Carmen Cosentino

Yes, that is me ICover pic is runners. Profile pic is just me, white vest leaning against a brown shingled wall. 

Good Morning, Whole 30 Finishers!

Just checking with my wrap up and looking forward to starting my reintroduction protocol today.  I'm following the fast-track reintro detailed in the Whole 30 book and what do you know?  Red wine is Day 1!  So, I'll be enjoying a glass tonight--- organic, without sulfites to be able to gauge my reaction to the actual wine/alcohol as some people can react to the sulfites instead. 
 
Here are some of my NSVs (I spent some time reading through all of the ones listed in my W30 book yesterday and writing them all down in my journal):
* Overall, my skin looks healthier and brighter (not counting my eczema dilemma)
* Less bloating
* More energetic
* Fewer sugar and carb cravings
* Improved self-confidence.  I can actually say that I'm proud of myself & mean it!
* Feeling in control of my food.
* Improved sleep schedule
* More AM energy (I am a night owl by nature, so this is a big win!)
* Need less caffeine
* Not hungry between meals or tempted to snack
* Started jogging & working out; 5x/week
* Practicing mindful eating.
* Better awareness of my emotional connection to food.
* Better awareness of the difference between hunger and cravings.
* Tried new recipes!
* Gained some new knowledge about label reading & nutrition.
 
I finally weighed myself this AM and will compare my before/after photos later today.
I did lose 8.5 lbs.
Trying to be proud of that!  And not let that stupid scale monster tell me that's not high enough.  Ugh.  You'd think my mindset would be better after all we've been through.  I do still have plenty to lose (my overall goal prior to starting W30 was 30-35lbs), so I think I just thought my body would react faster to the changes in diet & exercise.  Anyway.... 8.5 is a loss and I'll take it!  It's more than 2lbs a week and that's a good, steady, healthy pace for losing weight.

This morning I did celebrate or indulge with a flavored coffee!  Still black, but it was flavored. 
I avoided flavors during W30 just in case they were made with artificial flavors, sweeteners, etc.

I keep trying to decide what kind of reward to treat myself to after successfully completing W30.  You ladies have some great ideas!  And well deserved!  A pedicure sounds lovely.  I've also wanted to get the Spiralizer... and I could use some new potholders in my kitchen (I'm kind of picky about those).  So those ideas are contenders as they support my new healthy eating & food prep lifestyle.  Renewing my membership in a local home delivery service of organic produce is my other idea.  Decisions.  Decisions.

So--- Next step. 
Start a private FB group for the 4-5 of us who want to stay in touch as we reintroduce and maybe consider another round of W30 in the future?
New topic here in the forum instead?
Thoughts?
(I'm kind of a FB girl and love the ease of sharing links, ideas, pages, etc there... but that might not be everyone's preference.)

Have a great day!

Hello fellow Whole30ers,
 
I was going to start Wednesday, but decided to go ahead and start today, YAY!. This is my 3rd round of whole30. R1-2/2014, R2-2/2015. i'm looking forward to connecting and sharing this experience with everyone. For the most part I ate mostly paleo until this past summer. I could feel the change in my energy level, mood, and weight gain. I'm looking forward to getting back on track. I'm not an expert by any means, but will try to share my previous experiences to help anyone that needs support
 
 

One tip: Pack peppermint tea or peppermint leaves for after lunch. I know when I did my first whole30 I missed chewing gum after eating. I found peppermint tea was refreshing and I didn't have the leftover taste or smell. 

I started an instagram account last year during my Whole30.  Feel free to follow me @tri4health 

I looked for the group but could not find it. Is it a secret group? 

I have a facebook group for today's start date too if anyone wants to join. I find it an easier format than the forums sometimes. 
 
"Whole30 start date: Feb 8, 2016"

I was trying to figure out when to start another whole30. This will be my 3rd round, R1-Feb 2014, R2-Feb2015. Looks like February is the month for me to start. Lent is the perfect timing
 
Looking forward t connecting with others here and on facebook. Last year I created a private facebook group. I see someone has started a page, any interest in having a private group in addition to the page?  
 
I also started an instagram to share my food/experiences. I will do that again this year. Follow me @tri4health 
 
In good health, 
Carmen 

Per my nurse practitioner she recommended to CONTINUE the pack until I was finished and start a new pack as usual. She said my period may stop or may continue when I was "suppose" to start. The birth control itself is still effective.
I followed her recommendations and when I was suppose to start, I had a very very light period that last a couple days. I'm hoping next month my body will adjust to the new eating habits :-)

i'm on an oral birth control pill. What do I do if I started my period a week early? Do I continue taking my pill like I usually do? I've been very regular while on the pill. I'm on Day 12 of W30. any thoughts? Why did this happen?

A few things, golden rule to racing, never try anything new on race day. With that being said, it's imperative to make changes during your training. If you fuel and hydrate properly, you should be able to run a HM with only needing water to stay hydrated. I trained and completed a marathon last year while completing a whole30. A few things I did for long runs 10 or more miles:
 
Pre-run: Eat 1-2 HB egg, generous amount of cashews. If I woke up really hungry and had enough time I would have a 1/2 sweet potato with almond butter. 
 
While running, fuel with water. If you feel like you are hungry and are fatiguing- carry the baby food pouches as mentioned above. These are super easy to eat while running (slow your pace of course or stop running). 
 
I have also complete a half ironman while eating as close to whole30 as possible (due to the length of the race, there were a few noncompliant food/beverages that I didn't have a choice about). On long training rides I would pack dates filled with almond butter or Rxbars (again the lengths of the rides were over 30 miles so my body needed the calories), sweet potato with almond butter. 
 
I'm a strong believer in staying hydrated and fueling properly the week of the race/long run. This helps your body to not feel deprived. Good luck and happy running

Typo, Meant to say 4lbs per MONTH. Thanks for catching my mathematical typo. :-) 

Hi everyone- I have joined the Reintroduction thread. Also, I am still going to have the facebook group and please feel free to invite others. We can all share recipes, encouragement, exercise accountability, etc. 

Hi Everyone, so we came out the other end alive, & dare I say 'well'!
 
I've started this thread for those ending their March W30, and commencing the re-intro stage, so we can continue to support each other....
 
HAPPY DAY 1!
 
Leanne xx 

Well folks, we did it. Some of us have completed the Whole30, some are still striving away (keep up the good work), for some this is the end, but for me this is just the beginning to living a healthy lifestyle. Here are my results (caution, being brutally honest about weight). 
 
Before the Whole30 I did not take measurements, just weighed myself. Last year I was very active (have always exercised), around December I reduced my running and started strength and balance training. Typically I weigh 120lbs (height is 5 3"), by January my weight crept up to 127lbs. By the end of February i was 134lbs!! The heaviest I have ever been. I have never had a weight issue, but my clothes were definitely tighter. I recently went to the Dr because I was concerned with how I was feeling bloated, constipated, and gaining weight. Thyroid levels were fine. No concerns via blood-work. So I took matters into my own hands and decided March I would do another Whole30 to reset my eating habits and the way I view food. Not going to lie, I was also hoping to lose some weight and get down to at least 127lbs. Well sadly, I weighed myself this morning and the scale read 134lbs. I didn't lose any weight!?!?!  Also, my pants fit the same if not, they feel a little tighter. Grrrr
 
Ok so enough about the numbers here is my action plan: Now that I have my energy and cravings under control I'm going to increase my running. I hope to lose some inches (particularly in my thighs). I can get over the number on the scale, but the number on my pants-that is another story. I want to fit into my clothes with a little wiggle room. 
 
NSV: 
Sleep- I sleep well every night
Energy- I have a TON of energy! I can get through my day without feeling exhausted by the end of the day
Skin- Few blemishes still from my period, but overall looks clearer.
Period- Very light, no problems (never really had an issue with this before)
Cravings- No cravings for anything sweet
 
 
Action Plan:
Cut nuts out- I enjoyed monkey salad occasionally and ate cashews/almonds pre-workout, but I don’t think my gut enjoys them as much. Will look into other pre-workout options
Increase my cardio
Limit Fruit- Was eating almost 2-3 pieces of fruit a day- will replace the fruit with more veggies
Revisit my portion sizes
 
Thank you everyone for encouraging me and keeping me accountable throughout the last 30 days. I am going to continue following the Whole30 meal template, but will not be 100% strict with the food. I would love to stay connected with members of this group. I will still post on instagram and facebook group. I appreciate any and all feedback 
 

Well folks, we did it. Some of us have completed the Whole30, some are still striving away (keep up the good work), for some this is the end, but for me this is just the beginning to living a healthy lifestyle. Here are my results (caution, being brutally honest about weight). 
 
Before the Whole30 I did not take measurements, just weighed myself. Last year I was very active (have always exercised), around December I reduced my running and started strength and balance training. Typically I weigh 120lbs (height is 5 3"), by January my weight crept up to 127lbs. By the end of February i was 134lbs!! The heaviest I have ever been. I have never had a weight issue, but my clothes were definitely tighter. I recently went to the Dr because I was concerned with how I was feeling bloated, constipated, and gaining weight. Thyroid levels were fine. No concerns via blood-work. So I took matters into my own hands and decided March I would do another Whole30 to reset my eating habits and the way I view food. Not going to lie, I was also hoping to lose some weight and get down to at least 127lbs. Well sadly, I weighed myself this morning and the scale read 134lbs. I didn't lose any weight!?!?!  Also, my pants fit the same if not, they feel a little tighter. Grrrr
 
Ok so enough about the numbers here is my action plan: Now that I have my energy and cravings under control I'm going to increase my running. I hope to lose some inches (particularly in my thighs). I can get over the number on the scale, but the number on my pants-that is another story. I want to fit into my clothes with a little wiggle room. 
 
NSV: 
Sleep- I sleep well every night
Energy- I have a TON of energy! I can get through my day without feeling exhausted by the end of the day
Skin- Few blemishes still from my period, but overall looks clearer.
Period- Very light, no problems (never really had an issue with this before)
Cravings- No cravings for anything sweet
 
 
Action Plan:
Cut nuts out- I enjoyed monkey salad occasionally and ate cashews/almonds pre-workout, but I don’t think my gut enjoys them as much. Will look into other pre-workout options
Increase my cardio
Limit Fruit- Was eating almost 2-3 pieces of fruit a day- will replace the fruit with more veggies
Revisit my portion sizes
 
Thank you everyone for encouraging me and keeping me accountable throughout the last 30 days. I am going to continue following the Whole30 meal template, but will not be 100% strict with the food. I would love to stay connected with members of this group. I will still post on instagram and facebook group. I appreciate any and all feedback 
 

Well folks, we did it. Some of us have completed the Whole30, some are still striving away (keep up the good work), for some this is the end, but for me this is just the beginning to living a healthy lifestyle. Here are my results (caution, being brutally honest about weight). 
 
Before the Whole30 I did not take measurements, just weighed myself. Last year I was very active (have always exercised), around December I reduced my running and started strength and balance training. Typically I weigh 120lbs (height is 5 3"), by January my weight crept up to 127lbs. By the end of February i was 134lbs!! The heaviest I have ever been. I have never had a weight issue, but my clothes were definitely tighter. I recently went to the Dr because I was concerned with how I was feeling bloated, constipated, and gaining weight. Thyroid levels were fine. No concerns via blood-work. So I took matters into my own hands and decided March I would do another Whole30 to reset my eating habits and the way I view food. Not going to lie, I was also hoping to lose some weight and get down to at least 127lbs. Well sadly, I weighed myself this morning and the scale read 134lbs. I didn't lose any weight!?!?!  Also, my pants fit the same if not, they feel a little tighter. Grrrr
 
Ok so enough about the numbers here is my action plan: Now that I have my energy and cravings under control I'm going to increase my running. I hope to lose some inches (particularly in my thighs). I can get over the number on the scale, but the number on my pants-that is another story. I want to fit into my clothes with a little wiggle room. 
 
NSV: 
Sleep- I sleep well every night
Energy- I have a TON of energy! I can get through my day without feeling exhausted by the end of the day
Skin- Few blemishes still from my period, but overall looks clearer.
Period- Very light, no problems (never really had an issue with this before)
Cravings- No cravings for anything sweet
 
 
Action Plan:
Cut nuts out- I enjoyed monkey salad occasionally and ate cashews/almonds pre-workout, but I don’t think my gut enjoys them as much. Will look into other pre-workout options
Increase my cardio
Limit Fruit- Was eating almost 2-3 pieces of fruit a day- will replace the fruit with more veggies
Revisit my portion sizes
 
Thank you everyone for encouraging me and keeping me accountable throughout the last 30 days. I am going to continue following the Whole30 meal template, but will not be 100% strict with the food. I would love to stay connected with members of this group. I will still post on instagram and facebook group. I appreciate any and all feedback 
 

Well folks, we did it. Some of us have completed the Whole30, some are still striving away (keep up the good work), for some this is the end, but for me this is just the beginning to living a healthy lifestyle. Here are my results (caution, being brutally honest about weight). 
 
Before the Whole30 I did not take measurements, just weighed myself. Last year I was very active (have always exercised), around December I reduced my running and started strength and balance training. Typically I weigh 120lbs (height is 5 3"), by January my weight crept up to 127lbs. By the end of February i was 134lbs!! The heaviest I have ever been. I have never had a weight issue, but my clothes were definitely tighter. I recently went to the Dr because I was concerned with how I was feeling bloated, constipated, and gaining weight. Thyroid levels were fine. No concerns via blood-work. So I took matters into my own hands and decided March I would do another Whole30 to reset my eating habits and the way I view food. Not going to lie, I was also hoping to lose some weight and get down to at least 127lbs. Well sadly, I weighed myself this morning and the scale read 134lbs. I didn't lose any weight!?!?!  Also, my pants fit the same if not, they feel a little tighter. Grrrr
 
Ok so enough about the numbers here is my action plan: Now that I have my energy and cravings under control I'm going to increase my running. I hope to lose some inches (particularly in my thighs). I can get over the number on the scale, but the number on my pants-that is another story. I want to fit into my clothes with a little wiggle room. 
 
NSV: 
Sleep- I sleep well every night
Energy- I have a TON of energy! I can get through my day without feeling exhausted by the end of the day
Skin- Few blemishes still from my period, but overall looks clearer.
Period- Very light, no problems (never really had an issue with this before)
Cravings- No cravings for anything sweet
 
 
Action Plan:
Cut nuts out- I enjoyed monkey salad occasionally and ate cashews/almonds pre-workout, but I don’t think my gut enjoys them as much. Will look into other pre-workout options
Increase my cardio
Limit Fruit- Was eating almost 2-3 pieces of fruit a day- will replace the fruit with more veggies
Revisit my portion sizes
 
Thank you everyone for encouraging me and keeping me accountable throughout the last 30 days. I am going to continue following the Whole30 meal template, but will not be 100% strict with the food. I would love to stay connected with members of this group. I will still post on instagram and facebook group. I appreciate any and all feedback 
 

Carmen - I just bought a Theo brand chocolate bar and put it in the freezer (where I keep chocolate haha). I'm so excited to try a couple squares tomorrow
 
Claws - I'm looking forward to grainfree pancakes with maple syrup too! Another to-do for later this week. 
 
Bronnyd - YES for me as well on the wine!
 
Post-whole30, I am going to do a similar thing to some of you guys, maybe reincorporate a few occasional indulgences, like the wine, chocolate, and paleo pancakes that I was talking about - not for every day, just once in awhile. I'd also like a little more flexibility when going out to eat (like I think Carmen said, maybe some rice when I have sushi, etc). Also, I am thinking about how I may incorporate dairy. In the past, I've done fine integrating grass-fed butter and yogurt. I am thinking of doing the same this time. I may do that reintroduction next week but for this week, I'm going to take reintro slowly. 

Last Day of the Whole30, or it's just the beginning to living a healthy new lifestyle (Yippee!). I'm really worried about the re-introduction phase. I don't think I'm ready (mentally) to start re-introducing non-Whole30 foods yet. My plan is to write out a reintroduction plan for myself (I should have done this sooner). I'm liking the way I feel, so I don't really want to change anything too much. Prior to Whole30 I was eating paleo style with a little cheese here and there (very very little), and a bowl of oatmeal every once in a blue moon. I would make paleo muffins/pancakes as well. And rice when I would go out to eat for Thai food or Sushi. So for me the only real addition would be wine, tortilla chips at Mexican restaurants, and dark chocolate (love Theo brand-would eat 2 squares every few days).
 
What's something you are excited about to eat/do post Whole30? 

Bronnyd and leaC- I commend you both for coming forward and sharing your "slip ups." You both have shown progress just in the way your responded and quickly recovered. I appreciate you both sharing your experience, what caused the temptation and how you felt afterwards.
 
Bronnyd- You don't want a donut?? Yes! That my friend is progress. Awesome.
 
 Keep pushing forward and hang in there. One last weekend, stay positive and don't throw in the towel completely just yet.   

Happy Day 26! How is everyone feeling? After work yesterday I went straight to the gym and had a great workout. Sometimes I will come home and unpack, take my time then go to the gym or for a run. I had the energy and motivation. I found myself excited and pumped to workout WITHOUT having to have a cup of tea in the afternoon (caffeine boost). Yay! To me that is progress. 
 
What's one thing (or more) you've noticed improvement in? Keep up the great work and keep sharing your experience. 

Hey all! Claws in a recent post I talked about how I made granola with leftover almond pulp, date paste, coconut oil, raisins, etc. That's another option, although I was reminded that it is borderline SWYPO (I usually eat it as a side dish rather than a main meal!). Crumbs is a great idea! I will have to try that next time!
 
Carmen, last time I had planned to do everything in a more systematic manner in terms of re-intro, but then I started... er... not doing that so much, and went back to some old habits. This time, I'm planning to do it more systematically, as laid out in the book/whole30 materials. What do you think you'll want to eat at the wedding? If it were me, I might plan to have a few drinks, maybe allow some dairy (like if there is cheese on the salad) because I tend to include some full-fat dairy in my typical diet, but I might avoid the cake, bread, other gluten or grain products if possible. At most weddings some of the entrée choices or buffets include veggies and meat, so hopefully you'll be able to get full on the good stuff Maybe if the cake is most important to you to try, you could make that the day you reintroduce gluten, and try and avoid some of the other stuff (dairy, legumes, whatnot). I think it's seeing how your body responds once you start systematic introductions, and going from there!

I've made this tomato soup before. It was delicious. One time I had leftover meatballs so I put them in my soup for lunch. I like spicy food, so I added a little cayenne pepper and crushed red pepper flakes. 

Thanks Ladyshanny for the clarification on granola. I think I was just soooooo over eating meat & vegies that  I started thinking of alternatives that I could stomach.
 
I was so sick that I didn't eat all yesterday or half of today, I could only drink my food which I know is not part of the plan. It was either that or I wouldn't have eaten at all.
 
Tonight I made the best tomato soup - http://paleocomfortfoods.com/recipes/creamy-dairy-free-tomato-soup/ along with 1 pork sausage. Slowly trying to re-introduce food.
 
Carmen, unless the virus travels at light speed overseas, I didn't catch it from you guys (I live in Australia)!   Thanks for the thought though.
 
SamWheat, I'm glad your wife's migraines reduced since cutting out gluten. As hubby as been doing W30 with me, he hasn't had any gluten, and I think his headaches are the same as before. Will be interesting at the end of 30 days to see whether he can actually notice an improvement though.
 
SarahK211 - I take your point re: granola!
 
Kiraness,  glad you overcame those hurdles of the last week. We are only human afterall....I have thoughts of giving up because the food prep & food choice is so tiresome to me now, but I just DON'T want to be that person who makes it to day 28 and gives up. I have to say though, I'm soooo looking forward to reaching Day 30.
 
Peace all! xx