Whole30: Week 1

 

Thank goodness for black coffee.
 

I think that's all I have to say...

....


Just kidding. There is so much to say about this adventure.  Right now, I'm feeling good.  I think having attempted a Whole30 before gives me a better perspective.  Knowing what to expect is the hardest part - I mean, you're just eating healthy, it can't be that hard, right? Actually, it IS hard, and I think the biggest challenge right now, is explaining my choice to other people.  Some are encouraging, and even interested to know how it's going, others tend to taunt you by waving ALL the yummy things you can't eat in your face...or by asking you to hold their beer...which is just plain rude.  


Sweet Potato hash w/egg

Overall, compared to my prior experience, I think I am doing great.  I haven't had much in terms of cravings.  I have been a bit tired physically, but my mind feels clear.  My digestive system feels like it is adjusting, and I'm noticing I need to eat more.  This weekend we stocked up our fridge and actually planned out our meals, so I will be having yummy sweet potatoes for breakfast this week, paleo lasagna for dinner (complete with leftovers for lunch), then Italian herb chicken alfredo (made with coconut milk) and Cajun pork burgers, among other things. 

  On Saturday Jason and I went for a short run, and I was miserable.  Day 5 = Ø Energy. Sunday evening we did a slightly longer run and then played indoor soccer, and I felt a bit more alive.  The half marathon I'm running is only 3 weeks away, so I'm hoping my physical energy improves quickly!  I developed shin splints back in July, so I took most of August off for running, and finally had no pain while running this weekend (!!!!).  I'm disappointed that I didn't spend the month of August training, but my goal is to complete the half marathon, not collapse halfway through because my shin splits in half.  My only competitor is me, and I'm in it to win it!  Oops, rabbit trail... anyways, I felt slightly better about exercise the last few evenings, and hoping it only gets better from here.
 
There are a couple of folks who have embarked on the Whole30® adventure with me, and it has been encouraging to touch base with them and compare experiences (my loving husband is included in this, but he has decided to allow alcohol).  On Saturday, my dear friend Amanda and I went to a birthday party.  The party consisted of chicken and carne tacos, lots of yummy sides and desserts, tasty beer, and intriguing mixed drinks.  I am proud to say that we made it work! No IPA, no Kettle Chips, no alcohol, no cheese...we did it.  We brought Pico de Gallo and guacamole to share, which we smothered over our plate of meat. It was delicious!  Amanda has a harder time staying hydrated, so she got creative with her H2O by throwing fruit in a jar with her drinking water, which she kept refilling all day.


Seriously, this was an awesome meal:



Plate of Carne Asada smothered in Guacamole and Pico de Gallo

 

As a group, we have noticed our bodies adjusting to this different way of eating. Whether it be headaches, digestive issues, tiredness, or in my case yesterday, disorganized speech and thought (not sure if this was from W30 or just my normal self), our bodies are rebalancing in response to our better food choices.  Don't worry, I'll keep you posted to let you know about the GOOD outcomes of this adventure - we just have to finish the 'cleansing' phase (if you can call it that) first. 

The Whole30 website has this great timeline outlining what to expect from your mind and body during the program. 

Have you ever done a cleanse or some other type of healthy eating challenge? If so, how did it go for you? What helped you succeed?

On to week number two.



Whole30: Day 1

First days tend to be simple and exciting. Today is not that. 

I feel like I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I have a headache, my eyes are heavy, and my overall mood is mildy morose.  You know how sometimes you need a vacation from your vacation? Well, I feel that way.  One more day off might have done the trick.  Or maybe not.  Who knows?

This last weekend was a bit of a whirlwind, it involved a wine and cheese tasting at my home, then a weekend away with friends.  Friday night I discovered that we didn't have any hot water at home. Unfortunately, at that point in time the hardware store was closed, and we were leaving first thing in the morning for a trip to a rustic cabin (which had NO running water).  Thankfully, come Monday evening, we were able to boil water for a bath.  Meanwhile, my clever husband repaired the water heater so we had hot showers in the morning.  I am so thankful that we live in circumstances where I never have to go without these amenities - I also feel a bit petty...but that's not what I'm here to discuss today.

The moral of the story is that we were either busy, or I was  'busy' being lazy, and did not plan out my week of meals.  I'm going to try and keep it simple this week, and perhaps get more creative for week 2.


Today, I had:

• Breakfast - Black coffee and quiche (crust made with zucchini)
• Snack - Banana
• Lunch - chicken and salad
• Dinner - sweet potatoes and steak bananas, nuts, blueberries (long story, NOT a great dinner. Oops)

I should also mention that I do intend to 'cheat' on my Whole30®.  My oldest brother is getting married in a couple weeks and while I will try to choose Whole30 foods, I'm not going to stress about it. (I know, the Whole30 website says there are ways around it, and you shouldn't have to bend the rules for this or that event).  My brother will have home-brew there, so I will limit my beer intake to a couple tastes or 1-2 small pours, and I'll probably skip on the wedding cake.  I will also probably extend my Whole30 by however many days I 'cheat', so if I cheat for rehearsal dinner and wedding day, my 30 days will extend until  October 3rd.

I have also debated adding back quinoa, because quinoa seems to be a 'grain outlier'...but I haven't decided yet. 

I am disappointed with my poor time management which did not allow me time to cook my steak, but overall, I would say Day 1 was successful.  29 more to go.