Paleo almond coconut pancakes

Ingredients:

2 eggs

1/2 cup almond meal

1 can unsweetened coconut milk

1 cup shredded coconut

1/2 tsp. sea salt (optional)

1/2 tsp. baking powder (optional)

1/2 tsp. cinnamon (add more to taste)

dash nutmeg (more to taste)

sprinkle with pecans & sliced almonds

bananas or fresh fruit of choice

100% organic all natural maple syrup (optional)

These were so good. Satisfied my craving without cheating. Good enough to eat without the syrup. I really love coconut!

Decisions of a lifetime

Meeting with the orthopedic surgeon tomorrow. It has been six months of physical therapy and now I need to make a decision about my future. Do I continue to rehab and hope to get back to 100% with therapy alone? Do I risk having the impingement return or the partial tear get worse? My fear is that I will need the surgery eventually if the pain returns. I do not want to spend another chunk of time babying this thing if that is the case. I am at a crossroads. The older I get the harder the recovery and the longer it takes to bounce back. I am not ready to stop doing certain activities at this point in my life. Do I have to make a choice right now? If I have the surgery will my ROM and power be reduced as a result? If I don't what does the future hold - chronic pain and limited capacity for working out? I do not want to compromise. I don't think I should have to.
I know how the beginning of the second half of your life starts. Those aches and pains that the "older" folks often complained about when I was young is beginning to creep up on me. You never feel like you are aging until something out of the blue hits you that is totally unexpected. You always felt like you were invincible. You never thought you would get to a point when a little time off couldn't alleviate the hurt. This isn't just something that you can try to eliminate out of your routine to avoid a repeat. It is physiological in nature. Half a lifetime of old habits, bad posture, sitting at a desk job, hunched in front of a computer, a weak core, prior injuries - who knows.
You can't go back - so look ahead. A decision must be made with all its risks and consequences. What's it gonna be...
Time for that mental preparation that only someone who has lived half a lifetime can understand.

Paleo Coconut Balls and Pizza

Paleo pizza tonight for dinner. It was pretty good but certainly didn't taste enough like real pizza IMHO. Tim liked it more than I did. Maybe have to tweek the crust somehow. Was filling at least. Made for an easy meal anyway and I don't feel guilty for eating something I would regret later. Real pizza is still on my list as one of the best cheat meals that I miss. Even if my digestive tract suffers horribly afterward.

DESSERT:

How many paleo coconut balls can I eat before I feel like I have overindulged? Before I feel sick? Evidently quite a few...there are only a few left although I don't feel full yet. These are becoming dangerously addictive. Again, one of those things that if they are in the house and I know they are there I will eat them. Hence, if I don't make them I can't eat them. Once this batch is gone I will do my best to try to only make them for special occassions or for a once in a while treat. They are strict paleo in substance but I wonder just how much is too much when it comes to coconut oil and unsweetened cocoa. (Those are the two ingredients that taste so good that I know can't possibly be good for me right?)

Valentine's Day

Tried to eat paleo all weekend. Made Erin's awesome recipe for Paleo Quiche. Made two of them since I knew I would like it and wanted leftovers for the next day. Paired that with a glass of wine (little cheat) and had milk chocolate covered strawberries for dessert (another cheat). I know Tim liked the quiche - he had two helpings. He does not eat much chocolate so he only had one strawberry but he did have one of the heart sugar cookies I got him from Cookies By Design. I am pretty sure he was happy that I made dinner too. He helped by cooking the chicken on the grill. I will make this again for sure.

So all in all not a great paleo day for me considering earlier in the day I was visiting my grandmother who had a box of Fannie Mae at her place that she wanted to share with me. When your 96 year old grandmother tells you to have some you better do as she says. Ok, I justified it by telling myself it is a once a year holiday so indulge! Besides, if you're gonna "cheat eat" make it worthwhile and something you love. At least I ate good chocolate. I slept pretty well last night too even with the sugar spike...

Back on track today.

If not for Tim . . .

If not for Tim I would still be eating processed food or no food at all. He does it all...shops, cooks, measures. I am thankful that he loves to bbq, even in the winter with the snow flying you will see Tim put on a jacket, step outside the kitchen onto the balcony and fire up the grill. I would cook the meals inside on the stove if he wanted to take a break from the routine, but that's just it, he really LOVES to be the hunter/gatherer and chef. I am able to stay paleo because of Tim. I do not have the discipline he does. He makes sure we have the right foods in the house. He has the energy to hunt and gather them if we do not. I, on the other hand, would rather go hungry than venture out. He has kept me from falling back on old habits. He will brave the cold outdoors to cook. No complaining. How does he do it? There is something about his mental control and drive that I do not have. It is the same with his approach to working out. I need to learn to be that person. A lot of life comes down to the mental. Are you a survivor or will you starve? While I ponder that thought my free range chicken is ready to eat with my side of broccoli and salad. Tim, once again, a wonderful meal! And pass the pepper please.