Current State of Health

Holly over at Holly Would If She Could put out a challenge for everyone planning on doing a Whole 30 in January to write a 'Current State of Health' post, so here goes:
If you asked me prior to our Christmas party on the 15th and then  Christmas weekend, I would have told you that I was kicking ass and taking names. Dave and I both have been really good about being Primal. I've also continued to religiously track my total caloric and carb intake as well. I know that goes against the Paleo/Primal philosophy, but through trial and error I have determined that it is a necessity for me. I've spent too long as a food addict, I just can't trust the brain to stomach communication. Maybe someday I will. But not yet.

That said, I will do the Whole 30 as intended. Meaning no calorie counting. But in that case, my foods are so limited (translation: the yummy hacks are not allowed) that I'm not so worried. But I digress.

Exhibit A of Foods I Have Been Overeating: Paleo Cinnamon Buns courtesy of Homesteading and the City

Yeah, they're "allowed" but they're still high in total calories.

After allowing waaaaaay to many non-primal foods down my gullet over the weekend as well as just too much of the good stuff (but it's Christmas!) the bloat has been unbelievable! Don't get me wrong, I'll get a food baby after eating some fruit, but it goes away after an hour or two. This has been lasting for days. It's just so...ugh. And the fact of the matter is, this used to be normal! I used to not even notice it. It blows my mind, what we learn to accept as normal.

I have not been sleeping well at all. Pre-Primal I had started having trouble sleeping but it got waaaaay better once I started eating Primally. (it's a word, now) And bathroom issues, of which I had a few, cleared up too. Guess what's back? (um....eeew)

As of Christmas evening Dave and I both said, "Ok, it's been fun, but ENOUGH." As a result I am feeling better already. I'm starting to deflate and the bathroom issues are starting to sort themselves out. And the best part? I'm craving the good foods.

And the good news is we have not slacked at all in our Crossfitting. (also a word, now) In fact, we kept to our regular schedule and then some. So at least I have that going for me. It was oddly quiet in the box last week, so I finally made Dave take a cliche' Look-At-Me-Crossfitting pic.

This would be so much more impressive if I wasn't still using a band...and a green one at that.

I know, I know. Patience, grasshopper.

I won't actually be starting my Whole 30 until January 22nd. We're going away (the location is a surprise) for Dave's 40th birthday and there is no point in starting it before then. Which I actually think will be for the best for more than one reason. There are so many awesome folks on the interwebs starting on the 1st or 2nd, I can just follow along and steal all of their recipes, tricks and tips. Muahahahahaha. But to sum up the State of My Body, forays into CW eating for the Holidays and subsequent consequences aside, I've been in the best shape of my life. However, I do still get wicked sweets cravings and have plenty more fat to lose off of my body. Those are the two things I'm hoping to see the Whole 30 have an affect on, fingers crossed.

In closing, here is a picture of Joey and Badger, because cute:

They look guilty for a reason, I'm sure.

PS If you've been reading this and have no idea what the Whole 30 is click here.

Merry December!

Been a bit wrapped up in the routine the past couple of weeks and haven't been real inspired to write. However, I don't want to lose the habit completely. So here's a complete cop-out of a wrap-up full of blurry pictures, completely devoid of wit or meaningful thoughts.

I've been suffering from a bit of the old Mommy guilt this month. No. That's not really a fair way to describe it...not guilt, more just that realization that he (Choo Choo! All aboard the cliche train!) He's growing up so damn fast. That our years of whimsical Christmas' are dwindling. So I've been trying to make us make more of the Holiday this year.

We went to ICE at Gaylord-Palms (heh heh, Gaylord) in Orlando a couple of weeks ago. It's an Ice Sculpture Display/Tourist Trap. Worth seeing at least once, I'd say. They do provide coats, but be prepared as it is literally 9 degrees Fahrenheit in there. Dave laughed at all my preparations, but he was glad for it when we were in there.

Yes, he thought it looked like Marty was dancing Gangham Style. That song is the bane to my existence.

 It just occurred to me that Bane is the bane to Batman's existence.

 Whoa. Mind. Blown.

To be honest, we had as much fun wandering around the Hotel as we did checking out the Ice displays/Christmas stuff. They had a spot of artificial turf, that for some reason was just magnetizing to us. You couldn't not lay down and/or wrestle on it. I think it also helped that it was beautifully warm, but not hot outside...and after being inside at 9 degrees? Heaven.

And no fire ants!!!

That weekend I decorated the living room and we got our Christmas tree. Our house is so tiny, I can't take cluttering up the whole house, so I just removed the Steampunk stuff from the living room and decorated there and added some lights to the front porch.

We dig it. Gets us in the spirit of things without making me feel like I am drowning in kitsch. (cough, my mom's house, cough..God love her.)

I also made the fam-damily take me to see the light display in Wickham Park in Melbourne. I think Dave could definitely take or leave that kind of thing, but Holden and I enjoy it, so he plays along.

I played the Doctor Who theme for Holden as we drove through this, at least he thinks I'm cool.

In non-Christmas related news, it was time to return A-Moon to her real owners. We were given the pony a few years back as a free, long-term lease. The deal being we'd keep her until Holden outgrew her and/or the owners had grandchildren that were old enough to enjoy her. That time came and A-Moon has returned to South Florida. I'll miss the little bugger. Though I really wish Holden was more interested in riding with me more often, I do have a few great Mother/Son trail-ride memories that I will always cherish. Memories that wouldn't exist without such a level-headed, good natured little pony in our lives.

The definition of overkill: using a 4 Horse, LQ Trailer and Dually to transport a 450 pound pony.

This also happened:

Dave thought it would be hysterical to put Joey, the mentally unbalanced cat, in the saddle while I was riding. He actually snuggled in adorably, until Mercedes moved and then he was all, "F*&^k that, freaks!"

And lastly, we had a Christmas-themed Shop party last weekend, complete with Dirty Santa. In my mind Dirty Santa is just another name for Yankee Swap or White Elephant. Not everyone has heard it called that, so Dirty-Dirty Santa it was. It got very '50 Shades of Grey' up in the Shop.

I found the most Spectacu-Tacky Christmas Tree at Big Lots for the party.  

Made the Beer Can Angel myself. If this Librarian thing doesn't work out, I think I have a future in the Flea Market circuit.

Other than the usual at work, Crossfitting my booty off, and dealing with the daily struggle of finding the balance between enjoying the treats of the season but not going off the rails, that's been the past couple of weeks. Have yourselves a very Merry Christmas and remember:

Don't drink and ride.

Christmas Newsletters

I know a lot of people find them pretentious, and in this day and age rather obsolete. And I agree. But I still like reading them. It's like a personal highlight reel, allowing people to broadcast the best and the worst of their year. Sure, you could make the argument that that is exactly what Facebook is for most people. And I would also agree except for the fact that for those who Facebook a LOT or those who don't at all (yes, those people do actually exist) it shows me what they think were the most important happenings to them this year. Which interests me. They are also useful in the case of those old friends or family members who you're still curious about, but whose statuses you had to hide on FB due to their excessive political posting this past year.

Anyramble, since I do FB a lot, and I have...ya know...this blog and all, my version of the Christmas Newsletter/Highlight Reel is our photo collage Christmas Card. I've been doing them the past couple of years now. I am quite sure there are some haters whose eyes roll out of the back of their heads when they see them. But I love them. And they are great little memory for me and Dave.

Here is this year's card:

Photo Card

View the entire collection of cards.

So, suck it haters. Life is short. Holden is growing up and we're getting old and these little collages mean a lot to me.