Whole30: Helpful or Harmful?

Wow - we made it to day 18. Week two is over, and then only a couple more days until I can start a single digit countdown.

As I mentioned before, I like to read the Whole30® timeline. I find it incredibly helpful to know how this way of eating changes your body - and the side effects to get there.  Day 12 was awful for me.  I was in a crabby mood, I really wanted a beer...like REALLY. It was hard.  I was being pretty moody, and guess who had to deal with it? My dear husband. He is so great.  Sometimes, I get so mad at him because he is so lovable...it's pretty silly.

Anyways, we were in the car heading to an Elysian tap takeover (that's right, I scheduled my Whole30 during Bellingham Beer Week.  Apparently my subconscious really wanted to test my willpower).  I could have stayed home, but Jason needed (and wanted) to be there for work, and I like hanging out with him. So, we are on our way there, and I can't recall how the conversation ended up there, but we started talking about my terrible attitude. Oh boy, you can only imagine me - eye rolling, big sighs, looks that could kill...I told Jason I was ready to quit Whole30, that it was a terrible idea, and dumb, and he preceded to ask me "Why are you doing the Whole30?" Ugh, this made me fume. I got so mad, because he asked what I did not want to hear.  I think my response was pretty childish and snobby, somewhere along the lines of 'It doesn't even matter, I'm quitting anyways'. 

Oh Jason, most of the time he knows just the right amount of tough love that I need. (Jason, if you are reading this, please don't let this go to your head, I need hugs, too!).  He said something, and responded with another snarky remark, but he got me thinking.  He asked again what the purpose was for me spending 30 days eating healthy.  I pulled out my phone, looked up the timeline, and read this:

Days 10-11: The Hardest Days.

Fact: you are most likely to quit your Whole30 program on Day 10 or 11. By this point, the newness of the program has worn off. You’ve made it through most of the unpleasant physical milestones, but you’ve yet to experience any of the “magic” the program promises. You’re still struggling to establish your new routine (read: you’ve eaten eggs prepared ten different ways over the last ten days), and while you’ve been trying really hard to have a good attitude, today you are incredibly aware of all the foods you’re “choosing not to eat right now.”  Everywhere you look, you see the things you “can’t” have: the melted cheese on a greasy burger, the creaminess of that double-scoop cone, the cold beer in your best friend’s tailgate cooler. Dammit, this is hard! And right now you’re wondering if the results will really be as good as “they” all say it is.
You’re cranky, you’re impatient, and you’re really, really tempted to just eat the stupid cheese. 

This is where you really start to experience the psychological hold that your food habits have on you. You’ve put in a lot of effort to get to where you are right now, but you’re still waiting for the results you’re hoping to see. Your  brain tells you that you deserve some kind of reward (don’t you?) and, of course, we’ve been conditioned to think of food as the best reward out there. Right now, you’re craving that ice cream, beer, or whatever treat you think would make for just the right reward. But, instead of that treat, you’re standing face to face with the realization that you have 20 more days of deprivation ahead of you.

The key here is to redefine your idea of reward.  Think long and hard about the foods you’re grieving and ask yourself what need you’re expecting them to fulfill.  Are you feeling anxious and looking for reassurance?  Are you feeling sad, and looking for something to cheer you up? Are you worried you won’t successfully finish the program, and it’s easier to self-sabotage than fail? Remind yourself that food cannot fill that void for you—cannot make you feel truly accomplished, comforted, calm, happy, beautiful. Then, find another way to fill that need that does not involve those foods. Prepare yourselves for these days, knowing that all you have to do is see them through to the other side before things get much, much easier.
- See more at: http://whole30.com/2013/08/revised-timeline/#sthash.qertFxTS.dpuf

Well, poo. This sounds familiar.  Meanwhile, Jason is still talking to me and I'm ignoring him, which he notices and brings me back to our unpleasant conversation.  I snap at him with 'NO, I'm reading the timeline!' At which point, I can't help but feel my lips start to twitch with a small smile.  Then, I read the timeline to him.  From there, reality hits me and I apologize for my appalling behavior. 

I was thinking about it this morning, and at what point is taking on a challenge like the Whole30 detrimental? I was reading through some of the website, and stumbled on this link The Whole30 Gone Bad. Yes, yes, and yes!  A challenge like this is NOT for everyone.  While the intent is to improve health, it could also be debilitating for someone who already struggles with issues such as eating disorders, or a poor self image.

Something I have been thinking about as I endure this go around, is how this affects me emotionally, and even more importantly, spiritually.  I want to make sure that I don't turn this little challenge (because let's face it, this IS little and quite insignificant in the scope of things) into an idol.  I want to use my time to glorify God, and to be thankful that I have the opportunity to do this....  I live in a place and have resources so I CAN be choosy about food.  But, I have to make sure that I don't lose sight of what really matters, just because I can't eat bread...right now.  I'm hoping that practicing discipline in this area of my life will help me focus better in other areas- such as improving myself as a wife, a friend, a daughter, and sister. 

Perhaps I'm reaching a little too far here, but I'm hoping this self improvement will lead to good things in those other areas of my life. 

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.

30 Days of Healthy Choices

Wow, I feel like I have a lot to say on this, but don't know where to begin.  

Last year my husband and I participated in a Whole30®.  Over the last several months we (more specifically, I) have fallen into poor eating habits....so, it is time to do it again and remember why we were so impressed the first time around.

Never heard of Whole30®? Check it out here. Or, a bit more about the program here.

The website is fantastic, so I don't need to tell you much about how Whole30 works.  What I will tell you though, is that it does work.  When I fuel my body with healthy foods I feel better. I sleep well. I have more energy. My skin clears up.  My digestive system feels good. Headaches disappear. I am a better person.

I know, you are probably thinking that this is a load of horse pucky (that's right, I said it) and that in moderation, you can consume whatever you want.  I agree...and trust me, I am going to miss chocolate very, very much.  In fact, after a long weekend of eating tasty foods (like goat cheese and kettle chips) and drinking delicious wine, I am almost regretting my decision.... almost.

To back out before I even begin would be ridiculous.

Here we go.

Why I Always Expect To Be Busy

Sometimes I find myself asking questions like, is this worth it? or do I have time for this? Or, something I see a lot now days: Are you too busy? Slow down!

I find myself frequenting these question like you might a coffee shop. It is like a habit, daily routine, methodical thought-numbing process.  On one hand, this thinking causes me to doubt myself more often....  On the other hand, I am also learning to think twice before saying yes.
 
God does not reward his people for sitting idly, waiting for Him to make the first move. Sure, it might happen sometimes...but more often than not, God wants us to take action.  A few examples of this are in Proverbs 31:27, and Matthew 20:1-16 (1 Thessalonians 5:14 even says that we should admonish and encourage the idle!)
 
I am constantly wondering if my time and energy are spent in such a way that I am not a part of this 'idle' category.  I will be the first to admit that I am a great procrastinator, I enjoy a lazy Saturday afternoon (who am I kidding? Sunday too!) and I do not always use my time wisely.
 
However, my husband and I are also doers.  We like to pour into our friends and family.  We want to fellowship with other Christians.  We appreciate spending time together doing things we love.  We like to hit up the gym after work so we can keep our bodies healthy.  We spend time studying at home so we can reach our professional goals.  We play soccer. We host, or attend, social events and bible studies. We enjoy the feeling of accomplishment after a hard day of work, around the house or at the office.  We both work full-time jobs.
 
Most of the time, we ARE busy. 
 
Is that so bad?

"Youth is wasted on the young." -  George Bernard Shaw

I often hear this quote, and wonder if I am one of the young who is wasting away my youth.  I frequently find myself wishing that time would slow down so that I could revel in the moment.  It hasn't, and never will.   While our system isn't perfect, we try to pick and choose which things that are worth our time, and those that aren't.  Sometimes, it is a challenging decision.  I won't deny that there are things lacking in our life.  Like most others, we could spend more time in God's word, less time on Netflix, and be better prayer partners for one another.  And, those are things we have to work at (perhaps sleep should be added to that list as well!). 



Jason is very busy snuggling Citra

Another thing I see quite often are articles or blog posts discussing the negative points to being busy.  They say if you are 'too busy' that you aren't managing your time well. That you are probably lazy, or selfish, or petty... and the list goes on.

I am not saying that the type of busy my husband and I experience does not have its downsides, because it does.  Sometimes we are exhausted, and don't get around to cleaning the house, taking care of this n' that, or doing the other things we want.  However, over the last few years I think we have significantly changed how we value our time, and this has led to good things for us...and I sincerely hope it continues to do so!

I have come to realize that I will ALWAYS have a to-do list. And I am okay with that.
Busy becomes a problem when your 'busy-ness' detracts from the things that really matter.  For us, those things are God, our marriage, and relationships with family and friends. 

Oddly enough, those things that matter are one of the reasons we are, in fact, busy.

I hope that we can continue to grow in this and learn to be more discerning with our time.  After all, we don't know how much of it we have on this earth.

Prepping for Ragnar

So, I'm packing for Ragnar, and I have made a mess in my living room. Two days- do I really need this stuff? After some organization and putting separate running gear in plastic bags, I have this mess (it was worse, I promise!):

      

I have extra clothes, a couple of basic toiletries, safety vests, sunscreen, a travel pillow and backpacking mat.... And I'm not quite set. I still have a couple food items I want to grab, and I will bring a sleeping bag in the off chance I am able to catch some zz's. 

When I pack, I normally get out EVERYTHING I might possibly need. Ideally, I start to do this a couple days before I need to be packed. When we went to Hawaii, I think I had my bag out for a week and kept throwing things in as I thought of them. Tomorrow, I will probably look at my pile one last time, weed out the unnecessary items, and call it a day. Let's hope I don't forget any essentials!

I am feeling a little bit nervous for the whole ordeal. I'm running the first leg. Setting the pace. Am I going to start us ahead of or behind schedule? I shouldn't worry too much about it... My goal is to keep a consistent pace and get to the next exchange. No big deal. After my first run, the remaining two will be much easier.  The difficulty of my runs get progressively easier, so I have that working in my favor. 

When I run, my biggest hurdle is me. Sometimes, I can't get myself out of my head. I know that probably sounds odd, but it is what it is. Physically, my body can keep going, but pushing myself mentally is a big challenge. I'm not really sure why, but it is something I need to improve, and this weekend I have a great opportunity to do so! (Perhaps I will write more about this later).

Anyways, I am looking forward to this new experience.  Ragnar will be the first event I have participated in with a distance greater than 5k. I'm very much hoping I enjoy this, because I have signed up for a half marathon in September!

Cheers to new adventures and old socks. 

Let's do this!

Decision-Making

This is something I constantly find myself struggling with...seriously, just talk to my husband.  If you were to ask him what my weaknesses are, he would probably say that indecision is on the top of the list...Actually, he is really nice, so he would probably tell you "she's perfect." Ha-ha, isn't that funny?

I know some people make a list of pros and cons on a yellow legal pad, wait, that's wrong.  Who am I kidding? No one uses legal pads...I believe there is an app for that. Ok, let me start over: I am sure many people use their digital devices to make a list of pros/cons, or perhaps they have a better memory and do this mentally (I err on this side, but I don't always remember the list I made, so it isn't the most effective process). Sometimes, the decisions are not that difficult, or at least they shouldn't be.

Should I wear my Toms or my flip flops? Do I want a blizzard with Reeses or Heath?  Am I going to study today or take on that mess in my yard? Red or white wine? But then there are the harder decisions: Do I take this job? Do we move across the country? How do I confront someone I care about regarding this or that? Should I take on this new leadership role? How do we know what God wants us to do?

I often hear people say things like: What is the universe telling you to do? Are you sure about this? What feels right? Or, for the Christian, maybe this is a sign from God?  Have you prayed about it?  God will lead you.

I just don't know.  There is so much I don't know, or don't understand in life, in scripture...scripture?  I think that is where I need to start.

It seems that we can look at the life of Jesus. What did HE do? What did HE say?  How can I implement that into my life?

Unless there is a clear moral answer, can we ever really know what God 'wants' us to do?  I'm not sure, but I think we can use the information we have to make a well-informed decision.  I'm still working on this Biblically, and trying to figure out how to incorporate prayer and how to 'listen' to God in these situations.  This thought is still a work in progress, but here is what I have so far:

1) we should pray and ask God for wisdom

2) allow the Spirit to be our helper

3) seek counsel from other Godly people

James 1:5 suggests that we should ask God for wisdom.  This is much different then asking God to give us a 'sign' or to 'tell' us what to do.  In fact,God provides us with the resources we need, including those for decision making.

In John 14 Jesus promises that even in His absence He will be with us.  How you ask? The Holy Spirit! Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as a helper who will dwell within us. I don't know about you, but I can use all of the help I can get.. So thank God for the Spirit!

Then, Proverbs is filled with words about seeking wisdom and guidance. Proverbs 8:33 tells us, "Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it."  We can seek counsel and advice from those who have gone before us, and from other Godly people. God has provided us with a community to benefit from one another through teaching, fellowship and discipleship. Yet another resource given to us by God - people!

Perhaps, if we pray and ask for wisdom, allow the spirit to reside within us, and seek counsel from other Godly people, God will provide enough.  God does not tell us to sit idly and wait for Him to decide for us.  So get out your legal pad, use the tools He has given and make decisions faithfully.