Paleo on the Cheap

A lot of friends have told me that they'd go Paleo but can't afford it. So here's a typical weekly shopping cart for me. Typically it costs around $40.

Eggland vegetarian-fed Eggs- $4.89 for 18 (scramble in pan in butter)

Jennie's Lean Ground Turkey- $4.89 (use for turkey burgers or chili)

Wild Caught salmon filet- $5 (wrap in tinfoil and put in the oven in butter for 30 min)

Grass-fed hamburger meat or steak- $6.99

Organic vegetarian-fed chicken drumsticks- $3

Tuna in cans- 2/$3

2 avocados- $3

2 tomatoes

scalllions

organic spinach- $2.99

blackberries or blueberries- $2.99

2 apples or pears- $2-3

Kerrygold grass-fed butter- $5

Coconut milk (I don't buy this often, but it's good in protein shakes)- $2.99

From time to time I get Chioban yogurts 2/$3 or 4% cottage cheese

Unsalted Pistachios or almonds- $4.99

I'll sometimes get some red wine or whiskey (Bushmill's is cheap and good) too- $10-12

Between meals I'll typically have a protein shake from Muscle Milk which I'll get once a month at the gym or GNC for about $20.

Typically I shop at Ralph's, Trader Joe's or Vons. Sprouts is good too.

Cheers-
Gabe

The Absolute Minimum

I haven't totally gotten back into the gym routine since coming back from Hawaii. I've gone swimming in the pool and I've developed a very difficult sauna to hot tub to steam room circuit, but not too much besides. I was thinking, I wonder what the minimum is one could do to stay in decent shape and retain my Derek Zoolander-like physique? This is what I came up with:

1- Eat a nutrient dense diet with an absence of sugars, grains, starches, that emphasizes naturally fed protein sources, have healthy fats (like avocados, coconut, etc). Stay away from processed foods and the middle of the supermarket no matter how appealing the packaging is. Drink less alcohol. (Drink no soda btw).

2- Do this workout 3x a week- (3 sets, 8-12 reps, 60-90 sec rest)
Push-ups (or sub a chest exercise)
Pull-ups (or sub a back exercise)
Squat (or sub a compund leg exercise)
Reverse Sit-up (or substitute core exercise...planks are popular now)

3- Walk 3x a week, 20- 30 min (or swim or surf or whatever feels good and gets you moving)

4- Do some stretches like:
Toe touch to sky
Arm circles
your basic gym class stretches

5- Watch your posture too...especially when sitting or driving. Art de Vany has an interesting posture suggetion in his book, New Evolution Diet. It's to walk with your head aligned over your stomach like you're wearing a cape. He calls it the abdominal brace. Whenever I do it, people think I look taller. GIve it a try.

There you have it...the Absolute Minimum. Actually, an Absolut Minimum sounds like a tasty drink...D'oh!

Best,
GPR

Drink Lots of Water

Sounds obvious, right...It's ridiculous how little most people drink. Many people want to lose weight or get in shape but miss the connection between drinking water and being fit.



Here's the connection as I see it:

1- 90% of hunger is actually dehydration. Having water satiates your appetite.

2- Water feeds the fascia in your muscles allowing them to operate smoothly.

3- According to trainer, Owen McKibbin, the more water you drink, the less your skin retains underneath. If your body is retaining water, it's because it needs it. If you have an abundance of water in your system, more is flushed out.

4- You function better, feel more awake with water. I actually find sometimes a cold water wakes me up more than coffee.

The FDA recommends 8 glasses a day...That's basically a glass every two hours. What if you try doubling it?

Best,
Gabe

Make Awesome Eggs

Thought I'd take a moment to praise eggs and let folks out there know how I make them...The non-Paleo world seems to view eggs with skepticism. There's a worry about cholesterol and about fat content in the yolks. Don't worry about it, I'd advise. Eggs are a great source of protein and easy to make. I eat them or a protein shake for most breakfasts whereas I used to be a cereal junkie.



#1- Buy vegetarian fed... Pay the extra buck vs. grain fed. Typically $2.89 vs. $1.69. Sometimes there are 18 packs for $5 too. Look for specials at Vons or Ralph's.

#2- In the pan, use grass-fed, non-salted butter. Kerrygold is the standard.It's delicious and a good source of fat. Butter's another cholesterol boogie man. If you're not eating sugars, your body will fuel off these fats.

#3- If you insist on not using butter, coconut oil is also good. I like the spray from Trader Joe's.

#4- Let the butter melt. Crack the eggs in the pan (I usually have three). Scramble them in the pan with a rubber spatula while they heat. Add pepper and basil.

#5- Add lemon juice (just a little).

#6- Optional- Add half and half...This fluffens them up and makes em extra- creamy.

#7- Don't let them cook too long. I like them a little runny.

#8- Eat them.

Other variations involve changing up the spices or adding vegetables like spinach or tomatoes, onion, or garlic. You can also try cajun spices or tobasco. Beyond that, sometimes I'll hardboil six eggs at a time to have ready for snacks or quick meals.

Enjoy!

Episode 25- Hawaii and Crossfit

Gabe recounts his surf adventure in Hawaii while Joe listens patiently. Joe discusses his 2014 return to Crossfit. With a hot soundtrack from Gabe's upcoming CD release.


Surfing Waimea


Joe's hand post-Crossfit




More Hawaii photos:

Pipeline

Pupukea

Poster for the Eddie


Trees up North


Beach Park


Sunset beach


Ka'eena Point


Sunset Beach


View from the hike


Makaha w/Rudolfo


Makaha w/Nino and Marco


Makaha


Makaha


The backhouse


Playing guitar w/Jessica


The hostel


Jacuzzi, Waikiki


Buying My Board w/ Thiago, Pepe, and Jorge, week 1


Sunset Beach w/Fabien, week 2


Surf Crew w/Fabien, Eric, Lexi, and Jeremy


Playing Surfer Bar


Waikiki at night


Skewers at the Farmer's Market


Ka'eena Point


This guy fell off a pickup truck while hitching w/ Alon and Amanda


More from the hike with Victor, Anne-Marie, Maggie, and Jesse


At the airport

Hawaii

So here are some pics from Hawaii....

I've been largely based at a youth hostel on Oahu's fabled North Shore- the seven mile mecca for surfers from around the world. I was inspired by seeing Shaun Thomson speak and reading his book, The Code, to come and try out the winter swell for myself. There are multiple spots along the North Shore and it isn't all huge.

So far I've surfed at some more basic spots, Chun's Reef and Freddieland, and some more advanced spots- Haleiwa, Vlazyland (did alright there), Sunset Beach, and actually went out at Pipeline and Rockpiles on a small day. It's been challenging and a learning curve as to where to go and with what board. I bought a 7'8" mini-gun off a guy and it's a cool board, but not right for me. I took out an 8'0 at Chun's Reef which worked well, but was crazy busy. That's the other issue- so many travelers here, surf pilgrims from all over the world, so the water is crowded. But I've met some cool folks from Brazil, Chile, New Zealand, Australia, Israel, France, Germany, and Switzerland.

Beyond surfing, I've been hiking, seeing some sights, chilling on some amazing beaches (saw a swimsuit photo shoot the other day), and taking a couple vacations from my vacation in Waikiki, which was much needed and awesome. Basically I've been getting around on foot, bike, or bus. Been eating a lot of caveman style meals from the local Foodland supermarket. Feeling lucky, overall. Just been important to take breaks and come back.

Aloha!
G

Episode 24: Special Holiday Edition

Gabe and Joe close out year one with their 24th podcast/ nutrtition confessional. Joe announces his engagement while Gabe endlessly discusses surfing and his upcoming Hawaii adventure.

Featuring Hold Her In My Heart, from Gabe's upcoming EP- The Moon Within. www.cdbaby.com/gaberosenn

Happy 2014!!!