Just Copy and Improve

My martial arts teacher used to say; "you need to make the technique yours. Learn the principle, crack the code, ditch the technique and make it yours." You can only do this by consistent correct (key word, correct) practice. So same really goes for eating right and exercising. There are some very basic principles for both. The "technique" if you will. So practice those basics correctly consistently, and you'll reach a point where you can leave it all behind and make it your own. And you can even improve on it, you'll have to actually because it's yours now. ;-)

Chris at Conditioning Research has great recent posts about keeping it simple. Check it out.
I won't bore you with my work out routine this morning, so here's some food to try.

The players; shrimp,garlic,onion,asparagus,tomato,lime,cilantro,coconut oil and cream.

In a wok or skillet saute the garlic and onion in the coconut oil. Next, toss in the cut-up asparagus. At this point I added some cayenne pepper and sea salt. Now add the shrimp and toss well. Squeeze the lime wedge over it. Add the tomatoes. Stir.......dice up your cilantro and add. Toss well......add splash of cream in the middle (reduce it down a bit....when it bubbles it's ready) toss well and serve. The shrimp don't need long in a hot pan, so don't overcook them. This was one great breakfast.

Simple, fresh and easy ingredients. Make the dish yours, add whatever you like. You can give this so many different spins with spices and flavors. "make the technique yours"!!!!

Product Review

You know the drill, but I'll say it again, no compensation here ;-)
Although it would be nice. I think Bryce's comment yesterday sums it up pretty good. We could help companies and their marketing efforts. Justin O, if you're reading , any chance of hooking up with Bryce and giving it a shot? To everyone not familiar with one of Justin's amazing sites, check it out. http://www.birthdayshoes.com/.

Found this over the weekend;

Was surprised how affordable this was. About $4.50 for 2 pounds. Just cabbage,water and salt.

I don't always have the time to make my own, so this is a super alternative. Sauerkraut falls in the category of "sense of well being" foods. Your body likes fermented food.

VFF's comment yesterday; I was in the gym, jumping rope in between sets, and this guy comes walking over and tells me he likes my "shoes", BUT, I going to hurt myself jumping rope without some support. I actually had a pretty good quick comeback. I asked if had ever seen the Masai jump up and down for hours. I told him i was pretty sure they don't wear the latest Nike's with 2 inches of shocks on the heel. He nodded his head and said, "hmmmm, that's right, never thought about that". I have a feeling there are some more talks to come with this guy, he seemed open minded and was friendly.

Do you use a jump rope?

Meat and Running

I know it goes against the "grain" of conventional wisdom and a lot of folks give me slack for it, but I eat a lot of meat. It's tough bucking everyone's opinion and input, my advice; don't argue it
;-)

"I can't give you a sure fire formula for success, but I can give you a formula for failure: try to please everybody all the time" H. Swope

I have found my stride!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday I went for a run in my Vibram Five Fingers in the morning. After a few minutes of running, I realized I have found my stride! There was no effort, no struggle, no thinking how much longer, just a light feeling of pure happiness. I credit this feeling to my VFF's. Since I started running in them, everything thing has changed. My stride, my posture, foot position and breathing. I don't run far, about 5k most of the time (or less). But I just can't get over how much fun I'm having.
Talking about the VFF's, I was at a farmers market early Saturday morning with my oldest daughter, and I got tapped on the shoulder. With a big smile this gentlemen told me that "those are the coolest shoes I've ever seen!! Where did you get them?" I told him and then smiled wide at my daughter ;-)
It is a better reaction then I get normally.......most of the time people look at me and mouth "what the F#$@ is that???" Some people at work call me "monkey boy or gorilla feet".

Do you get looks when wearing your VFF's? Any name calling? ;-)

Have a great week everyone, remember that you can't please everyone and smile a lot!

A Few Things

Had a great lunch yesterday with a fellow primal/paleo/ef enthusiast. Here in town from the UK to compete in the Iron Man world championship in St. Petersburg Florida.
We talked a good while and enjoyed a nice big salad with some locally caught grilled grouper.
I had to smile when a patron next to us, got up to leave from his table and said "guess you guys won't be ordering any fried food today". I can only imagine what most people think when listening in on these types of conversations. "UK Iron man" is here for a few days to acclimatize himself to the heat prior to the race. If I have the time, we will meet up again over a pint.

OK, this marinade is so simple and yet so "mind blowingly" good, you owe it to yourself to make it.

The only thing missing from the above picture is garlic.
Go get yourself some grassfed flank/skirt steak (about 1.5 pounds). Cut a cross pattern in the steak. Chop up around 4-5 cloves of garlic. Add some toasted sesame oil, dark rum and juice of a fresh lemon. Marinate over night and toss on the grill. If you have never tired this combo, please let me know what you think.

Dinner last night was pretty decadent if I do say so myself. Lifted this recipe from Jamie Oliver.
Chicken kebabs. Mix together fresh cilantro, mint, garlic, evoo and lemon juice. Cut some zucchini ribbons. Cut up chicken thighs. Mix the zucchini and chicken in with the "sauce". Thread the chicken and zucchini ribbons. Put it under the broiler. About 5 minutes each side. Keep an eye on it.....all broilers are not equal.
Try putting a scoop of fage yogurt on your plate with this. Compliments the dish very very well. Not a huge dinner, but paired with a nice glass of wine, satisfying and full of flavor.

Primal/PaleoEF Meet Up

I've said it before, and I will say it again, I love love love the way our Primal/Paleo/EF community has grown (I started fall of 2006). We all continue to learn from each other and people meet up all over the country and the world, having formed respectful on line friendships.

Early last week I received on email from a reader in the UK. He told me he will be in Naples for a few days before competing in

This event will be held in St. Petersburg, Florida about 2.5 hours north of Naples. We will go for a nice Primal/Paleo/EF lunch and share some ideas. Pictures and follow up post to follow.

"Here is the rule to remember in the future, When anything tempts you to be bitter: not, "This is a misfortune" but "To bear this worthily is good fortune." Marcus Aurelius

"Just Do It"

For me, this Nike slogan will go down as one of the best ever.

Richard (again) had a great post, responding to an inquiry from a new reader.

Some great advice there from Richard but also from all the people leaving a comment.

The underlying theme of the advice is simple and straight forward just like the Nike quote.

You've got to just do it and stick with it.

I think I've put up some nice food porn pics over the years, but I also want to show the kind of meals that taste delicious but don't necessarily look so appetizing.

Here's my version of lox, eggs and onion.

2 or 3 eggs, cut up smoked salmon and onion. Boil the eggs, mash them with a fork, add some cut up smoked salmon and a little bit of onion. It's a fantastic tasting breakfast, quick and easy to make.


Since we are all in agreement about FAGE , this is one way that I like to indulge in it. Cucumber, sea salt and fresh ground pepper.

What do you make that doesn't look so appetizing but tastes delicious?

Nike Question.... So with the popularity of the Vibram Five Fingers and minimal foot wear, do you think Nike will be coming out with their own version? I mean the Nike Free's have been out for a while. Will Nike come out with a type of VFF? My guess is yes.

ENJOY HALLOWEEN.

Yogurt Dressing

Just quickly; I'm in no way associated or compensated by the product/company below.

Product review. I had told Richard at Free the Animal that I would post next time I got this.
Fage yogurt has been in the spot light lately and yours truly loves full fat Fage. It truly is better then sour cream.
But I also buy this;
This yogurt with all of it's probiotic goodness and flavor is the go to guy/gal for dressing.
It tastes to me like an old fashioned home made yogurt. It's a little more sour then what your used to I suspect, but you will love the complexity of the flavor. Now because it's more "runny" it is perfectly suited for making dressings. You can find this at Whole Foods.

Cut up some scallion and cilantro, chop a little garlic, add sea salt,fresh ground pepper and a squeeze of lemon. Mix well and toss over a salad. Now drizzle a tiny bit of evoo over it once you've put it over your salad.
The dressing will work great with grilled chicken or lamb too.
If you keep it in the fridge for a few days the flavor will really intensify.
Have you ever tried this yogurt?


FEEL GOOD LIVING;
"We all posses more power and greater possibilities than we realize, visualizing is one of the greatest of these powers" GB

Quotes like these are wonderful, but I feel it makes issues more complex then they need to be.
You know what the above says? It says DREAM. We all know and can connect with the word dream, but start telling us we need to "visualize" and our silly over-analysing and adult thought process starts taking over. As kids we "dream", as adults we "visualize". I say keep dreaming, it will keep you young ;-) and you might just get what you want.