• Bed of pesto veg: cabbage, spinach (finely chopped), peas with pesto (almonds, cashews, olive oil, basil, lemon juice, garlic, seasoning)
• Fried egg

Looking forward to trying it with other flavour combos (other squash, sweet potato, white potato, other herbs, etc) in the future. YUMMM

tumblr.com/tagged/yum-gif

Day 21: Recovery + slippage

Going to bed at around 7.45am meant that I didn't get up until late late today.  That's fine.  Its the weekend.  Its not a regular thing (any more).

Didn't feel rough really, just tired from broken sleep. [managed around 7.5hrs, but woke up I think 4 times during that]

Got to sort of mid afternoon and having polished off some coffee (GOOD), apple and plenty of water, we decided to head out for some food.  By democratic decision Italian was selected.

Only problem with that, is that Italian food is largely based on wheat.  I'm talking generally of course (and I know it also uses lots of fresh veg, meat, fish and good oils etc).

It was a tired, recovery Sunday..  I was in an Italian restaurant..  I ate wheat.

Jerry hears the news..

Brunch/lunch/tea [combined] 

• Half a garlic pizza bread (wheat dough, obviously, tomato, garlic, olive oil and basil)
• Large mixed salad with avocado, artichoke, asparagus, sundried tomatoes, mixed leaves, olive oil and balsamic

------------------------------------------

Ummmmmmmmmm nothing further to say on that really.  

Disappointing.  But no point beating myself up about it.

It happened.  It will happen in the future.  Not that I'm planning to go on a grain-based diet once the Challenge finishes.  I'm not.  But on occasion, I will eat grains - and yes, that may include wheat. [there's my persistent pragmatism again]

But the main thing at this stage I think, is that I know, from this Challenge, that I don't need wheat (or grains).  And generally speaking I'm actually very happy without them.

I kind of knew this anyway: I'd already stopped eating bread and was trying to move away from heavy wheat based foods.  But I was also acutely aware of the consistent convenience of grain based meals (both at home, and eating out).

- anyway, see later for more on what I'm taking away from this Challenge, moving forward.

-------------------------------------------

I went back over my Food Log again today, and realised there were further things I'd messed up on (clearly motivated by my wheat-driven guilt!).  

Specifically, I hadn't realised that mango was only supposed to be post workout (high GL).  In addition, on Day 2, I had mushrooms in an omelette (not post workout).

From the start I had said I would do this Challenge properly and honestly. In the words of my Dad, 

"If a job's worth doing, its worth doing well."

Too true, Dad, too true.  So I went back and totted up the black marks (28 to date..)

Only other thing is the sleep issue.  But I have talked about that enough already.  I don't think blackmarks would work as an incentive with that.  Its an issue that is "bigger than the Challenge", for want of a better expression..

Day 20: Blackmark Extravaganza...

Nice sleep in, followed by leisurely morning ---->

"Brunch"

• Protein power pancakes: eggs, vanilla whey, coconut flour, cinnamon, coconut oil, almond butter, baking powder
  
• with organic fruit purees: Daylesford Organic Apple and Vanilla Puree, HIPP Peach, Apple, Blueberry and Raspberry, and  Ella's Kitchen Strawberries and Apples.

I wanted to make a communal brekkie for us all, but with my friend avoiding a lot of things due to her own current diet restrictions, my Challenge + vegetarianism.. I couldn't think of many things to offer... So decided upon a pile of hot pancakes  :)

The fruit purees (HIPP and Ella's Kitchen) I found in the Co Op on Weds.  I had wanted something to replace my Daylesford one, as I have been eating it up quite quickly (its only a little pot, and its 100% delicious).  So I found them in the baby food aisle - good selection of organic fruit purees (by these brands they are organic anyway).  I chose 2 which did not contain bananas on this occasion  so that I could eat them whenever (not high GL).  Bit of a EUREKA moment.  Was well chuffed with myself.

Did also buy some baking apples and fresh vanilla though, so that I can make a vat of my own puree (just not had time this week - the pouches are so convenient!).

Bit of a day (afternoon) out, then  back for tea. 

Tea

Being a good host (and err knowing we are faff-tastic when it comes to getting ready to go out), I cooked.  This meant I was in control of the food.  Good plan.

[I was however aware that we were going out so I made the decision to include sweet potatoes as a bit of filler for the anticipated booze.  Not ideal.  But a pragmatic choice.]

Did:

• Fillets of sustainably caught haddock, with fennel seeds, sundried tomato (they had bacon), lemon zest and lemon juice in coconut oil;
• Broccoli, tenderstem broccoli, sugarsnap peas
• Griddled courgette and asparagus with chilli and garlic
• Sweet potato mash with lemon juice, chilli, coconut milk, coriander, seasoning

Over the course of the night (out from 9pm til around 5am, then back to mine for extended chats, as nowhere was open - poor show) I was drinking:

• vodka lime sodas (fresh lime only); this is my standard drink anyway so didn't bother me;
• tequila shots
• wine

[not necessarily in that order]

and therefore racked up 16 blackmarks.

Its not big, its not clever.

But I had a well good (much needed) night.... 

This may or may not be actual footage from the night....

Day 19: The Blackmark Trade Off (begins)

My two best friends don't live near me.  One of them lives up north and is training to be a doctor.  The other is based in Stockholm but works all over the world.  As a result, I don't get to see them much (enough).

It had been just over a year since we hung out.  But this weekend, they came to mine.  Of course, I knew they were coming.  There was quite prolonged planning involved.

I had, for a while, contemplated how this would fit into the Challenge.  I told them all about it, and they understood.

But at the end of the day, I know that personally I eat to live.  My nutrition and health are important; but so is my happiness and emotional wellbeing.

[what's the point in being super fit, and living forever, if you spend all of that life restricting everything, missing out on stuff?]

I am aware that this is not everyone's perspective.  Some people think that to even consider (and phrase) it as "missing out" on stuff is broaching the subject in the 'wrong' frame of mind.

This is sort of the same argument as the discussion on food processing / substitution: life (to me), like food, is for enjoyment, socialising, creating (much more than just basic survival).

So anyway, for this weekend, I loosened the terms of my Challenge.  Not in a determinate way.  Just in the sense that I decided I would respond to whatever we got up to and make choices along the way.

---------------------------------

Breakfast

• 1 Challenge compliant muffin

Lunch

• Leftover Mexican wrap (from last night) YUM
• 1 satsuma, 2 apples

There were no big cabbages in Co Op.. so my wraps didn't quite err 'wrap'

Tea

Trundled up to Seven Arts, once the Three Musketeers were reunited.  It wasn't a time for cooking, it was a time for catching up.

There had been a baked egg dish, which would have been perfect for me.  But, typically, it had sold out.

The next nearest approximation to a compliant dish was:

• Roasted onion squash with goats cheese, tenderstem broccoli, a leaf (I think kale?), mixed roasted seeds, flaked almonds, some little flowers (not sure what they were)

Excuses, excuses, but if I had been post workout, and not doing the weightloss challenge (therefore eating dairy), this would have been 100% fine.  That wasn't, however, the case.  So.. hello blackmarks...

PLUS blackmarks for 2 glasses of red wine.  (consumed over the full course of the evening).

But I'm not going to lie, it was delicious...  (the food and the occasion)

-----------------------

Although, of course, a 'fail' within the scope of this Challenge, this, I feel, is quite an honest representation of how I intend to eat/can foresee me eating post-Challenge (which presents a whole other Challenge, in fact, of itself).  No grains, totally fresh, unprocessed...  But incorporating small amounts of dairy (less than I used to consume), and the occasional, moderate drink, where appropriate.

Day 18: Early rising

Got up to take the dog out at 6.  Hadn't realised how totally dark its got on a morning.  Winter is on the way!

Nice to get up, get the body moving, and get some cool fresh air first thing.  Even if I couldn't see what Freddie was up to most of the time...!

Breakfast

• 1 Challenge compliant muffin
  
• 1 banana

By the time I left for my bus for work, the morning had trickled in and the sky was looking clear, big and beautiful.

Lunch

• Organic chickpea & bean tagine (water, onions, chickpeas, haricot beans, tomato puree, red peppers, lentils, tumeric, coriander, chilli, sea salt, cumin, fenugreek, ginger, garlic, fennel, black pepper, cinnamon, paprika, cumin)
• 1 apple, 1 satsuma, 1 kiwi, handful raw almonds

Hearty.

Tea

Back to the tried and tested (see Day 4):

"Mexican wraps" (ehhhhh sexy laady op op op op op oppa paleo style)

• Home blended spice mix, flash fried peppers, onions, broccoli and asparagus
• Home made guacamole; salsa
• Home made refried beans
• Omelette: with sundried tomatoes and mexican spice mix (above), cut into strips
• Steamed savoy cabbage leaves

Its a keeper! :)

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UH OH.  Realised tonight, reviewing the Food List for the umpteenth time, that I'm not supposed to have had prunes, except post workout (as high glycemic load).

Been back through my Food Log and totted up some black marks..  Pretty disappointed since otherwise I'd been doing great (and I am aware that this weekend coming will bring some black marks.....)

Gotta be honest about it though, otherwise whats the point?

The Naughty Corner

(c) 9355.ru

Day 17: Another first

Uneventful day, save for more progress/new skills at CrossFit (scroll down).

Breakfast

• Challenge compliant muffin (soo convenient_)

Lunch

• Leftover chilli
• Handful spinach, cherry tomatoes
• 2 apples
• 1 Challenge-compliant muffin 

CrossFit

20mins work on Rope Climbs and Turkish Get Ups.  Well I didn't actually get on to the Turkish Get Ups (which I am comfortable with in terms of form, just working on weight).  Focused instead on Rope Climb - I'd never done one before.

Always quite fancied it.  And despite previously having a bit of an issue with heights on occasion (once got to the top of a big tower to launch a zip wire, looked down, freaked out, and could not be persuaded to do it, had to climb back down - probably much worse than if I'd actually just done it - dunno why that happened), always thought rope climb looked fun.

So we started off with simple technique - getting used to holding body weight, then using your foot with the rope, before actually climbing.  It was a strange movement - mainly the feet - but I was quite happy once I got it, and did 2 x 15' climbs without any issue.  Will just work on control (mainly on the way down) in future.  Happy with that! [even if Mike thinks I don't get excited enough about these things!!]

Its good to try new things and find out what you're capable of  :)

Definitely not what I looked like.

Partner WOD
Alternating rounds, 15 min AMRAP
5 Box jumps - done at 20"
Sprint 100m
5 Burpees

I have a strong dislike for running.  Running, along with push ups, are probably my weakest and least favourite aspects of CrossFit.  But of course I know they are a necessary part of it, and its good to train things you don't like.

To be fair 100m sprint was not too bad.  Felt good to get out in the cold (and rain!) in the middle of each round.  Got 13 full rounds and 4 Burpees between us.  Totally gassy, but then recovered fast.

Tea

Got back home not long after 7 (went to early CrossFit as had been working in Leeds).  So had a small smoothie post-workout, before I made my proper tea:

Smoothie:

• Frozen raspberries
  
• 1 scoop Kinetica whey (Vanilla)
• ~200ml coconut milk
• dash of water 
• crushed mixed nuts on top 

Then went to the supermarket to stock up.  Took my wheely bag and left it in the grocery aisle (only realising when I got to the till..).. THEN managed to forget my card after I paid (aren't the card machines supposed to beep or something to stop this from happening??).  Oh well. Got loads of stuff (mainly fresh fruit and veg - good selection).

A small snapshot of the grocery stand that's now my kitchen (more in fridge!)

Came back, wanted something quick and easy (for one), and protein rich:

• 4 egg omelette with mushroom, courgette, sundried tomato, sweet potato slices, basil, thyme, paprika, seasoning
• Spinach and cherry tomatoes with lemon juice, olive oil and seasoning

Day 16: New Skills

zzzzzzzzzzzzzz......Woke up feeling physically tired and snoozed far too many times...

Seems likely this is from last night's CrossFit.  But I don't feel wrecked/sore/injured.  This is GOOD.

Could just be the sleep issue?

Breakfast

Smoothie:

• Mixed frozen berries
  
• 1 scoop Kinetica whey (Vanilla)
• ~300ml coconut milk
• dash of water 
• crushed mixed nuts on top 

Love the convenience of frozen berries, and the cold/frozen yoghurt type texture they provide  :) 

Lunch

Went to see the lovely ladies of Food Therapy again, stocked up on some goodies, inc my favourite organic coconut oil (the smell is divine), raw almonds, [paleo] stock etc etc ('The Essentials').

While I was there I perused the general offerings..

Now I don't know about you but for about 65% of the year I'm not really bothered about soup.

In fact, I used to be somewhat phobic of it.  The idea of liquid food just did not appeal (still doesnt actually, when I think about it).

However, there gets to a time in the calender when soup suddenly just works.

And that time, I believe, is NOW.

So I purchased a little selection of the various hearty organic veg soups/tagines/stews on offer (narrowed to those which were Challenge-compliant, of course).  Should see me through the week at least.  (I like having a little store of items at work so I know I don't have to rush out and buy something, which quite often won't be that great as it's not been thought out - see the er scrambled egg/salad/guacamole combo I was touting last Tuesday....?!).

Today I had:

• Sri Lankan lentil and coconut soup: red lentils, onions, creamed coconut, too dhal, sea salt, lemon juice, chilli powder, tumeric, cinnamon

This was nice.  Not amazing.  But nice.  Good kick to it.  But too smooth for my liking (baby food? - not with that chilli!).

CrossFit

Today was work on bench press.

Well, I've never done bench press before.

Mike said "You probably thought bench press was for blokes"
And he was totally right, of course.

But then, before I started CrossFit in June, I'd never done any weights, apart from a couple of thigh squeezer machine things in the gym before. (gross)

I did find the whole thing all a bit weird.  Not a familiar movement at all. - though I'm aware its sort of like a press up (which I've never been good at either!)

Got up to 25kg but started laughing before I completed the set.. Whoops.  Tried again, all good. Well.. wobbly, but the weight was alright.

And I didn't trap myself under the barbell (probably my biggest worry with this!!).. [but then I wasn't drunk, or on my own, or an idiot (?)!]

Also worked on pull ups, still doing with the blue band, but able to do decent sets of 5.  Hoping to scale up to the thinnest band soon.

5 min AMRAP 
15 KB Swings - done at 12kg
7 Toes to bar - scaled

Rest 2mins

5 min AMRAP
Wall Ball - done at 5kg, 9'
If break a set, rest or miss a rep, perform 30s plank hold

I actually quite like planks (years of yoga and pilates).  But doing 30s holds when your body's feeling beaten is, cumulatively, pretty tough.  Good idea though.

Managed 7 rounds + 1 sit up of first bit. Felt good, controlled, and worked right through 'til time (hence the 1 lone sit up!).  62 Wall Balls, in a few sets (didn't count the number of sets).  Would've liked to have been less broken of course, but looking at the general consensus this seemed like a reasonable result.  Always surprised (and/or a little bit annoyed) with how much Wall Balls get to you!!

NB I don't generally look at other people's WOD results, since its all relative, and personal to them.  But sometimes I look to get an overview of where I'm at in relation to other people.  That's fine I think that's healthy.

Tea

Really didn't have much food in by today (no eggs for example), so struggled with what to make.

I appreciate that there will be careful decisions to make in the supermarket, but it seems to me that this is one of the occasions where eating meat definitely makes things easier (though of course you still need to have it in).  i.e. quick chuck some meat on the griddle/in the pan with some spices...  Lots of scope, with few/simple ingredients.

Irrelevant really, I don't eat meat.

I do, however, as part of this challenge, eat fish, on occasion.

Seems kind of funny to me that I got through 2 weeks of the (I'd say very restrictive, in my circumstances) Challenge, without touching fish, and then I end up eating it twice in three days..  Perhaps this means that 2 weeks is the amount of time required to exhaust my imagination?

I don't think this is true, actually.  Fish is just easy (like meat - see above).

I basically made a Fish Un-Pie, i.e. the contents of a fish pie, not in a pie (and slightly adjusted):

• Salmon, cod, smoked haddock, prawns (wild, sustainably caught) in a "creamy" sauce (stock, dill, thyme, olive oil, coconut milk, a little arrowroot, seasoning)
• Creamed cauliflower (cauli, seasoning, coconut milk, coconut butter)
• Asparagus, peas, broccoli

Nice.

Day 15: HALFWAY MONDAY!

Hello Halfway Monday!!

Can't believe its been 2 weeks already (but also kind of can't believe its only halfway?-weird)!

I decided pretty much before I started the Challenge, that I would go with it, do my best, and wait for the end before making any real assessments on it.  As a result, I am not attempting to measure, weigh etc at this stage (I don't really want to anyway, but I do recognise its one way of measuring progress).

Having said that, I do feel good.  

Of course I can't really pin that down.  For example, I haven't been able to get to CrossFit as I'd like to, so its hard to see/measure any kind of physical progress.

Really planning to step up my exercise now for the remainder - my body is feeling better (though I still have to be careful).

Breakfast/Lunch

• Fresh blackberries
• 1 scoop Kinetica whey (Vanilla)
• ~300ml coconut milk
• dash of water (to thin it out)
• crushed mixed nuts on top 

Took this to work with me, stuck it in the freezer when I arrived, meant to have it for breakfast but this didn't come off as work took over. Balls.

So instead of breakfast it became lunch.  Quite nice really, but obviously not good I missed the first meal of the day..  Black mark material?? Hmmmm

Inappropriate cuppage, perhaps?

CrossFit

Worked on thrusters.  Alright at 30kg.  Not alright at much more.  Wasn't feeling too strong and not fully comfortable/confident with front rack today.  No idea why.   :(

10 min AMRAP 
30 Double Unders - scaled to 60 single unders
15 Abmat sit ups
5 Front Squats - scaled to 2 x 12kg kettlebells

The WOD I enjoyed.  Good mix of exercises for me (no running!!), all movements I am confident with (scaled), with the motivation of an AMRAP.

Left feeling good (not dwelling on the thrusters).

Tea

Post-workout - the predictable (delectable) sweet potato.

• Sweet potato with coconut oil, lime juice, a little coconut milk, sea salt and black pepper
• Topped with veg chilli: onion, pepper, chilli, garlic, carrot, courgette, kidney beans, lentils, tomato, spices, seasoning
• with fresh spinach and fried mushrooms (coconut oil, garlic, seasoning)

Look at that colour!  That's Vitamin A right there that is!!

------------------------

As a footnote, I am still struggling with getting plenty of sleep.  By 'plenty' I mean around 8 hours (as per the recommendations of the Challenge).

I know from experience that I can (and do) function at an alright level, with relatively little sleep.

And compared to a few years ago when I had full on insomnia (hello useless sleep therapist), over 5 hours is an ok amount.

I'm not stupid though - I do notice when I've had more sleep.  I can get up better, brighter, for one thing (still not a morning person though).  And it makes me feel and look healthier - brighter eyes, clearer skin, less/no muscle aches, more energy etc.

I guess even though I haven't managed to increase my sleep that much so far over the Challenge, it has made me much more aware of the amount of sleep I'm getting (and any changes/effects that result)..

Day 14: Lazy Sunday :)

Got a stonking 10hr sleep!!

Clearly needed it :)  Spent the remainder of the "morning" (ahem) supping fresh black coffee on the sofa, reading my delectable new Yotam Ottolenghi recipe book (purchased last time I was in London):

Freddie says CHILLAX

By the time it came round to eating, it was definitely more lunch than breakfast, but I embraced the whole "brunch" concept and really ran with it (despite my general distaste for portmanteaus..), to produce the following masterpiece.... (!)

"Brunch"

• Coconut protein power pancakes: 3 eggs, 1 scoop vanilla whey, coconut flour, cinnamon  nutmeg, coconut oil, coconut milk, baking powder
  
• with warm raspberries  coconut oil and Daylesford Organic Apple and Vanilla Puree (organic apple and vanilla only)

YIKES!

I cannot tell a lie.  This was glorious.  :)

Off to the cinema to watch On The Road.  Didn't prepare a snack as quite honestly not required!

[NB my 1 word film review: unnecessary.  And I'd prob recommend going with ppl who've read the book. (I didn't.  Our post-movie discussion was somewhat stunted) That is, of course, if you've read it yourself.  If not, I wouldn't bother with the movie at all actually]

Happily managed post-cinema drink at the Brude of soda water and lime (only).

Tea

The only TV program me + James are bothered about is Homeland.  I mentioned it last week, and I'll probably mention it every week.  If you haven't seen it, you're daft.

[Can't really summarise it in a gif.  Otherwise I would have!]

Tea, as a consequence, was a rather manic affair.

This resulted in:

• 2 small fillets of wild sustainably caught Alaskan salmon, with fennel seeds, lime zest and lime juice in coconut oil;
• Creamed cauliflower (cauli, sea salt, pepper, coconut milk)
• Asparagus and spinach with coconut oil, seasoning and lime juice

That's right.  I ate fish. Told you I was open to it. 

Super-quick and super-delicious dessert:

• 1 large mango (proper ripe), with lime juice, lime zest and coconut milk

Beautiful.

:)