Day #14

No pictures of food today. I decided that my facebook journal will have to suffice for the time being. I ate well though. I had a great hash for Meal one with chicken sausage, left over potatoes and spinach. Meal #2 was peppered turkey wrapped around avocado, tomatoes and monkey salad. Meal #3 was a lean ground beef patty, salad with balsamic vinegrett, zoodles, and a sweet potato. I had a good 5+ mile walk today and got plenty done around the house. Tomorrow is day #15 and the halfway mark for me. I am excited to be halfway through this but I know that I will probably keep on with this in some modified fashion at least paleo. I feel good, really good.

Day #13...So close to the half way point

I tried to add the pictures of my meals from my phone and perhaps I will be able to go back and edit but it was being persnickity and wouldn't let me. Yesterday I added pictures only and had nothing really to say. Weird day I guess. I don't want to say I am getting bored with this but I am getting tired of greens that is for sure. That is my own fault because I have been eating them out of convenience more than anything Tomorrow I will try to do better. I have some grilled asparagus in the freezer and I also have some zucchini that I can have. I need to change it up a bit. I also bought some spinach tonight but that is pretty close to the greens I have been eating so much of these last couple of days. I still feel great. Do I feel a difference in my body? I do and I don't. It is hard to explain. It is not a huge difference. I think my face is looking thinner and my shoulders feel thinner. My clothes don't feel any loser. I will take what small changes I can get and the lessons I am learning. Tonight I went on a evening walk and it felt amazing. 3.5 miles...not too long but enough to get my heart pumping. I accomplished a lot around the house, ate 3 good meals and now I am ready for a good nights sleep. 17 more days.

Day #12

Day #11

I survived day #11. I got creative in the kitchen too. This morning for Meal #1 I made a frittata of sorts. It had sweet potato, spinach, prosciutto, eggs and coconut milk. I had Monkey salad on the side. Meal #2 was really yummy. I stir fried vegetables and made a sauce using cashew butter, siracha and coconut aminoes. Meal #3 was pork chops, sautéed greens with prosciutto, and roasted butternut squash. I went to Trader Joe's today and found some Whole30 compliant sausages, prosciutto and a couple of other things. I love the great deal on vegetables I always get there. I even bought a pie pumpkin to roast for a vegetable sometime. How many more days? Oh yeah...19. I miss my equal in my coffee. I think I can handle the coconut milk but the sweetness is something I miss in my roasty toasty cup of coffee. Who knows by the time the month is over I may be so used to it I won't go back to the equal. We'll see. Onward I go.

 

Day 10- 1/3 of the way there.

 

Day 10 and for some reason at this very moment I feel like I could go eat a bowl of ice-cream or stuff something bad in my face. I deliberately brushed my teeth early because in some silly way that tells me my eating is done for the day. I think I am just stressed and I recognize that I go to food when I feel emotional. I should have thrown on my shoes and gone for a walk tonight....shoulda, coulda, woulda. I am 1/3 of the way to 30 but feel like I have so much to learn. I also worry that I will gain weight eating so much everyday but I am doing my best to keep with the program. Someone on a FB group told me today to "trust the process" and that is what I need to do. I can't judge the effect this Whole30 program will have on me until I have completed it. Meal #1 was steak and an egg, with sautéed greens, potatoes and half a peach. Meal #2 was cabbage and Andouille, broccoli and cauliflower, spaghetti squash and monkey salad. Meal #3 was taco salad with spinach and sweet potato crisps.  So on to day 11 I go...

 

Day 9

Today was harder and I even walked over 5 miles. I struggled with the energy monster. Meal #1 was 2 eggs, potatoes cooked in coconut oil, chicken sausage and sautéed greens. Pineapple for a fruit. Meal #2 was a spinach and strawberry salad with coconut and cashews dressed with pantry vinergrett. Meal #3 was grilled steak, sweet potato and sautéed greens. 21 more days...I will do this.

Day 8....Cravings

Today I had more cravings than I have had so far. EVERYTHING looked good. I did break down and had a Larabar which is Whole30 approved and a cup of coffee in the afternoon. I never gave in to the urges but they we're very present. I had the bar because I was hungry and needed to stop the pangs. This morning I went to the store and got a few things and then did some vegetable prep while the baby slept. Meal #1 was an omelet with sautéed spinach,bacon and peppers. Strawberries on the side. Meal #2 was pulled pork with pasta sauce, roasted cauliflower/broccoli and sautéed greens. I ate half a peach because it was huge. Meal #3 was a roasted piece of chicken, spaghetti squash, sautéed greens and cauliflower. 22 days to go. I can do this.

Day #7 and the end of the first week.

 

Well I made through the first 7 days and I really feel great. Today I had crazy energy and scrubbed my kitchen, did some mopping and vacuuming. This evening my sweet husband asked me to take him on a walk so we had a nice stroll. It wasn't anything to long 2.5 miles maybe but it was great to be out in the night air, holding hands and taking him on one of my trails. I have even more confidence now that I will complete this. My meals were simple and included some leftovers or pre-prepped food. Meal #1 was Andouille and egg scramble, sautéed cabbage and fresh pineapple. Meal #2 was grilled eggplant, turkey burger with pasta sauce and asparagus. Meal #3 was sweet potato hash browns, fried eggs, and a kale and prosciutto sauté.  

 

 

Day #6

Today was #6 and I really feel great. The "carb flu" that I read about has not struck and I am going to cross my fingers that it doesn't. It has been a great day as I had time to walk, then went and had my nails done and hair trimmed. It was a day focused on me and while I truly don't want to be selfish, I did enjoy the time out and special attention. I did a little grocery shopping and then came home and did some prep. I grilled some vegetables, my sausage and some turkey burgers for the week. I also got a nice pineapple cut up which I left part in the refrigerator and froze the rest. Frozen pineapple is a treat. For Meal #1 I had the Monkey salad, sweet potato hash browns cooked in coconut oil and a 3 egg omelet filled with sautéed arugula and sweet peppers. Meal #2 was a leftover meal in which I took a baked potato and put my chili from last night on it. I had a plum as well. Meal #3 was great. I cooked some prosciutto and then sweated some cabbage down with it. (made plenty so I have extras for the week) I had grilled eggplant, asparagus and turkey Andouille sausages. The sausages were a real find as I read label after label to see if something existed that didn't contain sugar, nitrates or other harmful junk. These fit the bill as well as some turkey breakfast links I found. At the Deli counter I was assisted in finding some ham that didn't contain sugar. Reading labels is a real eye opener as it seems like so many products are sugar filled along with so much other crap. It is really hard to find food items that are in a more natural state. I guess so much of this program is built on "WHOLE" nutrition and I am finding that enlightening. 24 more days to go. I haven't decided my course when I am done but I definitely think I will continue doing this if not at least eat a more paleo in nature diet. One step at a time.





 

Thoughts....

Stuck in the middle of my Whole30 log I wanted to post just about some thoughts I had today while walking. I did a 5.5 mile loop and started to feel a blister coming on before mile 3. There was one small little thought to call my husband to come and get me but I decided to push through it. I have a nice quarter size blister to show for it but glad I mushed through. While I was pondering my options about my "blister" and silently whining I thought of one of my friends who has cancer and going through so much right now. How can I complain about a blister? Geez! I have it so good, I really do. As much as there are things I would like to see change, and happen in my life, the life of my family, I really am blessed. I was pushed to think about the fact that maybe there are some things also that could benefit from my showing more faith and putting more in the hands of the Lord. I say I do it but I don't do it really as I should...I need to work on that. Walking felt so good but it was hard...because I have lapsed lately and while yesterday I did 5, and my 5.5 today I still have so far to go to get back in the groove of things. It feels so amazing and freeing just to walk and walk and have no timeline of when I need to be back. The energy it gives me AND the emotional boost is just indescribable. The biggest thing is it gives me time to connect with me and my Savior. I know that may sound so crazy but I am more in tune while out on my feet walking that I am when I am in the middle of mayhem called life. Today is the 6th day of this Whole30 and I feel really good and clear headed. I don't know if I will lose any weight like I am hoping too but the other benefits seem to be worth the work and sacrifice. It feels nice to be doing something that is just for me and working towards this goal. I have forgotten that setting goals for me is a huge motivator and being a little selfish about it I am hoping to really grow in a new way during this 30 days. I will keep on chugging and doing what I do. I know the moments I want to pull my hair out because I am stressed and overwhelmed won't cease but staying focused on this path for 30 days is a way I can hopefully heal my body and mind. I am shooting for that anyway. So my journey continues....

Day #5

 

 

Well today was Saturday and my 5th day on Whole30. I didn't feel like an elaborate Meal #1 so I reheated the last of my two pork sausages and had a mixed fruit salad with coconut meat and cashews on top. That was really good and filling. I am finding that I am not really feeling hungry and so my urge to snack hasn't been too strong. I still think about food, the M&M's on top of the refrigerator that stare longingly at me, the cupboard full of chips that I am sure would be delicious OR how bout that popcorn my son popped last night...smelled heavenly. I don't touch...and I am keenly aware of my senses. For meal #2 a made a salad with a lot of different vegetables. I whipped up the avocado dressing that is in the ISWF book and had that mixed in. We had left over London broil from last night so I put that on the top for my protein. For my final meal of the day I made an awesome beef and vegetable chili and had kiwi and plum on the side. I was stoked at how good the chili tasted. Sweet potatoes, zucchini, onion, red pepper and jalapeno were the stars of the show. It was spicy and flavorful. I am so glad I have leftovers to enjoy on another day. It was really cool out today and I put on my shoes and went for a good 5 mile walk. That felt so good. I am looking forward to getting out tomorrow and doing that again. I miss my regular walks. It will be so nice to figure out a schedule where I can walk routinely again. So far my impression of this program is good. I have energy and emotionally I feel better...perhaps that is because I have something I am committed to and am working hard to follow the guidelines. I drink more water than I used to. So...5 down...and 25 more to go. I am on a roll.



 

 

Day #4

Today started with a headache but midmorning it is gone with the aid of Ibuprophen. Meal #1 was a 3 egg scramble tossed with the last of my roasted root vegetables, red pepper and some bacon. I ate half a pear also. I tried a different kind of coffee with the coconut cream but it still tastes bitter and not really enjoyable. I think I will most likely swear off coffee for the rest of this program. It is just not the same without my Equal and ff half&half. I did leave food on my plate as I felt full. I am trying the flavored sparkling water that has no sweetners and it is tolerable but not a huge fan. Water is much better. :)  The new nonstick skillet I bought has been such a big help. It really makes a huge difference in the amount of fat I have to add for cooking. I am using the healthy fats suggestions from Whole30 but I just don't like to cook with that much. I bought a plantain yesterday and am excited to attempt tostones. Well Meal #2 was okay but I expected more flavor. I made a chicken salad with olive oil mayo, celery, cashews and pineapple. I used leaf lettuce for wraps and had sliced tomatoes and tostones on the side. The tostones were awesome but I threw the last 3 away because I decided as super yummy as they are they satisfied a salty chip craving. I was at one point so stressed with a screaming toddler that I headed straight for the rest of what I had not plated so I could comfort eat. I stopped myself because I realized what I was doing. While having the others would have been okay meal plan wise I just threw them out to disconnect from the emotionally stressed munch. I feel really good about that choice. Well my 4th day is done. My #3 meal was London broil, sautéed swiss chard, butternut squash patties and cucumber/tomato salad. I feel good. I haven't had any real issues with energy so I hope that continues. 

Day #3

 

 

Well, today was the 3rd day and fortunately I woke up without a headache. I got a little creative and tried to make some different meals. Meal #1 I made some really good zucchini and sweet potato patties. I put in a whole egg and some flax meal for a binder. I topped it with a sunny side egg, some slice pork sausage and had nectarines and blueberries on the side. For meal #2 I made a soup with chicken and vegetables. I used a boxed bone broth that was chicken and ginger. It was tasty but spicy and way more than I could eat. Meal #3 was homemade tomato sauce and beef meatballs on a bed of sautéed zucchini. I made a nice salad with vinaigrette on the side. For my fruit I mixed blueberries/raspberries and coconut meat and that was very yummy. My mind was definitely on food today and while I am eating plenty I felt hungry. I still am trying to shake the coffee but I discovered unsweetened coconut cream and added that to it and that made a huge difference. While at the store tonight I kept noticing all these things I would love to eat but then I realized I am doing this to break that cycle so I felt very self aware as I was shopping. I think one of the things that is hard about this program is the work to prepare a meal and actually sit down and focus on eating. It is so different from inhaling food without the brain getting the "I'm full" signal. I also thought about the fact that I don't have to clean my plate. Tuning in to that signal is also something I am trying to work on. All in all it was a good day. So 27 more to go...and my journey continues.

 

 

 

Day #2....

This will be a post I add to throughout the day but wanted to note that I woke up with a beast of a headache this morning. I thought it was weird as I am not usually a headache person so I wonder what it could be???? It may be the smaller amount of caffeine I consumed yesterday. After 3 Ibuprophen I am better. I am really, really glad I did some food prep. before I started this. Cooking a pan of bacon, roasting veg's, cooking my homemade sausage patties, etc. has been so helpful. I am trying to make extra veg's when I cook dinner in the evenings for the family the Whole30 way so I can use the leftovers in future meals. The other night I cooked extra grilled pork chops which worked out fantastic warmed up for my dinner. I made the olive oil mayo and pantry dressing both recipes I got from the Whole30 book and they are divine in taste and helpful for adding flavor. The salad I made yesterday with Salmon was from Salmon I grilled the same time I did the pork chops. Today I am going to cook a pork roast and will shred it and put in small portions. Part of it will be for the family-add bbq sauce for quick pulled pork sandwiches. I will have mine differently, and according to the program. I don't mind cooking for the family a little differently than I do myself but they are enjoying some of it. I joked with my husband yesterday that I wondered when he would sneak off to McDonald's. :) Breakfast this morning was some bacon, roasted root veg's and arugula sautéed in a little ghee. Then I made a 3 egg white wrap to put under my veg. mixture. It was really good. I had strawberries on the side. One thing someone mentioned on a twitter feed or blog I read and that is a "drawback" to all this cooking....THE DISHES. I have to agree and that is why taking that day or so to prep as much as possible saves some time. With the toddler hot on my heels it is hard to spend loads of time in the kitchen and hard to sit and slowly eat. She demands a lot of attention. Yesterday I felt stressed out and ending up bawling after I tried for a couple of hours to get her to nap. I want to do what I need to get back on track and be a healthier me. Sometimes I feel a little resentful that my life seems to revolve around babysitting and I don't have the free time I once had. I remind myself over and over that it is up to ME to overcome what is holding me back and I can figure out a way to work within the limitations I have at this time. People have full time jobs, people have more than one little person to deal with at home...and they all manage. I need to do the same and not use it as an excuse but there are just those moments well I feel trapped. That has really got to stop because it is melting my good feelings and making me not very nice. One of my old friends is very sick and I have other people in my life who are struggling with issues that they can't control and I try very hard to remember them when the pity kicks in. I am truly blessed, lucky and as another friend told me recently...I need to worry about what I have control over...the rest leave to God.

So I am adding in that I am so happy I went for a walk this morning. I put the little girl in the stroller and walked for 4 miles. The bonus was she fell asleep on the way back and slept longer once we got home. I was able to fix and eat lunch quietly without interruption and get a few things done. My time was well spent and I was free of frustration. For lunch I made a mixed baby greens salad with cucumbers,olives,sweet peppers,broccoli dressed with pantry vinegrett. I cooked some shrimp in a small amount of ghee and topped my salad with those. I had some frozen blueberries on the side. I am drinking plenty of water today as well.

The day is done and I survived and no afternoon coffee I might add. For meal#3 I made a,yellow curry and added shredded pork, butternut squash, cauliflower and basil. I ate the leftover green beans and brussel sprouts. It was all very tasty. On to day #3 and 28 to go.

The first day....I survived.

So today was the big day....Day 1 of 30 days that I hope will reset my physical, emotional and nutritional clock. I got on the scale to see my starting point and then put it away for 30 days. Meal #1 (breakfast) was really good and filling. I chopped up some baby sweet peppers, kale and threw in some roasted potatoes. This was cooked in a little bit of ghee. I added some of the pork sausage I made and had precooked. This hash was topped with two sunny side eggs also cooked in a little ghee. I had fresh strawberries on the side. Meal #2 (lunch) was a grilled salmon salad with celery,dill pickles and olive oil mayo I made last night. This I ate on a bed of arugula and tomato  with slices of nectarine. Meal #3 (dinner) was a nice grilled pork chop with balsamic glaze, green beans cooked with onion and some roasted potatoes. I had a salad of arugula and tomato with the pantry vinegrett I made. Roasted root vegetables finished off the plate. The great thing today was that I used many of my prepped foods to make putting meals together easier. My one screw up was a cup of decaf coffee in the late afternoon. I will still take day 1 as a victory. It was an extremely stressful day and I was very aware of the fact that I wanted to eat to calm my anxiety but I did not relent. I also worked hard on drinking more water. So that is my Day 1 down...29 more to go. Baby steps.

The Day Before..

I spent yesterday shopping and getting some things done like a total clean out of my fridge and freezer. Today I have a trip to Trader Joe's to pick up the last of what I think I will need to get started. My house smells amazing as I have had a bone broth simmering in the oven all night. I will divide that up and freeze it for soups and dishes. I also got some ground pork and seasoned it for sausage. It will be interesting to see how that turns out. Today I find myself excited but have that little bit of anxiety about this commitment. I am confident it is the right thing for me but concerned about the work only because I usually have a little person running amuck here which makes preparing anything hard. I will figure it all out though. I am eager for the challenge and change  that is the reward.

It has been so very long....

I was kind of stunned when I came here only to see how long it has been since my last post. I guess the reality is that I have been struggling THAT long or longer to get myself in a good space. When I get stuck in the mire, my desire to blog just falls away. Still hanging on by a thread but I have fallen to the wayside with all my good choices, exercise, etc. I feel every single pound I have gained as a result. My 12's are T.I.G.H.T. and food has been used as a great comforter but unfortunately the results are not comforting. So I have been trying to figure out what in the world I can do to shake myself out of the funk I have been in lately. I decided I need a reset and while I usually don't like diets, and don't subscribe to them as a rule...Tuesday, Sept. 15th I am going on one...for 30 days. Whole30 is going to be my life for 30 days. I have to make some commitments to myself to make it work. One of the things I am going to do and it may get mundane for 30 days but I am going to blog with either photos or just a description of my 3 meals a day AND I am going to include a dialog on how I feel. My other commitment is to walk when I can...find a way to get out more. I HATE that I have lost that lately and I have to take it back. I have excuses but honestly....those aren't going to make me feel any better or honestly explain it away. I just have to do what I can...My confidence has plummeted and I feel constantly overwhelmed and it is almost as if I am stuck in quick sand. My hope is that completely turning how I eat on it's ear and making a commitment to 30 days that I will feel better. In a way it is as though I will have a mission (not impossible) for a month and I can concentrate on all the work that will go in to it. Whole30 is a way of eating that removes so many of the common foods I eat and replaces them with pure, healthy protein, vegetables, fruits and healthy fats. It will mean that on days when I am not babysitting that part of my time will be spend preparing food for the week. It will be an exercise in disconnecting myself from using food as a way of feeding the depression monster when I am triggered. I hope more than anything the cloudy, fog brain and lack of motivation I have been experiencing will go away because I physically feel better. Yes, I hope to shed some of the pounds I have gained and put myself back in a safe zone but it is the switch I hope will get me rolling again. So for those that catch up on my blog...fair warning about the next 30 days to come because there will be a lot of posts and they may or may not be all that interesting. Of course I never know what is interesting about this struggle...but I constantly see and hear things I can relate to and know I am not alone.