Life: Our Luck is Changing!

Kev and I been stuck in one of those ruts where every time you do something to improve your life and get ahead, you get knocked back down. I understand this happens to everyone, it's happening to a couple of my friends right now. Sometimes it's over quick and sometimes it's long and drawn out. I had been impatient for Kev and I to move in together as we had a plan, a plan to pay off debt and get our lives going in the right direction, to move forward together towards our dreams and goals. But this could not happen until we moved in together. We moved in together in April and it seems since then it's been one thing after another...nothing really huge, but enough to not let us get ahead. Every time we cut our expenses to pay more towards debt, another expense was added like his car, my doctor bill, something. Through it Kev stayed positive (he really is amazing) and taking it one day at a time. We worked together to come up with a new plan and it seems things are finally falling into place.

The biggest change in our luck is Kev getting a new/second job in which he has the potential to earn much more than he makes now and it looks to be a good start to getting us ahead. That's followed by a lot of little things here and there like winning an Amazon gift card, finding the crossfit shoes I want on sale, beating the Underwood Jewelers' Team in the Never Quit 5k for a gift card to their store, and so on. But I'm starting realize, maybe nothing really has changed. Maybe we're still having the same luck we've always had. Maybe it's my perspective that's changed. I could have looked at all of those good things in a negative way. Now Kevin may not go back to school for his master's like he wanted, or it was only a $10 Amazon gift card, or the shoes weren't the color I really wanted, or the fact that I ran one of my worst 5ks in a long time.

Sometimes in life, nothing has changed at all except our perspective and sometimes that's all we need to make our life complete. We go through life so unhappy because we don't have that, or this went wrong today, but why? Really when we stop and look at our lives, are they really that bad? We have a roof over our head, food in our bellies, a paycheck coming in and so many more luxuries that many others don't. And most of all, we have each other. Honestly, I feel the reason my perspective has changed is because of Kevin. He was always there day in and day out staying so positive and that began to rub off on me. It is infectious. So if you're down then reach out to your happy-go-lucky, positive friends; while they can be really damn annoying at first, their postivity and look at life can start to rub off on you. Try taking whatever negative thoughts you're having and think about how it can actually be a good thing for you. And remember, most of the time when something bad happens, it's opening the door for something better. We may not see it now or right away, but be patient because honestly things always work out just the way they were supposed to in the end. It may happen by taking a different path than you had planned and not the way you would have liked, but in the end, you'll get there. Look for the little lights in your dark tunnel.

So for today, and from now on, I will be the luckiest person I know. And honestly, with a boyfriend like Kevin, how can I not be?

“Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction." - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Fish Oil: The One Supplement You SHOULD Be Taking

“It’s as close to a miracle drug as I’ll ever see in my lifetime.” --Dr. Barry Sears

I have blogged a little about fish oil, but have not really mentioned why it's so important and the benefits of it. Even if you don't take supplements, you should take fish oil. Yes, you can get most of your needed vitamins and minerals from eating a balanced diet, but it's near impossible to get all the omega 3 fatty acids your body needs unless you're eating fish for almost every meal, even then you may still be lacking. And unfortunately, most of the fish you eat is polluted with pesticides and toxins. Consuming fish oil as a supplement is a much safer way of getting the omega 3s you need. Further, your lifestyle and eating habits have created an imbalance in the ratio of omega 3 to omega 6 acids you consume resulting in a much lower level of your required omega 3s. Consuming a fish oil supplement can easily correct this imbalance.

Why are Omega 3s so important?

The three most nutritionally important omega-3 fatty acids are alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). EPA and DHA are not made in the body so we must consume it from our food sources. EPA is believed to play a role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, while DHA is the necessary for proper brain and nerve development.

What are the actual benefits of fish oil?

Prevention and/or treatment of the following health conditions:

• Alzheimer's disease
• Asthma
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Bipolar disorder
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular disease
• Depression
• Diabetes
• Eczema
• High blood pressure
• Huntington's disease
• Lupus
• Migraine headaches
• Multiple sclerosis
• Obesity
• Osteoarthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Psoriasis
• Rheumatoid arthritis

Benefits for everyone:

• Improves skin texture.
• Enhances hair growth and health.
• Improves memory and concentration.
• Develops stronger immune system.
• Lowers blood cholesterol levels.
• Enhances heart health and reduces risk of cardiovascular diseases which helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and cardiac arrest.
• Maintains chemical balance in your brain which helps those with depression and other mental illnesses.
• Improves brain health and reduces risk of brain diseases such as dementia.
• Developes positive attitude toward life...see above regarding chemical balance in your brain.
• Reduces inflammation; this is great for athletes since your muscles inflame after your workouts as they are rebuilding. This means you can now recover quicker. Also helps those with inflammatory diseases.
• Helps you lose fat

So now the question is, why would you not want to take something that benefits you in so many ways?

Choosing Fish Oil Supplements

The quality of fish oil depends on three main characteristics:

• The fish used
• Processing techniques for processing the raw oil
• Storage conditions of the oil and the supplements

Other factors:

• How much EPA and DHA is in the fish oil
• Is it pharmaceutical-grade fish oil

Capsules vs. Liquid
My personal opinion based on numerous articles I have read over time, is that pharmaceutical-grade, liquid fish oil is the best. Liquid fish oil is more concentrated in EPA and DHA, therefore you do not have to take as much. Most capsules on the market have very low amounts of EPA and DHA resulting in you having to take many (think 16 capsules) a day to get your required amount of omega 3s. Who wants to take that many capsules? Most capsules on the market are filled with fillers and junk ingredients which results in the lower amounts of DHA and EPA and truly are not worth anything. Since the liquid form is more concentrated, even though it costs more upfront, you get more for your money in the long run. Also, with capsules, you don't always know how long they have been sitting on that shelf. Even though they say they aren't expired, they could still be rancid. There are also worries about the process of creating capsules and using heat to seal the capsule gels together. Heat is ruins fish oil so are those capsules really as effective as they should be? I would rather skip the worry and take the liquid fish oil that is free of fillers only a couple times a day as opposed to numerous capsules throughout the day.

Recommendations:

I recommend pharmaceutical grade liquid fish oils. Here are 3 of the best:

• Carlson's
• Barleans's
• Nordic Naturals

How much should you take?

Here is a link to a great calculator to help you determine how much fish oil you should be taking: Whole9

Storing liquid fish oils

Keep fish oil in the fridge to prevent your fish oil from going rancid due to light and heat.

Recap

Fish oil reduces inflammation, resulting in weight loss, improved blood chemistry and better overall health as well as prevents and even helps treats numerous health conditions. Research has shown even when used to supplement a very poor diet, fish oil can help lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, MS, bipolar depression, ADHD, chronic pain and Alzheimer’s—all because fish oils reduce inflammation.

Watch the video discussion below by Dr. Barry Sears if you would like even more information than what I've outlined above and still need convincing.

Lastly, as always, I'm not a doctor, so please consult your doctor before beginning any new supplement.

References:
FishOilSupplement.org
The World's Healthiest Foods
Whole9- Fish Oil Facts

Classic Chili

A classic chili, paleo of course.

Ingredients:
2 lbs of lean ground hamburger, turkey, buffalo meat, etc
1 onion, chopped
1-2 bell peppers, chopped
6 cloves of garlic (we like garlic)
2 tbsp of olive oil
2 28 oz cans of chopped tomatoes with juice in (I've done various combinations cans of tomatoes based on what I have on hand such as 1 can crushed tomatoes with 1 can of diced tomatoes.)
ground pepper to taste
4 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp dry oregano
1 tbsp ground cumin (we like cumin as well)
3/4-1 cup of water (depending on how thick you like your chili)

Directions:
1. Heat pan with olive oil. Cook ground meat.
2. Add in chopped onions, bell peppers, and garlic and cook until soft.
3. Add in tomatoes, chili powder, oregan, and cumin and stir.
4. Add water, then simmer for at least 2 hours. I usually find 2 1/2 hours to be a good amount of time. If you let it simmer longer, check to see if you need to add more water if it starts to dry out.

Review:
This is a classic recipe that's hard to mess up. Enjoy!

A Coq Au Vin (in half the time!)



Or chicken and wine for those not fluent in french. Thanks to Sarah at Everyday Paleo, this is a paleo take on a classic dish my best friend and I used to make for our French club in high school which would take hours to prepare and cook, which now only takes about 30 minutes!

A Coq Au Vin
Ingredients:
12 oz bacon, diced
1 lb pearl onions (I don't usually have these on hand so I'll use regular white onions diced.)
4 garlic cloves, minced (I usually add more as Kevin loves garlic.)
2 cups crimini mushrooms, sliced (I'm not a mushroom eater, so I leave these out.)
2 lbs chicken breast, cut in half lengthwise (or you can use chicken tenders)
2 tablespoons olive or canola oil
½ cup red wine
1 cup chicken broth
1 bay leaf
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp poultry seasoning (To make your own poultry seasoning, combine 3 parts thyme, 2 parts sage, 2 parts marjoram, 1 part rosemary, and 1 part pepper. You can add a pinch of nutmeg, oregano, or savory if you want.)

Directions:
In a big pot brown the diced bacon.  Add the mushrooms, onions, and garlic and saute for 4-5 minutes. Remove the bacon mixture from the pot, leaving some of the grease.  Over medium high heat, sear the chicken breasts for 1-2 minutes per side or until golden brown but not cooked through!  Remove the chicken and set aside. To make your sauce,  add the olive oil to the pot along with the wine.  Bring the mixture to a boil and whisk together.  Add the chicken broth, bay leaf, poultry seasoning and black pepper and simmer together for another 3-5 minutes.  Pour back into the sauce the bacon mixture and mix well.  Add the chicken back to the pot, covering as best you can with the sauce. Cover and cook for 12-15 minutes depending on the size of your chicken breasts.

Review:
A fantastic, quick and easy take on this classic recipe. I usually have all these ingredients on hand so it's very easy on a night when I have a ton of chicken and no idea what to make. It does take about 30 minutes in which you are working or watching it most of the time with lots of transfers from pot to plate and back, but the end result is worth it. It takes me back to high school french club, but with less than half the cooking time. Kevin is half french canadian so I was surprised he had never had this before, but he loves it. Of course anything with wine and bacon is usually a win. This is great for anyone who loves A Coq Au Vin, even if they don't follow a paleo diet. A new go-to dinner recipe. Yum!

Mexican Omelette

Kev and I's new morning obsession! This Mexican Omelette recipe was created by Health-Bent. It's super easy to make; we actually like to make it the night before and then grab and go in the morning for breakfast. It actually makes a couple days worth of breakfasts for us. I have made a few slight adjustments for our own taste preferences and the type of kitchen equipment we have. You can view the original recipe on Health-Bent's website. Also check out their website for tons of other creative paleo recipes! I have yet to make all of them that I want to try, but the few I have made have been delicious.

Ingredients:
1 lb ground sausage
1 red onion, diced
1-2 bell peppers, chopped
1 sweet potato, chopped (with or without skin, we always leave the skin on)
10 eggs
(Really you can add other veggies as well, the original calls for mushrooms, but I don't really care for them.)
Avocado slices

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. Heat a pan on the stove on medium high heat.
3. Crumble and brown the sausage in the pan.
4. Toss in the onion, bell peppers, sweet potato and cook until softened, about 10 minutes.
5. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs together (adding in a 1/2 tsp of salt, optional, but it helps the egg proteins not bind too tightly together so they don't get rubbery.)
6. Pour the eggs over the sausage/veggie mixture and stir everything. The egg will start to cook a bit.
7. Transfer mixture into a greased long casserole dish and spread evenly.
8. Bake in the oven for about 6-10 minutes.
9. Remove pan from oven and serve with avocado slices.

Not only is this a great paleo recipe, but it's pretty well blocked as well if you follow zone.

*Will post a pic of it when I get home.

Review: As I stated above, this has quickly become one of Kev and I's favorite breakfast recipes. It's super quick and easy and can be made the night before for a great grab and go meal. You can easily mess with the ingredients to change it up and make other variations.