hmg1993

Wow!  Great results @wp3  Congratulations.  I tend to agree on not continuously W30-ing.  I did that for a while and all I learned was not to trust my own ability to decide about foods.  I also felt so deprived that it triggered binging.  So now I have a little more freedom but stick to what I know feels good and well away from sugar,  Good luck for the onward journey

Wow!  Great results @wp3  Congratulations.  I tend to agree on not continuously W30-ing.  I did that for a while and all I learned was not to trust my own ability to decide about foods.  I also felt so deprived that it triggered binging.  So now I have a little more freedom but stick to what I know feels good and well away from sugar,  Good luck for the onward journey

@kirbz thanks so much for the help. So great on not eating that cake. I am also really looking forward to trying the second recipe for the Swedish meatballs and the other one I have to eliminate too many things
 
@wp3 hope you are doing better. Sometimes I add some probiotics and that has helped me with digestive issues
 
@Cmclean How are you? I completely understand where you are. 
 
@hmg1993 I love you’re mini epiphany. It is so true for me
So I will be starting day one tomorrow as well. So today is my day zero. I’m not sure if I’m working this evening so it’ll be unclear how much I can do for prep for tomorrow. But I do have a lot of protein prepared and frozen. It’s just primarily the vegetables and salads that I need to get ready. 
I have gotten a lot of pain in my left wrist and numbness in my right hand and I know that’s related to what I’m eating. So will be nice to clean up my eating and not have that issue. 
This week I have several challenges. I am working in a hotel and will be up until 12 -1 o’clock in the morning and then getting up at 5:30. So I will be very under rested as well as going through detox. Fun times. I’m trying to figure out what foods I can take with me to the hotel that are not going to be necessarily smelly or too loud when I’m eating. A lot of the times the kids are asleep when I have to break out my snack and sometimes it wakes them up. It kills me when the mother says to feed them captain crunch or Lucky charms with a bag of chips if they get hungry before bed. It just makes me cringe.
My other challenge is the weekend job. I work at a private club where they have the most amazing pastry chefs you’ve ever seen. Their Sunday buffet is enough to make a diabetic go into shock just by looking at the table. I also have an event on September 1 where I’ll be serving the kids pizza, dessert, and a beverage. And their chocolate chip cookies are very hard to resist. So I will have to double up my efforts to help get through these challenges. But at least I know they’re there so I can prepare for them. I need to do a better if/then scenario because last ones I did didn’t help. Or I just ignored them. 
I’m going to be posting daily of how I’m doing and what my food is and that will also help me stay compliant. 
I’m so proud of all of you who’ve made it this far through and not having to restart. For those of us that lee starting tomorrow let’s rally together and kick ass & slay this Dragon!!
 

Hi @Hope4Overcomers!  On day 5 and starting to settle in.  My goal this weekend is to find some good new recipes to try as my tried and true are getting a little too familiar and rote.  I follow the instagram feed and bloggers like nom nom paleo so have lots of inspiration but welcome any and all suggestions.  My mini epiphany this week has been if not now then when?  I can't keep bouncing back and forth and need to commit to getting this food, body image thing conquered once and for all.  My old pattern would be to do W30 for 60-90 days and then have a big fall.  Now I just want to reset and put my energies into food freedom.  I know what works and what does not.  I just have to listen to myself!
 
Sounds like you are in great shape for a restart!

@Hope4Overcomers  Good luck tomorrow.  Thinking of you. Just wrapped up Day one redux.  Stomach so upset from off plan slide that sticking to it has been easier!  

Hi @Hope4Overcomers!  On day 5 and starting to settle in.  My goal this weekend is to find some good new recipes to try as my tried and true are getting a little too familiar and rote.  I follow the instagram feed and bloggers like nom nom paleo so have lots of inspiration but welcome any and all suggestions.  My mini epiphany this week has been if not now then when?  I can't keep bouncing back and forth and need to commit to getting this food, body image thing conquered once and for all.  My old pattern would be to do W30 for 60-90 days and then have a big fall.  Now I just want to reset and put my energies into food freedom.  I know what works and what does not.  I just have to listen to myself!
 
Sounds like you are in great shape for a restart!

Sorry to hear there is some struggle, @Cmclean! I give my 100% support to the posts push through. This will pass. It may be a sign of how much you actually need it! Definitely don’t quit! You got this!
As many of you know there was a death in the family and I found myself in Whole30 no where land at relatives homes. My Restart Date is Monday, August 20th, as my boyfriend has decided to comitt to it also with me. I’ll start us by leading the way. He’s been on the site reading up and I’ve ordered him the main book. It arrives late Saturday. I’ve never had a live person join me before so it should be great comraderie and support. Surely I’ll learn new things and utilize tried and true.
I’ve missed you all! Thanks for the great support you continue to offer. I’ll be on the whole way before and after the 20th. I grow from you all!
Be encouraged as you so encourage me!
Dianne

@Hope4Overcomers  Good luck tomorrow.  Thinking of you. Just wrapped up Day one redux.  Stomach so upset from off plan slide that sticking to it has been easier!  

Also wanted to share an absolutely delicious meal I had last night! Here is the recipe: https://www.paleorunningmomma.com/paleo-salisbury-steak-meatballs-whole30/. 
My fiance cooks and eats Whole30 when we share meals, but not otherwise. He says this is hands-down his favorite Whole30 meal. Who knew Whole30 gravy could be so delicious!? I could eat that by the spoonful! 
Anyway, I paired it with the mashed potatoes from this recipe: https://www.paleorunningmomma.com/paleo-swedish-meatballs-whole30/. It was truly amazing and will become a part of the regular rotation for sure! 

@kirbz, You remain inspiring to me! I’m right with ya! So glad you know this is home base and continually come back!
Your fellow Warrior!
Dianne

@hmg1993 I’m right with you guys! Stating over. Day 1 here we are! A fresh start. So glad we get that with Whole30. Don’t just have to stand in the corner with our tail between our legs. This death in the family and the off eating pattern it creates has really been a challenge. I covet all of your support as tomorrow is the funeral and food will be a strong presence in it. Plus I’m not home to cook and people have gone to great effort to cook for us all. It may turn out a more realistic start date for me is Wednesday, the 15th. I’m going to give it my best shot in the meanwhile though.
Welcome to a new beginning for those of us who find themselves at this point. Late but still great!! 
@Lisaarace
 @Elizabeth33
Be encouraged, even now!!
Dianne
 

You're not alone @Elizabeth33  I am starting over today too.  Stress got the better of me and i slid right back to old patterns.  But I do know that the definition of failure is not trying so I am trying again  And I am also remind myself if not now then when?  You can do it.  I have no doubt.  Welcome to day one!!

You're not alone @Elizabeth33  I am starting over today too.  Stress got the better of me and i slid right back to old patterns.  But I do know that the definition of failure is not trying so I am trying again  And I am also remind myself if not now then when?  You can do it.  I have no doubt.  Welcome to day one!!

You're not alone @Elizabeth33  I am starting over today too.  Stress got the better of me and i slid right back to old patterns.  But I do know that the definition of failure is not trying so I am trying again  And I am also remind myself if not now then when?  You can do it.  I have no doubt.  Welcome to day one!!

Hi everyone.  Hope you don't mind me jumping in.  I have been on and off Whole30 for a while as means to control stress, anxiety and bad eating habits.  On the latter, I am 70% a healthy eater, cook all my meals but the other 30% is binging under stress and eating way too much sugar, my drug of choice!  I am still battling for total food freedom but have absolutely made progress with the guard rails that W30 provides.  I would like company as I try to use all my lessons learned to keep improving and finding the right balance.  My lessons learned thus far are not substituting plates of fruit for sugar or overdoing the sweet potato and carb-heavy veg to compensate.  And keeping my beak out of the nuts as they really upset my stomach.  One thing to say, another thing to do.  
Anyway, wishing you all a great start and day!

Hi everyone.  Hope you don't mind me jumping in.  I have been on and off Whole30 for a while as means to control stress, anxiety and bad eating habits.  On the latter, I am 70% a healthy eater, cook all my meals but the other 30% is binging under stress and eating way too much sugar, my drug of choice!  I am still battling for total food freedom but have absolutely made progress with the guard rails that W30 provides.  I would like company as I try to use all my lessons learned to keep improving and finding the right balance.  My lessons learned thus far are not substituting plates of fruit for sugar or overdoing the sweet potato and carb-heavy veg to compensate.  And keeping my beak out of the nuts as they really upset my stomach.  One thing to say, another thing to do.  
Anyway, wishing you all a great start and day!

Hi everyone.  Hope you don't mind me jumping in.  I have been on and off Whole30 for a while as means to control stress, anxiety and bad eating habits.  On the latter, I am 70% a healthy eater, cook all my meals but the other 30% is binging under stress and eating way too much sugar, my drug of choice!  I am still battling for total food freedom but have absolutely made progress with the guard rails that W30 provides.  I would like company as I try to use all my lessons learned to keep improving and finding the right balance.  My lessons learned thus far are not substituting plates of fruit for sugar or overdoing the sweet potato and carb-heavy veg to compensate.  And keeping my beak out of the nuts as they really upset my stomach.  One thing to say, another thing to do.  
Anyway, wishing you all a great start and day!

@Dragonslayer That is an interesting idea.  I've got the same issue... sometimes I keep binge eating just because I started... not because I really want to keep going!  How stupid is that?!  But the "oh, I'll be good tomorrow" means I have to cram it all in.  Let us know how it goes.  
@hmg1993 Sounds like you've got a good plan in place.  Life is just easier with wine and cheese   I've been finding that it is easier lately to say no to the stuff I really don't agree with (mostly processed foods) because I truly think they are not compatible with health.  But it really isn't a good way to live to say no to the entire W30 list all the time.  I think coming up with rules that really matter to us are the key in the long run.  Like "I don't eat food coloring" or "refined sugar" or "nuts" or whatever.  

@Dragonslayer  As much as I think the integrity of a W30 and all 30 is important,  I do think it's called W30 for a reason in that we're not supposed to go beyond 30 days unless of course we feel like we need the extra days to address cravings.  What I have observed is that after a "perfect" W90 or so,  I got into a cycle of 4 "good days" and then binge .. back and forth.  My view now is that the binges were addressing the restrictions and stress of  meeting the program requirements.  I've relaxed things now to my own rules that enable a little diary (greek yogurt, some cheese), Oatmeal, quinoa, Almond Milk, and overall less label watching.  I still say no to sugar, wheat and nuts (the latter is just because it's zero brakes).  I also gave myself a wine allowance of three glasses a week, which I have yet to use any of but mentally having it there if i want to have a drink with a friend is so much better than feeling that I can't.  This approach seems more doable for me right now and is definitely controlling the binges because I don't have that all or nothing mindset......

Made it  Enjoyed a pretty big glass of wine (the "small plate" thing is my go to for alcohol too... and it doesn't work - too many refills  So yesterday I got a big glass, filled it 75% of the way (probably 6-8 oz) and drank that).  Played with the kiddos and just avoided the food.  Got some snarky comments for saying no to giving the baby jello jigglers in the shape of eggs (WHY DO PEOPLE THINK 15 MONTH OLDS NEED RED #40, BLUE # 1, YELLOW #6 AND SUGAR?!) but besides that it was a lovely Easter dinner.  Well that isn't entirely true - I was pretty pissed off about the snarky comments so maybe I ended up in a little bit of a bad mood...
I hope both of you find some success with some weight loss - I've always found that just really sticking to the W30 is what does it - not just the "rules" but the recommendations - meal 1 early and substantial, no snacking, no after dinner "oh its mango and coconut milk and raisins" shit... then the weight comes off.  Never much, but I do usually find myself happy with the results because the body shape changes always seem more substantial than the number on the scale.
I think this is it for candy focused holidays for a while right...?  I can't even imagine what the stores will put into the seasonal aisle now?  Marshmallows I guess for smores?  

Happy weekend everyone!  I'm doing OK following my own version of W30 which is basically 80 percent rules plus a little dairy and oats and quinoa.  So far so good but the major focus now is trying to lose the weight I gained from all of the back and forth binging.  I don't know if you find this but every time is harder because I think somehow your metabolism gets messed up.  Do you think that's right or just theory? Anyway, I slog on because I know that for sure the alternative doesn't work!  Done that.  Hope you all have a lovely Easter or passover or whatever you celebrate.....
 
Dreaming about hot cross buns.  shan't have them though!

Congratulations @Dragonslayer on acing the 30!  Your next plan sounds terrific and is a great goal.  You're inspiring me to keep chugging away as my downfall is completely the kitchen graze.  I am trying to nail three meals plus a snack -- but a scheduled healthy one as opposed to sticking my head in the fridge.  And no buying myself nuts because I am hungry.  Nine out of 10 times I am hangry or stressed and stuffing my face is not the answer.  You are absolutely progressing and reminding me that I can do it too.  Thank you so much!

@Dragonslayer Go you!  So happy to read such an upbeat post!  Sounds like you've got a great plan for the next 100 days!  And you are going to have some kick ass triceps to boot   I hope you send us some wedding pictures in a few months!
@hmg1993 I totally agree about the things it turns out we don't "need"... I used to eat chocolate every.single.night (it was actually what prompted me to do a W30 a few years ago - doing "paleo" I was eating an 85% Lindt bar every night after dinner... not good).  But I thought I couldn't live without it.  I can't tell you the last time I had chocolate at night.  I posted on here a while ago about eating it again and that lasted a week or so - turns out I don't really enjoy eating on a daily basis.  
Things here are ok.  Humming along.  Fruit munchies after dinner need a little reigning in from time to time but besides that all is good!  Time change has finally gotten dinner time to have a distinct end because little guy has his bath and then nurses because he goes to bed at 7 instead of 6 and it is really helping!  Just by getting away from the darn kitchen I can shut off the "must keep eating" feelings.  Interestingly, now I can even come back down after his bath and stuff and sit at the dining room table and have my cup of magnesium and not feel compelled to shove more food in my pie hole.  Crazy.
 

Have you guys looked at the other thread on here about struggling post W30 - @ladyshanny had some good ideas in there about "rules" for FFF...  Since finishing our W30 a month ago I've stuck with W30 food choices 99% of the time but I'm definitely slipping back into old habits... first meal of the day at 11,12, 1 o'clock, back and forth to the fridge after dinner for fruit, eating crappy cheese at my in-laws just because it is there - stupid shit.  So, reading over that other thread I think that having some "rules" going forward are a good idea.  I don't know why it seems different to me this time - I think because in the past I always thought the idea of a WholeLittleg was what foods were compliant - much like the real W30, instead of looking more at their recommendations for the W30 as the things I needed to be rules.  I already know my food sensitivities and there really aren't any food groups (besides nuts) that I really need to be careful of.  But what makes me *feel* better are sticking to the recommendations - early breakfast and not munching after  dinner.  So, I'm going to give that a try for a bit.  A WLittleg that has two rules - eat meal 1 early, don't eat before (this means specifically don't eat a bag of baby carrots...) or after dinner, kitchen is closed after dinner.  We are changing around baby's bedtime with the time change.  Currently he goes to sleep before we eat dinner.  We are going to start eating with him and then putting him down after dinner.  I'm really hoping that getting up from the table and being distracted will help a bit with the post dinner munching.  Last night we ended up doing this and it was easy - but it is always easy the first time you try it  Dinner was *not* relaxing though - I'll say that much  Which maybe is good - it takes a little of the "reward for making it through the day" out of dinner.  I also ate breakfast at 6:45 AM this morning - about 4 hours earlier than normal!  Plan is to eat lunch around 12 and then dinner with the little guy around 5:30.  So shifting everything up a bit.  I may spend a ton of money on kombucha as a crutch for this transition but if it works it will be worth it!  Anyway, those are my ramblings for this morning.  
@hmg1993 I assume you are shoveling out as well this morning...?  I think the snow depth is higher than the little guy at this point!
@Dragonslayer What have you decided on the nuts, taters and fruit?  

@Dragonslayer Yeah, I'd tend to think they need to go.  My nemesis is dried fruit - and I just can't keep it around.  If I'm not in full blown binge mode and think I can have just a handful... I really can't.  So, no dried fruit.  Alcoholics rarely do well with just one drink and I think for us, some of these foods really fall into the same category.  
Are you eating enough in general?  I know my binges get worse when I undereat.  My urges also decrease the most when I eat a big breakfast.  The safety net of "oh, I haven't eaten much today" goes away.  Are you eating enough early in the day?  Even if you think you are could you try eating a little more in the morning and see if that helps?  
My last thought would be to get back into that pattern work you were doing early on.  With all the stress for you the last few months I am sure that the [stress-->eat] neuronal pathway in your brain has been on ALL.THE.TIME.  Understandably.  It may be time to remind your brain it has other options for feeling good and the first way to do that is to consciously not give into the urge.  Maybe do 30 burpees before you decide to eat nuts, potatoes or fruit when it isn't part of a meal