My new drummer wanted to do this detox thing and I read into it a little bit and discovered it was very similar to a paleo life style except for taking supplements and drinking a fancy protein shake. It is 21 days long and I figured I could help support him in his detox quest and also see how it makes me feel. So today is my day 1 and I just had the shake for breakfast.
Time to go grocery shopping.
- Grok Star
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Delicious Green Bean Recipe
Here in the south, we would almost always have "southern fried" green beans at meals at home. There isn't really anything fried about them and they are very simple to make, it just takes a little bit of time to cook them.
We always had a garden at home and my mom would can green beans so we would use those until we ran out, and store bought canned green beans seem to work just as well, they just usually have added sodium so watch out.
So take a pot according to the amount of green beans you are using and pour in the green beans along with all the liquid in the can.
Chop up a medium sized white onion into four parts and then break it up and toss it in the pot.
The secret ingredient is cut up a slice of bacon per can of green beans. I usually cut a piece of bacon into about 5-6 smaller pieces. Mix it all together and then turn it to high. When it comes to a boil, lower it to a healthy simmer and let it go for about 45 minutes. Don't ever stir it during this time. Alot of the liquid will have evaporated at this point. This is when you give it a little stir and then turn it back to high. You want all the liquid to evaporate and you want the green beans on the bottom to essentially start to burn. You don't want it to burn to where it's black, but just a good brown on the bottom. Once that has happened, stir it all together, remove and serve. I like to add a liberal amount of fresh pepper and a little salt. Some people like to eat the bacon even though it's a little chewy, and some don't, but I never remove it.
I've never been a fan of fresh green beans because they always seem squeaky to me and biting into them closely resembles someone scraping a chalk born with their fingernails. I have never tried this recipe with fresh green beans for this reason, but you could experiment I suppose.
Goodluck!!
- Grok Star
We always had a garden at home and my mom would can green beans so we would use those until we ran out, and store bought canned green beans seem to work just as well, they just usually have added sodium so watch out.
So take a pot according to the amount of green beans you are using and pour in the green beans along with all the liquid in the can.
Chop up a medium sized white onion into four parts and then break it up and toss it in the pot.
The secret ingredient is cut up a slice of bacon per can of green beans. I usually cut a piece of bacon into about 5-6 smaller pieces. Mix it all together and then turn it to high. When it comes to a boil, lower it to a healthy simmer and let it go for about 45 minutes. Don't ever stir it during this time. Alot of the liquid will have evaporated at this point. This is when you give it a little stir and then turn it back to high. You want all the liquid to evaporate and you want the green beans on the bottom to essentially start to burn. You don't want it to burn to where it's black, but just a good brown on the bottom. Once that has happened, stir it all together, remove and serve. I like to add a liberal amount of fresh pepper and a little salt. Some people like to eat the bacon even though it's a little chewy, and some don't, but I never remove it.
I've never been a fan of fresh green beans because they always seem squeaky to me and biting into them closely resembles someone scraping a chalk born with their fingernails. I have never tried this recipe with fresh green beans for this reason, but you could experiment I suppose.
Goodluck!!
- Grok Star
Friday, August 14, 2009
I Groked out.
Last night I did something I haven't done in awhile. I jammed with some like minded musicians. It was really fun. We sat up until 7 am playing. Perhaps my one late night hoorah before school starts. The chemistry was nice and I think we actually wrote a song! Even though we all agree the intro sounds like it could be the music for the credits of a TV sitcom like Full House or Step by Step haha. I am in the mood to cook something really spicy, almost painfully spicy. This proves to be a problem since I am without a single pepper.
With that said
Grok on!
- Grok Star
With that said
Grok on!
- Grok Star
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Grok didn't do door to door sales.
As much as I love being spontaneous and not necessarily having a day to day plan, it started to take its toll on me. I was collecting unemployment from my job in NYC. For a 24 year old male with no children or a significant other, there isn't much I have to be responsible to, so the unemployment was plenty. I was sleeping until the afternoon, and staying up late at night. I was getting my 7-8 hours of sleep, but at a totally different time the rest of the world was.
I was longing for something to send me into more of a regular routine. One of my favorite things in NYC (when it actually happened) was waking up while everyone was out and about heading to work. I would walk out on my stoop, coffee in hand and just take in the sights, the smell and the noises. It was always very refreshing. I liked to grab the paper and see what was going on in the world.
When you don't HAVE to do something, it becomes difficult to make yourself do anything. So I took a job as a door to door salesman for the cable company. I absolutely hated it. I wasn't any good at selling things to people. But it did keep me waking up at 7 am and being ready to sleep around midnight. A good bit of my depression really would sink in during the witching hours. When no one else was up, and I was left alone to over-think and over-evaluate whatever was going on in my life. And snack on foods I shouldn't be snacking on.
So now I am excited to be taking some classes I have great interest in starting next week. I am no longer selling cable door to door, but I will have to get up early for class, so that will help keep me in the swing of a routine. I am taking German, Political Science, History and Public Speaking. I'm not guaranteeing a degree out of this, but I do like to learn and give my brain a workout. To share a little secret about me. Everyone always says I have to have a backup plan to the music. I just kinda roll my eyes or shrug it off. There really isn't a backup plan. Anyone who knows what it is like to emerge yourself in your own art and want to see it take off, can understand the feeling. But if I did have to be something, I would enjoy a career in some sort of Government law enforcement.. Postal Inspector, US Marshal, FBI Agent, something of the like. Perhaps being fluent in German would spice up my resume a bit??
Grok out with your Rock out
- Grok Star
I was longing for something to send me into more of a regular routine. One of my favorite things in NYC (when it actually happened) was waking up while everyone was out and about heading to work. I would walk out on my stoop, coffee in hand and just take in the sights, the smell and the noises. It was always very refreshing. I liked to grab the paper and see what was going on in the world.
When you don't HAVE to do something, it becomes difficult to make yourself do anything. So I took a job as a door to door salesman for the cable company. I absolutely hated it. I wasn't any good at selling things to people. But it did keep me waking up at 7 am and being ready to sleep around midnight. A good bit of my depression really would sink in during the witching hours. When no one else was up, and I was left alone to over-think and over-evaluate whatever was going on in my life. And snack on foods I shouldn't be snacking on.
So now I am excited to be taking some classes I have great interest in starting next week. I am no longer selling cable door to door, but I will have to get up early for class, so that will help keep me in the swing of a routine. I am taking German, Political Science, History and Public Speaking. I'm not guaranteeing a degree out of this, but I do like to learn and give my brain a workout. To share a little secret about me. Everyone always says I have to have a backup plan to the music. I just kinda roll my eyes or shrug it off. There really isn't a backup plan. Anyone who knows what it is like to emerge yourself in your own art and want to see it take off, can understand the feeling. But if I did have to be something, I would enjoy a career in some sort of Government law enforcement.. Postal Inspector, US Marshal, FBI Agent, something of the like. Perhaps being fluent in German would spice up my resume a bit??
Grok out with your Rock out
- Grok Star
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Ahhh! I took a month off
I haven't posted in a month. I was somewhat busy in July and have slipped up and down a bit. I got all my furniture back and visited Baltimore. I also have all my kitchen goodies back so I can cook with the best of everyone. If I can just figure out how to properly season my Wok. It has some stupid protected coating on it that I can't seem to get off. Anyway. Mark over at Mark's Daily Apple is hosting a primal challenge this month (August). I'm planning to get back on track.
Marks Daily Apple
Check out his site if you are not familiar!
I have to wake up in about 7 hours for work and I am gonna be tired!!!
Just wanted to drop in and update this thing but I'll get a little more detailed in the next day or so.
- Grok Star
Marks Daily Apple
Check out his site if you are not familiar!
I have to wake up in about 7 hours for work and I am gonna be tired!!!
Just wanted to drop in and update this thing but I'll get a little more detailed in the next day or so.
- Grok Star
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
One month down...
So today is July 1st. I started going primal on June 1st. I just got home from the gym. Getting ready to do eggplant Parmesan with almond flour and homemade marinara sauce. None of that store bought stuff loaded with corn syrup. Would the Italians ever thought corn would be an ingredient in making marinara sauce? I'm pretty sure all it takes is some fresh garlic, olive oil, crushed tomatoes and fresh basil and a good lengthy simmer to fill the house with that mouth watering aroma. Why add fillers??
Anyhoo. I am down 12 pounds. 18 to go and I will be enjoying a delicious ribeye from Ruth's Chris or comparable steak house on my friends dime, unless of course, he loses 30 lbs before I do. When are we going to see Public Enemies David??
- Grok Star
Anyhoo. I am down 12 pounds. 18 to go and I will be enjoying a delicious ribeye from Ruth's Chris or comparable steak house on my friends dime, unless of course, he loses 30 lbs before I do. When are we going to see Public Enemies David??
- Grok Star
Monday, June 22, 2009
Holler
3rd week in. I am not at my normal housing establishment at the moment so I do not have a scale to weigh in. I'm craving some sort of BBQ. I think I will make that happen. Feeling awesome~!!
- Grok Star
GROK ON!!!
- Grok Star
GROK ON!!!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Mmmmm delicious
skewer of shrimp with a pesto/lime sauce I brushed on. I grilled it.
also with some greenbeans made with onion and a little pork scraps. Are
you jealous David??
- Grok Star
Monday, June 8, 2009
Today marks one week of going primal.
On Monday June 1st, I began eating a much healthier diet of meats, veggies, fruits, and nuts and eliminated processed foods and empty starches/carbohydrates. I decided to document it by starting a blog. Then I thought I would do video updates as I figured that would be the best way to show my results by weighing in, and just seeing me in general. I typically lose weight from my face and chubby cheeks first.
So as promised, I just weighed in. My starting weight last Monday was right at 250. Today I weighed in right at 245. Video below!
So as promised, I just weighed in. My starting weight last Monday was right at 250. Today I weighed in right at 245. Video below!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Almost first week of going primal.
Tomorrow will be my second weigh in day. I weighed in right at 250 on Monday June 1st. I've been cooking all my own meals, eating lots of veggies, proteins, nuts, some fruits. I went to Whole Foods and stocked up on all kinds of things. Was expensive but it was just initial things I didn't have like spices and oils and what not. Should last awhile. Last night I played an impromptu concert. Some friends of mine needed an opening act so I grabbed the guitar and took off. It was alot of fun catching up with some old friends.
I really want to go see "The Hangover". It's getting good reviews and everyone says it's hilarious.
This whole week i've hit the gym pretty solid. Today is the first day I haven't felt very sore.
Look for a new video tomorrow!!
- Grok Star
I really want to go see "The Hangover". It's getting good reviews and everyone says it's hilarious.
This whole week i've hit the gym pretty solid. Today is the first day I haven't felt very sore.
Look for a new video tomorrow!!
- Grok Star
Friday, June 5, 2009
Fired up the grill
a baby romaine salad. Absolutely delicious. Tilapia thanks to Susan!
Right now I am marinating some pork ribs in a dry rub and a touch of
olive oil. I'm gonna bake them here shortly and then finish them on the
grill tomorrow. Should be spicy!!
- Grok Star
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Primal muffins
COCONUT MUFFINS:
----------------
1 1/2 cups almond flour
1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
1/4-1/3 cup maple syrup or honey depending on your sweet tooth
1 1/2 tsp coconut extract
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp salt
2 T coconut oil
Preheat oven to 350.
Mix together all ingredients until smooth.
Pour into 6 muffin cups greased with coconut oil and bake for 15-20 minutes.
Recipe adapted from Eating Stella Style by George Stella.
- Grok Star
Dinner tonight
Dropped a benjamin and came back and made dinner. I did portobello
shroom caps roasted with a touch of jack cheese. Then I breaded some
pieces of pork I cut up from a tenderloin I made last night. I breaded
the pieces in almond flour and fried them. Then I made a bell
pepper/onion/garlic/pineapple/cayenne sauce with water chestnuts and it
was fabulous. I can get used to being primal.
- Grok Star
Day 4
I checked the trusty strip this morning and I am in ketosis. This is when your body switches over to burning fat for energy instead of carbohydrates. Once you make it to ketosis, it's all downhill from there. The first 3 days were quite miserable. My roomies had pizza in the fridge, out to dinner, all sorts of things to try to sway me but I held true. I hope to get to a whole foods soon and get some almond flour and other various ingredients so I can make things a bit interesting.
- Grok Star
- Grok Star
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Day two
beef/broccoli stir fry with some leftover tenderloin. I woke up at 10am
today. Hoping I will be sleepy earlier than 1am tonight. I'd like to
be going to sleep at 11:30 so we will see. I'm guessing I'll be in
ketosis in the next few days and I won't have much of an appetite for a
bit. Now that I'm primal and not doing Atkins, I'm gonna experiment
with some 100% fruit smoothies and see if I stay in ketosis and if I
keep shedding the pounds.
- Grok Star
Spartan up
A friend wants to compete with me to getting in shape. Although he is not interested in going primal, we are still going to compete. The loser has to buy the other one dinner at a nice steak place like Ruth's Chris. I can already taste the primal rib eye melting in my mouth. You're going down David. (Hopefully I am too).
- Grok Star
- Grok Star
Monday, June 1, 2009
I avoided this today
friends birthday and her mom makes a killer lasagna. I scraped out the
primal ingredients and gave it a try and it was fabulous. I can't wait
to make my primal lasagna. I use steamed cabbage instead of pasta
sheets. I use it not very often but it kills the pasta craving and is
very tasty. I hit the gym today as well. Hoping to feel it tomorrow.
- Grok Star
Sunday, May 31, 2009
my last hooorah.
a grilled portobello mushroom, smoked bacon, cheddar, boston bibb and
mini pomme frites. it's almost primal except for the bun!!
- Grok Star
gRok Star in the making
Every once in awhile the first day of the month happens to fall on a Monday. Usually whenever I am starting a goal or something, I always feel the most inspired to follow through with it if I start it on a Monday, or on the 1st of a month. Well it just so happens that June 1st, 2009 is also a Monday, so what better time to put my mind to doing something I really want to do.
Rewind.
I've been struggling for quite some time now with feeling incredibly bad about myself. I kind of did the opposite of what most people do upon graduating high school. I LOST weight as opposed to the famous... or infamous freshmen 15. In high school I got upwards to 250 lbs and I am right at 6 feet tall on a good day. I graduated in 2003 and began pursuing a career in performing music. I somehow managed to get myself down to 187 lbs by fall of 2005, mostly through lots of intravenous hard drug use and many late night whiskey benders (kidding!!). This wasn't any sort of lean mass though. I still was chubby, had low energy, man-boobs, and a nice set of love handles. I didn't understand it though because people I knew who weighed the same thing, and were the same height appeared to be more toned out.
Well after some local success, my band decided to take it to the big times and move to NYC. The city of dreams, Bob Dylan, The Yankee's and unfortunately, the city of bagels and pizza and other complex starches and carbohydrates. Well needless to say, three years and nearly 50 lbs later, I was back to my high school weight.
This has led me to horrible back pain, stress, no energy, no confidence, stress, none of my fun clothes fit anymore, I can't sleep, and more stress. I have become a recluse. I don't enjoy doing any activities, seeing friends, or much of anything. Some friendships have been shattered, some have been created, some are nowhere to be found...
Well now I am back in my hometown for who knows how long with nothing but myself, my guitar, and a drive to start taking care of myself. I am armed with the knowledge from http://www.marksdailyapple.com and http://www.sonofgrok.com
Grok is the name Mark has given to the idea of the Hunter/Gatherer type who ate only Meats/Veggies/Nuts/Roots/Fruits/Eggs/Greens and good fats. This would be near the cave man days, but humans haven't changed much physically and biologically since then. I recommend reading up on his site to get a better idea of what I am going to be doing. I think "Grok" has a nice little ring to it.
So back to the beginning, or present for that matter... Starting Monday, June 1st 2009 --- I will be going "Primal" as Mark calls it. It does have many similarities of the diet Dr. Atkins made famous in the past few years, but that limits your carbohydrate intake to only 20grams a day which is a damn near unhealthy amount. This is no diet though. This is a life style change. I will be consuming close to 100g of carbs a day. To put it in perspective, I believe a can of Mt. Dew has 46 grams of carbohydrates, and definitely not the good kind!! Mine will be coming from vegetables, nuts and fruits. I have joined the gym that is 0.8 miles from my house, so I will be biking there and I will also be going with some friends as well for an added support group.
Basically, if it is packaged, or comes from the middle aisles of the grocery store, I won't be eating it. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to notice that obesity is becoming a huge problem in America. And it doesn't take a genius rocket scientist to figure out where/when the problem started and what caused it. Just take a glance to see how long the drive-through line is at your neighborhood McDonalds. Americans are continuously relying more and more on pre-packaged and fast foods that are loaded with unhealthy amounts of high fructose corn syrup, empty carbohydrates and nothing nutritional at all, which have been introduced more-so in the past 50 years. Also introduced in the past 50 years are more cases of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and many more bad bad health problems. 2+2=4.
Now if you know me, you know I like* to cook, so with this blog, I will be sharing recipes and pictures of meals as well as progress photos, workout routines, and anything else I freakin' feel like sharing, It is my blog after all.
It is nearly 5:00 am on Sunday May 31st right now. I will probably sleep until noon and then I will be preparing myself for Monday the 1st (the big day)!! Did I mention how much I like when the 1st is also a Monday??
My overall goals are:
Lose weight
Get into shape
Get healthy
Rid myself of the stress
Say bye bye to the back pain
Stop taking Ambien/Nyquil/Trazodone/Benadryl to sleep
Become the person I used to be
Become the friend I used to be
Marry a supermodel
Stop sleeping until noon
Transform from a Grok Star to a Rock Star (ha ha I'm so clever).
I apologize for the very long first introduction, wish me luck!
- Grok Star
p.s. my real name is Chris
*absolutely freakin' love
Rewind.
I've been struggling for quite some time now with feeling incredibly bad about myself. I kind of did the opposite of what most people do upon graduating high school. I LOST weight as opposed to the famous... or infamous freshmen 15. In high school I got upwards to 250 lbs and I am right at 6 feet tall on a good day. I graduated in 2003 and began pursuing a career in performing music. I somehow managed to get myself down to 187 lbs by fall of 2005, mostly through lots of intravenous hard drug use and many late night whiskey benders (kidding!!). This wasn't any sort of lean mass though. I still was chubby, had low energy, man-boobs, and a nice set of love handles. I didn't understand it though because people I knew who weighed the same thing, and were the same height appeared to be more toned out.
Well after some local success, my band decided to take it to the big times and move to NYC. The city of dreams, Bob Dylan, The Yankee's and unfortunately, the city of bagels and pizza and other complex starches and carbohydrates. Well needless to say, three years and nearly 50 lbs later, I was back to my high school weight.
This has led me to horrible back pain, stress, no energy, no confidence, stress, none of my fun clothes fit anymore, I can't sleep, and more stress. I have become a recluse. I don't enjoy doing any activities, seeing friends, or much of anything. Some friendships have been shattered, some have been created, some are nowhere to be found...
Well now I am back in my hometown for who knows how long with nothing but myself, my guitar, and a drive to start taking care of myself. I am armed with the knowledge from http://www.marksdailyapple.com and http://www.sonofgrok.com
Grok is the name Mark has given to the idea of the Hunter/Gatherer type who ate only Meats/Veggies/Nuts/Roots/Fruits/Eggs/Greens and good fats. This would be near the cave man days, but humans haven't changed much physically and biologically since then. I recommend reading up on his site to get a better idea of what I am going to be doing. I think "Grok" has a nice little ring to it.
So back to the beginning, or present for that matter... Starting Monday, June 1st 2009 --- I will be going "Primal" as Mark calls it. It does have many similarities of the diet Dr. Atkins made famous in the past few years, but that limits your carbohydrate intake to only 20grams a day which is a damn near unhealthy amount. This is no diet though. This is a life style change. I will be consuming close to 100g of carbs a day. To put it in perspective, I believe a can of Mt. Dew has 46 grams of carbohydrates, and definitely not the good kind!! Mine will be coming from vegetables, nuts and fruits. I have joined the gym that is 0.8 miles from my house, so I will be biking there and I will also be going with some friends as well for an added support group.
Basically, if it is packaged, or comes from the middle aisles of the grocery store, I won't be eating it. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to notice that obesity is becoming a huge problem in America. And it doesn't take a genius rocket scientist to figure out where/when the problem started and what caused it. Just take a glance to see how long the drive-through line is at your neighborhood McDonalds. Americans are continuously relying more and more on pre-packaged and fast foods that are loaded with unhealthy amounts of high fructose corn syrup, empty carbohydrates and nothing nutritional at all, which have been introduced more-so in the past 50 years. Also introduced in the past 50 years are more cases of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and many more bad bad health problems. 2+2=4.
Now if you know me, you know I like* to cook, so with this blog, I will be sharing recipes and pictures of meals as well as progress photos, workout routines, and anything else I freakin' feel like sharing, It is my blog after all.
It is nearly 5:00 am on Sunday May 31st right now. I will probably sleep until noon and then I will be preparing myself for Monday the 1st (the big day)!! Did I mention how much I like when the 1st is also a Monday??
My overall goals are:
Lose weight
Get into shape
Get healthy
Rid myself of the stress
Say bye bye to the back pain
Stop taking Ambien/Nyquil/Trazodone/Benadryl to sleep
Become the person I used to be
Become the friend I used to be
Marry a supermodel
Stop sleeping until noon
Transform from a Grok Star to a Rock Star (ha ha I'm so clever).
I apologize for the very long first introduction, wish me luck!
- Grok Star
p.s. my real name is Chris
*absolutely freakin' love
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