Day 21 - 23 - Heading into the Home Stretch

Day 23 here today and that means 1 week to go (ok technically 8 days including today but who's counting?)

The weekend went well though it was SO hot! Thank goodness we invested in that portable AC unit many years ago, it's a lifesaver.

Saturday, I had my first social event since starting my Whole30. I had a stagette to attend where the first hour was nothing but tapas and drinks....I had very carefully planned my evening and eaten before I went and I ordered a Perrier when I got there as well. I was able to munch on a few raw veggies while the girls indulged in fresh bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, flatbreads, spreads, dips and crostini. It all looked really fresh and amazing, but oddly I wasn't the least bit tempted or interested in any of it. The only thing I was a little sad I couldn't partake in was the gelato cookie ice cream sandwiches that came out later in the evening...but they'll be there another day and I'll have a treat some other time.

Saturday also brought the trial of my home made salsa and an avocado....I have never been a fan of avocado in any form but then I have never been a fan of black coffee or breakfast and both those things are now part of my life....so I figured, why not? The verdict....no bueno  :)

Sunday was shopping and cooking day as usual. Despite the heat in the kitchen, I was able to get all my weekly prep done and it wasn't nearly as stressful and time consuming as weeks 1 and 2. It's become a lot more routine. I've accepted the fact that with a healthier lifestyle comes a lot less convenience and a lot more preparation and planning. I'm ok with that, it's a small price to pay in the long run. My once lazy routine of coming home, feeding the dogs and ordering pizza or going out and only having to run the dishwasher a couple times a week is no more....and that's perfectly fine. I expect that I'll really enjoy those nights when they happen on occasion in the future, but that is no longer the routine.

Today is Monday, and I had a hard time getting out of bed, so breakfast was leftover steak and some fruit (no veggies...bad) at my desk.

I got some lovely salmon yesterday and Jeff put it on the BBQ for me so lunch was home made salmon salad cucumber boats with veggies and fruit.

Dinner was a bit derailed when I won tickets to see the advance screening of Terminator Genesis. I threw to gather some of the leftover Salmon spinach and Sweet potatoes in a light coconut green curry. Another experiment that will become part of my repertoire.

I've started planning for next week's end and reintroduction phase. I feel like I have a good, solid plan which I'll share with you closer to day 30. The important thing for me can be summed up here:

WHOLE30: A LEARNING TOOL, NOT A LIFESTYLE

18 May, 2015

From Dallas Hartwig, Whole30 co-creator

You already know the Whole30 is not a diet. It’s not like Atkins or Weight Watchers, and despite its similarities in terms of food selection, the Whole30 is not the same as being “on a Paleo diet.” As we’ve explained, you have to change the framework for how you think about this experience and not try to fit the Whole30 into the “diet” box.

But here’s the thing: the Whole30 program itself is also not a lifestyle. It can and should open the door to a new lifestyle, but our specific rules are not intended to be a way of eating long term, nor is it a benchmark to live up to or a lifetime of “perfect” to be obtained.

In fact, eventually, we hope you won’t need the Whole30 at all… because the Whole30 is a plan designed to make itself obsolete as quickly as possible.

- See more at: http://whole30.com/2...h.r7vy6kYi.dpuf


I'm so excited that I can finally see the finish line for this portion of my journey.

Until next time…

T

Day 19 - 20 - Finally! Some energy!

Good afternoon!

Day 19 was uneventful. I did manage to find a couple neat things at Sobey's to help me out. Potato starch to use for thickening sauces and such as well as a coating for crispy things instead of corn starch. Also found a compliant dressing FINALLY! I'll have to figure out the brand because right now I can't recall, but it's a basil/garlic and it's quite good. No dairy, sugar or grains of any kind. I've struggled with salads because I can't have any dressings unless I make them, and I can't seem to make anything I like.

I was still pretty bummed yesterday that I still don't have my big energy surge but today on day 20 - I feel a lot more energetic for sure.

Today I feel a lot more in control of my food choices and feel like I'm no longer thinking about food as much and specifically what I can't be eating right now.

Today's big win was resisting the invitation to go for lunch with the people from work, when I had brought my lunch.  Even though the thought of my lunch was somewhat unappealing, I wasn't tempted by the thought of anything else either. Since I knew that it would be difficult and annoying to modify something to the point where I could feel good about my choice, I declined.

My lunch was cucumber boats with tuna salad and apples with almond butter. I made the tuna salad a bit too runny, but I will definitely have this again! It was so yummy and I was so full and very happy with my choice.

I'm starting to think I'm really going to enjoy the next 10 days in my Whole30. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm actually feeling sad that it's ending. No, before you chime in and suggest I do another one back to back...not happening. I'm quite happy keeping most of these habits, testing the waters with some selective reintroduction of foods and managing occasional indulgences and other less healthy choices as that - occasional....

I am really hoping the bulk of my benefits show up in my last 10 days. Since I've started eating more at mealtimes, I'm definitely less nauseous and yucky feeling towards the end of the day.

I'm also going to be doing some meal planning this week and actually try out some of my recipes in the books I bought. I will be making some bone broth as well on the weekend and as we speak, we have Kalua Pig in the crock pot from Nom Nom Paleo for meat for my meals!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Until next time...

T

Day 17 - 18 - The New Normal?

I've been thinking a lot over the past 2 days about what I'll do for my re-introduction phase when my W30 is over on July 6. What order will I try to bring things back into my eating habits? What will stay out because I'm happy without it? How will I use this experience to springboard my healthier eating habits long-term? I'm really unsure about all of that, because even though I'm done day 18 now, I'm still so unsure about how to sustain this (even for 12 more days).

The Whole30 is very drastic and it's meant to be that way. I get that, but it's amazing the impact on daily life that it has. I'm truly looking forward to adjusting my eating in July to allow for a bit more flexibility and convenience. 

Another issue that has been happening over the past few days is that the effects of not eating enough are starting to manifest into symptoms. The dizzy, woozy, nauseous, headachey, crappy feelings later in the afternoon and before dinner are a result of not having nearly enough protein and starchy veggies during the day.

Typical Day

Breakfast - 4oz chicken, 1/2 cup sweet potatoes, 2 large handfuls of spinach, fruit serving - I eat maybe 1/2 and can't do more (except the fruit)
Lunch - 4oz meat / protein including hard boiled eggs, 2 cups of veggies, 1 fruit serving - most of the time this gets eaten but sometimes only about 3/4 and I can't do more.
Dinner - 4 - 6 oz meat, salad or other veggies, potatoes or sweet potatoes - this usually gets fully eaten.

I occasionally will have some cashews and almonds in the late morning and/or early afternoon as a "snack" though that's not recommended.

The problem isn't really that I'm not hungry, it's that I'm just tired and bored of this food, the variety is hard to get when you have such limited choices and specialty items are so expensive and difficult to find. Even "compliant" foods have so many limitations and restrictions that you can't even find things that work that way (i.e. almond or coconut milk - not all are equal and not all are allowed).

I also found out I'm not drinking enough water - despite getting 40-60oz a day (which apparently is the right amount for a 120 pound person). I thought I was doing pretty well...

I know I'm sounding pretty negative today, I guess I feel that way. I'm just tired of all of it. The second half was supposed to be so "life changing" when your mood and energy is soaring...so I'm a bit disappointed that all my hard work isn't really paying off in the way I thought it would.  This has been the most restrictive 18 days I've ever done and it feels right now that it's not worth it.

Until next time...

T

Day 16 - back to the grind....uh oh....

The only downfall about being away all weekend is missing my shopping trip and prep time on Sunday. I knew this would be a challenge, but that's ok - life is full of them. I've made my list for the week and went right after work to get it all ready.  Today though, I had nothing with me. I even forgot my water bottle at home! So unprepared.

I stopped at Tim's and got a medium iced coffee (black) and am quite enjoying it this morning. I was even able to resist bagels and muffins, etc! We have a Sunterra Market in our building at work, so I was able to get some compliant breakfast and hit the salad bar for lunch. All in all, not a bad backup plan and certainly no excuse to not eat properly!

My blog is going to be a bit different in the last half of my 30 days. I'm now on the actual back side of this and it feels amazing. I know it's a dangerous time now because I have to be careful not to take any of these new habits that are forming for granted. There will be less focus now on the meals and the food, less pictures too (maybe some of you are happy not to see the food pics now, maybe not?).

The posts will be more about changes that I'm seeing and how I'm feeling overall.

For instance, an interesting thing happened between Saturday and Sunday. I started really having less cravings. I don't feel like I'm craving or loving the "new" food yet, but I'm not thinking obsessively about all the things I'm not eating anymore either. It's a nice shift.

Other "wins" so far:

• Skin - looks clearer and feels nicer
• Mood - less moody. I know I've been a bit cranky off and on during the first 15 days, but I really feel like I am less angry and irritable. 
• Pain - it's about the same, although I haven't felt "yucky" after eating since starting...don't eat to the point of being stuffed, so I'm not feeling indigestion and crampy and gross anymore.
• Headaches - other than the caffeine headaches that came from the lack of coffee, I've had none. 
• Medication - I have not had to take Tylenol or Advil or anything during the day at all for any kind of issue since I started.

Overall, it's going really well. I know I can make it to the end, only14 more days to go!

Until tomorrow...

T

Days 13 - 15 and a weekend away

Day 13

See? It's a brand new day...the sun is shining today and yesterday's little slip then recovery is all over.  I made it through and I'm still here and still on track.

Someone on the W30 Ladies group on Facebook posted something really meaningful to me today. It was perfect timing in light of what happened yesterday. She just completed her W30 and posted this:

"I did things a bit differently and un-'complaint'. I started by eliminating sugar, processed foods, dairy, all grains, corn, legumes, lentils and alcohol from my home. Then I just ate whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. I didn't follow the no snacking rule, or the don't mix certain foods with certain foods etc. I just ate within the 'boundaries' whenever it felt right. Eating this way is how my body feels best (ate paleo for many months a few years ago) and I don't plan on changing it anytime soon so I wanted to make sure that this first 30 days was realistic not 'complaint'. Not having bacon because it has some honey is just not in the cards for me.  I'm sharing this because it's important to me (at least) that I remind myself that diet and the way we fuel our bodies is at LIFESTYLE not just 30 days. Yes a reset is so important but this goes so much further beyond the food and a certain amount of time."

She is so right! I do plan to do some version of this eating long term, it's how I want to eat and how I want to live...I have to stop looking at it like this is temporary. Yes some of the eliminations are, but most will stay with me long term. It really helped put things into perspective.

Day 14 - 15 

We had an awesome weekend with the Kids and Grandbaby! It was beautiful weather and we had a great time visiting and hanging out. Got to hit up Whole Foods in Vancouver which was amazing! I can't wait until we get ours here in 2017! I could see it being pretty dangerous cost wise, so hopefully it will be on the other side of the city! I got some coconut "yogurt" which is a coconut milk based yogurt type thing....it was a bit more like sour cream and would be good in dressings or savory dishes more than just as a yogurt.

I had a fabulous personal chef all weekend who made sure I ate enough (even when I said I only want and egg and an apple)! Breakfast was no problem and then we were full all day until dinner so really didn't eat lunch. I took my nuts and dried fruit for snacks which worked really well in between. I was very happy to be able to stay on track all weekend.  I was also introduced to Tim Horton's iced coffee - black of course. It's actually not too bad. At least there is something out there that I don't mind if I want a little pick me up from time to time.

No pictures to post, I forgot in Whole Foods it was just so magnificent!

Until tomorrow...

T

Day 12 - Last post for a few days

It's still rainy and gloomy here and I have NO energy at all. I couldn't even get out of bed when my alarm rang. Needless to say I ate breakfast at my desk (that I still cooked fresh this morning before I left) today.

I definitely felt different last night and today. My usual crankiness at the end of the day and rebellion against everything W30 didn't happen. I was much more mellow and didn't care that I couldn't have my old foods last night. I was excited to make dinner and really enjoyed it. Even this morning, it's a strange feeling, like the foods I've been missing most are less vivid, more faded. I have to struggle to think about what they would taste like and why I want them....this is very promising.

I can't believe it's day 12! By the time the weekend is over I'll be half way through! HALF WAY PEOPLE!!!

I had a bit of a "lack of coffee" headache yesterday and today I'd sure like to have a nice warm caramel machiatto, but other than that no real issue not having coffee for 2 days.

Breakfast was sauteed chicken and spinach...nothing fancy because I was in a hurry.

Lunch was leftover from dinner - chicken garlic sausage and stir fried veggies.









Here is where things got complicated. The lack of caffeine has really taken its toll today. I started having a wicked headache later in the day and felt dizzy and weak and sick on my way home. I came home and.....made a tiny grilled cheese. There, I said it.  I only used one slice of bread and about 1.5 oz cheese, but still. I needed something to eat as I felt I was going to pass out. I could have grabbed an apple, but I didn't

The next thing that happened was that I texted Jeff to bring me a small slurpee home. He said that we shouldn't have it but I insisted that it was my choice and I wanted it.  When he got home we talked about it and what my "slip" meant and if it should be the end of my program or not. I had to make a decision, do I drink the slurpee which probably would throw a lot of my progress out the window. Do I call it quits and order pizza and quietly never speak of the Whole30 again? Or do I realize that it was one tiny blip in a moment of weakness and feeling crappy and move on?  So without having a sip of the slurpee they were dumped out. At least I can say I still haven't had any sugar!

I know for sure that it had the most to do with the caffeine withdrawal but I am definitely not eating enough during the day. I will be incorporating an afternoon snack to help. I wish the tea tasted better because this is not fun.  

So I'm not starting over at day 1. I am going to give myself a break and move on. I guess perfection is too much to strive for. It was important to me to be true on my blog though, it's not supposed to be just the good stuff. 

Dinner was taco salad complete with a cool ranch I made with my home made mayo. It was ok but I won't make the dressing again.

Today will be the last blog post for a few days as we go visit the kids and our GRANDSON!!!! I can't wait to see them and their place. It is very exciting to be able to stay with them for the first time.

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

Until next time...onward we go!

T

Day 11 - Rainy Wednesday

Today is a much lower energy day it seems. Doesn't help that I haven't had a full cup of coffee in a week either. I tried to drink a small cup of iced black coffee this morning with my breakfast and it was just not good. I had the revelation on the way to work that I don't like coffee. I like fancy coffee based drinks and sweet and creamy coffee flavor, but coffee on it's own...is gross. So why am I bothering spending time and money (and dish washing) to perfect a W30 approved coffee for my mornings when I'm not even enjoying it in the slightest? I tried cold brewing a batch of Teavana Raspberry Riot Mate tea for this morning, and while it offers a good caffeine kick, it's also just ok. So water it is! Hooray....

Day 6 of eating breakfast at home and not on the go. I actually managed to do eggs today as I'm now pretty tired of my sweet potato regime. I'm thinking I'll find a sweet potato soup recipe and have that for the remaining 2 days this week just to change things up.

Breakfast - classic scrambled eggs with spinach

Lunch - shrimp salad lettuce wraps.

This was a good idea, but poorly executed. It was a bit watery and flavorless...I've gotten some great ideas off my Whole30 Ladies Facebook group, so I'll try again another time.

Dinner - Garlic chicken sausage and "inside out eggroll" stir fry. This has been one of my favorite meals so far. Jeff was only "meh" on it. I got the sausage from Missing Links at the farmer's market and it is amazing!













Tonight we have to start packing and getting ready to go visit the family in BC. Super excited to see them and I appreciate that they are SO supportive of my program.

Until tomorrow...

T

Day 10 - Double Digits!!!

Hooray! I made it to double digits and a third of the way through!

I definitely feel better today than yesterday. I had a better sleep and woke up with more energy. Jeff and I talked last night and decided that the only way for me to get through the remaining 20 days is to cut out the negativity and food bashing and focus on the positive.

I'm at a hard point in this journey because I haven't really started reaping any of the benefits yet but the cravings are at a maximum. It's tough to stay motivated for sure when you're still clinging to the old habits mentally but moving on physically.

The first positive thing today was that I woke up and felt actually a little hungry for proper food.

Breakfast was leftover breakfast sausage from the other day with sweet potatoes and spinach.



















My coffee was a bust AGAIN so I'm going without today and I'll see how I feel. No point forcing myself to have something I don't enjoy when it's not a necessity anyway!

I also need to up my water as I've gone from about 48oz a day on days 1 - 7 to about 24 over the past few days.

Lunch today is leftovers from last nights dinner - hamburger patties with sauteed snow peas with added raw veggies on the side.

On my way home it was like a switch flipped and I was hungry and cranky and unsure of my reasons for doing this. I started feeling like the benefits aren't showing up yet and the effort is high so why keep going?

Dinner was baked chicken wings with tater tots. After mulling over the ingredients I decided the convenience was worth the little bit of corn starch that was the only offending ingredient. I only ate about 8-10 of them and even dipped in the bit of ketchup (gasp....ketchup) it is fine.

I'm not pleased with my choice and I also didn't really enjoy them so it isn't something I'll likely choose again soon.

I'm just so tired. Tired of all the extra work that I'm doing to prepare and clean up and shop and plan. Tired of the veggies and the meat at breakfast and trying to find compliant things that I can at least pretend to enjoy. Boy it's a tough transition when you have to train a brain that has spent it's entire life being rewarded by food and thinking of food as a comfort or fun thing. I can see why you can't give in, not even a little.

I guess the bratty child wants to hang around a little more. Hopefully this passes quickly because in many ways it's much harder than the first few days.

Until tomorrow...

T

Day 9 - I can't believe I've made it this far...

I think today should actually be labeled the "I hate food and want to act like a petulant child" day . This section of the program (days 6-15) are categorized as the "Boundless Energy - Now Give Me a Damn Twinkie" days (see my day by day post at the bottom). I do NOT, repeat DO NOT have boundless energy, or much at all actually...hopefully that is on it's way soon. I'm probably not eating enough greens and protein to get that boost, but that takes me to my first part of the post. I am NOT loving food. I have almost no appetite and I'm feeling like a brat about it. I want my old unhealthy foods back....don't worry I'm not on the verge of quitting, but I just feel like I want to have a complete tantrum about it and move on. Maybe I should.

Today was the first day I did breakfast at home before work. I got up early and everything! I put together my weekend go-to breakfast of sweet potatoes, veggies and protein and sat down....and didn't want to eat. It was under 1 hour from getting out of bed and it was just about impossible to even choke down 3 bites. So I packed it up and brought it to work for later. Unfortunately, later was lunch as you'll see.

 

Breakfast - mashed sweet potatoes, peppers and chicken (update - that one piece of chicken at the bottom sticking out is driving me NUTS!!! I may have to photo shop)

Lunch - I was hungry because I felt my tummy growling from the lack of food this morning, but again, so unappealing. Today was leftover spaghetti squash with the leftover breakfast hash. I also made potato salad and a berry fruit medley which of course both went down a little better (sweet and creamy).
 

Dinner - I decided to take a break from any potatoes and made hamburger patties in mushroom gravy, sautéed snow peas and Caesar salad (that's crispy prosciutto on the caesar salad!)















The best part of dinner was our conversation about how we are both just tolerating these meals and haven't started loving them yet.

Me - I am tired of having to make these strange concoctions like date syrup.
Jeff - You made date syrup? Did you taste it?
Me - No but it's supposed to taste like caramel like a good brown sugar substitute.
Jeff - Well get in there and make some crappy cookies with date syrup and almond flour and throw some raisins in there instead of chocolate chips and they'll be "this flat" (pinches fingers together) and they be just f'ing great!

I think we are both making sacrifices even tho he's not on the same program :).

Overall, I'm just going through the motions, which is far better than reverting back. I don't feel like a "flight risk" for the program, I just intend to keep going. Oh, and I'm pretty sure I'm quitting coffee, at least for the remaining 21 days. I just do NOT enjoy it any of the ways I've tried and why bother if I don't like it and it's not giving me any benefit?

Until tomorrow...

T

Day 8 - Sunday Prep Day

Today felt the most normal of all the days so far. Not specifically food wise, but routine. My final grocery shop of the weekend (3 of 3) and all prep was completely done by 1230 and that included making the mayo and a BBQ sauce for dinner!

Food wise it was fine. I had breakfast but didn't feel like eating lunch at all. I found a couple of good additions to my variety arsenal today: Kombucha and Perrier. Kombucha is a fermented tea drink that has lots of probiotic properties. Often mixed with fruit juice, this is a popular drink of Whole30'ers out there. It's fizzy and has a nice flavor. The Perrier is just a nice change from still water which is pretty much all I'm drinking.

Breakfast - tried the new breakfast sausage from the farmers market. It's dense and meaty but as usual, I'm missing the sweetness. 

Dinner was slow roasted ribs with the BBQ sauce from the Well Fed paleo cookbook. It was savory and more vinegar based. Jeff loved it as you can see but again....well you know...sweet.

I don't have a lot of energy tonight. If it wasn't for the Game of Thrones season finale I would probably be in bed already.

When I was frustrated last night my super awesome hubby reminded me that it's still early. I agreed and said that it is t the Whole7 so it's going to still take time to break habits and cravings.

So I plod onward.

Until tomorrow...

T

Day 7 - Success and Frustration

Today was a mix of many things. I am still very tired though less blah today. I can't believe it's day 7!

First I forgot yesterday to show you what happens if I skip one evening of "chores". I took Thursday night off...sigh  

Breakfast. WIN!!

I had spinach and chicken with orange pepper and strawberries.

Today was movie day so I packed a Baggie with cashews, almonds, dried fruit and coconut and off we went. I got a large ice water from the concession (they made me pay $5.00 for it) but it felt like I wasn't missing out and seemed better than a bottle of water. Jurassic World was amazing.
 

We went to the farmers market after the movie and I picked up a few varieties of sausages made without sugar or any gluten or dairy. I'm happy to have some new meat alternatives for the coming week.

Dinner - we tried out the new smokies with fried potatoes and roasted asparagus.

Tomorrow is a new day. I hope that it goes well. I'm getting bored and a bit frustrated to be honest. Old habits are hard to break

Until tomorrow...

T

Day 6 - Blah

Well today was tough. It was my first day off since starting really. I planned my day with activities - shopping for more Whole30 food and supplies and a nail appointment as well as some other errands.

It was highly discouraging to see the lack of available products without sugar, dairy or grains. Trying to find healthy alternatives for snacks and meals is not easy unless you go to specialty stores (which I did) and spend $65 on 8 items, most of which were dried fruit. I know, I know the investment will pay off in the long run. It sucks having to compromise in order to buy what I need that's for sure. Ok rant over.

Today was supposed to be the first day of the "I just want to nap" stage. I thought since I sailed through "the hangover" and "kill all the things" largely unscathed that I may get lucky for day 6. WRONG!!! I was exhausted and feeling blah all day.

Breakfast was a win! I finally got my "template" meal in before 9am!

Mashed sweet potato with sautéed spinach and chicken. It was so yummy!

Lunch was late as my nail appointment (and an unexpected bee in my car) caused me to be later than expected getting home. It was almost the same as above but with the leftover steak and mushrooms.

Dinner was buffalo chicken with oven "fries". I should have made a salad too. I'll get it figured out soon enough. 

Today I've been feeling yucky. I don't know if it was the switch to almond milk in my coffee or what but I've just been very low energy and yucky all day.

Tomorrow we are going to se Jurassic World. I'm so excited. I'll be making up a small bag of snack mix (from my gold plated dried fruit and Costco nuts) and having water. I know it will be a challenge because we always have popcorn. I'm hoping the dinosaurs will be enough entertainment.

Until tomorrow.

T

Day 5 - What? Day 5????

I know for those of you who aren't like me and can actually put your mind to lifestyle changes and do them, this probably doesn't seem like a huge achievement. For me though, it is. I've done 2 programs in my life where I can say I stuck to them for more than 4 or 5 days. Even then, it was followed "with exceptions". This time though is quite honestly, the first time I can say that I've 100% eaten only compliant foods. Even if sugar is the last ingredient in a long list of ingredients on some seasoning that is only going to be a teaspoon in a large recipe, it's been rejected. I'm super proud of this and though I do realize I still have 26 more days (including today) to go, it's no small thing.

Also, my mind is different this time. I thought about it last night after my friend said I was really motivated this time. I'm actually not. I don't feel motivated and "pumped" and rah rah I'm going to do this at all. I feel submissive. I feel like this is just something I am doing that I must do and although it sucks in many ways, it will pay off and so I keep trudging along. Maybe that's ok though, because whatever gets me to stick to it is just fine.

Forgot to mention yesterday a big victory for me! It was "birthday celebration day" at work. We celebrate all the birthdays and work anniversaries for the month. There is always cake or other treats. I didn't have any and didn't feel irritated about it, but I was still able to participate and enjoy the celebration even without the treats.

This morning, I actually managed to eat a warm breakfast before 8:30. Granted it was mashed potatoes without the protein, which is not ideal but at least I am getting used to eating warm, savory foods in the morning and hopefully I can add in more of the "template" foods (veggies, protein and fats at every meal). I will keep pushing myself and as of tomorrow start having breakfast at home.

So no pic of breakfast because it was, well boring.

Lunch today is leftover spaghetti squash and meat sauce from dinner

Dinner was steak with Caesar salad and mushrooms and left over crispy mashed potatoes.

I'll be honest, even though I spent the better part of Sunday prepping and planning, this is an INSANE amount of work every evening. My once a week grocery shopping just doesn't cut it because you need to replenish fresh fruit and veggies mid-week. Run the dishwasher every few days? Hah! Yah, if you want to eat out of baggies! Every night it is loaded and unloaded. I'm sure those of you with children are thinking, "um yah.... obviously" but for me it wasn't an every day chore. Feed the dogs, unload the dishwasher, reload the dishwasher, get everything out for dinner and for any other add on's I want for the next day. Make dinner, eat dinner, clean up after dinner, finish preparing the lunch items for the next day, clean up the kitchen, run the dishwasher. It's a lot for me.

The good news is, none of this is making me think that I should just quit and go back to the old way. Not even a little. I'm complaining about it yes and we can expect that to continue for some time, but I'm not giving up. I have got some amazing people in my life, both new friends and old. The gifts of emails that just show up cheering me on or friends I've just met taking time out of their day to check in with me is just amazing. I am so very fortunate and I'm grateful for each and every one of you!

Until tomorrow.

T

Day 4 - Feels oddly normal

Last night after I posted, I felt very discouraged. I started having the "I can't eat like this for 27 more days" thoughts. I couldn't even pack a protein and veggie breakfast because my stomach was turning just thinking about it.

After a great chat with the hubby and a few tears, I was ok. I was reminded of how important this 30 days is to me and how I really do want to see it through and decide at that point how to continue. After repeating it's only 30 days in my head a few times, I hit my reset button by going to sleep.

This morning, I felt pretty ok. I didn't manage to get up early enough to do my breakfast at home, but I gave myself a break and just had berries for breakfast instead of the full "template" meal I'm supposed to have. Obviously there is no picture of my little container of berries...

My mayo making finally was successful using the new Cuisinart immersion blender















Lunch Today is egg salad with my home made mayo atop a bed of spinach

Decided to try the Old School Italian Meat Sauce (modified slightly to what I had on hand) from The Clothes Make the Girl over spaghetti squash. Unfortunately I was missing a lot so it ended up way more basic. 

This was Jeff's first time having spaghetti squash and he actually ate a full plate. I added extra veggies to the sauce.

I'm feeling ok but this way of eating certainly does change your thoughts about food. You can't eat because it's luscious or fun. It's eating for nourishment. That's a hard shift to make after more than 40 years of doing something one way. I'm feeling a bit pouty and annoyed at the whole thing to be honest.

Until tomorrow...

T

Day 3 - It could have all gone wrong...

Well my day started out pretty rough. After only getting about 2.5 hours of sleep, I woke up craving sweet and creamy and unsure of my ability to get through today.

After reaching out to the great people on the Whole9 Forum and making some new friends there, I am feeling better. One thing that was said to me which I can tell is an important and memorable statement is "Don't give back these days you've struggled through, they are yours!" and "It does not get easier if you stop now and try again in a week, month or year." Pretty powerful statements if you think about it. From someone who doesn't even know me yet. To take the time out of their day to provide coaching and support to me? Amazing.

Breakfast - A scramble made with beef (with sausage spices), roasted veggies and eggs with some garlic powder and hot sauce. 










It was tasty, but still struggling to choke down this type of food in the morning.

Tomorrow I'm getting up earlier and having breakfast at home. I need to make new habits right?

Lunch - Silky gingered zucchini soup (from Well Fed 2) and The Clothes Make the Girl with grilled chicken and spinach salad.









This soup is AMAZING! It's so flavorful and full of veggies. I loved every silky second of it. I could see having this at breakfast as well.

For dinner, I decided that I really wanted buffalo wings. So I used Franks that doesn't have sugar and my clarified butter and made my own sauce on baked wings. I didn't take a pic because we devoured them. I still need to have some sort of veggies or salad....

Today turned out to be really great actually. I'm already connecting with some great people and I can tell that this journey is going to give me SO much more than I could have imagined....

Until tomorrow....

T

The Day 2 That Almost Wasn't...

So last night before bed and while trying to stay awake to watch Game of Thrones, I started thinking...which isn't always a good thing. The "old me" kept trying to talk me out of doing this.

This morning I felt better when I woke up and even though I was tired and had a headache, I still felt more mentally able to cope. I reached out to my friends on the forums that I belong to about Whole30 and chatted over email with my new UK friend who started on Sunday as well. Now I feel more in control and renewed.

I am not posting a pic of today's breakfast because it was, well, pathetic. I'm struggling to eat protein and veggies for breakfast, so while Whole30 compliant, it was not stellar.





Lunch - Grilled chicken, roasted veggies and applesauce (I chose not to eat the applesauce because I was craving sugar after my meal and thought it would not help changing that habit)






The afternoon went well and my spirits are much higher than I thought. I got so many helpful ideas today. I also downloaded Well Fed 1 and 2 which are Paleo Whole 30 approved cookbooks. Some great ideas in there. Tomorrow lunch will be the silk ginger zucchini soup! My house smells amazing.

Dinner

Dinner was a makeshift taco salad. I wish my mayo had been successful so I could have made the ranch dressing as this was a lot of one flavor.















I had a snack too - 1/2 a banana with whipped coconut cream and unsweetened coconut flakes

















All in all it was a darn good day 2. I learned that sleeping resets all my negative self doubting thoughts so I truly just need to take this day by day.

Until tomorrow...

T

The Day 1 That Almost Wasn't

So here we go!

Yesterday I got all my groceries, including pre washed and cut veggies from the farmers market (one stand offers this service for only a dollar per container). I put everything away and went about my day.

Around 7pm I started to realize that Sunday was to be my start date and I should have prepared everything before then! Planning to prep all day Sunday was good, but what would I have for breakfast and lunch? Would I have time to care about my eating? I almost decided to make Monday my day one but I took a step back and decided to just play it by ear and see what I could do.

Breakfast - Scrambled eggs, sauteed spinach and fruit salad...ok so my spinach and eggs should take up WAY more of my plate than the fruit...it's a journey people...

Lunch - Spinach salad dressed with balsamic vinegar, tuna with lemon and hard boiled eggs. Much better proportions

Dinner - Amazing steak on the bbq with boiled dill new potatoes and bean and carrot medley


















I'm feeling really draggy at the end of the day here. I'm glad I started today and I'm looking forward to the week!

I have all sorts of things packed for tomorrow. I don't relish the thought of veggies at breakfast time but I'll get through it I'm sure.

Until Tomorrow...

T

Happy Friday ~ here we go!

Last day of work today before I start my experiment!

I'm excited and freaked. I've started thinking "this is the last ____" I'll have for a month as I eat various things this week. 

I plan to have a milkshake tomorrow..why? I'm not sure now actually...I don't usually drink milkshakes, maybe I feel I "deserve" a treat before starting? Strange....

I kind of feel like I want to eat all the cheese and pasta I can as well. Again, not something I have every day or even every week, but now I want it.

I think we can all see what is going to happen here.....this is a battle of wits...me against me.  Well I have news for you "other me" it's not happening this time. I've already made up my mind. It's done, finished and happening. You are going to be noisy and distracting and disruptive for the next 30 days, I can tell that. If it helps at all - you won't win this time. You won't be so annoying that I will give in and stop. 

I'm tired of feeling like crap. I know that the majority of my health issues / mood / sleep / pain is related to my eating / diet. I know that at the end of this Whole30 I will feel different. I will be different and I will have proven to myself that I can do whatever I put my mind to. 

So come on Sunday, get here and lets get this show on the road!

T

Less than a week to start date and I'm starting to freak out....

I'm excited, don't get me wrong. I think it's going to be awesome to see the changes that I go through in just 30 short days. I'm looking forward to the (eventual) mood improvements the most, plus the sleeping benefits, inflammation benefits and overall feeling of well being.

I can't wait to get my "tiger blood" which is the point in the Whole30 where you feel like you can do anything....but - I've got to get through the first part first and that's scary.

Thinking about the amount of prep that will be needed just to ensure I have the foods I need on hand and ready when I'm hungry. I want to set myself up for success and not make it harder than it has to be to make compliant dinners and lunches. I've vowed not to eat at restaurants at all during the month of June which is going to be hard. I know that the first week is going to be tough, so I want to be sure to be ready and armed with the right tools (food prepped and ready) that I need.

I know I'm over thinking it, but I also know myself. If I see an out, I'll take it and I don't want to do that on this program.

So, I'm scouring forums and the meal planning guide. I'm planning my groceries and looking for things that can be easy to prepare and keep in the fridge.

Look out Sunday - here I come....but until then, I shall continue to over think and freak out a bit...it's just who I am.