Starting Saturday 5th March in UK

[elsmain]

Yes!!!! I am so excited. I just moved to the UK from Califonia and have spent the past eight weeks getting used to all the new food choices and different names. Sharyn was in the thread I joined during my first and most successful whole30 and her meals always sounded so delicious! I work graveyard shifts at a veterinary hospital and have awful eating and exercise habits. I am hoping for a fresh start here.

So, here goes.

D1M1 - 2 eggs fried in ghee, sautéed spinach/kale, with a small swig of fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice.

 

Hi drtracyb, I have also recently moved from the USA (Minneapolis MN) to the UK (London).  I started the W30 program on Saturday 5/3 (March 5th).  I am struggling and working hard to figure out grocery stores here in the UK since many things are called differently, hard to find or just plain different from what I could find in a US grocery store.  I'm getting there, but it is a lot of work learning how to shop for food and eat in another country - even one as similar to the US as is the UK.

 

It is nice to see you "out here" in W30 forums.  Hope we can help each other.

 

I'm amazed how I can eat a HUGE filling D3M1 W30 compliant breakfast today and still feel hungry or like something is missing.  Really?  I'm stuffed!  How could I still have a desire to eat more?  I guess I'm really fighting the carb/sugar demon.

 

Elsmain

[SharynF]

It's available at Tesco...

http://www.tesco.com/groceries/product/details/?id=284197867

Enjoy!

 

I have just got back from Tesco! I shall go back tomorrow. Happy Days

[SharynF]

Back to the gym tomorrow morning 1030.

I was in the pool doing Aquafit then! Dang it!!

[SharynF]

If any of you US incomers need any shopping help just shout. 

 

You will find sugar in a lot of things so sharing those without is a great idea. 

 

I am currently enjoying John West Tuna Infusions they come in various flavours and one pot is a good serving for me. Quite expensive so I stock up when they are on offer. Tesco sell them (that's the link) as do Sainsburys, Waitrose and Asda. 

 

Bacon tends to have sugar in it as that's the traditional curing mix so I try to use Italian pancetta. 

[SharynF]

Danny - drink water to ease constipation. Or you can take hemp seeds (flax) as I saw in the book that they are on the tick list. 

[drtracyb]

Elsmain - that's so cool, I'm glad you found this forum.  Too funny, a few weeks ago I went up and down the aisles of Aldi, Iceland and Sainsbury photographing various food items and their price tags because I want to figure out where to buy stuff.  Otherwise, I go to the store and just get befuddled. 

 

Regarding bacon, I forgot about the whole sugar in bacon thing, because when I was living paleo-ish, I stopped caring about that.  I'll be more careful.  I was using pancetta in my soup but bought chopped bacon one time.  After using American bacon, it is hard to believe that british bacon is considered a fat.  Maybe streaky bacon, but the other one?  Frankly there are so many types of bacon here that I get overwhelmed.

 

Basically, it's just getting used to the different cuts of meat.  I have been alternating between two or three of my standard Well Fed and Nomnompaleo recipes since I got here.  Meat prices are shocking to me here so I end up not buying.  Anyway, enough of the whining.  It is my intention to roast some more veggies and some chicken tomorrow, as I am almost out of food.

 

For today, M1 was potato leek soup with two poached eggs; M2 was bolognese sauce on top of sauteed kale; M3 was Chocolate Chili.  I had one tangerine mid-day.

[jmcbn]

Bacon tends to have sugar in it as that's the traditional curing mix so I try to use Italian pancetta. 

A decent farm shop or local butcher will have sugar free bacon.

I've also seen a few brands in Tesco, Asda & Sainsbury's over the years. The supermarket brands do contain nitrates but nitrates are fine for Whole30 purposes.

[SharynF]

Morning all!

 

Day 4 for me and I am ignoring the 'tired and sleep' messages from the daily email and am going on a Nordic Walking training session this afternoon. I have sore and stiff knees and am hoping that NW will help me walk further and faster. This will be final session so I am expecting to be sore and limping tomorrow. No gain without pain is so true for me at the moment. 

 

Day 3 went well - three compliant meals, devices turned off an hour before bed and I fell asleep quickly. Just wish I could stay asleep but Whole30 really helped that last time (after decades of nighttime waking) so I am hoping it will this time too. 

 

Have a good day buddies 

S xx

[SharynF]

OK, so I am talking to myself. Last night I hardly slept. The single most awful night EVER. I gave up at 2am (lights out at 11) and read my kindle for several hours. Slept around 5am and woke up at 9.15. Coffee and breakfast consumed as soon as I got up so as not to throw the day out too much. I find eating as soon as I get up quite difficult as I have been practicing Alternate Day Fasting on and off for a couple of years. Yes, that's right, eating every other day. And when I am not doing that I follow 16:8 which means I eat in an 8 hour window from 1pm to 9pm. So troughing at 9am is difficult. 

 

I had a busy day yesterday (Day 4) but today is not so bad. So I shall go with the flow and hopefully stay awake until bedtime and then have a decent sleep. I want enough energy for Aquafit on Thursday morning. 

 

Have a good day if you are still reading this. 

[drtracyb]

Aww, maybe it's just you and me.  Day 3 went fine yesterday but I need to get more courageous at the grocery store.  I went to spinning class yesterday morning and then took the kids for a walk last night.

 

Day 4.  M1 was two fried eggs with some zucchini fritters.  M2 is some bolognese sauce that I am finishing up.  Not sure about M3 yet. 

[drtracyb]

M3 was bolognese on top of shredded zucchini. I am still waiting for my spiralizer to arrive with the rest of my kitchen equipment in the cargo shipment.

[drtracyb]

Wow, Day 5.  My worst hump is day 10, so I'm halfway there.  I can't believe I'm already running out of food.  Finishing up the last of the bolognese and then I'll need to do another cookup.  I tried making zucchini fritters but they were a miserable fail.  And then I couldn't remember if they were compliant anyway.  I think yes because I was not trying to make pancakes, just trying to cook some zucchini in a different fashion. 

 

M1 meat and veggie bolognese on top of failed zucchini fritter crumbs

 

Walked the kids to school.  Threw the ball for the dog.  I can't believe the sun is out and the wind is not in gale forces.  Is the world ending?

[SharynF]

 I am still waiting for my spiralizer to arrive with the rest of my kitchen equipment in the cargo shipment.

Tesco at Digby have spiralised courgette, butternut squash and carrots on sale now (separate pots). I have a spiraliser but the sharp blades scare me!!

[SharynF]

 Oh what a beautiful morning

Oh what a beautiful day

 

An Aquafit class, a swim in the outside pool and the zips on my ankle boots zip all the way up to the top. 

 

It's sunny, my sheets are drying on the line and the pregnant ewes are in the field behind the house. I love it when the lambs start to appear - but they wake us earlier than the dawn chorus 

 

Did I mention that the zips on my ankle boots go all the way now? 

[SharynF]

Day 7 and I am doing ok and feeling positive. I had more energy at aquafit yesterday and this morning I have muscle ache. It is a long time since I have worked out hard enough for that to happen. It feels GOOD. 

 

My Day 7 daily email hasn't come through yet so I hope they haven't forgotten me. 

 

Meal 1 eaten, just preparing for a walking tour (I am a local tour guide) then home for Meal 2. Hubby is home as he doesn't work Friday so I hope he will be out of the kitchen by then. I offer him pan fried chicken with veggies and mayo but he prefers (look away now) sandwiches with butter and cheese. I am not tempted!! 

 

Have a good day x

[drtracyb]

I used to have all the emails saved - not sure if they have changed them since I got them during our Sept 13 Whole30.

 

Day 7?  I thought we were on 6.  Am I a day behind you? (Edit - wow, I see I missed a day posting, which is why you thought you were talking to yourself......)  Day 7 it is.

 

Anyway, I'm having trouble getting myself out of the house.  Cancelled on a bunch of classes I had signed up for at DL.

 

Spiralizers are wonderful.  If you get the Inspiralizer, the blades are all integral and don't have to be pulled in and out.  I have the Paderno and used it a lot.  It is in storage in Southampton after arriving on a cargo ship.  My stuff was supposed to be delivered a few days ago but my husband had me delay the delivery because there is a 1% chance this deal may not go through and we may go back to California.  He is supposed to sign documents in the next few days. 

 

I think I'm a little moody today because I'm not sure I want to be here.  The six weeks of rain were hard on our psyche, as is being here alone with two special needs children for 10 weeks so far.  Hubby is still back in California keeping his job until we are sure that the business acquisition goes through.  Either that or I am going through the right stages of Whole30 - I'll have to check into that.

 

Ok, here goes.

 

M3 yesterday was chicken stew with veggies.

 

Breakfast today was two fried eggs and some kale.  Leftover chicken stew for lunch.  Not sure about dinner.  Kids have a swim party at the gym tonight.

 

Great to hear about the ankle boots.  I have muscular calves and have trouble wearing zip-up boots.

 

Have a great day.  I am glad you started this up, even if it is just the two of us.  I would love to have completed a full whole30 before my husband gets back.

 

T

[SharynF]

It is in storage in Southampton after arriving on a cargo ship.  My stuff was supposed to be delivered a few days ago but my husband had me delay the delivery because there is a 1% chance this deal may not go through and we may go back to California.  He is supposed to sign documents in the next few days. 

 

I think I'm a little moody today because I'm not sure I want to be here.  The six weeks of rain were hard on our psyche, as is being here alone with two special needs children for 10 weeks so far.  Hubby is still back in California keeping his job until we are sure that the business acquisition goes through.  Either that or I am going through the right stages of Whole30 - I'll have to check into that.

 

 

Great to hear about the ankle boots.  I have muscular calves and have trouble wearing zip-up boots.

 

Have a great day.  I am glad you started this up, even if it is just the two of us.  I would love to have completed a full whole30 before my husband gets back.

 

T

Oh Tracy, you have a lot to deal with on your own right now. The weather is getting better but we will never be California!  I hope the deal goes through and your husband can join you soon. That should make you feel a whole lot better about being here in UK. Is it forever or for a defined time?

 

And calves? I don't think mine are particularly muscular but even when I was a very slim, lanky teenager I couldn't zip knee length boots up to the top.

 

Day 7 it is and we are rocking this. The daily emails are all saved on my old laptop but I thought I would get them again as it's good to get something arrive as I am eating M1. Today's is about turning off devices an hour before bedtime and getting enough sleep. 

 

Are you getting the kids on this this time? 

 

S 

[SharynF]

Day 8 and I have missed a meal. I got up late so Meal 1 was quite large and at 10:30. Then I had to be somewhere at 2pm and didn't want to eat if I wasn't hungry as that's a big thing with me. So I had a mug of cocoa when I got on at 4pm. Planning rump steak and roasted veggies for my evening meal and will make enough to satisfy me. I don't want to go to bed hungry! 

 

No real exercise today but I walked a fair way from the car park to town and back. And I met up with an internet friend for the first time and attended a book prize award ceremony for which she was on the shortlist, so that was lovely. A good day even with a missing meal.  

[SharynF]

Day 9 and I am having a day at home as next week has something booked every day. But my energy levels are changing. I usually stay in bed reading until 9 but this morning I was up just after 8. Been busy in the kitchen cleaning and cooking and done some sorting out and tidying too. I accumulate piles of unopened post and stuff to read but it's all done now. 

 

The daily email is about eating out and holidays (vacations) which is weird cos I dreamed last night about being in a restaurant and asking the waiter to alter the menu option to suit me! Sleep is getting better too. 

 

Happy days and it's sunny

[drtracyb]

Sorry, I'm back.  Are we on Day 10?  Weekends get busy for me as I'm here alone with the kids.  We went to Newton Abbot Decoy Park both on Sat and on Sunday, and we toured a bit of Torquay.  It is so nice that the rain stopped.

 

I didn't post my meals for the weekend but remained compliant.

 

M1 was a bit of pot roast that I made last night in the Instant Pot with mashed swede (placed whole into the instant pot last night with the pot roast). Swede, i.e., rutabaga, is not a big part of the American diet.  I tried it a time or two before I moved to the UK.  It wasn't until I learned how to cook it whole in the Instant Pot that it became a regular part of my diet.

 

M2  three eggs soft "boiled" in the Instant Pot on a bed of steamed kale.

 

I'm failing in the exercise portion - I keep canceling my bookings at DL in favor of sitting at home, screwing around on the computer while the kids are at school  I had an excuse today - we have a specialist appointment tomorrow with the pediatrician and I need to make sure I remember everything I need to ask for.  Of course, preparing for the appointment is not what I have done this morning.

 

You doing ok, still compliant?  Any good meals I can drool over?

 

Yeah, I used to order the daily email every time I did a whole30, too.  It helped me keep track of what day I was on!

 

Husband believes the move is forever.  I haven't been so thrilled yet.  Coming to Exeter as entitled Californians in the middle of winter is about the most extreme culture shock we could have done.  So far, I haven't found it to be "better".  Already fighting to get appropriate services for my special needs children (they have fetal alcohol syndrome and autism); waiting 10 weeks just to see the pediatrician; waiting four months to be evaluated by the Ed Psych before they can even receive services, despite my arriving here with a full dossier supporting all their diagnoses.  England has been the "land of 'no'", so far, for me.  Hubby is supposed to sign on the dotted line and hand over our life savings for an April 1 closing date.

 

T

[SharynF]

Sorry to hear your issued with the children - our NHS is wonderful in emergencies but not so good any more for routine and regular stuff. The current government are doing there best to dismantle it. But enough of politics. 

 

I went to Aqua this morning. It's a great class if you are ever free on a Monday morning. 

 

I am compliant and we are on Day 10 today. Not read the daily email yet so don't know what the topic is. 

 

Food? I have eaten a lot of chicken, eggs (scrambled, hard boiled, omelettes), home made burgers (you would probably call them sliders), belly pork for lunch today. Got lamb chops tonight and I'll do a large pan of roasted veg to go with them. Then I shall have some cold for meals for the rest of the week. I need to prepare more stuff as currently I am cooking  for each meal. OK I am at home and not working but I have other things I want to do!!

 

I am pretty sure I used to post photos of meals but I can't see how to now. 

 

Fingers crossed for the signing on April 1 if it's what you both want. 

[drtracyb]

Day 11.  Lazy this morning.  I had some beef mince that needed to be cooked so I had that for breakfast with some roasted veg from the stew I made the other night.  The fun thing is, my kids love my paleo recipes better than any other meal I make.  They went crazy over the beef stew last night.  Nothing better than having an appreciative audience when cooking.  My husband, on the other hand, was paleo with me for that sept 13 whole30 but since then has declared that everything I make is disgusting.  So basically he cooks for himself now.  He goes out to eat a lot and is going to have a huge culture shock when he gets back here and finds such limited restaurant choices.

 

D10M3 - pot roast with carrots, white potatoes and swede

 

D11M1 - ground beef with onions, carrots, white potatoes and swede

[drtracyb]

Hah, the moderators don't even look in on us.  They know we are both old hands at this.

[jmcbn]

Hah, the moderators don't even look in on us.  They know we are both old hands at this.

 

[SharynF]

 

 

*waves across the sea*