3 Weeks!

Wow, people!   I have been eating, breathing, and sleeping Whole30 for 3 weeks today.  It feels as if 75% of my day involves cooking, cleaning, prepping and/or thinking Whole30.  That's the downfall.  It is a lot of work.  Admittedly, I have not done tons of prep work ahead of time which would definitely cut down on some of the time it takes to make a meal.  It's a whole new way of cooking and one I'm still trying to get familiar with.  So many new ingredients:  fish sauce, coconut aminos, ghee, and coconut cream are just a few that have never been ingredients in my "preWhole30" menus.  That being said, the work is paying off.  I know I am losing weight because I have broken the rule and have been weighing myself.  I do feel better.  Prior to this challenge I would be so sore and so stiff after sitting for just a while.  My knees hurt going up the stairs after watching tv on the couch.  Same thing when getting out of my car after driving for a bit.  I felt OLD.  The stiffness and achiness have definitely improved.  I have been struggling with plantar fascitis and that has improved only a little.  My clothes are feeling looser and that is my favorite "side effect" of all.

I mentioned that I broke one of the cardinal rules of the Whole30 program:  I weighed myself.  The point of the program is for me to develop a healthy relationship with food and the art of being healthy and to not focus on what the scale has to say.  I would like to say that I don't let the scale define me, per say, but then I would be lying.  The upside to this has been it has been motivational!

The scale has not been the only violation.  Last week I made a delicious vegetable beef soup using my own HOMEMADE bone broth and added tons of veggies.  Including peas.  Those tiny, round little green balls are an offender in the Whole30 program.  Sugar snap peas are not.  But regular peas are.  Who woulda thunk?

And that's not all, yesterday the kids and I went out to dinner. I desperately needed a break from the cooking and kitchen cleaning.  We decided on Russ's mainly because the kids had free kids meal coupons.    I came armed with my own homemade, Whole30 approved, ranch dressing and my own ghee.  I ordered a salad sans cheese and croutons, a plain baked potato and a grilled chicken breast.  Before I go on, let me just say that was a victory in and of itself.  That would not have been my first choice, or even my 10th choice, 3 weeks ago.  So I'm feeling pretty pumped with my order.  That is until I took a bite of the chicken.  Immediately I could tell it had been marinated in something.  Now my choice was to skip the chicken and eat everything else or I could be "that" person and send it back telling the waitress it wasn't exactly what I was expecting, or I could just eat it and play dumb.  I chose the latter.  And then I started feeling guilty because I have been doing so well I really didn't want to screw up this far into the program.  But technically I had already failed the program with the first two infractions that I mentioned.  Therefore, I chose to eat the chicken and while not compliant with the Whole30 program I knew it was still a victory for me.  It was still a better choice than many other options.  (On the way out of the restaurant I happened to be chatting up the manager.  I asked if they had an ingredient list for their menu items.  He did.  The chicken was loaded with prohibited ingredients- sugar and cornstarch were the first two that I saw before my eyes filled with tears… just kidding.  I cursed sugar and corn and soy and then left the building.

Today is a new day.  It's been a good new day.  I had BACON.  I found a bacon at target that is compliant which was a pretty big news in the Whole30 world.  There were some pretty excited people when I posted this news.  It is nearly impossible to find bacon or ham or any lunch meat for that matter, that doesn't have added sugar.  Today is starting off on the right foot and I think I will Whole30 on!

Non Scale Victories

During the Whole30 Challenge participants are encouraged to weigh themselves in the beginning and then not again until the end.  I may or may not be following this suggestion.  What they want is for individuals to find NSV or Non Scale Victories.  I've had a few that I would like to share:

First off, I am feeling better.  Not crazy off the wall kind of good but definitely improved.  I don't feel bloated.  For the most part I am not hungry between meals and I am not thinking of snacking or treats as much.  I still have cravings, mostly for chocolate and Diet Coke, but I'm finding them easy to ignore.  I feel in control.  Prior to this challenge I would have totally indulged!

Secondly, I was challenged the past few days and passed with flying colors.  I had to take my aunt to the ED after dinner on Sunday.  She ended up getting transferred to another hospital and I was asked to go too to help provide information.  It was 1am and I was starting to get hungry.  I am a stress eater and it would not have been unusual for me to run through and drive through and grab something quick to eat.  But feeling in control I was able to drive past them and instead ate the banana that had been in my purse for 3 days and waited until I got home to have something that was compliant.  Yeah for me!

Lastly, I feel confident.  I think we are on day 13 and I feel empowered.  I have been able to make good choices for almost 2 weeks and it has boosted my self confidence and self esteem.   Instead of food having control over me I feel like I am gaining more control over it.  I've got a long way to go but I'm getting there!  One good choice at a time!

Days 4-7 and Diet Coke

I can't believe I am going to say this BUT this Whole30 nutrition challenge is not nearly as hard as I thought it would be. Diet Coke. The meals I have made are missing some of my favorite ingredients, like Diet Coke cheese on my tacos, or sour cream in my mashed Diet Coke potatoes, but all in all I've been really fine with what I am allowed to have.  Last Saturday I joined Costco and that was a huge Diet Coke plus.  They have tons of items that are Whole30 compliant.  My fridge was stocked!  The pantry… not so much.  There is not a lot of stuff Diet Coke that is compliant that comes in a can or a box!

As for the Whole30 timeline thing, Diet Coke it really hasn't applied much to me.  I had a really bad headache on day 2 but none since.  I've haven't been really crabby Diet Coke and I certainly haven't wanted to kill anybody or anything.  Rob, on the other Diet Coke hand, was willing to walk wherever he needed to go in this Michigan blizzard if he knew there was a piece of cake waiting for him!  He was irritable.  The funny thing- his Diet Coke attitude totally changed when I told him we could have dill pickles.  Knocked his socks off.

In the past week Diet Coke I have made my own mayonnaise and ranch dressing, ground my own pork to make sausage and currently have bone broth Diet Coke cooking in the crock pot.  The mayo was da bomb if mayo can be described as such.  It's so darn easy and quick to make Diet Coke I won't ever my store mayo again.  The ranch dressing needs Diet Coke a little tweaking but I can see that getting perfected soon.  The sausage will be tested tomorrow at breakfast.  I felt so paleo-whole30-pioneer woman-betty crocker-martha stuart- grinding my own meat.   LOVE my Diet Coke KITCHENAID mixer!

I still have Diet Coke cravings but I don't think it has as big of a hold on me as it did a week ago.  Who am I kidding.  I think about it every waking hour!  If only I could crave eggs like I do Diet Coke.  Let's just say it's a clucking lot of eggs consumed this week.

Lastly, I had my first dream where I ate of the forbidden food and was shunned.  I ordered a double cheese burger.  I ate it and I liked it.  And then I freaked out.  I was going to have to start all over.  Let's just say I was a bit relieved to find out it was just a dream.

I'm starting to see double. I'm off to dream of  Diet Coke whole foods.  Be whole, my friends.

Day 3

Not much new to report.   I haven't found this to be all too difficult… yet.  Rob being on board is definitely making this easier.

Breakfast was delicious-  Hambuger & Hasbrown with Fried Eggs.  Sorry, no pic to post on this one.  The runny egg yolks and the hash browns… a marriage made in heaven.

Lunch-  Sauteed (with avocado oil) Chicken, Onions and Peppers with fresh salsa, avocado on a lettuce wrap.  Yum!  I know the picture probably looks more like someone vomited my lunch but I already had it all dumped on my plate when I decided to snap a pic.  You'll have to just trust that this so, so good.

Dinner was fantastic-  Chicken Apple Sausage with Onion and Sweet Potato.  I LOVED this.  This will definitely be made again.  

According to the "What to Expect Timeline" I am supposed to feel homicidal tomorrow.  Stay tuned.

Day 2

Worst.Headache.Ever.Almost

Otherwise a good day!

Day 1 in the Books!

Last night I went to bed thinking I was all prepared to start this challenge and this morning I woke up wondering what in the world I was going to have for breakfast.  I settled on 2 eggs and a bunch of fruit.    I kind of sabotaged my first day by sleeping in.  I will take advantage of that whenever my family permits which happens about as frequently as Haley's Comet.  Anyway, breakfast was late so I decided to skip lunch.  I was way ready for dinner at 5 with by stomach growling.  While it looked a little boring on the plate, the pork chops and mashed cauliflower tasted awesome!  I should have prepared another veggie; something with color to liven up the dish.

The absolute highlight of my day was that I managed to attend a cake decorating party tonight and not even take a single lick of icing or nibble of cake.  I now have a delicious looking red velvet cake sitting on my counter… because giving up diet coke, grains, dairy, sugar, processed foods wasn't hard enough.  Geesh, what was I thinking.  Bad timing on my part!

Other than being hungry most of the day and now, I would consider day one a success.

The Eve of Whole30: Day 1

Tomorrow is the day.  Day 1 of my first Whole30 challenge and in true food addict fashion I made sure to totally pig out.  I ate like it was my last days on Earth.  I overcarbsumed spaghetti on Tuesday, had movie popcorn, cotton candy and homemade pizza on Wednesday and today had my last bowl of cream of wheat with brown sugar, peanut butter toast with honey, and warm vanilla pudding with chocolate chips today.  If ever there was a doubt that I needed this challenge, I need just reread the last two sentences.  Needless to say, I feel like crap.  Bloated and sluggish mostly.

Yesterday I posted a link to this blog on Facebook.  Talk about feeling vulnerable.  I have no idea who will see this.  I could change the settings and have it read by only people I choose but I feel like this will help with my accountability.  People are "watching" me.  Now that's pressure.  So here I am… vulnerable and under self induced pressure.  Sounds like a great combo!  (Insert sarcasm!)

From what I've read it sounds like the next 2 weeks are going to be rough.  If we are friends, acquaintances, family, etc., I will do my best to be pleasant.  But consider yourself warned.  The timeline for what to expect is found here.  If you see me and I look like a wild animal, foaming at the mouth, and speaking in grunts just refer to the timeline, see where I am, and plan our next meeting accordingly.  Whatever you do- DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS- unless it is Whole30 approved.

All kidding aside… I think I failed to mention that my husband will be joining me on this 30 day experiment.  He will be giving up the usual outlawed food as well as his Busch Lite.   Eliminating the beer alone will be a feat of epic proportions. He enjoys his after work hops.  I hope our marriage can survive the next 30 days.

So long Diet Coke, chocolate, and everything else that tastes good.  I'm kicking you to the curb.  I going to get my health on!