Celebrating the Holidays

This year I found a fantastic recipe in Cooking Light Magazine for Almond Cookies. They have 6 ingredients and are so simple and delicious! See for yourself:

Ingredients

• 2 cups blanched almonds (save 24 blanched almonds)
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 4 tsp lemon rind
• 1 egg
• Dash of salt
• Cinnamon

Directions
Preheat oven to 325. In a food processor pulse the blanched almonds until finely ground. Add the sugar, lemon rind, egg and salt and mix until dough forms a ball in the processor. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and shape the dough into 1" balls. Sprinkle cinnamon over all of the almond balls evenly and then press a blanched almond into the top (see picture). Bake for 16 minutes and then let cool on wire racks.

These had the most amazing texture and the lemon, cinnamon and almond combined were just plain tasty. Perfect with tea or coffee.

I saved money at the store by purchasing regular almonds and blanching them myself. This process took an hour, but it was worth it and I didn't mind with Christmas movies playing, the fire place roaring and my Christmas tree glowing. Oh wait, it's almost Thanksgiving?! Oh well! I'm losing a week out of my favorite time of year in Mexico so I'm rejoicing early.

My family will be enjoying these Paleo/Primal friendly treats this year.

Happy Christmas Thanksgiving readers!

Krista

An encouraging email...

Last night I received an email from someone who follows my blog, thanking me for writing about Paleo/Primal and how she is doing following the lifestyle. Thank you for your email - it is encouraging to know people are actually reading my blog and that I'm not just writing for my Mom (Hi Mom!) and friends.

24 Days until the Riviera Maya and I'm not doing as well on my strength training as I would've liked.

Here's why:

Mark (husband) is currently on a surgery rotation in medical school. He works 18 hour days - everyday - with an occasional day off. This means that on top of my full time job and taking care of Gizmo, I need to do everything else from paying the bills, to cleaning, cooking, errands, etc. Because all he can do is eat, sleep, find time to study, and work. This doesn't leave much time to exercise so I've been strict with my diet, because I gotta eat!

I just spent the past 3 weeks prepping and interviewing for my Dream Job - and I got it!!!! So I've been very stressed with that, not to mention I was asked to interview for another position so I had a total of 5 interviews in a couple weeks.

Since I haven't been exercising as much, being strict with food and under a lot of stress I'm weighing in at 133lbs and my clothes are falling off. I need to go shopping this weekend (darn!). I'm not skinny fat, just skinny skinny. I need to get some workouts in now that Mark will be done with a crazy surgery rotation and I landed my perfect job. Wahoo!!

Krista

Is Paleo a diet or not?

Paleo is confusing for people. At first glance, the concept of eating like our paleolithic ancestors is so different from our norm. The norm being what the media and money driven companies have created over the past few decades.

Confused people come online for answers and can easily find their way into more confusion. I did. Once site would say to eat this, another that. Work out like this or try it like that. Paleo is a diet, no Paleo is NOT a diet. Wait a minute. What the heck am I supposed to do?!

Is Paleo a diet?

Yes and no. Yes, as in the technical sense that the actual word "diet" means in relation to food. When Paleo bloggers/writers stress that it isn't a diet we mean that it isn't a "fad diet." A fad diet is something we hear about a celebrity doing to lose a large amount of weight quickly that everyone tries for a week or two before they are on to the next fad diet.

How do I "go Paleo?"

Make Paleo choices. Choose to eat more meat, vegetables, fruit, and fat. Choose to not eat grains and legumes. Choose to go for a walk this afternoon. Choose to get an extra hour of sleep tonight instead of watching that reality show you don't really care for.

Choose to feel better, because you will.

Krista

Stress and 32 Days til Paradise

Remember my post from a couple weeks ago about why I haven't been posting as much....well it's still going on and I will hopefully have an outcome next week. This "project" has turned into two potential opportunities, which have been eating up my spare time and stressing me out. My face hates my stress = lots of little pimples. Yuck.

I truly cannot wait until this week is over so I can blog more and have a pimple free face again. Hopefully my efforts will be rewarded - I can't wait to share with you all if they are!

Have you guessed yet...? :o)

Meanwhile....32 DAYS UNTIL I'M ON A BEACH! I'm not excited or anything.

Picture on right is the view from our room during the Honeymoon. We are going to the same resort with good friends. Wahoo! More pictures to come!

Krista

Day 4 Progress

Stomach is nearly the same as it was in my 'After shots' from August. I've been doing the Primal Blueprint Fitness Routine (sign up for Mark's site to get it - it's free)!

Currently advancing in planks, push ups, squats, sprints, lunges, and pull ups 3-4x/week.

Proof is in the puddin' so I'll try to post an update every Friday. Apologies for the lighting (sun isn't up yet at 6:45 anymore) - plus I'm no photographer.

Have a great weekend all!

Krista

Staying Strong

Well into the morning of Day 2 and thus far I've been strong in sticking to my Primal fare and working out more....though it is only Day 2.

Motivation

Surround yourself with what you desire: I have pictures of the Riviera Maya surrounding me at work. I envision myself there splashing in the waves is enough to keep me from digging into those pumpkin bars a coworker brought in.

Drive

Knowing you can do it: I've been strictly Primal before for more than a month and knowing that helps me to keep going.

Success

Signs that you have achieved your goals: I feel fantastic! NO physical signs yet, as to be expected, but I do feel wonderful. Full of energy, mind is sharp and I've been in a great mood all week.

How do you stay strong to achieve goals?

Krista