Whole 30 - Day 22

Ok everyone, I'm feeling great!  I am not waking up in the middle of the night, I am being told I look slim, that my skin is glowing, and that my eyes are brighter.  I would like to say I have more energy, but frankly I haven't been getting my 8 hours of sleep, so I only have myself to blame.  I also have not been exercising at all (ok summer hockey is in season, but I don't count that).  I wish I would have been better about that because I feel like I would have seen some huge changes.

What do you think?  Can I still add that in and have a bikini-ready body by pool party time?

I am now in Washington DC for my little brother, Khyler's, high school graduation.  I wasn't prepared for breakfast before my flight, so I had three bananas in the car and airport to hold me over.  Surprisingly, it worked!  Because there was nooooothing for me to eat at the airport except for overpriced whole fruit.

Now that I'm here, I'm sticking to the plan.  My sister Sony, her boyfriend Josh, and I, went kayaking on the Potomac - super fun!  

We had BBQ yesterday, which was really good.  I also made stovetop popcorn for everyone.  Then it was pointed out to me that it's corn, which is not on the approved list.  So is it off plan?  My thinking is that I can't have corn because of the starch, but the kernel itself does not hold the same properties, so I think it's perfectly fine.  It better be, because I already realized my mistake on peanut butter and had to cut that out!

Today was the grad party, and probably the hardest day yet.  They had it catered by Baja fresh, which all looks amazing.  And besides the tortillas, chips, and cheese, there is a lot for me to eat!  I grabbed a piece of lettuce and made a huge burrito.

BUT I have felt like I'm missing something today.  It could be the amazing spread of chips and salsa,

Or it could be the incredible cupcakes ... As I said before, I don't have much of a sweet tooth normally, but these are killing me!

I can do this!  Resist the cupcakes!

Peace.  Love.  Serene.

Whole 30 - Day 16

Whole 30 Plan - Day 16 - WOO HOO!

I had every intention on writing on day 15, but we had a 2 big shows at Bloomfield Gymnastics yesterday (which went splendidly), and I just didn't have the energy to write the second blog last night.

So I am over the hump 

50% completed  

Moving towards the finish line

And I have to say - I feel great!  Yes, it's still a struggle to find things to eat.  I'm back to eating eggs - scrambled with various veggies and sausage each morning.  Also, last night I went out to dinner to the Moose Preserve, which hasn't happened many times during this program.  I only found a few options, and had to pick one.  I chose "naked & fit chicken" - charbroiled chicken breast with grilled onions a double side of veggies.  (see pic) The veggies were really good.  I also have a new appreciation for soda water with fresh lime.  The spinach artichoke dip looked yummy, but I resisted.  I'm getting a lot of people saying "just one bite" or "just one sip of beer" ... but other than unavoidable sugars (ketchup at a restaurant), I'm sticking to the plan!

On a great note, I am really starting to feel the difference.  My pants are fitting better.  Part of the program is to not weigh yourself, but I don't anyway, so I would have no starting point.  I'm sleeping a lot better (other than the crazy itchy bug bite - see previous post).  I am not having my 4am protein cravings that usually got my out of bed for a Babybel cheese and 4 Triscuits.

I had noticed my fingernails had gotten really weak.  They were easily bendable, and they split easily.  I am now noticing longer nails, and they are very strong.

Mood:  While my friend Donna, and the other coaches at Bloomfield Gymnastics may not agree with this statement, I really have been in a better mood the last couple of days.  The show yesterday was very stressful, so that may have come through, and Thursday I was crabby because I was trying to pull everything together, and it was also the last remnants of my healing crisis.  So yes, I think I do have improved mood.  Whether it is the food, or the weather, or what part of my cycle I'm in.  Who knows!

Are you thinking about trying the Whole 30 plan yet?

IF I CAN DO IT, YOU CAN DO IT!

Peace.  Love.  Serene.

Whole 30 progress

So my plan was to blog for all of you once a week, but since this is the FIRST week, I thought I would throw in an extra blog to let you know how I'm doing, because, you know, I'm supposed to be kind of batty this first week.

Well, not so much.  But let me explain:  as I said before, I don't drink coffee.  Wait, I do drink coffee, but only when absolutely necessary, filled with milk and sugar.  I don't enjoy the taste, and I am certainly not dependent on it to start my day.  So obviously I didn't even think about that.  While there have a been a few sugary things that look good to me, I haven't had any cravings for them (not unusual for me).  I thought I would be longing after all the foods I can't have, but i really haven't.  My willpower has been pretty strong (I know, color me surprised!), but generally my meals keep me pretty full.  Yesterday I just had a handful of raw cashews for lunch.  That's a no-no, so I promise not to do that again. (I know, Hartwigs, 3 meals!).  At this point, you're saying, "Serene.  You've only made it through 4 days."  HEY!  I dare you to try it!

There have been things that I looked at and thought "just one taste?", but they (from now on you can assume that when I say THEY in relation to this program, I am referring to the authors of the book it starts with food, and the whole 30 program, Dallas & Melissa Hartwig) are pretty adamant that there are no "one-bite" cheats.  So alas, NO SOUP FOR YOU!  (Completely lost on you if you aren't a Seinfeld fan).

My mom will be surprised at the breakfasts I am eating (I'm not much of a breakfast person), which have been yummy, but I have a feeling I'm going to run out of ideas fast.  I'm already a little sick of eggs.  I might go back to my ways of high school and have dinner for breakfast.  I'm a weirdo.  I would eat leftover Chinese food at 7am.  So maybe now it will be grilled chicken and broccoli.  Sounds like a good way to start the day!  Gosh, I can hear you in my head! "Why not try those gluten-free waffles, pancaked, etc or some oatmeal?"  .... 1) Oatmeal is off limits too.  Grains.  2) I'm sure those gluten-free items still have a form of sugar.  I can't even have maple syrup or honey, which is the substitute for most people.   3). They generally say that you shouldn't eat the foods that fool your body.  It doesn't help you break the habit.

When I wanted to cheat (but didn't):

- Making dark chocolate brownies that my grandmother requested.  Mmmm batter.

- Red wings game:  0 items to eat.  Everyone eating pizza and beer.  Another time that I was surprised that it was the beer I really wanted.  Not even BW3 (buffalo wild wings for you younger folks - they changed their name) had their "naked" wings without breading.  I held out and just drank water, and ate a banana when I got home.  Surprisingly, I only needed to satiate my hunger, there was no cravings once I got home.

- I already know I'm going to want a tailgate beer after my hockey game tonight.  It's part of the game - hanging out in the parking lot.  Again with the beer ... And I know I'm not an alcoholic, but it definitely shows how much a part of life it is.

Yeah that's it in the 4 days

How I feel:

Not much different.  I haven't woken up in the middle of the night since I started.  I always get up to pee, or because I crave cheese.  I want to give this another week to make sure it's the program and not something else.  So far no extra clear thinking or amazing energy.  I didn't really expect that after 4 days.  Ok, yeah I did.  I also haven't seen any weight loss (Im actually not allowed to weigh myself per the rules, but I don't anyway - I mean I haven't FELT any weight loss), but I feel less bloaty.  You girls know what Im talking about.

Here's what I've been eating:

Breakfasts:  Sweet potato hash with 2 fried eggs, and Egg scramble with onion, pepper, sausage, tomato, and sprouts on top for crunch.  Side of strawberries.

 

Lunch at work:  Salad with grilled chicken, cuc, sprouts, peppers, blueberries, dried cranberries, pecans.  Guacamole on cucumber, fruit salad  (I had this twice).  Second day I added an apple with homemade almond butter made with raw almonds, coconut oil, himalayan salt, and cinnamon.  Yum!  I love my VitaMix!

I can do this!

Peace. Love. Serene.

It Starts With Food

ITS NOT A DIET!

Ok, so it's not a diet, but it is a PROGRAM called Whole 30, from the book "It Starts With Food" by Melissa & Dallas Hartwig.  So technically I am CHANGING my diet, which I guess is the definition of a diet, but it's more than that.

They include a lot of what they call "sciency" stuff that explains why grains, gluten, dairy, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and legumes are bad for your system.  Let's not even start on processed food (this includes protein and "health" bars)  But the bottom line is that many of these food groups can cause systematic inflammation, which leads to pretty much a gamut of bodily issues:  weight gain, allergies, migraines, swelling, IBS, depression, and all kinds of other things.   Oh and also, they explain that milk is made by mothers to fatten up babies, and give them much needed nutrients very early in life.  That its not really meant to be consumed throughout your life.  And cows milk is for calves ... not humans.  I don't know - that all kind of makes sense to me.

So here's the plan:  30 days with none of the above mentioned food groups.  A diet of quality organic meat, poultry, seafood, nuts, veggies, and fruit.  To season food: olive oil, clarified butter (oh yeah, clarified butter and heavy cream are allowed - Im really not sure why), vinegars, and herbs.

Im not going to lie.  Im a little bit nervous.  One minute I'm saying "I don't drink coffee, and I don't have much of a sweet tooth - this will be a breeze!" Then I went to the grocery store.  Bad move.  I had gone too long before dinner, but I had to get some much needed "prep" food so that I can avoid this very situation in the future. I was hungry.  Then I saw some yummy looking crackers, and some delicious cheese.  DOH!  Ok, so maybe not so much a breeze.  Im not even going to talk about the pasta aisle.  BUT I kept reminding myself of the equally yummy meal at home I was going to make.  And it's only DAY 1 for cripes sake!

So I went home and made my dinner.  In fact, I took pictures of all of my meals today, and you will find them below.  Even my hamburger at the farmer's market!  What surprised me was that it wasn't the bun that I missed - but the beer the guy at the next table was drinking looked awfully good on this 90-degree day!

DAY 1

Breakfast:  Scrambled eggs w/ basil, vietnamese chicken sausage from the farmers market (I know every ingredient!), fresh strawberries.  It was amazing how sweet and flavorful the first bite tasted.  I realized that I didn't feel the same about the last few.  Is that normal.  Are we so used to not tasting our food?  I couldn't even finish this meal.

Lunch at Eastern market:  Perfectly cooked hamburger with grilled onions, ketchup, and mustard.  No, I did not eat the bun.  And Im sure that there was off-plan stuff in the condiments, but the book says sometimes you can't control it.  I definitely couldn't finish this - it was like a pound of meat!

 Dinner:  Marinated grilled chicken, steamed broccoli with olive oil, grilled carrots, fresh strawberries and blueberries.  And yes, that is a strawberry cooler in the background.  Strawberries muddled with mint and stevia.  Let it sit for a bit, then added club soda.

All in all, this could be any other day (other than the no bun).  Im told the first week is the hardest.  Im told that my cravings will go away.  Im told that I will sleep better, have more energy, have better athletic performance, be in a better mood, lose weight, have less allergies, and generally feel good.

I am striving to plan my meals so I am not tempted.  The plan includes NO CHEATS.  I know ... harsh.  Basically you have to start over.  I learned today that I just can't go too long without a meal or I get really really hungry, and thats when mistakes are made.  Im also suppose to eat enough at my meals that I do not snack.  That seems wrong to me, but if I'm going to do this, I have to follow it their way.  I will have a few little "snacky" options so that if I need it, its there.  Im not going to beat myself up about it as long as I have healthy choices.  They are adamant that we are not supposed to get super hungry in between.

I may need some help along the way.   Please don't offer me a cocktail at my little brother's graduation because I can't, and Im going to be bummed out about it.  Please forgive me when I only eat one thing when you invite me over for dinner.  Please understand when if I get a little bit crabby at the end of this week.  And please please don't mention cheese.  I already know that's my weakness.  The things I thought about today were:  cheese, crackers, pasta, and taco shells.  But ....

I CAN DO THIS!

Peace.  Love.  Serene

P.S. If anyone wants to join me in this program, Im happy to share the info, or the book, or the recipes.  I have posted a bunch on Pinterest.  Click here to see my Whole 30 board.