Post-Whole 60 - what's next?!?

[kat2021]

So I finished my Whole60, had good results and posted my 'success story'...  and now I'm wondering what's next?!?  I tried my first re-introduction (corn tortillas & a few tortilla chips dipped in guac) over the weekend.  I THINK it went well - I feel fine and did not seem to experience any symptoms, besides maybe a little extra gas.  But I can't say that it felt necessary to eat corn again, either.  I can't even decide if I want to - on the one hand, the tortillas were tasty, but the food was really good without them, and they kind of feel like empty calories - like a treat rather than 'real food' - at this point.  It's weird - the Whole30 really does re-set your relationship with food. 

 

I don't know what I'll try re-introducing next.  I really think that alcohol and dairy both contribute to my seasonal allergies, so I may just wait a few months before eating those - or at least til my b-day at the end of this month, when it might be nice to have a glass of wine.  Anyway, I'm hoping I can stick to Whole30-type eating about 90% of the time, because I really think this diet works well for me. 

 

This community has been great - it's awesome to know that you aren't doing this on your own and to have others to turn to for advice and encouragement.  I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens next!

[pjena]

Welcome to the post world!  Reintros are tough.  It's hard to fit those foods into the template and hard (for me, at least) to tell if reactions are to food or not related at all.  I've found that alcohol makes me crave sugar, gives me a little sore throat and slightly upsets my stomach.  That doesn't mean I won't still choose to have a glass of wine.  I will just know what to expect.  I don't think I had a reaction to corn, wheat or dairy.  I'm just kind of sticking with the template until something comes up that makes it worth adding something new and then so far have just gone back to the template.  Good luck!

[kat2021]

Thanks, pjena - I agree on sticking to the template for the most part.  Certainly have had great results with it over the past two months - and why mess with it when the results are so good?

 

So, I had a few tortillas again last night.  No reaction that I can tell, except maybe a bit of extra gas - nothing excessive though.  I don't think they'll become a regular part of my diet - but I love tortillas and Mexican food in general, so it'll be nice to be able to have a bit of corn again when I want it.

 

Also ended up re-introducing honey last night, and a bit of sugar in the form of riccola cough drops.  I'm still trying to shake a bad cold I picked up last week.  I'm pretty sure the cough has turned into bronchitis, but I talked to my doc and there's not much they can do about it - it's usually viral (especially when it starts as a cold), so antibiotics don't help.  Just have to wait it out!  Anyway, researched some herbal remedies that are supposed to help with coughs and soothing the throat - ended up making a tea with a bunch of herbs, honey and lemon.  Seemed to help a bit.  Still a little congested with a bit of a sinus headache and a cough - but feeling better each day.

 

I don't think I'll be testing anything else for awhile.  There's nothing I'm really craving, so not much point in adding stuff just for the heck of it.  Stuck to my usual breakfast of sweet potatoes and poached eggs, and will have salad for lunch w/maybe some fish and/or a piece of fruit.

[pjena]

Yeah, I made the mistake of trying to do reintros with a bad cold/sinus infection and it was hard to know if I had a reaction or not.  Probably a good idea to wait a bit.  I hope you feel better! 

[kat2021]

Still getting over this cold!!  Nasal congestion is mostly gone, but I've still got a bad cough and some wheezing.  Not awful, but keeping me (and my husband) awake at night.  Really looking forward to feeling good again!  Been taking some limited amounts of over-the-counter medication.  Mostly nyquil and cough drops, since otherwise the coughing at night is really bad.  Also been drinking warm water or tea with honey and lemon, and gargling with salt water.

 

It's been a few days, and I don't think the corn caused any reactions for me.  Stomach has been good this week.  I've been a bit irritable, but I think that's due to being sick and having poor sleep, and not diet.  Thinking about trying rice out this weekend, but we'll see how I'm feeling. 

 

Our CSA delivery started yesterday.  Got 2 dozen free-range eggs, radishes, greens, green onions, asparagus and rhubarb.  Ordered a chicken with next week's delivery.  No idea what to do with the rhubarb, since it needs a ton of sugar to make it palatable.  Maybe put it in a relish or chutney.

 

Had sauteed radish greens with lemon, garlic, salt and pepper last night - never had radish greens before - they're on the bitter side, but surprisingly tasty.  Also had a burger patty with onions, jalepno and avocado, and some watermelon on the side.  Ate some of the eggs scrambled with broccoli, onions and garlic for breakfast.

 

Cherry season is here, which is always exciting!  Black cherries are one of my favorite foods - costco has really good ones, so we've been eating a ton. 

 

I've dropped a few more pounds over the past week or so.  Bit of a reduced appetite from being sick and not working out, I think.  Hoping to get back to exercising this weekend, but that all depends on how the cough is.

[kat2021]

So I tested out beer over the weekend.  Saturday night, I drank a big (20oz) gluten free beer.  Sunday, I woke up with a slight hangover, despite having had the equivalent of less than two beers.  I also woke up with severe allergy symptoms last night - the first time that's happened all spring/summer.  So, I think beer and probably all alcohol is out for the duration of allergy season at least.  What with the sneezing and the mini-hangover, I can't say I'm too broken up about it anyway.

 

We had people over last night, so we made mexican food.  Had a chicken & egg stew with pepper sauce, guacomole and chips, and pork tacos, all homemade.  I've had the corn frequently enough over the last week that I don't think I'm reacting to it.  Also had some homemade strawberry-rhubarb topping served over coconut milk ice cream, which was the first ice cream I've had in a few months.  Still staying free of dairy at this point!

[pjena]

If you get more rhubarb, try roasting it with a little olive oil, s&p and balsamic vinegar.  Then, eat it on a salad.  Very yummy!  My husband came home from a walk last night with a TON of rhubarb, despite us having 8 plants of our own.  I have no idea what to do with it all.  Lots of strawberry rhubarb sauce and roasted rhubarb this week, I guess.  My super favorite way to eat rhubarb is cooked into oatmeal, but I'm not sure I'm ready to go there yet.

[kat2021]

Thanks for the rhubarb advice, pjena!  We'd never cooked with it before - roasted sounds delicious.  Husband is determined to use everything that comes in the CSA box this year - last year, we ended up tossing a few things that we didn't know how to cook.

 

Well, beer is definitely out for allergy season, at least.  Ever since I had that one on Saturday night I've been sneezing my head off, and I haven't changed anything else.  I'm going to wait until the allergies fully clear up before doing any more food trials.  Hopefully that'll happen by my birthday (the 28th) so I can have a treat or two.

[pjena]

I consider it a fun challenge to use everything in my CSA box, up to and including the carrot tops (my son loves carrot top soup).  But, by the time summer is over, I admit to being relieved of that effort!