Jim4884

@jim4884 thanks for the support!  hoping my health improvements happen with these dietary and behavioral changes around food  / nutrition

I've been off-line due to a 32-hour power outage...and, a bit further down the mountain range from @kirbz, it has been very, very, cold here, too!
Hi everyone! Happy New Year!
I love me a December W30! This time around I added plated fat in the form of delicious olives nearly every day, and that is something I want to continue. I'm now keeping back-up jars in the pantry. I learned a couple of new recipes, like roasting duck, a creamy mustard chicken, and breakfast eggroll bowls. Otherwise, I find that during W30 (this is my 3d) I tend to stay close to familiar favorites, that aren't time consuming like new recipes (at least for me) and then play with new recipes in between. So now I'll start looking for some new culinary adventures!
Like Holly, I haven't stepped on a scale in a long time, and it seems I've let go of the number on the scale. At the end of 30 days, I know that inflammation is reduced from feeling slimmer, my clothes fitting better, not needing allergy meds (not since my first round April 2017), and feeling better in my joints, which is a real treasure, that last part. Like @Jim4884 my joints tell me immediately when I am too far astray from optimal ways.
I enjoyed a sip of single malt scotch last night at midnight. Today i will review formal re-intros, and figure out the next steps. I'll have to also take another look at all the vitamins I stopped taking while W30ing, and make some decisions. Soy and dairy are present in some...also I'm having mixed feelings about fish oil re sustainability vs. the great health benefit of taking them. Meanwhile, I feel confident going into the new year, and so grateful for our supportive community here!
Some things I am ready to let go of:
chips (no exceptions)
hard candy (no exceptions)
More to come.
Cheers, all!
 

@hollysmokes and @LadyLisbette I just want to say that I think you ladies are wonderful! Thanks for sharing all of your wisdom, adventures, and mishaps in such an open, honest, and friendly way! 
I'm planning to start my reintroductions this weekend. I'm going with the plan outlined in the book and have specifically identified the foods I care to reintroduce. Though, honestly, I'm starting to think that I just want my diet to be Paleo. I think I'd be pretty fine with that being my 90-95% diet, with an occasional splurge for a burger or pizza. Except for PB&Js. Is it weird that the thing I most want to be able to eat on the regular for the long-term are peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? LOL. 
I also have about 20-30 more pounds I want to lose, and then I totally plan to make desserts a part of my life again. I'd like to stick ONLY to the Paleo versions, but I just don't see anything wrong with that. That is, of course, assuming I can learn to control my cravings. But, if I can moderate, I don't see anything at all wrong with making a dessert once a week and enjoying it. I love baking. And I love desserts. And I really just can't convince myself that some of the recipes I'm looking at are inherently bad. 
So, we'll see. Still very much figuring out how this translates into a long-term lifestyle. And while I'm very committed to doing the reintroductions for the data points, I'm honestly  not sure it's going to inform how I eat going forward. I think I'm already shaping that in my mind. Paleo + Paleo desserts + regular PB&J sandwiches + occasional pizza or burgers. :-) 

Though I'm officially done with my Whole30, I'm not sure exactly when I plan to start my reintroductions. I'm feeling good with Whole30 for now, so I plan to continue for at least a few more days. Regardless of the when, I do plan to do the formal, structured reintroduction as outlined in the book. I want to know how different foods affect me as I refine what I want my long-term eating to look like.
Here's what I want to reintroduce to see how they affect me (i.e., these are the foods I'd be most inclined to eat on occasion): 
Legumes: garbanzo beans (because hummus), peanut butter (because PB&J)  Non-Gluten Grains: white rice, gluten-free bread (see above), gluten-free oats (because overnight oats)  Dairy: cheese, yogurt, sour cream  Gluten-Containing Grains: TBD  Sugars: honey, maple syrup, coconut palm sugar (because Paleo desserts)  Anyway, these are really just some thoughts for me for now. :-) 

Dang, meant to reply to this earlier.  Ground caraway seeds and cumin are very different flavor profiles, and I would never substitute one for the other.  Caraway seeds ARE the predominate flavor in rye bread, but that also is not similar to the flavor of rye whiskey.  No idea why they share a name.  Further, cumin and caraway are not from the same genus of plant.  I grow many of my own herbs so I am a bit anal about this, haha!  Let me know if you have any further questions!
 

I read the recipe, and my one thought on when I try it (soonish  ) - I will slice my zucchini thinner than what the recipe says, and pre-cook it, I think that will make it taste more neutral, therefore closer to traditional lasagna.  
I would not believe how close cashew cheese could be, had I not once had some cashew ice cream (before I even went paleo actually) and found it pretty close to the real thing.
and Kirbz, the pasta and dairy is what would have made you feel bloated with traditional lasagna (which I used to be famous for, maybe I will be again), so I'm not surprised you felt better.  Thanks for sharing the recipe!

@Jim4884 You're welcome on the lasagna recipe! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! With regards to the changes you're thinking about, perhaps consider just doing one or the other (i.e., slicing the zucchini thinner or pre-cooking the zucchini). I think if you do both, you might just have a mushy mess! The zucchini was actually cooked well. I just don't really love zucchini and the flavor is definitely there.

I use a coffee bean grinder to grind my spices and it works great.  I have a separate grinder for coffee beans, as I don't really want my coffee to reek of rosemary or whatever other spice I may have ground in it  
- and thanks for that brainpickings link - looks intriguing, going to investigate further! (I read a lot of Herman Hesse as a young man, maybe time to revisit...) (Damian, Siddhartha, Glass Bead Game, Narcissus and Goldmund, Steppenwolf)

Welcome Jen!  I have done two official whole 30's, and I eat 95% plus Whole 30 all the time now, 18 months total.  When I started, I was pre-diabetic, and my doctor (at Kaiser, so a fairly busy doc) e-mailed me personally to emphasize that I needed to do something about it.  My first Whole 30 brought my blood sugar into completely normal range, and it has remained normal since.  I too have had to deal with anxiety and depression issues all my life.  I've found various solutions to help with that, but I will add that the Whole 30 brought about modest improvements in mood, and energy levels as well.   I've had many other health benefits from Whole 30, and would never even consider going back to how I used to eat.
I'm happy to share anything that I've learned and experienced, and I can be a cheerleader for you, as I love to hear about others' successes.  The Whole 30 tagline "it will change your life" may sound contrived, but I believe in it.  It truly did change mine.
 

Welcome Jen!  I have done two official whole 30's, and I eat 95% plus Whole 30 all the time now, 18 months total.  When I started, I was pre-diabetic, and my doctor (at Kaiser, so a fairly busy doc) e-mailed me personally to emphasize that I needed to do something about it.  My first Whole 30 brought my blood sugar into completely normal range, and it has remained normal since.  I too have had to deal with anxiety and depression issues all my life.  I've found various solutions to help with that, but I will add that the Whole 30 brought about modest improvements in mood, and energy levels as well.   I've had many other health benefits from Whole 30, and would never even consider going back to how I used to eat.
I'm happy to share anything that I've learned and experienced, and I can be a cheerleader for you, as I love to hear about others' successes.  The Whole 30 tagline "it will change your life" may sound contrived, but I believe in it.  It truly did change mine.
 

Welcome Jen!  I have done two official whole 30's, and I eat 95% plus Whole 30 all the time now, 18 months total.  When I started, I was pre-diabetic, and my doctor (at Kaiser, so a fairly busy doc) e-mailed me personally to emphasize that I needed to do something about it.  My first Whole 30 brought my blood sugar into completely normal range, and it has remained normal since.  I too have had to deal with anxiety and depression issues all my life.  I've found various solutions to help with that, but I will add that the Whole 30 brought about modest improvements in mood, and energy levels as well.   I've had many other health benefits from Whole 30, and would never even consider going back to how I used to eat.
I'm happy to share anything that I've learned and experienced, and I can be a cheerleader for you, as I love to hear about others' successes.  The Whole 30 tagline "it will change your life" may sound contrived, but I believe in it.  It truly did change mine.
 

Hey Kirbz!  Good to read you again.  What works for me is (roughly) alternate day mini-cookups.  So maybe Saturday you can cook up some stuff for you to cover you for Monday, then cook on Tuesday for Wednesday.  If you have no kitchen Mon-Tues-Wed and won't cook on Sunday, that's a challenge, but maybe you can find a cadence that works.
I am a big fanboy of Mel, I cook her recipes all the time - I have all the ingredients ready for those salmon cakes and will be making them tomorrow.  Paleo Running Mama is pretty good too, but Mel and I must share taste buds or something, hers are just perfect.

I have had other aborted attempts at a Whole 30 start. So why not when I will be facing the Holidays as an extra challenge (at least if I stick to plan I can  not gain weight over  the month of December. I am really really finally ready to give an honest go at this Whole 30 beginning December 1st. Today was a test day with one or two items such as hot chocolate and milk in my coffee and herbal teas but I am ready to do whatever it takes to improve my health.
 I have various chronic issues with health -- Cancer Survivor (grateful to be 15 years post - Blood Cancer), hypothyroid, PCOS, and pre-dabetes also Anxiety / Depression. I am active somewhat regularly but just have not been able to get the food right. So the workouts running , mountain bicycling, walking/ hiking occasional swimming and spinning class and yoga class but mostly home yoga over past year also trying Fitocracy (calisthenics) and Barre workout ( a few classes) now home workout (very challenging) and core workouts including a really good workout with Yoga International online with a core yoga sequence about 45 minutes. I also tend towards chronic fatigue even though i push through 40 hour work week and commute and tend to stay on top of the exercise schedule sometimes falling off plan during the weekdays.
So any help would be appreciated. so far I have about four or five how to do the Whole 30 books and a few Paleo cookbooks and just bought Practical Paleo book also. no questions yet. Hopefully tomorrow off to an ambitious start even with the Holidays to navigate through this month.
I am so grateful for all the helpful online tools to get started and this community with experience and practical tips and guidelines. 
 
- Jen
 
 
 

Hey Kirbz!  Good to read you again.  What works for me is (roughly) alternate day mini-cookups.  So maybe Saturday you can cook up some stuff for you to cover you for Monday, then cook on Tuesday for Wednesday.  If you have no kitchen Mon-Tues-Wed and won't cook on Sunday, that's a challenge, but maybe you can find a cadence that works.
I am a big fanboy of Mel, I cook her recipes all the time - I have all the ingredients ready for those salmon cakes and will be making them tomorrow.  Paleo Running Mama is pretty good too, but Mel and I must share taste buds or something, hers are just perfect.

Welcome Jen!  I have done two official whole 30's, and I eat 95% plus Whole 30 all the time now, 18 months total.  When I started, I was pre-diabetic, and my doctor (at Kaiser, so a fairly busy doc) e-mailed me personally to emphasize that I needed to do something about it.  My first Whole 30 brought my blood sugar into completely normal range, and it has remained normal since.  I too have had to deal with anxiety and depression issues all my life.  I've found various solutions to help with that, but I will add that the Whole 30 brought about modest improvements in mood, and energy levels as well.   I've had many other health benefits from Whole 30, and would never even consider going back to how I used to eat.
I'm happy to share anything that I've learned and experienced, and I can be a cheerleader for you, as I love to hear about others' successes.  The Whole 30 tagline "it will change your life" may sound contrived, but I believe in it.  It truly did change mine.
 

@jim4884 that's great news. I just saw my husband die in Kaiser from complications of diabetes and kidney disease. (I don't blame Kaiser.). I'm starting my 2nd whole30 after four years. So let's call it my first. I won't be a statistic.

Welcome Jen!  I have done two official whole 30's, and I eat 95% plus Whole 30 all the time now, 18 months total.  When I started, I was pre-diabetic, and my doctor (at Kaiser, so a fairly busy doc) e-mailed me personally to emphasize that I needed to do something about it.  My first Whole 30 brought my blood sugar into completely normal range, and it has remained normal since.  I too have had to deal with anxiety and depression issues all my life.  I've found various solutions to help with that, but I will add that the Whole 30 brought about modest improvements in mood, and energy levels as well.   I've had many other health benefits from Whole 30, and would never even consider going back to how I used to eat.
I'm happy to share anything that I've learned and experienced, and I can be a cheerleader for you, as I love to hear about others' successes.  The Whole 30 tagline "it will change your life" may sound contrived, but I believe in it.  It truly did change mine.
 

Hi Mike,
I am not currently doing an official Whole 30, but I am a man who has done two complete Whole 30's, and I have just switched my diet to be at least 95% Whole 30 all the time, I'm just am not as strict about eating out or an occasional off-plan splurge.  I have been maintaining this for almost a year and a half now, and have no desire to go back to how I used to eat.  Why?  All of the incredible health benefits I experienced.  I am now 56, and was obese when I started, so my results may not be typical, but I:
Went from pre-diabetic and my doctor e-mailing me personally to tell me I had to do something about it, to completely normal blood sugar Got off of blood pressure meds and my BP has stayed lower than it was on meds Lost 40 lbs without limiting portion sizes or increasing exercise Mild eczema completely disappeared Inflammation in arthritic ankle was so bad I could not run due to the pain, that has totally cleared up and I can run and hike without issue Cholesterol lowered modestly and triglycerides dropped 3X Mood and sleep improved modestly Resurrected my joy of cooking and learned to love vegetables (which used to mostly be condiments on burgers/subs and pizza toppings  ) Hopefully that's a little motivating.  I will happily go ahead and be strict whole 30 for the rest of yours, hope to hear from you!

Always love hearing your results, Jim! And what a wonderful offer to another member to jump in with both feet as a show of support! Well done, you give me the warm-fuzzy feelings!

I have a pretty severely arthritic ankle due to an old volleyball injury.  The inflammation in that had gotten so bad, that I could not run, as it was too painful.  After my first whole 30, I was able to run again.  I continue to eat Whole 30 about 95% of the time, and it only gives me a problem now if my eating habits drift too far from Whole30.  I hope you achieve similar results - but I would never consider going back to the way I used to eat, the health gains I've experienced are too profound!

I was pre-diabetic (and seriously so) and Whole 30 made my blood sugar totally normal - and still so 18 months later.  Stick with it, it works!

Hi Gabrielle (and all on this thread), I hope you don't mind my "snipping" your post.  While our details have a lot of differences, I felt a significant connection reading your post.  Why I even tried the Whole 30 (long story, but at the time I had no real interest in dietary changes) was for two reasons: One, the science was good.  I am an engineer and a critical thinker, and I could find no flaws in the Whole 30 approach.  Two, it encourages SELF EXPERIMENTATION.  I think this is the most important, and most overlooked part of the Whole 30.  Everyone's relationship with food is different.  The Whole 30 encourages you to learn what is most critical/dangerous/important to you.  My "outside observer" eye sees too many people not giving enough credence to a careful re-introduction phase.
I have completed two whole 30's, and here's what I experienced:
I went from (high end of) pre-diabetic to completely normal blood sugar lowered my blood pressure while getting off of BP medications inflammation in my arthritic ankle decreased enough so I can run again mild eczema  completely disappeared mood and sleep both modestly improved I learned to love eating vegetables, and rediscovered my joy of cooking I lost 40 lbs without limiting portion sizes or increasing exercise I have not gotten tired of people asking me how much weight I've lost, or noticing that my ankles are no longer dangerously swollen   I was not planning on doing another Whole 30, as I just eat compliant about 99% of the time, but I would if it would inspire anyone on the fence.  Regardless, I am happy to share if my experiences motivate anyone...
Jim

Two things I've found that work well for me for lunch - the obvious one is leftovers that you can conveniently package into a nuke and eat and meal - probably something you've thought about, but I've been able to get creative slicing and dicing things into a heat and eat bowl.  The second is a lettuce "wrap" sandwich.  I am originally an east coast hoagie/sub guy, and here's my substitute - I hope you have access to Trader Joe's as they have several key items.  I make it in layers, from bottom to top:
two romaine hearts, bottom trimmed and alternating orientation
olive salad (KEY! see below)
couple slices of the one compliant turkey breast cold cuts they carry, I don't currently have the package to share the brand, sorry  
chipotle mayo (I use meljoulwan's stick blender version with avocado oil and add 1/2 - 1 teaspoon chipotle powder) https://meljoulwan.com/2010/06/03/the-secret-to-homemade-mayo-patience/
two slices of mortadella 
another smaller romaine heart to finish the "wrap", and I sorta half fold it and half eat it flat, as the olive salad dictates.  And I add avocado as I go.
Olive Salad: I think it's a typo in the recipe, but even if not I used red wine vinegar instead of red wine and it was awesome.  Time consuming to make, so must be done in advance, but it makes a LOT and it will keep for months since it's all sitting in oil and vinegar.  At least that's what I found on line.  Recipe: https://foodieandwine.com/muffaletta-olive-salad/
The fat from the olives, olive oil and added avocado make this every bit as filling as a bread based sub, at least for me.  Oh yeah, when I make it in the morning or evening before, I wrap it in a paper towel and then a ziploc, there's a lot of moisture in there.  Paper towel helps the lettuce to not wilt.
Hope you like it!

Welcome back!  I think it was about 10 months ago, I completed a Whole30 and the support group here that were on about the same schedule called themselves the Dragon Slayers - I became virtual buds with a moderator here who will likely chime in, so you are in good company   
The Whole 30 truly did change my life.  NSVs - I went from pre-diabetic (and my doctor e-mailing me personally to tell me I had to do something about it) to completely normal blood sugar; I got off of blood pressure medications and my BP is lower than it was on meds; the inflammation in my arthritic ankle cleared up enough to allow me to run again; I gave up my diet soda habit; I learned to LOVE vegetables; I resurrected my joy of cooking.  I'm sure there are more - it's been a life style change - I just continue to eat Whole 30 about 95% of the time, so I sometimes forget what I used to be like.  
You can do 30 days!
 

@magsrose I actually had totally the opposite experience at Costco! I found it to be a gold mine for Whole30-compliant items! I found compliant deli turkey, smoked pulled pork, sausage links, prosciutto, pre-cooked chicken chunks, canned tuna, non-frozen cauliflower rice, spices, and all sorts of other things! 
I wonder if it depends on location? I live in California so we tend to have a plethora of healthy foods options everywhere.
Anyway, perhaps it's worth another look? Being able to buy avocados and sweet potatoes and guacamole and super-easy-to-cook (or no-cooking-at-all) meats was so, so nice!