Back to Life, Back to Reality

Today is Day 18 of the challenge, and it feels a bit like Day 1 for me.  We are home from the beautiful Rocky Mountains, back in my familiar kitchen with my familiar products, and certainly back to weighing and measuring my food.  I feel like I had the walk through the tunnel of light with a small glimpse into the afterlife, or rather the after challenge, and it was wonderful. 

Chris and I interpreted eating on our mini-vacation during this challenge a little differently.  While we collectively burned thousands of calories tearing up several thousand vertical feet on the slopes, he replaced his calories differently than I did.  Now, I’m not leaving tire tracks on his back as I drive the Paleo Zone Bus over him, but let’s just say he allowed himself a little more freedom of choices than did I.  We each maintained our water intake, perhaps even more, because hydration is the key to fighting the altitude sickness (a battle I briefly lost).  I’m proud to say I remained Paleo the entire time, but possibly got duped with some wings that seemed to have breading despite the ding-dong waitress saying “I don’t think so.”  Each day, we made a breakfast of eggs, greens, and artichoke hearts for us, while whipping up gluten-free pancakes and cereal for the kids.  We took protein mix in our backpacks and mixed them at the summit, and successfully resisted the overwhelming urge to have a beer or two in the 65 degree sunlight on the bar patios up on the slopes.  In years past, we would have indulged in burgers, fries, and beers on the back slope bars, but on this trip we were the nerdy, non-partying outback skiers.  Having 3 liters of water via Camelbak in my backpack was the best decision we made, because my water intake was almost constant throughout the day.  I was however, extremely unpopular with my kids – “Mom! Are you serious? You have to pee again?  What is wrong with you? It's practically on every run that we have to stop!” Apparently I’m raising camels. 

I’ve taken a peek on the other side of this challenge, and eating Paleo is easy - even when the conditions are difficult.  I grew up in a restaurant, so I know that chefs don’t particularly like to be told how to cook their meals.  I know that servers get irritated with people who switch everything up.  And I know that sending something back to the kitchen because it’s not what you asked for invites adjectives from the chef that have never been used to describe you before.  I also know that getting the food you need to eat depends completely on the delivery of the question.  “This sauce sounds amazing, but I have some food sensitivities.  Instead of boring you with all the details, do you think the chef would mind preparing the steak only with some dry seasonings and holding the sauce?” The server immediately buys in, saying, “The broccoli should be fine because it’s only lightly steamed.  Will that be okay for you? Would you like extra broccoli since you aren’t having the cheesy bacon bleu garlic smashed potatoes?” It’s all about the delivery. Chefs are sensitive artists in any nicer restaurant, and I added the bonus that I was in a tourist destination.  I would have immediately been labeled the east-coast snot who thinks I know how to cook better than he does, if I didn’t tiptoe carefully through the semantics.  If you are thinking that a Paleo diet will continue to be a part of your lifestyle, and you enjoy eating out, I would suggest you make sure you know how to politely ask for what you want if it isn’t on the menu. 

When I came home, there was a much anticipated package waiting for me – my Well-Fed Cookbook by Melissa Joulwan!

Thanks to Geoff, my fellow Crossfitter and the commenter who makes me choke on my broccoli with laughter, this recommendation is top-notch! I’m so excited, I have no idea yet what I’m making first, but I’m taking the cookbook with me to Wegmans today.  I now have three paleo cookbooks, and this is by far the best.  Today I am trudging through the bowels of my freezer to eat uninteresting things until I can get to the store.  The fridge is basically empty, so I’m pretty certain I will be at my protein shake maximum allotment by the middle of the day.

Let me remind you that we have only 12 more days on this challenge.  Two more weekends, and then we get to see the actual measures of our success.  Don’t get complacent with the little bit of progress, instead keep pushing to blow it out.  I realize the postings the last few days have been patchy, but they will be consistent from here on out.  If you’ve never packed up a family to ski each day, along with dietary constraints for each of us, you may not understand how any computer time slipped away from me.  

I’m back on the Zone Train, and really looking forward to some deadlifts today!