Monday, November 29, 2010

Quote of the Day

Heard on Episode 52 of Robb Wolf's podcast:

"Paleo is a logical framework applied to modern humans, not a historical reenactment." -John Ryan, online comment

Don't beat yourself up for indulgences :)

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Exermacise

Although I've stuck quite well to the primal/paleo eating lifestyle, the exercise portion has been quite lacking these past few months.  I walk as much as I can every day, taking breaks throughout my work day to stroll the dowtown core.  I venture to find lengthy stair cases in the city.   The proximity around the CN Tower and SkyDome (called the Rogers Centre for years now, but it will always be the SkyDome to me) has quite a few stairs as well as the subway and underground PATH.  I'll occasionally sprint a block length but always remember that I need to be courteous to my work mates and minimize my sweatiness.  My goal is for an hour per day, if things aren't too hectic around the office.

I decided tonight that my upper body has had a wonderful vacation, and that it was time to get back at it.

Tonight, I started out slow:

5 Chin ups (modified with foot on chair) x 4
5 Pull ups (modified with foot on chair) x 4
10 Push ups (knees) x4
20 squats x 2

I will definitely feel that tomorrow.  The plan is to repeat on Saturday and slowly build these soft little muscles back up to where they were when I completed P90X earlier this year.

Wish me luck!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

This is the part where I talk about menstruation

I've been primal/paleo since April and in this small span of time many magical things have happened.

I don't recall discussing this on here, but I have been dealing with PCOS for almost 15 years, most of which has resulted in infrequent menstrual cycles (3 to 4 times a year, tops!) and some other minor side symptoms.

I was placed on Birth Control at 17 to help regulate and stayed on for 7 years before my body decided to let me know that it had enough.  After ceasing the pill, I went back to irregular periods for a couple more years until I self diagnosed myself with Candida.  I had all the symptoms and during a year on a strict Candida Diet (very similar to primal/paleo, but even more limited) I managed to regulate my periods once again.  That diet was very difficult to manage at the time and of course I fell into temptation.  I gained quite a bit of weight and went back to the same infrequency f which I had been experiencing. 

I'm proud to say that since going primal/paleo, I've had my period regularly for the months of August, September and October.  That's a record!  And I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the end of this month, too!  It's not really something that most women look forward to, but after feeling a little less than "regular" for a good part of my life, I think it's wonderful.

A serious contemplation of education

*orginally posted Nov 8th on my other blog


For those of you that know me, you are quite aware that I'm not incredibly thrilled with my current job. I work in the financial industry, mostly doing pawn like work, and while the job itself is fine, it lacks the ability to keep me interested.

The past few years I've thought long and hard (that's what she said) about what I've wanted to do with my life. With pawn like work, I've felt like I've had no real direction or purpose. If you've ever been in this position you can understand how stressful, depressing and demotivating it can be. It was only a few weeks ago that I realized I may have found the direction I probably should have gone years ago . . . Nutrition.

On Saturday I attended an Open House at the Institute of Holistic Nutrition. I had been researching the school for a bit and decided to attend to get more information. There were lectures on adrenal fatigue and nutrition in relation to memory retention and the psychology of disease. I felt incredibly comfortable as I sat there like a sponge absorbing all this fascinating information. I gathered all the information I could and left feeling invigorated about the possibility of finding a career that was meant to be.

As I continue to ponder each day, I'm realizing that it might be time for me to go back to school; as terrifying as that feels since I graduated college nearly a decade ago.

Step one: Apply

...and then we wait...