Day 57 (8 weeks + one): Officially Done!

Officially done!!  Wow.  Time goes by fast.  I write this with hands torn up from 5 rounds of 50 Wall Balls and 25 Pull-ups.  I couldn't have done it without Shira and everyone at LAX Crossfit (http://laxcrossfit.com/).  This was finally a competition at the box that I had a chance at winning.  Thanks to my friends who understood why I wasn't drinking with them at the bars and running to Whole Foods, or someplace similar, whenever they ate somewhere.  Also thanks to my lunch crew at work, for dealing with me and sporadicness!

Here are my results:

	Week 1	Week 8
	12/30/11	2/27/12	% decrease	Rate per Week
Waist	39.5	33.5	15.19	0.75
Hips	38.5	35.5	7.79	0.0375
Right Bicep	12.5	10.75	14.0	0.21875
Chest (Day 1 Maybe Measured incorrectly)	45.0	36.0	20.0	1.125
Weight	185	159	14.05	3.25

I definitely will be continuing this.  Not as panally of course.  I'm going to try for 3 cheat meals a week, where 2 alcoholic drinks equals a cheat meal.  I also will re-introduce soy-sauce, (actually Tamari, which is gluten-free soy sauce), since I love most cuisines that use it.


I haven't really been updating this blog because I've gotten myself into a pretty standard routine.  I've been making (and eating) the same things over and over again.  I guess if it's working, I don't really need variety.  I did make a Paleo Meatloaf (http://paleomg.com/paleo-southwest-meatloaf/), and it was awful.  Ridiculously awful.  I also learned how to grill chicken wings, after burning a couple batches.  Set the grill on Medium-Low, keep turning, keep away from flare-ups.

I'll probably keep posting on here, if I find a recipe or want to take note of something for the future.  But it clearly won't be heavily updated.

PEACE!!!!!
Sanjit

Day 28: Whooooaaaa-ooooo!! We're half way there, yeah. Whooooaaaa-hooooo!! Living on a praaaaayer!

Alright alright. Half way done with this. I feel like its getting easier.  However, truth is, I've been very tired during this whole thing.  I read on Mark's Daily Apple about a "low carb flu', where you feel sluggish and then one day you have a bunch of energy and feel great.  I'm waiting for that.  In addition to the "flu", I got the fever a lot of people at LAX Crossfit got.  Starting feeling bad on Thursday.  On Friday I had a high fever.  I got home and crashed on the couch at 9:00.  Got into bed at some point and didn't wake up until 9:00am.  12 hours of sleep.  It totally knocked me out.  But I really needed it.  Felt much better Saturday and then pretty good Sunday.  Just a lingering cough.

Sunday was cooking day once again.  I made the same things from week two essentially.  The Jambalaya and the Mexican Chicken Soup.  This time I didn't want to mess up the chicken for the soup again, so I threw it in the slow cooker.  I also added like 3 pounds of carrots and Italian Squash.  It's more of a vegetable soup with chicken, which is totally legit.  Also, spaghetti squash.



Today (Monday), I made more Turkey/Veggie Marinara.  And I'm about to make some Beef Rendang.  I have a lot of food in the fridge and freezer.


One of the things I really miss, is pho.  As soon as this is over, I'm going to have a big bowl of pho and a gin & tonic.  I especially was craving it this week since I was sick. While things were in the slow cooker, a couple friends were at La Cabana for dinner.  I decided to swing by but eat across the street at Whole Foods and hang with them while they're having drinks.  I never been to the Venice Whole Foods, it's the one they shot Whole Foods Parking Lot in.  It's always crowded.  I was grabbing some veggies, and then I noticed they didn't have a Mexican section.  At the El Segundo Whole Foods, the Mexican meats are the only Posher meats.  As soon as I made that disappointing realization, I noticed: The Pho Bar.  Holllaaaaahhhh!!! Someone's getting some karma pay back!!!  Until, I read the ingredients on the beef broth.  Who the hell puts sugar in pho?  Fuck you Whole Foods!  You give me much hope just to crush me.  Right next to it was the Vegan pho broth.  A total oxymoron, but it was Posher.  I took a chance.  Paid.  Got to the table. Excited.  I've been wanting this for a while.  I tried it. FUCK YOU WHOLE FOODS!!!  That was the seriously the most disgusting thing I had in memory, and my friends got me to eat congealed pig's blood in Thailand.  It was like Whole Foods took a corn filled dump in my mouth.  It was like Whole Foods took all the rat feces in a Hoarder's infested house, pressed it into a fine paste, and coated it all over my tongue.  It was like Whole Foods converted the George W. Bush presidency into a flavor, and used it to burn years off of my taste buds.

Whole Foods is kind of like an abusive relationship.  It treats it employees as bad as Wal Mart, rips me off, and doesn't really taste that good.  But I keep coming back.  Who else has Kale and such a variety of veggies cut up and ready to eat?  Dammit Whole Foods.  I hate you, but I need things from you.  And you're full of beautiful women.  Dammit.

Day 23: I Need Some Curry.

I need some curry. I'm getting tired of all this white people food. BBQ beef, marinara, scrambled eggs, kale. I need some curry. Doesn't matter what kind. Indian, Japanese, Thai, Indonesian, doesn't matter. I seriously ate curry 5-6 times a week. Before this challenge, my veins were pumping more curry than blood.

I know, I know, I've been cooking a lot and probably can make my own, but really good curry takes thousands of ingredients. I don't want buy Anise! I don't even know what that is.

I obviously looked for curry paste. But of course all of the ones I looked at had an ingredient that wasn't Posher. Indian curries had dairy. Thai had soy. Japanese had wheat flour and delicious MSG. Indonesian, well, Trader Joes, Sprouts, and the big chain markets don't have Indonesian curry paste.

Luckily I live right by one of the most tastiest Indonesian restaurant/market, Simpang Asia. I've mentioned them before on this blog. I love that place. I believe I alone am responsible for their success and expansion to the neighboring suite. I decided to check out their selection. I've always walked the aisles of their market while waiting for my take-out, but never really bought much. They had dozens of curry pastes, not just Indonesian, from several brands.

But again, always an non-Palal ingredient. (I'm using Palal instead of Posher in this case, since Indonesia is a Muslim country and they're Halal). I found a brand called Bamboe that looked really promising.... Until I saw "vegetable oil". Bloody damn hell piss! So close. Just one ingredient from Palality.

But wait. This is made in Indonesia. I doubt vegetable oil in Indonesia is made from corn like the good ol' USA. I quickly turned to the Internet. YYYYYYYEEEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!
Vegetable oil in Indonesia is palm oil or coconut oil. SSSSCCCCOOOOOORRRRREEEEEE!!!! CCUUUURRRRRYYYYYYY!!!!

I bought three varieties. I can't wait to put curry in my mouth. In fact, I'm going to make one right now.

Update: Note to self on how I cooked the Kare packets: I just wanted to throw it in the slow cooker. Basically doubled everything. 2 packets. Entire can of coconut milk and 800 ml of water (not doubled). Came out great!! Use excess curry to stir fry with kale (use some chicken shreds too).

Day 21: Cooking day!

This week menu includes:
1. The left overs from last week since I couldn't eat it for lunch.
2. More Turkey/Veggie Marinara
3. Spaghetti Squash!  Cook in the oven following a friend's directions that were confirmed by: http://startcooking.com/blog/523/Spaghetti-Squash
I cooked at 375 for 35 minutes.
4. Chili.  Following these directions.  http://allrecipes.com/recipe/slow-cooked-chili/  Of course without the 32oz of kidney beans.  Instead, I used a pound of Italian Squash and a pound of carrots.


I have a lot of food.

Day 16 - 19: Jury Duty!

I got selected for Jury Duty.  At first I thought it was going to be a huge pain, but it was only four days.  However, the court house didn't have a microwave, so I couldn't eat anything that I had prepared.  I simply ate Whole Foods every day for lunch.  It was pretty nice.  Get there at 9:00am, hour and half lunch, done at 4:30.  Most conveniently, the court house is right across the street from LAX Crossfit.  Very easy to get to to the 5:00 WOD.  Pretty nice to have the free time.

Day 14: Sunday

Woke up this morning and had some Doro Wat.  A little disappointed, but not awful.  I knew I wasn't going to get restaurant quality, but I thought I'd get closer.

I then threw the beef into the slow cooker.  It had been marinating with the spices for about 20 hours.  It'll be ready to shred at 9:00.  Then another hour with the BBQ Sauce.

My cheat day was yesterday.  And by cheat, I mean I didn't make myself eat kale.  However I needed to eat some today.  Sautéed them and sprinkled a bit of basil and Cajun seasoning.  It came out a little salty.

Next meal, I threw the chicken wings in the oven.  (45 mins at 375).  They had been marinating for nearly 24 hours.  I ate about 12-13.  Divided the rest into two servings of 10 and froze them.  They came out pretty good!  Needs to be spicier next time, but the lime flavor came through.  Although, a bit heavy.  Honestly, I've never really been a huge fan of chicken skin, but I ate them all because it's recommended to get animal fats on Paleo.  It made me feel a little sluggish, like when you eat a heavy/fatty meal.  Next time I'll take the skin off and eat them my way.  Also, note to self: Take all the pieces of pepper off the chicken before putting them in the oven.  They just burn into a piece at char, and you have to pick them off before you eat them.

I timed it so the wings would be ready for the 4th quarter of the Packers/Giants game.  I had to turn it off.  Eli Manning is still a whiny, entitled, arrogant dick.  Go San Diego!

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Alright.  Pulled Beef is done.  The beef by itself came out excellent.  It was absolutely delicious.  It was so tender that there was barely any effort needed to shred it.  Unfortunately the sauce didn't come out as great as I remember.  Way too much vinegar.  I'll have to cut that down by a lot next time.  Even though it's not as awesome as I hoped, I'll be eating it.  I did make 4lbs of it.

My roommate says that sauce is necessary.  Otherwise when you microwave the pulled beef, it'll be way too dry.  Too bad, because it was delicious by itself.

Day 13: Saturday

I spent $106 at Sprouts today.  Lots of meat.  Chicken was on sale so I bought a bunch and froze it.

I'm attempting to make three things:
Doro Wat (Doro Whaaaat???, no Doro Wat!):

My roommate and I just discovered a great Ethiopian place in Inglewood (http://www.yelp.com/biz/fresh-ethiopian-restaurant-inglewood).  I'm a bit sad I can't go there again until this challenge is done.  So I decided to try to make it at home.  Of course without the Yogurt.

http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2010/10/ethiopian-chicken-stew-doro-wat-slow.html

Chili-Lime Wings:
It's football playoffs.  I'm inevitably going to be with people eating wings, and I will break.  By making these wings, I'm hoping I will last a little longer.  I might have to avoid the Superbowl, or at least be lame and bring my own food to wherever I go.  I went with Chili-Lime, because just before the challenge, I went to Hot's Kitchen in Hermosa for the the first time, and their Chili-Lime wings were excellent.  They've been on my mind since I had them.  (http://www.yelp.com/biz/hots-kitchen-hermosa-beach).  Of course, without the sugar and soy sauce.

http://bbq.about.com/od/chickenrecipes/r/blb30926i.htm

Pulled Beef:
Yes, the one Garrett made for the first LAX Crossfit Paleo Potluck.  No cutting out ingredients on this one:
http://laxcrossfit.com/2011/09/08/pulled-porkbeef/

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Ok, so my adventure at Sprouts:
I spent a long time at Sprouts.  Going back and forth.  At least an hour.  I even went back to one section and the stock boy, a high school kid, asked, "You're still here?"  "Yeah, I'm learning how to cook, and I don't know how to shop."

I really wanted to find a BBQ Sauce without sugar, so I don't have to make the Son of Grok Zesty BBQ Zauce from the Pulled Beef recipe.  But no.  All the sauces at Whole Foods and Sprouts had either sugar or molasses in them.  I got excited once, there was a bottle labeled All Natural and Sugar-Free.  However it had bunch of science-y sounding words in the ingredients.  Cellulose Gel, Xanthan Gum, and Sucralose Potassium Sorbate (which is splenda).  I got the internet out of my pocket and looked up what these were.  Yes, all these are derived from plants, but I wouldn't call them "Natural".  These must fall into the same FDA loophole which allows manufacturers to call High Fructose Corn Syrup natural.  Weak.  So I guess I have to make my own BBQ Sauce.  Another trip around the store to get more ingredients.

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The next few hours I prepared the beef and wings and set them in the fridge to marinate.
Notes:
Pulled Beef:  Didn't have white pepper, so doubled amount of black pepper.  I got a Top Sirloin Roast.
Chili-Lime Wings:  I got Pasilla peppers.  They didn't seem that spicy, so I threw in all the seeds.  That is, the ones that didnt fall all over the floor as the cut them.
I didn't have Lemon Pepper, so I put in lemon juice and black pepper.
My hands were hurting juicing limes.  I got 10 limes, and it took every last drop to get to a cup of lime juice.

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Saturday night was chill.  We just hung out at a friend's place paint eggs.  3 dudes and 1 girl in their 30s, painting eggs.  Don't ask (There needs to be a hand-wave/head-shake emoticon).  I got home early and threw all the Doro Wat ingredients in the slow cooker, so it'd be ready in the morning.