My personal trainer experience #3

In 2010, because my goal was all about fat loss rather than fitness, Andy wanted me to commit to healthy eating.


My introduction to the Paleo Diet
Andy is an advocate of the Paleo diet and lifestyle - there are plenty of sites that discuss the diet, but at its basis - eat what our ancestors ate: meat, veg, fruit, nuts. What's missing?  Dairy, pulses, legumes, grains, sugar.

My weight-loss plan
Andy wanted me to go "strict paleo" for the first four weeks to kickstart healthy eating, and go to personal training three times a week (45 minute sessions).

He also repeatedly said that a food diary is the single best tool I could use for weight loss.

The outcome
FAIL.  I had so many excuses for not writing my food diary, and for not bothering to change my eating habits.

As for paleo? While I didn't tell this to Andy, there was no way was I giving up breakfast cereal, hot buttered toast, cheese and sugary treats when I was doing so much exercise! 

Surprise surprise, I only lost 5 kilos over several months.  I thought the exercise would be enough. I was wrong.

So is having a personal trainer worth it?
Only if you are committed to healthy eating as well.  And only if you have specific goals.

The AU$2000ish dollars I spent on personal training in 2010 did not show $2000-worth of results.

Was the experience a waste?  No.  For two reasons.  I DID get a lot stronger. From not being able to do a push up, to doing 80 in a session! So, while I only lost five kilos over those few months, I did increase my fitness.

AND, fast-forward to 2011. I am using a personal trainer again.

The paleo problem #3: saying no to sugar

Paleo eating means saying no to sugar. This is EXTREMELY difficult.  Why?

1. Sugar is an addictive substance and we suffer chemical withdrawal symptoms when we stop eating products containing sugar
2. We all eat around one (1) kilo of sugar each week - even if you don't sweeten your tea - as sugar is added to every conceivable food product that is mass produced (reference - Sweet Poison).  

Even soy sauce can have sugar in its ingredients list.  

I am finding it difficult this week. My first week of paleo eating was fine. This weekend - a lot harder.  I am emotional and moody, so I expect hormones are getting me going at the moment. And my normal reaction to being emotional and moody? Sweet sweet baked goods (or chocolate of course). 

I did a marathon baking session before going on this challenge to get rid of sugar in my pantry. The result? A lot of sweet treats like cake, biscuits and cupcakes, portioned in little packets in the freezer for my husband to take to work as treats.

At 3pm on Saturday and 3pm on Sunday, I ate a slice of cake from the freezer.  It is done.  But my feelings?

1. Disappointed.  I ate cake when I said I wouldn't.
2. Resigned - so I at least tried to taste each bite rather than eat it mindlessly.  
3. Happy - I didn't turn it into a binge fest as I stuck to one piece of cake each day.

Sugar and the long term
Eating paleo actually makes getting rid of sugar in my diet easier, because the only "allowed" food that has significant sugar levels in it is fruit.

Despite my cake setbacks on the weekend, I could be convinced to remove sugar from my diet forever more.  Why?

I am currently reading Sweet Poison, so I am pretty convinced that sugar is evil and I want it out of my life completely.  Stay tuned for further information to this monumental change in my life.

Breakfast without eggs

I have given up grains for eight weeks and am struggling with eating eggs at every breakfast meal.

Researching breakfast in my extensive recipe book collection did not come up with any gems, apart from versions of fruit salad.

What I have been doing is having left-overs. That's right. I am ignoring the stereotype of breakfast and just treating it like lunch or dinner.  So, this morning I reheated home-made rissoles with leftover roast pumpkin.  It was quick and tasty.


Quick rissole recipe - mix together 500g mince, 2 eggs, 1 grated carrot, 4-6 tablespoons of hazelnut meal, roll portions of mince mixture into patties and shallow fry or BBQ until cooked.

Oh, and after writing out the recipe, I realise the meal DID have egg in it, but I couldn't taste it or see it, so I am happy.

Next time I go shopping, I am going to buy very thin steaks to eat for breakfast, too.  And for quick options, I have smoked salmon in the fridge and I'll eat a few slices of those on the run with an apple (protein and carbohydrate), or wrap some ham (or proscuito) around slices of rockmelon for an unusual but super tasty meal.

The paleo problem # 2 saying no to breakfast staples

I have eaten eggs for breakfast since starting out on this journey.  9 mornings.  And can I just say... I AM SICK OF EGGS!

If grains are out, what else is there to eat at breakfast?

Saying no to standard breakfast products will be a challenge for eight weeks.Why? What else is quicker or more convenient than pouring from the cereal packet, or popping the toast?  Oh, and can I just repeat that I am REALLY sick of eggs? 

Bread in Australia
While some mass produced breads are getting better in the supermarket ailses, most are just bleh. So, giving up grains should be simple, yes?

Not when Leavain and other artisan bakers come onto the scene.

Leavain... their bread is just SO good. From wholesome to wicked, their yeasty products are superb. My husband only buys bread from Leavain or from bakers at the Saturday Village Markets in Kelvin Grove- where a baker bring along their massive portable oven and bake the breads right there.

Where bread is whole grained, sour doughed, and fresh, where wheat is an option rather than a standard flour, then yes, saying no to grains is a whole lot harder.

Giving up bread will require some serious researching for breakfast alternatives.

My husband will continue to bring that Leavain goodness into the home, but I still have hope of not touching bread for eight weeks. My secret? Without butter, what is the point of eating bread?

The paleo problem #1: saying no to dairy

Am I convinced of the paleo diet?  Not entirely.  Although I have only been on it for a week, so perhaps I should reserve judgement.

No to dairy?
How can anyone say no to cheese, and butter, and cream, and yoghurt, and ... well, lots of good stuff?

I am a dairy farmer's daughter, so giving up dairy is a difficult one for me.  I love nothing better than to have a wonderful soft goats cheese spread across some freshly baked leavain bread drizzled with a little olive oil and a scattering of herbs... or, as my confession suggested - I love nothing better than a dash of cream in my hot chocolate.

But, I am committed. For the eight week goal, dairy food is no longer part of my life.

Week 1 success

Week one of the eight week challenge is over. And I am pretty pleased.

1. I have completed three personal training sessions, which included a personal best for 500m rowing (2.01 minutes). 
2. I walked the dog 12 times (missed two sessions).
3. I completed one session of hill sprints.
4. I have been sugar free for 7 days
5. I completed my food diary each day.
6. I have eaten strictly paleo, with the exception of the hot chocolate debacle. 

And the results of this spartan discipline (sans the hot cocoa)?


1.6 kilos down!!!

• Tuesday 17 January I was 91.7 kilos (home scales)
• Tuesday 25 January I am 90.1 kilos (home scales

Now I am off to training where I should be weighed in too.

The scales at home and at training don't match up, but not too badly from what I can tell.  The first weigh in showed the home scales at 91.7; the PT scales at 91.9.

Hill sprints and a confession

Well today incorporates both sweet success and bitter failure.

I walked Dusty this morning for a good long striding walk and then... wait for it... I did 10 repetitions of hill sprints.  I am pretty chuffed with myself.

I am tired now - bone weary in fact after my first day back at work from time off, and getting our dinner ready (baked lemon and oregano chicken with roast pumpkin and steamed greens).  But the kitchen is cleared now, leftovers for lunches packed, and with a little time left over to write this post.

My failure?  Hot chocolate.  Now it is both very bad and not so bad. I made it on a teaspoon of bitter cocoa powder and a teaspoon of barley malt syrup (a natural fructose-free sweetener) with hot water and a brief pour of (this is the very bad bit)... cream.  I have had this four times during the week.

This is the only anti-paleo food I have eaten.  Is that an excuse? A plea for forgiveness?  Nope.  I did it. I acknolwedge it. I move on. Today ends the hot chocolates.