Munchies

I survived Easter weekend without a single cheat! I was only mildly tempted by the M&M's, snickers, brownies, mashed potatoes, etc that were ALL OVER the place! But I never gave into the temptations. I'm pretty proud of myself. =)

I found a great snack to hold me over when I'm craving something sweet, tasty and quick. In a bowl combine fresh cut strawberries, slivered almonds, coconut milk, and cinnamon. It's like Paleo cereal. YUMMY!!

How to be a Caveman through Easter Weekend

Our 30 Day Paleo Challenge happened to include Easter Weekend. It's easy to insert excuses here: "It's too hard", "Not enough time", "My favorite time of year", "I LOVE Easter candy". Stop making excuses and just decide to do it.
But how?
BE PREPARED!!I made some tasty Paleo Muffins and Paleo "Cookies" to munch on while the kids are passing around the Cadbury Eggs and Peeps. I also called ahead to see what the in-laws were preparing for Easter brunch. I'll be bringing a few Paleo sides of my own to go with the roast.

All it takes is a little determination and preparation. You can do it, just decide you will.

Daily Activity

Get 10 minutes of activity each day. This doesn't have to mean an intense CrossFit WOD, or a fast 10 minute run. We just want you to think about being active and getting moving. This could mean: taking your dog on a walk in the park, throwing a football with your kids, or going on a hike. Get moving!
*Note - this has to be an activity you wouldn't be doing anyway. This doesn't include walking from your car to your office, or walking to get the mail. Do something extra for 10 minutes.

For example, Mike and I played Pool Basketball this weekend for our activity. In case you're wondering, YES I beat him!!

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is something you get one of your daily points for in the Paleo Challenge. You can either supplement with 5,000 IUs per day, or you can get 30 minutes of sunlight per day. Why is Vitamin D so important?

• It regulates the levels of calcium and phosphate in the bloodstream, and it promotes the mineralization and growth of bones, working together with calicum, Vitamin A, and Vitamin K2. Severe deficiency can cause rickets.
• It plays a massive role in your immune system. It activates the killer T-cells for defense against bacteria and infections.
• It regulates the expression of genes and cell development, suggesting a potential role in the prevention of cancer. Studies have shown that Vitamin D deficiencies have been linked to breast, colorectal and other cancers.
• It reduces systemic chronic inflammation.

Read more from Marks Daily Apple.

Getting my daily dose of Vitamin D.

Paleo Challenge Begins

Cosmic Fitness CrossFit in Pearland has started their first 30 Day Paleo Challenge! This will be my first time following the Paleo Diet for 30 days without cheat meals. I'm looking forward to it, but know it will be a struggle.

The Paleo Challenge winner will be scored in 3 categories: 1. Before and After photo, weight, and measurement improvements 2. Fitness test improvements and 3. Daily point totals (includes points for Paleo food, sleep, mobilization, daily activity, and Fish Oil and Vitamin D intake). I'm excited to see how everyone improves!

I have wanted to start a blog for quite a while, and this was the perfect excuse! I will use this blog to share my recipe ideas, workouts, struggles and weaknesses with food cravings, and triumphs throughout these next 30 days. I hope to inspire some of you to join me in the world of health and wellness, and maybe encourage some of you who are on this road with me!