Whole30 - DAY 30!! VICTORY The Pros and Cons of Whole30

We are on the other side of this thing!!

Today is day 30 of the Whole30 program and it's been a good overall experience.  I would do this program again and my plan is to pretty much continue to base most of my meals on this way of eating but also reincorporate some gluten free grains like oatmeal, brown rice and quinoa as well as beans and the occasional glass of wine or martini.

The pros:

• getting back in touch with clean eating
• cleaning up sloppy habits like eating junk food, drinking too much alcohol, and grabbing stuff on the go
• getting back to making foods from scratch with simple ingredients
• getting more creative in the kitchen 
• making meals and food a priority
• enjoying what I eat and never feeling hungry
• having more energy
• sleeping better
• enjoying a healthy lifestyle and the peace of mind that comes with knowing you're doing your body good
• some weight loss* (I lost just a little but came to realize that weight isn't the most important thing here)
• That feeling of pride you get from setting a goal, sticking with it and accomplishing it

couldn't resist! :) 

The cons:

• Being challenged when on the road a bit - planning is a must
• Extra trips to the supermarket (but this could probably be fixed with some better planning)
• Trips to "special" supermarkets (like Whole Foods or Trader Joes) for stuff like ghee, coconut aminos, organic meats and raw cashews.
• No wine time!
• Eating out can be tricky and no matter how careful you are you risk "f'ing" up the whole program by one sneaky ingredient and that can make you crazy.
• If you aren't food creative (like my husband) you can get easily bored of the food and fall into the trap of eating the same thing everyday for lack of time/creativity/cooking skills. 
• Having to figure out (or even cancel/postpone) outings with friends because of fear of temptation
• For some, the discomfort of withdrawal from some of the stuff like sugar, diet soda, or gluten. I didn't really experience the foggy/early withdrawal symptoms that some do so it wasn't an issue for me.
• Expense (though, truthfully, I cut out booze, eating out, ordering in and buying processed foods and snacks so I would think that the expense wasn't as great as I think with all things considered.) 

Now the cons are just my thoughts on what could be tricky for some or might have been tricky for me. None of the cons were a big enough issue or obstacle to make me throw it away, nor would they be a deterrent for a second round.  Most of them are fixable.

I also will say that it may have been a wee bit easier for me because I gave up gluten (most dairy), all artificial sweeteners, and diet coke a long time ago. I have been eating relatively clean for the most part and my processed foods were things like Amy organics, Udi's gluten free bread, brown rice pasta, some Lays potato chips and that sort of thing. 

With one more day to go I have to say I feel almost a little out of sorts. On a very small scale, maybe like the guy who's about to get out of jail but has gotten so comfortable with his routine that the outside world seems scary. I think I learned that I like rules and guidelines and having structure helps me feel 'in control' - now what? Will I go nuts and face fall into chips again? Will I drink the whole bottle of wine? Will I spin out of control?

Very unlikely. 

More likely and what I plan is to do what the program is programmed to do. I will strive to eat whole, clean foods most of the time, treat myself with other stuff occasionally and jump back on for a few days if I stray too far off.

XO

Jen

Whole30 Days 22, 23, and 24 - screw the scale

Yay!

It's been two weeks here in Kentucky and now I'm going home.

I'm so thankful that I've been able to manage this Whole30 while away. 

I shunned alcohol, figured out meals, ate out 3 times and went through a whole jar of Ghee but I did it. 

I'm pretty convinced I haven't lost a pound. My clothes feel exactly the same but I'm still happy I've done this program. It was exactly what I needed to get on the clean eating track again. I have plans of sticking to this style of eating more or less but will be adding back brown rice and bean probably. And I will definitely be adding occasional alcohol back. I am going to try not to drink more than 2 times a week. 

I would be lying if I didn't say I went in to this really wanting to lose weight. When I began to realize I wasn't going to shed the ten or fifteen pounds I was secretly hoping for I was momentarily disappointed. But then I started to think about it and believe it or not, if I never lose a pound again - I think I'm (at least for today) at peace with it.

I have been reflecting (not obsessing) about my weight lately. If I'm weighing about what I think I do - I am about 10 pounds higher than the weight I LOVED being at and 5 pounds above my general goal. 

But. 

I'm healthy. I eat well. I exercise regularly. I am a good person and a hard worker. I'm kind of tired of living and dying, loving or hating myself based on the number on the scale. No I don't want the scale to become a runaway train in the wrong direction but if I'm living healthfully and fitfully I just want to feel OK with it. And I think I do for now.

I have a friend who use to battle an eating disorder and has emphatically not been on a scale for years. In fact she refuses to even let the doctor weigh her. She's fit and healthy and eats right. She gave up the scale battle and the mental crap that comes with it. I don't think I'm quite at the point of never getting on it but it might become a goal for me. Something about never weighing myself terrifies me too.

What about you? Are you an obsessive weigher or do you hardly step on?

XO

Jen 

Whole30 Day 19, 20, and 21 Cocktails and Treadmills

I'm getting excited! I'm gonna make it thru Kentucky with this whole30 thing - I feel confident and can see the finish line!

Although I'm pretty sure that I haven't lost any weight, I'm feeling good and will likely keep eating this way.

Here's the highlights from the last few days -

On the 19th day I got to finally find a little time (and day light) to get out and run a little. Just one mile but boy was it good to get my sweat on!

Yesterday, we were pretty snowbound all day. I decided to have another Kombucha drink and served it up in a martini glass to feel fancy.

The best part of the Kombucha was the glass. This time I tried the trinity one. It was OK. Even though I said I kind of liked it the other day, on second thought maybe I don't. I'm pretty sure I'll never buy one again but we'll see. It is pretty vinegar-y tasting and still no buzz.

Today I roasted myself a chicken for dinner that was quite tasty and I'm so excited to report that Angela found a treadmill AND spin bike for a steal on Craigslist. YAY!! Exercise options!!

Treadmill in the basement :) 

spin bike in Angela's room but it's moveable

So all in all I'm making it through.

XO

Jen

Whole30 Day 17 and 18 - Kombucha review

I am very proud of myself for still remaining on track while here in KY. What I thought might be impossible has been totally possible even if it's been challenging here and there.

I'm on day 18 and have been feeling pretty good. Tummy is still a bit off in the morning but the rest of the day I feel good.

Sadly, it's been a week since I've really worked out and I'm missing that big time.

In the meantime, I've tried a new thing the other day.

Kombucha.

Why did I try Kombucha? Not because of the health claims or to help my gut heal with probiotics. Nope. It's a little sad actually the reason why I tried it. While perusing a Facebook page for Whole30 people I stumbled upon this post:

Wait! What!? TIPSY!!! Why hasn't someone filled me in on the tipsy part before? All this forgoing of wine and vodka and I can still be catching a buzz?

I am not proud of my Kombucha motives but it was time to relax with a big bottle of the 'booch.

I tried the Gingerade Kombucha one from GT and I have to say it wasn't bad. It took a few sips but by the end I really kind of liked it.

But no buzz. Not even a little.

And I guess that's a good thing. It's an expensive beverage to get into! I'm not sure about the rest of the country or at other stores but at the Whole Foods at Lexington it's $3.39 a bottle! I mean if you wanted one a day (like the bottle recommends) it would be a $101.70 per month expense! That's a lot when you think about it. I hemmed and hawed for months about joining the fancy gym with the great classes and pool that runs me $59 a month.

Needless to say due to the expense and lack of buzz I will not be developing a Kombucha habit. ;)

Have you ever drank Kombucha? Thoughts?

XO
Jen

Whole30 Day 15 and 16 - Not Winning

I've made it to the half way mark and am still remaining on track.

It's been FREAKIN' freezing here in Kentucky and I've been working outside all day. This Jersey girl went totally country yesterday and bought some carthartt gear from the tractor supply store. Those Carhartt bib/overall things are super warm and helped a bit today. Temperatures reached in the 20's but "felt like" the teens most of the day and it's been windy.

ready for the cold and to farm

I'm not hating this Whole30 plan and I'm finding it OK and mostly enjoyable. It was easier and I liked it better when I was at home and not working crazy long days but I'm managing.

A few annoying things though…

According to the "What to Expect and When" Whole30 thing - today I should have felt like I had "Tiger Blood" but instead of "winning" I felt like Charlie Sheen after a bender.  Last night I woke up in the middle of the night with a terrible pain in the center of my chest - it's a tight cramps feeling in my stomach I get rarely but it's a killer when it comes on and last night it came on and woke me up at 3 AM. Ugh. Also (and sorry for the TMI) the last few mornings have been a bit rough in the morning in the "loo" department.

By now I thought the digestive things should be sorted? It's very frustrating.  I also don't feel like my clothes are getting any looser but I don't know. I'm sticking it out and going through the process.  I do have good energy during the day in spite of getting less sleep than I like to get usually.

On the up side, I'm proud of my commitment and sticking to the plan.

Speaking of not winning, I was disappointed to hear from my husband this morning that he 'didn't really cheat' but had a "sip" of lemonade - which makes me suspect that it was really more than just the lemonade (I mean who cheats with lemonade?) and even if he's truthful and it was just a sip - it messes up the program for him and he should technically start from day 1 (which I told him but I know he won't.) Ugh. I'm disappointed but what can I do? We all have to decide what is best for our health and I can't make him do something. I just wish he wanted to really, truly, fully commit to the program.

I won't bore you with the details of my meals as they were standard foods and meals I've talked about before involving eggs, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, avocado, etc.

I'm hoping to get out and run this weekend. It's been non-stop work and I haven't had a chance to run this week at all. Luckily I've been hauling the camera and we've been running around in our work so we're getting movement in.

Have you ever had a weight-loss friend, spouse or 'partner in crime' for  a program and the partner gave up? How did you handle the situation?

XO
Jen

Whole30 Day 14: The roof is on fire

It's midnight, I've been up since five and I have to get up at 5AM again so this post will be short and sweet.

Today was a good day.

I'm getting in a groove here in KY with the food and my producing partners have been very supportive of what I'm doing.

I'm keeping it simple but effective

Today I started with eggs and avocado, had a banana for a snack, had a salad topped with hard boiled eggs, avocado, olives and pecans for lunch (yummy)

And butternut squash, salad and a pork chop for dinner.

I almost set the house on fire with my pork chop :/ I was broiling it and all of a sudden smoke was coming from the oven. Hmmm. I'm not used to the oven here and I guess the fat caught. There were actual flames in the oven and I was freaking out. I shut off the oven and called my friend up to help. In all the hoopla the flames died down. We aired out the house and I ate the pork chop.  It was delicious. 

In other news, I signed up for the Jersey Girl Triathlon on August 3rd! Looking forward to that :) 

Hope all is well in your world!! 

XO

Jen 

Whole30 Day 13 Being one of those people

Here I am on day 13 on the Whole30 and day 2 in Kenutcky.

Today was a bit smoother but not without a bump or two.

I started my day with eggs and sweet potatoes (blessedly easy and breezy and right on course…)

Snacked on some cashews and a banana.

Then came lunch.

The crew decided they wanted Wendy's.

I expressed my needs. I felt a little high-maintenance I'm a 'go with the flow' type of gal. But on second thought - F THAT. That's why half of us have weight problems - we don't prioritize ourselves. We let ourselves eat the crap or give in to pressure because we don't want to be "one of those people." But we deserve to be one of those people. We are worth being fussy and particular for. I'm on a journey and I don't want to be knocked off of it.

Fighting for your right to Whole30 is kinda empowering actually.

Anyway...

So I waited for the car to come back and while they lunched on Wendy's I found a small luncheonette up the road that had 100% beef burgers (they promised nothing in them) and I had a burger patty over greens and a squeeze of lemon.

Of course this lunch didn't come easy. The lady at the counter couldn't quite understand what I wanted - even though I didn't think it was all that complicated.

I'm becoming the, "hold the croutons, cheese, dressing, bun, bacon" girl. "Just the burger." "Just a lemon wedge…" And I'm feeling eye rolling from the peanut gallery behind me.

But I deserve it. Fighting for my right…

I finally got my order and began to leave. I decided to open up the takeout box because I saw some hot sauce on the table and figured I'd add a dash on my burger.

Thankfully, I did peek. No burger. Nope. They gave my some kind of bbq beef brisket.

ugh.

So now I had to go back to the counter and fight for my right to Whole30 again. (There was no fight, they were actually very nice and apologetic about the error.)

Finally I had my food and was on my way.

It was NOT the most amazing lunch ever (no that was yesterday's meal) but it was tasty enough and fulfilled the issue of lunch.

We hit a grocery store on the way home and got a few more staples.

I'm becoming "one of the those people" and you know, I'm pretty OK with that.

Are you one of those people or do you find yourself "going with the flow" and sometimes putting up with food that you don't really want.

XO
Jen