SusanB.

 
This is the way I would describe Walmart, frankly, but Costco at least treats their employees very well - it is well known to be a great company to work for (unlike Walmart, many of whose employees continue to need public assistance due to the Walton family's horrible labor practices).
 
I'll challenge you on the overconsumption in some regards- if I skipped my Costco run, I'd be buying the same things, but in smaller quantities with more packaging per item (I shop for my household and also for my office - I shudder to think at how many grocery-store size things we would go through in any given month and their associated packaging). In terms of price/value, you need to shop around. For many many of the things I buy, the unit price is significantly less than buying comparable items at a regular grocery store.
 
Is everything high-quality and inexpensive? No, some items fail one or both of those tests. But they certainly stock some quality items, and much of it is at reasonable prices. 

Reading through this thread, because these feelings are familiar! The last times I've done a 30, I've definitely experienced the nausea, the feeling like I had to force food down - even when it was delicious. I have always chalked it up to adjusting to more protein and fat, and off of the tons and tons of simple carbs and dairy that I had been eating.
I guess the good news I can share is that these feelings did eventually resolve themselves - but it took a while. Three weeks, I would say? But when I start a 30 now, I can remember that a) these feelings pass; and b ) I will eventually feel so much better overall that I know it's worth sticking it out.
Thank you, @ladyshanny, for mentioning this - it had never occurred to me that it's hormonal! Getting my hormones better regulated is one of my prime motivations for staying on-plan.

Fellow active brewer here - I've currently got x2 CB jars on the go, plus two hotels, one of which is packed. I'd love some local brewers to pass some SCOBYs on to but there doesn't appear to be a huge market for them here - YET - and in the meantime my youngest son is keeping them as pets

I tend to stick with fresh ginger & dried hibiscus flowers for flavour, or I'll use a variety of teas.

I didn't feel like I was a bonafide brewer until I had my first bottle explode on me last year!!
 

Oh hey!
I'm just finishing up consuming our first batch. Second batch is in F1.
Adding a little blueberry and some ginger when we get to F2. Last batch we did one plain, one with a little ginger, and one with some bing cherry. All were pretty delish.

Oh hey!
I'm just finishing up consuming our first batch. Second batch is in F1.
Adding a little blueberry and some ginger when we get to F2. Last batch we did one plain, one with a little ginger, and one with some bing cherry. All were pretty delish.

Oh hey!
I'm just finishing up consuming our first batch. Second batch is in F1.
Adding a little blueberry and some ginger when we get to F2. Last batch we did one plain, one with a little ginger, and one with some bing cherry. All were pretty delish.

I have done two successful 30s in the past, and intended to do another this January. Never did get reintroduction right (only got to dairy and rice, which were both OK as far as I could tell), so I was hoping to make it this time.
 
Unfortunately, life had other plans. Practical considerations (with houseguests, travel, illness, and attending a weekend-long conference in a hotel that doesn't have mini fridges in the rooms) got the better of me. I have come to a peace and moved on without getting too discouraged. Picked back up where I left off each time, when I was able. The extraordinary stresses of trying to remain compliant in the above situations were just too much for me to work with - and I know myself and my propensity to throw the baby out with the bathwater (do people still say that?) when I'm discouraged that I can't do something "perfectly". I am 43 and contending with a lifetime's worth of disordered eating, if that makes any difference.
 
I've come to the conclusion this time around that I need to maintain the enormous changes I've instituted - in terms of cooking my own meals, eating template-balanced meals, bringing proper meals to work, avoiding sweets and processed foods. Those parts of this process are not something I should give up - not after 30 days, not really ever.
 
I understand that half-assing it is not Whole30. One of the things that speaks to me the most about this program is that I take to its black-and-white nature. I maintain that what is doable for me at this moment in my life is that I can stay compliant when cooking my own meals. I can attempt to make the best choices I can when that is not an option. I can choose to get right back on program after any deviation. This is approximately one billion (give or take a million or two) times better than the food choices I have been making for years, and I think that this approach will serve me.
 
Here is my question (sorry, I'm long-winded by nature): how should I handle things when I know I'm in it for less-than-30? I guess it's a question of strategy: do I treat these periods as "whole 10" or something similar? Do I consider myself off-plan and not count days at all?
 
I understand why 30 is a significant number, and I do very much intend to get to 30 and nail the reintroduction this time - but looking at my calendar I don't see an upcoming stretch of days in the foreseeable future. My knee-jerk reaction is to say [expletive] it and go back to my horribly terrible no good very bad S.A.D. - and I certainly don't want to do THAT.

After my first 2 Whole30s, I followed a pattern similar to SpunkyBug. If I'm at home and cooking for myself, I'm 100% complaint. If I go out to eat (which my family also does 1-2 times a week), I choose as close to compliant foods as I can, but I don't request to the waiter that they cook things differently. If there's a little butter on my salmon, I'll be OK (physically that doesn't affect me too badly). If there's a little bit of added sugar in my mango salsa, that doesn't affect me psychologically. 
 
I also have a 20-year history of disordered eating patterns that continue to rear their ugly head. If my mind goes to a "what the hell" place, I can really, really go off the rails. And then the self-loathing begins. The W30 to me is more psychological than anything. If I stay close to template, it is better for me psychologically. I need the restrictions, as you seem to as well. But the real-life challenges of having to eat out for social reasons really get to me. I'm a perfectionist like you seem to be, so rather than throwing in the towel because you know you'll be eating out in the next 30 days, just choose as carefully as possible during that time frame, and stick to plan in the meantime. I wouldn't call it a W10 either, because that likely won't satisfy you and you'll be more likely to say "eff it".

I think part of it is dealing with the disordered eating, which no eating plan can really address. I know all about that as well, and am still working on it. I took a course with the Institute for the Psychology of Eating recently, and really liked it, but I am still working it as these things take time. Maybe looking into new tools for managing the disordered part could help you bridge the gap here. 

I needed a portable breakfast, since I eat it at work M-F, and someone suggested the Spicy Tuna Cakes from Nom Nom Paleo.
 
I am not exaggerating to say they changed my life.
 
Tuna cakes, vegetable soup (these days carrot-cardamom, also from Michelle Tam, or roasted tomato), and some olives or avocado for a little fat and I'm a happy camper.
 
If you don't like things too spicy, moderate with the crushed red pepper as opposed to the jalapeno. The jalapeno adds a really nice "green" taste to the mix.
 
http://nomnompaleo.com/post/91332244628/spicy-tuna-cakes

The post-workout window is not as critical as many proclaim. It's not like your cells just slam shut after "x" minutes and refuse to accept any glycogen or synthesize any protein.


Hangry after an hour?

How familiar are you with the concept of paleo eating outside of the Whole30 program? The Whole30 is really a clean paleo template, with a reintro period and also there is the avoiding of foods that can trigger emotional/addictive eating patterns. It is a wonderful tool and it sounds like you've learned so much from it.
 
So, maybe it is time to just follow a paleo diet. Not "Whole(insert day number here)." You know, like how vegetarians and vegans just eat their style of eating because they firmly believe in it? That's a lifestyle and it sounds like you're ready to live the lifestyle. People adjust paleo to fit them. Some people follow paleo 80 or 90 percent of the time, and enjoy non-paleo foods or paleo sweets occasionally. Some people live by it 100% of the time, or do so with added honey/paleo treats. Some people feel dairy or rice benefit them and include them in their regular diet. And then there are those who really dig the very low carb version of paleo. So what fits you the best? 

Thanks! I should add that for Meal 2 I am always compliant at home AND at work -- I bring my lunch in every day. Again, only on special occasions do I go off-road, like when the boss treats the whole team out for a thank-you lunch, and then I still try to make good choices.  

I've done three Whole30s now, and I think I've figured out what works best for me outside of the 30 (easy to say, harder to implement, of course):
 
Meal 1: Always compliant at home. Even if I were invited out to a fancy brunch where I might want to go off road, I would still eat a template breakfast that morning, and then brunch would count toward lunch.
 
Meal 2: Always compliant at home. Every other weekend when we have my stepson, I'm willing to go off road if we eat lunch out (but compliant at the house). When out, I still try to make the best (mostly compliant) choices.
 
Meal 3: Almost always compliant at home. On special occasions (company's coming) I may go off road to make our fabulous made-from-scratch lasagna. We do like to go out to dinner once or twice a week (need a break from all that cooking), so I make the best choices I can while out for a "regular" dinner. If it's a real special dinner out, I relax and enjoy myself without worrying.
 
Snacking: NO. Never.
 
Dessert: NO. Mostly. No more nightly "Oh, it's just a couple fancy dark chocolate squares -- how bad can that be?". No more dessert items kept in the house at all. On special occasions (not regular dinners out), I may indulge if we are eating out or making a big dinner for company. But special occasions are one-night-only. The entire month of December is not considered a special occasion.
 
Traveling: I will do my best to remain as compliant as possible at as many meals as possible, with the understanding that it's not always going to work out perfectly. If snacking is necessary while on the road, it must be compliant snacking. Come prepared!
 
Let's see how it goes!

Hi Susan;
 
First, I've moved your post to the After Whole30 section Off Track/Staying on Track as you're choosing not to do a Whole30 at this time.  No judgement, it's just a better fit for this topic.
 
As far as how you treat this time, it would be my suggestion to not count days and to just do the best that you can do until you can do a full Whole30.  You can call it a Whole10 if that's what you want to do but really, you're riding your own bike, which is what we WANT you to do between Whole30's.  You've laid out your rules
(I've come to the conclusion this time around that I need to maintain the enormous changes I've instituted - in terms of cooking my own meals, eating template-balanced meals, bringing proper meals to work, avoiding sweets and processed foods. Those parts of this process are not something I should give up - not after 30 days, not really ever.)
 
If you choose to be more lenient when eating out or travelling, just make sure that you're using what you learned from your past whole30's and whatever re-intros you managed to make the best choices. Dont' throw the baby out... be mindful and diligent until such time as you choose to take on another 30!

I needed a portable breakfast, since I eat it at work M-F, and someone suggested the Spicy Tuna Cakes from Nom Nom Paleo.
 
I am not exaggerating to say they changed my life.
 
Tuna cakes, vegetable soup (these days carrot-cardamom, also from Michelle Tam, or roasted tomato), and some olives or avocado for a little fat and I'm a happy camper.
 
If you don't like things too spicy, moderate with the crushed red pepper as opposed to the jalapeno. The jalapeno adds a really nice "green" taste to the mix.
 
http://nomnompaleo.com/post/91332244628/spicy-tuna-cakes

Oh! Next time I have some bone broth, I'll give it a try. Thanks for the hint.

Hi gang, just dropping back in with a progress report and hopefully add a little motivation for the group.
Let me start by saying that I am no longer on a whole90 as I decided to make some changes and allow myself to be "human" again. I will describe what I'm now doing differently and the reasoning behind it but the big takeaway is that everyone needs to do what works for them, regardless of stringent rules of any type of program. This includes whole306090foreverneveragain!
So early on in this process, my major concern was weight loss, healthy lifestyle, and then finding a way to maintain after I achieved my goals. But I didn't get there, despite my best efforts and doing a near perfect whole30. But I realized that in my efforts to stick to this program,my other behaviors were detrimental to my life in general. I didn't eat out for fear of some chef sliding a slab if butter into my steak, or beating myself up because I inadvertently grabbed the wrong salad dressing. I skipped social engagements for fear of drinking alcohol...and then not only would I have to restart the 30...i'd have an additional 60 to go! So I think the fear was causing me stress and in a way self sabotaged the results I was looking for. So I am no longer going for the 90 but am going to continue to use the principles the program espouses.
As for my results...my "disappointing" whole30 yielded a 6 lb weight loss when combined with working out. To put this in perspective, I lost 6 lbs just this past week after deciding not to go for the 90.
So what's different? In reality, not much. My meals are mostly the same as I've learned to like the food substitutes whole30 requires. In fact, I've made a tons of meals in food categories I haven't thought to make in years. My problem was never really with food addictions or health problems, my issues really were more about bad individual choices and then the psychological issues those choices would invoke.
As far as my food choices, I've decided to severely limit fruit, and up my veggies. Big dinners. I drink alcohol when I feel like it, but only 1 or 2 instead of 10. Drink gluten free beer when I feel like having one. Not sure if it helps but it makes me feel better. The biggest change though is reading food labels, using the sub where it makes sense, taking ownership of every food decision, and committing to getting back on my food plan after a conscious choice to deviate. What I am doing is likely closer to whole9, but I'm not sure as I don't want to read about it and have this become the new "it" thing.
What this journey has given me are the tools to understand where my issues lie, the knowledge of how to achieve optimal health through eating, the framework by which to eat, and the feeling that all is not lost if I breakdown.
The reason for posting this is not to discourage those going for the 90, but rather to inspire everyone to just do their best. I see a lot of folks on this thread beating themselves up over not being perfect, with disregard to the fact that even in their failures they are likely doing better then just doing nothing in the first place!
Best wishes to all!

It's all about the bone broth that one, I'm glad I used homemade the first time I made it (I don't hate bone broth on it's own, but the smell doesn't make me want to consume a lot of it). I use chicken bone broth made from roast chicken "frames" and roasted wing bones (I keep my leftover bones until I have enough for a batch), so my broth is very tasty (roasted bones give more flavour) and high in gelatin (lots of joints).
 
I've never been a big soup fan, but I love this soup!

 
Do you mean the zucchini one from Melissa Joulwan? I love vegetable soups, but made that once and it was just...I must have missed something because it was not nearly as good as I've come to expect from her recipes. Been meaning to try again - good reminder, thanks.

Hi folks - 
 
Sad to report, I'm back on day 2. I have been sick as a dog for the last six days (like, sicker than I can remember being in...I don't even know) and saltines and candied ginger got me through.
 
BUT, I had a long talk with my partner about what we were hoping to achieve with a W90 - we don't live together, but we're on this together and we cook together over the weekends and alternate some during the week. We managed to really spell it out - that 30 was just not long enough for us to change our habits. And for me, not long enough to kill the sugar dragon (he doesn't struggle with this the way I do).
 
So our goals on one hand were to get 30 days in the bag and do reintroduction, so we could figure out what foods are tripping us up individually.
 
But an equally important goal for us both is to continue to eat this way - cooking our own fresh foods, staying away from sweets and processed food, and doing our best to make every meal a properly balanced meal as per the template. It is such a radical change from the grab-and-go way we were eating - I can't overstate how different cooking/eating/living this way is for both of us. That was the idea behind 90 instead of 30 - that we wanted more time for these habits to become second nature. No more getting takeout because we're tired, no more pint of ice cream for dinner when I'm sad (yes, I did that. often.)
 
I have some travel coming up, and to some culinary destinations at that. So, moving forward, it's my intention to stay compliant every day that I possibly can...and to not beat myself up when I can't. I am hoping/intending to get to a full consecutive 30 so that I can finish reintroduction (didn't ever get all the way through it in my two previous successful 30s). 
 
I feel so much better in so many ways when I am eating this way - it seems there is no reason to not keep on keepin' on. 
 
I would love to get to 90 consecutive days - but it might have to wait until next January again. I would have to make a conscious decision to not plan any travel for the first three months of the year. Possible, perhaps?
 
If nobody minds, I might continue to hang around on this thread...

If I had white potatoes in the house? Would have definitely gone in that direction. But too sick to go find any, and didn't have someone available to bring me groceries until after I had passed the saltines threshold.
 
Honestly, I feel like my guts recovered quite quickly, all things considered. I'm crediting the fact that I had been eating healthily when I got sick - no sludgy processed foods corrupting my poor insides.

I find white potato better than sweet potato when I'm feeling off.
 
Although generally fine with most FODMAPs, I find my tolerance goes way down when I'm sick (I notice it with sweet potato).
 
Glad you're feeling better

I'm about 80% recovered. Finally. Got back on my feet yesterday. Even went to work for a few hours today.
 
I can not remember the last time I took three days off of work because I was sick. I don't know if I ever have! Plus the weekend? Yikes.
 
Double whammy head cold then the stomach virus-whatever it was.
 
I tried with some mashed sweet potato. I tried with some warm broth. But I couldn't stomach either. In desperation, I decided that this was going to be the end of my 30. Some gaviscon (non-compliant because sorbitol, but utterly magic for what was ailing me) soothed the burns on my throat/tongue. Saltines kept my stomach from continuing to digest itself when I just couldn't think about anything that tasted like real food. Candied ginger kept the nausea at bay. And a little vanilla ice cream (I know, I know, but reintroduction after a previous 30 told me I was OK with dairy) just...felt cold and good.
 
In the end, I had a few non-compliant days, and although I'm back on the program (as of yesterday), I still have utterly no appetite and have to kind of force myself to eat. 
 
It was a tough choice to make, but I have recently decided that since I hadn't planned any radical change in my eating habits once I reached 30, I would just pick back up and keep chugging along. I guess that makes today 2/30.
 
Thanks for the suggestions, folks. Next time I have "just" a cold, I'll know what to do.

I know I'm a little late here. And, I'm not sure I'm even truly a "member", but I did my first Whole30 in January. I finished it. Rocked that sucker. But...I didn't really feel better. Until I tried to reintroduce foods. 
 
Cue rashes, lethargy and bloating. 
 
So...I realize that I am not quite ready to deviate from the template. 
 
I am on board until April 1. 
 
Is it ok to hang out with you cool kids?