The Main Line Times coverage of the Turkey Buster Boot Camp
The Turkey Buster Boot Camp was a huge success. Around 25 participants came out to burn off some Thanksgiving calories and support the kickoff to our Get Your Can to Class food drive. Thanks to The Main Line Times for featuring us in their “Black Friday – 24 Hours on the Main Line” segment. Click here for the story.
I’m about to wrap things up for the long holiday weekend, but before I do I’d be remiss if I didn’t say “thank you” on this most thankful of holidays.
Thank you to:
My clients – Who value what my Performance Fitness team and I do. Who give us their money (thank you!) and more importantly, entrust us with their fitness and health. Whether you let us have a glimpse into your private lives by allowing us to enter your homes to train you or you brave the the elements (dark of morning , night, the heat of summer or the bitter cold of winter) to attend classes – you believe in what we do, and that means more to us than anything. Thank you.
My client friends – It’s rare that a relationship cross the bounds into friendship and still maintain it’s professional integrity. I’m lucky to have more than a few relationships in which this has happened. My client friends have helped me (in too many ways to mention) when I’ve been down, listened and opened up their hearts to me and I can never thank them enough.
My instructors – Andrea, Charlene, Irene and Sandi, with whom I’ve entrusted my most valuable professional asset – our clients. Thank you for being the best at what you do, for constantly striving to improve yourselves and your craft and for being topnotch professionals on whom I can depend.
My family,” family by choice” and friends – I’m so blessed to be surrounded by people who love and support me. Thank you for your encouragement, advice and love.
My admin, Lynn – You’ve been part friend, part client and the BEST assistant I could ask for! Thank you for your vision, which is sometimes more inspired than mine, your focus and for taking over my damn filing. 
You are truly an amazing woman and I’m glad to have you at my side as we take the fitness world by storm.
My husband, Ed, aka “The Husband” – Who sees me at my best and (more often) worst. The man who sees me without the well-honed patience that I display to the rest of the world. Who sees me in three size too big sweats, holey t-shirts and with messed up hair. Who sees me without filter or edit button – and still loves me. Thank you! You’re my best friend and I thank God everyday that you’re in my life.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Strict Paleo rocks! Why? Because of the focus it gives me, and because of last week’s Mexican fast food triumph.
I had a two day workshop in King of Prussia last weekend. Late to bed and late to rise, I didn’t have time to pack anything for lunch. Saturday was going to be an 8 hour session, so skipping lunch wasn’t an option (as if it ever is). I knew there was a Baja Fresh across from the workshop site, so I hoped for the best.
A little background is in order here. I’m a sucker for Mexican food. The real thing, the pseudo stuff (Qdoba, Chipotle, Baja Fresh but definitely NOT Taco Bell) and the fancy nouveau Mexican cuisine. Stick salsa, cheese, guacamole and sour cream on anything and you’re alright with me. Luckily salsa is Paleo/Whole3o approved as long as it’s sugar-free and made from real food. Even guacamole is approved, and since I make my own simple guac with avocados, fresh lime juice and sea salt, I’ve been able to indulge freely. But cheese, black beans and sour cream, not to mention tortilla chips, are not on the Paleo list.
So, it was with a bit of trepidation that I entered Baja Fresh on Saturday. I scoured the menu board for approved fare. It seemed like everything was on the “no” list. Time to get creative.
Luckily BF does actually have lots of fresh, “real food” items. So, my creativity involved omission and substitution.
“I’ll have the Skinny Chicken Bowl with no corn, rice or beans.”
“That’s what I like”, said the workshop attendee standing next to me, “a woman who knows what she wants.” (Little did she know I had spent the last 5 minutes staring at the board in absolute indecision).
“That’s all you want?”, said the cashier as she looked at me as if I was crazy. “Yes”, I said. “You don’t want any corn?” “Nope. Oh! But could I have avocado?!”, I said like a child asking for her favorite toy. “Could you put extra avocado on it?!”
Then she went to get the chips. “Oh, no chips please” (the hardest words I have ever uttered at a BF). Second crazy look from the cashier.
Lunch that day (and the next) was a Baja Fresh Skinny Chicken Bowl with Pico de Gallo, onions, chile peppers, extra avocado, double extra salsa from the “fixins bar” and half an orange from home. It was a delish, and a triumph for me.
I have 3 full days left on my Whole30, and although I’m going to break it for a few days for Thanksgiving, I’m thinking that this is the life.
Giant Omelet Muffin
I’ve always been the odd one at family gatherings. The one who didn’t eat collard greens (oh, how that has changed), the one who didn’t eat meat (at least not for 13 years), the one who passed on the cake. It’s hard not to get scrutinized at large events. Now that I’m eating strict Paleo again, thanks to The Whole30, the scrutiny is in full effect.
Passing on meat or cake is one thing, but when you’re passing on grain, all sugars, legumes and dairy, people notice. . .
First come the looks, then the questions and then THE question – “So, what CAN you eat?” (usually preceded by – Oh my God, I could NEVER do that!)
Back in January/February I did a Paleo Challenge with my friends over at CFDV. For seven weeks I cut all grains (yes, even whole grains), sugar, alcohol, dairy and legumes (even soy and peanut butter) from my diet. The goal, well I’m not sure what my goal was originally. Perhaps I needed a post-holiday hard core clean up, or maybe I just wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. That, and I didn’t want to be left out. After all, all the cool kids were doing it. Whatever my motivation, I ended up losing 15 pounds and a bunch of inches.
People choose a strict Paleo route for a variety of reasons. The Paleo Diet has been credited with helping people improve their workout performance (the more work you can do, the more calories you burn, the better your body will look and fell), lose weight and increase their energy levels. For some people, Paleo is the answer to their nagging food allergies or sensitivities. A few weeks without gluten or dairy, and the headaches, skin problems and bloat are gone.
I don’t have food allergies. I can consume gluten and dairy with the best of them, and I’m thankful for it; a girl needs her pizza and ice cream once in a while. What I do like is the way that eating strict Paleo makes me feel. I’m not sure exactly how to describe it. I do have more energy, but in addition to that, I just feel better in my skin. My body feels and looks tighter – at least to me. Eating strict Paleo also forces me to be a more creative cook. I try new recipes and cooking becomes fun.
After the original Challenge I maintained my Paleo lifestyle about 75% of the time. Weekends, when treated myself to desserts, alcohol and pasta, were a different story. Then, over the summer I fell off the Paleo wagon – face first. I needed to do something major to get back on track. Luckily I found The Whole30, 3.0 (30 days of strict Paleo eating). Even better, Lynn, my rockin’ assistant, has joined me in The Whole30.
But back to the question at hand. What CAN I eat? Well, lots of things. Here’s a partial list of this week’s intake:
Again, this is just a partial list and based on my tastes, but it sure looks like a lot of food to me. Considering that most people eat the same 20 foods day in/day out, week in/week out, I’d say I’m doing pretty well in the variety department.
I’m on day 18 of The Whole30. There’s no food that I miss, although on day 5 I did leave a party early when they brought out the cake from Clay’s Bakery. I can resist cake but this was Clay’s!
I’ll keep you posted on my last 12 days and the holiday season Paleo style.