Trader Joe's Food

Trader Joe's - a paleo/primal friendly supermarket

Whenever I read other nutrition blogs or websites, I'm always wondering "Ok, that's great that you know the science behind nutrition, but what food do YOU buy?" I've done posts like this in the past (see below links), but here's one from Trader Joe's. Hit up the comments for questions or...comments!

You've Got a Fat Face

brothers? no, Fat Face (2003) and Leaned Out (2010) versions of me

Chances are that you have (or had) a fat face. Not in a mean way, but if you are eating a standard american diet (SAD), then it's very likely you have some inflammation going on and one of the ways it rears its ugly head is, well, on YOUR head. It's not something you probably are aware of. To you, you have a normal face. But take out the sugar, grains, and dairy from your diet and add in fish oil and you'll notice a magical thing happen. Your fat face gets lean. So does the rest of your body. Look at me above. In 2003, I wasn't fat, I was actually about the same weight as now (150#), but it looks like I just got stung by a thousand bees. Luckily, I found the antidote.

365 Marathons in 365 Days

Stefaan Engels. I wonder how many pull ups he can do.

In case you missed it, Belgian Stefaan Engels ran 365 marathons in 365 days this past Saturday. Yes, that's one marathon a day for an entire year. Or, 9,569 miles. He ran through literally 7 countries, smashing the previous record of 52 consecutive marathons. Engels also holds the world record for swimming/biking/running 20 Ironmans in one year. (an Ironman is 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and marathon run of 26.2 miles) Engels' goal was to show people that if he can do this, anyone can do a little bit of exercise to lose weight. Now, I've ran a marathon before, and even a half marathon without specifically training for it, but this is extreme from both a physical and health perspective. I have mixed feelings about something like this. On one hand, the guy had the capacity to do such a thing and it's just an amazing feat. On the other, I can't help but wonder what he ate and how it all affected his long-term health. Also, it is clear his specialty is ultra-endurance efforts. While he probably doesn't care much what his Fran time is, I do like to be well-rounded and enjoy being able to say I've ran a marathon, but also can deadlift close to 3x bodyweight. Ultimately what Engels did is incredible and shows what the human body is capable of, but if the average person is looking to be healthy and strong, stick with weightlifting and sprinting for your exercise.

--What about you, what are your thoughts?--
--Would you rather be the best at one thing or be good at everything?--

What Are You Eating?

lunch at the desk: strawberries, nuts, seeds, berries, and spaghetti squash with sausage wrapped in cabbage

What are you eating for breakfast? Lunch? Dinner?

Veal and Peppers

slow cookers are a savior for the busy

This one comes from one of my closest friends, Melinda R. She was a cheerleader in college and in the past few years has taken up running. At first it was the Live Strong 5k, then Broad Street 10 miler, then the Philadelphia Distance Run (Half Marathon). Even though she had doubts, she and her fiance, Mike, totally rocked those races. Melinda hears about CrossFit and Paleo all the time from me, so she sent me this recipe. It's extremely easy and utilizes the slow cooker/crock pot...so easy to prepare the night before, throw it on low while you're out at work, and come home to a great meal. Sounds delicious and just the thing for a cold winter's night. Thanks Melinda!