August 14 start, finish, continue, re-intro

[Rottiegirl2017]

Hi All - Let's continue to share our successes, stresses, and Post Whole 30 journey here.

For me, I am not missing anything or craving anything so I plan to continue my Whole 30 and as I think I've mentioned before, ideally, I would like to extend it to Whole 90.   A Whole 90 will bring me to right before Thanksgiving and I feel that will give me a really good foundation going into the holidays to help avoid my ingrained bad habits from sneaking back up.  It should also help me experience more new foods, cooking methods, etc that I can incorporate into the holiday menu's since we host Thanksgiving and Xmas Eve =) . I will start with the commitment to extend my Whole 30 to a Whole 60 (small, realistic, attainable goals - wasn't there something in one of the books about that??).  

For this next “round” (which I rolled right into, no breaks) I created a spreadsheet to more closely track food, moods, etc.  I think this may help me see if potatoes really bother me, what could it be that triggers me to feel the need for snacks between meals some days, etc.  As long as I am still not feeling deprived when my Whole 60 is done, I will extend to Whole 90 and go from there.  I will eventually slow roll re-introductions but only when there is something that is really WORTH it .  

My First Round NSV’s:

• Sleep pattern back to normal – fall asleep easily and wake up before my alarm
• My stomach feels less bloated
• Jean shorts and work pants are fitting much more comfortably
• I didn’t have cramps or backaches when I got my period (we’ll see if this continues – one time is interesting, but let’s see if the trend continues)
• I found that it didn’t bother me not eat dairy, sugar, carbs, gluten, legumes, or drink wine.  
• I never felt deprived nor did I feel the “urge” to eat anything that wasn’t compliant. 
• I was surprised (like REALLY surprised) that I didn’t MISS any non-compliant food groups, especially dairy and wine
• My taste buds changed…….I actually like some salt (some, not much, but some), tomatoes are awesome, and sautéed kale topped with an over easy egg is the BOMB breakfast
• Most days, 3 meals a day is fine, occasionally I need a boost – I know I need to track to see if there are reasons for that
• I feel more in control of my emotions – I can feel myself getting irritated and can control it and/or bite my tongue when before I wouldn’t/couldn’t
• I find myself paying attention to everything I eat, not obsessing, but being aware, consciously CHOOSING what I eat – and I’m enjoying that
• I feel in control of food – no mindless eating, no eating something because it’s offered, because its there (not even my favorite Safeway Cranberry Oatmeal cookies my hubby bought) or everyone else is eating it
• I’m still amazed at how much hidden sugar is out there
• I think I may be sensitive to regular potatoes – white, red, fingerling.  I had a couple of upset tummies during my W30 and I think they all were after I ate potatoes (not sweet potatoes).  I need to experiment with that more and see.
• I think I need to add more salt to my foods (my muscles have been achy and more sore than normal during the day – especially after workouts)

As for the scale – it went down almost 5 lbs (129.8 – 125).  How do I feel?  Content with that number – it’s about average for what I normally experience when I focus on nutrition, especially when combined with my workouts.  Would I have liked that number to be different – absolutely.  Am I disappointed – not really.  Can I say the weight loss was all due to my Whole 30?  Absolutely not.  I’ve seen those numbers following Weight Watchers, working out and following Beachbody eating programs, etc.  Same goes for my stomach feeling less bloated and my cloths fitting better.  As for sleep pattern, I’m back to my “internal clock” – starting my Whole 30 coincided with my schedule getting back to normal (kids back in school) so although maybe it might have had something to do with my sleep patterns, I cannot say my sleep patterns were due to my Whole 30.  I am happy with what I have learned (and continue to learn) and am happy with the changes I am making, how I am feeling, and the overall results from my Whole 30.

[BecomingBrooklynn]

@Rottiegirl2017 lol I had to make sure I had some free time before I started reading your post. 

I'm glad you are still going. I considered it, but I am really interested to see what was affecting me in my diet. 

My NSVs:

clearer skin, significantly less napping (used to nap 1-2 hours 6 out of 7 days-a-week, only napped 2xs in 30 days!), less mood swings, less soreness after workouts/faster recovery, more energy for workouts, down another pants size (started out in a size 10 in January, wearing a size 4 now!), better ability to focus and stay motivated on a project, stronger faster growing nails. 

I'm also feeling the freedom of no cravings. I love planning my meals and cooking has become such a joy. I don't feel deprived. I reintroduced alcohol and I don't miss it. 

 So, I'm looking forward to more benefits as I continue to eat this way after reintroduction. 

[BecomingBrooklynn]

 Oh yeah, and I'm down 6 pounds and 6 inches overall. I switched from going to Orange theory 5 to 7 times a week to going to CrossFit five times a week. 

[Rottiegirl2017]

@BecomingBrooklynn - GREAT JOB!!  Not just in your Whole 30, but in everything you've been doing.  You should be proud of yourself.  Your work and dedication to yourself is paying off in spades (and a new wardrobe or two!).  Are you enjoying CrossFit?

[Rottiegirl2017]

Day 58 and going great.  Whole 30 extended to Whole 60 almost completed!  Going strong and still planning to extend again to Whole 90.  

[Rottiegirl2017]

Holy Day 60!!! Yes, today is Day 60 of my extended Whole30. I started this adventure hoping to make it through 30 days, but ideally making it 90 (90 days brings me close to Thanksgiving). I figured I would take it one 30 day session at a time and I here I am on Day 60. I do not foresee any issues getting to 90 (and it will be helpful to have "rules" through Halloween - LOL. Willpower, but the rules help the willpower).

[Rottiegirl2017]

My Whole30 that extended to a Whole60 finished up yesterday and I am officially moving into my Whole90 today. 
The second "round" of Whole30 I coordinated with T25 Beta and 21DFx workouts (I was doing T25 Alpha phase in my first Whole30 round).  Results from these past 30 days - down 4.5lbs. 
So, from the beginning of my Whole30 journey, that's just under 10lbs for 60 days (pretty much 4 1/2 lbs/per month). 
My measuring tape has disappeared (I'm sure my kids took it and it's SOMEWHERE in this house) so I can't technically comment on inches for this round. When I took measurements last week (10/7 - official finish of 21DFx), I was down another 1/2" in my waist and -1/2" in my hips. Total inches from 9/13 - 10/7: -1" upper chest, -1" lower chest, -2.5" waist, -1.5" hips. I didn't measure my arms or legs.
Nourishing my body better has absolutely had a direct impact on all of my numbers. This is something I know, but seems like always need to be reminded.......I cannot out exercise a crappy diet.

[Rottiegirl2017]

Holy smokes!  Yesterday I was filling in my tracker (I'm still tracking meals/moods/etc) and noticed that it was DAY #30 of my 3rd round of Whole 30!

I have eaten whole, compliant foods (no gluten, dairy, legumes, grains, added sugars, alcohol, or baked goods, junk foods, or treats made with “approved” ingredients) for 90 days! Add to that, throughout that entire 90 days I have only had at most 3 RX bars (I can think of 2), 1 LARA bar, and 1 mini Lara bar (all approved and compliant and the mini I literally had yesterday on Day 30) and only in emergency situations.

I have to say, it feels great and I don't miss anything (yet) - shockingly, not dairy, breads, sweets ... or even wine!! I thought I would end up eating more RX or Lara bars but have really tried to keep those ONLY for emergencies (not eating them to replace a "snacky" food) and have done just that. 

In the last month or so, my husband has joined me, in part, in this new way of eating.  He's modified for himself - so he's avoiding diary, grains, legumes, limiting sugar, processed foods, and gluten (he refuses to give up his beer and did have a few pieces of Halloween candy and doesn't fret over menus when we go out to eat - he's even become patient with all my questions and modifications to my orders).  His breakfasts are compliant (he quickly started exploring "non-egg" dishes, me, I still have eggs pretty much daily).  Dinners at home are made fully W30 compliant (I do most of the cooking and when he cooks, he is asks about everything and will only use items he 100% KNOWS I will consume - even down to the dried spices in our cabinet).  And lunches, unless he goes out, are compliant as he is partaking in dinner leftovers. 

I'm still learning a lot about myself and am healing my relationship with food.  I will continue on this journey and when the time comes, where I really want something and feel it will be worth it, I'll reintroduce.  Until I then, I'm very comfortable with how things are moving along. 

[Rottiegirl2017]

I learned that macadamia nuts were a psychologically not so good food for me earlier in my journey.  This week, I have realized that cashews fall in that category too (I had a sneaky suspicion, but confirmed it this week).  I just cannot buy them - they are like crack for me.  I think about them and just want them when they are in the house.  Like the "Lay's Potato Chip" commercial - "I can't have just one."  I find this rather insane as throughout this entire journey, we have had candy, chocolate, cookies, ice cream, and wine in the house and NONE of it phased me.  But the macadamia nuts and now cashews???  Nope.  They affect me.  They are "compliant" foods with no brakes food for me; which I guess makes them "non-compliant" for me.