Returning To Normal...For Now!

After the anger filled, craving packed, cranky, tired day that I had yesterday, I woke up this morning hoping for a better day. And it worked...eventually! I woke up just how Melissa and Dallas Hartwig (Whole30 God's) said that I would on days 4 and 5:

"Day 4 dawns and you tentatively step out of bed, expecting to feel like you took a strike from Thor’s hammer in the temple. Instead, your head is surprisingly clear. Your limbs all feel functional. This could be a good day! You walk into the kitchen and as you’re greeted by the smiling face of your significant other you are suddenly overcome…with the desire to punch them in the face for smiling this early in the morning"

Well, at least I know that what they are preaching actually works. My symptoms were down to a tee! However, the rest of the day has been surprisingly clear and peaceful. An extremely emphatic greeting from this cutey helped get my mind away from punching my family members in the face...

 A long walk was what I needed to clear my head and re-evaluate. I came back, caked in mud and dog slobber, tucked into some scrambled eggs and smoked salmon, and felt rejuvenated. Then it was off to a coffee shop with my brother for a black coffee (not quite as yuck as a few days ago!) and some studying. Tonight I am off to my cousins for dinner. This will be my first test at a meal at someones home while on the Whole30. I've warned her that I will be picky! My plan at the moment is to eat before I go; this will feel weird but I need to learn to put my goals first and not cave to temptation.

According to Dallas and Melissa I will constantly wanting to be napping over days 6 and 7. If you don't hear from me for a couple of days...you will know why!

How is your Whole30 going?

Have you taken any new exercise classes this January? Or started a new workout routine?

I know that I have been ignoring the moving part of this blog...I will tackle that soon!

Perfect Paleo Pancakes

And you thought that eating Paleo only involved munching on a steak and some broccoli! Yes you read that right...pancakes. Usually these are associated with a whole myriad of sweet syrups, lashings of butter, and chocolate spread; a sugar hit so hard that even yo' grandma would feel a buzz! Not these babies though. These are 100% Paleo so completely grain and sugar free and even more delicious than the regular version. Natural sugars are in the fruit of course but none of this high fructose corn syrup crap where you may as well be ingesting toxic waste for the good it does.
Here is the recipe that I bundled together from a variety of sources across the web. Gotta love Google!

For the pancakes:

• 1 banana
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon of nut butter (I used almond...and remember peanut butter is a big NO NO)
• 1 tablespoon of almond flour

For the topping:

• 1/2 cup of mixed, frozen berries
• 1 tablespoon of coconut flakes 

The most simplest method ever, especially if using a food processor or an electric whisk. Blend all the ingredients for the pancakes together until a batter has formed. Put some olive or coconut oil into a frying pan and heat up. Then spoon about a tablespoon and a half of batter into the pan so that a somewhat circular shape has formed (or any shape your heart desires) that is about 2 inches by 2 inches. Obviously you don't need to get the measuring tape out, it's just the smaller they are, the easier they are to flip! Wait until little bubbles appear on the topside and then flip!
Once all the batter had been used and you have a lovely stack of scrumptious pancakes, add the berries and coconut to the pan and gently heat them until they became nice and juicy. Pour over, and face plant into guilt-free heaven!

'I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts'....in a jar!

Today I went into a health food shop and came out with this:

I feel like I have moved up the paleo ranks! This stuff is everywhere. It is in practically every paleo recipe I have come across as it is a perfect fat source instead of using butter or vegetable oils. Most recipes say to use this or olive oil, but you can just tell that coconut oil is preferred and me, a budding perfectionist, couldn't resist! Typing in a quick Google search, there are pages and pages of why it is such a good source of fat for not just Paleo nerds but PCOS sufferers too. Take a look: it supports a healthy metabolism, relieves diabetes symptoms, and helps with fat loss, all big ticks in my book! It even can be used like a lotion and rubbed into your skin to keep it healthy and happy! I won't be doing this. This is some expensive fat...I paid nearly £5 for this 200g jar so I think I will save it just for cooking some delicious dishes! That is a downside about living paleo in the UK....we haven't quite caught onto it yet so a lot of ingredients are either really expensive or just not available.

The word 'oil' is a bit misleading. I expected runny, slimy, greasy stuff. I did not expect it to be rock hard! Look at my spoon stuck in it like the sword in the stone.

After digging around and a few grunts of exertion, I managed to get a teaspoon out to drop in my pan. Tonight I decided that what I wanted to munch on was a curry so I browned my beef and some mushrooms and peppers in the coconut oil. I have to admit, I was a bit worried. There was definitely a coconut-y aroma going on. I love coconut but I don't want all my meals to taste like it! Thankfully the curry turned out lovely and there was no coconut taste at all! I have heard through the grapevine that virgin coconut oil will leave a bit of a taste, and that is the one I have but maybe I didn't use enough of it? Or the sauce masked it. Hmmm, I shall have to experiment.
As it is so expensive I think I will use it for special occasions and stick to olive oil most of the time! I am a poor, struggling student after all!

Have you tried coconut oil before?