Whole30 Day by Day

So, I ran across this post a few weeks ago and I totally want to do this someday, BUT, until then, take a look at this post. Nom Nom Paleo has some awesome posts but this one is amazing! I hope to do something like this during my next Whole30.  Anyway, if you need ideas (or think that a Whole30 is hard…pppfffttt) check this out.

Whole30 Every Single Day

Enjoy!

Old Years 2011

Well, it’s not new years…so…it’s old years!  It’s time for the wrap up of 2011 New Years resolutions.  I was determined to keep myself accountable this year and I did!!  I did post a mid-year update in May to give you and myself a little progress report.  For the most part I was doing pretty well.  I actually finished out the year mostly meeting my goals. In case you forgot, here’s a recap of my goals.

1. Complete the Whole30 challenge twice.  (getting a head start.  starting my second (ever) and first (of the new year) whole30 on tuesday.  yes…i’ve given in to peer pressure.)

2. Read one book a month. (this will be tough. however, i got my swanky ipad for my birthday so i gotta make good use of it! i’m off to a good start…i’m halfway through two books already)

3. Post more recipes and my experiences with them. (not specific enough? dang.) Post at least one new recipe a week.

4. In that case, that means I must TRY one new recipe a week. (i can handle that.)

5. Participate in one CrossFit competition. (not because i think i will win or because i think i will be good at it…but because they will give me something to strive for athletically)

6. Pursue my career goal.via New Years 2011 « Adventures in Jennileeland.

1. Did it. Although they were not fun and I was not prepared for either well enough to get the results I wanted but…I still did them. That’s all that matters.
2. I actually did this!! I’ve read 18 books so far and I think I’ll finish another 1 or 2 before Friday! This will make 19 or 20! wahoo!! I haven’t read this much in YEARS and it feels great!! I read the first 4 Harry Potter books, the first two Hunger Games books, three cookbooks (Paleo Comfort Foods, Everyday Paleo, Skinny Italian) and almost a third (Well-Fed), two books on tape (Little Women and Time Travelers Wife), all three The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo books, Water for Elephants, a book about sewing and Intimate Issues. I’m currently nearly done with Waiter Rant and Well-Fed. If you want to follow my books I’m reading, or track your own, check out Goodreads!! (www.goodreads.com)
3. Well, I didn’t get one new one a week BUT I did try a lot of new recipes and I did actually post a lot of them.
4. Well, I didn’t necessarily try one new one a week but there were weeks I tried several so I’d safely say I’ve gotten well over 52 in for the year.
5. Did it.  Cupid’s Challenge.  Read about it here. I also participated in the CrossFit Lewisville’s Turkey Burpee which isn’t so much a competition as just a super intense workout. But, aside from the competitions, I started doing something I never would. I started doing Mud Runs!  This year I participated in three and loved them all. Next year my options will still be limited because of our tight budget but I will still work at least two in! (Beachpalooza and the Chupacabra!)
6. Still in progress… (This stuff takes time!!! )

Well, I know you’re super excited to have me back to blogging again so I hope most of you stuck around during my hiatus and join me for a great 2012!  I’ll be posting New Years 2012 goals soon, plus some updates on what’s been going on!

JL

Updates on NYR

I decided to go back and look at my January 3rd post and reflect back upon what I had decided to do this year to make a better me. So… here’s an update!

1. Complete the Whole30 challenge twice.  (getting a head start.  starting my second (ever) and first (of the new year) whole30 on tuesday.  yes…i’ve given in to peer pressure.)
2. Read one book a month. (this will be tough. however, i got my swanky ipad for my birthday so i gotta make good use of it! i’m off to a good start…i’m halfway through two books already)
3. Pipes and my experiences with them. (not specific enough? dang.) Post at least one new recipe a week.
4. In that case, that means I must TRY one new recipe a week. (i can handle that.)
5. Participate in one CrossFit competition. (not because I think I will win or because I think I will be good at it…but because they will give me something to strive for athletically)
6. Pursue my career goal.

via New Years 2011 « Adventures in Jennileeland.

1. Done.  Sort of.  I’m not happy with them.  I want to do a couple more that I have actually planned out my meals and are better well prepared.  I know that there is no way to avoid the occasional “unpreparedness” of life but I’d still like to be a little more prepared.
2. Okay…I’ll admit.  I’m a little behind on this one.  I should be on book number five.  So far I have read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Water for Elephants and most of The Paleo Solution.  I am about 1/4 way through The Girl Who Played with Fire (Dragon Tattoo’s 2nd in the series of 3) right now.  So…I am only 1 behind if I finish The Paleo Solution.  I did decide today to go to the library and finally get a library card.  I forgot how much I love the library.  The smell…the sound…I love it!  Today I checked out the audio book of Little Women. It’s my favorite classic and I haven’t read it in years.  I got the audio so I can listen to it on the way to and from work.
3. I’ve posted 8 since the new year.  That’s about 2 per month.  I think I’m doing pretty good!  However, I’ll try to keep that up and up it to try and get in one new recipe per week.
4. For the most part, I’ve been trying at least 1 and sometimes up to 4 new recipes per week.  Yesss!
5. Done! I have already participated in the Cupid’s Challenge in February.  I’ve signed up for the May Day Challenge as well.  Which brings me to…
   If you haven’t already, or if you are interested, please sign up for the May Day Challenge atCrossFit Denton County.  It’ll be a blast!! (and scaled so that everyone can participate!)  The proceeds will benefit Champions of Hope, a mentorship program aimed at providing at-risk students in the Dallas area with caring, positive role models who will walk with them from 4th/5th grade until high school graduation. If you can’t participate, please come and show your support for me (and CFDC) at the competition!!!
   
6. In the process…

I think that overall, I’ve done pretty well.  A few more books here and a little more cooking and posting there and I’ll be right on track!

So…I’d like to tell you what I think about the books I’ve read and the ones that will be next!

• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo — For a while I didn’t really understand what this book was about.  People would say, “Is it good? What’s it about?” And I had a hard time answering them…I mean, it was drama.  It was suspense.  It was love.  I wasn’t really sure.  Then…BAM!  I could barely put the book down during the last half.  It turned out to be a really, really great read with a great story line that catches you by surprise at the end. It definitely got me ready to read the two sequels.
• Water for Elephants – I picked this book up in an airport bookstore on a 7 hour flight delay in Little Rock a couple weeks ago.  I finished reading this book in 2 days. Okay…technically four…but the two days in the middle I didn’t have time to read even one page so I don’t count them!  This was a great book that I could NOT put down!  It was an awesome story about a veterinarian school dropout turned traveling circus vet.  It flashes back between his older years in a nursing home and his younger years with the circus.  It is dramatic and heart wrenching at times. I’m a sucker for the animals.
• The Paleo Solution – Well, duh I love this book!  I haven’t read the last few chapters because I have been loaning it out to people before I could finish it.  It’s worth it, though, to spread the Paleo cheer!  I love everyone that’s jumping in and asking lots of questions!  I never mind answering any paleo-related question.  Hit me with them anytime!  After Melissa finishes it, I will make sure I finish the last chapters before I loan it out again.
• The Girl Who Played with Fire – This is the 2nd in the 3 book series.  This one started off a lot more exciting than the first one.  It only took about 50 pages for me to understand what this one was going to be about and for me to totally be engrossed in it.  Every chance I get I pick up my iPad and get in another few pages.  I’ll probably be finished with it by the end of this week or next.
• Little Women – What an amazing classic.  If you haven’t read it, do it.  If you have read it, read it again.  Man or woman…this book must be read by all.  Such a great story.
• Do the Work – This book is currently FREE on Amazon.com so go order it while you can!  I will start reading this after I’m finished with The Girl Who Played with Fire.  Leighton is currently reading it and he really likes it.  It is a book about how to get what you want and get where you’re going.  Want to start a business?  Or a new career?  This book will help you get off your butt and get started!  It’s sponsored by the Domino Project.  I learned about this book because I’m a Bzz Agent and I get to be a part of this campaign for an entire year.  They’ll release one new free book every month to read and try out!

So far that’s all that’s in the line as a definite…although I have a list on Amazon.com about 70 books long that I want to read.  Not to mention, probably 50 in my office of books I’ve bought but never read!

Well…that’s all for now!! Almost bedtime.

Whole9 Nutritional Workshop

I realize this post is way, WAY overdue and by the time I finish it…it will probably be even more overdue! Ah well!

I wasn’t sure if I would be able to go to the Whole9 Nutritional Workshop in January or not.  I did not want to drive to Houston and back alone all in one day so I was waiting for a willing road trip buddy.  Leave it to my free spirited hairdresser, Lindsey, to chime in last minute to jump in and head down to Houston (aka. The “arm pit of Texas.” Her words, not mine!) on January 8.  You do not believe how thankful I am I ended up being able to go.  I learned so much more the second time around!  And on that note…

I realize now that I never really wrote about the first workshop I went to in October.  That workshop opened my eyes to why the Paleo ‘diet’ was developed in the first place and how its not just another ‘fad’ diet.  There are horrible, no good, very bad things that these foods are doing to our bodies.  My Whole30 challenge only proved what they were saying was true. Anyway, the first time around I was not feeling well and running a fever.  This workshop gets pretty technical and there is a lot of information to absorb.  With that being said, between my sneezing, coughing and fever…I only got the 10,000 ft view of the program.  I learned more after the fact from the Whole9 website but I still did not grasp the biological reasoning behind why we should or should not eat the things we do.

SO…back to the January workshop.

I learned SO MUCH MORE this time around!  Thumbs up to a clear head!

This time I really absorbed the details of the relationships between insulin, inflammation, sleep, mental health, digestion, exercise….EVERYTHING.  I got it.  I am not going to go into the nitty gritty details (I’ll leave that for Melissa & Dallas to do at their workshop…which you should attend when they’re in your area!! ) but here are some things I took away from the workshop this time.

Some interesting things.

• Stevia is not okay.
• Alcohol is twice as calorie dense as sugar.
• Most tap water is acidifying in the body (because of the chlorine)
• I know what to buy organic and what I don’t really need to if I don’t have the money for it.
• Why there is a need for carbs POST workout but not PRE workout.

Some things that are … just … duh.

• Real food needs no fortifying.
• The U.S. has the highest consumption of calcium and calcium supplements, yet has the highest osteoporosis rate.
• Just because its “paleo” doesn’t mean its okay in lots of quantities. (i.e. bacon)
• Its not about points, blocks, calories, grams, etc. Eat when you’re hungry!

And some things that are just….disgusting.

• 70% of processed foods contain soy.
• Cheese creates a morphine-like response in the body when eaten. wait…maybe that’s not such a bad thing?? hehe
• You are what you eat.  Know what your meat eats.  Usually along with the unhealthy, unnatural corn diet, they are fed miscellaneous animal parts (of their same kind of animal), feces, hair, skin, feathers, plastic (yes, plastic)…the list goes on and on. Also, if you don’t think this happens and these kinds of treatments exist of our food sources, you need a serious reality check.  Ever heard of mad cow? What about all the recent meat recalls? Trust me.  You need to KNOW what your meat eats and the conditions under which it was raised.  Anyway…I’ll save this argument for another blog post. I’ll step off my soap box for now.

I took home from the workshop so much more information than this but these are the things that stuck out to me as really, really important this time.  I got to talk to Melissa & Dallas a little bit and also was able to meet Melissa “Melicious” Joulwan of The Clothes Make the Girl.  Melissa spoke to Lindsey for a little while on how to implement the Whole30 and Paleo lifestyle into a vegetarian diet.  I was so, so happy we were able to talk to them about that because at the last workshop, they really hadn’t given any options for vegetarians wishing to try the Whole30 or Paleo.

The ride home was great.  We got to discuss the plan and how Lindsey and her partner were going to start a Whole30 ASAP.  It gave me a renewal boost of motivation for remembering why I’m doing this.  Its not about weight loss, its not about looking good.  It’s about feeling good and being as healthy as I can during my time on this planet.  Looking good and losing weight are just the awesome side effects.

Lindsey was certainly not all talk (she never is) and she and her partner, LuLu, started the Whole30 right after she got back from Houston.  I have to give them props. I am not very certain I could have done a Whole30 right out of the gate.  I had no willpower whatsoever when I first learned of Paleo so I really eased myself into it.  Not Lindsey.  She jumped in head first.  I am so proud of them both.  They’re a little over two weeks in (I think) and have done absolutely fabulously.  They are not without their struggles, but they are really pushing through.  I encourage you to read Lindsey’s blog.  She has some great things to say about the program and her experiences with it.  AND, you’ll find she and I have mad cravings for some of the same things (chips anyone??).  They have both seen incredible changes and results within just the first week.  I can’t wait to see the progress after an entire month!!  ….or two months!! I got my hair done yesterday and she told me they are actually going to both be doing a Whole60.  Which is simply amazing.

That’s all for now…

~JL~

Pot Roast Recipe trial

Tried another recipe on my “try this” list on Friday. This is another recipe from Everyday Paleo

Pork Pot Roast

1 Boston pork roast (4.5 lbs) or beef chuck roast

6 carrots

5 celery stalks

2 leeks

2 yellow onions

6 fresh thyme branches

6 garlic cloves

2 14 oz cans of diced organic salt free tomatoes

2 cups red wine

1 1/2 cups organic free range chicken broth

4 tbsp organic butter

1/4 cup coconut flour

Sea salt and crushed black pepper to taste

In a large soup pan or dutch oven add the olive oil and heat over medium heat.  Sprinkle a bit of  sea salt (if desired) and the crushed black pepper all over the roast. Roll the seasoned roast in the coconut flour.  Sear the roast in the large soup pan for 4 minutes on each side (make sure you get the top and bottom of the roast seared as well).  While the roast is searing, chop the veggies into large pieces.  When cutting leeks, make sure to cut in half lengthwise and rinse well because they are full of sand and dirt in between the layers. Remove the roast from the pan and add  all the veggies and cook in the drippings from the roast until the onions and leeks become tender.  Add the wine, chicken stock, canned tomatoes, thyme branches (tie them together with some cooking twine so they are easier to remove later), and a bit more sea salt and pepper.  With the flat part of your knife blade, crush the whole garlic cloves (as pictured) and toss those in as well.  Stir well and bring to a boil.  In the meantime, place your roast in a crock pot (this will only work if you have a big crock pot).  Pour the vegetable mixture over the crock pot and cook on high for 4 hours and on low for 1 hour.  If your crock pot is not big enough, you can cook the roast in a dutch oven or large roasting pan at 325 for 2 1/2 hours and then turn down to 250 and cook for another hour.  After the roast is done, remove  the roast from the vegetable mixture.  With scissors, remove the string holding the roast all together, and slice thin.  Remove the thyme branches from the vegetable mixture and pour half of the veggie mixture into a food processor or blender, add the butter, and blend until smooth.  On a large serving platter place the sliced meat and top with the remaining cooked veggies and pour the blended sauce over all of it.

via Kids Picks and Pot Roast | Everyday Paleo.

I, of course made some changes to the recipe.  I don’t think its possible for me to cook a recipe as ‘prescribed.’  Actually (sidebar) I got to meet Melissa Joulwan of The Clothes Make the Girl this weekend at the Whole9 Nutrition Workshop at CrossFit West Houston.  I was actually really excited to meet her because I absolutely love her blog and her insight into Paleo nutrition.  Anyway, we talked a few minutes about recipes and I told her that I don’t think I’ve ever followed a recipe to the letter.  We decided that makes us good cooks!  CRE-A-TIVITY!

Anyway, this recipe turned out to be great but if you decide to cook it, keep in mind that you can throw in whatever veggies you have on hand.  If you don’t have or can’t find leeks, for instance, cut the leeks!  No biggie.

Here’s my adjustments to this recipe:

• I used the roast that was on sale at Sprouts
• Did not use thyme…mainly because I forgot to add it.
• Only used 1 can of tomatoes (only had room for 1)
• No red wine (If I were not on Whole30 I would have left it in), I added extra broth instead
• No butter (If I were not on Whole30, I would have used some organic, clarified butter)
• I did not sear the roast for 4 minutes on each side.  I seared for about 2 1/2.
• I cooked it in the crock pot for 8 hours on low (I like a sloooooow cooked roast)

Leighton and I had the roast today for brunch.  It was yummy but needed more salt!

Next time I make it and tips:

• There ended up being too many veggies and my crock pot overflowed (I suspected this would happen) so I kept the leftover in the pot and sautéed for a veggie side for dinner Friday night.
• I’ll only use one onion next time.  Its a little bit onion overload. Yes, I just said that.  Onion overload.
• I’ll definitely add in the butter & red wine next time.
• I don’t think it needs the broth.  Especially if you are adding the wine.  Roast is so good at making its own tasty juices, I don’t think adding the broth is adding much for flavor.
• I know she says it in your recipe but if you have never cooked with leeks, you MUST REMEMBER to pull them apart and wash thoroughly!! There’s tons of dirt between the layers.
• Also, you only need the white and light green parts of the leeks for this recipe.

Well, here’s my pics.  Sarah has some great ones too in her post above.  Happy eating!

Whole30 Wrap-Up

Thursday concluded my first Whole30 challenge.  That was the toughest 30 days I’ve had in a while.  I am pretty proud of myself though.  I finished it.

Done.

Completed.

Check!

I didn’t cheat. I didn’t cut out early. I didn’t quit.  Overall, it was easier than I thought it would be.  I really didn’t think I’d be able to resist temptation when a craving came over me.  I’m so used to caving in to my cravings.

The Whole30 made me really understand how food affects me.  My mood, my body, my energy, my workouts…everything.  Some of it I found particularly peculiar.  Like fruit for breakfast makes me ravenous for something sweet in the afternoon (Thanks, Dave, for figuring that one out for me!).  I don’t think I would have ever blamed my afternoon sweet tooth on fruit for breakfast.  Humm…our bodies are such complex, crazy things.

So…I learned…

About My Body

My body has changed so much in just one month.  And I don’t mean just losing weight…I mean…my body is firming up and re-shaping itself into this familiar shape it had been years ago.  I can look in the mirror and not have to suck in my pseudo-pregnant belly.  *thumbs up*  After I eat I feel full and satisfied rather than stuffed and sleepy.  My meals give me energy.  We gave up caffeine for our Whole30 (not a requirement but an option) and I never missed it.  My breakfast gives me enough energy to not need a pick-me-up.

About My Sleep

I’m notorious for having sleep problems.  Waking up in the middle of the night…several times…no reason. Not being able to get to sleep or not being able to wake up on time.  I’ve slept great the last 30 days. The only days I had problems sleeping were the last 3 or 4 days of my Whole30.  I’m not sure why I was having problems but it was probably due to added stress at work (year end, you know…).

About My Food

Finding, preparing and eating the food for Whole30 was not tough.  Did you hear me?  Are you sure?  Let me repeat myself…just in case. Finding, preparing and eating food for the Whole 30 was NOT TOUGH. Okay.  Hopefully you heard me that time.  Most of my meals are really simple and really quick.  I tried to keep it interesting by making a couple of more complicated meals throughout the week and then saving for leftovers.  I cook (or try to at least) all my meat on Sunday and then reheat throughout the week.  I’ve found some frozen veggie stir fry packages at Costco that I absolutely love (but I forgot I had them until 3 days before the Whole30 was over..oops).  I just don’t think its hard to pop some chicken in the microwave or steamer to re-heat and then throw some frozen veggies into a pan to cook and then cutting up a pepper.  It’s just not that freaking hard. It takes 20 minutes of thinking ahead a week.  Not too bad if you ask me.

Weight Loss

So this is at the bottom of my bucket of reasons to do the Whole30.  And its at the bottom of Whole9′s list for reasons that you should want to do the Whole30.  The Whole30 is about fixing your body. Reducing inflammation.  Getting your digestive system on track.  Not about weight loss.

That being said, I know everyone will ask anyway so here it is.  I lost 11 lbs on the Whole30.  I have lost 27 lbs since May 20.

I went back and read my blog from May.  It was… …interesting. I’m surprised at how much I’ve grown and discovered about weight loss, eating and exercise.  I really was a completely different person 7 months ago.  Starting CrossFit, learning about Paleo from Whole9‘s nutrition workshop, learning how to master the art of the kitchen…it has all shaped me into this person that I wouldn’t have recognized 7 months ago.  I’m proud of the ways that I have changed.  I feel so much better and looking better is just a bonus!

Leighton has done tremendously well, too.  He has supported me in every step I’ve taken on this journey with no hesitation (okay…maybe a tiny bit…but not much!).  He has lost over 40 lbs since August and he looks great.  I’m so proud of him.  I no longer have the fear in the back of my mind that I could lose him to health problems due to unhealthy habits.

So, its over.  Now what?

Yea.  So it is over.  So what?  I’m still going to eat Paleo. I’m still going to eat REAL food.

But I’m taking back my cheats.

I will still eat a primary diet of healthy protein, fats, vegetable carbs, fruits and oils.  I will still continue to CrossFit (of course! I’m addicted…) and I will continue to lose weight (another 23 lbs). I will do Whole30 again. Probably twice this year.  I’m still thinking about whether or not to do the January Whole30 with my gym.  We’ll see. It starts Tuesday so I still have a couple days to decide.

Well, thanks for reading.  And thank you to everyone for your encouragement along the way.  Everyone has been extremely supportive and Leighton and I are both thankful for that.  We like having our friend and family cheer squad to keep us going.

~~JL~~

Quick update

Sorry I have not been posting much in the form of pictures of my meals…or on the blog for that matter.  The last 4 days I’ve tried to ignore my phone, iPad and computer as much as I possibly could…therefore…no/little food updates.

BUT, I’ve not fallen off the bandwagon.  Christmas went very well.  I survived five Christmas meals while still staying Whole30 compliant.  The only thing that was a little hard to resist, surprisingly, was the desserts.  Specifically my grandmother’s coconut pie.  This is surprising because I’m not much of a sweet eater (as most of you know), therefore, not hard to resist.  THIS was hard to resist.  Honestly, had I only been a few days into my Whole30, I’m not sure I wouldn’t have taken a bite.  BUT, I didn’t.  And I’m proud.

So…with 3 days left, I’m pondering what will be my first non-Whole30 thing to eat/drink.  I have a feeling it will be a pumpkin spiced latte and possibly a visit to Old West Cafe.  We’ll see…

Now I’m working on a note.blog.whateveryouwanttocallit. about Whole30 vs. Weight Watchers.  Since I’ve done both, I’ll compare my feelings towards both.  Should be interesting and fun.

So…lastly is this.  My gym is doing a Whole30 challenge.  IN JANUARY.  I think it was originally going to be in December but I didn’t realize everyone wasn’t doing it until I was too far into it to quit.  I’m saying that I’m not going to do it.  I’m not doing two Whole30 challenges back to back.  But… … … I guess I might.  I WILL have a 4 day break between that will give me a chance to eat the crap I’ve wanted to eat the past few weeks but I’m just not sure I want to go Whole30 again for another month.  I like my cheats.  And I want them back! LOL

I’ll think about it.  Although I’m heavily leaning on the side of “Heck NO!”

~~JL~~

Whole 30 Day 15…and some other things

This will be a mixed blog…part Whole30 and part other stuff.

Whole30

I’m on day 15 of my Whole30.  It’s all downhill now!  Its not really hard for me to eat out now.  And at this point, nothing is really ‘worth it’ to cheat on my Whole30.  I’m sure when Christmas day comes, it will be much, much harder but at that point, I will only have 5 days left and I am SURE not breaking down then!!  Not much more to say than from the other day when I posted.

…And I’m still craving ruffles and french onion dip….

Other goings on…

Went to Buca di Beppo last night for our bible study group Christmas party.  I secretly (well, not so secretly now) hate these types of things.  I’m around a bunch of girls I sort of know and a few girls that I don’t know at all.  This makes me so, so nervous.  I’m always self conscious about how I look, what I say, where I stand (and considering we just finished a study on insecurity…its a little ironic I was feeling this way).  And, on top of not really knowing anyone very well, I more/less brought attention to myself with my Whole30 eating (I ate something completely different from everyone else).  So, that made me even more nervous.  I stumbled over words and stuttered and repeated myself way too many times unnecessarily because I was so nervous about explaining how I eat and why without getting it wrong or starting too much of a questions game or a soap box game (for instance, specifically why I don’t eat dairy (specifically milk), most legumes, grains or *gasp* corn products!)

Why do I make mountains out of molehills?  Why do I feel like these amazing, fun, sweet, wonderful girls are judging me?  I’m not really sure.

I wish I was the type that could jump right in on their conversations about kids, India, cool thrift finds, art, God, religion, music…but…I just don’t know what to say.

I’m just in a strange place in my life (I know this does not sound related but it is related.  I might get more into that later…).  I’m between the ‘old times’ and ‘now’ and it is nearly impossible for me to meld the two into one and I suppose I can’t.  But I keep jumping back and forth between ‘then’ and ‘now.’ I wish I could just stay in ‘now.’  But ‘now’ is a little lonely with the exception of my family and a couple good friends.

Well…my journey will continue to get more in the ‘now’ and less in the ‘then’ so bear with me.

Until next time….Happy Whole30 hump day!!!

~~JL~~

Whole30 Day 12

Okay.  I’m 12 days into my first Whole30.  That’s nearly half-way done.

So lets have a chat.

Things people say to me:

“Why on earth did you choose December??  How are you going to even enjoy Christmas?” Since when was food the point of Christmas?  or make it unenjoyable just because I have to eat differently than you?

“Well, since you’re on a diet, I guess you can’t go out.” First of all, I’m not on a ‘diet’ in the traditional sense of the word.  Rather eating the way my body needs me to perfectly for 30 days.  Secondly, does this leave me strapped to my kitchen for 30 days? Absolutely not.

“Just take one bite.  It’s really not going to hurt you.” First, um…thanks for the support. ??  Second…If you understood the purpose behind Whole30 (or cared to listen to me tell you why) you would understand that ‘just one bite’ sets me back to square one.  So yes, one bite really will hurt me.

“I showed my husband/wife/boyfriend/girlfriend your pictures and he/she said they would never eat that way.  Oh well!” Are you not your own person?  You choose what you eat.  HE/SHE does NOT choose what you eat.  If Leighton chose not to eat like I do, he’d be fending for himself because I’m the cook.  He eats what I cook or doesn’t eat.  (but to be clear, Leighton is extremely supportive of our healthy lifestyle) YOU make the change first.  When they see the effects (affects? I think it’s effects…) of your diet (or when they get tired of  fending for themselves) they will catch on.  You will win them over.  I promise.

“It’s too hard/expensive/bland/inconvenient to eat healthy.” No. It’s. Not. You have to learn to shop smart and buy in-season.  Shop at your local farmer’s market, buy what’s on sale.  And trust me, my food is neither bland nor inconvenient.  Even if you do end up spending $20 or $30 more a week in groceries, that is nothing compared to the medical costs of an overweight and/or unhealthy person.  And the older you get, the worse and more expensive it gets.  I’ll take my $1 red pepper over your $200/mo diabetic medication bill.  Yea, thanks.

It really frustrates and surprises me that people can be so condescending when you try to eat differently better than everyone else.  I’ve learned to just look at them and shrug my shoulders and say, “I don’t know…I just did.”

Other things people say to me:

“Wow, that looks really healthy!  How did you make it?” Yessss!!  I usually have a handy-dandy link to send on.  I find all of my great food finds online!!

“Dang.  Every time I see you at lunch you have the most colorful plate.  It makes me want to eat healthy, too.” Again, yesssss!!  And I’m always willing to give advice and direction to anyone that wants it.

“I showed my husband/wife/boyfriend/girlfriend your pictures and he/she thinks it’s crazy but I’m going to try it anyway!” Awesome!  As I was saying earlier, once they see results in you, you’ll have them hooked.  (and when they see how easy it really is.)

“Why are you eating this way?” or  ”Can you show me how you make ______?” Okay, I have GOT to get better about posting the recipes that I use to cook what I cook.  I promise I’ll try!  But if you ask, I will always tell you how I made something.

I love it when people talk to me and are actually supportive of what I am doing.  I’m also thankful to have befriended so many of my CrossFit peeps so I have a little mini support group for my Whole30 on facebook.  I encourage your positive feed back…and even the negative.  I want to hear what you have to say but I also want you to listen to what I have to say about it.  Don’t brush me off and tell me I’m crazy or what I do is too hard.  Because it is neither.

Okay.  So there’s my rant about the last 12 days.  Here’s what I’ve been feeling and going through.

Last time I posted, I was on day 2.  Completely miserable.  Well, that cleared up by the weekend.  Guess what that means?  It took me a complete seven days to recover from my bad choices at Thanksgiving.  No thanks.  No food binge is worth 7 days of ‘recovery.’  Next time it’ll be one day, one meal and in much more reasonable portions.

So, by day 7 I had my energy back.  Since then, I’ve felt great.  I really haven’t gone through the phases others go through during the middle of their Whole30.  However, I have noticed an increase in energy and my workouts have gotten better.  Even my coughrunningcough has gotten better easier.  I even ran to the car last night (ahead of my grandparents to get it warmed up…awwww….such a sweet granddaughter) about 800m and got there only slightly winded.  Go me!

Something annoying I’ve noticed…  After eating a meal. A meal that, when finished, I feel completely full.  I’m hungry 15 to 20 minutes later.  And not for a meal.  I want a snack.  And I know you (us) Paleo people are going to say to eat nuts, raw veggies, Lara bars or even fruit.  But those just. don’t. do it.  I really want chips, chips & dip, chips & guac, cheese….everything I can’t have.  When I try to eat something -good- it just doesn’t hit the spot…so I’m basically left with that craving until it eventually goes away.  And sometimes it’s hours.  Its a really good thing I cleared out all of the snack food in my house because I’m afraid I may have broken down and gone for it by now.

I’ve successfully eaten out 7 or so times and done it like a champ.  I even ate at a Mexican restaurant last night and didn’t touch single chip or bit of cheese.  I’ve really proven to myself this month that it’s really not as hard as I thought it would be to resist bad foods at a restaurant.  I’ve really been proud of myself for making good choices and not having to sacrifice convenience or social fun for the sake of my Whole30.

Well, that’s all for now.  I’ll wrap up so I can be ready for CrossFit tomorrow morning bright and early!

Whole30 Day 2

Wrote this Thursday but didn’t have time to post…here ya go!

Day 2

Today has been tough, to say the least. I really, really didn’t want to get up this morning and since then I’ve been exhausted. The workout this morning (800m run, rest 5 min, 400m run, rest 2.5 min, run 800m) killed me. I mean, halfway through the first run I really didn’t think I’d finish it. I was in pain. From my head, to my fingers, arms legs…everything. In fact, I think the only reason I finished the first run was fear…of the neighborhood I was running through! LOL It was even hard to drive home because I was so tired after that workout. Maybe this is why I hate running so much. It takes every ounce of energy and strength I have to even finish running a short distance. Either way, here it is nearly noon and I still don’t feel recovered. *sigh* I feel a January challenge coming on… (my CrossFit alter ego is snickering at the thought of a running challenge right now…)

I’d love to be quick and blame this on Whole30, but I know that isn’t it. Especially since I’ve been eating Paleo for a couple months now. I know it is common for people to feel a lack of energy during the first part of the Whole30 but I just don’t think that’s the case with me. I think most people feel that lack of energy because they’re cutting out grains and dairy and not replacing it with enough good veggie carbs. Well, I eat PLENTY of good veggie carbs. I blame it on the fact that I ‘let go’ for 4 days for Thanksgiving. I feel just like I did before I started eating better. Tired all the time, workouts take every last ounce of energy and I just don’t feel like doing anything!

It has really amazed me (since attending the Whole9 workshop) how food has such a profound affect on your mood, feelings and energy level. I used to think any food was energy. So the fact that I didn’t have any energy…well…I didn’t blame it on the food! I sure did eat enough food! Now I know better. I went to the doctor to try to figure out what it was and all I got were solutions that involved medication. That is one thing that just ticks me off about the medical community. There’s a pill for everything. Diabetes? Pill. Overweight? Pill. Depressed? Pill. What about good old fashioned eating right and getting exercise?? Not ONCE did ANY doctor of mine (except my ‘girl’ doctor) recommend a better diet and more exercise to ‘cure’ my health and energy issues. I’ve had lots of energy the past couple of months and I attribute that to my more active lifestyle and better food choices. My workouts have been good for the most part and I’ve been losing weight. I’m also amazed at how quickly bad food goes back to negatively affecting you. I could not get enough sleep over Thanksgiving ‘break.’ I think I went to bed at 8:30 three times! And now I am regretting my 4 day binge more and more. And it won’t happen again… I don’t want to go through this again. Now, I’m not saying I won’t eat bad for a meal here and there…but I certainly won’t go that long!

Hopefully by the end of this week I’ll be feeling back to my old self again…especially since I’m eating Whole30-clean.