Primal update - 12 days in!

We're 12 days into doing the Primal Challenge (me on Modern Primal Tribe thanks to the wonderful Elyse) and... WOW. I feel fantastic. I felt fantastic on, like, day two. Sooo... yeah. I mean increased happiness, increased body happiness, increased energy, increased excitement for food, etc, etc. After two days, sugar cravings became basically nonexistent. When they do pop up, I only crave dark chocolate for the most part, which is totally Primal. I feel a steady arch of energy throughout the day--there are no ups and downs. I feel less aches and pains. I feel more present, and in control. I want to emphasize this is because I'm actually getting and absorbing the nutrients my body requires (bioavailability, kids!). For those of you more concerned with qualitative results: after one week, I had lost over 5 pounds and over 3 inches.

Here's what I wrote on the day of the first week's end/weigh in:

"-So much energy. Constant arc of energy throughout day. FEELS FANTASTIC.
-Emotional well being above average. Can't say that is just Primal, though, because I was feeling that way the week or two before it as well.
-Didn't have any grains, legumes, wine, coffee, etc.
-Not much fruit for me (less than normal--actually had to convince myself to eat berries every once in a while).
-So many vegetables. More than normal. Which is insane. Went through all FC veggies + carrots/celery/green beans from grocery store + 3 lb bag broccoli + 3 lb bag brussel sprouts + pillow size bag of kale + bag of 4 peppers
-More meat!! Sooo much more meat than I normally eat. Actually starting to enjoy it, too, within the past 2 days. [note: craving meat now... haha.. first time ever?]
-Figured out a breakfast plan that actually works for me... FINALLY! Simply put, no breakfast. I do fantastic with my first meal just being lunch. [It feels awesome finally not feeling guilty about not wanting to eat breakfast!]
-Enjoying food more because of only eating when I'm hungry instead of eating when I think I "should".
-Ate less dairy (no milk because no coffee/not much yogurt).
-Walked 6 hrs 40 min as a minimum.
-Danced/did yard work.
-Did better at actually eating when I'm alone.
-Lost 5.2 pounds and 3.44 inches"

Honestly, I could not care less about the weight/inches, thing. Anyone who knows me knows I love who I am in my body/what I look like, but I just want to feel good. I never thought feeling good could feel so...great! Hahah. It sounds silly, but honestly, this is amazing. And anytime something non-primal comes up, I'm making a conscious decision not to have it based on the fact that nothing tastes good enough to feel that shitty! It's an easy decision, and one I'm excited to make. Plus, once the challenge is over, I will, every once in a while, indulge in something non-primal (80/20!). But, more excitingly, I will get to try my hand at some primal baking every once in a while! SUPER excited.

This is making me so much more excited to be in the kitchen. I'm cooking ALL THE TIME. And I am absolutely loving turning things Primal. I absolutely love making things from scratch, so with the added of challenge of making them Primal, I'm basically more excited than ever in the kitchen. Primal versions of things have been actually tasting better to me than their non-primal equivalents. Fajitas, lasagna, tacos, etc, all taste better to me when I make them primally.

My favorite part is that it's not a stupid diet. It's not a New Year's resolution. It's not a strict plan full of exhausting rules, guilt, and exhausting exercise routines. It's not set up for failure. It's a simple, forgiving, no guilt, logically-sound lifestyle change.

*This post almost sounds like I just joined a cult. I'm totally ok with that. It doesn't even come close to matching my excitement/satisfaction:) So, a big thank you to our cult leader, Elyse, for introducing me;)

this is how i write recipes on mpt.

That man I live with and engaged in a commitment ceremony with is sick. So, with this perpetual bone broth going on, I decided Primal Pho was in order. This is how I write my recipes to share on Modern Primal Tribe, so you're getting a real inside look here. Join the fun... if you can decipher it.

Kinda "Pho"

8 cups bone broth (I used bones/skin/cartilage from 2 chickens, veggie scraps from peppers and parsnips, 1 onion, 1 head garlic, rosemary/sage/bay leaves, some carrots, celery scraps/leaves/extra ribs, apple, water to cover)

fresh ginger

4 cloves garlic

cinnamon stick

whole cloves

1T fish sauce

spicy shit of choice

lime

thai basil

scallions

bok choy

carrots

broccoli

shrooms (magic ones)

onion

meat of some sort

Have some broth going. Put 8 or so cups in a sauce pan (or however much you want to make, just tone down the rest of the ingredients accordingly...duh).

Use a microplane to grate garlic over the saucepan. Grate some of your ginger. Cut the rest of your ginger in half, tie it up in cheesecloth with a cinnamon stick, some cloves, some star anise if you have it, and toss it in the broth. Add some fish sauce. Also good: rice vin, apple cider vin, mirin, any asiany sauces you've got floating around... 

Let that shit simmer and get all happy with one another. Slice your onion realllll thin like and throw it in. Slice your meat real thin like and drop it in. The longer you can let it hang out in there the softer it'll be. Although, if you're in a rush, just use some tender loving beef, or chicken, sliced suuuuuuper thin, and no one will get hurt. 

You're gonna want to add your vegetables according to how long they need to cook (not long! You want them softies). I threw them all in at the same time, because they all needed the same amount ish: carrot, broccoli, baby bok choy, mushrooms. Throw a lid on for some green steaming action. Pop your top off.

Later on, when you aren't so challenged, you can serve this over spaghetti squash as a rice thread noodle sub. [For you non-Primals, don't worry about this and get yourself some rice noods]

Pour shit in bowl. Lotsobroth. Pile high with bean sprouts, torn thai basil, lotsoscallions/greenonion/whatevsyoucallit, fresh lime juice, extra fish sauce, srirachaaaaaaaaaaaa:/, deliciousness. Oh, yeah, fish out that packet of spicy stuff. Grab your favorite chopsticks and asian soup spoon. Slurp.

Cures all ailments from the common cold to male pattern baldness.