kirbz

So, maybe this is way too early to be thinking about this (and please do feel free to tell me so), but have you guys thought about what you want your long-term eating habits to look like after this? I'm a planner. This has literally been in the works for over a year. I've read all the books, bought all the cookbooks, read the forum, and generally just prepared for this for a long time. But, somehow, I never really thought about what I wanted for the long term. I know I want to finish this. I know I want to do a careful and structured reintroduction so I understand what foods bother me. But then what? I never thought about it and I don't know what the answer is... This lifestyle is very, very expensive and very time-consuming. I'm not sure it's sustainable for me. And I'm not sure I want to live a life without Rocky Road ice cream and chocolate with almonds. But maybe I just haven't been doing this long enough to no longer want those? I've kinda strolled through my first week with no significant struggles, but have been having more cravings the last day or two and am starting to waver a tiny bit in my commitment. Anyway, I'd appreciate any insights you have! Thanks for all the support and kindness offered in this group!

Oh, and I totally recommend the @whole30approved Instagram feed for all sorts of store-bough stuff that is compliant. You don't see those items often in regular grocery stores but you can find much of them in whole foods stores and online.

I had a surprisingly good experience shopping at Costco. I went for an air mattress and then thought I might as well see if they had anything Whole30 compliant... They had a lot! It was AMAZING! Here's what I got (in case you want to go look for it too): Kirkland Signature Smoked Pulled Pork (just boil the package for 12-15 minutes and it's ready to go) Aidells Chicken and Apple Smoked Chicken Sausage Parma Prosciutto di Parma Farmhouse Culture Classic Caraway Kraut True Story Organic Oven Roasted Turkey Breast Snack Packs (can you say post-workout meal anyone?) They had lots of other stuff too! Avocado oil, spice blends, guacamole, etc.! Go check it out, you might be surprised what you find!

I just want to second the comment that ShannonM816 said! I have to gag down eggs in the morning. I really, really, really struggle with eating them and absolutely hate it. So, for a day or two, I've tried just having whatever (like I had BBQ chicken and steamed carrots the other morning) and it is SO SO much easier!

I just wanted to add two tips that I've found helpful: Don't worry about the grams of sugar on the nutrition label because sometimes those are the result of naturally occuring sugars, which is okay. What you really want to look at is the ingredient list. There are lots of sneaky names for sugar like dextrose! Pretty much all sauces, dressings, condiments, bacon, sausage and other things have added sugar! Check out the whole30approved instagram feed for store-bought products that are compliant. They're expensive but if you can afford it, super helpful! Everyone is doing an amazing job! We're changing bad habits and improving our lives and the lives of those of us who are learning from us!

@MeadowLilyThanks for the link! Super helpful!

@erinelizabethI don't know how ideal this is, but for me, I did have a hard-boiled egg and a packet of Justin's Almond Butter yesterday before going to a work happy hour so that I would be less tempted to eat. That helped me not feel hungry and seemed like a relatively healthy option and not one that would awaken my strong desire for sugar...

Has anyone found a compliant salami? I love salami but I haven't had any luck finding a compliant version and my search of Google and the forum didn't yield any results. I feel like I've heard people mention them though... I'd appreciate any help you could provide! Thanks!

I'm starting Day 5 and am still not feeling anything... No headaches, no extra tiredness, no anger. I kinda just seem to be plugging along. On a positive note, I successfully navigated a work happy hour last night with drinks and appetizers. It really wasn't that hard to just not do it. Of course, there wasn't any Rocky Road ice cream... LOL. I continue to enjoy reading your experiences, stories, successes, and failures. It's all a learning experience and I so appreciate everyone being open and sharing!

Does it have much of a flavor? I also have a tub but haven't yet used it! I'm honestly a little nervous... If I add it to a mild tea, is it going to make the flavor awful?

Thanks @ladyshanny and @Tj V for your clarification on my response about eating brownie bites. I tend to interpret rules and guidance in the strictest sense (since that's what works for me and my goals) but I certainly shouldn't be imposing that on others! I'll leave the moderating to the moderators. :-)

@AthenaC I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but eating brownies is definitely against the Whole30 rules, which state: "Do not consume baked goods, junk foods, or treats with “approved” ingredients." So, while it will be hard, you can do this! Just give up those brownie bites for 30 days and then they can be a great part of your food freedom!! For reference, here is more detail directly from the Whole30 Program Rules listed on the website: "Recreating or buying sweets, treats, and foods-with-no-brakes (even if the ingredients are technically compliant) is totally missing the point of the Whole30, and will compromise your life-changing results. These are the same foods that got you into health-trouble in the first place—and a pancake is still a pancake, even if it is made with coconut flour. Some specific foods that fall under this rule include: pancakes, waffles, bread, tortillas, biscuits, muffins, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, pizza crust, cereal, or ice cream. No commercially-prepared chips (potato, tortilla, plantain, etc.) or French fries either. However, this list is not limited strictly to these items—there may be other foods that you find are not psychologically healthy for your Whole30. Use your best judgment with those foods that aren’t on this list, but that you suspect are not helping you change your habits or break those cravings. Our mantra: When in doubt, leave it out. It’s only 30 days."

@3boysandagirl That Chicken Lime Avocado Soup sounds amazing! Is there a reference (i.e., where to find the recipe) or recipe you can share? I don't eat many soups but I'd like to give one a try!

I'm kinda bummed on this topic because I just spent money to buy Spice Cave's Fire Spice, Spicy & Sweet Seasoning because it was on Melissa Hartwig's list of Whole30 favorites for Thrive Market (I received a promotional email from her with a direct link to pages that include this seasoning). I guess I learned a valuable lessson! ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS read your labels, even if a recommendation comes from a trusted source! Was that a test? LOL.

@DrewMc Love the calendar! I'd seen that in a list but not a calendar! I'll definitely be printing it! So far, I feel no changes (I'm on Day 4). No hangover and no anger! Lol. Maybe something will come along soon?