Paleo Banana Pancakes

Tip #4: Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.

I think this is going to be a hard one to swallow for most people. I am not someone who likes routine, but let’s face it, dieting is all about routine, because the more choices you get to make the more likely you’ll make some bad ones (I’m talking about eating, nothing else), and being tired is not going to help one bit.

I never go to sleep at the same time or even wake up at the same time. But I’ve been doing this more now, and I have to admit I’m kind of liking it. I know for sure I’m going to get 8 hours of sleep every night (occasionally this doesn’t work out) and I naturally wake up in the morning and I feel way less tired than if I have to wake up to an alarm. I hate alarms way more than I hate diets or not sleeping enough.

This is advice given by everyone who knows anything about sleep and energy, and most of us still totally ignore it. I often want to stay up later, and I really miss being able to do more after the kids are in bed, but if you try it for a week and don’t like it, then no harm done. It’s one of the best changes I’ve made since starting this whole thing.    

I’m still really tired. Dieting and exercising like a maniac every day is going to make you tired. But at least you’re body tired and not brain tired, if you know what I mean.

I feel a little better about waking up at the crack of dawn to do my ridiculously tiresome exercise when I look forward to eating some of these. I don’t make them every day, so I pretend that they are a cheat breakfast. But they’re not. Even better.

I miss breakfasts (and lunches and dinners and desserts) so much. I love some french toast, cinnamon rolls, a bagel with cream cheese (! Oh! Do I dare dream?). At least I still get to eat bacon.

My sis and bro in law posted a paleo banana pancake and I’ve been playing around with it ever since. I thought, if there’s a way I can eat a pancake every once in a while, I’ll be able to keep doing this, right?

Paleo Banana Pancakes

• Coconut oil
• 1 banana, mashed with a fork
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/4 C almond flour (* or coconut flour works here—just add 1/2 C almond milk)
• 2 Tbsp almond milk
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• cinnamon (to taste)
• 1 tsp vanilla

1. Heat a skillet or large frying pan on medium. Sprinkle some coconut oil into the pan (about 1 tsp) and move the pan so that the oil coats the surface.
2. Mix all of the ingredients together.
3. Use a 1/4 Cup measuring cup to pour batter into the pan. I can fit 3 in a pan at once. Flip the pancake when the edge looks dry and the bottom can be easily lifted off of the pan.
4. Serve immediately. These taste better when hot. Can be served with a smidgen of maple syrup.