As I reflect on all the diets I’ve been on through my 40 plus years…with age does come wisdom, and something has become quite clear to me.  You can put all the right foods in your mouth, but if you expect to see the results you want, you have got to have the other areas in your life in check as well or it is all for not!  I am talking about 1. sleep, 2. stress levels, 3. spirituality, 4. positive talk/motivation  5. water intake.

Sleep: Most of us are unaware that poor sleep quality is linked to weight gain, diabetes, memory loss, depression, and even cancer. The Shawn Stevenson Model.  If I don’t sleep well that can equate to higher numbers on the scale just from foods not metabolizing well and that comes from a resting body.  Your stomach empties into your gut on your left side, so if your tummy ever feels upset or you just want to help the digestion process out a bit, get comfy on your left side.  Plus, tired skin is old looking skin

Stress: Cortisol has been termed the “stress hormone” because excess cortisol is secreted during times of physical or psychological stress, and the normal pattern of cortisol secretion (with levels highest in the early morning and lowest at night) can be altered. This disruption of cortisol secretion may not only promote weight gain, but it can also affect where you put on the weight. Some studies have shown that stress and elevated cortisol tend to cause fat deposition in the abdominal area rather than in the hips. This fat deposition has been referred to as “toxic fat” since abdominal fat deposition is strongly correlated with the development of cardiovascular disease including heart attacks and strokes.

Spirituality: “My name is Adrienne Daly and I pray to God.”  Creating space in my life for space has been life changing.

“ Take up your spiritual arms and move swift into the night, awakening one and all to the magic that is life itself.” https://www.facebook.com/DoreenVirtue444  Whoa, that just gets me fired up, what a visual!

Take a few minutes each morning, literally set the timer on your phone so you aren’t stressing on the time you don’t have, and be grateful for the people in your life and the lessons you are learning from the not so great things happening in your life, also.

Appreciate everything life sends your way, whether good or bad and know that “Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” ~ Melody Beattie

Positive/Motivational daily words:  I’ve heard it said by many of todays thought leaders that we are a reflection of the top 5 people that we surround ourselves with.  Wow, Ok!  Who are my people and are they moving me forward?!  There was a time in my life where my top 5 were not so desirable and as I say that, I know that I have not always been someone else’s most desirable influence.  I am truly fortunate now that my plus 5 are moving me forward and loving.  But, if you don’t have uplifting, “pro-you” people in your life, create them!  #1 Podcasts.  Podcasts are talk shows on the go.  Whether you are interested in fitness and nutrition to fixing cars, there is a show for you.  It is smart upbeat people talking about and interviewing the experts in what ever interests you.  Just go to http://www.itunescharts.net/us/charts/podcasts/   I start my day with podcasts rather than TV or radio and it motivates me to be better and to stay on course…always!  #2 READ!  I do this to prep for meditation and to end my day.  For me, it’s always non-fiction, spiritual or,  “my industry” related reading.  #3 Super Soul Sunday… Oprah!!!  She is one of my favorite thought leaders and her sunday show interviews the rest of the best. https://www.facebook.com/SuperSoulSunday?ref=ts&fref=ts

Drink Water!  And I mean drink water!!  I start my day with a warm glass of spring water with lemon.  Warm water because it feels nice in the morning, it cleans the pipes as it moves through me, and it sets the tone for the drinking of water throughout the day.  If you want great skin, shed pounds, have tons of energy and relieve constipation…water!   My skin is better looking and feeling at 45 than it has ever been, and I never get tired of hearing that.  I get a gallon in on most days. If you drink at this level and are eating a clean diet, add a little extra Real salt to your food so your electrolytes don’t get out of whack.  And, for good measure, end your day with a Sleepy-time Tea…it all ties in.

At one point I feared always being on a diet, until I realized, I’m Always Going To Be On A Diet!…and I felt very relieved by that notion.  I don’t want to feel tortured and disordered, but my reality is that the minute something isn’t working for me, mentally and physically, then I must change it up.  Nutritionally, that comes in the form of Low Carbs, or Low Fat/High Fat, or More Protein or Intermittent Fasting, to eating every 2-3 hours or eating twice a day.  What ever the method, it will always be there, the desire to look as good on the outside as I feel on the inside.  I put so much value on the way I feel and the energy I feel, that when I meet someone who is barely crawling along with this issue or that, I just want to help them… but not to many take me up on my offer.  What remains a constant is what I leave out of my diet.  Dairy, Grains and Processed foods.

Physically, that comes in the form of changing the workout plan.  Stop running/start running, lift heavy weights, do High intensity interval training, stretch more,  push harder/push less.  What ever it is, a shift needs to happen.  And that’s how my life will always be.

 Spirituality, my new favorite pastime.  I feel for the first time in my life, I can really take care of myself.  Spirituality is a key component to holistic health, true optimum health, to bring together the body and the mind.  Nutrition, Psychology and Spirituality, they all cross over.  To me Spirituality is an open dialog with myself, Why?, What to learn?.  It is something I can tether myself to that is pure and good.  It’s not a Christian god or a Buddhist god or any deity at all.   It’s as simple as practicing Gratitude or Silent reflexion and mindfulness.  When my head gets turned around, I read Buddhist teachings, I meditate, I listen to Podcasts, and I try to figure out what I can learn from what just occurred.  I love this feeling of love that I have.  I feel very secure.  This shows up in the way that I look.

When all three of these are in check, you really can control your destiny.  Wether your destiny is to be lean and chiseled, let spirituality give you the strength to see the strides that you’ve made.  To make a career change or leave a bad relationship, let a change in nutrition clear your head and physical strength to propel you forward in the right direction.

OH!!!  Sleep.  I read about a controlled study where a group of subjects were given the same meals  per body needs. Half the group got 5 hours of sleep the other 8 hours a night for so many months.  The 8 hours group lost an average of 5lbs more than the 5 hour group…Just sayin’, it could be YOUR missing link.??  Night!

Giacomo’s has all fronts covered when it comes to Paleo Lifestyle.  Before  you even order you have an over whelming sense that you are cared for with statements like:

                           gf – gluten free           gf* – can be prepared gluten free          nuts – contains nuts 

we prepare everything from scratch, using all natural and top quality ingredients, many of them organic & locally sourced ● our free range eggs from local old dad farms ● our ground beef is from Texas Longhorn Land & Cattle Co. our pastured pork is from Black Hill Ranch ● we recycle all glass, cardboard, aluminum and plastic water served upon request by reducing water waste & washing chemical use, giacomo’s is protecting the environment – thank you for your cooperation & helping us do the right thing!  we are happy to accommodate dietary requests, but keep in mind that everything is prepared to order the “slow food” way, so special orders will take longer

Ordering Paleo doesn’t have to be stressful or, an outtake from When Harry Met Sally...

…”But I’d like the pie heated and I don’t want the ice cream on top I want it on the side and I’d like strawberry instead of vanilla if you have it if not then no ice cream just whipped cream but only if it’s real if it’s out of a can then nothing.” -Sally’s crazy ordering

When reading a menu with Paleo eyes,  you always want to find your  Meat options, your Vegetable options and your Healthy Fat options(HFO).  There might not be the perfect dish and you may have  to choose a combination of small dishes or a modified salad.  Keep your options clean, avoid complicated recipes, sauces and fried foods.

Let’s dig in!

We started with a variety of small dishes, like the antipasto di verdure (gf),  where you choose from a counter display of changing vegetable antipasti.  I love being able to hand select exactly what I want.   Then the insalata frutti di mare (gf)  poached shrimp and calamari, pickled fennel and sweet red pepper.  Your HFO comes in the form of  extra virgin olive oil(evoo) that covers all of the vegetables, and thats a good thing!   The food is amazingly delicious!

Of course, now that I work with the Clegg family at Texas Longhorn Land and Cattle Co the polpetti puccini, slightly spicy texas longhorn beef & all natural local pork meatballs, fennel confit & tomato cream is a must have!  I asked for No cream in the sauce and they were happy to take it out.  Yum!

 The salsiccia di pollo (gf)  grilled homemade chicken sausage, frisée, arugula is delish, as is the ratatouille marti (gf*) roast ratatouille, free range fried egg.

All of the Secondi Main Course Protein are fine, just leave off any cheese, bread, beans and cream.  I got the 

porchetta e fagioli (gf*) Full or  half order (I suggest 1/2 order for man or woman)
slow roasted Berkshire pork butt aggressively seasoned with fennel, rosemary, garlic, pepper, with OUT cannellini beans stewed with tomato, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, sage.  My Bad, in my excitement I forgot to say No to the beans!

The Vegetable sides are amazing!   BUT!  Say No to the Beans, Potato and Polaenta.  And here are my thoughts on that.  Even if you are liberal (I am not) with your Paleo choices and you talk yourself into thinking that these items aren’t “that” bad for you..well, they are.  Adding Beans, Potatoes, Pasta,Polenta, etc., to already  rich restaurant foods is a carb over load, fat storing red zone.  One 1/2c of Cannellini Beans, 17gr Carbohydrate!  One 1/2c of Yukon potatoes, 26gr Carbohydrate…Yikes!!  So stick with the non starchy vegetables in Olive oil or butter and you will feel satisfied on less food.   Trade in the sugar food for the cavoletti con pancetta, brussel sprouts sautéed with pancetta, garlic, extra virgin olive oil,  and you just might have a Sally moment at the table!:)

I hope you found this to be helpful!  Paleo on!

http://www.giacomosciboevino.com

3215 Westheimer Houston

Open: Tue – Sat 11:30a – 10:00p
Sun 5p – 9p  

Closed: Mon