This is how I deal with stress:

I bake. I eat.  

Next weekend my husband and I are hosting his work colleagues and their significant others at the quad-annual party….is quad-annual even a word?  Nevermind, it wouldn’t be quad-annual because it happens every 58 days or so-which actually is about 6 times a year (I am terrible at math btw).  

My point is, that every 58 days or so (because he is in the 58th fighter squadron-grown men can be so cheeky, can’t they?) a party is hosted so everyone can get together and those said grown men can act like crazy, young lads.  Each party has a theme-the Jersey Shore cast has made an appearance, someone was murdered at a murder mystery dinner, and Charlie Sheen and Princess Catherine (yours truly and her husband) made an appearance at the Halloween bash; we even celebrated the Chinese New Year in January.  These parties are no joke and I am feeling a little pressure.  

Our theme is a take on trashy college spring breaks- think MTV Spring Break in Panama City, FL or Cancun, Mexico.  If the weather holds, the beach will basically throw the party for us, however, if it doesn’t, well then we’ll look silly playing race the orange with another orange stuffed in a nylon hanging between your legs in our cul-de-sac.

So, to review when under pressure, I bake and I eat.  

At least it is paleo, right?  

You may recall (if you are my one reader) this post  about my 2012 resolutions.  This year instead of one big resolution which I NEVER follow through with, I wanted to try and really commit to different challenges for 30 days at a time.  The first one was Paleo dinners only for January.  That morphed into an all out 30 day Paleo Challenge in which my husband and I ate only meat, fish, veggies, berries and nuts.  It started out very painfully, but has morphed into something that is fun, exciting, and healthy!  We did the whole 30 day challenge with only 2 mishaps- and then went on a mini-vacation for our anniversary.  We ate anything we wanted….and felt terrible.  We decided to continue eating Paleo like 90% of the time, and see what happens.  I mean, we feel better, we look better (we think), and it is even fun to try new recipes!  Look at this doozy I made today: 

A paleo carrot cupcake-with coco-coconut whipped cream.  

Yum doesn’t really describe it.  

I also ran a half-marathon on Sunday.  

I also ran a half-marathon on Sunday.

I also….well you get the idea I don’t quite believe it mysyelf.- yep, me-Butterfingers Braken (my endearing nickname in gym class when I was a wee lass) RAN A HALF-MARATHON.  Anyway, it was hard.  It wasn’t entirely fun.  But I did it.  

I DID IT!  

I even smiled when I crossed the finish line (I barely remember that).  

So, a carb-addicted, non-runner successfully completes a 30 day paleo challenge AND a half-marathon-what gives?

WILLPOWER, that’s what.  

In 2012 I am fighting to strengthen my WILLPOWER.  

I always find an excuse (or maybe it sounds better if I say: I always rationalize).

I always fall short-by my own hand.  

I always think someone can and will do it better.  

I always think I don’t deserve it.  

Until now.  I already have gained so much this year and it is only March…..what should I conquer next?

Well, besides Crossfit because that starts tomorrow!  

So, 

willpower monsters just eat it. It is paleo afterall.  

As if my post about 2012 resolutions didn’t cause me enough angst in regard to challenging myself more this year than ever before, I go and agree to a 30 day PALEO challenge-and strict Paleo at that-not just paleo for dinner resolution but paleo all day resolution.  

Now, paleo eating really is just eating as our ancestors ate prior to agriculture (when wheat and other grains began being mass produced)…..anyway, I won’t bore you with all the details-but as I’ve been doing this for 10-yes 10 WHOLE days, I’ve come to learn that paleo is interpreted differently by many people.  

The just is this: eat your GREENS, eat your BERRIES, eat some nuts and organic, grass fed meats, even organs (can’t stomach that one).  Some ‘sects’ allow diary, some natural sweeteners-i.e. honey and stevia.  

For this particular challenge we are among the hard-asses sect that will not eat dairy or any sweetener except trace amounts of stevia for 30 days!  

10 days in and this: I FEEL amazing, awake, and athletic.  I DON’T want to cheat (most of the time-can you say cheese please?)- I DON’T ever feel HUNGRY.  I NEVER expected these things.